Buffalo Bills: Stoplight Edition

By: Randall Slifer

The Buffalo Bills got through week one of the preseason against the Giants last Saturday. It was a loss, but that is the least important thing about Saturday. Overall, the game was a positive in what Buffalo needed to see in developing and preparing for week one of the regular season. Today, let’s talk about the good, average, and bad that happened during the first preseason game in a stoplight edition of the Bills:

Green Light: Defensive Line

The defensive line looked overall good against the Giants on an individual standpoint. There is a new philosophy to our defensive line. Buffalo’s defensive line is built more like a hockey rotation. Great depth at each position with players rotating constantly to stay fresh and powerful with minimal drop off per position. McDermott needed to see the whole defensive line this August to assess its potential for multiple reasons. Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi are suspended for the first six games. Michael Hoecht had a good outing in the first preseason game, showing his strength in compressing the pocket with his bull rush and getting his hands up to create chaos. What rookies will be able to fill that void for the beginning of the season? TJ Sanders and Deone Walker had some great plays in week one that Buffalo hopes to continue throughout the preseason.

TJ Sanders showed his strength and agility in the interior of the defensive line with an excellent QB hit on Jaxson Dart. That ultimately led to a touchdown, which I’ll discuss later in this article. Deone Walker was rated the highest on the defensive line for the first preseason game. He accounted for one pressure and one batted ball that flashed like his 2023 tape at Kentucky. Rookie Landon Jackson had a rough time in his first preseason game, but it was clear he needed the most time coming from college. Landon Jackson needs to work on his pass rush moves and pad level to be able to win more in the NFL. Two out of three rookies shining in week one is a good sign, though. Suppose TJ Sanders and Deone Walker can contribute well while Hoecht and Ogunjobi are suspended. In that case, McDermott can mold this defensive line throughout the year to perfect it come postseason, which is when they always seem to crumble.

Yellow Light: Tre’Davious White

 Tre’Davious White earned the starting cornerback role next to Christian Benford in the first preseason game. Max Hairston is out for the preseason due to his knee injury, and Buffalo desperately needs someone to step up big in that role until Max is ready to take that role. White handled week one as expected. A veteran cornerback getting his feet under him, coming back to the team he loved. There is no denying his veteran presence and the impact he will have mentoring the cornerback room, especially with Max Hairston.

However, we need White to be a solid cornerback by week one of the regular season. Tre needed to hear the calls on the field, understand the concepts, and be out on the field to get comfortable again in Buffalo’s system. Tre did allow five receptions, but kept everything in front of him by only allowing 37 yards on those five receptions. His tackling was okay, with only one missed tackle, but some wrap-ups seemed a little messy. White, entering his ninth season and making a proper comeback from his previous injuries, needs to improve week to week to get ready for week one. I believe White will start week one against the Ravens, and he needs to be prepared for such an electric start to the regular season.

Red Light: Safety Room

The safety room appears to be in disarray at the moment. There are injuries everywhere, and McDermott needs everyone healthy to assess the safety depth chart honestly. Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop have been dealing with minor injuries during training camp. The Bills need Cole Bishop to be ready to start week one to be the captain in the future, as a second-round pick last year. His IQ and ability to diagnose plays in the backfield are among the best in the room, and he can get to the line of scrimmage quickly to contribute to defending the run.

Taylor Rapp has had an extensive list of injuries, and being injured this preseason is brutal to say the least. The starting safeties this year should be Rapp and Bishop, with Lewis, Hamlin, and Hancock backing up the nickel and safety roles. Hancock and Lewis looked good during the first preseason game, but that combination would be a disaster if they were to start week one. The top head-scratching play of the first preseason game goes to Damar Hamlin. Circling back to the outstanding QB hit TJ Sanders made on Jaxson Dart that led to a touchdown. Jaxson Dart threw a great go ball on one-on-one coverage down the left sideline. On replay, Damar Hamlin is in a light jog when he was the single high safety who should have given help on that side. Dart did not move his eyes to deceive Hamlin by any means, and Hamlin could have read that throw before Dart finished his three-step drop back. It is just one preseason snap, but with the safety room close to being in shambles, Hamlin should show he is a leader in the room and always give 100% effort.

Buffalo’s next preseason game is Sunday at 8:00e/7:00c. Buffalo should be looking for consistency on the defensive line, and hope that the safety room is healthy, and has more stability than they showed in week one. As always, Go Bills!