If you’ve wanted Mitch Trubisky’s career to follow the path of a quarterback who also happens to be one of his contemporaries, Drew Brees is a good place start:
Mitchell Trubisky has watched film on Drew Brees for years, studying his base, footwork and progressions, while admiring the accuracy.
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) October 25, 2017
Brees has had a stellar NFL career with 67,763 passing yards, 476 touchdown tosses, 10 Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl MVP in 2009 for his efforts in one of the most memorable comebacks in championship history. Beyond the accolades, Brees has long been lauded for his steady mechanics, footwork, arm action, accuracy, and ability to go through his progressions while reading defenses. Those are all things Trubisky has probably seen in his studies and should continue to watch as Brees enters his 239th career start.
While Trubisky has shown flashes of athleticism and accuracy, he’ll need to improve upon his footwork and defense reading to become the type of franchise quarterback Brees has become since joining the New Orleans Saints in 2006.
And let’s not forget that Brees grew up in Marty Schottenheimer’s balanced, but run-based offense with the San Diego Chargers from 2002 to 2005. Brees started 58 games in those four seasons, averaged 3,032 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions while posting a respectable 84.7 passer rating. He averaged just 209.1 yards in the air when he was a starter in San Diego, in part because he often found himself handing the ball off to Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson – remember him? Tomlinson averaged 1,531 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns and missed just one game in those seasons.
There was no need for Brees to air it out, much like there isn’t much of a reason to ask Trubisky to throw it 30 times a game – other than creating a trial-by-fire environment.
Trubisky says he holds himself to a higher standard and hopes to achieve improved offensive success as he develops. If he’s in search of inspiration, he won’t have to look much further than the starting quarterback on the opposite sideline.