Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) – It seems like it never gets old for players and coaches in the NFL to start a season. The excitement is there because it’s the unknown.
Yes, the Buffalo Bills play the New York Jets twice every season, but coming into Monday night’s game at the Meadowlands, both teams are different. I’ve always felt it makes Week 1 a unique challenge.
Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs, though, looks at things a little differently.
"I wouldn’t say a unique challenge. Everybody out there is eager, because they missed football. It’s your first time out there competing at a high level and it matters," said Diggs following Wednesday's practice in Orchard Park. "In the preseason, you’re getting the wrinkles off and you want to say it matters, but you know it doesn’t.
"It’s also finding yourself to see what kind of team you've got, figuring out your identity and take all the things you’ve been working on and put it to use. That’s the challenge more so than anything."
Diggs says you have the tape from last year and you know what you’re probably going to get, but you never know.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott has been coaching in the NFL for 22 seasons. He says before Week 1, he thinks about the honor of playing on Sept. 11, and this time of year it’s always exciting.
This is the first time in his head coaching career McDermott is serving as both the head coach and defensive coordinator.
"I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed being around them more, and being a more consistent presence in the meetings,” said McDermott before Thursday's practice. "I tried to tell them in the spring that when I’m in there, I’m the defensive coordinator, not the head coach, because I want them to see me like that as opposed to the head coach. I don’t want the head coach, in some ways, pollute the environment, because that can happen from time-to-time."
McDermott feels because he's a head coach, he's now a much better defensive coach.
"You learn things when you get a chance to sit in on the other side of the ball," McDermott said. "There are meetings and watching things on the field, and when you’re just on one side of the ball, you don’t get the chance to get exposed to that knowledge and wisdom. It helps you when you cross-train."
The only player McDermott talked about for practice on Thursday was safety Micah Hyde with a back issue. He was out on the practice field, but participating on a limited basis.
Hyde said after Thursday's practice he feels good and will play come Monday night.
