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08-06-2016, 03:32 PM
Undrafted Striker gets to show what he can do as Bills starter (http://bills.buffalonews.com/2016/08/03/undrafted-striker-gets-show-can-bills-starter/)
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PITTSFORD -- Until now, he was mostly known for that great speech -- the one he gave to family and friends last May after he went through the NFL Draft without being selected.
A viral video (https://youtu.be/RWXzHCkkm1c) caused a lot of people to fall in love with Eric Striker's story: Undersized linebacker from Oklahoma with an over-sized heart. All about toughness and grit. If he just made an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent, that would be considered a major accomplishment.
Well, the 6-foot, 221-pound Striker might end up doing a whole lot more than that.
On Tuesday night, he got his first chance to start for the Buffalo Bills.
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He was at outside linebacker -- opposite Jerry Hughes -- for their practice under the lights at St. John Fisher College. Striker, who was at inside linebacker during offseason workouts, earned the chance through strong performances through the first three days of training camp.
And, frankly, IK Enemkpali wasn't exactly doing a whole lot to keep a firm grip on an opportunity arising from the fact first-round draft pick Shaq Lawson is recovering from shoulder surgery that will keep him out indefinitely and veteran Manny Lawson is dealing with a pectoral injury that is expected to him him out at least through the first two preseason games.
"Well, I was like, 'Wow! That’s what’s up!'" Striker said of his reaction to learning before the practice he was going to be a starter. "That opportunity here, let’s try to take advantage of it."
After that, it was all about Striker doing what he does best. Being aggressive, instinctive. Attacking and never retreating.
"Don’t think too much," he said. "You know, you’re out there with the ones, so just play your game. So I was trying to be out there and be relaxed and play my game, and that’s what I was doing."
http://bnwordpress.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/08/1005419475-McCoy-Sports-32-1-434x611.jpg (http://bnwordpress.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/08/1005419475-McCoy-Sports-32-1.jpg)Eric Striker hits the blocking dummy during training camp at St. John Fisher College . (James P. McCoy/ Buffalo News)
During OTAs and minicamp, Striker tried making the best of playing inside linebacker because, well, that was where the coaches put him. He wasn't going to argue about it. If that was where he needed to be to make his case to land a roster spot, he was going to make the most of it.
But Striker never felt comfortable. The coaches saw it.
Just before the start of training camp, linebackers coach Bobby April III informed Striker he was moving outside.
"Totally different person," Striker said of what the position switch meant to his game. "I mean, from OTAs and to now, I feel like I’m at home right here. Coach has been saying, 'Man, Striker, you’re at home, huh?' You know, everybody be saying, 'Striker at home, man.'
"You know, the outside spot is definitely what I do best. But I’m pretty versatile. Could do both, but I’m definitely loving it. Like blitzing is like in my blood."
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PITTSFORD -- Until now, he was mostly known for that great speech -- the one he gave to family and friends last May after he went through the NFL Draft without being selected.
A viral video (https://youtu.be/RWXzHCkkm1c) caused a lot of people to fall in love with Eric Striker's story: Undersized linebacker from Oklahoma with an over-sized heart. All about toughness and grit. If he just made an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent, that would be considered a major accomplishment.
Well, the 6-foot, 221-pound Striker might end up doing a whole lot more than that.
On Tuesday night, he got his first chance to start for the Buffalo Bills.
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He was at outside linebacker -- opposite Jerry Hughes -- for their practice under the lights at St. John Fisher College. Striker, who was at inside linebacker during offseason workouts, earned the chance through strong performances through the first three days of training camp.
And, frankly, IK Enemkpali wasn't exactly doing a whole lot to keep a firm grip on an opportunity arising from the fact first-round draft pick Shaq Lawson is recovering from shoulder surgery that will keep him out indefinitely and veteran Manny Lawson is dealing with a pectoral injury that is expected to him him out at least through the first two preseason games.
"Well, I was like, 'Wow! That’s what’s up!'" Striker said of his reaction to learning before the practice he was going to be a starter. "That opportunity here, let’s try to take advantage of it."
After that, it was all about Striker doing what he does best. Being aggressive, instinctive. Attacking and never retreating.
"Don’t think too much," he said. "You know, you’re out there with the ones, so just play your game. So I was trying to be out there and be relaxed and play my game, and that’s what I was doing."
http://bnwordpress.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/08/1005419475-McCoy-Sports-32-1-434x611.jpg (http://bnwordpress.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/08/1005419475-McCoy-Sports-32-1.jpg)Eric Striker hits the blocking dummy during training camp at St. John Fisher College . (James P. McCoy/ Buffalo News)
During OTAs and minicamp, Striker tried making the best of playing inside linebacker because, well, that was where the coaches put him. He wasn't going to argue about it. If that was where he needed to be to make his case to land a roster spot, he was going to make the most of it.
But Striker never felt comfortable. The coaches saw it.
Just before the start of training camp, linebackers coach Bobby April III informed Striker he was moving outside.
"Totally different person," Striker said of what the position switch meant to his game. "I mean, from OTAs and to now, I feel like I’m at home right here. Coach has been saying, 'Man, Striker, you’re at home, huh?' You know, everybody be saying, 'Striker at home, man.'
"You know, the outside spot is definitely what I do best. But I’m pretty versatile. Could do both, but I’m definitely loving it. Like blitzing is like in my blood."
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