DT Christian Wilkins
(On the defensive game plan and Bills QB Josh Allen and RB Frank Gore…) – “They definitely present a good challenge for us. I’ve got a lot of respect for those guys, especially Frank Gore. He’ll be wearing a gold jacket one day, so I’m excited for the challenge and what the Bills present for us. They’ve just got talent everywhere. They have a good solid offensive line – real strong, real big. (They have) good receivers, a good running back, a good quarterback. It’s going to present a challenge for any defense no matter who you are.”
(Looking at film, were you surprised that RB Frank Gore can still do what he’s doing?) – “You’ve just got so much respect for it. I wouldn’t say I’m surprised. It’s just impressive to see a guy, 14, 15 years into the league, still running that thing like he’s in his third, fourth or fifth year. It’s just good to see him. I’ve got a lot of respect for him. I definitely (do). Hopefully after the game I’ll gain even more respect for him.”
(I know all of you talk about one game at a time, but the way you shut out Washington in the fourth quarter, does that give you a lift going into the next game?) – “Last week’s stats don’t carry over. Last week’s production doesn’t carry over to next week, but you definitely want to improve and get better. Just knowing that we can do it – we can play at a high level defensively – you’re always trying to get better and improve and build blocks each week.”
(What’s the craziest road environment you played in in college?) – “I played in some good ones – some fun atmospheres. It was fun playing up at Syracuse all the time and NC State was always a good time. Florida State. I’ve played in some pretty good atmospheres.”
(Have your teammates told you anything about playing at Buffalo?) – “Yeah, they said it’s about just as hostile as it gets, from what I hear. I’m looking forward to that. It’s almost like a different sense of urgency. You always have a sense of urgency getting ready for a game, but it’s a little different when you go and take the show on the road and (it’s) literally you against the world. We kind of have that feeling. It’s going to be fun and I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be tough.”
(How much, if at all, has CB Cordrea Tankersley changed since you guys were together at Clemson?) – “The ‘Tootie man?’ He’s still the same old ‘Tootie.’ That’s my guy. I’ve got a lot of respect for him. I’m glad he’s here, too – just someone I’m familiar with, someone I’m comfortable with. It’s always good to just see his smiling face around. He always just shows me love every day. It’s good that he’s around for sure.”
(If I could follow up on the atmosphere, S Bobby McCain said yesterday that Bills fans are notorious for giving you the one-finger salute and speaking about your family. Do you just laugh when things like that happen?) – “That’s fun. You’ve just kind of got to take it for it is. It’s part of the territory, part of going into an opposing atmosphere in someone else’s house. You’ve just got to go with what they bring to you. It’s just all part of it. You’ve just got to stay locked in. Hopefully we’ll be all so focused on the game plan and getting our jobs done that it won’t really matter to us.”
LB Vince Biegel
(On being vocal on the field…) – “I always try to be vocal out there and try to be a leader as much as I can. Any way I can lead – be vocal or lead by example – that’s what I like to do.”
(When you’re in the huddle, do you sense the guys kind of feed off of that energy from you pre-snap and in the huddle?) – “I think this last Sunday, I think we were all feeding off one another (on the) defensive side of things and special teams. I think ‘Flo’ (Head Coach Brian Flores) really hit it on the head – being us as a team, being able to lift each other up, being supportive, celebrating with each other. I think (from) the energy standpoint of things, last Sunday was definitely evident. I always try to do my part and just be myself. You don’t have to be somebody you’re not, but definitely having that energy was important for us this last Sunday.”
(I’ve watched you especially during kickoff for the past couple of games and your energy level before kickoffs is extremely high. Where does that come from?) – “I think for me, starting even back in high school, my dad always talked and instilled on me the importance of high energy and being able to control effort. In college, that was evident and obviously it’s transferred to the NFL, as well as having that energy, having effort and being able to be a guy that guys look to for that spark. Obviously I’m honored and want to be the guy out there for us to provide that spark.”
(You’re playing on your third team in three years. What do you think has led to the constant movement?) – “That’s the NFL, man. I got drafted by the Green Bay Packers – a new general manager, all new staff, they brought their guys in and then I was (with) the Saints. I had a wonderful year last year and then got traded. That’s the life of the NFL. I think what I’ve learned in that time is being able to be adaptable. (It’s) my third different defense, fourth defensive coordinator while I’ve been in the NFL (so) adaptability is key and if you don’t adapt, you won’t be here for long. For me, it’s always being adaptable and being a player that guys can count on and coaches can count on as well.”
Head Coach Brian Flores
(A few of us in the media room, after you told us about you and RB Frank Gore went to look up some more tape of you and Gore. We found that that 2003 game and you had a pretty good lick on Gore. When you tackled him, you showed a lot of emotion there. Do you remember that?) – “I didn’t remember that until one of our guys showed it to me. Thanks for looking that up, I appreciate it. (laughter) I had a couple of laughs in there. Let’s not get into that. (laughter)”
(Did you show it to the team?) – “Nah, I’m not showing it to the team. Definitely not. (laughter) I had a great time at Boston College, I made a couple of plays. That was probably one of maybe five total. I’ll put it on my highlight reel. I tackled one of the greatest backs to ever play in the National Football League. I’ll take it. Now hopefully we can, as a team, tackle him this weekend. He’s a great player. They’ve got a really good team. I took a little slack for that yesterday. Thanks. (laughter)”
(You mentioned the long RB Frank Gore run in that game. I think he had fumbled right after RB Clinton Portis game in came in that 2001 game. Do you remember if that may have been the 2003 game when you guys both played more?) – “That was a long time ago. All I know is they had a stable of backs. It could’ve been Jarrett Payton, it could’ve been Portis, it could’ve been (Willis) McGahee, it could’ve been Gore. I’m pretty sure it was Gore. He went in there – I don’t know, you guys went back and looked at it. All I know is he was a pretty good player and they had a lot of them. When I think back to those teams they had, there were a lot of good players. (Vince) Wilfork to Jeremy Shockey to Mike Rumph to Sean Taylor to Ed Reed to Bryant McKinney – you can keep going on and on and on. I just happened to fall in line during that time. That was the one game, in 2001 we came close. I think it was 2001 – yeah in 2001 we came close. You guys did your research so maybe I was wrong. I could’ve been. I know Frank Gore is a good back though. (laughter) I’ll tell you that right now. That’s not far off that he broke off a run. I wasn’t far off. I’m sure he did. (laughter)”
(I wanted to ask you about WR Preston Williams and how you thought he did as a punt returner.) – “I thought he did well overall. We wanted him to – obviously ball security is number one on our priority list. We thought he did a good job there. One of them was a fair catch he had there. The ball got away from him a little bit, but he made the catch. He got the ball vertical on the return units. I think that was a phase where we had some missed opportunities over the first four games, but we got some positive yardage last week and hopefully we can continue to do that this week. I think a new role of something he hadn’t done in the preseason, I think he – with Jakeem (Grant) being down for a game, he went in there and was solid for us.”
(What has LB Vince Biegel brought to this defense and is he playing the role that you envisioned him playing?) – “Vince brings a great effort, great intensity, great attention to detail. He’s smart. It’s very, very important to him. He practices hard. All things that you want out of your players and I think he’s a young player that’s developing, and I think that there is something to develop there. He’s got a long way to go as far as just learning overall defense – our defense and then how offenses play week to week. His role could be very different. It could be very multi – he could rush, he could drop, he could get involved in some games and some stunts. That changes week to week. He’s got a lot to learn. He’s got something to learn every week. Over time, some of the things that he’s seeing now for the first time, hopefully there is some recall towards the end of the – not towards the end of the season, but game-to-game and year-to-year hopefully. That’s how guys develop.”
(Is that what you envisioned for your outside linebackers in this defense – the ability to rush, edge set, drop back?) – “Yeah. I think each player is a little bit different, so it’s case by case. If we end up with a guy who is an elite rusher, we’re going to rush him. We’re going to try to put him in positions to rush. If we have a guy who can do a few different things – rush, drop – everyone has to be able to set an edge – then we’ll try to use those players however they fit. It really is case by case.”
(What would you assess is LB Vince Biegel’s best attribute?) – “Probably edge setting, and just overall – he just brings a toughness that I like, that I want this team – I want this team to be tough, and I think he brings that. He’s tough, edge setting; but again, he’s got some areas where he can certainly improve – pass rush, edge setting, and just understanding our defense but also the best ways to attack the offense. What are their weaknesses, versus our strengths, versus the guys he’s around? In that role, you could be working with two or three people – a tackle, another linebacker – and how do those three work on those three and what is the best way to do that? I think that takes time and we’re working to do that.”
(How well has WR DeVante Parker done through five games at coming close to or reaching the goals that the coaches have for him?) – “I think he’s made some progress. I think he’s turning into one of our dependable players. He had a couple of drops early in the year that were big and he’s kind of cleaned that up to a degree. He made some big catches for us. He made a big one for us last week and the week before. He’s starting to string them together. He’s out at practice every day. He’s getting better. He’s improving and you see it kind of coming to fruition on the field. I’ve been pleased with the trajectory he’s on. It’s still early in the season and hopefully we continue to go in that trajectory and he continues to play well.”
(I’ve got a question about DT Christian Wilkins and forgive me if I’ve asked you a version of this question. In his first eight games, he’s going to have gone against Ravens G Marshal Yanda – who I believe is a seven-time Pro Bowler, Cowboys G Zack Martin who I think is five-time, Steelers G David DeCastro who might be a six-time Pro Bowler; when you assess the first half of his season, do you realistically grade it with a little bit of a curve considering the tough opponents he’s faced?) – “No, I don’t. I think in this league you play against good players every week. He’s just happened to line up against some of, I would say, the better players at that position; but every week there’s a good player in front of us and a good team in front of us. Especially for a rookie, I think those are good experiences for him. Those kind of – let’s call them ‘higher-tier players who are upper-level players’ – to play those guys and to feel that against a powerful player or a guy who’s quick or a guy who’s got some savviness and craftiness and to use some of your – some of these guys, they’re pretty savvy. They’ll use your quickness and some of your strengths against you in some situations. Those are really good experiences, especially for a young player. I think Christian’s handled it very well and actually played at a pretty good clip for us and hopefully will continue to improve and get better. I think any time you can play against a good player, that’s a good thing. I’m not going to knock him or grade him on a curve. That’s not the standard we really want here.”
(With G Shaq Calhoun, he got a lot of opportunity during exhibition season and then he’s played in spurts. What do you hope to see from a developmental standpoint from him?) – “Really for all young players, it’s about – to me, this is a process. I know you guys have heard me say that. So how do you prepare on Tuesday and Wednesday? How do you practice on Wednesday? How do you practice Thursday and Friday? And all that leads into the game. The process for Shaq and all the young players – really any player on this team – is one of the most important things for me. I think as a young player, you have to learn that. We have to teach it to them. That’s part of our job as coaches. We’re trying to do that and I think Shaq’s really improved in a lot of those areas. He’s in early on Tuesdays. He’s working. He knows the opponent. He tries to get an idea of what we’re doing schematically, specific players who are going to be tough to block in this particular scheme, how important this double is, how important my angle on this pull is. All those things go into it. That is a process, and I think he’s getting better at that week-to-week so hopefully when he does get into the game, he can execute and play well.”
(Where is your level of comfort with identifying protections if C Daniel Kilgore does not play?) – “From an o-line standpoint?”
(Yes.) – “It’s good. I feel good about (Evan) Boehm. Boehm, (Michael) Deiter, those guys inside – they work well together. As far as identifying protection and identifying Mike points and where it’s coming from, I feel good about it. With that said, Buffalo does a lot. They could bring the weak safety, they could bring the star, they could bring the strong safety, they could bring the Mike, they can stunt the line. They do pretty much everything, so it’ll be hard to be 100 percent. (laughter) That’s a tough thing to do. I think we’ve shown them all the looks, got a pretty good grasp of it. There’s a couple tells, but they (Buffalo) do a good job of breaking tendencies. That’s what good defenses do. That’s what good offenses do, too, and that’s what good kicking games do. It’s really a chess match in the game within the game. Maybe they get us on one and we go back to the sideline and say, ‘hey, we thought they were going to do that, but they didn’t. All right, now, just follow our rules.’ At the end of the day, that’s what you need to do really at all positions.”
(When you look at takeaways, I’m sure the rate of takeaways are way lower than you’d like…) – “Yeah. Oh, I look at takeaways. I definitely look at takeaways. (laughter)”
(What’s the missing element? Are guys not ripping the ball or making plays on passes or what?) – “It’s something we talk about a lot. Sometimes – every year is a little bit different, so there’s some droughts. Sometimes you go through a little bit of a takeaway drought. I would say normally they come in spurts. We work on it on a daily basis – ripping the ball out, trying to disguise and fool the quarterback into making an errant pass. We had a couple of opportunities last week where we were close on them. The quarterback made a couple, maybe bad decisions from a throw – I’m talking about our opponents – we just weren’t able to come up with them. We’ll keep working at it. We’ll keep trying to put ourselves in position where we can knock the ball off our opponent. That includes the kicking game as well. We’ll continue to work at and hopefully we get one this week.”
(When the season started, RB Mark Walton was the third back. We saw he got the start this week. Do you see him continuing ascending and could possibly be your lead back at some point?) – “Yeah, I think he’s really done a good job. He’s a guy who does a lot. (He can) play in the kicking game, he’s good out of the backfield catching the football, he’s a good runner inside and outside; but I feel good about all of our backs. (Kenyan) Drake’s been in there. He’s played well. Kalen Ballage has been there. He was in there for the goal line touchdown last week. I feel good about all our backs. Patrick Laird’s played well in the kicking game; but yeah, Mark’s played well. I think he’s got a really good skillset – a three-down skillset. He made some plays last week. He really did. If he continues to do that and he’s productive, then we’ll leave him in there. We’ve got some other backs who have been productive as well. I like them all.”
