The Bills traded for wide receiver Stefon Diggs to help take things to the next level on offense, and in turn, help the team’s quarterback in Josh Allen also reach another tier of play.
But many speculate nationally whether or not Diggs will mesh with his new team after finally getting his wish to be traded by his former team, the Vikings.
No one is exactly sure why Diggs wanted that move in the first place. He voiced much of his displeasure through social media, including sending a message on Twitter just hours before the trade that he thought it was time for a “new start.”
Back to that speculation, some think that Diggs’ beef had to do with the play of his former QB with the Vikings, Kirk Cousins. Looking at his trade to the Bills through that spectrum, that’s where the questions about whether or not he’ll fit in with the Bills and Allen’s accuracy, at times, comes into the picture.
But during his first video press conference on Wednesday, Diggs had nothing to promising comments to say about his first few months with his new team and quarterback. The word “excited” was dusted of numerous times by the receiver.
“A genie, if I could rub the bottle, I would want all the good things to happen [with Allen]… He throws the ball 100 yards and I’m right on the 101-yard line catching a touchdown,” Diggs said.
“I’m super excited. Big arm. Big quarterback. A lot of heart. He runs around. He’s mobile. Can extend the play. Can do a lot of things extremely well. More so focused on how I can help him… anything I can do to help him. Always being in his ear, having the open line of communication, wondering if he needs something from me. We’ve been talking for awhile. We do all the normal stuff as far as guys playing video games and talking, but when it comes down to football, he’s a professional and he approaches it as such,” Diggs added.
While seemingly setting the bar high for some big-play opportunities to come his way with his Aladdin type of wish, Diggs also did something that many figured he might not do… he kept things into perspective. Things might not be perfect out of the gate in Buffalo since he’s learning a new playbook, and that’s OK, he said.
Diggs referenced his time in Minnesota and how the Vikings went through numerous changes in offensive coordinators as well, so he’s confident in getting on the same page with his new team despite the ongoing coronavirus turning the current NFL preseason on its head. The 26-year-old has already learned several new playbooks during his time in the NFL, and he’ll have to do the same with the Bills.
But even then, Diggs said it might be more of a slow and steady runner winning this race.
“We can’t make it all happen at one time. We’re just trying to take those small jumps… as far as learning the offense, getting everything down,” Diggs said. “My focus is… what he does well, I want to be able to do that. For me, I got the ‘deep threat’ thing, but I take pride in my craft, I take pride in running routes, I take pride in getting open. Whatever he needs, whatever we have to do to be successful as a team… I’m gonna do it.”
When Allen spoke of Diggs earlier this week, he mentioned similar things as the wideout. Even though they haven’t been on the field together much, they’ve bonded. But in that brief time they have worked out together, Allen said he can see Diggs has come prepared.
“[Teammates on offense] knew what they were doing. There wasn’t any time we were wasting wondering what went wrong during a play, we just kind of went out there and played,” Allen said about early training camp practice.
“(Diggs) a guy that’s going to step in a be a huge addition to our offense.” the QB added.
One way or another, we’ll find out in about a month how much these two are on the same page. Without an exhibition season, the Bills’ next game will be their regular season opener on Sept. 13 against the Jets at home.
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