Q: It has been a strange year in the NFL and that road teams have a lot of success this year, more than usual. Is home field advantage the same as it used to be or is this anomaly that road teams are winning more than they have in the past, what's the difference with this year?
SM: I think it’s probably year to year. Honestly, it is nice to play at home. Overall though, at the end of the day, you’ve got to play well wherever you play. And I think that’s the key takeaway for our team is that you got to play well wherever you play.
Q: What’s the way you fix, one of the issues obviously out of the Eagles game was run defense, and in the middle of a season, and at these kinds of practices where you’re opponent specific with so many ways, but it also seems like there's some fundamental things there that probably need to be addressed. So how do you, especially with your background, go about doing that when it comes to run defense?
SM: Yeah, reteach. Whether it’s run defense or whatever it is, as it relates to performance, is reteach the fundamentals. That’s what I’ve been around for my career. And that’s what we that's what we’ll do, and we’ll continue to do that to reteach the fundamentals because if we’re not getting the fundamentals then we’ve got to go back and reteach the fundamentals and make sure it’s clear what we expect with fundamentals and technique and then execution. So yeah, that’s what we are, we’re teachers. We go back and reteach to make sure there’s an understanding of what we're looking for and what we need.
Q: With the trade deadline recently happening, how close were you guys, if at all, to making a move before the deadline?
This story is from the November 17, 2019 edition of Bills Digest.
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This story is from the November 17, 2019 edition of Bills Digest.
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TRACKING TRAINING CAMP
Bills Digest was there for all the big moments at training camp. Here are some observations …
‘We're constantly trying to evolve'
For more on what’s happening within Buffalo’s offense, here are some highlights from offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s recent press conferences.
‘On the field you must flip that switch'
Here are some highlights from head coach Sean McDermott’s recent press conferences.
ALLEN GETS HISTORIC DEAL
Bills QB now under contract through 2028
Right back in the swing of things
It’s fair to say that this year’s Bills training camp looks wildly different from those of the past.
1st & Ten with STEFON DIGGS
Stefon Diggs had one of the best seasons ever by a Bills receiver in 2020, and he’s looking for an encore. Diggs was clearly amped up and ready to go as the Bills began their preparations for the new season, leading the huddle and supporting his teammates as they kicked off training camp in Orchard Park. Diggs recently touched on his goals for the upcoming season for both himself and the team in an informative discussion with members of the media. Here are the highlights from that discussion.
RUNNING BACKS: TOP AVAILABLE FREE AGENTS
Aaron Jones, Packers 5-9 • 208 pounds • 27 years old A fifth-round steal in the 2017 draft out of UTEP, Jones is equally proficient in the running and passing games. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards the last two years, and caught 49 and 47 passes, respectively. He’s also a touchdown machine with 30 TDs the last two years (25 rushing and 5 receiving). The son of two career Army officers, he’s a tough, driven player and the kind of guy players want on their team.
THE RIGHT STUFF?
Keeping two important starters is a priority as the right side of the O-line hits free agency
QUARTERBACKS: TOP AVAILABLE FREE AGENTS
Dak Prescott, Cowboys 6-2 • 235 pounds • 27 years old A solid starter who has a nice TD-INT ratio over his first five seasons (104-40), Prescott is an accurate thrower and very mobile. However, he’s coming off a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle, so it remains to be seen if this will impact his game moving forward.
TIGHT ENDS: TOP AVAILABLE FREE AGENTS
Hunter Henry, Chargers 6-5 • 250 pounds • 29 years old A very talented player, Henry has had issues staying healthy, unable to complete an NFL season, including missing the entire 2018 season with a torn ACL. But when healthy, he’s a terrific all-around tight end who really connected with Justin Herbert in 2020 with 60 catches. Henry is very good at finding holes in zone coverage.
