New Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has a vision for what his defense will look like in Buffalo.
Leonhard, who broke into the league with the Bills as a player in 2005, wants his defense to be aggressive, versatile, and have a knack for attacking the football. He also wants to affect opposing quarterbacks, rather than adjusting to what offenses are doing. But Leonhard made it clear who his defense will revolve around when the time comes.
During his introductory press conference, Leonhard was asked about cornerback Christian Benford. He’s a 2022 sixth-round pick who has turned into a defensive staple in Buffalo over the last few years.
“He’s a very talented player, he’s had opportunities in the past to travel and track No. 1 receivers, which is something that we will consider as we go on,” Leonhard said. “I’m really excited to deep dive into the personnel, into the skillsets, to create the best package for him. Not quite there yet. I’d love to give you a little deeper answer, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for the way he plays, the passion he plays with, the physicality, the energy.
“He’s going to be a big leader for this defense, and we’re going to create the scheme around players like that, the known commodities. There are guys that you know are going to be a big piece of this, and there are others that we have to figure out what the right mix of talent and leadership is going to be. But a guy like him, who’s proven who he is, and his value to this roster. Those are the guys in mind when we set this thing up.”
Christian Benford is a Proven Commodity
GettyBuffalo Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said cornerback Christian Benford will be a crucial part of the team’s new defense.
Benford is Buffalo’s top cornerback and has arguably been so since coming into the league. A Villanova product, he intercepted at least two passes in each of the last three seasons and returned one for a touchdown in a 39-34 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The 25-year-old also deflected 10 passes in his second and third seasons and has forced four fumbles in his career. He went from a late-round draft pick to a top-tier cornerback who helped Buffalo produce the best passing defense in the league.
Leonhard will bring a 3-4 defense to Buffalo. Along with that, he’ll preach player flexibility and allow players to move around the defense. According to WGR550 Bills reporter Sal Capaccio, Leonhard said the best way to stress an offense is by using the same 11 guys to do many different things.
That approach, however, will bring change within the Bills’ defense.
Change is Coming to Buffalo’s Defense
Leonhard didn’t mince words when he took the podium in front of local media at One Bills Drive. He admitted, “There’s gonna be change,” according to ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg. However, he also gave a glimpse into the mentality his defense will have.
“We’re going to be aggressive. We’re going to fly around. … We’re going to play well together,” Leonhard said, via The Buffalo News’ Lance Lysowski. “It is team defense. … We want to be a defense that’s constantly evolving and growing through a game and throughout a season.”
Leonhard said he already had some “big conversations” with president of football operations/general manager Brandon Beane and his scouting staff, according to Capaccio. They covered the vision of Leonhard’s defense and what he wants/needs to allow him to do his job.
New Bills DC Jim Leonhard Sends Message to Christian Benford