More specifically, Swift. 

The Bears are a top 5 rushing unit BEFORE contact, meaning the OLine is actually doing a great job at run blocking, yet Swift is bottom 5 after contact.

So the run game is completely dependent on making a gaping hole that anyone can run through. 

RB will need to be addressed. Still can't believe Poles waited until the 7th to address it with a bunch of RBs on the board in the first few rounds.

Yes, I agree. However, I was also upset that the Poles didn't select Kaleb Johnson in the 2nd or 3rd round of the draft when he was still available, before he eventually went to Pittsburgh. I just checked. Kaleb has undoubtedly had a rough start. 2 carries total for two games for -1 yd, and muffed a Kick Return that gave SEA a TD. I'd make a lousy GM. LOL

1 hour ago, Pixote said:

Yes, I agree. However, I was also upset that the Poles didn't select Kaleb Johnson in the 2nd or 3rd round of the draft when he was still available, before he eventually went to Pittsburgh. I just checked. Kaleb has undoubtedly had a rough start. 2 carries total for two games for -1 yd, and muffed a Kick Return that gave SEA a TD. I'd make a lousy GM. LOL

Funny, because Kaleb Johnson was the one guy I absolutely did not want from the RB position. He was a product of a great OL, and that was clear to me after watching a few minutes of his highlights. The majority of his best runs were him not getting touched at all, or at least not until he reached the second level. I thought he looked slow and lacked the lateral agility necessary to be anything more than a complimentary back in the NFL. Steelers look like they've already given up on him.

3 hours ago, Pixote said:

Yes, I agree. However, I was also upset that the Poles didn't select Kaleb Johnson in the 2nd or 3rd round of the draft when he was still available, before he eventually went to Pittsburgh. I just checked. Kaleb has undoubtedly had a rough start. 2 carries total for two games for -1 yd, and muffed a Kick Return that gave SEA a TD. I'd make a lousy GM. LOL

Jeanty has also looked terrible, but there are others drafted after Trapilo and Turner who are looking solid.

Watching Swift, he doesn't trust the gap.  He will dance, bounce outside, or go any direction he feels his speed can take him.  Maybe when the oline gels to the this offense, the run game will improve.  

Roschon Johnson is apparently in the doghouse.  When BJ was asked about his role in the offense, BJ said "he has a role on special teams".

FWIW, Swift's first year with Johnson as OC while in Detroit (2022) had him gain 542 total yards (5.5 avg) on the ground.  The year before he totaled 617 (avg 4.1).  In 2023 he was traded to the Eagles where he got 1,049 yards (4.6 avg) and was selected for the Pro Bowl.  Last year with the Bears he gained 959 yards (avg 3.8).  So far he's averaging 4.0 and has 116 total (53 vs Vikings and 63 vs Lions - so he's "improving").  

The question I think should be where is Johnson's focus?  Running or passing?  The Bears drafted a TE this year #10 overall and barely use him.  And I think (eye test) there have been more overthrows to Kmet than catches.  For a coach that pushes the '12 personnel' concept, I'm still trying to figure it out.  

On Wed  Ben said the lack of TE usage is on him.  He said he’ll work on changing that.  I still think our play sheet is limited as the players are getting comfortable with the offense.  It’s easier to add more for a home game because they don’t have to deal with crowd noise.  We’ll see how it goes this week.  

On 9/17/2025 at 6:55 AM, adam said:

More specifically, Swift. 

The Bears are a top 5 rushing unit BEFORE contact, meaning the OLine is actually doing a great job at run blocking, yet Swift is bottom 5 after contact.

So the run game is completely dependent on making a gaping hole that anyone can run through. 

RB will need to be addressed. Still can't believe Poles waited until the 7th to address it with a bunch of RBs on the board in the first few rounds.

I just saw this on another site, which further supports your point:

Quote

among all RBs (26) with 25+ carries

D'Andre Swift ranks 4th best with 1.9 yards before contact/att

Bears are still 31st in rushing EPA and 32nd in rushing success rate

 

4 hours ago, Pixote said:

I just saw this on another site, which further supports your point:

 

I’m curious—could the contact Swift is encountering be because the offensive line isn’t doing its job? In other words, the pre-contact yardage might just be the distance from the backfield to wherever the line is blocking. To me, it seems like Caleb is scrambling just as much as he did last year.

This might be a question for Adam, but how do the other running backs on the Bears perform when they’re handed the ball? One player I’d be particularly interested in is Moore. I know he’s a wide receiver, but he’s one of the NFL leaders in YAC due to his elusiveness. In a running back role, it would make sense that he’d be just as elusive and gain more yards after contact.

On 9/17/2025 at 4:55 AM, adam said:

More specifically, Swift. 

The Bears are a top 5 rushing unit BEFORE contact, meaning the OLine is actually doing a great job at run blocking, yet Swift is bottom 5 after contact.

So the run game is completely dependent on making a gaping hole that anyone can run through. 

RB will need to be addressed. Still can't believe Poles waited until the 7th to address it with a bunch of RBs on the board in the first few rounds.

Remember, this was common sense from everyone outside the organization. Literally everyone thought RB was a significant need. But, what seems like a broken record at this point, the Bears front office was “smarter” than conventional wisdom.

Maybe that’s also why the Bears have a first round TE they didn’t need, who has zero stats after two games? But but but 12 PeRsOnNeL on offense!

Two common sense thoughts:

1. Don’t wait until the last round for a position of need.

2. Don’t draft a backup TE - literally what he is - in the first round.

No running game again. Swift 13-33 yds, but had one for 11, so he went 12-22 the rest of the way. Monangai was not much better at 6-16, but he did lose a bunch on one run.

Another week and another non-existent running game. I just don't understand what is going on. How could it be that bad. There are 3 defenders in the backfield or a huge hole and Swift or Monangai run right into a defender. 

I'd like to see more of Monangai. He certainly looked better than Swift.

9 minutes ago, Pixote said:

I'd like to see more of Monangai. He certainly looked better than Swift.

He does hit the hole quicker. Swift is slow with no vision. 

On 9/17/2025 at 2:52 PM, Mongo3451 said:

Roschon Johnson is apparently in the doghouse.  When BJ was asked about his role in the offense, BJ said "he has a role on special teams".

Anyone have a thought about this and why he’s in the doghouse?  Understanding that he’s still sorta in concussion protocol (wearing the guardian helmet) could he be the answer at RB needed when it comes to hard charging yards?  He’s more of a pounding style runner, or so I thought.  

Bears blockers as a team are 3rd in Run Block Win Rate. 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46138675/2025-nfl-win-rates-top-teams-players-rankings-pass-run-block

 

38 minutes ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

Anyone have a thought about this and why he’s in the doghouse?  Understanding that he’s still sorta in concussion protocol (wearing the guardian helmet) could he be the answer at RB needed when it comes to hard charging yards?  He’s more of a pounding style runner, or so I thought.  

It is baffling to me, because he is out there on Special Teams, and is listed as the 2nd string RB on their official depth chart:

https://www.chicagobears.com/team/depth-chart

 

6 hours ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

Anyone have a thought about this and why he’s in the doghouse?  Understanding that he’s still sorta in concussion protocol (wearing the guardian helmet) could he be the answer at RB needed when it comes to hard charging yards?  He’s more of a pounding style runner, or so I thought.  

My guess is he's not pass blocking as well as BJ wants. 

On a side note, I'm wondering if Eric Biennamy is the coach for them.  He seems to not last long anywhere since he left Andy Reid.

1 hour ago, Mongo3451 said:

My guess is he's not pass blocking as well as BJ wants. 

On a side note, I'm wondering if Eric Biennamy is the coach for them.  He seems to not last long anywhere since he left Andy Reid.

I'm not ready to pin EB yet because it is the same Swift we saw last year.  We have a new upgraded interior, even they don't seem to be the difference.  Do we look at the OTs? Even BJs comment said it was not the RBs.

As for Roschon, ive seen comments elsewhere that say he doesnt catch well, is slow, and maybe pass block is not up to par.  BJs comments earlier that said he has to play STs makes me think thats all the coach sees.

21 hours ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

I'm not ready to pin EB yet because it is the same Swift we saw last year.  We have a new upgraded interior, even they don't seem to be the difference.  Do we look at the OTs? Even BJs comment said it was not the RBs.

As for Roschon, ive seen comments elsewhere that say he doesnt catch well, is slow, and maybe pass block is not up to par.  BJs comments earlier that said he has to play STs makes me think thats all the coach sees.

Was going to comment on Bienemy and whether he’s the right guy for even coaching RBs.  Really though the scheme has to work for all the individual parts also succeed.  It appears they’re figuring out the passing game, so maybe the running game is next? 
 

Generally speaking, Swift hasn’t been as good when he plays under Johnson than when he doesn’t. If he can get 1,000 yards for the Eagles and almost another 1,000 under Flus is he really the problem?  

2 hours ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

Was going to comment on Bienemy and whether he’s the right guy for even coaching RBs.  Really though the scheme has to work for all the individual parts also succeed.  It appears they’re figuring out the passing game, so maybe the running game is next? 
 

Generally speaking, Swift hasn’t been as good when he plays under Johnson than when he doesn’t. If he can get 1,000 yards for the Eagles and almost another 1,000 under Flus is he really the problem?  

I think it depends on what youre asking him to do.

Ben Johnson certainly know the run game, and if he says Bieniemy is the right guy, then I am inclined to follow his leadership?

I suspect that BJ is running a different scheme than the Eagles did, one that maybe Swift doesn't fit that well in, or maybe better said, the Eagles style might have fit him better, although they cut him loose too?

I guess Im just saying that it's not as easy as saying that the only variable that changed is BJ, and that he should be doing something different? For example Montgomery has had more success under BJ than he did in Chicago.

EDIT: Ive also read some rumors that BJ is going to switch the run game to an outside zone scheme during the bye. The rumor says this has more to do with the skill set of the OL, than helping Swift. i dunno if swift is fast enough to routinely get the outside corner, but i guess we will find out!

12 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

I think it depends on what youre asking him to do.

Ben Johnson certainly know the run game, and if he says Bieniemy is the right guy, then I am inclined to follow his leadership?

I suspect that BJ is running a different scheme than the Eagles did, one that maybe Swift doesn't fit that well in, or maybe better said, the Eagles style might have fit him better, although they cut him loose too?

I guess Im just saying that it's not as easy as saying that the only variable that changed is BJ, and that he should be doing something different? For example Montgomery has had more success under BJ than he did in Chicago.

EDIT: Ive also read some rumors that BJ is going to switch the run game to an outside zone scheme during the bye. The rumor says this has more to do with the skill set of the OL, than helping Swift. i dunno if swift is fast enough to routinely get the outside corner, but i guess we will find out!

I think that Swift being mildly successful in Philly had a lot to do with the best OL in the NFL that year. He was only signed for one year and surveying the free agents choose Barkley over Swift was a no brainer. Swift is not a pounder but a third down type of back. His 4.48 speed is fast enough if the OL allows him to get past the line of scrimmage.  His salary suggests he should be . I think Poles had the vision of a two back system when he signed Swift with maybe BJ being the horse. Due to injuries Johnson has never got to his ceiling. All of his concussions may have taken the fight out of him.

In the last draft a few of the highly touted RBs have yet to set the league on fire. Jeanty didnt have a good game until he played our porous run defense. Henderson has yet to make a good impression. Judkins came in the league succeeding and Browns OL is listed top 5. I think the common trait of successful RBs are a good OL and lots of touches . Philly, Atlanta, Detroit all have good lines and successful RBs. 

I think the OL will play better as they jell going forward. Wright was getting crap from BJ because he probably wasnt in shape when he started the season. Jones was coming off from a surgery but has never gained the needed strength to handle his job properly. I think Theo will end up being a better overall LT with the future LT, Ozzy, just not ready yet.