The Vic Fangio reputation by this point has spread across the entire NFL. Most believe him to be one of the 3-4 best defensive coordinators in professional football. A disciplined mad scientist with great attention to detail who just understands how to instruct his players. New Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara even said recently that other coaches he knew told him to go to Chicago so he could play for Fangio.
The guy has been coaching defense since 1979. He broke into the pros in 1984 for the now defunct United States Football League. Two years later he was linebackers coach for the New Orleans Saints. He was just 28-years old at the time. A bright young mind who was about to show the world what he could do. Suffice to say it didn’t take long for him to impress.
Most people are focused on the secondary this season. The Bears made a ton of additions this year in hopes of improving that group after a difficult 2016. Though that’s important, the one player that people need to watch is Leonard Floyd. Especially when it comes to Fangio.
Vic Fangio reputation with pass rushers runs deep
It was stated earlier this year that Fangio would be putting more of his personal time into coaching the linebackers in 2017. This is great news for the Bears. For those who don’t know, this is a job that the man knows well. His first NFL assistant position was linebackers coach in New Orleans. In fact it was there that he began a trend that continues to hold true to this day.
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That trend involves the rapid improvement of his pass rushers. Go back to each and every team he’s coached on. It won’t take long to find one young rusher who made a massive jump in productivity from his first year to his second under Fangio.
New Orleans Saints
- Pat Swilling (1986) – 4 sacks
- Pat Swilling (1987) – 10.5 sacks
Carolina Panthers
- Lamar Lathon (1995) – 8 sacks
- Lamar Lathon (1996) – 13.5 sacks
Indianapolis Colts
- Marcus Washington (2000) – 2 sacks
- Marcus Washington (2001) – 8 sacks
Houston Texans
- Kailee Wong (2003) – 3 sacks
- Kailee Wong (2004) – 5.5 sacks
San Francisco 49ers
- Aldon Smith (2011) – 14 sacks
- Aldon Smith (2012) – 19.5 sacks
That’s pretty consistent work by Fangio. It’s also great news for Floyd. Expectations are high for the young outside linebacker. Despite missing four games with injury in 2016, he still produced seven sacks including 6.5 over a five-game span. There is no denying his immense athletic potential. It’s about whether he can find the technical prowess to match it. That’s where Fangio comes in.
Given his track record to date, there is every reason in the world to expect a big year from Floyd. If the numbers are averaged out from each of his stops, fans can expect somewhere in the vicinity of a 5.2 sack increase to Floyd’s season total. That means he will hit the 12-sack mark this year. It’s hard not to get excited about that.
If he does that and the secondary improves, then the Bears defense will be in business for the first time in years. That should get the fans revved up again.
