RD 1, Pick 9: DT Ed Oliver, University of Houston

[Cripple Creek]

Alright, I love the pick. Hated it leading up to the draft but I am now fully engaged.  

[YoloinOhio]

 

[Turk71]

I think Oliver barely scratched the surface of his potential in college. He was playing nose tackle most of the time in Houston's 3-4. A 290 lb nose tackle taking on double and triple teams and still getting into the backfield. His build and skill set are far more suited to playing 3 tech in a 4-3 defense. Here is what football outsiders site had to say:

 

'In the NFL, Oliver will not be put in the same physically demanding positions he was at Houston. At Houston, he was often playing zero-tech -- a role designed for larger, squattier defensive lineman. It is safe to assume Oliver will primarily be a 3-technique in the NFL, just like the aforementioned Donald, Atkins, and McCoy. The 3-tech position is more conducive to leaner, more explosive players such as Oliver.

Because the NFL loves to make the same mistakes over and over again, Oliver will probably fall in the draft for being "too small for the position." For almost every team that passes on him, doing so will be a massive mistake. Oliver's first step and NFL-ready savvy will make him a Sheldon Richardson-type impact right away, with the potential to develop into an All-Pro. Though Oliver will certainly get pushed down in this draft class, his level of talent is worth the first overall pick.'

[BillsFan4]

 

 

[100DollarBills]

Willlllbur! 

[Mark Vader]

On 4/25/2019 at 6:29 PM, jkirchofer said:

It still makes me question the ability of McDermott and Beane to evaluate offensive talent.

Do you still feel this way?

[formerlyofCtown]

On 4/25/2019 at 9:22 PM, NoSaint said:

I look forward to the coat and weight debates for the next few years 

Hopefully he takes Tom Bradys coat.

[formerlyofCtown]

On 4/25/2019 at 9:27 PM, jkirchofer said:

Meh....he's a hell of a player, but honestly I would have rather had the dynamic offensive talent in Hockenson. 

Hes the better player than Hockenson.  In the words of Bruce Arians "You get fired if you draft for need".  You would get fired quick.

4 hours ago, PIZ said:

What do they mean when they say "Ed Oliver is impossible to block on the back side"?

 

 

Dont drop the soap.?

 

Sorry I couldnt resist.

Edited April 29, 2019 by formerlyofCtown

[aceman_16]

5 hours ago, PIZ said:

What do they mean when they say "Ed Oliver is impossible to block on the back side"?

 

 

Dont get in front of him?

[BillsFan4]

3 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

Great read. Thanks for sharing Yolo.

 

Quote

If you’re looking for a stable (pun definitely intended) position to stick him in, look no further than a 4-3 front. Luckily for Oliver, a 3-technique position could very well be his home for the next decade or longer. Many scouts believe it to be what suits his strengths the best. The best circumstance would be joining a stout nose or 1-technique defensive tackle to complement Oliver’s aggressiveness. This sort of personnel would isolate Junior. Something he wasn’t used to in college.

 

Star Lotulelei? 

[#34fan]

23 hours ago, BigEdFan said:

You obviously haven't seen his first game (true freshman) against Oklahoma and Baker Mayfield or Lamar Jackson or the Peach Bowl against Florida State . . .  before Applewhite took over ?

 

Not saying he won't have to adjust, he absolutely will, but his work ethic is ideal.  

 

Sure... Whatever you say... I'm OK with the pick... I'm just holding off anointing him greatest Bills DT ever... Let's see how he's used... Let's see if that knee stays healthy.

[formerlyofCtown]

11 hours ago, BillsFan4 said:

Great read. Thanks for sharing Yolo.

 

 

Star Lotulelei? 

Worked for Kwan Short.

[FeelingOnYouboty]

I can't believe how lucky we are we got him. He's a true franchise centerpiece and a potential multiple All Pro. Three years in a row we've come away with an awesome defensive piece at every level of the defense. 

 

 

[SWATeam]

2 minutes ago, FeelingOnYouboty said:

I can't believe how lucky we are we got him. He's a true franchise centerpiece and a potential multiple All Pro. Three years in a row we've come away with an awesome defensive piece at every level of the defense. 

 

 

Yeah, I mean I'm kind of surprised at the lack of hype around this pick.  It's just perfect.  

[FeelingOnYouboty]

1 minute ago, SWATeam said:

Yeah, I mean I'm kind of surprised at the lack of hype around this pick.  It's just perfect.  

 

I've been hyping him for three years and for him to play for my team now is just great. 

[YoloinOhio]

 

 

[aristocrat]

Kawaan shorts sack numbers went down big time this past year and i wonder if that had to do with star being gone or with peppers finalyl showing his age?  Oliver is a much better prospect than short was at this time and short was putting up 10 sack years.  Man if oliver is putting up 10 sack years our defense is gonna be leading the league in sacks and looking like carolinas defense for years to come. I likey. 

[YoloinOhio]

 

[BillsFan4]

52 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

I look forward to these videos every year! 

[John from Riverside]

Oliver grades out as a Elite run defender yet there are ppl here talking about his concern to stop the run

 

???????

[FeelingOnYouboty]

1 hour ago, John from Riverside said:

Oliver grades out as a Elite run defender yet there are ppl here talking about his concern to stop the run

 

???????

 

His run defense is ahead of his pass rushing at this stage. He has a chance to be elite at both. People look at his height and weight and make the determination that he isn't a good run defender when he's already a great one.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

 

 

 

[MrEpsYtown]

At 10 eastern Houston vs Navy 2017 is on. Oliver had 9 tackles and 2 sacks in the game if anyone cares to watch. Although watching Navy's offense is not much fun. 

 

BTW it's on ESPN U

Edited April 30, 2019 by MrEpsYtown

[formerlyofCtown]

On 4/26/2019 at 5:52 PM, ShadyBillsFan said:

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry if the last was a repeat 

Its easy to miss the beauty of the region.  From the finger lakes up into the great lakes and niagara falls.

On 4/26/2019 at 9:37 PM, MrEpsYtown said:

 

Its very Bush league. It's what high school coaches do when they have no size, they stick a small guy at nose to see if he can be quick and get in the backfield. It's lame. 

On a positive note it may have better prepared him for the NFL.

[formerlyofCtown]

On 4/26/2019 at 5:25 PM, K-9 said:

He needs a couple years of bulking up and learning the position, imo. He’s got athletic chops, but he will get manhandled by OTs until he learns the position and gets stronger. I think he’s a day 3 pick.

Hes a day one starter.

[K-9]

1 hour ago, formerlyofCtown said:

Hes a day one starter.

I’d be surprised if Crosby started right off the bat. I see him as a situational pass rusher his first year or two until he adds some bulk and gets stronger. 

[Doc]

1 hour ago, K-9 said:

I’d be surprised if Crosby started right off the bat. I see him as a situational pass rusher his first year or two until he adds some bulk and gets stronger. 

 

Who?

[WideNine]

30 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Who?

Maybe Darryl Johnson edge guy we took in the 7th?

 

Small school, but the kid has the size, frame, and bend off the edge. He dominated against inferior competition, but that is what you are looking for at small schools, guys that other teams had to focus on quite a bit that still won their matchups.

They will hit the NFL nutrition and strength regimen with him and it will be interesting to see if they found another diamond in the rough.

Edited April 30, 2019 by WideNine

[WideNine]

Oliver is explosive.

 

The only knock on him was when Houston lined him up in a 0 technique at nose where it allowed him to get tangled up with a center and then blown off his base with the late double team from either guard.

 

He's a gap-shooting 3T all the way, McDermott and every defensive coordinator that runs the 4-3 as their base knows it. In space over a gap, with his power, and how low his pad level is when he fires out of his stance, he will be very difficult for offensive linemen to get any kind of meaningful position or leverage against to block him.

 

I am expecting a backfield wrecking ball, that will disrupt timing, force RB's to change direction into pursuit. There is always the "if" factor with any drafted prospect, but none can fault this staff for not going after exactly what the defensive line needed. Pressure off the edge opposite Hughes may still be an issue, but we will see .

[K-9]

54 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Who?

Maxx Crosby, DE, Eastern Michigan.

[Doc]

19 minutes ago, K-9 said:

Maxx Crosby, DE, Eastern Michigan.

 

Ah. My bad. 

 

And I agree with you.

Edited April 30, 2019 by Doc

[billsbackto81]

After watching his highlights one thing is certain. If the refs call holding like they should he's gonna make blockers draw a lot of laundry. He's being held so often fro the Zero tech position its comical.

 

There is no way the refs can ignore him and Hughes, can they? The guy is all out effort and explosiveness on every down.

[LABILLBACKER]

On 4/25/2019 at 6:27 PM, Fixxxer said:

I would like to thank Mayock & Chucky and the Giants for this pick.

 

We salute you.

 

 

Go Bills.

Isn't that the truth, without those 2 picks there's no way we get Ed.

[Misterbluesky]

10 or more sacks this year or people will start to talk.

[Rockinon]

I think having a disruptive force on the interior will not only create sacks for Oliver but also for our DEs. This is exactly what was missing from the pass rush last year.  Often DEs feed off of the QB being flushed out of the pocket and sent their way.  The thing that I like about Oliver is how quickly he penetrates. This has the added effect of making the QB antsy. It also forces the opposing OL to double team him, again making it easier for DEs to feed.  Really think the sack numbers will increase from our edge rushers because of Oliver.

[Mojo44]

9 hours ago, WideNine said:

Maybe Darryl Johnson edge guy we took in the 7th?

 

Small school, but the kid has the size, frame, and bend off the edge. He dominated against inferior competition, but that is what you are looking for at small schools, guys that other teams had to focus on quite a bit that still won their matchups.

They will hit the NFL nutrition and strength regimen with him and it will be interesting to see if they found another diamond in the rough.

Don’t forget, he was a five-star recruit coming out of high school. He could have gone to any program he wanted. He chose Houston because it was his hometown and wanted to stay.

[JohnBonhamRocks]

23 minutes ago, Rockinon said:

I think having a disruptive force on the interior will not only create sacks for Oliver but also for our DEs. This is exactly what was missing from the pass rush last year.  Often DEs feed off of the QB being flushed out of the pocket and sent their way.  The thing that I like about Oliver is how quickly he penetrates. This has the added effect of making the QB antsy. It also forces the opposing OL to double team him, again making it easier for DEs to feed.  Really think the sack numbers will increase from our edge rushers because of Oliver.

 

I feel like at least 1-2 times per game I saw Hughes go untouched around the edge just to have the QB step up into a clean interior pocket. 

[BigEdFan]

20 minutes ago, Mojo44 said:

Don’t forget, he was a five-star recruit coming out of high school. He could have gone to any program he wanted. He chose Houston because it was his hometown and wanted to stay.

Very true.  He literally could have gone anywhere--Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State.  We were on pins and needles the entire time until signing day.  But he never wavered.  The family is very close and his brother was already at UH.  He's a man of his word.  That's one of the reasons we loved him at UH (and the city for that matter).

 

We were blessed by having him and I'm happy for you and the city to have him for the foreseeable future.

[Augie]

32 minutes ago, BigEdFan said:

Very true.  He literally could have gone anywhere--Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State.  We were on pins and needles the entire time until signing day.  But he never wavered.  The family is very close and his brother was already at UH.  He's a man of his word.  That's one of the reasons we loved him at UH (and the city for that matter).

 

We were blessed by having him and I'm happy for you and the city to have him for the foreseeable future.

 

This says something about the person. Heck, I’ve certainly never even met the guy, but it makes me like him more. He came off as sincere and VERY happy on draft day. 

[Turk71]

1 hour ago, Mojo44 said:

Don’t forget, he was a five-star recruit coming out of high school. He could have gone to any program he wanted. He chose Houston because it was his hometown and wanted to stay.

He was actually the first 5 star recruit in history to go to a non power 5 conference team.