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Chicago Bears have yet to get the run game…

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Thursday, September 19th 2024

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Chicago Bears have yet to get the run game going. Will facing the Indianapolis Colts be the opportunity D’Andre Swift and Co. need?

Bears running back D'Andre Swift runs the ball during the first quarter against the Texans at NRG Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Houston. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Bears running back D’Andre Swift runs the ball during the first quarter against the Texans at NRG Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Houston. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
By | ckane@chicagotribune.com | Chicago Tribune
UPDATED:

A big hole opened between Chicago Bears center Coleman Shelton and right guard Nate Davis on Sunday night against the Houston Texans, and D’Andre Swift charged through it for a gain of 7 yards.

Swift’s fifth carry at NRG Stadium was a good start to a second-quarter drive. The problem, as the Bears futilely tried to spark their offense in a 19-13 loss, is that it was the longest carry by a Bears running back all night.

And the second-longest this season.

Through two games behind a struggling offensive line, the Bears run game has been among the worst in the league. They rank 28th with 77.5 rushing yards per game. And take out quarterback Caleb Williams’ team-leading 59 yards, and the Bears have totaled just 96 yards on the ground in two games.

It’s a hot topic at Halas Hall this week — along with the Bears’ inability to keep pressure off Williams — in particular because they have a prime opportunity to shake off the issues in Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts.

The struggling run game now goes up against the worst run defense in the league. The Colts have allowed 237 rushing yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry.

Speaking in the locker room Thursday, Swift said “it’s always a great opportunity to get the run game going.” And while he’s hardly the only person to blame, he puts it on himself.

“I don’t want to put anything on anybody else,” he said. “My game, all my reads, got to be damn near perfect. Just making sure I’m doing my job and being better for the man next to me and the men on the outside. So it starts with me.”

The Bears signed Swift to a three-year, $24 million deal in the offseason to bolster an already productive group of running backs led by Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. The fifth-year veteran topped 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career in 2023 with the Philadelphia Eagles, and he also brought pass-catching skills to aid a rookie quarterback.

But Swift has 24 carries for 48 yards (2 per carry), including 14 carries for 18 yards Sunday. Seven of his carries have gone for negative yardage. And his longest run, a 20-yarder in the opening win against the Tennessee Titans, required him to hurdle a defender to gain the final 14 yards.

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Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) heads for the locker room after a 19-13 loss to the Texans at NRG Stadium on Sept. 15, 2024, in Houston. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

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Swift said the start to his season has been as frustrating as anything he has experienced. But he doesn’t avoid that frustration.

“I attack it head on,” he said. “It’s something I don’t take lightly, finding ways to get back to work and finding ways that I can be better.”

When offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was asked how the Bears can spark the run game this week in Indianapolis, he went back to his mantra that it starts with fundamentals and basics for the whole offense.

“Starting up front where we are hitting our blocks, we’re staying in phase, we are in a good rhythm with the backs, includes the tight ends, includes the receivers,” Waldron said. “Obviously the run game is something every single week that we want to be able to lean on, so we’ve got to be able to get that going. Through great fundamental work and the practice preparation, I feel like we are heading in the right direction.”

Waldron has leaned heavily on Swift. Herbert, who topped 600 rushing yards each of the last two seasons, has just four carries for 7 yards. Travis Homer has three carries for 16 yards. And Johnson, a physical runner who rushed for 352 yards as a rookie, hasn’t played an offensive snap.

Johnson missed time in training camp with a toe injury and was inactive in Week 1 as Waldron said he was ramping up.

“Feel good with Swift, with Khalil and with Roschon and the different styles they can bring,” Waldron said. “So, yeah, each week evaluating what fits them best. Every week is its own individual entity and (it’s) figuring out how they fit into the game plan this week, figuring out how we can maximize their tools.”

Multiple Bears players and coaches have talked this week about how getting the run game going could ease some of the passing struggles — and help Williams as he deals with a rookie learning curve.

Waldron believes there’s a “direct correlation” between offensive linemen getting in a run-blocking and a pass-blocking groove.

“The better you hit run blocks, the more you can wear out and lean on a defensive line,” he said. “Those are just body blows that accumulate throughout the course of the game that help you, especially when you talk about how you can wear down a defensive line, then leading into a two-minute situation.

“Or you can extend drives, keep those guys out on the field for a longer period of time. So those two things go hand in hand.”

It doesn’t help that the offensive line is dealing with a couple of injuries this week. Left guard Teven Jenkins (deep thigh bruise) and Davis (groin) have been limited. But Davis said after a tough film review Monday, the line is ready to move forward.

“We weren’t happy,” he said. “No one likes losing. We just have to take the coaching, understand we need to get better and try to flush it today and keep moving.”

Swift is confident a turnaround is on the horizon because of the way the Bears work and the type of players and coaches they have.

And he’s fine with saying it starts with him.

“I’m going to be better,” Swift said. “There’s nothing to be but be better. That’s how I’m going to take it.”

Injury report

Wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel), defensive tackle Zacch Pickens (groin) and fullback Khari Blasingame didn’t practice Thursday.

Jenkins returned in a limited capacity after sitting out Wednesday. Also limited were Davis, defensive ends Montez Sweat (elbow) and DeMarcus Walker (foot), defensive tackle Andrew Billings (groin), wide receiver Rome Odunze (knee) and running back Travis Homer (finger).

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