Slump or Jump: Mitchell Trubisky

Will Mitch Trubisky make a jump or hit a slump in year two with the Chicago Bears?

As the Chicago Bears 2018 offseason continues, there is no doubt that they have gotten better on paper. Being one of the youngest teams in the NFL, the Bears have plenty of players at multiple positions that seem like they’re waiting to take take the next step. Today, we examine whether or not Mitchell Trubisky can take the next step in 2018.  

2017 season recap: Started twelve games with a completion percentage of 59.4%, with 2193 yards, to go along with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Out of all the players that will dress on Sunday for the Bears in 2018, nobody will be under the microscope more than Mitchell Trubisky. Most of the things that the Bears have done this past offseason have involved Trubisky in one way or another. The hiring of Matt Nagy, followed by the super aggressive approach to free agency serve as the two biggest examples.

Yes, it was only a small sample size, but Trubisky showed flashes of why he was picked with the second overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Now, most can agree that he’s due for a Jared Goff-like jump in 2018.

Trubisky possesses an athletic skill-set, one which allows him to make plays in a variety of different ways. There were times last year, where he single-handedly saved the Bears in some games, making plays with his legs in an effort to keep drives alive. 

Considering the situation that he was placed in last year, it’s easy to understand as to why Trubisky didn’t show more improvement. There were times where he did everything right, but due to external factors such as his wide receivers not running the right routes or just bad timing by them, some of his passes were either dropped or intercepted.

This is someone who has the potential, but all he needs to do is mature a bit more and learn more about the game of football at the NFL level. Now look, will 2018 be a make-or-break year for Trubisky? Not necessarily. However, in order for outsiders to see as to why he was picked number two overall last year, what he’ll have to do is get better at reading NFL level defenses, make smarter decisions, and learn to limit mistakes. Teams now have twelve games of film on him and can expose what his biggest flaws may be.

For Bears fans, there’s plenty to be excited about regarding their quarterback of the future. For a team that’s never had a true franchise quarterback, it seems like the Bears have finally found one in Mitchell Trubisky. And if Trubisky breaks out in 2018, then the Bears could be set up for at least a decade of winning. 

Prediction: Jump