Bears Openly Admit They Handcuffed Trubisky Before He Became Starter

Mitch Trubisky development was hogtied by bad practice management

People wonder why I’ve been such a critic of John Fox the past couple years. There are a number of reasons but perhaps the biggest? It’s his utter lack of understanding on how to develop a quarterback. We’ll set aside the fact that he’s never done it successfully in his career. A career that spans one-and-a-half decades. It is this admission from offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains about how they set up Trubisky’s practice schedule.

‘‘We just stretch [Trubisky] as much as we can every week because we learn a little bit more about him,’’ Loggains said. ‘‘Where it’s different from some other guys — [the Browns’] DeShone Kizer and [the Texans’] Deshaun Watson — those guys were competing for a starting job. Mitchell wasn’t. Mitchell was taking reps with the threes. Mitchell went four weeks without taking a snap with the ones [when Mike Glennon was the starting quarterback]. Not taking a snap with our offense for four straight weeks, [it’s] hard.’’

Fox is living up to his reputation

If anything this proves how convinced Fox was that Glennon was the guy to run the offense. That in itself is a horrifying thought. The fact he didn’t have the foresight to at least give Mitch some reps with the first team and develop some chemistry? That only adds to the genuine concern people should have about Fox overseeing this mission beyond 2017.

Part of the Bears’ problems at quarterback is they don’t ever have a feel for the moment. They always keep the wrong head coach with the wrong quarterback. They stuck Jay Cutler with Marc Trestman despite clear evidence Josh McCown was a better fit. Best of all they insisted to Lovie Smith that Rex Grossman could be his guy even though Rex was drafted by a different head coach. Never mind that Aaron Rodgers was there for the taking in 2005.

It’s the most important relationship in the NFL. Put it this way. If Fox couldn’t get it done with Peyton Manning, why should anybody think he can do better with Trubisky? He’s proving that with his handling thus far.