Bear Digest

Verdict on Bears Offensive Line by Pro Football Focus: Not Guilty

After offensive failures, the analytical website finds the Bears offensive line came away with mostly outstanding marks for blocking, finding their troubles elsewhere.

Gene Chamberlain

Bears offensive linemen Coleman Shelton (65) and Teven Jenkins set up a nice pocket for Caleb Williams to fire downfield against the Titans.
Bears offensive linemen Coleman Shelton (65) and Teven Jenkins set up a nice pocket for Caleb Williams to fire downfield against the Titans. / David Banks-Imagn Images
In this story:

Players being blamed on Bears social media and by some analysts for the team's poor offensive performance on Sunday might not be the same ones the so-called trained eyes blame.

Pro Football Focus grades came in Monday and the Bears offensive line, particularly guard Nate Davis and center Coleman Shelton, have drawn the wrath of fans, mainly because they were blocking where Sebastian Joseph-Day came across the line to deliver a 19-yard sack of the Bears QB.

However, neither Davis nor Shelton had particularly bad days blocking, according to PFF's blocking grades.

In fact, Davis had a 73.7 overall grade, which is considered good. It was second on the line only to Ryan Bates, who replaced him and had the team's highest offensive line grade of 78.7. He also came off the bench to get twice as many reps as Davis had. Both stood out as pass blockers, with Davis recording a 73.0 there to Bates a 70.8 pass-blocking grade.

Even Shelton's grade wasn't terrible, at 64.5, although he did bring in a poor 48.9 as a pass blocker.

Coach Matt Eberflus, at his Monday press conference, did not lay outright blame for the sack that was so embarrassing on anyone in particular, although it seemed obvious he was citing either Shelton or Davis for failing to throw a block.

POSITIVE FACE PAINTED ON CALEB WILLIAMS DEBUT BY BEARS COACH

KNEE INJURY TO ROME ODUNZE REQUIRES MRI

CHICAGO BEARS WINNERS AND LOSERS FROM BEARS' SEASON-OPENING WIN

REPORT CARD FOR BEARS' SEASON-OPENING WIN OVER TITANS

But he couldn't necessarily affix blame to quarterback Caleb Williams for failing to throw away the ball.

"You've just gotta really stop that penetration," Eberflus said. "They can't get on the quarterback that fast. When you do that (prevent penetration) that play's gonna be OK.

"He tried to evade the sack, he tried to move around. They just got him too fast.

The worst blocking day on the line belonged to Braxton Jones, but even that wasn't terrible at 62.8. It included a 75.9 as a pass blocker.

Darnell Wright had 72.7 and Teven Jenkins 68.4.

The lowest offensive grades went to tight end Gerald Everett (54.4) and the two rookies, Williams at 47.4 and Rome Odunze at 46.3.

Twitter: BearsOnSI

Published
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.