Whatever name Mitchell Trubisky goes by won’t matter once he steps onto the field. With just one month until the NFL Draft, the Mitch versus Mitchell debate has taken on a life of its own during Trubisky’s quest to prove he can lead a professional franchise.
But at North Carolina’s Pro Timing Day on Tuesday, all the focus was on Trubisky’s arm, as he threw to his former teammates in front of scouts. With all eyes on him, Trubisky was sharp and proved he could make the requisite throws.
“I tried to include all the routes on the route tree in my script and do a couple movement throws on the run and simulate a pocket rush,” Trubisky said. “Hopefully coaches can see I can make all the throws and I'm confident in my ability. I thought we had a good day.”
As head coach Larry Fedora was looking on at his former pupil, he wasn’t concerned with where the throws landed.
“Everybody knows he can throw the football,” Fedora said. “I think more than anything today was watching what he did in between throws and what he did before he was throwing and how he interacts with his teammates. Because those are all the little details and 'it' factors that I think a good quarterback has.”
Trubisky’s arm talent is undeniable, but his lack of experience is a concern for teams looking to invest a first-round pick in him. The most common question Trubisky has been asked during his meetings with teams is why he was unable to beat out former Tar Heel quarterback Marquise Williams, who went undrafted last year.
“I had a different journey,” Trubisky said. “Obviously, me and Marquise competed here and I felt like I won the job and I should've been the quarterback. But it was Coach Fedora's decision and he did what he thought was best for the team. Even though I hated being the backup as a competitor, I embraced my role and I found ways to get better on my own and I continued to push my teammates.”
Although Trubisky has transformed from a backup quarterback to a potential NFL star in just one year, the increased attention hasn't changed his approach: focus on his performance, not the environment.
In addition to Trubisky’s lack of experience, he also needs to prove his football intelligence, which is sometimes a challenge for quarterbacks that ran a simplified offense in college. Although Trubisky is coming from a no-huddle spread offense, Fedora is confident his quarterback will be able to adjust to a pro-style system.
