“Tru Truu“ – that was the sound of the Mitchell Trubisky hype train as it left Soldier Field Thursday night and every Bears fan should look to purchase a ticket for the next ride.
The first ride started as the second quarter came to an end.
With 1:55 left before halftime Trubisky entered the game against the Broncos down 10-0. In a well-executed two-minute drill, Trubisky led his offense on a 50-yard touchdown drive to close the quarter. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft exhibited poise in the pocket, his eye-popping accuracy and the ability to throw on the run. All attributes of his game that he has showcased thus far in training camp.
But before Trubisky took command of the offense, Bears fan witnessed starting quarterback Mike Glennon and the first-string offense lay an absolute goose egg in their limited play. Glennon’s first “completed pass” was a pick-6 (thrown into triple coverage to tight end Zach Miller), and it didn’t get much better from there.
Glennon ended his Bears’ debut with 20 passing yards and a passer rating of 0.0. Trubisky, on the other hand, ended his night with 166 passing yards and a passer rating of 103.1.
Trubisky excelled on play action passes, throwing the ball with incredible velocity and delivering the ball right between his receivers’ numbers. When the pocket collapsed, he stepped up, avoided the pass rush and ran if he didn’t see anything open downfield.
In training camp, there was no secret that Trubisky (who predominately was in the shotgun at North Carolina) had struggled to handle the snap under center. On Thursday night, there was no sign of discomfort with Trubisky and his centers.
Even though it was Trubisky’s first time against an opposing NFL defense and suiting up in front of the Chicago home crowd – the moment didn’t seem too big for the quarterback, who had only 13 starts in college.
Now, it’s only preseason and Trubisky was going against third stringers – who will likely be looking for employment once the regular season begins, but fans should embrace Trubisky’s outstanding performance.
Just last season, Bears fans saw their team lose 13 games and post the worst record in franchise history. The losses could have been a result of the 19 players being placed on injured reserve and four different quarterbacks taking a snap under center.
Needless to say, there hasn’t been much to be excited about.
But now after the first team offense exists the field for the three remaining preseason games, fans will be waiting in anticipation for Trubisky. There hasn’t been a time where the third and fourth quarters of preseason football have been must-watch-TV, until now.
There is no telling how much of Trubisky we will see this season, especially with general manager Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox reiterating constantly that this is Glennon’s team.
So, don’t be afraid to take a ride on the Trubisky hype train. Instead, welcome it, knowing that the future of the franchise is on the tracks, waiting for his opportunity to take off.
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