Indianapolis, Ind. (WGR 550) - When Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane met with the media for their end-of-season press conferences last month, they mentioned needing more of an ability to get the ball down the field via explosive plays, as well as a need for more speed.
McDermott even cited data on drives that end in scores with or without explosive plays, saying "usually a scoring drive has baked into it an explosive run or an explosive pass, or a big-time penalty on the defense."
The Bills head coach reiterated that point Monday, and even added how he sees those plays created.
"You’ve got to be able to get the ball either thrown down the field, or you’ve got to be able to complete it short and then have it run down the field,” said McDermott with reporters. "Whether it’s via RAC (Run After Catch) or throwing the ball down the field and completing it on deeper passes."
McDermott says defenses have made things more challenging for offenses to do this over the last few years, as well.
"The game’s changing a little bit, too, with defenses going to more split-safety looks and more zone versus man," he said, "It’s kind of forcing quarterbacks or offenses to be a little bit more patient at times. So the value of RAC is important. If you’re going to throw it short, you better be able to take it from five [yards] to 15 or to 50. I think that’s an important piece, as well."
The Bills had 49 pass plays of 20-plus yards last season, which ranked 19th in the league.
"That's a part of us moving forward, as we look at our roster and we look at player acquisition. Something that we need to take a hard look at," McDermott said back in January.
This week, both McDermott and Beane are in Indianapolis for the annual NFL Scouting Combine, where they will get an up-close look at some of the top prospects in college football. They’ll also be able to talk to several of them.
Currently, the wide receiver room has plenty of question marks, including the pending free agency of Gabe Davis and the sudden drop-off in production from Stefon Diggs. Beane still believes Diggs is a No. 1 wide receiver, but the organization needs to continue to add weapons around him to keep teams from bracketing and taking him away.
All of this adds up to a growing potential of adding one or more of the top college wide receivers to the roster during April‘s draft.
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Beane is scheduled to talk to the media on Tuesday from Indianapolis.
