Bear Digest

Exploring depths of Bears' running game dominance and its potential

The physical way the Bears dominated on the ground against Philadelphia is uncommon in the NFL and for that reason Ben Johnson is looking to build in counter punches.
Gene Chamberlain|
D'Andre Swift powers through Philadelphia's defense in a show of force by the Bears' running game.
D'Andre Swift powers through Philadelphia's defense in a show of force by the Bears' running game. | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

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Chicago Bears

The focus on improving the passing attack by Ben Johnson and Bears coaches this week is needed, as long as it doesn't come at the expense of what they've built.

They wore out and frustrated Philadelphia with all of their rushing attempts. It's not common to see this in NFL games, where passing is emphasized so much, but it happened.

“I probably wasn’t watching their body language a whole lot," Johnson said of the Eagles defenders. "But I do feel the 4s, the 6s, the 8s—they add up and then our players come to the sideline and they’re calling for it a little bit. I hear our O-line coach (Dan Roushar) harping a little bit 'run the damn ball,' that type of thing.

"I hear it, I feel it I see it, so as a play caller you try to adjust. Like I said before, I’ll do whatever it takes to win the ballgame, score points, and if that’s throw it 50 times, we’ll do that. If it’s run it 50 times, we’ll do that. We were a little bit more run-oriented this past week.”

Pounding the rock

Johnson said he wanted an offensive line that could block wide zone, inside zone and gap schemes. He has it. This includes the tight ends and receivers.

 "Obviously you get a healthy dose of our wide zone stuff and gap scheme stuff and just how bought in everyone is to it," tight end Cole Kmet said. "Mainly, really, when you see Ben, who does the run installs for us and how fired up he gets as the play caller about the run schemes that he's presenting for the week, I think that trickles to everybody in the room.

"Not only the offensive line and backs, but tight ends, receivers and it really makes everyone want to be involved in it and really be on the details about it. It's a creative, fun run scheme to be part of. But at the end of the day, it is predicated off of physicality and finish. At the core, that's what football is.”

Kyle Monangai and D'Andre Swift both going over 100 yards made it so Johnson didn't really need to change backs according to situation. It was more just alternating to keep them fresh.

"You could feel decisiveness; you could feel them hitting it downhill," Johnson said. "They turned on the gas and were lowering their shoulders, too, so that was so good to see. But it doesn’t happen without that offensive line."

Their nine wins in 10 weeks have come with a prodigious running attack, ranked second in the league right behind Buffalo. In many ways, it's more effective than Buffalo's since it isn't dependent upon as many rushing yards from quarterback runs.

The Bears lad the NFL in rushing first downs at 9.0 per game, far ahead of Buffalo (8.3).

The top two teams in this statistic normally find themselves in the playoffs and even deep in them. The Eagles and Ravens were 1-2 at this last year, Bills and 49ers 1-2 in 2023 and Eagles and Ravens 1-2 in 2022. But the Eagles and Ravens always have a head start on other teams because their quarterbacks account for so many rushing yards.

Not to exclude the modern analytical group from this discussion of hitting and blocking, the Bears rank third in rushing EPA afer the Colts and Bills.

A running head start

The Bears are doing it the old-fashioned way as Caleb Williams can run but is only eighth among QBs in rushing yards. The rushing emphasis has the Bears fourth in time of possession, so they can play keep away and get away with it as long as they also score points.

The most impressive part of what they've done on the ground is simply executing those blocking schemes. Their backs have done a good job exploiting them.

The Bears lead the NFL in yards before contact at 719, 45 yards ahead of the Jets in second. The Jets are second because they leaned on a rushing attack with the QB running it so much, but the Bears are not, and that only underscores how effective their line has been at keeping backs from being hit before contact.

Balancing it out remains the key, and why Johnson is so focused this week on working at improving details in the passing game. It's possible to do when you're also tied for seventh in fewest sacks allowed per game.

As Johnson said, he doesn't care if he's running it 50 times or passing 50 times.

If they get to the point where they actually can pass it 50 times and be as effective as they have running it close to 50 times, then they'll really have something.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.