Chicago Bears: The keys to Mitch Trubisky beating the Packers

Medium-length passes across the middle are what the Chicago Bears need

Another aspect to this plan working is that early on the Bears should try to target as many of these medium-length passes as possible into the middle of the field. This will make it easier for Trubisky to read the play and will also make it easier for him to make a quick release that can lead to an accurate pass. Presumably, the Bears can scheme some of these types of plays up given the thousands of plays Matt Nagy has in his playbook.

An offshoot to all this is that, obviously, if the medium-length passes are working because Trubisky is being accurate and the pass protection is holding up then take some shots downfield as well. All of this is not to ignore that the overall play-calling need some balance between pass and run to keep a defense guessing.

Let’s assume the Bears try this and it is working but the defense makes an adjustment to better defend these medium-length passes especially the ones over the middle. Then presnap make a change to a run play or short pass. Once a defense adjusts to these changes then look for other spots in the defense to attack. However, stay alert for when the medium passes look like a good option and then make it a priority.

The offense has the upper hand because they know what they plan to do but the defense is just guessing. Unfortunately, for the Bears all of last season and most of this season Nagy’s play-calling has been so predictable it has felt like the defense has known exactly what is coming.

Getting back to Trubisky, medium passes over the middle have always been Trubisky’s sweet spot. However, by him not using the best possible footwork in these types of passes, he sealed his own fate too — ultimately losing his starting job.