National Football League

Here's the long and short of it; Bears have a Taylor-made solution if they want to run it in from

Published Oct. 18, 2010 10:16 p.m. ET

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The Bears' 27th-ranked offense has flashed brilliance in every area except one.

The Bears have made a bigger mockery of ''The Longest Yard'' than actors Adam Sandler and Chris Rock did in their 2005 remake of the classic movie. They are 0-for-9 in all attempts from the opponent's 1-yard line this season, and they are minutely better when running the ball on third-and-one or fourth-and-one, converting on just 3 of 11 chances.

Starting running back Matt Forte leads the team with five touchdowns, and he has showcased his big-play ability with touchdowns of 68 and 89 yards. Yet Forte has struggled mightily in short-yardage situations, converting 1 of 7 attempts on third-and-one or fourth-and-one.

While the pecking order at running back is clear, the Bears may be better off handing the short-yardage duties to veteran Chester Taylor.

Gaining that crucial yard takes a special skill set. I recall a conversation with former Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns running back Leroy Hoard about this topic.

''If you need a yard, I'll get you three,'' Hoard told me. ''If you need nine yards, I'll get you three.''

Running backs effective in short-yardage situations tend to be bigger and stronger. But the keys are decisiveness, resourcefulness and strong legs.

''If the play is not blocked right, the back still has to try to do whatever it takes to get the first down,'' Taylor said. ''I just try to keep a forward body lean, and just try to drive my feet.''

For his career, in third-and-less-than-2, Taylor has earned first downs on 31 of 52 attempts (59.6 percent). His average is 2.2 yards, which is solid when one also must take into account a special challenge Taylor faces. Other than 2006, when he started for the Vikings and had 1,216 rushing yards, Taylor has been a backup to Pro Bowl running backs Jamal Lewis and Adrian Peterson.

That means he's often pressed into action in the NFL's version of garbage time, when anyone watching the game knows -- with his team leading -- Taylor is going to run the ball.

For the season, Taylor has five negative-yardage runs, and three of them have come late in the fourth quarter when the Bears were protecting a lead against the Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers.

Forte, meanwhile, tends to get tackled behind the line of scrimmage more often. This season, he's tied for eighth in the NFL with nine negative-yardage runs.

During his rookie season, Forte converted an impressive 8 of 10 on third-and-one. But in the last two seasons, his effectiveness in that situation has tailed off. As a team, the Bears had the seventh-most opportunities on third-and-one or fourth-and-one, yet they converted first downs just 65.3 percent of the time, far below the 82.8 percent efficiency of the league-leading Baltimore Ravens.

TRIUMPHANT TRIO

The Seattle Seahawks have the league's best punt and kickoff returners. But the Bears may have the league's deepest pool of players.

There's Devin Hester, of course, handling punts, but Danieal Manning is fifth in the NFL in kickoff return average, and he's keeping Pro Bowler Johnny Knox on the sideline.

''I'm glad I'm still able to keep returning,'' Manning said. ''We have two [Pro Bowl returners], and I'm still back there.''

Manning takes pride in the fact that he's one of the few defensive players handling the duty. Besides, he embraces the challenge.

''It's a rush,'' he said. ''I enjoy guys trying to hit me and making a move.''

Bears special teams coach Dave Toub said Manning being hot helps him retain that role. But, Toub also said Manning and Knox have different strengths, although both are exceptionally fast.

''It depends on what kind of coverage we're getting,'' Toub said. ''If we have a lot of speed guys, we go with Danieal. You got bigger guys, you like to go with Johnny.''

Toub said Manning is more of a ''north-south'' runner, while Knox can ''cut against the grain.''

Manning, though, is a more violent returner, seeking out contact.

''His nickname is Crazy Horse,'' receiver Rashied Davis said. ''He runs so hard.''

CHANGE IS HERE

After empowering former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Holmgren, the Seahawks are now counting on Pete Carroll and John Schneider to return the franchise among the league's elite.

And Carroll and Schneider aren't wasting any time.

As of Oct. 11, the Seahawks have made 215 roster transactions, tops in the NFL. Only 24 of the current players were with the team in 2009.

One of the most recent moves was trading a fourth-round pick and a conditional pick to the Buffalo Bills for running back Marshawn Lynch, the 12th overall pick in the 2007 draft.

The Seahawks hope Lynch will improve a run offense that's ranked 29th in the NFL.

INTERESTING STAT

The Bears' defense has some issues. But it has forced 24 three-and-outs, which is No. 1 in the league and twice the league average. The New York Giants are No. 2, largely because of the struggles of the Bears' offense two weeks ago.

CAN'T COVER NFL WITHOUT

Bose QuietComfort 3 headsets. They come in handy at stadiums, when perhaps a radio reporter is doing a hit directly behind me, or on an airplane, when a chatty person or a crying baby is nearby.

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