“We just need some consistency,” said Dareus, the third overall pick in 2011. “My coaching staff is being consistent with us and showing us different things and letting us play our techniques. In the previous years, I had two defensive coordinators, two different techniques and I still had to play different positions on the defensive line. It’s kind of just been scattered about. I just like the defense this year. I feel like I could have been doing this earlier, there just wasn’t as much consistency as I was hoping or looking for. We put a good scheme together and played hard, but now we have consistency.
“We’re trying to change the culture here. Not just winning games, but the culture and identity of the team. That’s our main focus right now. The attitude is what we’re looking for right now. If we keep busting our butts the wins will come, we just have to keep working at it.”
To me Dareus is the most improved player this year, more than Aaron Williams. Either Marrone's culture change message really gets through to older players -- yes on this Bills team, Dareus is one of those longer tenured players -- or he's matured to understand what it takes to be an elite, winning NFL player. I believe the latter: he's 24, 3 years in the league, gone through several coaching staff, and probably looked through what those drafted around him have been doing.
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