Chicago Bears: David Montgomery, run game should be strong in 2019
The Chicago Bears running attack was a little disappointing in 2018. They made changes in the unit and things should change in 2019.
The Chicago Bears looked hard at the running game after the 2018 season ended. On the surface, some might think that the running backs did a pretty good job. The Bears ranked sixth in attempts (468), seventh in rushing touchdowns (16), and 11th in rushing yards (1,938).
While those numbers are good, the backs left some yards and, therefore, points on the table. They ranked just 27th in yards per rush (4.14). Jordan Howard rushed for 935 yards, but it was his lowest output in his three seasons in Chicago. Head coach Matt Nagy had to change his offensive system so Howard could even come close to another 1,000-yard season. His 3.7 yards per rush was also the lowest in his career.
There weren’t many breakaway plays with the running backs. Sometimes an offense needs that home run play that gets them going. Too many times with this unit the backs went down as soon as they got touched. It was more of the “three yards and a cloud of dust” running game.
Nagy wants a more diversified offense, especially in the running game. He values athletic, speedy backs who can avoid would-be tacklers and use breakaway speed to make big plays. He also wants that athletic ability to help in the passing game. That didn’t happen in 2018.
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When Howard was on the field, defenses knew he was just running. Even if they threw him the ball, it was by the sideline so he stepped right out of bounds.
The Bears shipped Howard to the Philadelphia Eagles and overhauled the running back unit. General manager Ryan Pace brought in Mike Davis through free agency and drafted David Montgomery and Kerrith Whyte. Additionally, wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson signed with Chicago and he’ll be used in the backfield as well. Everyone in the backfield is a threat to make a big play.
This is what Nagy envisioned in his offensive system. The running game helps the passing game and the passing game, in turn, helps the running game.
If the running backs do well, getting big chunks of running yards or passing catches underneath out of the backfield, defenses will need to try to send players to the line, thus freeing up space downfield. If the receivers are doing their jobs, that opens up holes in the line for the running backs to exploit. It’s a pick your poison game for opposing defenses.
While I don’t see a huge difference in the number of carries between Davis and Montgomery, I do feel that Montgomery will have a bigger impact. He has an incredible ability to avoid and break tackles. His balance is exceptional. That ability is something running backs coach Charles London spoke about, per NFL.com:
"It’s important from the running back position because every play is not going to be clean and every hole is not going to be clean. Sometimes you just got to create that on your own. He did quite a bit of that at Iowa State. That was something that we noticed. And that is something you really can’t coach. You either kind of got it or you don’t and he does. It’s something we quickly noticed about him."
I think Davis will play a similar role to what he did with the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks led the NFL in rushing yards with 2,560. Part of that was Davis’ career-high 514 yards in a backup role. He had 112 carries for an average of 4.6 yards per rush, also a career high. He’ll probably get more carries in 2019 but Montgomery will be the primary back.
Another part of the strong running game will be Whyte. The Bears drafted him in the seventh round, but I think he’ll find a way to beat out Taquan Mizzell and be a part of the running back rotation.
Whyte was really underrated at Florida Atlantic. He backed up celebrated running back Devin Singletary so he didn’t get as much attention. However, he made the most of his touches. In 2018, he had 144 touches from the line of scrimmage. With those touches, he recorded 10 touchdowns. That’s a touchdown for about every 14 touches. That is highly efficient.
Whyte has great speed. He wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine but at his pro day, he ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, which would have been the second-fastest time in Indianapolis if he was there. He’ll use that speed to run past defenders on the corner or go downfield and blow past them. Also, he is decisive with his runs and hits the holes quickly.
Whyte will also help on special teams. He averaged 26.1 yards per return in college and the Bears could have a great one-two combination in him and Patterson.
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Most people continue to rave about how the defense could repeat its domination in 2019. While I love what the defense is doing, I am looking forward to the offense. If all these pieces fall in place, the Chicago Bears should be a dangerous team and make it a super season.