Chicago Bears: Mitch Trubisky will bounce back in 2020
By Ryan Fedrau
After a rough season in 2019, Chicago Bears’ quarterback Mitch Trubisky will have to bounce back if he wants to keep his job.
Since September of 2019, the question of if Mitch Trubisky could be the leader of the Chicago Bears offense has been a serious question. I have been in the small minority of people who believe Trubisky still can be a solid quarterback in the NFL.
Trubisky struggled last season, where he regressed in almost every stat possible. Part of the struggles for Trubisky came with the Bears’ offensive line and receiving core. I’ll be the first to admit, Trubisky isn’t perfect, but he isn’t the issue.
The majority of 2019 was Trubisky being rushed to throw the ball faster than he was in 2018. The speed of the game multiplied for him in 2019, something that didn’t happen in 2018, when his offensive line was solid.
Trubisky spent a lot of time getting away from defenders and taking sacks. It took a toll on him, which ended up with him getting shoulder surgery in the offseason.
When it comes to his running backs and receivers, there were a lot of struggles. Yes, Trubisky missed a lot of easy targets but the same could be said about the skilled players missing a lot of balls. The Bears were a top team in dropped passes last season.
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You can also see the miscommunication on most of Trubisky’s overthrows. It seems like the wideout either stopped too soon or Trubisky anticipated him going further on his route. It’s something the elite quarterbacks don’t struggle with.
If Trubisky is going to become the solid quarterback I believe he can be, those things have to be cleaned up. In the offseason, he’s had a chance to reflect on the 2019 season. It’s hard to reflect and change things mid-season, which is why this offseason will be the most important of his career.
This is make-it or break-it time for Trubisky. In an interview with Chase Daniel last week, Trubisky mentioned how he has been spending most of the quarantine working out and watching film from last season. If he can become a smarter player, he can beat out Nick Foles for the job in the summer.
I believe this competition for Trubisky is good. It’s giving him a chance to look at what matters on the field. It’ll show him that nothing is guaranteed in football, which should improve his play.
If Trubisky can show the leadership and promise he did in 2018, he will bounce back this upcoming season. A lot of it will have to do with his relationship with head coach Matt Nagy. If Nagy and Trubisky can get on the same page, things will be better for both guys.
At the end of the day, Nagy makes the final decision. Foles and Nagy go back to Kansas City. I worry that Nagy will make the decision out of favoritism than who is the better player.
We will see in the upcoming months. Most importantly, if Foles can help out Trubisky mentally, that will change everything for Trubisky. He needs a mentor who has won a Super Bowl. Foles can be that guy if Trubisky beats him out for the starting role.