"We've been inconsistent," admitted Micah Hyde. "We've gone out there and made some good plays, but we've given up some big plays too. As a defense one of the worst things you can be is inconsistent. So, the number one thing is to be more consistent and it starts with us not beating ourselves.

"There were a lot of things in the preseason that we messed up on where we beat ourselves, whether it's technique or mental errors. It's easily fixed, but at the same time that's what is beating you. So, we've gone over the corrections and will get it fixed."

Lotulelei is also going to be asked to help push the pocket from the interior so quarterbacks can't step up to elude Buffalo's edge rushers.

The defense logged three sacks in their preseason games where their starters saw action. And some of the best pressure by the Bills came on blitzes by nickel corners or safeties.

Though the defensive unit wasn't scheming in the preseason they want to have far more production than that.

"Obviously, up front we want to be able to put more pressure on the quarterback with our four-man rush. So still working through some of those things," said Alexander.

The defensive line has been without Kyle Williams since he suffered a knee injury in Week 2 of the preseason, but he's working his way back as he practiced with the team on Monday.

Trent Murphy missed the entire preseason with a lingering groin injury but is healthy now. And though Shaq Lawson posted just a quarterback hit and a batted pass in three preseason games, he had perhaps the strongest camp of his young career.

Buffalo's defense will also be relying on a good deal of youth in some important roles. Tremaine Edmunds will run the defense at middle linebacker, Taron Johnson is expected to at least share the team's nickel corner duties and Harrison Phillips is expected to rotate in at both the one and three-technique on the defensive interior.

It might seem like a lot to ask of first-year players, but Tre'Davious White and Matt Milano capably filled roles for Buffalo's defense last year.

"Most teams have a nucleus of veteran guys who you can count on and you know what you're going to get out of them. However, your rookies and how well the rookies play in the NFL… if they all play excellent like Matt and Tre' last year, it gets you over the hump and makes an average team a good team or a good team into a great team," Alexander said. "A lot of this league is preventing yourself from losing and a lot of times young guys make costly mistakes. Those guys last year, to their credit, prepared well, showed up and made a lot of plays for us to win a lot of games."

The men on defense are expecting be better in 2018. They've been grinding since the spring and that will continue right up until kickoff Sunday at Baltimore to play sound, fundamental football.

"I think the things we've had to correct we fixed in practice," said Tre'Davious White. "We have to try to limit any miscommunication or mental errors because teams are going to come at us.