bluehaze
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Post by bluehaze on Aug 1, 2017 15:01:11 GMT -5
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oleschoolaggie
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2009 Poster of the Year, 2009 Most Knowledgeable Poster
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Aug 1, 2017 15:15:19 GMT -5
i gotta get one of these!!
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saabman
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Post by saabman on Aug 1, 2017 15:34:43 GMT -5
i gotta get one of these!!
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bluehaze
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Post by bluehaze on Aug 2, 2017 14:09:00 GMT -5
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popdad
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Post by popdad on Aug 3, 2017 9:14:44 GMT -5
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oleschoolaggie
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2009 Poster of the Year, 2009 Most Knowledgeable Poster
Posts: 24,161
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Aug 3, 2017 10:06:10 GMT -5
chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/08/02/rookie-rb-tarik-cohen-emerging-for-bears/Rookie RB Tarik Cohen Emerging For Bears
August 2, 2017 5:23 PM By Chris EmmaBOURBONNAIS, Ill. (CBS) – A buzz went through Bears camp as rookie running back Tarik Cohen split through the defense and burst down the field Wednesday. The smallest guy on the field knows how to make a big impression. And you better believe he loves the spotlight. “I know I’m going to get the oohs and the ahhs,” Cohen said after practice. “So it’s kind of like showing off a little bit.” Cohen’s name is emerging just a week into training camp at Olivet Nazarene, and the Bears’ belief in him is becoming clear. Cohen’s name was hardly known when the Bears made the bold selection to choose him in the fourth round of this past April’s draft. Nobody expected the pick of a 5-foot-6 running back out of North Carolina A&T. Upon making the selection, Bears general manager Ryan Pace referred to Cohen as a “joker back” – an indication of the role that he could find in due time. Cohen could be used all over the Bears’ offense. “He’s a matchup problem,” Bears coach John Fox said. Last season, the Bears found their rock at running back in the form of Jordan Howard, who broke the franchise’s rookie rushing record with 1,313 yards on the ground in 13 starts. Howard became a breakout star and just what the Bears needed after moving on from Matt Forte. Howard is a force with his ability to run between the tackles and move toward the next level. For what he lacks in top-end speed, Howard makes up in his ability to get through the line and fight for extra yards. Cohen could be the ideal complement to Howard – the lightning to Howard’s thunder. He’s a slippery force in the open field and difficult for defenders to locate and take down. “Considering my size, if a defender really gets hands on me – like, a good grip on me – then, most likely, he’s going to make that tackle,” Cohen said. “Me evading that tackler is definitely important.” Early on, it seems as if Cohen may be hard to catch on the football field. He boasts the ability to make a quick cut and burst upfield. It’s why the Bears are also trying him as a punt returner. Cohen figures to play a role in the passing game, too. The Bears are eager to see how Cohen can fit into their plans, and he has fans plenty intrigued.
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oleschoolaggie
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Aug 4, 2017 7:56:23 GMT -5
they even mentioned "khris gardin" in this article... www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Cohen-emerging-as-fan-favorite-at-practice/f949ec86-372d-468e-9c32-7e69e585f548Cohen emerging as fan favorite at practice
Posted Aug 2, 2017 Larry Mayer
Bears Senior WriterIt could be because of Tarik Cohen’s diminutive size, the video that went viral of him catching two footballs while doing a backflip, or maybe just his explosiveness on the field. Whatever the case may be, the dynamic rookie running back has clearly emerged as a fan favorite at training camp, routinely drawing the loudest cheers when he makes a play during practice. “I love it,” Cohen said. “It’s great. It’s like a confidence builder. It’s like more people being behind you, then that makes me want to make more plays because I know I’m going to get the oohs and the ahhs, so it’s kind of like showing off a little bit.” Selected by the Bears in the fourth round of the draft out of North Carolina A&T, the 5-6, 181-pounder earned the nickname “The Human Joystick” for his video game-like moves in college. Cohen has continued to display those spins, twirls and dipsy-dos in training camp practices. “I feel like it’s from many years of backyard football,” Cohen said. “When it happens in a game situation, there’s just reaction, so I’m just out there having fun and then if a spin move pops out, then it’s a spin move, and if three more follow it, then that’s how it happens.” Cohen wasn’t just flashy at North Carolina A&T; he was ultra-productive, becoming the all-time leading rusher in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference history with 5,619 yards and setting school records with 6,564 all-purpose yards and 61 total touchdowns. The Bears project Cohen as a third-down “joker” back who possesses a different skill set than starter Jordan Howard and can create match-up nightmares for opposing defenses. “I’m feeling very comfortable and in our offense the coordinator (Dowell Loggains) and coach [John] Fox have really put me in the perfect position matchup-wise to be able to showcase my speed, agility and quickness,” Cohen said. “I’m looking forward to contributing to the offense. I know [Howard] is going to be a major key in the offense, and I’m looking to put my part in as well.” If Cohen does play on third downs, he’ll no doubt be asked to pass block at times. Working on that in practice, he’s learning the importance of maintaining good body position and discipline, knowing your keys and being fundamentally sound. “You have to have your head back,” Cohen said. “With the strong linebackers we have, if you’re leaning too far in, they’re going to snatch you and go right by you.” Cohen also hopes to contribute as a return specialist. He returned punts and kickoffs in high school but was not used in that capacity in college because North Carolina A&T had a talented returner in Khris Gardin and coaches didn't want to risk getting their star running back injured. Cohen did return one punt last season after Gardin was injured against Bethune-Cookman. The Bears rookie brought it back 67 yards for a touchdown, but the play was nullified by a penalty. Cohen conceded that he will have to adjust to the speed of NFL gunners, but he’s confident in his ability to field punts after consistently working on that aspect of the game in college. “It’s not something I did a whole lot of in the games,” Cohen said. “But every day in practice I was doing them, so catching them is not really a hard thing for me.” Cohen takes pride in his versatility and hopes to replicate the type of role that Tyreek Hill filled as a rookie last season with the Chiefs when the speedy receiver scored 12 touchdowns—six on receptions, three on runs, two on punt returns and one on a kickoff return. If Cohen is able to accomplish that, the cheers from Bears fans will become even louder.
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Post by DOOMS on Aug 4, 2017 20:04:31 GMT -5
Me: oooh, the bears vs the broncos will be on Thursday.
My six year old boy: who are you going for?
Me: the bears, you know why?
My six year old boy: Tarik Cohen?
Raise a child in the way he should go...
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aggie62
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Three Generations of Aggies
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Post by aggie62 on Aug 5, 2017 0:21:24 GMT -5
Me: oooh, the bears vs the broncos will be on Thursday. My six year old boy: who are you going for? Me: the bears, you know why? My six year old boy: Tarik Cohen? Raise a child in the way he should go... Sounds like that was a great conversation... Aggie Pride!!!
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Post by bseballaggie on Aug 5, 2017 8:34:34 GMT -5
Im in Hodgkins IL about 15 minutes outside Chicago, proudly wearing my AGGIE snapback, Its a Proud moment. A 4th round HBCU footballer is the talk of the town.The press is all over another(my HBCU) player.
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saabman
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Post by saabman on Aug 5, 2017 9:33:36 GMT -5
Im in Hodgkins IL about 15 minutes outside Chicago, proudly wearing my AGGIE snapback, Its a Proud moment. A 4th round HBCU footballer is the talk of the town.The press is all over another(my HBCU) player. it is ironic that Chicago has always been a unique landing spot for HBCU players.
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bluehaze
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Post by bluehaze on Aug 5, 2017 23:38:40 GMT -5
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bluehaze
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Posts: 5,992
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Post by bluehaze on Aug 6, 2017 8:40:24 GMT -5
Three Bears who stood out at Family Fest2017 BEARS TRAINING CAMP 08/06/2017, 08:00am Patrick Finley Chicago.suntimesFamily Fest came and went Saturday without the disastrous injury that ruined last year’s — “Knock on wood,” coach John Fox said — but the Soldier Field exhibition was about more than bullet-dodging. Here are three players that stood out, and why: Mitch Trubisky wasn’t intimidated. The rookie quarterback was perhaps the most popular player among the fans — heck, the public address announcer even called out his first-ever completion at Soldier Field, like it was a milestone. He completed 3-of-5 passes for 42 yards in team drills; he had one pass batted down and threw an incompletion on another when a blocker was pushed into him Victor Cruz has noticed the rookie’s attitude. “Just his eagerness to learn,” the receiver said. “He’s not above the game. He doesn’t feel like he’s entitled to anything because he was drafted so high. I think he’s coming in eager, young, bright-eyed, ready to learn the game and grow as an athlete.” Tarik Cohen won’t back down. The undersized running back was fearless in the Bears’ first prolonged live tackling session of camp, even as he was wrestled to the ground with particular violence. Fox wasn’t surprised by his performance. “I think I’ve seen enough of him to kinda know,” Fox said. “I think he’s a young football player.”
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oleschoolaggie
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Aug 9, 2017 15:09:07 GMT -5
ok, everybody. don't miss tarik's first ever nfl preseason game tomorrow night (thurs., aug. 10th) at 8pm. game will be broadcasted "nationally" on the nfl network. already got my dvr programmed to record that game. can't wait to see the "human joystick" in action!
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oleschoolaggie
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2009 Poster of the Year, 2009 Most Knowledgeable Poster
Posts: 24,161
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Post by oleschoolaggie on Aug 10, 2017 11:54:39 GMT -5
this is so weird! i'm a redskins fan and they play baltimore tonight in their first preseason game. however, i'm more excited about watching cohen play tonight than i am the redskins playing our "beltway rivals" in baltimore. i'm recording both games but i will watch the bears first. i'll fast forward to see all of cohen's plays first and then switch over to the redskins game...
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