Floyd's 7 sacks offer hope for Bears' future

Of the many young Chicago Bears who have gotten opportunities this season and provided hope for the future, rookie outside linebacker Leonard Floyd might be the most promising.

His 2 sacks in Sunday's victory over the 49ers, including 1 for a safety, gave the first-round draft pick 6½ sacks in his last five games. His total of 7 sacks leads all NFL rookies, even though he's missed three games with injuries.

"Obviously we've talked about his athleticism (and) his speed," coach John Fox said. "We could have used it in every game."

Floyd started slowly against San Francisco but came on strong.

"What was impressive about Leonard was being able to put a couple of not his better plays behind him," coach John Fox said. "He responded really well in the second half."

It's understandable that the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Floyd may have been a bit skittish early on in the first game back since he suffered a frightening concussion against the New York Giants on Nov. 20. He ran headfirst into 336-pound teammate Akiem Hicks and was taken off the field on a backboard.

Only recently was Floyd cleared through the concussion protocol after missing one game.

"At the beginning of the game, I was playing jittery," he said. "I haven't been practicing (much) for two weeks. I've been mostly non-contact. I just had to get my feet wet. The more the game went on, the more I settled down and started being back to myself."

When Floyd is himself, it's becoming increasing clear that his presence is making the Bears a better pass-rushing team because of the attention he demands from opposing offenses. In the last three games in which Floyd has at least 1 sack, the Bears have a total of 15 sacks.

Floyd had an abundance of natural ability and raw talent when he arrived at Halas Hall, but he was far from a finished product. He credits Bears outside linebackers coach Clint Hurtt with helping in his development, and he appreciates the advice he gets from his big brothers in the outside linebackers room, seasoned veterans Willie Young, Pernell McPhee and Sam Acho.

But Floyd says it all boils down to a simple mindset when the ball is snapped.

"Just making the play, that's all I'm thinking about before the snap," he said. "Try to make the play before anybody else on the defense makes the play. That's me competing with myself."

Floyd has demonstrated an uncanny ability to bounce back from injuries this season. When a strained calf sidelined him in Weeks 5-6, he returned with a 2-sack game against the Packers Oct. 20, including a strip and fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown.

"I've been impressed," Fox said. "He's a very athletic guy. He's got a lot of natural abilities. His mindset is good too. He's a good teammate. He's not afraid to work.

"Whenever you get injured, those are real, and there's treatment involved. There's a lot of different things that eats up their time through the rehab process. Coming back from it is never easy."

The serious head injury was a first for Floyd, and he blamed his own poor technique - dropping his head instead of facing up the target. But he probably worried less after impact than viewers who cringed while watching it replayed in slow motion.

"I can't really remember much after the hit," he said. "I just knew that the trainers were telling me that I was gonna be all right, I was gonna be fine. A day later, I felt like I was going to be back out there soon."

And, as usual, he returned with a flair.

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