‘He added, “Ed Oliver is going to come in and earn everything he gets … he’s a good player that plays hard, brings his lunch pail and fits the way we play on the field. The thing that stands out is how quick he is at the line of scrimmage. You can feel his energy … his juice … his competitive nature, he wants it. That hunger is that critical piece we look for.”’
Archives for April 26, 2019
This time it paid for Bills to stand pat
‘“We knew it was going to be close,” Beane said, though, the Bills were optimistic that Oliver would fall to them. “The other thing you worry about is somebody trading up (past you). But we stayed patient. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t … but it worked this time”.’
Ed Oliver ‘not surprised one bit’ the Buffalo Bills made him first-round draft choice
‘”Instead of attacking a full man, with a guard coming down on you nine times out of 10, you attack a half a man,” Oliver said. “Most definitely, I like three-technique better than nose guard, but when you come in you have to go to work. I’m coming in humble as I know how. I want to learn the playbook and get to work.”‘
Analysis: Ed Oliver gives the Bills’ pass rush much-needed explosiveness
‘Oliver is quicker and more talented than Kyle Williams. He slides right into the 3-technique spot, opposite the outside shoulder of the guard, that Williams manned the last 13 years.’
5 things to know about new Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver
‘Oliver had Heisman Trophy hype heading into 2018, but a knee injury limited him to just eight games. He was still named a third-team All-American after finishing with 54 tackles, including 14.5 for loss, three sacks and two passes defensed.’
Brandon Beane addresses trade-up rumors surrounding Bills
‘”Yeah, as we always do, there was a lot of exploring in front of us, some of it you’re also trying to figure out what people are going to do,” he said. “That report was played up much higher than it was. There was never any exchange of compensation or anything like that. That’s when, to me, you’re getting serious on a trade if you start talking parameters of what it’s going to take to move up and move back.”‘
What They Said: Beane, McDermott wrap up Round 1
‘Ed [Oliver] is, first of all, he’s a competitor. He’s tough. He plays from the snap to the echo of the whistle. He fits Buffalo, how we do things. They used him in Houston a little different than how we’ll use him. He played a lot the zero right over the nose. For us, I think Sean [McDermott] will slide him in as a three tech in our defense, which is a very important piece for what we’re doing. You guys know we lost Kyle [Williams], and we were not able to answer that in free agency. I think this fell pretty good for us.’
Jay Skurski’s second-round mock draft gives Bills another weapon for Josh Allen
’40. Buffalo Bills. A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss. Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said he wouldn’t shy away from a defensive player at this pick, but it’s hard to pass up getting quarterback Josh Allen another weapon.’
Sean Kirst: Pancho Billa enters hospice care, speaks of gratitude to Bills Mafia
‘”We’re still fighting,” he said by telephone, “and I’m going for a Buffalo Bills vs. Houston Oilers kind of comeback.”‘
Ed Oliver feels at home and Bills get a gift as he falls to them in first round
‘“He’s a competitor, he’s tough, plays from the snap to the echo of the whistle,” said Beane. “They used him in Houston a little different than we’ll use him. They used him right over the nose; for us, Sean will slot him in as a three-tech which is a very important piece. We lost Kyle and we weren’t able to fill that in free agency, so this fell pretty good for us.”’
5 things to know about Buffalo Bills No. 9 overall pick Ed Oliver
‘Oliver had a tremendous 2017 season and was thrust into the 2018 Heisman Trophy conversation, but he suffered a bruised right knee four games into the season and he never really bounced back.’
Experts say Buffalo Bills got an ‘absolute steal’ in first-round pick Ed Oliver
‘”If you watch him at Houston, throw away that tape. Here’s what I know you need in the NFL, quick twitchy guys. Think of Warren Sapp, think of John Randle. He has the highest ceiling of any defensive lineman in this draft.”‘
Buffalo Bills super fan Pancho Billa watches NFL draft from hospice room
‘I want to tell them that I love them,” Castro told WGRZ-TV by phone Thursday. “I want to thank them for accepting me and for being there for me through thick and thin. And most important, making me an honorary Buffalonian. I will cherish that forever.”‘
Buffalo Bills select Ed Oliver with No. 9 pick in NFL Draft
‘Speculation about the Bills’ first-round pick swirled in the hours leading up to the draft. Reports suggested that that Bills general manager Brandon Beane was talking to the Jets about a potential move up to the No. 3 pick. Nothing materialized and the Jets drafted Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams at No. 3.’
Bills GM Brandon Beane has no Ed Oliver character concerns despite sideline incident
‘“Listen, for all college kids there are probably one or two things all of us would like to do different and you learn along the way,” Beane said Thursday night just a few moments after selecting Oliver in the draft. “But deep down he was raised well, he’s a good kid and we spent a lot of time (getting to know him).”’
NFL Draft 2019: 9 things to know about new Buffalo Bills DT Ed Oliver
‘It never hurts to be compared to the NFL’s best defender. Shortly after his name was called, Louis Riddick compared Oliver to Aaron Donald. He’ll have large shoes to fill, but if he comes close to that comparison, the Bills will have a superstar.’
2019 NFL Draft: Grading Buffalo Bills selection of Ed Oliver
‘Sometimes dreams come true and this is a dream scenario for the Bills and their fans.’
NFL Draft 2019: Buffalo Bills earn A grade for selecting Houston DT Ed Oliver, says CBS Sports
‘I thought he was misused at Houston. I think this kid is going to be special at the next level. He is not Aaron Donald, I don’t like that comparison. He plays a lot like John Randle and Randle was a Hall of Famer. This kid is going to be a good player for Buffalo.’
NFL Draft 2019: Sports Illustrated gives Buffalo Bills’ selection of Ed Oliver a C grade
‘Most likely, the Bills saw this as a value pick. And after signing Star Lotulelei for big money in free agency last year, to pair with 2018 third-rounder Harrison Phillips and gifted (though mercurial) ex-Dolphin Jordan Phillips, they didn’t have a glaring need at defensive tackle. But outside, they badly need an edge rusher, as 2016 first-rounder Shaq Lawson is not that guy and Jerry Hughes could be in his last year with the club. That said, you can make room for a dynamic gap penetrator. Oliver relies on quickness and elusiveness within confined areas, which is a unique style of play. But considering his having had an up-and-down 2018 season and Buffalo not badly needing a defensive tackle, overall this is a high-risk, high-reward pick for a team looking to add talent in multiple places.’
NFL Draft 2019: Ed Oliver is an absolute steal (What the media is saying about Buffalo Bills’ first-round pick)
‘Ed Oliver is such a heist at 9 there’s going to be a true crime podcast.’
NFL Draft 2019: 15 second-round targets for the Buffalo Bills
‘After bolstering their defensive line, the Bills could turn their attention to the offensive line. Kansas State’s Dalton Risner was viewed as a late first-early second round pick in many mock drafts and could instantly start at guard for Buffalo. He met with the Bills at the combine and spoke highly of the team’s coaching staff.’
Buffalo Bills select Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver with ninth pick of 2019 NFL Draft
‘“We liked where we were at nine, and you don’t truly know how it’s going to fall, but we felt if a couple quarterbacks went that we would get a player definitely worthy of the ninth pick and that’s what we did,” said Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane from One Bills Drive. “Ed is a competitor. He plays from the snap to the echo of the whistle. He fits buffalo, and how we do things here.”’
Bills draft Ed Oliver in the first round with the 9th overall pick
‘Ed Oliver barreled through an agility drill in March during his pro day workout on the University of Houston campus, moving so aggressively and quickly the consensus All-American defensive lineman nearly ran over his future NFL head coach.’
Buffalo Bills’ Ed Oliver loves horses. Even Oreo, the one who ‘tried to kill me’
‘”I definitely feel like I’m the best D-lineman here,” he said while acknowledging what a loaded interior class he’s a part of, along with studs like Alabama’s Quinnen Williams and Clemson’s Christian Wilkins, among many others.’
Cedar Cliff grad Coy Wire will announce Buffalo Bills’ 3rd round pick in 2019 NFL Draft
‘The NFL welcomes alumni of all 32 NFL teams to announce selections beyond the first round, when commissioner Roger Goodell handles all those duties. Wire will be that guy for a Bills franchise that selected him in the third round of the 2002 draft.’
Bills draft Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver with 9th pick
‘“You could feel his presence and energy,” McDermott said. “The closer you got, the more you felt the quickness, the more you felt the power, the more you felt the juice.”’
2019 NFL Draft Grades: Bills get an A after Ed Oliver falls into their laps at No. 9 overall
‘Going with a throwback for Oliver despite his presence as a “new-age” one-gapper at the three technique position, charging through the outside shoulder of either guard. That’s, at least, where I’d play him essentially all the time, despite varying suggestions as to all the types of roles he could assume — and thrive in — at the next level. The same was true for Randle. Kind of. With him though, as an undrafted free agent from Texas A&M-Kingsville, coaches initially didn’t know where to play him. The two are almost identically sized, and once Randle was given free rein to attack inside at defensive tackle, he dominated for nearly a decade. Like Randle did, Oliver plays with otherworldly explosiveness and aggression. His quickness and loose hips translate to ridiculously low-center-of-gravity power.’
Bills select Ed Oliver ninth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft
‘”No one is going to replace Kyle Williams. I want to temper expectations right off the bat. Ed is going to have to bring his lunch pail to work every day and earn everything he gets. We’re excited to see Ed in our system and integrate him with our group. We’re anxious to get Ed in here so he can learn the defense and take things one rep at a time. He’s an energetic, young man with a good smile and will definitely energize the guys early on. You could feel him. That’s presence; that’s energy. When Ed worked out, you could feel the quickness and power and the juice. More than anything, this young man’s competitive nature showed through.”‘
Capaccio: Board fell perfectly for Bills to get their man
‘Beane added that in all the mock drafts his staff did in pre-draft preparation, they never had Oliver falling to them if only one QB was taken in top 8, had him sometimes falling if two QBs were taken, and was usually there if three QBs were selected. Two QBs and a non-QB surprise happened. He added that they thought a team could trade with the Lions into the No.8 spot and take him once he got there. That didn’t happen.’
Capaccio: Plenty of talent available for Bills on Day 2
‘Here’s my list of some of the best available players at positions they’d most likely consider…’.
Buffalo Bills take Ed Oliver with 9th overall pick in 2019 NFL Draft
‘At his maximum potential, Oliver can become the three-technique of McDermott’s dreams as a nuisance against the run and constantly winning at the point of attack to get into the backfield. His explosiveness off the snap, his strength in leverage even when he gets inside the pads of the offensive lineman, his ability to close on a ball carrier and quarterback and never giving up on a play is what stands out about him.’
Joe B: 2019 Day Two Mock Draft
‘WR AJ Brown, Ole Miss.’
Report: Beloved Buffalo Bills fan enters hospice
‘A lifelong Bills fan living in Dallas, Castro has been a vocal and passionate supporter of the Bills on social media and in the Lone Star State. He’s easily recognized at Bills games sporting a luchador mask and sombrero in Bills colors.’
Bills draft Houston DT Ed Oliver 9th overall
‘Oliver fits perfectly into Sean McDermott’s defense, providing a disruptive force up front as they look to replace Kyle Williams, who retired following the 2018 season.’
Bills add key piece to “D” in draft
‘McDermott may know exactly how to get the most out of Oliver. The final two seasons he was the defensive coordinator in Carolina(2015-16), defensive tackle Kawaan Short had two of the best seasons of his career. Short, playing next to current Bills defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, had 17 sacks, 110 tackles, and 4 forced fumbles over those two years.’
Ed Oliver ready to “play in front of best fans” in the NFL
‘”Just getting a chance to play in front of the best fans in the NFL, Bills Mafia,” Oliver said of what he’s looking forward to. “It’s a chance to compete, play against good players and be apart of something that’s way bigger than myself.”‘
Bills select DT Ed Oliver with ninth pick of NFL Draft
‘”He wants it. That hunger is a critical piece that we look for.”‘
Bills nail first round pick
‘The Bills didn’t force it. They let the draft come to them and it worked.’
5 things to know about Ed Oliver
‘Oliver wasted little time in making an impact after joining the Cougars’ roster, totaling 65 tackles and five sacks as a true freshman. He finished atop the American Conference in tackles for loss with 23.0, with only Indiana linebacker Tegray Scales recording more tackles for loss in the 2016 season.’
What they’re saying: Bills earn high marks after night one of the 2019 NFL Draft
‘It took an unreasonable agent, a reach on a quarterback and a mediocre top-eight pick used on a tight end, but the Bills won the draft. Congrats, Buffalo! Oliver could end up being the best player from this entire class. He’s drawn Aaron Donald comparisons for a reason, and he’ll be a great replacement for Kyle Williams. Buffalo wanted to trade up for Oliver, yet didn’t have to at all. This is an easy A+ grade.’