It’s one thing for a coach to be described as player-friendly. It’s another thing entirely for a coach to take the blame for a player’s lack of production, especially when that player is fresh off of signing a five-year, $70 million contract.
The Bears signed outside linebacker Robert Quinn to add a much-needed pass-rushing complement to Khalil Mack, but through nine games this season, he’s registered just one sack. In 2019 with the Cowboys, Quinn totaled 11.5 sacks.
Maybe last season was an anomaly for Quinn, who hadn’t reached double-digit sacks in any year since 2014 before breaking out in Dallas. Or maybe it goes deeper than that, which outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino suggested might be the case.
Monachino took the blame for Quinn’s lagging sack totals when he spoke with reporters Wednesday.
“Had a lot of opportunities to make some plays, [but] he hasn’t been able to finish,” Monachino said. “That’s on me. It’s my responsibility to get him enough opportunities that he can close out and finish some of those plays. . . . He will continue to work and hopefully get some opportunities where he can close some plays out.”
Quinn probably appreciated his coach throwing himself under the bus, but let’s be real here: Quinn needs to bring more to the Bears’ defense than he has through nine games. An argument can be made that he’s actually been worse than Leonard Floyd, the player he replaced.
Floyd has four sacks through eight games with the Rams this year.
The Bears welcome the Vikings to Soldier Field in Week 10’s Monday night matchup. It’ll be an opportunity for Quinn to silence his critics in front of a national audience. Otherwise, his excuses (and the coaches making them for him) will soon run out.