This Chicago Bears Roster Decision is Holding Down Their Best Weapon

Jordan Howard remains a reliable force on the ground but the Chicago Bears roster decisions made prior to the seasons have neutered his full effectiveness early in 2018. Through three games Howard has 53 carries for 178 yards and a touchdown. That's an average of just 3.4 yards per carry. Currently the worst of his career. Part of the problem is he can't get going because the offensive line isn't getting enough push. No player encapsulates this frustration more than left guard Eric Kush. It was a minor shock when the team announced the longtime veteran would start. This after the team drafted the highly-touted James Daniels out of Iowa in the 2nd round. Most felt it was a no-brainer the rookie should start. He was clearly more talented coming in with immense upside. The Bears decided to go with Kush anyway. Their reasoning, according to offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, was that Daniels didn't yet have a grasp on how to handle elaborate stunts and blitzes that defenses would be throwing at them during the season. Kush, being a veteran had far more experience with such things. That's all fine and good. The only problem is that decision may have handcuffed the Bears' best offensive player.

Jordan Howard has gotten minimal room to run behind left guard

So far in 2018, Howard has run the ball behind the left guard or between the left guard and center a total of 13 times this season. He has 38 yards on those attempts. That's an average of 2.92 yards per attempt. By contrast, he has 73 yards on 17 attempts running behind Kyle Long on the right side for 4.29 yards per carry. Even on positive plays, Kush is shown to lack enough punch to get movement. [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/1280x720-Watch-Chicago-Bears-vs.-Arizona-Cardinals-09232018-NFL.com_1.mp4"][/video] He's is also proving a liability with mental mistakes. In the 2nd quarter of the game in Arizona, the Bears were driving. Mitch Trubisky had just hit Anthony Miller for four yards on 1st down to get into Cardinals territory. That was soon wiped away when Kush was called for an illegal chop block. Suddenly 1st and 10 became 1st and 25. Three plays later the Bears were forced to punt. He also had a false start on the next drive that turned 2nd and 5 into 2nd and 10 that almost cost them points again. Wasn't the entire point of starting Kush to avoid such mistakes in the first place? If this is what it's going to be like the rest of the year, it would make more sense to start Daniels. He may make mistakes, but the experience will only help him and his presence in the run game should end up being of huge benefit. Until Trubisky has a better grasp of the offense, the Bears should be doing everything in their power to maximize Howard. Keeping Kush the is going against that.