Maxwell Hairston got beat. His response bodes well for the Bills' secondary
Mistakes are inevitable. Everyone gets beat. But how a cornerback responds to failure can define their career. To succeed, they must learn, correct and move on.
For the first time in his NFL career, Maxwell Hairston got beat.
The Buffalo Bills rookie cornerback waved his arms, then collided with Jaylen Waddle as the Miami Dolphins receiver caught a 38-yard touchdown on Sunday in Hard Rock Stadium.
“I touched the stove and got burnt by the stove,” the first-round draft pick told The Buffalo News.
Bills cornerback Maxwell Hairston has had an interception in consecutive games.
Harry Scull, Buffalo News
No cornerback is perfect, even though each one strives to be. The position is arguably one of the two most difficult in the sport, especially when they’re told to cover an elite receiver like Waddle without the help of a safety.
Mistakes are inevitable. Everyone gets beat. But how a cornerback responds to failure can define their career. To succeed, they must learn, correct and move on.
Hairston’s resolve was evident while the Bills were evaluating his play at the University of Kentucky. He didn’t let a bad play bother him. There was no way of knowing, however, if he’d react the same way in the NFL. His response in defeat last Sunday confirmed to his position coach, Jahmile Addae, that Hairston has an unteachable quality that can separate the best from the rest.
“You don’t really know what kind of resolve they have until they’re in the fire and it actually happens for him,” Addae said. “We watched tape on him. We saw it within the college realm, but never really been in that foxhole with him until this past weekend. It was good to see the resolve and resilience, the ability to compartmentalize what hasn’t gone well and what has, then adjust and move on.
“When you get a tough match early in your career, I think it really tells you, ‘Hey, I can do this.’”
Once the Bills learned Christian Benford, their top cornerback, couldn’t play through a groin injury in Miami, the coaching staff decided to use its top draft pick to shadow the Dolphins’ No. 1 receiver.
Hairston wanted the challenge. He didn’t care that it was just his third NFL game, or how one mistake could lead to a big play. The assignment was an opportunity to prove that he’s not some wide-eyed rookie who coaches need to put on a lesser receiver.
Hairston ran stride for stride with Waddle on 13 of his 18 routes, according to Next Gen Stats. Aside from the deep touchdown, Hairston allowed just two catches on four targets for 31 yards. He intercepted a pass for the second consecutive week and forced two tight-window targets.
“It’s something I wanted,” said Hairston. “It’s something I stepped up for. Although there were multiple times where he got the best of me, I still feel like I gave it my all. ... Somebody like me, I just want to do it again.”
After losing for the first time, Hairston returned to the sideline and listened while Benford encouraged him not to get discouraged. Don’t overthink, Benford said, and play free. Addae calmly approached Hairston to review the mistake. The Bills’ second-year cornerbacks coach gave Hairston a few simple reminders and teaching points on how to prevent Waddle from creating separation.
Hairston listened intently, then put the plan into action. Through three games, he has allowed just four catches for 87 yards on nine targets. In his second career game, he intercepted three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes and ran stride for stride with Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy on a go route.
Three days later, Hairston was frustrated by a few plays he made during practice. He knew he couldn’t afford to make the same mistakes in a game, no matter who he covered in Miami. The rookie explained the scenario to Benford, who couldn’t practice that afternoon, and the veteran walked him through the correction. Hairston is a self-starter. He had many late nights in late spring and early summer because he was studying the playbook. But he’s also not afraid to lean on others for help.
“He puts in a lot of work,” Benford said. “He has a great heart. He’s humble. He doesn’t think he’s bigger than anybody and he doesn’t think he’s smaller than anybody. He takes coaching with respect. He’s always willing to work and learn. I’ve seen a lot of that, of who he is, from day one.”
Bills cornerback Maxwell Hairston intercepts Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes on Nov. 2.
Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
As Hairston recovered from his knee injury earlier this season, Bills coach Sean McDermott repeatedly tempered expectations for the 30th pick of the draft. It was impossible to know how soon Hairston could contribute once the medical staff cleared him to return to practice. Teammates and coaches marveled at the way he mentally prepared for the day he could cover a receiver again.
If Hairston wasn’t working with the athletic training staff during practice, he followed the script of plays and listened to the calls. While standing on the sideline during games, Addae gave Hairston each play call as if he were one of the cornerbacks going onto the field.
After processing the play call, Hairston watched both Bills cornerbacks and the receivers they were covering. He wanted to see how Benford and Tre’Davious White handled specific situations and routes. The speed and tempo of each receiver gave Hairston a better idea of what to expect on game days. Hairston also requested one-on-one time with Addae to ask about technique and learn more about the playbook.
The coaching staff knew there wouldn’t be much time to prepare Hairston for game day once he got cleared to return to practice. The Bills opened his practice window and, four days later, he made his debut in Carolina against the Panthers.
“Brilliant,” said Addae. “True professional. It’s all his work, so I don’t want to take anything away from him, but he was in my hip pocket every step of the way. Just asking for more and wanting to know where he can be better. When you have that, they’re easy to coach. You just have to give them the right information and turn them loose. That was his approach the whole time through.”
The Panthers didn’t throw to a receiver Hairston was covering during his debut, but he made an impressive open-field tackle during the Bills’ 40-9 win. One week later, he had to face an opponent that influenced general manager Brandon Beane’s decision to add speed to his secondary last offseason.
The Chiefs have arguably the fastest receiving corps in the league, with Worthy, Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown, among others. The Bills struggled to cover the group in the AFC championship game – Rice didn’t play because of an injury. They envisioned Hairston as someone who could handle that task when the stakes are high. Not only did Hairston run a 4.28-second 40-yard dash before the draft, but he made plays at Kentucky while covering the best receivers in one of college football’s best conferences.
Mahomes went after Hairston four times and completed one pass for 18 yards. The performance showcased Hairston’s potential, but he and Addae weren’t satisfied. While rewatching the video, they kept revisiting the mistakes. Hairston understood that he needed to improve quickly. The schedule wasn’t getting any easier. He couldn’t get away with those errors every week.
On Sunday at Highmark Stadium, he may need to cover Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka. Next week, it could be the Houston Texans’ Nico Collins. In Week 13, the Steelers’ DK Metcalf awaits. In Week 14, it could be the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase or Tee Higgins. In Week 17, the Eagles’ A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith come to Orchard Park.
Benford will handle some of those matchups, but quarterbacks and offensive coordinators like to test the youngest cornerback on the field. Hairston isn’t approaching the task like a rookie.
“Obviously, nobody’s perfect, but I’m somebody who strives to be as close to perfect as I can be,” he said. “On that play (with Waddle), I wasn’t at my best and I paid the price for it. It sucks, but instead of holding my head on it, I’m going to take the mistake I made and not make it again so I can put myself in position to make a play instead of give up on a play.”
