Buffalo Bills: Why Ed Oliver didn’t play with the first-team during spring practices

The Buffalo Bills didn’t play 2019 top-ten pick Ed Oliver with the starters during spring practice, but it may not be a cause for concern.

When the Buffalo Bills selected Ed Oliver at No. 9 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, many assumed the team got their long-term starter at defensive tackle. As a player many compared to Aaron Donald due to his tenacity, aggressiveness, and fleet-footedness, he’s expected to be a difference maker. But, the Bills aren’t giving anything to him.

During rookie minicamp, Oliver was a starter on the defensive line. The same can’t be said for veteran-infused camps and OTAs, as head coach Sean McDermott placed the talented Jordan Phillips as the starter alongside Star Lotulelei during spring practices. Oliver and second-year Harrison Phillips took the second-team duties. Immediately, this caused concern; but it may not be just.

Oliver was dealing with an injury that limited him in practice, a partial reason for his “demotion.” However, the real reason may not be because of an ailment; rather, it’s the coaching staff.

Head coach Sean McDermott, along with defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has built a certain brand of football in Buffalo. Where general manager’s Brandon Beane’s phrase du jour is “the process,” similar to the Philadelphia 76ers famous, lengthy rebuild, the coaching staff’s may be “everything is earned, nothing is given.” There is no better example of that than Oliver and his second-team status.

Oliver is the most talented defensive tackle the Bills have; that’s obvious, he’s a freak of nature. But he hasn’t yet earned playing time in Western New York. The idea of placing Phillips — a talented player, but not at Oliver’s level — proves that. If Oliver wants to win the starting job, he’ll have to do it himself.

Bills Insider Chris Brown saw the same in the Oliver-second-team “dilemma,” as he said during mandatory minicamp on One Bills Live;

"Yes, Ed Oliver is a top-ten draft choice, but he hasn’t earned anything yet. That goes back to McDermott saying ‘you earn everything you get out here.’"

At Houston, Oliver saw his stock decline partially due to a sense of lack of motivation from draft pundits. Though he didn’t show that on the field — playing the nose tackle; not his natural position — it was still a concern. Whether or not that is justifiable is unknown, but what is known is that McDermott is trying to self motivate Oliver in the form of earning a starting job.

By the time training camp rolls around, Oliver may not be the second-teamer amongst an impressive group of interior lineman. He should have the opportunity to win the starting job by pre-season — based on his impressive, potentially destructive, skillset, the Bills would be foolish not to start him. However, with the new-look Buffalo Bills, nothing is given, even if you are a top-ten pick.

Final verdict: Ed Oliver was reduced to a secondary role partially due to an injury, but mainly because that’s how the Bills do business. Since the origin of the franchise, the team has been adamant about building a mindset in their players based on hard work and self-motivation. That continues to hold with Oliver in-fold.