Chicago Bears: Comparing Trubisky’s and Goff’s breakout seasons
By John Sweas
Prior to the start of this season, analysts predicted that Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky would have a breakout season similar that of LA Rams quarterback Jared Goff in 2017. Let’s take a look at the results.
After a lackluster rookie campaign as the Chicago Bears‘ quarterback in 2017, many questions surrounded Mitchell Trubisky going into this season. How would he fit into new head coach Matt Nagy’s offense? Would he be able to contribute with his arm after throwing only 7 touchdown passes in 12 starts in 2017?
His situation appeared very similar to the one LA Rams quarterback Jared Goff found himself in during the 2017 offseason. Goff was drafted one year prior to Trubisky, and he too struggled in his rookie year under head coach Jeff Fisher. The Rams fired Fisher during the 2016 season and replaced him with Sean McVay in the 2017 offseason.
The similarities between Trubisky’s and Goff’s circumstances led many analysts to predict that Trubisky would have a breakout 2018 season similar to the one that Goff did in 2017. In 15 starts last season, Goff completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 253.6 passing yards per game and 28 passing touchdowns while throwing 7 interceptions.
As far as the numbers can tell us, Trubisky did indeed have a similar breakout season. In 14 starts this season, he completed 66.6 percent of his passes for 230.2 passing yards per game and 24 passing touchdowns while throwing 12 interceptions.
In addition, what Trubisky lacked in passing yards and passing touchdowns this season compared to Goff last season, he made up for in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, as he out-rushed Goff 421-51 in yards and 3-1 in touchdowns.
Conveniently, both Trubisky and Goff played in just one playoff game in their sophomore seasons. Goff went 24-45 for 259 yards and one touchdown in a Wild Card loss to the Atlanta Falcons last January. Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, Trubisky completed 26 of 43 passes for 303 yards and one touchdown.
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With the exception of throwing a few more interceptions, Trubisky had basically the same breakout season this year that Goff did last year. Bears fans should be very encouraged by the year that Trubisky had. He has not yet reached his full potential, and having a full offseason to work with Matt Nagy will (yes, I said a definitive “will”) make him into a better quarterback next season.