There were many issues on the Chicago Bears offense in 2020, but the offensive line was a big reason for the struggles, particularly in the run game. Still, the Bears are set to return four of those five starters with the hope that they turn it around in 2020.
Pro Football Focus ranked the Bears’ offensive line 22nd in the NFL, which ranks behind the Green Bay Packers (4th) and Detroit Lions (16th), as well as just ahead of the Minnesota Vikings (23rd).
PFF believes that the offensive line’s success hinges on the performance of tackles Charles Leno Jr. and Bobby Massie, who both took a significant step backward last season. Leno had lows in pass-blocking and run-blocking. While Massie was average, he also experienced a drop-off.
Left tackle Charles Leno saw the biggest drop-off in play, as he had four straight seasons grading in the 70s from 2015 to 2018 but finished at just 58.6 overall last season, good for just 64th out of 82 qualifiers. Leno earned his worst pass-blocking grade since 2015 while posting the lowest run-blocking grade of his career, at 47.5.
At right tackle, Bobby Massie has been the epitome of league average since 2015, ranking 57th out of 109 qualifiers over that span. However, he also took a step back last season, ranking just 51st with a 63.2 grade.
PFF is less concerned with the interior of the Bears’ offensive line, namely Cody Whitehair and James Daniels, who once again switched positions last season. Whitehair figures to remain at center with Daniels occupying the left guard spot in 2020.
According to PFF, Whitehair is one of the best run-blockers in the NFL, notching a 80.8 grade since 2016. That’s good enought for 11th among interior offensive linemen. Daniels, who’s entering his third season, garnered respectable grades of 66.4 and 69.9 in his first two seasons.
As for the biggest question mark heading into the 2020 season, that’s easily the right guard spot vacated by Kyle Long. While Rashaad Coward occupied right guard after Long landed on injured reserve, the Bears brought in reinforcements in four-year starter Germain Ifedi to challenge for that starting job.
That leaves the right guard as the biggest question mark for the Bears, as Kyle Long has retired and projected starter Rashaad Coward ranked just 71st among 89 qualifying guards on his 660 snaps last season. Chicago signed Germain Ifedi, who had his struggles as the Seattle Seahawks’ starting right tackle the last four years, but he could compete for guard snaps with Coward.
When all is said and done, PFF believes that Chicago has the pieces to be a top 10-15 offensive line in the league. But it’ll take a collective effort from everyone involved. Which is exactly why Matt Nagy brought in new offensive line coach Juan Castillo to get them there.
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