The Bills needed to address the elephant in their linebacker room — that is the lack of depth
Following a 2023 NFL season for the Buffalo Bills where linebacker after linebacker was lost to injury, the team needed to build depth to properly tackle the upcoming season. Starting linebackers Matt Milano and Terrell Bernard weren’t spared from injury, with Milano’s season ending in Week 5 and Bernard being nicked up several times in-season before finally being lost for the year during the team’s playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Having to constantly adjust the linebacker depth chart proved to be one of the season’s most difficult tasks. So to remedy last year’s situation, the Bills decided to address their ‘backer depth in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Enter linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio out of Washington, who joined the team as a fifth-round pick this past April. In his final collegiate season, Ulofoshio had a solid campaign totaling 83 tackles for the Division 1 runner-up Huskies.
Can Ulofoshio’s make an impact if pressed into duty this season? Let’s look at some film...
Ulofoshio fights off the stiff arm
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Ulofoshio shows off his ability to fight through physicality in this play. At the snap, Ulofoshio pursued the ball carrier to the right side of the field, where the running back employed a stiff arm to keep him from making the play. Ulofoshio fought off the stiff-arm offensive and made the tackle.
Ulofoshio’s read and react instincts
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One of the most important skills for any linebacker is the ability to read and react. In the play above, Ulofoshio flowed to the left side of the field, where the lineman attempted to block him. Ulofoshio combated this by slipping off the block (while at the same time not over-pursuing the play). Ulofoshio then pursued the Oregon ball carrier to ultimately make the tackle.
Ulofoshio tackling in open space
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In today’s NFL, the game is so wide-open such that every linebacker needs to make plays in open space. At the snap, Ulofoshio dropped into zone coverage. Ulofoshio’s teammate was the first to the ball carrier, but missed the tackle. Ulofoshio proceeded to run down the ball carrier from behind and made the diving tackle in open space.
Ulofoshio shedding blocks
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Battles between a linebacker and center happen during many NFL run plays. At the snap, Ulofoshio engaged the Stanford center as he came down in the run game. Ulofoshio then shed the center’s block to make the tackle.
The Fast Lane
Edefuan Ulofoshio does much of what’s asked of the modern-day linebacker, having the ability to play in space, from sideline to sideline, shed blocks, and proficiently tackle. As someone currently observed as depth while learning the system as a rookie, Ulofoshio has a chance carve out a solid role in year one.
The question is whether Ulofoshio can be a meaningful contributor for the Bills if pressed into action as a rookie. What are your thoughts on that, and the Bills’ selection of Ede Ulofoshio in Round 5?