Is there hope for Mitch Trubisky? Some Chicago Bears fans want to think so. They like the kid. They feel the talent is still there for him to succeed. All he has to do is figure out how to play his position like a professional. Namely being able to read defenses better and make the right reads. Something that just wasn’t happening enough in 2019. The Bears insist they still have faith in the 25-year old, but should they.
There are examples out there of quarterbacks being late bloomers. Guys who took a little longer to mature than others. Drew Brees is the most popular example. However, Mike Sando of The Athletic doesn’t seem to have that kind of confidence. He dug deep into whether or not the Bears should consider sticking with Trubisky for a fourth season and decided to look at other previous 1st round QBs who had similar career paths up to this point.
The comparisons that came back were not flattering.
“The Trubisky comps: Josh Freeman, Jake Locker & Co.
The search for Chicago/Trubisky comps involves finding teams that, like the 2019 Bears, struggled on offense with a highly drafted (first-round) young quarterback still on his rookie contract…
…Freeman, like Trubisky, enjoyed a statistically successful winning season in the second year of a three-year starting run for the Buccaneers. A first-round pick in 2009, Freeman’s second season looked good: 25 touchdown passes, six interceptions, 69.5 Total QBR, 10-6 starting record. The following season was a struggle: 16 touchdowns, 22 interceptions, 46.1 QBR, 4-11 record.”
Mitch Trubisky has not taken advantage of circumstances
Being compared to Freeman is not a good sign. This is a guy who peaked in his second year with 25 TDs and six interceptions in 2010 to out of the NFL by the start of 2016. Keep in mind he’s only 32-years old and hasn’t logged a snap in five years. If people wanted an idea of how wasteful Trubisky has been for the Bears the past three seasons, this stat is the most damning of all.
“Chicago has allowed 22 or fewer points in 74 percent of Trubisky’s starts. That is the highest percentage among the 23 quarterbacks with at least 32 total starts over the past three seasons. Trubisky has a 21-10 record in those games for a .678 win rate that sounds impressive but ranks 18th among those 32 starters. Top quarterbacks win those games almost all the time. The record is a combined 106-6 (.950) over the same three-year period for Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees.”
This is what critics have continued to talk about. Trubisky is wasting what is another great defense the Bears have built. A top 10 unit for three years and just one winning season to show for it. The window isn’t going to stay open for much longer. Especially in this era of roster turnover.
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If they stick with Trubisky for 2020, the odds will not be in their favor.
