Having spent most of this season on the sideline looking in, rookie Ozzy Trapilo learned he would be making his career start against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12 with Theo Benedet hurt.
The Boston College product didn't disappoint as he slotted into the left tackle position like a man who had been playing there all year. But despite this success, it hasn't been the start he or maybe even the Bears expected for his NFL career.
Coming into this season, there were high hopes and indeed expectations for the young offensive lineman. Much of that can be attributed to his high draft position in the second round. Trapilo came to the Bears as a versatile piece, having played just about every position on the offensive line, but majoring at both tackle spots in recent times. As training camp began, the Bears envisioned Trapilo competing with Braxton Jones for the left tackle spot, but plans seemed to go off course as the season began.
"We started him on the left side," Ben Johnson told reporters back in September. "We made the decision that that wasn't the best spot for him, so we moved him back to the right side. He's coming along; there will be a point this year where he's playing for us."
For whatever reason, things didn't click right away, and four-year man Braxton Jones was rubber-stamped as the team's starting left tackle. As for Ozzy? Patience and hard work were the order of the day.
Fast forward to Week 4, and the Bears are in Las Vegas, trying to find a way to win. Braxton Jones had been underperforming, and star right tackle Darnell Wright had gone down with an injury midway through the game. In steps Trapilo to take over at right tackle, while fellow rookie Benedet is put in the game in place of Jones. What an inspired move that was from Ben Johnson. These types of in-game changes aren't seen often.
Trapilo's first task was to deal with All-Pro pass rusher Maxx Crosby, which went well considering he was thrown in mid-game.
As time went on, Wright returned to right tackle and Benedet kept his spot on the left. All the while Trapilo continued to practice patience and hard work.
As the season has continued, Trapilo has continued to play sporadically, up until this past Sunday. With Theo Benedet injured, Trapilo was given his first start at the left tackle spot, and going by his performance, it's hard to see how he loses that heading into Friday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.
"I think Ozzy's grown a lot. I was certainly happy with the way Ozzy played," Offensive Coordinator Declan Doyle told reporters this week. "You come in the locker room after that game and for him to have gone in and played and played the way he did, I think everybody was really excited for him. I know he was really excited. That's just a testament to the work that's been done leading up to this point. (Offensive Line Coach) Dan (Roushar) and (Assistant Offensive Line Coach) Kyle (DeVan) have done a great job of continuing to train him. He comes in and he's competing for the tackle job in the offseason at training camp. It's a battle that he ends up not winning. But it just goes to show you the kind of kid he is, just to keep coming back to work and continue to progress and get better. Because we know in the NFL there's going to be attrition. It just is what it is. We expect our guys who are going to have to step in, the next man in, to perform the same way the original starter would. He certainly did that."
Trapilo looked like the missing piece from this offensive line this past Sunday. He gave up zero sacks and had just one pressure, and in pass blocking, there was a marked improvement in quality overall. O
In a short week that includes a trip to Philly, Ben Johnson has a difficult decision to make, or maybe it isn't difficult at all.
"Ozzy did a great job last week. Yeah, he did a great job last week. And he was a big, big reason why we're able to win that game." Ben Johnson told reporters on Wednesday. "I don't know what it was, over probably like the last four weeks or so, but it's almost like things have slowed down for him. And I feel it around the building, not even on the practice field as much. I feel it in the building with him, where there's a little less stepping on eggshells, and it's like he's coming out of his shell a little bit, and he's not a rookie anymore, as far as I'm concerned."
With some head coaches, it feels like you have to sometimes read between the lines, or look for the hidden message about what they think of a player or a situation, but I don't feel that way with Johnson. He has been pretty straight talking and to the point since day one.
You can sense the pride and excitement in him when he speaks about Trapilo as a young player. But Johnson will have a decision to make in Week 13 if Benedet is healthy and able to play in Philadelphia. Benedet was listed as FULL on Wednesday's injury report. If Trapilo is the starter again and takes over, it gives the team at a significant advantage in terms of off-season moves and building the squad going forward. A starting quarterback and left tackle on rookie deals who are both playing really well? Sign me up.
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