Bears linebacker Leonard Floyd seems to be in a perpetual quest to justify his status as the ninth pick of the 2016 draft. But to Aaron Rodgers, he must look like Lawrence Taylor.
The Packers and Rodgers seem to bring out the best in Floyd. He had two sacks of Rodgers in the Bears’ 10-3 loss to the Packers in the season opener at Soldier Field. He’s had one sack in 12 games since.
In fact, Floyd has 7 1/2 sacks and 10 quarterback hits in seven career games against the Packers. In 44 games against the rest of the teams in the NFL, he has 11 sacks.
It’s been that way since his rookie season in 2016. In his first game against the Packers, a Thursday Night game on national television at Lambeau Field, Floyd sacked Rodgers, forced a fumble and recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown that gave the Bears a 10-6 lead early in the third quarter. He’s had at least a half a sack in five of seven games against the Packers.
“It’s a division game against our rivals, so I don’t know, man. It just happens that I get home versus them than I do against other teams,” Floyd said, trying to explain his success against the Packers.
“Getting those sacks against a great player like Aaron Rodgers, I guess I can be excited about that. But I take the same approach into every game. I get so close, so many times. It just so happens when it’s Green Bay, I always get home.”
Against the rest of the league, though, Floyd’s impact is harder to quantify. His only other sack this season came in a 22-14 loss to the Eagles in Week 9. In 13 games this season, Floyd has 33 tackles, three sacks, 11 quarterback hits, no forced fumbles, no fumble recoveries and no interceptions.
It’s a familiar debate of Floyd’s production. He’s an effective player on a defense that ranks seventh in the NFL in yards allowed per play; third in rushing yards per carry; sixth in passing yards per attempt; and seventh in third-down efficiency.
But the Bears also rank tied for 27th in interceptions and 25th in sacks per pass play and that’s where Floyd becomes the focus of criticism. He’s expected to be a difference-making player — and takeaways are where that’s at.
In the context of their defense — with an elite pass-rusher in Khalil Mack on the other side — the Bears like what Floyd brings as a strong-side linebacker.
“There’s only one guy in our building that can do the job that Leonard is asked to do, and that’s Leonard Floyd,” Bears outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino said. “He’s playing as as high a level as I’ve ever had a ‘Sam’ [linebacker] play. I couldn’t ask any more of him.
“He wears a lot of hats throughout the game. He’s in coverage in base. He’s in coverage in sub. He’s a rusher in base. He’s a rusher in sub. He does it all for us. I do wish for him and I think it would help all of us if he got some sacks and we didn’t have to answer the same question once a month [that position coaches are available to the media]. But I do believe he’s playing at as high a level as any ‘Sam’ in our league.”
Floyd, on the fourth year of his five-year rookie contract, would love to have more sacks as well. But he’s happy with his role and his production in Chuck Pagano’s defense.
“I had to learn a new defense. Had a lot more put on me … [and] our defense still ranks in the top 10,” Floyd said. “I feel great in the position I’m in. I’m playing for a great organization. I got a lot more left in me, so I’m just taking it one game at a time.”
