Smith praises workhorse skills of Chicago Bears' Forte

As a rookie on Lovie Smith's 2008 Chicago Bears team, second-round pick Matt Forte got the most work of his eight-year career.

"He picked up things quickly, was just a pro right away," said Smith, whose Bucs host the Bears on Sunday. "Matt was an advanced rookie coming in. We knew right away we could let him be a major part of what we were doing."

Forte carried the ball a personal-best 316 times as a rookie for 1,238 yards, the second-highest total of his career, and caught 63 passes for 477 yards.

"There are a lot of memories of Matt Forte, all good," Smith said. "I remember when (running backs coach) Tim Spencer came to me and talked about the guy he thought was the best running back in the draft - Matt Forte.

"I remember the first day Matt showed up with the rookies, in a suit, like he was on a business trip. It seems like he's been on a business trip ever since. Just a great player and even better person."

Forte turned 30 earlier this month and has lost playing time to rookie Jeremy Langford, but Smith still sees a quality back when he watches Forte on film.

"I haven't seen him tailing off," Smith said. "I see him doing some of the same things he's done since he's been in the league, which is being a productive ballplayer, whether it's catching the ball out of the backfield or making people miss in the open field."

Tested again:

Last week the Bears held NFL rushing leader Adrian Peterson to 63 yards on 18 carries, a 3.5-yard average, which is more than a yard below his 4.6-yard average.

This week they face the league's No. 2 rusher, Tampa Bay's Doug Martin, who already has rushed for 1,305 yards, just 9 fewer than A.P.

"He's rugged," Bears coach John Fox said of the "Muscle Hamster." "He's thick lower-bodied, he's got good power, he has good explosion through the hole, and you know he can take you to the house as far as top-end speed."

The 5-foot-9, 223-pound Boise State product burst onto the NFL scene with 1,454 rushing yards and 49 receptions for another 472 yards as a rookie in 2012. Two injury-marred seasons followed, but Martin's back in a big way.

"Very good running back," said Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. "A lot of similarities to Peterson. Maybe he doesn't have Peterson's breakaway speed, but a very tough inside runner who can bounce it outside, and he's made a lot of big plays.

"He sees the holes very well. He's got great running instincts in finding the hole and the softness in a defense."

Martin's 13 rushes of 20 yards or longer are No. 1 in the NFL, and he has 32 runs of 10 yards or longer, second in the league to Peterson's 40.

Missing in action:

The on-again, off-again availability of wide receiver Alshon Jeffery has taken its toll throughout the season, and he's doubtful (hamstring) for the Bucs game.

Even though he already has missed five games, Jeffery still leads the Bears with 54 catches and 807 receiving yards.

"When he's out there, he's a force for us," offensive coordinator Adam Gase said. "He makes a big difference, and defenses have to account for him.

"We've been able to move him around, and that's caused defenses a lot of problems trying to figure out where he's at."

Because Jeffery also missed the entire preseason with a calf injury, Gase believes timing has been an issue, robbing quarterback Jay Cutler of his favorite receiver and best big-play option.

"There have been some times where we had a chance to make big plays down the field, and we just haven't," Gase said. "It starts in training camp.

"That's the hardest part. When you lose a guy as early as we did and (his availability) is off and on, it's just hard to get that timing."