The signing of Bradley Chubb was the Buffalo Bills’ biggest offseason signing in free agency, and what it made it sweeter is the fact that he chose to stay in the AFC East after being with the Miami Dolphins since 2022. The Bills were going from a 4-2-5 to a 3-4 defense, so they needed to bring in players that fit the scheme.
Buffalo ended up signing Chubb to a three-year deal, and he will be looked at as one of the leaders of the defense considering the success that he has had throughout his career (when he wasn’t injured). Not to mention, he is a perfect 3-4 outside linebacker who doesn't just rush the passer, but he can also stop the run at or behind the line of scrimmage.
Bradley Chubb set up for success under DC Jim Leonhard
Chubb joins a defense that has been revamped and instead of it being ran by Sean McDermott, it’s Jim Leonhard running the show. There will be more aggression, and more going after the quarterback on a consistent basis. There also won’t be as much zone coverage as there once was under McDermott. As long as Chubb stays healthy, he should be very productive in his first year with the Bills.
Fans were already excited when the Bills brought in Jim Leonhard as the next defensive coordinator, but now Chubb has just given fans yet another reason to be excited for what this defense will do under Leonhard.
ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg recently wrote about how Chubb noted something about Leonhard that should very much help with the understanding of what Leonhard’s expectations will be.
Per Getzenberg, Chubb stated “The difference I've seen in him versus other DCs I've been with is, when we're installing, he's installing with the reason why we're installing. It's never just putting a play in just to put a play in".
"Each play has a purpose, has a reason, and he tells exactly what he wants out of us in that play. And when you got a guy like that, it's easy to play for because you know where you stand." Chubb added, per Getzenberg.
Open communication is key to success for Bills defense
Hearing this from Chubb should have fans ecstatic on what this defense could look like from Week 1 and on. Will they always be perfect? No, that’s impossible. However, for Leonhard to be open with his players and explained the “why” for each setup that Leonhard is putting together really shows how much this defense is being built to no longer be a liability.
Each decision, whether it’s on offense or defense, should always have an explanation for the players. At the end of the day, whatever the coaches decide is what is final. But it does help that the coaches are being honest about why some things are being implemented to help players buy into it more.
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