Anyone Want To Take A Vet Minimum Flier On Yannick Ngakoue?

[wppete]

No. There is something wrong with that guy. 

[GunnerBill]

16 minutes ago, TheWeatherMan said:

This is besides the point.  If he was a problem he wouldn’t be landing $10M + 1 year contracts.  He’s a situational pass rusher, not a 3 down player.
 

Who’s skinny are you referring to?  Is this your perception or have you seen this reported somewhere?  This Bills outside pass rush is complete doo doo, I don’t see how adding a player that can get to the QB and at a vet min contract would be a bad decision.  I’m tired of watching Mahomes sit in the pocket for 10 seconds untouched.  

 

I don't think it is besides the point. I think it is exactly the point. 

 

I'm not here lauding the Bills pass rush. I'm just saying Ngakoue is not the answer. 

[Mark Vader]

I would rather take a chance with Emmanuel Ogbah.

 

All that aside, I think the Bills are mostly satisfied with whom they have. Groot is good, and Epenesa will have more opportunities.

 

The signings of Smoot & Toohill, were shrewd moves and not really being talked about. 

 

It would be great if we could get one more veteran DE, and maybe after June 1st there will be better options.

[Alphadawg7]

On 5/30/2024 at 8:26 AM, julian said:

I think the Bills decision makers are higher on Epenesa and Rousseau both having big years than the fanbase is. I hope it happens and Von can come back with 5-8 sacks, if that happens the pass rush should be good.

 

People forget...Bills were 3rd in sacks in the entire NFL last year, only 3 behind the top team too.  And that is with Tre, Milano, and Jones all out for most the season and Bernard missing the end of the season.  

 

Our pass rush isn't as dire as many fear IMHO.

[Putin]

21 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

People forget...Bills were 3rd in sacks in the entire NFL last year, only 3 behind the top team too.  And that is with Tre, Milano, and Jones all out for most the season and Bernard missing the end of the season.  

 

Our pass rush isn't as dire as many fear IMHO.

During the season we had a decent pass rush in the playoffs not so much , and it’s been like that for few years now 

[TheWeatherMan]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I don't think it is besides the point. I think it is exactly the point. 

 

I'm not here lauding the Bills pass rush. I'm just saying Ngakoue is not the answer. 

Care to explain yourself as to why other than YOUR perception is he is lazy and takes plays off?  The last 4 years he has had 8, 10, 9.4, 4 sacks.  That would be better production than anyone currently on our roster over that time period. 

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, TheWeatherMan said:

Care to explain yourself as to why other than YOUR perception is he is lazy and takes plays off?  The last 4 years he has had 8, 10, 9.4, 4 sacks.  That would be better production than anyone currently on our roster over that time period. 

 

I don't have a link I can send you but I have seen it and multiple people I talk to have too. Sure he can rush the passer. But he doesn't play the run at all and he tries when he wants. 

[billsfan89]

1 hour ago, Putin said:

During the season we had a decent pass rush in the playoffs not so much , and it’s been like that for few years now 

Floyd declining as the season wore on and Von never kicking into gear hurt the pass rush. I am glad this team is a bit younger along the defensive line with keeping AJE in the fold and drafting Carter and Solomon. Hopefully they can just get and stay relatively healthy for a playoff run 

[Alphadawg7]

2 hours ago, Putin said:

During the season we had a decent pass rush in the playoffs not so much , and it’s been like that for few years now 

 

I do agree in years past, but last year when we were 3rd in sacks, entering the playoffs we were without Milano and Bernard plus other injuries in our secondary and Jones just coming back from a long injury layoff.  Furthermore Von was a ghost of himself.  

 

So, I think last year had to do more with injuries than personnel.  

[BigAl2526]

he's a pass rusher only, and a significant liability in run defense.  I rather take a chance on a youngster (Javon Solomon) adding to the pass rush and hoping that he can learn to defend against the run too.

[Beast]

On 5/30/2024 at 1:48 PM, Royale with Cheese said:

I feel like he's been in the league for like 24 years.

That’s because he and Kenechi Udeze are the same person.

[LABILLBACKER]

On 5/31/2024 at 12:37 PM, Putin said:

During the season we had a decent pass rush in the playoffs not so much , and it’s been like that for few years now 

Everything in the regular season always looks like wonderland until the playoffs start.

[Rampant Buffalo]

On 5/30/2024 at 2:02 PM, Allen2D̶i̶g̶g̶s̶TBD said:

Mcdermott doesn't tend to sign situational pass-rushers. If you're a liability against the run, you probably won't see the field.

 

A. J. Epenesa says hi.

[Richard Noggin]

On 5/31/2024 at 3:44 PM, TheWeatherMan said:

Care to explain yourself as to why other than YOUR perception is he is lazy and takes plays off?  The last 4 years he has had 8, 10, 9.4, 4 sacks.  That would be better production than anyone currently on our roster over that time period. 

 

On 5/31/2024 at 5:14 PM, GunnerBill said:

 

I don't have a link I can send you but I have seen it and multiple people I talk to have too. Sure he can rush the passer. But he doesn't play the run at all and he tries when he wants. 

 

Why can't Solomon, who is already in Buffalo, have a similar impact as a pass rush specialist by season's end? "Obvious" passing downs they could slide Groot inside and have Solomon line up wide, possibly even as pseudo-OLB/5th DL. Lots of pass rush personnel flexibility if they can first stop the run effectively. 

[Sierra Foothills]

On 5/30/2024 at 11:58 AM, BringBackFergy said:

I never understood the hype...other than a cool name no one can spell.

 

 

I can spell his name but I'm not sure how to  pronounce it.

 

[TheWeatherMan]

4 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

 

Why can't Solomon, who is already in Buffalo, have a similar impact as a pass rush specialist by season's end? "Obvious" passing downs they could slide Groot inside and have Solomon line up wide, possibly even as pseudo-OLB/5th DL. Lots of pass rush personnel flexibility if they can first stop the run effectively. 

I’m pumped to see what Solomon can bring to the pass rush.  Fact is, the Bills  have no idea if his dominant pass rash in college will translate to the NFL.  Not sure it’s wise to rely on a rookie pass rusher to correct what was a rather poor outside rush last season nor is it wise to expect Miller to come back to form.  Bills need to find a way to get to Mahomes, ideally only rushing 4, or they will once again be watching the SB from their couches. 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

On 5/30/2024 at 10:26 AM, julian said:

I think the Bills decision makers are higher on Epenesa and Rousseau both having big years than the fanbase is. I hope it happens and Von can come back with 5-8 sacks, if that happens the pass rush should be good.

I think you are correct but sadly I think they are wrong.

Epenesa is terrible. He has not developed any pass rushing techniques since he has been here. No idea why they brought him back. I know others feel differently on this board.

Rousseau I have higher hopes but he has disappointed so far. He has more talent but can't seem to stay healthy and disappears for huge stretches of the season. He did get a nice sack in the Steelers playoff game. And for the record I 100% agree picking up his option. 

They will regret giving Epenesa a second deal. My guess is they let Rousseau walk after his 5th year. 

The kid from Troy is intriguing as a pass rush specialist. 

My guess is the two players that start at DE in 2026 are not on the team right now. Really hope I am wrong about Rousseau.  He's only 24. Would be huge if he could be a 10-12 sack a year guy. He's a good all around DE. 

[GunnerBill]

13 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

I think you are correct but sadly I think they are wrong.

Epenesa is terrible. He has not developed any pass rushing techniques since he has been here. No idea why they brought him back. I know others feel differently on this board.

Rousseau I have higher hopes but he has disappointed so far. He has more talent but can't seem to stay healthy and disappears for huge stretches of the season. He did get a nice sack in the Steelers playoff game. And for the record I 100% agree picking up his option. 

They will regret giving Epenesa a second deal. My guess is they let Rousseau walk after his 5th year. 

The kid from Troy is intriguing as a pass rush specialist. 

My guess is the two players that start at DE in 2026 are not on the team right now. Really hope I am wrong about Rousseau.  He's only 24. Would be huge if he could be a 10-12 sack a year guy. He's a good all around DE. 

 

I am not here to tell you that Epenesa is a stud. Or even that is truly a full time starting defensive end (I don't think he is). But it is wrong to say he hasn't developed since he has been here. He was just a pure bull rusher in college whose stock in trade was running tackles over and cleaning up the Quarterback. Almost all of his sacks the past two seasons have been on outside speed rushes where he has definitely learned to dip his shoulder and square offensive tackles up before exploding past them. He didn't have that ability when he came out of college so he has definitely developed. He is also arguably the Bills' best finisher when he gets pressue. When AJ is in range of the QB he usually gets him down whereas Groot, Ed, Floyd all at times in the last couple of seasons have been guilty of letting their guy get away. 

 

I think his role remains essentially just a situational pass rusher. His all round skillset still isn't there to be your go to defensive end IMO. Doesn't play with enough eye discipline, doesn't set the edge, doesn't play with patience and isn't a master of his hand usage. I don't hate the contract at what it is... 1yr 7m or 2yrs 12m. But equally I am not telling you our pass rush is solved because we have AJ Epensea.

[julian]

1 hour ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

I think you are correct but sadly I think they are wrong.

Epenesa is terrible. He has not developed any pass rushing techniques since he has been here. No idea why they brought him back. I know others feel differently on this board.

Rousseau I have higher hopes but he has disappointed so far. He has more talent but can't seem to stay healthy and disappears for huge stretches of the season. He did get a nice sack in the Steelers playoff game. And for the record I 100% agree picking up his option. 

They will regret giving Epenesa a second deal. My guess is they let Rousseau walk after his 5th year. 

The kid from Troy is intriguing as a pass rush specialist. 

My guess is the two players that start at DE in 2026 are not on the team right now. Really hope I am wrong about Rousseau.  He's only 24. Would be huge if he could be a 10-12 sack a year guy. He's a good all around DE. 

Fair enough, the only point I would bet against is Rousseau not being one of the starting DEs in 2026, even though he hasn’t become the elite pass rusher everyone hoped for, he’s been a very good DE and I don’t see them letting a 26 yr old DE walk.

 

 I’m guessing Bean and Co. are tempted to give him a deal before this season ends, for the record I want to see if he can make the big jump before giving him a contract, but the team might want to gamble and get a team friendly deal and hope it looks like a bargain when he goes off, much like what they did with Oliver.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

5 minutes ago, julian said:

Fair enough, the only point I would bet against is Rousseau not being one of the starting DEs in 2026, even though he hasn’t become the elite pass rusher everyone hoped for, he’s been a very good DE and I don’t see them letting a 26 yr old DE walk.

 

 I’m guessing Bean and Co. are tempted to give him a deal before this season ends, for the record I want to see if he can make the big jump before giving him a contract, but the team might want to gamble and get a team friendly deal and hope it looks like a bargain when he goes off, much like what they did with Oliver.

Can't really argue with any of that. Age and hope are powerful influences on decision making. Plus the fact you already know him and assuming he is a good locker room guy he probably gets the benefit of doubt. 

2026 is a long time from now. You can imagine contracts like Miller, Knox, Dawkins and Milano will probably come off the books by then. Who else do you have to re-sign by then? It will be too early for Kincaid and Torrence. Allen will have gotten a pay raise by then. That leaves the three Bs - Brown, Benford, and Bernard.  None of them look like All-pro break the bank contracts as of right now but all hopefully will get extensions. So paying for a decent DE that is still young probably makes sense.