BillsFever
07-16-2003, 03:20 AM
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Earle Mosley cringes when he hears talk about Anthony Thomas' so-called sophomore slump. The Bears' running backs coach blames a lack of consistency and execution by the entire offense for Thomas' decline in production last season and is confident that the A-Train is the same back that earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2001.
Thomas rushed for 721 yards and 6 touchdowns on 278 carries last year before missing the final four games with a broken finger sustained in a 30-20 loss at Green Bay. The previous season, the second-round pick from Michigan set a Bears rookie record with 1,183 yards and 7 TDs on 278 attempts.
Thomas' yards-per-carry average dropped from 4.3 to 3.4, but Mosley insists that the A-Train wasn't the only one to blame. With the Bears preparing to report to training camp next week, the running backs coach discussed his position group with ChicagoBears.com:
What must Anthony Thomas do to return to form?
EM: "He just needs to keep on working on areas that he feels he needs to improve that we have addressed and talked about. But his production is consistent with the decline of our whole offensive unit in terms of execution on a consistent basis.
"It's not one man. It's easy to point at him, but it ain't him. It's everybody. We were very poor offensively in terms of execution on a consistent basis. And as everyone improves their area and he continues to work on his area, then he will get better in our offense."
http://www.chicagobears.com/news/index.cfm?cont_id=193194&right_include=/includes/dsp_bearsnews_module.cfm&include=&show_headline=true
Thomas rushed for 721 yards and 6 touchdowns on 278 carries last year before missing the final four games with a broken finger sustained in a 30-20 loss at Green Bay. The previous season, the second-round pick from Michigan set a Bears rookie record with 1,183 yards and 7 TDs on 278 attempts.
Thomas' yards-per-carry average dropped from 4.3 to 3.4, but Mosley insists that the A-Train wasn't the only one to blame. With the Bears preparing to report to training camp next week, the running backs coach discussed his position group with ChicagoBears.com:
What must Anthony Thomas do to return to form?
EM: "He just needs to keep on working on areas that he feels he needs to improve that we have addressed and talked about. But his production is consistent with the decline of our whole offensive unit in terms of execution on a consistent basis.
"It's not one man. It's easy to point at him, but it ain't him. It's everybody. We were very poor offensively in terms of execution on a consistent basis. And as everyone improves their area and he continues to work on his area, then he will get better in our offense."
http://www.chicagobears.com/news/index.cfm?cont_id=193194&right_include=/includes/dsp_bearsnews_module.cfm&include=&show_headline=true