McDermott wants more consistency from Bills after Saturday

Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Bills opened their preseason with a 23-19 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday at Highmark Stadium.

While we didn’t see the likes of Josh Allen or Stefon Diggs play on Saturday, a majority of the roster got to see some reps in the first work-up game to the regular season opener on Sept. 11 against the New York Jets.

Despite the victory and a number of depth players standing out in an attempt to win a roster battle, Bills head coach Sean McDermott did see some things he would like to see ironed out before the regular season commences.

“I thought there were some good things. We showed moments of our standard that we hold ourselves to, but not enough though,” said McDermott during his postgame comments on Saturday. “We have to be more consistent starting with penalties, more disciplined on pre-snap penalties, because it hurts you.”

Saturday also marked the first game where McDermott was back calling defensive plays since he was the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2016. McDermott understands the challenges that lie ahead for him this season, as he splits duties during games as head coach and defensive coordinator.

“It was fun to be back out there, rolling up my sleeves a little bit, but still working through the communication piece,” McDermott said.

Saturday was also the first game back for Bills safety Damar Hamlin after going into cardiac arrest last season in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2. McDermott was taken back by not only Hamlin’s presence on the field, but also the way he played in his return to game action.

“What we just witnessed, to me, was remarkable, it really was. It’s a true sign of a young man’s courage,” McDermott said.

More of McDermott’s postgame comments are available in the player below: