Chicago Bears: Five Big Questions Heading into 2019 Season

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 16: The Chicago Bears run onto the field at the start of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on December 16, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 16: The Chicago Bears run onto the field at the start of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on December 16, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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Will Leonard Floyd Finally Have Breakout Year?

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 30: Leonard Floyd #94 of the Chicago Bears runs past Donovan Smith #76 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on September 30, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 30: Leonard Floyd #94 of the Chicago Bears runs past Donovan Smith #76 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on September 30, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

In 2018, the Bears’ defense was ranked third in the NFL in both total defense (299.7 yards per game) and sacks (50). Mack led the charge with 12.5 of those sacks. Coming on the opposite edge was Leonard Floyd. From the start of 2018, Floyd wasn’t playing at 100 percent. The Georgia product’s play was limited due to a fractured right hand, which came about during the preseason. Despite this ailment, Floyd started all 16 games.

The 6-foot-4, 251-pounder really didn’t start playing to his full potential until he got the cast removed from his hand and finally had full range of motion. It was then that Floyd’s play on the field improved. The four-year veteran finished the season with 4.0 sacks, three shy from his career-best. Barring any setbacks this offseason, can this be the breakout season that everyone has been eagerly waiting for from the ninth-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft? With Mack attracting all of the attention from opposing offenses, 2019 could be the year that Floyd finally makes a lot of noise.

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