Maybin’s maybe what Bills need

By Anthony Bialy  |   Wednesday, April 29, 2009  |  Comments( 109 )

Buffalo Bills
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
Aaron Maybin won’t have to wait. The Buffalo Bills need any defensive end help they can get, but his appeal goes beyond his job title. He’s the type of explosive player who thankfully won’t remain stationary no matter where he’s stationed. Best, he can help without starting, even if that means fans should temper aspirations for the 11th pick in last weekend's NFL draft during his rookie campaign.

He’s the right size for Buffalo, and maybe Buffalo alone. At 6-foot-4 and 249 pounds, Maybin is a player who was projected as a 3-4 linebacker, which in turn makes him a fine option at lineman for a team still committed to playing small yet fast football. Instead of being an oversized linebacker somewhere else, Maybin gets to stay in his position for the deliberately undersized Bills.

Maybin’s good for his dimensions, too. He paired his height and quickness to pile up 49 tackles last season for the Penn State Nittany Lions, an astounding 20 of which went for a loss. Throw in 12 sacks and three fumbles, and it’s easy to see why the Bednarik Award finalist skipped lots of school so he could get to work.

His biggest negatives have to do with lack of time; in fact, youth and inexperience could hold him back this season. Maybin also needs to add muscular volume to his frame if he wants to be a factor beginning in the opener. Plus, he’ll need to develop his technique, as he won’t be able to merely speed past offensive linemen as he often did in college.

But those are common issues faced by rookie defensive ends that can be resolved with practice. The one positive about the opener still being over four months away is that Buffalo’s precocious first selection will get ample chances to refine his technique during this interminable wait.

The need for subtle improvement is especially understandable in his case, as 2009 will be the equivalent of Maybin's third year of playing college football. The redshirt sophomore has only been legally able to purchase alcohol since his April 6 birthday. Ideally, his exciting play this year will only work as a brief preview for a decade or so of superior contributions.

He’ll have opportunities even if he’s slow to establish himself; in some capacity, Maybin is a candidate to spell the Bills' other defensive end named Aaron (that being Schobel). If the veteran is unable to regain form after a 2008 lost partly to unimpressive play and mostly to injury, Maybin could be promoted to starter. And, if Schobel rebounds, Maybin would merely have to fill in on downs where the elder Aaron rests.

Of course, the youngster could be an option on the left side, too, depending on whether he’s rendered either Chris Kelsay or Ryan Denney obsolete. He’d have to impress tremendously during camp to start during Week 1, and either way he must make numerous typically necessary improvements along the way. But Maybin is instantly a candidate, at least: he’s already good for his age and should get better as he ages.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (109)

About Anthony Bialy

I'm just here to submit columns.
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report
CommentsComments: 109  |  Sign Up  View all comments
Avatar
No.1
ddd		10:06 AM
04/29/2009
I've read LaVaar Arrington has taken Aaron Maybin "under his wing" and accompanied Maybin to the presser in Buffalo. That's not...
No.2
10:22 AM
04/29/2009
Is it just me or does it seem like A.B. really isn't even trying anymore? The good news is Maybin is a playmaker. If turned loose...
No.3
Greg S		10:24 AM
04/29/2009
ddd, Thinking of recent DE draft picks that were supposed to be great, I looked up the stats on Mario Williams (drafted before...
Team News  |  View All Bills Content
Manning to the Bills?
Why not? Now that the Colts have rid themselves of the Polian family,...
3 weeks, 1 day ago   |   Manning to the Bills? ( 258 )
Nix needs to fix the Bills p...
In 2010, Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey were banking on Aaron Schobel to tr...
3 weeks, 3 days ago   |   Nix needs to fix the Bills pass rushing problems ( 28 )
Stop the Revolving Door!
Wade Phillips, current Texans D- Coordinator - Playoffs. Mike Mularkey...
1 month, 1 week ago   |   Stop the Revolving Door! ( 191 )
Is a Bills Succession Plan g...
In the wake of talks from NFL experts stating that there are going to...
1 month, 1 week ago   |   Is a Bills Succession Plan going to take effect in 2012? ( 89 )
Bills 1st half results
Last year after 8 games, the Bills were a miserable 0-8. This year aft...
3 months ago   |   Bills 1st half results ( 625 )