Just a couple of days ago, social media was buzzing around the idea that Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is truly as unpredictable as it gets when calling plays. One of the stats that came up was the fact that, on second-and-short, Johnson likes to use it as a free play.
On second down and short, Johnson might call a deep shot off play action. Or, he might run it. But the stats show that his willingness to pass on obvious running downs has now kept defensive coordinators guessing more than ever.
When you pair that style of unpredictability in play calling with a "unicorn" tight end like Colston Loveland, you're going to give defenses even more fits. And that's precisely what Carmen Vitali went on CHGO's latest podcast to explain.
"What everybody's after and what everybody, up until this point thought, to really take advantage of the questions tight ends present to defenses, you needed kind of those unicorn tight ends; the ones that are elite pass catchers and elite blockers."
Colston Loveland's 'unicorn' skill set can make the Bears' situational football terrifying for defensive coordinators
Coming out of Michigan, Loveland was viewed as an elite pass catcher and also a strong blocker. Is he an elite blocker? Maybe. But the fact that he excels in both is what can make him so dangerous in an offense like Chicago's.
"As long as you're willing to iso Colston Loveland against a defensive end, even if you get burned now and again, the fact that the defense knows you are willing to use them in that way makes them respect the tight end."
What Vitali adds to the discussion makes this even more of an issue for defenses. She points out that most defenses will run their base scheme in situations like this because the offense will often run in 12 personnel.
That base defense typically only has four defensive backs, which makes sense if you've got two tight ends on the field. But in the Bears' case, Loveland is a downfield threat just as much as he is a great blocker.
Forget the general question of, "will they run it or pass it?"
The question now becomes, "Is Loveland going to be a blocker or is he going to be a receiver on this play?"
"He can be an extension of the offensive line and be a blocker, or he can run routes. And that's why I think Colston Loveland is so key to Ben Johnson's offense ... he is also still a downfield threat."
Now, the defenses will have to respect someone like Loveland all the more. Defenses are now worried about one particular player who is elite in both the ground and passing game.
On a down like 2nd-and-short, Loveland can make you pay as a blocker. And most teams would probably try to run it to move the chains. But if Johnson calls a pass, then Loveland becomes a potential "uh oh" or "whoops" for defensive coordinators.
In an instance with just four defensive backs on the field and Johnson takes a shot with Loveland running down field, defenses are going to pay.
How many NFL teams have a tight end who can go from blocker to a 58-yard game-winning catch-and-run touchdown?
"Colston Loveland, in general, is just the engine for this offense ... the reason these heavier personnel sets aren't used very often is because you're sacrificing your best pass catchers to get tight ends on the field. If tight ends are some of your best pass catchers, then you're not sacrificing anything."
That's what's making Loveland so special in an offense like Johnson's.
The scariest part of all? We're only going into Year 2 for Loveland in the NFL and Year 2 of Johnson's offense in Chicago.
Last year was basically a trial run. Last season was a learning curve for everybody within this offense. Caleb Williams was "drowning" while learning this offense, as he recently explained.
Loveland wasn't even really deployed until Week 7, when he had that monstrous breakout against the Cincinnati Bengals. He ended the season with over 700 receiving yards and six scores ... and again, he hardly showed up the first six games of the year.
Just think of how good this unit is going to look with another offseason under their belt and Williams, Loveland and company taking another step forward.
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"Scary" is definitely the word.
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