Eddie Goldman Impressed With Cody Whitehair............

Eddie Goldman impressed by rookie Cody Whitehair


By: Bryan Perez | 8 hours ago

When the Chicago Bears drafted Cody Whitehair in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft, it was expected that he would end his first training camp as a starter.

He’s met those expectations, as he’s currently the team’s starting left guard and emergency center.

Whitehair has obviously impressed the coaching staff with his play, but it’s the impression he’s made on one of the team’s most important defenders that should have Bears fans excited.

Second-year nose tackle Eddie Goldman raved about Whitehair’s play so far, offering a scouting report fit for a first-round pick:

“He’s tough, he’s strong, he has a good grip when he puts his hands on you. He’s a good run blocker and pass blocker, too. In the run, he comes off (the ball) low. In the pass, he has good balance and good feet.”

Goldman is quickly becoming one of the NFL’s top interior defenders, known for his power and brute strength that is complemented by his quickness in pursuit down the line of scrimmage. There won’t be many linemen who will be able to block him one-on-one this season, so his praise for Whitehair suggests he’s struggled to beat the rookie during camp.

The Bears need Whitehair to be every bit of what Goldman described and more. With the injury bug biting center Hroniss Grasu (out for the season with a torn ACL), and now Kyle Long with a mysterious shoulder injury, Whitehair’s steady and reliable play will be a must-have for Chicago’s offense.