Chicago Bears got the performance they needed from Mike Glennon

Just like it was drawn up, Mike Glennon will be the Chicago Bears starting quarterback in Week 1. And that’s good news for the Bears and rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky.

I worry that some day, I will find out that saved in one of my friend’s Snapchat Memories is a video of me reacting to the Chicago Bears trading up and drafting Mitch Trubisky last April. Mouth agape in shock, back awkwardly arched in utter defeat, struggling to form words in between yells of frustration and stupefied speechlessness.

After just three preseason games out of the rookie from North Carolina, my mood’s changed; and while I’m not predicting his Hall of Fame class, or even his first Pro Bowl appearance, I’m hoping that that video doesn’t exist just in case.

Trubisky has been absolutely everything you could hope for from a rookie quarterback in his initial showings. He’s lived up to the strengths of his scouting report – namely, mobility and natural arm talent – and he’s exceeded expectations in terms of showing seemingly advanced poise in the pocket while confirming all the great character reports at practice and off the field.

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So, while I can’t wait to fly my banner for House Trubisky, it’s a good thing that the Bears’ rookie will start the year backing up Mike Glennon.

The uninspiring, excitement-draining Glennon was signed to be the bridge quarterback between Jay Cutler and whoever was supposed to be the Bears’ next quarterback of the future. And just because the front office jumped most people’s expectations by drafting that quarterback weeks after signing Glennon, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer should still get a chance to build that bridge.

While Trubisky looked like a taller blend of Drew Brees and Russell Wilson to dangerously hopeful Bears fans in the team’s first two preseason games, Glennon was awful. Like, 0.0-passer-rating-in-his-debut awful. But in the third preseason game that serves as the last and longest rehearsal for NFL starters before the regular season, Mike Glennon was strong from the start.

Unlike the first two exhibition games, the Bears and Glennon prepped specifically for the Titans and Glennon credited that opposition-study during the week as a big help in his success.

"“I think I just played better and executed better,” Glennon told the media after the game. “But, I think having a game-plan week and preparing for the opponent and understanding what they’re trying to do in all situations, I think all that helped the situation since we treated this more like a real game week.”"

The balanced game-plan was evident from the start and could be a sign of the best version of the Bears for 2017. Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains called a masterful first drive that resulted in a touchdown pass from Glennon to new tight end Dion Sims.

On that initial drive, Loggains balanced the run and pass and attacked Tennessee from multiple angles and looks. Running backs Jordan Howard and rookie Tarik Cohen each saw early action, with runs both in between and outside the tackles.

Through the air, Glennon went 7-of-9 for 84 yards and hit four different receivers on the way to the goal line, where the Sims touchdown was via a beautifully set up and executed play-action pass. And perhaps most importantly, the entire drive was anchored behind excellent blocking from the offensive line.

The Bears should have one of the better offensive lines in the NFL and that will be crucial. Glennon is not a creator on his own. With strong line play, the Bears can reasonably hope to establish a steady run game and keep the pocket clean for Glennon so he’s not forced into turnovers. And especially with the tragic loss of Cam Meredith, the team’s number one receiver, the offense cannot expect to get dynamic singular play from anyone in the receiving core.

If Loggains can elevate that ball-control offense at all with apt play calling, that is the Bears’ best hope to maximize their potential on that side of the ball.

(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

That offense described there is an average one at best, but it would be irrational to expect more from this roster as is. And it would be irresponsible to unnecessarily thrust Trubisky into the starting job right away. For as enticing as Trubisky’s play has been in the preseason, it has been mostly with reserves against second and third units.

This past Sunday against the Titans, Trubisky got his first reps with the first team and completed only three passes for 33 yards on two drives, while also tripping and fumbling coming out from under center once and showing some struggles getting plays off in time, taking one delay of game and burning a timeout to avoid another. When the rest of the starters sat, both on offense and defense, that is when Trubisky again shined.

But those initial miscues with the starters were exactly the type of indications that the Bears can benefit from letting Glennon be the bridge quarterback they brought him in to be. Trubisky will play at some point this year, but Sunday we saw how he still is a rookie coming out of only one year starting in college where he didn’t play under center.

More and more practice reps, especially with the first-team that he was out of sync with against the Titans, will be needed to eliminate avoidable mistakes as simple as getting snaps off cleanly when it’s not from the shotgun.

The Bears open against the Falcons, Bucs, Steelers, and Packers, four legitimate contenders this year. While they won’t be favored in any of those, at least internally, Glennon’s performance can quell any talk of a quarterback controversy going into Week 1. The Bears can go into that opening gauntlet with a veteran under center while the rookie learns and improves on the aspects of running an NFL team that he’s still a novice to.

Next: Offensive grades from the Bears' win over the Titans

The more confidence the Chicago Bears can start Glennon with the better – for the front office, the entire team and for Glennon and Trubisky themselves – and Glennon’s play on Sunday allows the team that confidence.

The longer Glennon can perform around that level, the better; because this team is not a contender and the player they’ve invested the most in now doesn’t need to be haphazardly thrown into the fire right away. Even if he has spent his first weeks with the team making that option really really tantalizing.

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