Here come the Bears! The New Look Bears Offense !

 The Bears offense has made some dramatic changes in the last 3 weeks. It started 4 weeks ago with the playcalling going to Coach Lazor. It has played dividends as each week they get better and better as an offensive football team. They really made a commitment to running the football and the offense has hit on all cylinders.

They are noticeably different in 4 aspects.

1. The Bears have changed their identity. They are going under center. 1st down under center the last 3 weeks is 72% on 1st down as compared to 32% earlier in the year. Weeks 1-10 on 2nd down was 31% and the last 3 weeks is 58%. That is a huge difference. 

They are running the ball successfully. They are giving the ball to Montgomery and he has been playing great. Their wide zone play has really been good of late.This has a lot to do with running the ball under center with more down hill runs. 21/29 runs vs the Lions were under center. 

2. The Offensive Line changes have been a major upgrade. The interior was playing horrible and the best move they made was moving Whitehair to left guard and Mustipher to center. They are doing a nice job as a unit and the difference is night and day.  Right Guard Bars has been solid and Leno and Ilfedi have been good at tackle.

My other posts details the issues prior to the lineup changes 

https://coachkoufootball.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-bears-offensive-struggles.html

They are running more plays under center on 1st and 2nd down as mentioned above  and running more play action passes with Robinson and other wr benefitting. They are running plays sequentially. Jet sweep, wide zone etc. Much different than the rpo world they liked earlier in  the year. 

3.  Also, off the under center runs, you are seeing more bootlegs which is playing to Trubisky's strengths

4. They are getting into a rhythm on offense and it shows. Decisive decision making and play calling has definitely been different.

5. They are being smart. Not asking Jimmy Graham to be a point of attack blocker, using Patterson as primarily a running back and just playing to their players strengths. Getting efficiency from guys other than Robinson has been key. 

6.They are running simple route concepts on third down which is making the reads easy for Trubisky.There is an example down below of this concept.

Stats the last 3 games.

Lions
Rushing      31/140  4.5 ypc                                                       Passing. 26/34   249 yards 1 td o int

Texans        23/169   7.3 ypc                                                                     24/33.  267.   3 td,  o int 

Vikings       42/199    4.7ypc                                                                     15/21      201.  1 td,  1 int

Over the last four weeks, Montgomery has rushed for 434 yards, accounting for nearlyhalf of his season total. Over that period, he has averaged 6.1 yards per carry
Here's a perfect example how an improved running game sets up your play action.

The Bears gain 4 yards on first down against the Lions. On 2nd and 6 they go play action and hit Robinson on a dig route vs cover 3. They freeze the db's with  the jet fake and wide zone action. Easy throw to Robinson!

on 2nd and 10.

They run the same jet action as earlier in the game but give the ball to the HB on the zone slice play.

Good decision and part of their zone, jet play action package.

Down on the goal line they run the jet sweep action and wide zone off it. The Center, Left guard and left tackle to a nice job. The SS goes with the slice block so no real cut back player. Good scheme good blocking and a nice run by Montgomery for 13 yard gain.  Setting up plays nicely.

On 3rd down the Bears are giving Trubisky time but also running effective route concepts that are easy reads for the qb. Here they get man free and run Robinson on the in route at about 12 yards at a depth where the safety cant help. The Lions bring 5 so no underneath help from the lb.  Nice 20 yard gain.

The Bears are playing good football. They have a good team and will be a tough opponent should they make the playoffs.

Bears vs the Vikings

The thing that impressed me was the Bears were really good on 1st down vs the Vikings.
They had it going with their wide zone game, bootlegs and play action. That 1st down efficiency made the difference in putting them up 27-17 halfway thru the 3rd quarter. After that they got away from it and only scored 6 in the last quarter and a half. 

1st Half 

Rushing:    9 carries for 74 yards    8 yards per carry

first drive 2nd half 4 carries for 28 yards 7 yards per carry.

Passing on 1st down:     6/7 for 76 yards

2nd half  1st down 1/2 for 7 yards 

Out of the 9 passes on first down, 7 were boots and 2 were play action. 

Here's an example of their boot out of condensed formation. A nice 14 yard gain.

Robinson has man free coverage and easily beats him across the field on the boot.

Again, a major improvement by the bears who earlier in the year were averaging 1.4 ypc. Nice job by Coach Nagy and the Bears as addressing their issues and making the necessary changes. 

Updated:The Bears offensive struggles in the run game!

 The Bears have been struggling on offense.

But here's an interesting 2 game analysis

1st down

Runs: 17/24 yards running the ball on 1st down.  1.4 ypc

Passes:27/31 209yds , 2sacks.  7.74 ypc 

note: (I count jet sweeps as runs)

I've detailed some of the problems as you can read below but lets look at some solutions:

1. The Bears have to pass to run!!continue to  use the short passing, boots  , jet sweeps, screen and Y rpo game to alleviate some of the issues they are having. They did some early last game with success but need to be committed to it on first down. They shouldn't run on 1st down at all. Nagys plays are solid, he just needs to give up on the run on early downs. FORGET ABOUT RUNNING IT!

That may sound crazy but the plays he calls have been very good. No interceptions, all high percentage.

Running these types of plays will take the onus of the struggles inside at center, guard and play to their strengths at offensive tackle and skill on the Perimeter with Robinson,Montgomery  and A rob

I like this play a lot, I would split a Rob out to the numbers as the single wr then they can him on a slant or out cut. Puts mores stress on the defense. 

Heres a wr screen the Colts run that could be a real good option

Lets take a look at some of the reasons and see where the issues lie.

Fans have been upset with Matt Nagy but there are 11 guys on the football field so lets start there.

Qb- Nick Foles finds ways to wins and is good enough to win with if he has the right supporting cast. Right now, he doesn't have many options that are reliable other than Robinson, and the lack of running game is making the Bears one dimensional but they don't have the talent to play that way.

WR-Allen Robinson has been the most consistent contributor on offense. He is there go to go but his contract situation makes things messy. Mooney and Miller have not stepped up to be that true #2 option.

TE-Jimmy Graham has been a disappointment but Cole Kmet is starting to come on of late. Graham has hurt them in the run game and neither one is a great blocker at the line of scrimmage. 

RB- They average less than 4 yards per game . Montgomery started the year great averaging 5 yards in the first 2 games and 3.1 since. Thats not good numbers with your running back. People want Nagy to run more but if you aren't having results you can't force the issue.

Patterson- I don't know what the answer is to get him some touches. He shows flashes at times but isn't the most consistent in the passing game. He does cause some match ups but isn't a fluid route runner. Not a great rb. Hasn't exploded for too many big plays.

Offensive Line-Right now they need to make some upgrades real fast. They are struggling up front trying to fill spots due to injuries. There left guard was a converted d lineman. They are having major issues at guard.

Run Game

Lets look at the run game

1st and 10 

the Bears have the ball and run wide zone toss with Montgomery. The 1st play could have been a 5 to 6 yard gain but the rb cuts it way too early which allows the safety to fold back inside.

Also, the Rams weak lb does a nice job staying in phase making the play. RB need to get to their landmarks to stretch the defense. 

On 2nd and 8 they give it to Montgomery.

The bears are in 12 personnel and try to run him on duo up the middle. The Rams run the bear front and are in man free so when the safeties see the tight ends block they fill outside in. Donald holds his ground and it gets bounced to where the run support is. Donald does a good job getting the ball spilled to the run support. Graham the tight end misses his block so its a 1 yard gain.

                           

Add caption

Series 2

1st and 10 

the Bears have the ball and run wide zone toss with Montgomery. The 1st play could have been a 5 to 6 yard gain but the rb cuts it way too early which allows the safety to fold back inside. Also, the right guard is wrong and should be doubling with the center and they could get a great double team to the linebacker. Why are you blocking back.

Also, the Rams weak lb does a nice job staying in phase making the play but is unblocked because the right guard looks lost! Are we blocking back on a wide zone play away from you? No

The left guard and center do their jobs and the tackle gets a decent lateral push.  Their could be a better lane but the right guard kills the play.

From there the Bears get a 2nd and 3, 3rd and 2, 1st and 10 and 2nd and 8 and get 4 carries for 10 yards.

2nd and 3 , they run wide zone,

The right tackle gets beat by the de as the rams are slanting to the left. The Left tackle gets beat inside by the 5 technique which takes away any cut back.  They gain a yard.

3rd and 2 

On the 3rd and 2 

They go 11 personnel

The Rams are in a bear look and are plus 1 in the box.

They run inside zone without the read component so they don't slow the lb at all and they don't block the de.

With Trubisky they could have read this and froze the olb and maybe send the h back up to the lb. 

 RB makes a nice run with very little room to operate. The bears don't get a man touched at the 2nd level.  

The rb squeaks thru for a 3 yard gain.

1st and 10 
The Bears run jet sweep against the Rams Bear front, the olb penetration kills the play but should have Cordelle cut it up behind the lead block of the running back? 

2 yard gain. In the college game he would probably cut it up if the lead back cuts it up.

Come on Cordell,  lower your shoulder and get 3-4 more yards. You want to play rb, play rb. Stop running out of bounds.

that brings up a  2nd and 8

Rams in Bear front again,

I really dont understand the blocking on this play. Was Graham leading up was it slice?

Donalds penetration causes issues. Maybe the play was wide zone and just got destroyed by Donald and thus the back cut right away. 

If its a RPO, the slot is wide open.

They manage to somehow get 3 yards.

Clips from the 4 play sequence below

Bears vs Panthers 

See the 1st 2 first down runs vs the Panthers

Vs. The Panthers on first and 10. The bears get a yard running it.

2 points:

1. throw the rpo, you have leverage 3 over 2.

2. This is where you miss Trubisky in the run game for the zone read option.

3. I know its crazy but they should use him on first down. you can give him the RPO or zone read option. What do i mean.

if its 3x2 presnap you can throw the rpo. tough front to run into to the tight end side. 

How the Bears block it:

How some lines may  have blocked it and left the cb unblocked.  

the rpo, if not you are running zone read. Simple, will open up lanes and help the run game.

The next 1st and 10 

they Run wide zone and it looks as if the left tackle has an easy block. He whifs. The guard cuts the ng and the tackle should be able to get to the 2nd level. 

They use some motions and they  release the tight end to the flat on the bottom rather than trying to use him to help in the box and they get no reaction from it. The lb doesn't care and plays cutback.

Bears vs the Titans

first 3 carries, 3 yards

They have a 1st and 10

The right guard gets beat by the shaded nose  and  the nose blows up the play

The rb has to cut it back early because of the penetration and its only a 1 yard gain

then after 2  4 yard gains, Its 4th and 1

 they run into a similar issue.

the right guard gets beat clean and it disrupts the play. They fake a toss and try to sneak Montgomery inside.

They set the front away from the tight end but slant the dt and nose to the tight end.

The right guard gets beat, head down, whifs on the block

No place for Montgomery to go DT is there

r

Ends up no gain, turnover on downs.

1st drive passing 4/4 for 40 yards

rushing 2 carries for 1 yard 

2nd drive 1 carry for 2 yards, the play is below. The left guard whiffs on his block on toss which leads to the fb not blocking the SS. 2 yard gain could have been 5 or more.

They got 5 yards on first, but 2 on this play, then on 3rd and 3 they throw an incomplete and have to punt

 

3rd series they   try to run again and this time the shaded nose drives the center back 3 yards.

another negative play resulting in -1 yards. sets up 2nd and 11

Shaded nose gets three yards in the backfield

Penetration destroys the play

Nothing Montgomery can do on the wide zone