Veteran Buffalo edge rusher Bradley Chubb is in his first offseason with the team after being drafted by the Denver Broncos and competing as a division rival with the Miami Dolphins.
Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard is also a new veteran addition to the team, having also been with Denver previously.
When asked what Leonhard is like, Chubb gave an interesting response.
“I would say a ‘quiet assassin’ man,” he told WKBW. “He’s like not gonna say too many words when he speaks volumes, everybody listens.”
Leonhard takes over the coordination of the defense following the end of head coach Sean McDermott’s tenure and is bringing a new scheme to that side of the ball.
Based on Chubb’s description, his coaching style includes speaking with substance.
“He always gives a reason for why we doing stuff, Chubb added. “We might put it in a certain defense, but he breaks down exactly why we doing it, what we doing for, and how he expects to see it play. So a coach like that can’t do nothing but respect it, and everybody going to play hard for him.”
And Leonhard was complimentary of Chubb’s abilities as well, pointing out that he’s one of those leaders “that can reach the other side of the ball.”
These are good early returns in an important offseason for a team that has seen a new head coach in former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joe Brady, as well as new coordinators appointed in all three phases.
The expectation is that Leonhard will help to solve Buffalo’s weaknesses defending the run and getting stops on crucial downs.
The good news is his impressions on players have been good so far.
“He’s a geek with this football stuff. He’s a genius man, but he’s cool,” cornerback Maxwell Hairston said. “He says jokes and I be joking on him a little bit. Jim’s cool, he’s about his business.”
Leonhard has been schematically consistent over the past nine years and has learned and gained perspective stepping back from the full-time coordinator role the previous four seasons, in a way that helps his approach.
“You know, I kind of intentionally took a step back because I felt like I skipped a couple of steps in the process to get to where I was,” Leonhard said to the media. “It’s easy as an assistant coach to say I would’ve done this differently or done that differently. Now you’re the one making the decisions at times.”
When speaking on Chubb, one of Buffalo’s two biggest offseason additions, Leonhard had a telling response on what to expect from the pass rusher in his first season with the Bills.
One that should offer some optimism for coaches and fans alike.
“He was drafted as a first-rounder for this defense.”
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Bills’ Bradley Chubb describes DC Jim Leonhard as ‘quiet assassin’
Reporting by David Benjamin De Cristofaro, Bills Wire / Bills Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
