Sean McDermott Needs To Find His Inner Dan Campbell
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Sean McDermott is one of the most respected coaches in the NFL, and for good reason. Under his leadership, the Buffalo Bills have turned from perennial also-rans into one of the league’s best. After clinching his sixth-straight 10-win season, it’s hard to see many issues with his way of doing things. But for one week, at least, he needs to change up his ways a bit to find his inner Dan Campbell.
Now what do I mean by that? Does McDermott need to pack his lip with the biggest dip ever and go to Starbucks and order two coffees with over 1,100 mg of caffeine? Not exactly. But this Bills team needs a bit more “kneecap-biter” in them, and McDermott can set the tone by coaching with the aggressiveness of Campbell, who will be across the field from him on Sunday.
All season, the Bills’ inability to stop the run has been the topic of chatter, and at this point, it’s not just a minor issue. It’s clearly something they don’t know how to fix. Last week against the Rams, the Rams allowed Kyren Williams to break off two runs of over 10 yards and find the end zone twice.
Now the Bills’ defense has to try to slow down a two-headed monster in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, who have rushed for almost 1,800 yards and 22 touchdowns. It is a new week in the NFL, and the Bills’ run defense could magically be better. I guess if we talk about things that aren’t going to happen, pigs could also start flying. So if Buffalo can’t slow the Lions rushing attack down, they’re going to have to keep pace, which means taking the kinds of risks Campbell does.
The Lions have gone for it 22 times on fourth down in 13 games, which is ninth-most in the NFL. The big difference between the Lions and the eight teams above them is when they are willing to go for it. Dan Campbell doesn’t care if he’s on his own 22-yard line, or his opponents’ 22-yard line with a chance to kick a field goal late in the game, if he feels his team has a chance to get it, he will go for it, he doesn’t care about what type of backlash he might receive. He’s even gone for fourth down while up 45-6.
With the Bills’ inability to slow down opponents and the Lions’ having one of the best offenses in the NFL, every time the Bills punt, they are a little closer to losing the game. Let’s say it’s 4th & 3 on the Bills 40-yard line in the second quarter on Sunday. What’s the worst that happens if the Bills don’t get it? The Lions have a shorter field to drive, but with the way their defense has performed, the Lions shouldn’t have much issues driving an extra 40 yards.
Even if their first fourth down attempt fails, the Bills need to continue to be aggressive, especially with this game being indoors. Earlier this week, Campbell talked about the reason he believes more coaches aren’t as aggressive as him.
“I don’t know. Well, here’s the obvious. What happens when we don’t get that? That’s the obvious. Well, we’re moving to the next house,” Campbell said. “That’s why. To each his own, there’s plenty of philosophies that work in this league. And you can win a lot of games doing it your way, and I just lean more this way. It doesn’t mean that we’re always gonna be this way, but that was right for that game.”
The Bills are already going to have their hands full, and even though they’re 10-3, losing this game will be a massive blow. Losing at Los Angeles massively hurt their chances of home-field advantage during the playoffs, which gives even more reason for this team to take more chances on Sunday.
Josh Allen has proven time and time again that he can be trusted in key situations during his career. So, who should the Bills trust in those situations? Allen to find a way to pick up a few yards, or a bad defense to slow down one of the best offenses in the league? The decision is easy: trust your MVP quarterback.
This isn’t suggesting that the following week, when the Bills play the New England Patriots, they need to be as aggressive. But for one week, at least, McDermott needs to find his inner Campbell. If McDermott needs to put in a dip and drink a couple of extra cups of coffee on Sunday morning to channel that aggressive mentality, so be it.
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