The Chicago Bears defense will be a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
Last season, the Chicago Bears defense was among the best in the league, ranking in the top five in DVOA. One area, however, where they took a step back — besides turnovers forced — was in the sack department. In 2018 they recorded a whopping 50 sacks, but that number fell to just 32 in 2019.
However, based on a significant offseason acquisition in Robert Quinn and an apparently rejuvenated Khalil Mack, NFC North quarterbacks could become an endangered species this season.
While Leonard Floyd did a lot of things adequately, he was not adept at rushing the quarterback. Perhaps he was above average against the run, but the Bears seem more interested in their edge rushers being able to rush.
In steps Quinn who comes over from the Dallas Cowboys where he recorded 11.5 sacks last season, which is only seven fewer sacks than Floyd recorded in his entire four-year Bears career.
Outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino believe Quinn’s addition brings “a new sense of urgency” to the linebackers room and definitely thinks he and Mack will challenge each other and make one another better on a daily basis.
Perhaps we are already seeing this play out, as other comments from Monachino suggest Mack might be on a mission this year. Monachino mentioned that Mack has been “training like I’ve never seen anybody [train] before” and that “he’s approached this offseason with something to prove.”
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Mack is one of the best defensive players in the entire league and has been absolutely dominant throughout his career. Granted, by his standards, he had what would be considered a down year last season, but considering the number of double and triple teams he faced, he was still quite effective. Add to that the fact that he was missing his running mate, Akiem Hicks for much of the year, and the aforementioned lack of pass-rushing production from Floyd and Mack’s performance looks even better.
But now the defensive line will have a healthy Hicks, a motivated Mack, and a second edge rusher who knows how to consistently get to the quarterback. Sunday afternoons in the NFC North might be full of carnage, as these bloodthirsty Bears will be looking to decimate their opponents. In some ways, you have to feel bad for opposing quarterbacks. On second thought — no you don’t.
