Tom Thayer has seen his share of quarterbacks come through the Chicago Bears facilities in his time. Both as a player himself and since retiring to become an analyst. While his personal opinions on the Nick Foles trade remain a mystery, his recent tape breakdown of the newest Bears QB showcased something interesting. A subtle hint about exactly where the veteran will improve the passing offense the most.
One of the persistent issues the Bears faced in 2019 was an inability to get into the end zone. In 16 games, they scored a touchdown on just 52.17% of their 295 appearances inside the red zone, or the opposing 20-yard line. That ranked them 24th in the league. This means they either settled for a field goal or a turnover.
A big part of why was Trubisky. He clearly had issues finding completions in those congested situations. A problem that has followed him since his rookie year. Foles on the other hand? He’s been pretty good despite limited opportunities.
Nick Foles in the red zone since 2017
- 30-of-48 for 179 yards, 9 TDs, 1 INT
- A 100.61 passer rating
Mitch Trubisky in the red zone since 2017
- 81-of-148 for 463 yards, 36 TDs, 6 INTs
- An 83.42 passer rating
Nick Foles takes advantage of his opportunities
This isn’t just a recent thing either. Foles was nearly perfect in the red zone the last time he was a starter over an extended period. From 2013 to 2014, he started 18 regular season games. In that span, he threw 72 passes red zone passes, connecting for 21 touchdowns to just two interceptions. It’s clear he is good about protecting the football and finding a way into the end zone. Trubisky might be more explosive, but his recklessness with the ball and inability to find consistent completions are much greater detriments.
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Athleticism isn’t the key to finishing off drives. Execution is. Foles just executes better. That is why the Bears traded for him. It’s why plenty of experts believe he has the inside track to claim the starting job. Chicago doesn’t need him to be a superstar. They have a top 5 defense. All he has to do is put a serviceable offense on the field and score when the opportunities are there. Put 20 points on the board, win the game and move on to the next week.
