Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy He served as Mississippi State’s coordinator and receivers coach in 2018 when Labb was a senior with the Bulldogs and was named a first-team All-American after recording 12 sacks.
“It was great,” Getsy said. “Great teammate, great work ethic. I remember the coaches jokingly. Instead of running gasses on D-Linen and stuff, he would be with the DBs and fit in with those guys. He was always a great guy, and most of all, a great teammate.”
Gatsy Laub said that as a player, offenses should always be aware of him.
“The best part about him is that I remember him as a great pass rusher as a college player,” Getsy said. “I think what he’s done with his game since he’s been in the NFL, he’s become a very good defender. Having that dual threat, playing the game at all levels is really where he’s grown.”
After practicing against the Bears on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Labb is expected to play against the Saints on Sunday.
“He’s been in there with us, the two of us, our rush group, and he’s picking things up quickly,” Eberflus said. “So we expect to play him in a variety of positions and we’re happy with where he’s at in his development. He’s played right and left on the line — so we’re excited about where he’s at for this particular game.”
Lab’s ability and versatility give the Bears plenty of options on defense.
“It opens up a lot of things,” Eberfloss said. “You can do a lot of things as a player like him. And we’ve had top players like that before. We’re definitely going to try to step it up and put him on the line. The matches we need on the line. It’s important to do that.
Lab is the type of graduate player who no doubt makes those around him better.
“When you add a good football player to your team, no matter what position he plays, you improve your team,” added cornerbacks coach/defensive passing game coordinator John Hoke. “He’s going to have an impact because he’s a pass rusher and he’s a very good one, obviously. He rushes the quarterback as much as anything.
“I remember when I was here in ’09 we were in the middle of the road defensively, then in 2010 we went and got a couple defensively. We were an 11-5 team and we got better. He affects our team. Like good players do.”