Chicago Bears need to utilize the run against Jaguars
The 1-4 Bears have increased their rushing yards in each of the past three games, and that may be their best approach Sunday at Soldier Field in a noon game against the Jaguars.
Despite a 1-3 record, Jacksonville boasts an impressive defense, especially against the pass, where it allows just 198.8 yards per game, seventh best in the league. But the Jags can be run on. They're allowing 105.8 yards per game on the ground, 17th in the NFL.
Jaguars coach Gus Bradley, who masterminded the Seattle Seahawks' defense from 2009-12 and used that as a springboard to the top job in Jacksonville, may be coaching for his job. He's compiled a 13-39 record overall, including a horrendous road record of 4-21. The Jags have won just one of their last 17 games as visitors. But they are coming off a Week Four victory over the Indianapolis Colts in London, where Jacksonville was officially the home team, and they have an extra week's rest.
The Bears have struggled almost as badly at home as the Jags have on the road.
Before their Week Four victory over the Detrit Lions at Soldier Field, the Bears were 1-11 in their last 12 at home and 3-15 in their previous 18.
In that taming of the Lions, the Bears had 114 yards on 29 carries (3.9-yard average), the only game this season in which running backs carried the ball more than 19 times. Last week, in the 29-23 loss to the Colts, the Bears had a season-high 125 rushing yards on just 19 attempts, a 6.6-yard average.
Still, the Bears have called more than twice as many pass plays (197) as run plays (94, not counting quarterback kneel-downs and scrambles), highly uncharacteristic of a John Fox team.
“Unfortunately, in the first five games, other than one, we've been behind,” Fox explained. “In the second halves and the fourth quarters, the (run-pass) numbers get out of whack.
“You'd like to be as balanced as possible. But to do that, you have to have leads in games and control of games, and we haven't done that thus far on a consistent basis. That throws it out of whack.”
The Bears have an opportunity this week to balance the run-pass ratio. Fifth-round rookie Jordan Howard has emerged as a powerful inside runner with some big-play potential, as demonstrated by last week's 57-yard run.
Howard is coming off back-to-back 100-yard games and is averaging 5.8 yards per carry, tied for the best in the NFL among players with 30 carries or more.
“I like the way Jordan's gone about it,” Fox said. “He got an opportunity, and he's made the most of that opportunity.”
Though the Jaguars' defense may be susceptible to the run, it features outstanding players at each level.
It starts with Malik Jackson up front, linebacker Paul Posluszny in the middle and this year's fifth overall draft pick, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, on the back end.
Posluszny is the brains of the operation and one of three active players with 12-plus sacks (14 ½) and 12-plus interceptions (15) since 2007.
Jackson signed a six-year $90 million deal in free agency with the Jaguars after making a name for himself in four years with the Broncos (2012-15), the first three when Fox was the head coach in Denver.
“Malik's obviously a good football player,” Fox said. “He's pretty well compensated. He's long, he's athletic, he plays the game tough, with the right mindset. He's off to a good start in the 2016 season.”
The same cannot be said of the Bears or Jaguars, but barring a rare tie, one of them will double their win total Sunday.
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