Bears GM Ryan Pace: ‘We’re happy with Leonard (Floyd)’

Bears GM Ryan Pace reinforced his confidence in OLB Leonard Floyd even though the production wasn’t there in 2019.

While the Bears defense as a whole wasn’t a disappointment in 2019, there were some aspects of the unit that regressed following a breakout season in 2018.

One of the biggest disappointments was the Bears’ pass rush — particularly fourth-year edge rusher Leonard Floyd, whose production didn’t live up to the expectations.

During his end-of-the-year press conference, general manager Ryan Pace reinforced his confidence in Floyd, and it doesn’t appear as if the organization is looking to part with him anytime soon. It seems more likely they could actually ink him to a long-term extension.

“We’re happy with Leonard,” Pace said. “I know the stats don’t always say that. Leonard does a lot of things that go a little undervalued. The versatility he provides, things he can do in coverage. Not a lot of outside linebackers that can provide the versatility he provides.

“Would we like more production with him? Yeah. Would he like that? Yeah. There’s a lot of things he does that we like.”

Pace pointed to his high motor and physicality, as well as his strength in playing the run game and in coverage as things he does well. That and his ability to get after the quarterback — he tied a career high for quarterback hits with 12. But he’s struggled converting those into sacks. After starting the season with two sacks against the Packers, Floyd managed just one sack in the final 15 games.

“There’s a lot of times this year he’s so close,” Pace said. “If you look at his pressures, hits in the series, they’re up there. The sack production, not so much.”

But as far as sacks go, it wasn’t just Floyd’s numbers that were down. Chicago’s entire pass rush declined. The Bears had 32 sacks, which 18 less than last season. Khalil Mack had 8.5 sacks, which was four less than the previous year.

The Bears picked up Floyd’s fifth-year option, but Pace wouldn’t get into discussions just a couple days after the season ended.

“As for his contract, we’re never going to get into those things,” Pace said. “We like Leonard, glad he’s here. Like a lot of players, does he want to play better? Yeah. Can he play better? Yeah. We’ll see going forward.”

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5 takeaways from Bears end-of-year press conference

Bears GM Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy expressed frustration for the team’s lack of success, but maintained belief to right the ship in 2020.

The Bears final press conference of the 2019 season came and went with many quick answers, a few bold statements and lots of praise for a team that underachieved in almost every way.

Speaking to the media for the first time since early September, general manager Ryan Pace, along with coach Matt Nagy, expressed frustration for the team’s lack of success, but maintained belief in their core players and the system in place to right the ship and steer the team back to the postseason.

With the rather short availability of roughly 30 minutes, Pace and Nagy gave their answers to the media’s tough questions. Here are my five biggest takeaways from what the Bears’ brass had to say.

1. Pace and Nagy are committed to Mitchell Trubisky – but only to an extent

When asked about quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and whether he’d be the starter going into 2020, Pace was quick to say yes. It’s not surprising, given he has one more guaranteed year under contract and they gain nothing by showing their hand and creating a quarterback controversy in late December.

But they did stress the need to bring in additional competition with quarterbacks Chase Daniel and Tyler Bray entering free agency. Pace also wouldn’t commit to picking up Trubisky’s fifth-year option, a decision that must be made this spring. Chances are the Bears find someone this offseason to push Trubisky, but the front office still sees promise in the now-veteran quarterback.

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Actions will speak louder than words with Bears GM Ryan Pace this offseason

The most important thing anyone can take away from general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy’s end-of-the-year press conference on Tuesday is that it’s not a true indication of how the Bears’ offseason will progress. Just two days removed from a …

Just two days removed from a disappointing 2019 season that was once sky-high with Super Bowl expectations, Pace and Nagy took to the podium frustrated with the result of their 8-8 season and answering a whole lot of questions about some of the more frustrating aspects of this season, including quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen, the offensive line and play calling.

And yet, it doesn’t mean a thing. Not really. The most important discussions are happening behind the scenes, where Pace said that over the next four to five months, they’re going to have some honest conversations where some tough decisions are going to need to be made. And watching their presser, you didn’t learn a thing about those tough decisions. Not really.

Pace stated the obvious that Trubisky will be the Bears starting quarterback when the 2020 season begins, but we all know that a lot can happen between now and then. While Pace’s continued faith and patience with Trubisky remains infuriating with some fans, that doesn’t mean if the struggles continue next season that they won’t bench him.

Pace said that he was “happy” with linebacker Leonard Floyd this season, but also acknowledged that he’d like to see more production from him. The Bears picked up Floyd’s fifth-year option earlier this season, and from the sound of it, Floyd will remain with the team in 2020. But the Bears still have until the start of the league year on on March 18 to release Floyd and nullify his fifth-year option.

Then there’s tight end Adam Shaheen, who has been another disappointment. The former second-round selection in 2017, Shaheen has struggled to remain healthy and contribute on the field. Pace went as far to say that he’ll be with the team in training camp next summer — he is under contract, after all — but that’s no indication that he’ll make the active roster, as the Bears have a lot of work to do at the tight end position.

While Pace was firm in his stance that this 8-8 season wasn’t what they wanted, there was almost an optimistic outlook for what’s in store for this team at present moving forward. Words like “belief” and “happy” were tossed around when describing some things that are serious concerns heading into this crucial offseason. And you know what, they don’t mean a thing. Not really.

Ultimately, actions will speak louder than words when it comes to the decisions Pace makes this offseason.

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Bears-Packers Week is Leonard Floyd’s favorite time of the year

There’s just something about playing the Packers that brings out the best in Bears OLB Leonard Floyd.

There’s just something about playing the Packers that brings out the best in Bears outside linebacker Leonard Floyd.

Floyd might as well be dubbed the “Packer killer” for the havoc he’s wrecked against the Bears’ rivals in the seven games he’s played against Green Bay.

In those seven games, Floyd had 7.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits. But in the 44 other games against everyone else, Floyd has managed just 11 sacks.

When the Bears opened the season against the Packers, Floyd had two sacks of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and it looked like he was poised for a breakout season. But since then — 12 games later — Floyd has just one sack.

“It’s a division game against our rivals, so I don’t know, man. It just happens that I get home versus them than I do against other teams,” Floyd said.

“Getting those sacks against a great player like Aaron Rodgers, I guess I can be excited about that. But I take the same approach into every game. I get so close, so many times. It just so happens when it’s Green Bay, I always get home.”

If only the Bears could play the Packers every week. Not typically words you’d expect to hear. Maybe Floyd should visualize every opponent wearing green and yellow and every quarterback wearing No. 12, then maybe we’d see more consistent production from the fourth-year edge rusher.

Floyd would love to have more sacks, but he feels confident in the position he’s at in Chuck Pagano’s defense this season.

“I had to learn a new defense. Had a lot more put on me … [and] our defense still ranks in the top 10,” Floyd said. “I feel great in the position I’m in. I’m playing for a great organization. I got a lot more left in me, so I’m just taking it one game at a time.”

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4 bold predictions for Bears’ Week 15 matchup vs. Packers

Bears vs. Packers is always different. Anything can happen, including these four bold predictions.

The Chicago Bears (7-6) are riding a three-game winning streak and, most importantly, confidence heading into Sunday’s game against rivals Green Bay Packers (10-3) at Lambeau Field.

While things didn’t go as planned in the season opener, where the Packers squeaked out a 10-3 win, this time the Bears are ready to face their foes with playoff aspirations on the line.

Bears-Packers is always different. Anything can happen, including these four bold predictions.

1. Leonard Floyd will record 2 sacks

No one likes playing the Packers more than linebacker Leonard Floyd, who in 5 games against Green Bay has logged 7.5 sacks. In three of those games, Floyd registered 2 sacks.

While Floyd hasn’t lived up to expectations as an edge rusher opposite Khalil Mack, he does always manage to show up against the Packers — that is, when he’s healthy. In the season opener, Floyd accounted for 2 of the Bears’ 5 sacks of Aaron Rodgers. Chicago’s defense managed to contain Rodgers and the Packers’ offense, giving up just one touchdown.

The Bears will need Floyd, who has 4.5 sacks in the last two games against Green Bay, to, once again show up against the Packers with Chicago’s season on the line. And while I wouldn’t bet on Floyd’s long-term future with the Bears, I will be on Floyd getting after Rodgers on Sunday.

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Giants Coordinator Corner: Preparing for final leg of 2019 season

The New York Giants coordinator met with reporters on Thursday to discuss bye week changes, rookies and preparing for the Chicago Bears.

The New York Giants head to Chicago to face Khalil Mack and the 4-6 Bears on Sunday. On Thursday, their three coordinators update the media on their respective units coming out of the bye week.

Offensive coordinator Mike Shula

The Giants’ battered offensive line will face a talented Bears front on Sunday with Mack leading the way. The coaching staff has been widely criticized for not making adjustments quick enough or not at all.

Shula was asked if he has to do anything special this week with both starting tackles (Nate Solder and Mike Remmers) and tight ends Rhett Ellison and Evan Engram banged up.

“Those guys are really good players, and they’re not the only two that can rush the passer,” Shula said of Mack and linebacker Leonard Floyd. “But yeah, we have to mix our protections. We have to get the ball out. We have to stay out of third and long. As we say, stay ahead of the chains. Stay on schedule. Then whether or not it’s having a guy help chip, as we say.

“But you can’t do it every play, and they know that. They’re good at that. They’re not just good pass rushers. They have good schemes and they understand when you’re trying to keep guys in, it’s harder to throw the ball down field with less guys. It’s going to be a combination of all of those things. We have to be able to make things happen on first and second down. Stay out of third down. Make first downs on first or second down.”

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