Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard isn’t interested in treating a loud home crowd like a problem to be managed. He wants it to become a weapon.
That was the message this week after cornerback Dee Alford said the atmosphere at Highmark Stadium felt anything but helpful during last Sunday’s loss to the Patriots. 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” and said that kind of noise can trigger communication issues for the defense.
Leonhard didn’t dismiss the challenge of operating in a packed, loud stadium. He did push back on the idea that it should be used 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 have already shown they can win there, taking two of their first three games in their new stadium. But they won’t be back at Highmark Stadium until November 1, which means any changes they make for handling the noise will have to wait a bit before getting tested in game action.
In Other News...
Washington State Faces A Costly QB Question At Utah State
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The matchup could easily swing on which side handles mistakes better, because both teams enter with turnover issues and each has reason to believe the other can be rattled. Washington State will look to lean on its defense if Utah States offense wobbles, while the Aggies will try to test the Cougars up front and turn any protection problems into takeaways. In a game shaped by caution as much as execution, the offense that protects the ball may be the one that leaves with the better feeling. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Faces An Early Pressure Game For Its Entire Offense
Washington State heads into its meeting with Utah State trying to steady an offense that never found its footing in a 26-6 loss to Fresno State. First-year coach Kirby Moore is already making changes in an effort to get more out of the group, and the Cougars find themselves in a spot where a sluggish start can quickly turn into a much bigger problem if they do not show something more functional on the field.
Utah State arrives with its own early-season frustrations, but the Aggies are still expected to have the edge in the matchup. Washington State does at least carry a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series, yet this game feels less about history than urgency, with both sides searching for a clean response and the Cougars needing a sharper offensive showing to keep the pressure from building even more. [Read more 🡒]