BUFFALO BILLS HEAD COACH SEAN MCDERMOTT
Q: Your defense, three weeks in a row now, has allowed you to do what you’ve done, [with only] two touchdowns [allowed] in three games. Just talk a little bit about how well that group is playing.
A: You know, they’ve done a great job. I mean, they’re playing well. We had a couple plays today that got away from us but they are a resilient bunch. They really are. If it’s not the front getting after the quarterbacks, somebody else is making a big play for us in the back seven. They play as a team, which that’s how you play good defense in football. You play as a team and they did a good job of feeding off of one another and really just doing their job, being 1/11th of the defense.
Q: Tre’Davious White got off to a rough start. They were going after him and they completed some balls, but he really turned it around in the second half. For a rookie to do that, [it’s] pretty impressive.
A: It is. He’s done a great job. He’s got great mentors on the team in the ways of Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Lorenzo Alexander. I mean these guys have taken Tre under their wing and then you match that with his work ethic and the time he puts into the film room during the week and the results have taken care of themselves. From a young corner, this early to do what he’s done, is good to see. Still a lot of work to do, but I know he’s working extremely hard and I’m happy for him.
Q: What was the nature of your team meeting last night? What led to the demonstration during the anthem?
A: Well, really it was us, with Terry and Kim [Pegula] and players, coaches, staff, coming together and having a conversation that was very productive. The statement, we stand by that statement and it speaks to the unity, equality and love and that’s what we came up with from that meeting.
Q: Why did you want to walk towards midfield? It’s something that isn’t normal.
A: Well, we just felt like it was the right thing to do.
Q: What was the reaction of players in that meeting and why were some of them kneeling?
A: I’d like to keep most of what went on in that meeting other than the statement [private]. Those things are team deals right there so I’d like to keep that amongst the team. But it was a productive meeting, like I said. A lot of good conversation that came from it.
Q: Tyrod Taylor, you were able to get him a little bit more space and a little bit more time. When he’s done those things, he’s far more effective than not. Are you looking for ways that you can get him a little bit more time, a little bit more space?
A: Well, I thought he played a good game today. I thought Rick [Dennison] called a good game. A good game plan and spread the ball around extremely well. We ran the ball when we needed to run it at times and that’s a good defense so give them credit too. But I liked the style of offense we played today and we possessed the ball when we needed to possess the ball. The points before half, from a two-minute [drill] standpoint were critical in the outcome of the game.
Q: There was a series there where [Taylor] rolled to his left and threw to [Nick] O’Leary. That was a good play, throwing against his body there. Then he hit Jordan Matthews in a crossing pattern and then the little flip for the touchdown [to Charles Clay]. Those three plays all kind of rolled into one of, ‘okay, he can get down in those situations and maybe he can be a much more productive guy.’ Is that what you see?
A: I saw the red zone, to your point. I saw a great red zone production [and] efficiency in terms of what we were able to do in the red zone. [We] came up short in the fourth quarter there. We were trying to obviously work the clock a little bit and then take points, which is what we were able to do. But yeah, I thought Rick did a great job with the game plan and we were able to do some things offensively that we felt like, during the week, would be open and again, spread the ball around. I think that was key as well.
Q: What does this win do for your team psychologically? That was a team over there that people expected to be better than you. They were favored in the game. You guys ended up proving otherwise.
A: Well, it’s a good team. Again, I’m going to give credit to the Denver Broncos. They were off to a 2-0 start. I like our football team. I said that last week after the game and I’ll say it again. I like this football team. These guys play together, they work hard during the week, and there’s no surprise, no mistake I should say, for the results that they got. You earn it. That’s how you win in this league, you have to earn it and those guys earned it.
Q: Sean, your team obviously likes to run the ball. You run first, but teams have done a good job the last two weeks of shutting down your running backs. Is it good for you to see that you can throw the ball downfield? Because that was a question and it looked like you guys had much more success and maybe it was part of a plan today because you know you’re going to have to move the ball with the bigger chunk play. Is that what you saw happening?
A: Some of that, and again, just us getting back to playing our style of football. We came away from the game last week wanting to re-establish who we were as an offense and how we play. Good defenses challenge that. Carolina’s defense did that, Denver’s defense [did that]. Two good, solid defenses, and they’re going to challenge that. It was important that we stick with who we are and how we play. I thought we did that effectively today.
BUFFALO BILLS QB TYROD TAYLOR
Q: Passing game found a rhythm today, what led to that achievement?
A: We were able to do a couple different things in the passing game, some crossing routes we knew it was a man team, even get on the edge. Our keepers, it was good we mixed up different protections to try to calm down 58 and rush in free. Ultimately, the guys went out, took a challenge on the outside and were able to make some plays. I’m proud of those guys.
Q: Was this kind of a testament to the open-mindedness of the coordinator? You mentioned during the week you guys were going to be talking and make some points about things you like to do?
A: Absolutely, Rick Dennison always has an open ear even from my time working with him in Baltimore. Truly, definitely, this week talked with him about the things I have seen and that I liked, the things I felt we were good at. I guess this defense, and even things that he liked with his time in Denver knowing this group we just played, ideas that he thought would work. We were on the same page and ultimately we were able to go out there and execute. It wasn’t pretty every drive, we had some drives we could have been better at but we were able to get the job done.
Q: It seems like when you are given the time and space, we have watched that here in the past where you are most effective. Would you like to see the offense making a more defined effort to get you just a little bit time to open passing lanes and giving you the option to use your legs?
A: Each week is going to call for different things but we definitely have to stay true to our identity. I think today we showed that we can be multiple in our pass and attack. Like I said, whether it is using keepers, keeping the defense honest, and the backside. Ultimately it is going to help Shady, we were not able to get the running game going like we wanted to today but it is going to help him as well too, slow play on the backside.
Q: What about for you personally also?
A: It definitely helps me get in the groove. It helps me find a rhythm. Of course completions for any quarterback helps find rhythm. You want to do what that person is comfortable doing and I think we have a good idea of what, Rick Dennison has a good idea of what I do well and what I am comfortable with.
Q: What was the nature of the discussion between your teammates that led to today’s anthem demonstration?
A: We had a conversation last night. It was a voluntary team meeting. Mrs. Pegula, Mr. Pegula were there. Our GM Brandon Beane, Coach McDermott, our captains and a couple of the players. It was an open dialogue and I think it was good. Of course you are not going to solve everything in one night. The meeting went on for about an hour. The main thing we came out with was this organization ultimately believes in love and equality for all people. Individuals felt the need to kneel, some people stood, we respect each and everyone’s decision. I think the main thing is, we were all on the same page in doing so.
Q: What was the nature of your conversation with Von Miller when he extended, you are still laughing we could see you laughing on the field?
A: Me and Von came out the same year. We are good friends and we were actually laughing on the field. I do not think he knew, I honestly did not know at the time it was going to be a flag, like I said we were laughing. It ended up working out in our favor. I guess a bad play by him at the time, pretty sure he wish he could have that back, but you have to move forward.
Q: Were you laughing because it was funny or because they threw the flag?
A: Both.
Q: What did he say?
A: I mean, like I said we just were laughing. I have known him for a good while, but he just was laughing. I stuck out my hand, thought he was going to help me up but that was like an old school move
Q: So you are saying, you didn’t really take it as a slight?
A: No, I didn’t. Stuff happens in a game. I do not really expect people to help me up, but at that time he extended his hand. Ultimately, I got played in the situation. It ended up working in our favor, it ended the drive. We were able to run some time on the clock and make them burn all their time outs. Ultimately it worked out for the better of us.
Q: For the touchdown for Clay, could you maybe explain where he was as an option for that play cause you saw him late. Could you maybe walk us through that?
A: Yeah he is actually third in the progression. We were trying to hide Jordan Matthews and get him to come out the backside, the corner smoke played it, they took away the corners, and Charles is the last option. Actually my option to run actually comes before Charles but he, his sale was able to close the end down, and I was approaching the line of scrimmage he popped up and I was able to give him the play.
Q: So your drive there, that is when you rolled left and you throw it across your body to O’Leary near the sideline. Do people underestimate your ability to make that play? We have watched that before, it is hard to throw against your body but you make it kind of look easy.
A: I would say the catch was probably better than the throw. For him to be able to track that ball, for a tight end going about thirty yards down the field and keeping his feet in on a diving play was definitely a great catch. I make those plays a bunch at practice, I have confidence in throwing that ball so I didn’t second guess it. It was a great play by O’Leary.
Q: In terms of respect, I mean everything this team went through last night with the discussion, are you of the opinion that what came out of that is a team that should be stronger moving forward?
A: Absolutely, there is definitely times throughout a season where with teams where things are going to happen, whether it is off the field or on the field. Teams could fragment or they could closer together. I think last night’s discussion and even us being out there on the field today definitely brought us together. Of course the win brought us together but the brotherhood of us being on the sideline on the same page, supporting one another, I think definitely brings us closer.
Q: What plans if any are there to continue protesting?
A: It is still early. I can’t really say what plans we have, nothing concrete. Of course this has to be something, in order for it to change or in order for the awareness to be beneficial it has to be something that goes on consistently. I think it is something that the league as a whole has to continue to support. I cannot say whether there are concrete plans right now to be honest.
Q: Is it fair to say that as long as the president continues to take shots, literally, at you and your fellow players in the league, that you are going to respond somehow, in the form that was today throughout the league?
A: In the best case scenario you want to be proactive. Of course today was kind of reactive because he said something that people felt he need to go out and do things, but moving forward in order for us to get the response out of it that we are looking for ultimately we need to be proactive. That just comes with everyone standing together. Thinking through it, like I said it is still early, and hopefully we can find a solution to it.
Q: In the larger picture you always hear the players, yourself included, talking about the NFL being a brotherhood. It seemed that way today because everybody across the league, not just the Bills, took a stand. What does that say about the unity not just here but throughout the entire league?
A: It is definitely a brotherhood. The comments that were made I think were definitely an attack against the shield. As players you protect that shield. Of course you protect the logo that is on the side of your helmet, you play for the name that is on the back of your jersey, but at the end of the day you play for that shield. It is a privilege to play for the shield, and we as players took that as a personal attack. Like I said, I don’t necessarily have the answers right now as to what to do to solve it but we are going to continue to keep working through it daily.
Q: What lead to your own personal decision to remain standing?
A: That is just something that I have always done. I honestly pray during the national anthem, I have been doing that since I started sports when I was a kid. I try to stay to my routine. I do not condemn or look down on anyway, I support them. They are my brothers, if that is their choice and they want to make it, then I am fine with that.
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