Philadelphia Eagles scouting reports: Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky

It doesn’t appear that the Chicago Bears trust Mitchell Trubisky. It seems like the fans have given up on him, but should the Philadelphia Eagles be worried?

If this was a pitching duel, the baseball equivalent would be throwing one team’s ace out onto the field to face another team’s middle relief. NFL quarterback duels aren’t always perceived the same way, but they are discussed. On Sunday at Lincoln Finacial Field, the Chicago Bears visit the hometown Philadelphia Eagles, and that quarterback duel looks like this. A former MVP candidate in Carson Wentz mans one offense while a man fighting to save his job, Mitch Trubisky, mans the other.

On paper, it seems like this should be a game the Eagles should be able to do enough in to win.

Unfortunately, NFL football isn’t played on paper. It’s played on grass or on field turf, and the Eagles have been favored to win at home versus the Bears before. Does anyone remember an Andy Reid-led team losing at home to Jay Cutler of all people?

Fortunately, that was ages ago, and since then, the Eagles are 4-0 versus Chicago, including a 16-15 win in the divisional round of the NFC Playoffs this past January. No, Cutler wasn’t great, but ladies and gentlemen, Trubisky isn’t even Jay Cutler. Recently, the stat gurus over at Pro Football Focus offered a searing take on Trubisky’s skill set as a signal-caller.

Clip courtesy of Pro Football Focus’ YouTube channel

Here’s some of what was said about Trubisky by Lance Zierlein in his 2017 draft profile, when he came out of the North Carolina Tar Heels football program and the Bears traded up in the first round to get him.

Here are a few of his strengths.

"Adequate height with good muscular definition.  Built to withstand physical challenges of the position… Has all the arm you need… Ball comes humming out of his hand when he needs to spike his velocity…"

Here are a few weaknesses. Now, pay attention.

"Almost 98 percent of his dropbacks came from shotgun. Will have to learn NFL footwork from under center which could take time. Benefits from offense loaded with RPOs (run-pass option) that pull linebackers forward and open easier throwing windows. Played in space-based passing attack that didn’t often ask him to throw to tight windows in traffic… Inconsistent deep ball touch. Has touchdown opportunities he babies and invites defenders time to recover. Not always pocket aware. Hyper-focuses on shifting parts down the field and can be late to feel pressure collapsing the edges."

It doesn’t sound like that guy is really different from the one we know now. Trubisky has nine games to turn things around. His time in Chicago may be coming to an end, but he at least can audition for another team. Let’s hope a struggling Eagles secondary isn’t the cure for all that ails him. Stranger things have happened, and the Eagles would be wise not to look past the possibility of the Bears offense challenging them.