A Chicago Bears Coach Found A Genius Way To Spark The Run Game

Tyke Tolbert has coached wide receiver for over a decade now in the NFL. He's very good at his job. His efforts have helped multiple guys reach the Pro Bowl and even culminated in a Super Bowl championship in 2015. There is a reason head coach Matt Eberflus targeted him for the job, though. Yes, it was to develop receivers as pass catchers, but he also brought a philosophy that fit the new identity the Chicago Bears wanted to build. An identity meant to have every player give 100% on every play.

Tolbert knew one of the biggest weaknesses of wide receivers was their tendency to stand and watch plays happen when they weren't directly involved. It was something that burned him so much when watching the film. So early on in his coaching career, he dedicated himself to finding a way to ensure that didn't happen. How? It was simple. He threatened players with a grading system. Tolbert explained to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune that he established early to his players they would get negative marks whenever they took plays off.

His definition of such plays might be the best part.

“Sometimes it’s easy for a receiver to go out for a pass or be involved in a running play with someone else carrying the ball and then just stop and watch. We don’t stop and watch here. We finish every play.”

That leads us to the effort-based grading category Tolbert created years ago to provide a constant reminder for his receivers to bring it on every play.

The day after each game, as the Bears receivers go back through their performances, Tolbert calls out those in his room guilty of committing an “Impossible.”...

...“You see a lot of loafing by receivers in the NFL all the time,” Tolbert said. “You watch guys come off the ball, take a couple steps, then just stop and watch the play. I see that and I’m like, ‘That’s just impossible! Not to touch anybody on a run play? That’s impossible.’

“So I started giving out ‘Impossibles.’”

The Chicago Bears have already benefitted from this approach.

A recent study revealed that they ranked first in the NFL as of last week in explosive plays. They have 31 pass plays of over 20 yards. However, their 68 plays of 10 or more rushing yards really stood out. Chicago is #1 in the league running the football. While much of that credit goes to quarterback Justin Fields and running backs Khalil Herbert and David Montgomery, the truth is those long runs don't happen without the wide receivers throwing some crucial blocks down the field. Go back and watch the TD run by Fields against Green Bay. That doesn't happen without Dante Pettis and Byron Pringle getting their bodies involved.

Tyke Tolbert deserves credit for making this possible. His ability to get the message across to those players is a big reason why the Bears' offense has managed to be so productive this season. Kudos must also go to the wide receivers for embracing the challenge. There are plenty in the NFL that would want nothing to do with such responsibilities. They get paid to catch passes, not block. Don't expect those guys to find work with these Chicago Bears. There are no plays off on this team.