Chicago Bears: Three standout players in loss to Saints
Standout #2: The entire Bears offensive line
Last season, one of the Bears’ most improved groups of players was their offensive line. At the end of the season, Pro Football Focus ranked the Bears offensive line as the 11th best line in the league. They were one of the team’s weaknesses during the John Fox era.
This season, the offensive line’s performance is a big concern both in terms of penalties and pressure allowed. The team’s running game also hasn’t been effective this season, and blocking is a big part of that performance.
In Sunday’s game, the Bears managed to record just 17 total yards rushing. That is totally unacceptable. There is again blame to be placed on Nagy for abandoning the run, but the O-line put more pressure on Trubisky when the running game was shut down.
Wow.... the fact that the #Bears are 3-2 with this run blocking, this QB, and a head coach who wants to try out all of the plays he created in Madden 03, is a miracle, and a testament to the defense
— Brian Mazique (@UniqueMazique) October 20, 2019
In terms of sacks allowed and penalties, the line was a bit better this week than in the past. It didn’t matter in the end as Trubisky couldn’t get his rhythm going in the pocket.
Going forward, the Bears offensive line is going to be the key to whether or not this team can get back on track. If they can give Trubisky more time to throw on a regular basis, it may help the young quarterback settle down and start seeing the field a bit better.
However, the line now appears to be just another liability on this roster that is contributing to the team’s struggles. It’s something that must be corrected immediately. Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand’s job may be on the line.