Ellis will allow Bills to make waves at DE

[Dr. Lecter]

The No. 4 defensive end is an afterthought on many NFL teams.

The Buffalo Bills showed Sunday how important they think that roster spot is when they invested their third-round pick on Virginia Tech defensive end Chris Ellis.

The Bills could have drafted a tight end at that spot. They could have taken another Penn State linebacker, Dan Connor. There was a big defensive tackle, Auburn’s Pat Sims, still on the board.

However, the Bills are more serious than ever about sending waves of pass rushers at the opposing quarterback in 2008.

“I’ve always felt you have to have four,” Bills Vice President of College Scouting Tom Modrak said of pass rushing defensive ends. “You can live with three but four is better.”

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/billsnfl/story/334470.html

Also (at the end)

Eight of the Bills’ 10 draft picks have graduated from college or are scheduled to graduate by the summer. The two that have not are second-rounder James Hardy, who ended his college career a year early, and seventh-rounder Steve Johnson.

[DMBcrew36]

I like this.

Rotating four obviously keeps them all relatively fresh - hopefully giving them an advantage over opposing offensive lineman.

[colin]

in our d we have our dline run like track stars. they rush hard, get upfield, then run the ball down.

we really do need 4 solid guys and i think we have them now.

dts too. stroud is awesome for us because he is huge but also long and a hustler. not a ton of guys out there who can run and smash mouth at the line.

i think mccargo's problem has been conditioning. he is a force when in, but in our system he needs to be able to hustle and run more.

now that we have more depth along w more size at lb, ellis will be in the enviable position for a rook of just getting let off his leash and sent on wild tear.

[Captain gameboy]

As I posted on draft day, I really like Ellis, and I have seen him a bunch.

I also mentioned that the head coach at Fork Union Military Academy, John Shuman, who knows all about Ellis, stated earlier in the year that he thought Ellis had the potential to be a better pass rusher than Chris Long.

What credibility could this guy have?
Here's a list of guys who have played and graduated from Fork Union:

Heisman Trophy winners:
Eddie George
Vinny Testaverde

Others:
Gaines Adams/Michael Barber/Mike Quick/Darryl Blackstock/Plaxico Burress/Dexter Coakley/Josh Davis/Jim Druckenmiller/Rickey Dudley/Don Majkowski/Billy McMullen/Ernest Wilford

In this year's draft alone:

Clemson defensive end Philip Merling
Josh Morgan of Virginia Tech-Drafted by 49ers
Dorien Bryant of Purdue-free agent Pittsburgh

I don't think there is any legitimate reason to believe that Ellis WON'T be a starter, or that he will end up as just a situational pass rusher.

[Night Train]

We were giving Hargrove a chance be be a pass rush specialist.

This guy seems to have a lot of quickness and scout Tom Roth just gushed over the guy, after scouting him closely.

Can't wait to see him and the other rookies in camp.

[DMBcrew36]

We were giving Hargrove a chance be be a pass rush specialist.

This guy seems to have a lot of quickness and scout Tom Roth just gushed over the guy, after scouting him closely.

Can't wait to see him and the other rookies in camp.

Ha, too bad Hargove likes to smoke bud and punch cops in the face!

[Mahdi]

Ellis is quicker and more talented than Hargrove anyways... Hargrove was just a high-motor guy.

[jamze132]

None of our DE ever had a problem getting 3-6 yards deep behind the LOS. The problem came when the DEs rushed wide, the DTs got pushed back which creates 30 seconds of time for the QB to throw the ball wherever the **** he wants. With the emergence of McCargo and getting Stroud, it should do nothing but help out our DEs who seem to only go wide.

[PECKERWOOD]

It's a good pick, I will be happy if he can get 4-5 sacks next year.

[Captain gameboy]

None of our DE ever had a problem getting 3-6 yards deep behind the LOS. The problem came when the DEs rushed wide, the DTs got pushed back which creates 30 seconds of time for the QB to throw the ball wherever the **** he wants. With the emergence of McCargo and getting Stroud, it should do nothing but help out our DEs who seem to only go wide.

I think that is an accurate assessment.
But....When Ellis gets deep, you will see a world of difference in closing speed and agility.
I really think he has the ability to be special.

[justasportsfan]

I think that is an accurate assessment.
But....When Ellis gets deep, you will see a world of difference in closing speed and agility.
I really think he has the ability to be special.
he did look like he can close fast and packs a huge hit.

[jamze132]

I think that is an accurate assessment.
But....When Ellis gets deep, you will see a world of difference in closing speed and agility.
I really think he has the ability to be special.
We'll see.

[YardRat]

He needs to keep his nose clean, but another young guy I'll be rooting like hell for to exceed expectations.

[acehole]

This guy was a good pick. One year of HGH and I think he will be as good or better then D Tapp...just got to get stronger.


The No. 4 defensive end is an afterthought on many NFL teams.

The Buffalo Bills showed Sunday how important they think that roster spot is when they invested their third-round pick on Virginia Tech defensive end Chris Ellis.

The Bills could have drafted a tight end at that spot. They could have taken another Penn State linebacker, Dan Connor. There was a big defensive tackle, Auburn’s Pat Sims, still on the board.

However, the Bills are more serious than ever about sending waves of pass rushers at the opposing quarterback in 2008.

“I’ve always felt you have to have four,” Bills Vice President of College Scouting Tom Modrak said of pass rushing defensive ends. “You can live with three but four is better.”

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/billsnfl/story/334470.html

Also (at the end)

Eight of the Bills’ 10 draft picks have graduated from college or are scheduled to graduate by the summer. The two that have not are second-rounder James Hardy, who ended his college career a year early, and seventh-rounder Steve Johnson.

[DMBcrew36]

Lets be real, the Bills need to get black, lanky defensive lineman - like the Chicago Bears. Enough of these Ryan Denney's - they don't get to the QB quick enough.

[acehole]

Lets be real, the Bills need to get black, lanky defensive lineman - like the Chicago Bears. Enough of these Ryan Denney's - they don't get to the QB quick enough.

CHris Eliss does not equal R dENNY.
mORE LIKE sHAWN mERRIAMAN.

[Johnny Bugmenot]

Ellis is quicker and more talented than Hargrove anyways... Hargrove was just a high-motor guy.
Hargrove had production, though... which is more than supposedly high-motor Tim Anderson ever had.

[TacklingDummy]

“I’ve always felt you have to have four,” Bills Vice President of College Scouting Tom Modrak said of pass rushing defensive ends. “You can live with three but four is better.”



I'd be happy with 2.

[Tatonka]

I think that is an accurate assessment.
But....When Ellis gets deep, you will see a world of difference in closing speed and agility.
I really think he has the ability to be special.

i agree.. i have watched him enough to see that he has a handful of moves and speed. he is good at pulling the top gun "hit the breaks and let them fly right by".

what doesnt show, or i should say, what is probably not focused on as much is his qb pressures. i cant tell you how many times, aside from his sacks, that he has caused the qb to drill the ball into the ground, out of bounds, or make a bad throw. he is one of those guys who always seemed to be breathing down the qbs neck all game, but may only end up with one sack. but several of his qb pressures caused turnovers due to bad throws.. like the giants did to brady in the superbowl.

the other thing that i really like is this.. when he has the chance to sack a qb.. he sacks the **** out of them.. his sacks are normally highlight reel variety, which goes along way in firing the d and the crowd up. i remember bruce smith being good at that.. but when ellis gets to the qb, he lays teh lumber and you are usually wondering if the qb is going to get up. he plays "violent".

[Tatonka]

I'd be happy with 2.

i dont know if you were joking, but that was kinda funny.

:up: