Chicago Bears embrace offensive overhaul during bye week
The Chicago Bears are on the brink of a significant transformation in their starting lineup following their Week 5 bye. A shakeup is anticipated as the team prepares to face the Washington Commanders in Week 6, according to insider reports.
Benedet steps in for struggling Jones
Longtime Bears reporter Brad Biggs has indicated that left tackle Braxton Jones is poised to be benched in favor of Theo Benedet for the upcoming game. This decision comes amid mounting concerns about Jones’ performance, particularly after his return from a serious ankle injury that sidelined him for much of the previous season.
As the Bears look to rejuvenate their offense, the potential shift at left tackle is just one element of a larger strategy to enhance their ground game. Right tackle Darnell Wright is expected to return from injury, but should he remain unavailable, rookie Ozzy Trapilo will likely fill in on the right side.
Jones’ struggles highlighted
Jones’ performance this season has been underwhelming. His Pro Football Focus grade of 55.0 is significantly lower than any previous season, placing him among the least effective starters on the Bears’ offensive line. More concerning is his run-blocking grade of 47.2, which is the lowest among Chicago’s linemen and over 20 points lower than his previous career-worst season. This decline has contributed to the Bears’ struggles to establish a reliable running game.
The Bears’ coaching staff, led by Ben Johnson, appears committed to addressing these issues during the bye week. Johnson acknowledged that the team’s running difficulties are not solely attributable to any one player, noting the collective responsibility of the offense.
“I don’t think our running struggles were a reflection of D’Andre,” Johnson stated. “He’s a guy that continues to run the ball very hard, even though the yards per carry aren’t where any of us wanted to be right now.”
Johnson further reflected on the broader issues affecting the team, expressing a desire for improved performance from the offense as a whole, including himself.
Comparative performance under different tackles
The impact of the offensive line on the running game has been starkly illustrated by the contrasting statistics of running back D’Andre Swift. With Jones at left tackle, Swift managed just 1 yard on 6 carries. Conversely, with Benedet in the lineup, Swift’s performance improved dramatically, as he rushed for 34 yards on 7 carries, averaging an impressive 4.9 yards per carry and scoring a touchdown.
This data underscores the urgency for the Bears to reassess their offensive strategy and make the necessary adjustments to turn their season around as they prepare for a critical matchup against Washington.
