Organized Team Activities are a great opportunity for new and returning members of the Buffalo Bills to make a great impression on new head coach Joe Brady and the rest of Buffalo\u2019s coaching staff, and they\u2019re also the perfect time for new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard to gain familiarity with the players he\u2019ll be deploying as part of his new defensive scheme.<\/p>\n
After nine seasons being led by former defensive minded head coach Sean McDermott, Buffalo\u2019s defense is experiencing an overhaul this offseason, and Leonhard, in his first year as Buffalo\u2019s DC, is using OTAs to teach his defense\u2019s vision and core values.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by examining how the excitement is building at One Bills Drive as Leonhard installs his new defensive scheme.<\/p>\n
Check out the assessments and then be sure to leave your thoughts on what you\u2019re most looking forward to about the Bills new-look defense in the comments section.<\/p>\n
New DC Jim Leonhard laying foundation for his scheme<\/p>\n
This is Leonhard\u2019s first time serving as an NFL defensive coordinator, and he has been using OTAs to gain familiarity with his players, including learning more about which players are best suited for certain roles and positions in his base 3-4 scheme.<\/p>\n
Leonhard has already announced that Buffalo\u2019s outside linebackers are expected to play more like defensive ends, while traditional defensive ends will shift more inside, and traditional defensive tackles will line up next to the nose tackle in his scheme.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a vision for what I want it to be, and it might not totally get there in year one,\u201d Leonhard said. \u201cWe have to be real as far as who we have, what their skill sets are, and I have to be flexible as well as them.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the returning starters who is looking forward to playing in Leonhard\u2019s defense is defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who was a difference-maker when he was on the field last year, but who also missed all but three games due to a variety of injuries.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fun, it\u2019s different,\u201d Oliver said<\/a> of transitioning to Leonhard\u2019s system. \u201cChange is always hard but sometimes change is good. I don\u2019t know, I just look at it with that kind of optimism and just let it ride.\u201d<\/p>\n Leonhard has already said he expects Oliver to be \u201creally disruptive\u201d in 2026, and Oliver is hoping to duplicate the successes of All-Pro defensive tackle Zach Allen, who amassed 8.5 sacks in 2024 and added seven sacks with 50 QB pressures, second-most in the NFL, last year.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you turn on the tape, the guy they had in Denver was pretty good,\u201d Oliver said<\/a>. \u201cHe looks like he\u2019s playing pretty free. So hopefully I can have that same success in the same system.\u201d<\/p>\n