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Ep. 52 - Buffalo Bills Defensive Overview
35 Plays1 year ago
Join Nigel, Tom, Jake, and special guest Dana in this week's episode of Let's Go Buffalo! We're breaking down the Bills' defensive outlook with a mix of sharp insights and our usual goofy banter. We dive into each position group, analyzing strengths, weaknesses, and key players to watch. Will the defense be a brick wall or a slip-n-slide? Tune in to find out!
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Transcript
Introduction and Social Media
00:00:10
Speaker
You're listening to the Let's Go Buffalo Podcast, your new favorite podcast for everything bills and sabers.
00:00:24
Speaker
What's going on everybody? You're listening to the Let's Go Buffalo podcast, your favorite podcast for all things bills and savers with the pals Nigel, Tom, Jake, and a bonus pal, Mr. Dana tonight. Episode 52 coming at you. You know the drill, folks. Don't forget to follow the socials. You can find us at Let's Go Buff Pod. That's buff with two F's on Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok. Let's get
Weekend Activities and Beverages
00:00:56
Speaker
around the horn here and say hello to the fellows. Tommy, how are you doing, buddy? Man, I'm fantastic. We have the whole squadron tonight and I'm about it. Yeah, buddy, we got the whole crew this evening.
00:01:11
Speaker
The whole crew is with us. Mr. Jake, how we doing, buddy? I'm good, man. You have the whole whole squads here. I was in Boston over the weekend and I've showered about six times trying to get the smell off me. But I think I need one more. I think I need one more. That's a that's a that's a stench that will never really go away. I don't think I'm living in Massachusetts for a year. I am. I still feel like I stink, so it is what it is. And then our bonus guy this evening, Mr. Dana Dana, how we doing, buddy? I'm doing great. Always happy to be here. And funny enough, I was also in the city of Boston last weekend and also, uh, smelled the stench, but I also ate some really good seafood. So that was probably some of my doing.
Trivia Night and Drink Choices
00:01:54
Speaker
I mean, that that's a little stench right there for you. crap legs Did you get the crab legs?
00:01:58
Speaker
I didn't, but I did eat some oysters and some lobster. yeah nice du There's a nice thing about being close to the coast. That's a big change. Yeah. That's, that's nice. ah bo The nice things about Boston. All right. Boston. And one of the, you I mean, you can't really get any better than that place too. So well, uh, folks, uh, well, wait a minute, fellas, where am I going here? Can we start off with a beverage? Is that all right? Thank you. Hell yeah. Please. Sorry, Tom. I didn't mean it. Tom, I would never have apologize, buddy. It's been a day, buddy. Come on. All right, boys. Ready? I'll give you a countdown. Ready? Three,
Player Contracts and Trades
00:02:34
Speaker
two, one.
00:02:39
Speaker
Let's see here. Anybody dying to go first? Jake, you you seem like you were excited earlier. Yeah. Look at that hand. I would like to go first. So I'm following a new, a new plan where I'm only having one drink when we podcast. So I got one drink while we podcast. No. So I went to, uh, I went to trivia night last night for the first time ever, guys, I won trivia. oh Oh, yeah. Congratulations. And so the prize was each of our teammates got to bring home a crowler of beer from Union Street Brewing in Hudson. And my wife cannot drink beer. So I got two crowlers out of that deal. So this is a ah summer IPA, not too
Offense to Defense Transition
00:03:20
Speaker
heavy on the ABV, nice and light, not too milkshakey. It's it's a bop. Can we be honest? it Was it really actually Megan who won trivia night?
Buffalo Bills Defense Changes
00:03:29
Speaker
I pulled my weight. I pulled my weight. She's, she's way smarter. Like there was a round where you have to identify people from just their faces. And I was like, I got nothing. I got Jason Bateman. Other than that, I was like, Megan, this is, this is you. This is your category. That is an alley. Yeah, dude. Anyway. What were, what were some of the questions that you answered? Do you remember? Oh, man, some of the questions. Well, we got the the night round two Treaty of Manila. When was that signed? What? Oh, what decade was that signed? It's like historical trivia. There were some it was different categories, different categories. I'm trying to think of other questions now. um You can't. That's OK. Let's be honest. I got carried. I got carried.
00:04:10
Speaker
No, ah but anyway, it was fun. Tommy, what are you drinking, my guy? Good old classic Tom Harpoon, some summer style. Nice, dude. Tom Harpoon. Tom Harpoon Smith. That's what it takes to be get get a sponsorship. I'm in. I'm surprised that wasn't your kid's name. A little Harpoon Smith here. That's what Katie thinks, but I was actually the one who signed the birth certificate.
Defensive Line Review
00:04:35
Speaker
Okay. Okay, good. Well, I can't wait to get this question. That should be going on Josh Allen's birthday. Nick, you know, middle name is actually harpoon. It's it's all good. Yeah, dude. As far as this podcast is concerned, Macy's essentially the second coming of Christ with being born in the same day as Josh Allen. So love it i love it Mr. Dana, what are you guzzling on over there? My guy.
00:04:57
Speaker
Yeah, no alcohol tonight, but I'm just having a very nice black cherry sparkling water. Mmm. man, that actually sounds great. Sounds delicious. Very refreshing. And the can popped, which is really all we care about on this podcast. Yeah, honestly. Yeah, yeah. It's the effect. We're here for the 4D. Well, boys, a little bit of a party foul here on my end. I am drinking the same beer two times in a row, but that's actually all we have that isn't like my old man's gluten-free IPAs. And I don't want to drink those on him. So I'm, once again, do i just got another nice voodoo ranger here, baby.
00:05:30
Speaker
this is I would. Yeah. A quick little trot. So two pieces, both kind of having to do with arbitrations. That's the time of off season that we're in. Uh, Beck Malenstein signed today for two years, $1.35 million dollars in
Von Miller's Performance Concerns
00:06:06
Speaker
salary. Nothing really to say there. I mean, what position?
00:06:10
Speaker
So he's a winger. He, a new fourth line winger, uh, traded for him from Washington, gave up a second round pick for him. So, I mean, I guess you give up a second round pick. You like to see it. They signed him for two years. However, that's also double the amount of time that he's been in the league. So we'll see what happens with that one. okay ah ah The other piece of news, it just got announced an hour or two ago. um UPL's arbitration hearing was scheduled. It will be on July 29th. That's next Monday. So like it or not, within the next week, you will know what contract he has signed or has been awarded, hopefully the former. And yeah, that's your... number one goalie. Hopefully he's not disgruntled when he comes to training camp in September. but Nigel, are you getting nervous about that arbitration or do you think they'll wrap it up before then? Man, I think they'll wrap it up. it's I feel like it's so rare that that players really do actually go to arbitration. um the I mean, I guess I wouldn't be shocked if it went a little bit deep into arbitration there or if it actually fully went to arbitration only because I think you could see a world where UPL is like, hey, man,
00:07:19
Speaker
You guys weren't awesome to me. My first couple of years here, you kind of jerked me around a little bit or maybe my development was what I thought was the best. Um, and I just put up the year that I did. So I want to get paid. Um, the only thing that scares me last
Defensive Line Depth Debate
00:07:33
Speaker
year, Jeremy Swamin went to arbitration. Yeah. And it worked out pretty well for him. If if memory serves a $3.47 million dollar contract. So, yeah. I don don't remember what Boston's qualifying offer was, but I don't think it was that. So. So yeah, we'll see, man. I imagine it gets done, but I do too. Yeah. Yeah. All right. tell me You want to get us into the real meat of our conversation tonight? We're going to do pretty much the exact opposite of what we did last week. ael
00:08:03
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, man. If anybody's interested, go back to last week's podcast where we talked about the offense. This week, we're talking about the defense. And just a quick side note, if if you guys are enjoying this podcast and this is helpful getting prepped for the season, please share this with friends and family who are like, want to get ready for the Buffalo Bill season. These two podcasts are super important. because it's really just setting the scene for what's going to happen at training camp, go into the preseason and then roll into the um regular season. So it's super awesome. This is going to be helpful podcast. So if anybody's interested in that, please, please share. Um, the exciting thing is boys, uh, the, uh, entire team reported for training camp today, things roll off tomorrow. So it's kind of, got um I don't know if anybody's been watching on Instagram and Twitter and stuff, but all the, all the boys are rolling in. It's kind of like the first day of school. Yeah, buddy.
00:08:54
Speaker
which is all pretty exciting. um Full attendance? no Nobody missing? Is that a thing that happens sometimes? It is. It's actually a really significant thing. Full attendance. No holdouts, no nothing. um We actually got rid of the guy who always holds out, so we're good. That's a good point. Um,
Linebacker Insights
00:09:14
Speaker
yeah, no, honestly, that's a, that's a very good point. No distractions going into training camp here. No, no, nothing. No. Um, honestly, just lots of new, which is, which is great conversation points. So two, we're going to do some quick recaps and then go into depth of kind of each position room. Um, as just a quick reminder, some of the big, um, off season changes included losses of Jordan Poyer, who was cut. Um, now signed with the dolphins Trey white, who was released as June one, uh, after June one, um,
00:09:43
Speaker
designation, so we got some different cap savings or whatever. He's now signed with the Rams and Michael Hyde. um He has his contract finished at the end of last season and has not yet re resigned. So who knows? But he's also out of this room as of this moment. So some big significant names, all three word leaders, very impactful players um over the years, maybe not as much last year in the last few years, but but big, big, big deal for them being out of the room and um the the The kind of the next big significant things that happened is a lot of turnover at coaching positions. Bobby Babbage is in at defensive coordinator. Al Holcomb is in as new linebackers coach, and Marcus West is now the new D-line coach. So lots of new voices, lots of new faces, lots of new approaches to ah hopefully maybe bring some new life to a Buffalo Bills defense that has shown out during the regular season, but then fallen flat during the postseason.
00:10:40
Speaker
So
Matt Milano's Recovery
00:10:41
Speaker
um I think right there, I just want to start with some talking points and just open it up for you guys. What are your thoughts on um these new new coaches? Is this a good thing, bad thing? where where What kind of changes does this bring? So i'm goingnna I'll jump in on this one here real quick. So i think I think the most important thing to remember here is that while there are a lot of new voices, Sean McDermott is still the head coach. I think at the end of the day, this is still mostly Sean McDermott's defense. um So I think as long as he's still there, you have the main guy and the right guy pulling the reins of the guys that might be a little bit more new.
00:11:19
Speaker
Right. While it's significant that these guys are indeed new, I just it it doesn't make me like particularly nervous or anything like that, because I know that Sean McDermott is still there. I think that part is just so so significant. um I think the big hot Topic of conversation as far as Babbage goes right now is will he call the place? um I would imagine I would imagine he wants to um is he ready? I think we're probably find that out in preseason or more importantly Sean McDermott will find that out in preseason
00:11:53
Speaker
I would imagine preseason is a time
Linebacker Depth Discussion
00:11:55
Speaker
where, unless it's already decided between the two of them, that Sean is going to start the season as the play caller, um I think there's a really good shot that you'll see Babbage getting a lot of those reps in during um preseason, right? So I mean, that remains to be seen, but I think that's the big hot topic of conversation in terms of Babbage right now. um And that's my two cents on that.
00:12:19
Speaker
I agree. I think um it's going to be interesting. But I think at that this point, Bobby Badgett is Bob. Wow. Hello, Bobby Babbage. Bobby Babbage is is in line to call plays. He's going to I think because he's a. first time play caller, Sean McDermott is kind of not immediately handing over the reins, which is smart, right? It's not that's not immediately like make like makes make sure we're, you know, dotting your I's and crossing your T's. But I think it's a matter of that, that it's a matter of of time before he will be. He's going to have lots of practice here and um in training camp, roll into the preseason and when it'll be great. and It will absolutely be a collaboration. You're right that this is Sean McDermott's defense.
00:12:59
Speaker
But I'm excited to have Bobby Babbage in there. he's He's been a really up and coming coach. He's homegrown, right? Come up through the ranks here in Buffalo, worked in almost every single position room on that defense, which is amazing. And every time he touches and he gets into a position room, players play their best. So I'm excited in him now to have the entire effect on the full defense. Remind me, who are some players that he like groomed a little bit and helped develop? um Have you heard of Jordan Poyer and Micah High? I'm familiar. Yeah, yeah I'm familiar. yeah He was safety's coach when they were up and coming and new to the team. um How about Tremaine Edmonds when he had his best year before he left and signed with the Chicago Bears? You heard that name?
00:13:42
Speaker
i I saw a clip of Tremaine Edmonds from his time in Buffalo just leveling a Dolphins player the other day. I don't know if anyone else saw that, but it was... I did not, but I wish I did. It was nice. Dolphin Hunter. um um what's What's another name am I missing? Terrell Modern would be the most recent one. And yeah, basically any, almost any player in the secondary, really. um I would say he's at he's at a hand in. Most notably, though, Tom got it, Poyer, Hyde, and then the linebackers recently, Milano Evans, Terrell Bernard. He's responsible for all of that development. And and taking players who were not premium first round, how did Tremaine Evans was? But all the rest of them were not. And he took them, helped them develop, helped them master the scheme and become really impactful players and some of the best at their position. So
Defensive Backfield Transformations
00:14:30
Speaker
like the guys, he's got to go look at a little bit of the Midas touch.
00:14:34
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. Dana, any thoughts on any of that stuff? Now I'm just super psyched for Bobby Babbage and to see his play calling. I think he's going to actually call plays unless it goes horribly wrong in preseason. But yeah, just excited. Cool. Agreed. Let's hop over to the roster. I'm going to share it just like I did last week. If anybody's listening and you'd like a visual, come on over to YouTube. We're over here. Um, that is the wrong. There we go. Okay. So we have the entire defense. We will eventually get the specialist, but we're going to start here. Um, Nigel, are actually, you know what? I'm going to give Jake the option. Jake, pick us a ah position room. What position room do you want to want us to start with? Thanks for throwing me on here dude thanks for throwing me a softie. ye ah Yeah. I think, I think that's built from Jake.
00:15:27
Speaker
Sorry, buddy. that's that's it's that's it's It's not undeserved. I can't take a softy and turn it into a hard, hard question.
00:15:38
Speaker
Tom, I'd like to... I've lost my composure. Tom, I'd like to start from the line and work our way back. let's tell Talk to me, you boys, about the defensive line. Okay, so some new players and new additions include for we're going to we're going to kind of put the end and the tackle in the same conversation. So some of the new additions from the draft include Jevon Solomon edge player um and the Wayne Carter the tackle. Some new signings include Austin Johnson, D Tackle, Deshaun Williams, D Tackle, Gable Stevenson, the
Kicker Competition and Strategy
00:16:17
Speaker
Olympic gold medalist wrestler is in that D Tackle room. And Casey Two Hill was also signed. He has he has started games um yeah across the NFL. And Dwayne Smoot is also added to the Edge Room.
00:16:31
Speaker
so um The let's start with D tackle, because that's in and in my opinion, my favorite one. um I'm super pumped that a we have at Oliver office best season ever. And Daquan Jones coming back off an injury that is more than likely going to be fine. He is a D tackle. It was a pack injury. He has been really working throughout the entire season. He came back for the playoffs, if anybody remembers, was not clearly not himself, but he's had an entire offseason. I'm expecting Daquan Jones to come back and be pretty darn close to the same as we saw him last season. Nigel, kind of looking at these D tackle room, who are you excited about?
00:17:16
Speaker
I'm going to kind of take your question and and sort of take advantage of it a little bit, because what I'm excited about with the defensive tackle group is the depth that we have this year, right? Gone are the days of giving Jordan Phillips and Tim Settle, you know, any amount of snaps, which they truly probably don't deserve. Jordan Phillips, every now and again, you get a great pass rush up the middle that leads to a sec. Tim Settle, dude. Man, when we signed him, because the story with him, when we picked him up, when we signed him, Was that he had a lot of untapped potential and was buried in a super super super deep um Washington commander's defensive line room, right? So you hear things like this and you're like and you read the starters on that team You're like, oh, well, no wonder this guy's, you know been buried. Maybe we got a real diamond in the rough here
00:18:04
Speaker
you was that's how was jordan phillip do So, you know, now you draft
Defensive Coaching Changes
00:18:10
Speaker
a guy like Dwayne Carter, you sign Austin Johnson, you sign Deshaun Williams, and and then all of a sudden your depth in the detaggle room is like, I don't know, improved by 200%. So i I know you asked for one player, but that's my over overwhelming prevailing feeling. with the defensive deck room right now is just the completely revamped depth. We know that Daequan Jones and Ed Oliver are absolute aces in terms of starters, but this is a defensive line that rotates like crazy. And when you've got, you know, guys like Tim Settle and Jordan Phillips playing 30 snaps a game, you're going to you're going to hurt. So I think that's probably the best thing that's happened for this detector room. I'm excited. The fact that we have legitimate one tech depth
00:18:58
Speaker
we' We've always had like, okay, we have all starter, but then if that starter, a, you know, doesn't play a hundred percent of the snaps, which almost never happens, or B, get some kind of injury, which again, knock on wood. Welcome to knock on wood season is, is injured. Like. we We don't have anybody, somebody else has to play out of position, out of a natural spot for them. But um both Austin Johnson and Deshaun Williams have had starting reps at OneTech. So the fact that they're depth pieces now is awesome. And especially because not only does it affect the detackler room and the edges around them, it affects the back seven and clears up and helps our ace linebackers, which I can't wait to talk about in just a minute.
00:19:38
Speaker
um sets them up for success. So I think this is one of the best jobs Brandon Bean has done setting up a D tackle room. Absolutely, dude. Dana, thoughts on that? and I don't have too many thoughts on the D tackles, but we could shift to the end if you guys are cool with it. Please do walk us over.
Safety Positions Analysis
00:19:58
Speaker
Absolutely. Yeah. Um, so on the D and side, There's a couple questions that I have um that's different from the defensive tackles. I feel like our tackles are really strong. Like everything you said, the depth is amazing. But on the ah the DN side,
00:20:17
Speaker
Um, there's a few questions and a couple of those arise from people coming back from injuries. And a couple of those come from, um, guys stepping into bigger roles, um, talking about somebody like A.J. Eponessa. Um, so let's just talk about Eponessa first. Someone who has played a huge role for us last year, who is not on the team anymore is Leonard Floyd. And he led all of our players in sacks. And basically now, uh, we're going to ask up Vanessa to pick up a ton of that slack. And, um, we have seen flashes of him be be great, but I don't think we've seen it to that extent. Uh, so that's a question. Um, Greg Russo, he did have a foot injury last year, so he's going to be coming back from that injury. I don't, I'm don't feel too worried about that, but you know, whenever someone gets hurt and then has to come back.
00:21:14
Speaker
ah There's always a ah question then you got Von Miller Von Miller who we all know what happened with that ah last year He was he looked like a shell of himself um He did look like he was starting to get better in the playoffs maybe but hopefully he'll continue on that trajectory But that's not a sure thing because he's older um And then yeah, I mean you have some wild cards we got um some guys, Javon Solomon, who we drafted, who I'm actually, he's kind of a wild card for me. Um, I'm really interested to see how he does in preseason, especially, but, uh, he has some traits that are interesting and enticing for me. What do you guys think?
00:21:58
Speaker
I absolutely agree. And I think the, I think the big one to start with is Von Miller. I think he's the big, the big conversation piece here. ah You're right, dude. I think he came off last year's ACL or two years ago, ACL injury. This is now the time where you actually might expect somebody to come back and look like themselves two years out is, and we've seen this enough times here on the, on the, um on the bills, like the neck, the season following an ACL, even if they're starting, we have never seen a player come back and look like themselves. So hopefully Von Miller's two years out. and maybe gonna look like himself. If he's 80% of what he was when he first signed in those first 11 games when he played in Buffalo, I'll take it. I will absolutely take that. But this is this is a man who's incredibly prideful, right? He is absolutely a Hall of Famer. He's already sealed his way in to a first ballot Hall of Famer, um but he's won
00:22:52
Speaker
malt ah He's won a Super Bowl in Denver, won a Super Bowl in Los Angeles. And this is a man who has it as a goal to be the first ever to win a Super Bowl with three different teams. So if he really wants to come out and solidify A, his the end of his career, and his career here in Buffalo, this is the year where he should he needs to step up.
Team Chemistry and Expectations
00:23:12
Speaker
We need to see that Von Miller that goes in and affects games and goes in and forces defenses to like shiver and fear. And how the heck are we going to deal with Von Miller again? um That wasn't a thing last year. Now, I don't know if you guys remember, but prior to last season, he was coming in and he was waving in front of our little noses saying, hey,
00:23:37
Speaker
I'm ready for week one." He said that himself, right? And we all knew, okay, maybe von Miller's being von Miller, he's blowing smoke up our butts, and he didn't start. Okay. Kept saying, all right, I want to go week four, whatever it was. And I think he started week six, right? I think is when he eventually started. um and And which is, it was fine, except the fact that he didn't really affect anything, right? He was just a warm body out there. He He he happened to line up on the Buffalo Bills D-line and in my opinion didn't do anything until we saw the playoffs and he he did have a couple snaps that looked pretty good. He then had ah conversations this offseason in interviews saying, I shouldn't have started. Dude, you asked, you said that you were gonna start week one. You said I should not have started, I should not have been playing.
00:24:26
Speaker
I agree. I agree. You should not have been playing. So um I'm very interested in this guy's. I want to believe in Von Miller. I have a Von Miller jersey hanging in my in my my closet that I cannot wait to wear and know that, man, that guy's going to go in and get two meaningful sacks in this big game against the Dolphins or somebody. right like i want I'd want to be rooting for him. I'm not there. That jersey is staying in the closet for a couple of games here until I see something.
00:24:57
Speaker
um But his his development, his recovery, and his impact on the Buffalo Bills, in my mind, is one of the most, one of the biggest wild cards of this defense. If he comes in and can play, even, like I said, 80% of what he was, that's what we need. But if he's if he's not there, this this D-end room is looking awfully anemic. Nigel, what are your thoughts on on the Von Miller situation? I went on a little tie right there. Sorry, guys. so That's OK. Nobody. budy Everything you said is perfectly valid and correct. And I don't disagree with a single bit of it. um
Defensive Roster Overview
00:25:34
Speaker
I'm going to answer your question with a question. Let's say, OK, the SAC number is set at six and a half. Are you taking the over or the under? Right now, the under. Right now, the under. Dana, same question. My hopeful ass wants to say over, but I'm taking under. My realistic butt. Yeah. Dana?
00:25:56
Speaker
I'm goingnna say under and given his age given his age jake you want to chime in well fuck you guys both pick the under i'll pick the over the man's gonna come out with his quads on fire and he's gonna get twelve sacks this year Oh man, we're got to clip where I'm clipping that because I wanted to be true. I cannot wait for you to dunk on our, sorry, you know, scared asses, Jake. I want that to happen. So here's, so here's what I'll say on the Von Miller situation. And i'll I'll start by saying, I'm going to take the over. I'll take the over at six and a half because here's a dude that.
00:26:37
Speaker
So i am I'm not going to sit here and say that I'm convinced that but Von Miller has lost his athleticism. Von Miller wins with speed and IQ and and pass rush moves. He's not a power compression style guy, right? i I would argue that that style of defensive end ages more gracefully than than the alternative. Right? Now, that also being said, this is a dude who, like you said, Tom, is a first ballot Hall of Famer, right? I don't think last season is the season that Von Miller is ready to go out on. And I myself am willing to bet um on the mental fortitude of Von Miller, despite his age, right? Because I agree that is a significant factor.
00:27:24
Speaker
, If, if, if somebody says set the over at six and a half, I'm going to take the over. I'm going to bet more than anything on that man's mental fortitude. He's got more money than God. It's not like he can't afford all of the best possible care and all that stuff. So I am, I'm going to say over on the six and a half sacks for Von Miller. I think, I think we're going to be pleasantly surprised. And if it's seven, I'm taking that from 36 year old Von Miller.
00:28:07
Speaker
10 times out of 10, no questions asked. I would agree with that. And I hope that they're impactful moments, right? Yeah. End of game, closing in a game, bringing us maybe their playoff sacks, right? Like that, that's where we need
New Kickoff Rules Explained
00:28:24
Speaker
this, this D line to make some, make some noise. Yeah. Dana, did you have a thought? Yeah, I just, I just, uh, I really hope that Nigel's right. That he has, uh, that he will be able to win because I personally look at how he wins and in like a banged up body now, I'm not sure that he has like that twitch and the speed and the bend that he had that was elite. Like that's the way that he beat people so many times was just bending around the edge and just being more agile and speedy than the other guy. So, yeah um,
00:29:01
Speaker
Yes. He is extremely talented. Yes. He's extremely smart. Um, but I don't, I don't know. I'm not sure he necessarily won with these, with his smarts. His bend was insane. So if he still has that, um, that'd be amazing. But you know, the injury is crazy. like I'll put 20 bucks on it right now that anybody wants to take the bet. Six and a half sacks. I'll take you over. No, the hope the hopeful Bill's fan in me wants you to be right. So I can't do that. Fair enough. I'll take it. I'll take it hoping that I give you 20 bucks. I'll bet you 20 bucks. nige ah we now We should get it on on the record here. Are we going to include the postseason with the regular season? ah No postseason for me. Yeah. Just regular season. Six and a half. Okay. Yeah. All right. I'll still take it. It's 20 bucks. as Hopefully I'll be able to afford it. I hope he gets 12 sacks.
00:29:56
Speaker
pretty Me too, bro. Me too. Now, what's interesting also on this the end, before we go to another room, we're going to be here for a while. This is just so much fun. Greg Russo does not have an extension yet, right? He's going into year four, if I'm correct. Yes. OK, thank you. Sorry, just looking for clarification. And I believe we've picked up his fifth year option. Yes, we've exercised that a few months ago. So he has a fifth year. And generally, this is a time when Brandon Bean will extend players before this season, before going into that fourth season.
00:30:30
Speaker
ah perhaps he wants to see. Um, but we might see a Gregor sewer extension. And to be honest, if not, I'm okay with that because that means the man is playing for a new contract. I would imagine, and I sure hope, I mean, I'm wearing my group shirt tonight. Like I hope, I hope the guy stays, right? The guy is, he's a great player. He's amazing at run defense and a slightly impactful um pass rusher, to be honest, the thing that would put him forward and honestly also increase his contract.
00:31:01
Speaker
is more sack production. So if we can see that guy have more than six and a half sacks, that's a huge year. Absolutely. Yeah, dude. I, I'm, I think the, and you, you touched on it, Tom, and I'll sit here and tell you definitively that I want to see, I want to see contract hungry group, right? I don't want him to sign right now because you, and you just, you pretty much just touched on it, Tom. I want to see the sack production. right with that length
Training Camp Insights
00:31:31
Speaker
dude i'm like i'm i'm just dying to see more of a quicker stab get that separation from these tackles dude i know the tackles are big too but i i'm i am dying for more sack production from greg russell i think he's got the potential to have an ed oliver-esque breakouts breakout year i truly truly believe that but
00:31:54
Speaker
I think that sack production, like it's it's heavily going to impact his pay. We're probably talking about that. If he does this think does significantly more in terms of sack production this year, We're probably talking about the potential difference in his contract. I mean, potentially 10 million a year if the SAC's my racket. Yeah, maybe that's a little steep, but go ahead, Tom. If he has the SAC production, he could absolutely buy, and I'd be honestly relatively supportive of him resetting the edge market, right? Because he has all of the other parts of his game. He's got locked down. It's just the SAC production that's missing. So if he comes out and shows it, and he could really set himself up for, you know,
00:32:40
Speaker
resetting that the edge market. So um I absolutely agree, dude. I'm excited. say this If he resets the edge market, I better see 15 sacks this year minimum because those guys that set the edge market, dude, they have a proven consistency of damn near double digit sacks. Yes. So yeah I better see something unbelievable if he resets the market. Yeah, yeah, totally. I'm writing his name down for some um bold predictions I got as we're again i getting closer to the season here. I think he could have a fun one. So all right. um let's Let's move on. We've talked quite a bit about the D line. Let's move on to move back as Jake recommended. Let's go to linebacker.
00:33:22
Speaker
So, um, returning in this room is Matt Milano off of a broken leg. Now, in theory, broken legs are not a ligament right ligament injuries like an ACL and MCL, some kind of Achilles injury, those are honestly oftentimes affect players athleticism, and you can really notice that, wow, this player is a different player. In theory, a broken bone is repairable is something he can come back from and look like him his former self. Here's hoping.
00:33:57
Speaker
um The guy, what we watched him all
Closing Remarks and Social Media Reminder
00:34:00
Speaker
off season where he's had stuff on his leg. His one leg looks different size than the other because of the muscle loss. like So the guy's clearly coming back from an injury. Hopefully this camp we can kind of get some news saying, man, Mepilano's looking like he can. We'll come back and I'll open that conversation in a second. Charles Bernard is back, Dorian Williams is back. We have added Nicholas Moreau and Dion Jones, two veteran linebackers, which I'm excited about and would like to discuss. We have signed from our draft class, Edifuan Ulfoshio. Super fun name. Balan Spector is back, and Joe Andreessen has been signed from UB. So kind of a fun local prospect. Probably not pushing to make the team, but just a fun story. So um Nigel, pick us a player. Where do you want to start on this linebacker room?
00:34:48
Speaker
I want to start with Matthew Goddamn Milano, Tom. Oh, I get it again. Matthew Goddamn Milano. And I say Goddamn because those biceps make me say Goddamn every time. OK, I and I'm going to kind of group together the starters, because I think the big thing for this season, at least for me, right, is the idea and OK. I'm going to I'm going to do the negative part early, right? When you're talking about Terrell Bernard and you're talking about Matt Milano, and I bet you guys can say it with me, what's the number one concern with those two guys? Let's see if we can do it. Ready? I'm going to count to three. One, two, three.
00:35:31
Speaker
in now
00:35:35
Speaker
I think we pretty much got it. Um, but yeah, dude, it's making sure those guys freaking stay alive, right? They've both got a pretty lengthy injury history. So right now I'm going to knock on wood and I'm going to pull my phone right here so you can hear it. Okay. Knocked on wood, and it was an even number, which is the more important thing. That being said, I think the idea of seeing these two guys get a full season together as a starting linebacker duo in this particular defense has me salivating, dude, because now we get to see the long-term plan put into action, right? We found out, unfortunately, like two years later after Terrell Bernard was
00:36:16
Speaker
drafted and we all shit our pants right because we whatever you all know that story but and now we get to see the long-term plan right we got to see it for a couple games last year the long-term plan being to match up style linebackers and moving away from that traditional middle linebacker that you see in the NFL right? Middle linebacker typically being your bigger beefier, more downhill guy. Think Ray Lewis, right? We're moving on. Yeah. Tremaine Edmunds moving on from that, right? And now we have two legitimate matchup linebackers. And when you're talking about that, well, I don't throw Bernard, you're talking about two guys that can cover with the best of them, whether we're talking Tyree kill or excuse me, not Tyree kill Travis Kelsey, right? and Or, and yeah. i Unfortunately, nobody's covering that guy. Nobody's covering Tyree kill. But I mean, we've seen that Milano borderline. I don't want to say a race but limit Travis Kelsey more than anybody else. Right. We've seen it happen. We know it's we know it's possible. I think the idea of seeing these two guys together for a full season.
00:37:24
Speaker
it's It's arguably the biggest X factor in the entire defense. Along with Von Miller, I would say, which is a huge one. Those two being healthy for 17 games, I think could make or break this team. You saw on the playoffs, right? I would have given a testicle for both of those guys to be in that game against the Chiefs last year. That's a different game. It's a different game. It's a different game, dude. If even honest, one of them was there, but both of them for sure. Right. Can we go back to the point where you were going to give up a testicle? That's crazy. Yeah. Let's talk about a testicle. And I just was wagering everything. You know what, man, I quit my job. I'm moving to sell my body.
00:38:06
Speaker
Yeah, dude, we could, you want that for 20 bucks to double or nothing, Dana? I don't want you to mutilate yourself. You need those. All right, dude. Well, yeah, fair enough. um But yeah, dude, I just think the idea of these two together is too exciting. You know, I think you're you're talking about Splash Place sitting with these two. yeah Tom, Jake, thoughts? For time's sake, I want to keep moving. I think you nailed it. You covered it all. um I think talking about the depth and us running into the
00:38:37
Speaker
into the playoffs trying to get AJ Klein to cancel his his vacation plans with his family to come back and play against the Kansas City Chiefs resulted directly in Nicholas Moreau and Dion Jones both being signed. Nicholas Moreau um was signed from the Eagles and has been a solid veteran player Um, nothing, nothing really to write home about, but has veteran reps played in the playoffs and is absolutely a better and, um, better option than like Tyrell Dodson or heck AJ client coming off the, um, off the bench. Deon Jones. Um, a couple of years ago, if you told me that Deon Jones was signed with the Buffalo bills, he'd be signing for, you know, top of the market money and be a clear starter.
00:39:21
Speaker
He's not that. He's had a couple years of injury. However, it's not been injuries to his lower half. um It's been shoulder injuries. It's been upper body injuries. So we have a chance here of Dion Jones being able to come in and show the same athleticism because his legs are still healthy um and come back in and play in a system that's very linebacker friendly and linebacker dependent and could could make an impact. Having him as depth is important. Is there anything else in line the linebacker land here that you guys want to touch on before we move on to the DBs? Yeah, I just like to reiterate, we're going to get to this later, but with the special teams changes um with the punt and kick changes, there's going to be, I think, some um
00:40:13
Speaker
some you know, that, that to deal with. So, um, if you're like between one or two people, if you're a Sean McDermott, I feel like you would lean to special teams tackles instead of maybe a more solid linebacker, but I don't know. Well, that's just something to think about. I agree with you. Yeah, I totally agree. So we'll see. Looking at the DB room here. Um, the big loss was Trudavious whites. We know that unfortunately he had been injured the last two seasons.
00:40:43
Speaker
Um, we have not seen real Trey White since like 2021, right? It's been forever. So, um, I'm super sad to see the guy go, but we didn't lose, um, peak Trey White. We lost injured Trey White. We also lost, um, not peak Mike Heider, Jordan Poyer. They've also been banged up, put together with scotch tape and a little bit of, you know, WD-40 the last few years. And we have not, we didn't lose the significant impactful Michael Hyde and Jordan Poyer. We're rolling into this season with Rasool Douglas, Kai and Christian Benford as more than likely our starting corners. Kai or Elam, we have some interesting talking points here. It's there's kind of a reset year for him. And then Taran Johnson just signs a ah breaking the market ah us um nickel corner.
00:41:36
Speaker
um contracts. I think it was like $30 million. dollars It was awesome for him. Dee Delaney is in. He has a a great depth piece. DeMarcus Ingram has been in the system. Daquan Hardy was a draft pick. And then we have a few players who I believe will just be practice squad players. For the safety room, because we're going to lump these two together, we have ah presumed starters, Taylor Rapp and Mike Edwards. Cole Bishop was signed as a rookie. Cam Lewis and Demar Hamlin were both here, and then Kendall william Williamson is more than likely a practice squad player. So um my favorite talking point here is Kyra Elam. Nigel or Dana, go ahead and jump jump in, whoever would like it. What are your thoughts on what this year means for Kyra? Dana, you want me to go or you want it? Go for it.
00:42:25
Speaker
All right. I this feels to me like I don't know if I want to use the phrase necessarily make or break, but we're getting close to that for a guy or elam right. You're going to have a new you're going to have a new quarterback coach right in the room. John Butler is gone. Right. yeah don I think he was a little bit peeved that he didn't get the D tackle job, or excuse me, D coordinator, not D tackle, He wouldn't do great as a T tackle. um I think he's coaching at college now if I remember right. I don't remember what school, but think yeah yeah yeah I think he's in college now. So wish the best for him. But um there was there's been some speculation that maybe Kyrie Elam, excuse me, wasn't a favorite of coach John Butler's. Maybe that's the truth, maybe it's speculation, who knows. um But at the end of the day, the bills invested premium draft capital in Kyriele. And the results that we've gotten have not reflected that of premium draft capital. And I think you're probably, I mean, it's, I don't know, but you do you guys think it's a stretch to say make or break for Kyriele this year?
00:43:37
Speaker
Um, I think, yes, I think it's make or break on whether or not he's getting picked up his fifth year option. Right. Um, which then in theory puts in jeopardy for him, his extended contract. Um, generally, if you're not picking up a fifth year contract, it's because you don't believe in the player and you're not ready to kind of, you know, set yourself up with ah contract control. So. Yeah, I kind of do. I kind of think this is the year for him to go in. i I think he has an opportunity, though. I think he has an opportunity to play in a kind of a re. Rethought through defense and and have a little bit more of an impact as not the presumed starter and being OK with that and coming in and but playing as the third the third cornerback, the first one off the bench um and not needing to start, I think will help that that player.
00:44:29
Speaker
Yeah, I just, I don't know, man. i He's gotta, he's gotta prove it. Now here's, here's the thing, right? At best, Kyrie is the third cornerback on this team, right? So in a perfect world, we're never seeing him, right? Because third boundary corner, right? Third boundary corner. Yeah. Yeah. um yeah Yeah. Sorry. Not including Taron Johnson. My apologies. Thank you, Dana. Third boundary corner after Russell Douglas, after Christian Benford and my head Taron Johnson's in a separate category. uh... so yes i think ideally we're not seeing him but in my mind a guy like i realize his dot size whose claim to fame is you know being being a physical guy
00:45:11
Speaker
right if we're going to keep looping in these these kickoff conversations, right? Like that's an area where I would love to see Kyrie Elam be like getting tackles left and right, right? Like, you know, being a guy that is athletic, strong, big in that situation where you need guys that are exactly that big, athletic, strong. right because you got to be able to make tackles, but you got to be able to catch guys because you know the players catching the ball are going to be quick. right That might be the area where he makes his bread and butter. If if we never see him, right if and you're again, knock on wood, if Russell Douglas and Christian Benford remain healthy and we don't see him, maybe it's not a make or break here, because who can point and say, well, he has bad tape. But if we you know if one of those guys goes down,
00:45:57
Speaker
Knocking what again and he gets significant playing time and we don't see it. I Mean he's got to be sniffing done on this team Right. Yeah, ah that would I would absolutely agree. I would absolutely agree I think an interesting player in this room is Daquan Hardy as a rookie he has um he um projects to be one of the best depth um slot corner depth pieces that we've had in a while. um And he also has some really great production as a returner. So I think once we get to our special teams conversation, I think he's in the conversation and be able to make an impact pretty quickly.
00:46:41
Speaker
Yup, you stole mine, Tom. um I'm really excited about Daquan Hardy. He's so fast. Sub 4-4, 40 yard dash. Yeah. He's got the two return punts last year in college. Great hands. Yeah, like really good hands. And if you watch him, he is small. He has a small frame, but he's similar to Taran in that he's not very heavy, but he knows how to use his body. He knows how to tackle. Yeah. So yeah, I mean, I think he's he's kind of a a wild card. Yeah, really interesting. Look it at the same. Go ahead. All right. Real quick. A little bit of breaking news here. C.D. Lamb to hold out of training camp over contract dispute. I'll see you then. That was interesting. See, that's what can happen, a Jake. If we had we had that issue, that's good. That could happen. It's a good issue not to have correct all those wide receivers want to get paid. holy I don't I don't blame them. You know, I don't blame it at all. Like I would do if I had that kind of talent and that kind of situation.
00:47:38
Speaker
Amen. The Cowboys, that's a whole other different thing. I think the Cowboys are going to be a flaming pile of doo-doo this year. OK, looking at safety. um It's looking like Taylor Rapp and Mike Edwards are coming in and being starters. Cole Bishop has been awfully quiet. Cam Lewis and DeMar Handler are kind of fighting for a roster spot, in my opinion. So as we're looking at this, I think where we should be excited that Taylor Rapp got the extension and they did.
00:48:10
Speaker
Right. He has, he has a three year contract and I don't think Sean McDermott would, would really vouch for a guy to be a starting safety as a guy who Sean McDermott's like a safety, like whisper. So if he didn't feel like he could play and be impactful in this defense, I don't think we would. Now, Nigel, Dana, and I were actually playing games earlier, and we were looking at the the contract situation for Taylor Rapp. It's also very easy for the Bills to get out of him after this year. So um if we don't see it, it's not the end of the world. Perhaps this is setting up for a Cole Bishop kind of um succession plan. But I'm excited to see Taylor Rapp in a full offseason as a starting role, because last year he came in, and he was clearly behind Jordan Porter and Megha High. Thoughts, Nigel, Dana, Jake?
00:48:57
Speaker
Jake, anything? Go ahead, Dana. No, no, no. Oh, God. I'm going to start talking. Go ahead. When I was prepping for this show, the safety position was the one that I thought was the most up in the air. um I think Mike Edwards is solid. He's there, but all the Taylor wrap footage that I've seen, especially with the bills, I have really not liked. He just did. He doesn't seem like he knows what he's supposed to do in the spaces where he's at. Seems like a loose cannon, right? Yeah. Yeah. And, um, you know, you look at Demar before his injury, he was good. He was playing snaps and he was playing very well.
00:49:47
Speaker
And then we spend a pretty high draft pick on Cole Bishop and then Cam Lewis has the seniority and has been with McDermott forever. Um, you know, he knows that role really well. Um, and then you have this kind of weird out of left field wildcard, if Micah comes back, uh, you know, in like week nine or something. So I don't know. I just think the safety position is a lot more up in the air than we think. Yeah, I'm going to, I'm going to just go back to Micah. That's what I want Micah's plan to be. I don't want him to sign right now, especially because of the muddiness we have in this room. I want him to wait, go stay healthy, stay in shape, buddy. Um, go enjoy your family. And if we are in need, cause we have injury problems coming in by a mid season, like that sign them and bring them in and go on a run, but I don't want them to sign now. That's where I'm at with Micah.
00:50:39
Speaker
cool I think I think that's a great thought there. Yeah, I mean, you know, it's great that we get the one year out of f Taylor the rap right because I kind of agree with Dana. I agree with him in the sense that um ah his bills footage. No, thank you. But his Rams footage I think is good. Right, so like you see a potential there for a player to be to be good and and like I think it was time to just said, Sean McDermott being ah just a secondary whisperer, right, you'd like to think, and I think it is very significant indeed.
00:51:11
Speaker
that you know Sean McDermott saw this guy for a year and then signed up for the three-year deal right so that's a big piece of it like I think it was already said um but yeah dude it's just it makes me feel I just feel good I feel fine with the idea that Taylor Rapp is going to start because of the contract he signed but I'm not nervous about it because if we need to bench him for a coal bishop we can we let him go up to the season and it's a very tiny dead cap hit So while it's up in the air, I don't feel concerned about it because the repercussions are just so low any way you slice it, really. yeah I believe Mike Edwards is a one-year deal. right So like we're kind of chilling here. um Cam Lewis, I like more than Tamara Hamlin, personally. I think they play sort of a so ah a different game. So maybe that's not super fair of me to say. But you know if I had to pick one of them, you know i'm I'm picking Cam Lewis.
00:52:06
Speaker
um So yeah, it's an interesting situation, but I just feel like the repercussions are low. It's it's arguably the position of the least impact on the defense. Not that it's not important, right? Because I don't want to undermine the loss of Hyde and Poyer, particularly in terms of their leadership, right? But if i think I think collectively here, I don't think I'm saying anything crazy. If we were to pick the least impactful position on defense, I think it's probably safety. Right. And if you want it with Sean McDermott, if we have in control over this defense, like the guy just knows how to get safety production. So yeah, I'm a little scared because it was so much fun watching Jordan and Micah play for all those years. They were so, they were so elite, like the best duo when they were playing their best, they were the best duo in football. Um, so we're missing that. That's not, that's nothing to snuff at, but I'm not, you're right. I'm not, I'm not concerned.
00:53:04
Speaker
I'm a little nervous, but I'm not concerned. I'm on that different spot of the meteor, you know? Yeah, totally. All right, so we might go a little long tonight, folks. But that's OK, because we're out we're taking next week off. So we're going to go a little long and you know stick with us. um Specialist, we have T Bass at Kicker, Reed Ferguson, ah cooking up a storm and with Grylls Mafia, and then a little competition with Sam Martin and Jack Browning. I think the big concern looking at here here is Tyler Bass, right? we we Last year was clearly, in my opinion, his worst year. And the guy signs, I think he's the seventh highest paid kicker in the league. And he did not play anywhere near that. um And we're kind of stuck with him for at least until we want to take some significant cap hits. So we need T Bass to come back to life.
00:53:50
Speaker
In my opinion, I think that's a holder situation. Do we have a holder that he has chemistry with, that he feels comfortable with and can be consistent? Um, Sam Martin had, I mean, he's had some flashes with Sam Martin, but it hasn't been consistent. I think the wildcard here is Jack Browning. Um, I don't think we know enough and i'm I'm curious if you guys agree. I think training camp is when we'll learn if Sam Martin or Jack Browning is our partner. At this point, I don't think I personally have enough information to know who's the better pick. What do you guys think? Agreed. Yeah, we don't think about Jack Browning at this point. And yeah, training camp is where we'll get information. We know that Jack Browning took over the punting responsibilities for what's his face that we drafted a couple years ago to add all those um scary allegations that the bills rightfully parted ways with. Right. So throws from San Diego State. What was that guy's name? Anybody remember?
00:54:45
Speaker
Arisa, Matt Arisa. Yeah, Matt Arisa. So, as soon as Matt Arisa was drafted, Jack Browning took over those responsibilities. I don't i haven't seen any of that tape, but um but I think that's significant, right? Go ahead, Tom. I was just going to say, Jack Browning, he he had better stats than Matt Arisa, than the punt god. So, there you go. Yeah. so yeah and It's a bust god. Oh, boy. that's a different that's a different podcast make you're Yeah, yeah i'll tell you i'll tell you down here yeah give me another another fear and we'll talk um yeah so I think this is something but something to be curious about going into training camp here is gonna be what does this look like? Yeah, dude, it's gonna be it's gonna be interesting competition competition with Tom. I think you're exactly right It's gonna plain and simple you can summarize it. It's gonna come down to holding done
00:55:35
Speaker
Yeah, I think it also will kind of look into the the new kickoff rule, which we can talk about right now. um I'm going to stop this screen share. And I would like everybody, my fellow hosts here and everybody at home to add to please close your eyes and picture the beautiful Highmark Stadium. The run out tunnels on your left, sorry, run out tunnels on your right, the other end of the stadium's on your left, all towards the parking lots, and we got new kickoff rules, okay? So what's gonna happen with this new kickoff rule, it's gonna be a very exciting new play, it's gonna look completely different. This is the biggest significant rule change we've had in our lifetime. The ball's still gonna be kicked from the same spot. So Tyler Bass will still be out in the same spot. Whoever's kicking, presumably Tyler Bass.
00:56:21
Speaker
All um the kicking teams players. So say the bills are kicking off. Tyler Bass is kicking out of the same spot. The rest of the bills are going to be up on the opponent's 40 yard line. So much further upfield. Picture all of them up further off field. The kick real quick. Can we can we establish where Tyler Bass kicks off from just for the peeps? He's kicking off from the 35 yard line, the same spot as he always has. Awesome. So it's a 35 yard line. Got it. Thank you. Yeah. The 10 kicking team players, the rest of the bills, once ty once the kicker kicks the ball to to the opponent, those rest of the tiing the kicking team players cannot move until the ball hits the ground or the player in the landing zone or the end zone.
00:57:04
Speaker
So everybody's staying still until the ball hits the net, the other end of the field. The receiving team, the opponents are going to set up as follows. This is going to be a setup zone. It's a five yard area from their 35 to 30 yard line. The bills are on the 40. The other teams between the 35 and 30. They can kind of do, they have nine players that they can do what they want with. At least seven of those players, will their foot will be on the 35. And then there's two other players who are going to be the receivers who can do what they want. They can put them in different alignments. No player in that setup zone can move until the kick has hit the ground or the player. So just like the bill's kicking off, the opponent cannot move until the ball hits the other end.
00:57:48
Speaker
um You guys can now open your eyes if you if you'd like. that Thank you for following. like I appreciate you. all All three of my boys here have closed their eyes. this is there there They follow instructions really well. You told me to close my eyes and then you said a lot of words. I did. i did did did it Did you picture it? Did you picture the crisp fall winds blowing through your hair and a very expensive beer in your hand or no? There's no AC in the room that I record, so yeah, I was picturing it and it felt really nice. Really, really nice. so Here we go. There's a couple more rules here. The landing zone between um is the area between the receiving team's goal line and the 20 yard. Any kick that hits short of the landing zone, so before the 20 yard or outside the 20 yard line, is treated like a kickoff out of bounds and the ball is spotted at the 40. The 40 is a big freaking deal. That's a lot of field position.
00:58:39
Speaker
Any kick that hits in the landing zone must be returned. Also a big deal. That means more kicks are going to be returned. A kick that hits the landing zone and then goes into the end zone, so rolls in, must be returned or down by the receiving team. If it's down, they get it at the 20. If they return it, wherever they get tackled. If the kick hits the end zone and stays in bounds, that is they then get it at the 30. If that kick um goes at out the back of the end zone, it goes back to the third. So um also, the ah last important one is no fair catches are going to be called. You cannot call a failed catch. How does this affect the bills, boys? um Nigel, what are your thoughts? Oh my god, dude, I have absolutely no idea.
00:59:30
Speaker
i have good right it's good point yeah It's impossible to know because we don't know what the strategy is gonna be, right? Are we gonna is this something where we're going to? You know gear towards size, right? Is this something where we're gonna be geared towards speed? Is it gonna be something where we need a happy medium of both? Like we're not putting offensive linemen out there But you know, are we going to put a defensive lineman out there? Right. Maybe maybe even ah an athletic detector is an Oliver going to maybe even be on the kickoff. Probably not because he's your starting guy. But maybe, you know, DeShawn Williams. Right. Is he going to be out there? We have no idea. We have no idea what the priorities are going to be.
01:00:07
Speaker
In terms of how they want to strategize, I think it's something we could potentially see change a hundred times this year. And that's not unique to the bills, right? I think all the teams are probably going to be like, oh shit, this absolutely did not work. Right? So it's, you know, it's a total crapshoot at this point. I think training, this is going to be a huge thing where training camp is going to divulge a lot, right? We'll be able to get an idea of what the game plan is for kickoffs. Once we see the personnel that's out there, you can't wait to see what the beat writers say. And here's the exciting thing. I think we're less than 24 hours away because in the past and with Bill's training camp, they typically start um or not start, but they have their special team stuff real early.
01:00:48
Speaker
in the practice. So hopefully before it's too long, we will see what McDermott's plan is for this.
01:00:56
Speaker
I think this is significant because the bills have historically forced teams to return kicks and punts, right? They have really incurred the way that they field them and play them and kick them. They're they they're betting on their players to make the play and get better field position for the bills. So I think it's that same mindset will continue. So there will be some kind of emphasis on forcing a return and containing that return.
01:01:26
Speaker
I'm excited for no fair catch. It it' just, as a casual fan, it just looks boring. It was, it was time to go to the bathroom, grab a new beer, like whatever. It just was a nothing play. So I'm excited to see more action during a kickoff than there was. Absolutely. Absolutely. I have a question and this is, this might be a gray area and none of you may know the answer, but you have to catch it. If it's within the, the playing zone of the other team. Um, can you catch it and then give yourself up? Like slide.
01:02:02
Speaker
Yeah, I would imagine I would imagine that I would have to take place outside of the landing zone, which is from the end zone to the 20. Okay. Because anything in there, it has to be played. So I would imagine if you if you caught it in there and then just like went down, guys would just blow you up. Well, I think so any kick that hits in the landing zone and then no, no, that's that goes into the end zone. Yeah. It hits in the landing zone must be returned. So sure. You could give yourself up, but then you give yourself up at the 11 yard line. And that's what it would benefit. him but hurt your team But there's, there's like no penalty because there's no fair catches, but can you catch the ball and then take a knee? Yeah.
01:02:45
Speaker
which is a fair, well, it's not a fair catch, but you're basically just giving yourself up. And then you're going to start at wherever that is. the lot lea line or whatever yeah There's a lot of words here on this real page off the reread it. But yeah Jake knows about a lot of those words. Um, yeah, I think I think you'd go down and then yeah, then you're you're down at the, you know, the 12 or the four or whatever, you know, you feel the ball. Yeah. OK, well, forget that question. That's very, you know, small use case. But anyway, it's all good. I think what's interesting to looking at training camp going into the bills, going into training camp here is who's on this field on this return team? How are they going to try and approach it? I'm interested in see who's going to be kicking. Is it T bass or is it a different player who might be a better tackler? um And I think that's the things to look out for. Do you guys have any any other thoughts here or should we get on out of here?
01:03:37
Speaker
Excited to see it. Here we go training camp this week. All right, folks, um thank you so much for hanging out with us. Here we go. Adios. Have yourselves a nice evening. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for spending some time with us. Please give us a like and a follow on Instagram, X, TikTok, and our YouTube channel at Let's Go Buff Pod. These are my pals, Jake and Nigel. My name is Tom, and you're listening to the Let's Go Buffalo podcast. We're sending you love wherever you are. Go Bills. Go Savers. Let's Go Buffalo.