Sean McDermott: “Lot Of Positives To Our Team” | Buffalo Bills

Sean McDermott: “Lot Of Positives To Our Team” | Buffalo Bills

I’ll give you the injury report. Uh we’ll start with Matt Matthew Parino. Uh just got word. So my thoughts and prayers are with you, Matt. Um now we’ll get serious. Uh yeah, that’s I don’t know. I that’s probably a better question for you guys than how tough he is. That’s that’s you would know better than I would. He’s out. All right. So, uh moving on. So DQ and Josh Palmer and then Taylor Rap will not practice today. Uh the first two are week to week and then at this point I don’t know on Taylor if that’s a dayto day or week to week type of situation. Um we’re still we are still gathering information on that. What is it? Uh knee. Yeah. And he’s been dealing with it since since training camp there. So, um, limited in the limited category, Milano, Concaid, Curtis Samuel, Terrell Bernard, and then Max Haristston will practice today. So, with that, I’ll take your questions. With the infusion, and we’ve been talking about this infusion, it’s now here. Does it what’s that vibe like of three defensive pieces now potentially and not necessarily knowing where or what’s going to happen but just the fact that it’s here and you’re on the cusp of getting these guys on the field who you referring to just so I know specifically yeah no it’s good to have all three of those guys will get their first real practice today um you know so again managing expectations let’s get them Let’s get them integrated and and get them rolling here. There’s a certainly a conditioning piece. There’s a uh physical piece to it as well. And then there’s a schematic piece to to it also. So, just trying to manage expectations and just take it one step at a time right now, one day at a time. You mentioned that Dorian Strong was going to see a specialist. Is there an update there after that? No update at um at this point. I’m still uh combing through that uh the research and and whatnot that goes into his situation there. With Max specifically opening his window when you did, what went into that decision? And like where do you feel like he is going into practicing today? Yeah. Um again, we won’t I don’t really know until we’re able to to watch here today and see him compete. Bless you. And um like I said, get get into a sweat. Um you know, get into some of the some of the scheme as well. And um again, just one day at a time I think is the right the right approach right now. Hey Sean, this team very good running team and unlike some of the others like Henry Bjan Robinson, you got two guys that can do it. How difficult is a challenge for a defense knowing that they can roll two guys in and out against you? Yeah, I think you know the the the ability to have two guys is is certainly um you know powerful and dangerous. you know, there’s there’s very few in the league who have to um you know, I think overall it’s it’s um they bring a lot to the table in terms of what they do at the line of scrimmage and the tackles they break and I mean the the numbers speak for themselves. How do you feel the self evaluation and self scouting worked over the by week um to prepare you going into this next stretch? Yeah, it gives us some some clarity on where where we’re at and and and where we need to move forward and and how we can grow. Uh, I think that’s the biggest thing and we can we can kind of slow down and and look at things and assess where you’re at um positively and in some areas that we need to work on as well. Is the the sputters on offense, how self-correctable are they and is it what do you pinpoint them to, especially the last two games, especially the turnovers and just the lack of finish? Um, you know, I would say that overall, uh, we’re very capable of of of performing at a higher level. And like anything else, offensively, defensively, or special teams, it’s it’s the it’s the detail and the discipline that leads to execution. And we just haven’t been there uh or haven’t been there uh consistently enough over the last three games in particular. John, at this point in the season, where are you with the identity of this team? Because we’re pretty far into it now. Is that something you guys talk about over the break as well? You know, I I I think um you know, I I know it’s establishing who we are as a team and that’s that continues to unfold week after week. And you know, I don’t I don’t really know that we’re there yet. And and that’s okay, but we got to keep pushing. We got to we got to stay urgent with our approach, the discipline, the detail that that I mentioned earlier. Um it’s really establishing who who we’re trying to become as a football team and you just take it one week at a time. You know, guys have been in and out of the lineup, too, which affects some of that. Um having said that, it’s it’s again taking steps every week to grow as a football team. The last six last six years in the playoffs, you’ve been a two game losing streak every year. It’s never gone to three. Why What do you guys do that prevent you from going on one of those season crushing parts of the season? Yeah. Um, again, you just you take it one day, one day at a time, one week at a time. That’s the how the league is. And you get too far ahead of yourself or you look too much in the past, you lose focus on where you’re at. And right now, it’s how can we win today and have a good practice. And you know, I’ve said that before, but I but I say it in total, you know, honesty and seriousness of if you you got to focus on today and what we got to get done today to move us forward as a football team. So, it’s integrating some of these new guys who are coming back uh into what we do and seeing how they look and then reassessing where we’re at with the injuries, with scheme, with execution, game plan, and it’s that whole process. Um, so that’s that’s been our approach in the past and um, you know, we take them one game at a time. Okay, so go ahead. I’ll ask Michael. They’re both coming back. Are they going to be full participants today and just kind of immerse right into practice? They’ll be they’ll be full participants today. Uh, we are trying to, you know, manage some of it just based on them having not been out there. So Sean, you said during the by-week you selfcouting gives you an opportunity to assess the areas where you grow. Can you tell us in general what are the areas that you think the most opportunity for growth of this team? Oh, I mean there’s a lot of there’s a lot of areas. I’m not going to get into because it’s it’s strategy based. Um so again, you just look at um you know the identity of our football team. Have we established ourselves and who we are? You know, as a head coach, that’s where you start, right? Um and and then you go from there into what happens on the grass, what we look like, execution, detail, schematics, how we using certain personnel. Um are we using, you know, the right personnel or should we be moving over here a little bit with some using some other personnel. So it’s I mean, you name it, we look at it. So that’s that’s our job and and and we owe that to our team. We owe that to the fans. Sean, when you mention that the one thing that you’ve done the last few games was kind of I think it was 30 over the last three games. Was there somewhat of a theme or something you saw or is it different things that when you look back at what happened that need to be correct? Uh, you know, most of those were what I would say where it becomes an issue or a hot spot is some of the holding penalties and then some of the line of scrimmage penalties. So, the line of scrimmage penalties are 100% within our control and that’s um those are non-negotiable. And then the the holding penalties are again technique in this case and controlling what we can control. Get yourself in good position, move your feet, establish position, maintain position, and then you get to a certain position where you’re losing the leverage, then you got to let go. And um you know, that’s been addressed. It’s been looked at. Um the spotlight has been has been shined on that area in particular. And and we have to be better because it’s impacting offensive drives. is it’s impacting defensive drives drives as well and so it’s hard to win when you’re when you’re actually hurting yourself without the offense or the opponent even doing anything. So on the Falcons you guys elevated Jordan Puer because of injuries to safety and obviously he ended up getting in the game and now you’re bringing him some other safety injuries. What did you see from Jordan in the second half of that game when he was out there and I guess where is the trust level with somebody who obviously knows this defense very very well from all his time here? Yeah, I mean Jordan wouldn’t be back if we didn’t have a lot of confidence and trust in him. Um, but we still take it one day at a time. We’ll see where it goes uh with with T Rap situation and um we have other safeties as well that have been working as well and and uh we we we feel confident in as well. So, I’m sorry you there when you’re talking about these topics like identity and self-evaluation and growth. Uh what are some what are some position groups or things that you yourself showing your team in meetings of reminders of this is how we do it, this is what we do. Are there any recurring things in a positive way, you mean? Or Yeah, we do that from time to time. Um, you know, different team meetings will do that or even with the staff, we’ll do that. Say this is this is what we’re looking for. This is the standard right here. You have to continually do that so guys understand, especially the new players, veterans and and young players who are new to us, hey, this is how this is how we do it. Uh so sometimes you have to go back and reestablish the standard. You want to you want to do that on the on the forefront of everything and and paint the picture for everyone both on and off the field of what the standard is. That’s that’s important. Um and then sometimes you got to go back and do it again. and whether it’s the standard or it’s retaching fundamentals and techniques as well. Do you find yourself highlighting certain groups repeatedly or are there people that are really doing it well? Oh, there are there listen there’s a lot of positives to our team. You know, you guys are asking about a lot of the uh call the trouble areas, but um you know it’s you have to you have to assess both and um here’s what we’re doing well. Here’s who’s doing it well. um player or or position group as you said and then it’s into all right where do we need to adjust and there’s course corrections through every season as it was mentioned earlier. So um those that can make those adjustments um play better, perform better and you go from there with Larry and Michael um is there an expectation that they should be available to play this Sunday? Yeah, we’ll see. We’ll see. you uh what is the challenge of not knowing maybe who’s going to play quarterback for the Panthers this weekend? Yeah. Well, they’re both good quarterbacks. Um and I know they signed Mike White apparently as well. So, um you know, we’ll see where it goes. You’ve had some nice stuff to say this season about Shaq Thompson. I’m sure this is a big week for him. What has stood out to you about the impact that he’s made whether it be on the field or or even in the locker room as well? Yeah, winner. Um, you know, he’s here for a reason. And when we drafted him, you know, back years ago, um, you could tell right away the impact he made in in our locker room on our team, what type of person he was. You knew what type of player he was, but then what type of person he was. And, you know, I would say you could ask the locker room, but um, it didn’t take long for for other players to say to me, hey, he’s he’s he’s got it. And you know, part of it is they can learn from watching a player like that how he handles himself on the field, off the field as well. I know you had a dropped interception in that Atlanta game, but overall as a defense, what do you want to see? What’s led to, I guess, fewer turn causing fewer turnovers, not getting the takeaways that you guys have been so successful getting over the last couple of years? Yeah, you know, just overall people staying on schedule. The style of offense is is that we’ve faced has changed a little bit as well where um people aren’t exposing the ball as much. So, you know, give credit in some to some extent to some of the offenses we’ve played. Um, but then there’s also pieces that we can handle better as well. I know you still don’t know Taylor, but is injured reserve a possibility for Dayan or Joshua Palmer? Uh, we’ll see. Don’t know yet. Yeah. With Max, how much of the mental side of catching up and learning the system with all the reps left uh lost is part of his comeback now as much as certainly physical with the team? I would say it’s at least 50% quite honestly you know just because he hasn’t had he had I don’t know what was it a week in training camp roughly give or take maybe 10 days somewhere thereabouts and and so it’s again um he’s missed a lot of time a lot of football a lot of um affirmation of hey yes that’s what they want that’s how it look supposed to look going or oh I’ve got to I’ve got to do a better job it’s not quite where we need it to be so uh it’s a journey and again I think managing expectations I know managing expectations is is important for for us um and him as well. John, how much easier is it to on board Hogan Joby when you’ve had six weeks to see how the rest of the Dline pieces fit together? Maybe can focus a little more about where they can specifically help. Uh easier to on board the two players who have not been here. Um yeah, I mean it’s I don’t know if it makes it easier. I guess you know a little bit of more what you have over here and then so when you when you bring these two these two in um I mean you hope you hope through six games you have a pretty decent feel for where you’re at in at any position. So yeah I guess it makes it a little bit easier. We’ll see. It’s it’s uh it’s somewhat unique where you have two guys. Sometimes you have one in a six game suspension. This case we’ve got two. So but we’re happy to have him back and um get them signed up here and ready to go. Do you feel you’ve got a better grasp of the team or a better feeling about the team after this two week break than when maybe you’re entering it? Uh, I would hope so. Yeah. I mean, no, I’m not being sarcastic. I would Yeah. I Yeah. I mean, you know, I guess that’s the advantages of of what you of the perspective that you’ve gained. Yeah. No, I mean, you know, we had some time off last weekend and my wife I was kind of itching a little bit and fidgeting and my wife’s like, “Hey, you need to go in.” And I’m like, “Yeah, I need to go in.” And and she knows. I mean, she used to be a teacher. So, she’s like, “When my classroom wasn’t set, you feel that kind of uneasy feeling.” Sure. You guys feel the same way when you you don’t feel great about things with great clarity. Total clarity. I need to go in there and watch some film and and just be by myself and just with my thoughts, you know? So, you that’s u it’s powerful, right? And and you come out of it with better clarity on on where we’re at and where we need to go. Just Paulie J asked about going back. But for you this week going back to Charlotte, you haven’t gotten to coach that many games back there. What is it like for you? Is it meaningful at all? Do you look forward to it? Yeah, a lot of great people. Uh great organization that was uh very kind to me and helpful with my career. Coached, you know, around a lot of great coaches and staff. Um and then and great players also. So I I learned so much from being there. Um it was a great time for our family and you know make obviously making the Super Bowl was a was a tremendous moment for us as well and accomplishments. So learned a lot from being there. Um but I’m super happy here and and uh being a part of this community as well. So,

Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott met with the media on October 22, 2025 and discussed injury updates before practice, the outlook for Maxwell Hairston, Michael Hoecht & Larry Ogunjobi, preparing to face the Panthers, and assessing the team during the bye week.

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