NEWSLETTER
It’s always been about what could be for Leonard Floyd, who arrived in Chicago with a professional build, SEC speed, and high-end athleticism, but he’s been a work in progress in each of his first two seasons with the Bears.
However, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller recently reported that the University of Georgia product is finally ready to break through and have the kind of season Bears fans (and management) have been dreaming about since draft day in 2016.
And that’s a good thing, because the Bears really need a breakout star among their group of pass rushers (rumors like a Khalil Mack trade don’t always pan out after all).
So I guess, more specifically, the team needs *Floyd* to be that breakout performer. In a division loaded with Pro Bowl caliber signal callers and a 2018 schedule that includes the likes of Tom Brady and Russell Wilson under center, Floyd needs to be the pass-rush threat that neutralizes an offense by constantly pushing into the backfield and causing havoc with his presence. History is on Floyd’s side, as the third year has often been the charm for some of Fangio’s pet projects.
Things are starting to click for Floyd, a source tells Miller. Meanwhile, a coach on the staff believes Floyd is “bigger, stronger, and smarter” now and is confident enough to bet a case of beer that the 6-foot-4, 251-pound edge defender has a 12-sack season in him if he stays healthy. Those are big expectations, for sure. But it’s also a sign of how much faith the Bears have in a player who has yet to play a full 16-game season in the NFL. Floyd appears primed to turn the corner and put together a monster season as he enters his third year in the Bears’ program and under the watchful eye of Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio. Injuries have done their part to keep Floyd from reaching his potential, but the Bears think their work with Floyd could put those issues in the past.
In fact, Floyd sounds like someone who is at full strength, telling Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune that he doesn’t think about his leg injury when he plays. “I’ve got 100 percent trust in my leg,” Floyd said. If Floyd’s feelings are true, then a breakout will soon follow.
