Being known as “that kid from Tucson who made it to the professional level” can be a rewarding feeling in the same way returning to a hometown where countless hours were spent on the gridiron can provide a nostalgic feeling.
For Chicago Bears running back and former Arizona All-American Ka’Deem Carey, returning to the Old Pueblo is a way to recharge the batteries while preparing for another uphill battle this season.
Carey, who is entering his third season in the NFL, is in town for his inaugural Carey Camp at his alma mater Canyon del Oro High School, where he proves his knowledge to youth ranging from fourth graders to juniors in high school. Carey Camp festivities included anything from performing basic cone drills to playing tug of war, but the idea behind the camp was pretty simple.
Carey conducted a phone interview on KAMP Student Radio’s “On The Ball” to talk about his camp and the local support it fostered.
“Right after the season ended, a light just hit me,” Carey said. “I need to start giving back to this community and the way to start — I can just start off in Arizona where I was born and raised and I got so much support here.”
Carey didn’t shy away when comparing Bears head coach John Fox to UA head coach Rich Rodriguez and claimed that Fox loves pushing the intensity on the defensive side of the ball, which is a trait Rodriguez should inherit.
“Fox is just defensive-headed. Defense wins games and I think if Rich Rod can put that in his head, then the U of A football team will have a little bit more success,” Carey said.
Comparing Rodriguez to Fox may seem unusual, considering the spread offense at Arizona is foreign in the NFL unless you’re Chip Kelly, but both love to run the ball.
Fortunately for Carey’s case, Chicago was ranked No. 11 last season in the NFL in rushing with 1,851-yards and 13 touchdowns.
Two of those touchdowns were contributed by Carey, and that’s despite playing behind Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte and then-rookie Jeremy Langford. Forte will most likely look to play elsewhere to seek his first ring.
Carey paid his respects to Forte.
“He was there just trying to teach me to be a better man and a better player on the field and I respect him for that,” Carey said. “I know he’s going to be better off somewhere else and hopefully competing for a ring.”
With Forte out of the picture, promising and ambitious running backs such as Carey and Langford can compliment each other on the ground as well as through the air for a new era of the Chicago running game.
Langford and Carey only contributed to three touchdowns last season, but Carey sounded confident about the productivity between the two for next season.
“Me and Langford, we’ll be a pretty good punch,” Carey said. “He brings something else to the table that I don’t. He runs routes pretty good and I run the ball well. If you could put both of them heads together and make Jake [Cutler] comfortable in the backfield, then I think we’ll pull out wins.”
The confidence is there and for being a one-time All-American, Carey still maintains the mindset of a player that is on a mission to prove the doubters wrong.
This time, though, his efforts from showcased Saturdays efforts will be translated to Sundays, he said.
“You are expecting to see Team Ka’Deem take action for the first time in the NFL, so stay tuned,” Carey said.
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