Chicago Bears: 3 crucial actions Matt Nagy must take vs. Bucs
By Ryan Heckman
1. Run the football
This feels just like last season all over again. After the loss to Indianapolis, Nagy gave us one of those cringeworthy lines we hated to hear in 2019.
Bears head coach Matt Nagy: "We have to be able to run the football. We cannot be one-dimensional."
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) October 5, 2020
The Colts allowed 28 rushing yards from the Bears on Sunday, which was the fewest they had allowed in a game since 2009. But, Nagy’s play calling didn’t help the cause one bit.
In the first half against the Colts, David Montgomery received six carries. Most fans would have assumed there would be a halftime adjustment by Nagy, because an offense cannot function well with such a low number of carries from their primary back.
The adjustment never came. Montgomery received just four — four — carries in the second half. He ended the game with 10 carries for 27 yards. That was his fewest carries in a game all season long.
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The alarming fact when it comes to Montgomery’s workload this season is that he’s averaged just 13 carries per game. When you’re a team without a true running back behind Montgomery, he should be getting at least 15 carries per game. A more comfortable number would be about 16-18, with a total of 20 touches.
There isn’t a running back in football who can get it going on four carries in a single half, especially when the game is close and you’re as multi-dimensional as Montgomery. Give him carries. Give him a few targets. He’s a very good football player. He’s the only real running back on this roster for a reason.