Nose Tackle

[Chris Sojka]

Bilal Nichols isn’t one. He has some excellent plays and can explode through offensive lineman from time to time and be disruptive. A big play guy from time to time. He does not reset the line of scrimmage and can get solo blocked on run plays and moved right out of running lanes Good player but what he isn’t is a NT.

Akiem Hicks ends up doubled most of the game and because of that he is not able to make as many big plays. Simple to understand. Hicks is taking on the doubles like a NT. Offenses aren’t worried about Nichols bull rushing the Guard into the QB.

The line of scrimmage isn’t reset or set by our NT. Meaning it is either where it begins the play or ends up a yard upfield for the offense more than 50% of the time. That’s detrimental to the pass rushers.

Three steps forward or three steps back. Why isn’t the pass rush getting home? Well it’s simple, The LOS doesn’t get pushed back closer the QB. If it did you’d see Mack and Quinn feasting on QBs who couldn’t step up in the pocket. Angles, if they can step up they can avoid the rush. If they can’t both edge rushers can “Bend the edge” better than anyone in the league. This doesn’t matter if the QB steps up though.

Goldman isn’t here to reset the LOS and draw doubles. Bilal Nichols doesn’t draw them at all. Hicks does.

McCullers doesn’t have the feet or hands that Goldman has. He does have the power and he’s developed solid awareness. He should be the NT on 1st and 2nd with Nichols rotating in on 3rd and in passing situations.

Everyone on that defense improves with a true nose tackle.

 

[and 69 others]

I’d argue the pass rush is hurting more from Paganos bullshit play calling than the NT position being weak. There’s no excuse for this type of talent not to wreak havoc.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Goldman is going to be like a big time FA pickup next season.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Fucking Debby Downer

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Fucking Debby Downer

Bit sad, innit?

 

[Montucky]

I’d argue the pass rush is hurting more from Paganos bullshit play calling than the NT position being weak. There’s no excuse for this type of talent not to wreak havoc.

Hicks is perpetually injured and misses just as many games as he plays these days. Quinn has been mostly useless. Roy Robertson-Harris is on the injured reserve. Mack is obviously in some stage of decline from his 2018 highs, the extent of which seems to vary week-to-week or even drive-to-drive. Bilal Nichols, Brent Urban and Mario Edwards Jr. have been nice players but aside from Nichols they aren't supremely talented or anything.

I dont see any issue with the stunts and shifts on the defensive line. Pagano is using the rightschemes in the right doses to try and generate some pressure but fact is none of the highly paid Bears defensive linemen/edge rushers are performing to the standards of their contract.

 

[mattb78]

Nichols is playing well just out of position. 5 sacks is good production.
Goldman was a huge loss this season. Irreplaceable.
Defensively, we have been suffering from injuries and a loss of motivation when Nagy was still calling plays.

I still think the defense is top 10. Need a healthy Hicks Mack and Quinn.

 

[dabears70]

B.Nichols will probably be taking over for A.Hicks if they decide to make defensive cuts to create some cap to spend on offense.

 

[SlickWilly]

Bilal Nichols isn’t one. He has some excellent plays and can explode through offensive lineman from time to time and be disruptive. A big play guy from time to time. He does not reset the line of scrimmage and can get solo blocked on run plays and moved right out of running lanes Good player but what he isn’t is a NT.

Akiem Hicks ends up doubled most of the game and because of that he is not able to make as many big plays. Simple to understand. Hicks is taking on the doubles like a NT. Offenses aren’t worried about Nichols bull rushing the Guard into the QB.

The line of scrimmage isn’t reset or set by our NT. Meaning it is either where it begins the play or ends up a yard upfield for the offense more than 50% of the time. That’s detrimental to the pass rushers.

Three steps forward or three steps back. Why isn’t the pass rush getting home? Well it’s simple, The LOS doesn’t get pushed back closer the QB. If it did you’d see Mack and Quinn feasting on QBs who couldn’t step up in the pocket. Angles, if they can step up they can avoid the rush. If they can’t both edge rushers can “Bend the edge” better than anyone in the league. This doesn’t matter if the QB steps up though.

Goldman isn’t here to reset the LOS and draw doubles. Bilal Nichols doesn’t draw them at all. Hicks does.

McCullers doesn’t have the feet or hands that Goldman has. He does have the power and he’s developed solid awareness. He should be the NT on 1st and 2nd with Nichols rotating in on 3rd and in passing situations.

Everyone on that defense improves with a true nose tackle.

You gotta realize this is the same coaching staff that trotted Coward's worthless ass out there 5 or 6 weeks in a row. I agree with you, but these last two games are gonna be more of the same shit.

 

[Sculpt]

Bilal Nichols isn’t one. He has some excellent plays and can explode through offensive lineman from time to time and be disruptive. A big play guy from time to time. He does not reset the line of scrimmage and can get solo blocked on run plays and moved right out of running lanes Good player but what he isn’t is a NT.

Akiem Hicks ends up doubled most of the game and because of that he is not able to make as many big plays. Simple to understand. Hicks is taking on the doubles like a NT. Offenses aren’t worried about Nichols bull rushing the Guard into the QB.

The line of scrimmage isn’t reset or set by our NT. Meaning it is either where it begins the play or ends up a yard upfield for the offense more than 50% of the time. That’s detrimental to the pass rushers.

Three steps forward or three steps back. Why isn’t the pass rush getting home? Well it’s simple, The LOS doesn’t get pushed back closer the QB. If it did you’d see Mack and Quinn feasting on QBs who couldn’t step up in the pocket. Angles, if they can step up they can avoid the rush. If they can’t both edge rushers can “Bend the edge” better than anyone in the league. This doesn’t matter if the QB steps up though.

Goldman isn’t here to reset the LOS and draw doubles. Bilal Nichols doesn’t draw them at all. Hicks does.

McCullers doesn’t have the feet or hands that Goldman has. He does have the power and he’s developed solid awareness. He should be the NT on 1st and 2nd with Nichols rotating in on 3rd and in passing situations.

Everyone on that defense improves with a true nose tackle.

Jenkins has played solid NT for us, holding the LOS. But yeah, Hicks and Goldman are world class, so we didn't get super lucky at this position behind them, nor did we draft a higher NT. McCullers at 6'7" 352lbs, 7th year, is a very nice player to have right now, to hold the LOS. I hope he makes some advances, this is probably the prime of his career.

 

[circusboy666]

Goldman effects this D on so many levels even with his lack of stats

 

[playthrough2001]

Imagine losing one of the best nose tackles in the NFL having an adverse effect on the run defense...

 

[EDPeezy]

I think there’s a decent chance this is Hicks last season in Chicago.

 

[Chris Sojka]

I’d argue the pass rush is hurting more from Paganos bullshit play calling than the NT position being weak. There’s no excuse for this type of talent not to wreak havoc.

The NT position causes a Double team to go towards either Hicks or Nichols. They pick Hicks 99% of the time because Nichols isn’t as strong as Hicks. However a NT that can just collapse the pocket with a Bull rush forces 2 things. A Hicks one on one and a pocket you can’t step up in.

Nichols is avoidable.

Goldman... could not be solo blocked.

McCullers might not have pass rush moves but he almost always can crash the pocket and demands enough doubles to get Hicks in a great situation.

 

[ThatGuyRyan]

Bilal Nichols isn’t one. He has some excellent plays and can explode through offensive lineman from time to time and be disruptive. A big play guy from time to time. He does not reset the line of scrimmage and can get solo blocked on run plays and moved right out of running lanes Good player but what he isn’t is a NT.

Akiem Hicks ends up doubled most of the game and because of that he is not able to make as many big plays. Simple to understand. Hicks is taking on the doubles like a NT. Offenses aren’t worried about Nichols bull rushing the Guard into the QB.

The line of scrimmage isn’t reset or set by our NT. Meaning it is either where it begins the play or ends up a yard upfield for the offense more than 50% of the time. That’s detrimental to the pass rushers.

Three steps forward or three steps back. Why isn’t the pass rush getting home? Well it’s simple, The LOS doesn’t get pushed back closer the QB. If it did you’d see Mack and Quinn feasting on QBs who couldn’t step up in the pocket. Angles, if they can step up they can avoid the rush. If they can’t both edge rushers can “Bend the edge” better than anyone in the league. This doesn’t matter if the QB steps up though.

Goldman isn’t here to reset the LOS and draw doubles. Bilal Nichols doesn’t draw them at all. Hicks does.

McCullers doesn’t have the feet or hands that Goldman has. He does have the power and he’s developed solid awareness. He should be the NT on 1st and 2nd with Nichols rotating in on 3rd and in passing situations.

Everyone on that defense improves with a true nose tackle.

I’d like to see them go free agency, a guy like Daquan Jones or hell even take a shot with suh who is basically what we want EG to be.