Bear Digest

The Surprising Bears Pass Blocker Who Led the Way Against Rams

Pro Football Focus grades for pass blocking against the Rams had one of their most controversial players on the line in a commanding spot.

Gene Chamberlain

Bears guard Nate Davis attempts to block Khalil Davis of the Texans in Chicago's Week 2 loss at Houston.
Bears guard Nate Davis attempts to block Khalil Davis of the Texans in Chicago's Week 2 loss at Houston. / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
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While Matt Pryor has impressed the Bears coaches throughout the season in his relief appearances on the offensive line, it might surprise some Bears fans who Pro Fotball Focus says the most effective pass blocker was during the win over the Rams.

It was none other than Nate Davis, often criticized this season and beset with a groin injury that seems to never go away.

Davis didn't play the full game. He was replaced as starter by Pryor at right guard for the game but wound up playing when Pryor moved over to left guard after Teven Jenkins suffered bruised ribs.

Coach Matt Eberflus describe Pryor's 6-foot-7, 332-pound size as a key to why they liked him starting over Davis.

"Yeah, we just liked the performance last week (against the Colts), in terms of the size, being firm in the pocket there and being able to move some people," Eberflus said. "I thought that was good, and we think that’s a good option for us."

However, in the game against the Rams for 49 snaps and 27 pass blocking attempts, PFF gave Davis an 80.5 mark. Darnell Wright was second best as a pass blocker at 73.7 and the only other offensive lineman to be over 60.0.

Davis didn't exactly shine as a run blocker as he had the worst offensive line grade there at 42.0 in a game when the Bears line excelled at blocking the run. Left tackle Braxton Jones actually had a team-high 84.6 grade blocking for 28 runs.

Ah, but what does PFF know? They gave Doug The Mini-Fridge Kramer only a 60.0 grade for his two run blocking grades as a fullback, plays when he paved the way for Roschon Johnson's touchdown and first down.

Overall, the best offensive grade for a lineman went to Jones at 67.2. It was the only Bears overall line grade over 60.

It's possible Davis could be playing for a while. Nothing is known now but Bears coach Matt Eberflus said the bruised ribs suffered by Jenkins would be a day-to-day injury situation.

Twitter: BearsOnSI

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

BearDigest.com publisher Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.