YouTube Saturday: Tier 2 Defensive End Prospects

by Brian Galliford on Mar 28, 2009 10:37 AM EDT in 2010 NFL Draft

As the 2009 NFL Draft crawls closer (we've got a mere four weeks to go, folks), various mock drafters across the nation are finally, mercifully, picking up on the fact that the Buffalo Bills need help at defensive end. Their revelation came just in time, too - and yeah, that's sarcasm; if I had to guess today who the Bills would pick in the first round, I'd probably be talking about a different position.

Two defensive ends you've probably seen (and will continue to see) going to Buffalo in mock drafts are LSU's Tyson Jackson and Tennessee's Robert Ayers. Both, in particular Ayers, are flying up draft boards, and both are considered locks as first-round picks at this point. Neither has precisely what Bills fans covet at the position - speed - but then again, the Bills themselves seem to have different priorities at the end position than we do.

The Ayers video, which comes courtesy of SBN's Tennessee blog, Rocky Top Talk, appears below. Jackson is after the jump, and he's joined by a second-to-third round prospect that I'd prefer to either player: Richmond's Lawrence Sidbury, Jr.

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Oh, and just FYI – I thought the music on the Sidbury video was weird, too.

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by Brian Galliford on Mar 28, 2009 11:29 AM EDT reply actions

I liked it. It was different.

The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.

by sireric on Mar 28, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I liked the viral video that was created for the song….

I like the song too….

~K
"I’m Kurupt with Buffalo Rumblings. I am worth hundreds!"

by Kurupt on Mar 30, 2009 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Sidbury music was wierd!!!!

How many years can we go without making the playoffs...eventually the odds go in your favor.........right?!?!?

by Rudy916 on Mar 28, 2009 11:37 AM EDT reply actions

Two other possibilities

All the “experts” seem to think Jackson would be better suited to a 3-4, where his lack of speed would be less crucial. Ayers looks very good, but he was such an underachiever until the draft drew near that one has to worry about his motivation. Since what the Bills (as opposed to their fans!) want in a DE is someone who is very good at playing the run and who can drop back into coverage against TE’s when necessary, as well as pressuring the QB, they might be best off with Paul Kruger of Utah, who does have pretty good speed and has a LB’s instinct for getting to the ball. Jarron Gilbert would be another sensible choice — a big guy who proved at the combine that he is also very quick.

Both will likely be available in the second round. In fact Kruger will probably not go until late in the second round due to his slow 40 time at the combine (his playing time is much faster), so if the Bills trade down in the first round for an extra second round pick he could be the third guy they take, leaving them two shots to improve the interior o-line and add a really good TE before taking what Mike Maycock regards as the fourth best DE in this year’’s draft. Or, as Brian suggests, they could take Sidbury at that point.

by Macktruck on Mar 28, 2009 12:01 PM EDT reply actions

The Bills haven't said they wanted a coverage DE.

I gather your run-stopping DE comment comes from the DEs on the roster but Ellis isn’t really a run-stopper. At least not yet. Our DEs are never asked to drop back into coverage.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Mar 29, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Nice highlight reel

I, for one, really appreciated that it included a mix of college teams. Ayers had some nice plays against some of the better teams in college football. I can see why his stock is rising.

by Ron From NM on Mar 28, 2009 12:26 PM EDT reply actions

Jackson highlight reel....not so much

Was it me or did Jackson really not stand out in that highlight reel? He got a sack on a busted play 7 seconds after the snap and then didn’t get to the QB in time to stop the pass on the next two (shown) plays. The rest of the reel was him beating up on less than stellar competition.

If the Bills are going DE in order to get pressure on the QB Jackson doesn’t seem to be a good fit. He seems (and is built like) a guy who would be stout against the run.

by Ron From NM on Mar 28, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Weird music and only 4 plays for Sidbury?

by Ron From NM on Mar 28, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think Richmond finds it way onto TV too often

~K
"I’m Kurupt with Buffalo Rumblings. I am worth hundreds!"

by Kurupt on Mar 28, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

What weird music?

Ayers was seemingly dancing to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LywHAzqmTSc

Great plays don't make great players; great players make great plays.

by Fort Worth on Mar 28, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow, teams didn’t bother blocking Ayers too often, did they? He doesn’t look like anything special to me, just your typical, average DE. Solid against the run, very mediocre in trying to rush the passer. I’m not a fan.

~K
"I’m Kurupt with Buffalo Rumblings. I am worth hundreds!"

by Kurupt on Mar 28, 2009 1:22 PM EDT reply actions

Not too impressed with SIdbury.

He had three sacks and a pressure. Two sacks were on a spin move. One he had a nice hip toss move to get off the block. The pressure was on a bull rush that took four or five seconds. Not thrilled to see that.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Mar 29, 2009 9:02 AM EDT reply actions

Considering this was the FCS championship game thats NOT bad MRW

That means he was facing one of the top 8 teams in 1-AA, since you know, they actually PLAY for a real championship through an actual playoff.

If the Bills were a drug, I could only hope they were like speed so I could lose some weight as well.

by WABillsfan on Mar 29, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll give you that....

it just looked like that RT wasn’t even using his hands. That’s not a knock against Sidbury I guess.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Mar 29, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Jackson looks slow...

even on his “speed” rush to the outside. If we still ran the 3-4 he’d be great. Stout against the run.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Mar 29, 2009 9:04 AM EDT reply actions

There is a reason these guys are not first rounders.

You need to start looking for raw talent and potential to fit the Bills system. Hunt has that.

"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end". - R. J. Wiedemann. Lt.Col. USMC Ret.

by Joe P. on Mar 29, 2009 9:07 AM EDT reply actions