Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) – Last season, Sean McDermott was serving as both the defensive coordinator and head coach of the Buffalo Bills.
This season, McDermott hired Bobby Babich as the team's new defensive coordinator, replacing longtime defensive play caller Leslie Frazier.
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Both men have been together in coaching since 2011, and Babich calls McDermott a mentor.
"I’m a fool if I don’t use Sean McDermott," said Babich on Tuesday during his meeting with the Buffalo media. "He’s the head coach of the Buffalo Bills not only because he’s a great leader and a great football mind, but he’s made his name on defense. I’ve always looked at Sean as a mentor, and every day I’m in his office.
"If you look back to 2011, I’m a 26-year-old that thinks he knows football, and I didn’t know football. Now I’m here in this position with him, and I would hope and I do believe that relationship we’ve had would help that."
McDermott had said he probably won’t decide until well into training camp who will call the defensive signals. Babich will get opportunities both in practice and in preseason games, but that doesn’t concern the new defensive coordinator at all.
"I have a different perspective on this. Whether it’s play calling and just in general with this job, someone walked by me in the building and told me that I’m ready for this job. You’re never ready until you do it," Babich said.
"You’re constantly trying to prepare yourself for when you get into this position, but until you actually do something, you are never ready. And I’m vulnerable enough to say I’m as prepared as I possibly can be. I’m going to continue to learn every day and I’m going to make mistakes, and it’s gonna happen, but I’m as prepared as I can possibly be. I’ve got a great mentor upstairs who I’ve been with for a multitude of years, who I can lean on, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help this team win a Super Bowl."
Babich said near the end of last season, he saw flashes from pass rusher Von Miller. He says Miller is working hard to get back and minute-by-minute, he’s continuing to get better.
The 40-year-old Babich has worked with some young players like Terrel Bernard, who started for the first time last season at linebacker.
"Guys will tell you when they come in as rookies, I’m probably not the easiest coach to be around. The reason for that is if you can push them that hard when they first get here, then once they get the idea of what we’re doing, then it really calms down for them," Babich explained. "If you can create that chaos and anxiety for them early, they’ll really grow."
Bills third-year cornerback Kaiir Elam is a first-round pick who has had his fair share of problems in the NFL. However, Babich says he is working extremely hard to get his game heading in the right direction.
"There’s a lot of moments of growth, and there’s moments of adversity in what you’re doing where you’ve got to get better at certain things," he said.
"I think his mindset is where it needs to be, and we’re honing in on the little things where he needs to improve."
The Bills are into Week 3 of OTAs, which are optional for the players. Next week is mandatory minicamp, where all players under contract must report to Orchard Park.
