'Meticulous!' Bills Coach Sean McDermott Praises Center Mitch Morse
Part of every Super Bowl contender’s roster is vital influence from the leaders in the locker room. The quarterback is inherently put in a position of power, but without ancillary veterans, adversity can take hold and tear down an otherwise talented team.
Thankfully for the Buffalo Bills, quality veteran leadership is a surplus, especially in the trenches. Edge rusher Von Miller will miss the team’s first four contests, but virtually every report from camp praised Miller’s ability to coach Buffalo’s younger linemen. On the other side of the ball, center Mitch Morse has made a name for himself through his consistency.
On Thursday, coach Sean McDermott elaborated on what makes Morse special.
“Mitch is one of the first guys in the building every morning … whether the players are in or not he’ll come in for an a.m. breakfast just to kind of dip his toe in the water,” McDermott said. “He’s been a great leader for us over the past few years in particular and he’s just a real steady hand.”
Morse is entering his fifth season as a Bill. Prior, he helped the AFC rival Kansas City Chiefs compete for a title, though he’s yet to win a ring. In 2022, he was named to his first Pro Bowl.
McDermott spoke to the growth he’s witnessed and how Morse has blossomed into one of Buffalo’s leaders.
“I think you have to give the credit to him,” he said. “He’s just grown over the years and not only on the field, but off the field … He’s just an outstanding young man of great character and just takes his job very seriously. He’s very meticulous in his preparation.”
That preparation may prove even more significant in 2023. To his left, free-agent acquisition Connor McGovern will start at left guard. At right guard, the Bills opted for second-round rookie O’Cyrus Torrence. The aforementioned steady hand is the lone returning starter on the interior offensive line.
Buffalo will face a handful of imposing defensive fronts this season, ranging from all six divisional games to late-season matchups with the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. Morse’s consistency could be the glue that holds the Bills’ offensive line together.
Their first test has drawn the attention of the football world. On Monday, Morse and his fellow linemen will open the season against a highly-touted New York Jets defense on the road at MetLife Stadium.
