technical details
  1. is_video => true
  2. alias => "chicago\/\/bears\/even-controlled-gameplan-mitchell-trubiskys-playmaking-ability-shines-through"
  3. nid => "602261"
  4. title => "Even in a controlled gameplan, Mitchell Trubisky's playmaking ability shines through"
  5. is_chrome_page => false
  6. article_body => "<p>While the Bears praised Mitchell Trubisky\u2019s operation of a controlled gameplan in his second NFL start, they\u2019re not losing sight of the special kind of athleticism and playmaking ability the rookie quarterback possesses. Two plays in particular stand out \u2014 plays that led to anywhere from a five-to-10 point swing in the game.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Trubisky\u2019s 18-yard third down completion to Kendall Wright in overtime seems to looks better every time you watch it on film. Trubisky was pressured by two Baltimore Ravens pass rushers, but managed to wriggle free and slide to his right, only to find linebacker C.J. Mosley waiting in front of him. The blend of athleticism and aggressiveness Trubisky displayed in firing high over the middle toward Wright \u2014 who made a specular play of his own \u2014 is one of the many reasons why the Bears are so excited about him.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo be able to throw that ball with both hands in the air and changing your arm angle \u2013 that\u2019s why you draft a kid second,\u201d offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. \u201cBecause of things like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But there was another instinctual, athletic play Trubisky made that was just as impressive, and just as important. Cody Whitehair\u2019s snapping issues cropped up at the Bears\u2019 13-yard line, with the center sailing a snap over Trubisky\u2019s head and toward the end zone.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If Baltimore recovered that ball, it would\u2019ve tied the game; had Trubisky simply fell on the ball, it very well could\u2019ve led to a safety that would\u2019ve brought the Ravens within five points about a minute after the Bears took a 17-3 lead. Instead, Trubisky picked up the ball, scrambled to his right and threw the ball away \u2014 one of six throwaways he had on Sunday.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201c(That) was a critical, critical play at that time,\u201d Loggains said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This isn't to say that two plays&nbsp;\u2014 only one of which gained yards&nbsp;\u2014 are enough to say the Bears' offense is in a good place. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/bears\/why-bears-gameplan-mitchell-trubisky-working-well\" target=\"_blank\">It's still a group that necessitates a controlled gameplan<\/a>, similar to the one they used with Mike Glennon. But the difference: Trubisky can make plays.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Briefly, on Whitehair<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Since we\u2019re on the subject of another poor snap by Whitehair, here\u2019s what Loggains had to say on that topic:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s gotten better. We still had one too many. The thing and point I want to make with Cody Whitehair is, obviously wants to talk about the snap, but you\u2019re talking about two weeks in a row of completely dominating. We\u2019re an outside zone team that ran 25 snaps of inside zone because of what they were playing. It changed our game plan and Cody\u2019s a big part of that. The last two weeks we\u2019ve been able to move those guys inside. He\u2019s a really good football player.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going to battle through these snap issues. We\u2019re cutting them down. He\u2019s more accurate. He did have the one that obviously is unacceptable and no one owns that more than Cody Whitehair does. But he is a really good football player and let\u2019s not lose sight of the 79 snaps where he really helped the team run the football and you can\u2019t do that without a Cody Whitehair at center.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Loggains has a point here \u2014 if Whitehair were struggling in the run game, against the defensive looks the Ravens were showing, the Bears wouldn\u2019t have been able to run the ball 50 times with the kind of success they had. But the poor snaps nonetheless are ugly and have to be eliminated \u2014 imagine the uproar over them if Trubisky didn\u2019t make that play in Baltimore. The Bears' offense won't always be good enough to overcome those kind of self-inflicted mistakes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Loggains and coach John Fox have praised Whitehair\u2019s attention to the problem, and as long as Hroniss Grasu is still limited with a hand injury, Whitehair will have some time to work through these issues. One final thought: Who would\u2019ve expected, back in May, that Whitehair would have the problems with snaps, and not Trubisky?&nbsp;<\/p>\n"
  7. author => "JJ Stankevitz"
  8. mps => {"author":"JJ Stankevitz","league":"","sport":"","sponsor":""}
  9. published => "1508433300"
  10. created => "1508436525"
  11. changed => "1508445189"
  12. status => "1"
  13. hero_image_credit => "USA Today"
  14. tags => [{"tid":"1241","name":"Chicago Bears","url":"chicago-bears"},{"tid":"15296","name":"Mitchell Trubisky","url":"tags\/mitchell-trubisky"}]
  15. section => "Bears"
  16. team => "Chicago Bears"
  17. image => {"uri":"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/chicago\/2017\/10\/19\/jj_and_moon_keys_to_game_pic_10-19_640x360_1077092419882.jpg","alt":"jj_and_moon_keys_to_game_pic_10-19_640x360_1077092419882.jpg","title":"Keys to the Game: Bears-Panthers"}
  18. video_url => "https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/video\/keys-game-bears-panthers"
  19. is_mediaid => true
  20. mediaid => "dB2TOW94Y2p2"
  21. video_autoplay => true
  22. video_automute => false
  23. mpx_account_id => "BxmELC"
  24. player_id => "chicago_article"
  25. chrome_data => "{\"league\":\"\",\"sport\":\"\",\"sponsor\":\"\"}"
  26. sponsor => ""
  27. region => "chicago"
  28. fb_url => "https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=330072974228200&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fbears%2Feven-controlled-gameplan-mitchell-trubiskys-playmaking-ability-shines-through&display=popup"
  29. tw_url => "https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Even%20in%20a%20controlled%20gameplan%2C%20Mitchell%20Trubisky%27s%20playmaking%20ability%20shines%20through&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fbears%2Feven-controlled-gameplan-mitchell-trubiskys-playmaking-ability-shines-through&original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fbears%2Feven-controlled-gameplan-mitchell-trubiskys-playmaking-ability-shines-through"
  30. mailto => "mailto:?subject=Even%20in%20a%20controlled%20gameplan%2C%20Mitchell%20Trubisky%27s%20playmaking%20ability%20shines%20through&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fbears%2Feven-controlled-gameplan-mitchell-trubiskys-playmaking-ability-shines-through"
  31. tags_hide => []
  32. type => "article"
  33. meta => {"file":"\/mnt\/gfs\/rsnunited\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/article\/chicago\/bears\/even-controlled-gameplan-mitchell-trubiskys-playmaking-ability-shines-through.json","assets":["public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/chicago\/2017\/10\/19\/jj_and_moon_keys_to_game_pic_10-19_640x360_1077092419882.jpg"]}
  34. orig_image => {"uri":"public:\/\/2017\/10\/19\/jj_and_moon_keys_to_game_pic_10-19_640x360_1077092419882.jpg","alt":"jj_and_moon_keys_to_game_pic_10-19_640x360_1077092419882.jpg","title":"Keys to the Game: Bears-Panthers"}
  35. article_type => "article"
Bears

Bears

While the Bears praised Mitchell Trubisky’s operation of a controlled gameplan in his second NFL start, they’re not losing sight of the special kind of athleticism and playmaking ability the rookie quarterback possesses. Two plays in particular stand out — plays that led to anywhere from a five-to-10 point swing in the game. 

Trubisky’s 18-yard third down completion to Kendall Wright in overtime seems to looks better every time you watch it on film. Trubisky was pressured by two Baltimore Ravens pass rushers, but managed to wriggle free and slide to his right, only to find linebacker C.J. Mosley waiting in front of him. The blend of athleticism and aggressiveness Trubisky displayed in firing high over the middle toward Wright — who made a specular play of his own — is one of the many reasons why the Bears are so excited about him. 

“To be able to throw that ball with both hands in the air and changing your arm angle – that’s why you draft a kid second,” offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. “Because of things like that.”

But there was another instinctual, athletic play Trubisky made that was just as impressive, and just as important. Cody Whitehair’s snapping issues cropped up at the Bears’ 13-yard line, with the center sailing a snap over Trubisky’s head and toward the end zone. 

If Baltimore recovered that ball, it would’ve tied the game; had Trubisky simply fell on the ball, it very well could’ve led to a safety that would’ve brought the Ravens within five points about a minute after the Bears took a 17-3 lead. Instead, Trubisky picked up the ball, scrambled to his right and threw the ball away — one of six throwaways he had on Sunday. 

 

“(That) was a critical, critical play at that time,” Loggains said. 

This isn't to say that two plays — only one of which gained yards — are enough to say the Bears' offense is in a good place. It's still a group that necessitates a controlled gameplan, similar to the one they used with Mike Glennon. But the difference: Trubisky can make plays. 

Briefly, on Whitehair

Since we’re on the subject of another poor snap by Whitehair, here’s what Loggains had to say on that topic: 

“He’s gotten better. We still had one too many. The thing and point I want to make with Cody Whitehair is, obviously wants to talk about the snap, but you’re talking about two weeks in a row of completely dominating. We’re an outside zone team that ran 25 snaps of inside zone because of what they were playing. It changed our game plan and Cody’s a big part of that. The last two weeks we’ve been able to move those guys inside. He’s a really good football player. 

“We’re going to battle through these snap issues. We’re cutting them down. He’s more accurate. He did have the one that obviously is unacceptable and no one owns that more than Cody Whitehair does. But he is a really good football player and let’s not lose sight of the 79 snaps where he really helped the team run the football and you can’t do that without a Cody Whitehair at center.”

Loggains has a point here — if Whitehair were struggling in the run game, against the defensive looks the Ravens were showing, the Bears wouldn’t have been able to run the ball 50 times with the kind of success they had. But the poor snaps nonetheless are ugly and have to be eliminated — imagine the uproar over them if Trubisky didn’t make that play in Baltimore. The Bears' offense won't always be good enough to overcome those kind of self-inflicted mistakes. 

Loggains and coach John Fox have praised Whitehair’s attention to the problem, and as long as Hroniss Grasu is still limited with a hand injury, Whitehair will have some time to work through these issues. One final thought: Who would’ve expected, back in May, that Whitehair would have the problems with snaps, and not Trubisky?