NEWSLETTER
Vic Fangio’s defense is playing like a top-10 unit for the second straight season, and for the most part, it’s been fun to watch and dissect. Sure, we’re talking about just a six-game sample, but the Chicago Bears defense ranks second in takeaways, fifth in yards, and eighth in scoring so far this season. Maintaining a top-10 presence in scoring and yardage while adding waves and waves of takeaways is going to keep your group (and your team, in general) among the very best. And that’s great.
Unfortunately, Fangio’s defense hasn’t played like a top-10 defense *during the last two weeks* and it’s twice helped keep Chicago out of the win column.
Fortunately, on Wednesday at Halas Hall, the Bears’ DC addressed the impact of Khalil Mack’s injury, made note of some impact players who might not be on your radar, and discussed other notable happenings on the team’s defense. It’s all quite revelatory and important, so we’ve grabbed some of the highlights for you below, and added some additional context and commentary of our own. Enjoy.
The Mack Factor
Khalil Mack played the majority of Week 6’s loss to the Dolphins on a bum ankle, spent most of the following week resting up for Week 7, then played 84 percent of the defensive snaps in a Week 7 loss. However, Mack spent a chunk of the loss to the Patriots in coverage, which led us to wonder what that was all about.
Fangio had an answer: “We had the plan to mix in some 3-man rush to max the drop because (Tom Brady) likes to get the ball out quick and tried to mix that with everything else that we did. It was just part of the plan to mix it against a good quarterback. When asked how he felt it worked, Fangio responded: “Not too bad. Obviously, not good enough. It could’ve been better.”
Fangio also weighed in on Mack’s injury status, saying he was affected by it on game day. And since Mack hasn’t practiced yet this week, Fangio doesn’t “have a great feel” for the stud pass-rusher’s playing status this weekend. “He’s obviously not 100 percent,” Fangio said. “but we’ll see.”
(Michael: the uncertainty, in my opinion, is almost worse than the injury, itself. If Mack was definitely going to be out, at least the Bears could put (and prepare) players for the roles they do best. Instead, I’m worried Mack might be forced into more coverage again (to protect his ankle from the more phyisically risky/demanding pass rush) which eliminates his biggest strength *and* forces someone like Roquan Smith, who’s typically great in coverage, back to the bench more often that we’d like).
Mack’s Injury Isn’t an Excuse For Other Players’ Poor Play
It’s not a coincidence that the Bears’ defense hasn’t played to its potential while Mack has been less than 100 percent. HOWEVER, Mack’s recent struggles shouldn’t mean everyone else should be having issues, too. It’s going to take a team effort to get out of this mess, and Fangio knows it.
“To think that one guy being out – it may affect our overall performance – but it’s no reason for a guy over here and a guy over there to have a bad down because he’s sub-par. That’s just a fact. For anybody to use that as a crutch is looking for a reason. Whether he’s out there playing at his best or playing at something less than his best because of an injury, it doesn’t affect the way the other 10 guys do their jobs. Now can the result be better? Yes, for the unit. But it still shouldn’t effect the way you do your job. I just don’t buy that’s the reason this guy’s is not playing this well or that guy is not playing as well.”
(Michael: Again, I think I understand and agree with his broader point, but that sure feels like taking everything in a vacuum. When Mack is out there *and* 100% the opposing offense has to take special account of him, relieving pressure on other guys, who may then be more free to do their job even better).
Leonard Floyd Still Has No Sacks, But Fangio Has Ideas on How to Fix It
Have you ever watched a baseball game and mentioned a no-hitter in progress, only to be shunned by friends who believe your mere mention of the no-hitter going on was going to jinx it? (What … just me?) Well, judging by Fangio’s response to a question about Floyd being without a sack in 2018, the Bears’ DC has been in those shoes.
“It doesn’t have the no-hitter mentality where you don’t talk about it. We talk about it, but not in that vein. … Just make sure he’s focused and playing the right way. He could be better, obviously, like a lot of them and us as coaches can be, too. … He’s just gotta pass-rush a little bit better. Again, he was affected by dropping some.”
Fangio noted the lack of 3rd-and-long situations for the Patriots offense, which kept the Bears’ pass-rushers in coverage and essentially unavailable to simply pin their ears back and bull-rush the quarterback in obvious passing situations. If the Bears can force more 3rd-and-long situations early in games, their pass-rushers will get to do just that more often than they did against the Patriots.
Fangio didn’t sound like someone with too many regrets, but he did offer up this idea:
“I think I’d like to make a different call in one or two spots, but you say that every game. A better call here and there by me would’ve helped us.”
Every bit helps, Coach.
Sam Darnold Sounds a Little Bit Like Someone We Know in Chicago
For the second time in 2018, the Bears defense gets a chance to pick on a rookie quarterback. This time it’s Darnold, the first-round pick the Jets moved up in the draft to ensure the chance to select him and make him their quarterback of the future. Upon review of Darnold’s film, Fangio likes what he sees.
“I like him. He’s got a good arm, nice release, athletic and very mobile. He’s caused people problems throwing outside the pocket when he scrambles. I think they’ve got a really good quarterback and I’ve been impressed by him.”
That description sounds a bit like what we heard other coaches (and some of the Bears’ own coaches) say about Mitch Trubisky.
Love for Some Unheralded Bears Standouts
If Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara are to Bears cornerbacks what John Lennon and Paul McCartney were to the Beatles, then Bryce Callahan is the dude everyone kinda forgets about. But not for Fangio, he threw bouquets of compliments at the Bears nickel corner, who is as valuable as ever (conveniently enough, in the final year of his contract).
“He’s very valuable. He’s played that position a lot for us. At some point in his rookie season he started playing some, and coincidentally, that year we started playing better defense. The nickel position is a very important position. I would venture to say 80 to 85 percent of the time, the other team has had three wide receivers against us or more, so his position is really a starting position. He’s valuable to us. He’s got experience in our scheme. All the little intricacies of his position, he’s mastered, so he’s very, very valuable.”
Rookie defensive lineman Bilal Nichols was showered with praise, too. It’s well-deserved, too. Nichols is seeing an increasing number of snaps and could continue to earn more playing time if he keeps up his strong play.
“He’s done well. What the guy has done is when he’s gotten in there, he’s done his job. And when you do your job, there’s going to be some plays made available to you and he’s capitalized on that. He’s done a nice job.”
Vic Fangio Knew All Along About the Bears’ 2017 Draft Plans (Wink! Wink!)
I’ll never forget GM Ryan Pace’s misdirection plays leading up to the 2017 NFL Draft. All signs were pointing to the Bears drafting a defensive standout, with LSU safety Jamal Adams being the guy who made the most sense on so many levels.
Fangio was asked if he saw Adams a long-term fixture on the Bears defense leading up to the draft, then supplied an answer I didn’t see coming.
“Contrary to popular opinion, I had a feeling what was happening.”
Well, so much for Pace going rogue.
For Fangio’s full press conference, you can watch below:
DC Vic Fangio is up. #DaBears https://t.co/6Gh8Ezkp8w
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 25, 2018
