PLAYING TIME
Could Trubisky start in 2017? We explore the scenarios
@ du dustbrother109: In what plausibleplausibl scenario do you see [ [ Mitch] Mitch] Trubisky playing this year? A: A: Th The Bears’ strategy to not not star start Trubisky is just as again against- the- grain as the trade up up t to draft him one month aft after giving Mike Glennon $ 1 18.5 million guaranteed to be the starter. Some history: Since Carson Palmer made it through his 2003 rookie season without attemptinga a pass, 11 quarterbacksqu have been drafteddraf with one of the first two picks in the draft. Four — CarsonWentz,C Jameis Winston,Win Andrew Luck and SamSam Bradford — started all 16 gamesg as rookies. Three more—mo Marcus Mariota, MatthewMa Stafford and RobertRob Griffin III— were seasonlongseas starters who sat only becauseb they got hurt. Befo Before Jared Goff started seven seven gamesg in his disaster last year, year, theth last passer picked in the the top top two to not startWeek 1 as as a a rookieroo was JaMarcus Russell, Russell, the definition of a draft bust. bust. With With opening games against thethe Falcons,Falc Buccaneers, Steelers ers and and Packers, the Bears could startstart th the season 0- 4. If Glennon is is ineffe ineffective or gets hurt, would a a despe desperate team really turn to Mark Sanchez, who’s started two games in two seasons, over the No. 2 pick? If Trubisky is the better player at practice, the Bears run the risk of alienating the locker room by starting Sanchez. They also would risk a riot at Solider Field.
@ NickMau91: Why is there such criticism for what the Bears gave up for Trubisky? Just look what was traded for [ Pat] Mahomes & [ Deshaun] Watson, and [ Jared] Goff & [ Carson] Wentz in ’ 16.
A: Apples and oranges. The Texans and Chiefs gave up more than the Bears— namely, their 2018 first- round picks— but they moved up a whopping 13 and 17 spots, respectively. The Eagles moved up six spots and the Rams 14. The Bearsmoved up one to get the quarterback they believed was the best in the draft.
@ CanuckBoy670AM: I know it’s early, but looking at the Bears’ 2017 schedule, it is hard to see more than 3- 4 wins. Who do you see them defeating? SF, Cleveland?
A: Vegas set their over/ under at 5 ½ wins. Let’s try to hit the over: if they beat the Vikings, Lions, 49ers and Browns at home, they’d still need two road wins. Can they top the Ravens, Bucs, Saints, Eagles or Bengals? Or the three NFC North teams? It’s early, but that’s a depressing paragraph I just wrote.
@ KrisArmstrong1: Pat, how many TEs will make the 53 (- man roster)?
A: Typically, three: Dion Sims, Adam Shaheen and, presuming he’s not a surprise cut, Zach Miller. If the Bears like Daniel Brown in camp, maybe they could stretch it to four.
@ frankiemeyers: Who are [ the] guys that stood out physically but also mentally by quickly correcting mistakes over the course of practices?
A: I didn’t see Trubisky make the same mistakes Sunday that he did Friday. Speedy fourthround pick Tarik Cohen is absolutely legit. He was fun to watch.
@ BeYoung317: Will Eddie Jackson be ready for the start of camp? He looks like a much- needed playmaker in the secondary.
A: The safety should be fine by late July. He was limited at rookie minicamp, though, but described the Bears as merely being cautious after he had a rod inserted into his left leg in October. “I feel like I can do anything,” he said.