Thomas Brown has another Bears' unit looking like a much improved group following his second outing as team's offensive coordinator
It's been no surprise that the Chicago Bears' offense has looked like a completely new unit with Thomas Brown calling the shots over the last two weeks.Everything about the entire operation has looked a lot more smooth and polished with Brown on the headset and everyone seems to be benefitting from the change.On Sunday against […]
It's been no surprise that the Chicago Bears' offense has looked like a completely new unit with Thomas Brown calling the shots over the last two weeks.
Everything about the entire operation has looked a lot more smooth and polished with Brown on the headset and everyone seems to be benefitting from the change.
On Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, we finally got to see major improvements from a key offensive unit thanks to the team's new offensive coordinator.
The Chicago Bears' starting offensive line played their best football of the season against the Vikings. All five starters played all 76 offensive snaps, which alone is a major difference from what we've seen the last few weeks.
Left guard Teven Jenkins currently has the third-highest PFF pass blocking grade of the weekend, while left tackle Braxton Jones and center Coleman Shelton nearly cracked the Top-5 among all tackles and centers.
As a whole, the offensive line was only credited for one sack allowed during the entire game. That sack came in the second quarter on a 2nd-and-2 after left tackle Braxton Jones was beat inside resulting in a 7-yard loss.
The unit also allowed only seven pressures, their fewest allowed since Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers. In fact, under Brown, the unit has only allowed 15 total pressures in two games. For context, during the final game under Shane Waldron in Week 10, the unit allowed 12 pressures and four sacks.
A big reason why the unit has looked better the last two weeks is because Brown is designing plays to get the ball out quick to ease the pressure on the offensive line to hold their blocks. But performing so well against one of the top defensive lines and defensive coordinators in the league was insanely impressive.
Of the three sacks quarterback Caleb Williams took on Sunday, two were credited to the quarterback, including the overtime sack on the opening drive that Williams took the blame for after the game. Williams was also credited for two pressures, tied for the most by a QB on Sunday.
"They dropped a bunch of guys out knowing that we had to get a good chunk play and I held the ball too long, and they made a great play," Williams said about the overtime sack. "I should have just, you know, thrown a ball out of bounds, living to fight another down. And it's not what happened."
The other "sack" attributed to Williams was a roll out to the right and no one was open on the play. Williams was pressured out of bounds by Vikings' linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel for a loss of one yard.
In terms of protection, the Bears played as close to a perfect game as you could ask for from the unit. Williams still has a few things to learn when it comes to living for another down that will help the unit even more. But overall, you have to love what we're seeing out of the improvement from the offensive line when it comes to protection, communication, and health.
Caleb Williams and the Bears’ offense are unlocking a new wrinkle thanks to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown
The unit is taking marginal steps forward.
