LAKE FOREST, Ill. (WGN) — For as long as the franchise has represented the Windy City, the success of the Chicago Bears has been synonymous with two things — sturdy defense and running the ball.

After disappearing through their first three games, Week 4 showed some promise from the Bears’ run game. But can they replicate the performance they had against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers?

It’s possible, but the answer isn’t as straightforward as one might think.

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Let’s start with the man in charge of the offensive scheme and the transition away from the previous one — Luke Getsy to Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator.

In two years under Getsy, Chicago was one of the most run-dominant offenses in the NFL.

In 2022, the Bears ran the ball 56.2% of the time and were tops in the NFL in rushing yards (3,014) and yards-per-carry (5.4).

Last year, Chicago ran the ball on 48.7% of offensive plays, was second in the NFL in rushing yards (2,399) and tied for seventh in runs of 20-plus yards (13).

Since Getsy’s departure and Waldron’s hire, their percentage of run plays has dropped dramatically as the Bears have shifted into a more pass-happy offense.

In 257 offensive plays through four games, 157 have been pass plays (61.1%), a near 10% increase from the year prior (51.3%).

With a decline in volume, efficiency in the run game will be key with fewer opportunities, but it also appears there will be more chances for Chicago to generate similar results through the short passing game, especially when it comes to how they use D’Andre Swift on screens.

“Defenses are going to present some different challenges with the rush pattern up front so, there’s always going to be that starting point for a screen game,” Waldron said about what he saw on Swift’s 27-yard screen reception halfway through the third quarter Sunday. “And then the adjustability of the running back and the quarterback to negotiate that arm angle and find a window right there.

“I think the instant reaction by Caleb to find that arm angle, to find Swift right there and then know we got the O-linemen out to the right there … then that instant reaction by Swift to cut it back against the grain, then the other part of that was the receivers, tight ends that are in there running the defense off, making it feel like a pass [are] all the things we’re looking for in a screen.”

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Swift logged a season-high 23 total touches against the Rams in Week 4, where he carried the ball 16 times for 93 yards and a touchdown, while also catching seven passes on seven targets for 72 yards. All six of those figures were also season highs for Swift.

“When the ball’s in his hands in space, like he had the opportunity on a couple screens there, another one on a scramble throw, you know good things are going to happen,” Waldron said. “He’s elusive. He’s twitched up on that first cut so, it was fun to see him have a couple more opportunities there to really show his skill set.”

The game represented a breakout performance for the fifth-year running back, who struggled to operate in an offensive unit that has missed blocking assignments and committed a number of pre-snap penalties, killing drives and opportunities to run the ball alike.

Through four contests, the Bears offense has been called for 28 penalties that have costed them 210 yards, which included 17 pre-snap penalties — nine false starts (45 yards), four illegal formations (20 yards) and three delays of game (15 yards).

Another nine of those penalties were offensive holding calls after the snap, which cost Chicago 90 yards.

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It’s tough sledding when a team is out of sorts before and after the snap, but when the Bears’ operations were in sync ahead of the snap last Sunday, the common thread across their four scoring drives was that they had zero penalties across those drives.

If pre-snap execution is clean and blockers win their blocks, Swift should have plenty of opportunities to build off his Week 4 performance.

“I think rushing the ball is an everybody thing,” said head coach Matt Eberflus after Chicago’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts. “It’s kind of like protection, you know? We’ve got to create the holes for everybody. We’ve got to move people, the scheme’s got to be right for that particular runner. I just think it’s everybody. It’s not just him.”

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