INDIANAPOLIS — Buffalo Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott was the first coach to speak with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on Monday night, and he addressed a multitude of issues over more than 30 minutes answering questions at the podium.

McDermott confirmed the club has parted ways with special teams coordinator Matthew Smiley and head strength and conditioning coach Eric Ciano.

He also discussed several new additions to the coaching staff, including special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, senior defensive assistant Ryan Nielsen, nickel coach Mike Pellegrino and assistant defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich. 

“[I] wanted to take my time and go through it, and making sure that I fully evaluate the position but also where we need to go with that position,” McDermott said of Smiley, whose units struggled on special teams at times over the past couple of seasons. “Matthew Smiley is a heck of a coach and a heck of a person and I can’t thank him and his family enough.” 

Offensively, the Bills relied on a host of receivers with the mantra, ‘everybody eats’ but the club had no true No. 1 option. McDermott said he believes in having receivers who can stretch the field both vertically and horizontally. As for last year’s top pick, Keon Coleman, McDermott thought he had an up-and-down rookie season.

“I thought he got off to a start that he built momentum through and then he got injured, and then from there on it was rather rocky, I would say,” McDermott said. “I’m looking, we’re looking, for him to learn from those moments of adversity and come back and have a really strong offseason and get himself going into the start of season two here.”

McDermott reiterated something he said in the week after the season ended: tight end Dalton Kincaid needs to get physically stronger and become more durable to achieve the most he can. 

Running back James Cook is coming off a career year, and apparently wants to be paid like one of the best in the NFL as indicated by posts on social media. When asked about Cook’s contract as he heads into the final year of his rookie deal, McDermott said the business end will take care of itself and he leaves that up to General Manager Brandon Beane, but he loves Cook and the player he has become.  

Defensively, the Bills struggled for consistency this past season on the defensive line, which many draft analysts feel is a position of great talent and depth in this year’s draft. 

The Bills and McDermott could look to add young pieces at defensive tackle and edge rusher this offseason, which is key to McDermott’s philosophy on team building.