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Chicago Bears: A QB Option Nobody Is Talking About

By Erik Lambert

Nov 21, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Mike Bercovici (2) prepares to pass during the second quarter of the territorial cup against the Arizona Wildcats at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Mike Bercovici (2) prepares to pass during the second quarter of the territorial cup against the Arizona Wildcats at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Now this is a name that hasn’t even registered on a lot of radars when it comes to the quarterbacks.  Why?  For the most part it’s because Mike Bercovici is only 6’0″.  Everybody knows how NFL teams feel about shorter quarterbacks.  Often the only way they are able to defy the odds and succeed at the pro level is if they have an arm.  That is to say they can really throw the football with velocity.

It just so happens that Bercovici can do just that.

His final season at Arizona State, the quarterback lit up the competition for 3,854 yards and 30 touchdowns.  That isn’t the limit of his game though.  Bercovici is a competitor.  Some of the best games he played in 2015 were against the best opponents.  He threw five touchdowns against Oregon and four more when he faced off with Jared Goff and Cal.  This doesn’t even count the 510 yards and five touchdowns against USC the previous year.  He doesn’t back down from anything it takes to win, including taking off and running with the football.

So by all accounts, aside from the size concerns the Arizona State quarterback has the capacity to challenge for an NFL job from production, to athleticism to arm strength and ability to lead in the huddle.  This should be of particular interest to Bears fans because for one their team is on the lookout for help at the position.  Initial belief is they will be looking for an option in the middle rounds, right where Bercovici is projected to go at present.

What makes this so intriguing for Chicago is that they have a GM in Ryan Pace who has seen short quarterbacks in action before.  During his many years in New Orleans he had a front row seat to watch Drew Brees, who is also just 6’0″, build his Hall of Fame career with the Saints.  Pace should know better than anybody that if the quarterback is smart, competitive and has the arm then his size shouldn’t matter.

Like Brees and like another short quarterback named Steve Young, it’s clear that Bercovici has talent but he’s not ready.  He needs time to learn what it takes to become a true pro passer.  If the Chicago Bears gave him that opportunity, they might be pleasantly surprised by the results.

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