Sharp Analysis: Best front sevens in NFL (Bills 8th)

[DapperCam]

I feel like our front 7 is full of question marks.

 

- Milano: Will he be washed? He’s basically missed 2 consecutive seasons with injuries.

- Bernard: He is a dawg, but also missed some games with injury. Will he hold up (I think he will)? Also, he just secured the bag, there could be a performance dip.

- Oliver: Different player seems to show up week-to-week.

- Epenesa: Not much of a question mark. Does okay in his role as depth and gives 5-6 sacks.

- Bosa: Just a big question mark.

- Hoecht: Smoot replacement that will miss a bunch of games.

- Ogunjobe: Steelers fans didn’t seem to care much for this guy and he will miss a bunch of games.

- Rousseau: Our best player on the line, but did secure the bag. Will he lose his hunger?

- D. Jones: Down year last season after missing most of the previous season. Getting up there in age.

- Rookies/2nd year players - Question marks by definition.

 

Feels like we know we’ll have 2 good starters: Bernard and Rousseau. We know we’ll have Epenesa for consistent meh depth.

 

After that it’s a big “who knows”. Should make for an interesting season to see if anybody steps up.

[SCBills]

There have been rankings showing the Bills DL as high as #5, so factor in Milano, Bernard and Johnson.. I can see it. 
 

The DL is a lot of projection, but I think we’re all in “see it to believe it” mode due to the meh’ness of recent iterations.

 

If a contender we pay attention to extended Rousseau, had Oliver, added Bosa, drafted a DT at 40 and DE (in a loaded class) in RD3… along with trading back up for another DT in RD4, and having another RD3 DT entering Year 2, I’d suspect we’d be intrigued at their potential. 
 

That doesn’t even factor in the signings of Hoecht and Ogunjobi.  
 

As typical of this team (minus last year), we have a ton of good depth and a lot of (on paper) above average to really good players … remains to be seen if anyone can break through to become a game wrecker individually.  

 

Edited July 23 by SCBills

[Max Fischer]

On 7/22/2025 at 10:29 AM, Fleezoid said:

 

This is good analysis on 3rd down struggles. But I really don't need all the examples and numbers to know they had problems all year getting off the field. What this also tells me is, they're not utilizing the decent pressure rate to their advantage by using cover zone defenses constantly. The pressures don't translate if offenses pick apart the soft zones with quick hitting plays. Be aggressive for crying out loud. So what if you give up a big play every so often. Take a shot with some big plays on defense!

 

Aaaarrrgh!  Okay....getting ready for regular season mode when I'm screaming at the TV screen!

 

These guys are interesting, and I appreciate their knowledge and hard work; however, their videos can be exhausting and would benefit from a producer/editor to cut out the minutiae and get to the point. 

[Don Otreply]

On 7/22/2025 at 4:05 AM, Chandler#81 said:

The suspensions of the druggies really sucks as it will take virtually the entire season to figure out who and what we’ll be up front. I do expect better play -if only because it can’t get much worse..

Never challenge worse!

[JP51]

23 hours ago, DapperCam said:

I feel like our front 7 is full of question marks.

 

- Milano: Will he be washed? He’s basically missed 2 consecutive seasons with injuries.

- Bernard: He is a dawg, but also missed some games with injury. Will he hold up (I think he will)? Also, he just secured the bag, there could be a performance dip.

- Oliver: Different player seems to show up week-to-week.

- Epenesa: Not much of a question mark. Does okay in his role as depth and gives 5-6 sacks.

- Bosa: Just a big question mark.

- Hoecht: Smoot replacement that will miss a bunch of games.

- Ogunjobe: Steelers fans didn’t seem to care much for this guy and he will miss a bunch of games.

- Rousseau: Our best player on the line, but did secure the bag. Will he lose his hunger?

- D. Jones: Down year last season after missing most of the previous season. Getting up there in age.

- Rookies/2nd year players - Question marks by definition.

 

Feels like we know we’ll have 2 good starters: Bernard and Rousseau. We know we’ll have Epenesa for consistent meh depth.

 

After that it’s a big “who knows”. Should make for an interesting season to see if anybody steps up.

I am with you... there is the possibility this is an excellent front 7.. but a lot of Ifs need to pan out. 

[ganesh]

On 7/22/2025 at 11:09 AM, Big Blitz said:

In the article he has them 8th - I think his tweet is wrong.  I’m optimistic about the D line but I mean - we have to see it before you put almost a brand new group with some Rookies that high.  Obviously Bernard and Milano help.   
 

 

 

The Bills contacted opposing running backs at or behind the line of scrimmage at the league’s second best rate last year (53%), and the front seven may be stronger in 2025. Few teams can match Buffalo’s depth on the defensive line after the additions of Joey Bosa in free agency and draft picks T.J. Sanders, Landon Jackson,and Deone Walker. 

yet our run defense struggled last year.  

 

Also, I only care about post-season statistics...The Bills don't really have good statistics 

[Augie]

6 minutes ago, ganesh said:

yet our run defense struggled last year.  

 

Also, I only care about post-season statistics...The Bills don't really have good statistics 

 

A) This is for 2025. Did you see the draft and FA signings go very heavy on DL? I don’t know how it will turn out, but we no longer have just the cast from 2024.

 

B) You have to get to the postseason before we get to see how it goes in the playoffs. First things first, but you can’t say they didn’t emphasize improving the DLine.