Declan Doyle confident in Bears offense despite struggles and injuries

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 3 hours ago

CHICAGO - So far this season, the Chicago Bears have found numerous ways to win, but none of them have been too pretty for the offense. Perhaps that is part of why they will be entering their matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Sun. Oct. 26 (Noon / CBS) projected to lose.

However, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle and the rest of the offense do not care about outside perceptions.

“It’s always been about us. It’s going to continue to be about us. It’s about our ability to go out and create good habits that show up on Sundays and that’s really more the focus than anything,” Doyle said. “We have a ton of respect for this opponent and we’re going to be in a hostile environment that we got to go play our best football.”

They will have to do so without tight end Cole Kmet (back) who will be missing a game for the first time in his NFL career. This means rookie tight end Colston Loveland will likely play a larger role in the offense.

Chicago will need a lot out of him, especially because the tight end group has not been involved too much in the passing attack so far this season.

“I think the tight ends are playing well with what we’re asking them to do and we’re constantly trying to find more ways to put them in positions where they can showcase that skill set,” Doyle said. “I can’t point to one area as far as why that hasn’t shown up and yet, I think it’s something that we’re really working to push for this second half of the season.”

To get the tight ends going, the passing game also has to get going. Quarterback Caleb Williams had a strong performance against the Dallas Cowboys back in week three. However, against the New Orleans Saints, he had his second-lowest quarterback rating in a game Chicago won in his career.

The offense also struggled in the red zone, having to settle for four field goals. It is the second game in a row the Bears have had four field goals.

Given how Williams can make defenses pay with his legs, this is something he should be utilizing more going forward with this season, particularly in the red zone.

“We’re always planning, especially in the passing game, it’s like, ‘Here is primary. Alright, here’s your contingency plans. Here’s your progression’ and when that play breaks down, really, it becomes that second act that we’ve been talking about. But, his mobility has to come into play,” Doyle said. “Quarterbacks are erasers at times (whether) that’s a game planning error or they’re playing something different than we maybe would have thought. At times, one’s not open, two’s not open, three’s not open and he’s got to go make a play and be special.”

While the passing game has struggled the past two weeks, the run game has gotten things going. Running back D’Andre Swift broke out against the Washington Commanders while Swift and rookie back Kyle Monangai had touchdown performances against the Saints.

Doyle is confident in both backs going forward, which is good given that Swift is questionable for Chicago’s game against the Ravens, and Monangai may have to take on a larger role in the offense.

“It was great last week and sometimes one of those guys is going to have to carry a heavier load just depending on what kind of game we think it’s going to be,” Doyle said. “However, we’re really comfortable with either of those guys in the game. We feel really good about them running between the tackles as well as out on the perimeter.”