Ten Bills to Decide 2009, No. 8: DE Aaron Maybin
by Brian Galliford on Jun 29, 2009 12:15 PM EDT
in Buffalo Bills News
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PrintEarlier this month, we took a look back at the woeful sack production that the Buffalo Bills have put forth over the past two seasons. When that piece aired, many of you astutely pointed out that the Bills' defensive issues extend beyond the ability to tackle opposing quarterbacks; the issues, instead, lie in the team's general inability to apply any sort of consistent pressure to make things happen defensively. The best defenses in the NFL make things happen via pressure, and Buffalo's defense has been woefully inadequate in that department for the past 32 games.
Penn State DE Aaron Maybin was drafted by the Bills for a reason. He's here to fix that problem.
For a rookie carrying as much burden as Maybin is (seriously, how many rookie defensive ends are counted on to revive an entire pass rush for a team with playoff aspirations?), he's in as solid a situation as possible given the team he was drafted to. He won't have to start. The Bills have three solid veterans to surround Maybin with. But that's where the comfort level for Maybin ends. Without an above-average rookie contribution from Maybin, not a whole lot will change for the better on the defensive side of the ball in Buffalo, and the team could very well be staring a full decade of playoff-less football in the face.
Just as a rookie defensive end playing in a 4-3 scheme, Maybin is already facing an uphill battle toward instant impact. Eight players were drafted into similar situations from 2006 through 2008, and their rookie sack totals were less than stellar on most counts. Combined, a group consisting of Mathias Kiwanuka, Jarvis Moss, Tamba Hali, Jamaal Anderson, Gaines Adams, Chris Long, Derrick Harvey and Lawrence Jackson have averaged just 3.5 sacks in year one.
One further point to make about rookie defensive ends - only Adams (6) and Hali (8) had more than four sacks in their first NFL season. Moss represents the low end of the spectrum, with just one rookie-season sack.
Clearly, Maybin's value won't be limited to one statistic next season. Perhaps his least-talked about virtue is what his presence means for the ends already on the roster, particularly Aaron Schobel - he's no longer going it alone. That helps the Bills' pass rush situation just as much as Maybin's potential stat line itself. But that value isn't tangible enough to judge whether or not Maybin will have had a successful rookie season.
It's tough to include a rookie on this list simply because we have very little idea just how good or bad he'll be in 2009. That's doubly true in Maybin's case, as he has just one year of (tremendous) college production under his belt. But it's no secret that the Bills need a productive year from Maybin, particularly in the intangible parts of the game, to make good on their playoff aspirations. He's on this list for that reason. Maybin's got a lot of talent, but if he can give the front four a playmaker and make the rest of his linemates better, that's enough to be getting on with.
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Whoa, hold on
A rookie part-time pass rushing specialist is one of the guys we have our hopes tied to? We’re in trouble…
by Defensewinsgames on Jun 29, 2009 12:30 PM EDT reply actions
Poor Maybin.
Seems like more is expected of him than last year’s Hardy.
In order to have an above average rookie campaign Fewell needs to use Maybin for what he is— a pass rusher. Let him blitz from OLB as well as DE (he’s got an LB’s number……) They know he can rush the passer. Lets let him at it.
agreed
just let him attack the QB and make opposing defenses do something about it.
"Hold ya chin up...nuh nuh nuh...gone"
-Marshawn Lynch-
That is a lot of pressure to put on the kid, especially considering how little game experience he has.
I liked what I heard about him in the OTAs, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed. I liked thta I heard they planned on him moving around a lot, and even playing some LB
I’d say the only thing that knocks him off of this list is if he has any kind of an extended holdout. Has he picked an agent yet?
Isn’t LaVarr Arrington his agent?
"I know I'm a true receiver..." Roscoe Parrish, Buffalo Bills - May 2009
"In my heart, I know I'm funny." Lt Steven Hauk, Good Morning Vietnam - 1987
by thefourwinds on Jun 29, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
You are right, maybe
He’s an advisor, mentor, friend, whatever. I don’t know if he’s technically his agent. Chris Brown says he’s a part of Maybin’s management team. The sports management firm Arrington started, Leap Management LLC, lists Maybin as a client. So maybe he is his agent, and advisor.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
Arrington is only a manager.
Arrington is definitely not Maybin’s agent. Agents have to be licensed to do any sort of contractual negotiations. Managers do not have to be and they lack the power to do such a thing. LaVarr Arrington becoming licensed to be an agent would drum up a decent amount of news so we’d know. It’s also very rare for an athlete to become an agent, just doesn’t happen. He’s just an advisor and manager steering Maybin’s career (hopefully) in the right direction.
Delightfully Ignoring The Truth since 1995.
by NeverendingOptimism on Jun 29, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Comparing Maybin to C. Bennett
I continually compare the two. Recalling the havoc bisquit created in rushing the passer and Maybin’s quick burst. Other than different positions is this possibly the mentality the Bills were after in selecting Maybin. I believe so. Tell me if I am wrong and share your thoughts.
Wow, we could a lot worse than Biscuit
Not sure the defenses are equivalent – in fact, I’m sure they are not.
But you never knew when Bennet was coming, he had to be accounted for on every play.
Maybin probably can’t cover. The offense will know what he’s doing on every down he’s in.
by Defensewinsgames on Jun 29, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Fewell
will likely use Maybin as a situational pass rusher to start. What about him lining up at linebacker on passing downs?
Any word on how Chris Ellis is playing this year at OTA’s and minicamp? He seems to be a forgotten man right now.
Get the Bills back to the big game!
My question exactly. Zero on Ellis since last year. As far as media covereage, he's off the radar.
by Defensewinsgames on Jun 29, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, it’s not like he did anything to get on the radar. Right now he’s the 4th/5th DE; there aren’t many stories about those types of players too often.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
Here's what Ellis Did in 2008
Showed up out of shape and soft
Got manhandled in camp
Got thrown 5 yards by Damien MCintosh in the Chiefs game on McLovins pick 6
Then he got hurt!
Enough Said
The fact that the Bills have hyped guys in the offseason for years (Keith Mckeller anyone?), the fact that I almost forgot Chris Ellis was on the team should speak volumes. They normally talk up players who are having good offseasons, etc. so I think this isn’t necessarilly a good sign.
by bluecollarbuffalo on Jun 30, 2009 7:57 AM EDT up reply actions
This one makes sense.
Maybin’s success this year could really determine how this season plays out defensively. Expectations shouldn’t be high, but they should include some impact. That’s what we really need. Maybin has to give us a pass rush threat, especially as the season progresses and he gets more comfortable.
Even if Maybin only gets us the rookie average you mention, 3.5-4 sacks, that’s still be good for second on the team in all likelihood. Beyond sacks, we need him to provide pressure, something nobody else on this team can do consistently. Let’s hope Maybin gets there soon.
If Maybin has a surprisingly good rookie season, say 8 sacks, our D will be so much better than expected.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
If Maybin pressures QB's
into making a bad decision or a bad pass, that would be enough in itself to make an impact. He really doesn’t need to make 20 sacks (or some ridiculously unrealistic number, although that would be nice) to help out the pass rush.
Get the Bills back to the big game!
for comparison
Bruce 6.5 sacks as a rookie
Biscuit 8.5 sacks in 8 games with 7 starts as a rookie!
Schobel had 6.5 as a rookie.
Maybin could get 6 this year with the right scheme / personnel groupings
Maybin’s success this year could really determine how this season plays out defensively.
Exactly. The difference between Maybin being so raw that he is limited to special teams and him getting 6 or more sacks is way, way bigger than the difference between a good or bad season from Mitchell or Lynch.
MAybin a great spell
Even if he isn’t starting, coming off the bench for Kelsay, or Schoebel at any point, would be a huge boost considering his speed and youthful stamina. We drafted him for that burst, and if he can develop his game further over the course of the year, and hit that average of 3.5 – 4 sacks this year then I think that would be great, and also if he hits those marks, it may very well mean that the team overall will have improved drastically….we might even be 8-8!
The Bills CAN win any game
I loved the first two installations of this series
I liked Marshawn’s placement at 10 and I’m so happy someone finally talked about Kawicka Mitchell’s major impact on this team and how after only one year he became the steadying presence, leader, playmaker and locker room inspiration of this team. That’s a lot of awesome roles for a guy who was in his first year with a team. It’s also indicative of how much this defense needs to grow. Either way, Kawicka is a great addition to this team and we need him to do it again this year.
On to Maybin, this is my least favorite installation of the series so far but that could change if you plan on having Aaron Schobel higher on this list than he is, although with so many important players (Donte, Poz, Trent, Lee, TO, Wood, Walker, Hangartner) I don’t think he’ll crack it.
What I’m trying to say is you put Maybin in Schobel’s slot. Maybin isn’t being counted onto revive our pass rushing unit, Aaron Schobel is. Schobel has been our stud for the better part of a decade and his return to prominence will open things up for Maybin not the other way around. As you pointed out the rookie DEs averaged 3.5 sacks while Schobel healthy will NEVER get below that number.Schobel will likely have a better year than Maybin and I think his role on the defense will be greater than Maybin’s. Schobel having a comeback player of the year type of year (11.5 sacks?) is bigger and more realistic than to expect a rookie to revive the pass rush.
Guards Brad Butler and Brandon Rodd are decent. - Pete Prisco
Brandon Rodd!! Our best player.
Maybin isn’t being counted onto revive our pass rushing unit, Aaron Schobel is.
Oversimplification. We’ll need both.
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by Brian Galliford on Jun 29, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
If we’re counting on Schobel to revive the pass rush, I expect a lot of disappointed Bills fan this fall….
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
arent we counting on him though?
Do you really expect Maybin to be the leader of our pass rush? I think its Schobel or bust, and apparently you think its bust. Can’t say I totally disagree.
Guards Brad Butler and Brandon Rodd are decent. - Pete Prisco
Brandon Rodd!! Our best player.
We are counting on him, but counting on him to revive the pass rush is a bit much since he has been part of the problem the last few years. He’s not the solution. Hopefully, in time, Maybin will be.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
ah so your saying
Schobel IS on this list…?
Guards Brad Butler and Brandon Rodd are decent. - Pete Prisco
Brandon Rodd!! Our best player.
Is it me or are comments closing on threads sooner than before?
regarding your question about Edwards staying healthy, I agree with K. The only caveat would be if Edwards takes a Rocky type beating due to the O-line and eventually goes down……nobody would blame him.
The Prayer of Pass Rush - Hail Maybin, blessed with a quick first step, Bruce is with thee; most reverenced art thou among DEs in the AFC, and blessed be the fruit of thy pass rush. Holy Lord, Father of the swim move, we pray for our QB hurries to be numerous and our sacks to be plentiful. Be with us in Victory and at the hour of our Defeat. Amen.
Yeah, we only get like five days. Sometimes that’s just not enough.
And your right about Trent. There are plenty of other factors too. If Trent misses 3 games, but plays like a Pro Bowler in the other 13 (It’s unlikely, I know), then you’ve got to stick with him.
Or if the hit that puts him out is like the concussion hit last year or something that isn’t about how durable you are. Sometimes you just take a hit in a way that every player would have sustained the same injury.
Poor Rook......
already being set up for disappointment by the fans…….
Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009
by norcaliangelsfan on Jun 29, 2009 4:33 PM EDT reply actions
thats exactly why I dont think he should be on this list
instead of Aaron Schobel. Its too much to put a rook and not Schobel, a guy who is supposed to be our pass rushing leader and is supposed to be healthy.
Guards Brad Butler and Brandon Rodd are decent. - Pete Prisco
Brandon Rodd!! Our best player.
By me? I don’t think I’m adding any extra pressure with this article. Are you saying he’s not here to revive the pass rush?
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by Brian Galliford on Jun 29, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions
but is he expected to do it this season? Even Mario Williams couldn't do that.
The Prayer of Pass Rush - Hail Maybin, blessed with a quick first step, Bruce is with thee; most reverenced art thou among DEs in the AFC, and blessed be the fruit of thy pass rush. Holy Lord, Father of the swim move, we pray for our QB hurries to be numerous and our sacks to be plentiful. Be with us in Victory and at the hour of our Defeat. Amen.
Mario Williams may have not done it right away, but he was also an every down player as a rookie. That’s a different comparison than Maybin, IMO.
Maybin will hopefully not have to do that. What a realistic expectation of him should be, is that he simply apply pass rush or some sort of disruption of the other team’s offemse, a few times a game.. He doesn’t have to be great, just good.
It's just a game.
He’s a first-round pick. He’s not a starter. As far as big-pressure situations go, Maybin’s is as low-pressure as you can find. But there’s pressure. Of course there is pressure, and of course there is and should be expectation.
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by Brian Galliford on Jun 29, 2009 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I just think there is two ways to look at the statement that Maybin is one of the top ten players to decide the 2009 season.
The first way of looking at this is; he has to be on this list because there isn’t another option to solving the pass rush. So he is on this list by default. Most of us agree that Schobel is past his prime, and even in his prime was never really a game changing type of player. By identifying the pass rush as the biggest priority in the off season, and coupling that with Maybin being the only addition, welcome to the list of players to decide the season Aaron.
The second way of looking at this is; Maybin shouldn’t be on this list because it isn’t a realistic expectation to have a rookie depended on to make that big of an impact. If he gets 6 sacks that would be a huge accomplishment for a rookie, which would put him in the upper 3% among rookies in sacks over the last 5 years. To say a rookie will decide a season for a team is in a way, an oxymoron.
No, not you........
it’s everywhere……on here, on BBMB……other bills blogs.
Its kinda like the Hardy thing last year…..and the same with Poz……..most fans dont have realistic expectations for their rookies…….
Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009
by norcaliangelsfan on Jun 29, 2009 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions
most fans dont have realistic expectations for their rookies…….
Or other players on the team, either….
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
this is true
Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009
by norcaliangelsfan on Jun 29, 2009 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions
My biggest worry for Maybin:
his ability to stay on the field and healthy for a full season. He had such a limited amount of exposure to the rigors of the game, I have to wonder if he’ll be more susceptible to wearing down and injury.
"It's not delivery, it's DiGiorgio!"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jun 30, 2009 10:08 AM EDT reply actions
Not as a situational player
He’s a freak! And he’s working out as we speak w/ Ray Lewis. Not a bad guy to learn from in my book, (and BTW, I’m no Lewis fan, but repsect his ability in playing the game). He seems to get it already w/o even playing 1 down at this level. He’s surrounding himself w/ several GREATS which I admire.
I DO believe he should be on this list. I feel that w/ a healthy Shoebel @ Right DE, paired up w/ Maybin on the left, Maybin actually has the greater advantage from a matchup point of view IMO. Normally the O RT is less athletic than the LT (protecting the QB’s blindside). That being said, w/ the natural “BURST” that Maybin has, he should be able to benefit from that alone right from the start. It doesn’t mean he has to have ‘x’ amount of sacks to have a sucessful rookie season. All he needs to do is PRESSURE the QB and maybe even pressure the QB in Shoebel’s direction for a sack, or even better, a poor decision on the QB’s part w/ a poor throw and the secondary benefiting w/ the potential for turnovers.
His 1st step is awesome if you haven’t seen it. He’s also packed on 20+ lbs of nothing but muscle since the combine so he’s not as light as everyone thinks. He’s NOT huge by any stretch, but should be capable of handling RT’s in ‘passing situations’ in spite of this being his rookie year. Again, a situational DE, and I won’t be one bit surprised to see him line up as a LB in certain situations either.
So w/ Brian’s ‘theme’, I agree w/ Maybin being on this list for the ’09 season even as a rook.
Season Ticket Holder Sec: 312, Row: 15
"There's NO place like home when it's the Big Tree Inn"
He’s also packed on 20+ lbs of nothing but muscle since the combine so he’s not as light as everyone thinks
ummmmm – you sure? that would be roids or something. Can anyone put on 20 lbs of muscle in 4 months?
I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying
Absolutley
w/ the proper diet along w/ the proper training he went through prior to the OTA’s, it’s VERY possible. He knows he’s going to be tested and wouldn’t jeopardize his career right from the get go like that.
For what it’s worth, I thought the very same thing when I saw the before & after shots of him. I have spoken w/ several trainers about this issue in particular and all have told me just what I said above.
Season Ticket Holder Sec: 312, Row: 15
"There's NO place like home when it's the Big Tree Inn"
Agree.
I met Maybin on a flight from NYC to Buffalo, wrote a fanpost about it. The post is a bit of a downer, but nevertheless, I sat next to the guy the whole flight. He is pretty tall, lanky and pure friggin muscle. I’m 6’1" and he was half a head taller. His arms and legs are LONG. His wingspan will be a great asset in QB pressure. With his speed and then reach, I see good things. But he is very muscular and is only going to get bigger it seems working out with the likes of LaVarr Arrington and Ray Lewis. He’s only 21 and that’s within the time frame that a person can really build and develop muscle.
Delightfully Ignoring The Truth since 1995.
by NeverendingOptimism on Jun 30, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
i’m no trainer – only way i’d put on 20lbs in 4 months is with pizza and oreos. but hey – if it works it works right?
I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying
by J2 on Jun 30, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions
If you change your diet to like 4000 calroies a day...
and eat six meals or so of just flat out protein you can add ten pounds of muscle in a week or two.
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Jun 30, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
That also depends on how much you’re working out and how effectively. Normal people would just crap out all that protein because their body doesn’t need it to rebuild worked out, torn muscles. Maybin is a young professional athlete who is most likely hitting the gym HARD on a continuous basis, so I agree that him adding that weight is not too odd.
I added protein to my diet while exercising four times a week and noticed a good difference in mass change aka body fat percentage in 2-3 weeks, but I need to up the caloric intake put on pounds. Hell, michael phelps eats around 5000 calories a day! I can’t afford that much food.
Delightfully Ignoring The Truth since 1995.
by NeverendingOptimism on Jun 30, 2009 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions
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