Mike Davis is no stranger to the whole running back by committee approach, as he’s shared carries during his time with the Seahawks and 49ers. Which means he’s comfortable with competition.
When Davis signed with the Bears in March, it was assumed that he would be replacing Jordan Howard, who the Bears traded later that month.
Davis’ role in this offense was a mystery. After all, this was a running back that hadn’t been in a featured role during his time in Seattle and San Francisco. Was Davis brought in to fill Howard’s shoes? Or were the Bears going to turn to the draft for more reinforcements?
The Bears drafted Iowa State’s David Montgomery in the third round to be the centerpiece of their backfield. And unlike Mike Glennon being blindsided when Chicago drafted Mitch Trubisky, Davis was fully prepared for the Bears to draft a running back.
“They were very upfront with me what was going on in the draft,” Davis told the Chicago Tribune. “I knew 100 percent what was going on. I didn’t know exactly who, but watching from the film, I can tell from practice, (Montgomery) is legit. Everything as advertised.”
With Montgomery, Davis and Tarik Cohen, the Bears have a three-headed monster at running back, where they each bring something unique to the table.
“We’ve got a lot of backs and it’s good,” running backs coach Charles London said. “They have versatile skill sets and they can all do different things. These guys understand they each have a role and there are enough touches to go around. That’s what is really good about the group. They understand that. They support each other and they’re looking forward to it.”
While Davis will find himself competing for carries with the Bears, he’s confident that his role will be bigger than what he had in Seattle, where he got 112 carries last season.
“I am just happy to come in and play,” he said. “I can’t wait. We’re going to be all over the place.”
