The NFL is a league driven by its quarterbacks. That has become the reality of things. Fans want to see the ball in the air and it’s what sells the tickets. So the league continues to fashion its rulebook around protecting them and helping them thrive. It is a big reason the Chicago Bears are really trying to build around Mitch Trubisky. A true effort unlike anything the franchise has attempted in the past.
The results thus far? Promising. For the first time since 1985, the Bears had a quarterback in the Pro Bowl. Sure Trubisky went as an alternate but compared to previous decades, it was a reason to celebrate. Trubisky threw for over 3,200 yards in 14 games with 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. That resulted in a 95.4 passer rating, the best a Bears QB has ever had in a season of that length.
He also ran for over 400 yards and three more touchdowns. So nobody can say his success was purely the handiwork of head coach Matt Nagy. The Bears offense was effective thanks to him and it showed when he went down with a shoulder injury. Yet even now there are people out there who don’t think he’s worth mentioning among even the average QBs in the league.
Mitch Trubisky finally gets some love in division rankings
One person who seems to be changing his tune? Adam Schein of NFL.com. He was initially a Trubisky skeptic, but thanks to his conversations with Phil Simms has gradually come around on the young Bears QB. In his rankings of the best QB-loaded divisions in the NFL, the NFC North finished 3rd. Trubisky? He was viewed as an asset for that rather than a liability.
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“The Aaron Rodgers “I can be coached” tour is going to be real and spectacular. Count on it. He’s healthy, and I expect his union with first-year head coach Matt LaFleur will help him remind everyone that he’s still one of the best in the game.
Trubisky has made major progress in his first two seasons, and he’ll take another step forward in his second season working with offensive whiz Matt Nagy.
I feel like Cousins and Stafford fall somewhere in the range of eight to 16 in the QB rankings each year. There will be many moments of genius, and moments that leave you shaking your head, for both.”
Obviously, Rodgers was going to get the primary credit, but for Trubisky to get such optimism over the likes of Stafford and Cousins? That is telling. It’s also encouraging. This is another sign that people are watching carefully and starting to like what they see. Trubisky has work to do, sure. He’s far from a finished product. However, he’s getting better. Sooner or later, the rest of the league will have to accept it.
