PITTSFORD — A T-shirt with “Slobber Knocker” scrawled across his chest, Bobby Babich set the tone for the Buffalo Bills defense Monday.
Dating back to 2019, the Bills have given a T-shirt to the player with the biggest hit in the previous week’s game. Since taking over as defensive coordinator, Babich has passed the responsibility of picking a player to linebackers coach Al Holcomb, but the standard still remains.
There isn’t much contact in practices, but Monday marked the first time the defense out-performed the offense in training camp this year. Quarterback Josh Allen had a few highlight-reel throws, but never truly got into a rhythm.
While Joe Brady is in his first camp as Buffalo’s full-time offensive coordinator, the offense had an adjustment period with him during the last half of the season. But with Babich, the defense is getting used to his style and communication.
“He knows so much about what’s going on in the situations that he wants to communicate everything to everybody,” Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard said. “Having the mic, I’m the one that he’s talking to. And, you know, I’ve been in his room for the last two years, so I’m used to how he communicates and what he wants to get communicated.”
Babich joked that Bernard told him not to talk so much in the microphone before plays. He also revealed that although no formal decision has been made about who will call the defensive signals, Babich will sit in the booth this year after being on the sidelines previously.
His intensity has been on full display throughout camp, with Babich never missing an opportunity to chew out a player or offer enthusiastic praise, which he says is why he will be in the booth. But while players learn to communicate with Babich, it goes both ways and after two years as the linebackers coach, he has a good feel for Bernard’s thinking process.
“I know where he’s at when he’s in a flow, when he’s in a rhythm,” Babich said. “There’s a certain way he acts when he comes off the field. And we’ll keep that between us. But that’s when I’m just kind of like, `He’s good. I don’t need to say much to him.’”
Defensive pressure gets to Allen
Greg Rousseau started 11-on-11 by not letting running back James Cook get around the left edge and stuffed him for no gain. Bernard also timed a run blitz perfectly and stuffed Cook in the hole, while cornerback Taron Johnson read a swing pass to Cook and tackled him for a minimal gain.
Allen hit tight end Dawson Knox for a big gain on an RPO on the first play and later hit Dalton Kincaid on a similar play. Keon Coleman found a soft spot between safety Taylor Rapp and cornerback Rasul Douglas for a 15-yard gain, but Allen was often under duress.
Defensive end A.J. Epenesa swatted down a screen pass, and a few plays later, defensive tackle Ed Oliver got a piece of a pass that fell incomplete. Bernard timed a blitz up the middle and got to Allen, who had to throw the ball away and Cam Lewis blitzed off the edge a few moments later and forced another throwaway.
Allen finally burned the Bills on a blitz, throwing a 30-yard dot to Kincaid, who made a one-handed grab with Rapp draped over him. Mitchell Trubisky had the throw of the day, though, hitting tight end Zach Davidson on the money 30 yards downfield while scrambling to his right.
The Bills nabbed their fifth interception of camp, as rookie cornerback Daequan Hardy jumped a pass by backup Shane Buechele. It was Hardy’s second interception in three practices.
One-on-ones
Receiver K.J. Hamler had a solid outing in one-on-one drills to close practice. He beat Cam Lewis twice and got the better of Hardy.
Coleman beat Christian Benford on a one-on-one rep and then snagged a deep ball when the 5-foot-9, 178-pound Hardy tried to jam the 6-3, 215-pound Coleman at the line of scrimmage. Coleman beat Lewis deep on the final play, but the pass from Allen hit Lewis in the back and Brady corrected Coleman on running the wrong route, while Allen also spoke to him.
Benford nearly came up with an interception, breaking on the ball at the right time, but Allen’s pass squirted through his arms and Curtis Samuel made the catch.
Injury report
Receiver Andy Isabella tweaked his left leg late in practice. He appeared to be in significant discomfort and tried to stand, but couldn’t.
Isabella was attended to by Bills trainers for a few minutes and then Isabella was able to stand and walk on his own to the cart. After practice, Isabella was walking with a slight limp and wearing a sleeve that ran up to his knee.
Running back Ty Johnson (hamstring), receivers Chase Claypool (toe) and Justin Shorter (undisclosed), offensive tackle Travis Clayton (shoulder), linebackers Nick Morrow (groin) and Edefuan Ulofoshio (rib), safeties Cole Bishop (shoulder) and Mike Edwards (hamstring) and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (vet rest) did not practice Monday.