Chicago Bears should have NFL’s best defensive line in 2019

While the Chicago Bears linebackers and secondary get all the attention, their defensive line is probably the best in the NFL and the unit helps everyone else on that elite defense.

One take from the Chicago Bears‘ first preseason game is that the defense is still playing well. Yes, it was just the first game, but they played mostly the backups in the first half and even they wreaked havoc. They continued with their incredible turnover game, recovering a fumble and getting an interception.

We also got to see a bit of new defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano’s philosophy. The Bears will be more aggressive than they were with Vic Fangio in the same position. Pagano put some pressure in the opening preseason game and, in addition to the two turnovers, the defense also recorded five sacks.

The Bears’ linebackers and secondary get a lot of attention and deservedly so. When an opposing quarterback throws a pass, a lot of times he has to hold his breath and hope it doesn’t end in a Bears player’s hands. Even when the pass is completed, the Bears do a good job of knocking the ball out.

While those two groups do a great job, the reason they could do all that is because of the defensive line. That unit is the best and deepest one in the NFL. Akiem Hicks was a Pro Bowler last season and Eddie Goldman was a Pro Bowl alternate. Bilal Nichols had a good rookie season. He went from unknown backup to Hicks to start opposite of him for the last three games.

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Behind the starters, you have Roy Robertson-Harris, Jonathan Bullard and Nick Williams. Robertson-Harris could start for a lot of other teams (he recorded three sacks, 22 tackles and even defended two passes) and Bullard, while being a bit of a disappointment as a third-round pick, can be a dependable backup. With this depth, the starters could do their damage throughout the season. They’ll get enough rest to stay fresh down the stretch.

Hicks gets to continue his stellar play of the last three seasons. He was Chicago’s best-kept secret until Khalil Mack arrived and brought all the attention to the defense. Hicks’ play wasn’t much different in 2018 than in 2017 and 2016, but the attention was new. that elevated him to the Pro Bowl. He’ll have another repeat performance in 2019.

Goldman is working on making the Pro Bowl himself. He came close last season and wants to work to get over the top and become a Pro Bowler himself. He takes up a lot of space in the middle and is a great run stuffer.

Running backs cannot get through in the middle and when they bounce to the outside they meet Hicks or the incredible linebackers. Before Goldman got to town, running backs killed the Bears up the middle. That changed with Goldman.

Defensive line coach Jay Rodgers, voted as the best in the NFL last season, had high praise for Goldman, via the Chicago Tribune:

"There are not many people who do the things he does. If you watch football and you appreciate what defensive linemen do, when there’s a guy standing between (two blockers) and the running back has to go somewhere else, he doesn’t get credit for that. Eddie is in the right spots a lot of the times and (ball carriers) have to go somewhere else. He’s one of the best in the world at what he does."

Nichols looks to build on his rookie success. He has a great combination of size, quickness, and explosiveness. He used it to move up the depth chart last season. He spent the season and now the offseason listening to veterans like Hicks, trying to improve his game.

If he accomplishes that, the Bears could have three Pro Bowl (or Pro Bowl-caliber) players on the line. That means more success for the rest of this elite defense and horrible news for opposing teams.

Yes, the Chicago Bears have elite players at linebacker and in the secondary. However, if the guys on the defensive line aren’t doing their jobs then those guys won’t be able to do what they’re doing. Hopefully, they all do their thing and the Chicago Bears have a super season.