For what many expected to be a complete blowout

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Star Lotulelei Jerseys 2019 , the Buffalo Bills held their own for the majority of the game against the New England Patriots. The first touchdown scored by either team came almost halfway through the fourth quarter with a James White rush after an 85-yard drive. It all went downhill from there. Some of the national media noticed how close the game was up until that point and actually moved them up a spot. Continue reading below to see where NFL rankings outlets placed the Bills at the midway point of the 2018 season.ESPN moves the Bills up one spot from 29th last week to 28th this week, and dropped the Patriots from 3rd last week to fourth this week.NFL.com brings the Bills back one spot from 29th to 30th. They credit what we all think—the offense can’t hang with anyone and the defense can only keep them in close games for so long. The Patriots remain in their comfortable number two spot. CBS Sports keeps the Bills stagnant at the 28th spot and gives the same narrative as almost everyone else.The Patriots hold steady as the third-best team in the NFL.Sports Illustrated’s Monday Morning Quarterback had ten of their writers vote on the placement of all 32 teams. Last week the Bills were 30th and this week they were voted down to 31st after their loss at home. The Patriots once again stay in the same spot, fourth. Our very own SB Nation moves the Bills up one spot from 30th to 29th this week after an inspiring performance from the defense. Additionally, the Patriots don’t move from the second overall spot. While lacking in polish, Oliver has game-changing speed and power."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections NewsNotesOpinionAnalysisDiscussionPodcastNFL DraftSalary CapNFL DraftAnalysisScouting ReportsEd Oliver film analysis: Explosive defensive tackle could complete Bills’ defenseNew,158commentsWhile lacking in polish, Oliver has game-changing speed and power.EDTShareTweetShareShareEd Oliver film analysis: Explosive defensive tackle could complete Bills’ defenseIf there’s one remaining need on the Buffalo Bills roster after Brandon Beane’s free-agent shopping spree, it’s at defensive tackle. Star Lotulelei gives the team a stout nose tackle White Russell Bodine Jerseys , and Harrison and Jordan Phillips are versatile rotational options, but the depth chart is crying for a replacement for team captain Kyle Williams. In 13 seasons, the disruptive Williams notched 48.5 sacks and 103 TFLs from the interior; none of the aforementioned players are building that kind of resume. The best interior disruptor in 2019’s vaunted defensive line class? Arguably, it’s Ed Oliver of the Houston Cougars.The 6’2”, 280-lb Oliver was a five-star recruit due to his rare blend of speed and power, and he’s exactly as advertised. His first-step explosion is tremendous, and easily in Geno Atkins or Gerald McCoy territory. Combined with a fast reaction to the snap, Oliver can be in the center’s chest before any other defender has taken a step.As explosive as he is Russell Bodine Jerseys 2019 , Oliver is also dangerous because of his tremendous motor. He’s running full-bore on pretty much every play, and that includes chasing runners to the sidelines or upfield. It’s rare to see him jogging on a play.You might imagine that an undersized defensive tackle would struggle to push the pocket or anchor against the run, but Oliver’s the exception. Houston played him as a zero-technique nose tackle and he took on the thankless task (and the associated double- and triple-teams) with plenty of success. His base is extremely strong for his size, and he does a great job finding the space between two linemen and driving into it, turning them and removing their force.As another example, check out the clip below. Oliver attacks the center head-on, but Arizona has a left guard barreling into him from the side to try and open a backside gap on the run. It doesn’t move Oliver a step. He anchors against the contact, pushes the center White Phillip Gaines Jerseys , and creates a tackle for loss.In terms of pass-rush moves, Oliver’s go-to is definitely the bull rush, reflecting his straightforward and aggressive approach. While I’ve seen the occasional rip, swim, and spin move, they weren’t really strung together into a meaningful combo. Given how frequently he was winning with his first step, Oliver should’ve created even more TFLs, but his less creative rush plan meant that opponents could occasionally plan for him and redirect the force.Another issue with Oliver’s technique is his stance. We profiled this issue a long (LONG) time ago when discussing Torell Troup Phillip Gaines Jerseys 2019 , and it affects Oliver, too. He sits in a squat pre-snap, with his back at a 45-degree angle to the ground. This presents two issues—first, he needs to take extra steps to reach an opponent because he immediately pops upright after the snap. Second, it raises his pad level, making it easier for someone to win the leverage battle.As a 6’2” lineman, Oliver won’t often face pros with lower pads, but well-executed technique can stop his momentum. This was clear against Navy White Marshall Newhouse Jerseys , which uses a run-heavy option offense featuring plenty of cut blocks and combo blocks. Oliver had his moments knifing into the backfield during that game, but he was also frequently blocked out of the way.Ed Oliver won’t fit every team’s size profile, and the finer points of his technique are still coming along. In spite of those concerns, his tape consistently pops with jaw-dropping feats of athleticism leading to tackles in the backfield. Quinnen Williams is the best all-around defensive tackle prospect in this draft, but Oliver might be the most disruptive. His play-making prowess could be exactly what the doctor ordered for Sean McDermott’s defense.