Buffalo Bills fans already know the defense should be among the top units in the NFL in 2019. Some Pro Football Focus stats drive that point home further.
The play of the Buffalo Bills defense was a major bright spot in 2018.
The unit should only be better in 2019 with a competent offense leading longer drives and staying on the field more often.
Pro Football Focus shared two tweets today that shared some good news for the Bills defense. The first had to do with Ed Oliver.
Ed Oliver will be a FORCE on the interior defensive line for the Bills 😤😤 pic.twitter.com/Ab4mv0o7A6
— PFF (@PFF) May 30, 2019
The picture is cut off a bit but it shares that Oliver’s run defense was second-best among the 2019 D1 class. In simpler terms, he is a monster up front at stopping the run.
He will surely go through some growing pains but he sure did look NFL-ready last year and it was a no-brainer to take him when the Bills did.
The second stat had to do with the secondary’s performance in 2018.
By allowing just 422 deep receiving yards last year, the Buffalo Bills ranked first in the league in terms of limiting the deep ball pic.twitter.com/krmWZ30ndk
— PFF (@PFF) May 30, 2019
Deep receiving yards in this case are those gained on a reception of 20-plus yards. The secondary is filled with talent and saw a surprise year from Levi Wallace. If he can hold down that starting spot, this will be a young and talented secondary that should be around for years to come.
And I don’t think any of them will be retiring at halftime of any games.
Having a first-round pick like Tre’Davious White be a key player on the team is a nice change from the way things have gone in the recent past and should mean he is here for at least one more contract.
That trend can continue with the likes of Josh Allen, Tremaine Edmunds and Ed Oliver. Building a foundation around first-round picks will help the Bills go from continually making high picks to picking later on and contending in January.