Bills nickel CB Taron Johnson talks leadership role and next step in game

Buffalo Bills nickel cornerback Taron Johnson met with reporters during the first week of 2024 training camp and was immediately asked what it was like to face a wide variety of receivers this summer. Johnson noted, “I feel like it’s a great job, and just seeing different guys all the time, I think … is going to help my game. I’m not always going against one person, so just the fact that they change up the play, I love it.”

Johnson was then asked about the high level of competition in the defensive backs room and what he’s doing to help the new faces do their best. “Making sure they stay in their playbook and putting in that effort in practice, I think that’s a big deal. And whoever starts, yeah, they’re going to start, but I’ve been in the league for a while and I know a lot of guys are potentially going to play throughout the season because unfortunately, things happen, you know. So just making sure the guys that are starting know what they’re doing and the guys that are on the sidelines know what they’re doing.”

Asked what he’s noticed about rookie safety Cole Bishop, who has been working with the first-unit defense, Johnson said: “His communication level is improving. I mean, spring is always tough for rookies coming in and learning – our defense is pretty tough – so it takes a lot of study and a lot of repetition. And you can see he’s going out there and he’s comfortable.”

Johnson then discussed his on-field relationship with linebacker Matt Milano and what it means to have him back on the field with the team. “It’s awesome, we really missed him last year. But for him to be back on the field and be a player of that caliber is unbelievable, so I’m just happy to have him back.”

As for the presence of veteran Milano, who helps him play on the field at the same level, Johnson noted that “it’s crazy because Matt and I are rarely side by side on the field because we’re always on opposite sides, so we’re always talking to TB (linebacker Terrel Bernard). Him and I (Milano), we rarely talk on the field.”

Speaking of new defensive coordinator Bobby Babich, Johnson said: “I mean, the energy — he’s very passionate about the game and he brings energy every day, and I feel like that’s what we need all the time. And I think that’s going to help us make more plays, and obviously, he knows the game, to me, better than anybody, so that alone, I think, is going to help us.”

Taron Johnson was then asked what he’s seen from cornerback Kaiir Elam in early practice, to which he responded, “He’s making a lot of plays — PBUs, interceptions, just confidence, so I like to see that.”

Johnson was asked about his leadership role and perhaps the conscious effort he’s made to fill the void left by the departure of so many veterans this offseason. Johnson responded: “I think so. I think I’m trying to make a conscious effort to do that, and make myself heard more, from the top guys to the lower-level guys. From the guys that have played eight years to the guys that are rookies. I just do my best to communicate anything that helps the team.” He added: “(Certainly) because I’ve been here a long time, and we have a standard here – other guys haven’t been here as long – I have to make sure I maintain that standard with my play, obviously, and what I say to the other guys. I have to make sure we stay at that high standard that we’ve had the last six years.”

When asked what he worked on during the offseason and training camp to improve his already elite game, Johnson said, “… honestly, just putting myself in uncomfortable positions. The coaches help me do that — sometimes I don’t like it, but in the long run, it’s going to help. So just putting myself in uncomfortable positions that … then lead to … I feel like it helps the defense. So if I could continue to do that and obviously be consistent, because that’s all I want to do is be consistent in my game, I think I could take another step.”

For Johnson, that means “using different techniques that I’m not necessarily comfortable with, to make the defense look different. Better disguises and things like that. Just trying to confuse what the quarterback sees.”

Regarding the play of rookie receiver Keon Coleman, Johnson said: “I feel like he’s physical with his routes, and his 50-50 catch rate is really good and he’s going to have a chance to catch that ball even if a guy is on him. So I think that’s a huge help for us.”

Asked about quarterback Josh Allen’s leadership development, Johnson said: “He’s a vocal guy. He’ll tell you if you’re doing it right. He’ll tell you if you’re doing it wrong, and that’s something we especially need because we have maybe some younger guys on offense and some newer guys on offense. So just him talking from the standpoint and just being that guy that everybody looks to — and, yeah, he’s going to be a leader.”

Listen to everything Taron Johnson had to say during his press conference, embedded in its entirety below.