The Chicago Bears Rushing Attack is Fixed

Just a few short weeks ago, I started an article about the Chicago Bears’ rushing attack being anemic. They weren’t getting anywhere on the ground, and it appeared as if a major overhaul was needed. None of the backs on the roster were effective to start the season through the first four games. It seemed as if the rushing attack was going nowhere.

The Rise of the Rushing Attack

The Bears’ running game came alive in the last few weeks, almost as if someone flipped a switch and it got started. DeAndre Swift, the Bears’ main starter at the position, got going big time with some big games. He was able to string together some awesome runs with some big-time statistics. It would have appeared as if Swift had finally broken free of the funk that he was in for the first part of the season.

Even seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai has gotten into the mix and had a great game against the New Orleans Saints. The Bears’ rushing attack is trending upwards, and as long as it keeps heading that way, the Bears will keep winning. Now granted, stringing together a handful of games doesn’t signify the second coming of the rushing revolution, but the Bears are on a roll, and we hope it doesn’t stop.

Quality versus Quantity

The Bears don’t have a lot of choices when it comes to running backs. They have four, right now, that they can rely on to run the ball, with a fourth sort of waiting in the wings. We mentioned Swift and Monangai. There are also Roschon Johnson and Travis Homer. Johnson and Homer, however, seem to be perpetually injured and haven’t been much help for the Bears. The coaching staff has utilized D.J. Moore at running back, but that hasn’t worked as well as they would have liked.

So instead of stacking the team with running backs, they have added some quality players at the position who run the ball well and gain those tough yards. Swift has stepped it up, and Monangai is going to be a good running back. If the two don’t suffer any serious injuries, the rushing attack should continue to do well. (Note: As of this writing, the Bengals game was played, and Swift was out with an injury.)

It All Starts Up Front

It’s not just the running backs that help make the Bears’ rushing attack work. The five guys up front on the offensive line are a huge part of their success. The Bears retooled their offensive line during the offseason, bringing in some great talent. It paid off big, even though it took them a little while to get going. Now that the offensive line has come together and gelled, the rushing attack should continue to grow and get better.

The lack of serious injuries on the offensive line has kept things solid up front. Darnell Wright missed little time with an elbow issue, and the Bears traded Braxton Jones out for Theo Benedet. But in the end, the changes have worked, and the offensive line has become one of the best lines in the league.

If the offensive line continues to remain healthy, and guys like Benedet shore up their game, this line can be one of the top five best in the game. Bank on it. The Bears are becoming one of the better teams in the league, and it’s thanks to the coaching staff, which has gotten the players to come together as a team and believe.

A Little Bit of Magic

That coaching staff, headed by Ben Johnson, is one of the best in the league. They know what they are doing, unlike other coaching staffs the Bears have brought on board in the past. There isn’t anything out of the ordinary with this head coach. He is one of the better ones the Bears have had since Lovie Smith, and he will build this team into a winner. The magic here is that the Bears were able to hire Johnson, an offensive guru, and bring in a whole new philosophy.

Now, can Johnson work his magic to bring the team up from its ashes, make it a winner, and get it to the Super Bowl? Hopefully, with the positive outcomes we have seen in the running game, we indicate that things with the Bears are going to improve. We hope this team will be a consistent winner. Sure, they have had some bumps along the way, but the Bears are going to be good. Just wait and see!