Mitchell Trubisky Refuses to Buckle Under to Critics
Mitchell Trubisky isn't interested in what they're saying about him on social media.
The struggling Bears quarterback plans to forge straight ahead against the Los Angeles Chargers (2-5) without losing confidence merely because his name has been dragged through the mud by the "experts."
Trubisky spoke almost tersely at times during his weekly press conference Wednesday while displaying the mood of someone intent on not backing down.
"We've been playing this game a long time and if you just don't think you're good enough to play or you think you have those bad thoughts in your head then it's definitely going to snowball and go bad from there but I think we all know what we're capable of," Trubisky said.
Coach Matt Nagy knew the skeptics would be out in full force after Trubisky completed 34 of 54 for 251 yards, and failed to move the team until the fourth quarter against New Orleans in last Sunday's 35-26 loss.
"All that gets magnified when you lose," Nagy said. "It happens all the time, so I have to temper that part of it with him in particular at that position because there's a lot of expectations and there's a lot of want right now from him and from us."
Trubisky is 103 of 160 for 839 yards with five touchdowns, two interceptions and a passer rating of 82.8.
It's been more than just Trubisky being brutalized in cyberspace and talk radio airwaves. After two straight losses and a 3-3 record, the entire Bears team is coming under fire for not being what they were last year – even though they technically are what they were last year at this time record-wise (3-3).
"A lot of these guys, especially on offense, we’ve gotten to this point in our lives to play in the NFL and be in the position we are in because of our talent, because of our belief in ourselves, because of our positive mind-sets and you just can't let those negative thoughts creep in so you gotta block 'em out, ask for help, talk to your teammates, talk to your coaches, find ways to continue to build confidence within yourself," Trubisky said. "And in your teammates and if you see other guys on your team that look kinda down, pick them up. Because that is what your brothers are for, that’s what your teammates are for."
It's the quarterback who is the key, though, and Nagy said he has experience bolstering or maintaining a passer's confidence despite doubters from his days at Kansas City and Philadelphia. It's more likely to require reasoning and coaching points instead of a Mike Ditka-style rant.
"First of all, you have to be able to accept the fact that we have a city that is completely ready to go the whole way and has really great expectations," Nagy said. "And they want the same thing that we want.
"Once you understand that, then you can get to the next part."
The next part for Trubisky was improving footwork at practice. Nagy said Monday his film review showed incorrect foot movement on throws leading to wildness.
Nagy played the position in college and arena football and found out first hand how poor footwork can be a problem in the passing game.
"I did have happy feet, so I can relate at times," Nagy said. "I used to get made fun of in college for having that, but when you do have happy feet, it can affect your timing and your calmness and where your vision goes."
Trubisky went through a series of footwork drills designed to improve his passes at the outset of individual work in Wednesday's practice.
Trubisky's footwork outside the pocket needs a makeover, as well. He simply hasn't been a threat to run like last year.
This year Trubisky has taken 265 snaps and has five rushes for 21 yards. By the time he had 265 snaps last year, he had 17 rushes for 117 yards.
"I think teams have been doing a good job taking it away," Trubisky said. "I'm trying to be pass-first guy, running when it's open and it hasn't been there – just keep looking for it but doing my job as a passer first."
His decision making in the offense has been slammed in recent days as often as Nagy's play calling, and Trubisky admitted to one very critical mistake Sunday when he took a sack from Cameron Jordan after a bad read on a run-pass option play early while the Bears were moving and still in the game.
"I made a bad decision," Trubisky said. "(Jordan) does do a good job with that but it would have been an easy handoff read. I was doing too much with my eyes and that. I never look at the running back and then try to throw a free access out-route. That was just bad by me."
The other mistakes, he'll keep working to correct. Nagy will keep working with Trubisky to solve it, and it will be done in a civil way.
"The yelling and the screaming with a quarterback usually doesn't work," Nagy said. "You have to pick and choose when those occur. If that happens all the time, you become numb to it and you play tight and all that."
Twitter@BearsOnMaven
