Football fans are like any other sports fan. They love a good story of redemption. Being kicked to the ground by terrible events only to rebound over long odds back into the light. It sounds corny but sometimes corny is a good thing. On the whole Chicago Bears fans felt awful for Hroniss Grasu in 2016. The second-year center seemed well on his way to establishing himself as a long-term starter for the franchise.
Then during a routine drill at Soldier Field Family Fest, he tore his ACL. It was such a devastating blow for him. Not just because of the injury itself but also what followed. The Bears were forced to adjust so they moved rookie Cody Whitehair to center from his original left guard spot. From there he started all 16 games and almost made the Pro Bowl.
Suddenly the prospects of being a starter were out the window. At one point there was even discussion that Grasu might be cut or traded this year. That due in large part to his inability to play guard and the rise of veteran Eric Kush as a quality reserve who could. It would take a lot for him to regain the career trajectory he had before the injury.
Hroniss Grasu was a key component to Trubisky debut
That’s when, ironically, another injury came to his rescue. Kush tore his hamstring in practice, ending his year. Suddenly Grasu’s roster standing was a little stronger. If only he could find a way to cement it. Well if anybody watched the preseason opener against the Denver Broncos, that’s exactly what he did.
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Grasu was given a task that, in hindsight, couldn’t have been a better opportunity. That involved snapping to and protecting first round pick Mitch Trubisky. If he could keep the quarterback clean and make him productive, it would go a long way towards his standing with the team. So he did.
Amazingly enough it didn’t start with his pass protection as one would think. It was his run blocking. Grasu showed excellent movement and technique on the first play, crashing down to the right and opening the lane for a big Ka’Deem Carey run. That got the momentum going immediately and Trubisky followed shortly after with a touchdown pass.
On the next drive, it was Grasu again throwing his body into a key run block. This he seals the left edge, enabling Ben Cunningham to slip through for a first down inside the Denver 10-yard line. A play later Trubisky hit Rueben Randle at the one for another. Then it was Grasu again leading the way for Cunningham into the end zone.
The pass protection was rock solid all night
Of course the mark of a center must be pass protection first and Grasu didn’t disappoint in that regard either. There were no blatant instances while he was in the game where Trubisky got pressure up the middle. None at all. A key play that illustrates this was midway through the fourth quarter.
Though the play ended in a dropped pass, it was Grasu’s one-on-one stonewalling of a Broncos defender that enabled Trubisky the time to make a pretty impressive throw.
It was a good night for the former third round pick and a reminder that he can play some good football. Granted this won’t change the starting lineup as is. Kyle Long, Whitehair and Josh Sitton remain the interior trio. With injuries always prevalent at such a physical position though, odds are he just gave himself a much greater chance of getting back in the game. Never mind the improved long-term outlook with Sitton getting older.
