INEXPERIENCE OVERRATED?
Then again Matt Cassell had zero starting experience and he went to a Pro Bowl. Perhaps it’s more that such occurrences are rare, so there’s not much to go off of. Teams don’t like unknowns, especially when it comes to the draft. That is why the best thing to do in such situations is stay close to the tape. Were his numbers just a fabrication of the system he played in or did he earn his high ranking?
According to Lance Zierlein, top draft expert for NFL.com, there is plenty of reason for optimism for any team that chooses to select him early.
“Trubisky is a high-end quarterback prospect who possesses NFL size, a big arm and the ability to throw with accuracy from the pocket or on the move. Despite playing in a spread-based offense, he’s a full-field reader who does a very good job of getting an early read on the safeties before crafting his course of action. Trubisky will have to become much more pocket aware and do a better job of recognizing and attacking blitzes to back NFL defensive coordinators off. He hasn’t put all the pieces together yet, but the puzzle is all right in front. Trubisky projects as a good starting quarterback with a high floor and the potential to be great.”
The physical talent alone is worth getting excited about from his mobility to the quick release, solid arm strength and accuracy. He also showcased a certain clutch element this past year. He led game-winning drives against Florida State and Pitt late in the fourth quarter. He almost did the same in the Sun Bowl against Stanford before poor blocking by his offensive line ruined the two-point conversion attempt.
UNFAIR ADVANTAGE
That may not be the most intriguing part of why Trubisky may be the best in this class. It may be what Emily Kaplan of the MMQB alluded to while interviewing North Carolina offensive coordinator Blake Anderson about how he found and recruited Mitch. What stood out the most about him? It showed up during high school practices.
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“Mentor closed with a team period, offense versus defense. The coaches let Trubisky run it. “He called plays, formations, everything,” Anderson says. “It was like watching a coach on the field. It was like watching a seasoned vet, not a junior in high school. I mean, it’s stuff I hope our college players can do.”
Often the best quarterbacks aren’t necessarily the most physically talented one. They are those who can see the game from a coaching perspective. They can break down what a defense is going to do before each snap and find the exact right play to run in response. That’s what made Peyton Manning so great and what continues to make Tom Brady so great. Neither of them were the most talented in NFL history, but nobody could match their football minds.
If the young man has those similar traits, then a Chicago Bears Mitch Trubisky movement needs to happen. It’s worth noting the last quarterback this team had who fit a similar description? Jim McMahon. That certainly worked out well.
