NEWSLETTER
Mitch Trubisky isn’t going from “work-in-progress” to “certified franchise quarterback” in the span of a few weeks, but his Week 4 performance offered a 60-minute glimpse of what could be on the horizon if all goes well. Indeed, Trubisky’s 354-yard, six-touchdown game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday represents the first complete game, littered with tangible, visible evidence of his ceiling. It was wonderful.
As you know, we’ve already looked at Trubisky’s inconsistent footwork and missteps in multiple facets of the game in posts like this one before. But for one day, Trubisky looked like someone who had corrected some of those major issues, which allowed him to show off everything that made him worthy of being the first quarterback taken in the 2017 NFL Draft. So let’s dive into the best of Trubisky, as our video analysis of his growth continues.
Anticipatory Throws
Do you remember Mitch Trubisky hitting a wide open Trey Burton to get the scoring started for the Bears on Sunday? Of course you do. But I know you’ll want to relive it, so …
Mitch + Trey = HAPPY TIMEpic.twitter.com/xRbwbF5D8M
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) September 30, 2018
Well, that certainly looked like an easy pitch-and-catch between quarterback and wide-open tight end. But not-so-fast, my friend:
#Bears tape — Inaccurate to say Trubisky threw to “wide open” receiver on 39-yard TD to Burton. Trubisky anticipated Burton would have a step. Safety Justin Evans had not fallen yet when he threw the ball. Burton still at 25-yard-line. Caught it at the goal line. Great throw. pic.twitter.com/PNjKnrnksh
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) October 2, 2018
It’s worth noting that Trey Burton was covered by Buccaneers safety Justin Evans when Trubisky started his wind-up. So, as Adam Hoge of WGN Radio notes, it would be inaccurate to say Trubisky hit Burton because he was open. This is an example of the type of anticipatory throw that great quarterbacks make. And, of course, Trubisky also displayed the sort of arm strength that suggests he can throw receivers open.
Which brings us to his second touchdown, the red zone strike to Allen Robinson:
Beautful. Trubisky shows poise, and Robinson gets his first Bears TD. pic.twitter.com/eQ9rI9GjTk
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) September 30, 2018
It’s another situation where Trubisky can throw to a spot in anticipation that his playmaker can haul in the pass. This time, the defender doesn’t fall down. And yet, it’s another perfect throw to where only Robinson can catch it. The only thing that makes it sweeter is that Jordan Howard is wide open at the top of the screen. In previous weeks, Trubisky would have checked down to Howard, who probably would’ve have ran his way into the end zone with an accurate throw. Instead, Trubisky takes his shot and throws an accurate ball – something we’ve been waiting to see from him for a while.
Improved Reading of Progressions
Great quarterbacks go through their progressions quickly and decisively. Trubisky hasn’t done that often during his first 16 starts in the NFL, but it’s something he can improve upon with practice reps and game action.
Here is Sunday’s best example:
9:00 into the 2nd qtr . Fake the pop pass and hit Bellamy for a TD. Nice pump by Mitch . Watch Cohen he knows it’s a TD !!! pic.twitter.com/BBUDQiE1ic
— Olin kreutz (@olin_kreutz) October 2, 2018
Trubisky has options here. Allen Robinson has been Trubisky’s favorite option to this point of the year and is running a route toward the middle of the defense that is designed to occupy multiple defenders. Should the help not come, however, Tarik Cohen is open, too. And because the Bears have run different variations of this play, many of which have ended with Trubisky throwing to the open guy in space, two Buccaneers defenders take the bait and fall for the hard shoulder fake. That leaves the third option (Josh Bellamy) wide open.
In prior weeks, Trubisky might have forced it down the middle to Robinson. Or more likely, would have dropped the ball down to Cohen and let the shifty runner try to create chicken salad out of chicken slop. But in this moment, Trubisky goes through his reads quickly, makes the correct decision on where to go with the ball, and makes a dynamite throw.
The Ability to Read a Defense and React to a Blitz
One of our biggest concerns entering Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals revolved around Trubisky’s handling of pressure. His passer rating when pressured entering that game was solid, but the Cardinals harassed him early and often, causing a slew of mistakes along the way. Tampa Bay didn’t pressure Trubisky as often as Arizona did, which is one reason the Bears QB carved up the Bucs. But when the Buccaneers brought pressure, Trubisky was quick to read, react, and get the ball out to avoid a negative play:
Trubisky seeing the blitz pic.twitter.com/TlDphVm9SE
— Bears Barroom (@BearsBarroom) September 30, 2018
Not only did Trubisky avoid a negative play, the Bears gained yardage on a hot read. Great success!
It all adds up to Trubisky playing well enough to be among the nominees for FedEx’s Air Player of the Week. You can vote here:
https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1047555434872274946
