Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard isn’t interested in treating the noise at Highmark Stadium like a problem to be managed. He wants it turned into a weapon.
That was the message after cornerback Dee Alford said last Sunday’s loss to the Patriots didn’t exactly feel like a classic home-field setup. Alford told Nick Suss of ESPN.com that the crowd can get “ super loud to the point where we’re not able to get the play as fast as we need it,” which can leave the defense dealing with communication issues.
Leonhard didn’t dismiss that reality. He admitted loud environments can make things harder, but he pushed back on the idea that Buffalo should view the crowd as an excuse.
“It’s always harder to communicate at home than it is on the road. If we complain about that, we are a---s,” Leonhard said.
“We have to turn that into the biggest advantage we have. As hard as it is for us, it’s significantly harder for an offense.
We have to find a way to make that an advantage for us. If we ever use that as a cop out - I have to be smart in how we game plan.
There’s certain things you can do on the road that are a little bit easier than they are at home from a communication standpoint.”
The Bills opened their new stadium by winning two of their first three games there, but they won’t return until November 1. That leaves some time before they get another chance to see whether any adjustments can help them make the crowd noise work for them instead of against them.
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