Floyd leads Chicago Bears' young defenders
Everyone who cares has their own list of reasons why the Chicago Bears have gone 14-34 over the past three seasons.
And if "lack of impact defenders" isn't near the top your list, it should be.
The last three Pro Bowls have included zero Bears defenders. No current Bears defensive player, including those acquired from other teams, has ever gone to a Pro Bowl without paying admission.
That must change before any resurrection can occur at Halas Hall and before the Bears' six-year playoff drought ends.
There is hope. Eleven of the 23 defensive players on the Bears' roster are 25 or younger, including at least four who are expected to start Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field. Five if the Bears open in nickel.
Nose tackle Eddie Goldman is 23, outside linebacker Leonard Floyd is 25, rookie safety Eddie Jackson is 23 and cornerback Kyle Fuller, who should start if Prince Amukamara (ankle) cannot, is 25.
Cornerbacks Bryce Callahan (25) and Cre'Von LeBlanc (23) both started games in the slot at nickel, and on the outside last year.
Inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (24) started all four preseason games, while 27-year-old Danny Trevathan (knee) was easing back into the lineup.
There is promising young talent at every level of the defense, but based strictly on raw athleticism, Floyd has the highest upside.
The ninth overall draft pick flashed Pro Bowl ability as a rookie last year with 7 sacks in 12 games.
That included Floyd's sack-strip-fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown against Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Floyd also sacked Blaine Gabbert in the end zone for a safety against the San Francisco 49ers.
Floyd is bigger, stronger and more knowledgeable in the Bears' defense than he was a year ago.
"He always had that unbelievable edge speed and the ability to bend the corner," said Bears general manager Ryan Pace. "Now you throw in his inside counter moves and the ability to go speed to power, it makes him difficult to defend.
"And he's a really good run player, too. His strength has improved. His weight has improved. He feels very comfortable now, and he's going to be a huge, huge player for us."
Floyd has added about 10 pounds to his 6-foot-4 frame, but at 251 pounds he still looks like an NBA small forward, so he should be able to continue to get bigger and stronger without losing the first-step quickness that makes him special.
Coach John Fox has seen Floyd grow physically and mentally so that he's more prepared for the rigors of the NFL than he was a year ago when several injuries curtailed his progress.
"This is a different game," Fox said. "It's a different race. It's like being a miler and now running a 2-mile. It takes a year to really develop a pro body and understand how to prepare for that physically.
"And then mentally he's way more comfortable in what we're doing. He's not thinking and getting paralysis by analysis. He's just cutting loose and playing. I've seen great progress in Leonard."
A breakout season from Floyd would top the wish list of anyone hoping for a bounce-back season from the Bears.
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