Chicago Bears: 3 Players who will benefit from new coaching staff
Jordan Howard, Running Back
You might think that no matter who is coaching the Bears Jordan Howard will succeed right? Yes, I agree. He broke the franchise record for rushing yards by a rookie, impressive considering the franchise had players like Walter Payton and Gayle Sayers. He also had the most yards by a Bears running back in his first two seasons (2,435).
The fact that the Bears had an almost non-existent passing game (due more to John Fox rather than Trubisky), what Howard did was extraordinary. He consistently faced a crowded line of scrimmage and still gained all those yards.
In his two seasons with the Bears, Howard had two running backs coaches, Stan Drayton in his rookie season and Curtis Modkins this season. Now, in his third season, he’ll have Charles London. Howard doesn’t feel having another new coach hurts his continuity. He just sees it as a chance to learn something he didn’t know previously, per the Chicago Tribune:
"New coaching staff, I’m definitely excited about that; see what they’re going to do differently. It’s still going to take getting used to. … I’m just hoping to learn something new. Every year I have a new running back coach since college. I think I know a lot, but every coach they always teach me something I don’t know."
Don’t think that the hiring of Harry Hiestand as offensive line doesn’t also help Howard. Hiestand is considered one of the best offensive line coaches either in college or in the pros. He worked with the Bears from 2005-09. He’s worked as Notre Dame’s offensive line coach since 2012. This season, the Fighting Irish won the Joe Moore Award, honored to the best offensive line in college football.
During his time in South Bend, Hiestand had four linemen drafted in the first three rounds Zack Martin, Ronnie Stanley, Nick Martin and Chris Watt. In the upcoming draft, both Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey expect to go in the first round.
With Hiestand greatly improving the offensive line, Howard will see more holes to run through. He already showed that he is a good running back. He may take the next step and become a great running back.