Chicago Bears re-focused on run game
INDIANAPOLIS — Bears coach John Fox wants a balanced offensive attack that forces opposing defenses to respect the run as well as the pass — in other words, different from last year.
It's unlikely that Fox's Bears will ignore the run to the extent that Marc Trestman's team did last year in a 34-17 loss to the Lions. The Bears picked up 13 yards on the ground in that game on 8 attempts.
The following week, a 41-28 loss to the Cowboys, the Bears rushed 15 times for 35 yards.
Fox knows it will take more than lip service to establish a credible running game, even with workhorse Matt Forte as the bellcow, leading a quality group of backups.
“None of it's easy,” Fox said. “You're competing against the best in the world in what you do, both on the coaching side and the player side.
“You do have to commit to stuff and force it to happen and be successful. If you're running it for zero gain or minus-3, that's not very effective.”
An emphasis on the ground game and instilling the concept of physical football were high priorities for Fox during training camp, and he believes the Bears accomplished that.
“I think our mindset is a little tougher,” Fox said last week, the day his team packed up and left Bourbonnais. “Some of the essences of football have been worked on, as far as run defense and run offense.”
Only four teams rushed for fewer yards per game last year than the Bears, who averaged just 90.1. Fox's 2014 Broncos, whose offense naturally relied heavily on Peyton Manning's arm, still finished a respectable 15th in the league with 111.6 rushing yards.
“The key is executing, whether it's the run or the pass, regardless of the quarterback,” Fox said. “Peyton Manning, you name anyone you want to name, the run game is his best friend. They need some rest plays or ‘breather plays,' as some guys call them. Sometimes handing the ball off is that breather play.”
Jay Cutler knows a productive run game will make him a more effective quarterback.
“Everyone wants to have some sort of balance,” he said. “It gives you friendlier coverages. You see less blitzes. It's going to make your life a little bit easier. I know coach Fox preaches on it as well. It's going to be something in the back of our minds we're always going to be thinking about.”
Forte did not play in the preseason opener, but the Bears displayed a balanced attack, running the ball 33 times while throwing 34 passes.
Forte is not expected to see much action in Saturday night's second exhibition against the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium, but that's been the typical preseason approach. He had just 10 preseason carries in 2014 for a total of 10 yards, and traditionally has seen very limited action until the games count.
But the 29-year-old Forte says he benefited from the Wednesday and Thursday practices against the Colts.
“It's different from a regular practice, it's a different feel,” Forte said. “In training camp, we're going against the same guys we've been going against since OTAs and minicamp and all that. We practice against them every day, and they kind of know how you play. They've studied you.
“When you play against another team, it's more like leading up to a game than a practice. It's a little more intense. I think you get better work out of it.”
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