Why the Chicago Bears must start Mitch Trubisky Week 1

Following an impressive showing in his first preseason game, here’s why Chicago Bears head coach John Fox should anoint Mitch Trubisky as his starting quarterback.

When the Chicago Bears signed quarterback, Mike Glennon this off season, he was supposed to provide a steady-hand presence at the position. Unfortunately, through one pre-season game, that hasn’t been the case. The same cannot be said for his counterpart, rookie Mitch Trubisky.

Glennon, the veteran quarterback, played scared and timid out there against the Denver Broncos’ first-string defense during the Bears’ first preseason game. He completed just two of eight passes, for 20 yards total. One of those six incompletions for the night turned into a dreadful pick-six.

Trubisky, on the other hand, played like the seasoned veteran that Glennon was supposed to be. He put on an impressive showcase for a rookie. Let alone for any player. Completing 18 of 25 passes, for 166 yards, to go along with one touchdown pass, a two-yard strike to wide receiver Victor Cruz.

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John Fox will gladly point out that Trubisky’s work for the night came against second and third string players. Thus proving that the rookie signal caller still has plenty of work to do before being anointed as the team’s starting quarterback.

With that being said, despite his lack of playing experience, here’s how Fox might benefit greatly over the long haul, by starting Trubisky over Glennon come Week 1 of the regular season.

Seeing the writing on the wall before it’s too late

From the moment he drafted Mitch Trubisky with the second overall pick, Chicago Bears’ General Manager, Ryan Pace had a plan in place.

Trubisky would become the Chicago Bears’ next franchise quarterback. Leading the team towards sustainable success in the years ahead. And, in turn, buying Pace more time with the organization.

Just like his hand-picked head coach, Pace was under a lot of scrutiny over the Bears’ dismal two-year run under his watchful eye. While the 9-23 stretch over the past two seasons falls squarely on Fox’s shoulders, Pace deserves just as much blame for the Bears’ prior misfortunes.

Pace, aware that the Bears couldn’t afford another letdown season, appeared to go all-in on improving the roster for this upcoming season. Hence, most notably, bringing in Mike Glennon to help fortify the quarterback position.

Trubisky, thereby, is now Pace’s insurance blanket he can pull out at moment’s notice if Glennon falters during any point this season.

If Glennon, and the Bears, struggle right from the get-go once the regular season starts, Fox will simply be cast as the scapegoat to the team’s continual lackluster play.

As a result, Fox will not get the full luxury to work extensively with Trubisky, for as long as Glennon remains the starter. And that poses some immediate risks, which could result in Fox losing his head coaching job, following another disappointing season.

Building chemistry between a head coach and his young signal caller

Having a full season to work with a young rookie quarterback would be the best thing that’s happened on the football field to John Fox in quite some time. He’d be able to build a growing relationship with Trubisky, guiding him through his ups and downs. If, of course, Fox has the rookie starting under center, beginning in Week 1.

Winning now, therefore, becomes irrelevant

Furthermore, if Trubisky starts Week 1 of the regular season over Mike Glennon, the pressure for Fox to win now instantly evaporates. Having his rookie signal caller under center come Week 1 would signal to Bears fans that the team is in full-rebuild mode. Much like their basketball counterpart, the Chicago Bulls.

While Bears fans would like to see their beloved team win now, as opposed to later down the road, who wouldn’t want to see Trubisky start under center, Week 1?

The excitement around Chicago, after seeing Trubisky in his first pre-season action, is too much for Fox to ignore. Fans would rather see the Bears go through growing pains with Trubisky under center in 2017, as opposed to seeing Glennon continue to throw gut-wrenching pick-sixes.

Glennon struggling as the starter early on would demoralize an entire fan-base, not to mention his teammates.

Fox needs to recognize quickly that: if things go south in a hurry for the Bears this season, he’ll be the one leaving town before we know it. Not Ryan Pace.

Changing the narrative

There is no doubt that Ryan Pace wants the Bears to be successful at winning games this season. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone all-in on signing Mike Glennon this off season.

Having said that, drafting Trubisky with the second overall pick exposed Pace’s lack of faith in this year’s team. He simply wanted to ensure, that by making this selection, if the Bears’ season unexpectedly sinks in a hurry, his managerial spot doesn’t go down with it.

Too bad the same doesn’t apply to John Fox’s job security as well. Unless, of course, he decides to quickly change the narrative.

Bears fans aren’t foolish enough to believe that, in all likelihood, Fox’s squad will be a playoff contender in 2017. No matter how much Pace emphasizes that the team’s goal is to contend in the NFC North this season.

Next: What we learned from Bears' first preseason game

While starting Trubisky Week 1 doesn’t automatically ensure that Fox’s job will be safe, following this season, at least he’ll have the opportunity to coach more freely, and relaxed. As opposed to coaching with a heaping amount of pressure to win games, with a team that still appears years away from making some real playoff noise.

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