Can QB1 make the Bears number 1? |
When the Bears were facing elimination in their playoff game against the Eagles last season, they needed a drive to put the team in field goal range and give the Bears a chance to win the game. What most people remember is the gut-wrenching missed field goal off the foot of Cody Parkey that double doinked off of the goal post and sent Bears fans home in heartbreak. What is often overlooked is the leadership displayed by Mitchell Trubisky as he drove the Bears down the field, delivering clutch throws to the hands of his receivers and ultimately put the Bears in a position to win.
More of that from Mitch is the key to the Bears’ success this year. Last season the Bears rode a dominant defense to a 12 win season, earning an NFC North Championship Crown and hype across the entire city of Chicago. The defense is expected to continue its dominance and shut down opposing offenses with the best of them. The Bears’ success as a team rides on the shoulders of their QB1, Mitch Trubisky. Last season was Mitch’s second overall and first as the full-time starter. In that campaign, Trubisky started 14 games, to the tune of an 11-3 record. Trubisky threw 24 touchdown passes and accumulated 3,223 yards for an average of 230 yards per game with 1.7 touchdowns per game. Trubisky also had great vision as a runner, as he tallied over 400 yards on the ground and two scores. On the last drive of the season, Trubisky delivered a dime for a 25-yard completion to Allen Robinson to set up the Bears and show Trubisky’s growth. In his second pro season, Trubisky started to really develop some relationships with his receivers. By the end of the year, Allen Robinson emerged as his favorite target, and Trey Burton, Taylor Gabriel, and Anthony Miller entered his circle of trust. Through the training camp of this season, Mitch has begun developing connections with Javon Wims, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Riley Ridley. Plus Trubisky has the luxury of throwing passes to one of the best receiving backs in Tarik Cohen, who will be sharing a backfield with rookie David Montgomery and former Seahawk Mike Davis. With a plethora of trusted options at his disposal and another year of growth in Matt Nagy’s genius offense, all signs point to Mitch Trubisky taking the next step in becoming a great quarterback. But will he? The Bears success depends on it.
