Bears RB Tarik Cohen to doubters: ‘Turn on the tape’

SHARE Bears RB Tarik Cohen to doubters: ‘Turn on the tape’
bears_rookie_camp_football_68772461.jpg

Bears running back Tarik Cohen works out during NFL football rookie minicamp. (AP)

Running back Tarik Cohen noticed fewer cutback lanes in his first week of practice.

“So, as many 80-yard [runs] as I had in college — not going to get quite that many on this level,” he said. “But I still think I could pop out a few here and there.”

Confidence came easy for the 5-6 Cohen after the Bears’ three-day rookie minicamp ended Sunday.

“I think he views himself about 6-6,” coach John Fox said.

Cohen’s response to those who doubt him because of his size: “Turn on the tape.”

General manager Ryan Pace found his North Carolina A&T tape eye-opening. Cohen agreed, saying he’ll miss having “like two” 80-yard gallops per game.

“Some things shock me,” he said. “Turn on my college tape, sometimes I wonder, how did I get out of there?”

If he can make the jump from FCS, the Bears will have a weapon. Cohen — who admires  Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill’s skills — will line up as a pass-catching running back and wants to return kicks.

“He had as good a four-year production I think as there was in the country, albeit at a smaller level of football,” Fox said. “I think he’s a legend around his neighborhood.”

Fox on Mitch

Fox said quarterback Mitch Trubisky had a “great camp” before defining his offseason goals.

“You’ve got to get him up to speed in your offense,” he said. “So I think a guy, regardless of position, has to get comfortable and know what to do — and how to do it — and then just really cut loose and play.

“There’ll be a lot of classroom work — and thank God we’ve got all the offseason to do that. And I think he’ll do just fine.”

This and that

The Bears signed former Wheaton Warrenville South star Titus Davis, who tried out in camp. The Central Michigan alum’s brother, Corey, went fifth overall to the Titans. To make room, they waived former Florida State receiver Levonte Whitfield.

— Victor Cruz, who caught 39 passes for the Giants last season after returning from injury, will visit Halas Hall on Monday.

— Fifth-round pick Jordan Morgan said playing guard for Fox’s Senior Bowl team eased his pro transition.

“Just getting used to a higher level of play than I did play traditionally in college, as well as just terminology and how certain things work,” Morgan said.

Follow me on Twitter @patrickfinley.

Email: pfinley@suntimes.com

RELATED STORIES

First impressions of Trubisky.

Expectations high for Leonard Floyd.

The Latest
Donovan said the Bulls don’t specialize in one particular coverage but rather multiple defensive schemes they can run throughout a game. But with the Bulls having lost five games in a row, sporting the 22nd-worst defense in the NBA, they need to find answers to remedy that end of the court.
Strelnikov had 19 points and 11 rebounds in Lake Zurich’s 71-60 win against visiting Waukegan on Thursday.
The Hawks conceded a shorthanded goal and two power-play goals in a 5-1 loss Thursday, which Tyler Johnson called “embarrassing.”
A year after police found five people dead in a home, the Buffalo Grove police chief looks back on a case that put the tiny department in the national spotlight.
A Chicago man sued when his insurance firm refused to pay for injuries his son suffered when he was hit on a bike by a motorist.