Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is a man of regimen and routine, but even he says he lets himself relax each year during the bye week.
"I've never had a bad bye week," Fangio said Monday night during the Bears Coaches Show with Jeff Joniak on WBBM Newsradio 780 AM and 105.9 FM. "Slept in about three of the days, past 10 o'clock, got a couple rounds of golf in locally. … So I've enjoyed it."
Fangio and the rest of the Bears are back in football mode after enjoying Week 5 away from the field and are full steam ahead preparing for the Dolphins, a team coming off back-to-back losses.
Fangio is familiar with Miami head coach Adam Gase. The two both joined the Bears in 2015 as defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator, respectively. Gase left to take over the Dolphins after one year in Chicago. Despite Fangio's familiarity with a Gase-coached offense, he said he doesn't let it affect his game planning.
"I don't get all worked up over that stuff," Fangio said. "I think the biggest mistake somebody can make, whether it be them changing what they do because they think I might know a little bit more than the next guy about their offense, or for me to change what we do because I think they might know a little bit. You just put that aside and play."
One area he will be planning for though is Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Tannehill has completed nearly 66 percent of his passes this year and thrown for eight touchdowns.
"He's been a successful quarterback for these guys," Fangio said. "They obviously have a good feel for him and how he best fits to run that team, and he's athletic with a big arm. We expect to get his best."
Key to attacking Tannehill and the Dolphins will be the continued dominance of the Bears defense. The unit ranks near the top in nearly every defensive category.
Fangio has touted linebacker Khalil Mack before, but he noted on Monday night that his off-field presence has been equally beneficial as his menacing physicality on the field, mentioning that he's been a major help to some of the younger guys.
"He's brought a really good attitude besides his production, and I think the guys enjoy being around him," Fangio said. "I know the coaches enjoy being around him, and anytime you can add a guy like that to the team, with the production that's come along with it, you know it can do nothing but help you."
Mack has had the luxury of joining another standout linebacker in Danny Trevathan. Trevathan has been a huge part of the Bears dominance, recording two sacks, a forced fumble, fumble recovery, and interception through the first four games.
It's the type of production that Fangio thinks could merit hardware at the end of the season.
"He's had an excellent season up to this point, and I think Danny's finally been the beneficiary of practicing a lot," Fangio said. "His first two years here he had clunks of time where he wasn't able to practice because of injuries. He's had a really good offseason with us, and training camp, and he's enjoying the fruits of that labor. He understands our defense better than he ever has, to the point where he can help others. He is the quarterback of the defense. ... He's playing his best football, and if he can continue it I think he'll be considered for a lot of post-season honors."
Fangio, Mack and Trevathan will look to stay atop of the division Sunday afternoon when they head down to Miami.
