Chicago Bears: 5 biggest challenges facing Mitchell Trubisky
Under Pressure?
Go ahead and take a moment to get the classic David Bowie song out of your head — I’ll wait. All set? Terrific. Now let’s talk about the fact that Mitch Trubisky will be under increased pressure in year two. A by-product of all that optimism I spoke about earlier is an increase in expectations.
Despite a new system, new staff, and a difficult schedule, the organization and fans are expecting a considerable step forward for Mitch. To make matters worse, analysts and writers around the league have tabbed the Bears as the trendy pick to be this year’s 2017 Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams went from 4-12 in 2016, to a playoff team at 11-5 in 2017. While there are a lot of similarities between the two teams, there is one notable difference. The 2017 NFC West ended up considerably weaker than the 2018 NFC North is expected to be. The San Francisco 49ers were rebuilding, the Arizona Cardinals lost their best player, and the Seattle Seahawks, while good, were not themselves.
While there are heightened expectations for this team, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. First, it means that things are trending in the right direction. These expectations are based on what has been coming out of OTAs and minicamp. Second, it’s been a while since Bears fans have had any expectations for their team. Finally, Mitch was selected second overall in the draft, so he’s been under pressure and scrutiny from day one.
Again, what should ease the minds of Bears fans is Trubisky’s approach. What he lacks in NFL experience he makes up for with a maturity beyond his years. His approach to learning this new offense has even impressed his coach. Bryan Perez of NBCSportsChicago talked with Nagy about Trubisky’s attention to detail, and this was his response:
"“Each and every detail that we give him means something. It’s not just something he writes down in a book. He wants to know the why. He’s a good person that is in this for the right reason. His teammates absolutely love him. It was the same thing with Alex [Smith] in Kansas City.”"
Additionally, last night on NFL Network’s Inside Minicamp Live, Trubisky stated he has decided to step away from social media for the foreseeable future, but at least for the remainder of the season. He stated he wants to focus on his job and what he’s in Chicago to do. In other words, he doesn’t want any distractions. What a refreshing change of pace.
Next: Bears breakout candidates in 2018
Bottom Line
Look, no one knows for certain how good Mitch Trubisky will end up being. However, what you can be certain of is that he is wholeheartedly committed to becoming the best he can be. While he faces a number of challenges this season, Bears fans should have faith that he will meet them head-on with a determination Chicago hasn’t seen from a quarterback in a long time.