Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky was especially candid and introspective during his weekly media session Thursday at Halas Hall.
The 2017 first-round draft pick discussed some positives to build on from Sunday night's loss to the Packers, improving his pocket presence and how he'll approach his next two-minute drill with a different mindset.
Trubisky completed 8 of 9 passes for 99 yards to five different receivers on the Bears' first two possessions, which resulted in a touchdown and a field goal—and a 10-0 lead. But he threw for only 72 yards the rest of the game as the offense failed to pick up a first down on five of its final eight drives.
After Trubisky capped the Bears' first possession with a 2-yard touchdown run, the offense settled for field goals on all three of its red-zone trips.
"We were moving the ball up and down the field; [we've] just got to be better in the red zone," Trubisky said. "I thought I did a good job of managing the game and taking care of the football, giving us a chance. Just a couple plays here and there where, if you capitalize on them, it can definitely change the game. That's where I'm trying to get to."
Trubisky showed his athleticism by rushing for 32 yards on seven carries. But coach Matt Nagy said Monday that he felt the second-year pro also pulled the ball down to run too early at times.
"I think, one, it comes from me wanting to take care of the football, and then two, not taking sacks," Trubisky said. "Yes, it helps our offense in some areas, but it can also get me into trouble when I don't need to [run]. I've got to find a kind of happy medium. In practice, it's going to be pocket movement, moving around defenders in the pocket and continuing to keep my eyes downfield so you can find receivers.
"I'm going to continue to use my natural ability, keep plays alive, because there could be a lot more big plays from a scramble as well. But I'm trying to stay in the pocket and become a lot better passer in the pocket and continue to move around—very subtle movements with calm feet to find receivers. That would be something I'll be working on in my career, but definitely more emphasis this week."
Even after the Bears saw their 20-0 third-quarter lead turn into a 24-23 deficit, they still had a late opportunity to win the game. They took over at their own 18 with 2:08 to play and two timeouts remaining. But they never crossed the 50, even after a roughing-the-passer penalty on Clay Matthews on a fourth-down incompletion gave them new life and a first down at their own 46.
Needing only a field goal to retake the lead, Trubisky misfired on three deep passes on the final drive, two intended for Allen Robinson II and one to Taylor Gabriel.
"I wish I would have had a little bit different mindset going into that," Trubisky said. "I was thinking, 'Try to make a big play, like win the game right there.' It should have been for me personally just stack completions, get one more completion, one more first down.
"Like we saw from the [Packers], you just dink it down underneath and a missed tackle can turn into a big play. I should have had more of a completion mindset instead of trying to do too much. And that comes from me. I've just got to stay within myself, stay within the offense, fire completions and move in the two-minute drill.
"I don't think you ever will get that exact situation in practice with the noise, the stage and all that. So it was a great learning experience for me and I'm definitely going to take it with me. I'm itching for the next two-minute drill in practice and in the next game, whenever, to prove myself and get the opportunity again.
"I definitely have a new mindset: Just take care of the football, but just move the ball down the field because we had plenty of time. It was a good learning experience overall. I did some good things but definitely want to capitalize on more opportunities."
