Bills head coach puts key rookie on the radar after his latest training camp comments
The Buffalo Bills are going to be counting on contributions from rookies in all three phases when the games start to count in a month, and while Keon Coleman is drawing a ton of interest, there's a rookie on the defensive side of the ball that continues to emerge.Head coach Sean McDermott spoke about the […]
The Buffalo Bills are going to be counting on contributions from rookies in all three phases when the games start to count in a month, and while Keon Coleman is drawing a ton of interest, there's a rookie on the defensive side of the ball that continues to emerge.
Head coach Sean McDermott spoke about the play of third-round pick defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, who looks to be earning a key role in his rookie season.
Sean McDermott "impressed with the flashes" that Carter has shown
McDermott spoke about Carter and the progression that he's taken throughout training camp, from a few of the earlier practices where Carter wasn't quite up to par, to how he's come on lately.
"I feel like the light has started to come on with them. There was a couple, there was a series of practices early where, you know, probably wasn't what we needed it to be. And somewhere around the scrimmage last week, give or take maybe a day before the scrimmage, and then the scrimmage – I call it the scrimmage, you know, the Blue & Red scrimmage there – I thought he really flashed from a ‘that’s more what we need," McDermott said. "And listen, he's going to play a pivotal role in that third, fourth defensive tackle spot for us, ideally. And so with that comes a lot of development that still needs to happen, but I’ve been impressed with some of his flashes of late."
A few things stand out about what McDermott said. Firstly, it's important that McDermott mentions that Carter has flipped a switch, that the "light has started to come on." Carter is a physical and athletic defensive tackle that I affectionately refer to as "Blastoise." You can't tell me there isn't a resemblance.
Carter coming on starting with the Blue & Red game is great to see. He's a key name to watch as the preseason continues to roll on, largely because of the role that he's expected to play.
"He's going to play a pivotal role in that third/fourth defensive tackle spot" isn't nothing.
Daquan Jones and Ed Oliver are locked in as the starting duo on the interior of the defensive line, but having a rotation to keep guys fresh is crucial. Carter getting to learn behind Oliver is a perfect recipe for his development, but he'll need to more than hold his own in the preseason to show that he can be counted on for important minutes.
Heading into the preseason games, Carter has a ton to prove, but it's clear that the flashes that he has shown throughout camp are garnering plenty of attention from the coaching staff and front office as the roster begins to take shape for the regular season.
The Bills are clearly enjoying life without Stefon Diggs even if the future is a bit cloudy
That’s a noteworthy comment.
