3 ways Chase Claypool must improve after Chicago Bears bye week

The Chicago Bears traded for Chase Claypool midway through the season, so you knew that there was going to be a growing period. Still, Claypool is now at a point where we are going to want to see growth. Claypool has played five games, the team has a bye, and then he will get four more games.

So, the adjusting time and getting used to things should be over. Now, this week should be about looking to take strides, and showing on the field what he can bring to the team. If Claypool is going to become that player, what is he going to need to do?

3. Chase Claypool must improve as a blocker

I know, you probably do not care much about this. One person who does is Luke Getsy. Another is Matt Eberflus, and another is Ryan Poles, who mentioned blocking as a reason the team acquired Claypool.

Claypool always had the reputation as a blocker, and the Steelers were flirting with making him a defacto tight end. However, according to PFF, he has gone from a career 60-run block grade to 45 this season. He has not looked great in this area.

Below, he is asked to block Aidan Hutchinson. This is a loss for any wideout, but the Chicago Bears have gotten by running these types of plays because of Equanimeous St. Brown. It is fine if he loses slowly, but he gets tossed aside immediately.

He really serves as nothing to slow down Hutchinson who makes the tackle near the sideline. Again, he does not have to win this but has to hold his ground better.

Below, he is lined up in the slot, a bit in line. He is supposed to crack the edge rusher down and clear an outside rushing lane for his running back. Claypool gets there, but he is late, and the hit leaves little impact. He almost bumps the runner forward into the backfield.

Now, Darrynton Evans has to cut outside. You can see that if he is able to cut that hard to the inside there could be something. Because he takes this run outside, he gets mixed up with Byron Pringle and his man. Claypool has to have a bigger impact to keep the edge rusher from blowing this up.

Below we see Claypool against the Packers. He is outside and coming down to block the linebacker. However, he takes a poor angle, he is slow to get to his point, and the linebacker is not close.

It looks like Claypool slows up at the last second out of fear to get a block in the back call. Still, the timing and poor angle are why he is in that position, to begin with. These are minor details that the Chicago Bears thought that they had with Claypool, considering his blocking prowess in Pittsburgh.

Lastly, this effort likely cost the Chicago Bears a touchdown. Claypool does not have to engage at first, and he has the cornerback squared up as he walks him down the field. However, you can see that Claypool has no anticipation that the run could make it to him.

He turns around and is almost stunned to see that Darrynton Evans is right beside him. Now, he tries to speed up and get to his man, who makes the tackle. If Claypool engages with the defender around the 25 and puts a clean, hard block on him, Evans probably is in the end zone.

Fans can say that Claypool is not accustomed to the playbook, but this play is showing that he is not accustomed to Matt Eberflus and his way of doing things by the HITS principle. There was no hustle, intensity or smart play at all. You can bet the coaches were on him for this during the film review, and that this will be highlighted for him over the next four weeks.