Trubisky content to let Bears offense be run-first
Like almost every other quarterback in the world, Bears rookie Mitch Trubisky loves to throw the ball.
He was still throwing after practice Wednesday afternoon, when he and fellow rookie, running back Tarik Cohen, were the last two players off the field.
Trubisky, the second overall pick in the draft, can spin it with just about anyone, but he's already learned that filling the air with footballs isn't always the best formula for victory.
In Sunday's 27-24 overtime victory over the Ravens in Baltimore, he had a low pitch count but was a model of efficiency with a passer rating of 94.0 on just 16 passes.
"As a quarterback, you want to be throwing the ball," Trubisky said. "But as a competitor and leader of this team, you're going to do whatever it takes to win. If it's running the ball, if it's passing the ball, whatever it is, that's what we're going to do."
The Ravens came out uncharacteristically playing Cover 2 and they continued to play both safeties back in coverage. So the Bears countered with 54 runs and just 17 passes. That included a trick play with Cohen throwing a TD pass to tight end Zach Miller. In the Bears' film study of the Ravens, the Baltimore defense played Cover 2 on just one play, so Trubisky was getting looks he hadn't seen.
So he was fine doing light duty, while Cohen, and especially Jordan Howard, carried the ball - and the day.
"I didn't feel any type of way at all about how many times we ran it, how many times we passed it," Trubisky said. "Just excited (about) how we stuck together and came away with that win. It was awesome to see."
Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains didn't have to convince Trubisky that the conservative approach was best.
"Because he wants to win," Loggains said. "He's a team-first guy. He knows that we're going to do whatever it takes to win a game."
The Ravens' defense came in last week playing well, but this week's opponent, Ron Rivera's Panthers, have been better. They're No. 4 in total yards, No. 5 in rushing yards and No. 7 in passing yards allowed. They're also fifth in sack percentage.
"They haven't had a lot of interceptions," said coach John Fox, whose team has 2. "They've had one less than we have. (But) they've gotten sacks, and they're real good on third down (11th)."
Some of Trubisky's best work last week occurred on plays that failed to pick up any yardage. But it was because of Trubisky that those didn't turn into negative plays.
He threw the ball away on 6 of his 8 incompletions and averted disaster when a snap from Cody Whitehair sailed over his shoulder. Trubisky scooped up the loose ball near his own goal line, evaded the pass rush and threw a safe incompletion.
"I was really impressed," Loggains said. "I thought he made a big jump from Minnesota (his first start) to this one. It's stuff that's not always seen by the naked eye; but taking care of the football, the throwaways. The snap that went over his head was a critical, critical play at that time. He just made really good decisions."
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