The Chicago Bears had a lot to smile about after Sunday’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. One of the biggest grins came from the left tackle position, where Ozzy Trapilo made his first career start for the Bears on the blindside.
Trapilo was spectacular for Chicago, allowing one quarterback pressure on 41 pass-blocking snaps according to Pro Football Focus. Making Trapilo’s performance more impressive was the fact that he was going against a Steelers defense that features elite pass rusher T.J. Watt, who only had two pressures — the first time he's been held to that number since Week 9.
While Trapilo’s ultimate goal was not to be a disaster, those mistakes are amplified at left tackle. With Theo Benedet also sidelined by a quad injury, it could be the runway the rookie needs to take the left tackle job permanently. But there’s a small detail that could keep Benedet from riding the bench, and it has to do with something that could help Chicago thrive down the stretch.
Theo Benedet Deserves a Role Even as Trapilo Locks Down Bears LT Job
Benedet has had his issues in pass protection, allowing a team-high 22 pressures on 272 pass-blocking snaps. The high-pressure rate on a limited number of snaps gives the advantage for Trapilo to start at left tackle, but it could be Benedet’s run-blocking that helps him get on the field.
While a 61.8 run-blocking grade isn’t spectacular, ranking 49th out of 81 qualifiers this season, it is enough to warrant being used in jumbo sets. Bears head coach Ben Johnson has plenty of experience with this, dating back to his time with as Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, and made reserve offensive tackle Dan Skipper a cult hero by utilizing him in similar packages. While Skipper was the player usually reported as eligible, the Bears already experimented with Darnell Wright as a receiver during organized team activities, which could open the door for someone to play right tackle.
Benedet’s run-blocking grade is significantly better than Skipper’s 49.5 mark from last season and could allow him to fill in for Wright if Johnson wants to get creative. It also could continue to keep a running game that ranks second with 142.3 yards per game and could be pivotal in end-of-game situations.
With the Bears making a habit of playing one-score games with seven this season, there isn’t a large room for error. That makes Trapilo a solid choice to handle the left tackle position moving forward, and still giving room for Benedet to make an impact as a run blocker.