Mitch Trubisky’s Supporting Cast is Much Improved and Other Bullets

Jun 22, 2018

My mother would have turned 56 today. She wasn’t much of a football fan, but she definitely appreciated my gameday grilling prowess. She is missed.

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan, it’s been a long time since the Bears won a playoff game:

https://twitter.com/SCAR_179NY/status/1010248956297785344

Here’s hoping a new set of faces around Halas Hall will help change things for the better and get this team back in the playoff picture. Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon ranks every NFL quarterback’s supporting cast, and the one that surrounds Patrick Mahomes – Matt Nagy’s former quarterback in Kansas City – checks in at No. 1. Hopefully, some of that brilliant Chiefs decision-making rubbed off on Matt Nagy and was shared with GM Ryan Pace this offseason.

And you know, maybe it has. Mitch Trubisky’s supporting cast ranks just outside the top-10. Gagnon puts Trubisky’s surroundings at No. 11, which firmly puts that new Bears grouping in the upper third of the league. Not a bad place to be, if you ask me.

Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, and Trey Burton are the obvious additions that get praise, but wideout Bennie Fowler is on the fringes of making the team and there is a glimmer of hope that Kevin White puts it all together in 2018. Tack on running backs Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen, as well as red zone tight end target Adam Shaheen, and the Bears could have something cooking.

Just don’t expect the Bears offense to run faster in 2018, warns Bears Wire’s Lorin Cox. Dowell Loggains’ offenses didn’t rush to get to the line (then again, would you be in any hurry to run that offense?) and were the slowest team in the NFL when it came to time it took to get under center and snap it. Nagy’s Chiefs teams were the second slowest. Clearly, the biggest difference is what happens after you put the play in motion.

An improved offense and steady play from the defense could turn the Bears into a surprise postseason contender. So much so, you might want to get them before their stock gets too hot. Still, there is work to be done. David Mamola of Fansided’s NFL Spin Zone offers up five free agent pass rushers who could help the Bears and are still available on the open market. Willie Young and Lamarr Houston make the cut, and the Bears could certainly do worse than bringing back some familiar faces who are comfortable in Vic Fangio’s scheme. I’m still surprised no one has scooped up defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins, who could conceivably line up next to nose tackle Eddie Goldman.

The limit does not exist:

#DaBears defense will have ______ sacks this season. pic.twitter.com/U6mDkEiZuZ

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) June 20, 2018

Even with questions still surrounding the pass rush, Pro Football Weekly’s NFC North roundtable gives the Bears a ton of love for their offseason. Linebacker Roquan Smith is in the discussion for being the rookie with the biggest impact. There is a debate to be had over tight end Trey Burton (who other NFC North teams coveted) being the best under-the-radar addition. Of course, Josh Sitton’s departure could be the biggest among NFC North clubs.

Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel provides a Green Bay perspective in his first preview of Packers opponents this season. Cohen highlights three things for readers to know about the new-look Bears, including a reminder that Green Bay signed cornerback Kyle Fuller to an offer sheet this offseason. One that was quickly matched, mind you.

Kyle Fuller made the most of his career year, that’s for sure:

Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus notes that the Bears blitzed 60 percent of the time on fourth down last season, which was the third highest percentage of teams last season. Three of the other four teams in the top-5 (Jets, Cardinals, Giants) are Bears opponents in the coming season.

So who wins a debate between Skip Bayless and Skip Bayless? No one? Everyone?

https://twitter.com/Bettyx2_/status/1009876979997380609

A fantasy football twist on today’s big news story:

Hmm. This piece of news may mean Jared Goff gets himself drafted in most fantasy football leagues this fall. For what it’s worth. https://t.co/HCvk3xAiub
— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) June 22, 2018

Ha! They wish:

The @LAClippers traded up one pick to get Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? Who do they think he is, Mitch Trubisky? #NBADraft

— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) June 22, 2018

One of the NFL’s best officials is calling it a career:

Gene Steratore, 15-year veteran official, informed me today that he is retiring from the @NFL. Steratore entered the league in 2003, was promoted to referee in 2006, & worked 12 playoff games, ending his career at Super Bowl LII. We wish Gene all the best! pic.twitter.com/MO7Ul8fik9
— Al Riveron (@alriveron) June 22, 2018

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.

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