It’s been a while since the Chicago Bears had any playoff hopes early in a season, let alone started the season 3-0.
Fun fact though, no other NFL team has mounted two comebacks of 16 points in the fourth quarter in any season.
These wins were partially due to heriocs by the quarterback, and there have been two in three games, but mainly it has to do with the defence. If the defence didn’t step up, the lead wouldn’t have been cut and all those touchdowns would have been labeled garbage time.
Still, the Bears could do something not seen in the NFL in a long time, if ever – there is a game plan that would shake the league’s very foundations.
Mitch Trubisky’s first-half stats don’t tell the whole story of the perplexing former first round pick but they do say something for my gameplan. The first half this season, Trubisky has thrown for 400 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
Breaking that down further, the second quarter is his best, completing 60 per cent of his throws and garnering a rating of 104.1.
In fact, all of his interceptions coming in the second half. Add that to the fact that his third quarter rating is a whopping 34.9 and you get the feeling that once he hits his groove and takes a break, he’s a different QB altogether.
Then throw in the fact that his best performances come when the score is up by nine or more and it shows when he can relax and play ‘schoolyard’ ball he is at his best.
Nick Foles, on the other hand, is different in all aspects.
In 2019, almost all of his interceptions were thrown in the first half, while leading. His first half production is decent, his second half completion rate is over 70 per cent, with a fourth-quarter rating of 102.8.
As a matter of fact, his completion when down by more than 17 points is nearly 70 per cent and his fist down production is great. Foles also has a standing rate of 113.2 when behind by 9-16 points.
Hopefully you see where I’m heading, but let’s continue.
Foles isn’t much of a runner but his pocket presence is well noted. Trubisky is a runner and does his best work on the move.
Last season, Foles added just 13 yards on the ground while Trubisky has added over 80 in three games. Most of Trubisky’s ground yards come in the first half, with his highest average yardage per run occurring then as well.
Now Foles and Trubisky occasionally get involved as receivers (remember the Philly Special) but Trubisky is more of a receiver due to his ability to run downfield.
Running backs often work out of a committee, sometimes running the hot hand or dedicating people to situational places. Why not do that with quarterback?
Why not take everything we have learnt and use it to the Bears’ advantage.
Start Trubisky and let him do what he does in the first half. Let him roll out and have fun playing ball. Let him run and create a situation that the defence has to adjust for.
Then, no matter the score, let Foles come in and use his accuracy and vision to close out the game. This would keep the defence off balance and create opportunities to let the offence capitalise.
A committee quarterback situation would wreak havoc on any defence – I mean, how do you prepare in a week for two QBs with completely different styles of play?
It’s the Bears’ best chance at a ring in 2020.
Davico
Roar Pro
Am a massive Bears fan just up front. Mitch will not be playing again this season unless Foles health fails AGAIN! The Offense and particularly the play calling has been awful for the Bears this season. Mitch has no accuarcy downfield so it would not have mattered much, but for a prodigy of the Walrus, I can't understand why Nagy (Offensive genius apparently), keeps running dink and dunk plays rather than going down field! I get that our O line has more leaks than the Trump White House, but FFS, Robinson is a A1 target, and if they do not resign him it will be a travesty. Now that the Chargers have decided they are going with Herbert, can't see why the Bears would not try to make a trade to send Mitch for T Taylor. Taylor I think can be a SB winning QB with the Bears D and the Chargers dont need to keep TT as Herbert has shown he is going to be a franchise QB! Please Bears don't waste this D, even though they do tend to give up big downfield plays on 3rd down! Argh
Pete McAloney
Roar Pro
Great article! And bloody good thinking. I think both comments in reply support your idea: 1. The fact that the Offence need to adjust to cater for this approach only needs doing once, whereas every opponent will need to adjust every week. 2. The fact that other sports do it means it can be done. In rugby union the rough equivalent is the fly half and they are regularly replaced at some point in the second half. I think the Bears are well positioned to give it a shot.
Jungle Jack
Roar Rookie
Thats just one of the most difficult parts about running 2 qbs. The online adjustment would take place at halftime or quarter break to give them time to sub but thats a greta point about baseball. Never thought about it really from a football point of view
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
"how do you prepare in a week for two QBs with completely different styles of play?" You will also need to prepare your own offense to work with two different QBs, though. Not just fundamentally different playbooks, but potentially different offensive lines (one to open holes for Trubisky running, one to protect Foles in the pocket); some OL players are great at one aspect but not the other. The shock value might work for a game or two, but once the defense know what's coming they will adjust pretty quickly. And it's not really a new idea; baseball has had the notion of relief pitchers for years, specialist pitchers for when you need to close a game out. I'm not aware of it being tried in the NFL before (although I wouldn't be surprised if it had), but it's been done in college repeatedly where it can be more common to have two great QBs on a team (there not being a salary cap in college).