Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson seems poised to replicate a chapter from his playbook as Detroit Lions offensive coordinator.
Now that the NFL Draft has passed, and D’Andre Swift is still in a Bears uniform, Chicago has the pieces in place to potentially build a ground game around the duo of Swift, rookie Kevin Monangai, with Roschon Johnson contributing quality snaps, as well, in a similar mold to the Lions’ prolific duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Monangai could make an instant impact, but Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle sounds prepared to lean into the ground attack, with high hopes for Swift in his second season in Chicago.
“My short exposure to D’Andre Swift has been really positive,” Doyle told reporters during Bears OTAs. “He has been really attentive. He’s a pro. You like what he does in the passing game and he’s going to be a home-run hitter as a runner. Adding Kyle to that mix is going to be awesome, with the group that’s in there with Roschon and those guys.”
Swift posted 18 explosive runs of 10 yards or more last season, so if Doyle is going to turn him into the “home run hitter” he believes the veteran back is capable of, the additions of Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and Drew Dalman along the offensive line may prove critical.
With Swift, who rushed for 959 yards and six touchdowns—at the top of the depth chart and Monangai contributing quality snaps, the Bears’ ground game has a chance to improve significantly from last season’s 25th-place finish. At the very least, that would take pressure off Caleb Williams and help a revamped offensive line gel along the way.
Kevin Monangai fired up about playing for Chicago Bears RB coach Eric Bienemy
In addition to leaning into Johnson’s run-focused scheme, the influence of new Bears running backs coach Eric Bienemy could be a catalyst for the backfield making a leap this season.
After all, Bienemy has a pair of Super Bowl rings on his finger as the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, and Monangai is already seeing the value he brings to the staff, and offense.
“He’s a legend, No. 1, to begin with, just knowing his history, the people he’s coached, the teams he’s been a part of,” Monangai said. “And he’s really insightful, a great coach, gets me ready for practice every day. I’m excited for the future of what he’s going to be able to teach me, and being able to work with him.”
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Monangai, chosen by the Bears in the seventh round, could be a fascinating player to watch this summer during training camp and the preseason as he looks to carve out a role in the Bears’ backfield. The former Rutgers standout’s performance in those camp practices and exhibition games could tell a lot about how Chicago’s backfield rotation will take shape this fall.
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