Ed Oliver not with the first string
This is not necessarily a cause for concern but is worth noting that first round pick, Ed Oliver, was listed with the second string. The Bills have Star Lotulelei and Jordan Phillips as their starters at defensive tackle.
It certainly appears the coaching staff is trying to get Ed Oliver to earn his spot in this defense and has been challenging him. He recently has gotten more time with starters but also spoke with head coach Sean McDermott recently that he is not practicing at the level he expects of himself.
McDermott spoke with Ed Oliver after practice. Ed told Sean that he didn’t like everything that happened at practice yesterday and wasn’t satisfied. McDermott praised his honesty
— Josh Reed (@4JoshReed) August 5, 2019
These kind of comments are what you want to hear from a first round pick. It is hard to find a player that has this level of self-awareness and this is what will help him reach his potential.
There is no reason at this point not to expect Ed Oliver being a key contributor for the Buffalo Bills’ defense this year.