In case anybody wasn’t already aware, Khalil Mack is a superstar. Even today Chicago Bears fans continue to have a hard time understanding how the Oakland Raiders could’ve worked up the nerve to trade him. He’s one of the two or three best pass rushers in the NFL. Somebody who is on track for the Hall of Fame if he’s able to stay healthy in the coming years. Giving away players like that, even for a solid package of draft picks, don’t tend to work out.
The Bears quickly reaped the rewards of their bold maneuver. Mack delivered 12.5 sacks in just 14 games last season, not to mention forcing six fumbles and collecting a pick-six. This earned him All-Pro honors in 2018. The first Bears pass rusher to do so since Julius Peppers back in 2010. To think he accomplished all that without the benefit of training camp is a reminder of how incredible of a talent he is.
That is why Joe Thomas, a future Hall of Fame offensive tackle ranked him as the top edge rusher in the NFL and the second-best pass rusher overall. He’s encountered some great ones in his career, but Thomas believes there is something uniquely special about Mack.
“I played Mack twice in my career, and we used to call him a rolling ball of butcher knives, because he was so explosive, you couldn’t slow him down. He’s a phenomenal pass rusher — and if anyone needed more proof of this before he was traded to Chicago last September … well … no one is now questioning his ability to wreck run or pass plays after watching him rack up 12.5 sacks, 47 tackles and 10 tackles for loss with the Bears in 2018.
He must be double-teamed on pass plays to allow the quarterback time to get the ball out. Unfortunately for opposing offenses, Mack has no problem splitting double teams, getting to the passer and either sacking him or getting a strip sack. The guy is unbelievable.”
Khalil Mack won’t let anybody stop him from eating
The clip above proves that Mack is always thinking about dominating. It doesn’t matter if it’s a tackle or a coach trying to block him. He’ll put them on their backs all the same. This man is driven to be the best. Thus far in training camp that’s been proven. The Bears defense has given quarterback Mitch Trubisky problems and the primary driving force behind it has been Mack. Neither Charles Leno nor Bobby Massie have proven able to stop him.
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They shouldn’t feel bad. Almost no blocker in the league can do that. The scary part is Mack will have the benefit of a full training camp this year along with the tutelage of defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano. The veteran coach has a history of elevating pass rushers to career-best seasons. He proved that with Terrell Suggs in Baltimore and Robert Mathis in Indianapolis.
To think that Mack is the most talent of that trio should really hit home how dominant he can be moving forward.
