Bills rookie corner back Ronald Darby was under attack against the Carolina Panthers in the preseason opener. Against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night it was Darby on the attack.
Darby, who played exclusively in the first half of the Bills 11-10 win over the Cleveland Browns, picked off Browns quarterback Josh McCown twice and added two tackles. The Florida State product played left corner back with the first team across from Stephon Gilmore.
"It's a blessing," Darby said. "I've just got to keep carrying myself and keep competing"
Darby's first interception came in the first quarter. Linebacker Nigel Bradham tipped McCown's pass intended for tight end Gary Barnidge straight up for Darby to snag.
"Once my receiver broke back down at the sticks, I broke and I flipped my head around," Darby said. "When I saw the release I started to run a little bit to get near the ball and once I saw it tipped up I was just in perfect position."
His second pick came on a long pass down the right side intended for wide receiver Andrew Hawkins. McCown overthrew his man and Darby was in position to make the grab.
"I just read his beat, stayed over top," Darby said.
Darby's play caught the attention of veteran teammate Corey Graham.
"Darby did a really good job of bouncing back from last week," he said. "Last week was a tough one for him. Seeing how he responded, came out here and made some plays. It is good to see and the sky is the limit for him."
Against Carolina, Darby was thrown at throughout the entire game as Rex Ryan and Dennis Thurman left him one-on-one with no help for almost the whole game. He was matched up against 6-5, 245-pound WR Kelvin Benjamin and 6-4, 225-pound Devin Funchess, a daunting task for a 5-11, 193-pound 21-year-old.
"We fed him to the wolves," head coach Rex Ryan said after the loss to Carolina. "If anything we put coverage away from him. So we put him out there by himself and let him learn."
This time around, Darby was not to be thrown at. McCown only went after him a few times and when he did, bad things happened. Both of Darby's picks came on third-and-long plays against veteran receivers. Overall, McCown was seven-for-10 passing for 57 yards and was sacked three times.
Ryan was impressed with the rookie's play, saying that he was glad that his players were learning from their mistakes in the preseason.
"He just keeps elevating his play and that's what we expect," Ryan said. "I don't care who we had on the corner last week with the lack of support we gave them it was going to be rough."
As a whole, the Bills secondary looked sharp. The group allowed just 143 yards with 4.5 yards per attempt.
"I thought our guys did a good job," Ryan said. "When you have a good defense or an elite defense you challenge them mentally to do things ... We take advantage of what we're seeing and what we're getting, protections and so forth and we've got to be ready to go with it, but I thought they did a nice job and responded well to it.""
Darby still has room to grow in the Bills defense. Still, he has shown throughout training camp that he has the skill set to make it in the NFL, and despite a rocky start against the Panthers, he certainly impressed against the Browns on Thursday night.
"This is the next level, it's nothing like college," Darby said. "Each week is a new beginning."
Check out the best photos from the Preseason Week 2 matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns at Firstenergy Stadium.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) scramblesduring the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan, left, talks with Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine before an NFL preseason football game between their teams Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) is sacked by Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Ronald Darby (28) intercepts a pass next to Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins (16) during the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Buffalo Bills' Dan Carpenter (2) is congratulated by Cyrus Kouandjio (71) after Carpenter kicked a 36-yard field goal against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Buffalo Bills running back Bronson Hill (39) runs for a first down against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Paul Kruger, left, tackles Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquise Goodwin for a loss during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns running back Terrance West (28) carries against the Buffalo Bills during an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) throws under pressure from Buffalo Bills' A.J. Tarpley (59) and Ron Brooks (33) during the third quarter of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel (3) throws for a first down in the third quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Shane Wynn (5) catches a 21-yard touchdown pass as Buffalo Bills strong safety Duke Williams (27) defends during the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel throws against the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan cheers on the team during the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Dezmin Lewis (13) reaches for a pass but can't get to the ball during the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Davis (82) catches a 14-yard touchdown pass under pressure from Cleveland Browns defensive back Aaron Ross (41) during the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Davis (82) catches a 14-yard touchdown pass under pressure from Cleveland Browns defensive back Aaron Ross during the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Davis (82) celebrates after catching a 14-yard touchdown pass during the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. The Bills won 11-10. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel throws for a 2-point conversion during the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. The Bills won 11-10. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Mario Butler (39) celebrates after the Bills stopped the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland. The Bills won 11-10. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
