NEWSLETTER
Mitch Trubisky’s Week 10 performance against the Detroit Lions was an all-time great showing for a Chicago Bears quarterback. But because we know the history of the Bears, we know that it wasn’t exactly the highest bar. But still, it wasn’t too long ago that Trubisky discussed raising the expectations in Chicago, and maybe this is how that starts. Maybe this is what raising the expectations looks like. We can only hope.
In any case, we challenge ourselves every week to find the flaws in Trubisky’s game tape, highlight those items, and try to figure out how he can improve before his next matchup. But this week, that was seemingly impossible, because Trubisky had everything working for him. His footwork was pristine, his arm action was solid, and the decision-making was sound. What else is there to ask?
Well, for starters, how about doing it again. Trubisky has taken steps forward in his development this year, but showing he can do it on a weekly basis is the next challenge. Let’s dive into how he can go about it.
Continue to Take Shots
The biggest difference in this year’s offense and what was ran in 2017 has been the insistence to throw deep. Now that Matt Nagy has successfully beaten out Trubisky’s most conservative habits, the second-year quarterback has shown a willingness (and ability) to make plays happen down the field.
There might be no better example than taking a deep shot on 3rd-and-5:
https://twitter.com/danorlovsky7/status/1062670575401922563
According to the data gathered by ESPN’s NFL Matchup, only the Browns (54) have thrown more deep balls (throws 20+ yards downfield) than the Bears (50). And the three teams who have attempted at least 50 throws that have traveled 20+ yards downfield, Trubisky’s 36 percent completion rate is the best of the bunch. If you’re willing to expand it to include the entire top-10, you’ll note that the 36% completion rate is the fifth best. Based on the numbers, the Bears are taking their deep shots and are coming up big at an encouraging clip.
As long as the Bears continue to push the envelope with the deep ball, it’s only a matter of time that underneath stuff (including running lanes) will open up.
Reading Through Progressions
The throw we’re about to show you is a branch off the “continue to take shots” tree, but also an example of how Trubisky has improved in reading defenses:
Love this throw by Mitchell Trubisky in the 4th quarter. Facing a 3rd & 5, he delivers a strike to rookie Anthony Miller for a first down. The connection between the two continues to get better. #Bears pic.twitter.com/d362T3I7ui
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) November 13, 2018
Taking shots isn’t just about going deep. It’s about trusting the offense. And more than that, it’s about trusting Trubisky. Nagy would not have made this call in Week 1 and Trubisky wouldn’t have dared to make this throw. In fact, even if Nagy were to call this earlier in the year, Trubisky would have been more likely to target Taylor Gabriel underneath with a throw near the first-down that led him into open space. Instead, Trubisky’s eyes move downfield and he targets an equally open Anthony Miller for a chunk play that moves the chains.
Man, even the missed opportunities are pretty:
Just…..HOW? There are accurate throws and then there are throws like this. There was no window. The DB had it shut. Did Trubisky care? Nope. He throws it and still hits Gabriel, who's 5'8", in the hands with millimeters of space. Nuts. #Bears pic.twitter.com/7V4pF7ckqV
— Erik Lambert (@ErikLambert1) November 13, 2018
The immediate reaction is “ugh! missed opportunity!” but you can see that’s a good play by a defender to deny Gabriel a score. Hey, the guys on the other team get paid to make plays, too.
Keep Making Easy Throws
Ten weeks later, the image of an open Trey Burton in Week 1 is still burned in my memory. The discussion that followed sparked so many questions. Among them, could the guy make (or even be willing) to make that easy throw? Will he ever be able to fully take advantage of guys being schemed to extreme openness? I think we’re starting to get our answer as Trubisky continues to show that he can do just that:
Trubisky to Anthony Miller is a thing of beauty pic.twitter.com/kYA4ZkMh5d
— Sports ReUp (@SportsReUp) November 11, 2018
The Minnesota Vikings present a unique challenge to Trubisky this week. Not only is Minnesota a top-tier defensive unit, that secondary gave Trubisky and the Bears offense fits last year. But maybe we’ll get a different Trubisky now that he is in a different offense. Only time will tell.
