Chargers News: Future Hall Of Fame Bolt Praised For Vintage Season
The Chargers didn't have to give much up to the Bears when they traded for pricey pass-rusher Khalil Mack in the 2022 offseason.
After his initial campaign in Southern California didn't go as well, Mack returned in a big way to start his second year in LA.
The former Defensive Player of the Year rebounded from talks of his decline this year generating praise from those who see him work day in and out.
"He's the easiest superstar I've ever coached in my life," said Chargers outside linebackers coach Giff Smith. "He's very much a team guy, he's a tough guy, hard worker, holds himself to a high standard, you can coach him hard. He's just a pleasure. But the most elite thing to me about him is he can rush with vision on the quarterback in the pocket. You either got that or you don't," Smith continued. "You can teach the other stuff. That, being able to feel the quarterback, where he's moving up. It's just like a quarterback being able to feel the rush and how to move out, some can do it and some can't do it. He can do that. Games like that [Raiders game], he was sitting on a goose egg going into that game. He'd been rushing really well … but I knew it was weighing on him," Smith added. "I think we both had a feeling it was going to come and come in bunches. Now I ain't saying any of us thought it'd be six, but it couldn't happen to a better guy."
Mack entered a Week 4 contest against his former team with zero sacks but proceeded to have a career day against Raiders rookie QB Aidan O'Connell.
The six-sack effort got his season back on track and the former Bear now gets a crack to add to that total against another old team.
It'll take a lot to slow down the former No. 5 overall pick and the sack artist hopes his old teammates won't impede that progress for another dominant season.
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