Bill Polian is convinced the Buffalo Bills got the head coach — Sean McDermott — they’ve been looking for since Marv Levy.
Taking a general consensus around the web, it’s very difficult to find anyone doubting Sean McDermott with the Buffalo Bills this season. Even Bill Polian sees characteristics in the young coach that remind him of Marv Levy, the Hall of Fame coach that brought Buffalo to four straight Super Bowls.
Polian recently appeared on the John Murphy Show and gave Sean McDermott the ultimate praise when he compared him to Bills’ legendary coach Marv Levy.
"“I hate almost to say this because it’s unfair to Sean, but in many ways he’s Marv-like,” said Polian. “It’s a very high bar and I don’t want to put it there, but the qualities are similar. He’s cerebral. He’s low key. He’s on the money."
Here’s another quote from Polian:
"“Witness what he did with the secondary in Carolina last year. They lose their linchpin player and they’ve got to play two rookies who aren’t ready to play,” said Polian. “By the end of the year they were performing at a maximum level and he never uttered a negative or cross word through the whole situation. That tells you a lot about what a guy is going to be as a head coach.”"
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Being compared to Levy is not just an honor for a Buffalo Bills‘ coach, but any football coach at that.
Of course, McDermott hasn’t had the opportunity to show that on the field with this being his first head coaching experience, but what he has done so far this offseason is admirable at the very least.
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The second Sean McDermott was hired, he knew he had to get to work. With approval coming from across the league, expectations were high the moment he stepped on One Bills Drive.
First up was getting a coaching staff in place, noting that Danny Crossman (special teams) was the only coach to return. McDermott ended up bringing in a highly experienced staff up top, mixing in younger coaches near the bottom.
Hiring Leslie Frazier as defensive coordinator and Rick Dennison as offensive coordinator brings hope to both sides of the ball. Dennison won a Super Bowl with the Broncos, while Frazier brings a lot of experience — even at the head coaching level.
McDermott’s ability to put a coaching staff together justifies Bill Polian’s evaluation of Sean McDermott, but this isn’t the first time Polian has shown trust in the first-time head coach.
When the NFL was preparing for the Senior Bowl practices, not too long after the hiring of McDermott, Bill Polian gave his first endorsement of him. Although he didn’t go as far as comparing him to Marv Levy, Polian did give fans a sneak peak at what to expect.
Here’s a quote from Polian, according to the Buffalo News:
"“He’s got great pedigree, coming from Andy Reid (in Philadelphia) and Ron Rivera (in Carolina),” Polian said. “I’ve seen his work up close and personal, living in Charlotte, and I can assure Buffalo fans that you’re going to see a team that’s fundamentally sound and that hustles and does everything the right way. And on top of that, he’s a person that recognizes how you have to build a program if you’re going to sustain winning over time.”"
With a coaching staff in place, McDermott has transitioned his focus to the roster — which is packed with 22 unrestricted free agents after bringing back Colt Anderson and Ramon Humber. Add in a handful of restricted free agents and an important draft coming up, McDermott and Doug Whaley definitely have their work cut out for them.
If McDermott’s attention to detail while putting the coaching staff together is any indication, the Buffalo Bills can expect the same treatment as he fills in the roster. Having Polian’s approval adds even more faith.
While Sean McDermott attempts to re-build the culture in Buffalo, his actions so far prove that the best isn’t yet to come.
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What do you think of Sean McDermott so far? Leave your thoughts below!