Breaking in a new offensive line can be tough sometimes. This season, the Bears are breaking in essentially an entirely new line. Yes, Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright are returning starters. But given that there are always three players in between them at a given time, their chemistry — as tackles — doesn’t really matter as much. However, the chemistry between the interior three — as well as the guards and tackles next to each other — is obviously vital.
Developing that chemistry takes some time. Just like how it might take a receiver and a quarterback a few games to get on the same page, or new linemates in hockey to gel, learning how to play with the person next to you on the offensive line takes a lot of reps.
If I’m a right guard playing with a new center, it will take some time to figure out how he plays. Is he ultra-aggressive on double teams? Does he tend to look for the linebacker early? How good is he at giving a hand on stunts or softer double teams? These things take time. Fortunately, at least after looking at the film from the Cowboys game, it seems like the Bears’ big boys up front are starting to develop that ever-important chemistry.
Bears Offensive Line Far From Perfect, But It’s Getting Better
One play from Sunday’s game keeps popping up on my X timeline. For good reason, it highlights Caleb Williams’ absolutely perfect dart of a throw over two defenders’ arms and into Luther Burden’s hands for a big gain. It’s right up there with the flea flicker as QB1’s best throw of the afternoon.
But after watching Caleb make that throw (multiple times over), I decided to shift my focus to the offensive line play. Here’s a look at the clip.
MORE: Evaluating QB1: Caleb Williams’ Best Game Yet
This throw from Caleb Williams to Luther Burden is ridiculous pic.twitter.com/Yd4nkJL0Tq
— Dave (@dave_bfr) September 22, 2025Let’s go down the line and look at the protection. Matt Eberflus’ defense lines up with three down linemen and a stand-up edge rusher outside of Cole Kmet.
The Bears appear to have a three-quarter slide protection to the left up front. That means the Left tackle, left guard, and center are responsible for the gap to the left, or the man head up. The right tackle has the widest rusher to the right, and the right guard, in this instance, has the man in his right gap since there’s no rusher in between him and the center.
Kmet is leaving on a route, but he does a nice job chipping the edge rusher just enough so he doesn’t get a free shot on a full head of steam at the right side of the line, which in this case was Theo Benedet (in for the injured Darnell Wright) and Jonah Jackson.
Theo Benedet does a nice job of setting back as opposed to out. Had he set too far out of the snap, it would have created a rush lane for the defensive lineman in front of him. Jackson takes a nice first step to get to the rusher to his right. Clearly here, Jackson notices his rusher isn’t trying to work inside, and he’s rushing away from the quarterback. He knows that since his defender is trying to work farther outside, someone is coming back in. Instead of burying himself into that defensive lineman, he keeps his head out of the block, his feet moving, and passes the rusher off to Benedet.
Credit to Benedet, as well. He notices the edge rusher slow-playing his move, which usually is an indicator that some sort of stunt is coming. I would imagine here, too, that when Jackson felt the stunt initially, he verbally communicated that to Benedet. Either way, Benedet does a nice job of noticing the stunt and closing the gap between him and Jackson to take over the interior defensive lineman. After passing off the interior lineman, Jackson propels himself off that block and picks up the late man. Really well handled, and it emphasizes chemistry and an ability to pick up those stunts we’ve seen Bears units struggle with in the past.
On the left side, Braxton Jones has big-on-big with the defensive end and does a nice job standing up to him and not giving too much ground.
I love what Joe Thuney does at left guard here, and it’s one of many examples of his football IQ and feel for the game. He knows he has the gap to his left. But also, before the snap, there’s no immediate threat there. The interior lineman to his right could try to come around and cross his face, but that’s unlikely, and the next man on that side is lined up a gap outside of Braxton Jones.
Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson on the sidelines during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn ImagesAt this point, Thuney knows that not only can he help Dalman off the snap, but that’s likely going to be his man at some point. Still, he doesn’t assume that. On the snap, he takes his first step left, and his head looks left too. He’s taking care of his responsibility. But he also gets a punch with his right hand on Drew Dalman’s man to make his job easier. After a few steps, Thuney recognizes there isn’t a threat in his gap and feels Dalman’s man working toward him, so he shifts his focus there.
No, this wasn’t the most aggressive pass-rushing call we’ve seen from a defensive front against the Bears this season. But it came at a vital point on a two-minute drill before the half. We’ve seen Bears offensive lines mishandle simple stunts like this too many times before. Whether it’s been a lack of talent, poor communication, bad coaching, or all of the above, it was happening way too often.
Protection like this was a step in the right direction for a unit that has desperately needed to take a few for years now. This play was just one example of chemistry, communication, and execution that were on full display for much of Sunday’s win over Dallas.
So, sure, it was one game against a bad Cowboys defense. But similar to what Caleb Williams did to a bad secondary, the Bears’ offensive line did to a bad front seven what they should do in many cases. There’s still a way to go, but after three games, it does appear this unit is finally starting to make some real progress.
Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) throws a touchdown pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn ImagesHence then, the article about bears offensive line progress report another step in the right direction against dallas was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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