Trent Murphy had a breakout season in 2016

with the Washington Redskins after juggling positions in his first three years in the league. The sky seemed to be the limit heading into 2017. A PED suspension and ACL tear took away the entire 2017 season White Kyle Williams Jerseys , and that was the end of the Murphy era in Washington. With the Buffalo Bills looking to upgrade their defensive line, they took a gamble on Murphy returning to his nine sack, 25-quarterback-hit form from 2016. Did Murphy come back full strength from his injury? Let’s take a peek!Play 1Here’s one of Trent Murphy’s nine quarterback hits from this last season. It’s a near certainty that Murphy’s high motor was a primary factor in the decision to take a flier on the defensive end. Cut blocks are fairly effective against Murphy, and for quickly developing plays, it’s likely the way to go. As seen above, anything that takes some time might see Murphy go full Undertaker and rise back into the action. Play 2Murphy typically reads and reacts to plays quite well. As illustrated above, he sees Derrick Henry and takes away the edge. The run should be over quickly, but Quinton Spain manages to block half the defensive line by himself and opens up a lane. Play 3I noted in my offseason preview of Murphy that he really only had the 2016 season at defensive end in the NFL. As a result, he appeared to be learning finesse moves on the job. Murphy seems to be putting the work in, looking more natural with a variety of moves. In this clip, he anticipates the right hand and catches the wrist before it reaches his body. This negates Jonnu Smith’s leverage, and Murphy runs right by him. Play 4Murphy still struggles to consistently display his strength, but this clip shows his upside. Trent Murphy forces Jack Conklin way back with a one-handed shove. Conklin has one All-Pro season under his belt if you’re wondering about quality of competition. Play 5Murphy puts on a show in one snap. A quick stunt with Lorenzo Alexander causes a little confusion with three of the Tennessee Titans’ linemen. Held up by Ben Jones, Murphy uses a spin move and finds Marcus Mariota. At speed, Murphy shows agility and heads-up play by avoiding contact that might draw a penalty. Play 6Trent Murphy has excellent top-end tools for his position Kyle Williams Jerseys 2019 , but he sometimes struggles to use them. A common problem appears to be his balance, especially as a result of overextending while leaning. This is a bit of an exaggerated example, but if he’s unable to impact a play, it’s likely because he used a high or off-balance stance and couldn’t find leverage. Play 7When Trent Murphy gets moving, he can be like a freight train. After shoving aside a block, he still has enough momentum to knock over teammate Harrison Phillips. Murphy keeps on going and gets close enough to Mariota to give the quarterback something to think about. Play 8One more peek at how Murphy has come along in learning the finer points of the defensive-end position. Even in 2016, it’s hard to fathom him pulling off a spin move this quickly and with such fluidity. Going back to his limitations (even though it’s not in the clip), Murphy stumbles and falls a couple steps out of the spin. SummaryTrent Murphy showed flashes of his 2016 form and remains an intriguing player when it comes to potential. At age 28 and with only two seasons at defensive end under his belt, it’s not unreasonable to think Murphy might improve some. To be clear, Murphy simply becoming more consistent with a few skills should lead to improvement. It’s hard to separate the Trent Murphy conversation from the Shaq Lawson one, with both players primarily working from the left defensive end position. When healthy, it was clear that Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier preferred Murphy (as evidenced by snap counts). Missing three games and needing to be eased into a few others to accommodate for injury, Murphy’s durability is a concern. Shaq Lawson also had a better season than expected. Both factors could lead to Murphy being a surprise cut, though I personally don’t see it happening. ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP)Once the last snowball was thrown and the final snow angel formed on the New Era Field turf White Josh Allen Jerseys , Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier trudged to the parking lot, where he discovered his car better resembled a snowdrift. ”It was hard to get out,” Frazier acknowledged Monday, a day after a lake-effect storm dumped more than a foot of snow during and after the Bills’ 13-7 overtime victory against Indianapolis. ”But I enjoyed getting the snow off it because after a win, you know, nothing gets you down.” Even Mother Nature can’t bury a Bills team that continues to exceed even the most modest of preseason expectations. Having already persevered through a major roster purge and persistent questions at quarterback, the Bills now showed they’re capable of braving the arctic elements to remain firmly in a convoluted playoff picture. At 7-6, Buffalo is technically the AFC’s sixth seed. In actuality, the Bills don’t control their own chances due to potential tie-breaking scenarios that would go against them. After closing their home schedule against Miami on Sunday, the Bills end the season with road games at New England and Miami. Frazier sees no reason to count Buffalo out yet based on the resolve the team’s shown under first-time head coach Sean McDermott. ”Kudos to our players for battling through some difficult moments where they could’ve easily said, `Our season’s over,”’ he said. ”But they are fighting and scratching and clawing to get better,” Frazier added. ”To battle the way they did yesterday in those conditions and not give in to the elements, that’s a big deal.” Frazier’s defense did its part. After allowing Indianapolis to tie the game by capping a 19-play, 77-yard drive with 1:16 remaining Josh Allen Jerseys 2019 , the Bills limited the Colts to 21 yards on their only possession in overtime, and forced them to punt with 2:25 left. The Bills’ offense, which had managed six first downs and 219 yards through regulation, responded with a six-play, 65-yard drive that ended with LeSean McCoy’s 21-yard touchdown run with 1:33 remaining. After losing three straight following a 5-2 start, Buffalo has regained some of its footing by winning two of three. ”I’m proud of what the guys accomplished yesterday and the way they accomplished it to this point,” McDermott said. ”But still a lot of work to do.” Quarterback remains Buffalo’s most immediate concern. Tyrod Taylor was sidelined on Sunday, a week after bruising his left knee in a 23-3 loss to New England. Rookie backup Nathan Peterman is being evaluated for a concussion after he was hurt diving headfirst on a 2-yard run in the third quarter against the Colts. And Peterman was making his first start since throwing five interceptions in the first half of a 54-24 loss to the Chargers last month. With Taylor showing signs of progress over the past few days, McDermott said he’s encouraged by initial medical reports that suggest Buffalo won’t have to scramble to add a quarterback this week. Buffalo’s third quarterback is Joe Webb, an eight-year journeyman who has been used mostly in special teams roles. Webb took over for Peterman and went 2 of 6 for 35 yards and an interception from Buffalo’s 28 on the Bills’ final drive of regulation. The Colts failed to capitalize when Adam Vinatieri’s 43-yard field-goal attempt fluttered wide left through the elements. Webb responded with a 34-yard pass to Deonte Thompson that set up McCoy’s touchdown. The Bills have struggled no matter who’s behind center. Taylor has gone a combined 37 of 65 for 304 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in his past three starts. Buffalo’s receivers are also limping. Kelvin Benjamin’s status is uncertain after he aggravated an injury to his right knee against Indianapolis, while Jordan Matthews was placed on season-ending injured reserve last week. —