Resuscitating Bears Running Game Is a Complex Issue
The Bears know they will find no easy answers while they try to activate a dormant running attack.
Changing guards from Kyle Long to Rashaad Coward, Ted Larsen or Alex Bars might help, but the running game wasn't much better when Long was out one game. Using a lead blocker out of the backfield more might help. The play calling can have an impact, as well.
Bears coach Matt Nagy puts the onus on coaches, but not in terms of play calling. They need a better job of communicating what needs to be done.
"There's a teaching process to it," Nagy said. "So for us we've got to teach them the right stuff — all of us, including myself.
"And then when they get a chance to do it, you've got to do it. There's only so much where you (players) say, 'I'll get it next time,' or 'we'll get it next time together.' I have ultimate trust in our guys, I really do. I mean that. We've had some good conversations. Our guys on that line will be the first to tell you that they want to play better. That's no secret."
Whether they can actually solve the problem is a serious matter because it carries over from last year and is an issue requiring solutions on multiple levels.
They're 29th in yards per carry at 3.4, which last year would have been last in the league by a good margin. In spite of success toward the end of last season, their 4.1-yard average then was still only 26th in the league.
The Bears haven't been below 3.9 yards a carry for an entire season since averaging 3.1 yards in 2007, the year after they lost Super Bowl XLI.
| Year | Yards per carry |
|---|---|
2019 | 3.4 |
2018 | 4.1 |
2017 | 4.2 |
2016 | 4.6 |
2015 | 4.0 |
2014 | 4.1 |
2013 | 4.5 |
2012 | 4.2 |
2011 | 4.4 |
2010 | 3.9 |
2009 | 4.0 |
2008 | 3.9 |
2007 | 3.1 |
Changing guards now from Kyle Long to Rashaad Coward or Ted Larsen could have an effect, but the running game wasn't much better when Long was out one game earlier. Coward got first team snaps on Monday, although Larsen did practice after being away with a knee injury. Bars was brought up from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Tuesday when Akiem Hicks was put on injured reserve.
"I can clear it up right now and tell you it's not because of one person," Nagy said. "I don't know where that goes with whoever that next person is, but we know there's a lot more to our run game than one person. For instance, Kyle Long, there's a lot more to it than him."
Changing up personnel in an offensive line can be a tricky matter for the Bears.
It's not like the line has been a complete disaster, even if they're averaging only 3.4 yards a run. The 13 sacks allowed puts them in the middle of the pack, so it could get worse with the wrong moves.
Another problem on the line has been penalties, and in particular left tackle Charles Leno Jr. He led the NFL with eight penalties after the last Bears game.
While coaches did self-scouting at Halas Hall during the bye week, Leno said he also used his week off to self-scout.
"Yeah, I did a lot of heavy self-scouting," Leno said. "I went to California, see some family and stuff like that. But on the plane, self-scouting there and back, so four hours, eight hours total.
"I was just looking at myself, looking at things that I can improve and I’m really excited because I see the things I got to work on and I know I'm going to get it done."
If Coward starts, he anticipates his challenge at guard will be elevating his animal instincts.
"I just want to play with a dog mentality," Coward said. "It's the NFL. Guys come out here and try to kill you every week. So you can't go out there playing soft. You're going to get pushed around. And I don't like that."
Beyond that, Coward said linemen as a group are trying to work on their communication. Line coach Harry Hiestand frequently says the blocking improves simply by working harder, and Leno agrees.
"That's just how the league is," Leno said. "If you stay persistent and stay grinding throughout the bad things, the negative talk, all the negative doubt that's in our head that you think you can't do it, and just keep staying positive, good things will happen for you."
One other thing Nagy thinks can help is using tight end J.P. Holtz at times as a lead blocker in the backfield. It has to be in very specific situations, though.
"He has a mentality to him that we like that, there's a toughness," Nagy said. "He's somebody, he's a willing participant, per se. And I like that.
"I like guys that go in there and have a little toughness to him. So he brings that element to us. So now what you do is it's another piece that you've got to try to figure out how it fits."
Nagy said whatever is done, there has to be a sense of urgency to generate openings for the running game even if it means accepting some tough coaching.
"So now they're going to get guaranteed 11 more chances to do that, and we'll see where it goes," Nagy said. "They can't worry about two games or three games down the road. We've got to worry about the Saints this coming weekend.
"I just really appreciate who our guys are because they can handle criticism and they understand that that's an element to us getting better on offense."
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