3 players the Bills need to step up in wake of Von Miller injury news
By Ryan Heckman
If Ed Oliver continues to wreak havoc, the Bills will be in good shape
This season, Ed Oliver has been fantastic. He’s missed a few games, but is also on pace to set some career bests.
In nine games this season, Oliver has totaled 11 quarterback hits. His career high is 14, set just last year and when he played all 17 games. With five games to go, Oliver should end up breaking that number.
Oliver has also been better in pressuring the quarterback, and has 13 pressures in nine games. That means he’s pacing for 20 on the season, and in less games played than a year ago where he totaled 18.
As an interior defensive lineman, Oliver is one of the league’s best and most well-rounded. It’s tough to find someone as freakishly talented as an Aaron Donald, but Oliver is a nice consolation prize — a prize in which the Bills boast, thankfully.
While the guys on the exterior need to raise their play without Miller, it’s up to Oliver to continue getting pressure from the inside as well. Replacing Miller’s constant pressure on the quarterback is difficult, which is why even the interior guys are going to have to fill the gap.