Defensive tackles don’t always get the love they deserve because of how quiet their names are on the stat sheet.
Pro Football Focus is trying to help out Ed Oliver there.
The Buffalo Bills defensive tackle is having the best season of his career. As life usually is with his position, he’s being a bit overshadowed by tight end Dawson Knox, who is having a breakout year of his own.
But make no mistake, Oliver is playing well. PFF thinks so, too.
The football analytics outlet revealed this past week that Washington’s Jonathan Allen is the only defensive tackle that has played better than Oliver in the last three weeks of the season… And barely:
Highest pass rush grades among IDL's over the last three weeks
🥇 Jonathan Allen: 90.5
🥈 Ed Oliver: 90.0 pic.twitter.com/9Bot2EPSA3— PFF BUF Bills (@PFF_Bills) November 30, 2021
In those three games, Oliver’s stat line is not very impressive… as referenced, that typically happens.
In that span, he has half a sack, seven tackles, including one for loss, and five QB hits.
Regardless, Oliver has passed the eye test this season for many and with flying colors.
Once a player some questioned as a first-round pick and maybe even a bust, Oliver is showing why Buffalo was so excited to land him at the 2019 NFL draft.
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