Hoge's Notes: Forte Not Worried About Getting Worn Down
By Adam Hoge-
HALAS HALL (CBS) The Bears promised that Matt Forte would be featured in Marc Trestman's offense.
They didn't lie.
Through two games, Forte has 38 carries and 15 receptions, which means he's on pace for 424 touches this season.
So should the Bears be worried about him wearing down?
"It doesn't really matter if I've got like 30 touches a game or 20-something, I don't really see myself getting worn down," Forte said. "It's just, you've got to take care of your body during the week, so that on Sunday I can do that."
Forte knew this offseason that he was probably going to be seeing the ball more, but he said he didn't change his training at all to prepare for it.
"I've kept the same regimen the past couple years and it's been working pretty well for me," he said. "I've got to be in shape to be in this offense. If you want to run the ball and be involved in the passing game, you've got to be in shape because you're not just called on to block out there on third downs, you've got to run routes and try to get first downs isolated on linebackers or whatever."
Hester Flourishing In Return-Only Role
Devin Hester, who broke his own franchise record with 249 kick return yards Sunday, isn't hiding the fact that he's better off now without his wide receiver duties.
"It helps out a lot," Hester said. "Just throughout the week, mentally preparing. I spend more time with the special teams unit and more time with the coaches on game-planning our opponent."
Meanwhile, Marc Trestman maintains that it was Hester's idea to relinquish his wide receiver duties, but that the new coaching staff was all for it.
"The conversation to my recollection was, 'It sounds to me like you just want to be a returner, and that's OK with me. I would like you to be the returner and focus solely on that,'" Trestman said. "I don't ever remember me telling him that that was the way it's going to be. I remember our conversation being more like, 'I know that's what you want to do, and I'm all-in.'"
Meanwhile, special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis is just happy he doesn't have to coach against Hester anymore.
"I didn't have a lot of sleep getting ready for this group, that's for sure," DeCamillis said.
Notables
- Charles Tillman sat out practice Wednesday with his knee injury, but Trestman said it was precautionary and the cornerback should be ready for Sunday's game. Tight end Martellus Bennett (shoulder) and right guard Kyle Long (back) were limited.
- The Bears practiced inside the Walter Payton Center Wednesday even though it was beautiful outside. So why did they do so? Trestman said head equipment manager Tony Medlin said it was going to rain.
"He's the meteorologist. So if he says we're going to have some weather, we're going inside," Trestman said. "That was the reason. I threw him under the bus today."
