Dion Dawkins is latest to rave about Bills DE A.J. Epenesa

[wppete]

I’m really pumped to see AJ this year. If he comes into camp and starts the season on fire our defense could be very scary with the rookies we drafted on the DLine and Huges and Oliver…

 

https://billswire.usatoday.com/2021/06/05/dion-dawkins-rave-buffalo-bills-aj-epenesa-sean-mcdermott-leslie-frazier/
 

“First Sean McDermott, then Leslie Frazier, and now Dion Dawkins.

During OTA practices at this point in the offseason, we usually don’t see many head-turning things. But we’re starting to see one growing trend over the past two weeks.

No, not “trust the process.”

 

Head coach, defensive coordinator and franchise left tackle have all been sure to mention one name recently: Defensive end AJ Epenesa.

 

Epenesa, Buffalo’s top-overall pick in Round 2 of the 2020 NFL draft, had a slow start to his career. He turned it around, but early struggles were attributed to him losing too much weight last offseason and the altered summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic probably didn’t help, either.

 

But now it sounds like Epenesa has turned a page. After coaches had complimented the pass rusher, a player in Dawkins has now followed suit. On the field, the offensive lineman absolutely sees a difference.

 

“I speak to AJ every single day… and I compliment him every single day,” Dawkins saidvia video conference this week.

“I ask him how his body feels and he says, ‘Man, honestly, I like it,’ and I say, ‘Yup, we do, too,'” Dawkins added. “He’s taking reps against me, and I can physically feel the difference and he’s not a feather anymore and he’s growing really, really well. I’m very excited to see what AJ does next.”

 

Dawkins’ thoughts follow praise from McDermott and Frazier who both mentioned how much Epenesa has come along. Frazier specially said he sees a more “explosive” player now.

 

Epenesa himself has admitted to having struggles as a rookie, but also followed that with feeling better about himself now. That could be big news for the Bills defense.

 

After failing to sign free-agent JJ Watt, the Bills decided to select Greg Rousseau and Boogie Basham at the top of the 2021 NFL draft. Those two young guys, and now a confident Epenesa, will battle for playing time with each other and versus veterans Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison during training camp.

 

If that competition brings out the best of that group, the Bills could be poised to improve on their 38 total sacks as the team last season.”

 

[Beast]

I think the kid is going to be a heck of a player and I actually liked what I saw from him late last season.

 

 

[eball]

9 minutes ago, wppete said:

After failing to sign free-agent JJ Watt

 

Sloppy writing.  Who said they even tried?  All of the Watt-to-Buffalo talk was fan and media driven.

 

Anyway, I’m excited to see AJ in action and I love listening to Dawkins.  “He’s not a feather anymore…” — that’s gold.

[wakingfane]

Article is misleading... Dion didn't bring up AJ, the reporter specifically asked him to comment on AJ... And my take on Dion's commentary left me more concerned than impressed... he said he no longer feels like a "feather" - okay concerning that he ever was a "feather"... and generally it sounded more like he's starting over with a new body... and feels more like playing a normal NFL player now...

Edited June 5, 2021 by wakingfane

[RussellDopeland]

Glad he's looking good (of course they all look good this time of year). Now package Epenesa and a pick off to the Vikings for Danielle Hunter.

[TailgateChef]

13 minutes ago, Beast said:

I think the kid is going to be a heck of a player and I actually liked what I saw from him late last season.

 

 

Help me understand.  Because when I looked up his RAS, I got this:

https://relativeathleticscores.com/2020/02/03/a-j-epenesa-ras/

The only difference I see is the position.  How can he score 8.77 on one and 4.09 on the other, when the measurements are the same?

[H2o]

But we just drafted DE's in the 1st AND 2nd Round. This guys is toast.

[Beerball]

Proof is in the puddin. 

[Royale with Cheese]

I’ll admit that when I think of our ends, I keep forgetting about AJ due to the excitement of Boogie and Rousseau.  Fingers crossed he breaks out.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

37 minutes ago, eball said:

Sloppy writing.  Who said they even tried?  All of the Watt-to-Buffalo talk was fan and media driven.

Anyway, I’m excited to see AJ in action and I love listening to Dawkins.  “He’s not a feather anymore…” — that’s gold.

 

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Beane acknowledged interest and talks. 

 

But of course there's a lot of room between interest/talks and serious negotiations.

 

[17islongenough]

One of those edge guys have to hit.  Right?

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

47 minutes ago, wppete said:

I’m really pumped to see AJ this year. If he comes into camp and starts the season on fire our defense could be very scary with the rookies we drafted on the DLine and Huges and Oliver…

 

https://billswire.usatoday.com/2021/06/05/dion-dawkins-rave-buffalo-bills-aj-epenesa-sean-mcdermott-leslie-frazier/
 

“First Sean McDermott, then Leslie Frazier, and now Dion Dawkins.

During OTA practices at this point in the offseason, we usually don’t see many head-turning things. But we’re starting to see one growing trend over the past two weeks.

No, not “trust the process.”

 

Head coach, defensive coordinator and franchise left tackle have all been sure to mention one name recently: Defensive end AJ Epenesa.

 

Epenesa, Buffalo’s top-overall pick in Round 2 of the 2020 NFL draft, had a slow start to his career. He turned it around, but early struggles were attributed to him losing too much weight last offseason and the altered summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic probably didn’t help, either.

 

But now it sounds like Epenesa has turned a page. After coaches had complimented the pass rusher, a player in Dawkins has now followed suit. On the field, the offensive lineman absolutely sees a difference.

 

“I speak to AJ every single day… and I compliment him every single day,” Dawkins saidvia video conference this week.

“I ask him how his body feels and he says, ‘Man, honestly, I like it,’ and I say, ‘Yup, we do, too,'” Dawkins added. “He’s taking reps against me, and I can physically feel the difference and he’s not a feather anymore and he’s growing really, really well. I’m very excited to see what AJ does next.”

 

Dawkins’ thoughts follow praise from McDermott and Frazier who both mentioned how much Epenesa has come along. Frazier specially said he sees a more “explosive” player now.

 

Epenesa himself has admitted to having struggles as a rookie, but also followed that with feeling better about himself now. That could be big news for the Bills defense.

 

After failing to sign free-agent JJ Watt, the Bills decided to select Greg Rousseau and Boogie Basham at the top of the 2021 NFL draft. Those two young guys, and now a confident Epenesa, will battle for playing time with each other and versus veterans Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison during training camp.

 

If that competition brings out the best of that group, the Bills could be poised to improve on their 38 total sacks as the team last season.”

 

 

I feel like AJ Epenesa is a dark horse among the breakout candidates this year. Personally, I don't see him becoming a super sack-master. I'm hoping he can become an all around, jack of all trades, solid starter. 8-10 sacks, strong in run support, and racking up lots of tackles for a lineman.

 

If either of the top 2 DE rookies can break out, Hughes upping his sack totals a bit, Star back, and Ed Oliver finally plays to his draft status then might see a totally different defense. Unfortunately, that's a lot of IFs and Buts. I do think we will see an improvement. Whether it's a big of small one only time will tell.

[Rc2catch]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Epenesa was starting to look pretty good the second half of the season. 
My favorite thing watching him was his ability to get his hands up when the quarterback was about to throw and he wasn’t gonna get home. Sounds easy but not a lot of linemen are actually good at it. I think fans were really hard on him but we seem to discount the covid offseason as not a big deal, but I think it was tougher than we give credit for. Very excited to see this defensive line. 

[Beast]

56 minutes ago, TailgateChef said:

Help me understand.  Because when I looked up his RAS, I got this:

https://relativeathleticscores.com/2020/02/03/a-j-epenesa-ras/

The only difference I see is the position.  How can he score 8.77 on one and 4.09 on the other, when the measurements are the same?

 

I'm not the one to ask anything concerning measurable stats. I just trust what my eyes tell me when watching a football player.

Edited June 5, 2021 by Beast

[Maynard]

I haven’t seen any recent pictures of him, but I wonder how much he’s bulked up. I loved the AJ pick and still do. I think we’ll see a much different player this year. 

[BarleyNY]

58 minutes ago, TailgateChef said:

Help me understand.  Because when I looked up his RAS, I got this:

https://relativeathleticscores.com/2020/02/03/a-j-epenesa-ras/

The only difference I see is the position.  How can he score 8.77 on one and 4.09 on the other, when the measurements are the same?

RAS methodology separates DTs and Edge players so it looks like someone combined them to look at Epenesa.  His scores obviously looked better in that light, but he was bigger when he came out and it might’ve made sense if he was looked at as a DT/DE hybrid. In any event he’s reshaped his body and those numbers are probably not all that useful anymore.

[costrovs]

6'5 275lbs Epenesa, 6'7 265lbs Rousseau, 6'3 275lbs Basham. Those are some BIG Dlinemen. Bigger the better in the trenches. I like Epenesa and Rousseau a LOT more than both Oliver and Star. Yes I know, different positions, but Rousseau can play inside, and height is a huge advantage against opposing QB's.

[Allen2D̶i̶g̶g̶s̶TBD]

I wouldn't call that "raving" but I think Epenesa was very close to breaking out at the end of last season. They started giving him a lot more snaps and he seemed to be one step away from getting to the qb on a number of occasions. I think giving every DE fewer snaps will keep them hungry and able to go 100% on every down.

[TPS]

Looking forward to seeing how the young guns pan out. While there isn’t a  Garrett or Young, the whole will be better than the sum of its parts. A pass rush going forward of Groot, Ed, Boogie, and AJ will be tough to stop. 

Edited June 5, 2021 by TPS

[Max Fischer]

1 hour ago, wakingfane said:

Article is misleading... Dion didn't bring up AJ, the reporter specifically asked him to comment on AJ... And my take on Dion's commentary left me more concerned than impressed... he said he no longer feels like a "feather" - okay concerning that he ever was a "feather"... and generally it sounded more like he's starting over with a new body... and feels more like playing a normal NFL player now...

Why are you “concerned” over an improvement?

[ROCBillsBeliever]

32 minutes ago, TPS said:

A pass rush going forward of Groot, Ed, Boogie, and EJ will be tough to stop. 

 

I posted a "Shocked" emoticon because I didn't realize the Bills retained rights to EJ Manuel, that he bulked up, and that he made the switch to Defensive End. That fish is all sorts of cray, LOL!

Edited June 5, 2021 by ROCBillsBeliever

[Doc]

1 minute ago, ROCBillsBeliever said:

I posted a "Shocked" emoticon because I didn't realize the Bills retained rights to EJ Manuel, that he bulked up, and that he made the switch to Defensive End. That fish is all sorts of cray, LOL!

 

Could have meant Gaines.

[eball]

1 hour ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Beane acknowledged interest and talks. 

 

But of course there's a lot of room between interest/talks and serious negotiations.

 

“Any time a player of JJ Watt’s caliber becomes available, you’d be foolish not to consider whether or not he could help your football team.”

 

This is not a direct quote from Beane but is probably damn close. He answered questions about Watt with typical GM-speak. 

[Buffalo Boy]

1 hour ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

 

I feel like AJ Epenesa is a dark horse among the breakout candidates this year. Personally, I don't see him becoming a super sack-master. I'm hoping he can become an all around, jack of all trades, solid starter. 8-10 sacks, strong in run support, and racking up lots of tackles for a lineman.

 

If either of the top 2 DE rookies can break out, Hughes upping his sack totals a bit, Star back, and Ed Oliver finally plays to his draft status then might see a totally different defense. Unfortunately, that's a lot of IFs and Buts. I do think we will see an improvement. Whether it's a big of small one only time will tell.

    Last year, this time, we all hoped Josh would do what he did but none of us really believed he would.

   We have a real shot to have a top five D line this year. If it happens, our D will also be top five and we should be able to beat KC.

    The window is open and “ Why not us”?

[Doc]

12 minutes ago, eball said:

“Any time a player of JJ Watt’s caliber becomes available, you’d be foolish not to consider whether or not he could help your football team.”

 

This is not a direct quote from Beane but is probably damn close. He answered questions about Watt with typical GM-speak. 

 

I could have sworn that I've heard Beane actually said something along those lines, replacing "JJ Watt" with "any good player/a specific player's name."

[Shaw66]

2 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Beane acknowledged interest and talks. 

 

But of course there's a lot of room between interest/talks and serious negotiations.

 

Yeah.  I think we misperceive how this stuff actually happens between GMs.  

 

I agree.  Beane was clear.  There was interest.  I fully suspect Houston told the Bills what they were looking for, Watt's agent told the Bills what Watt was looking for, and Beane told Houston and the agent what the Bills initially would be willing to offer. 

 

And these negotiations don't start with low-ball offers from Beane or pie-in-the-sky asks from the other team.  These are sophisticated business people who give each other a fair statement of what they're willing to do.   Nobody wants to waste a lot of time going back and forth to find out what really will make the deal.  So, in this case, the Bills found out pretty quickly that they weren't willing to pay what Watt or Houston wanted, and the parties stopped talking.   If Watt and Houston hadn't been able to make a deal with Arizona, maybe they would have called back with lower expectations.   Who knows?

 

What we do know is that Beane was interested until he learned the price.  That's how these things go. 

17 minutes ago, Buffalo Boy said:

    Last year, this time, we all hoped Josh would do what he did but none of us really believed he would.

   We have a real shot to have a top five D line this year. If it happens, our D will also be top five and we should be able to beat KC.

    The window is open and “ Why not us”?

Last year at this time we all hoped Ed Oliver would do something, too.  

 

Hard to get excited about comments out of OTAs.  

[klos63]

3 hours ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I’ll admit that when I think of our ends, I keep forgetting about AJ due to the excitement of Boogie and Rousseau.  Fingers crossed he breaks out.

It's a lot to wish for but imagine if all 3 show a lot and develop as the season goes on. Could/Will be huge if they all have an impact.

[MJS]

4 hours ago, wakingfane said:

Article is misleading... Dion didn't bring up AJ, the reporter specifically asked him to comment on AJ... And my take on Dion's commentary left me more concerned than impressed... he said he no longer feels like a "feather" - okay concerning that he ever was a "feather"... and generally it sounded more like he's starting over with a new body... and feels more like playing a normal NFL player now...

That's a lot of concern you are digging up. Only positive thing shave been said about AJ. Maybe everyone ISN'T lying about him...

[Buffalo Boy]

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

Hard to get excited about comments out of OTAs.  

    I’m not excited about the Dawkins quote.

    I am excited to see a D line , full of young bucks, with some good veteran leadership , get after it.

    I am of the hunch that last year was an outlier for our D and this year we will get back into our groove.

    I see a lot of people on here questioning  Star and his motivation, past and present. I am of the opinion that he is a vet who sees a Golden opportunity to put a ring on his finger.

    IMO, there is a good chance we are more than pleasantly surprised this year by our D.

[3rdand12]

5 minutes ago, Buffalo Boy said:

    I’m not excited about the Dawkins quote.

    I am excited to see a D line , full of young bucks, with some good veteran leadership , get after it.

    I am of the hunch that last year was an outlier for our D and this year we will get back into our groove.

    I see a lot of people on here questioning  Star and his motivation, past and present. I am of the opinion that he is a vet who sees a Golden opportunity to put a ring on his finger.

    IMO, there is a good chance we are more than pleasantly surprised this year by our D.

I tend to agree. there is enough talent and motivation to move the needle upwards , at the very least .
 And I for one would not be surprised Bills Defenses look fairly elite by midseason or sooner

[Shaw66]

9 minutes ago, Buffalo Boy said:

    I’m not excited about the Dawkins quote.

    I am excited to see a D line , full of young bucks, with some good veteran leadership , get after it.

    I am of the hunch that last year was an outlier for our D and this year we will get back into our groove.

    I see a lot of people on here questioning  Star and his motivation, past and present. I am of the opinion that he is a vet who sees a Golden opportunity to put a ring on his finger.

    IMO, there is a good chance we are more than pleasantly surprised this year by our D.

Yeah, I actually agree with most of that.   It's just that we won't know any of it until the fall, and what Dawkins says about Epenesa in June is not convincing me that Epenesa is going to be the cause of the defensive improvement.  

 

I think McDermott, Frazier and the Dline coach have been scheming for months to create pass rush, to stop the run, and to make the defense stingier, and I have a lot of confidence that they will succeed.   Part of that scheming will include figuring out how the particular skills of Harrison, Oliver, Epenesa, Rousseau, and Basham are going to be utilized. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

Yeah.  I think we misperceive how this stuff actually happens between GMs.  

 

I agree.  Beane was clear.  There was interest.  I fully suspect Houston told the Bills what they were looking for, Watt's agent told the Bills what Watt was looking for, and Beane told Houston and the agent what the Bills initially would be willing to offer. 

 

?? JJ Watt was released and a free agent

 

Houston had nothing to do with his deal with Arizona and wouldn't have been involved in talks with Beane

 

[TPS]

2 hours ago, ROCBillsBeliever said:

 

I posted a "Shocked" emoticon because I didn't realize the Bills retained rights to EJ Manuel, that he bulked up, and that he made the switch to Defensive End. That fish is all sorts of cray, LOL!

Must have been due to the article on Whaley burning EJ into my mind...Hah!

[ROCBillsBeliever]

26 minutes ago, TPS said:

Must have been due to the article on Whaley burning EJ into my mind...Hah!

 

The Ghost of Whaley Past, strikes again! A gift that just keeps on taking. 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Did they change the rules? I didn't read that the games were played in shorts and no pads.  Until the games are played all this media drivel is worthless.

[TBBills]

I was happy to see him look better as the season went on. A full off-season with training staff and now an actual football off-season should only help.

 

All the defensive potential on the edge with the good vets we have in place should transform this defensive front. Maybe not at the start of the season but when we need it most.

Edited June 5, 2021 by TBBills

[PromoTheRobot]

As good as you are capable of being, this coaching staff will get you there.

[Augie]

7 hours ago, H2o said:

But we just drafted DE's in the 1st AND 2nd Round. This guys is toast.

 

Out with the (expensive) old, and in with the (cheap) new! 

 

Josh will keep the change....

[eball]

1 hour ago, ScottLaw said:

What? There’s nothing sloppy about it… Watt went with money and Zona over Buffalo. 

 

The Bills didn’t “fail” to sign Watt.  That’s the point.  The statement makes it seem as though Buffalo tried and failed — which is not what happened.  Minor point, but sloppy writing.

[wakingfane]

8 hours ago, Max Fischer said:

Why are you “concerned” over an improvement?

Because it makes it sound like he has way further to go in his improvement than I previously thought.  Let's just be honest,  he is not on the standard player development trajectory.  He went from too heavy,  to too light,  and now hopefully just right,  but he has to get used to it... it's not the straight and direct path you'd like to see... so it's concerning