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Like so many others who have spent even a short time in Buffalo this summer, I came out in awe of Mitchell Trubisky. Long poorly broadcast in Chicago, with insufficient incubation and dubious game calls at times, Trubisky ultimately appeared comfortable and relaxed in a backup role for MVP contender Josh Allen.
On Saturday afternoon, off the lake in downtown Chicago, the worlds collided with Allen who put that exhibition deal on hold, with Trubisky chopping off what some believe is a strong Bears defense, while the Chicago brass were deploying what was left of Andy Dalton to lead his attack. Yeah, it was just a lousy preseason game, and of course, the Bears offense could end up looking better when the real games start (I wouldn’t bet on that), but that surely says something about the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills – and their ability to assess and manage quarterback position – that the mobile and efficient Trubisky is playing for a few million dollars this season as the Bears lost another fake QB bidding war (trading for Trubisky, trading for Nick Foles) for the right to trot Dalton there in week 1 with $ 10 million guaranteed in his pocket (and maybe up to $ 13 million as well). And while the dynamic first-round pick, Justin Fields holds up a clipboard (I guess at this point it’s a tablet).
The rich QB, I guess, get richer, while the perpetually needy QB keep looking. In this case, the Bears tie two cleats behind their back, as head coach Matt Nagy – a Vegas odds favorite for coaches in the hot seat – refuses to consider brilliant rookie Justin Fields for the starting gig. . Nagy is married to conventional wisdom and what has long been considered CYA 101 in the coaching fraternity – play the veteran, and if it stinks you can still go to the kid; play the kid too early and you risk losing him, breaking his confidence, and if the vet can replace him, well, start sending resumes.
I understand. I do.
But that doesn’t make things right, nor particularly logical in this case, as the angst over this Dalton-led “attack” only grew as the summer wore on. Good luck selling Bears fans to Team Dalton after seeing him and Chicago’s offense get smothered in the first half while Trubisky defended the milestone after scoring a cool, calm and serene walk . And all of these fans have to realize that it really doesn’t seem to matter, the Bears’ message remains foolproof and Dalton is their guy to start the season unless injured.
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“We have to see it in the regular season,” Nagy proclaimed of Dalton after the disconcerting outing against the Bills (41-15 and it was worse than that).
Hmm. Be careful what you want, coach.
Sure it’s just preseason and all… but the Bills are in Super Bowl or bust mode and don’t take a lot of risks with the roster and it was decidedly one way traffic all afternoon . This “starting” defense of the Bills did not include Tremaine Edmunds or Matt Milano (essentially any true starting linebacker) or Star Lotulelei or Mario Addison (half of the defensive line) or Micah Hyde or Jordan Poyer or Tre’Dvious White ( essentially the whole starting secondary went out), and Dalton and his gang of blockers, runners and wide receivers have always suffered so mightily.
They made the first four downs in the first half, and outside of a 73-yard touchdown it was hard to digest. A series of incredibly short passes at tight ends. A reader graph that read as such in the first half:
Three games … 5 yards gained … Punt
Three games … 9 yards gained … Punt
Three games … 28 yards gained … Fumble
Three games … -5 yards gained … Punt
Dalton throws 25 yards and Rodney Adams takes the next 50 for a touchdown
Six games … 25 yards gained … Turnover on the downs
Four plays … 8 yards gained … Interception
Yeah, it was really that bad.
Meanwhile, Trubisky was shining. The Bills coaching staff met his needs and hid several of his warts. Most of the routes were crossings or had receptors operating in his field of view. They played at an accelerated pace and put it in an early pace. This must have resulted in some uncomfortable exchanges in the owner’s suite, as the Bears’ purported franchise savior actually looked the part against a defense they felt gave them legitimate playoff hope.
The Bills table in the first half? Touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, punt, field goal, field goal. Yeah, 34-6 at halftime. If GM Ryan Pace was hiding in the bathroom all half time to avoid owning ownership, would you blame him? After all the QB shenanigans on his watch?
Trubisky completed 20 of 28 passes in the half with one touchdown, no interceptions and a 106.4 rating. Of course, it was mostly rudimentary stuff (his longest completion was 26 yards) but it was effective, and he continues what has been a very successful summer for him as he aims to stabilize and possibly to revive as a potential starting quarterback in this league again.
Those days, at this point, should probably be over for Dalton. It would take an impeccable cast around him to believe he’s going to win games regularly at this point in his career, and the Bears are lacking on the offensive line and hardly brimming with elite talent. Fields has the athletic prowess, improvisational skills, speed, and arm strength to do something from scratch, which is precisely what’s in order with this group.
Although he missed a bit of training time this week due to a lingering injury, Fields managed to run in the second half. Yes, there are some obvious things he needs to improve on, and it has become a little erratic to play with guys who are susceptible to cut versus guys who are likely to be cut, but he’s racked up 46 yards on four. scampers and everyone who saw him train this summer left openly in awe of what his cap might be.
Not forcing his reps this summer may come at everyone’s expense, given the promise Dalton and Foles are keeping at this point. And if Fields is as good as many think he is, he might end up saving jobs whenever the Bears have time to play him (I don’t see that going well beyond Week 6, honestly).
But, alas, no one even claims that there is some drama going on, even after the stench on Saturday. It’s Dalton’s team, and everyone knows it. Which is why Dalton hit the media last week with a quote that could come back biting soon enough, as he kicks off Year 11, having last been seen as a starting QB. somewhere around the middle of the 2019 season when he benched by the Bengals just before the trade deadline.
“Right now it’s my time,” said now-famous Dalton.
Once again, be careful what you want. Fields Time must arrive as soon as possible. Around October, I think. And it will last longer in Chicago than Trubisky Time, too, if they develop it properly.
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