Orchard Park, N.Y. -- Sean McDermott coached Luke Kuechly for five seasons while he was defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. So if anyone should be able devise a way to attack the Panthers' middle linebacker, it should be the Buffalo Bills' first-year head coach.

Asked this week how the Bills can attack Kuechly's area of the field when they travel to Carolina to play the Panthers, McDermott just laughed and shook his head.

"Yeah, let me know when you figure that out," McDermott said.

McDermott's Carolina defense wasn't the same without Kuechly on the field in 2016. But the star linebacker is back manning the middle of the defense and it's impossible not to notice the difference. For a team like the Bills, who rely on their tight ends and running backs, Kuechly could be a problem.

"I watched him, I was talking the other day about him, he's unbelievable," McDermott said. "He watches so much film, his car is one of the last one's in the parking lot every night. Young players wonder why he's so successful, it's a great example. Yes he has talent, he definitely has that, but he outworks people, and he knows what's coming because of the work he puts in during the week, it's unbelievable."

In the Panthers' 23-3 win over the 49ers, Kuechly already added a play to his highlight reel. Brian Hoyer tried to throw over the middle of the field. The ball was behind Kuechly, but he reached back and made an acrobatic interception.

"I've seen that a couple of times," McDermott said. "You're not going to get him twice in a game, because if you do, first time, hey, fool me once, and the second time he's going to be all over it. He's an extremely fast processor of information when the ball is snapped. It's very unique, he's one of the best I've been around in my career."

Kuechly said McDermott taught him a lot in the five years they spent together. McDermott would brush that off and point to Kuechly's talent. But McDermott's departure certainly left a void in Carolina.

"I was bummed when he left, I miss having him around," Kuechly said. "He's a great coach and a great person - that's the thing you miss the most. But we're all excited for him that he has this opportunity, working form the ground floor to get to where he is now. He's the right guy, he's done great job and really deserves it.''