BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Leonard Floyd's struggle to stay on the field has not dampened John Fox's enthusiasm over the ninth overall pick in the 2016 draft.

In fact, Fox said on Wednesday that Floyd's play is comparable to formerly dangerous pass-rusher Aldon Smith, whom Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio coached in San Francisco.

"He plays strong, forget about his weight, weight isn't all about how you create power," John Fox said of Leonard Floyd. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

"It's close, I think Leonard is more explosive," Fox said on ESPN 1000's Waddle and Silvy Show. "He did better in the 40-yard dash, he runs better -- and I'm not beating up Aldon -- he was very similar and I saw him and studied him coming out as well. Good pass-rusher, he has bend and has some girth to power rush. But what Leonard adds, to kind of combat maybe the power, is unbelievable change, and so he can go inside, he can take upfield speed to power just by slipping the block. He bends and gets small very well and very quickly. That compensates for maybe some size that you just don't have that bull rush type of move."

Smith had 17 sacks in two years at Missouri. Floyd sacked the quarterback 17 times in three years at Georgia.

In San Francisco, Smith registered 33.5 sacks in his first two NFL seasons before off-the-field and legal issues forever altered his career.

So far in Chicago, Floyd missed time in camp (illness/shoulder) and fielded multiple questions about his playing weight, but Fox is undeterred.

The veteran coach is a firm believer in Floyd's potential.

"Floyd has got great first-step quickness, he's got great flexibility, he's got good length," Fox said. "He's got all the natural traits, the uncoachable traits that it takes to be an edge rusher, and be an outside linebacker in the National Football League. He's got cover skills, he can play inside, he runs fast enough. ... He plays strong, forget about his weight, weight isn't all about how you create power. He does it with his explosion and bend, he's going to be just fine."