Chicago Bears' Trubisky would enjoy some thinking outside of the pocket

Mitch Trubisky's most impressive throw during an uneven performance in the Chicago Bears' 24-17 Monday night victory over the Seattle Seahawks came on the second play of the fourth quarter.

On a planned rollout, the Bears' quarterback ran left and fired a dart that led rookie wide receiver Anthony Miller perfectly in the south end zone at Soldier Field to put the Bears ahead 17-3.

But Trubisky throwing on the run seems to be like the weather - everyone talks about it, but no one does anything about it.

Former head coach John Fox talked about Trubisky's accuracy on the move. Fox's offensive coordinator, Dowell Loggains, talked about Trubisky's knack for making throws just as easily while mobile as he did while standing in the pocket.

But the former regime never fully incorporated plays that utilized his athleticism into the offense.

It always has been clear where the player stands on the issue.

"I like it a lot," Trubisky said of throwing from outside the pocket. "I feel comfortable on the move. It's just another way to switch up the launch point in the pocket. I think it helps the offensive line a lot because the defensive linemen can't just pin their ears back and come after the quarterback."

Specifically on the scoring throw to Miller, which was his first touchdown catch as a pro, Trubisky said: "It's really comfortable for me to throw on the run when guys are getting open like that and running great routes. It just makes it easy.

"I thought it was a great play call for that situation. It's definitely something I'm comfortable doing, so hopefully we'll see more of it going forward. But whatever is helping this offense score points is really good."

Maybe new Bears coach and offensive playcaller Matt Nagy will be the one to capitalize on those types of plays.

Since Trubisky was at North Carolina, making plays on the move has been one of his strengths. It often gives him more room to throw, and it doesn't allow pass rushers to fixate on the same launch point in a stationary pocket.

It's something Trubisky enjoys and is comfortable doing. Who knows? It could lead to more of the impact plays that have been in short supply in the first two games.

"I think for any quarterback, (when) you move that launch point it helps them out," Nagy said. "Mitch does a really good job (with it). He did it in college. He was really good outside the pocket. We need to be able to figure out ways to do that, where we feel it's advantageous for the offense, and I know he's comfortable in that.

"Some games, there may be some (opportunities), depending on what (defensive looks) they give you, and some games there may not be. But that's one of his strengths, for sure."

Trubisky's 80.0 passer rating through two games is a couple of clicks ahead of last year's 77.5, but he has produced just two plays of 20 yards or longer, while Bears opponents have six. Trubisky had a 31-yard completion to Taylor Gabriel and a 33-yard connection with Allen Robinson, both in Week 1 at Green Bay.

Late in the second quarter against Seattle, Trubisky missed an opportunity to make a play on the move. That time it was an unplanned rollout right, after neither of his first two options were open. He appeared to throw a bit late to a diving Miller, who couldn't come up with the low toss.

"I felt like they played a pretty good defense there," Nagy said. "They had a good call there. That's not an easy throw; it's not an easy catch. I know watching tape the next day, Mitch was mad he didn't make that throw. Those are plays that, as we go, I think he'll make those. I have no doubt in my mind."

But first he has to get the opportunity.

• Bob LeGere is a senior writer at Pro Football Weekly. Follow Bob's Bears reports on Twitter @BobLeGere or @PFWeekly.