水果派AV

Anton Palepoi, a renowned trainer who played five NFL seasons as a defensive end, organized the workouts through his company, Pro Tech Trenches. The sessions are structured to teach young pass rushers the habits and technique that coaches covet on the defensive line.

One of his pupils stood out and above the rest: Buffalo Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa. Some of Palepoi鈥檚 NFL clients prefer one-on-one private sessions, but Epenesa wanted to train with everyone else, no matter their age, and he showed up at every workout for two weeks.

鈥淭hat was awesome to see, and speaks to his character, because a lot of NFL guys want to work without them there,鈥� Palepoi told The Buffalo News during a recent phone interview. 鈥淚 get it and understand why, but it really impressed me.鈥�

The story wouldn鈥檛 surprise anyone who knows Epenesa. He is a low-maintenance, tireless worker. Those intangibles, paired with athleticism and a 6-foot-6, 260-pound frame, made him the Bills鈥� selection in the second round of the 2020 draft. He didn鈥檛 become a full-time starter until last season, though, and coach Sean McDermott鈥檚 defense needs more from Epenesa in Year 6.

Joey Bosa, the oft-injured veteran pass rusher whom they gave $12.6 million, strained a calf muscle recently and may not be back until training camp in late July. Even if Bosa is healthy for Week 1, he鈥檒l likely be on a snap count to keep him fresh and healthy. Landon Jackson, their third-round pick last month, projects as a rotational rusher as a rookie.

Epenesa understands what is at stake. He is entering the final season of a two-year, $12 million contract. General manager Brandon Beane reshaped the defensive line following the Bills鈥� loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game. And, though the depth chart won鈥檛 be determined in voluntary OTA workouts, Epenesa is treating every day as an opportunity to show everyone that he can accomplish more.

鈥淓very year, I love all our young guys and everyone who comes into the team, but the reality of it is people are coming in to try and go for your job,鈥� he told The Buffalo News after practice Tuesday. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 just the way of the business. That鈥檚 how it is. How resilient can you be? How can you adapt? And how can you keep proving yourself and keep showing everyone? That鈥檚 how I feel. How do I keep showing them that I care about this, I love this, and my foot is still on the gas?鈥�

Epenesa, like the rest of the 2020 draft class, entered the NFL under unusual circumstances.

There were protocols for Covid-19 and no fans in stadiums, disrupting the usual routines that prepare and develop young players into consistent difference-makers. He also needed to reshape his body by adding mass and, eventually, trimming down to become more explosive. His long arms are a characteristic that made him one of the top pass rushers in his draft, but he had to learn how to maintain a proper pad level. Winning against college linemen is easier than NFL bookends.

Epenesa appeared in 58 regular-season games and started four times across his first four years in the NFL. He learned which pass-rushing moves worked best and how to counterattack against offensive tackles. Gradually, he began to understand opponents鈥� tendencies. A deeper knowledge of the game allowed Epenesa to make quick reads and pursue, particularly when trying to stop the run.

In 2023, Epenesa logged 387 snaps with 13.5 pressures, three knockdowns, 6.5 sacks and, per charting by The News, 23 disruptions. Last season, he had a career-high 612 snaps with five pressures, 5.5 knockdowns, six sacks and 16.5 disruptions. To become more than a first- and second-down rusher, Epenesa must show McDermott and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich that he can get to the quarterback and finish.

Epenesa has at least six sacks and seven tackles for a loss over the past three seasons, but his goal is to be a catalyst for a defense that was tied for 18th in sacks.

鈥淗itting the six-sack mark the past three years has been that consistency, and that鈥檚 been good, but this year I鈥檓 trying to go for it all,鈥� he added. 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to hit double-digit sacks and be as consistent or even better against the run because that鈥檚 as hard to stop, that鈥檚 as important to stop, as the pass. You鈥檝e got to be able to put them into passing down situations to get sacks in the first place.鈥�

Epenesa doesn鈥檛 take much time off after each season. His diet and workout regimen are structured to help him gain muscle. He goes through a 鈥渂ulk phase鈥� with heavy weightlifting, but he also uses yoga and Pilates to maintain and improve flexibility. A rangy pass rusher needs an explosive first step when the ball is snapped, and must be able to get into a lunge position to bend properly. Otherwise, their pad level will be too high and they鈥檒l lose leverage.

Impactful pass rushers also recognize their weaknesses. His self-assessment matched with Palepoi鈥檚 when the two began working together five years ago. Epenesa needed to improve his hand placement and stabs, challenges that are typical for a long-armed pass rusher.

The past five years have revealed to Epenesa how to reshape his body each offseason to prepare for training camp. He has developed an identity as a defensive end and a vision for how he can impact the game. Though Epenesa has earned the confidence and trust of the coaching staff through reliable, consistent snaps in his role, he can help the Bills鈥� defense reach another level in 2025 if he can be a three-down pass rusher who can consistently get to the quarterback.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited for him and expect big things out of him this season,鈥� Palepoi said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of stats that are not charted where you鈥檙e putting the pressure on, the quarterback scrambles and another guy gets the sack. I saw a lot of that on his tape, but he鈥檚 a team-first guy. You could see how happy he is every time his teammates get a TFL or a sack. He鈥檚 as excited as if he made the play.鈥�