Eddie Goldman has a breakout season

The Chicago Bears drafted defensive tackle Eddie Goldman to plug up the middle of the line. In the years prior to his arrival via the second round (39th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft, opponents killed the middle of the Bears line. Since then, Goldman’s results have been mixed.

When Goldman is on the line the Bears line plays well. He does a good job of stuffing the middle. He also does a good job of getting into the backfield. In his rookie season, He had 22 tackles and 4.5 sacks (playing both nose tackle and defensive end). Last season, he recorded 44 tackles and 1.5 sacks playing entirely in the middle.

The problem is having him on the line. He missed 12 games in his career. An ankle injury in 2016 cost him 10 games. He recovered and played in 15 games in 2017. In his absence in 2016, the Bears ranked 26th in opponents running attempts, 27th in rushing yards given up, and 25th in rushing points allowed. In 2017, those rankings were 16th in rushing attempts, 11th in rushing yards given up, and 9th in rushing points allowed.

Goldman becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season. He needs to show that he’s should be in the Bears’ future plans. He needs a big 2018 season. I believe he’ll do just that.

He showed last season his ankle injury was behind him. Now he needs to take a step forward. If he plays well enough to command double teams, he opens things up for the defensive ends and/or the edge pass rushers. Also, if he gobbles up the middle and moves the line back, he forces the running back to the outside where multiple players are waiting for him.

Goldman will have the type of season the Bears look for in order to reward him with a nice second contract.

Prediction: 51 tackles, 6 sacks.

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