Bill Lazor Helps Running Backs

Alright, look, I get it. Bill Lazor’s track-record as an NFL coach isn’t exactly the most glamorous. But if you can contain your laughter for just a minute, I can try to make the case for why his hire as Chicago’s new offensive coordinator will actually be a positive for David Montgomery in 2020.

Lazor’s offenses as a whole have never set the world on fire. Four years as an offensive coordinator, with only one of those seasons resulting in team finishes above the league average in yards and points per game isn’t an awe-inspiring figure, but the one metric where Lazor’s offenses shine are in the running game.

2014: Lazor’s first season as an NFL Offensive Coordinator, his Miami Dolphins rank second in the league in running efficiency as lead back Lamar Miller hits career highs in yards per run, total rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns– career-best marks that still stand today.

2015: Miller takes a step back, but still ties his career-high for rushing touchdowns with eight while the Dolphins as a team rank in the top ten in yards per carry.

2017: Lazor’s first year as the Cincinnati OC and it’s… not pretty, to be honest. The team was breaking in Joe Mixon during his rookie season, while rotating between some underwhelming veteran options like Jeremy Hill and Giovanni Bernard. But even then, the results aren’t great– but look much more hopeful the following year.

2018: Oh my God, we’re back again. Lazor’s second year as the Bengals’ OC sees the team skyrocket to ninth in yards per carry, while Joe Mixon thrives in Year Two to the tune of over 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.

A quick history on the life of Bill Lazor to show that, even while the overall offensive stats don’t always look amazing, Lazor has always had a knack for helping a team’s lead running back reach career-best heights and some solid running efficiency.

And with the help of Matt Nagy, an offensive coach with a much better track record than Lazor, the two might be able to combine their efforts to create an offense that’s solid all-around. And David Montgomery might very well be the biggest benefactor of that pairing. 

An offensive coordinator with a proven history of running back efficiency and a creative offensive head coach that’s shown faith in his running back might be the final pieces of the puzzle that will make David Montgomery’s 2020 season one to remember.