Bears players’ belief in offensive coordinator Adam Gase extends well beyond prime pupil Jay Cutler and the quarterback room. Gase has earned it in one especially demanding area – the offensive line – that is beyond critical given the Bears’ philosophical orientation under coach John Fox.
Even with a 4-5 record that includes needs for comebacks, Gase has balanced the offense 55:45 pass:run, as he and coach John Fox promised from the outsets of their tenures. If there is a quirkiness in the balance, it’s that the Bears ran the football considerably less in their wins over Oakland, Kansas City and Oakland (combined 38.5 percent), suggesting a flexibility in Gase that has not been lost on his players.
“When I’m in the huddle next to Pat [Omameh] and ‘Slau’ [Matt Slauson] and those guys, and we get a play call, there’s never a time where we look at each other and think, ‘Oh, [man],’” said tackle Kyle Long.
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Gase has made good the verbal commitment to balance and running the football, with no fewer than 25 rushing attempts in any of the Bears’ nine games.
“We’re fired up when we hear the play call,” Long said, “because it’s on our shoulders to get these guys some openings.
“That’s Adam Gase.”