The Chicago Bears this past season were defined by one thing and one thing alone – their defense. After acquiring Khalil Mack from the Oakland Raiders, the Bears came into the season with one of the best defenses in the entire league. It allowed them to go 12-4 in the regular season and win the NFC North. They led the entire league in takeovers and defensive scoring.
But, the story of the season was the play of their second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. When the Bears traded up to select him with the second overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, people everywhere were shocked. He was taken over both Patrick Mahomes and DeShaun Watson, both of whom have proven themselves to be Pro Bowl talents.
But Trubisky has struggled. His body size, arm strength, and mobility suggest that he should be a gunslinger with a pendant for scrambling. But it has been the opposite. Trubisky was tasked with becoming a mere game manager. Checking his first option, and if it wasn't there, to throw away the ball or to take off running.
Pro-Football Focus ranked him as the worst starting quarterback in the NFL. Which is fair, as Trubisky often made many mistakes the first half of the season. But he began to find a niche in his role after the bye week, and had an adequate season from a second-year quarterback.
Overall, he threw for 3,223 yards with 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His completion rate sat at 66.6 percent and his QBR was a solid 72.8, actually among the league's best at the position. He also ran for 421 yards and four touchdowns. The dual-threat quarterback had a quietly unspectacular season, but was still solid enough to lead the team's offense.
Sure, it worked for the Bears this season when their defense was a generational talent. But his future rests on the hope that he can bank on his potential. He could be so much more than a game manager. It's up to him to improve his craft and come into the next few seasons proving everyone wrong.
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