Chicago Bears: Mitch Trubisky Training Camp Update

The Chicago Bears 2017 draft class is certainly turning heads early in training camp, and it’s their #2 overall pick Mitch Trubisky leading the way.

Everybody knows the score by now. Trubisky is relegated to the 3rd string position by the coaching staff. It’s not because they think he’s inferior. It’s merely done for two reasons. To make it clear that Mike Glennon is the starter and to let the rookie know that if he won’t be handed anything. He’ll have to earn it. This is nothing new for Trubisky. He’s been battling to play his entire football career. It was true in high school and especially in college.

That being said, the North Carolina product certainly hasn’t wasted time standing out. Naturally it’s hard not to with so many eyes on him. He’s the first top five quarterback the Bears have drafted in 35 years. It was a momentous occasion when his name got called. Some weren’t happy, others were ecstatic. In the end everybody reached the same conclusion:  wait and see.

So what have people seen thus far?

Snap exchange issues

Might as well start out with the thing everybody in the Chicago media keep talking about. Trubisky really struggled through his first few practices with the exchange from center. Taking snaps that way is something totally new. He’d never done until getting to the NFL. To date he’s reportedly fumbled four snaps and bobbled a couple others. It’s a problem, but one the Bears don’t seem too worried about. This is a common problem for young quarterbacks these days.

Ball placement

A common theme of past Bears training camps was Jay Cutler and others going through sequences where they’d throw interceptions. It was just a regular thing. Granted, there have been a share of picks thrown already this year, but only one of them by Trubisky. His vaunted accuracy and ball placement keep showing up on every snap. His lone pick came less on a bad decision and more on a great read and play by rookie safety Eddie Jackson. Those kinds of things happen. The fact he’s not doing it consistently, like most with his inexperience would, is encouraging.

Athleticism

Given all the talk about his accuracy, people can sometimes forget that Trubisky is quite the athlete. He ran for 308 yards and five touchdowns his final year of college. Already his ability to not only run for yardage but scramble and throw on the run have stood out. In one sequence he did both during their most recent practice, picking up 10 yards on his own and then buying extra time to hit tight end Ben Braunecker for a 40-yard touchdown. There is so much he can do on the field. All that’s standing in his way is time.