Don’t blame QB Trubisky for Bears’ fall from grace
Improved play-calling, greater focus on running game can repair Chicago’s offence
Exactly one year ago, the Chicago Bears were one of the very best stories in the NFL.
They were a team that had averaged fewer than five wins a season between 2014-17 to become one that — under rookie head coach Matt Nagy — captured the NFC North with a 12-4 record.
Largely because of the league’s No. 1 ranked defence, the Bears were suddenly a legitimate threat to win the Super Bowl.
Alas, they were knocked from contention in the wild card game by the Philadelphia Eagles because of their inexperience and Cody Parkey’s now infamous missed field goal attempt from 43-yards out. But in Chicago, where the Lombardi Trophy hasn’t been held high since
Jan. 26, 1986, big things were demanded going forward.
Twelve months later, we can say the expectations fell far short. Their 2019 story is one of extreme disappointment.
The Bears entire season was one big “Double Doink.”
They finished 8-8 only because their meal ticket quarterback was able to do just enough to put them in position for the winning field goal against a Minnesota Vikings team that was playing a meaningless game and resting all but two defensive starters.
That quarterback, Mitchell Trubisky, is now the subject of great debate along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Much of the blame for Chicago’s swoon is being placed on a 25-year old who has made just 41 career starts. And much of the dismay over his performance stems from the fact that Trubisky was drafted No. 2 overall by the Bears when Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson were still available.
That’s not his fault. Nor is the way he was prepared for the campaign that just ended.
First of all, the way GM Ryan Pace can fix his mistake is to resist the temptation to correct it now.
A large number of veteran QBS are headed toward free agency. Some of them, like Tom Brady and Drew Brees, will be re-signed by their current clubs if they’re going to keep playing. Can you imagine if they aren’t?
And Dallas won’t move on from Dak Prescott, just as the Bucs won’t break ties with Jameis Winston and the Titans from Ryan Tannehill, because each experienced significant success this season, and quite frankly, there’s no better option out there.
Do the Bears take a chance on Teddy Bridgewater or Marcus Mariota? They’re not better than Trubisky. Nor is Eli Manning.
Philip Rivers? That might be a fit. In fact, it makes a lot of sense. They’re going to bring in somebody to push Trubisky, and Rivers, who finished fourth among the league’s passing yards leaders, would be a good mentor.
At the very least, he would be a much improved backup option over Chase Daniel. So would a 57-year old Doug Flutie, for that matter.
Now it’s important to note that the Bears, who wound up with the NFL’S 29th ranked offence, had problems beyond the quarterback position.
Their offensive line wasn’t good. It allowed 45 sacks (12th most) and 86 quarterback hits. The Bears owned the 27th ranked run game in the NFL. The long and short of it is, the loss to injury of guard Kyle Long hurt, but even with him in the lineup, the Bears were short on talent along the line.
Tight end Trey Burton, who was thought to be the next Travis Kelce when the Bears acquired him from the Eagles, missed December’s wild card game and September’s season opener with a groin injury, and was hampered by a calf problem in the eight games he did play.
And there’s a reason nobody knows whether rookie running back David Montgomery is going to become an impact player. The third-round pick with a reputation of being a tackle breaker certainly showed some promise with 889 rushing yards and 185 through the air.
But he wasn’t used nearly enough. The Bears ranked 27th running the ball. That’s not good enough to win in a league where the best of the bunch, the Baltimore Ravens, just set a new team single season rushing record.
Nagy was the NFL’S coach of the year in 2018, but with that honour came stubbornness. He decided to protect Trubisky from injury by not using him in pre-season games, despite the fact it was just his second camp as an NFL starter.
For that same reason, he refused to let Trubisky run, despite the fact he has quick feet and can throw well on the move.
The leash was removed around Week 12 and the Bears went 4-2 the rest of the way, with Trubisky twice surpassing the 330-yard mark.
Nagy, who gained success in 2018 because of his pass-heavy play calling, needs to either hire a headstrong offensive co-ordinator or adjust his thinking.
And that’s how Pace can fix his mistake. Improve the line, and change the play-calling. With a better running game, Trubisky will be better. With a little patience, he can look like a true first-round pick.
The Bears defence slipped to No. 8 because it was on the field so much. Also, with injuries to key players like Akiem Hicks and Danny Trevathan, then later Roquan Smith and Prince Amukamara, teams were able to focus more on Khalil Mack, who finished tied for 27th in sacks with just 8.5. Last year he grounded the QB 12.5 times and changed the momentum of games by himself.
If key personnel on the defence can stay healthy, it can once again become one of the top units in the league. And with a better running game, the offence can be good enough for the team to contend.
When the Bears won the Super Bowl 35 years ago, Jim Mcmahon was the 20th ranked QB in the league. Trubisky was 21st this year and he didn’t have a good season.
This is no time to ditch Mitch.
Their offensive line wasn’t good. It allowed 45 sacks (12th most) and 86 quarterback hits. The Bears owned the 27th ranked run game in the NFL.