Bills' Jordan Phillips on Sean McDermott: 'One Of The Guys!'
Few people have more on their plate than Sean McDermott.
The Buffalo Bills head coach has to balance being the team's defensive coordinator and play-caller this season. The decision by McDermott to add play-calling duties for the first time in his tenure with Buffalo had defensive tackle Jordan Phillips skeptical at first.
However, through the first few weeks of training camp, Phillips has seen McDermott's ability to wear both hats.
"It feels like he's one of the guys when he comes in there and talks to us," Phillips said of McDermott as a defensive coordinator on One Bills Live. "He makes sure that you know it's a difference. He talks to you different when we're out here as a DC and he talks to you different as a head coach. You see it ... He does a great job."
Before McDermott became the Bills head coach in 2017, he cut his teeth as a defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles for two seasons (2009-2010) and Carolina Panthers for six seasons (2011-2016). Carolina was No. 2 in points allowed in 2013 and No. 6 in 2015.
McDermott takes over play-calling duties from Leslie Frazier, who had been Buffalo's defensive coordinator since 2017.
Buffalo had success in the regular season, ranking No. 2 in points allowed per game twice (2019, 2022) and No. 3 in 2021. However, the Bills' defense has struggled in the playoffs, where they've allowed an average of just over 35 points per game the last three times they were eliminated.
If the move is going to pay off, it'll come down to how Buffalo's defense plays in the playoffs. If McDermott can carry the Bills' success on defense from the regular season into the playoffs, then they may finally get over the hump.
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