Windy City Gridiron
Hello Bears fans! I’m back with another installment of our GBB series, this time looking back at what was good, better, and best in the game between the Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Steelers. This game featured a back up quarterback for the Steelers matched against just a few of the regular starters for the defense. By the end, at some positions, the backup of the backup made it into the game. It was a game full of ups and downs, but in the end, the Beloved came out on top.
Ozzy Trapilo
With the Canadian Eagle out with a bruised thigh, it was up to Ozzy Trapilo to step in and play left tackle, a position he had lost to first Braxton Jones in the offseason, and then Theo Benedet after the bye. While Trapilo has seen time on the field in jumbo sets, many folks in Twitter-land were ready to declare him a bust. But if you actually listened to his coaches, they had nothing but high praise for Trapilo. Some players take more time to develop, particularly when switching positions and making the jump from college to the pros at the same time. Well, Trapilo stepped up in a big way in the Steelers game, posting an excellent pass blocking grade and a decent run blocking grade. He only gave up one pressure the whole game. The Bears may have the makings of present and future starter at left tackle in Ozzy.
Caleb Williams
It certainly didn’t get off to a great start for Caleb, what with a sack-fumble-TD in the endzone that put the Steelers up 14-7 in the first quarter. And Caleb continues to have some frustratingly inaccurate throws that have led to a great deal of consternation among Bears fans, and some analysts have questioned whether he actually is good. Sure, I would like to see his completion percentage improve as well, but whatever “good” is at the quarterback position, I’m pretty sure that 250+ yards passing, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions is it. It is interesting to contrast Caleb’s performance with Mason Rudolph. Rudolph posted a nose-bleed completion percentage in the game (77.4%), but anyone who watched the game knows that came on check downs and swing passes. Whereas Caleb was throwing down the field, trying to fit the ball into tight windows, and threw some great, and bad balls, doing so. Which approach is more likely to lead to a win? I think the question answers itself.
Montez Sweat
Montez was off to a slow start to begin the season, and it had many fans wondering if he would live up to that big contract extension he received after coming over to the Bears from the Commanders. Well, no one is wondering anymore. Tez added two sacks in this game, including a strip-sack, and he was a force of disruption and mayhem against the Steelers all day long. Each week Sweat seems to get better and better. He’s...
