Confidence - Deone Walker

[PoundingDog]

I posted his interview in Eric Wood's podcast back in OTAs, and noticed the guy's confidence. Seems like it carried over to pre-season games. Maybe more than "I can play in this league." 

 

Ed Oliver remains to be best defensive player Beane ever drafted and that's 9th overall, a place the Bills probably would not going to be as long as Allen is healthy as Bills QB. Walker may challenge that if he continues to grow - could be this year! It's funny we have all focused on how those recent day 2 draft picks to pan out as a verdict on Beane, maybe we should add early day 3 picks as well.

 

     

[NewEra]

Love this kid.  Nothing but good things to say about his performance today.  The sky is the limit.  He has all pro ability as many here have said all day.  He’s the type of guy that can change games with 2-3 exceptional plays.  

 

Yet, I think we (me included) should remember that he was playing against 2 backup guards as Carolina sat their starters at OG.  Get excited, but if he doesn’t do that same thing in the next game he plays, don’t be surprised.  

[NickelCity]

Please let him be a bonafide star....man what that would offer this team....

[Victory Formation]

I love Deone, but I have not given up on TJ Sanders yet either.. Ultimately I think both picks will be fruitful in the end..

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

I think for most of last season he was the best player in our front 7. I think he was held back significantly by over rotation and scheming away from his strengths. I can’t wait to see what he can do this year. I think he’s a superstar in the making 

[SCBills]

Deone Walker legitimately has Chris Jones potential. 
 

When I watch him play, that’s what I see. 

[gonzo1105]

I know the sack was a highlight but I was more happy watching him clog run lanes in a new system in a new position as a guy not known for his run stuffing ability 

[NickelCity]

28 minutes ago, gonzo1105 said:

I know the sack was a highlight but I was more happy watching him clog run lanes in a new system in a new position as a guy not known for his run stuffing ability 

 

He straight up ended some running plays before the even started. Loved it 

[Nelius]

He plays so aggressive. Fantasy media dorks even talking about it. There’s Deone Walker hype and I’m a fan of it.

[RobbRiddick]

The pic of him smiling is the highlight of the game for me

[colin]

4 hours ago, Nelius said:

He plays so aggressive. Fantasy media dorks even talking about it. There’s Deone Walker hype and I’m a fan of it.

I love the fantasy media dorks.  

 

I got a fantasy football magazine as a gift a week ago -- Josh Allen is on the cover and for that alone I like it.

 

When you look at the value guys for fantasy, it all comes down to volume -- playing more snaps and getting more targets is like 80% of what gets guys fantasy value.  I chortle at the tight end rankings when kinkaid got 49 freaking targets and dude in zona got like 160.  I guess for fantasy end stats are all that matters, but I think it influences all pro and pro bowl stats and skews people's views, not to mention does not include OL and such who every NFL gm steps over their own mothers to draft and sign.

 

Anyhow, fantasy dorks aside, Walker really does look like an all pro talent to me.  I can't help but see a lot of albert Haynesworth in him.  Big huge long tall, plays a little high, moves very suddenly and is super quick twitch in short areas.

[Winnebago Man]

7 hours ago, gonzo1105 said:

I know the sack was a highlight but I was more happy watching him clog run lanes in a new system in a new position as a guy not known for his run stuffing ability 

 

I couldn't agree more. The sack highlighted his freakish athleticism -- especially for a man of his size -- but, his presence in the run game showcased how much better he is at anchoring and occupying his gap this year, which he struggled with at times last year.

 

Granted, it is one preseason game and a limited sample size, but if he can be that disruptive consistently, the defensive line will take a massive leap forward this year.

[Orlando Buffalo]

7 hours ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

I think for most of last season he was the best player in our front 7. I think he was held back significantly by over rotation and scheming away from his strengths. I can’t wait to see what he can do this year. I think he’s a superstar in the making 

My minor disagreement is that I don't think he could be a 3 down player last year, there were some plays where you could tell he was gassed. When he was good to go he was our best front 7 player though

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

All off season people were worried about us not having a traditional NT. The guy we have in there has the potential to be our best player on defense for the next 5 years. We are fine. This DC is going to do things to maximize our players. Not shove them into a box and make them play the way he wants them to

Edited August 16 by Brianmoorman4jesus

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

I am slightly worried, not because I doubt Walker's talent but because I worry about the leverage in the center. I still think I'd love a heavy two gapper to let Oliver and Walker play one on one but it's hard to argue with results 

[machine gun kelly]

I’m glad he had a first outing this year, but not sure why anyone was surprised.  He shined often last year.  In this new system, he probably will thrive.  I’m looking forward to seeing in real games Oliver and Walker.  We’ll find out who is the main third.  Probably TJ Sanders or Landon Jackson.

[518Buffalo]

I can’t remember the last time I looked at one of those “top 25 under 25” lists and saw a Bill on there. We desperately need young studs on rookie deals and if Walker can be that, it’s absolutely huge for our team this year and team building going forward. ESPECIALLY on the D Line…that was Beane’s one job in the 2025 draft and while you would have liked to see it with Sanders, I’ll absolutely take it with Walker.

 

FWIW on Sanders at this point I’m kind of expecting an AJ Epenesa-like career from him - solid rotational player that will inconsistently make a few splash plays, not a total bust but underwhelming for his draft position 

[Sierra Foothills]

I think it was @Shaw66 who pointed out a few areas where the Bills have been a bit ahead of the curve (2 deep umbrella, re-emphasized run game, the use of 3 tight ends).

 

Another area is that this new Leon Hard defense seems designed to have big, stout edge players to contain the run and trap/cage the QB and to rely more on the interior D-linemen to apply pressure.

 

Guys like Oliver, Walker, Durant and Sanders fit this mold and the philosophy makes a ton of sense... the quickest route to the QB is from the interior... the worst pass blockers are usually guards, and even on plays where the rush doesn't get home it can still be in the QBs face and in the passing lanes. This philosophy also makes it harder for the QB to climb the pocket.

 

Edited August 16 by Sierra Foothills

[Shaw66]

That's an interesting, but I thought "big, stout edge players to contain the run" was McDermott's philosophy. 

 

What you say makes a lot of sense, but it seems to me that you still need at least one edge who is a threat to take down the quarterback. If both OLBs are primarily run stoppers, the offense has some ability to scheme to slow down the rush up the middle. That's just my impression. 

 

I think by lining up five potential rushers - three linemen and two OLBs, the idea is to have five guys, not three, who can get to the QB.

 

I'm not criticizing your post, just continuing to try to figure out how Leonhard's defense works. 

[Sierra Foothills]

Just now, Shaw66 said:

That's an interesting, but I thought "big, stout edge players to contain the run" was McDermott's philosophy. 

 

What you say makes a lot of sense, but it seems to me that you still need at least one edge who is a threat to take down the quarterback. If both OLBs are primarily run stoppers, the offense has some ability to scheme to slow down the rush up the middle. That's just my impression. 

 

I think by lining up five potential rushers - three linemen and two OLBs, the idea is to have five guys, not three, who can get to the QB.

 

I'm not criticizing your post, just continuing to try to figure out how Leonhard's defense works. 

 

And yet Epenesa and Bosa were epically bad at setting the edge and holding the point.

 

McDermott's defenses were not good at outside containment IMO.