Block or Not: Eddie Goldman
We continue our look at Chicago Bears building blocks by taking a closer look at nose tackle Eddie Goldman.
As the Chicago Bears continue to look at 2018 and beyond, we continue our series on the team’s building blocks of the future. We’ve already determined (in obvious fashion) that Akiem Hicks is a building block for the team. But do the Bears have anything else along the defensive front that’s a building block? Let’s take a closer look at nose tackle Eddie Goldman.
Goldman was the second ever player selected by Ryan Pace in his first draft as Bears’ GM back in 2015. Goldman made an impact as a rookie, but struggled with endurance and wasn’t able to stay on the field as often as the team would have hoped. In Goldman’s second year, his endurance improved but he struggled much of the season with a high-ankle sprain and missed several games.
While Goldman struggled to be on the field consistently in his first two years, he was on the field far more during year three and had his best season as a pro. Goldman showed plenty of ability in both the run and passing games. Goldman can split double teams and make plays in the ground game. In the passing game, Goldman may not record double-digit sacks, but he’s shown the ability to collapse the pocket and force quarterbacks out of their comfort zone.
Goldman’s strength and talent have forced offenses to focus on him and make sure that two bodies are on him on a regular basis. This opened up the defense and helped Danny Trevathan have a solid season in 2017 while Goldman kept blockers off the inside backers.
#Bears NT Eddie Goldman has been very consistent all season. Violent with his hands and dominates at the line of scrimmage. pic.twitter.com/KHHGmkdb00
— Thomas Gibbons (@ThomasGibbons_3) December 26, 2017
The video above shows Goldman’s ability to split a double team and make a play against the run. Goldman can be just as impressive rushing the passer as well.
#Bears NT Eddie Goldman and DL Akiem Hicks utterly destroy the #Ravens O-Line here pic.twitter.com/vgRprYI6o4
— Trey🤴🏽 (@TreyBizzy) October 17, 2017
In this play, while Hicks may have gotten there a split second before Goldman, clearly it was a pick-your-poison type play and Goldman would have had Joe Flacco in the turf a split-second slower than Hicks.
Goldman is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract. He can become an unrestricted free agent after this season. That’s something the Bears cannot allow to happen. Goldman and Hicks up front will give the Bears a formidable duo for years to come. Pace needs to make extending Goldman one of his offseason priorities.
Eddie Goldman: Block or Not? BLOCK