GM Doug Whaley
NFL Draft Round 2
May 1, 2015
Q: Rex has said it, you have said it–you’re obviously taking the best guy, but having it be a cornerback must be a bonus.
A: Well three factors: one we said at the beginning of this thing that we were going to take the best player and he was the highest rated player on the board. Two, yes the fact that we can take a corner every year. And three, with the additions the other teams have made this draft in our division, we need to keep up with the arms race, but most importantly we think this guy is a heck of a football player.
Q: What kind of trade talks did you have over the past few days?
A: We had some talks and we got close but nothing came to fruition. So we were excited to move down. We are more excited to have [Ronald] Darby.
Q: What are the qualities of this kid that make him a good fit for this defense?A: Physical, not only with the ball, against ball carriers, and as a press guy. Rex is a big press guy. His physical attributes–height, weight, and obviously blazing speed. The production wasn’t that high this year but he also wasn’t challenged that much this year. So we think this guy’s got an upside and the benefit of coming in and learning behind some quality corners is going to help this guy.
Q: As for what’s going on in the division are you talking specifics?
A: Absolutely and then again it’s, corners, you can never have too much. Unfortunately, the last two years with our corners we’ve had to deal with injury problems and getting another guy in there makes you feel secure with what Rex [Ryan] likes to do on the defensive side of the ball.
Q: Will [Ronald] Darby get any playing time with the three veterans?
A: We’ll see, like I’ve always said, bring competition in and competition brings out the best in everybody. It will hopefully elevate their play, elevate his play. And then you look at the depth factor and again, injury wise, you will always feel secure if you lose one of those guys.
Q: How big of gap was there between [Ronald] Darby and somebody else that has gone in that round?
A: Big enough that we didn’t have a debate.
CB Ronald Darby
NFL Draft Round 2
May 1, 2015
Q: How excited are you to be a Buffalo Bill and coming to play for Rex Ryan?
A: It’s a blessing. I couldn’t ask for much more. I’m just ready to get out there, develop more as a player, show what I can do as a player, and just get better and make plays for the Bills.
Q: How much did you meet with the Bills throughout this process? Have you met Rex at all?
A: The Combine I met with them and had a few words exchanged on Pro Day. That’s about it, really.
Q: How much do you know about this team?
A: Growing up, I was a Redskins fan so not a lot to be honest, but I followed them a lot more once one of my good friends, EJ Manuel got drafted. Also, Sammy Watkins came from the ACC that I know.
Q: Doug Whaley said that press coverage is big part of your game. Why don’t you give us a sense of what can be expected of the way you play and if you can expound on that point…on your press coverage?
A: I’m going to bring, of course speed. That’s one thing, but I’m going to be someone who just go out there and just compete and make sure my receiver don’t score on me, don’t make huge plays. Someone that’s going to be out there to get turnovers and like you say, be up on the ball and press and if I have to be off, play off. I know how to play off, so I’m just going to be that player.
Q: How much do you enjoy playing that man coverage? That’s really something that Rex’s defenses have been known for at corner.
A: Yes. It’s a pleasure, of course. It’s just you and the guy so it’s will against will. You know I feel as though I know it, but I can run with anybody so it’s just after that, it’s all technique and just making sure I’m in the right positions and everything like that and just making a play on the ball.
Q: Doug Whaley mentioned that he felt like teams we’re kind of going away from you or teams were shying away from throwing at you this year. Did you feel like that? Did you think that teams were avoiding you this year?
A: Yes, of course. I wasn’t even targeted more than two, three times a game. It was really difficult to make as many plays as I wanted to and sometimes when the ball do get near me for the first time in a week or so, I get so anxious so I overthink things, but if I were weak or something like that, I’d be attacked a lot more. I could do things right but like at some points I did feel as though I wasn’t getting enough action and things like that. It got a little boring out there sometimes.
Q: How close are you to Jameis and have you talked to him since he was picked yesterday?
A: I’ve talked to him. I’m real close friends with Jameis. He’s probably one of my best friends.
Q: I don’t know if you’ve looked at the Bills’ schedule at all but Andrew Luck and Tom Brady are the first two guys up. How ready do you feel you’ll be able to come in and compete right away with the level of competition you’re going to be up against?
A: Extremely ready. I just want to come in, learn, get in where I fit in really. Just go out there and compete. I’m no big trash talker. I’m not a guy to walk around, act like I’m the man and this and that. I know my place and I know what’s expected of me or what need to be expected of me so I’m just ready to come in and compete.
GM Doug Whaley on Third Round Pick OL John Miller
Friday, May 1st, 2015
Q: Tell us what you like about John Miller.
A: Well he’s the type of offensive lineman Greg Roman and Rex Ryan are looking for: tough aggressive maulers that bring attitude. And this guy’s a heavy handed guy, one of the knocks is he’s only 6’ 2 ½” and the average starting guard is 6’ 3 ½”. You guys, that much (hand gesture). We’re excited about him, the thing we’re most excited about is the attitude that he brings to the game and again if you look at what’s happening in the division, Ndamukong Suh, Leonard Williams, Mo Wilkerson, we’re going to have to get tougher up front and that’s what he brings to the table.
Q: Do you think you are done for the night?
A: Yes, yes we are done for the night. Again, lack of ammunition, let’s go every other ladies and gentlemen.
Q: Two of your biggest needs seem to be defensive back and offensive line, especially the interior part of the line. Were those major priorities and did you feel that you addressed some of your needs in the first three rounds?
A: We set the board based strictly on talent. And if everything is equal we will go with a need and it just happened this year, the corner we didn’t see as a perceived need as much as other people, we looked at it more as a depth. But once we got down to the third, we were actually looking up at Mr. Miller and we were holding our fingers crossed that he would slide to us. We’re excited and to have a need and to have a good player that you have at the top of the board is a double bonus.
Q: How ready do you think he is to step in right away?
A: We will find out. We think he, I mean mentally, we had him in on a visit, he’s sharp that way. And again, I was just talking to Rex [Ryan], we’re going to throw those guys in there and get them reps with the second team, the first team, and just see what combination works best for us to get out there and produce.
Q: Do you think tomorrow, some of these quarterbacks that are still left, do you expect any of them to get past the fourth round?
A: That’s going to be interesting, we thought there would be a run on them before then and we will have to wait and see but I’m pretty sure they’re going to have to go in the fourth and fifth round for sure.
Q: I’m sure there was some discussion but did you guys like any of them?
A: Right, right and again we follow our board. We place values on guys and right now we picked, Miller was the highest value guy on our board.
Q: How much do you value that he has played both left and right guard?
A: Position flexibility is always a bonus and that should tell you about his smarts as well.
Q: Again just how important is it to have another potential starter at guard and have him involved in the makeup of this team?
A: You get a young guy in and with the situation if he wins the job great, if he doesn’t he adds depth and he can learn from how these guys want to portray our offense and portray our offensive line. And if he does not start this year he can contribute if there are injuries but also down the road we expect him to take over and to take the job by the helmet and go from there.
Q: Back to [Ronald] Darby, does his position make it easier for Corey Graham to make the permanent switch over to safety?
A: We’ll have to talk to the coaches about that, right now we like him at corner. It gives you the option, and you always like to have options but I can’t sit here and say he’s definitely moving right now but again we like having as many corners as possible.
Q: You mentioned John Miller came in for a visit, [Ronald] Darby mentioned you did not bring him in for a visit. How comfortable are you with everything off the field with Darby?
A: We are, we met with him at the combine so we felt very comfortable sitting down talking to him at the combine talking to him about everything that happened off the field.
Q: Did you gather the facts as to what may have been involved?
A: Yes we do extensive background search on just about every prospect we have especially guys that we’re around or are in trouble. So, yes we feel very comfortable.
OL John Miller
Friday, May 1st, 2015
Q: What’s it like being reunited or being part of an offensive line that features Eric Wood?
A: It’s awesome. I got a chance to train, not train, but workout with Eric Wood at Louisville actually so it’s a great opportunity. I know that Eric Wood’s a great pro, so I look forward to picking his brain and learning from him as we go along.
Q: Is Preston Brown blowing your phone up yet?
A: No. I don’t think I’ve gotten a call from him yet. He might’ve texted me.
Q: What’s this mean for you and knowing that with the Bills you have a chance to compete on a line that has a need at guard?
A: For me, it’s a dream come true just being drafted into the NFL, but being able to come in and compete for a starting position with the Buffalo Bills is great so that’s exactly what I wanted to do is come in, to come in and compete for a starting position and make an impact.
Q: Rex Ryan has talked a lot about having a ground and pound offense here in Buffalo. Is that music to your ears as that’s one of the strengths to your game?
A: Yes sir. Definitely one of the strengths of my game is getting out there in the run game.
Q: The GM used the words aggressive mauler. How much pride do you take in being physically dominant in that part of the run game?
A: I take a lot of pride in it just because I think if you run the ball, it opens up the passing game and just being able to move a guy from point A to point B is what learned to do and I definitely like to play physical in the run game.
Q: When they talked to you, what did they tell you about your expectations when they called you and told you they were drafting you?
A: They called me and told me that I have a chance to come in and compete for a starting job.
Q: Doug Whaley mentioned he brought you in for a visit. What was your impression of the Buffalo area and how did your meeting go with those guys?
A: Everything went well. I thought the Buffalo area was pretty nice…liked the area. I got a chance to meet with Coach Rex Ryan and he just kind of sat me down and told me, “If we pick you, we expect you to come in and compete for that starting position,” and he just told me to have fun with it so I just think that all the coaches are pretty cool and they’re all great guys. I like Buffalo.
Q: And playing a blocking role with LeSean McCoy behind you. That must be pretty intriguing.
A: Yeah, it is. It’s very exciting just because LeSean McCoy is a great back and I’m excited to have a chance to block for him.
Filed under: Buffalo Bills
Tagged with: Buffalo Bills, Doug Whaley, NFL Draft
Sorry, comments are closed on this post.