Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - As over 41,000 fans packed in to see their brand new stadium in Orchard Park, the Buffalo Bills defense welcomed back safety Cole Bishop and cornerback Max Hairston to practice.
Hairston says he missed time with a groin injury, and is glad it wasn't more serious.
"What this was was nowhere close to where I got last year, so I'm thankful in that regard," Hairston said after practice. "And then getting the treatments on my body, getting it strong, I'm just happy I was able to get back out here."
Hairston did not look limited on the field, and says it was important to get back to it with his teammates.
"It felt good to be back out there with my brothers," Hairston said. "The body felt good, and I didn't have to think about it. It was a good day of practice."
This, of course, is a new defense with defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. Maxwell says he learned a lot before the injury took place.
"We've been installing this defense since OTAs, so just relying back on my notes, watching the film, and when I get out here just do everything faster," he said.
Because of injuries, Hairston only played 11 games in his rookie season. He says he's worked hard to be a better corner this season.
"Really just the confidence I have now, I feel like going into Year 2, this is really my Year 1, as far as knowing how they're attacking me and then just going out there and playing confident," Hairston said.
When Hairston was drafted, a lot was made of his speed. He says now he's actually learned the position better.
"This scheme allows me to slow down a little bit," Hairston acknowledged. "Obviously I'm fast and stuff, but I want to try to be more technical this year. We're playing a lot more man, so I've got to be a little more calmer at the line, but also having that speed in my back pocket whenever I do need to use it."
Despite missing Hairston on the field, Leonhard doesn't seem too worried about the second-year corner being ready come opening kickoff to the season.
"The first thing that goes is their tempo. They start playing too fast, sometimes your eyes just get a little bit messed up. So every time you lose reps, you feel like you're falling behind and have to catch up. But he won't have any issues schematically with what we're asking him to do. It's just how fast can they snap it back into the right tempo," said Leonhard ahead of practice Tuesday.
Before practice, Leonhard spoke about the first preseason game and this week's practice with the Cleveland Browns. In the game against the Carolina Panthers, Leonhard was on the sideline, but that isn't necessarily what he'll do during the season.
"It's what I've always done, but I'm actually going to go up this week in Cleveland and see how that feels" Leonhard said. "I've primarily been on the sideline my whole career."
Having a practice against another NFL team provides different challenges for both teams. That practice will take place on Thursday in Cleveland.
"No. 1 it's the physicality. You're going against somebody else, it always lifts the intensity of the practice as you get sick of beating up your own guys. And it's more of you don't know exactly what you're going to get, so play ball," Leonhard said. "The biggest thing is can our guys go out and play with confidence now? And it's react to certain things they haven't studied.
"The competitive juices just get flowing a little bit more than a training camp practice. Guys can get away with a little bit more s*** talking, so it's always fun just to see how guys accept that challenge."
