In a game where there is little to find in praise in what the offense did, a glimmer of hope comes from Jordan Howard answering questions early into the Chicago Bears season
Remember this offseason when all of the discussion was about whether or not Jordan Howard could pass catch? It seems like we are not talking about that one anymore.
While Jordan Howard has not necessarily seen extensive work in the passing game, he has been effective and efficient in the passing game. He caught two passes for twenty yards on Sunday to boost his overall season totals to 10 receptions on 11 passing attempts.
On top of that, the Chicago Bears are averaging 7.7 yards per attempt when throwing to Jordan Howard. Mitch Trubisky is averaging 6.4 yards per attempt this season.
Quick dumps to Jordan Howard could become a more prominent staple of the offense moving forward. With the struggles of Trubisky early into this season come the questions of making the playbook a lot more simplified. That could involve a lot more passes to Howard right out of the backfield.
They have already proven to be high percentage and amounted to a better yardage total than Trubiskys per attempt rates and Howard per carry rates. The team should have faith in him, and this could have the same effects as the running game. The idea is that these short passes get Trubisky in a groove, and get the defense creeping in.
With a warmed up Trubisky, he can start to take shots over the middle. So, the Chicago Bears offense has not been elite yet. However, they have found some faith in Jordan Howard in the passing game. If they can branch off of this into a more significant role in the offense, it could be an excellent development moving forward.