In his first interview with the Western New York media as a Buffalo Bill, nearly five months after the team acquired him in a trade with Minnesota, Stefon Diggs used the phrase 'super excited' when describing his new situation in Buffalo more than once.
The dynamic receiver clearly recognizes the situation he's been dropped into in Buffalo as a very promising one. As excited as he is to assume the top receiver role in an offense that has to take a sizable step forward, Stefon Diggs also knows that time is short in an offseason and preseason that's been compromise by a pandemic.
What Diggs knows he can rely on is his unrelenting work ethic, which seems to perfectly match those of his new teammates on the Bills roster.
"We're not working with a lot of time. Who's to say how this season goes if we have to take a break or however this season goes," said Diggs. "What I can control is my effort, my consistency in how much time I try to put into getting better each and every day. And as far as the quarterback we've got like six seven other guys who have been around him so I'm just coming in trying to really just do it all over again. So I feel like a rookie all over again and enjoying the process and just buy in."
Diggs, who is committed to playing in 2020, said he is buying into the process, getting to know his teammates, coaches and new scheme while maintaining his high standard of training.
"I've been in like five offenses, so for picking up plays or learning new schemes, the plays are always the same it's just different words," he said. "There's more to learning the intricacies and the small things. Picking up on the way they want things run. Things can be drawn one way, but they want to be run another so I'm just taking as many notes as possible really committing myself.
"I love the process. I enjoy the ups and downs. There are always going to be some obstacles, but as far as putting my best foot forward I'm always going to do that, and I'm going to be a professional about it."
It did not take Diggs long to see the Bills organization as one that is built on hard work and a daily grind mentality, and he sees his commitment to craft as one that will blend right in with the group. And that's his focus right now. To blend into an offensive group that will have nine returning starters who know one another.
"I trust the people that are in place. I'm just happy to be a part of it at this point. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel or anything like that. I'm just trying to be as helpful as I can, be a puzzle piece. Try to mesh as well as I can to help this team win.
"Change isn't always bad," said Diggs. "Change is good, especially when it comes to growth. I work extremely hard. I'm serious about what I do and I love football and I want to win. It has been the same mantra since I stepped in the league. I don't think that's going to change anytime soon but, as far as continuing to work hard, continuing to have that mindset, I'm looking forward to my new situation."
Diggs' philosophy on successful teams seems to run parallel to that of his head coach. Much like Sean McDermott, the receiver subscribes to a consistent daily approach, a family environment to build chemistry and have "that work together mindset."
"When it comes down to my peers, you want to love them up," he said. "You want to make sure that the wheels are turning as smooth as possible, because all it comes down to winning. So keep that in the forefront."
Diggs has bonded with Josh Allen playing video games with him online during the pandemic. He wants to keep the lines of communication with his quarterback open knowing it's he that has to work into his role in the scheme, not the other way around.
"I'm more so focused on how I can help him," he said. "Anything that I can do to help him. Always be in his ear. We've been talking for a while. When it comes down to football, he's a professional. As a quarterback, I can imagine how many people lean on him, so I'm just going to be a supporting cast to whatever he needs and play receiver."
"Just in the day or two that Stef was in our building with Josh and to watch Stef get to know his teammates a little better including Josh and to get on the field and build that rapport that's so important for the quarterback and receiver position," said McDermott. "We want to stay balanced, but we'll make sure we have things in there for Stef, and as his relationship grows with Josh it'll be fun to watch."
It's evident to Diggs that he's hopping on this Bills train at an opportune time in its construction and development. He's just hoping he can make notable contributions sooner rather than later.
"If I was a genie and I could rub the bottle I would want all the good things to happen," he said. "(Josh) throws the ball 100 yards and I'm right at the 101-yard line. But in this small space right now, just kind of take advantage of the small time that we have to get better. We can't make it all happen at one time, so just trying to take those small jumps by learning the offense and getting everything down.
"I take pride in my craft. I take pride in my routes. I take pride in getting open. So whatever he needs and whatever we've got to do to be successful as a team I'm going to do it."
And though Diggs is being modest in how he'll fit in year one with Buffalo, he does foresee success for the team.
"I feel like things are taking a swing now in an uphill direction as far as the team, but every year is a new year," he said. "You've got to go out there and earn it again. You've got to do everything during the week to win games on Sunday. And right now I have confidence that our head coach is doing everything in his power to put us in the best position. So I can only hope. But as I'm here in this current moment in this state, I'm happy. I'm happy to be here and I feel good. I feel like a lot of good things will happen."
