Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Saints O-Line Ready for the Attack of Mack
The New Orleans Saints offensive line has had some notable success already this season against a handful of the League's premier edge pass rushers thus far this season; including Texans DE JJ Watt, Seahawks DE Jadaveon Clowney, and Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence, to name just a few.
But this Sunday afternoon when they travel to the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois to face the Bears in a critically-important match-up of two NFC Playoff contenders, they'll face the one player that strikes fear into the hearts of O-Linemen throughout the entire NFL; Bears defensive end Khalil Mack.
Sep 15, 2019; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws under pressure from Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack (52) in the third quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Now currently playing in his 6th NFL season, the 28-year old Mack has recorded an incredible 57.5 sacks and has forced 19 fumbles in that period of time; the first 4 seasons of which were spent with the Oakland Raiders — the team that originally drafted him with the 5th overall selection of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Mack was traded at the start of last season in 2018 by the Raiders to the Bears, and now his presence in Chicago has made an already-superb Bears defense one that is now regarded as the League's very best overall.
Unfortunately for both Mack and the Bears, they haven't always played up to the level that most observers and analysts thought that they would up to this point, and they've struggled to 'close out' games late in the 4th Quarter in both of their losses through the first five games of the current season.
To that point, Mack hasn't been able to put up any of the gaudy pass rush stats most are accustomed to seeing from him; and, the 6-foot-3, 269-pound linebacker through the first 5 games has tallied 4.5 sacks, along with 13 tackles and 4 forced fumbles thus far.
The Bears defense —who were on their Bye Week last Sunday — had some issues with stopping the Raiders in their last game two weeks ago in London, England; as they allowed Oakland to drive 97 yards from inside of their own 5-yard line, and eventually scored the game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes to play in a 24-21 loss. The loss dropped Chicago's overall win-loss record to (3-2).
After the game ended, Mack's frustration was clearly evident as he left the stadium early and refused to speak with reporters. Coming into that game, expectations had been that Mack would have a big individual performance against the team that originally drafted him and then gave up on him 4 years later; but he failed to notch any of his 'signature' sacks or forced fumbles.
Clearly Mack and the defense will be looking to "bounce back" this week against the Saints. New Orleans has faced Mack only other time with mixed results.
Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower (34) jumps between Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) and defensive tackle Stacy McGee (92) in the second quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
That meeting occurred a few years ago in the 2016 Season opener at the Superdome, when the Saints held Mack without a sack, but still ended up losing the game, when the Raiders scored a late TD to pull out a 35-34 win.
This Sunday, it's likely that New Orleans will incorporate some of those very same protection methods against Mack, whom the Bears like to move around and line him up in a variety of different spots to create confusion.
Nevertheless, you can expect the Saints O-Line to be ready for Mack regardless of wherever he lines up at.
If he slides over to the left defensive end spot and lines up over left tackle Terron Armstead, it's likely that the New Orleans will counter by having left guard Andrus Peat pick up the inside double-team.
Nov 12, 2017; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Terron Armstead (72) against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
But if Mack lines up in his normal right defensive end spot over Saints right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, the odds are pretty good that they'll allow Ramcyzk to take on Mack one-on-one, and simply have back-up #2 TE Josh Hill assist Ramcyzk by "chip-blocking" the perennial All-Pro pass rusher.
Now, of course, the Saints could stand to benefit even further against Mack by having back-up QB Teddy Bridgewater release the ball much faster, since Mack feasts on quarterbacks that hold on to the ball far too long in the pocket.
Mack's success is predicated on his elite-caliber speed coming off the outside edge that allows him to get a huge "jump" on the lineman matched up in front of him; which means that Bridgewater —much like Drew Brees did in that 2016 contest against Mack when he was still with the Raiders — will need to get the ball out to his receivers quickly.
Sep 5, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack (52) reacts after making a tackle against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Given that knowledge, the mission is clear for the Saints O-Line when they arrive in Chicago this weekend: sufficiently keep Bridgwater upright and give him a clean pocket to throw from, and exponentially increase their chances of coming away with another win that nobody expects them to get.
The Saints have strung together four straight wins in a row without Brees through a wide variety of different methods which includes superb coaching, stellar defensive play, a solid running game. and efficient passing by Bridgewater.
But if they expect to emerge victorious this Sunday at Soldier Field against the always-tough Bears, then they'll have to be more than ready to face the attack of Mack.
