Buffalo Joe” is ready to earn the trust of the Bills’ coaching staff.
Buffalo Bills undrafted free-agent linebacker Joe Andreessen has become an overnight sensation in Buffalo as the local boy turned folk hero. Quarterback Josh Allen has even nicknamed Andreessen “Buffalo Joe” due to his growing up in the Buffalo area — and Bills Mafia can’t get enough of it. Of course the real reason for all the hype around Andreessen is due to the standout game he put together for the Bills last Saturday in their win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“It kind of happened fast,” Andreessen said about his team-leading 12 tackles Saturday night. “I come to the sideline and people were telling me I was doing a great job and stuff like that. I was just worried about every time I was on the field I didn’t want them to score because it was a close game.”
The rookie admitted that playing five years of college football, first at Bryant University and then at the University of Buffalo, may give him a slight edge over other walk-ons, saying that “anytime you are able to get more reps at something, it helps.”
He also said that switching schools before his final year of college football also helped prepare him for a turn trying to earn a job in the NFL. “We ran a different scheme at my first school and then my second school, so getting the knowledge and to face different teams that ran different stuff. There’s still a lot to learn. I think the more you’re exposed to, it always helps.”
As for handling the nerves that come with the pressure of playing linebacker in the NFL, particularly in the MIKE position where he’s having to relay calls from coaches to his teammates, Andreessen said he’s relying on the coaching he received this summer.
“It’s something we do in practice every day,” he said. “Bobby Babich talks about having a pre-snap routine. So, you hear the call and you kind of go through that pre-snap routine to get you ready for the play and that way when the ball gets snapped it’s just reaction after that because you know what you’re doing already.”
But, despite his great showing in Pittsburgh and his rising star status as “Buffalo Joe,” Andreessen has work to do if he wants to be a Buffalo Bill at this time next week. Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich has said that consistency is key, and that as it stands, the rookie has had just one great game — albeit he hasn’t had much opportunity other than that.
And, the local kid trying to earn a spot on the home team, isn’t oblivious to that.
“I don’t know what the future holds, obviously, so I’m just happy and excited to go out in front of my family and friends,” Andreessen said about playing in the Bills’ final preseason game — this one at home, on Saturday — but admitted that his focus has been on practice and preparation, not the fans.
“I think the biggest thing is trust and reliability aspect, whether that’s special teams or on the defensive part,” he said about getting one last chance to prove to the Bills coaching staff that he should be given the chance to stay with the team as the preseason comes to an end. “It’s hard. These coaches, it’s their livelihood too on the line, so it’s hard to put a guy out there that they don’t have trust in. At the end of the day, their family depends on me making plays.”
Whether Andreessen’s on a roster when the calendars turn to September is still to be seen, but for this weekend, “Buffalo Joe” is planning to make a lasting impression and give coaches and fans alike something to talk about.
