Getting After the Quarterback: Expectations for the Buffalo Bills Defensive Ends
Photo Credit: Jim Davis, the Boston Globe
One of the main philosophies of the Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane regime in Buffalo is the importance of building through the trenches.
Over the past few off-seasons, they’ve had a particular focus on adding more pass-rushers to improve their defensive line production. Beane made arguably the most significant free-agent signing as the General Manager of the Buffalo Bills this past March with the acquisition of Von Miller, who they hope can still bring elite production as their x-factor defensive end.
With the departure of veterans Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison in free agency, they are expecting that Greg Rousseau, Boogie Basham, and A.J. Epenesa can step up and become key contributors to the success of this Bills defensive line in getting after the quarterback alongside Miller and Shaq Lawson, who is returning to Buffalo after stints with the Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, and the New York Jets.
Von Miller
Photo Credit: Robert Kirkham, Buffalo News
Coming off a season where he racked up 9.5 sacks in the regular season, as well as played a key role in the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl run with four postseason sacks, Miller has proven that he is still a premier pass rusher in the NFL. Miller will be one of the starters on the Bills defensive line, and the way that McDermott and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier utilize him in their defense will most likely be different than their approach with other players that have been on the Bills at that position. McDermott and Frazier typically implement a rotation along the defensive line, especially so last year, as the defensive end with the most snaps in the 2021 season, Jerry Hughes, only ended up on the field for around 51 percent of the total defensive snaps. While Miller’s snap count has been at least 75 percent every season throughout his career, this percentage will most likely decrease this upcoming season. However, considering that Miller is the most talented edge-rusher McDermott has seen on the Bills since he became their head coach, expect him to take at least 60 percent of the snaps, if not more, next season. Expect Miller to make at least 50 tackles, and with the money the Bills are committing to Miller, it would be a disappointment if he didn’t get at least ten sacks in 2022.
Greg Rousseau
Photo Credit: Jeffrey T. Barnes, Associated Press
As a rookie, Greg Rousseau showed flashes of potential to be an excellent run-defending edge rusher, with 50 combined tackles in 2021. He also racked up four sacks and an interception. He most likely will start alongside Von Miller on the defensive line, and how he performs in his sophomore campaign will be crucial for him to retain that role. He performed well to start in his rookie campaign, highlighted by a two-sack performance against the Dolphins, and winning AFC defensive player of the week after getting a sack and an interception against the Chiefs, but was relatively quiet until the last couple of games of the season. If he can become a more consistent player, as well as develop his technique to become a more refined pass-rusher, we could see Rousseau get somewhere around six sacks in his sophomore campaign in the NFL.
Boogie Basham, A.J. Epenesa, and shaq lawson
Photo Credit: Adrian Kraus, AP Photo
Boogie Basham, A.J. Epenesa, and Shaq Lawson are collectively more of a wild card in terms of how they will produce next year. Basham spent most of his rookie season as a rotational backup defensive end, and while he showed his high motor when he was on the field, his limited set of pass rush moves kept him in street clothes on the sideline for part of the season. Epenesa’s career in the NFL has been disappointing so far, and while he has shown flashes in his two years with the Bills, he needs to impress in training camp this year to secure his future in Buffalo. In Lawson’s case, he inked a 3-year, $30 million deal with the Dolphins after getting 6.5 sacks and showing his upside as a great run defender in his last season with the Bills in 2019. His production on the field has gone significantly down since then and is now returning to the Bills on a veteran minimum 1-year contract. While he didn’t make many plays last year with the Jets, racking up only 23 tackles and a sack, he does know the defensive system well in Buffalo, and will challenge Basham and Epenesa for playing time. Statistically, a realistic expectation for these players is to make at least 15-20 tackles and get two-to-four sacks each.
