Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen stands 5-6 and 191 pounds. Yet, if you ask him to describe his style of play, he conjures an alter-ego much bigger than his measurables.
“In my heart of hearts, I’m a power back,” Cohen said Thursday.
“I gotta show the world that I’m a big back,” said Cohen, “a short down, short distance back, goal-line type of back. I just want to get there, get behind my pads and just run people over.”
Cohen certainly has the ‘short’ part right.
It was an impressive opening week for all of Chicago’s running backs, including Cohen who totaled 41 yards on seven carries. He looked more like the Cohen we’re used to seeing, the guy with the explosive first step who darts through the line of scrimmage and into the second level.
The change in the Bears’ running scheme is paying dividends early in the season.
“In coach Juan’s (Castillo) scheme, we’re really finding out how to go about things, where to read [the defense],” said Cohen. “The [offensive] line is doing a great job of getting us to the line of scrimmage, even further than that at times. That was the first thing that got us good on the run. We feel like, all three running backs, when you get that running game going first, it does wonders for our confidence.”
Confidence isn’t something Cohen ever seems to be lacking, and if he gets off to a hot start in 2020, he could be headed for a career year. It’ll come at a good time, too, considering he’s scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency next offseason.
