Jeff Dickerson, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Bears expect Eddie Goldman to anchor defensive line

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears' front office did a lot of work in the offseason to strengthen the front seven on defense.

In addition to signing veterans Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman, the Bears used high picks on outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (first round) and defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard (third round).

But the man responsible for tying it all together up front is second-year nose tackle Eddie Goldman, who reported to camp 16 pounds lighter than his listed weight (336 pounds) last season.

"I feel faster because I lost some weight," Goldman said on Tuesday. "Because I didn’t play a full game yet, so I can’t really judge myself, but I can tell you that feel faster, quicker. [And] I’m more comfortable with the playbook, and that’s pretty much it. Just learning the playbook and learning and feeling the techniques that you have to -- uh, not learning, but feeling it, you know what I mean? Feeling the techniques, and stuff like that."

The 39th overall pick in 2015, Goldman had 4.5 sacks and six tackles for loss in 12 starts as a rookie.

Coach John Fox thinks Goldman is capable of more.

"I've seen improvement," Fox said. "I think I've seen improvement in our front play, but I think we still have work to do. I think Eddie's ... he grew a lot last year as a rookie, and I've seen that same growth so far even in the preseason games, albeit in limited play. He got about 10 plays in the first week and then about 15 last week, so hopefully he'll get a few more plays, kind of get him in full-game condition. But I like his progress."

Goldman added: "I just want to see where I am like in the third quarter on Saturday [against the Kansa City Chiefs]. Because I doubt I’m going to play in the fourth quarter. To see where I am in the midst of the game, and just to see how my body will react, that’s what I’m most anxious to find out."

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