Can Mitch Trubisky lead the Chicago Bears to victory?
Mitch Trubisky Time arrives at 7:30 Monday night, ahead of schedule for a rookie quarterback, even one taken with the second overall draft pick.
But teammates and coaches seem confident the 23-year-old can transition from one-year starter at North Carolina and four-game NFL apprentice to handling what many consider the most difficult position in sports. The added burden of being widely touted as “The next big thing,” hasn't changed Trubisky's approach, according to those closest to him.
“I think he's done tremendous,” coach John Fox said. “He's done tremendous since he's been here. No different this week. He's put everything he's got into it, and that's really all you can ask.”
“Seamless,” is how seven-year veteran tight end Zach Miller described Trubisky's first week of practice as the No. 1 quarterback.
“You can tell he's comfortable in that role,” Miller said. “He was quietly waiting, and I think he's done a great job handling everything on and off the field.”
The bar for success is extremely low after demoted starter Mike Glennon turned the ball over eight times in the first four games and posted a 76.9 passer rating while the Bears went 1-3.
Trubisky created a buzz in the preseason with a 106.2 passer rating.
“He's a baller,” wide receiver Josh Bellamy said. “We can't wait to see him Monday.”
Trubisky's supporting cast will be the same as Glennon's was, but the hope is for better performance across the board. Dropped passes, penalties and negative plays combined to hamstring a crew that is 23rd in total yards, 27th in passing yards and 29th in points, but the hope is that Trubisky's talents can spark a smoldering offense. “Everybody's just got to be better than we were the first four weeks,” Miller said. “Mitch brings a little more mobility, and the things he can do outside of the pocket will give us another dynamic. I'm excited for him to get his opportunity.”
Trubisky has the arm strength to make all the throws required of an NFL starter, and his mobility adds to his allure.
“He's extremely accurate,” Miller said. “He can move out of the pocket and extend plays. Now it's time for him to do that on a heightened stage.”
Wide receiver Markus Wheaton, who missed the first two games with a finger injury and has yet to catch a pass, was asked to describe Mitch's demeanor in the huddle.
“Calm and collected,” Wheaton said. “There's no rush. He's just relaxed in there.”
At the quarterback position, there's always the question of leadership, and that's a tough tightrope to walk for a rookie surrounded by veterans. But Trubisky gets high marks there as well.
“That (quarterback position) is just the natural leadership role,” Miller said. “Guys look to that, they feed off that, and Mitch is a natural leader anyways, so it just kind of plays into that. He's pretty good at what he does.
“He's not in-your-face rah-rah, but he's vocal,” Miller said. “He communicates what he sees. It's just that calm leadership that he brings to that position.”
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