After throwing for 3,223 yards with 24 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a passer rating of 95.4 in 2018, Trubisky passed for 3,138 yards with 17 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a 83.0 rating in 2019.
During last year’s end-of-season press conference, coach Matt Nagy revealed that Trubisky’s number one priority out of season would be to become “a master at understanding coverage.” Without work on the field during the offseason show, Trubisky obviously couldn’t show that aspect of his game. But his progress in that area will undoubtedly be an important focus in training camp practices.
The Bears traded a fourth-round draft compensatory pick to the Jaguars to acquire Foles, whom they saw as a perfect fit given their familiarity with offense and multiple coaches. Nagy worked with Foles as a quality offensive coach with the Eagles in 2012 and the Chiefs ‘offensive coordinator in 2016. When the Bears’ new offensive coordinator, Bill Lazor, was their position coach with the Eagles in 2013, Foles went 27 touchdowns and two interceptions. And when new Bears quarterback coach John DeFilippo played the same role in Philadelphia in 2017, Foles replaced an injured Carson Wentz and led the franchise to its first Super Bowl championship.
With no offseason work at Halas Hall, Foles has yet to meet many of his new Bears teammates face to face. It will be important at ninth year pro training camp to quickly build rapport with your offensive linemen and build time and trust with your receivers, all while demonstrating a firm understanding of the playbook. While Foles has operated similar systems in Philadelphia and Kansas City, there are nuances with each offense, and the one Nagy executes with the Bears is no different.
David Montgomery, running back
After a productive rookie year in which he ran for 889 yards and six touchdowns and caught 25 passes for 185 yards and one touchdown, the Bears have high expectations for Montgomery as he enters his second season in the NFL.
In June, running coach Charles London expressed confidence that Montgomery will increase production in 2020 if he works on “just trust the play, trust the process, trust the blocking scheme.”
“He is a very talented runner,” said London. “He has great vision. He has great speed. He just trusts the game. Sometimes last year, he didn’t trust the game as much, but that’s part of being a rookie runner. That’s part of a fit of playing football. college and jump into the NFL. I know that’s an area where you want to improve a lot.
“And I think the next step where he wants to take a big leap is in the passing game. He did a lot of that in college. He has very good hands, and I know he’s eager to go out there and show that he can do it in the aerial play. “
The Bears also have high hopes for Miller, who is looking to bounce back in training camp where he left off late last season when he caught 33 passes for 431 yards and two touchdowns over a span of five games. The stretch included a pair of nine-catch games with 140 yards against the Lions and 118 yards and a touchdown against the Packers.
Bears receivers coach Mike Furrey said Miller’s appearance late in the season had a lot to do with his growth, maturity and professionalism, all at the same time. “In the middle of the season,” Furrey said, “I think Anthony really started to have an idea, to have an idea and to understand what it takes, not just how to get on the four-inch line and go play soccer. But I think it was really how to start developing as a professional through a process that leads to a game. He started doing that and started seeing the results of that. “
Miller underwent shoulder surgery for the second consecutive offseason. But he is expected to recover and emerge as a key offensive player in 2020.
After signing veteran free agent Jimmy Graham, the Bears further reinforced a position of need by spending their first pick in the Kmet draft in the second round. His progress on training ground will be closely monitored, especially after the Bears were unable to conduct any OTA or minicamp practice.
Kmet proved to be a quick study during the offseason virtual show, with Nagy excited about the fitness of rookie tight end. “He will know this playbook from the inside out,” Nagy said. “That won’t be the problem. What he will have to grow up with is understanding the defenses in the NFL, understanding how strong a defensive winger he will have to block as a nine-technique, or a seven-I.” technique in an explosive game towards the outside. It’s different, how is the speed, when the ball falls on you, when the coverage changes. And he will because he has the ‘desire’. “
Kmet’s advances as a pass catcher and blocker will likely be among the best stories in training camp, as the Bears seek to convert a major position on Nagy’s offense from a weakness in 2019 to a strength in 2020.
