The problem some coaches have early in their careers is they view players too much as chess pieces on a board. Or more like gears in a machine. They think shifting those gears around in favor of others will make the machine work better. Except these aren't gears. These are human beings. Men with emotions and different personalities. Men who have forged relationships with other men. The case of Cody Whitehair is a perfect example.
It would've been one thing if Matt Nagy wanted to replace him at center because the guy wasn't that good. That would've made sense. Except Whitehair was good. He went to a Pro Bowl in 2018, don't forget. Yet the Chicago Bears head coach was convinced that James Daniels was a more "natural" fit at the position. While that may have been true from a physical standpoint, it didn't take long to realize playing that spot is about more than the body.
It's also about mind. Being able to call out protections, make adjustments, and above all be a leader. Most importantly, it's about having a cohesive relationship with the quarterback. This is where the Bears screwed up the most. They never took into account how tight Whitehair was with Mitch Trubisky and how separating them just might have a negative impact on both.
Mitch Trubisky and Cody Whitehair are best friends on the team
The fact that Whitehair just named Trubisky the godfather to his daughter is all the evidence one needs to understand the two are tight. It's been that way since they met back in 2017. It should've have been a shock how relieved he seemed when the decision was made to shift Whitehair back to center after just eight games.
"YEAH, IT WAS GOOD,” TRUBISKY SAID. “CODY DOES A GREAT JOB HAVING HIM BACK THERE. HE’S A REALLY BIG LEADER FOR THIS OFFENSE AND THIS OFFENSIVE LINE. HE’S REALLY GOOD WITH COMMUNICATING, HELPING THOSE YOUNG GUYS TO THE SIDES OF HIM NOW, AND WE HAVE REALLY GOOD CHEMISTRY, ME AND HIM. SO HE GIVES ME CONFIDENCE AND WE’VE JUST GOT TO KEEP FEEDING OFF THAT, AND WHEN HE’S IN THE MIDDLE JUST HIS COMMUNICATION AND HOW HE LEADS THE GUYS, I THINK IT REALLY HELPS THE OFFENSE AND GUYS FEED OFF THAT.”
The stats also tell a pretty interesting story. In the seven games he played at center without Whitehair, Trubisky completed 62% of his passes for 1,217 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. Good for an 80.0 passer rating. Over the final eight games with Whitehair back in the middle? He completed 63% of his passes for 1,921 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Good for an 85.2 passer rating.
That is a significant uptick in productivity.
If that stat line had carried over to the beginning of the year, Trubisky would have finished with 3,842 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Granted the shoulder injury must be taken into account but would the QB be getting nearly as much heat now if he'd posted stats like that rather than what he finished with in 2019?
The point is it was plain as day that he was more comfortable when Whitehair was back at center. So don't expect the Bears to make such an ill-conceived shift again anytime soon.
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