Welcome back to the Buffalo Bread Podcast. I'm
J .J. Bryce, one of your co -hosts who has been
notoriously absent this summer. Here as always
with or here as not always with Dan Roberts.
Dan, how are you doing, buddy? I'm doing good,
man. It's great to have you back to talk some
Bills football. We have a lot of catching up
to do. Unlike our previous off seasons where
we have been had a constant line of text communication
going back and forth and phone calls catching
up about the squad. We literally have not talked.
any bills together on the same pod or in the
same conversation all summer. So I'm great. It's
great to finally get back into it with you. Yeah,
I'm excited. It's kind of a interesting off season,
the bills, of course, being on hard knocks a
lot of different develops developments with a
roster in a very defensive heavy. roster and
rookie class that we can talk through. And you
know, I know that we've had a number of friends
of the pod and I'm as always ever thankful for
those guys to come on and talk some football
with you when when I was unable. So, yeah, I
mean, where do you want to begin with this this
offseason? We're recording on August 21st. We're
the last week of the preseason games this Saturday
against the Buccaneers happens. And then it's
kind of off to this off to the races with the
season. Cut day is next Saturday. Um, let's,
let's work our way from the present into the
past, because I think there are some notable
things that came out of Bill's practice today.
Uh, I think most importantly, potential injury
situation with Trey white Trey white goes down
today, a practice JJ, uh, it appears to be a
right leg, right foot, lower body injury. We
know that Trey unfortunately has a history of
struggling with these injuries. It's part of
what ended his original stint with the Bills
a couple of years back. Bills were hoping for
a healthy season out of him, hoping that he could
elevate the floor of this cornerback room that
outside of Christian Benford last season really
got picked on by opposing teams. But it looks
like with the injury to Trey. some uncertainty
now as to who is going to play opposite Benford,
given who is left on the roster. JJ, what we
don't know is what the type of injury is, if
he will miss time, if he does miss time, how
much, but given Trey White's recent history with
injuries of this nature, I think it's a little
bit unsettling and it opens up a lot of questions
about Do the Bills need to now make a move here
a few days, a few weeks before the season starts
to go get a reliable CB2 to play opposite Christian
Benford? I think that the Bills need to do something
at CB2, but that thing might be thrusting Maxwell
Hairston into starting because I think he's healthy.
I think that they've they've decided they've
probably at this point decided that he if they're
watching the same games I am. they've probably
decided that Harrison needs to start across from
Christian Benford. And Trey White being injured
is super unfortunate because I think we both
appreciate what Trey has been as a player for
this team. But the story of him getting older
and having repeated severe serious lower body
injuries year over year and then struggling with
rehab and coming back and looking a little bit
slower, a little bit older. Uh, as is the case
with so many players that this may be the way
his career ends. Um, if this is another serious
one, because he bounced around on different teams
while rehabbing and trying to come back to form
last year. Um, and the Bills were excited to
bring him back as healthy as he's been in four
seasons. Um, and you know, if this is something,
you know, I guess he was hopping off on one leg
and then was taken by a cart to the locker room.
Uh, which I think sad Brown pointed out. may
not have been because of severity, it might have
been because it's a long, wide way of walking
up a ramp from the, you know, practice facility
back to the locker room. So, I don't know, we'll
see what comes of it, but I think that it's probably
Maxwell Harrison. I think they're hopeful that
his injury resolves in a way and he doesn't go
backwards in any way. When the team starts the
season, But I do think that there's a chance,
you know, if we're looking around, Sante Samuel
Jr. still out there, Rasul Douglas, you know,
maybe he rides again with the Bills, even though
he looked pretty cooked in his the last four
to six games of the season with the Bills. Stefan
Gilmore, another retread that they could consider
back, who has had some actual solid seasons in
his later career. He's been effective. Yeah,
he's been effective. He's been probably an average
to just above average starting outside corner
for the last two or three seasons. And then James
Bradbury would be the classic Sean McDermott
hire in this situation, somebody who is way past
his prime. You know might be able to do some
stuff Who's the the former Carolina Panthers?
CB who got trucked by Derek Henry that we had
on the team for one Josh Norman Josh Norman James
Bradbury would be like the Josh Norman redemption
arc Which was a one season kind of fizzle and
failure? Yeah, I think it's yeah. Yeah, no keep
going keep going. Oh, yeah No, I think that that's
where they're at. You know next man up Dane Jackson's
Marcus Ingram Dorian strong This could be Dorian
Strong's Christian Benford story, where he is
drafted in a late round, is forced into an opportunity
starting, you know, opposite on the outside and
never relinquishes that position. And that would
be great if that's the way this arc ended up
going. And I agree with you. The answer is probably
in the long run over 17 games Hairston when he
does get healthy and when he does come back.
But even when even when camp started, the Bills
were coaching him really, really hard. Like he
was still struggling with core concepts of the
defense, his positioning in zone in particular.
I mean, the athletic traits, the pop, the speed.
the closing speed in particular, something we
haven't seen a Bills DB be able to do across
the middle in some time. I mean, it's all there
with Harrison. I don't know that this bills coaching
staff though JJ is going to pull the trigger
on putting him in the starting lineup. The moment
he is healthy. I think it's more likely they're
going to platoon him in get him comfortable is
he if he has given a clean bill of health by
week one or by week two. I could see it be as
far as maybe week six or even seven before we
see Harrison in there and I think they roll with
a rotation of Dane Jackson into Marcus Ingram
two guys. who we know exactly what we're getting
out of them and the bills like predictability
out of those positions. I think we roll the platoon
of those two guys until Harrison gets not only
the clean bill of health, but the blessing of
this bill's coaching staff to be able to take
the reins opposite Christian Benford. I think
that's more more likely than not. I'm not ruling
out a free agent CB at this particular point
either. But I mean, listen, Stefan or Rizul Douglas
gives you exactly what Trey White was giving
you. And at least here in the preseason love
Trey. This is not Trey Slander. But the reality
is, is that game he played against the Giants
in the preseason getting cooked across the middle.
Jackson Dart. Jackson Dart regularly targeting
Trey White in one -on -one coverage. The floor
of both Douglas and White to me is the same,
and to me it's a wash, and I would stay away
from Douglas. Asante Samuel Jr. doesn't have
the tackling chops that the Bills typically look
for in the run game and specifically from their
cornerbacks. Gilmore is the only one maybe out
there I take a fly around because again, he's
been really effective. His closest defender metrics,
while those are really difficult to sort website
to website, you know, be it PFF or be it, um,
FTN, his closest defender metrics are still pretty
good for a guy his age to me out of the free
agent group that's available. He brings the highest
floor to the squad, but also probably the heftiest
price tag too. Sure, but I think it's one of
those things where you know things you don't
want to cheap out on hiking boots tents. and
outside starting cornerbacks. You pay for what
you get, right? Like you want tools, right? Like
there are things that you are worth their cost
and Stefan Gilmore, in a moment against Patrick
Mahomes for the AFC championship, having that
extra yard of closure speed or that extra length
to bat down a ball, that might be the trick,
right? That might be worth three or $4 million.
Yeah, absolutely. Uh, a lot of wait and see here.
We got to see what the nature of Trey White's
injury is. God forbid it is using a season ending.
I think at that point, the bill has got to make
a move. I just don't think you can roll in with
Dane Jackson, Jamarcus Ingram, Dorian Strong
and Maxwell Harrison as your rotation for 17
straight games. I think you need one more vet.
Well, and I think too that if, if in fact this
is a a season ending injury for Trey White, it's
probably a career ending injury for Trey White.
Just based on age, based on the way his abilities
looked even at what we'd consider full health
this summer. Yeah, hopefully. Hopefully not the
case. Wish him the best of Trey. Throwing our
thoughts out there to him. We love Trey. He is
a Buffalo Bill through and through. And we hope
that whatever it is that Al's him right now,
it is a quick and speedy recovery and he can
get back on the field for the squad. JJ, speaking
of on the field, there is a younger member of
the Bill secondary that has had issues getting
on the field due to injuries both last offseason
and this offseason. And he has been called out
by one Sean McDermott. And I, of course, am speaking
about about my 2020 for 2024. Yes, draft crush
one Cole Bishop who the bill's been a second
round pick on injuries have limited his availability
and when he has been on the field, the athletic
traits are there JJ similar Maxwell Harrison
early on. However, the processing speed within
the scheme is not there yet. He looked Downright
atrocious against the Chicago Bears. Now granted,
the Bills are not running anything spectacular
with regard to coverage. They're not concealing
any coverage. They're basically asking their
guys to win their one -on -one matchups, but
Cole had a hard time even doing that against
a Caleb Williams -led Bears squad. So JJ, what
are your thoughts on the Cole Bishop situation?
There are... Calls coming from Bill's mafia for
Justin Simmons to get signed to the squad ASAP.
Simmons, who you and I both advocated for joining
the team last off season, did not have his finest
moments in Atlanta last season, and that is why
he still finds himself on the market. That being
said, great scheme fit, the type of leadership
skills that we know. the Bills are looking for
in that position room. Uh, and we know he's got
familiarity with our style of defense. So JJ,
where are you at? Is all this Cole Bishop stuff
with Sean McDermott, a motivation tactic, or
is there a real possibility that they're bringing
in yet another safety to compete for the starting
job opposite Taylor wrap? Oh my gosh. The thing
that I think about every time I start thinking
about Cole Bishop is how freaking, how we forgot
that we were, or we didn't know we were in the
good old days when we were in the good old days
with Micah Hyde and Jordan Poirier in their prime
for years where nobody even needed to talk about
safety. It was just like, well, you know, it
was like a completely forgotten thing. Well,
those guys will be back and we'll think about
corner, right? Or we'll think about defensive
line because we have that completely locked down
with an all -pro or two all -pros. And so that's
one thing I think about often when I'm thinking
about Cole Bishop. And then also, you know, I
had a very polite, friendly exchange with somebody
else in Bill's Mafia because I referenced something
somewhat recently. There was a research that
came out that tied certain genetic markers to
prevalence of soft tissue injuries. And I was
like, is it possible he's got the like the the
dinged up gene, right? Like the thing that they've
identified that could make it easier for you
to pull a hammy or do this, do that. And the
person astutely pointed out that he had a fracture
last year and this year was a soft tissue. So
it probably isn't genetic because it was two
different things that aren't both tied to the
gene. But my point stands, his availability is
his least attractive ability right now. He has
not been around when the Bills have needed him
to be around and he continues to struggle when
he is. He looked like he was shaking off a lot
of rust. You know, after rewatching the, um,
the Chicago game and his 13 or 15 snaps or whatever
it was, he was getting absolutely no help from
Joe Andreessen. and some of his other players
that the way that the McDermott defense works
all the players have to know where their space
and where their help is and squeeze routes in
certain ways and they were playing a very very
vanilla defense they were every third every third
down was a was a blitz with a you know a shell
coverage and they were picking it apart for good
reason it was pretty easy to diagnose what the
bills are trying to do and then the Players the
bills were putting out there were like Brandon
Codrick to starting it outside corner, right?
Like which is not an answer ever and so I in
that regard Being one of the few what I would
consider starting caliber players on the field
any at any one time Cole had a hard time. He
made some mistakes But I don't believe that Justin
Simmons is an answer because he plays deep free
That's his kind of bread and butter. He's not
a strong safety. The Bills are looking for their
strong safety. They're looking for their like
thumper coming down to cover tight ends, squeezing
the crossing routes in the middle of the field,
closer to the line of scrimmage. And that was
both Taylor Rap and Cole Bishop's strength. But
I think that Cole Bishop is a little behind on
the communication required of the free position
and the, you know, the necessity of that position
to get everybody else lined up. They're leaning
on Taylor Rap for that quite a bit more. Now,
if Taylor Rapp could stop injuring the other
players on his team because he's just a heat
-seeking missile from that position at all times,
that would be great because I guess that happened
again in practice today where he whacked Elijah
Moore or somebody. Oh, they got into a fight.
There was a scuffle. Yeah. Yeah. Rapp got ejected
from practice. Yeah. So, bad news there. The
safety position is falling apart. I don't think
Justin Simmons is the answer. I actually think
that... they may have an opportunity with their
their rookie Jordan Hancock who has looked pretty
good in spot starts as a potential replacement
for that strong safety position that was always
his better fit coming out of Ohio State anyway
was that kind of safety nickel hybrid which plays
naturally closer to the line covers more slots
covers more tight ends and so Who knows me we
could get a bright lining, you know roster move
of a rookie replacing a much beleaguered second
-round pick from last year though I don't think
either of us would want that because I think
we both were really excited when Cole Bishop
was was the was the selection Yeah, I don't think
you give up on a kid with his traits this early.
But man, it just seems like the bills are able
to mold UDF a's six, seventh round guys with
limited athletic traits into really high functioning,
high caliber, NFL secondary players. And when
they get a Kyer Elam or a Cole Bishop or jury's
out of Maxwell Hairston, right? But you saw the
same trends of what was happening with Cole Bishop
last season happening with Hairston and the way
they were coaching him, his lack of processing
ability. When they get these like exemplary athletes
into these secondary roles. They just, they fail
to seem to be able to integrate those traits
into their scheme. And I don't want to, I don't,
I don't want to knock the coaching staff like
too much, but like Vic Fangio has freaks everywhere
on the field. You know what I mean? And he is
adjusting his scheme in Philadelphia to allow
for those guys to do what they do within, within,
I think the guidelines, right, of his general
scheme. The bills seem to force guys, in a lot
of ways, to adapt to their scheme as the only
way that they can fit into the defensive schematic.
And at some point, when you have athlete after
athlete, and the number one thing keeping you
from getting over the hump against Kansas City
is that they're faster than you, or you don't
have a star on defense, guys with these traits,
guys with Bishop's traits, Harrison's traits.
They're the ones that develop into your stars.
When you, year after year, continue to fail to
develop guys with those traits and those skills
and that caliber of athlete, it does really make
you wonder if there is a rigidity to the scheme
that needs to change if the bills are ultimately
going to get over this hump, right? All that
being said, Cole Bishop, I think it's too early
to kind of throw him out the door at this point.
The Justin Simmons thing, though, to me, it's
intriguing. And here's why. Both rap and Bishop,
they play better closer to the line of scrimmage.
And to your point, Simmons is that Mike Hyde
free safety, like over the top guy. If, if you
can maximize Cole Bishop by letting him go back
to doing what he was doing at Utah for the majority
of his junior year there, which was be that box
safety. be that strong safety type as a way to
more comfortably integrate him into the scheme.
I do think it's valid to look into someone like
Simmons. And I don't mind that he takes away
snaps from someone like Rapp, but I think the
Bills coaching staff really likes Taylor Rapp.
They really like Rapp and what he brings to the
table. And I don't know that they would make
that move. But I do like a situation where Cole
Bishop maybe has a little bit more of a box safety
as a way to integrate him in here. Yeah, I think
we both agree that that's his more natural position
and you know when you're talking about Kyrie
alum Cole Bishop the way they're coaching Metro
Maxwell Hairston It made me think of an analogy
to my life. I I Am a chubby person of muddled
European descent If I didn't develop a personality,
I would never have landed my beautiful wife The
analogies are back folks They do best with fifth
and sixth round players who are instinctual without
elite traits because their defensive scheme is
built around people who had to develop a good
instinct for finding the ball because they never
had the speed to get there. The Buffalo Bills
players who succeed are the J .J. Bryce's of
the dating world. And and this is like this is
a this could be a problem and we see this year
over year that they like bring these like fifth
sixth seventh undrafted free agents into reasonable
rational NFL starters, but then they completely
fumble the ball with somebody who is like an
outstanding athlete who never had to develop
those traits or instincts and Could just rely
on their athleticism to get there. They don't
know how to use those guys They don't know how
to put them in position to succeed and so I really
hope that their outcomes are as good as mine
in this, my first analogy of the season. But
that always seems to be the thing that keeps
the Bills from taking that next step. We always
say, where's the speed? As we watch Rasul Douglas
get burned across the middle of the field. Where's
the speed? Where's the athleticism? Where's the
high traits guys that can put this defense over
the top? You know what I mean? And then when
they're there in the lap of the squad, I don't
know what happens. I don't know what happens.
But I love the analogy. I love the fact that
the analogies are back with you. I love the fact
that WebMD Dr. JJ Bryce is also back, as you're
trying to genetically decode Cole Bishop's DNA.
I'll dive into all that stuff. Wherever the nether
regions of the internet takes me to figure out
ways to identify the gaps in the Buffalo Bills
plan for finally securing a Super Bowl, I'm going
to get there, folks, for you, for the fans. I
love it, man. I love it, man. Uh, along that
path to the super bowl, the Buffalo Bills, if
we have seen this off season, JJ have not been
adverse to reunions with former players. Uh,
we mentioned Trey white, we've mentioned Dane
Jackson. There is another former bill who was
in the house today. Uh, at one, at, um, at one
orchard park or one bills drive an orchard park.
Uh, and that would be Gabe Davis. Gabe Davis
has visited the Steelers since parting ways with
the Jags this offseason. He's visited with the
Bills. I think he's made two visits to the Steelers
this offseason. And he is looking at his options
about what squad he wants to join before the
season starts here. JJ, your thoughts on a Gabe
Davis reunion with Buffalo Bills? I don't want
anybody who has a 50 % catch rate taking snaps
away from Keon Coleman or Joshua Palmer. or even
Curtis Samuel or Elijah Moore, Libiscus Chanal
or KJ Hamill. Like name any number of wide receivers.
Tyrell Shavers. I don't want a single snap that
Tyrell Shavers would otherwise have gotten to
go to somebody like Gabe Davis. Gabe Davis is
a Mack Hollins -esque tenacious run blocker.
He seems like he was a good player in terms of
developing rookies. He seems like he was a good
team guy. He just doesn't have the talent or
the skill set that the bills need to get over
the hump He's not going to given the wide receiver
room that they have right now He's not going
to be enough of an added value to spend money
on him money. The bills don't have Reportedly
the reason that he did not sign in Pittsburgh
is because the cash wasn't there that they weren't
they didn't offer him What he considered to be
his market value? which Feels like a weak positioning
and bargaining strategy as a player who signed
a pretty big, major multi -year deal. And then
the team gave up on him after one year, right?
Like, okay, man, like, I don't know if you are
exactly the hottest product on the market right
now. Somebody was able to eat dead cap to get
rid of you. You felt more valuable off their
roster than on. Yeah, read the room a little
bit Gabe Davis But you nailed it and it's the
it's the two pieces about Coleman and shavers
that I grew with you I think the most the most
intensely Keon Coleman is trying to plus up that
Gabe Davis role on the squad that big contested
catch not gonna get a lot of separation but bruiser
type of wide receiver downfield and anything
Kind of like what the Bills did when they brought
in Emmanuel Sanders, right? After Davis had a
couple of breakout games towards the end of his
rookie year, they bring in Emmanuel Sanders and
it stunts Davis's development and it takes away
meaningful snaps and targets from Davis in his
second season. And he never really recovered
from that. to me it would be counterintuitive
when you've got this guy in Coleman who yes is
a high variance player right now but has shown
the traits to be an elite contested catch guy
at least a human human highlight reel once every
couple of games to me that is a higher floor
to start from than what Gabe Davis brings you
even at his best back when he was Buffalo so
to me I agree with you taking snaps away from
Coleman counterintuitive And they've had Tyrell
shavers just sitting there for the past couple
of years. I love what he brings to the table.
I mean, what are we always saying? We are looking
for a wide receiver with size, with speed, with
athleticism that catches everything that Josh
can throw their way. And Tyrell shavers with
the exception of a couple of drops in camp and
a couple in preseason games. He seems to fit
that mold. Um, and they're talking themselves
out of putting him on the roster because they
don't like his special teams applicability or
whatever it is. Right. Um, to me, I would rather
see big body targets like Coleman and Shavers,
younger guys, cheaper guys get those targets
than I would Gabe Davis, because we know what
Gabe Davis is. He's a 50, 50 catch guy who in
a lot of games is going to give you some solid
run blocking, but is also not going to generate
anything other than running a couple of clear
out routes for Cluel Shakir across the middle.
So I'm with you. I don't like the idea of the
Gabe Davis reunion. JJ, let me ask you this question.
The Buffalo Bills made a bold statement two off
seasons ago, where they did their version of
the Red Wedding with this roster. Goodbye, Mitch
Morse. Goodbye, Ryan Bates. Goodbye, Gabe Davis.
Dane Jackson not resigned. They part ways emotionally
with Trey White. What does it say to you that
the Buffalo Bills uh, uh, less than a year removed
from losing the AFC championship are now going
back to the well on some of these guys that they
got rid of. Um, I'm not, I'm not as upset about
it because I think a lot of Bill's fans are like,
Oh, here we go again. They see Sean McDermott
as this kind of pushover who hires back talent
that he has said he could walk, walk away from.
I'm not as much. in terms of being upset of those
sorts of signings, mostly because, you know,
I look at the dollars, right? I'm always looking
at the money. Gabe Davis walked away for a major
multi -year contract with guaranteed money. If
he comes back, I can guarantee you the bills
are not paying him more than two or $3 million
per year. It's gonna be a lower tier veteran
kind of minimum deal. If they pay him over $3
million a year, I'd be absolutely shocked because
they don't have, with the new and... Injection
of talent they have in the water super room people
that are young that they're excited about They
don't have the need to like throw that kind of
money at that room The same with the you know,
the Trey white contract I think he's made is
it five million a year or something like that
in the neighborhood And so it's the same thing,
you know Stand like top of the market starting
cornerbacks are making 20 plus million dollars
per year and they signed Benford to a big deal
because he's a top five corner in the league
Trey White coming back is just an opportunity
to see if there's anything left. And I think
that that's, you know, I know that it was emotional
to let go some of these leaders of the first
era of the Sean McDermott Buffalo Bills, but
it's also the kind of thing where like, yeah,
well, if spending a few mil of your salary cap
to see if a veteran has anything left who you
know and love and had good success in your building,
not a problem with it. I don't think it shows
any sign of weakness. I don't think it's anything
that would... Is a detriment to the team because
the core of the young talent on the roster has
been locked up this summer? Spending you know
what like half a billion dollars or something
and overall money to lock up your youngest most
talented draft develop and re -sign players To
the next four years that that's the story for
me all these other kind of hey I come back and
we'll just Check you out. The only one I wouldn't
be super fond of is Jordan Poyer Because watching
him play last year right like it was not it was
love all pro po but cooked Oh, yeah, I know he's
one of our favorite players, but it was he was
bad. And so that's it's pretty similar with Gabe
Davis I think that he has he was a slow receiver
who was bad at catching the ball and he's gotten
slower over the last two years. Yeah, and I I
Trek similarly with you when I saw the Dane Jackson
and the Trey white signings in the offseason
My immediate thought was, oh, here we go. Trying
to raise the floor without raising the ceiling.
But I was actually heartened. And my first thought
was, you know what, they're going to find an
excuse to give Trey snaps and camp over Maxwell
Hairston. But I was pleasantly surprised at how
much they were trying to force Hairston. into
those first team reps and how hard Trey Trey
was pushing him and moving him along in that
process before they both went down with injury.
The Gabe Davis one to me, honestly, is the first
one where I'm like, this one seems like a panic
move. They seem nervous about this wide receiver
room. And it could stunt the growth of some of
these younger players that they have said after
that red wedding ask two off seasons ago roster
purge. They have said they've wanted to commit
themselves to these younger players at these
positions. He's the first one where I'm like,
that one actually feels like it could hurt meaningful
development and a couple of guys in that room.
Right? So, no, I agree with you. I think it's
been responsible. And I think, I think it's convenient
for Bill's mafia fans to say, Oh, well, you know,
being a McDermott, they've got a comfort zone.
I think. their comfort zone as they like to know
they're going to win 10 games. And the guys they've
brought back raise the floor to that point where
they can. Does it get us over the hump as we
have talked about? No, not always. But it gives
us stability with the roster and with the overall
potential success of the team that we haven't
had in a really long time. Um, so the Gabe Davis
one, I'm kind of out on with you, but the rest
of these moves. Yeah. I, I, there's no other
tea leaves. I think you can read from this other
than the bills one of four to five positions
that they know that are weak at. Um, JJ position,
the bills are not weak at his quarterback. And
the last bit of camp news here coming out of
camp today, uh, is that Josh Allen will for the
first time in his career, not take a sap and
pre snap and pre -season. He will not be playing
in the pre -season finale against the tab and
Bay Buccaneers. Um, JJ. Big deal, no deal, little
deal that Alan won't see any snaps until week
one against the Ravens. It's a it's a no deal
until it's a big deal. And what I mean by that
is that if he comes out against the Ravens like
he came out a few years ago against the Jets
through two interceptions, basically lost the
bill of the game. That's that preseason he also
I think he played one series and looked pretty
poor. if I remember correctly, and that was the
only preseason action he saw. And then he showed
up for the Jets and seemed to have quite a lot
of rust on him. But the reason I say it's a no
issue until it's an issue is that if he comes
out and plays what we expect from him as a NFL
MVP and now what, $330 million quarterback, he...
It's going to be fine. It's going to be not an
issue. And I think that what it says to me is
that Sean McDermott is strongly and has said,
stated so many times, he, he runs this team in
a way where you have to, you have to earn what
you get. And he has no questions about Josh Allen's
work ethic, his preparation, his accuracy, his
attentiveness and practice, his knowledge and
film study. Like there's, there's nothing else
to do. There's nothing else that he needs to
work on in a live game setting for the coaches
and the team. teammates especially, to have confidence
in him that he's ready to go week one. The question
still remains, is he ready to go week one without
any live snaps? As a player who used to ask Brian
Dable for a quarterback power run early in the
game to get his feelings right about playing,
right? Does he truly have what it takes to just
kind of switch it on, switch it off at a moment's
notice? Because I think if he does without any
preseason reps, then of course you don't want
to ever risk him. in live bullet situations.
If you don't have to, he is the most valuable
piece on the whole team. And according to the
AP writers, the entire NFL. Yes. If Shakir was
healthy, and those two, their chemistry still
wasn't looking right in camp, I would say, you
know what, maybe you want to give them a series
or two. But Shakir's not healthy. Uh, he's been
putting in a ton of work with Ken Coleman. They've,
they really seem to have developed a nice chemistry
with each other this off season. Josh Palmer
has been on and off her, but him and Josh have
been putting in a lot of work together. Curtis
Samuel not available. I mean, you're going to
put them out there and he's going to throw to
KJ Hamler and Tyrell Shavers. Like it doesn't
make any sense. That's, that does not get you
ready for week one when you're going up against
the Baltimore Raven. So I'm actually fine with
this. You err on the side of caution. there is
the risk that it comes out rusty. But to your
point, this is a high caliber veteran NFL QB.
Like if you really need a live series against
the backups for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to get
you ready for week one, Sunday night football,
the farewell season on Highmark Stadium, I just
think there's something wrong on the player side.
And with Josh Allen, we know that's not the case.
So yeah, man, put them in bubble wrap. And then
let's get the season started. Well, anybody who
saw the clip of of Joe Burrow versus the Washington
commanders running in circles for like a 17 yard
loss to be tackled by three 400 pound men on
the goal line. That's the kind of that's the
kind of competitor that Josh Allen is as well.
He wouldn't look like such a doofus doing it,
but you don't want him out there. when there's
no stakes, trying to make something out of nothing
when his offensive line just lays a bunch of
rushers through, which they wouldn't. I think
they're a really great offensive line. But yeah,
there's no reason because, you know, he'd be
willing to put his body on the line for situations
that are completely pointless. Yeah, kind of
like Taron Johnson did in the first game against
the Giants. I was watching film on that game.
And the first couple of series that Johnson was
in there, I'm like, dude, what are you doing?
Like, there are just guys that do not have an
off switch. Johnson's one of them. Alan's one
of them. And if you're a coach and you know your
guys cannot modulate in those situations, then
absolutely, you take them off the field and another
player who I mean, we can get Get into when we
talk about the roster that i'm excited about
who also doesn't seem to have an off switch is
joey bosa Oh my god, he's been playing with you
know, his hair on fire Like it's the afc championship
game every week that they put him in for any
snaps in the preseason i'm just like dude slow
down like you're An injury, you know somewhat
injury prone Mid 30s guy like you're you're cruising
for a literal bruising. He's looked super impressive
in camp though. Yeah, i'm excited jj That's a
great segue. Let's start to talk about this roster
a little bit. Um, let's start on the Let's start
on the offensive side of the ball. Let's talk
about pass catchers. Um, because this is going
to matter. And I say this knowing that it is
like the most simplistic way to analyze the bills,
offensive chances this season, but we saw it
at the end of last season, despite the fact that
the bills were rolling up work in like thirties
game after game, they were facing a higher percentage
of man, higher percentage of cover one. the dream
scenario that we have talked about for years,
and the bills offense needing to pull these opposing
defenses out of two high shelf situations. The
running game got it there the work across the
middle field with Shakir got it there. We got
the optimal defensive looks that we wanted to
at the end of last season. They could not take
advantage by They could not take advantage by
attacking the boundaries or attacking downfield
because of the limitations of this pass catcher
room. JJ, this pass catcher room outside of Josh
Palmer looks relatively the same as it did last
season. The same squad that while talented in
certain areas, could not take advantage of some
of the looks opposing defenses were giving them.
So JJ, what's your read on this wide receiver
room? It still needs to coalesce. It's pretty
banged up. It's pretty injured heading into the
season. But what is your take so far and what
you need to see from this wide receiver room
heading into the season? The story of this wide
receiver room is literally it can be boiled down
into two questions. Is Keon Coleman that guy?
Does Khalil Shakir Because I think that if you
have last season's production from Khalil Shakir
every season for the rest of his career, he'll
go down as one of the top three wide receivers
in Buffalo Bill's history, right? Like he reliable,
you know, multiple touchdowns per year, six,
700 yards, closing on a hundred catches. That's
going to get him. the kind of career that leaves
a legacy. And so can he progress? Can he like
stay healthy? Can he keep this kind of production
going? And then is Keon Coleman an outside receiver
that NFL teams are afraid of? Does he develop
into somebody who has that nasty run blocking
we saw in the Seattle Seahawks game, who has
that, you know, one -on -one jump ball acumen
we saw in the Seattle Seahawks game, who has
the route running and separation ability we saw
in the Seattle Seahawks game? He had, he had
in fairness, more plays than just in the seed
box game. I know, I'm being unkind, but no, but
you know what I mean? Like he had, he was on
an incredible arc. He looked like he might be
the steel of the wide receiver class from his
draft until he got hurt. Then he had a wrist
injury. And then when he came back, he was a
ghost for like five or six games at the end of
the season. Um, hopefully fully healthy, fully
recovered. looked has looked awesome this offseason.
Many of the beat reporters have reported that
he is kind of rocked up. He looks like he spent
a lot of time working on his strength, his conditioning.
Not much he can do for speed. We know this, but
he is probably the best jump ball person on the
team. And if that's his his way, then that's
the way forward. We've talked about it before
that Josh Allen throughout his career has succeeded
with like the John Browns and the Khalil Shakirs
and the Cole Beasley's. He hasn't had the like
a plus tall, long, somewhat fast, you know, physical
receiver that he's vibed with. They've tried.
They've had attempts at that body type, but it
hasn't worked out for him. He had some hand in
selecting Keon Coleman in the draft. He gave
his preferences to Brandon Bean and they chose
the guy that. is reported that he wanted. And
so this is his chance to make that pick worthwhile.
And it's also, Coleman needs to be in the right
position. He needs to work on some of those big
boy plays that he was brought in here to do.
And if he progresses to that level, I think that
that is an answer to the question, the two questions
of is Clueless, Shakir consistent? And can Keon
Coleman step up and be top? top 16 wide receiver
in this league. If he can, I think they're going
to be fine, because I think that the other players,
the, you know, whomever they keep of Elijah Moore,
KJ Hamler, Curtis Samuel, I think that there's
some questions about with Curtis Samuel could
be moved because of the money. But, you know,
Levisco, Sean, all like is, is any or do any
of them make any sense as role players? I think
they do. Some of they all have kind of unique,
different skill sets. And Josh Palmer is definitely
going to be on that field based on what they
paid him and he seems to Joshua Palmer feels
to me like a younger version with slightly less
talent than Emanuel Sanders like that's the type
of That's actually a cold cold analysis right
there of it of his skill set but accurate, right?
Yeah, but you know I'm saying like they got a
manual center centers the end of his career.
They both are somewhat root technicians who've
not had kind of blazing speed as their calling
card and Josh Palmer has an opportunity to be
something special. He's played with a very good
quarterback for a number of years and never stepped
into like that 80 plus catch territory. Here's
his chance, right? I think he's going to get
opportunities, but it's really what can he make
of them? But from what I've seen just in like
the few you know from the snaps from preseason
games from the heat coming out of practice is
that he He's like a better route running version
of Gabe Davis with better hands, which some bills
fans like, okay I really like that right? I want
that I want that But at the same time, there's
nothing kind of spectacular special, right? he
is the he is the low -fat vanilla Greek yogurt
of in my fridge of this offense. It's reliable,
it's going to get you over protein goals. I'm
not super excited about it. God, I miss these
analogies. Oh my god, you have no idea. I feel
like I have been gaslit by multiple media members
into thinking that Josh Palmer is some sort of
Route technician amazing separator downfield
I've watched this film. I have gone to every
stat package that I know of PFF next -gen stats
Reception perception love Matt Harmon and his
whole outfit there I have looked over it all
and none of the hard cold facts tell me that
Josh Palmer is in fact a separation specialist
his most successful route that he runs per EPA
per play and success rate is a dig route across
the middle of the field. That's it. He's not
really a field stretcher and never has been despite
his a couple of limited highlight reel catches
that he's made for touchdowns. He to me seems
like the piece that I'm the least excited about
because folks are talking with him like he's
already this realized product that he's got.
another arc to his development that he can hit.
And maybe he can hit it in Buffalo. You know,
I mean, maybe he was limited because of all the
coaching changes and offensive coordinator changes
in LA. But by the same token, like what you put
on film is what you put on film. What you put
in the box score is what you put in the box score.
And this has not been a guy who's been anything
other than a low floor, low ceiling wide receiver
four throughout most of his career. And we have
locked him in. to a top two or top three outside
wide receiver position and paid him money akin
to that. I this one to me feels like an over
read. Like this one feels like you we fell in
love with the idea of Josh Palmer in the off
season, but didn't realize who Josh Palmer actually
was. So he's the one I'm most interested to see,
but I'm the least excited for if that makes any
sense, because I feel like I know what he is.
Coleman. Dude, if he can take that, we just need,
but here's the thing. We just need one of these,
one of these darts to hit one of these pieces
of spaghetti. We're flinging at this outside
wide receiver position to hit. Cause if you just
have one guy who's a reliable threat, all of
a sudden those cover one situations, you're not
floating an extra safety into the box. You're
floating them. You're floating them to bracket
your outside wide receiver threat. And that's
going to open up things across the middle of
the field for the Buffalo Bills. So we need some
version of Coleman Palmer shavers. If he makes
this roster. to be effective in that role. And
we just need again, 33 % chance to hit. That's
all we need. And that's all I'm hoping for. But
my money's on Coleman because of the youth, because
of the clear upside and because of the development
he's had this off season. Well, the heat around
Tyrell Shavers is not the same as like reaching
pretty far back into the bag with this one. It's
not like the Chris Hogan, you know, tribe from
years ago or like the Justin Shorter tribe of
the last couple of years. Andy Isabella had his
fans as well. Yeah. You know what I'm saying?
Like there's always that like training camp darling
who people who went out and looked in the stands
saw him run a couple one on ones against a sixth.
you know, sixth rung CB and look, look hot. They're
like, oh my gosh, he's going to be the next star.
It's not that Tyrell Shavers has pretty consistently
been producing anytime he's had an opportunity,
including last year, like one snap, one target,
one catch 80 yard TD or 56 yard TD or whatever
it was. I just like, I just, I hope that what
we see tracks consistently with his presence
in the meeting rooms and the practice field in
a way that he can actually offer this team something
and I know your note on him is like Oh is he
you know are are the bills going to like not
Utilize him just because he doesn't fill check
all the boxes of being a four -phase special
team or like somebody Like Matt Collins did last
year, right? Like is he not since he doesn't
fulfill that need is is that why they're gonna
like Bounce him try to bounce him back to the
practice squad or someone like Gabe Davis does,
in fairness, right? Yeah. Yeah. And that's, I
mean, essentially, I feel like if they try to
move Tyrell Shavers onto a practice squad, they
will lose him because I think he's put enough
on film at this point in his career that some
teams going to take a flyer on him with an empty
wide receiver cabinet. So that's a different
one for him, for me. And I hope they don't mess
this up because like. Honestly, you hired a seasoned,
for the first time in McDermott's tenure, he
hired a seasoned, experienced special teams coordinator.
Give that guy chicken crap and have him turn
it into chicken salad. You know what I'm saying?
You don't have the luxury of messing around with
the two phases that are on the field the most,
just to favor your special teams coordinator
having the... best pick of who he wants don't
sacrifice the offensive defense for it like just
don't I don't I don't care if the Buffalo Bills
Gunners are not the best Gunners in the league
give up a kick return here there if your offense
is putting up you know 30 points a game and you're
scorching everybody it doesn't matter to me yeah
I know my ideal version this wide receiver room
and this will be my last thought before we move
on because I want to talk about some of the rookies
on the defensive side of the ball is Coleman
Shakir a healthy Shakir God willing Palmer, not
because I'm super excited, but because like we're
kind of locked into that, right? Elijah Moore,
who I think has earned a spot this season, and
he can be that reliable kind of gadgety backup
to Khalil Shakir if need be. Fifth, Tyrell Shavers.
I absolutely think he's earned a spot. And if
the Bills go as deep as sixth, sixth wide receivers,
I love what KJ Hamler has done the past couple
of off seasons with the squad. I think Hamler.
Outside, uh, you know, has a better shot of clearing
waivers than shavers does. So he could be back
on the practice squad theoretically. And I think
the bills might take a shot at that, but to me,
shavers for sure is wide receiver five on this
team. Curtis Samuel is like a cut trade situation.
He's just, he's injured. He's a duplicate skillset
and he doesn't give you anything, anything in
higher leverage moments. You're not already going
to get from Cleo Shakir or. Dalton Kincaid a
guy who we haven't talked about yet as part of
this pass catcher group who is having a great
training camp and really looks like he's He has
fully healed from whatever ailed him last year
injury wise I Have the same kind of wide receiver
room that you do except I would actually put
the viscous and all over over KJ Hamler I just
think returnability. Yeah, just for that reason
like and that's not me sacrificing, you know
offense for Special teams rather I think that
the return ability he offers is quite a bit better
than Some of the other options on the roster
and he showed with the two -point conversion
and some other things that he can be relied on
in some high leverage situations Kind of being
where he needs to be has an interesting physical
skill set that I think really helps him and special
team So that's the only change I would make though
over the your kind of top top five I like it.
No, I like it a lot. All right, man. Let's talk
defense. Specifically, let's talk these defensive
rookies that the Bills have brought in. We've
already covered Maxwell Harrison, Heath Hurt,
TJ Sanders, Deon Walker, Landon Jackson, Dorian
Strong, Jordan Hancock, all the defensive rookie
picks that the Bills made here this offseason
in the draft. JJ, who has stood out the most
to you based on what you have seen on film and
via camp footage here this offseason? It's definitely
TJ Sanders. I think that far and away, he looks
definitely deserving of the kind of heat behind
that selection. I think that, you know, when
we were leaving the draft, I think we were both
really excited about Harrison Sanders. I was
not as excited about Deon Walker. I was extremely
excited about Landon Jackson, who you literally
forgot when you were putting together our show
notes that he was a human person who lived and
played football. I totally. And that is that's
all. Yeah. And in my notes, as you saw, I was
like, Dan forgot he exists. And that's all you
need to know about his camp. He's at a weird
camp. Jackson Jackson's at a weird camp. Landon
Jackson. Or if you're a fan of Barry, no, no,
Ho Hank. They look the same. They look the same.
Look it up. This is true. I'm a fan of that show.
Solid reference. Solid actor and okay football
player so far. Seems like a really sweet guy.
But he looked absolutely, it looked like he didn't
deserve to play in the league against the Giants.
He followed that up by looking against, you know,
a very poor effort against, at the Bears. So,
Landon Jackson, we know defensive line, defensive
end, offensive line, tight end, like those positions
are all some of the most difficult to learn on
the field, besides safety and quarterback, right?
So, his presence has not been felt and I... I
still think he has a really good series of traits.
He's done some good things in practice settings
that you're impressed by, but he really needs
to put it all together. So yeah, Harrison, we
don't know. TJ Sanders, awesome. I'm so excited
to see him lined up next to Ed Oliver because
I think that that is a pretty nasty rush package.
You cannot double both of them with Joey Bosa
and Greg Russo on the field. And golly, I want
to see that. It fixes our third and seven problems
from last year when we could not get off the
field. Yes, big time. Very excited about that.
I hope everybody stays healthy because that is
a rush that actually might work. No, I agree
with you. I'm super excited to see that specific
package rolled out in that specific scenario
I mean listen he I watched some of the film from
the From the Bears game and you know Sanders
and Walker are both getting blown off the ball
on the run game But that was not the strength
of either of these guys the bills again They're
going to do the it takes a village approach to
stop the run game Because they don't care if
they give up four yards on a first down rush.
They don't want to give up seven or eight yards,
which is where it becomes a problem. They want
to put teams in second and six, second and seven
situations and hopefully get them to third and
five, third and six. That's, that's their bread
and butter. And then they want to work with a
lot of these penetrators they have along the
defensive line to get pressure on the QB. They
tripled down on that with the draft this year.
Um, and I think we're going to see. We're going
to see similar frustrations to the run defense
that we saw last year, although with a healthy
Milano and with Dorian Williams maybe coming
in in some base package, there could be some
improvement at the second level, at least in
the run game. But I think we're going to see
a run defense that is largely the same. But I
will take that if the pass rush and higher leverage
situations is even 70 % better than it was last
year. And it looks like it can be with this rollout.
I want to ask you though, the apology card that
you're going to write to Deon Walker for trashing
him after the draft. Is it going to be handwritten?
Will it be typed? Will there be personal notation
in there about how sorry you are because he looks
so good this camp season? Listen, we recently
bought some cost prohibitively expensive beeswax
crayons for our son, for our toddler. Nice. And
it would probably be a hand -drawn card if I
needed to make one. And I'm reserving my need
to make a hand -drawn apology card to Deion Walker
for being trash until after he plays actual meaningful
football. Because what I saw in the preseason
was like four snaps of him flashing, shouldn't
be able to move this hard or fast big man's maneuvers.
then 40 snaps of him getting absolutely toppled
like a pile of Legos Yes Because he was too high
in his six seven frame to have any kind of leverage
and was getting doubled and pushed back seven
yards so he is To me right now his status is
Jordan Phillips without the like flashy charisma.
So Fair enough. I, you know, I think we have
a, we had a misconception and I'm talking the
Royal, we the collective of those mafia when
we saw six, seven, three 31, we were like, finally
a run gap. Right. Ted Washington reincarnated
exactly. Exactly. But if you, if you tune up
some of Walker's 20, 23, Kentucky tape pre injury,
seven and a half sacks that season, pure pass
rush penetrator. I mean, that's really what this
guy is. Um, he's never been a plus run defender,
but if the bills can teach him how to anchor
better, right? If Ryan Nielsen, our new defensive
line coach can work with this athletic mold,
this athletic Adon is the Dion Walker is teach
him how to anchor better in the run game. You
now have somebody who's a plus run defender and
a ridiculously hard to blow off his spot. penetrator
in the past game too. I mean, that's why I say
they triple down on what they've wanted to do
for so long in the penetration game and pass
rush, because Walker brings that to the table
too, not just Sanders in this draft class. Yeah.
And, and I, like I said, I will, I will draw
him a picture of him and Josh Allen walking into
the sunset, holding hands. Please. I can't wait
to see it. That you can use that card as a promo.
I'll, I'll make, I'll put that together. If he,
if he, if we're like week three, week four of
the season. And I'm like, okay, this, when he's
on the field, I can feel it. I could see it and
he makes a difference. Boom, bam. I will make
that card and you can. Drag my name wherever
you need to I I will never drag your name sir
But I look forward to seeing your hand -drawn
artwork for one Dianne Walker All right real
quick here because we're running out of time
any thoughts on Dorian strong Jordan Hancock
to me strong Promising, but he's not quite there
yet I don't think he's gonna be the Christian
Benford that we all hoped he would be But Jordan
Hancock friggin Swiss Army knife man. He looks
really impressive along that defensive secondary
Yeah. I think when you see Jordan Hancock, he
was like the only player in the bears game that
I noticed on the field. And I was like, Ooh,
that's, that's a good rep. Oh, that's a good
rep. Like he looks like he knows what he's doing
in this defense. Oh yeah. and that he has the
kind of trigger and instincts to fire down downhill
and do what he needs to. He's excited to be more
in run defense than past coverage right now,
but I think that could come for him. He has skill
sets and the traits. I'm not too worried about
him. Dorian Strong, too. I'm just like, OK, just
let this be another Christian Benford. maybe
diet Christian Bedford, because Christian Bedford
stepped on the field and literally just took
the starting job and never relinquished it. He
just walked. Blew the doors off Kyrie. Yeah,
he just quietly walked in and planted his flag
as one of the best corners in the league drafted
out of Villanova in the sixth round. And so Jordan
Hancock, I'm excited about Chase Lunt to talk
about offense. I think it's interesting because
he had only ever played right tackle and then
they started him in the Giants game at left tackle.
And right guard. And he didn't do a bad job at
either. I mean, his, you know, he's T -Rex arms,
Chase Lunt is seemingly getting it done. And
the thing with offensive linemen is like, if
you even have a sparkle of understanding, Aaron
Cromer is going to make you serviceable. that
is the case, right? Like this, I, since they
brought it back, Aaron Kroemer, I have not been
concerned about the offensive line. I'm like,
it's gonna be fine. If they don't renegotiate,
if they don't extend David Edwards, if they don't
extend Connor McGovern, and they bring in Cedric
Van Pram Granger at center and move Alec Anderson,
I'm just like, okay, cool. Let's rock with it.
Like that's a good line too. You know, I'm not
worried at all about it. And then I think Kaden
Braithor was actually released. Yeah. Yeah, he's
gone. Um, but yeah, so I mean, as for the rookie
class, I think that there's a lot, I'm waiting
to see a lot more from Deanna Walker, Landon
Jackson, and Hairston, of course, because they've
been hurt. TJ Sanders seems awesome. Uh, Dorian
Strong, Jordan Hancock also great. Chase Lunt,
pretty cool. Cool with those guys. I don't think
looking at the class, there's anybody that I'm
like, Ooh, that was, that's, that's probably
the really, really bad choice, but we'll see.
We will see. We will see. And God, man, I mean,
again, we talked about it. This last draft class
was maybe my favorite that Bean has done since
the Josh Allen, the Josh Allen draft. But when
you turn the clock back and you look at the 2024
draft, I want to talk about bubble guys for a
minute here. There is a few names from the 2024
draft, I feel like, that are on the bubble here,
starting with, I think, Dwayne Carter. It was
not a good sign for him when Larry Ogunjobi was
signed to the squad. And then the Buffalo Bills
literally double dipped a defensive tackle with
TJ Sanders and Deion Walker. Guys who have pliability
at both of the positions, one tech and three
tech, that they were trying to coach up Carter
to take over on some backup capacity. He is just
in a season and a little bit more of football.
He has not looked good. And I don't know how
to put it any other way. He just athletically
looks outmatched. Processing speed, which was
a highlight of his in college, very, very slow
at the line of scrimmage. He just looks like
he has one foot out the door at this point. So
if people haven't been super nerds for this in
the past, and want to do a fun exercise, just
go and like go on Wikipedia and look at the history
of drafts, right? Like just pick any random span
of years, pick five years in the 90s or five
years in the 2000s and look at every single player
drafted and look at the number who have small
denotations of whether or not they've made a
Pro Bowl in their career, whether or not they
made, you know, like people who are like at this
point out of the league because of the years
have moved on, right? It will hammer home. what
a crap shoot the NFL draft is. There are plenty
of first rounders who don't make it to a second
contract. There's a reason the average length
of a career in the NFL is three years, right?
Like there there's so much talent and opportunity
coming out of the college ranks that never actualizes
because the speed of the game, the complexity
of the game, the physicality of the players at
that level, injuries, all kinds of different
contexts, politics in the locker room. There
are so many ways you can find your way out of
the league. And unfortunately for Dwayne Carter,
it looks like this is a level of football that
he wasn't meant to play based on his game tape
from last year, based on everything we've seen
this year, based on the fact that at the end
of the Bears game, he was still on the field
for the last 30 or 40 snaps as one of the last.
defensive lineman. Stunning. Yeah, when they're
literally scraping the bottom of the barrel with
guys who were signed off of other teams, you
know, or undrafted rookie free agents signed
who were cut by other teams that same week are
playing there next to the Bills previous third
round pick. So, yeah, it doesn't look good for
him. Like you said, it didn't look good with
the moves that they made in the offseason to
bolster the line. Zion Logue was taken off the
field against the Bears before Duane Carter.
He's been a bubble French player still is but
I do I wouldn't be absolutely stunned if Zion
Lowe got a roster spot over doing Carter Yeah,
I wouldn't be shocked by that either Dude, I
just I can't help all of my brain go to this
place because I've got a lot of time on my hands
But let's think back to last year's draft. We
talked about Cole Bishop already. I don't want
to I don't want to do this exercise. I know where
you're going. I don't want to go there Cole Bishop
has seen his struggles may not, may not be the
Prince that was promised at safety. Keon Coleman,
let's say for, you know, negativity sake, he
doesn't take the next step. And he ends up being
Calvin Benjamin, as you've referred to him a
couple of times. Now you're cutting Dwayne Carter.
The first three rounds of that 2024 draft look
markedly ineffective. And then you add to that
a guy like Edifuan Olifosio, who I feel like
is also better chance than not not making this
roster their fifth round linebacker pick from
that draft. What are you really left with? You've
got Ray Davis, right? That's about it. Yeah,
you may have Ray Davis Cedric van Prangranger
as a potential future NFL starter. Tylen Grable,
who's another bubble player, I think he's bubble
only because he's been injured. Yep. Because
he won the swing tackle job last year. And so
there's a chance that he's a good pick. Javon
Solomon. What are we doing here, Javon? Oh God,
I know. He has at times we have both been like,
oh, that's a good rep. Like that's a nice looking
because he's the speed. He's a small speed edge
rusher type. But I just don't know that there's
that there are four players I want to see ahead
of him in every game. Right. Like I want to see
Rousseau, Bosa, Michael Hoyt when he's back and
even Landon Jackson to get snaps over. Um over
javon solomon and don't forget aj appaneza, too
I do I always do I always do I always do except
for that one play that he has each year where
he like tips an interception to himself and gets
a touchdown like Because he's easy to forget
because that's it right like this It's like oh,
oh my gosh aj appaneza is on this team. He did
something Oh, well, I guess we'll hear from again
in six weeks. Yeah Two first -round picks in
AJ Eponeza for Michael Parsons. 100%. Do it.
Absolutely. Absolutely ran out. Throw Curtis
Samuel onto the mix too. Yeah, no. Before James
Cook signed his deal, I would have thrown him
as well. Just come on. Anybody. Just anybody
for Michael Parsons. Just got to have somebody
who I know every year is going to get you 10
plus sacks. They just know it. Seriously. It's
why over the off -season, the few times we were
talking football over the off -season, Um, that,
um, Miles Garrett was like, you know what? I
want to play for a winner. And then they're like,
beep, beep, beep. Here's a truck full of money.
He's like, nevermind. Um, during that time I
was very much like spend whatever you need, spend
everything, get that guy. Right. Don't sign anybody
back except Josh Allen to get this guy. Josh
Allen, Miles Garrett. Super Bowl. Boom. There
you go. That's what you need. Yeah. Oh man, man,
we covered a ton of ground here today We covered
news all of our camp thoughts and now we are
ready to watch the final bills preseason game
here this weekend before we are We get into the
regular season stuff, man. It is great to have
you back on the pod. I gotta say Thank you, brother.
I'm so happy to be back and I'll say this to
all the bills mafia watching the preseason game
this weekend against the Buccaneers in a truly
rare and exciting opportunity to play a team
in the preseason that you also then see in the
regular season. Expect even less game planning
scheme or starters than you saw against the Bears.
And don't panic if the Buccaneers play their
first and second string in tune up and the Bills
get absolutely walloped for like a 42 to nothing.
It doesn't matter if it matters. There's people
that were like slamming the panic panic button
in my like guys, Bills, friends chat last weekend.
And I was like, the Bears beat the Bills like
32 to six or something last off season. And then
they ended up proceeding to go five and 12 while
the Bills were in the AFC championship game.
This means nothing. There's literally less than
nothing. Yeah, literally posted that on our socials.
I was like, oh, here's the headline from the
last time the Bears beat the Bills in the preseason
last season. Remind me how this worked out for
both of these squads. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Caleb
Williams is probably still going to be the most
stacked quarterback in the league. The Bears
are probably not going to go anywhere. And the
Bills are probably going to be vying for the
number one seed in the AFC yet again. Like that's
come on, people like let's let's look at the
prior results instead of the preseason. Yeah,
man. Although I do think the Bears are going
to be okay. And I think, dude, I have so many
hot takes we need to unpack on the pod. One of
one of them is I don't think the Packers are
going to make the playoffs. Oh, yeah, good one.
Yeah, we need to we need to unpack a lot of do
around the hole around the NFL piece. Absolutely.
But on a future pod, my friend, thank you for
all of you listening at home. Like, share and
subscribe wherever you get your pods. We are
on YouTube, Apple and Spotify. And as always,
go Bills. Go Bills. you