The Sun-Times’ experts can answer your Bears questions all week on Twitter. Here’s a sampling of Tuesday’s queries sent to @patrickfinley, who responds with more than 140 characters:
In what plausible scenario do you see Trubinsky playing this year.
— Victor Santiago (@dustbrother109) May 16, 2017
The Bears’ strategy to not start Trubisky is just as against-the-grain as the trade up to draft him one month after giving Mike Glennon $18.5 million guaranteed to be the starter.
Some history: Since Carson Palmer made it through his 2003 rookie season without attempting a pass, 11 quarterbacks have been drafted with one of the first two picks in the draft. Four — Carson Wentz, Jameis Winston, Andrew Luck and Sam Bradford — started all 16 games as rookies. Three more — Marcus Mariota, Matthew Stafford and Robert Griffin III — were seasonlong starters who sat only because they got hurt.
Before Jared Goff started seven games in his disaster last year, the last passer picked in the top two to not start Week 1 as a rookie was JaMarcus Russell, the definition of a draft bust.
With opening games against the Falcons, Buccaneers, Steelers and Packers, the Bears could start the season 0-4. If Glennon is ineffective or gets hurt, would a desperate team really turn to Mark Sanchez, who’s started two games in two seasons, over the No. 2 pick? If Trubisky is the better player at practice, the Bears run the risk of alienating the locker room by starting Sanchez. They also would risk a riot at Solider Field.
Why is such criticism for what the Bears gave up for Trubisky? Just look what was traded for Mahomes & Watson, and Goff & Wentz in 16
— Nick (@icknau) May 16, 2017
Apples and oranges. The Texans and Chiefs gave up more than the Bears — namely, their 2018 first-round picks — but they moved up a whopping 13 and 17 spots, respectively. The Eagles moved up six spots and the Rams 14. The Bears moved up one to get the quarterback they believed was the best in the draft.
I know it's early, but looking at #Bears 2017 schedule, it is hard to see more than 3-4 wins. Who do you see them defeating? SF, CLEVE?
— Canuck Boy (@CanuckBoy670AM) May 16, 2017
Vegas set their over/under at 5½ wins. Let’s try to hit the over: if they beat the Vikings, Lions, 49ers and Browns at home, they’d still need two road wins. Can they top the Ravens, Bucs, Saints, Eagles or Bengals? Or the three NFC North teams? It’s early, but that’s a depressing paragraph I just wrote.
Pat, how many TEs will make the 53?
— Kris 🌻 (@KrisArmstrong1) May 16, 2017
Typically, three: Dion Sims, Adam Shaheen and, presuming he’s not a surprise cut, Zach Miller. If the Bears like Daniel Brown in camp, maybe they could stretch it to four.
Who are guys that stood out physically but also mentally by quickly correcting mistakes over the course of practices?
— Chachi (@frankiemeyers) May 16, 2017
I didn’t see Trubisky make the same mistakes Sunday that he did Friday. Speedy fourth-round pick Tarik Cohen is absolutely legit. He was fun to watch.
Will Eddie Jackson be ready for the start of camp? He looks like a much needed playmaker in the secondary. #bears
— B. Young (@BeYoung317) May 16, 2017
The safety should be fine by late July. He was limited at rookie minicamp, though, but described the Bears as merely being cautious after he had a rod inserted into his left leg in October. “I feel like I can do anything,” he said.
Follow me on Twitter @patrickfinley.
Email: pfinley@suntimes.com
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