Every time there is a coaching change, there is a reshuffling on offense and defense. No two coaches view the game exactly the same way, which can cause significant differences between systems from year to year. With the hiring of Ben Johnson, many Bears fans were expecting the entire offense to look much better, but that hasn't quite been the case.
While Rome Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus have looked like completely different players, DJ Moore seems to have taken a slight step back in this offense. With the Week 5 bye upon us and the Bears readying up for a long stretch of football that hopefully expands past Week 18, is it time to worry about Moore's usage in this offense?
Low Target Share
In the NFL, it's quite obvious that simply looking at receptions, yards and touchdowns isn't the whole story. While that's all people look at in the box score, the true story of the game is impossible to capture in those stats. A better way to look at receiver usage is by looking at the amount of targets they draw per game.
Starting with Zaccheaus, he has averaged 4.5 targets per game. That's up from the first four weeks last season when he saw over three targets just once in the first five games. As for Odunze, his target share has increased dramatically. After having just three games all of last year with eight or more targets, he already has three of those games through four weeks and averages 8.75 targets per game.
Unfortunately for Moore, the target uptick hasn't found him at all. Moore's targets through four weeks last year sat at 34, while he only has 21 this year. He also has only one game with more than 50 receiving yards. While it's always nice that Chicago is able to generate an offense, it is concerning that Moore is now being treated as a weak second option rather than the strong first option he's been for quite some time.
Main Role Underneath
While it's important to understand that we are only four weeks through the season, there are some trends that are starting to stick out with players and how they are used in an offense. The same can be said about Moore. So far this season, his average depth of target (aDOT) is just nine yards, which is more similar to Chris Olave (9.07 aDOT) and Jaylen Waddle (9.06 aDOT). Notable top receivers around the league, such as Mike Evans, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Davante Adams, all sit around the 12-14 aDOT range.
So what does this tell us about Johnson's offense? On the surface, it appears that Johnson no longer wants Moore in the "gamebreaker" role. He prefers him to be utilized less in a more immediate space than he has been in the past. The most comparable player would be Amon-Ra St. Brown if he were used less. Coincidentally, St. Brown's aDOT is 8.32, which is even lower than Moore's.
Is There Cause for Concern?
If the first four weeks are any indication, Ben Johnson has a clear plan for Moore. He wants him to fill the role of St. Brown, but lean on him less than he did during his time in Detroit. It would then seem likely he sees Rome Odunze as Chicago's version of Jameson Williams.
As long as there is a plan for Moore, which appears to be the case, there is no short-term concern for Moore. As the most talented receiver on this team, he'll also have the unfortunate task of drawing the best cornerback from the opposing team.
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This may result in his overall output being less than what fans are accustomed to seeing for the foreseeable future. Even though his stats may suffer, his value, like his usage, goes far beyond the stat sheet. As for his future in Chicago long term, only time will tell, but it wouldn't be crazy to believe Ben Johnson thinks he could be replaced.