Is Star Lotulelei A Liability on the DL?

[BuffaloBillsGospel]

I hated the Star Louteleilei pickup when we did it and haven't felt wrong about saying it since, he's supposed to be a space eater and he gets manhandled quite a bit. A space eater to me is someone like Casey Hampton of the Steelers who actually was impossible to move of the line, Star is not even in the same league. We could have paid many other guys to do what Star does and actually do it well, maybe I'm off base but I'd love to see something about how much of an impact he's actually making eating up blocks.

[SmokinES3]

On 10/24/2019 at 1:02 PM, RoyBatty is alive said:

For Star to be effective he has to take up 1 1/2 blockers every play on average...honestly i haven't focused in on him to notice

And the Defense has been very good overall. Top 10 against the run. That, and not noticing his presence, when he has played roughly 43% of snaps, tends to indicate he's done his job well. 

I'm not saying he has necessarily done a good job, just making an observation.

[billsfan_34]

Sometimes the D lineman on a good defensive unit that we do not hear a lot about is a good thing. We don’t know what is being asked of him in regards to his role. I was guilty of bashing on Shaq but as I learned more of his role I was a tad harsh.

[Thurman#1]

On 10/25/2019 at 9:48 PM, dave mcbride said:

Lotuleilei actually produced in Carolina up until his final season there, which is when he began his decline into the ultimate JAG. On the positive side, he knows his assignments and doesn’t get injured (no small thing). But as I said earlier, NFL players are paid to make plays. He is not even close to being a disruptor, and his lack of ability to pressure the QB is one reason why the Bills’ sack numbers are pretty low (13).

 

 

 

Yes, he certainly did produce in Carolina. But not much more than he did here. When you look at the numbers you're referencing (which are NOT the only important thing, far from it)  those numbers were very low there. A bit lower here. But in terms of production per snap of the "glamor stats" people are looking for, it's all but statistically insignificant. The kind of thing where once or twice a year a DE chased a QB into Lotulelei. Or didn't. It also has to do with Carolina's offense being better which had teams throwing more regardless of what down it was, which gave Lotulelei more snaps that were passes with Carolina.

 

And it's nonsense that he's not a disruptor. That's exactly what he is. A perfect example on the Jordan Phillips tackle-for-loss at the Bills two this last week when the center's need to go over and double Lotulelei opened a hole for Phillips to get through. Phillips did a terrific job there disrupting the play. So did Lotulelei in making Phillips' play possible.

 

He disrupts a lot. Just not the way that you recognize. Doing a good job absorbing a double can be an impact play even if it's someone else who gets the tackle or turnover or hurry.

 

And absorbing double teams is a huge help to teams with talented sack artists. We don't have enough of those right now, unfortunately, but other teams with space eaters manage to sack plenty. Especially as many space eaters, including Star, are on the bench on obvious passing downs when most sacks come. Whether a team uses a space eater doesn't necessarily tell you how they'll do with sacks. And Star is a great example of that. Carolina were close to the top of the league with Lotulelei on the team and it wasn't his roughly two sacks a year that made the difference. 

 

And defenses aren't judged by sacks. They're judged by how well they play defense, how well they limit the other team's offense by hook or by crook. Our defense was excellent last year and elite so far this year. Is that all on Star? Absolutely not. But has he played his part? Yup.

 

 

 

As noted here before, if you look at the salary rankings of DTs, not all of the highest paid are space eaters. There are 1-techs, 3-techs, penetrators, five-tool guys like Aaron Donald, but there are also some space eaters. They're still greatly valued by some defenses. And as should be dazzlingly obvious by now, 

 

 

 

Again, I'm not arguing how well he's doing this year. I'm not convinced either way on that. He may have regressed as Joe B has said. And if so, that may be due to an injury or just regression. Hard to be sure with a guy doing such a dirty blue-collar task in the middle. Or not without extensive focused film study anyway.

Edited October 27, 2019 by Thurman#1

[Thurman#1]

12 hours ago, BuffaloBillsGospel said:

I hated the Star Louteleilei pickup when we did it and haven't felt wrong about saying it since, he's supposed to be a space eater and he gets manhandled quite a bit. A space eater to me is someone like Casey Hampton of the Steelers who actually was impossible to move of the line, Star is not even in the same league. We could have paid many other guys to do what Star does and actually do it well, maybe I'm off base but I'd love to see something about how much of an impact he's actually making eating up blocks.

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.wkbw.com/sports/bills/2018-buffalo-bills-all-22-in-review-defensive-tackle

 

 

https://www.newyorkupstate.com/buffalo-bills/2019/01/bills-lorenzo-alexander-says-star-lotulelei-earned-every-bit-of-big-contract.html

 

 

"But Buffalo linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, who called Lotulelei “disruptive,” said that the former Panthers tackle was well worth it and is going to be a staple on the team for years to come. “Obviously he (doesn’t play) a sexy position, but he allows other people around him to make plays,” Alexander said. “I’ve definitely been able to have a pretty good year this year. A lot of it is contributed to what he’s been able to do as far as keeping guys off me, allowing me to run free. “In the pass rush, people can’t step up. On first or second down I know a couple of guys that have gotten sacks throughout the year just because Star has gotten that great push. He’s earned every bit of what he’s got with that five-year deal.”

It’s hard to argue with the results that the Bills defense had this season, finishing the year ranked second in the NFL in total defense and No. 1 in pass defense.

Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier raved about Lotulelei’s first 16 games in Buffalo and explained that his unselfishness allows others to thrive and young players, like linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano, to develop. “He demands a double team which allows our linebackers to run free and make some of the tackles that people might think the nose tackle should be making,” Frazier said. “That has been a plus for us, helping our linebackers to improve. But also to help our run defense. He’s done a good job of commanding attention from their interior, their center and their guards. It’s hard to block him one-one-one and that’s what we needed and he’s given us that.”

 

 

Alexander said he shows others how to succeed because of the example he sets. “He’s a great leader. He doesn’t say a lot but the way he works and the way he goes about his business and the way he relates to guys in this locker room goes a long way,” Alexander said.

[TheBeaneBandit]

Bump. The interior is soft in this team....

[Helpmenow]

Run the ball up the gut is the key on the bills.

[Gunsgoodtime]

Yes, he is no where near worth the contract.  He does very little 

[JoPar_v2]

I think it’s safe to say both Star and Oliver are liabilities 

[GoBills808]

Have to see game film but again I didn’t see him the issue...Peko is super green and Phillips isn’t a 1tech

[billsfan89]

9 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

Have to see game film but again I didn’t see him the issue...Peko is super green and Phillips isn’t a 1tech

 

They need a run stuffer. Oliver and Phillip's are penetrators, Star is average at best. There should be a big run stuffer on a losing team available to trade for. WR is another trade they should make but there might not be too much of a market. 

[GoBills808]

1 minute ago, billsfan89 said:

 

They need a run stuffer. Oliver and Phillip's are penetrators, Star is average at best. There should be a big run stuffer on a losing team available to trade for. WR is another trade they should make but there might not be too much of a market. 

I agree. It’s been a liability

[MAJBobby]

Once again Star just Abused. Put in skates. 

[Brand J]

I miss Ted Washington.

[TheyCallMeAndy]

How bad Trent Murphy is deserves it's own thread too

[GG]

I didn’t watch the game.  I have a stinking suspicion it will be a replay of last week.  The OCs have figured out the BIlls’ weakness and will exploit it until Bills show they can stop the run up the middle. 

[billsfan89]

3 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

I agree. It’s been a liability

 

Unlike WR there could be a fix out on the trade market. Make the move put your defense in a position to improve

[TheyCallMeAndy]

Bills may need to completely rebuild that DL this summer. 

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

Is Star a liability? I don't think so. I think he's a JAG. He's not even remotely close to being worth his contract, but I don't think he's a "bad" player

 

 

[GG]

6 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Bills may need to completely rebuild that DL this summer. 

 

They need 1 true space clogging run defender.  Star has just given up.  If he does nothing else but stay in one place that would be an improvement over his play as of late.