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Ep. 59 - Bills v. Jaguars Prep, The Sabres are Coming!
34 Plays1 year ago
Welcome in folks, Nigel and Tom breakdown the start of Sabres training camp and preseason. Week 2 Bills v. Dolphins and then Week 3 Bills v. Jaguars.
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Transcript
Introduction and Social Media
00:00:23
Speaker
Oh, what's going on, everybody? You're listening to the Let's Go Buffalo podcast, your favorite podcast for all things bills and sabers with the pals, just Nigel and Tom this evening.
00:00:39
Speaker
Episode 59 coming at you. You know the drill, folks. Don't forget to follow the social medias. We're on all of them. You can find us at Let's Go Buff Pod. Tom, how many F's are in buff in our handle? Two, Nigel. Two. Excellent. Excellent.
00:00:57
Speaker
Like I said, we're on all of them, Instagram, X, YouTube, TikTok.
Bills' Victory over Dolphins
00:01:01
Speaker
And with that being said, my goodness, Tom, how exhausting must it be to be a Dolphins fan and continue to gargle Josh Allen's balls?
00:01:15
Speaker
ah You know, you know, it's a way of life in some ways gotta do it, you know like i mean i mean yeah do chain for a reason nigel and um that's right all yeah They are dude, I'm not even sure they're on it that's how far down they are they're probably just kicked off at this point My God, what an absolute ass kicking. Just just big boy. Like across the board, like everywhere not in that game, just absolutely manhandled. And the bills laid down the lawn and said, you know, remember the division runs through Buffalo. Don't don't forget. Yes.
00:01:50
Speaker
Yep, that was my god. Those are so satisfying It's just it's just like and like I know like we talk about it and somebody's gonna be like Oh, that's your Super Bowl and obviously beating the Chiefs is what our Super Bowl is But it is just always so goddamn satisfying to just like like Finn's fans are like a mosquito that just like won't stop whizzing by your head, right? It's just Right, then you finally kill it usually one gets a little big you know and then there's two of them and yeah yeah yeah dude but then you finally catch him in there and they're dead and he's like thank god to Jesus Christ yeah oh man it's just so you're right it's so satisfying and to be honest
00:02:35
Speaker
We've been graced by the bills to like give us a few of those satisfying games. of Oh, absolutely. To be honest, it's been at the hands of you know ah the the fate of the Dolphins the last like two years. Remember last year, and we we played them right after they just hung 70 points on Denver. And then we played them, and then we won like 40 stuff then.
00:02:54
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. So it's hey, just chalk it up once a season, at least that you know yeah the bills can can remind everybody with ah the packing order and the AFC East. Yep. And end listen, we know this isn't
Weather and Beers Chat
00:03:06
Speaker
forever. we We know our day some day is coming, but it doesn't look like it's any time particularly soon.
00:03:13
Speaker
Not until Josh Allen's like 42. With that being said, Tom, shall we have a beer? Oh, please. i I cheated on you a little bit. I just got so excited coming up the stairs. I wasn't thinking. I already opened it. So I'm sorry. Three, two, one. How'd I do? It was honestly so quiet.
00:03:38
Speaker
So we get from a nice microphone that gets rid of the stuff like that. That was so we do. I'm I'm drinking a good one. um yeah I have a Berkshire Brewing Company life on Martin, Oktoberfest. Nice to you. The leaves are falling up here in the Northeast. I know you're not a Northeastern anymore, but the leaves are no colors coming. The fall. The leaves are falling.
00:04:03
Speaker
I am going to miss some of that, dude. It it was ah it was still a cool 86 today. so i'm not so I'm not bitching too much. It was it was still nice here. but I am going to miss that ah that that color change with the crispness. My ah it's like christmas days are coming. My crisp days are coming. You premature cracker. who Boy, if I had a nickel. um Same thing. Same thing. I'm still rolling on that holy roller, dude. so and And spoiler alert, it's probably what I'm going to drink next episode too, because that's how six packs work.
00:04:39
Speaker
So yeah, it counts. See you in week seven, folks. Report back for more information from Nigel. Better than not having a beer at all. That is true. That is super true. Well, cheers, pal. Good to see you, guys buddy. Yep. Been a week and I'm excited to hang out with you, drink some beer and ah and talk Buffalo sports.
Sabres' Training Camp and Dolly's Injury
00:04:59
Speaker
Hell yeah, dude. Speaking of Buffalo Sports, we got to change change gears for minute a minute here because we're getting to that time of the year, baby. It's time to start talking a little bit more sabers. And why is that? You asked Tom. Well, training camp started this week. Training camp started up yesterday, Wednesday the 18th. And everything was super exciting and fun and wooooo we love it.
00:05:21
Speaker
And what immediately happened, Dolly got hurt and everyone was just shitting their pants. We have since learned it's not a long-term thing. He's day-to-day. According to Lindy Ruff, we expect him to miss just a couple practices. But now you can imagine how ah great we all felt well hearing that news. That sucked.
00:05:42
Speaker
um And it said yeah like injuries just suck injuries just like no matter where they are and especially when it's like we're at practice Like this is not a high-stakes game. This isn't something right, you know, like yeah, ah just the worst well, I'm glad it's not long-term. That's that's awesome Yeah, you know, I think the thing that was a little bit concerning was that it seemed it it happened just literally on a pass. Like he just made a pass and tweaked something. So it's like, all right, just be careful. It's time to get back in shape, baby. Yeah, maybe a little bit more prep next time before you come into
Sabres' Line Combinations
00:06:13
Speaker
camp there, Dolsey. But it seems like he's going to be fine.
00:06:16
Speaker
um We got some interesting lines. So um with Dollyn out, the lines today went as follows. We had Paterka, Tomer, and Tuck on the first line there. The second line was Benny, Kulik, Kuzzy, and Quinner. So obviously that's four names there. The left wing spot was shared between Zach Benson and Yiri Kulik. Interesting that Kulik's getting somewhere in the top six. um I personally still expect him to be in Rochester. But that being said, still still cool to see him getting a fair shake at camp. Right. Yeah. get Especially getting the time with those lines in case he has to be called up, right? This is like some chemistry building experience. Exactly. um So yup, that's the second line there. Third line right now is Zucker, McLeod, and Greenway, which is pretty interesting there. um
00:07:12
Speaker
I'm really, really happy to see Zucker not in the top six because I don't think that's the kind of player he is anymore. But I'm going to be honest, I kind of like that line there. I think that line is the very least super interesting. um And then the fourth line.
00:07:26
Speaker
We've got Beck Malenstein, Sam Lafferty, and Nick Abe-Kubell with Krebsy mixing in on the right wing spot there. So I should have specified as I read those. I was reading them from left wing to right wing. um So yeah okay well yeah, those are the forward lines that were at camp today. Pretty interesting.
00:07:45
Speaker
Defensive pairings, again, with Dolls out, Power and Byram, Sammy and Yokey, Bryson and Clifton, Ryan Johnson, Dennis Gilbert. So I would imagine once Dolls is in there, um not exactly sure what the trickle-down effect would be. I would guess that would put Power back on the second pair with Yokey, probably Sammy and Clifton in the third pairing, and then some combination of Bryson, Ryan Johnson, and Dennis Gilbert.
00:08:14
Speaker
for a fourth pairing there. um So yeah, definitely interesting lines. Nothing that's like crazy. I was super interested to see what Lindy was going to do with Zucker and Benny, Zach Benson. And I'm kind of glad to see it shake out the way that it did. Yeah, a little concerning maybe to have a 19-year-old in the top six. But um i'd I'd rather see that than Zucker, if I'm being honest, especially with what we saw from Benny last season. Tom, questions, comments, concerns about that?
00:08:41
Speaker
Um, no, not really. It is kind of interesting to start seeing these different line combinations. And I'm going to start paying attention to a bunch of that. The quick, like, so what does training camp practice look like? Is it a lot of drills and like situation specific, um, like exercises, like, or is it a lot of just, okay, full game, you know, five on five, like what's the.
00:09:05
Speaker
Yes, all the above. Yep. They're going to they're going to do that. So they're going to have drills that are going to be geared around specific situations. And then usually kind of what happens is they take those drills and they apply them to like game situations. Right. So like, you know, they'll that might work like, you know,
00:09:22
Speaker
just the the first power play against you know air to start and then you know then they'll put it in there against an actual penalty kill and all that stuff um so you know that's kind of the way it goes but they run everything you know lindy's going to implement a new system so guys are going to be learning a new system um learning a new system in hockey is nothing like learning a new system in football hockey is such a fluid sport that the The systems are more or less concepts that teams try to um like implement on the fly. It's usually like just formations, you know like 212 is a popular one for you you know in the neutral zone for teams and stuff like that. So it's ah it's just interesting to see see the the way the lines come together and all that fun stuff. But yeah, they they're going to do a little bit of everything.
00:10:11
Speaker
Cool sure yeah, um speaking of camp practices. They look like they're flat out fucking tough Lindy's kicking these guys ass a little bit um I got what we're seeing guys do push-ups and sprints when um They lose
Training Camp Intensity and Team Bonding
00:10:26
Speaker
you know in a drill um It's just that accountability factor Seeing a lot of people on twitter that are like oh my god he's treating them like their kids or whatever i want to tell those people to shut up because you know all we've seen from this team for the last several years is soft and a lack of accountability. And you know what dude i and there's not a whole lot that brings a team together like grinding through some shit a little bit.
00:10:51
Speaker
Like I remember I remember conditioning drills in sports being some of the things that, you know, made me feel like I was closest with my teammates just because we're all, you know, misery loves company. Right. So dont as but that shit allows the team to to bond a little bit. And, you know, it's, it's, I'm, I'm all for it. And I think if you're one of those people that thinks it's stupid, I think you're soft. and I think you should shut up.
00:11:13
Speaker
um and yeah it's just it's just good to see these guys getting their ass kicked a little bit guys are bent they're doubled over they can't breathe you know it's it's good i think um and then this is i mean you know ah this is the way this works man it's it's camp starts then you have your first pre-season game almost immediately so first preseason game for these guys. And actually, didn't I say it was Saturday, Tom? Yeah, Saturday, the 21st, Saturday, the 21st at 7 p.m. against Pittsburgh. So we'll get to see the pens pretty early on here. um She probably mentioned, I guess, the city Crosby signed a new contract.
00:11:50
Speaker
I don't care enough to even know what the details are. So I can't even tell you what they are. I don't like Sidney Crosby very much. I think he's kind of a bitch, but he's still very good. So he's not going anywhere, but he won't play much in and the preseason anyway. Maybe a game or two, but yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:12:05
Speaker
Cool. Well, Hey, looking at all this, cause now you're getting into the fun of the preseason, you're seeing training camp stuff. Who's a player that's a dark horse candidate for you of somebody who's maybe doesn't have like a big role right now, but you think could come. Game 40, you know, as we're getting into this season is like, Oh wow. Like this guy actually has more of a of a significant pro on this team than we thought.
00:12:29
Speaker
i You know what? this ah you cause yeah You say dark horse. um So I'm going to say that guy is going to be Sam Lafferty. I like Sam Lafferty a lot. He's fast as hell. I've been on record a trillion times talking about that grit. He's just one of those guys that is a prick to play against. When you're a defenseman and Sam Lafferty is on the ice and the punt you're going back you're into your defensive end to get the puck,
00:12:57
Speaker
You know, Sam Lafferty is going to crunch you, right? But Sam Lafferty, we've also, you know, there's there's enough film ah out there of him being like real nice with the puck. So I think I think we might, you know, it's it's it's that's a guy that I could see predicting like a pretty ah maybe maybe a little bit more of an offensive pop than you're used to from that guy.
00:13:20
Speaker
um Another what position he's uh, he's either gonna play center wing. He's a forward I I my guess is he's probably gonna center the fourth line, but he could be on the wing too and that would go fine And then one more guy that I'm excited about I'm really excited about riding the cloud He was the one that came in the trade yeah at Nintend from at Savoy. Um, I, I just like him a lot too. I think, I think he could be a great player. So cool. All right. like early Watch, watch as we, as we go through training camp here. Cool. Yeah, for sure. Did we transition into our, into our sweet, sweet bills, Tommy? Uh, yeah. Can we talk about the game? Can we talk about the game? Can we talk about the
Bills' Offensive Highlights against Dolphins
00:14:00
Speaker
game? night Yes. Yes. time You've been so patient. I'm so proud of you. Lead us in. Tell me, Hey, did the bills win this week?
00:14:07
Speaker
Yes, Tom, they won. Thirty one to ten, baby. Dolphins just just just walk like walking home. I mean, we are in their house and just send them, send them back in thirty one ten. You know, it was a beautiful thing. It was a beautiful way. Let's do our little fun game. And we get about we get the ping pong here. We don't have to trade with Jake. Favorite things. My favorite thing, James Cook, baby. We're winning in a way that people weren't expecting us to.
00:14:37
Speaker
And it it's in there was a little bit of concern about James Cook. Is his usage really going to be what it was last year? is Was he as effective? Are his hands you know actually like just you know wiffle ball hands and he can't catch anything? And the guy's showing up. He is playing really well. And the O-line is helping him tremendously, just creating space.
00:14:59
Speaker
ah just establishing a physical presence on the O line and a dominance that that continues from last season, and we were concerned with the turnover with Mitch Morris leaving and Ryan Bates going to Chicago and new names like this offensive line.
00:15:16
Speaker
that Aaron Cromer has put together is showing up again and it looks awesome. So I am just so pumped for the offensive line physical dominance that led to James Cook and James Cook just cooking away. Just just love it. Oh, yeah, dude. Yeah, he's popping off. No two ways about it.
00:15:34
Speaker
um I would say my first set of roses to give out here, man. It's got to go to the defensive secondary. I mean, good God, dude. and And, you know, we'll get into some some specific stats about the opposing wide receivers and their stats or lack thereof. But I mean, dude, Marcus Ingram, like, come on, your first your first game starting and and you have two picks, one of them is a pick six. I'll tell you who else has two interceptions in his career is named Sos Gardner.
00:16:04
Speaker
And a lot of stupid people call him the best cornerback in the league. yeah I think Vanessa has as many interceptions as Sos Gardner does. bro, uh, cool. I love that. Um, yeah, dude, I, I, I just couldn't be, couldn't be more proud of that defensive secondary with, with all the guys that are out right now. I mean, you, you got no Taryn Johnson, you got no man, Milano, you got notes, Rob Bernard, I mean, and, and for you to hold that Miami offense who I had to offer most of the game.
00:16:37
Speaker
Right. At the very, very, very least two thirds of the game. Right. And that's even being generous. How that all that offense to 10 points, dude, I mean, that is impressive as hell. Super, super, super impressive, dude. It's testament to Sean McDermott. I mean, my God, that guy is his secondary coaching resume alone, dude, is his job worthy.
00:17:05
Speaker
I mean, this yeah, he could coach you and I up to like, we can hold the dolphins to 40 points. Yeah. do like i think Like maybe, maybe it's just, it's unbelievable. That guy's able to is able to get guys to do so. Yeah. Defensive secondary.
00:17:22
Speaker
Yeah, I totally agree. And I, I, yeah. And it's yeah. Ingram was so, it's so great to see him play so well and have like one pick. Okay. He did get some help there from Christian Benford popping it out and hitting the shoulder pad and having, he was just in the right spot, but to get to in a game, that's preparation. That's being in the right place at the right time, playing the ball, like. just rushing to the ball like it's it's it's effort it's it's all of that that you'd love to see that that helps create like yes maybe they don't have the the pedigree of you know a ah first or second round pick playing there back there but
00:17:59
Speaker
These players make up for that with effort, preparation, and working together in communication. And it's, it's so cool to see that even if there is this attrition, holy shit, do the bills have attrition in the defense. And I'm, I don't know, I don't know who stepped on what crack somewhere. Like we need to step, knock it off. Somebody go undo the voodoo and we got to get this defense healthy. But it's so awesome to see that these, these depth players can and step in and and and fill in when they need to and do really well.
00:18:29
Speaker
Yeah, and dude you said ah you said a really important word there the the effort word and just to touch on Jamarcus for another quick second Like yeah, you know, he got some help from from Benny on the the peanut punch there But I mean dude like it's still you know, that's still a guy like you said effort flying to the ball, right? Like if it would have been super easy For Jamarcus to be like, oh, well, that's not being thrown to my guys. So let me let me let off the gas But no he flies to the ball and he gets rewarded for it dude. So like I'm you know ah Yeah, I guess technically he did get a little bit of help, but you know that's still that's still a guy being a dog. yeah I love it. I love it. Unreal. I love seeing Josh just playing some of the most mature quarterbacking I've ever seen him play. It's only a two games. It's a small sample size. So there is still lots of season to be played, but all indicators point to Josh playing the smartest, most mature quarterbacking that we've seen him do.
00:19:26
Speaker
Um, the guy is like clearly in the Arizona game, he had to put the Superman cape on. He did. Right. He pre busted it out and did what it needed to do a in a couple of those plays to, especially those rushing touchdowns.
00:19:38
Speaker
this past game, he just did what was asked. he He played the scheme. He read the defense. He made good decisions. He took care of the ball. I'd like, well, you know what? The voodoo, the superstitious part of me is is not really going to say this too explicitly, but Josh is taking care of the ball better than every other quarterback that we see in the court in the and the the national football league right now. he is He is doing great taking care of the ball.
00:20:06
Speaker
Hell yeah, dude. And it's nice
Josh Allen's Improved Gameplay
00:20:09
Speaker
to see that, right? Because this past offseason, what was the the constant, constant incessant knock on Josh Allen? It's turnovers, right? And understandably so. He throws a lot. And we've talked 100 times about how we and Bill's mafia, and I think I speak really for most everybody in the sense that we'll take it because this is just what you get with Josh Allen.
00:20:32
Speaker
right You can't take the good, well or so we thought. So far we've been proven wrong. But you know prior to this season, our thought was just you know you can't take the good without the bad, right? and And because the good outweighs the bad so much, you just live with it.
00:20:47
Speaker
well Starting to think maybe there's a world where I can have my cake and eat it too. i think there' you know And I would like this world to know that this podcast, the let's go Buffalo podcast is pro Patrick Mahomes has a turnover problem.
00:21:05
Speaker
Just saying, go watch his two games, go check his stat sheet. It's not good. Batching for shows at home has a turnover problem. And I'm just going to start saying it here every week. We might we might have to clip that one. Please. Yeah, please do. I'll but I'll but I'll step out. Paint my name on it.
00:21:25
Speaker
Oh, Tom, you are my favorite always, dude. Yeah, I know. Let's see. I got i got yeah and then so one more one more ah offensive thing um or just favorite thing. And I guess it kind of ties in with Jimmy Cook. But ah offensive line, dude, specifically, ah bro, I'm not sure if there's a better set of tackles in the NFL than Dan Dawkins and Spencer Brown right now. these You guys, these two guys are bullying men. And I want to I want to talk about Dan Dawkins specifically right now, specifically. Excuse me.
00:21:54
Speaker
you gotta you gotta watch some some highlights just just watch the last game and and you know you could even just you like do the standard youtube highlights look at the way this guy is lining up right so typically it's comical it's crazy dude typically tackles like want to line up i would say it's a place right around half a yard i would say behind Where the ball is gonna be snapped and the reason tackles want to do that is so that they give themselves a little bit of extra cushion For it to handle really speedy defensive ends, right? And speaking of the Chiefs you got Joanne Taylor like it like practically right next to the running back He's so far back the right tackle for the Chiefs. Yeah Dean on Dawkins dude is lined up with the center This guy trusts his technique so much
00:22:47
Speaker
that he's not willing to concede that space. He wants to get his fucking hands on you ASAP and trust his athleticism enough to the point where he is not even a half yard back, dude. He is lined up on the ball. There is a visible difference in the depth of the way they're lined up between Dion Dawkins and David Edwards, dude.
00:23:09
Speaker
That's fucking crazy, Tom. It's it's disrespectful. It is dude. He is just baiting and saying, I'm better than you. You cannot beat me. I'm faster than you. I'm more athletic than you. And I'm better than you. So I'm going to get in your face and let's go, baby. That's what he's saying. It's straight up, I i i care about you so little that I don't mean to do this. Yes, he's like, i yeah, I'm not going to not taking my time.
00:23:35
Speaker
He is he's lining up on the ball where a wide receiver would want to be lining up. Yeah, it's I it's it's crazy, dude. um and i And I think my my ultimate favorite part with that dude is he seems to just keep getting better with age. Like Eric Cromer has been so good for the home. He's been good for everybody, dude. But yeah, like these the like last year into this year, dude, the ball that we are seeing from Dion Dawkins.
00:24:01
Speaker
good lord of above dude it is just it's it's uh he's a top he's at least a top 10 tackle and i'm ready for the top five conversation for him he's he's crazy good Yeah, yeah. That would be thing that would make me trying to figure that out is I'd have to go see and do more research on other tackles in the in the in the league. But I'd be ready to say that he absolutely has a conversation, a place to be. Dude, he's he's so good. He's so good. And nobody talks about him. Nope. Nobody talks about him. No, Josh, he just got it.
00:24:38
Speaker
No, he didn't. No, he didn't get hurried. He didn't get ah quarterback hits. He didn't get sacked. Nothing. No, I think I think there were technically for the entire. like It was like three pressures or something like that, dude.
00:24:51
Speaker
like. And you want if you want to give Josh Allen time. Sure. Have fun with that, dude. Yeah. And to be honest, we didn't even need him. Right. We didn't we didn't win because of Josh Allen this last year. He had like like one hundred and forty passing yards or whatever. Yeah. Like nothing. He's just handing the ball off. He's read the defense, his hand the ball off to James Cook. And God, it's so fun to see that this team can win.
00:25:13
Speaker
in so many different ways because you also know that Josh can, you know, put his, you know, go winter soldier and and all of a sudden just through go scorched earth and go win this game if we need to. Like that's also in the cards. So just sign me up, bro. What what a start.
00:25:29
Speaker
um Oh, I had a thought, Oh, Hey, do you want to see my new addition to the, uh, the podcast set? Yes, I do. Um, yeah. There's a nice, uh, pretty little, it's a tiny little whiteboard, but it's a back there. Jake, I know you're not, you're, uh, you might be listening to this. Uh, Jake is currently overseas. So hopefully he listens to us on the flight home. Uh, we have a sack counter in the back because oh boy, oh boy. Are we excited about this? Steve D line group currently has three. Ed got one.
00:25:57
Speaker
Yes, and then Von got another one to add us so his total from the season is two so we have six sacks from our three. bold predictors and just so cool i'm very proud to finally pull out my bond Miller Jersey out of the closet it's been hiding in the in the back in the back of the closet for.
00:26:14
Speaker
probably about a year because last year was not pretty. We knew he was coming back to the ACL and everybody was disappointed. And I'm ready to wear this with pride again, because that guy is playing really well. I think it's very smart how the coaching staff is using him. He's playing like 30 to 40% of the snaps, which is very low for Von Miller. Historically, he was 60, 70, 80% of the snaps. He was on the field all the time and wanted to be involved because he could, and he was able to affect the game that way.
00:26:42
Speaker
The coaching staff is now using him in a really smart and intelligent way, where they're using him when they need him. And he is being effective. He is one of um the highest pass rush win rates, so difficult to say, um in the league. He's just is so incredibly efficient with his work, and he's really affecting the game. Yeah, dude. um the We talked about a prior to the season, dude.
00:27:10
Speaker
And part of the conversation was if Von Miller is effective, right that could be the X factor for this defense. right Now, the X factors could be different because that was before injuries to Matt Milano and Bernard and all that fun stuff. But I want to read you a quick stat.
00:27:30
Speaker
Von Miller generated all four pressures and a sack on Thursday night football. Every one of his pressures got to the quarterback in under two and a half seconds. So that is his fastest time since I believe 2022 or 2021. So, dude, if you're getting to the quarterback in under two and a half seconds, I mean, good night.
00:27:55
Speaker
You're going to affect the play. You might not, gonna say game but you're going to affect the play and ah the decision making of that quarterback. A hundred percent, dude. So yeah, Von Miller fucking keep it up, big dog. That's yeah dude all I have to say about that. Yep. Now, just kind of to kind of close that out. I think we just also have to just give us some kudos to just the coaching staff. I think they coached a great game. They coach circles around Mike McDaniels. That guy,
00:28:21
Speaker
Just I mean, he's been lauded as this great offensive mind and one of the up and comings. And he also got big boyed this last week and and just kind of brought to school. So um shout out Babbage, Brady, McDermott, all those all those guys, they prepared this team really well on a short week with a familiar indivision game like that's a big deal. So they they outplayed and outstaffed, outcoached everything this game. It was awesome to see.
00:28:50
Speaker
100 percent dude. Yeah. Yup. Really, really. we're We're lucky to have this coaching staff. um I mean, like, I don't know. I mean, clearly Sean can coach. Right. We saw that with the defense last year when he was the defensive coordinator. Right. And clearly we've seen that with Carolina, you know, when but when he was in that position that got him the job with the bills and people want to knock his ability to actually coach. And, you know, we can see the elements of his abilities to coach. Right. We talked about the secondary.
00:29:19
Speaker
Is he an offensive mastermind? Nope, probably not. I don't think he would tell you that. And in addition to the. Absolutely elite defensive coaching that you get, you get a guy that is like, yeah not, not to get like political, but it's, it's the kind of guy that I like really respect. And I wish like it's the kind of person I wish the president was right. Yeah. Yeah. Is like somebody that you just respect. You're living shit out of.
00:29:45
Speaker
You look up to him, you trust him and yeah you respect his decisions. You respect what he has to say. And you, you, yes, absolutely yes carries himself like a, like a, like a mature adult and a legitimate leader of, of men, yeah right? Which, which I think has to be a tough thing to do. I mean, you know, when you're, when you're a coach in the NFL, you got to remember, dude, like you're supposed to be in charge of these guys that are, you know, six, five and 320 pounds.
00:30:09
Speaker
Right. Like we have all the money in the world. Yeah. you know Right. So like, you know, it's it's I don't know, man. And I think I think that's one thing that you get with Sean McDermott is is a guy that is a legit leader of men and establishes a elite culture. And and I know we've you know, we've talked a lot of shit about Sean McDermott and he's not without his faults. Right. And I don't think anybody on this podcast has ever outright called for his job. We've had him on the hot seat. At least I have. I think maybe someone's going to find a clip where I legit called him call for his job. I know it. Um, I don't think I have. Maybe I don't know, but I, it's, you know, it's easy to say when we're two and oh, and we look really, really good at Sean McDermott's crushing it, but it's, you have to remember the things that he does really well and they are important. And then I, you know, you find it no see like Joe Brady, who's
00:31:05
Speaker
pretty, pretty in his bag right now, dude. I mean, he's got a couple of calls a game that I don't love, but I mean, shoot that like that fourth down play to James Cook. We got to go back to that. And we we had to talk about the situation. It was fourth and three in the red zone. Could have been an easily been a field goal.
00:31:23
Speaker
Right. Could have been a field goal, fourth and three, a long three. Sean McDermott. like they They go up to the line. They call a timeout. They see the dolphins coverage. I see him go to the sideline and I'm convinced that they were just trying to see, do they get the look, the perfect look and they were going to go for it.
00:31:39
Speaker
And then, you know, they're maybe going to come out and kick. Josh Allen comes jogging back up to the line. They're freaking going for it. And then this is wild play. Really great misdirection gets James Cook in a one on one and in space and.
00:31:57
Speaker
easily gets the first down and then he goes and scores a touchdown. Just like, yeah, it's Andy Reed type shit that we're like so excited to go. Oh my God. How did he scheme that one guy wide open in the end zone? How does that happen? Right. For the kids, the city chiefs, you're playing one of the best teams in the world. How do you think that's that kind of thing? Yeah. It was, and it was like, wait a second. We could do it too. In addition to that, historically those short swing passes, so that's not a throw that Josh Allen throws very well historically. And that one dude,
00:32:25
Speaker
I mean, right in the basket but for for for Jimmy. So yeah. Awesome. Awesome. Pretty awesome that this was the game that we won going to an O and into at this point was, is pretty significant, especially cause I mean, we predicted that the bills would split with the dolphins and it's pretty good that we won the one down in Miami. Like that's a good start because next time we see him, we're going to have him home in our, in our space. Like.
00:32:51
Speaker
That's that's a great advantage for us. So a great start.
Preview: Bills vs. Jaguars
00:32:55
Speaker
We're now taking things down to week three. Jacksonville is coming back up to Buffalo Monday night football. um 7.30 for you folks. There's actually two games on Monday. So it's 7.30 Eastern, 6.30 for Nigel and Nigel Time.
00:33:09
Speaker
ah
00:33:12
Speaker
Get your own time zone. like um Yeah, you're welcome. And yeah, so Jacksonville is coming to town. This is a team um who is also kind of reeling. They're 0 and 2.
00:33:23
Speaker
This is a team who everyone kind of still expected that it was Trevor Lawrence. um It was this team that had had kind of let me going in Midway last year. They were in line to get the number one seed.
00:33:36
Speaker
They had an opportunity to lock up the number one seed, and then it fell apart. So there were still high expectations for this team. And at this point, 0-2, statistically, 0-2 is incredibly difficult to make to the playoffs. it it's it's So this team is backed up against the wall, and we got some things to kind of contend with. So what are your thoughts on keys of the game here, Nigel?
00:34:00
Speaker
Um, I, I think, I think one of the, one of the sort of keys in this, and this is a weird one because it's, it's kind of out of the bill's control. Which, which Trevor Lawrence are we going to get? Right? Like we're, we're seeing, I think one of the things that is odd with Trevor Lawrence and, and now I want to backtrack and say this real quick.
00:34:19
Speaker
I think the offensive lines that Trevor Lawrence has been asked to play behind since he's coming to the league have frankly been insulting. If I'm Trevor Lawrence, I'm, I'm banging on the GM's door and I'm going, dude, what the fuck?
00:34:34
Speaker
Like, what do you expect me to do? Right. Like, because I mean, dude, I don't know. I mean, that that that film of him from Clemson is just not translating to to what we've seen from him in the NFL. And we've seen flashes of it. But I really do think that I just feel like he is a victim of his situation. That being said.
00:34:58
Speaker
I've heard um the locked on Jaguars podcast guy compare Trevor Lawrence to ah Jay Cutler. Why is he compared with Jay Cutler? It's that variance, right? Because yeah we'll know. Now, hold on a second, because there are games that we've seen. Like I can think back to some some bears Packers games where Air Rogers was playing his balls off and he was right here. But, bro, Jay Cutler was.
00:35:24
Speaker
Right there, like a notch. Right. You're right. You're right. And then we've seen some games from Jay Cutler that make you do what you just did, Tom. And I think that's I think that's probably the overarching feeling about Jay Cutler. But I mean, you can't completely disregard some of those games where he was on because he was he was a legitimate monster.
00:35:43
Speaker
um And and you know that this the the disparity with Lawrence's Maybe not quite that extreme, but it's extreme enough to the point where it the question is worth asking Which one are we gonna see? Right now either way I'm not super concerned because you still have a dog shit offensive line, right? We haven't seen very much from Christian Kirk not a ton at least haven't seen much from Gabe Davis yet a decent week one, but I mean, I don't know. All that being said, we have some kind of affinity for losing to the Jaguars in really ugly and shitty ways. So it's difficult. to it's it's that I think that's the biggest key overall, aside from which Trevor Lawrence are we going to get.
00:36:31
Speaker
Can we, can we exercise the demons, right? Can we shake off the stink and handle our business and go take care of a Jaguars team that on paper, a, I think is lesser, but it's absolutely lesser right now in terms of play in the last, in the first two games of the season.
00:36:49
Speaker
Yeah, no, completely agree. I think the big keys, and this is kind of funny, the keys to this game feel very voodoo. It's very much of, like like you said, we have to shake off the demons, we have to have but have to clear the air here, where we have a team ah that's coming to town that is going to be reeling and ready to do anything they can to start turning around this skid that they're on.
00:37:12
Speaker
And they're playing a team, us, who historically, the last two seasons, the last two times we've seen them, it's not gone well for us. like Last time we saw them in London, and that was a disaster, injuries galore, and we just like came home just licking our wounds. And then We also saw them during the Urban Meyer year, who was a joke of ah of a coach, and we somehow lost 9-6 and couldn't score a touchdown, only could kick field goal. It was it was it was insane. what it was It was clearly something happened where the preparation was weird, so something was happening.
00:37:46
Speaker
So I'm hoping that this coaching staff and the veterans on this team who have been part of those games are ready to be like, this isn't happening. This is, we're coming in. We are taking this incredibly seriously. We're going to take care of business and we need to send them home with their third loss. And we need to go riding off into week four coming, getting ready for Baltimore. um Yeah. Sorry. Do you have thoughts there?
00:38:10
Speaker
No, man, it's it's it's just yeah, yeah, that's voddh it's it's voodoo. Yeah, it's it's weird. Usually there's like specific things that we we will talk about that. Hey, this is what happens this week. Just feels very just just in the something's in the air. We got to figure it out. Yeah, um I think another another big one is. Oh, God, don't don't be the one, the one of every like 10 games where Gabe Davis pops off.
00:38:39
Speaker
Right? Like don't don't let that be against us. Nope. Thankfully, we let that be a we limit big plays. And that's kind of where he's he he thrives, right? Is those big big balls on the field. So the the Bill's defense is designed to get rid of those and just not have those be a thing. So hopefully, hopefully that is. And he honestly, yeah what i what I've seen and what I was, what I've heard is he has not done much in Jacksonville yet. So i um you're right though. yeah can It's the voodoo. The guy can, he could go off and he can go nuclear and be a problem. Yeah. Yeah. We know he can.
00:39:12
Speaker
And I think that he had a pretty solid stat line pretty solid stateline week one. Sorry, I'm typing typing in and out of my app.
00:39:25
Speaker
Yeah, go go talk let see you to find those numbers. But yeah, like absolutely. And ah I mean, so it's Christian Kirk, it's Gabe Davis. And the big name right now, it's kind of young and hot and coming is ah Brian Thomas Jr. He has been looking great. Um, the, the fantasy football player in me is, uh, has been following him quite closely. Um, and he's been looking, he he could absolutely be a problem.
00:39:48
Speaker
Evan Ingram right now is injured and ah Doug Peterson his today um on Thursday said in an interview that he's a little bit more behind state of day. So there's a good chance that Evan Ingram is not going to be playing. um And especially with this bills defense that is injured up the middle like tight end is where we could be vulnerable and where we could be had, especially when you're set asking Dorian Williams and.
00:40:14
Speaker
um bail inspector to cover right in the same way that we asked Matt Milano and Terrell Bernard to. So Terron Johnson, like tight end it could be an issue. And if it's not Evan Ingram, that's going to be a bullet dodge for us. Yeah, yeahp that is ah that is a super legitimate one for sure.
00:40:32
Speaker
i um I don't know enough about the usage in Jacksonville of Evan Ingram. I feel like I've just seen him be used as a slot.
00:40:43
Speaker
players so much, like like a big spot. I don't know, but I don't know if he's doing that in Jacksonville or if he's playing more in line or or what. um No, he's just been peppered with targets. The guys, his his his um target shares has been extraordinarily high the last two years.
00:41:01
Speaker
Um, and he, he, he, he was, you he was, he's one of those chain movers. That's, that's kind of his big role, um, in that offense and keeping the offense on the field and getting those critical plays. So not having them will be an issue for them. Absolutely. Yeah. Um, so yeah, gave Davis as on between two games and it was three catches each game.
00:41:21
Speaker
Six receptions for 105 yards. It was three receptions for 60 something game one. So nothing crazy, but I mean three for 60. It's 20 yards a catch. You know, it's something to be concerned about. So yeah just don't be, don't be the defense that allows him to, to absolutely pop off.
00:41:37
Speaker
Right. Now what could help us with that is the um Jaguars O-line, like you said a second ago, is is
Jaguars' Defense Analysis
00:41:46
Speaker
not as not good this year. yeah I think i think greg Gregory Russo is going to absolutely just insult a couple of grown men this week. I think also insult of several grown men this week and and really ah apply his presence. I think our little sack numbers are going to grow this week.
00:42:04
Speaker
I have a feeling you're correct. Um, I, I have no reason to doubt that Von Miller will continue to get, to get sex, dude. I mean, I've got, I've got $20 coming my way. If he gets, if he gets a handful more. So, um, ye yeah, dude, I think between, between Ed Oliver, Von Miller and group, dude, like tough to think that one of those guys isn't going to get at least one sack against this, against this offense.
00:42:29
Speaker
and And not for nothing, Von Miller has a couple of dollars coming his way too, if he continues the sack. That's kind of what's built it, right? So he did his reructionally went his restructure and kind of helped out the bills here and gave us, you know, did that restructure to honestly create cap room for the 2024 season, and but it was but essentially replaced by incentives. And he's well on his way to earning himself a couple of smackaroos.
00:42:52
Speaker
Hey man, you know what? Fucking respect to him, dude. He said, yup, I'll take the cut, put him in incentives and he's on his way to go and earn him, dude. So you respect the hell out of that. And if you don't, you're an idiot. Yeah, I just love it. yeah So yeah, he can, he can spot you a 20th if you need, but okay. That would be great.
00:43:10
Speaker
The Jaguars defense, which is kind of strange, and not strange, maybe just a different way to play, has been very man heavy the last two games. I don't have the percentages in front of me, but it's been more man than at least a higher up percentage wise across the league.
00:43:28
Speaker
If a Jaguars decide to play man against Josh Allen, I think that's a mistake. I think they're just asking for Josh and Shakir and Kincaid to just line up and have a day. Um, yeah this could be the, the, the bills wide receivers have been a little quiet the last two games. Um, not, not that they've been bad, but they just have not been asked to be winning by throwing the ball to wide receivers. If they're going to play man against us, I think, oh, sign. Yeah, absolutely. Good luck.
00:43:58
Speaker
100% dude yeah and I it's funny it's funny you might bring this up dude because I looked into this a little bit and I was like man like there's probably no way they're gonna run man against us right and from like the little thing I looked into it a little bit the research that I did what I found most of the Jacksonville beatwriters expects them to stick true to what they've been doing which is that man coverage and you said the names dude Kincaid and Shakir Kincaid in particular dude is going to destroy man coverage. I would also throw Curtis Samuel and James Cook into that mix, too. Right. You got four guys there that are legit man beaters. So I'm still sitting here, like, frankly, dumbfounded, founded at the idea that they would try and run man. but i can see I think thinking to do you're you're just beating Josh Allen. I don't think that's a game you want to play.
00:44:55
Speaker
Not right now. Not when he's playing like this. I don't know. Two years ago last year. Yeah. Two years ago or three years ago or even last year. Yeah. Do that. But yeah right now, like he's um he's playing like a like a PhD candidate right now. Yeah. Yeah. So smart. Fuck.
00:45:13
Speaker
The, um, the largest cornerback on the Jaguars team is 190 pounds. So have you heard a Keon Coleman who sticks three to 15? I'm willing to bet that boy is going to go up and get a ball or two this week and just big boy, somebody, some, some moss somebody. Cause I think he's also going to get a ball.
00:45:30
Speaker
I did not know that, Tom. That is a good thought for me. Yeah, I think their safety is are a little bit larger. if I don't have that don't um have their so their sizes in front of me, but the corner backs are smaller. um So I think Keown's going to have his way with one of them at some point. But that would make sense to me. Yeah. So I mean, I'm excited for this game. I think this is a ah Bill's team that looks very different than we expected and is performing with a higher efficiency and a higher sense of purpose maybe, that then maybe we we knew was going to come out of this group of of of ah newly formed team and coalescing and and coming together faster than we maybe thought they might. So I'm excited for them to continue to roll and and just keep going. Is there any other like last minute thoughts here you want to kind of tag in on on this game against Jacksonville on Monday?
00:46:19
Speaker
I don't think so, dude, but it's it's it's the big one. Just exercise the demons, right? Handle your shit. um i But i I feel good about it. I feel good about it. Cool. should we and all We gotta we to get out healthy, too. we cannot oh yeah We cannot entertain many more big injuries to big, important players. so get out healthy, win this game, whatever it looks like. If it's another games cook game, if it means that, you know, red, the Gilliam all of a sudden comes alive and carries this team to success. Like I don't care how they do it, but just win this game. Yeah. A hundred percent, dude. Some score predictions. Yeah. Jacob texted one in, he had phoned it in from a new Amsterdam from across the
Predictions for Bills vs. Jaguars
00:47:01
Speaker
pond. So what's Jake's prediction? Can you remind me?
00:47:04
Speaker
It is 32 17 bills. 32 17 bills. All right. Yeah. I'm going to let you go. Oh, you want me to go second. OK. I think hold on. Sorry. This is a very I'm putting in a food order to my lovely honey. All Well, while you're doing that, my is one low main and a diet.
00:47:35
Speaker
Wait, I'm ready. Tom. I can go now. I can go now. All right. Go ahead. All right. I really do think, I think the weirdness continues, but I think we, I think we win. Right. So I'm going to say, I'm going to say 17 nine. Ooh. Okay. All right. 17 nine bills. 17 nine. I mean, I think we're going to be taking care of business. I think it's going to be 31 13.
00:48:03
Speaker
31 13. Wow, Tommy. Yeah. Yep. Hell yeah. I think we take care of business. We shut that down and I hope you're goddamn right with a solid win. yeah Yep. Yep. That's a, that's a big so ah margin of victory that maybe is is is bold, but that's okay. i I don't think it's out of the question, dude. yeah And I guess one more real quick, tiny little prevailing thought is we're two weeks into the season. Heads are being turned towards the bills. People are saying might've counted them out just a hair too quick. And that's all I'll say. Yeah.
00:48:36
Speaker
Yeah, you know what? we're Welcome welcome to the to the crowd. They're going to have to get in line is the problem. That's the issue, you know? Correct. Yeah, so. All right, folks. Well, hey, thank you so much for hanging out and listening in. And hey, Tom, take us out of here. 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.
00:48:59
Speaker
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.