Mitch Trubisky has carried out this earlier than, and just about any skilled quarterback can provide you with an occasional massive sport like he had within the Bears’ 31-24 win over the Cowboys on Thursday.
The query for Trubisky, and probably the most important variable within the Bears’ still-slim playoff hopes, is whether or not he can hold it going. What good was his efficiency towards Dallas if it stops there? A one-hit surprise doesn’t do something for the staff’s possibilities this season or past.
Trubisky did every thing the Bears have been ready for and accomplished 23 of 31 passes for 244 yards with three touchdowns and one interception for a 115.5 passer ranking — his ninth-highest in 38 profession video games.
It was certainly one of his best possible towards a stable protection. Despite their 6-7 file and abundance of dysfunction, the Cowboys entered the sport No. eight in move protection. This wasn’t a case of bullying a light-weight like he’s carried out towards the Lions and Buccaneers.
Plus, Trubisky revived his operating sport.
That tops the lengthy listing of issues that made Bears followers arch their eyebrows Thursday night time and ask, “Where’s that been all year?” One of probably the most perplexing components of what has largely been a season of regression was that Trubisky had introduced little to no operating menace.
“When nothing is there, pulling it down [and] getting what I can,” Trubisky stated of his mindset towards the Cowboys.
It sounds so apparent. And really easy. But there’s been a glitch that has saved him from enjoying so freely.
Matt Nagy and the Bears’ offensive coaches have drilled into his head that nice quarterbacks win within the pocket, and no matter what they and Trubisky say publicly, it was persistently clear that he was both reluctant to run or too indecisive to take benefit when alternatives appeared.
He lastly turned it free towards the Cowboys and racked up 63 yards on 10 carries, together with an intentional run play for a 23-yard landing early within the fourth quarter. His season complete earlier than Thursday was 80 dashing yards.
“It was very evident that he used [his legs] as a weapon,” Nagy stated after the sport. “We saw some things that we liked in regard to the run scheme. Heck, whenever he’s able to use his legs like that, he becomes another running back.”
The following afternoon at Halas Hall, Nagy stated, “We don’t want him to become a running back.” He elaborated with, “We want him to be a quarterback that uses his legs, and I thought yesterday was a great example of that combination.”
Nagy’s perception about profitable from the pocket is true for a lot of quarterbacks, however not all. Some who aren’t as proficient as passers could make up for it with their athleticism, or within the case of main MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, greater than make up for it. Trubisky isn’t Jackson, however his skillset has an identical blueprint.
Especially now, because the place has advanced, there’s no tried and true equation that claims a quarterback have to be 90 % passer, 10 % runner. It will be 70-30, 50-50 or no matter allocation works finest for that particular participant’s means so long as the coach is prepared to be versatile.
It has been apparent this season that Nagy desires Trubisky to be a traditional pocket passer, however the dual-threat function appears extra appropriate. Trubisky’s athleticism was a major issue within the Bears buying and selling as much as draft him No. 2 general, and he averaged 30.1 dashing yards per sport final season.
Why reprogram him? How about a bit extra “Be You,” to borrow the coach’s motto, reasonably than attempting to be one thing else?
The key for Trubisky is to acknowledge that the way in which he performed towards the Cowboys, or at the least near it, must be his new regular. He had transient eruptions towards the Redskins and at house Lions, solely to backslide into questionable choices and three-and-outs.
“Mitch knows that throughout the season he could have played better,” Nagy stated. “I’ve talked about looking for that identification. We’re trying to find it. We lastly really feel…