Expectations for Shaq Lawson?

[NickelCity]

A lot of conversations flying around, but few seem to involve Shaq Lawson. We didn't see much last year in terms of what he might become, and there are an array of reasons why that might be the case. I'm curious though - what are your expectations for Lawson this season?

[Bangarang]

35-40 tackles and 4-5 sacks

[Fan in Chicago]

35-40 tackles and 4-5 sacks

Good strategy to set the bar low. Top-20 pick in his second year ? I would like to see no less than 10 sacks and a dominating presence.

[Charles Romes]

Overweight slow and lumbering, not expecting much.

[Juice_32]

I expect minimal explosion and burst as a pass rusher but remain hopeful he plays decent against the run.

[NoSaint]

Good strategy to set the bar low. Top-20 pick in his second year ? I would like to see no less than 10 sacks and a dominating presence.

That would really be top notch as only 16 guys in the entire league got 10 sacks and we see a number of pass rushers taken higher than him every year.

 

I'll go with 8-10 sacks and consistency in making proper reads etc... as a big success

[Captain Murica]

10 sacks and not allowing anyone to rush for 200+ yards this season.

[Bangarang]

Good strategy to set the bar low. Top-20 pick in his second year ? I would like to see no less than 10 sacks and a dominating presence.

I don't think he's that kind of player. Thought I was being fairly reasonable.

[Juice_32]

I just don't see him as a 10 sack guy, but maybe I'm missing something. To me he's an edge setting run stopper and I don't think that is a bad thing.

[John from Riverside]

8 sacks this next year

[Tipster19]

Hopefully a cornerstone for this defense for years to come.

[NoSaint]

I don't think he's that kind of player. Thought I was being fairly reasonable.

I think you still low ball it a bit.

 

42 guys had 7 sacks

72 guys had 5+

 

To say 4-5... it wouldn't be a successful year. It's possible it would not be a failure but it would be underwhelming

[par73]

Coming out of school, he was expected to be more of an edge setter than a dynamic pass rusher. If he gets 6-7 sacks and plays the run well, I think that would be a good season.

[NewEra]

I don't think he's that kind of player. Thought I was being fairly reasonable.

You're right. He's not that kind of player. I could see him getting 6-8 sacks though. His presence vs the run game is what will make or break his career imo. Be a force vs the run and get pressure on the qb. I can see him getting pressure often but not being able to get the sack. That can make him an impact player and worthy of a 1st rd pick.....if he's a force vs the run

Edited May 12, 2017 by NewEra

[billspro]

I don't think McDermott will hand him the job. Which is refreshing since Rex handed out jobs without competition all the time. Saying that I think he will have a solid season and put up 8 sacks next year.

[NewEra]

I think you still low ball it a bit.

42 guys had 7 sacks

72 guys had 5+

To say 4-5... it wouldn't be a successful year. It's possible it would not be a failure but it would be underwhelming

Sacks aren't everything. He can be a distruotive force, impact games and live up to being a 1st rd pick and still only get 4-5 sacks. Stope the run and put pressure on the qb. Getting sacks are nice, forcing the qb into a bad pass or an incompletion are also nice

I don't think McDermott will hand him the job. Which is refreshing since Rex handed out jobs without competition all the time. Saying that I think he will have a solid season and put up 8 sacks next year.

 

He doesn't really have anyone to compete with him. He wins the job by default

[Augie]

Didn't show a lot of quick twitch, but also collapsed inside too much and failed to set the edge. I'm hoping a real coach and a year of preparation will give us a big bump in performance.

[KD in CA]

I expect him to be as dominant as all the other first round picks over the last 15 years.

[NoSaint]

Sacks aren't everything. He can be a distruotive force, impact games and live up to being a 1st rd pick and still only get 4-5 sacks. Stope the run and put pressure on the qb. Getting sacks are nice, forcing the qb into a bad pass or an incompletion are also nice

He doesn't really have anyone to compete with him. He wins the job by default

Obviously they aren't everything but also typically there is a correlation between pressure and sacks.

 

1 sack a month would not be a successful season in my book, unless it came with some really freak unlucky circumstances on the stat sheet where he ranked high in pressures but barely broke the top 100 in sacks (99 guys had 4+ sacks, including 5 Carolina lineman)

[White Linen]

I think you still low ball it a bit.

 

42 guys had 7 sacks

72 guys had 5+

 

To say 4-5... it wouldn't be a successful year. It's possible it would not be a failure but it would be underwhelming

 

I agree with this. I don't think it's necessarily about the sack total as much as pressures. I think he gets 8-10 without too much trouble barring injury. I'd like to see him pushing the tackle towards the QB often and use the under move to get sacks and pressures. As stated above I expect that he can set the edge and force the running back towards his teammates - as well as shed the tackle and make some tackles up the middle - better than he did in his limited time last year.

 

I don't expect him to be a rusher that gets around the tackle unless he surprises me with working on that to a higher level than my belief that he's athletic enough to become one. He has a decent rip move but wasn't used properly consistently. He'll try to bull rush then get the left arm under but by then his pads are too even with the tackle. He's got to get that left shoulder to the tackles left shoulder than rip - when he does that he does it well.

[Augie]

Putting him in a non-Rex scheme may help a lot. I'm counting on it.

[folz]

Although it was said at the time he was drafted that he could set the edge and was good against the run, he did have 12.5 sacks

in 15 games his junior year (just before coming out). So, I wouldn't say that rushing the passer isn't part of his game.

[White Linen]

I don't think McDermott will hand him the job. Which is refreshing since Rex handed out jobs without competition all the time. Saying that I think he will have a solid season and put up 8 sacks next year.

 

I get it but there are presumed starters and he's one. If he doesn't start - we're in real trouble.

[BADOLBILZ]

I think you still low ball it a bit.

 

42 guys had 7 sacks

72 guys had 5+

 

To say 4-5... it wouldn't be a successful year. It's possible it would not be a failure but it would be underwhelming

 

Yeah......IMO he very well MAY get only 4-5 sacks but he was drafted as a pass rusher.

 

PASS RUSHER.

 

Shaq is not the tall, long, king sized edge setting Richard Seymour type.......he'd probably be best served playing at a quicker 255-260 pounds so he ain't going to be standing up many 330 pound RT in the run game.

 

That said.......this will be a one gap front with ends lined up wide so "setting the edge" is not high on the job description.

 

I see we have some Chris Kelsay fans in this thread though. Remember when Kelsay was a "first round talent" that the Bills got in the second round and how he was a considered a run defense-first DE by his fans because he couldn't sack QB's? Even though he was undersized and awful against the run?

[JerseyBills]

I just don't see him as a 10 sack guy, but maybe I'm missing something. To me he's an edge setting run stopper and I don't think that is a bad thing.

I agree to an extent. I think he has the makeup to become a very good pass rusher but from day 1 I expect him to keep the run in check. Also playing next to 99 and 95 will give him plenty opportunities to get to the QB.

 

I'm giving him a mulligan for last year, that scheme was a chaotic mess.

 

I hope his spin move becomes a trademark of his.

[BuffAlone]

I think he will excel setting the edge and chip in with 6-8 sacks. Thats the type of consistency that made him a 1st rd talent. Looking forward to seeing him and Reggie on the field together for many years to come

Edited May 12, 2017 by BuffAlone

[Scott7975]

Average to below average play just like everyone else Whaley drafted.

[bmur66]

I expect him to kick ass this year

[Billsfansinceday1]

I expect him to kick ass this year

Well said.

 

Lawson, Ragland and Listenbee....it's almost like having 3 additional draft picks and I expect we will see big things from all 3.

[Blokestradamus]

I'm expecting 7.5 sacks this year and to break double-figures in his third season.

[artmalibu]

With the sholder problem I would think he couldnt lift weights much so when he got on the field he was not all that strong. This year no reason not to be full strength, so good improvement in production should be seen.

[boyst]

This is a system he will succeed in. But he won't he fa fare. Jerry Hughes is where I am concerned

[BarleyNY]

Coming out of school, he was expected to be more of an edge setter than a dynamic pass rusher. If he gets 6-7 sacks and plays the run well, I think that would be a good season.

This. The Bills playing the run well would go a long way in improving that side of the ball.

[Thurman#1]

Coming out of school, he was expected to be more of an edge setter than a dynamic pass rusher. If he gets 6-7 sacks and plays the run well, I think that would be a good season.

 

 

This sort of thing. I'm hoping for more, but expecting around this.

[Kirby Jackson]

 

Yeah......IMO he very well MAY get only 4-5 sacks but he was drafted as a pass rusher.

 

PASS RUSHER.

 

Shaq is not the tall, long, king sized edge setting Richard Seymour type.......he'd probably be best served playing at a quicker 255-260 pounds so he ain't going to be standing up many 330 pound RT in the run game.

 

That said.......this will be a one gap front with ends lined up wide so "setting the edge" is not high on the job description.

 

I see we have some Chris Kelsay fans in this thread though. Remember when Kelsay was a "first round talent" that the Bills got in the second round and how he was a considered a run defense-first DE by his fans because he couldn't sack QB's? Even though he was undersized and awful against the run?

He had a good motor though. Kelsay was a blue collar player that brought his lunch pail to work everyday. He was a smart, gritty, hard hat wearing DE that always played to the whistle.

[Pbomb]

As a first round pick pass rusher i have high expectations, hopefully shaq doesnt dissappoint

[papazoid]

looks like he will start at DE

 

hughes, dareus, kyle, lawson

 

ragland, brown, lorax

 

 

my expectations for shaq are low

[Thurman#1]

 

Yeah......IMO he very well MAY get only 4-5 sacks but he was drafted as a pass rusher.

 

PASS RUSHER.

 

Shaq is not the tall, long, king sized edge setting Richard Seymour type.......he'd probably be best served playing at a quicker 255-260 pounds so he ain't going to be standing up many 330 pound RT in the run game.

 

That said.......this will be a one gap front with ends lined up wide so "setting the edge" is not high on the job description.

 

I see we have some Chris Kelsay fans in this thread though. Remember when Kelsay was a "first round talent" that the Bills got in the second round and how he was a considered a run defense-first DE by his fans because he couldn't sack QB's? Even though he was undersized and awful against the run?

 

 

 

No, I don't remember that.

 

But I remember many fans saying it.

 

I remember him being very good against the run but being beaten by good fakes by really athletic RBs on a few highlight plays that fans focused on forever.

 

I don't remember him ever being a first round talent, though. And they gave him too much on that last contract. But what was he supposed to do, turn them down and ask for less?

Edited May 12, 2017 by Thurman#1

[KGun12TD]

As long as he's not covering TEs...

[8-8 Forever?]

Don't think he fits in a 4-3 very well as he may not be much of an edge rusher and he is not big enough to run stuff. Very concerned he is one of the odd men out with the defensive scheme change to a 4-3. Very concerned about where he fits. He's a 3-4 down lineman. Don't need those guys anymore. He may be a less talented, smaller version of Mario Williams. That would be bad. We shall see.