Fielding questions from the media inside the Bren Events Center on the campus at University of California, Irvine, Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady embraced taking advantage of opportunities. The center for this was of course the team’s decision to stay on the West Coast between Weeks 5 and 6, leveraging added time to prepare for their next game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Nevada.
Yet one question lobbed about linebacker Shaq Thompson, who re-joined the team via the practice squad several week ago, revealed that Brady wasn’t willing to embrace the idea of any immediate opportunity at SAM or MIKE linebacker. When asked if there had been “any consideration to maybe getting him out there and seeing what it looks like,” Brady stoically said:
“No. I mean right now (smirking) I think you’re not as [much of] a fan of the way our linebackers are playing, based off some of the questions. But no, I have no issues with the way our linebackers are playing right now. You know, Shaq, Shaq has — he knows he was brought here as, obviously from a leadership component and, you know, if an opportunity came up, and, you know, it’s a long season that having a guy like himself with his background and his history to be able to come in and play, and play meaningful football… and, you know, that’s why he’s here.”
At its surface, that seems to settle any debate about how, when, or where Brady, defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, and inside linebackers coach John Egorugwu plans to utilize Thompson this season. However, Brady elaborated on why the Bills have yet to turn to Thompson on games days.
“Look, I like where the linebackers are at right now. They’re continuing to get better. I’d love for, you know, (rookie linebacker) Kaleb (Elarms-Orr) to play a little more than you know, he played the other day. And that’s not an indictment on Dorian (Williams) or TB (Terrel Bernard). That’s just being able to get these guys fresh, you know, throughout games and when the game’s on the line. So, no, I love having Shaq here. There’s a reason Shaq’s here, but I like how — where our linebackers are at right now.”
Plenty of outsiders have asked for the team to begin a meaningful youth movement on defense, which includes linebacker. That includes giving Williams a true featured opportunity, and perhaps throwing Elarms-Orr to fight off the bulls as a rookie. It also means allowing Bernard to adapt to a new system — the same as his position mates.
In listening to Brady, it sounds like a youth movement is in order on the field, and that means embracing any hiccups or struggles that may prove marginally detrimental. In Thompson, it’s clear Brady brought him back for the leadership component. It’s just that, for now at least, Thompson will have to continue doing so from the sidelines and in practice.