Chicago Bears: Is there Hope for Dowell Loggains?

Quarterback Protection and Play Calls Leveraging Strengths

Another key was the offensive line’s ability to protect Hoyer. As opposed to the first two games of the season where Cutler was constantly under pressure in a collapsing pocket, the offensive line maintained the pocket and gave Hoyer time to throw the ball.

From the tape, the O-line is communicating better and may be starting to gel. For example, in the third quarter on a key 3rd-and-11, the Lions’ defensive line pulled a stunt on OT Charles Leno Jr. and OG Josh Sitton. Leno Jr. and Sitton maintained their assignments by each picking up the right defender, enabling Hoyer with enough time to make a deep pass to Eddie Royal for 64 yards.

As a unit, the offensive line is showing steady improvement. In the first two games of the season, the OL gave up 8 sacks and 19 QB hits, but in the last two games they gave up just 2 sacks and 6 QB hits.

With more time for Hoyer, Loggains was able to make play calls that played to Hoyer’s strengths, or at least avoided his weaknesses. Hoyer can make throws on the run, can make good decisions, but yet isn’t known for his arm strength. Given his strengths and weaknesses, Loggains called for plays that emphasized plays on the run (play actions), and shorter passes (less than 20 yards) as opposed to deeper throws. Of Hoyer’s 294 passing yards, 216 of those came on short passes distributed to various receivers.