Bear Digest

Where Surprising PFF Grades Put Fault for Bears Running Game Flop

The problems Bears running backs have had gaining yards come back largely to the run blocking, although Pro Football Focus also sees some issues with at least one running back.
Gene Chamberlain|
D'Andre Swift is cornered on a running play in Sunday's 21-16 Bears loss to the Colts.
D'Andre Swift is cornered on a running play in Sunday's 21-16 Bears loss to the Colts. | Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In this story:

Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams and the Bears passing game started to pick up steam over the last two games, although the running game remains largely a mystery.

Pro Football Focus grades for individual players clarify where some blame lies with blocking in the running game, especially in their last game. These are only grades from one independent source but a based on video review.

One of the most disappointing grades in last week's game belongs to one of their most traditionally high graders at run-blocking and that's guard Teven Jenkins. He was given a 40.8 grade, which is basically a failing mark. Jenkins did have a spectacular day pass blocking with an 87.9  mark but his work in the run game just wasn't there.

Center Coleman Shelton also came out with a low run-blocking grade of 52.7.

BEARS CATCHING RAMS AT RIGHT TIME IF THERE IS ONE

None of the other offensive line run-blocking grades came in extremely low.

NOTHING FLUKEY ABOUT CALEB WILLIAMS' PASSING GAME IMPROVEMENT

BEARS' FOCUS CHALLENGED AS MATT EBERFLUS' DEFINITION OF ADVERSITY HITS

IS SUPPORTING CAST FAILING BEARS QB CALEB WILLIAMS?

BEARS REPORT CARD AGAINST COLTS: OFFENSIVE ID NOW CLEAR

Braxton Jones (65.4), Matt Pryor (61.6) and Darnell Wright (64.3) all earned higher run-blocking grades.

Running game grades, of course, include marks for actual runners. D'Andre Swift averaged only 1.54 yards per carry in the game with 20 yards on 13 carries. His running game grade was 51.5. Even Khalil Herbert, who got stopped on three straight runs from inside the 4-yard-line or closer, still had a 60.9 grade for his running.

Not surprisingly, Roschon Johnson owned the highest marks in the running game among backs at 74.7.

The only real disaster at run blocking was wide receiver DeAndre Carter, who came in with a 31.3 grade for 17 running plays as blocker. It's a situation where getting wide receiver Keenan Allen back might make a difference as he had a reputation as blocker besides catching passes. That was during 2013-21, although he's tailed off lately.

Only three teams had worse PFF run-blocking grades worse than the Bears on the season, and it shows in their lack of production so far in the running attack.

Twitter: BearsOnSI

Published | Modified
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.