Preston Brown asserting leadership, toughness at Buffalo Bills OTAs

We've known for a month now that Preston Brown will be the signal-caller in the Buffalo Bills defense to start the 2016. Last season, that task was stripped from himbecause he wasn't being assertive enough getting other players in position. If OTAs are any indication, the third-year linebacker has received the message loud and clear.

"[Brown] was very loud and very clear throughout the practice, barking signals to other defenders and demonstrating a high level of competitiveness not often seen in these pad-less, voluntary sessions,."wrote Vic Carucci in The Buffalo News.

Brown was even able to rev up the defense in a physical confrontation despite the non-physical nature of the practice.

"At one point, Brown got into a pretty nasty scuffle with offensive tackle Jordan Mills, who is 65 pounds heavier and four inches taller than the linebacker," continued Carucci. "And the consensus was that Brown won the brawl. Then, after a diving breakup of a red-zone pass for LeSean McCoy, he exhorted the defensive victory for everyone to hear."

If he's going to lead the defense from the middle of the field, he's going to need to harness that attitude like great linebackers have for Rex Ryan in the past. General manager Doug Whaley put his confidence in Brown earlier this offseason, and if he keeps acting this way, Ryan's praise isn't far behind.