What's up Bills Mafia and welcome back to the
Buffalo Bread Podcast. I am your host Dan Roberts.
Folks, we have real live Buffalo Bills football
to talk about. albeit preseason football, but
nonetheless, we inch ever closer to the opening
of the 2025 regular season. The Bills will square
off this Saturday against the New York Giants.
And we are very fortunate to have a resident
Giants expert that we have added to our ever
deepening bench of Friends of the Pod, not Friends
of the Bills co -hosts. We are very excited to
welcome one Logan Delutis today to talk about
the G -Men. Logan, how you doing? I'm good, Dan.
It's an honor to be here. Thank you for having
me. I'm excited that we're rolling into the season.
I'm excited to talk football. I'm excited to
talk about my Giants. Awesome man i'm excited
to talk about your giants too i mean a lot of
bills mafia we have a we have a soft affinity
for the giants in a lot of ways just because
of the day ball shane connection which will get
to in a little bit but it's also just exciting
to have someone who like can talk. NFC football
on the pod. For all of our listeners know that
JJ and I while we love all NFL football, we're
pretty much beasts of the AFC East. So it is
great Logan to get your perspective on the G
men this upcoming season and this game on Saturday
is the perfect segue into it. But before we get
to that, We always love hearing the stories from
our first time hosts about how they came across
their fandom their love for their team And I'd
love to give you the floor to talk a little bit
about how you came about your fandom of the Giants
and like why you love the squad so much. Yeah,
so You know growing up. I was always a football
player Never really dove deep into rooting for
an NFL team. My dad was a lifelong Raiders fan
I was like, eh, don't really want to root for
them. So, and I've always been a lifelong Yankees
fan. So I was like, you know, there's the Yankee,
there's the Giants and the Jets. I'm going to
go with the Giants. Such a good pick. So, you
know, I kind of just being young and And getting
into the NFL more, I kind of just chose the Giants
as being a New Yorker. And that was the team
that I kind of got into early and first. And
then early on in my fandom of the Giants was
when we defeated the Patriots in the 2012 Super
Bowl and ended their undefeated season. So that
was kind of like, oh, OK, we're a good team.
It was, I can remember watching that game. I
relive to this day the David Tyree helmet catch.
One of the few positive things in recent years
of being a Giants fan is we seem to have a knack
for highlight reel catches between David Tyree
and ever famous Odell Beckham Jr. one handed
catch against the Cowboys. Hate to say that seems
to have been my highlight of my Giants fandom
so far throughout the little over a decade of
being a Giants fan but yeah, I think I Think
watching this team over the years. I think you
know Coming from the Eli Manning era and seeing
how we now, you know Try to grow back into this
successful franchise that we've been you know
for decades prior it's It's obviously been a
rocky road, but it's been a fun road. And as
someone who loves football, you know, like yourself,
it's it's always great to see the decisions that
the front office makes, whether it's decisions
I enjoy or decisions I don't enjoy. So, yeah,
it's kind of a little history about my Giants
fandom. So, yeah. Very cool, dude. And listen,
despite how rocky a road it has been recently,
as you alluded to, you have a living memory that
many and no one in Bill's mafia does, which is
the cherished core memory of winning a Super
Bowl championship. So take that with you nurture
that memory for all time. That's cool. And listen,
man, you segued beautifully into where I want
to start things before we get into the game preview
here. You talked a little bit about front office
and how as a fandom, we kind of live and die
good or bad, we roll with the decisions that
a lot of the leadership for our favorite teams
deal with. And your leadership has been under
some fire over the past few years, and one Joe
Shane and one Brian Dayball. So before we jump
into the game, I'd love to get your take especially
as someone coming from the Eli Manning era, right,
where where the organization was so successful.
What has been sort of your take? What has been
your thoughts so far on the Shane Dayball experiment?
Where are some of those areas you've noted that
they've hit? And then what are some of those
areas you're like, Nah, man, that that's a complete
mess. Yeah, so Based on what other people have
you know, maybe said about the the table in Shane
era I I don't think it's been a complete bust
so far I think a struggle that they have come
into is they are now they have been trying to
build out of what Gettleman had built when he
was here which was nothing short of a dumpster
fire. Total disaster. Yes. And I went into every
draft year just praying we pulled at least one
decent drafted player that made sense for what
we needed. Um, so I think as far as what they've
hit on and alluded to kind of what I just said
about drafts, I think, I think they've hit on
drafts for the most part. Um, I think they've
picked up some guys in the draft that have come
in and been real contributors. One I'll hint
to is Nubin. He's come in and really filled a
gap at safety, a gap that was kind of Shane's
doing and not bringing back Xavier McKinney.
But then again, he went and still filled that
gap with young talent. You know, he's... Made
attempts to fill the the massive gaps we have
at O line whether it be through the draft or
through free agency So I think draft classes.
I've loved how Joe Shane has gone about these
draft classes Again, you know I say for the most
part because probably like every team they passed
on someone that ended up being a big star for
example, we picked up Cordell flot out of the
draft over someone like a Nicoby Dean Who I'd
love to have Or we picked up a Wanda Robinson
in the draft who hasn't been horrible by any
means I mean, I think Wanda Robinson is an extremely
underrated guy for for his position But we pass
on a guy like George Pickens You have that with
every team though. So I mean it's you can't you
can't stress about that too much, but I do think
Joe Shane and his team have done a pretty good
job so far in his short tenure as the Giants
general manager with draft classes. With Brian
Dable, I would say Brian Dables brought a little
bit of a different culture to the team that I
think was very much needed. I think for the few
years before Brian Dable became the Giants head
coach, I think we had no culture. I think we
had no identity. I think we had a lot of experimental
head coaches that weren't really cut out for
the job and we're just trying to kind of pass
it by. I think Brian Dable came in with the fire
that he brings and wanted to win. And that's
what was so exciting for me seeing Brian Dable
come in. This is a guy that cares about winning
and you see it on the field. And you see it in
press conferences. Now, some may say the flames
get a little too high with him sometimes. I have
in fact said that, yes. But I think for me, I'd
rather see that and say, hey, maybe in my mind,
take a step back a little bit rather than does
this guy even care that we're three and 14 to
end a year? So I think that's kind of some some
hits on this on this regime that's been in there.
I think I think Mrs. You know, I touched on on
Shane's draft classes. I do think something he's
missed on slightly is his free agency. We brought
in some big names, you know, Brian Burns was
a big need. I think that was a great signing.
The defensive side he's he's done some things
that I I'm a fan of Paul Sinodibo this past offseason
helping out the the very struggling secondary
But I think Where I think Joe Shane's missed
is making that big splash and free agency I think
his biggest splash up to this point is Brian
Burns who has again been great, but I I would
have liked to see, with our team and how much
our offensive struggled, a big splash on the
offensive side. And I wouldn't call Russell Wilson
a big splash at this point in his career. I think
he's a guy who can come in and provide a veteran
leadership that the offensive needs. But I think
he had an opportunity with Saquon Barkley and
he let it go. He had an opportunity with Xavier
McKinney that I kind of touched on on the defensive
side and kind of let it go You know, hopefully
what we've done after that will pan out and it
looks like so far it well with You know Tyrone
Tracy as our running back. He's you know Slowly,
but surely, you know making his way into a really
good running back from what I've seen And like
I mentioned before about Newman, he's coming
on as a solid safety. I think he just hasn't
been as aggressive as I think he can be in free
agency. And I think it's played into us not reaching
our potential. I think we can as a team. With
Brian Dable, I would say a miss would be the
offensive play calling. I think taking play calling
away from Mike Kafka was a big mistake when he
did it. Purely because the year Mike Kafka was
running our offense, we made the playoffs with
Daniel Jones. And I arguably say Mike Kafka got
Daniel Jones his $40 million contract. So I think
taking those play calls, that play calling ability
from Mike Kafka away was kind of a mess. I was
never really sure why they did it. So I've I've
seen that work that day ball and Kafka kind of
collaborated collaborating on the offense this
year. And I think Kafka is kind of coming back
into the mix. That's what I kind of like to see,
because, again, we were successful when he was
in the mix of the offensive play calling. And
another I think big mess and. What and this goes
for both Shane and dables we've been completely
non -competitive in our division You know a division
that's you know tough of course especially with
how the Cowboys the Eagles and and now the commanders
have developed but We we've kind of just become
the laughing stock of the division and almost
the laughing stock at the NFC and and that's
just something I think They need to build out
of and I think we've seen with the commander's
Team that I think widely was regarded as a rebuilding
team last year Make the playoffs and completely
shock everyone So it's possible and it's even
possible in the division we're in And I would
of course like to see more progression from that
from that end of things So yeah, that's kind
of my my hits and misses for for the Shane Dable
regime so far in New York Dude, you and I have
known each other for a few years now. And I remember
several conversations we've had where we have
talked about the recent recent history of New
York Giants draft. And I've been like, man, that
should have been the bills draft for so many
years, right? I mean, bringing in guys like Drew
Phillips, even a guy like Jalen Hyatt, who it's
so hard to do, it's so hard to evaluate wide
receivers coming out of Tennessee, because they're
not running anything close to a normal route
tree. But take it taking bets on guys with traits
like that has always been something I have approved
of with Shane. And of course, like Tyler new
been coming out of Minnesota was one of my draft
crushes. Right. So I always feel like Shane still
carries with him that talented eye that he had
in Buffalo when he was advising being on the
draft picks that they wanted to make. And I definitely
think he's brought that to New York for sure.
You know, you bring up such a good point about
signing homegrown talent. And I wonder now that
so much of the Gettleman era has now been completely
purged from the roster. I wonder if you do see
that change in free agency with him prioritizing
a lot more of the guys he has drafted. That is
a hallmark of the Buffalo Bills and how they
operate. I mean, we just resigned Cleo Shakir,
Greg Rousseau, Terrell Bernard. I do wonder if
if that is now the next step Shane is going to
take, particularly after how publicly and poorly,
the Saquon Barkley situation landed, which we
will absolutely get to later on in this pod.
I cannot wait to hear your take on that. Do day
ball like, listen, love day ball. If I ever see
him in Buffalo, he'll never have to buy a beer,
right? beers are on Bill's mafia for everything
dayball did for this organization. But a big
reason for the tension between him and McDermott
is that dayball does refuse to kind of be modulated.
He refuses to like be checked in a way, which
I totally agree with your play calling take.
He's a talented play caller. But there is no
one now that he has head coach that can check
his accesses. Like there was in Buffalo with
McDermott, right? So you have to hope that he's
going to take that next step in his professional
development and his professional maturity and
allow other voices into the room when it comes
to that stuff. I agree with you. I think Kafka
is talented. I think Kafka understands personnel
and I think he understands the personnel you
guys have. I think if you can combine some of
that understanding. of what you have on paper
with some adables chops and X's and O's. I do
think you guys can be an improved offense this
year, particularly in the run game. Your offensive
line should be a really solid run blocking unit.
So I think I totally agree with your misses for
this era. And I definitely think that hope is
potentially on the horizon just based on some
of the recent changes we've seen. However, your
owner Mara Was very clear at the end of last
season he went through this big public evaluation
process and basically told both of these guys
You have a year to get your shit together. And
if something doesn't change remarkably, then
you're both out the door. So We've identified
the steps. We think these two need to take but
in your mind what needs to happen This season
for both Shane and day ball to retain their positions
and come back for 2026 Yeah, so I think For this
year, I think it's just competitiveness all around
throughout the year. And I touched on the division
a little bit, but I think it's just from top
to bottom, first week to last week, just being
competitive, showing competitiveness on tape.
You know, I think they both both Shane and Dable
can't afford to. Go into a home game against
the Baltimore Ravens like we did last year a
game in which I attended and get the doors Blown
off of them the entire game. I mean it was a
bloodbath They can't afford games like that anymore.
And I think I think from top to bottom no matter
who we face I think on tape we have to show that
we can be competitive and And that doesn't mean
I expect them to come out and put up a crazy
record. I don't think that's a smart goal for
them. As much as I would love to see us make
the playoffs like everyone else, I think in order
for Shane and Deval to keep their jobs, they
need to be competitive with everyone. And I think
we have the roster to do so. I think, you know,
they made some pickups again to be competitive,
I think. there's scheme possibilities that they
can run to take some teams off guard and put
some points on the board. And that's on both
sides of the ball. So I think and I think another
thing, too, in regards to and I touched on free
agency and the draft, I think it's it's showing
that the moves they made in the past were the
right moves. And that's kind of touching again
on the Saquon Barkley move and, you know, the
Xavier McKinney move and showing not only Mara,
but, you know, the entire football world, you
know, maybe we made the right decision because
now we have Tyrone Tracy, we have Camp Scadaboo,
Devin Singletary still in the backfield as a
veteran presence. Can they devise a scheme to
where, you know, they still put up good numbers
as a unit. Obviously, none of them are going
to be a Saquon Barkley type of player. But can
they still prove to the league, hey, we still
have a good run game, regardless of who's back
there? And I think the same goes on the defensive
side. I think there's a lot of talk going around
that we have one of the more Say scary defense
is purely because of our front and how do we
utilize that to to take advantage of other teams
weaknesses? So yeah, I think overall for me.
It's just competitiveness. You know, I don't
want to see a lot of blowouts this year I think
they can't afford to just be embarrassed week
in week out and I think it's also you know for
for table specifically I think It's just smart
coaching decisions and games. I think we've seen
times where it's late in the game and I'm watching
time drain off the clock in two minutes and now
we're screwed because we didn't handle clock
properly to end the game and now we lost. In
a game, it's an easy game we could have won.
I think it's things like that that we have to
put by the wayside and improve on and just play
smart football. Cuz like you said, if they don't,
they're both gone. And and Mara is not going
to mince words or worry about feelings. He wants
to win and I don't blame him. No, absolutely.
I mean, that's, that's the culture in all New
York sports, be it the Yankees, right, the Giants,
the Knicks, what have you. You know, you touch
on something interesting with the defense and
and this this idea that you have about competitiveness
showing that the team isn't quitting, right?
That defense you guys are going to be rolling
out there week after week, I think is going to
be key to that. There's actually a couple of
keys I want to talk to you about when it comes
to improvements your team can make. Let's start
with the defense since you're rolled into that.
But I think number two on this is the first round
QB that that you guys drafted in one Jackson
dart, right? But before you get to dart, excuse
me, let's talk about this defense. All right.
Dude, this D line is scary. This D line was scary
last year. Um, before the addition of Abdul Carter,
they had the third quickest time to pressure
rate out of any team in the league at 2 .56 seconds.
And they did a great job keeping most plays in
front of them, allowing the third lowest yak
in the league yet struggled in the red zone,
gave up some points in a bend, but kind of don't
break mentality. They have gone all out, bringing
in guys like Jevon Holland to add to that safety
room, uh, and help improve the play of Tyler
new Nubin and support him. You of course have
added Abdul Carter. You still have Dexter Lawrence
ye of 71 % double teams last season. And it didn't
seem to matter because the sack numbers were
still outrageous. Um, top to bottom, this defense
is great. And Oh, by the way, you've got if healthy,
a legitimate cover corner and um, Poulsen Adibo
as well, yet another guy I wish the Bills would
have looked at this offseason. So let's start
with that defense. But let's zoom in on that
on that defensive line. The Giants week in and
week out are going to go up against some really
good offensive lines within division. You've
got the O -line factory that is the Philadelphia
Eagles and defending Super Bowl champions. You've
got the Washington commanders. who added Laramie
Tunsel from the Houston Texans, and also have
a budding kind of controversy competition at
the other tackle spot between the veteran Andrew
Wiley and the rookie they drafted out of Oregon,
Josh Connerly. So you've got lots of improvements
in Washington. And then you've got Dallas, which
always seems to roll out a really solid offensive
line units with guys like Guyton and Smith in
the rolls. So talk to me a little bit, Logan,
if you would. How do you think this already impressive
now maybe, maybe best in the league defensive
line is going to fare week in and week out against
some of these talented offensive lines within
division? Yeah. So again, a lot of our divisional
opponents obviously bolstered their line. Um,
as you had mentioned, um, I think what we have
a great opportunity to do is come up with so
many different looks and schemes that we pretty
much negate the talent that these other teams,
you know, specifically our divisional rivals
have added to their offensive line. You know,
Dexter Lawrence is known around the league as
an absolute force in the middle of that defensive
line, you know, negating even double teams that
get put on him. I think having Having him so
worried about in the center It's gonna free up
a lot of opportunity for the guys we have on
the edge and Abdul Carter cave on Thibodeau Brian
Burns To just wreak havoc off the edge and these
are all guys who can move off of the edge of
the line So I think we have a great opportunity
to to take the lead by storm because again Yes
offensive lines have five guys, but How fat how
much can they keep up for you know 15 minutes
a quarter? With this defensive line, you know,
how quickly can we tell your teams out? I think
I think we can really take advantage of the speed
we have on this line to tire these offensive
lines out and now you get into the fourth quarter
and They're gassed and our guys are still coming
off the edge attacking the quarterback and we're
just It's pressure, pressure, pressure. And I
think it'll make it easier for everyone behind
them. It'll make it easier for those linebackers
that have to maybe cover a quick guy out of the
backfield. It'll make it easy for our secondary.
You know, you mentioned Javon Holland, obviously
a very successful safety coming over from Miami.
You know, I think it'll be interesting to see
how Maybe we factor in Tyler new been to that
that front because he's a guy who can come up
and fail and he can Come into the box because
now we have a strong guy behind him in Jevon
Holland to cover I Just think there's so many
scheme opportunities we can put together with
this D line That I'm extremely excited for and
I'm looking forward to seeing what we what we
do on the field I think everyone Who's a part
of that D line has a chance to put up insane
numbers? Whether it's your your everyday stats
or your your deeper Statistical categories, you
know, you know pressure rate stuff like that.
I think they can all put up insane numbers and
I think You know there there's guys behind those
big names that also have ability to to contribute
You got you have a guy like DJ Davidson who's
another big guy who, you know, not many people
know about because he sits behind Dexter Lawrence.
You know, what can you do with two massive dudes
in the middle who clog up that middle and now
you have, you know, a scheme where you still
have Kavon Thibodeau, Brian Burns, and a dual
Carter out there, you know, rushing from the
outside or maybe one drops back into cover. It's
just a very exciting scenario that we have for
this year. I'm pumped for it. And I can't wait
to see what they do that weekend and week out.
And dude, you guys are going to be not just solid
against the pass, right? But I mean, low key,
you guys are going to be so good against the
run Dexter Lawrence, as we have said, as a gap
eater in the middle of that line, but cave on
Thibodeau. Low key maybe one of the better edge
edge setters when it comes to defending the run
game as well. I watched I was watching some of
his tape in preparation for this and you know
the pressure rate is not always there with him.
in the pass rest situation. But I ended up watching
a lot of his run stops and run stuffs. Dude,
that guy gets clean off the edge. He gets a beat
on the on the opposing running back so quickly.
His his play recognition and his run diagnosis
is so fast. And he makes his decisions in a split
second. And with that raw athleticism, he is
off. I got to tell you, he's very impressive
against the run. I just think you guys have a
well rounded defensive line that Honestly, and
I mean this wholeheartedly nothing sarcastic
like is the envy I think of Bill's mafia because
this is the type of line block by block. personnel
type by personnel type that Bean has been trying
to build for so long, and for whatever reason
just has not been able to and here it is gift
wrapped for you Giants fans. I think it's a great
building block to again regain that competitive
edge that you noted you feel like is needed for
this team to kind of take that next step into
relevance in the division. So let's flip over
to the offensive side of the ball. We alluded
to this earlier, Shane and Dayball. Got to use
the first round pick this year on their guy.
They got to pick their QB and one Jackson Dart.
And he is going to start the Saturday against
the Buffalo Bills, uh, seeing his first live
football action. So I have not admittedly, uh,
done a lot of homework on Jackson Dart as of
yet. Um, not a part of the dart discourse only
because, you know, JJ and I, because we have
the benefit of Josh Allen, we don't scout a lot
of QBs in the preseason. So give us some insights
if you could into what you're seeing from Jackson
Dart and what you hope you're going to see this
Saturday when he takes the field. Yeah. So I
think Jackson Dart is another one of these young
quarterbacks who fits this mold that Brian Dable
loves. And it fits this. I said the same thing
when we had Daniel Jones. He he compares in ways
with Josh Allen. He's a guy who, you know, it's
not necessarily your your Lamar Jackson of running
and running past people, but he can move and
he's not afraid to take a hit and he will fight
for those extra yards. And Jackson also got a
big arm as does Josh Allen. So I think he. He
fits that mold that I think you know Brian Dable
is looking to have at quarterback And I think
just this year so far as a rookie in camp he's
he's done a lot of good things He's had some
growing pains like, you know, most rookie quarterbacks
do From what I've seen is he's he's caught on
to Just the NFL scheme quickly and the Giants
game quickly, which is great I think he's soaking
in every opportunity that he has with the veteran
quarterbacks on our roster, especially Jameis
Winston. I mean, he made it known that he wants
to come to New York and help a guy like Jackson
Dart who was a rookie progress in the NFL. And
I think Jackson Dart has really taken advantage
of that. And that's great to see because, you
know, you see these guys coming to the NFL and,
you know, Whether they're expected to be this
first year starter or not They kind of just do
things on their own whether and they may even
have their own their own way of doing things,
but You know Jackson Dart has really taken The
he's really taken advantage of the ability to
the learn of the veterans that Joe Shane brought
in To to assist Jackson Dart and I think just
watching some of his tape from the preseason
It looks like he's making a lot of good decisions
with the ball He's made a couple off script plays
that I've seen where he's still gotten the ball
to the receiver even on a busted play Which of
course is always good to see because those type
of things happen in game And I think he's developing
connections early with receivers I think Theo
Johnson is someone who he's favored it as far
as a target which you know We have two phenomenal
tight ends already And it's good to see that
he's developing a connection with these with
these guys who are most definitely gonna play
a big role in our offense You know I Touching
on the good things and maybe you know touching
on a quick struggle. I've seen where he's maybe
held on to the ball a Tick too long and someplace
But again, it's it's a part of those growing
pains It'll be interesting to see how he does
against live -action this weekend You know another
team coming at him that can hit him, you know
that that speed of the game How was he gonna
react to the speed of the NFL? Now that you know,
we're live and this isn't practice anymore. So
I'm excited for him. I think there's a lot of
good things that have shown I think he Was the
best option for Brian Dable coming out of this
draft just with his play style and and his kind
of the swag he brings with him and his Characteristics,
I think he's the perfect guy for Brian table
coming out of this draft and Hopefully we can
succeed enough as a team to where Brian Dable
gets to use him at quarterback And and John Mara
doesn't ship Brian Dable off somewhere else and
someone else gets to use Jackson dirt. So But
yeah. Let me ask you, let me ask you about that,
right? Cause your guys schedule the season, bro.
It is scary stuff, right? So, so do you really
want to see Jackson Dart this season? Let me,
I'm going to run through some of your first games
and you tell me where you want to see Jackson
Dart finally get the keys to the, to the, to
the Porsche. All right. So you open up the season,
uh, at commanders, then you've got the Cowboys.
Then you've got the chiefs. Then you've got the
chargers. So you've got for out of your first
four games, you've got three playoff teams from
last season. Then you've got the saints kind
of an easy one, but then you got the Eagles.
Then you got the Broncos. Then you got the Eagles
again. Then you got the Niners. Then you have
the much improved Ben Johnson led bears. Then
the Packers, the lions, the Patriots, the commanders.
The Vikings and then you finish up with the Raiders
and the Cowboys Sir that is a brutal draw this
season so like it I get it everyone wants to
see like their their first round pick it in there
but like do you really want to see him in there
this season because I feel like there's there
is risk to the young man's life right so pick
your spot. If you see him roll out this season
where would you want it to be. If he does roll
out this season, I would I would like to see
it probably post week 13. You know, once I wouldn't
want to see him roll out this season until we're
out of playoff picture. And even if we're out
early, I still wouldn't want to see it until
later in the year. I think for me and I think
I think for me, I don't Don't really want to
see him out there at all this year I think this
is an opportunity to learn from our mistakes
with Daniel Jones and rushing on early QB and
to a starting role now mind you I There's a part
of me that understands that we kind of had to
with Daniel Jones. We we didn't have much outs
at the time You know, we were one of those teams
where it was top quarterback. He was gonna start
first year Now what in hindsight when I say Daniel
Jones was the top quarterback in that draft probably
not but You know again, we learned from our mistakes
I think what Jackson dart I would like us to
to take a route That I think a lot of Patriots
fans last year wanted to see what Drake may This
is the correct comp. Yes, keep going. We utilize
our veterans to just get beat down and save Jackson
Dart for another year and just let him develop
again. He's got all the opportunity in the world
to develop and learn from two veterans, one who
is a former Super Bowl champion and one who Had
both success at the college level and Jamis Winston
as a Heisman Trophy winner and has had some success
in the NFL though. It hasn't been a lot He's
out. He has had some success and as a veteran
in the league and has been around multiple different
teams So I I think there's a great opportunity
to learn from our past mistakes and I would love
to see us do so and again save Jackson darts
life from as you said and a brutal draw for a
schedule. Dude, it is rough. And I get you guys
have made some tweaks to the offensive line too,
but he's inheriting an offensive line that gave
up the sixth highest pressure rate last year
and the fifth highest quick pressure rate last
season to like the almost the complete opposite
of your defense, right? It's a tough situation
to put a rookie and then you add that schedule
on top of it. I kind of agree with you. I think
you just roll out the vets for as long as you
can. And also keeping in mind, too, that at Ole
Miss, Jackson Dart didn't really run a traditional
pro style offense, right? You know, Lane Kiffin
is highly creative head coach and a highly creative
play caller. But we have seen Ole Miss. We have
seen Ole Miss products before really struggled
to adapt to NFL offenses. And Dayball runs. you
know, despite his hotheadedness, one of the most
in structure type of offensive particular offenses,
particularly in the passing game that you could
imagine he loves these big guys. And he loves
the ability to option the quarterback run. But
that pass game is all about picking your spots
downfield and pushing the ball and operating
in structure. And he starts going to have to
acclimate to that for sure. But it is exciting,
dude. I'm with you. I hope If you do see him,
it's not till the end of the season, even though
I don't also love the idea of him like facing
a blind Brian Flores led Minnesota defense either.
But if you got to see it, dude, I agree with
you. The timing has to be at the end of the year.
All right, before we get to the game real quick.
I need your take on this. So the bills are being
featured on Hard Knocks this season. I actually
had the chance to watch the first episode. I've
watched a lot of Hard Knocks in my time as a
football fan, and this had to be the most wholesome
episode of Hard Knocks I've ever seen in my life.
Like a third of the episode is Trey White, and
they're following him to this ice cream shop
in like Pittsburgh or something. And he's just
trying to get an ice cream sundae named after
himself, which I believe he was successful in
doing. I loved it. It was very Bill's Mafia coded
and I absolutely loved it. But the connective
tissue here is that your giants were on it last
season. Very, I would say infamously for one
interaction in particular, and this was the Joe
Shane, Saquon Barkley debate and then ultimate
phone call between Shane and Barkley where Shane
tells them they're not going to make him a make
him an offer, right? It has become memeable.
It has been pointed to by a lot of football execs
as why Hard Knocks is a bad thing to have in
your camp. So I want to ask you this one. What
was it like watching all that play out in real
time on Hard Knocks and then to do you think
the Buffalo Bills Hard Knocks season this year
will give us anything as remotely memorable as
that clip of the Shane Barkley debate? Yeah,
so I can sum up watching. that series of events
with one word, and that one word is pain. I'm
so sorry. Yeah, so it wasn't fun. I still have
a Saquon Barkley jersey sitting in my closet.
That's so awesome. And every Sunday when I go
to choose a jersey, I look at it, a small sigh
comes out of me, and I move on to the next one.
But yeah, it was... Certainly not a fun situation
to watch unfold. It was quite. Frustrating at
the time you have this. Essentially golden egg
at the running back position sitting there telling
you he wants to be part of your team, not really
pressing on the financial aspect. And again,
he deserves every dollar he gets with his talent.
And we're kind of like. We're fine. No, thanks.
Do I think you guys will have as memorable of
a moment? I'm not sure you could have as memorable
of a moment, even if you tried. Again, that's
probably the correct take. I think you guys have,
whether you believe so or not, have handled the
James Cook situation a little bit better. Mind
you, I haven't watched it as intently. But it
seems you are in a much better situation that
we were with Saquon Barkley. I think, you know,
Bean has probably got this in the back of his
mind, like Kayla. Let's not embarrass ourselves
like they did last year and create this clip.
Maybe I'll watch what I say to some of our star
players who we might be in contract negotiations
with. It's in touching on the hard knocks thing.
It's it's super cool to watch the the bills this
year I'm a big hard knocks fan myself. I I loved
watching my my own team It last year as much
as like you had much in the exact show like this
is why it's horrible for you know the league
As a fan. I love it. I get to see all the behind
-the -scenes stuff I hope you enjoy it, and I
believe you'll enjoy it as much as I watched
it. Hopefully, you don't have as many infuriating
moments as I had, but I hope you enjoy it. I
do enjoy watching it this year, mainly because
they're at my alma mater and St. John Fisher
University. Yo, shout out. Hey, now. That's a
fun part for me. To circle back to kind of your
question, no, I don't think you guys will have
as memorable of a moment as Joe Shane did last
year. Yeah, I agree. I think Bean and McDermott
are going to be allergic to finding moments like
that. I think we're supposed to get some of the
James Cook hold in stuff on next week's episode,
I assume. But I agree with you. I mean, I recorded
a podcast earlier here at the start of the preseason.
And I made the case for paying James Cook, I
think, you know, and I would this is off script,
I would love your take on this. Because I've
been maligned on the interwebs for this take.
But you know, we brought in a guy like Josh Palmer,
who is, you know, supposedly the separation expert
at the wide receiver position and time will only
tell. And I am told we can't pay James Cook $13
million a year, because he's a running back,
right. And there's only so few guys that are
in that 13 to $15 million range. And he he doesn't
qualify for that, because of the position he
plays takeaway position. And I asked myself the
question, who is more valuable to the Buffalo
Bills? Is it James Cook? or is it Josh Palmer?
To me, it's James Cook for everything he needs
to this run scheme, for everything how he fits
into the zone blocking alignments that Aaron
Kromer wants to run. And to me, position aside,
the guy who has the ability to have the most
impact on the roster is a guy like James Cook.
And I'd rather give him the $13 million a year,
as opposed to like the third or fourth wide receiver
from the LA Chargers bench. You know what I mean?
Yeah. But like, I understand the positional value
argument, like I've seen all the charts, I get
it, right? But when it just comes down to which
dude is more valuable, I think back to that AFC
Championship game, and the person who played
his best game in that loss to Kansas City wasn't
Josh Allen for as much as I love Josh. He came
out super nervous at the beginning of that game.
Wasn't anyone on the defense. Wasn't even Khalil
Shakir. It was James Cook on 13 touches. two
touchdowns shredding the Kansas City defense
and keeping us in that game offensively. That's
the dude I want to give $13 million to not a
guy who is departing a team that is desperate
for wide receivers, but also was happy to like
say goodbye to him and let him leave the, you
know, walk out the door. But I am open to being
wrong Logan. So tell me, am I wrong with that
take on James Cook? No, I, I agree with you.
Um, I felt the same way with Saquon Barkley last
year. I can understand the argument with positional
value. Obviously, everyone makes the argument
where running backs don't last in the NFL. How
long will that argument last? We have no idea.
But like every position in the NFL, the minimum
ask for new contracts is growing. I mean, for
example, the wide receiver market right now.
Some of these top guys are getting insane Contracts
that a few years ago. We would have never thought
would have been getting rolled out the quarterback
markets always growing I Think the running back
markets gonna grow too. Oh, you know in a couple
years it I Think I think the value of a running
back is going to change as Once teams and execs
truly recognize how much it opens up an offense
to have a good running back. And if you really
build, I mean, not to beat a dead horse, but
say Juan Barclay and the Eagles, great. And again,
they have a phenomenal offensive line that really
played to his success, but how much he opened
up their offense. Teams had to load boxes against
the Eagles because if they didn't, it was an
easy 200 yard day for him. And that opened up
now a top tier receiver and AJ Brown and another
Very good receiver and Devontae Smith To take
advantage of a weak secondary on teams because
there was no one to shadow them over top They
were one -on -one and all they had to do was
beat their guy so so to your point if you have
a guy like a James Cook who You know is proven
to be valuable in many facets of your offense.
Why not pay him? I mean What why why not he if
he opens up your offense as much as he has and
and brings But like you you can't You can't sit
there and say while our offense is better without
him And everything he opens up for our offense
is gonna stay open once he's gone 100 % I doubt
it. I doubt it happens. I mean, maybe it does
who know who knows maybe Ray Davis can come in
and be James Cook 2 .0 Yeah, maybe probably helpful,
but you know Again, that's to me. That's me not
knowing a lot about Ray Davis But still you have
such a valuable guy who's done nothing but be
successful for you in your offense Why why take
the risk and now you know You're gonna run you
might run into the same scenario in another four
years with another running back get your guy
Who's gonna be successful for you for another,
you know? maybe five, six years. And then you
you of course have to reevaluate later on. Yes,
I agree with you. And I think your take on the
the ever evolving nature of positional value
for running backs is it's at the forefront of
my mind as we have this conversation. Like you
guys paid Darius Slayton The money that Saquon
Barkley was asking for last season. You paid
that to him this off season and no one batted
an eye. But can anyone honestly say that Darius
Slayton, for as solid as a wide receiver as he
is, is more valuable to the Giants offense than
Saquon Barkley was? I think the answer is universally
no. You know, and you mentioned Barkley and how
he unlocked Philly. I would add you a Derek Henry
and how he unlocked Baltimore and Lamar Jackson
as well. And these are two O -line factories,
right? Baltimore and Philly, they seem to find
great offensive linemen at every level of the
draft, at every level of the scrap heap and free
agency. They bring these guys into their system
and they are almost immediately successful. Mackay
Beckton resurrected his career in Philly last
year after a disastrous turn with the Jets to
start his career. The Buffalo Bills had a similar
sort of O -line Academy under Cromer. And I think
a lot of Bills mafia are like, well, you can
plug and play anybody into that system and they'll
be successful. And I would argue, no, that there
has to be this, this meeting in the middle of
traits and skills of the right wide receiver.
and the scheme to in order to fully maximize
it. And I feel like James Cook is the guy that
can fully maximize it. I love Ray Davis, but
he's a much different running back than James
Cook is. And I don't think people understand
how much that blocking scheme and Buffalo would
have to change to accommodate a guy like Ray
Davis, who is more of a north south runner. One
cut, boom runs downhill. Whereas James Cook has
S tier field vision. And he can buy time behind
the line of scrimmage, find the right hole, the
perfect hole, and then boom, he is through it
with that elite level acceleration that he brings
to the table. You can you find another guy like
James Cook someday? Sure, right? I just don't
think that person's on the roster right now.
And I again, If I'm investing $13 million on
somebody in the bill's current cap situation,
I'd rather give it to the guy who has proven
to be successful in the scheme. And oh, by the
way, their most successful and the biggest moments
that this team has faced, right? We oh my god,
I could go on this forever. I can go on this
forever. The bills are constantly like Brandon
Bean, where are the stars? Why don't you draft
stars? All you drafted was Josh, right? James
Cook is probably a star in the system. And we're
like, ah, but he's a running back, let him go.
And let's see what this like fifth round pick
out of Iowa State can do next year. I'm like,
it just drives me crazy. Just pay, pay the man
and stop giving money to Curtis Samuel, right?
All right. Anyway, all we got a game to talk
about. Let's talk about a game. All right. So
you've already talked about what you want to
see from Jackson Dart real quick here, Logan,
because I want to see if I can get us an under
an hour for the pod today. Give us some names
that Buffalo Bills fans should keep an eye out
other than Jackson Dart and other than some of
the more notable guys. Who are some dudes who
you think we should be keeping an eye out for
as the GMN take the field against the Bills this
week? My first name to keep an eye out for is,
I would say Jalen Hyatt. A guy who, you know,
at a point in his young career where he almost
has to resurrect his career. And it's wild to
say that considering where we picked him up in
the draft. But this is a guy who has to prove
he belongs still on this roster. I think it'll
be interesting to see what he does and and kind
of the the route tree they have him run And a
new what I think is gonna be a new kind of offense
given the pieces we have now You know, he came
out of college being that deep threat guy and
we never really utilized him as such and he's
playing at a heavier weight this year by about
15 20 pounds Is he still that guy that we expect
to go down the field and and just burn past everyone?
Is he gonna be a more technical guy with his
routes? That's that's someone who I'm definitely
Keeping an eye out for and I I think you know,
that's someone bills fans should keep an eye
out for especially, you know You know, I I know
the secondary is a touch point we've talked about
with with your bills for for quite some time
and You know, it's it'll be interesting to see
Who Jalen Hayek gets matched up against on the
Bills? I don't expect it to be a tradavious white
or anyone like that, but still I still Look to
to see him take some strides in this first game
and show he belongs Another guy who I doubt many
people know of is Dante Miller one of our running
backs He is a guy who he goes by turbo for his
explosiveness Such a good nickname for running
back. Yeah turbo Miller is his nickname I think
he's a guy who it'll be interesting to watch
and Buffalo's to keep an eye out for for his
pure explosiveness as he tries to Prove that
he belongs and potentially take a third string
roll away from a veteran like Devin Singletary
I think he can provide some depth explosiveness,
especially given Camp's cataboo is currently
battling a hamstring injury. So it'll be interesting
to see what he does as he tries to prove that
he belongs on the Giants. My third and final
guy is a guy that most football fans probably
know, especially in the Giants nation, Evan Neil.
I am very curious to see how he performs on the
inside as he makes this shift. Especially as
you notated a Bills D -line who is looking to
find their identity and that's something I'm
kind of watching out for too is how our offensive
line looks against a team who obviously has some
guys in the front who can make plays and might
be our Put some new schemes and stuff like that.
So I'm, I'm very curious to see how I have a
new place. Does he make that shift smooth? Um,
and does it look right for him? Um, because he's
another guy, he doesn't perform on the inside.
He might be, he might be a, a cut victim. So,
um, those are kind of three guys that I've, I'm
kind of keeping an eye out for as they kind of
try to prove themselves, um, for the giants.
Love it, man. We have this segment here that
we call prediction sure to go wrong. It's where
me and JJ will make a bunch of game time predictions
and stuff like that for whatever the bills are
facing in the week ahead. So give us your prediction
sure to go wrong here for the G men this weekend
on Saturday. What do you think is going to be
the final score for this game? Final score. I
know it's a preseason game, right? The over -under
I think is like two and a half in favor of the
Bills because it's at home Like none of these
lines matter if you're betting preseason football
lines, please seek help to all the listeners
out there. Yeah Yeah, I fully agree if you're
bad and I probably got some good buddies that
are that are probably bad preseason football
I say this and I may or may not have a four -leg
parlay on this game My score prediction, I honestly,
truthfully, I think it'll be like a 28 -21 game.
I think we see some points put on the board.
I think I'm going to go in favor of my Giants.
I have to, 28 -21 Giants, but I think we'll see
some points put on the board. I think it'll be
a good game. I think it'll be definitely an eye
-opening game and I'm excited for it. Nice. I'm
gonna give you a prop bet here too, because this
is also a signature of the show. So I'm gonna
give you over under one and a half TDs for Jackson
Dart and his first pro action. I'm hitting the
over. Yo, all right, I mean listen our secondary
is beat up but come on man I'm heading over and
no shade at the bill secondary, but I'm hitting
over I think one of them's gonna be a deep ball
and I think he another one's just gonna be a
good driving leads down and and gets another
touchdown so I'm gonna hit over Very nice. I
will definitely make sure to bring this up in
the post game when I when I recap this game All
right, man, I'm gonna get you out of here on
this. You are an avid fantasy football junkie,
right? Me and JJ, we like to recklessly gamble,
you like to play fantasy football, and I respect
your discipline way more than ours. You are in...
I want to talk about players, right? But before
we do that, I am fascinated by the fantasy league
that you're in, because you're in one of this
like long running, very competitive league with
some of your bunnies. And you guys have... Maybe
the most creative loser bets I've ever heard
of before So I need a sneak peek and I think
our listeners would love this as well What are
some of the what are some of the things you guys
are? Contemplating this year in your league to
make the losers of your league do yeah, so I
Love the punishment thing we've put into our
league. It's a phenomenal twist so incredible
A couple this year. Now these are ones that have
not been chosen in the past and I think they'll
make a return in the pool of punishments. The
first one being a raft made of milk cartons where
you will then have to use that raft to cross
Delta Lake here in Rome, New York. Oh my god.
And the milk I've been told will have to be consumed
by the one will that is building the raft will
hold true or not. I'm not sure that That is not
my punishment, but that is when I have heard
will make a return most likely. Oh my god It's
so good. The second one is to sign up and do
a one -minute stand -up comedy set unprepared
prior to I really wish we weren't audio only
I'm like tearing up with fresh off the mind Comedy
set one minute at a comedy club that you can
possibly get into to do a one minute set Just
one minute open mic. Oh my god The third one
that I've been told may make a return is to recreate
the Darren Waller music video Now, as many football
fans know, Darren Waller left the game of football
to become a rapper. It was unsuccessful. A large
meme that came from that was his music video.
That was one that was one that was brought up
in a return. The final one and is the one that
I have chosen to bring back this year that was
unfortunately not selected last year, as you
must take a blow up doll on a date to a restaurant.
Now I am praying this gets chosen I will personally
be attending the restaurant of the loser when
they go if my gets chosen So those are just a
few that I that I'm pretty sure will make a return
this year It's always fun. It is always a thrill
at the end of the year When you have they get
you the guys that are battling to not finish
last because they don't want to suffer through
this so Oh my god, I have so much respect for
you right now. These are all these are all absolutely
incredible, Logan. Absolutely incredible. All
right. Let's talk real quick about some of your
top picks, right? Yeah, give me give me like
two or three guys you think are going to be sneaky
good picks this year and then guys you think
we should stay away from. Yeah, so so a first
guy that I think could be a sneaky good pick
this year and it's going to be a giant is Wanda
Robinson Really? Oh good talk. Yeah, talk to
me about this. Oh So we saw what the Steelers
and this is more so about Russell Wilson, you
know Russell Wilson to the surprise of I think
some Steelers fans, especially ones that I know
Didn't feed George Pickens as much as you think
he would be in your star receiver. He fed some
of the guys around him I think Wanda Robinson
has proven to be a Good slot receiver and I think
he could possibly be a viable flex option If
Russell Wilson takes that same route as far as
you know, maybe he doesn't feed Malik neighbors
as much As people might think and he's feeding
some guys around him and I think Wanda Robinson
can can be that guy and produce and give you
some You know 10 -point flex weeks For your fantasy
team, so he's he's a guy who who I'm I definitely
think could be a sneaky back and draft guy Um,
another pick for me, um, I have multiple in my
head, so I'm trying to go through that Rolodex.
I'm trying, I'm trying to just choose one. Um,
uh, I think another good one for me who I think
some people should keep an eye on. I think he's
kind of gone by the wayside given his counterpart
is Dave in Montgomery. Um, yeah. I understand
the injury worries with David Montgomery, especially
the back half of the year. But prior to his injury,
I mean, David Montgomery and Jameer Gibbs were
hand in hand in fantasy production. I think people
are counting him out sooner than he should be.
I don't know how much the Lions are really going
to feed Jameer Gibbs if they don't have to. Do
they go back to what they had when they had a
healthy Dave in Montgomery? And you know, maybe
Jameer Gibbs gets to starting not every game
and Dave in Montgomery is the second string guy
But does Dave Montgomery take a lot of touchdowns
from Jameer Gibbs? Does he take that red zone
work? I think that's definitely something to
look out for And then Let's see my my third and
my final one Go on to my Rolodex again, so I
take it down You know, I'm gonna I'll pick a
different position I'll go with tight end here.
Um I'm gonna take Travis Kelsey And it's it's
surprising to even me to say that Travis Kelsey
is like a sneaky option for fantasy But I think
last year there were a lot of fantasy players
who are incredibly disappointed with Travis Kelsey
and his production rightfully So he had some
drop problems He was not the fantasy tight end
people thought he was going to be. And I understand
the age worries, but Travis Kelsey is Travis
Kelsey. He's arguably one of the best tight ends
to ever play the game for a reason. I think he
could have a bounce back year. I think when the
Chiefs get their full receiving corps and all
the weapons that they now have at their receiving
corps with Rashid Rice, Xavier Worthy. They still
have Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. Do we see Kelsey
come back and kind of remake a name for himself
in the fantasy light and put up those old numbers
he did because now teams have more to worry about
than just Travis Kelsey. So those are kind of
my three people to look out for, kind of guys
that go under the wayside. You know some some
later some guys that I think will follow later
rounds this year I think would definitely keep
your eye on and definitely consider For your
fantasy team this year Nice very cool, dude.
I appreciate that and listen Logan I appreciate
you taking the time to chat with us today. Of
course. It was a pleasure Great having you on,
man. Hopefully we'll get you back on soon. For
all of you listening at home, like, share and
subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. We
are on YouTube, Apple and Spotify. And as always,
go Bills.