Pittsford, N.Y. (WGR 550) - While there have not been many position battles to focus on this year at Buffalo Bills training camp, arguably the most notable battle that's ongoing at St. John Fisher University deals with the starting middle linebacker position on defense.
With the loss of 2018 first-round pick Tremaine Edmunds to the Chicago Bears this offseason in free agency, it has left a significant hole in head coach Sean McDermott's defense heading into the season.
LISTEN LIVE TO WGR:
As the Bills get set to enter their last week of training camp, while also preparing for their first preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, no one has been able to claim the starting spot at middle linebacker just yet.
Bills linebackers coach Bobby Babich feels it's about finding the right player for that position in the middle of the defense.
"There's a mix right now that we feel you need where you have to be athletic enough and you have to be physical enough," said Babich on Sunday during his meeting with the media at St. John Fisher University.
With Saturday being the first preseason game, Babich wants to make sure the linebackers group works hard in practice where the games become easy. While he does expect growing pains during the season, he also wants the players to learn how to deal with failure.
"None of our players that have started for seven years are going to be prefect," Babich said. "My job right now is to put them to the fire to make sure once we hit our first game, those failures are limited."
Hear more from Babich's meeting with the media available in the player below:
