Did the Chicago Bears quarterback make his offense one dimensional?
One of the most noticeable questions coming out of the Chicago Bears three-point performance on Thursday Night was the run-pass disparity.
The Bears passed the ball 45 times and ran it just 15. While that was disappointing a lot of the blame went to Matt Nagy and his play-calling. This is rightfully so in some regards. Nagy got way too cute with his usage of Tarik Cohen, Cordarelle Patterson, David Montgomery, and his tight ends.
It looked like he was trying to be to gimmicky. However, the run to pass disparity may not have been his fault.
After the game, Nagy was more critical of Mitch Trubisky than you typically hear. He noted that Trubisky needs to make throws with more conviction and even hinted that Trubisky may have had to do with the lack of run plays.
Nagy once again said they need to run the ball more, but this was interesting too: "You guys gotta hang with me on some of these. We have some RPOs. So, when I’m calling runs and a throw is made, you guys think a pass is called. And there’s runs that are being called."
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) September 6, 2019
Nagy called RPOs to give the offense a look of run and pass. It is on the quarterback to read the defense and take what is being given, whether on the ground or with his arm. So, if the defense rushes in on the running backs, Trubisky can hold with clear passing lanes.
Nagy said runs are being called, but passes were executed. While most Bears fans will say “just call a straight run”, that is not what this offense is about. They added pass-catching running backs because the threat of pass will open running lanes. RPOs were the right call, but sometimes Trubisky was not taking what is given.
Take this early first down incompletion for example. Montgomery is lined up next to Trubisky. In the image, the offensive line is blocking down which shows a run was called. The box has six guys in it, but as the ball is snapped, there is little penetration and the edge players are well outside the tackles.
Montgomery has a lane, and the Bears are run blocking. Trubisky threw an incompletion that had to go around the jumping arms of the defensive end, who seemed to be playing the pass based on reading Trubisky.
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Of course, it was not the wrong decision all night. However, there were a few prime examples where you could see exactly what Nagy was saying. This is not a situation where Nagy should force Trubisky to call run plays.
Trubisky has to learn to make the right reads and aid his running game.
This will be just another big test in the development of a young quarterback.