Emma: Dowell Loggains' Bears Offense Still Lacking An Identity
By Chris Emma--
ARLINGTON, Texas (CBS) -- With the ball in stride deep down the sidelines, Bears receiver Kevin White flashed his potential Sunday night. He leaped over Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne and hauled in his first highlight-reel catch in the NFL.
Upon returning to his feet, White showed some rare emotions as he appeared to celebrate the catch. But the Bears' biggest passing play of the 31-17 loss to the Cowboys was insignificant to everybody but the young receiver.
Of course, White explained later that he wasn't celebrating -- it was a release of frustration for his earlier drops.
"I was just mad at myself," White said. "I can't let it happen again."
That first Bears deep ball of the game was thrown down the sidelines in similar fashion, though White was a step too slow and let the ball slip through his hands. It was quarterback Brian Hoyer's first pass of deeper than 20 yards, coming midway through the fourth quarter.
One could argue that was a byproduct of keeping a backup quarterback from doing anything more than managing the game, though it falls in line with the early returns of the Dowell Loggains offense.
Through three games, the Bears offense has still yet to establish any semblance of rhythm. The passing game has faltered along with White's inconsistencies, the running game has been virtually non-existent, now riding the coattails of rookie Jordan Howard.
Of course, the larger problem is a complete lack of identity. That's for Loggains to answer.
The Bears padded the stat sheet in the fourth quarter by posting some numbers against a conservative Cowboys defense looking to milk the clock. The first half saw Dallas dominate the time of possession and Chicago struggle to do just about anything right with the football.
"At this stage, all I know is that it's not going well," Bears coach John Fox said when asked about the offense.
Jay Cutler attempted to lobby Fox for a start on Sunday, though his thumb sprain wouldn't allow it. Regardless of which quarterback is under center, the results have been lacking.
Thus far, the Bears' best offense has been hurling it up to Alshon Jeffery and hoping he comes down with it. If White could develop such a knack, one could at least name two positives in place.
Loggains seemed like a natural fit as the successor to Adam Gase, who left in the offseason to become the Dolphins' coach. Loggains helped bring Cutler his most efficient season in 2015, and the thought was he would be able to transition the Gase offense into his own. The schemes and terminologies would stay the same, allowing competence to continue.
However, the Bears have scored just 38 offensive points in three games. This offense has failed to extend drives and create opportunities.
"We've got good plays schemed up," Hoyer said. "We've got good players. You've just got to go out and do it."
The only bright spots from the latest Bears loss were that the offensive line looked competent and rookie Howard showed flashes.
Three games into his tenure as Bears offensive coordinator, it's natural to question whether Loggains is cut out for this job. If struggles persist, so will that storyline.
On paper, the Bears have the playmakers -- Jeffery, White, Eddie Royal and Zach Miller, plus a stable of versatility in the backfield that one could only hope would begin to click. Cutler and Hoyer should be able to find success with the tools at their disposal.
The Bears believed they constructed a quality offensive line, which was rounded out with the signing of three-time Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton, joining promising rookie center Cody Whitehair and another three-time Pro Bowl guard in Kyle Long.
Yet, it seems as if Loggains doesn't trust his line in short-yardage situations, and he doesn't trust the receivers to make a play deep downfield. The Bears' offense has seen so much dink-and-dump that's just taking them nowhere.
Sunday's performance for the offense started with a fitting indictment of the unit, when Hoyer and Jeremy Langford got crossed up on a hand-off exchange. Never should a scripted, rehearsed first play be broken.
Hoyer indicated that it was a run-pass option that was botched.
"That's something I definitely need to correct," Hoyer said.
Now 0-3, the Bears have problems across the board. If they could just establish something on offense and bring the game clock in their favor, the results could shift.
Potential seems to be in place for this struggling Bears offense, but they seem no closer to anything more than mediocre.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.
