Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Bills continue their preparations for the Miami Dolphins this Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET, as the team returned to the practice field on Thursday in Orchard Park.
Buffalo's offensive line is going to have its hands full on Sunday against a veteran Dolphins defense. Bills head coach McDermott spoke on the valuable experience rookie O'Cyrus Torrence has gained in just three games so far in his young career.
"Similar to 'TB' [Terrel Bernard], he's matured beyond his years," said McDermott on Thursday in his chat with the media before practice. "He's still a young player, so it's refreshing to be around a player, a young man like that, that comes in, in a humble way, and is very focused on what he needs to do and how he needs to get it done."
Aside from the historic rivalry between Miami and Buffalo, the Dolphins are proving to be a formidable opponent this year not just in the AFC East, but the rest of the NFL. While McDermott knows each week presents new challenges, Week 4 for the Bills will be one of the toughest.
"You look forward to the challenge, that's part of the reason we do what we do," McDermott said. "It's gonna be a great environment in Western New York and Orchard Park, we're gonna need our fans the whole afternoon. Like I said, it's gonna take all of us. Not just our team, it's gonna take the team that is 'Bills Mafia' and the Bills community. It is a challenge, but one that you look forward to. I think that's part of the burn every week is a new challenge."
One of the main focuses in McDermott's press conference was the importance of players young and old gaining valuable experience. Whether that'd be a first-year rookie or a player like defensive tackle Ed Oliver, he wants all of his players to be able to help each other grow, no matter what their age.
"Everyone's on the same level now, in terms of experience," McDermott said. "Ed's been through a number of years now, enough snaps where he's seen some ball too and can share some things with them. It's really just checks and balances. They do a good job of, 'Hey, remember this,' and holding each other accountable. And then Von [Miller], obviously, is baked into all that as well."
Hear more of McDermott's comments with the media available in the player below:
