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Countdown to Kickoff: Profile on Chicago Bears No. 91 Eddie Goldman

By Dan Schmelzer

Dec 27, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) is sacked by Chicago Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman (91) and outside linebacker Pernell McPhee (92) during the second quarter of a football game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) is sacked by Chicago Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman (91) and outside linebacker Pernell McPhee (92) during the second quarter of a football game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Countdown to Kickoff series continues on with a profile on Chicago Bears defensive tackle Eddie Goldman who is a huge breakout candidate for 2016.

There are exactly 91 days until the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers open up the 2016 NFL regular season with a Super Bowl rematch. In the meantime, we at NFL Spin Zone are going to profile a player each day as we countdown the days to kickoff.

Related Story: Chicago Bears 53-Man Roster Predictions

The Countdown to Kickoff series began with a look at number 99 Joey Bosa and has continued on everyday since (check out all of the posts here). There were plenty of strong choices to profile at number 91, including Jamie Collins, Sheldon Richardson and Tamba Hali, but Chicago Bears defensive tackle Eddie Goldman was my choice.

Goldman is a big defensive tackle who shined for the Bears last season, and is primed to take on a larger role in 2016.

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The Bears drafted the 6’4″, 332-pound Goldman in the second round (39th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. While Goldman was not an immediate starter for the Bears, it did not take him long to become their obvious choice at the nose tackle position in their 3-4 defense.

Goldman raw size and strength on the inside makes him an absolutely dominant defender against the run. Opposing teams are always going to struggle running inside on the Bears when Goldman is in the game, and he proved that with consistency last season.

While he is a big and physical run stuffer who can plug up the middle with ease, there is more to Goldman’s game than that. He has a quick burst off of the snap, showing great explosion in to the offensive line.

Eddie Goldman
Nov 22, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman (23) is tackled by Chicago Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman (91) during the second half at Soldier Field. Denver won 17-15. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

Goldman is quicker and more athletic than one would expect from a 332-pound man, and he uses those movement skills extremely well. While he does not do much more than a bull rush from the inside, Goldman’s combination of power and athleticism makes for a nice pass rushing skill-set.

In a limited opportunity, Goldman finished with 4.5 sacks last season. While he is never going to put up huge sack numbers, Goldman can undoubtedly get after the quarterback from the interior. Case in point:

The Bears spent significant resources at the inside linebacker position this off season, signing both Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman. While Goldman’s ability to rush the passer from the interior is exciting, his ability to keep opposing offensive linemen off of the linebackers will be his primary job.

He can certainly do other things, but Trevathan, Freeman and the other Bears’ linebackers are undoubtedly excited to be playing behind a defensive force like Goldman. Having him up front is only going to open up more opportunity for others.

I think both Trevathan and Freeman will put up career-best numbers this season, and Goldman will be a huge reason why.

must read: Bold Predictions for 2016 Chicago Bears

With a combination of skills that makes him an incredibly exciting talent on the inside, I am expecting big things out of Goldman in 2016. He is one of the most talented players at his position in the entire NFL, and I fully predict that he will be a well-known player come season’s end.

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