Mitch Trubisky has not gotten off to the start that everyone wanted him to. However, there is still a lot of time and a lot of reason to believe that he can get better.
National, local, blogs like this very one, it does not matter, Mitch Trubisky has received criticism across the board. Most of it is deserved; he has not played well. However, when the talk starts to go “bust” and “backup” that is where it needs to stop and reverse.
As someone who has criticized Trubisky all season, I am nowhere near writing him off as a quarterback. Heck, the team is 2-1. Everyone needs to calm down with rash generalizations. Yes, it is fair to criticize one game. We do not have to equate it to forever.
To help silence some of the doubters, here are three reasons why you should continue to believe in Mitch Trubisky.
Raw Skills
The fact of the matter is that for every play that makes you want to pull your hair out, he makes a play that raises your eyebrows a bit in intrigue. Let’s remember; he was drafted second overall. That is because he has a strong combination of arm strength, accuracy, and athleticism.
When he can get all three working in concert with each other, he is a tough player to defend.
In Week One, he made a beautiful throw to Allen Robinson from the slot. The play is linked here. Watch as he first looks left to get the safety to stay on that side of the field. He sees Alexander has his back turned and put a pass over his shoulder, giving Robinson room to work near the sideline and get the ball without Alexander disrupting him much. This is a great pass.
In Week Two, his athleticism was on display, as he stepped up from a muddy pocket and scrambled for 17 yards. The play is linked here. Jukes, broken tackles, hesitation in the middle of the field to create extra yards. This is an added dimension to his game that automatically makes him tougher to defend.
The Chicago Bears can simplify a lot of the playbook by adding his dynamic running nature. At this point, they are looking more into developing him as a passer than using his legs like an actual threat. However, towards the playoffs, in tight games, this can be a game breaker.
In Week Three, Trubisky shows more raw skills with his arm moving the football down the field. The play is linked here. Again, Trubisky starts by looking right, freezing the safety before shifting to the other side of the field. Here, he reads Allen Robinson beat the double move, reacts instantly with a quick pass and fits it between the corner and the safety to get his man in stride.
Trubisky can push the ball down the field. He can complete screen passes. He can take off and make plays with his feet. There is still enough to buy into here.