Coleman Shelton
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

Bears Offensive Line Coming Together

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterOctober 13, 2024

Ryan Poles takes a lot of hits for his failure to build a competent offensive line, but like last year, he’s got a “better late than never” unit that improves each week. Poles takes a piecemeal approach to building that unit, one that’s frustrating to fans who want rookie quarterback Caleb Williams to have maximum protection.

To me, offensive linemen are difficult to grade because non-quantifiable variables must be factored into the equation. For instance, Chicago’s ground game has improved each week, but is it the line, is it a scheme adjustment, or is D’Andre Swift hitting his holes quicker? On the other hand, Williams makes his line look a lot better when he can get rid of the ball quickly, but they’re badly exposed on the rare occasions that he gets a little gunshy.

Poles said back in August that his offensive line has the best depth he’s seen in his three years running the team, and the response from Chicago’s fanbase was underwhelming, to say the least. But that depth is partly responsible for the unit’s effectiveness during the Bears’ three-game win streak. Matt Pryor replaced Nate Davis, who was a healthy scratch today, and last week Bill Murray subbed admirably for Teven Jenkins. It has been rumored, incidentally, that Davis doesn’t like to practice so I wonder if that is causing some friction with the coaches. The rest of the unit is starting to gel, however, and Poles has noticed.

“That [depth has] shown up,” Poles said. “And there [are] guys like Pryor who are looking for opportunities, and they’ve stepped in there and done a really good job with Caleb, really making sure he’s got depth to the pocket. He’s been able to set the pocket and create some movement in the run game. So we’ve been happy there.

“That’s part of building a roster. That’s my job and my front office’s job to create competition. And I think Matt’s done a really good job and Nate has some things that he can continue to work on.”

Chicago’s offensive was ranked No. 32 overall in 2022, and last year they moved up 20 spots. The team has lacked a reliable center since Poles arrived, and Coleman Shelton, who looks a lot like J.D. Vance and can shotgun a beer with the best of ’em, is Williams’s first line of protection this season. The six-year veteran was a mess through Chicago’s first two games but is now in lockstep with his quarterback.

Like it or not, Shelton is going to be the poster boy for this year’s line. He signed as a free agent after playing five seasons with the Rams, two as a full-time starter. He was forced into a starting role because Ryan Bates was injured. Shelton is undersized, so he gets beaten badly at times. But he also shows surprisingly good technique to impede much bigger defensive tackles.

To this point, his losing reps have overshadowed the rest of his play, but he’s making huge strides each week and he’s earned the confidence of his coaches and his quarterback. He played 347 snaps entering play today with just one penalty and one sack allowed. That’s a big improvement over Sam Mustipher and Cody Whitehair. The addition of the big-bodied Pryor has made Shelton much more effective.

Shelton is never going to be an All-Pro, but he’s an asset if he can continue improving and avoid negative yardage plays. There are some caveats, however, and the Bears have made some necessary adjustments.

  1. Shelton lacks the power to anchor down when opponents get their hands on him quickly.
  2. He struggles to latch and drive as a run blocker, especially in space.
  3. His arms are short, and he can forget to extend them at times.
  4. He lunges too often while run-blocking.
  5. Shelton sometimes backs into protection too quickly.
  6. He is more effective when he plays between oversized guards. Pryor is 6-foot-7 and 330 pounds. Jenkins is 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds.

Coleman has several positive attributes too.

  1. He has one of the strongest grips on the team so he rarely holds.
  2. Shelton has quick hands and enough leverage to win his pass blocks.
  3. His footwork is exceptional. Shelton keeps his feet in front of defenders well with enough bend to adjust when engaged, if necessary.
  4. He’s a master at reading defenses and calling protections. He also communicates clearly with Williams and the rest of the offensive line.
  5. The Bears have lacked quality centers that can cleanly snap the ball. Shelton has never fumbled the ball in his NFL career. He also has just four holding penalties through 5+ seasons.
  6. Shelton’s best attribute is that Williams fully trusts him. Bates may have trouble regaining his position once he’s healthy.

The Bears have now scored 35+ points in back-to-back games for the first time since 2013. That’s 10 offensive touchdowns in two games. I understand their opponents have been among the NFL’s weakest defenses, but you don’t do that without great play by the offensive line.

Chicago lacks household names on their line, though Darnell Wright and Braxton Jones may eventually change that. However, and as Poles said, their depth is impressive. That helps against the NFL’s weather teams, and the Bears have a tough schedule ahead. Bill Belichick has been critical of Poles for not addressing the line, but I disagree. Here’s Belichick’s quote, first.

“This is an issue for Chicago just in terms of their overall team construction, the way they decided to do it,” Belichick said. “You look at a team like Detroit in their division, and Detroit has three really good linemen with Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow, and Taylor Decker. You know those guys generally give Jared Goff a lot of protection. The Bears have put their resources, a lot of money, and a lot of draft choices, into receivers, but they’ve had problems on their offensive line and it doesn’t really look like that has gotten much better. They had trouble with a four-man rush, five-man rush, and just single blocks up there has been a problem.

“I like the receivers and the quarterback has a chance, but it’s tough and I think it’s going to get tougher. Chicago in November and December, that’s a fun place to have to rely on throwing the ball. The combination of, let’s say, struggling with the running game and having to throw a lot and pass protect a lot … that’s not a strength of the Bears team. Not sure how they’re putting that together, but chucking it 50 times [a game] in Chicago on a long-term basis is just, it’s tough.”

Allow me to refute, please, and thank you.

  1. Williams aired it out in a Week 3 loss to the Colts because defenses were stacking eight or more in the box. They were essentially eliminating Swift and forcing Williams to throw. Once he proved he could, defenses stopped. Williams almost singlehandedly won that game, and now Swift benefits because defenses are starting to fear Chicago’s passing attack.
  2. The Bears have to be able to throw it in November and December to win. Line and scheme improvements have made the offense more efficient. Going to no-huddle at times helps, too. The key to winning in Chicago in the winter months is diversity on offense. An effective passing offense makes it that much easier to run the ball. Williams will certainly pass less in the second half of the season, but defenses still won’t be able to key on Swift.
  3. Chicago’s five-game stretch against weaker defensive opponents serves as an extended camp of sorts. The line is starting to gel because it is having success.
  4. Depth is a stronger asset in November and December when injuries are more likely to occur.

 

 

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterOctober 13, 2024
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