The Chicago Bears made one thing clear. While there would be a competition at running back once training camp started, the current starter is Khalil Herbert. It isn’t a surprise they had such a stance. He was the most proven player on the roster, knowing the offense better than anybody else. His 5.7 yards per carry average last season was a great example of his running skills. Under most circumstances, he would be the unquestioned feature back for this team. Yet he must work to fight off D’Onta Foreman and rookie Roschon Johnson.
There is usually one reason for that. He has a glaring weakness in his game that the Bears can’t ignore. One could argue it’s his receiving ability. He only caught nine passes for 57 yards last season. However, that isn’t the biggest concern. It’s his blocking. A running back is required in any offense to pick up blitzes in certain passing situations. Failing to do so can often ruin a quarterback’s chances to make a play. Herbert had 32 pass blocks in 2022, allowing four pressures on Justin Fields. Defenses regularly exposed him, and according to Nicholas Moreano of CHGO, it hasn’t improved.
“During the team portion of practice, Noah Sewell got some reps with the first-team defense. On one play, Sewell blitzed up the middle and Khalil Herbert was supposed to block him. Sewell went by Herbert, impacting Fields’ throw, which fell incomplete.”
Khalil Herbert better hope his running ability can carry the day.
Nothing else about his game will do it. He’s an average receiving threat at best and is a straight liability in pass protection. Foreman isn’t much better. His teams rarely ever asked him to do either of those things too. This is why Johnson is the one to watch in this competition. Not only was he a credible receiving threat in college, but his pass-protecting skills were something the Bears highlighted as a reason for drafting him. In 160 pass block snaps at Texas, Johnson allowed only eight pressures and two sacks.
The Bears are giving Khalil Herbert every opportunity to seize the starting job for himself. He has the running ability. Yet he continues leaving the door open to other contenders by failing to round out the rest of his game. It’s never a great sign when a rookie can beat you so easily in pass protection. Herbert may hang onto the starting job to begin the season, but two or three whiffed blocks could sour the team on keeping it that way. This will be something to watch as training camp and the preseason unfold.
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Khalil Herbert, Trevis Gipson and Kindle Vildor for either Danielle Hunter or Chase Young and a 2024 4th Round pick. I’d do that deal in a millisecond. Come on Bears, Vikes and/or Commanders, indulge my fantasy!
This story is not about Sewell but you can’t miss the reference to him blitzing. Sewell has a lot of pass rush ability on a team that has little in the way of quality pass rushers. Keep an eye on how he is used in preseason games. We might notice a plan developing for getting him on the field some.