It seems like every time the Chicago Bears allow one of their quarterbacks to air it out against the Packers, bad things happen. Mike Glennon lost two fumbles and threw two interceptions in his lone opportunity. Jay Cutler threw four interceptions in his debut. Rex Grossman barely completed half his passes for 132 yards. Cade McNown threw for 15 yards in his. Go down the line and all of them failed to make a notable first impression. Will Mitch Trubisky be any different?
There are plenty of skeptics. The #2 overall pick has taken things slow through the first month of his starting career. He is averaging just 20 pass attempts per game and hasn’t even topped 200 yards passing in one yet. Head coach John Fox has made a clear statement. He will not let the rookie throw until he feels Trubisky is ready. For the past month that’s proven the case.
Now with a bye week in the books, things have changed. There is a growing buzz from out of Halas Hall that the Bears are planning to take the training wheels off. That it’s against the Packers presents all sorts of juicy subplots.
Packers were and still are the final exam for Mitch Trubisky and Bears QBs
Trubisky didn’t dance around the subject during his most recent meeting with Chicago media. He’s well aware of how seriously the fans take this rivalry. Especially in regards to the quarterback play. After watching Cutler go 2-11 against them with 22 interceptions, it’s easy to understand why they’re more critical than ever before. In their minds why should they take a quarterback seriously if he can’t perform well against the Packers?
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By the sound of things Trubisky is eager for the challenge. Not only that, but he doesn’t plan on playing the passive approach this time.
“I’m pretty anxious and excited about this week. I kind of feel like it’s a new season in a way,” Trubisky said Wednesday. “I feel very confident and am very excited to really just start to open things up, play within myself and the offense and do my job so the offense can succeed and we can win more games.”
Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains did nothing to dismiss the idea either. He hasn’t hidden his own desires to attack more often.
“I think throwing the ball down the field is going to help a lot of different things. I think that it’s going to help negative runs.”
No doubt this newfound optimism is motivated by two key factors
The first is the suddenly optimistic developments at wide receiver. New trade acquisition Dontrelle Inman has had over two weeks to get situated in the offense. Also Markus Wheaton is back at practice and sounds like he plans to play barring a setback. Though hardly stars, that will give Trubisky two more weapons with proven NFL productivity.
Then there’s the state of the Packers defense. After a strong start to 2017, it has steadily declined over the past month. They rank 20th in the league against the pass and even worse against the run. Matthew Stafford shredded them on Monday night for 361 yards and two touchdowns at Lambeau Field. He had only six incompletions. As a team the Packers have just 13 sacks.
After enduring a run against some of the best defenses in the NFL, this marks the first time Trubisky will go against a below average unit. One that no longer has Aaron Rodgers there to protect them. Could Trubisky be the first to have a truly positive debut against them for the Bears in decades?
