Matt Nagy made it plain as day. The Chicago Bears aren’t going to announce who the starting quarterback is until September 13th. That’s when they take the field against the Lions in Detroit. Nagy has no reason to reveal anything regarding Nick Foles or Mitch Trubisky. Why would he? Making it public knowledge ahead of time only gives the Lions extra time to prepare.
Ask around the media and opinions are mixed. Nobody seems willing to go out on a limb with either guy. Most see the competition as largely even to this point. Some see Trubisky with a slight edge thanks to more completed difficulty throws. Others feel Foles has been more consistent. All remain pessimistic about the situation. Yet there’s one problem.
They’ve all been viewing this thing through their own eyes. Has anybody stopped to consider viewing it through Nagy’s. It’s not hard to gauge what he looks for most from his quarterbacks. Among them is a mastery of the system, reading coverages, and good footwork. If one were to follow the breadcrumbs? There is a clear leader in this competition.
Dan Wiederer (Chicago Tribune)
“This past week — particularly Wednesday morning — Foles seemed to find a bit more rhythm, settling in with the offense and demonstrating what the coaching staff wants to see as far as clean footwork and crisp timing and getting his eyes where they need to go consistently.”
Adam Hoge (NBC Sports Chicago)
“On the positive side, Foles’ decision-making continues to stand out. He regularly recognizes where blitzes are coming from and threw into the blitz twice Saturday for completions. It’s clear he is in command of the offense and reads defenses well before the snap.”
You better believe Nagy is noticing Nick Foles in that way
While the media have focused on the accurate throws and flashy plays by Trubisky, make no mistake. Nagy is watching for consistency. He was constant execution before the snap and after the snap. Good feet, find the right reads, and deliver the ball. He won’t care if the throws are occasionally off target as long as it was the right decision. Everything points to Foles being superior in this department.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Now the competition isn’t over. The Bears aren’t likely to reach a decision until the end of this coming week. Maybe something significant happens in that time to get Trubisky some serious momentum. Anything is possible. Still, if one is going back the parameters of what this head coach wants from the position.
It’s Foles’ job to lose.