Bills 4th Round Pick : Deone Walker - DT - Kentucky

[JohnNord]

6 minutes ago, JimBob2232 said:

He is just a DE in a DT body.  His legs are like twigs.  his Center of Gravity has to be somewhere around his chest. He clearly was productive against good competition.   If he can do the same in the NFL, that will be VERY impressive.  I  almost wonder if the better answer isn't to have him lose 30 pounds and put him at DE.  

 

Such an intriguing and risky pick.  Very interested in seeing how this one unfolds.

 

I mean, look at the proportions on this guy.  So unusual.

https://collegefootballnetwork.com/deone-walker-stuns-at-senior-bowl-with-jaw-dropping-measurements/

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=916853987151764&id=100064815123338&set=a.563937862443380

https://www.yoursportsedge.com/2023/11/23/deone-walker-i-just-dont-like-the-cardinals/vaughts-views/larryvaught/

He looks almost like a chubby basketball player.

 

I think this pick is a huge long shot to succeed, which is too bad because there were several decent WR prospects on the board when he was selected.  
 

Everything I’ve read says he’s a 6’7 320 pound DT that doesn’t play like one.  He doesn’t have the power in his lower body and relies a lot on finesse.  This will be a major multi-year project for Buffalo

[DJB]

 

[LEBills]

Love the big man spin move he has

[Shortchaz]

1 hour ago, JohnNord said:

He looks almost like a chubby basketball player.

 

I think this pick is a huge long shot to succeed, which is too bad because there were several decent WR prospects on the board when he was selected.  
 

Everything I’ve read says he’s a 6’7 320 pound DT that doesn’t play like one.  He doesn’t have the power in his lower body and relies a lot on finesse.  This will be a major multi-year project for Buffalo

Yeah, this dude is certainly a big question mark at this point. Hopefully he takes the Spencer Brown path. He could mold himself into Calais Campbell or eat himself out of the league. 

[Richard Noggin]

19 hours ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

 

 

 

Absolute beast in these highlights. Saw him line up everywhere from 1 to 7T. Menace in 2023.

[wppete]

Limit his snaps keep him health and get him strong. 20-30 productive snaps a game. Keep him fresh. 

[PayDaBill$]

 

He’s amassed 97 pressures, 15 sacks, and 70 stops in 3 years playing EVERYWHERE—from nose tackle to edge rusher.
 

This guy is playing in arguably the best conference in country and making plays in the backfield, spinning out of multiple blocks getting to the qb and making tackles down the line.  He has some ability instinct speed & athleticism.  Work on conditioning technique and pick your spots.   I’m willing to give him a chance. That combo of size and athleticism isn’t common but I agree he is a developmental talent.

 

 

Edited 8 hours ago by PayDaBill$

[Sierra Foothills]

8 hours ago, 3rdand12 said:

Have been suggesting strongly they need to tweak that scheme up front.

1Tech with some pass rush upside and 1 Tech who covers the a b gap and doesnt get moved is the other key Bills need to utilize

With fast smart LBs and press corners more often . just might do wonders in the playoffs

 

8 hours ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

Traditional 0-tech NT (Ted Washington era) isn't looked to for pass rush. They are "two gappers" , in charge of defending two rushing lanes and effectively are trying to get double teamed every down so the other linemen are all 1 on 1. Now that has fallen out of favor as pass rushing becomes a priority over run defense but typically a 1-tech attacks the gap between Center and Guard and typically gets the double team by virtue of the fact that they have the shortest path to QB and collapse the pocket

 

What I've heard from people who've crunched take is that Walker tends to do a little slide to pick the gap he likes. I don't think that's intrinsically bad but it means that he's not dedicated to clogging lanes to help the others 

 

Both of you guys bring up the biggest question about Walker and also TJ Sanders for that matter.

 

The critics keep banging on "we don't have a true 1-technique," the argument being that we need to replace DaQuan Jones.

 

However there's some assumptions being made that should be questioned:

 

Are the Bills going to play the same defense that they've played in the past? They just hired a senior defensive assistant, Ryan Nielsen. They also have a new Assistant Defensive Line Coach in Jason Rebrovich. Are we sure we're going to be running the same schemes? Bobby Babich is entering his second year as DC. Cornerbacks Coach Jahmile Addae is entering only his second year with the Bills.

 

The drafting of Maxwell Hairston has raised speculation that the Bills might have a different defensive approach this year.

 

The drafting of TJ Sanders and Deone Walker should give rise to that same speculation.

 

There are lots of variants to the 4-3 defense... over and under just to name the most basic.

 

Without knowing for sure that the Bills are going to be wheeling out the same defense, it's a bit premature to judge whether these players are filling positions of need.

 

5 hours ago, BigDingus said:

Listen to his opinion on Walker (1:07:55 in the video).

 

Again, the more I watched & read on him, the more I dislike this pick. I don't dislike the player, but it's rare to hear someone say "he's just not good" about a prospect overall. He's big, and that's about it. 

 

https://youtu.be/Y8F03DjBtpM?si=H6w2tdSQbJB4GSlU

 

"His opinion?"

 

Would you do me the favor of telling me his name, credentials, and why I should give any credence to his opinions?

 

Thank you.

 

[billsfan89]

4 hours ago, Shortchaz said:

Yeah, this dude is certainly a big question mark at this point. Hopefully he takes the Spencer Brown path. He could mold himself into Calais Campbell or eat himself out of the league. 

I am thinking the Bills probably feel like the back injury held him back in 2024 and that proper rehab is gonna help him get back to his 2023 form where he was a much more dominant player.

 

I think they feel like a return to health and a NFL strength and conditioning could sure up his lower body. Not too many men on the planet are that size.

[Chandler#81]

 

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

6 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

 

Both of you guys bring up the biggest question about Walker and also TJ Sanders for that matter.

 

The critics keep banging on "we don't have a true 1-technique," the argument being that we need to replace DaQuan Jones.

 

However there's some assumptions being made that should be questioned:

 

Are the Bills going to play the same defense that they've played in the past? They just hired a senior defensive assistant, Ryan Nielsen. They also have a new Assistant Defensive Line Coach in Jason Rebrovich. Are we sure we're going to be running the same schemes? Bobby Babich is entering his second year as DC. Cornerbacks Coach Jahmile Addae is entering only his second year with the Bills.

 

The drafting of Maxwell Hairston has raised speculation that the Bills might have a different defensive approach this year.

 

The drafting of TJ Sanders and Deone Walker should give rise to that same speculation.

 

There are lots of variants to the 4-3 defense... over and under just to name the most basic.

 

Without knowing for sure that the Bills are going to be wheeling out the same defense, it's a bit premature to judge whether these players are filling positions of need.

 

 

Not trying to blow smoke but I've wondered it as well. What are you using Hoecht for? Why was he a priority signing when his calling card is positional flexibility?

 

At the time I dug up this article about a 4-3 under

https://weeklyspiral.com/2021/10/04/4-3-under/#google_vignette

 

Basically the advantge is that you'd give the 3 tech (Oliver, Carter, Sanders) a cleaner shot at penetration by shifting the attack to the weakside but the things you need:

 

-a 3 tech who can penetrate

-a weakside LB who you have to trust as play flows to them (Milano)

-a strongside LB who effectively plays as a 5th down lineman but who can fall back into coverage (Hoecht) that I would assume would be the 9 tech DE on nickel packages or swap to single S with Taron out playing

 

Is this going to happen? I have no idea. Do think it would be reasonable to at least have that as a subpackage for bringing pressure against, say, a run heavy team *cough Ravens* while keeping coverage options open? I'd say so. Would it explain chasing Hoecht and ignoring Safety (if you plan on just using 1 a lot of the time)? To my deluded brain it just might.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MrEpsYtown]

1 hour ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

Not trying to blow smoke but I've wondered it as well. What are you using Hoecht for? Why was he a priority signing when his calling card is positional flexibility?

 

At the time I dug up this article about a 4-3 under

https://weeklyspiral.com/2021/10/04/4-3-under/#google_vignette

 

Basically the advantge is that you'd give the 3 tech (Oliver, Carter, Sanders) a cleaner shot at penetration by shifting the attack to the weakside but the things you need:

 

-a 3 tech who can penetrate

-a weakside LB who you have to trust as play flows to them (Milano)

-a strongside LB who effectively plays as a 5th down lineman but who can fall back into coverage (Hoecht) that I would assume would be the 9 tech DE on nickel packages or swap to single S with Taron out playing

 

Is this going to happen? I have no idea. Do think it would be reasonable to at least have that as a subpackage for bringing pressure against, say, a run heavy team *cough Ravens* while keeping coverage options open? I'd say so. Would it explain chasing Hoecht and ignoring Safety (if you plan on just using 1 a lot of the time)? To my deluded brain it just might.

 

 

 

 

 

 

McDermott ran a ton of 4-3 under when he was with Carolina. I suppose it’s possible, but he has been pretty exclusively 4-2-5 since he got here. And yes I think Hoecht could play that wide 9 sam.
 

https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2017/1/12/14236950/sean-mcdermott-buffalo-bills-head-coach-4-3-defense-all-22
 

That article explains what we thought the defense would like when he came over to Buffalo. The double A gap mug and nickel package is essentially all we do here these days.

Edited 45 minutes ago by MrEpsYtown