Bills OL Connor McGovern Reveals 'Complete 180' From Cowboys
The Buffalo Bills' biggest splash of the offseason may not have been a particularly sexy one, but it was absolutely necessary.
On the first day of free agency, the Bills signed former Dallas Cowboys guard Connor McGovern to a three-year deal worth over $22 million. The offensive line was a weak spot for the Bills last season, particularly along the interior, so making the position group a top priority made complete sense. McGovern is currently dealing with an injury, but seems to have the starting left guard spot on lock.
Through his first offseason in Buffalo, McGovern has already notice major differences from his time in Dallas. In an interview with the Buffalo News, McGovern praised the Bills' coaching staff while potentially taking a jab at the Cowboys'.
“Yes, complete 180 (degrees from Dallas),” McGovern said. “But it’s been the best (coaching) I’ve had in my career from college all the way up. (Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer) gets into the small, little details, and I’ve never really had somebody pick things apart.”
McGovern later clarified his comments on both teams. The 25-year-old guard explained that the Bills' coaching staff encourages him to take on a more active style of blocking, compared to the more passive style he had in Dallas.
“It’s not, ‘Hey, just block your guy,’ ” McGovern said. “It’s, ‘Get your punch (block) up a couple inches to the V-neck of the jersey.’ Just those little things.
“In my four years in Dallas, I maybe jump-set four times – I do that four times here in one (practice), period. Now, instead of sitting back and waiting and waiting and waiting (for the defender), I go after them.”
Even with the supposedly passive style he played in Dallas, McGovern still impressed the Bills enough for them to make him one of the highest-paid lineman in this free agency class.
“We liked what Connor displayed in Dallas,” Kromer said. “He has the versatility to play three inside spots, and then (also) his size and athleticism drew us to him.”
McGovern is scheduled to make his regular-season debut with the Bills on Sept. 11, although his recent injury could delay that debut.
You can follow Jonathan Alfano on Twitter at @JonAlfano_News
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