Cohesion and energy are the focus points for the Bills’ defense
After the first day of training camp, Terrel Bernard, the third-year Buffalo Bills linebacker who had a breakout season in 2023 as he stepped into a full-time roll as defensive signal caller, met with members of the media and talked about the changes in the Bills’ defense this season.
With Bobby Babich taking on the new role of Defensive Coordinator, a position that Buffalo left vacant last season, coupled by the departure of veterans like safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer and cornerback Tre’Davious White, the defense is going to look a lot different come September, but Bernard says that the unit will be okay.
“We have a standard of how we execute and perform,” Bernard said that the entire defense is focused on one thing. “Our expectations are rooted in a daily standard of operation and execution. It’s about maintaining consistency and striving for excellence in our daily efforts.”
The third-year defensive back out of Baylor, said that Babich, who — as linebackers coach for Bernard’s first two seasons in the NFL — helped him develop into the player he is, has ushered in a new energy to practice and that it’s impossible not to be affected by it.
“I think any time you have that extra energy like you said, the juice and just his passion, I think it flows into us,” Bernard said. “He’s the leader of the defense in a way, and what he brings with his personality, football mind, and love for the game is something we can feed off every single day.”
Bernard also said that he’s excited to have Matt Milano, who missed the last 12 games of the 2023 season due to a fractured leg, back on the field next to him.
“He’s a guy that I trust wholeheartedly and somebody that I really respect and look up to,” Bernard said, reflecting on the fact that having the All-Pro on the field will elevate everyone on the team. “To have him back on the field communicating with me and with everybody in the defense, I think it brings another level to where we want to be as a unit.”
Milano isn’t the only veteran in the linebacker room this season. The Bills added Nicholas Morrow, who is in his seventh season, and Deion Jones, who is in his ninth season, to the roster during the offseason.
“Having guys who have started a lot of games in the NFL in our room adds a wealth of knowledge and experience,” Bernard said, recognizing the value the team added to the room by bringing in the veterans. “Their presence contributes to a collective growth mindset and enhances our overall performance.”
On a personal level, Bernard said that he has a day-to-day approach to improving his own game during training camp and said that communication is key to getting that done.
“I focus on improving my communication, my bond, my relationship,” he said. “Building the connection with my teammates is key, so that when challenges arise, we can rely on that foundation of trust and camaraderie to push through.”
As has been the theme for the Bills’ this offseason, Bernard said that team cohesion will be important as the Bills head into the 2024 season with a new roster that’s going to be faced with the challenges of a strong schedule as the result of being the defending AFC East champions.