Bills' McDermott Reveals Why O'Cyrus Torrence Will Start vs. Jets

Why did Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott decide to lean on rookie guard O'Cyrus Torrence against the New York Jets' talented defensive line?

As the clock ticks towards the Buffalo Bills’ season opener, a few wrinkles in the depth chart required some ironing out.

On Wednesday, coach Sean McDermott spoke about those last-minute starting decisions, including guard O’Cyrus Torrence, cornerback Christian Benford, and linebacker Terrel Bernard.

Starting a rookie lineman against a presumably elite New York Jets’ defensive line is inherently the riskier option, but McDermott isn’t short on confidence.

“I’ll start with Ryan [Bates], he’s a really good football player,” McDermott said. “There’s nothing Ryan didn’t do. It was more of Cybo [Torrence] coming in as a young player and again taking it one play at a time, having a workmanlike approach to his game early on in spring and then in training camp again.”

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Torrence, the Bills’ 2023 second-round pick, offers a combination of size and strength that few can match. His 6-5, 330-pound frame allows him to rely on pure power when his technique fails him. Ultimately, starting Torrence elevates the ceiling of Buffalo’s offensive line. If Torrence’s current level of play is remotely similar to Bates’, it would be foolish not to explore that upside.

“He handled himself well,” McDermott added. “But just like Christian, TB, and now Cybo, they’re all young players that are a little bit inexperienced at this point, but we’re confident in them … It’s not an individual game, it’s a team game.”

There will be bumps in the road, especially against competition as talented as defensive linemen Quinnen Williams and John Franklin-Myers. Even so, there’s reason to believe starting Torrence gives Buffalo the best chance to win not only on Monday, but Sundays down the line, too.

Torrence will debut at right guard on Monday at MetLife Stadium.