Thread by @rschmitz28

What’s the biggest difference between #Rams Jared Goff and #Bears Mitch Trubisky? One has grown through his weaknesses while the other simply hasn't.

This isn't a thread about Goff.

This isn't about comparison.

This is a thread about @Mtrubisky10's growth. And it's real.

Lets begin with some struggles, shall we?

We'll begin by analyzing how Trubisky's pre-throw play has improved over the year. Here's the setting for this play: 4th and 10, less than 2 min in the game. Trubisky goes down here and the Bears lose. Trubs flops and it's not good.

Fast forward to Week 14 and Trubisky's already exhibiting growth in this area. The Packers get a free rusher from Trubisky's left (almost the same as above) but Trubisky's already sensed it from the snap -- he simply flows right, shakes the tackle, and throws a perfect ball. Wow.

Need another example? No worries, I have plenty.

Early in the year Trubisky looked like he didn't quite have the moxy you see from NFL veterans. While this play is pretty much DOA, Trubisky tries to do too much and takes a sack that pulls the Bears out of FG range. We lose 3pts

Fast forward to Week 17 and we see a subtle beauty. What at first looks like a simple batter-up deep ball involves a sublime ~4ft slide to Trubisky's left that allows him exactly the space he needs to throw. If he doesn't move, this is a sack. This is moxy.

That said, a quarterback is much more than simply their pocket presence so let's move on to his footwork. Much has been made of Mitch's poor footwork over last year and this Week 3 example shows that concern is warranted - Mitch's feet are literally off the ground here. Bad toss.

Compare footwork like that to this throw and it's night and day. While off-balance throws are cool, it's throws from your foundation that will make a quarterback truly great. Trubs hits his drop, plants his back foot, and guns it ball right to @beezobreadedup for a big 1st down.

"But Robert!" I can already hear you saying "Goff's whole problem is that he can't read a defense!" I hear you! Trubisky struggled with this too! Check out this Wk2 play - Trubisky worms his way out of a sack only to throw what should've been an INT. Clearly telegraphed the throw

Now compare that RZ throw to this W17 play - Trubisky starts this play looking for Bellamy before pivoting his whole body (w/ proper footwork) to spot up Burton for a big first down. If you squint, you'll even see Trubs over-set to his left to throw off Barr before throwing. Sexy

But that's not all! Want to see a very McVay-Goff play? Here Nagy seems to have called one of his W1 designed deep balls. Trubisky takes the snap, tries to look off the safety, and throws to a very covered Robinson. He doesn't read the defense and it costs the #Bears a play.

Contrast that with Mitch's execution of this option concept; while a relatively simple play design, this play calls for Mitch to identify the outside CB, ILB, and slot CB all post-snap before throwing to Robinson for the 1st. Mitch does it so quickly that it makes the D look lost

Oh and while we're on the topic of reading defenses, let's not forget Wk10 where Trubisky pulls this out of his hat. This play shows him put it all together -- he escapes the pocket properly, resets his feet well, and drills his FOURTH read over the shoulder. Maybe best all year.

And those weeks where he was "a total liability"? Yes, even in those weeks @Mtrubisky10 was always leaving us clues about what he knew he could do. Watch him turn his back to this play only to quick-spot @TarikCohen for a perfect sideline floater. Gives Cohen room to adjust too.

Even in Wk1 Mitch was making "wow" throws. Here he shows an acute understanding of the zone coverage as he lofts this ball right between two blanketing Packers. @AllenRobinson makes a helluva catch too. Be warned, Robinson's gonna tear up 2019.

All of this serves to paint the picture of a quarterback who, despite learning his second offense in two years, didn't need his coach barking LOS reads into a headset to play well late this season. Trubisky excelled in Weeks 15-17 and, if we're honest, Week 18 too (second half).

We would be remiss if we were to forget that, despite an objectively bad first half, it was Mitch (and the offense) who gave the Bears their chance to beat Philly. When is the last time the Bears had a QB who rose up in the playoffs and put his team in position to kick to win?

All I guess I intend to say in this thread is that the NFL had best be paying attention because I don't think Mitch is done growing. If he was able to make these kinds of changes mid-season, just wait till you see what he can do with 5 long months of study and practice.

Trubisky's destiny is by no means written in stone, but after two seasons I can say one thing for certain: Matt Nagy doesn't have to coach around his quarterback. Trubisky can bear the weight of big moments, and that's something Chicago hasn't seen in a long time.

Shoutout to @WCGridiron for giving me a place to write and talk about the Bears. If you want more Bears stuff, be sure to check out our offseason lineup as we get prepped for what should be a fun 2019 season. Bear Down y'all, and thanks for Bearing With Me.

Oh and one more thing -- if some of these videos seem familiar to you, it's because they are 😅 I wrote a piece for WCG on this very subject but didn't get to keep any of my voiceovers because we use GIFs. With Goff's performance Sunday Night, I figured why not break em' back out

@beezobreadedup Hey man, glad you liked the take! Thanks for sharing and thanks for your play!

Well this sure caught fire! Thank you SO much if you read all the way to the bottom, doing breakdowns like this is something I love to do and plan to continue doing. Y’all are amazing, Bear Down!