Durkin: Long 'Embarrassed' By The Bears' Run Game
By Dan Durkin-
(CBS) Two weeks into the season, the Bears have thrown the ball 70 percent of the time. Certainly, being down 17-0 against the 49ers inflates that ratio, but looking ahead, that's not a sustainable mix over the course of a season.
Heading into the game at San Francisco, Chicago was dealing with uncertainty on offense, and the game plan was to establish the run. That plan didn't materialize. Matt Forte was held to 21 yards on 12 carries. Forte's total output was surpassed by one quarterback scramble by Jay Cutler. Bears coach Marc Trestman found the positive in the team's poor output, noting it may serve as a wake-up call for the offense.
"Obviously, very poor in our run game performance," Trestman said. "We're going to throw that away and try to work off where we got started in the Buffalo game and try to continue to progress and get better there. Very difficult defense to run against, but nonetheless, the tape showed us that we have some work to do. It got our guys' attention, which is a good thing."
It certainly got the attention of right guard Kyle Long.
"I was embarrassed," Long said. "We need to run the ball. I know we got the win on the road and it was big, and I'm sure everyone in our room will echo that, so will Matt. You need to run the ball in the National Football League. We'll be better at that."
On Monday night, the Bears face a Jets team that is best in the league against the run, allowing a mere 52 yards per game, with a long gain of 12 yards. Long recognizes the difficult task at hand, yet he views facing the New York front as a chance for Chicago to progress.
"It poses another challenge for us," Long said. "When you can break through walls like that, you become stronger as a unit. It's an opportunity for us."
Dan Durkin covers the Bears for CBSChicago.com and is a frequent contributor to 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter at @djdurkin.
