Chicago Bears fans are gearing up for a quarterback competition between Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles later this summer.
However, Bears head coach Matt Nagy understands a more effective run game would take the pressure off either quarterback, regardless of who wins the job.
Nagy stopped by 670 The Score's McNeil & Parkins Show last week, citing the tentativeness in calling running plays stemmed from an inability to establish dominance on the ground:
“When you look at the last couple years with where we've been, we reflect and we understand that we need to be better in the run game,” Nagy said on the McNeil & Parkins Show on Friday. “When your run game isn't quite as good as you want it to be, at that time, it's hard to call runs. At the same time, we need to do whatever's best for our team. We need to adjust and adapt as coaches to who our players are.”
The Bears ranked 20th in the NFL in rushing attempts and just 27th in rushing yards last season.
While injuries and inconsistent play on the offensive line certainly played a role, Nagy also seemed indecisive about who was getting the carries.
Nagy's coaching staff praised rookie running back David Montgomery during camp last season, but Montgomery received just 242 carries last season. While Montgomery averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, he also averaged 1.6 yards after contact and had 28 broken tackles on rushes.
Montgomery was far more effective in the running game than Tarik Cohen, who should mostly be used as a slot receiver or playmaker out of the backfield.
The Bears will have to find a more creative and efficient way to integrate the running game, considering the “bare bones” additions to the offensive line. Chicago lost offensive guard Kyle Long to retirement and replaced him with Germain Ifedi, who was less than stellar with the Seattle Seahawks.
Follow Us
Subscribe