Revamping the Chicago Bears' Offense: A New Era with Offensive Coordinator Thomas Brown
ICARO Media Group
### Bears Look to New Offensive Coordinator for a Fresh Approach
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus has called on newly appointed offensive coordinator Thomas Brown to inject creativity into the team's playbook, filling the void left by Shane Waldron's departure. Brown's first game plan will take the spotlight this Sunday at Soldier Field against the Green Bay Packers, marking the beginning of a new era for the Bears' offense.
To shed light on what this shift could mean, The Athletic sought insights from ESPN analyst and former NFL safety Matt Bowen, as well as Nate Tice, a former quarterback and Yahoo Sports analyst. They provided a blueprint for how Brown can maximize rookie quarterback Caleb Williams' potential and revitalize the Bears' offense.
Bowen emphasized the need for adapting and reutilizing best plays to become less predictable—a problem identified during Waldron's tenure. He highlighted how elite teams, like those led by Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, managed to disguise their strategies through varying formations and motions. Bowen suggested the Bears could benefit from implementing more versatile play-calling, noting that predictability was one of the shortcomings under Waldron.
Underlining the need for cohesiveness, Tice criticized Waldron's tendency to deviate from the successful elements of the Sean McVay offensive philosophy. The Bears' use of wider formations ranked eighth in the league, contrasting sharply with McVay's Rams, who ranked 32nd.
Bowen and Tice both stressed the importance of maximizing personnel. They called for greater utilization of wide receiver DJ Moore and tight end Cole Kmet, both of whom have shown potential but were underused in Waldron's system. Bowen recommended at least four to five specific plays designed to get Moore the ball, while also urging the Bears to leverage Kmet's physicality, especially in scoring positions.
Additionally, Tice pointed out the need for developing new talent like Rome Odunze, drawing parallels to Chris Godwin's early career utilization. He suggested a more active role for Odunze, alongside Moore, to create a dynamic offensive setup.
Both experts agreed the Bears' offensive linemen need better protection schemes. Bowen proposed play actions and movement passes to reduce the number of true drop-back situations, which could help the line perform more effectively.
As Brown prepares to make his debut as offensive coordinator, the hope is that these adjustments will not only enhance individual performances, like those of Williams, Moore, and Kmet, but also bring a cohesive, unpredictable edge to the Bears' offense.