Langford, Carey, Howard will carry load left by Forte

The last time Matt Forte wasn’t leading the Bears’ running backs onto the Olivet Nazarene University fields at training camp was 2007. This summer, three backs – none older than 24 – vie to replace the franchise’s second-best running back.

Here are three things to watch at the running back position in training camp:

Langford as the lead back: The torch has been passed to Jeremy Langford, the second-year back out of Michigan State, but not without an offseason flirtation (C.J. Anderson), not to mention the fact that neither John Fox nor Dowell Loggains would 100 percent confirm Langford is the starter.

They won’t hand him the big job of replacing Forte, but Langford showed enough last year as a runner, receiver and blocker to give Ryan Pace hope that a member of the GM’s first draft class could blossom into a full-time, productive runner.

The rushing average needs to improve (3.6 yards per carry), and Langford had a couple notable drops, but we saw his open-field abilities and his goal-line work – six of Langford's 12 carries inside the opposing 10-yard line went for touchdowns, and he was not "stuffed" for a minimal gain on any of those runs. Now we'll see if Langford can be consistent while being the No. 1 back, and it starts with his reps in Bourbonnais with the
first-team offense.

Carey vs. Howard: If we’re to assume Langford will get the first crack at starting, that sets up a competition between two inside runners to be his complement, Ka’Deem Carey and rookie Jordan Howard.

It should be noted the Bears do value Jacquizz Rodgers, a veteran who contributes on special teams and third down. But when Rodgers and Forte went down last year, Carey stepped up, and in the process won the praise of Fox for his physical play and ability to push the pile forward, especially late in games.

Howard may have more upside with his size and speed combination, but he will need time acclimating to the NFL game. We didn’t see much of Howard in the spring because of a hamstring injury, so he’ll be one of the focal points on offense in Bourbonnais.

Room for a fourth: With Langford, Carey and Howard likely set as the top three, the battle to be the last back on the roster will be one to monitor in camp.

There’s Rodgers, the oldest in the room, who re-signed on a 1-year pact after ending last season on injured reserve. Senorise Perry, who spent all of last season on IR, has a good special teams skill set. Paul Lasike, a fullback who spent last year on the practice squad and got some work in minicamp making plays out of the backfield, is a former rugby player who could add another element to the offense.

• This is the second of a position-by-position series previewing what to watch in Bears training camp this summer. The team reports to Bourbonnais July 27.