Chicago Bears: Can Ryan Pace move on from Mitch Trubisky if necessary?

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace took a big chance on drafting Mitch Trubisky. If it turns out that he isn’t the answer, can he pull the trigger and replace him?

The Chicago Bears have one of their most important offseasons in franchise history. They had a great 2018, going 12-4 and winning the NFC North. The season ended in heartbreak, but the team and its fans had high hopes for 2019.

Going into 2019, some fans had Super Bowl hopes for this team. Once the season started, however, it was clear that any of the magic of 2018 did not carry over to 2019. The team struggled and finished the season with a record of 8-8 and missed the playoffs.

Now the Bears need to play this offseason well so they can have a successful 2020 campaign. Another frustrating season and 2018 will be considered an outlier. In the past seven seasons, the team has only one season with a winning record. They also have four last-place finishes.

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If the Bears have a winning record in 2020, then we at least feel that the Bears are headed in the right direction. If not, then it’s more of the same losing and the result could be heads rolling and another rewind.

One of the most controversial aspects of the team is quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Trubisky has been a lightning rod of emotions for fans and outside analysts. There are hardcore fans supporting him and hardcore fans against him. Most of the outside media are critical of him while some feel the team needs a little more patience and that he’ll come around eventually.

Of course, the person with the most say on what happens with Trubisky is general manager Ryan Pace. He is the one who gave up a lot of draft capital to move up one spot in the 2017 draft from the third pick to the second.

When Pace made that move, he shook the NFL world. Many were shocked that he’d do that for an inexperienced quarterback who started in only one season. Trubisky was Pace’s guy, though, and he felt comfortable with the move.

After three seasons, that move still seems to be a head-scratcher, especially after we’ve seen the success of two other quarterbacks, Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes, drafted after Trubisky.

Many of Trubisky’s supporters loathe having to try to explain away the comparisons. That will never go away, however. The three are linked forever as being the top three quarterbacks in that draft. Also, as long as Trubisky comes up short in comparison to the other two, the criticisms will continue.

• Trubisky:  41 starts, 23-18 record, 63.4 percent completion, 8,554 passing                                                              yards, 48 touchdowns, 29 interceptions, 85.8 passer rating
• Watson: 37 starts, 24-13 record, 66.8 percent completion, 9,716 passing yards,                                                 71 touchdowns, 29 interceptions, 101 passer rating
• Mahomes: 31 starts, 24-7 record, 65.9 percent completion, 9,412 passing yards, 76                                              touchdowns, 18 interceptions, 108.9 passer rating

As you see above, Trubisky doesn’t lead in any category except for starts. That doesn’t help the argument that he hasn’t had the experience the other two have, except for college. He has the most professional experience between the three. Also, let’s not forget that Mahomes also has a regular-season MVP, Super Bowl title and a Super Bowl MVP on his résumé already.

Adam Jahns recently wrote an article asking a simple question on The Athletic (subscription required): Does Pace have it in him to move on from Trubisky? That is an interesting question.

Pace basically put his job on the line for Trubisky. Yes, he recovered many of the picks he gave up, he could have tried to acquire more picks for a team that only had three wins the season before. In fact, he could have traded down and still have Trubisky as his quarterback. He felt Trubisky was his man, though, and he made sure he got him.

Now, with jobs on the line, can Pace face that Trubisky might not be the guy if it comes down to it?

Pace said at the end of the season press conference that Trubisky would be the starter. Everyone points to that and says that it is proof that Pace can’t turn away from Trubisky. I disagree, however.

Remember that the plan in 2017 was for Mike Glennon to be the starter. Trubisky was supposed to sit the season and learn before he got in there to compete for the starting job. That plan lasted all of four games. It was evident that keeping Glennon as the starter would be a colossal failure. Faced with that, and despite feeling Trubisky wasn’t ready yet, in he went.

In his press conference ahead of the NFL Combine, Pace reiterated that Trubisky would be the starter, but this time he added that there would be some competition. He said the Bears would look at free agents and the draft for a quarterback to push Trubisky.

That last part is so important. Trubisky needs to be pushed. I don’t think a draft prospect could do it so I hope Pace picks up a veteran who can truly push Trubisky. We need to see how Trubisky does with pressure on him. Once he became starter there was no one who could push him. Despite his struggles, he knew he’d still be the starter. How will he react now with the feeling that if he doesn’t get it together he could find himself on the bench?

The Chicago Bears had an incredible battle for the kicker’s job before the 2019 season. The thought was that the competition would bring out the players’ best. Why wouldn’t it be the same for Trubisky?