1. McDermott making sure the team is supremely focused in 2018
In the NFL, focus can be the difference between success and failure, and Bills' head coach Sean McDermott is doing everything he can to ensure that there are no lapses in focus or judgment.
"We address a lot as a team," he said. "That is what good teams do, they are a family. You can talk things through and move forward, and that is what we plan to do."
When asked what he feels his responsibility is to his players and his staff, McDermott likened the experience to his parental instincts.
"I'm always concerned about every single one of our players and my entire staff; it is kind of being like a parent," he said.
As McDermott preaches focus and trust, his star players often echo those sentiments to the team on their own.
"Everything is geared toward football. Right now, I'm just maintaining focus," said LeSean McCoy. "I want to be that leader for my teammates. I wanted to get in the best shape possible for this upcoming season and that's it."
With his players and staff following his direction, McDermott's emphasis on trust has been seamlessly intertwined throughout the entire organization.
2. Good Morning Football crew has high expectations for Tre'Davious White
Tre'Davious White was everything Bills fans could have hoped for in 2017, and Good Morning Football's Kyle Brandt believes that White could reach new heights in his second NFL season. During a segment in which each of the show's hosts were forecasting which young NFL cornerback could have a Darrelle Revis-esque climb; Brandt made White his choice.
"There's a guy who really showed me a lot last year, and that is Tre'Davious White," he said. "I love what he does."
After observing White give opposing receivers fits throughout the entire 2017 season, Brandt is excited to see him match up against more of the league's top wide receivers.
"We're going to see him guard Michael Crabtree and Keenan Allen," said Brandt. "Keep your eye on him."
It is fair to say that many around the league and in the Bills' front office are expecting big things from the second-year cornerback, but if anybody is up for the task, it appears to be White.
3. Bills secondary listed as a top 10 unit in the NFL by Pro Football Focus
With names like Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, and Tre'Davious White, it is no secret that one of the Bills' greatest strengths is their secondary. After the addition of veteran cornerback Vontae Davis solidified the opposite side of the field, this year's group is poised to make noise around the league. Although Buffalo is occasionally overlooked by the national audience, Pro Football Focus listed the Bills' secondary as the seventh best group in the NFL.
In 2017, Pro Football focus listed the Bills as having just the 27th best secondary in the league due to the uncertain nature of Tre'Davious White starting as a rookie, and also a fair amount of uncertainty regarding the future of former Bills cornerback Ronald Darby.
Below is the reasoning given for the Bills 19 spot climb from last year; individual player grades are listed in parentheses.
The Bills quietly assembled one of the league's best safety tandems through shrewd free agent deals last offseason. They doled out less than $10 million per year combined on Poyer (87.6) and Hyde (87.2) before the duo combined for more pass deflection and interceptions than any other safety tandem (21). Combine them with 2017 PFF Defensive Rookie of the Year in White, and you have a formidable unit.
With cap-friendly contracts for big time contributors in the defensive backfield, The Bills figure to continue building upon the success they had on defense in 2017.
