Bears defense showing its more than just Mack
There's no denying that Khalil Mack has had a huge effect on a Bears defense that leads the NFL with 14 sacks and 7 forced fumbles, considering he has four of the sacks and three of the forced fumbles.
Coach Matt Nagy even credits the Mack Effect for improving the offense.
"We were so excited going into this thing, we've had a great attitude, and our expectations were high for ourselves," Nagy said. "And then, when we were able to bring Khalil into this, he's upgraded everyone, not just defense, but the (offensive) players, too."
But the Bears' defense has gotten impressive contributions from several players not named Khalil Mack, and they'll need all of them Sunday against a Tampa Bay offense that has piled up 1,202 passing yards, the second most through the first three games of a season in NFL history.
Akiem Hicks is having his usual superb season, leading all Bears with 5 QB hits, leading Bears linemen with 10 tackles, tied with ILB Danny Trevathan for second on the team with 2 sacks and second to Mack with 2 forced fumbles.
Safety Eddie Jackson, a fourth-round pick last year, had an interception last week that set up a touchdown and sparked the Bears' comeback from a 14-0 deficit. A week earlier, he recorded his first career sack in the 24-17 victory over the Seahawks and also forced a fumble. Jackson started all 16 games as a rookie, picked off 2 passes and became the first player in NFL history with an interception return and a fumble return of 75 yards or longer for touchdowns in the same game. He's even better this year, according to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
"He's made that jump from rookie season to second year, and he's a little bit better at everything," Fangio said. He feels a little bit more comfortable in the system, (and in) what we're asking him to do. Anytime a player does that, they can lift their game to another level because mentally they know more, (and) their reaction time, their recognition time has quickened, and that's what he's doing."
Though he's just 24, Jackson has earned the respect of his older teammates for a simple reason.
"Because he makes plays," Nagy said. "He's energetic. He's a leader back there in that defensive backfield and he has a lot of confidence in himself. So that kind of just (resonates) with all the players. They feel that, and anytime you make plays out there, you get ultimate respect from your peers."
Third-year OLB Leonard Floyd has been encumbered by playing with protective devices on his broken right hand, but he's started every game. He recovered a fumble late in the Week Two victory over the Seahawks that helped stymie a comeback attempt. While he hasn't been as effective rushing the passer, the 2016 first-round draft pick has improved his play vs. the run.
"His run defense has been good - very good," Fangio said. "He's just gotten more physical, and he understands what we want out of him."
The Bears know when he's healthy, Floyd will be a force vs. the pass, so it's encouraging to see him step up his game in other phases.
This year's first-round draft pick, ILB Roquan Smith, played just eight snaps in the season opener after a preseason hamstring injury, but his 14 tackles are tied for second on the team with safety Adrian Amos, trailing Trevathan's 20.
"I like his performance," Fangio said. "He's played good from the start. The future is very bright for him."
The future looks more promising for all the Bears since Mack's arrival and, while it's not about just him, his presence is undeniable.
"I think what I've enjoyed most about him is this guy does not have an ounce of prima donna in his body," Fangio said. "He's a joy to be around. The other players like being around him. The coaches like being around him. So, besides his talent and production, which everybody sees, he's really a breath of fresh air to be around, too, on a daily basis."
That's especially true on game days.
• Bob LeGere is a senior writer at Pro Football Weekly. Follow Bob's Bears reports on Twitter @BobLeGere or @PFWeekly.