ORCHARD PARK – Given how thes introduced so many new gamers into their defensive secondary, each by way of the draft and free company, it nearly felt like Jordan Hancock was a forgotten man.
Contributing to that dynamic is that it was a little bit of out of sight, out of thoughts for Hancock throughout the spring as a result of along with the arrivals of n, e, and d, and n, e and e becoming a member of the staff, Hancock missed the entire on-field parts of the offseason program recovering from shoulder surgical procedure.
However by way of this level in coaching camp and the primary two preseason video games, if anybody really had forgotten about ok, he’s reminding everybody precisely who he’s.
“It’s cool to see as a result of it’s a man who didn’t get an offseason in any respect and, in a brand new system, that’s actually laborious,” coach Joe Brady stated. “It’s good to see a man coming off an harm, there’s no hesitation, flying round, making performs. He’s determining what that area of interest is, and we’re asking quite a lot of him, shifting him round. Our nickel performs quite a lot of totally different roles, so to have the ability to play security, play nickel, assistance on particular groups. It was cool to see him lastly make some performs.”
A delayed begin however quick climb for Jordan Hancock
By way of the primary two preseason video games in keeping with Professional Soccer Focus charting, Hancock has performed 57 complete snaps, 38 of these as a slot nook and 17 at free security, plus two random snaps on the road. He’s been in on 5 tackles and each one among them was thought to be a “cease” which PFF defines as a sort out that brought about a failure for the offense. Though he has allowed 5 receptions on six targets, these have gone for simply 12 yards complete.
“I informed you he was going to be one of many largest evaluations this camp as a result of he did miss the offseason,” defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard stated. “Any time you might have guys who missed snaps on the sector, you need to play a bit little bit of catch up so far as the analysis and he’s doing an incredible job.
“It’s discovering the correct quantity of snaps, the precise roles for him. Clearly he needs to be a bit little bit of a Swiss Military knife proper now so far as studying security, studying the nickel place. There are different sub grouping packages that we are able to get him in and do various things which might be sort of that hybrid sort of position as effectively. He’s dealing with it effectively.”
Why versatility issues in Jim Leonhard's protection
Hancock was not an element within the first half of 2025 however he began getting enjoying time within the blowout Week 8 victory over Carolina and was lively for each recreation thereafter apart from Week 17 towards the Eagles and the divisional spherical playoff loss to the Broncos.
He performed 398 complete snaps, together with particular groups. Of these, 183 got here on protection, with most of that work at free security and solely six snaps within the slot. This yr in Leonhard's protection, the slot nook will likely be deployed in a different way than it was during the last a number of seasons when Taron Johnson occupied the position on practically each snap.
Leonhard goes to play matchups and can use Alford as the first starter, however he’ll rotate others in relying on who strains up throughout that place, and Hancock might be within the combine.
“It helps lots,” Hancock stated of being versatile. “I planted my seed final yr and was rising and rising daily with each positions being versatile. I really feel like I simply acquired on the sector, I performed greater than I used to be anticipated to play. I had alternatives, whether or not I made the play or not, I had the chance to be on the market. Now to be able the place I’ve to play both place, security or nickel, I’m attempting to be the most effective at each spots for certain.”
The 6-foot, 195-pounder is a dynamic athlete. Basketball was his old flame rising up exterior Atlanta – his favourite participant was Russell Westbrook – and he may dunk a basketball when he stood simply 5-foot-7 as an eighth grader, although he may simply as simply drop a bomb from three-point vary.
It was Mel Tucker, who was the defensive coordinator at Georgia and later the pinnacle coach at Michigan State, who after seeing him at soccer follow whereas on the recruiting path informed Hancock that soccer needs to be his main sport.
That didn’t repay for Tucker as a result of Ohio State swooped in and signed Hancock and he went on to play 42 video games for the Buckeyes totaling 98 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions, 14 passes defensed and 4 pressured fumbles.
“Simply being at Ohio State, simply being round nice individuals, nice coaches,” he stated concerning his pedigree enjoying in a big-time program and the way that helped his transition to the NFL. “You're not larger than anyone. There's at all times room for enchancment and I really feel like that's with me, I really feel like enchancment is lots. I really feel like I can enhance and develop, and I'm able to be taught and able to compete.”
Payments on the lookout for solutions past the starters
Along with being a bodily participant, Hancock has the power to shortly diagnose what’s occurring, although he does tend to play nearly too quick and it will get him out of place. Typically, he can get well, however often he doesn’t and particularly at security, that may be harmful.
“He’s a assured participant,” Leonhard stated of the previous Ohio State standout who performed for the Buckeyes’ 2024 nationwide championship staff. “He’s going to make fast selections and play quick, he’s going to make errors. There are issues that aren’t at all times clear, however he makes quick selections and he’s going to stay with the outcomes. You respect that as a coach. It’s a must to take among the laborious edges off typically, however you do know he’s going to influence the sport and he’s going to fly round and he’s going to set the tone.”
Until there are accidents, Hancock isn’t going to be a starter for Buffalo, but when he continues to play the best way he has this summer season, he’s going to get a game-day jersey.
“Each recreation you get into and there’s a state of affairs that pops up the place you’re one harm otherwise you’re one man having a nasty efficiency away from quite a lot of items shifting round,” Leonhard stated.
“That’s at all times the enjoyable a part of being a coach within the NFL is you solely have a restricted quantity of our bodies. You get into video games and typically there’s a man backing up a number of positions and the way you’re going to play that out and making changes, possibly one thing you thought was going to work effectively going into the sport, you’re not getting manufacturing out of it and you need to make changes. It’s enormous for me having a handful of fellows have a versatile ability set. The extra gamers you might have in numerous teams like that, the higher.”
Sal Maiorana has coated the s for greater than 4 a long time together with 37 years because the full-time beat author/columnist for the D&C. He has written quite a few books concerning the historical past of the staff, and he’s additionally co-host of the BLEAV in Payments podcast/YouTube present. He could be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you may comply with him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.
This text initially appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: n