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

[Misterbluesky]

I got 10,000 worth of American currency notes that suggests more than 70% of this community has never seen a Cougar game this past season.

CBSSN ..what.

26 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

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. 

How many sacks do you expect from him this year?

[Augie]

36 minutes ago, Misterbluesky said:

I got 10,000 worth of American currency notes that suggests more than 70% of this community has never seen a Cougar game this past season.

CBSSN ..what.

How many sacks do you expect from him this year?

 

Interior guy, but I’d set the over/under at 7.5 as a rookie. I’m told I’m too PollyAnna and optimistic. That might be true, but it doesn’t offend me. (Despite reports, I’m hard to offend, especially by message board guys.)  Your thoughts? 

[BigEdFan]

34 minutes ago, Misterbluesky said:

I got 10,000 worth of American currency notes that suggests more than 70% of this community has never seen a Cougar game this past season.

CBSSN ..what.

How many sacks do you expect from him this year?

I realize you're talking to Augie but I'll chime in on what I expect for his rookie year.

 

I'll just go ahead and say that I'm not as knowledgeable of the game as most of you.   But I looked up Suh's stats and I expect for him to be close (did he really have 10 sacks his first year?!).  I don't think he'll get 10 sacks his first year but I think he'll get somewhere close to that because your (can I start saying "our") team already has a phenomenal defense.  

But it's not crazy to expect ~8 sacks and a lot of TFL.  I think that's where he'll excel, he's so quick and is so great with his hands that he can shed tackles quickly and explode.

 

But I think the best thing about Ed is that he will get better.  He really loves to learn.  

[Augie]

1 minute ago, BigEdFan said:

I realize you're talking to Augie but I'll chime in on what I expect for his rookie year.

 

I'll just go ahead and say that I'm not as knowledgeable of the game as most of you.   But I looked up Suh's stats and I expect for him to be close (did he really have 10 sacks his first year?!).  I don't think he'll get 10 sacks his first year but I think he'll get somewhere close to that because your (can I start saying "our") team already has a phenomenal defense.  

But it's not crazy to expect ~8 sacks and a lot of TFL.  I think that's where he'll excel, he's so quick and is so great with his hands that he can shed tackles quickly and explode.

 

But I think the best thing about Ed is that he will get better.  He really loves to learn.  

 

Welcome!!! 

[BigEdFan]

1 minute ago, Augie said:

 

Interior guy, but I’d set the over/under at 7.5 as a rookie. I’m told I’m too PollyAnna and optimistic. That might be true, but it doesn’t offend me. (Despite reports, I’m hard to offend, especially by message board guys.)  Your thoughts? 

Posted at exactly the same time.  What's the saying about great minds?

[Misterbluesky]

3 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

Interior guy, but I’d set the over/under at 7.5 as a rookie. I’m told I’m too PollyAnna and optimistic. That might be true, but it doesn’t offend me. (Despite reports, I’m hard to offend, especially by message board guys.)  Your thoughts? 

My thoughts??? Joseph was a steal in the draft,I saw him play week in and week out on CBS and ESPN...he's a hitter..a head hunter,a guy you don't want to face who doesn't build sand castles on the sidelines.Oliver,I know nothing about, know nothing about that conference and I don't pretend to too.Too many people on this board get jacked up about YouTube footage and what national hacks say.

I know this..for #9...and a QB crusher..he had better produce 10 sacks this year..atleast.

I like the walk.....instead of the talk.

[Stank_Nasty]

7 hours ago, Misterbluesky said:

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

This is silly 

[Augie]

6 minutes ago, Misterbluesky said:

My thoughts??? Joseph was a steal in the draft,I saw him play week in and week out on CBS and ESPN...he's a hitter..a head hunter,a guy you don't want to face who doesn't build sand castles on the sidelines.Oliver,I know nothing about, know nothing about that conference and I don't pretend to too.Too many people on this board get jacked up about YouTube footage and what national hacks say.

I know this..for #9...and a QB crusher..he had better produce 10 sacks this year..atleast.

I like the walk.....instead of the talk.

 

I know I’ve been aware of him for at least a couple seasons. He’s freaky fast of the ball, and I think he was a top 3 non-QB guy going into this year (even playing out of position).  I’m thrilled!  Getting 10 sacks form the interior might not be a realistic expectation, especially as a rookie, but if he can penetrate (probably even better than Pro Bowl Kyle) to disrupt the run game, I’ll be pleased. 

 

I don’t pretend to be an expert. Some here are indeed qualified to judge talent, but many know about as much as I do but come off as “certain”. I’ll just say I feel very good about Oliver. Time will tell. 

[NoSaint]

14 minutes ago, Misterbluesky said:

My thoughts??? Joseph was a steal in the draft,I saw him play week in and week out on CBS and ESPN...he's a hitter..a head hunter,a guy you don't want to face who doesn't build sand castles on the sidelines.Oliver,I know nothing about, know nothing about that conference and I don't pretend to too.Too many people on this board get jacked up about YouTube footage and what national hacks say.

I know this..for #9...and a QB crusher..he had better produce 10 sacks this year..atleast.

I like the walk.....instead of the talk.

 

The minimum standard for his rookie year is top 5 sacks from his position? That feels more like talking than walking 

[ColoradoBills]

1 hour ago, Misterbluesky said:

I got 10,000 worth of American currency notes that suggests more than 70% of this community has never seen a Cougar game this past season.

CBSSN ..what.

How many sacks do you expect from him this year?

 

Never seen the Cougars but I've been to a few Wildcat games back in the 70s.

 

Bill had a total of 36 sacks.  Bills DL had 20 sacks last year.  KW had 5.

If the team can get back up to 46 with EO getting 8 or so I will be happy.

If EOs pressure up the middle cause more sacks from other players it's fine by me.

 

Sacks are nice but disrupting the QB with pressures are important too.

 

[Augie]

24 minutes ago, Misterbluesky said:

My thoughts??? Joseph was a steal in the draft,I saw him play week in and week out on CBS and ESPN...he's a hitter..a head hunter,a guy you don't want to face who doesn't build sand castles on the sidelines.Oliver,I know nothing about, know nothing about that conference and I don't pretend to too.Too many people on this board get jacked up about YouTube footage and what national hacks say.

I know this..for #9...and a QB crusher..he had better produce 10 sacks this year..atleast.

I like the walk.....instead of the talk.

 

So you’re not a fan? Fair enough. We will all, I am sure, hope you are wrong. Pressure up the middle (especially on Brady!), plus disrupt the run with penetration. We need to disrupt the run! Can he hold up when they go right at him? We’ll see. 

[Misterbluesky]

20 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

I know I’ve been aware of him for at least a couple seasons. He’s freaky fast of the ball, and I think he was a top 3 non-QB guy going into this year (even playing out of position).  I’m thrilled!  Getting 10 sacks form the interior might not be a realistic expectation, especially as a rookie, but if he can penetrate (probably even better than Pro Bowl Kyle) to disrupt the run game, I’ll be pleased. 

 

I don’t pretend to be an expert. Some here are indeed qualified to judge talent, but many know about as much as I do but come off as “certain”. I’ll just say I feel very good about Oliver. Time will tell. 

Well..I will say this roster is deeper than '18. I felt very good mentally about our defensive front until I watched NFLN review the Jets this afternoon,a ten second footage of the Jets home game showed Trent Murphy get owned to the max..bulldozed into the soon to be old turf.Sam Darnold threw TD pass on the play.We have a 9-7 team right now..I'm happy and I hope all of these new recruits can become brothers and create positive energy.

Joe,pete,Larry haven't met Jim,john,jose,Spain,frank,gerald,harold,greg,and that Beasley guy yet.

Ohh..that locker room..to be a fly on the wall.

[Misterbluesky]

19 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

Never seen the Cougars but I've been to a few Wildcat games back in the 70s.

 

Bill had a total of 36 sacks.  Bills DL had 20 sacks last year.  KW had 5.

If the team can get back up to 46 with EO getting 8 or so I will be happy.

If EOs pressure up the middle cause more sacks from other players it's fine by me.

 

Sacks are nice but disrupting the QB with pressures are important too.

 

And I would accept that..but people talk numbers.You and I both agree this team is one draft away from seriously competing for the Lombardi..don't get soft on me bear..bleed the guts,glory and pride of south cheektowaga.

Beane's doing well..I wouldn't want any other GM running this organization.

Peace

 

[YoloinOhio]

On 4/29/2019 at 9:12 PM, MrEpsYtown said:

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

That’s the game where he hurt his knee. Because all navy does is run at guys’ knees for 3 hours. It’s the worst offense to defend because you rarely see it or practice against it so you have to take so much time to prepare, and then the exhaustion afterward. The stat with the number of teams that lose the week after playing them is crazy. 

[BigEdFan]

47 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

That’s the game where he hurt his knee. Because all navy does is run at guys’ knees for 3 hours. It’s the worst offense to defend because you rarely see it or practice against it so you have to take so much time to prepare, and then the exhaustion afterward. The stat with the number of teams that lose the week after playing them is crazy. 

I believe they actually changed the rules about going at a guys knees after this because it was so blatant.   I'm not seeing it on my schedule so I can't say for sure.  Some even referred to it as the "Oliver Rule" if I remember correctly. 

 

I remember it and being the most frustrated I've ever been watching sports (saying a lot as I'm a lifelong Rockets fan).  

[Dkollidas]

3 hours ago, Misterbluesky said:

My thoughts??? Joseph was a steal in the draft,I saw him play week in and week out on CBS and ESPN...he's a hitter..a head hunter,a guy you don't want to face who doesn't build sand castles on the sidelines.Oliver,I know nothing about, know nothing about that conference and I don't pretend to too.Too many people on this board get jacked up about YouTube footage and what national hacks say.

I know this..for #9...and a QB crusher..he had better produce 10 sacks this year..atleast.

I like the walk.....instead of the talk.

At least 10? His rookie year?

 

i think that’s unrealistic. He’s incredibly talented but still a rookie. I’m like you where most of my viewings of him are highlights. 

 

The betting odds on Bosa, the #2 pick and arguably better than his brother, a perennial pro bowler, is 9.0 sacks. 

 

Not saying Vegas is always right, but they know their stuff. They have Oliver at 6.5. If he gets 7 and plays well against the run (he put up some amazing run defense numbers in college), and helps take some of the pressure off of Hughes to be the only guy that can pressure the quarterback, I’ll be thrilled. 

[Doc]

He should have at least 9 like Donald did.

[wppete]

 

[Mij yllek]

from CBS Sports...Five biggest instant impact rookies

 

Ed Oliver, DT, Bills - This is the best combination of value and fit in the entire first round. Buffalo was active in free agency, yet entered the draft with a gaping hole at the play-making three technique defensive tackle spot vacated by the retired Kyle Williams. 

Oliver was born to play three technique. He's an athletic marvel, the most electric mover we've seen at defensive tackle since Aaron Donald joined the league in 2014. Oliver was able to overcome playing predominately  at the nose tackle spot at 6-foot-1 and 280-plus pounds -- basically coaching malfeasance -- to amass 53 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in his three seasons at Houston.

With an open gap staring him in the face when he looks up from his three-point stance on the outside shoulder of the guard -- or at the one-technique outside the center -- Oliver's elite first step and sustained speed will allow him to create consistent havoc. And in 2018, Oliver flashed more pass-rushing moves than in his first two years with the Cougars. The run-stopping prowess has been there since his true freshman season in 2016. 

The Bills actually finished sixth in defensive pressure rate in 2018 at 37.1%. But outside of Kyle Williams and a sprinkling of pass-rush production from Jordan Phillips and Harrison Phillips, most of Buffalo's pressure was created by Jerry Hughes on the outside. 

Oliver is in prime position to be "freed" on the inside with the Phillips duo and the massive Star Lotulelei eating double teams. The No. 9 overall pick in this draft will be the definition of "instant impact" on Buffalo's deep defensive line, both against the run and the pass. My pre-draft comparison for him was John Randle. 

[wppete]

 

 

[WideNine]

23 hours ago, Augie said:

 

So you’re not a fan? Fair enough. We will all, I am sure, hope you are wrong. Pressure up the middle (especially on Brady!), plus disrupt the run with penetration. We need to disrupt the run! Can he hold up when they go right at him? We’ll see. 

 

Not to borrow worry, but if the refs were calling "roughing the Brady" on just his shoulder pad getting tickled last season just wait till Oliver plants him going 90 miles an hour.

Even if it is text book, the laundry is going to fly - Hughes will have to console his new line mate and explain the "unspoken rules" of playing in the AFC East.

 

Not to wish injury on anyone, but I think after facing Oliver, Wilkins, and Williams 6X this coming season, odds are good that Brady decides to hang up those cleats and leave on top of his game rather than a gurney.

 

He's 41 years old - it's time for AFC East teams to convince him to move on.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2019 by WideNine

[BillsFan4]

1 hour ago, wppete said:

 

 

I miss him already. I wish Ed Oliver got the chance to spend a season with Kyle. 

[wppete]

1 hour ago, BillsFan4 said:

I miss him already. I wish Ed Oliver got the chance to spend a season with Kyle. 

 

I agree. But sounds like Kyle will be in Buffalo and around the team during camp and season. Oliver already said they talked and wants to pick kyles brain and get as many tips as possible. 

[PIZ]

 

 

 

[PIZ]

Ed Oliver: All Access.  Not sure if this has been posted:

 

 

 

 

[BillsFan4]

1 hour ago, wppete said:

 

I agree. But sounds like Kyle will be in Buffalo and around the team during camp and season. Oliver already said they talked and wants to pick kyles brain and get as many tips as possible. 

Yeah it’s great that it sounds like he will still be around the team some. 

 

It’s still not the same as having Kyle next to him, working his butt off every second of every practice/game and giving pre game + half time speeches to the locker room. 

 

But I’ll still take it! Having Kyle around in any capacity can only be a good thing. 

 

At least Zo is still around. 

Edited May 2, 2019 by BillsFan4

[billsfan89]

10 sacks from Ed might be unrealistic although it is possible. I think he will take some adjusting to the pro-game but still be an impactful player his rookie year. I think 6 sacks is a nice Mendoza line for him. Honestly it is more so about how many pressures he is generating as opposed to the sack totals which can be a bit circumstantial. If Oliver can generate 40 or more pressures and close to 20 hits or more I think he will have a huge impact on the team in his rookie year. 
 

Overall I think expectations for Oliver should be high but not unrealistic. He might come in and set the world on fire and make a pro-bowl team and be in the running for DROY. But more realistically he might not be an instant star, yet that wouldn't mean he couldn't be productive and have a very good impact this year and beyond.

7 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

Yeah it’s great that it sounds like he will still be around the team some. 

 

It’s still not the same as having Kyle next to him, working his butt off every second of every practice/game and giving pre game + half time speeches to the locker room. 

 

But I’ll still take it! Having Kyle around in any capacity can only be a good thing. 

 

7 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

At least Zo is still around. 

 

Kyle was a huge loss from a locker room perspective. I don't think had he played he would been a huge impactful player but his presence as a professional and as a leader was important. But the defense luckily kept J.Phillips and drafted Oliver so on field they are as or more stout and the defense has a lot of vets on it. As you mentioned Zo is a beloved teammate and veteran, Hughes is the heart of the front 7, Star is a long time pro who played in a Super Bowl, Trent Murphy has been around for a bit, and in the secondary the safeties are guys who are 7 plus year vets. 

 

So I don't think there is an overall lack of veterans or leadership on the defense. But Kyle certainly was a loss to the culture.

[BillsFan4]

12 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

10 sacks from Ed might be unrealistic although it is possible. I think he will take some adjusting to the pro-game but still be an impactful player his rookie year. I think 6 sacks is a nice Mendoza line for him. Honestly it is more so about how many pressures he is generating as opposed to the sack totals which can be a bit circumstantial. If Oliver can generate 40 or more pressures and close to 20 hits or more I think he will have a huge impact on the team in his rookie year. 
 

Overall I think expectations for Oliver should be high but not unrealistic. He might come in and set the world on fire and make a pro-bowl team and be in the running for DROY. But more realistically he might not be an instant star, yet that wouldn't mean he couldn't be productive and have a very good impact this year and beyond.

 

 

Kyle was a huge loss from a locker room perspective. I don't think had he played he would been a huge impactful player but his presence as a professional and as a leader was important. But the defense luckily kept J.Phillips and drafted Oliver so on field they are as or more stout and the defense has a lot of vets on it. As you mentioned Zo is a beloved teammate and veteran, Hughes is the heart of the front 7, Star is a long time pro who played in a Super Bowl, Trent Murphy has been around for a bit, and in the secondary the safeties are guys who are 7 plus year vets. 

 

So I don't think there is an overall lack of veterans or leadership on the defense. But Kyle certainly was a loss to the culture.

Agree. The Bills are in a better position to absorb Kyle’s loss than any other time in recent memory (IMO anyway). 

 

I have faith in McDermott and the culture he’s built. There are a lot of good, high character guys in that locker room. Plenty of guys to help the young players along.

Plus, I am sure Oliver is a high character kid himself, otherwise they would not have drafted him in the top 10 (and from what I’ve read that seems to be the case). 

 

Really, it was just about me wishing Oliver could have experienced what Kyle Williams was like as an NFL player. But I’m sure I’ll feel this way about every player the Bills draft for the next little while. KW retiring is still pretty fresh in my mind. He was such a staple of every Bills team every season for so long. It’s just weird (and sad) that we won’t see him in camp and on the field on game days. 

[Stank_Nasty]

http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2019/insider/story/_/id/26678391/kiper-instant-impact-rookies-2019-nfl-draft-picks-play-early

 

kiper's top 5 instant impact 1st rounders.....

 

Here are five prospect-to-team fits I really liked in the first round:

Ed Oliver, DT, Buffalo Bills

Pick: No. 9

My pal Louis Riddick said on TV several times over the past few months that Oliver was used incorrectly in college. Why is an athlete like Oliver -- he has one of the fastest first steps off the ball of any defensive tackle I've ever scouted -- playing nose tackle? Buffalo will play him as a 3-technique tackle in its 4-3 defense, in place of the retired Kyle Williams, and he's going to be a disruptive presence. No, he's not Aaron Donald like some were calling him last summer -- he is still developing consistent pass-rush moves -- but Oliver will destroy double-teams and cause wreckage in the backfield.

Editor's Picks

• 

  2019 NFL draft grades: Kiper on all 32 classes, best picks and steals

• 

  2019 NFL draft classes for all 32 teams: Analysis for every pick

• 

  2020 NFL mock draft: McShay's way-too-early first-round projections

Because of the Bills' offensive struggles in 2018, the defense went under the radar; it was the top-ranked pass defense, allowing only 179.2 yards per game, and gave up only 294.1 total yards per game. This is a young, talented and physical group. Oliver fills an immediate need

 

sorry about the butchered copy/paste job.... the interwebs and I aren't real friendly with one another.

Edited May 6, 2019 by Stank_Nasty

[Jay_Fixit]

On 4/30/2019 at 10:31 AM, Misterbluesky said:

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

Yikes.

[TroutDog]

From The Athletic today, an article from his coach since HS:

 

https://theathletic.com/962885/2019/05/06/a-j-blum-qa-ed-olivers-longtime-coach-on-his-fit-with-buffalo-and-those-crazy-maturity-questions/

 

Quote:

 

”The Bills have said they are going to make him a three-technique in their defense. How do you think he’ll transition to that? What are some of the challenges that come with that move?

 

I think it’s going to be amazing. I had been telling Ed all along after the pro day, seeing the head coach and GM at his pro day, I was like, wow, this is the real deal. I went back and did some research and I had been telling Ed all along that from a scheme standpoint of every team that’s interested in you, Buffalo is probably the best fit. When we were in high school, I called 46 games with Ed playing three-technique or 2i, basically what he’s going to be playing in Buffalo. It’s going to be amazing. It just is. You can say all you want about him playing the zero-technique in the three down that we had at Houston, but he was very active. He stunted probably 70 percent of the time. I think the thing that’s going to be awesome is you’re not going to have to stunt him as much because he’s going to be on the outside shoulder or inside shoulder of that guard, and it’s going to allow him to really use his skills in a one-on-one situation. I’m sure he’ll get his fair share of double teams, but it will be a lot less than he got at Houston.

 

I think it’s going to be amazing. I know he’s excited. I think it’s going to be really good. From a standpoint of what he needs to get better at, he is such a natural with his speed and explosiveness that a lot of times he defeats blocks by his get off, not so much side-stepping his blocker but by being a penetrator. When you’re a penetrator, you don’t necessarily have the use of great hand placement and block disengagement, but he’s going to be in situations, where that’s going to be one of the biggest things. Having worked with him for seven years, that’s going to be one of the biggest things he’ll have to refine as a skill, is just staying on that edge and being able to get off that block. People want to compare him to Aaron Donald, but he and Aaron Donald are two completely different players. Aaron Donald bench-pressed 550 pounds in college. That’s why he’s so good at getting off blocks. He gets that separation and he can still control and get off blocks. A guy like Ed, he’s punching a guy so fast and moving by him that he was able to get away with it. That’s going to be one of the biggest things that he’s going to have refine. Attack, lock out and then disengage. Just getting off those blocks. His feet are going to be great. His speed is going to be great. It’s just about controlling it and staying in that gap.”

[eball]

But will it be amazing?

[Doc]

34 minutes ago, eball said:

But will it be amazing?

 

Apparently.