Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott appeared on the “SHOUT!” podcast this week as his team opened Organized Team Activities (OTAs) as it continues the spring voluntary workout program.
McDermott and host Matt Parrino had a candid conversation that touched on the coach’s self-confidence, how Hard Knocks may impact team building this summer, and much more.
Here are a few big takeaways from the interview. You can watch the podcast in its entirety in the video above.
What is coach’s biggest fear about Hard Knocks?The Bills begin training camp for the 23rd straight season away at St. John Fisher University in July. McDermott has opted to keep camp at an away destination because it provides an opportunity to bring his team together during camp.
This summer the Bills will be featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks reality show. Fans will get an inside look at the organization like never before. McDermott is excited for Buffalo’s fans but knows there are challenges to him as a coach in preserving trust inside the locker room.
“The challenge of that opportunity is these key relationships that need to develop with a number of new players, that trust that you want to develop over the course of conversations like this and just experiencing life together,” McDermott said. “I do have a concern that that’s going to be a challenge. When there’s a microphone or a camera in a room of hey, this was a private conversation. Sometimes it’s bound to get in the way of that genuineness, if you will, that authentic conversation that builds trust because trust builds connected teams.”
McDermott believes in himself as a coachMcDermott and Bills quarterback Josh Allen are entering their eighth season together in Buffalo. No quarterback-head coach combination has ever won a Super Bowl title if they didn’t do it in their first five seasons together.
But McDermott isn’t concerned about that stat. His self confidence and belief in his quarterback is why he thinks they can get the job done.
“I think he’s one of the best quarterbacks, if not the best quarterback in the league,” McDermott said. “And I consider myself, quite honestly, the same. I really do. You know, as a coach in the league, I think we’ve done a lot of great things here. I think I’ve done a lot of great things, quite honestly. And I’ll take — other than winning the World Championship at this point — I’ll take myself against anybody.”