Look across the landscape of NFL media, and it’s pretty much the same story. They’re cautiously optimistic about the Chicago Bears. Yet when the rubber meets the road, they all say the same thing in regards to the teams’ 2018 prospects. They’re going to finish with an improved record but still fail to reach .500. Part of that is due to the lack of belief in quarterback Mitch Trubisky.
In many ways, he’s still an unknown. Combining his college and the first year of NFL experience, he still has only started 25 total games. By comparison, fellow 2017 draft pick Deshaun Watson had started 30 just at Clemson. Trubisky is still playing catch-up in regards to learning how to play the position at an advanced level. Nobody is questioning the talent.
Can he step up to the next level though? Former NFL player and renowned tape specialist Matt Bowen believes so. He’s dug deep into Trubisky’s latest developments in the new Bears offense this preseason and is encouraged by what he sees thus far.
Mitch Trubisky is in the perfect situation to begin his ascent
Bowen is a believer in Trubisky’s talent like many others, but the big reason he’s buying stock in the young QB this year is the new offense being built around him. Head coach Matt Nagy brings the proven West Coast offense with him from Kansas City. That system has been quarterback-friendly for four decades.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Together with the knowledge of offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich on run-pass options and spread concepts? Trubisky is primed for success.
“The second-year QB put some good things on tape against the Broncos, while also looking like a young player in a new offense. He had a couple of “teachable moments,” and he’ll get even more reps against the Chiefs on Saturday.
What I’ve seen so far is promising, though. The Nagy and Helfrich system is going to fit Trubisky’s skill set. Given Nagy’s background under Andy Reid, and Helfrich’s experience calling plays in a college spread system at Oregon, the Bears can script a game plan that is tailor-made for him. That’s a major upgrade over what we saw in 2017.”
When a down-to-earth realist like Bowen is in your corner, it’s never a bad sign. Trubisky is working tirelessly to ensure he’s a success in 2018. His attention to the details has been borderline obsessive from the start. It is important to remember that this is a new offense though. Young quarterbacks don’t just assimilate it flawlessly without speed bumps.
One of the hardest things to have for fans, especially this day and age is patience. Chicago has been starved for a great quarterback for decades. Meanwhile, they’ve been forced to watch their most hated rivals enjoy frequent success at that position. Trubisky offers them genuine hope for the first time in years that it could finally change.
Hopefully this will remind them that if given time, their dream can still come true.
