There’s an obvious advantage lining up opposite three-time All-Pro pass rusher Khalil Mack. With Mack likely to garner double, sometimes triple teams, whoever lines up on the opposite side should have a better opportunity to get after the quarterback with more one-on-one opportunities.
It was something that former first-round outside linebacker Leonard Floyd couldn’t capitalize on in the previous two seasons. But the Bears are banking on former All-Pro Robert Quinn being the answer opposite Mack, as evidenced by the five-year, $70 million deal they signed him to in free agency.
Quinn acknowledged as much during a conference call with reporters Friday, where he discussed the advantage that comes with having Mack garnering more attention.
“He’s probably gonna get the double-teams or more attention,” Quinn said. “Hopefully that frees me up a little bit and I can take advantage.”
It’s not a hope, but an expectation at this point. Considering Quinn’s resurgence in Dallas last season, where he amassed 11.5 sacks, the belief is that opposing teams will be overwhelmed with Chicago’s pass rush, where you’ve got Mack and Quinn coming off the edge.
Considering Quinn’s success as a pass rusher — he’s had five seasons with at least 8.5 sacks — it’s exciting to think what he can do with that added advantage of having Mack as his partner in crime.
