New Bears OLBs Coach Says Leonard Floyd Can Surpass Khalil Mack

Making bold statements is certainly a way to grab attention. New Chicago Bears outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino wasted no time finding a way to do so. He met with the Chicago media for the first time on the second day of Organized Team Activities. Naturally, the conversation began with Khalil Mack. This is easily the best player he's coached in years.

Then again Monachino has been around his fair share of terrific pass rushers. He worked with Terrell Suggs in Baltimore for a number of years. Then he had some brief time with Robert Mathis in Indianapolis. So he had an idea of what he was getting in Mack. However, that wasn't where the conversation received its biggest sound byte.

That came when, with a straight face, Monachino declared that Leonard Floyd has more natural pass rush skill than Mack. It wasn't a subtle statement either. He said it directly.

“I think Leonard [Floyd] as a pure, natural pass-rusher has a bigger toolbox than anybody else I’m coaching right now,” Monachino said. “I want everybody to understand what I just said. The better rusher right now is [Khalil Mack] but the natural pass-rush ability, the pass-rush gene? 94 has it.”

Monachino believes Leonard Floyd wasn't developed correctly

It will sound utterly incomprehensible for people to hear that. Floyd has just 15.5 sacks in his NFL career. That spans three seasons. There is no doubt he flashes from time to time but consistency has been his problem. Monachino though believes the problem isn't his limitations. It's more how he was taught when he got to the NFL.

“His length and his explosiveness in a short space, those things negate all other disadvantages,” Monachino added. “As a power rusher at the top of the pocket, I don’t think he’s going to have any problem. I don’t think he’s ever been groomed that way.” 

Basically he's saying the previous coaching staff didn't do enough to unlock his entire arsenal. That Vic Fangio's previous crew primarily worked on him as a speed rusher and left his potential for developing a power element on the back burner. To be fair, Floyd hasn't had it easy in regards to his position coaches.

The Bears have had three different guys running the outside linebackers over the past three years. In 2016 it was Clint Hurtt. The next year Fangio took over direct control himself. Then last season he passed it on to Brandon Staley. That lack of consistency can make it difficult for a player to hone his craft.

Monachino seems to recognize that and is intent on fixing it.