As the Bears revamped their offense going into this season, they made big plans for running back D’Andre Swift. There was the arrival of a new quarterback in No. 1 pick Caleb Williams and big moves at wide receiver with the acquisition of Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, but there was a strong likelihood Swift would be the focal point.
Coming off his first 1,000-yard season and Pro Bowl selection with the Eagles, Swift got a sparkling three-year, $24 million deal with the Bears in free agency.
Speaking of plans, he expected to produce a lot more for his team than 48 yards on 24 carries over the first two games. The offense has sputtered, and the quickest way to change that is to reestablish Swift as the versatile, dangerous playmaker the Bears prioritized in free agency.
“That’s where it starts, 100%,” Swift said of the running game powering the offense. “And getting on track with that starts with me.”
The Bears’ visit to the Colts on Sunday presents an ideal chance to ignite Swift, who averaged 4.6 yards per carry before this season. The Colts have allowed an NFL-worst 237 yards rushing per game and put three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner on injured reserve this week.
This should be about as easy as it’ll get for the Bears after their offensive line had trouble getting pass protection for Williams or bulldozing blocks for their running backs in the 19-13 loss at the Texans on Sunday. It’s near-certain to look better in Indianapolis, though the question would be whether that’s real progress or merely opportunism.
Regardless, Swift taking off would help everyone. And while there surely are concerns about the offensive line, he must find a way to overcome that.
“I’m not one to put nothing on anybody else,” he said. “With my game, all my reads have got to be damn near perfect and just making sure I’m doing my job and being better for the man next to me. It starts with me.”
Technically, it starts with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
Waldron is the one who needs to solve this puzzle, whether through the blocking scheme or balancing out his rushing attack with help from Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. Swift got two-thirds of the running back snaps over the first two games and has gotten all but seven of the carries.
Herbert led all NFL running backs at 5.7 yards per carry in 2022, and Johnson was promising as a rookie last season. But Herbert has four carries for seven yards and a touchdown this season, and Johnson hasn’t played a snap on offense.
“It’s about finding that rhythm as a whole,” Waldron said. “I feel good with Swift, Khalil and Roschon and the different styles they can bring… Every week is its own individual entity and [I’m] figuring out how they fit into the game plan this week, figuring out how we can maximize their tools.”
It’s usually good to be a running back for the Bears, and the ground game usually was the only functional part of their offense under Luke Getsy.
With nothing but upgrades personnel-wise, it’s puzzling that a team that finished first in rushing in 2022 and second last season has plunged at the start of this season.
“I attack it head on,” Swift said of his frustration. “Success hasn’t been there as an offense, and the run game especially, so it’s something I don’t take lightly… I could be better, first and foremost. I could make everybody’s job easier.
“It’s challenging not having success, especially with the caliber of people that we have. We have a great opportunity in front of us.”