While the Chicago Bears are eliminated from playoff contention, there is still plenty left to play for heading into 2020. Perhaps none more important than the questions surrounding Mitchell Trubisky’s future as the Bears’ starting quarterback.
For Bears coach Matt Nagy, he’ll be focused on one specific element of Trubisky’s play in these final two games.
“The biggest thing with me at the quarterback position is real simple—it comes down to decision-making,” Nagy said. “A lot of guys have talent. But I think the one [thing] that separates people is through decision-making.
“So, the next couple games, just keeping an eye on how his decision-making continues to grow, puts us in good spots. And then if there’s a play that’s not perfect, how do we keep it from being a bad play? He’s been growing with that, and I think that’s the key these next two games.”
Trubisky’s early-season struggles have been highlighted this year, and his decision-making has been part of that. But he’s string together solid performances over these last six games. Trubisky accounted for five touchdowns in his first seven games. Since then, he’s produced 14 TDs (12 passing, two rushing) in this last six games.
“The first half of the season, it wasn’t that there was bad decision-making throughout,” Nagy said. “There was a lot of things that went into the struggles with the offense. But there were some times that Mitch would tell you and that I would tell you that all collectively together that there might be a play that he wishes he had back.
“Some of it is don’t make a bad play worse, or just don’t force this throw or that throw, or sometimes it’s on a run play. It might be a certain kill package that we have when you’re not supposed to kill it. But he’s been doing a really good job at limiting that. It’s hard to be perfect.
“There’s a lot of decisions, a lot of things that go into playing quarterback. Calling plays, getting in and out of the huddle, seeing what the defense is in. The easiest part of playing quarterback is actually making the throw. There’s a lot of stuff that goes before that. So that’s what we’re trying to continue to see him grow in.”
Trubisky has two more games this season to make positive progress heading into a crucial 2020 season. With his future in question, he still has plenty to prove.
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