Early indications show Bears QB Trubisky at ease in leadership role

Mitch Trubisky can make all the throws required of him in coach Matt Nagy's offense.

He's more than smart enough to develop a thorough knowledge of the new playbook by opening day.

And Trubisky has the requisite work ethic for a quarterback and team leader — arriving at Halas Hall early, staying late and making the most out of classroom teachings, film study and on-field practice.

But maybe more important is the leadership role that the 23-year-old must assume and flourish in for the 2018 Bears to break out of a four-year slump that has included last-place finishes in the NFC North and 10 or more losses each season.

Early indications are that Trubisky is completely at ease in his own skin and in his role.

“(I'm) very comfortable,” Trubisky said after Wednesday's OTA practice at Halas Hall. “I love the position I'm in, and the leadership role I have to know the guys are looking at me. (I want to) come out every day and bring the energy and make sure I'm taking care of my business, so that everyone else's job is easier around them, too. That's what I'm trying to do, and I love the responsibility, and I'm just very excited for the continuous opportunities to move forward and move this team.”

Offensively, the Bears have a long way to move before they achieve respectability. Last year's attack was the NFL's worst in passing yards, and 30th in total yards and 29th in points. No team had fewer passing touchdowns than the Bears' 13.

The Bears added offensive weaponry in the offseason, acquiring WRs Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel, along with TE Trey Burton in free agency, and drafting Memphis WR Anthony Miller in the second round. So, on paper, the Bears' offense is much improved. But it's Trubisky who must bring it all together on the field, which will be no small feat, considering he's never thrown a regular-season pass to any of the new guys.

Unlike last offseason, when, as a rookie, Trubisky was supposed to spend most of the year learning, he is now entrenched. A year ago, he was the Bears' hope for the future; that future is now. And he's attacking the opportunity.

“He comes to every meeting prepared, (comes to) every meeting with a good question, and he wants to be coached,” offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said. That's a big part of it, too. (With) quarterbacks, we chase perfection — and that's impossible. It's a hard chase. But he's a willing participant in that.

“I really like his mindset. He's a very competitive guy. He knows what he knows — and he's free to admit and talk about and ask what he doesn't, and that's not always the case with some guys, whether that's a pride thing or whatever. He's been very coachable.”

Because getting the QB position correct is Job One in the NFL, Trubisky will get an abundance of mentoring, from Nagy, to Helfrich, to QB coach Dave Ragone. All three are former quarterbacks who naturally can see the offense and the game through Trubisky's eyes.

“Dave Ragone's done an awesome job of prepping him each day,” Helfrich said. “We all see through his eyes on a lot of things and through his brain and how he thinks through things, and that's a big part of it, too, is just learning how that guy sees things and being able to talk and teach to that. (Wednesday) he made some mistakes. But he'll throw that away and build from the good stuff and continue to kind of add a little bit more each day.”

It's almost four months until the Bears will play a game that matters, but Trubisky says he already senses the burgeoning acceptance of him as a team leader.

“I feel like it's growing every single day, and nothing gives me more confidence than when my teammates believe in me,” he said. “The offensive guys and the defensive guys as well. When you have teammates that believe in you and know you can get the job done, that gives you a lot of confidence to just go out there and be yourself and lead the way you know how to, and just take care of your job and make other guys' jobs easier around you.”

The sooner Trubisky masters the job of team leader, the sooner the Bears can wave bye-bye to the NFC North cellar.

• Bob LeGere is a senior writer at Pro Football Weekly. Follow Bob's Bears reports on Twitter @BobLeGere or @PFWeekly.