Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) – In preseason game No. 2 on Saturday in Pittsburgh against the Steelers, the starters are expected to play over a quarter, including Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs.
Ed Oliver will also see action on the defensive line.
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There’s been a big change in the Bills defense, as middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds left for the Chicago Bears in free agency. Bills head coach Sean McDermott still hasn’t decided if it’ll be Tyrel Dodson, Terrel Bernard or A.J. Klein taking his place.
Oliver says the biggest change for him is the voice leading the huddle.
"The crazy part is you get so used to that voice (Edmunds), and then when somebody else is calling the plays, I’m like, 'Who in the hell is that talking?' That’s been the hardest part, because even when Tremaine was tired and mumbling, I knew what he was saying. So I have to think, 'What does that mean,' because I knew what Tremaine meant," said Oliver following Wednesday's practice in Orchard Park.
Oliver did say all three of the guys competing do a good job of taking control of the huddle.
Oliver signed a four-year contract extension worth $68 million this offseason to remain with the Bills for the long-term. He says he still approaches the game the same way, regardless of the new contract.
"I kind of feel like a rookie again," Oliver said. "You come in trying to prove yourself, and now I’m trying to prove why they gave me the money. I’m doing the same things, just building on what I’ve already done."
Oliver says as far as he’s concerned, nothing has changed for himself.
"Going back to high school, just walking around with a chip on my shoulder. I feel like the first four years was one contract and the next is. That’s behind me, and let me go out and prove myself once again," he said.
Sometimes I wonder why there are even three preseason games. Going into training camp, my guess is general manager Brandon Beane knows between 45 and 50 of the players will make the 53-man roster. I really don’t think they need three games to sort it all out.
Oliver doesn’t care how much he plays in the exhibition games, because that’s not where the work is put in.
"The work is put in out here (pointing to the practice field) to conditioning yourself, going as hard as possible for as long as possible," Oliver said. "To be able to come to life and be able to play at a high level, you’ve got to first take care of business out here. It’s not just a light switch you’re flipping."
This summer saw Buffalo's second-round pick in 2023, O’Cyrus Torrence, get some time lining up at guard opposite of Oliver.
"He’s playing at a high level," Oliver said of the rookie guard. "Some rookies when they come in, there’s a big drop off. There’s not really a drop off. He’s kind of like playing like a vet already, so that’s good that he can transition to the game and the speed so quickly."
Oliver said Torrence is just a quiet guy, but he’s acclimating real well.
The 25-year-old also says 2023 first-round rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid is doing the same thing.
Oliver and the Bills have two more preseason games, both on the road against the Steelers and Bears.
