The Buffalo Bills took the field for their second practice of the week on Thursday as they continue to prepare to play the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
As far as injuries, EDGE Javon Solomon (oblique) did not practice again on Thursday. After being limited in Wednesday's practice QB Mitchell Trubisky (knee) was a full participant in practice. S Cole Bishop (shoulder), TE Quintin Morris (shoulder) and WR Curtis Samuel (toe) were all full participants for the second day in a row.
Why the offensive line believes communication is better in 2024
In the offseason and throughout training camp, communication has been a point of emphasis for C Connor McGovern who is now the starting center. McGovern feels that the communication along the offense is at a better point than it was at the end of the 2023 season when they were clicking offensively.
"I feel like we're past where we were last year at especially this point, but I think even at the end of the year, communication wise," McGovern said.
McGovern credits the fact that the entire offense is in on the same page and in each other's meetings as helping their communication.
"We always have tight ends now, running backs in the meetings, quarterbacks coming in, wide receivers," McGovern said. "Like we have our assistant line coach going over the wide receiver room just know, so they know our blocking schemes, how they want to block it. And so, I think we're at a better communication standpoint than where we ended last year. So, I think we're all just very comfortable with each other, and everyone trusts each other."
Veteran lineman Dion Dawkins echoed what McGovern said, adding that no one on the line has any fear and there's no secrets with each other when it comes to communication.
"Say what you're saying, say what you're feeling, and let's get it in front of us so we could assort and block this the right way," Dawkins said. "It's a identification game where you have to make sure that we know where everyone is, where they're at, and who we're going to and I think that as a unit… with us being an experienced unit, it's helping with everything that's moving around in a calm, fashionable way."
Bobby Babich on McDermott's confidence in him + his first game calling the plays
Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich will be in the booth calling the plays in a regular season game for the first time in his career on Sunday afternoon. Babich was named Buffalo's defensive coordinator in January and spent the entire offseason preparing for his first season as a DC.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott didn't reveal Babich would be calling the plays until after the preseason, but Babich said McDermott told him when the time was right.
"(When) someone shows confidence in you, it goes a long way, in anything you do." Babich said of McDermott's confidence in him. "So, I'm very appreciative. I'm very grateful, and now it's my job to take advantage of the opportunity that he's given me."
Babich has been open about how McDermott has helped him grow and learn not just as a defensive coordinator but even in his early coaching years when the two overlapped in Carolina. Babich was a defensive assistant in 2012 when McDermott was the Panthers' defensive coordinator.
When it comes to figuring out the best way to operate as a defense, Babich took a page out of McDermott's book.
"One of the things I respect most about Sean is his willingness to put others first," Babich said. "And at some point, I don't know exactly when it was, but this was years ago, there was a moment where he was like 'We're gonna keep this simple. We're gonna play fast. We're gonna play physical. Let our guys execute,' and I guess I'm of that school."
With seven years of experience in this defense and three preseason games of calling plays under his belt, Babich said he's done everything he can do to be ready for Sunday's home opener.
"It's one of those things that I'm gonna go in as prepared as I can possibly be, and my hope is that the guys can play fast and free and that he results favor us. But I'm gonna stay in the process of what we're doing and how we're doing things and see how the results fall."
Babich is getting ready to face a team that ranked fourth in the NFL last season averaging 139.1 rushing yards per game thanks in part due to running back James Connor. Connor totaled 1,040 rushing yards last season, which was good for sixth most in the league. The Cardinals also welcome wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. who was drafted with the fourth overall pick. Harrison had back-to-back seasons of more than 1,200 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in his final two years with Ohio State.
The DC said they'll have to be on their Ps and Qs when it comes to defending an offense that can be multiple.
"They've done a really nice job running the ball," Babich said. "They have a plethora of things they can do in the run game. Obviously, Kyler helps them with that, with his mobility. But they're tough up front, the backs are as tough as the line. They run hard…the tight ends, they also do a good job in the run game."
Home opener vibe check
Sunday will be the first time that the Bills will open the season at home since the 2021 season. After practice players expressed their excitement about seeing Bills Mafia for the first game of the season.
"There is something special about the home opener, especially it being the first game of the year," TE Dawson Knox said. "It's kind of double whammy there. So we're very excited. No one brings the energy like our fans. So with our own energy, combined with those 70,000 plus people that are going to be in those stands, it's going to be electric."
McGovern joked with reporters that he wishes that he could be part of the pregame that Bills fans take part in.
"They always come out and have a great show," McGovern said. "I wish I could be a part of it a little bit and see what they're like before the game, because I know it's a lot of fun, but I know being a one o'clock game, like, they're gonna be rowdy and ready to go. It's gonna be a lot of fun."
Johnson dittoed what McGovern and Knox had to say.
"I already know, it's gonna be rocking," Johnson said. "So I'm super excited for that. Whole defense we're talking about it. Like we got to make sure that we're on point with our stuff, just because it's so hard to communicate in our stadium."
The Bills will be facing an unfamiliar opponent in the Arizona Cardinals, who they have not seen since the 2020 season, in a game that ended in a 32-30 loss for the Bills that has now become known as the "Hail Murray" game.
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray was the subject after practice as the defense will have to deal with the dynamic quarterback and the weapons he has at his disposal.
"I mean, obviously the quarterback, Kyler Murray, is an explosive player," Johnson said. "Just making sure we have a kind of like a plan for him, a rush plan for him, because he makes a lot of plays with his legs, off schedule plays, making sure that we're plastering our routes because he has that ability."
Bills QB Josh Allen also spoke after practice on Wednesday about Cardinals S Budda Baker and the challenges that their defense presents.
"They fly around. They are a high-intensity pedal to the metal type of defense," Allen said. "They don't take plays off. They play extremely hard… Obviously Budda Baker back there. Some of the plays he's able to make it's pretty unbelievable to watch the way he's able to get in and out of his cuts and break on the football. We've got to be aware of wherever he's at."
While the team recognizes that the Cardinals are a tough first matchup, Johnson is not stepping away from the challenge and sees this as an opportunity and good test for the defense.
"I mean, this is the NFL, so it's like every team, will be a good test for us, you know? So I just feel like it's just the first game of the season, so just it's gonna be a test," Johnson said. "But I think we're up for the challenge."
