AJ Epenesa's progress

[Swiper]

Really good article.

Trent Murphy made expendable in Bills lineup by AJ Epenesa

[Swiper]

I always liked Murphy. When healthy he contributed. But I wouldn't mind losing his salary hit and it looks like it will come after this season is over.

[Jimkelly12203]

pass rush is looking better for sure. I had mixed feelings about last week though with the pass rush. It seemed pretty clear to me by the early second quarter that both teams were bringing the heat but not quite getting there in time and that it was going to be a game about who plays the better screen game. Herbert is REALLy freaking good and he's like 7 games in to his career so that's scary. I felt like we pressured him, but didn't get to him as much as our pressures expected to. And there were a number of times when he beat us bad. There were even more times where he beat us bad but his WR just flat dropped the pass (sometimes due to great DB play, other times due to bad WR hands).

I love bringing pressure. I think it's super important. And I hate playing vanilla Tampa 2, rush 4 BS. But, in my uninformed opinion, I wanted them to rush 4 and drop everyone else into coverage last week. I think we dodged a bullet to be honest. The dropsies by the Chargers WRs saved us. But yes, the pressure was encouraging to see nonetheless.

Klein is a keeper. That's what i've learned about this defense in these last 4 or so weeks.

[Swiper]

pass rush is looking better for sure. I had mixed feelings about last week though with the pass rush. It seemed pretty clear to me by the early second quarter that both teams were bringing the heat but not quite getting there in time and that it was going to be a game about who plays the better screen game. Herbert is REALLy freaking good and he's like 7 games in to his career so that's scary. I felt like we pressured him, but didn't get to him as much as our pressures expected to. And there were a number of times when he beat us bad. There were even more times where he beat us bad but his WR just flat dropped the pass (sometimes due to great DB play, other times due to bad WR hands).

I love bringing pressure. I think it's super important. And I hate playing vanilla Tampa 2, rush 4 BS. But, in my uninformed opinion, I wanted them to rush 4 and drop everyone else into coverage last week. I think we dodged a bullet to be honest. The dropsies by the Chargers WRs saved us. But yes, the pressure was encouraging to see nonetheless.

Klein is a keeper. That's what i've learned about this defense in these last 4 or so weeks.

They (the defense) clearly made some changes after they looked so bad against Tennessee and KC. One of those appears to be giving Epenesa some playing time. He goes after the QB like a terror and can run down a guy rolling out to the opposite side of the field.

[Goobylal]

I always liked Murphy. When healthy he contributed. But I wouldn't mind losing his salary hit and it looks like it will come after this season is over.

Murphy's contract is done at the end of the season. I was hoping he still had years left and they'd get some cap savings but nope.

[Swiper]

On the downside, the defense seemed to get better when they yanked Harrison Phillips and replaced him with Justin Zimmer.

Bills' 'silent assassin' cements victory over the Patriots

[Goobylal]

On the downside, the defense seemed to get better when they yanked Harrison Phillips and replaced him with Justin Zimmer.

Bills' 'silent assassin' cements victory over the Patriots

I think HP still isn't 100% and probably won't be until next season.

[Ed]

In hindsight it's too bad they didn't cut Murphy before this season. The cap savings they could have rolled over to 2021 would be really useful with how tight they are on cap space.

[sukie]

No pink DEs

[Woodman]

AJ is starting to make an impact .......

[Mad Bomber]

Apple sucks.

Just composed a LONG post about how I’ve followewd AJ thru his college career, and accidentally touched the wrong part of the screen, and itvdisappeared,,,,

iPAD is not good for posting...

[Goobylal]

He was looking like a bust. Hope he can keep improving.

[BLUTO]

I think AJ got used to the NFL game speed and his quickness is a great asset.

[Woodman]

Apple sucks.

Just composed a LONG post about how I’ve followewd AJ thru his college career, and accidentally touched the wrong part of the screen, and itvdisappeared,,,,

iPAD is not good for posting...

Frustrating about the IPAD.

AJ has improved so much and looking forward I can see him becoming a huge contributor.

[Mace]

I was a big fan of the idea of Murphy, but the reality was underwhelming.

I'm a fan of Epenesa. His combine performance was meh by the numbers, but I watched it. I've mentioned before and will mention again, he was fierce, enthusiastic and energetic at the drills. That showed me determined effort and some mean that you want in a DE. I believe he's also a guy they can move around for effect, not like Murphy.

I never started worrying he looked like a bust, I mean they didn't play him for you to know. The fact that they weren't playing him and trying to play Murphy is kind of self explanatory. Murphy cost them more, try to get that value from the vet while the rookie learns. I'd have preferred him in the rotation, I mean hey, the D is having issues, but hopefully now he stays there.

I think Epenesa develops just dandy, given the chance, and will be better still with a pro year of weight training and exp in 2021.

[Mace]

Apple sucks.

Just composed a LONG post about how I’ve followewd AJ thru his college career, and accidentally touched the wrong part of the screen, and itvdisappeared,,,,

iPAD is not good for posting...

.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts

[Mad Bomber]

As an Iowa alum, I’ve watched Epenesa from his first sack as a freshman (against Wyoming's QB Josh Allen) to his defensive MVP performance in the 2019 Holiday Bowl, where he played against 1st round OT pick Austin Jackson. The guy is a baller.

His draft stock fell because of his performance at the Spandex Olympics (i.e. the combine), where he ran a slow 40. He’s a DE, not a sprinter. He showed in college, and this year, that he can run down a QB. He’s NOT SLOW.

He’s a natural RDE (his primary positition in college).. His main pass rush move involves using his left arm up under the shoulder of a larger OT’s shoulder, using leverage and balance and a right arm chop to get a route to the QB. Not a speed rusher...he’s about technique and leverage. He’s smart and strong, and should do just fine in the NFl.

[Mad Bomber]

.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts

See the abridged version above. I’m too lazy to retype the whole thing lol

[jamze132]

On the downside, the defense seemed to get better when they yanked Harrison Phillips and replaced him with Justin Zimmer.

Bills' 'silent assassin' cements victory over the Patriots

If you order a Kyle Williams on Wish.com, you get a Harrison Phillips.

[Woodman]

In hindsight it's too bad they didn't cut Murphy before this season. The cap savings they could have rolled over to 2021 would be really useful with how tight they are on cap space.

I really thought he was a goner.