{"id":49323,"date":"2018-09-15T08:27:04","date_gmt":"2018-09-15T12:27:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=49323"},"modified":"2021-05-30T21:35:12","modified_gmt":"2021-05-31T01:35:12","slug":"khalil-mack-brings-pressure-mitch-trubisky-feels-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2018\/09\/15\/khalil-mack-brings-pressure-mitch-trubisky-feels-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Khalil Mack Brings Pressure, Mitch Trubisky Feels It"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Chicago Bears<\/a> traded for Khalil Mack<\/a><\/strong>, the Bears were letting everyone know that they were “all in” to compete, at the very least, for the NFC North title.\u00a0 The Bears hierarchy and fandom dreamed of the amount of pressure Mack would bring to opposing quarterbacks. That dream became a reality when Aaron Rodgers<\/a><\/strong> was crumpled beneath a pile of Bears defenders last weekend.\u00a0 But as you now know, Rodgers returned, Willis Reed style, to come back and haunt the Bears 24-23.\u00a0 Now the pressure has shifted to second-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky<\/a><\/strong>, and the offense’s failure to put the Green Bay Packers<\/a> away.<\/p>\n

Mitch Trubisky<\/a> and the Offensive Shortcomings<\/h1>\n

That the offense “failed” is probably too strong a word.\u00a0 But there was the fandom calling the Bears postgame show on @670TheScore, according to postgame radio host Hub Arkush on Twitter.\u00a0 Saying that three out of every four calls were, “Trubisky’s a bust, get rid of him!” or “That bum Trubisky is killing us, they should play Chase Daniels<\/a><\/strong>!”<\/p>\n

Sometimes being a sports fan in Chicago is like attending a bachelor party.\u00a0 Some people you know, but there are the “others”, people you have seen before but don’t really know.\u00a0 \u00a0 Watching them get disgustingly drunk, acting horribly, saying inappropriate things, isn’t really that much fun.<\/p>\n

Makes a normal person want to take a shower and brush their teeth.\u00a0 Makes athletes like Mitchell Trubisky want to quit social media altogether like he did during training camp.\u00a0 From the time he was drafted Bears fans have held the belief that Trubisky was going to prove to be the franchise quarterback they have long been waiting for.\u00a0 Fans have been rabid in anticipation of this season with many talking playoffs and super bowl on fan message boards.\u00a0 They are a fickle bunch.\u00a0 Texting each other “can you believe this”, when the Bears got off to that great start against the Packers.<\/p>\n

A Good Start<\/h2>\n

The first drive for Trubisky against the Packers had worked out so well because it was scripted, planned and rehearsed for weeks.\u00a0 Starting with a nod to the “T” formation of old, head coach Matt Nagy<\/strong> threw a variety of looks at the Packers.\u00a0 You could tell on the first two drives a wider variety of play calls kept the Packers on guard playing slow and tentative. Chicago jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and the defense, already playing well, started to tighten the screws on Rodgers and the Packers offense.<\/p>\n

Khalil Mack<\/a> and the Bears defense took over in the second quarter.\u00a0 First, they knocked Rodgers out of the game, when Roy Robertson-Harris<\/a><\/strong>, Khalil Mack<\/strong> and Leonard Floyd<\/a><\/strong> had a meeting at the quarterback.\u00a0 Robertson-Harris landed on top of Rodgers, which pinched his knee in a sideways downward dog yoga position.\u00a0 Rodgers was clearly hurt and left the game, while his team punted.<\/p>\n

On the Packers next drive, backup quarterback DeShone Kizer<\/strong> entered the game as Rodgers was carted off the field.\u00a0 Kizer drove the Packers to the Bears 10-yard line before Khalil Mack intervened.\u00a0 He sacked and stripped the ball from Kizer all at once.\u00a0 Mack even recovered the ball on the remarkably athletic play.<\/p>\n

After a short drive by the Bears, they punted, giving the ball back to Kizer and the Packers.\u00a0 A couple completions and a penalty later the Packers were looking at 3rd down and 19 yards for a first down.\u00a0 Desperate to put points on the board before halftime, Kizer dropped back to pass, as Bears defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris<\/a> came up the gut on a stunt.\u00a0 Robertson-Harris got into the face of Kizer, who tossed the ball into Khalil Mack’s belly, and Mack ran 27 yards for the pick-6 touchdown.\u00a0 The Bears went to halftime with a 17-0 lead as boos rained down on the Packers at Lambeau Field.\u00a0 Packer fans are fickle too.<\/p>\n

Halftime<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Once the teams took the field after halftime, Trubisky led the Bears on a good drive that took up nearly six minutes.\u00a0 They used screen passes with pretty good success to get into the red zone.\u00a0 But the Packers covered a third-down play pretty well and Trubisky threw the ball away so the Bears could kick the field goal that made it 20-0.<\/p>\n

Before the Bears could really feel good about their lead, Aaron Rodgers<\/a> put his helmet on and trotted onto the field.\u00a0 It only took a two-step drop out of a shotgun formation, and a quick 10-yard completion to Randall Cobb<\/a><\/strong> to make Bears fans feel a little nervous.<\/p>\n

The Packers went no huddle for pretty much the rest of the game and Bears defenders Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks<\/a><\/strong>‘ conditioning was no match for the suddenly energetic Packers.\u00a0 After the first pass play, the Packers went away from Hicks and Mack’s side of the field.\u00a0 When Hicks and Mack left the game to get a breather as the Packers crossed the Bears 40-yard line.\u00a0 Rodgers went back to the right side for completions against a suddenly tired pass rush.\u00a0 Two incompletions in the end zone resulted in the Packers settling for a field goal, but momentum had already shifted.<\/p>\n

Bad Finish<\/strong><\/h2>\n

After that, the Bears went three and out.\u00a0 Not because of Nagy’s play calls, or Trubisky’s lack of execution.\u00a0 But because running back Tarik Cohen<\/a><\/strong> took a screen pass on first down\u00a0and turned it back up the middle for a loss of a yard.\u00a0 If he had gone up the sideline he would’ve gained at least five yards.\u00a0 The Bears may have been able to turn second and five into a first down, but 11 yards to go is more difficult.\u00a0 Cohen led the league in negative yards last year and needs to learn to take what he is given.<\/p>\n

On a critical third down and 14 yards to go at the start of the Packers next drive.\u00a0 Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman<\/a><\/strong> wasn’t in the game.\u00a0 Akiem Hicks<\/a> moved over with Mack playing left end, and Sam Acho<\/a><\/strong> in Mack’s linebacking spot.\u00a0 Fangio decided to have Mack run around Hicks in a stunt back up the middle, which took to long to develop.\u00a0 Mack didn’t get close to Rodgers as he completed a strike to Geronimo Allison<\/a><\/strong> for 15 yards.<\/p>\n

As with the previous drive, Hicks and Mack left the game to get rest after the Packers crossed midfield.\u00a0 Rodgers wasted no time under no pressure as he completed a perfect 39-yard touchdown to Allison.\u00a0Kyle Fuller<\/a><\/strong> had the play well covered, the pass was perfect.\u00a0 20-17 Bears.<\/p>\n

Packers Defense Comes Alive<\/h2>\n

What has been lost in the post-game analysis is how disciplined the Packers defense played the final three quarters.\u00a0 Packers defenders stayed in their lanes on a critical third down and a yard to go for the Bears.\u00a0 Ha Ha Clinton Dix stopped Bears tight end Dion Sims<\/a><\/strong> for a loss on a misdirection tight end naked screen.\u00a0 Trubisky executed what was called, the Packers just stopped him often enough to give Rodgers a chance to win.<\/p>\n

The Bears tried to put the game away on their next drive.\u00a0 Trubisky executed a critical third down and seven yards with a rollout and completion to rookie Anthony Miller<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 Two big Jordan Howard<\/a><\/strong> runs and the Bears were looking at third down and two yards to go at the Packers 12-yard line.\u00a0 Nagy dialled up a play to go for the touchdown which was well covered.\u00a0 The only receiver Trubisky could throw to was Miller.\u00a0 The ball went through his hands for an incompletion was well covered and would’ve lost yards anyway.\u00a0 \u00a0The Bears kicked the field goal to take a 23-17 lead.<\/p>\n

With every drive the Packers had in the second half, Rodgers appeared less and less mobile.\u00a0 On the first play of the Packers next drive, Rodgers threw the ball right into the arms of Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller<\/a>, who dropped it.\u00a0 The next play Khalil Mack finally got a hand on Rodgers and shoved him as he released the ball for an incompletion.\u00a0 Rodgers hopped back to the huddle looking pretty wobbly.\u00a0 On third down and ten yards to go, Rodgers found Randall Cobb<\/a> breaking over the middle.\u00a0 Caught in stride, Cobb ran to the end zone for a 75-yard touchdown that completed the seemingly impossible comeback.<\/p>\n

The Bears still had a chance though.\u00a0 With 2:08 left in the game and two timeouts left, Trubisky led a drive where they converted a fourth and ten on a roughing the passer penalty.\u00a0 He did manage to complete one good pass to get them near midfield.\u00a0 But on third and ten, and fourth and ten, Nagy called plays that were too aggressive with the amount of time that was left.\u00a0 Both went incomplete downfield and the Packers ran out the clock for the win.<\/p>\n

A Hint of Pressure<\/h2>\n

Right when the trade happened, the media and beat reporters were in a frenzy to get quotes and report on the Bears player reactions.\u00a0 Trubisky was specifically asked by a slew of reporters if he felt any additional pressure to win with the acquisition of Mack.\u00a0 He, of course, said no, but the seed had just been planted.<\/p>\n

No one is so robotic they can block something out completely.\u00a0 Even Tom Brady<\/a><\/strong> gets mad at reporters, lashes out, channels his anger, and turns reporter hyperbole into self-motivating fuel that he can use to crush souls on Sunday’s.<\/p>\n

So far Mitchell has been more “Nuke” LaLoosh than anything.\u00a0 He clearly has a “Crash” Davis in his corner, coaching him to say the right things, to be polite, respectful and earnest.\u00a0 Bears players say he has shown the leadership and earned the respect of the locker room.\u00a0 Actions speak louder than words though.<\/p>\n

Creating the Wrong Kind of Pressure<\/h2>\n

Frequently on the Bears last few drives, the “happy feet” that Trubisky said postgame he needs to correct was on display.\u00a0 Nerves are a powerful thing.\u00a0 Until a person learns what to do and gains the confidence that comes with repetition and success, the nerves will always rise to the surface in a pressure-filled situation.\u00a0 Maybe Mitchell should’ve played more in the preseason, or at least in two-minute drills and no huddle situations.\u00a0 Bears nation and beat reporters who applauded Nagy’s thinking for cutting short first-team reps in preseason games, can thank Nagy for Mitchell’s “happy feet.”<\/p>\n

Football is a game of action and reaction.\u00a0 In training camp practices you can’t create the type of pressure necessary to sharpen a quarterbacks reaction, while he wears a red jersey that says DON’T TOUCH!\u00a0 Outside of stripping off the red jersey, the only way you can create real pressure is to convince them that their job is on the line.\u00a0 When the Bears moved up to draft Trubisky and anointed him the starter with no competition, they dulled his reactions by taking the pressure off.\u00a0 Now the only time he’s physically under pressure will be on Sunday’s running for his life.\u00a0 Trubisky’s “happy feet” is the result of the internal pressure he feels to succeed.<\/p>\n

One of the phrases I’ve heard continually out of Bears camp was that “iron sharpens iron.”\u00a0 They’ve been referring to the Bears top ten defense being effective at making the offense improve in practice.\u00a0 Iron doesn’t get sharper without putting the necessary pressure on the iron.\u00a0 In the Bears case, Matt Nagy’s practice’s don’t make perfect, even if you have 2000 reps like he says Trubisky has had.<\/p>\n

Assigning Blame<\/h2>\n

The reason the Bears lost isn’t that Trubisky couldn’t get another first down with a completed pass, or missed a wide-open Trey Burton<\/a><\/strong> in the end zone on a play designed for Tarik Cohen<\/a>.\u00a0 It’s not the play calling, but you’re getting closer.\u00a0 Even though Nagy admitted he called too many screens in the third and fourth quarters leading to consecutive three and outs.\u00a0 You want someone to blame?\u00a0 Take your pic<\/p>\n

Fangio<\/h2>\n

I give you defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.\u00a0 The minute that a hobbled Aaron Rodgers stepped back onto the field, Fangio should’ve dialled up every blitz that he had in his playbook.\u00a0 Yes you could give up a big play that leads to a score, but they did score, didn’t they?\u00a0 Fangio should’ve attacked before the no-huddle offense sapped the strength of the Bears pass-rush on Rodgers first drive back. Without the field goal to make it 20-3, the Packers don’t win and run out of time.<\/p>\n

He got outcoached by Packers head coach Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers pure and simple.\u00a0 He let the Bears blow another fourth-quarter lead like last year when he wanted John Fox’s job.\u00a0 The Bears scored enough points to win, even though the defense and Khalil Mack got one of the scores.<\/p>\n

Nagy<\/h2>\n

Don’t blame the screen passes for the loss.\u00a0 Blame Cohen for turning a gain into a loss though.\u00a0 It puts his quarterback and coach into tougher positions to convert third downs, which was the Bears Achilles heel last year.<\/p>\n

Blame Nagy for being too impatient and trying to be as aggressive as his coaching counterpart, Doug Peterson, the Philadelphia Eagles head coach.\u00a0 Both Nagy and Peterson come from the Andy Reid<\/a><\/strong> coaching tree.\u00a0 Peterson parlayed his aggressiveness into a super bowl after a couple of seasons.<\/p>\n

Nagy should not rush things and let Trubisky walk before he runs.\u00a0 He needs to put his quarterback into more manageable situations in down and distance.\u00a0 He should have given him more game time in the preseason as well.<\/p>\n

Kyle Fuller<\/strong>–Dropped an interception that hit him right in the numbers.<\/p>\n

Eddie Jackson<\/a><\/strong>–Can’t let receivers run past you.\u00a0 Last line of defense.<\/p>\n

Cody Whitehair<\/a><\/strong>–Bad snap at a critical moment.\u00a0 Trubisky forced to eat ball and the Bears kicked a\u00a0field goal after wasting that down.<\/p>\n

Illegally downfield penalty that called back 15-yard completion on final drive was a killer mental mistake.<\/p>\n

&nbsp<\/p>\n

Main photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>