His first time as an NFL defensive coordinator, Babich remains stout in contending with the team’s injury situation at safety
Prior to the Buffalo Bills training camp practice this past Thursday, defensive coordinator Bobby Babich once again sat down for a conversation with local reporters. In the short amount of time that Babich has run Buffalo’s defense, he’s shown an unwavering commitment to telling it like it is, good or otherwise.
There has been much to discuss through two weeks at St. John Fisher, but what everyone wants to know right now is how the team’s weathering the current situation coursing through the safety group. While very little from NFL coaches presents as revelatory, there’s often a tell in the way they say what they’re willing to offer. With Babich, much of his demeanor is bathed in pragmatism as someone with a true passion for coaching professional athletes.
So when he was asked about his level of concern regarding injuries to safeties Mike Edwards (hamstring) and Cole Bishop (shoulder) that have their return to play as week-to-week, Babich didn’t flinch.
“This is the NFL. This is the NFL and... next man up. That’s what it is. You know — I learned a long time ago and specifically here in Buffalo, when I was coaching the safeties, things like this happened all the time. You guys might not remember, but guys would be in, guys would be out. It’s what it is, next guy in. That’s why we get paid, to have the guys...”
And then Babich paused before continuing his thought, likely in a pivot to recognize the inexperience in players tasked with taking over for Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer.
“It’s a lot easier to coach guys that are veterans and have kind of established themselves and have a lot of reps. And (head coach) Sean (McDermott) said it before that, like, we’re gonna take great pride in really weighing ourselves as coaches on the development of the guys with less repetitions, or the opportunity for a backup to come in and play when things like this happen — and play at a high level. And that’s what are jobs are as coaches. So, no panic, no nothin’. Next guy up, and we’ll move forward, whoever’s available on the days we practice, we won’t flinch.”
That’s not to say there isn’t value in looking outside the organization to round out the roster, which is exactly what general manager Brandon Beane did in recent signings of safeties Kareem Jackson and Terrell Burgess. Beane’s going to do what he believes best-helps the Buffalo Bills’ roster. With Babich, there’s admiration for Jackson’s game.
“I’ll be honest with you, Kareem, specifically, is a guy that I’ve admired from afar all the years of me in the secondary, and the way he plays the game and the way he goes about his business and, you know, those type of things.”
But how challenging is it to essentially start over with players who lack familiarity in a specific system? Babich believes it’s like anything else requiring knowledge, where the rudimentary aspects take priority before layering additional responsibilities on a player.
“... (T)here’s a lot of check for understanding as far as our teaching goes. That’s part of the process and part of what Sean believes in. It’s not just teaching, but we gotta check for the understanding first before we can move on.”
What’s clear is that Bobby Babich understands the lesson in front of him, and he’s prepared to face the test head-on. Babich understands some of those answers are defined through defensive back Cam Lewis, a true Swiss Army Knife player who provides coveted versatility off the bench. “He’s played a lot of different positions. He came in starting out as a, I believe, as a corner six years ago — a corner and a nickel. And now he’s kind of transitioned — you guys see the way Cam plays the game. I don’t care what he’s built like, you know the guy plays the game the right way. He’s a smart player. He’s very intentional about his practices and the way he comes out here every day. And Cam’s turned into a true pro and brings some value in a lot of different ways... nickel, and safety, and corner, and all kinds of different things he can do. But he does bring value to us in the way that — he’s a nice puzzle piece.”
Babich feels like the right coach at the right time for a Buffalo Bills defense in need of strong leadership, and his latest press conference — a real, genuinely interesting bit of discussion about the finer nuances of football — further paints the picture of someone fully in control of the task ahead. That trends true even when faced with adversity.
Creativity is the name of the game for Babich as they try to maintain the mental aspect of Cole Bishop as he now deals with injury early in his journey to adapt to the NFL. Babich did admit the need to find “different ways to make sure, although he’s missing potentially some time here, is just making sure, mentally, he’s staying in it. He’s got the right make-up.”
Though he proceeds with reserved confidence, Bobby Babich understands he’s entered new water as a first-time defensive coordinator. Still, the moment doesn’t seem too big for him, and he’s quick to lean on the experienced coaches who surround him. “You know, this is my first time doing it. We got guys who’ve coordinated. Guys that have coached at a high level, been in the league a long time. You know, your Als (linebackers coach Al Holcomb) and your Joe Dannas (safeties coach). So, those guys have been around it a lot, so they’re great sounding boards and really good coaches and I’m just lucky to have those guys to help me with those type of things.”
Above all else, it’s likely that Bobby Babich will remind you that how the players respond on the field will be among the most important self-reflective measures of his tenure in Buffalo.