Trestman has big plans for RB Forte

Running back Matt Forte better be up for doing big things — and doing them from a lot of different places — this upcoming season. Why? Because new Bears coach and noted offensive guru Marc Trestman absolutely loves him. He couldn’t stop gushing about him during the NFL owners meetings this past week in Phoenix. Trestman has spent more time watching and evaluating Forte than any other player who isn’t quarterback Jay Cutler.

“I just got done looking at all his catches from 2010,” Trestman said. “He was on the line of scrimmage, he was running out of the backfield [and] he is great in space. He has a skill set that goes full spectrum of what you want out of a running back. He can run inside. He can run outside. He can catch the ball extremely well. I saw him as a very good route runner. I saw him in slants in 2010. I saw him run rail routes, sideline routes.

“He’s extremely versatile from what I’ve seen over the stretch of plays that I’ve watched. That’s something I know more about because I’ve watched so much tape on him to try to establish what we need to get done with him in training camp. He can do everything.”

Trestman likened Forte, who’s coming off an injury-plagued 2012, to running back Charlie Garner, who totaled 1,903 yards from scrimmage and had 11 touchdowns in 2002 when he and Trestman were with the Oakland Raiders.

Last year, it seemed as if the Bears didn’t know how to best use Forte’s skills, and his production decreased.