The Buffalo Bills are a few short weeks away from arriving for training camp in Western New York. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the preseason festivities will be diminished; the team will not hold their sessions at St. John Fisher College, their training camp location since 2000.
Nevertheless, the aim of the training camp remains the same. The organization must prepare players for the preseason, which depth players will compete in their final battle for a roster spot.
Training camp could hold greater importance this year, as the trimmed down preseason slate leaves fewer opportunities for players to impress the coaching staff.
The Bills Wire will complete a position-by-position analysis of each group on the Bills roster. This edition will focus on the defensive tackle position:
Players (age)
- Quinton Jefferson (27: 5th season)
- Vernon Butler (26: 5th season)
- Star Lotulelei (30: 8th season)
- Ed Oliver (22: 2nd season)
- Harrison Phillips (24: 3rd season)
- Vincent Taylor (26: 4th season)
2019 recap
The Bills front four received help via the NFL Draft before 2019, as Buffalo selected Ed Oliver with the ninth-overall pick. This bolstered the unit. But to the surprise of Oliver, fans, and the Bills in general, the story of last season in this unit was defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, the biggest breakout performer for the team.
Phillips was quite disruptive for opposing offensive lines to handle. He was second among NFL defensive tackles with 9.5 sacks. His energy was infectious, and he endeared himself to the Buffalo faithful. But as the season progressed, Oliver became a greater force. Star Lotulelei did his job as usual, eating interior linemen and creating space for his colleagues to work.
Early in the year, this group took a big blow, though. Despite Oliver being drafted, Harrison Phillips flew out of the gate and was one of Pro Football Focus’ top defensive tackles in the entire NFL after two games. Then an ACL injury ended his season, and eventually rounding out that rotation along the middle of the D-line was Corey Liuget.
Now here’s a rundown of storylines to follow in this position group:
Who will step up in place of Jordan Phillips?
On the edge, Shaq Lawson left the Bills for the Dolphins. He was second in sacks for the Bills with 6.5. Their leading sack artist ended up actually being Jordan Phillips and his 9.5.
Famously, at least in the Bills realm, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott‘s defense calls for a rotation along the defensive line. Guys stay fresh and have a full-motor all game long. But that takes away from their sack totals. With that in mind, both Phillips and Lawson hit free agency, told other teams, “imagine how many sacks I would have had with more snaps played?”
And you know what? It’s a valid point. Like Lawson, Phillips ended up departing but to the Cardinals. Now his 9.5 sacks need to be replaced. The leading candidate for this role is clear: Oliver.
As a former first-round pick, while Jordan Phillips was liked in the locker room and by fans, it’s clear the Bills have to give a first rounder a shot to shine. That’s still the plan, but Oliver had a bad start to his offseason as he was arrested. Not a great start, but it’s still clearly Oliver’s job to lose. The hope is that Oliver can replicate Phillips’ breakout season last year. With stronger pass rushers surrounding him via other offseason additions, Oliver will see more one-on-one matchups, which most likely he will win the battles.