Second-round safety ‘starting from scratch’ at Buffalo Bills rookie minicamp

Buffalo Bills rookie Cole Bishop is learning on the job.

The No. 60 overall draft pick is trying to digest a new defensive scheme while getting his first taste of NFL life during this weekend’s rookie minicamp.

“Not very similar (to Utah’s defensive approach). We didn’t run a lot of quarterback (coverage). Kind of starting from scratch, but getting smarter with the football,” Bishop said during from a media scrum on Friday.

Bishop, who played 35 games at safety for Utah over the past three years, was admittedly happy to be back on the field in a football context.

“That’s what we do. We’re football players. We’re not track runners and all that kind of stuff,” Bishop said. “The combine went well and everything, but I’m here to play football, so I’m excited to get back playing.”

Before Friday’s minicamp work, the 6-foot-2 Bishop, who ran a 4.45-second 40 at the Combine, spent his first days as Bill reviewing film of his predecessors Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer.

“Every play you try to learn, you watch it on film and it’s those guys. They’re obviously great players. They’ve done a lot of good things here for a very long time, so it’s good to watch “, said Bishop.

Before he can start thinking about emulating the former All-Pros, the 21-year-old safety is acclimating to the new environment.

“I’m just trying to learn right now. I’m excited, for once I have a little more knowledge of the playbook, to actually be able to study these guys and their techniques,” Bishop said.