Chicago Bears: 3 ways to fix the offensive line problems

Play the Dink and Dunk

I understand everyone’s frustrations. The Chicago Bears are currently 30th in the NFL with an average of only 4.5 yards per play. This is not what we were promised with Matt Nagy’s 202 version of his offense. Quite frankly, this has more to do with the offensive line play than it does with the quarterbacks.

Mitchell Trubisky does not look to be an elite quarterback, but some guys do take a little longer to develop. With the Chicago Bears defensive unit, fans do not believe the team has the luxury of waiting on Trubisky. The thing is, for 2019, that is the best option they have. Honestly, it probably will be in 2020 too and I am not ready to jump off the Trubisky bandwagon.

When given time to throw, Trubisky has proven the ability to make multiple reads and hit open targets. His timing has been off with some of his down the field throws, but do not forget he had the most 50-plus air-yard passes in 2018. Right now, the offensive line has proven to not be able to sustain drives. They cost the team with untimely penalties or piss poor blocking upfront.

One way to help resolve this is for Nagy to take the quick plays and build up the tempo. We saw this during the Washington game in Week 3. Run the quick slants, hooks and other mid-range passes needed to allow the quarterbacks to make two to three-second reads. Use the screen game and have the running backs go out to the flats on plays more often too.

Once the defense feels like this is all you can do and you see man coverage on guys like Taylor Gabriel or Allen Robinson, take your shots downfield. I will continue to say this until I am blue in the face, roll Trubisky out more and use the traditional play-action more too. The team is killing themselves by being in these third and long situations. The line has to hold their blocks longer and the plays need longer to develop during these situations.

We all see it, but I do not understand why Matt Nagy does not see it. Take what is working and use it to your advantage. Take some pressure off your players who are struggling and set them up for success rather than putting them in situations to continuously fail.

If the coaching staff and players can build some confidence, the team can turn this season around. Hopefully, Trubisky is back in Week 7 and the team rallies behind him. Hopefully, Nagy takes these suggestions to heart (not that he will read this) and the Chicago Bears find their identity. With the Packers playing the way they are, this team needs to make changes fast.