Three takeaways on the Buffalo Bills defense after OTAs

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The last two years have been a new experience for Kaiir Elam.

After the Buffalo Bills traded up to acquire Elam at No. 23 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, expectations were high for the cornerback to fill a big position for Buffalo and take on a starting role. This did not happen.

Instead, Elam started six of the 13 games he played in 2022 – a good scratch for one game – and suffered an ankle injury. And while he was trending in a positive direction, he suffered an injury in preseason last season and only played in three games (he started two), partly due to spending seven weeks on reserve. injuried people.

“Never in my life,” Elam said when asked if he had ever been through the challenges he faced with the Bills. “Every year I feel like I’ve played football, I’ve always grown and become the guy, I’ve seen the accolades and the success. … I feel like, every year of (my career), I feel like “I’ve grown and gotten a lot better.”

Earning a role higher on the depth chart has proven difficult for Elam with Dane Jackson — now with the Carolina Panthers — and Christian Benford, a sixth-round pick in the 2022 class, playing ahead of him. Benford started 14 games in 2023. The team also traded for veteran corner Rasul Douglas after Tre’Davious White suffered a season-ending right Achilles tear.

With White released this offseason, Douglas and Benford are in the lead for the starting jobs, but the opportunity to compete will be there. Elam, 23, is now in his third year in the league and is embracing what he has learned over the past two years.

Elam noted his desire to constantly play free and also worked with nickel corner Taron Johnson to play as a smaller defensive back.

“Mentally, I feel like it kind of ate away at me. Well, not at all, it ate away at me,” Elam said. “I learned to appreciate the difficulties because it helped me become who I am now. It’s not like I’m taking shortcuts. It’s not like I’m not listening or not I wasn’t taking notes, I wasn’t preparing the right way, but I felt like it allowed me to learn, like it was just reality, and sometimes you can’t really force success.

This year’s adjustments go beyond his mindset, with a new defensive coordinator in place in Bobby Babich and a new cornerbacks coach in Jahmile Addae. Elam also changed his number from 24 to 5 this year.

“I was born with (five). I came out of the womb, I swear, that’s my number,” Elam said, “I wore five since I was four, I wore it at elementary school, middle school, high school, university. So, I feel like this number chose me.

Douglas is the only Bills player who has not been on the field during any of the three voluntary OTAs open to the media, and with the changes the team has seen on both sides of the ball this offseason, there are opportunities for players to take on new ones. the roles.

“A clean slate for Kaiir. I work extremely hard,” Babich said. “I think his mindset is where it needs to be. And coach Addae and (safeties) coach (Joe) Danna do a great job of focusing on the little things where we know he has to improve literally minute by minute, practice by exercise We’re not trying to go big, we’re trying to focus on certain things.

Landing in Buffalo: Babich has become a popular candidate for defensive coach this offseason with three teams outside the Bills requesting interviews: the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Miami Dolphins. Babich said Tuesday, in his first news conference as coordinator, that he had interviewed two of the teams, but declined to name them.

“It was pretty hectic, things are moving fast,” Babich said. “And in the end, I had to make a decision that was best for my family and myself, and obviously, I ended up exactly where I thought it would happen if you asked me and I don’t Couldn’t be happier. I couldn’t be happier.”

He has served in various roles under Sean McDermott in Buffalo since McDermott was hired by the Bills in 2017, but he also overlapped his duties in Carolina in 2011-12.

While there is no decision yet on whether Babich or McDermott, who called the defensive plays last year for the first time as a head coach, will be the facilitators, Babich acknowledged the role that their relationship can have.

“I’m a fool if I don’t use Sean McDermott,” Babich said. “And at the end of the day, he’s the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, not only because he’s a great leader and a great football mind, but he’s made a name for himself on defense, and I always considered Sean a mentor, and already I ask him things every day.”

Defensive Line Expectations: The defensive line’s success this season comes with some question marks on the outside, including whether Von Miller can get close to his previous form. He tore his right ACL on Thanksgiving in 2022 and didn’t start to make much of an impact until late last season.

“There were flashes of Von Miller at the end of the year,” Babich said. “Von is working hard to come back. Von is a great person. The expectation is that minute by minute we just continue to improve and hone our skills and train the skills that are necessary for him to make an impact. game the way we need it.

Miller, who continues to be investigated for assault allegations, said Tuesday that he “felt great” and was training without a knee brace, which he had not done Last year.

The team picked up the fifth-year option of defensive end Greg Rousseau. Rousseau, along with AJ Epenesa, is a player the Bills hope can take another step forward and improve on his eight and five sacks from the previous two seasons, respectively, and earn a larger contract beyond the option.

“I put the most pressure on myself, like no one had higher expectations of me than myself,” Rousseau said. “And honestly, it just comes from wanting to be great and also just helping my teammates and helping my team win. It’s a team sport and when one player plays well, you can help someone other in defense and vice versa.