Chicago Bears

DT Eddie Goldman named one of 20 players essential to Chicago Bears' success

Published Jul. 2, 2015 9:50 a.m. ET

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For the Chicago Bears to return to playoff form in 2015, several players will need to step up and contribute. Defensive tackle Eddie Goldman is one of them, according to a Kevin Fishbain of Chicago Football.

This offseason, Fishbain's outlet is ranking the 20 players whose impact is most essential to Chicago's success in 2015, and Goldman kicked off the list at No. 20. He's a second-round pick out of Florida State who could be the team's starting nose tackle this season.

"[General manager] Ryan Pace made it clear the night the Bears took Goldman that he was a 'true' nose tackle, and aside from undrafted rookie Terry Williams, he's the only prototypical 0-technique on the roster," Fishbain wrote about Goldman. "What [defensive coordinator] Vic Fangio decides to do with Jeremiah Ratliff will help determine Goldman's role, but no matter what, Goldman should be a key cog in the new defense.

"Fangio isn't always going to have a cookie-cutter 30-front with a nose tackle head-up over the center. He will move things around based on matchups, but Goldman's main role will be plugging the run, something the Bears struggled mightily at, and that's an understatement, the past two seasons."

The Bears are rebuilding on defense, as Fangio is leading a transition from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4 scheme. In this new, three-man line, the anchoring role of the nose tackle is absolutely essential to the success of the entire defense.

If Goldman's first-year performance helps turn the Bears around, he can become the franchise's defensive cornerstone for years to come.

(h/t Chicago Football)

Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports