Is Fantasy Reality When It Comes to Mitch Trubisky? And Other Bullets

Feb 21, 2019

I haven’t been going out as often as I have in past winters, because I’m trying to keep a low profile to save some funds for my upcoming trip to Las Vegas.

But I couldn’t decline an invitation to catch up with a friend to watch Duke-North Carolina and check out Zion Williamson in a high-profile game. Unfortunately … Williamson was injured less than a minute into the game. Ruh, roh.

Here’s some Bears stuff.

Fantasy football stats don’t often vibe with the reality of what’s happening in real games. But in the case of this Mitch Trubisky graphic, there is something that stands out:

Mitchell Trubisky was the No. 2 fantasy quarterback in the first quarter. He was the No. 27 fantasy quarterback in the fourth quarter. pic.twitter.com/otf0lliFZc
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) February 19, 2019

To be fair, teaming Trubisky’s solid starts and a suffocating defense put the Bears in a position where they were nursing late leads. If your team is trying to salt away games in the fourth quarter, odds are your quarterback isn’t going to be racking up points. As it turns out, Trubisky attempted just 88 passes in the fourth quarter this season, which is 27 fewer than that average number of attempts in the first three quarters. Trubisky still completed 65 percent of his throws, posted a 95.7 passer rating, and limited his turnovers (2.3 INT%). So it’s not like his fourth quarter stats are some sort of harbinger of doom. They’re just something worth noting for the time being.

But still … Trubisky being the No. 2 fantasy quarterback in the first quarter and No. 27 in the fourth speaks to at least some variance in his game, doesn’t it? There are times where Trubisky looks the part of the franchise quarterback Bears fans have been dreaming of since forever. Then there are moments when your palm meets your forehead because of disbelief. I won’t put too much stock in fantasy numbers as it relates to who Trubisky is or what he can be, but they provide a different (and lighter) angle in which to discuss Trubisky’s search for consistency.

Or maybe I’m just sharing these fourth-quarter fantasy stats in order to drive down his draft stock so he can score all the points for my team in 2019! 😈

As for Trubisky’s former backup, this is something that slipped my mind:

One thing I haven't seen either cap site notate yet is the $2.5M cap credit the #Bears will receive from Mike Glennon's offset language last year when he signed with Arizona.
So if you're going off of OTC's $7.3M figure at $190M, add $8.5M w/ the credit & Sims cut.

— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) February 20, 2019

More cap space! Hooray!

So what are the Bears to do with all that extra spending money? Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport believes Chargers safety Adrian Phillips is the ideal free agent target for the Bears this offseason. If the Bears don’t retain Adrian Amos, they’ll need to search elsewhere for a replacement and will probably have to do so while operating under a tight budget. Phillips is coming off a career year in 2018, earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors after a 94-tackle season in which he added an interception, forced fumble, nine passes defended, and four tackles-for-loss. That’s not too shabby. Depending on how the Amos situation shakes out, perhaps Phillips is someone we’ll keep an eye on moving forward.

We spent a healthy amount of time talking about running backs (both internal and external options) yesterday. And while Le’Veon Bell brings a shiny new thing factor that everyone loves, I found myself nodding in agreement while reading this piece from Mark Talarico at the Chicago Audible suggesting that Jordan Howard should be given an opportunity to prove himself in a contract year. The Bears didn’t get the most out of Howard in 2018, but we didn’t see Howard at his best until the second half of the season. Perhaps Howard will show he has another gear inside of him now that he has a year of experience in this offense.

And yet, I can’t shake the idea that there is a missing piece to this puzzle and that it could possibly be had in the upcoming NFL Draft.

That’s neat:

Matt Nagy’s 12 wins were most by a first-year coach in Bears history and more than any of the NFL’s other 31 current coaches in their first seasons. He also became first coach to lead Bears to a winning record and a postseason berth in his first year since Paddy Driscoll in 1956.
— Larry Mayer (@LarryMayer) February 20, 2019

Ryan Pace knew Matt Nagy had it in him all along! “We knew very quickly that he was going to be a special head coach,” Pace said, via Larry Mayer of the Bears’ official website. “It’s weird to say, but I’m not really surprised by the success that he’s had or the type of head coach that he is because you could visualize it just meeting him and doing research on him.”

An Amazon deal on TVs with Fire built in got me looking at TVs in general. It is crazy how much cheaper they are than even just a couple years ago when I last bought a TV. Does any other product category move this quickly in its prices?

written by

Luis C. Medina

Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

more bears news

Chicago Bears

One Pundit Thinks Trading Up to Draft Joe Alt Makes Sense For the Bears

The idea of the Chicago Bears drafting a butt-kicking offensive tackle is something that continues to pop up. Perhaps Notre Dame's Joe Alt is something on the team's radar. NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah opines Alt could be someone...

Luis C. Medina

Apr 18, 2024

Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears 3-Round Mock Draft: Exploring Potential Picks To Surround Caleb Williams

The winds of change are howling through Halas Hall. After years (decades) of searching, the Chicago Bears appear set to finally land their franchise quarterback, Caleb Williams, with the top overall pick. This signals a new era for the Bears, but the...

Ryan Noonan

Apr 18, 2024

Chicago Bears

Draft Day is Coming, NFC North QB Prospect Watch, Crews, Warren, and Other Bears Bullets

The Chicago Cubs finished a winning road trip with a series win against the defending NL champs. Taylor Swift has a new album that drops at 11 p.m. CT. And the Chicago Bears will usher in a new quarterback era...

Luis C. Medina

Apr 18, 2024

Chicago Bears

2024 NFL Mock Draft: How Will Quarterback Chaos Unfold In First Round?

Only one week remains until the biggest event of the NFL offseason — the 2024 NFL Draft. Caleb Williams is going first overall unless something totally unexpected happens. But outside of that, there are still so many questions left to...

Matt Rooney

Apr 18, 2024

Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears Mock Draft Trade Proposals Seem to Target One Particular Position

I had a great visit with my therapist today. Between that and an afternoon cold brew, I've got enough in me to power through an evening Bears post. Let's dig into some recent mock drafts that are giving off a...

Luis C. Medina

Apr 17, 2024

Chicago Bears

Sounds Like the Bears Will Consider Taking Brock Bowers If They Stay at No. 9

For all the discussion about the big three wide receivers who could be on the Chicago Bears radar on NFL Draft weekend, a different high-profile pass-catcher is apparently garnering some interest from the team. All-American tight end Brock Bowers had...

Luis C. Medina

Apr 17, 2024

Chicago Bears

Bears Hire Ted Crews as Special Advisor to President Kevin Warren

The Chicago Bears continue building out their organizational staff around President Kevin Warren. And their latest addition arrives to Halas Hall with three Super Bowl rings in tow. The team announced the hiring of Ted Crews, who has spent the...

Luis C. Medina

Apr 17, 2024

Chicago Bears

I Don’t Hate Trading Up, Cairo Reaches Out, Jed Chimes In, and Other Bears Bullets

Maybe it's just me, but Wednesdays are starting to feel like the new Mondays. Ick. There are just 8 days until the 2024 NFL Draft. We're almost there, friends. We've almost made it. The best pre-draft stat you'll see comes...

Luis C. Medina

Apr 17, 2024

Johnny newton Illinois Illini bears draft target

Chicago Bears

The Bears Had Eyes on Illini DT Johnny Newton Today

Even though the Chicago Bears have plugged several notable holes this offseason, one biggie remains. And it leaves me to ask a pertinent question: Who wants to play the 3-technique defensive tackle role? Perhaps Illinois' Johnny Newton is the answer....

Luis C. Medina

Apr 16, 2024

Chicago Bears

Watch Out For the Cardinals and Chargers as Possible Bears Trade Partners

'Tis the season for dot-connecting. And if you are a Chicago Bears fan, you might want to keep tabs on what is happening between your favorite team's current first and ninth picks. ESPN's Adam Schefter names the Arizona Cardinals and...

Luis C. Medina

Apr 16, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Tonight’s Cubs-Marlins Game Has Been Postponed

The weather wasn't going to cooperate for Jameson Taillon's season debut, and tonight's Cubs-Marlins tilt has been postponed. The game will instead be part of a split-doubleheader this Saturday, with the first game at 1:20pm CT and the second at...

Brett Taylor

Apr 18, 2024

Chicago Blackhawks

Lukas Reichel Will Play for Rockford, Not Germany

Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson was asked before the regular season finale if forward Lukas Reichel would play for Germany at the upcoming IIHF World Championship, or if he was headed to Rockford to join the IceHogs for their playoffs....

Tab Bamford

Apr 18, 2024

Chicago Bulls

Even With Butler Out, the Bulls Will Have Their Hands Full Against the Heat

The Miami Heat are a better team than the Chicago Bulls. We can all agree on that, right? We're talking about a franchise with three trips to the Eastern Conference Finals in four seasons. This included last year's historic run,...

Elias Schuster

Apr 18, 2024

Chicago Blackhawks

OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: Former “Coyotes” Franchise Moving to Utah

On Thursday afternoon, the NHL made it official: the Arizona Coyotes are no more. The league's Board of Governors voted to approve the franchise relocating to Salt Lake City, effective immediately. The franchise will be owned and controlled by Smith...

Tab Bamford

Apr 18, 2024

Chicago Bulls

Several Bulls Questionable Heading Into Play-In with Heat

The Chicago Bulls aren't ruling Alex Caruso out just yet. Despite the guard having to exit Wednesday night's Play-In Tournament over the Atlanta Hawks, Caruso is currently listed as "questionable" on the latest official injury report. The Bulls' defensive anchor...

Elias Schuster

Apr 18, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Back to Wrigley: Cubs vs Marlins – Series Preview

Cubs vs Marlins — Whew! The Cubs got through their first West Coast road trip of the year, and did so with a winning record (5-4) against the Padres, Mariners, and Diamondbacks. They definitely let a couple games slip out...

Michael Cerami

Apr 18, 2024

NFL

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1st Round Mock Draft: Exploring Potential Picks at 26th Overall

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the 2024 NFL Draft in a familiar position – contenders with a need to retool. Baker Mayfield solidified the quarterback position sans Tom Bracy, and while the Bucs boast a talented roster, key departures and...

Brian Twining

Apr 18, 2024

NFL

New England Patriots 3-Round Mock Draft: Exploring Potential Picks After Selecting Jayden Daniels in Round 1

New England Patriots 3-Round Mock Draft - The curtain has closed on the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era in New England. The Patriots, once a dynasty of consistency, now find themselves at a crossroads. With the number three pick in the 2024 NFL Draft,...

Ryan Noonan

Apr 18, 2024

Picks

Giants vs. Diamondbacks Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 18, 2024

Joc Pederson leads the Arizona Diamondbacks (9-10) into Thursday's matchup with the San Francisco Giants (8-11) on a two-game homer streak. His Diamondbacks are underdogs for the contest, however, with sportsbooks naming the Giants as -159 moneyline favorites. The game...

Data Skrive

Apr 18, 2024

Chicago Cubs

MLBits: Paul Skenes Could Make His MLB Debut Any Day (But Probably Won’t), Red-Hot Orioles, Houck’s Maddux, More

If you're into tracking young pitchers with star potential like I am—as I watch Jack Leiter's debut while typing this column—then you're probably itching to see Pirates top prospect Paul Skenes make his way to Pittsburgh sooner than later. While...

Patrick K. Flowers

Apr 18, 2024

Is Fantasy Reality When It Comes to Mitch Trubisky? And Other Bullets

Read More

more bears news

Latest News

more bears news

Most Popular

Most Popular

Latest News

Most Popular

Most Popular