Mitch Trubisky has his fair share of defenders amidst this difficult 2019 season. They feel his failures are less about his own drawbacks as a quarterback and more about the issues around him. Namely regarding the offensive line. The general consensus is the blocking up front hasn’t been nearly good enough to warrant him having a better season. He’s been under too much pressure and getting little help from the ground game.
Is this true? Only partially. The run blocking aspect is impossible to argue. Chicago ranks 29th in rushing this season. One of their worst outputs in franchise history. A huge reason for that is the inability of the front five to create lanes for David Montgomery and the other backs. The second part though about the pass protection? Reviewing the season thus far doesn’t hold up.
Now nobody is saying it’s been great. There have been more breakdowns compared to a season ago. However, despite injury issues, the Bears offensive line has done enough to give their quarterback opportunities to play well. Trubisky was sacked 34 times this year. Rookie Kyler Murray, by contrast, was sacked 47 times. Murray has a passer rating of 87.9. Trubisky’s is 82.9. The truth is several quarterbacks who were sacked and pressured more than Trubisky in 2019 still had better seasons.
Mitch Trubisky is proving he needs ideal conditions
By the look of things, Trubisky just hasn’t been the kind of guy who can make things work when the rest of the offense isn’t at their best. Keep in mind just how easy things were made for him in 2018. He had a #1 defense that was taking the ball away, giving him extra chances at a prodigious rate. The running game was steady and dependable and he was only sacked 24 times. Conditions don’t get much better than that and he still managed to throw just 24 touchdowns with barely 3,200 yards.
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Most people dismissed the lower totals as a young quarterback learning his way. It was valid at the time. As the third season draws to a close though? That might’ve been a warning sign that he might not be able to take full advantage of his situation as a franchise guy should. There is no question Trubisky is not going anywhere for 2020. His contract and status in the locker room warrant another year. That said, the Bears must be honest with themselves. Will he ever reach the point they desire or has he already peaked?
