Mitch Trubisky’s development has come along more quickly than anyone could have anticipated.
Things have changed for the Bears regarding Trubisky since his stellar preseason performance, writes Albert Breer of SI.com’s The MMQB. And why wouldn’t the perception have changed? He has already earned some alpha dog status in the locker room; and on the field, Trubisky has gone out and owned the moment whenever his number has been called – he’s completed 70.8 percent of his passes, and thrown for 354 yards/three touchdowns without an interception. His 112.7 passer rating ranks second among quarterbacks who have attempted at least 45 throws.
A staffer went as far to tell Breer: “It’s like every time out, he does one more thing where you say, ‘that was really good.'”
It’s nice to know someone in the organization is also seeing what we’re seeing when Trubisky takes the field.
And to be fair, there has been a lot of “really good” from Trubisky in the preseason. He has excelled in two-minute drills, thrown accurately on intermediate routes, connected on some deep passes, and has used his mobility to keep plays alive and even run for first downs. Trubisky has definitely come a long way from being the rookie who struggled with simple center-quarterback snap exchanges, had to learn how to read defenses at the line of scrimmage, and figure out how to call plays and command a huddle – things he simply was not asked to do when he was slinging the pig skin on campus at North Carolina.
But yes, there is still progress to be made by the No. 2 overall pick. Trubisky needs to continue to make quick, sound decisions while making his reads and progressions. He also needs to throw more accurately down the field. There is even still a bit of work to do on mastering snaps from under center. Even still, there is no denying the growth that has occurred since draft day.
With all that said, Mike Glennon is still the starter after playing his best preseason game to date on Sunday. Even Trubisky was impressed. But that performance makes Glennon a more stable and suitable placeholder for the time being. Breer writes the Bears “wouldn’t be skiddish about playing Trubisky like they may have been a month or two ago” which is a testament to Trubisky’s development up to this point.
Progress and development aren’t linear, of course, and bringing up Trubisky the right way is the franchise’s top priority (regardless of timing). After putting in work this offseason, training camp, and preseason to get to this point, the next step will come with Trubisky’s in-season development.
If the Bears carry three quarterbacks and stick with their plan in keeping Trubisky at No. 3, he’ll likely be assigned scout-team work. But after giving him a shot with the first-team offense prior to the team’s third preseason game, perhaps head coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains will get creative and carve out some time for Trubisky to work with the 1’s during the regular season.
The conversation has changed in Chicago, and that’s all because of Trubisky.