Biggs is clueless. He's about the last beat writer I listen to. Too busy eating powdered donuts to see the field.
Biggs wasn't the only beat writer who thought Mitch didn't look that good.
By Dan Wiederer
Chicago Tribune |
Aug 11, 2019 | 1:42 PM
3. How much progress has Mitch Trubisky made as he heads into his third season as the Bears starter?
Camp assessment
As the Bears leave Bourbonnais, Chicago is left with a bit of a “Choose Your Own Adventure.” On the one hand, teammates have continued to praise everything about the soon-to-be 25-year-old quarterback, lauding his leadership, work ethic and attention to detail. Coaches have also emphasized
how much progress Trubisky has made in operating the huddle, making pre-snap reads, properly setting protections, correctly diagnosing defenses and sharpening his touchdown-to-checkdown mentality. For those who choose to put the most stock in those in-house evaluations, it’s reasonable to expect Trubisky will have one of the best seasons a Bears quarterback has ever had.
“Mentally, with the things he’s recognizing and the questions he’s asking, it’s clear he’s taken the next step,” quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone said.
Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky during drills at training camp on Aug. 6, 2019.(Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
On the other hand, Trubisky hasn’t exactly passed the eye test since camp began. For every flash of brilliance, there’s been a warning sign or two that 2019 may remain a bit of a roller coaster for the offense. There have been too many interceptions, too many throws that are off the mark and too many days where the quarterback and his offense have been uneven. Yes, they’re playing against that aforementioned elite Bears defense. And yes, training camp will always have some trial-and-error dynamics at play. But to the naked eye, Trubisky has looked like a developing middle-tier quarterback and far from an MVP candidate. For those who choose to acknowledge that assessment, the bumps in the road will feel far less jarring when the season begins.
What’s next?
The objective realist — an endangered species in 2019 — will likely choose the path in between the two roads above, recognizing Trubisky’s current weaknesses while still feeling encouraged by his continued growth and long-term potential. Trubisky likely won’t be good enough in Year 3 to carry the Bears all the way to the Super Bowl. (He may not have to be.) And he won’t likely struggle enough to torpedo the Bears’ playoff hopes either. So can Bears fans handle another season in the gray area, another year that could very well end with a hung verdict and more divisive debate on whether their quarterback is a championship-caliber playmaker or just a giant tease?
The most important reminder for the Bears is that while the Week 1 showdown with the Packers will carry incredible anticipation and a playoff feel, it’s just the first of 16 games. Trubisky doesn’t need to be a finished product by Labor Day. But he does need to show significant progress between now and New Year’s Eve for the Bears’ Super Bowl hopes to have real validity.
On Sunday, Nagy talked about scaling back on how much the Bears have been installing offensively and remembering to stick with plays that are familiar and are within the offense’s core concepts.
“Let's get back to just playing fast and that sort of thing,” Nagy said. “We'll figure out what we like and what we don't like. But we've hit that limit of testing them. It's time to pull back now and start gearing up so that these young guys and the vets can start getting more and more confidence.”
bearswire.usatoday.com
I'm a realist but I also like to hope for the best. Bears football is a QB away from competing for a Bowl. Were not far off if you really think about it and look at out roster and what it is now compared to when Pace took over 4 or 5 years ago. Come on man!
