Chicago Bears: Eddie Goldman helping improve team’s run defense
One of the biggest improvements on the Chicago Bears defense is against the run. With Eddie Goldman on the field, the rush defense is helping win games.
The Chicago Bears defense improved by leaps and bounds in 2017. They’ve gone from giving up multiple 50+ points to not allowing a touchdown in nine straight quarters. One of the biggest improvements to the defense is against the run. Last season, the run defense ranked in the bottom quarter of the league in attempts (26th), yards (27th), and touchdowns (25th).
On the other hand, this season the numbers are different. Instead of being near the bottom, they are now around the top half in attempts (11th) and yards (15th), and around there in touchdowns (18th). One of the reasons for the improvement is having Eddie Goldman on the field. Goldman, the Bears’ second-round pick in 2015, recorded 4.5 sacks and 22 tackles in 15 games during his rookie season.
Last season, Goldman suffered an ankle injury which cost him 10 games. Before his injury, he performed well. He recorded 2.5 sacks and 18 tackles in just six games. This season, Goldman has played in all seven games. He has 1.5 sacks and tied his career-high with 22 tackles.
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Having Goldman on the field really helps the defense. Yes, the pass rush is good and the secondary is performing better than expected. A big reason for this, however, is the rush defense led by Goldman. With him bottling up the middle, opposing offenses need to go to the Bears’ defensive strengths. Akiem Hicks and Leonard Floyd are making big play after big play. The more Goldman and company shut the running game down, the more the opposition finds itself in passing situations.
In the game against the Carolina Panthers, Cam Newton had his offense marching down the field. The Bears held the Panthers to short yards and there was a fourth-and-2. The Panthers decided to go for it and had Newton run. He is a load to knock down, but there was Goldman, stuffing Newton for a measly one-yard gain. The Bears avoided giving up a touchdown on the drive and handing the Panthers momentum.
Goldman doesn’t care about his stats. He’s interested in doing his job and helping the team win. As he said recently, via the Chicago Sun-Times:
"“Once I do my job, plays will come,. I don’t worry about stats.”"
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It is critical for the Bears to have Goldman on the field. He is the defense’s anchor. When he performs, everything falls into place. The big names like Floyd, HIcks, and Pernell McPhee, among others, receive a lot of the attention. It is Eddie Goldman, however, who helps them get the job done.