The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Trubisky throws well, runs 40 in 4.67 seconds
Analyst: ‘You can tell he’s athletically gifted. He’s only going to get better’
In what’s looking like a twoman race to be the first quarterback drafted in April — possibly No. 1 overall by the Browns — it was fitting Mitchell Trubisky and DeShaun Watson were neck-and-neck in one area on March 4.
By the way, it’s now Mitchell Trubisky, not Mitch Trubisky, as has been reported by the media going back to his Mentor
High School days. More on that in a bit.
On the day for quarterbacks at the NFL Scouting Combine, North Carolina’s Trubisky did well for himself, starting with the 40-yard dash.
His first attempt on the turf of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis clocked 4.71 seconds, very good for a QB.
Then, on his second 40 run, he posted an even more impressive time at 4.67.
The time equaled that of Watson, the national championship-winning QB for Clemson.
Many draft analysts have Trubisky and Watson 1-2 among QBs for this draft. For the Browns, owners of the Nos. 1 and 12 picks in the first round, they had to be impressed with Trubisky and Watson.
Each threw the ball well in passing drills, which began with 50-yard throws down the left sideline. Other drills consisted of 10-yard outs and curls, plus out throws about 30 to 40 yards downfield.
NFL Network’s Mike Mayock ranks Trubisky No. 3 among this draft’s QB class with Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer 1 and Watson 2. The reason, he said on NFL Network’s March 4 broadcast, was inexperience.
“I though his tape was the most consistent of all the quarterbacks this year,” said Mayock. “A 13game starter. Maybe I’m old school, but that bothers me. I don’t feel like he’s had enough experience, but man he’s got athletic ability, arm strength. He has good pocket awareness, good timing. He can step up in the pocket and drive (the ball).”
Former NFL quarterback David Carr, the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Texans in 2002, was an onfield analyst for NFL Network analyzing the QBs, and was impressed with Trubisky during drills.
“He throws the ball with some zip, but he can learn a little pacing,” said Carr. “You can tell he’s athletically gifted. He’s only going to get better.”
Trubisky also made news earlier on March 4 when it was announced he prefers to go by “Mitchell” instead of “Mitch.”
The decision makes sense because the team that drafts him in April will likely be ready to make Trubisky one of the faces of their franchise.
The decision to go by Mitchell wasn’t Trubisky’s alone. According to his father Dave, Trubisky’s mother Jeanne prefers her son to go by Mitchell.
“I’m proud of Mitchell for bringing it up,” said Dave Trubisky.