Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles completely overhauled the offense this off-season. Matt Eberflus brought in Shane Waldron to run the offense. Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze fortify the wide receiver position. Gerald Everett adds depth at tight end. Ryan Bates and Coleman Shelton give them options at center. Of course Caleb Williams is the new kid on the block at quarterback. This has made it easy to overlook the first big addition they made back in March when they signed free agent running back D’Andre Swift.
Chicago felt throughout last season that they were missing an explosive element at the position. D’Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson were tough runners but couldn’t hit the home run, and Khalil Herbert had no value as a pass catcher. Swift offered both elements. His speed could stress defenses in multiple ways. According to Adam Hoge of CHGO, that is exactly what is happening in training camp. Not only is Swift’s versatility showing up every day, but the way Waldron uses him is even more encouraging.
“D’Andre Swift looks like a perfect addition to this offense.
Running backs are typically very hard to evaluate in camp (even when the pads go on) because the defense isn’t tackling. But I like how Waldron is using Swift out of the backfield and you can see the burst when he gets the ball in his hands. It seems like he’s going to be a valuable weapon for Williams.”
Few things are a better ally to a quarterback than having a running back who can catch. They serve as a safety valve in case others might not be open. Being able to not only check down but check down and pick up considerable yardage is such an understated advantage for teams. The average yards per reception for his career is 7.2, which is higher than any of the running backs Chicago had last year. One must also remember Swift is a capable runner too. He had over 1,000 yards last season.
His only drawback is blocking in pass protection. For all his athletic capability, Swift wasn’t blessed with size or power. Thankfully, that won’t be an issue. Johnson showed last year that he is already an above-average blocker. That is why the Chicago Bears are confident they can work with a backfield-by-committee. Swift will get his share of carries and be a primary target in the passing game. Johnson will block and serve as a good short-yardage option. Travis Homer should help on special teams. It’s a good group.
