Downturn of the Mack
Ineffectiveness plagues defense’s best player during disappointing ’19
Khalil Mack needed to have a talk with Eddie Jackson this week. Jackson opened a tiny window into Mack’s emotions after the Bears’ 17-7 loss to the Rams during an interview on WSCR-AM 670. He said Mack, the Bears outside linebacker who is usually guarded with the media, was as down as he has seen him after a game on the plane ride home from Los Angeles.
The Bears safety said the pain on Mack’s face showed “he’s got everything in the world with the money, but it’s just the love of the game.”
“I talked to Eddie about that — ‘Man, stop telling people that,’ ” Mack said Friday with a smile. “(Expletive), c’mon, bro. But no, it’s just understanding the situation. That would have been a good one, a good one to get on the road.”
Mack’s frustration is understandable — both about the Bears’ 4-6 record and his own season, in which he said opposing offenses are doing more than ever to keep him from wrecking games.
“Hell, no. Hell, no. I like to make an impact on the game. But you know, a team is going to do what they feel like they need to do to keep me away from them.”
— Khalil Mack on whether he’s comforted by coaches continuing to praise his play
When the box score came out late Sunday, Mack — whom the Bears are paying $141 million over six seasons — didn’t appear in the defensive statistics. No sacks or quarterback hits or passes defensed or tackles.
Entering Sunday’s game against the Giants at Soldier Field, he has recorded one sack in his last six games, dating to the loss to his former team, the Raiders, in London. It’s his worst stretch since his first season in 2014. With 5 1⁄2 sacks through 10 games, Mack also is on pace for his fewest sacks since he had four as a rookie. He had 12 1⁄2 sacks and six forced fumbles in 14 games last year, his first in Chicago.
Bears coaches frequently state Mack is doing his job despite not showing up in the statistics. They say they need to find other ways to disrupt offenses when teams send multiple players to block Mack, run plays away from his side or get the ball out as quickly as possible.
That, however, is no comfort to Mack. “Hell, no,” he said. “Hell, no. I like to make an impact on the game. But you know, a team is going to do what they feel like they need to do to keep me away from them.
“It ain’t what happens to you, it’s how you handle it. So it’s one of those things where you know what’s going on. Just keep moving.”
The Giants could present a good opportunity to get Mack and the rest of the Bears pass rushers moving again.
Rookie quarterback Daniel Jones has been sacked 32 times — tied for third-most in the NFL — and has 13 fumbles and eight interceptions. With 10 fumbles in the last four games — including three returned for touchdowns — it has gotten so bad that a New York Post writer dubbed him “Danny the ATM” for opposing defenses.
Mack, 28, said he has seen Jones progress over his eight starts since taking over for Eli Manning and is impressed with his knowledge of the game. But Mack also acknowledged the opportunities.
“When it comes to getting to the ball, that’s my forte,” he said. “So that’s what I’m going to be looking forward to doing this week.”
The Giants most certainly will study the Rams’ clinic from Sunday on how to prevent Mack from making plays.
That’s something that appears to have become easier for opposing teams since defensive lineman Akiem Hicks went down with an elbow injury against the Raiders, leaving them one fewer game-changer to worry about. Coordinator Chuck Pagano acknowledged Thursday that Hicks’ absence can affect how offenses attack his defense while saying the Bears have good players who are capable of filling in.
Pagano also noted the Bears’ lack of chances to rush quarterback Jared Goff as a whole Sunday. Playing with a lead from early in the second quarter, Goff dropped back to pass only 19 times. By the Tribune’s count, Mack received only two true opportunities to rush the passer against single blocks.
“It doesn’t (surprise me) at all — it’s Khalil, man,” outside linebacker Leonard Floyd said. “You’ve got to game plan to go against him, and that’s what other teams have been doing.
“I know they’re using a couple of people to try to stop him, and then when he does get his one-on-ones, they’re doing a good job of getting the ball out quick. We’re going to keep battling and fighting, and we’re going to get there.”
Despite Jackson witnessing Mack’s disappointment Sunday night, Floyd and fellow outside linebacker Aaron Lynch said Mack’s frustration hasn’t shown up as the Bears try to figure out how to end this troubling stretch.
“He’s one person that doesn’t complain, and if he sees you complaining, he brings up a positive — so that you can’t complain,” Lynch said. “You’re thinking like, ‘Damn it, I shouldn’t have said that because that’s something he wouldn’t do.’ He’s good with that stuff. I know I would get frustrated because you want to make plays. … He just keeps going.”
The Bears hope a 2-8 Giants team will make the going a little easier.
“Just understanding I have another opportunity to go out there is all I need,” Mack said. “And I’m looking forward to making the most of it.”