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Expectations for Shaq Lawson?


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I would expect 60 to 75 Tackles, 6 to 8 sacks in 16 games at the least.

 

You expect Shaq Lawson to lead the NFL in tackles by a DE?

 

Only 3 DEs in the entire NFL had more than 60 tackles last year, and 2 of them played 5-tech in a 3-4

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10-12 sacks. He's a hustle guy from all I've read. Never stopped chasing things down in college. With Hughes unleashed in a straight up 4-3 and Kyle and Marcel requiring shifts, I see a lot of opportunity for mop up sacks.

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It will be interesting to see what we get out of Shaq this season and not just as an assessment of Shaq himself but McDermott as well. Afterall this guy is being praised as a coach that will get the absolute most production out of guys he coaches. Should be interesting indeed

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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? :lol:

You obviously didn't pay much attention to the predraft stuff. And if he was drafted as one it was another abysmal failure by Whaley.

 

Lawson was never considered a pass rush specialist or that he would be one in the NFL. He was considered a base DE who could set and edge and be strong against the run. Go watch Mayock's comments when we drafted him. Read his NFL.com profile:

 

Thickly bound with very average flexibility. Average athlete for an end position. Not a natural hip bender and will have to focus on keeping pad level lower to unlock his leverage potential. Shows obvious signs of fatigue as game wears on. At times, is too content to lean on blocks when play isnt run to his side rather than working to discard. Will have snaps where he seems more concerned with imposing his will on blocking rather than diagnosing the play. Doesnt have the bend or upper body flexion to be edge turner as pass rusher. Effort sacks will diminish in pros and will need to become more nuanced pass rusher.

 

Sources Tell Us

"I see Shaq as an outside linebacker in a 3-4. He's not the guy you want to turn loose against the quarterback, but he is the guy that will make it hard for tight ends to block him in the run game. We knew we couldn't run at him and it changed how we called plays." -- ACC offensive coach

 

NFL Comparison

 

Courtney Upshaw

 

Bottom Line

 

Productive backup for two years before putting together an All­-American season in his first year as a full- time starter. Lawson is built like a full­-grown man and combines his instincts, toughness and power to fill up a stat sheet and set an early tone. Lawson's frame and game are easily translatable to the NFL, but his average athleticism and pass rush skills will likely have teams viewing him as a 3­-4 edge setter or a 4-­3 base end. Lawson may also have value as 3­-4 defensive tackle in an upfield scheme.

Edited by CaliBills92
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Not really shocking.

 

Rex needed "his guys" to fix the defense. He got them, and the defense got worse.

 

Ew.

 

Looks like a waste of a first round pick from that scouting report.

 

Why stop at just one scouting report:

 

https://www.si.com/nfl/2016/04/04/nfl-draft-scouting-report-shaq-lawson-clemson

 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/draft-pff-scouting-report-shaq-lawson-de-clemson/

 

http://draftwire.usatoday.com/2015/12/22/shaq-lawson-scouting-report-2016-nfl-draft-evaluation-round-grade-projection-film/

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I don't like reading all this "not a natural pass rusher" stuff. The Bills are in a division with Tom Brady and need everyone to be a strong pass rusher if they ever want to beat him before he retires.

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I don't like reading all this "not a natural pass rusher" stuff. The Bills are in a division with Tom Brady and need everyone to be a strong pass rusher if they ever want to beat him before he retires.

Setting the edge, Forcing or tightening the pocket is something I think he will do very very well !

Lets keep in mind who he is lining up next to.

If he is smart and patient he can get many sacks, till QB realize they can't roll away from inside pressure to his side.

lets consider Hughes on the other side. Hughes can be the risk taking full on attacker he does best with.

The Middle could be the best in the league depending on the Fat Stoner kid. But i got this feeling, Kyle was having some sit downs with MD and feeling him out before deciding to come back another season. cuz it ain't for money with KW anymore.

 

so in summation

I do firmly believe Lawson will be a solid contributor and key to the success of this front seven.

D line ? Koolaid time. This is going to be fun

Go Bills

Edited by 3rdand12
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Setting the edge, Forcing or tightening the pocket is something I think he will do very very well !

Lets keep in mind who he is lining up next to.

If he is smart and patient he can get many sacks, till QB realize they can't roll away from inside pressure to his side.

lets consider Hughes on the other side. Hughes can be the risk taking full on attacker he does best with.

The Middle could be the best in the league depending on the Fat Stoner kid. But i got this feeling, Kyle was having some sit downs with MD and feeling him out before deciding to come back another season. cuz it ain't for money with KW anymore.

 

so in summation

I do firmly believe Lawson will be a solid contributor and key to the success of this front seven.

D line ? Koolaid time. This is going to be fun

Go Bills

Lawson is going to face RTs 1v1 until he shows that he can beat that. If he can't, then the extra blocker will make the other three guys much less effective. I think you can get by with 1 strong interior rusher out of two, but you're DEs both have to be good for you to have a strong pass rush without blitzing.

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Lawson is going to face RTs 1v1 until he shows that he can beat that. If he can't, then the extra blocker will make the other three guys much less effective. I think you can get by with 1 strong interior rusher out of two, but you're DEs both have to be good for you to have a strong pass rush without blitzing.

I think Shaq is more power than speed. he just need to get off the ball quicker. He should learn from Jerry how to stunt shed to get in the QB's face.

I think he can drive tackles backfield. But i just don't see him turning the edge and getting back into the pocket from the outside.

But.. I never watched him in College till highlights came up. And i did watch for him last year.

He improved his awareness over time. Looked like he was still unsure his responsibilities at times.

Again the Rex and Rob factor skew the perception of what these young players are able to do. I look at A. Washington the same way

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