Do not look now, but the Chicago Bears are 2-0 with Bill Lazor calling plays. It may be less about Lazor calling plays and more about Matt Nagy stepping into a head coach role and seeing the game away from his play sheet.
Last week we noted that the Bears offense did not look similar against Detroit as it did the rest of the year. Some of these changes continued into week two, showing that it very well may be a part of the plan moving forward. Which changes are becoming staples?
Multiple Tight End Usage
This was always surprising, considering the tone and decisions made in the offseason. The Chicago Bears have two, if not three, capable tight ends, but we hardly saw that through three weeks. The past two weeks have been a dramatic difference, though.
In the first three weeks, the Bears ran two-tight end sets just 16% of the time. Then, in the past two games, that number shot up to 28%. That is precisely where they should be.
Last year the Bears ran 19% two tight ends, but 24% after the bye when they went on their late-season run. We wrote that 29% should be a goal for the team. To see them right at 28% in two weeks is reassuring and shows that this was their preseason plan; it just took a new play-caller to get to it. Perhaps this frees up Nagy to get more personnel involved?
Protect the Offensive Line
The Bears did a horrible job of protecting their tackles through three weeks. They sent all eligible receivers out for routes, and there were never extra blockers to chip or provide double teams.
Those numbers were consistent against the Raiders as well. In Justin Fields’ first start, Cole Kmet blocked on 6% of all passes while Jimmy Graham did not block. Against the Lions, those numbers shot up to 25% for Kmet and 10% for Graham. Kmet was up to 26% blocking on pass plays, but Graham sat at 10% again.
Beyond that, the team added Alex Bars as an extra lineman who was an extra blocker on four pass plays. Khalil Herbert also ran just seven routes while staying into block six times.
The Bears are now dead set on protecting their line. They have more tight ends on the field, and they are blocking, and even backs, as well as an extra lineman, are buying Justin Fields more time.
Run Early, Run Often
Fans have been clamoring to run the ball more and stick with the run for years. Over the past two weeks, they have finally got their wish. Looking at just the first half of games to determine precisely what the game plan is and avoid comebacks or leading situations, the Bears have been the most run-heavy team in the NFL the past two weeks.
In the first three games, the Bears threw the ball on 54% of their first-half snaps. On first and second down, they were 50/50 split.
In the past two weeks, they have elected to throw 40% of the time. That includes just 36% on first and second down. From 54% to 40, and from 50% to 36%, we see a pretty deep drop-off for the team. As noted, when you add in the second half and that they have led each game, the rate goes from 51% pass the first three games to 34% in the past two.
Whether this is Bill Lazor, a collaborative effort, or possibly the fact that they got two teams at the right time, these are things we knew the Bears needed to do, and now they are doing them.