The offensive protection was an embarrassment for the Chicago Bears in Week 2, dooming the unit from the start on a national stage.
In the loss to the Houston Texans, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was pressured 36 times and was sacked seven times. Yet, the team still had an opportunity to win the game on the final drive.
After getting back to Chicago and going over the tape, head coach Matt Eberflus and tight end Cole Kmet admitted that the protection up-front from everyone, not just the offensive linemen, needs to be addressed and can be fixed going forward.
"I do think it’s fixable because it’s more so mental stuff," Kmet said on Monday . "I don’t think it’s a physical issue with the guys that we have. I think we have a lot of talent, and that includes the guys up front. I think we’ve just got to get things situated in terms of being better communicators across the line of scrimmage and get more dialed in that way. I think we can all play as one. I think we’ll be better off, guys will be on the same page and things will naturally start to look better for everybody."
After the game, Eberflus pointed out chipping, blitz pickups, and read progressions as other key issues that led to the problems in protection. However, the unit also struggled on the ground as well with the running backs rushing for a combined 27 yards on 17 carries (1.6 yards per carry).
Starting running back D'Andre Swift once again struggled to get anything going on the ground despite getting 14 carries against the Texans. Khalil Herbert and Travis Homer were the only other backs who received carries (3 combined). Having other players involved in the run game is just one potential fix for the problems on the ground.
Getting the ground game going against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3 can help things out in a major way for both Williams and the protection up-front and that's something the Bears will be looking to do on Sunday.
“I do believe when you're able to run the ball and move the ball and stay ahead of the chains, you don't get those types of pressures in that where we know you're all pass protection," Eberflus said . "So, we have to do a really good job with that coming forward and not creating those distances for us there that aren't favorable for us on offense that we can rely more on the quick passing, rely more on to convert third downs, and really getting first downs on first and second down, not even getting to third down. That's what we're searching for. We're hunting for that.”
When it comes to getting other backs involved, Eberflus was not asked specifically about Herbert, who scored the team's lone offensive touchdown of the season. However, he was asked about the usage of second-year running back Roschon Johnson, who was healthy and did not play a single offensive snap in Week 2. Instead, it was Homer who played 20 offensive snaps a got one handoff in the game.
"We want to be able to mix that up a little bit and change it," Eberflus added . "Travis has done a really good job of protection. He's done a really good job where we had called some designed runs in there. But again, we want to have a little bit of mix and match in there, you know, just to create some different matchup issues for the defense. And Roschon is one of those guys, Swift is one of those guys, and Herbert is one of those guys. And all those guys are capable of doing it. And we let them have a little bit of mixing there, just like you do with your receivers and tight ends."
Sunday's matchup against the Colts will be the perfect opportunity to do so and see if the offense can spring some big plays through the run game. Over the first two weeks of the season going into Monday Night Football, the Colts have allowed the most rushing yards (474) in the entire league. On Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, the Colts allowed 237 rushing yards in the first half alone.
If the Bears once again struggles to get things going in the run game and repeats the same mistakes against the Colts D-line, then things are seriously wrong in Chicago.
Related: Bears Week 2 Pro Football Focus grades paints the picture for how bad the offensive line played against the Texans
Local News
