Cubs News: Swift on possible changes on offensive coaching staff |
CHICAGO - During Chicago’s three-game win streak before their bye week, running back D’Andre Swift was productive on the ground with over 100 scrimmage yards in all of those victories. Even in the Bears’ Hail Mary loss to the Washington Commanders, he had 129 scrimmage yards and a touchdown.
However, in the last two games, Swift has not reached 100 scrimmage yards. In the loss to the Arizona Cardinals, he averaged 3.2 yards per carry, while in the 19-3 loss to the New England Patriots this past Sunday, he averaged 3.7 yards per carry. He had also been active in the passing game, although he was only targeted once against New England. Swift is a very coachable player, however, and is willing to adapt to whatever is needed of him in the offense, even if his numbers are lower. “I’m adjusting to anything that I need to adjust to,” Swift said. “If I need to lower my pads and get three (yards) and run people over, make people (miss), whatever I need to do is what I’m going to do.” The problem is not just the run game. It is the entire offense. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has been sacked 38 times through the first nine games of the season, more than any other quarterback. In addition, he only has 468 passing yards over the last three games; the offense only has 27 points in that span. That is not a winning formula. Swift says what it comes down to is execution and being more intentional in practice. “(It comes) down to details, execution, little things that’s all correctable. We just need to execute better as a unit. It’s tough when (we are in) the position that we are in when the defense and special teams unit have been playing how they’ve been playing all year and we can’t really help (them). So, we need to figure out a way to come out on the other side of that and be (an) asset for this organization,” Swift said. “Everybody can be a little bit more intentional in their work, take a little bit more pride in the detail and the focus that goes into it, the preparation that goes into it throughout the week so when (it comes to) game time on Sunday, it’s execution because we’ve seen it Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. So, I feel like that’s where we can grow and get better first and foremost. It starts on Wednesday.” Given the offensive struggles, there has been a lot of pressure to change offensive play caller. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has not been living up to expectations to put it mildly. His play calling has been incredibly disappointing and lacking a clear offensive scheme. While Swift stated it is frustrating, he said it is outside his control whether there are coaching changes or not. “It’s frustrating … We got to do (a good) job (of) us collectively (finding) a way to showcase that (talent) on the field. We have a great opportunity ahead of us … We’re blessed with another opportunity to go out there and go to work,” Swift said. “When you’re not having success and not having the season that you want to have and you’re losing, stuff might happen. But that’s outside of the players’ control. I don’t really try to get too involved in that because that’s not my job.”
