Tag: Bears pass rush

Here’s how often you should expect to see Robert Quinn on the field every game

Bears OLB coach Ted Monachino says Robert Quinn’s reps this season are based on production and health, not just the playing time.

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The Chicago Bears shelled out a ton of money — $70 million over five years, to be exact — to add some more talent to their pass rush in veteran Robert Quinn, who was coming off a 10.5-sack season with the Dallas Cowboys.

The combination of Quinn and Khalil Mack was enough to make many Bears fans drool. And yet, it feels like we haven’t seen the full extent of what this duo could do together on the field. Mostly because Quinn’s snap counts have hovered around 50% through these first five weeks.

Quinn was dealing with an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for the season opener, but he made his debut against the New York Giants the following week, where he recorded a strip-sack on his first play as a Bear.

Since then, Quinn’s snap count has slowly increased from 38% in Week 2 to 58% in Week 5. And according to outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino, that’s about the full extent that we’re going to see Quinn on the field.

“We know where he plays best,” said Monachino. “So we are going to try to keep his numbers around that number [58 percent]. It’s somewhere just north of half the snaps. That’s where we are trying to keep him.”

The immediate reaction is why did they shell out a ton of money for a player they’re not going to use more than 60% of the time? But Monachino says that it’s about production, not just the playing time. Also making sure Quinn stays healthy throughout the course of the season.

“We are keeping very close track of his rep count and trying to keep him as fresh as we can,” said Monachino, “so if we do run into two-minute situations at the end of a game, he and Khalil [Mack] are as fresh as possible.”

 

 

Khalil Mack dubbed best edge rusher by group of NFL execs, coaches, players

Khalil Mack’s impact on Chicago’s defense in just two years has been instrumental in their success.

When Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace traded for stud Khalil Mack, he brought one of the game’s best pass rushers to what was already a top-10 defense.

Mack’s impact on Chicago’s defense in just two years has been instrumental in their success. He requires extra attention for teams preparing to face the Bears, and that extra attention allows his teammates more one-on-one opportunities, which has made him worth the investment. And those in the league seem to agree.

Mack has been dubbed the best edge rusher in the NFL, according to a group of NFL executives, coaches and players via ESPN. Mack, who received a top-three vote from nearly every voter, beat out Arizona’s Chandler Jones for the top spot.

Mack’s 8.5 sacks and 19.6% pass-rush win rate don’t begin to demonstrate his capacity for disruption.

“He can get home in every way — he can go through you or around you,” said one NFL defensive coordinator.

Added a defensive assistant coach: “Your game plan doesn’t matter with him.”

Chicago’s defense last season paled in comparison to the 2018 edition, which coaches say affected Mack’s bottom line. The Bears bet on Leonard Floyd winning on the other side and he failed, resulting in more attention sent Mack’s way. New addition Robert Quinn can anchor one side to help Mack, who still posted an 86.2 Pro Football Focus grade.

“He doesn’t get past the quarterback very often because he bends so well, has speed-to-power and finishes at the level of the quarterback,” a veteran defensive coach said. “And he’s relentless.”

While Mack is coming off a down year, where he had a career-low 47 tackles and his 8.5 sacks and 14 quarterback hits were his lowest since his rookie season.

But Mack’s contributions have always been so much more than just the boxscore. He saw double and triple teams on the regular, and it didn’t help that Akiem Hicks was out for most of the season and Leonard Floyd struggled to sack the quarterback.

The addition of former All-Pro pass rusher Robert Quinn and return of injured defensive tackle Akiem Hicks will certainly help Mack in 2020.

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NFL analyst says Bears OLB Khalil Mack isn’t elite, which is absurd

There’s no doubt that Khalil Mack saw a dip in production in 2019, but that doesn’t make him any less of an impact player for the Bears.

There’s no one more disappointed in Khalil Mack’s performance last season than Khalil Mack. But you have to figure with Mack’s determination, and the constant chattering of NFL analysts underrating his impact, that Mack is due for a big season.

While CBS Sports recently ranked Mack the ninth-best edge rusher in the game — which felt way too low — NFL.com analyst Adam Schein is the latest to pile it on Mack.

Schein compiled a list of the players under the most pressure in 2020, which included Mack at No. 2. And while there’s no doubt that Mack saw a dip in production in 2019, it was surprising to hear Schein allude to the fact that he doesn’t consider Mack an elite player anymore.

When Chicago traded for Mack just before the start of the 2018 season, I thought it was one of the biggest steals in memory. And Mack burst on the scene in his Bears debut, with a strip-sack and pick-six in his first half of play. Although he would miss two games that season due to an ankle injury, Mack still finished with 12.5 sacks, 18 quarterback hits and six forced fumbles, earning his third first-team All-Pro designation.

But at the risk of sounding hyperbolic, did Mack make an impactful play last year? OK, five forced fumbles is a nice figure, but 8.5 sacks just doesn’t cut it. Honestly, I’m not really sure how he made a fifth consecutive Pro Bowl.

Two seasons into Mack’s Chicago tenure, the Bears have yet to win a playoff game. Obviously, this franchise’s most glaring issue is the quarterback position. But Mack is supposed to be a top-five defensive player. That’s why the Bears traded away a pair of first-rounders — and consequently handed out a record-setting extension — for his services. Last year, he was most definitely not elite.

It’s more than fair to criticize Mack’s performance in 2019 — he had a career-low 47 tackles and his 8.5 sacks and 14 quarterback hits were his lowest since his rookie season.

But Mack’s contributions have always been so much more than just the boxscore. He saw double and triple teams on the regular, and it didn’t help that Akiem Hicks was out for most of the season and Leonard Floyd struggled sacking the quarterback.

Although Mack appears poised for a bounce-back season in 2020, especially with the return of Hicks and the free-agent acquisition of edge rusher Robert Quinn, who is someone that can take advantage of those one-on-one opportunities that Floyd couldn’t. Not only will defenses have to account for Mack coming off the edge, now they’ll have to worry about Quinn, which should only benefit Mack.

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NFL.com predicts Khalil Mack will be Bears’ MVP in 2020

NFL.com believes Khalil Mack will be the Bears’ MVP in 2020. Which, if the case, would only mean great things for Chicago.

Following a disappointing 2019 season, the Chicago Bears are looking to prove that last year was a fluke and make a return to the postseason. But in order to do that, they’re going to need some leaders to step it up.

NFL.com’s Dan Hanzus predicted every team’s MVP for the 2020 season, and it’s no surprise that they chose Khalil Mack for the Bears. Which, if the case, would only mean great things for Chicago in 2020.

Mack is coming off a disappointing season, where he had a career-low 47 tackles and his 8.5 sacks and 14 quarterback hits were his lowest since his rookie season.

But, as is the case with Mack, the box score doesn’t tell the whole story. And given the absence of Akiem Hicks due to injury and an ineffective Leonard Floyd, Mack saw an increased focus on him.

Still, Mack is judged by his ability to disrupt an opposing offense and get after the quarterback. Which is exactly what NFL.com sees him doing more of in 2020.

Mack got a little too much heat for his “down” season in 2019. He still finished with 8.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and 30 quarterback hurries, just two behind some guy named Aaron Donald. Still, it’s fair to say Mack wasn’t dominant like he was during the healthy portion of his first season in Chicago. He’ll have to regain that game-wrecking ability to lift the Bears out of also-ran status in the NFC.

Thankfully, he’ll have more help. The addition of pass rusher Robert Quinn should give Mack a break from some of some of the double- and triple-teams he fought through in 2019. The return of defensive lineman Akiem Hicks from injury is another lift. Mack, 29, is squarely in his prime and fully capable of nabbing a second Defensive Player of the Year award.

The Bears are doing their part to help Mack. They strengthened their pass rush with the free-agent acquisition of Robert Quinn, who had 11.5 sacks with the Dallas Cowboys last season.

Quinn’s presence opposite Mack figures to be exactly the catalyst Chicago needs. While Floyd wasn’t able to take advantage of the one-on-one opportunities that come with Mack being on the opposite side, the Bears are banking Quinn to do just that.

And given Quinn’s penchant for getting after the quarterback, Mack figures to be a beneficiary of that.

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Khalil Mack has something to prove, which should worry the rest of the NFL

The last thing that opposing quarterbacks want to see is an angry, more motivated Khalil Mack. But that’s what they’re going to get.

The last thing that opposing quarterbacks want to see is an angry, more motivated Khalil Mack. But that’s exactly what they’re going to get this season as Mack has something to prove in 2020.

Mack has already made it clear that he wasn’t happy with his performance last season, and he’s approached this offseason with plenty to prove. Which is good for the Bears, but not-so-good for Chicago’s opponents.

“Motivation is not an issue with Khalil; never has been,” Bears outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino said, via the Chicago Sun-Times. “But what I’ll tell you is that he has approached this offseason with something to prove — and that’s something that I think we all can be encouraged by.

“I think that that’s something that’s exciting, when a player of his caliber approaches his work the way he has approached it.”

This offseason has been different from others amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has restricted on-field offseason programs at Halas Hall. Still, Mack has continued to prepare for when the Bears next take the field at training camp.

“He’s training like I have never seen anybody train before,” Monachino said .

The 2019 season was a disappointment all around for the Bears, who finished 8-8 after many had them pegged for a return to the postseason before the season started. Even their star player struggled. In 2019, Mack had a career-low 47 tackles and his 8.5 sacks and 14 quarterback hits were his lowest since his rookie season.

When it comes to Mack’s impact on the field, the box score doesn’t tell the whole story. But, ultimately, it’s Mack’s job to get after the quarterback. And he didn’t do that as often as he’s done in the past.

“I just think that this is a special guy that has something to prove and has approached the last several months with a chip on his shoulder,” Monachino said. “And I think that’s good for everybody.”

Mack will certainly be helped by the return of defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, who’s an invaluable part of Chicago’s pass rush, as well as the free-agent acquisition of edge rusher Robert Quinn, who is coming off a 11.5 sack season with the Dallas Cowboys last season.

And following a disappointing season, you know Mack is going to come out angry and determined to wreak havoc on the opposition.

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PFF dubs Khalil Mack the 18th best player entering 2020

Pro Football Focus ranked Khalil Mack as the 18th best player entering 2020, based on their grades for the Bears linebacker last season.

Following a disappointing 2019 season, there aren’t many that believe that the Chicago Bears will be a force to be reckoned with in 2020. But if there’s reason for hope for Chicago, it’s their top-five defense that returns key cornerstone players, including one of the game’s best pass rushers.

Pro Football Focus ranked outside linebacker Khalil Mack as the 18th best player entering 2020, based on their grades for the Bears linebacker last season. Typically Mack is a staple in the top 10, but his statistical drop-off resulted in a lower ranking.

Once a consistent member in the top 10, Khalil Mack endured a little bit of a down season in 2019. The fact that a down-year for him still sees him post 70 total pressures and earn an overall PFF grade of 86.2 speaks to just how dominant a force he is. Mack has now topped 70 pressures every season since his rookie year (54), and he’s a dominant run defender as well as a pass-rusher. If he bounces back in 2020 to the player he was before this past season, he will be right back in the top 10.

Following a magical 2018 season, the Bears defense suffered expected regression. Still, they were one of the best defenses in the NFL. Overall, the Bears pass rush declined, which was in part to defensive tackle Akiem Hicks landing on injured reserve following Week 5.

The Bears strengthened their pass rush with the addition of Robert Quinn, who replaces Leonard Floyd as Mack’s partner-in-crime off the edge. Quinn had 11.5 sacks with the Dallas Cowboys last season, and that was without Mack opposite him.

Chicago is expecting big things from their pass-rush duo of Mack and Quinn. While Quinn should benefit from Mack being double or triple teamed, Quinn’s potential success should open up Mack, as well.

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Bears OLB Robert Quinn among top 3 greatest disruptors of 2019

The name of the game in being a pass rusher is getting after the quarterback, something that new Bears EDGE Robert Quinn did well in 2019.

The Chicago Bears strengthened their pass rush with the addition of former All-Pro Robert Quinn in free agency. Chicago parted ways with former first-round pick Leonard Floyd this offseason, as they couldn’t justify paying him $13.2 million for his declining performance.

Instead, the Bears turned to a former All-Pro pass rusher for his services. Quinn’s performance in Dallas last season was impressive — he had 11.5 sacks — which translated to a big pay day from the Bears in free agency.

The name of the game in being a pass rusher is getting after the quarterback, something that Floyd struggled with. Quinn, however, ranked among NFL.com’s top-five greatest disruptors of 2019, where he landed at No. 3.

Disruption rate: 17.2% Sack rate: 3.3% Total disruptions: 60 Sacks: 11.5

Robert Quinn was well worth the price Dallas paid to acquire him last offseason, even if it was only as a one-year rental, and he’s set to make the money he deserves after signing a five-year deal with the Chicago Bears in March. Quinn enjoyed great success with the Cowboys while operating opposite DeMarcus Lawrence, pressuring the QB on 14 percent of pass rushes, the third-best rate in the NFL (minimum 250 pass rushes) in 2019.

His ability to bend while maintaining speed and power around the edge can be a nightmare for opposing tackles, and he’ll likely enjoy similar success as part of another excellent tandem in Chicago in 2020. Quinn registered 49 QB pressures in 2019, which is the same number his new Bears teammate Khalil Mack posted, but Quinn did it on 116 fewer pass rushes. Watch out for that duo.

The Bears are hoping for big things from their pass rush with Khalil Mack and Quinn. When you consider what Quinn was able to accomplish on Dallas’ defense, pairing him with Mack, where he should see more one-on-one opportunities, figures to be a recipe for success.

While Chicago’s defense regressed in 2019, they remained a top-five unit despite a myriad of factors, including injuries to defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and linebackers Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith.

The belief is that with the returning cast of characters, and new additions like Quinn, the Bears defense will be a top unit in 2020.

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Which lone Bear ranked among Pete Prisco’s Top 100 Players of 2020?

Bears OLB Khalil Mack saw a dip in production in 2019. But Mack’s impact can’t be summed up by the boxscore alone.

Just one year removed from a 12-4 season that included a NFC North title, the Chicago Bears stumbled to a 8-8 record and third-place finish in the division in 2019.

While the offense garners most of the blame for Chicago’s shortcomings, the defense also suffered some regression following an absolutely magical 2018 season, that included 36 takeaways.

The Bears defense certainly regressed, which was to be expected, but they still managed to finish as a top-five unit in 2019. That with suffering injuries to key starters defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and linebackers Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith.

Outside linebacker Khalil Mack even suffered a dip in production, statistically, where he had just 8.5 sacks in 2019. But, as is often true, Mack’s impact can’t be summed up by the boxscore alone.

Which explains why Mack cracked the top 10 of Pete Prisco’s Top 100 Players of 2020, clocking in at No. 9. He was the lone Bear that made the list.  Last year, four Bears made the list, including Mack, Hicks, safety Eddie Jackson and cornerback Kyle Fuller.

For the first time since his rookie season of 2014, he didn’t get double-digit sacks last season. He had 8.5, but he was still a force off the edge for the Bears. By his standards, his season was subpar. By the rest of the league’s standards, he’s still a force who has to be accounted for by an offense.

The Bears strengthened their pass rush this offseason with the free-agent acquisition of Robert Quinn, who replaces Leonard Floyd opposite Mack. Last season, Floyd managed a career-low three sacks, and the Bears couldn’t justify awarding him with $13.2 million for that kind of production.

Instead, they brought in a powerhouse off the edge in Quinn, who had 11.5 sacks a season ago with the Dallas Cowboys. Pairing Quinn with Mack immediately upgrades the pass rush this season, and it’ll be exciting to see what these two can accomplish together, especially considering Hicks is returning from injury to bring additional pressure up the middle.

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Gil Brandt: Khalil Mack is a lock to play better in 2020

Khalil Mack had a dip in production in 2019, and NFL.com’s Gil Brandt believes Mack will definitely bounce back in 2020.

While the Chicago Bears defense was a top-five unit in 2019, there were a few areas where they regressed following a dominant 2018. Pass rush was one of them, where the Bears managed 32 sacks compared to 50 in 2018.

Khalil Mack was among those that regressed statistically in 2019. He had just 8.5 sacks compared to 12.5 the year prior. There were a number of factors that contributed to Mack’s dip in production, including Akiem Hicks landing on injured reserve following Week 5 and the fact that Leonard Floyd couldn’t take advantage of those one-on-one opportunities certainly hurt.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace upgraded the pass rush this offseason with the addition of former All-Pro Robert Quinn, who had 11.5 sacks with the Dallas Cowboys last season. The addition of Quinn should certainly help Mack, as teams will have to contend with pressure coming from the edge and up the middle with Hicks.

NFL.com’s Gil Brandt believes that Mack is a lock to bounce back in 2020, especially with Quinn lining up opposite him.

2019 stats: 16 games, 8.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 4 passes defensed.

I think Mack will make good on his personal vow to play much better in 2020. He’ll have more familiarity with Chuck Pagano’s scheme in Year 2 under the defensive coordinator, while free-agent addition Robert Quinn will provide an upgrade over Leonard Floyd, who was released this year after failing to live up to his first-round promise. Hopefully, Mack can lead a roster-wide renaissance in what is shaping up to be a make-or-break season for coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace.

Mack’s impact on the Bears in two seasons has been invaluable. He’s been worth the $141 million and two first-round draft picks, and you have to expect that Mack is itching to get back on the field and get back to his dominating self.

If the Bears are going to have any hope of making a return to the postseason, they’re going to need to lean on their defense for support. Mack and Chicago’s pass rush will be instrumental in that effort.

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Bears rookie Trevis Gipson will benefit from learning from best in Khalil Mack

The Bears are hoping Trevis Gipson develops into a future starter. And learning from one of the best in Khalil Mack certainly doesn’t hurt.

Despite not being able to get to know his new teammates at the Chicago Bears’ facility, rookie pass rusher Trevis Gipson is busy trying to take everything in and get to know his new teammates through this virtual offseason.

One of the guys he’ll get to know well is edge rusher Khalil Mack, who has already reached out to the Bears’ fifth-round pick and let him know he’s there to help him.

“[I’m] being a sponge,” Gipson said, via ChicagoBears.com. “Taking in the right stuff from the right people that have already been a part of the league and just making sure their mistakes that they made I try to avoid those myself.

“It’s really just being open to the new environment, getting to know the people that you’re going to be around. [Veteran outside linebacker] Khalil Mack hit me up; asked me if I needed anything, that he was there for me. [I’m] getting a feel for everybody and being all eyes open.”

Gipson will get to learn from some of the best in Mack and Robert Quinn, who will anchor the Bears’ pass rush. Gipson and veteran Barkevious Mingo will provide depth at pass rusher for Chicago, which will look to step things up following a disappointing outing in 2019.

The Bears are high on what Gipson can ultimately become, as they traded back into the fifth round to select Gipson with the 155th overall pick. While Gipson has a long way to go in his development, his upside is huge. He has all of the tools to become a starter for the Bears down the line. And learning from the likes of one of the best in the game in Mack certainly doesn’t hurt.

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