Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver entered the National Football League as a young, somewhat reckless 21-year-old rookie who had immense talent.
Projected at times by prognosticators to be a top-5 or even top-3 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Oliver somehow fell into the laps of general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott at pick number nine.
Whether it be because of possible character concerns that stemmed from a sideline incident involving a heated, highly-publicized argument between Oliver and former University of Houston head coach Major Applewhite or Oliver’s lack of ideal size, the former Cougar landed in Orchard Park six years ago and hasn’t looked back since.
Oliver amassed 151 total tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 42 quarterback hits, and 14.5 sacks in four seasons before signing a four-year, $68 million contract extension prior to the 2023 season in which he exploded for career highs in tackles (51), sacks (9.5), tackles for loss (14), and quarterback hits (16).
The newly-signed extension was looking like a bargain of a deal for the 6-foot-1, 287-pounder’s services, but then Oliver fell back down to earth last season. He posted just 29 combined tackles, along with a measly five tackles for loss and three sacks.
Needless to say, it wasn’t the type of season anyone was expecting.
However, if last Sunday’s home opener was any sort of precursor to the type of year Oliver is about to have, then the Bills may have something special on their hands this season.
Oliver’s performance against the Ravens, which included six tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, and one incredible game-changing forced fumble, was the type of outing that players dream of.
“I don’t think I’ve had a game like that ever. Even at Kentucky,” Bills rookie defensive tackle Deone Walker said when speaking of his teammate on Wednesday.
“Ed, he’s a great vet … It did get to a point (where) we’re on the sideline – and TJ (Sanders) was about to go in – and Ed was like (no) and walked in. Now, I see why. But, he’s a great player. He has taught me a lot ever since I got here, and I’m just trying to absorb all of it in.”
Entering his seventh season, the veteran isn’t getting ahead of himself, though. He’s just glad Buffalo came away with the victory over Baltimore.
“When everybody said we lost, we won … Five minutes left. Down what? 15 (points)? Fans leaving,” Oliver said on Wednesday. “Everybody said we lost, but we won. So, that’s kind of in the rearview right now.”
When pressed further on his individual performance, however, the twitchy defensive tackle admitted he wants his stellar production to continue past just one game.
“Hopefully, but I’ve got to take it one week at a time, one day at a time, one play at a time,” he said.
“That’s what you try to go into every game and do, you know? Whether that’s the case or not, that’s obviously the goal every game. Then, to make those plays it feels good, but that’s the objective every game. I don’t go into a game and say, ‘Ah, I don’t want to make any plays today.’ That’s the objective every game. It rolled my way this past game, and I was happy it was me.”
Oliver was lauded by Coach McDermott and other members of the staff this offseason for a seemingly more mature approach to how he competed in practice and his communication with teammates on and off the field.
It’s something that wasn’t necessarily always shown from the veteran in offseasons of the past, but the newfound initiative by the defensive tackle has paid dividends thus far.
The 27-year-old admitted that it’s sometimes difficult to pinpoint why things may or may not fall your way during any given game, but he knows exactly what’s led to his personality renaissance as a leader amongst the defensive line.
“Last season was an up-and-down season for me, but towards the end I started putting it together. I just think I picked up right where I left off,” Oliver said.
“I really attest a lot of my maturity and just my growth to my kids. Now having kids and having to be the head of a household and a leader and trying to guide them – that’s kind of then trickled over into football. I’ve become more patient and more observant, paying attention to different things. I really can attest having kids – I don’t know what specifically they do – but they’ve got a weird way of making you grow up real fast.”
On a defensive line that consists of a trio of rookies and one second-year player, Oliver taking on a more of a mentor, father-figure type role is something that is welcomed by defensive coordinator Bobby Babich.
In order to reach the end goal of playing in February, it’s going to take an all-hands-on-deck approach from Buffalo’s unit up front.
“It was a really good performance (by Ed against Baltimore). It’s a credit to the way he’s practiced over training camp. I think (fans and media) saw it and how disruptive he’s been. It’s really cool to see. Ed – even from last year to this year – has matured in a tremendous way, talking football maturity. He’s really becoming a leader,” Babich said earlier in the week.
“But, I mean there’s a lot of unsung heroes … That is very meaningful, and that is us growing and building together with different parts. Like, Joey Bosa being in there and all that and us getting in sync and us getting in rhythm with each other in NFL games.”
Despite Oliver’s standout night against Baltimore, it was otherwise an evening to forget for the Bills’ defense as they surrendered 40 points and 432 total yards, which included 238 yards on the ground.
The upcoming task against the New York Jets will be eerily similar to Sunday night as the team from New Jersey was electric on offense in last week’s 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Led by a trio of backs in Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis, as well as mobile quarterback Justin Fields, the Jets managed to tally 182 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns for an average of 4.7 yards per attempt for the game.
It appears as though New York may have found a solid recipe for success under new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, and the team will surely be pulling out all the stops in an attempt to avoid going 0-2 to start the season on Sunday.
With that said, the challenge may be even greater than first anticipated as Oliver was added to the injury report on Thursday with an undisclosed ankle injury. He was spotted sporting a walking boot on his left foot and riding a scooter in the locker room after practice.
It’s unclear when the injury occurred as any sort of ailment wasn’t apparent following the defender’s post-practice press conference on Wednesday.
If he’s unable to suit up against the Jets, then veteran Jordan Phillips or second-year man Zion Logue will likely get the call up from the practice squad.
If Oliver is somehow able to make the trip and take the field, though, he’s excited for the opportunity to lay it on the line again.
“It’s not the same duo (as Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry), but it gives us another shot at it,” Oliver said in reference to the similar challenges the Jets present this week as the Ravens did in the opener.
“I think if we can take that and run with that – it just gives us another shot to play against that type of dynamic duo.”
The Bills will take on the Jets at 1 p.m. Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J..
Editor’s babble: Many thanks to John Green for his contributions to our blog. You can also find John on Xwitter @JGreen_PRsports.
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