CHICAGO _ Khalil Mack didn't have a sack in the Bears' season-opening loss to the Packers, but his presence helped Leonard Floyd and others take down quarterback Aaron Rodgers five times.
Outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino determined Mack positively affected 31 of the 34 plays he had the opportunity to influence. (Mack played 55 of 61 snaps.)
"I was thrilled with the way he played," Monachino said Tuesday. "He knew the opponent well enough that he could play full speed and play freely. That's what he did. He did not have to think his way through anything. The plan was simple and he was able to execute it full speed. And that's the difference.
"When we can get that to those special players ... what you don't want to do is put a bunch of rocks in their pocket where they then can't play fast. We tried to keep it as simple as we could and we're going to continue that trend all year."
On one play, Mack forced Rodgers off his passing point, and Floyd cleaned it up with a sack.
"You want to be in position to make plays, but ultimately it's about the team and about winning," Mack said Friday in his first public comments since before the Packers game. "If another guy makes the play, I'm happy he made a good play. Because I wouldn't be able to live with myself if he got away and made a big play."
Mack was particularly excited for Floyd, who had two sacks and a third negated by a penalty in the secondary. Mack had been bullish on Floyd all offseason because of Floyd's committed work ethic, attention to detail and athleticism.
"Getting to the quarterback, man, that's what it's all about," Mack said. "He did a hell of a job doing that. They called one back, but I was mad at that. He pulled the trick out of the bag (with a delayed pass rush). ... It's always good to see when hard work pays off."
