It is his fault that they had one big run and just never tried it again though. The Colts run D is BAD. True they were up for playoffs, but that doesn't erase the regular season stats.
not really true.. this is really skewed because of how FEW plays the bears offense really was able to run.
Lets look at each of the bears miserable drives.
- Pass/Run/Pass/Punt - score:7-0 bears
- Run(52yd)/Run/Run/Pass(TD) - score: 14-6 bears
- pass/Run(fumble lost) - score: 14-6 bears
End of 1st Quarter
- Run/Pass/Run/Punt - score: 14-6 bears
- Run/Run/Pass/Punt - score: 14-9 bears
- Pass/Pass/Run/Punt - score: 14-16 colts up
- Grossman Fumble on first play of the drive
End of 1st half
- pass/pass/pass(sacked)/pass(fumble-recovered)/punt
- run/run/pass/run/pass/FG - score: 17-22 (colts up)
End of 3rd quarter
- run (penalty against bears)/run/pass(int for TD) score: 17-29 colts
- run/pass/pass/pass (int)
So.. lets see at this point, bears were down 12 points with 10 minutes to go and went more pass happy to try to make up some points. Up 'till this point, I count 16 running plays and 18 passing plays. If you take a look at just the 1st half numbers, it was 8 pass plays vs. 10 running plays.
It's not like they abandoned the running game.. it's more about the colts (and the bears lack of execution) took the bears out their gameplan. Falling behind to the colts also didn't help matters. I think the loss of Benson to injury also took the bears out of what they wnated to do in their running game more than they might admint. Should they have ran the ball more? Probably.. but when you get into situations of 3rd and long, or 2nd and long.. it generally needs more passing downs.