Matt Nagy was an enigma when he became Chicago Bears head coach back in January. All anybody knew about him was he was the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs and a disciple of Andy Reid. He had a background as a former quarterback but never played in the NFL. He’d only spent two years as a coordinator to boot, and merely a quarter of that time as a play caller.
Yet GM Ryan Pace felt strongly enough after their meeting to not hesitate in making him the replacement of John Fox. The idea was simple. They wanted him to be a breath of fresh air to the team. Somebody who brought new ideas and new energy to an organization that was stuck in the past. Something they’d hoped to get from Marc Trestman five years earlier but never did.
Would this time be different? In so, so many ways. Nagy overhauled the Bears offense and has it producing numbers this town hasn’t seen in years. Yet that might not be the best part of all this. Nagy, unlike most if not all of the men who came before him, has what they might call…testicular fortitude.
Just look at what he’s done through the first 10 games for an idea.
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A Chicago Bears head coach has converted 3rd and 7 or longer 15 times
One of the most underrated aspects of not only a good offensive mind but a gutsy one is the ability to convert 3rd and long situation. It not only demonstrates a savvy for play calling but also a willingness to be aggressive. So far this year, Nagy has faced a situation of at least 3rd and 7 or longer. Through the Vikings win, they’ve now converted 15 times on 58 chances.
That’s a conversion rate of 25.86%. If that sounds average or even bad to you, then consider this. Last year the Bears offense faced 3rd and 7 or longer 109 times. They converted 25 of them. That’s a rate of 22.93%. Want an even starker contrast? In 2001, when the Bears went 13-3, it was 17.64%. This is a new era for sure.
Has attempted a 2-point conversion 6 times
Stat junkies continue to shout to anybody who will listen that going for two rather than kicking the extra point is a better bet in the long run for a team. It would appear that Nagy is among those new age coaches who are embracing this philosophy a little more. He went for two not once but twice against the Vikings, converting both. This resulted in a 25-20 win.
Why is that significant? If he’d settled for extra points instead, it would’ve been a 23-20 game, which would’ve changed the entire complexion of the final minutes with Minnesota needing a field goal to tie instead of a touchdown to win. What’s even more significant? In three years under Fox, they went for two twice. Just two times in 48 games.
Nagy knew. 😉 pic.twitter.com/Y0X84OqQnx
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 19, 2018
Trusted a kicker who missed 4 kicks the week before to win the game
Nagy’s best moment was saved for the final two minutes of the game against Minnesota. One must understand the context. Kicker Cody Parkey had the worst performance of his career the week before against Detroit. He missed four kicks in all, two fields goals and two extra points. Fast forward to this game and Nagy was forced to make a decision. Go for it on 4th down or trust Parkey with a 48-yard field goal to put the game out of reach?
Nagy didn’t even blink. Well, actually he did wink as Parkey trotted onto the field. The Bears kicker sent it right down the middle, finishing the night a perfect 3-for-3. It takes a lot of courage to trust a player in that sort of situation knowing what happened the week before. The Bears head coach went all in and won the pot.
A new era, indeed.
