Matt Blanchard plays well in preseason opener

 (In the adjacent photo - Matt Blanchard faces defensive players in his face much of the night- Photo courtesy of Mike Macarn-Associated Press)

Matt Blanchard played the entire second half in the Chicago Bears 24-17 preseason opening loss at Carolina Friday night.

The former UW-Whitewater quarterback finished the game an impressive 15 of 18 passing for 194 yards with nine of his completions of 10 yards or more.
Blanchard’s longest play of the day occurred early in the fourth quarter, just one play after being sacked for a second time on the drive.  The rookie hooked up on a 58-yard strike to rookie, Marquess Wilson, on a deep dig route before being pushed out of bounds at the four yard line. Chicago scored on the following play.
Blanchard’s 83.3 percent completion rate occurred despite being sacked five times. The Bears’ official training camp Website published a photo gallery of Friday night’s preseason opener.  Blanchard was featured in five photos all of which being sacked or scrambling to avoid a rush.
Matt’s lone interception was returned for a touchdown by Panthers cornerback Josh Norman, the difference in a 24-17 loss. Here’s how Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune describes it.
It wasn't all Blanchard's fault. Tight end Fendi Onobun and wide receiver Devin Aromashodu were running double quick outs. The ball was coming to Onobun, and he pulled his hands down at the last instant, failing to make a play for the ball.

"It was a little miscommunication," Blanchard said. "He's doing one thing and I'm thinking he's doing another. But at the end of the day, I threw the ball and I've got to protect it and do a better job."
While playing well in exhibition opener most Chicago-based stories refer the the “raw nature” of Blanchard’s performance.
The two full quarters of action Friday night was Blanchard’s longest outing in his two years with the Bears. In training camp last year, Matt played in limited action in four of Chicago’s five preseason games including no action in the ’12 preseason finale.

The big question coming out of the preseason opener is what will his effort show coaches on tape and how will