Thomas Jones Says Matt Nagy Took Away the Bears’ True Identity

Matt Nagy tried to send a message in the first game of the year when he wore George Halas’ actual fedora to Soldier Field. The great irony is Halas himself would be irate with the way Nagy has handled things so far this season. Especially on the offensive side. One thing “Papa Bear” always made sure of in regards to Bears offense was that they were never going to be out-physicaled by another team. That meant a commitment to running the football. Something former Bears running back Thomas Jones was keen to point out.

Jones was around during the last period when the Bears were actually consistently good in 2005 and 2006. A big reason for that? They had one of the better rushing attacks in the NFL. The offensive line was tough and nasty and the team just lined up and took it to the defense. In other words the complete opposite of what the current Bears offense has been liked. Things reached an all-time low last Sunday when Nagy’s vaunted scheme churned out a grand total of seven rushing attempts.

Unsurprisingly this strategy backfired since his overwhelmed quarterback Mitch Trubisky wasn’t able to compensate for the imbalance. Jones, like many others, was appalled by the inability of the head coach to even try committing to the ground attack. He says for all the right words Nagy uses, he hasn’t embraced true Bears offense.

Nagy should learn the history of the Bears. When they've won in the past it's because they ran the ball 1st! The fans & the makeup of the Bears is blue collar. Hard nosed, physical fundamental football. Limit turnovers, chew up the clock & let the defense get you the ball back.

— Thomas Q. Jones (@thomasqjones) October 22, 2019

& where is their fullback? How can you run the ball in Chicago without a fullback in the game? When u have a fullback in the game the linebackers know they have to strap up their helmets. It's going to be a physical game & some of them don't want that. Cant make it easy for them.

— Thomas Q. Jones (@thomasqjones) October 22, 2019

This is exactly what I'm saying! The running game is simple. Coaches sometimes make it hard. Just line up, come off the ball and get downhill. Then get up and do it again and again till the defense gives up! https://t.co/qxk7H1w62g

— Thomas Q. Jones (@thomasqjones) October 23, 2019

Thomas Jones recognizes Nagy took away the Bears’ identity

What’s most troubling is Nagy has willingly robbed the Bears of their identity. Last season the team ranked 6th in the league in rushing attempts with 468. So far in 2019? They rank 28th and are on pace for 333. The last time the Bears had a total even close to that was when they had 356 back in 2014. Everybody knows how that season ended up going. Is it any coincidence that many in the media are starting to see the same warning signs?

Right now Nagy is the only one who can change any of this. He insists he knows the team has to run the ball more and that he’s “not an idiot.” That may be so, but the fact remains the Bears have run the ball more than 20 times in a game three times this year. All three were victories. The three times they didn’t were defeats. Yes, the running game isn’t as productive as one would like but simply abandoning it isn’t the answer. The past two weeks have proven that.

Jones is offering Nagy a warning. The course he’s currently on will only lead to disaster and serious questions about what good he is to the Bears offense.