As has been reported ever since the end of the 2016 season, the Chicago Bears are hunting for their next quarterback. Rumors started flying almost immediately after the regular season ended. Jay Cutler is likely on his way out. Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley are both free agents who may be brought back as depth or veteran "bridge" options. A change is coming. It's just a matter of from which direction.
Will it be free agency with someone like Tony Romo or even Kirk Cousins? Unlikely but not impossible. The Bears are center stage for discussions about a possible trade. Topping the list of hot names is New England Patriots backup Jimmy Garoppolo. Given his Illinois ties, that makes plenty of sense. However, with the 49ers and Browns also in hot pursuit (and holding more picks) the odds of Chicago getting him aren't favorable.
Their best bet for landing an upper echelon talent still lay in the NFL draft. What with them holding the #3 overall pick. Experts continue to indicate that the 2017 class is "weak" at the position, unlike the three previous years. At the same time there is some considerable talent worth mining. It's all about whether they trust their coaching staff to develop him properly.
Now it seems one name has reached the top of their list.
FALLING IN LOVE
Charlie Campbell is one of the chief experts for WalterFootball.com, one of the more popular and respected NFL draft websites on the internet. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. So he's a man who has a finger or two on the pulse of the league when it comes to this time of year. He accurately predicted the Chargers loved Joey Bosa last season, so it's fair to say his sources are decent. That's why it was interesting when he dropped this little nugget during his most recent mock draft, having the Bears select North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky at #3."The Bears grab a potential franchise quarterback to build around. There is scuttlebutt that Chicago loves Trubisky."At this point in time the general feeling is that this draft class has four quarterbacks who are good enough to go in the first round. Trubisky is often ranked first or second on that list. He was like a volcanic eruption in 2016, arriving on the scene with little warning and leaving devastation in his path against several opponents. He finished the season with 3,748 yards passing, 30 touchdowns and just six interceptions. On top of that he ran for 308 yards and five more scores as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF-55Ay3fDM Some though, including Campbell are wary of Trubisky. While physically talented, they are scared to death of him. Why? He only started one season at North Carolina. His first two years were spent as a backup. That lack of experience has some believing he's destined to fail because there are so few examples of quarterbacks having success in the NFL after such little college playing time.
INEXPERIENCE OVERRATED?
Then again Matt Cassell had zero starting experience and he went to a Pro Bowl. Perhaps it's more that such occurrences are rare, so there's not much to go off of. Teams don't like unknowns, especially when it comes to the draft. That is why the best thing to do in such situations is stay close to the tape. Were his numbers just a fabrication of the system he played in or did he earn his high ranking? According to Lance Zierlein, top draft expert for NFL.com, there is plenty of reason for optimism for any team that chooses to select him early."Trubisky is a high-end quarterback prospect who possesses NFL size, a big arm and the ability to throw with accuracy from the pocket or on the move. Despite playing in a spread-based offense, he's a full-field reader who does a very good job of getting an early read on the safeties before crafting his course of action. Trubisky will have to become much more pocket aware and do a better job of recognizing and attacking blitzes to back NFL defensive coordinators off. He hasn't put all the pieces together yet, but the puzzle is all right in front. Trubisky projects as a good starting quarterback with a high floor and the potential to be great."The physical talent alone is worth getting excited about from his mobility to the quick release, solid arm strength and accuracy. He also showcased a certain clutch element this past year. He led game-winning drives against Florida State and Pitt late in the fourth quarter. He almost did the same in the Sun Bowl against Stanford before poor blocking by his offensive line ruined the two-point conversion attempt.
UNFAIR ADVANTAGE
That may not be the most intriguing part of why Trubisky may be the best in this class. It may be what Emily Kaplan of the MMQB alluded to while interviewing North Carolina offensive coordinator Blake Anderson about how he found and recruited Mitch. What stood out the most about him? It showed up during high school practices."Mentor closed with a team period, offense versus defense. The coaches let Trubisky run it. “He called plays, formations, everything,” Anderson says. “It was like watching a coach on the field. It was like watching a seasoned vet, not a junior in high school. I mean, it’s stuff I hope our college players can do.”Often the best quarterbacks aren't necessarily the most physically talented one. They are those who can see the game from a coaching perspective. They can break down what a defense is going to do before each snap and find the exact right play to run in response. That's what made Peyton Manning so great and what continues to make Tom Brady so great. Neither of them were the most talented in NFL history, but nobody could match their football minds. If the young man has those similar traits, then a Chicago Bears Mitch Trubisky movement needs to happen. It's worth noting the last quarterback this team had who fit a similar description? Jim McMahon. That certainly worked out well.
