Ever since Sean McDermott came into the league at the young age of 25-years old and was a scouting coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, the playoffs just come natural for him. Out of his 19 seasons in the league, McDermott has made the postseason 13 times. Including two trips to Super Bowl 39 and 50 that both unfortunately resulted in losses.
As a defensive coordinator McDermott’s record in the postseason is a fair 3-5, and as a head coach McDermott is now 0-1. Sure, the playoff loss still stings, but this is just the beginning for McDermott and the Bills defense. He has a nose for the playoffs and knows how to win.
He also knows how to turn a team’s defense around. McDermott made the Carolina Panthers defense a house hold name in the 2013 season. Thanks to stars like Thomas Davis, rookie linebacker Luke Kuechly and dominant edge rusher Greg Hardy, McDermott took that defense that was ranked 18th in 2012 and revamped them all the way up to 2nd in 2013. McDermott made Carolina a top ten defensive team twice during his six years’ there.
You can argue that McDermott has turned around a Bills’ defense that was already good into an elite defense. The additions of safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer were excellent moves this past offseason.
Both Poyer and Hyde had themselves fantastic years. Both finished in the top ten in interceptions with five. Poyer, finished the season with 95 total tackles and Hyde was selected to his first ever Pro Bowl. Also, rookie cornerback, Tre’Davious White finished 21st in interceptions this year with four.
But back to Poyer, whose career seemed to be over last year while with the Cleveland Browns after a hit on a punt return by Tennessee Titans running back Antonio Andrews lacerated his kidney. Ending the 25-year olds season.
But on March 9th, 2017, Poyer signed a 4-year, $13 million-dollar deal in Buffalo. Poyer was worth every penny as he had himself a career year with Buffalo, he was the only player in the league to record 90+ tackles and had five or more interceptions. Somehow though Poyer was snubbed from this year’s Pro Bowl alongside his teammate White.
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The surprise on defense the Bills had with McDermott seems to be just the beginning. With promising young talent like White, Matt Milano, Adolphus Washington and the league’s leading tackler Preston Brown. The only option for the Bills defense is up.