Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott will be calling defensive plays this upcoming season after it was announced defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was set to take the 2023 season off from coaching.
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With Frazier away from the team this upcoming season in Orchard Park, the Bills went out and hired Al Holcomb to serve as a senior defensive assistant under McDermott.
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Holcomb worked under McDermott during their days with the Carolina Panthers, where the current Bills head coach served as the defensive coordinator and Holcomb held the role as linebackers coach. During the third week of voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Holcomb sees the similarities between the Bills defense of 2023 and the Panthers defense of 2016.
“There was a level of comfort for me, in terms of terminology. There’s similarities, but there’s also differences as well,” said Holcomb ahead of Tuesday's session of OTAs at One Bills Drive.
Holcomb also feels McDermott, being a head coach, understands not only the defensive side of the ball, but the offensive side and how offenses view other defenses during the course of a game.
Already in the early goings this week, the Bills have made a pair of significant signings on the defensive line, adding free agent pass rusher Leonard Floyd and signing defensive tackle Ed Oliver to a four-year contract extension.
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Holcomb says he is excited with the addition Floyd, and what he can bring to the defensive side of the football for the Bills.
"Had an opportunity to watch him a couple years ago in detail, and just his skillset, his ability to run to the ball, his ability to set edges, his ability to rush the passer. All those things should help us,” he said.
You can listen to Holcomb’s entire meeting with the media available in the player below:
