The Chicago Bears' offense is set to look entirely different heading into 2024 under offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and quarterback Caleb Williams at the helm.
The Bears' offense will look to be more pass oriented under their new play-caller but being able to establish a strong running game will work wonders for a rookie quarterback entering his first season in the league.
Therefore, the Bears went out as soon as the legal tampering period opened in free agency to land running back D'Andre Swift, who's coming off a Pro Bowl season with the Philadelphia Eagles. In Chicago, Waldron's system might be the best fit Swift has seen in his entire four year career.
During the last two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Waldron's rushing offense was predominantly operated by a zone running scheme that has swept across the league thanks to the effectiveness of the Shanahan offense. That scheme has not only proven to be effective but also friendly to any backs' skill set in the running game.
"Just from a player standpoint, a lot of the conversation on offense revolved around adaptability," Waldron explained. "I think priding ourselves on having an offensive system that can adapt and and adjust the scheme to the players skill set. It's our job first to be great teachers, and then second, to be able to put guys in the best position for their own individual success to lead to our team's success.
Over those two seasons, Seahawks' running back Kenneth Walker III ranked Top-10 in zone rushing attempts in each season, per Pro Football Focus. Even rookie running back Zach Charbonnet saw 69 of his 108 carries on zone rushing attempts in 2023.
By comparison, the Bears' running back trio of Khalil Herbert, D'Onta Foreman, and Roschon Johnson all combined for 206 zone rushing attempts in 2023 under former offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.
Swift saw a remarkable difference in his play-style and production last season while operating in the same zone rushing scheme with the Eagles. Swift's 165 zone rushing attempts ranked were the third-most in the NFL while going on to set career-highs in carries and rushing yards.
Not only will Swift be in a perfect situation for this style of offense, the Bears' offensive line will also be playing more to their strengths next season.
Left tackle Braxton Jones had a 76.1 zone run blocking grade (19th among all tackles), left guard Teven Jenkins had a 85.7 zone run blocking grade (5th among all guards), and newly signed center Coleman Shelton had a 88.4 zone run blocking grade (4th among qualified centers) last season according to Pro Football Focus.
Mirroring a more consistent passing game led by Williams, DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet, and Gerald Everett with the zone run game deployed by Swift, Herbert, and Johnson will give the Bears a very strong and well-rounded offense.
That alone will be a welcome change of pace in Chicago, which has been known for having a stout run game and underwhelming passing attack over the last two seasons.
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