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Sabres Introduction & Bills Preseason Check-In
101 Plays2 years ago
The boys spend time this episode previewing the Sabres off-season, play their first edition of "Who The Puck Is That?!" and do a Bills Preseason Check-In.
3 buds. 2 teams. 1 city - The "Let's Go Buffalo" Podcast. Your new favorite podcast for all things Sabres and Bills. Our mission is to be your guide through the ups and the downs of being a Buffalo Sports fan. We are not members of the media nor are we experts - we’re just 3 friends who love our hometown teams and want to bring you along for the ride. This podcast will be for both veteran and newly ordained fans. We’ll have in depth conversation and debate with a few “newbie” questions sprinkled in to keep everyone afloat. Thanks for being here!
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Transcript
Introduction and Hosts' Reintroduction
00:00:09
Speaker
You're listening to the Let's Go Buffalo Podcast, your new favorite podcast for everything, bills and sabers.
00:00:23
Speaker
What's going on everybody? Welcome to episode two of the let's go Buffalo podcast We're gonna toss it around here real quick for some intros just to give you a refresher on who we got here Tom What's going on buddy? Hey, what's going on guys? Good to see you. I'm glad we're back here at it. Good to see you You too pal and Jake what do we got going on brother?
00:00:46
Speaker
I
Hosts' Catch-up and Drink Choices
00:00:47
Speaker
got to give a quick shout out to our listeners that have never missed a single episode because we, we, we appreciate you all very much. No, I'm excited to be here. You guys got outside today feeling good, feeling good. Yeah, buddy. Good. Love that. Well, hey pals. Um, should we start by, uh, opening a beverage here? We should. You got to say you're feeling today too, Nigel. What's going on? That's right. Good call. Before I get, I'm just so excited to get this beer open.
00:01:14
Speaker
Uh, yeah, good to be back. I'm Nigel. Um, yeah, man, been, been grinding for sure. But, uh, it's been, uh, it's been, it's been a good couple of weeks. I've, it's been a bummer that we haven't been able to be as consistent as we want it to be. I think that's mostly my fault, but it's good to be back. We're rolling. We're rolling with it. Let's, let's pop a beer. Yeah. Let's get this conversation going. Cheers. Cheers boys.
00:01:39
Speaker
Love it. Take what you're drinking tonight. Oh, I'll go first. Yeah, I'm drinking a rare vos. Vos. Excuse my Belgian. It's from Omegong. Bonjour. A Belgian amber ale. Yum. I have the really tasty Narragansett Shandy. Ooh, Tom. Summer Shandy. You got to get that M out of your mouth, brother. It's Narragansett. I can't say it right.
00:02:10
Speaker
Matt, how about you? Man, I am actually drinking the exact same thing that I was the first time we recorded. I'm still sucking back that kind, which is interesting because I'm actually recording from my folks place tonight. So I'm in a different location and drinking the same beer. So yeah, man, still love this. There should probably be a fine for that. We
Social Media Presence and Podcast Platforms
00:02:31
Speaker
should really be having a different beer, like at least can have the same beer two weeks in a row.
00:02:36
Speaker
I think you got to finish your beer. I think that's what it is. For those curious listeners, we are going to be posting a beer corner.
00:02:51
Speaker
spreadsheet. So if anybody wants to follow along and drink along with your pals here, we, uh, we'll be posting that along with their episodes. Uh, over on our Instagram, go follow us on Instagram at let's go Buffalo pod and, uh, we're, uh, eventually going to figure out how to get us on the old, uh, X platform, but that's going to be for another day.
00:03:12
Speaker
We barely figured out the Instagram. So we're going to get there. So go follow us there. Go
Choosing Between Bills and Sabres
00:03:17
Speaker
go. Follow us on Spotify. Give us a review. Give us a five stars. Give us a high five of some whatever you can. Yeah. Yeah. Episode one is on Spotify. That was an Apple podcast. That was a journey in and of itself.
00:03:34
Speaker
I think Tom almost broke a computer. You guys are paying our rent, so go give us a good rating. Yeah, love it. All right, boys, what do you say? Do we want to, you guys want to start bills or talk a little sabers first?
00:03:48
Speaker
Give me some sabers. I've been, I, I've been, my appetite has been growing now that I get to have a weekly, uh, class with you.
Sabres Basics and NHL Overview
00:03:59
Speaker
I got some, I got some new cues that I want to start off with. Can I get you boys? Just to give our friendly listeners a quick recap, I am a complete
00:04:11
Speaker
Sabers Newbie. I have been a follower fan through these two. Just whenever I hang out with them, I love talking about it, but I've not really spent much time of my own. So I'm excited to kind of pick that up here.
00:04:26
Speaker
I'm gonna start off with some kind of basic questions and I think that will be good a for me because this is all about me But also hopefully for you guys out there who are maybe in my shoes, too So, um, can you guys start number one? Um, could you give us a quick rundown of like the hockey schedule? Like where are we in the year? What happens like what around because it feels like it's all there's always hockey. It's kind of like baseball There's like a thousand games all the time. So what's going on? Give me a kind of a rundown of the hockey schedule Jake you wanna go first buddy?
00:04:54
Speaker
Yeah, sure. There definitely is. It feels like there's always games. So I'll take it from the Stanley Cup is one, it's awarded to the winners and they go off and party with it for the summer. Around when? When is the Stanley Cup? Where do we go from here? It's like early June, mid-June usually.
00:05:10
Speaker
So from there you have the draft that happens at the end of June. So that's happened for Buffalo and every team. You get more into the draft another time. And then usually July 1st is when free agency begins. Players start signing with other teams around the league.
00:05:26
Speaker
And then after free agency, mid-July till early September, it is dead. And that's where we are right now. There is very little happening. Everybody from the players to the general managers to the guy scrubbing out the urinals in the arena are all away for the summer.
00:05:46
Speaker
Once September 1st starts rolling around, that's when you start seeing a little bit more activity. Some of the players that haven't signed yet latch onto teams and training camp usually begins mid-September. Training camp in preseason happens for about two or three weeks and then it's puck drop for the season, early October.
00:06:11
Speaker
And yeah, from there, schedule runs through till April, mid-April, and playoffs begin mid-April. 82 games happen between then, early October to April. So a lot of games to pack in there. And from there, you have, if your team's lucky or good or both, four rounds of playoff series to watch till hopefully your team raises that Stanley Cup and goes off in parties for the summer. I can't wait to pay attention to
00:06:41
Speaker
playoff hockey. I've always heard that that is the most electric TV you can ever watch playoff hockey it honestly and I mean like you you guys know what a football nut I am I playoff hockey so immensely in my opinion dwarfs NFL playoffs and I mean like
00:07:02
Speaker
Which is crazy because the Sabres have not been involved. You're just that locked in over the sport. Not even your own investment of your own team.
Sabres' Performance and GM Kevin Adams' Influence
00:07:12
Speaker
That's the thing that I'm really excited to like, okay, this is the year. I watch as many NHL playoff games as I can. Yeah, there's so much fun to watch. The drama's there, the excitement's there. Yeah, can't get enough of it.
00:07:28
Speaker
Cool. All right. Well, thank you, pals. Yeah. Now, OK, this is kind of just a check in of where the heck are we in Sabers history, like the flow, the ups and downs of the Sabers over the last few years. You guys have been over the last few years, been progressively more excited about the Sabers. Why? Yeah. Why are we excited now? We still haven't like they haven't made the playoffs, right? So like it's not like we've tasted it yet. Why? Why are we excited?
00:07:56
Speaker
I, uh, for, for me, dude, it's, it's finally, we have it. So I think in, in hockey lands, the most important thing you can have is an owner that signs checks and gets out of the way. And you have what you have with Terry Pigguolo for a long time was an owner that was a little bit too hands on with the savers in terms of just the, the, the comings and the goings of the like, just two part of the daily going ons. Right.
00:08:25
Speaker
Um, and then finally, I don't know what it was, but when he hired Kevin Adams, he was like, all right, laissez-faire. I am going to David Adams is Sabre's GM. So, so Kevin is Kevin Adams as a Sabre's GM. And he's finally going about the rebuild process the way that I wish it was gone about in the, in the very beginning, which is in hockey, man, you have to build through the draft.
00:08:51
Speaker
And all the general managers prior to Kevin Adams, we're just doing too much like of the quick fix and too much of the quick fix started to snowball into the longest NHL playoff drought in history by a long shot. So ever. Yeah. So like we're, we're last season, um, was, was that Kevin Adams third year, Jake?
00:09:16
Speaker
I believe so. Yeah. So I think where he's going into his fourth year as the GM, um, I think I should probably be fact checked on that, but, um,
00:09:25
Speaker
We're finally starting to see the fruits of his labors be like really efficient here. Like a lot of his draft picks are making up this team now. A lot of like pretty much all of his reagent signings are making up this team. And it's incredible because he's, it's the, it's the players that he's drafted that are coming together. And it's, we're finally seeing the, yeah, just the fruits of four years of his work in acquiring elite talent through the draft. And we were one point out last year.
00:09:55
Speaker
And I think, man, I think this is, I know we've been saying it a bunch, at least I have. I truly, I'd be willing to put down a sizable amount of money that this is the year.
00:10:07
Speaker
that we finally, yeah, it's all going to depend on the goal. So it's, it's, this is the kind of, we've played the through the process. We've given the GM some time to really work as magic and let things start to develop. And we're now starting to see those seeds that were planted start to bloom and start to come to fruition here. That's kind of what you were looking forward to.
00:10:30
Speaker
You know how, exactly. You know how Tom, like when, when this, when a team, I think this supplies for football too. They're like a lot of their young drafted players have developed and they're doing well. And that's when you go and sign like one, two or three, like big splash free agents. Yep. That off season is going to be the Sabers next off season. So like a year from now, I think is when we're going to be making like a couple, a couple of splash moves.
00:10:57
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Now the, the draft pieces have started to solidify and get to the NHL. It takes a lot longer than the NFL for those guys to get up to league speed. Right. So walk me through and our listeners through that process. Cause like, if you're a football fan, you're just like, oh yeah, Dalton can gain first round pick. He's, he's already, he's already in, right. You've seen him in preseason already. Like that's not the same for hockey, right? Correct. Yup. Jake, you want to take that one?
00:11:23
Speaker
Yeah, sure. I mean, it can be, but the guys that can do that, there's a handful of them every year, two, three, sometimes none, and sometimes more. But you're talking count them on both hands kind of players. Across the league or across the team?
00:11:40
Speaker
the league for sure without doubt. And a lot of those guys can hit walls and maybe look like they don't belong when they actually get there even though they could be a really highly touted prospect. It's just the drafting age is so young. A lot of these kids are 18 coming out of leagues where they're playing against other 18, 17, 16 year olds. And so now they're playing against grown men with NHL contracts. It's grueling.
00:12:10
Speaker
So as they adjust to the NHL game and they're playing a lot more regularly in the NHL, it's a really tough transition for an 18-year-old to be able to do on their body and on their mind. Right. So drafting is so incredibly important. They're not coming into the league in their 20s. They're mostly almost always teens. Exactly. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. Nailed it. All right.
00:12:37
Speaker
If I could throw one more thing into it to kind of piggyback off Nigel, like the drafting is so important. The other reason I'm so excited about the team now compared to before too. When Kevin Adams got hired as the GM replacing Jason Botterill, I don't have any qualms about Jason Botterill's hockey knowledge and drafting ability. He drafted some good players that are currently on the Sabres.
00:13:00
Speaker
But what I think the biggest change for me when Kevin Adams got brought in was the culture shift around the team. It was the same shift that the Bills had, probably I think around when Brandon Bean came in, where it was, if you don't want to play in Buffalo, pack your bags and get out. Same thing with the Sabres. There's some rumors of guys that maybe didn't really invest in the team as much as they should have. And when Kevin Adams got hired, it was
00:13:29
Speaker
a little bit of a house clearing moment of getting rid of some of the guys that didn't want to be here and bringing in people that live and breathe to be a Buffalo Sabre. That culture is one thing to talk about and another thing to implement, and we're on year three of that culture being implemented, and that's really exciting to see. Yeah. Jake, that's so well said. That makes a difference. That is such a great point, dude. Thank you. Yeah.
00:13:52
Speaker
Yeah, it's what excites me. Yeah, I'm excited. So we still have a couple more weeks until training camp. That's mid-September. And then when did you say season starts? So the season begins on October 10th. October 10th. Buffalo doesn't play that night, but that's the NHL opening date. I believe Buffalo opens at 9 or 2 later on the 12th. Who do the Sabres got? Who are we playing game one? The Rangers,
Game Segment: 'Who the Puck is This Guy?'
00:14:18
Speaker
which is going to be a tough one. I believe it's at MSGT, so that plays a game.
00:14:22
Speaker
Absolutely rocking. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I think that's their home opener, too. So yeah, that's gonna be going zerk, dude. Well, before we transition too far, I have a surprise for you guys. Oh, I love surprises. You want to play a game? Oh, yes. I'm in dude. All right. Who the fuck is this guy?
00:14:50
Speaker
Welcome. Welcome to the first annual who the fuck is this guy? We're only doing this once a year. Oh, no, this is going to be a multiple times a season, multiple times. And this is a game. This is a game for my two pals here, Jake and Nigel. And what will happen is I will have they have to try. I have some tidbits about some sabers players.
00:15:15
Speaker
And they have to try and guess who I'm talking about. So what happened is they're gonna have I may have five clues
00:15:22
Speaker
you can lock your guests in at any one of those numbers of clues. So if you want, if I give you the first clue and you think you can lock it in, clue number one, perfect. You can lock it in there. Or if you wanna keep listening to more, you can continue to lock it in. And you're gonna lock independently, so don't tell each other who you're thinking. You're competing against each other. This is gonna be a whole season. The entire NHL season, your guys are gonna be competing against each other to see who can accumulate the fewest points. It's kinda like golf.
00:15:52
Speaker
You're going to accumulate Jake's new favorite pass time. You're trying to accumulate the fewest amount of points. Does that make sense? How are we locking in our answers? Do we just use the chat? You're just going to tell me, hey, I got it. No, don't use the chat because then Jake will see it. I will ask you before I progress to the next clue, would you like to lock in? If you're like, no, I want to hear more, hear more. If you want to lock in. Say you lock in at clue number four and you get it correct, you get four points.
00:16:21
Speaker
If you lock in clue number two, you get two points. If you lock in, no matter where you are and you get incorrect, you're going to get all five points. Okay. Okay. I like that. This is going to be across the season. This is going to be across the season. So, okay. I feel like I'm going to be terrible at this. Is this all, are you going just savers players, people related? Savers players who played in the previous season, the 22, 23 season.
00:16:46
Speaker
Okay. Oh, interesting. Okay. Okay. Maybe eventually we'll go to, we'll go to the past, but for now, with Tom's knowledge, you're keeping it. We're keeping it relatively. Are you ready? Yeah. Two rounds today. There are two players. You'll be guessing. This is player number one. Okay. Clue. Number one. This player has completed nine season with the sabers and is going into year 10.
00:17:12
Speaker
I cannot say this ahead of time. I, uh, would like to make sure everybody at home can also play along. I'd like to lock in, I'd like to lock in my answer. Oh, okay. Then maybe I'm okay. This is, this is going to be good. All right. You don't want to hear any other clues? No. Yeah. All right. Nigel, you go first. I believe it would be Zemgus Gergensons. Jake.
00:17:36
Speaker
Sam Gisgirgensons. Okay. Well, that was too easy. Okay. You guys both get one point. There's a great Latvian rap song about Sam Gisgirgensons that I'm going to send to you that you're going to bump all the way to school. Yeah. That has to be next week's intro.
00:17:54
Speaker
Yes, yes, sir. Yes, sir. Let's hear player two pal. That's what we got. I'm disappointed. I wanted that to be. The nine seasons, not many players are on the team for nine seasons. I think the most after that is like, what would you say, Kylo? So at five, Jake?
00:18:08
Speaker
Yeah, that sounds, that sounds right. I thought Dollyin's getting up there too. Honestly, as I was, uh, uh, uh, you know, perusing the, uh, stache, the stat sheet, I, uh, was finding names that I already knew. So I'm getting scared. You guys both get one point. Look at you guys. Nice player. Number two, number one for player. Number two, this player is six foot, 189 pounds and is left-handed. I'm going to need more Jake.
00:18:42
Speaker
Six foot. I'm going to lock my answer. I'm locking my answer. I'm locking it in. All right. So Jake is locked. Nigel, you get another guess. All right. Last season in the 2022, 2023 season, this player played a total of 79 games. OK. I still feel good about it. Would you like another clue, Nigel? Yeah, I'm going to need more than that.
00:19:08
Speaker
That's fine. That's all good. Jake can be bold and maybe he's wrong. He's still gonna get his five points if he's wrong. That's right. Okay. So clue number three. This player scored 12 goals with 20 assists last season. Oh, fuck. See, this is a fun game. It's a fun game. Can you read me? Am I allowed to read any clues again?
00:19:36
Speaker
Clue number one, six foot, 189 pounds, left-handed. Clue number two, this player has played a total of 79 games in the 2022, 2023 season. In those 79 games, clue number three, they scored 12 goals and had 20 assists. Okay.
00:20:01
Speaker
Would you like to lock in or would you like to hear another? Cause if you get to, if you get four points here, right? You go to clue number four, you're still ahead of Jake. Cause he doesn't think he's right now. Yeah. I know I'm not right. I might as well give me one more then. Okay. Ready? Here's number, uh, number four. This player was drafted 34th overall in 2020. Oh God. Oh, okay. 34th overall.
00:20:29
Speaker
34th. Got it. Top of the second round. Got it. Got it. Got it. Got it. Ready to lock in? Yes, I am. Okay. Well, I think Mr. Bold Pants over here should say his guess first. Okay. I know the answer now too. I'm not going to spoil it, but I guess Jeff Skinner off of six foot, 189 pounds.
00:20:49
Speaker
That's not very tall. That's not very heavy. He's the small guy in that line. And then I thought, OK, did he play 79 games? Yeah, that makes sense. Maybe one or two from injury. But then you said 12 goals. And I said, OK, that's not our friend, Mr. Skinner. I need to add to the sound board. I need to. You do. You do. I will. I will add it for the future. Nigel, who's your guest? Now I'm going to be super nervous if I get it wrong. But I'm going to say I'm going to say JJ Paterka.
00:21:19
Speaker
Correct. Nigel has won the second round with guessing on clue number four. Nigel gets four points while Jake
00:21:35
Speaker
gets five points. So like a like a round number one of who the fuck is this guy is Nigel's leading five points to take six. Nice. I appreciate you. I appreciate you all being staying along and following along at home. And our last
00:21:58
Speaker
I'm gonna tell you right now, I've been sitting on that for like two weeks. I've been wanting to like, Oh my God. I've been wanting to share it. I've been trying. I terrible at keeping surprises as you guys both know. Yep. Um, but holy cow. I was excited for that. That was great, buddy. Love that. Great game. I can't wait to play next time. Yeah. There'll be something different next time. Yes. But it will be a who the fuck is this guy in the future? Um,
00:22:25
Speaker
All right, Pals. Anything else you want to close out with our little Sabers corner, Sabers bit here?
Transition to Bills and AFC East Discussion
00:22:30
Speaker
Yeah, I think that about sums it up this time. At some point, we'll chat about a couple of draft picks. We'll chat about the free agent acquisitions. But I think that was a good jumping off point there for our Sabers chat on this pod, because I don't think we touched it. Episode one. Yeah, we were gearing up for Bill's training camp, episode one. Yeah, that's right. Speaking of Bill's training camp, I'm wondering, should he shift it on Overboys?
00:22:54
Speaker
Yeah. So, yeah, there's a lot to talk about there. We have 27 days. And so game one. God, it's going to be so one day, September 11th VJ. It's going to be so good when that Thursday night game hits because like it's going to feel like the season is here. But that Thursday night to Monday night is going to feel like it might as well be 10 years, bro. It's going to be torture. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. That's going to be tough.
00:23:21
Speaker
All right, cool. Can we start there with with the little put put the bills training camp aside, but we mentioned the Jets the opening game. I just saw the Dalvin Cook sign there.
00:23:32
Speaker
Yeah. So what do you guys think of that? I mean, they're a solid team already and had some good running back depth going with Breece Hall coming back from injury. What do you guys think about that signing? Does that make them even scarier or is it like, well, all right, how are we dividing these touches up between Hall and Cook? Jake, what a breakdown, bro. That was killer. Dude, he's getting there, buddy. He's getting there. Tom, you want to go first? I'm going to go.
00:24:00
Speaker
Yeah. So my initial thought is the first thing that came to mind when I saw that signing, why the hell didn't anybody try this hard to unseat the Patriots for all those years? Like what did we do to have to deserve to have three division mates here in the dolphins, the jets, and the Patriots to all of a sudden they're all trying to get competitive all at the same time. What's the matter?
00:24:22
Speaker
So he's, he's absolutely a great player. I think he comes in and, um, he will absolutely kind of carry the running back room at the beginning of the year. They're, um, kind of a stud running back, uh, Breece Hall, who's going into a second season is coming off an ACL tear. We'll probably be able to kind of like, um, kind of ease into the season, which to be honest with you, I'm okay with. Breece Hall is a dangerous player. I am. I love that guy. I had him in fantasy last year. Like.
00:24:51
Speaker
I'm all about him and I want him to come back to full form, but just not yet. So I think what it's gonna do is it's gonna allow Britz Hall to kind of ease in. Daven Cook will definitely be the lead back going into the season. It will also then take away. He's coming off his own injury too, right?
00:25:10
Speaker
Yep. He had a shoulder injury. He's had shoulder injuries for as long as I can remember. He's always had some kind of shoulder harness, almost always on his shoulder just to keep things in place. And, but yes, he's coming back. So he actually right now cannot practice. He'll hopefully coming back in the next week or two, I think seeing, um, that's the last report I saw. So, um, he will be the one to start the, most likely start the year. He will eventually take away touches from Breece Hall, which I'm okay with. Cause Breece Hall is a home run hitter and just a huge phenomenal athlete.
00:25:40
Speaker
But yeah, absolutely. This is them loading up. This is them taking their two years of Aaron Rodgers and trying to make the most of it. So it is a good decision on their part. However, I don't know if it's quite as lethal as everybody's making it out to be. I think he will be a great veteran presence in that room and somebody who's also been to the playoffs where this is a team who is trying to get to the playoffs. So having players in that room who have had that experience and know what it takes to get there is important. So I think that's a plus for them.
00:26:11
Speaker
Yeah. I, man, I don't know. I, I have a tendency to overreact to stuff like this. Um, yeah, I know, dude. I have, I have a diagnosable condition. I don't know what it's called, but it's gotta be diagnosable. Um, but yeah, dude, I like.
00:26:32
Speaker
I find it pretty concerning dude. I doubt and it's not like I don't think it's the Delvin cook from a handful of years ago Where he's gonna put up, you know a thousand plus yards I think I think the biggest concern for me with Delvin cook and it's it exists with Breece all too But I don't think to the extent that it does with Delvin cook is the past catching ability. It's just another elite weapon
00:26:57
Speaker
for Aaron Rodgers, or I guess I should say it's one more because if, if I am being totally honest, the outside of Garrett Wilson, the white receivers, the New York jets do nothing for me. I know they all have with Aaron Rodgers, but I don't lose sleep over Randall. You know, I don't know. I just don't. And maybe I'll put my hand up and admit that I was wrong if he goes off for 1200 yards, but
00:27:23
Speaker
I think they probably knew that, like Tom said, Breece Hall was not going to be able to jump right into the year. And it is another elite weapon for Aaron Rodgers. Oh, absolutely. This is them banking on Aaron Rodgers coming back to form. Can we all agree that last year Aaron Rodgers was not the Aaron or MVP? I mean, he's one year out of being a two time in a row.
00:27:48
Speaker
MVP quarterback. Correct. So I'm not saying taking anything away from him there. However, last year he was not informed. He was not the lethal Aaron Rodgers that could take this team. I think absolutely he could. This is another another weapon for Aaron Rodgers, but it's a lot banking on him. It's a lot banking on Garrett Wilson and Dalvin Cook and Breece Hall to all step up and be there. And then my last little kind of idea here before we Jake, your thought here is that
00:28:18
Speaker
this team still is very young. Yes, they have a lot of veteran talent that they just signed this year. They haven't cut their teeth, right? They haven't had the kind of adversity that I think will really take them deep into the playoffs. I think they will absolutely be a great team. They're gonna be a nine, 10, 11, maybe even a 12 win team this season, but I don't think they're pushing, they're gonna push for the division, but I don't think they're gonna win it. And I think, I don't think this is really putting them over the edge.
00:28:46
Speaker
Yeah, there is something to be said for sure for going through your trials and tribulations. Jake, what was your thought, brother? I was going to ask, with a guy like Aaron Rogers that you've heard about for years like I have, but I don't really know what makes him great. When you say that he took a step back,
00:29:09
Speaker
last year, the year before, was that a weakening of the talent around him? Or do you think he did take a step back in production wise? What are your thoughts on that? Yes. Both? Yes. Both. Both. So it's intriguing that he's going to a system that has some really great past catching backs and a burgeoning star in, is it Garrett Wilson? Garrett Wilson, yeah.
00:29:37
Speaker
That's scary for me seeing an environment that he's stepping into where he has those weapons. Does that scare you guys similarly or do you think he maybe does continue to take a step back? Can I go first on this one, Tom? I'll be quick. Absolutely. I think the biggest thing with Aaron Rodgers is he notoriously over his career, or at least in the last, I would say, six to eight years.
00:30:01
Speaker
is notoriously someone that has a knack for what the community views as him making something with nothing. He's really good at taking random no-name receivers and putting them on the map. He's always been really good at that while also having Davante Adams to throw the ball to.
00:30:22
Speaker
And when you lose a guy like- And Aaron Jones. And Aaron Jones. When you lose a guy, but if we're talking strictly, and Aaron Jones does catch a lot of balls out of the backfield, but if we're talking strictly wide receivers, when you lose a Devontae Adams, you are going to step back. I think it's just inevitable. Devontae Adams is the best wide receiver of the last, I would say five to six years. So- He's catching a ball that I throw, you know? Yeah, exactly. And making it look easy.
00:30:51
Speaker
So I think that in and of itself is going to cause an Aaron Rodgers to regress. I also did not see from Aaron Rodgers last year, though, that ability to take no name players and put them on the map. So that's why I say it's a mix of both. Garrett Wilson is not in the same zip code as Devontae Adams is. So he doesn't have the elite number one that he's always had.
00:31:18
Speaker
but he does have much more of an elite number one this year than he did last year, which I think he doesn't need to carry the offense. If he has some guys that can support him too, he just needs to be complimentary, right? That's kind of scary to think about the former.
00:31:34
Speaker
two, three time MVP is complimentary piece. Yeah. No, I mean, he's, he's, he's, his game has always been his brain too. He's probably one of the best throwers of the ball ever to play the game. Um, and he's, he's obviously an NFL athlete, but he's not a game breaking athlete like a Lamar Jackson or a Josh Allen. Um,
00:31:55
Speaker
But so that's not been his game. So him aging, that's kind of still playing to his hands of he can still go in and play and be a pocket passer and be really smart. His football intelligence is off the charts. And if it all clicks and it works with, he's back reunited with Nathaniel Hackett, who is the offensive coordinator that he was so productive with in Green Bay. So if they all click, they absolutely can be lethal, but it's a, we still have to see it.
00:32:20
Speaker
So at this point, everybody's crowning the Jets as the AFC East champions. You know what? They can have it because we'll see them week one. Yeah. Well, Tom, that's just what it got me. I know that hit Tom. God damn. I honestly think I mean, this is the bills team that the last time they played, they got embarrassed in primetime television playoff divisional rounds against the Bengals. Do you think they're not going to be ready for a week one?
00:32:50
Speaker
I guess shot. I don't think there's a prayer that they're not prepared and ready to go week one and ready to make a point and remind everybody that this is the Bill's division for the past three years and.
00:33:06
Speaker
Not to mention, I think we've seen the team perform best when they're not over-hyped. Yeah, yeah. These guys are going to win the Super Bowl. When people are talking about them in the sense of, I don't know, the Jets could beat them week one. I think that's right where they want to be. It fires them up. I'm not backing that up with anything, but just the sense I get.
00:33:32
Speaker
Yeah, so yeah, man, that's gonna be fun. I'm excited. And I think it's really cool also that just a side note, why don't we start this conversation with the Dalvin Cook signing? Dalvin James Cook is gonna be playing James Dalvin Cook week one. Did you know that their parents named them with each other's middle names? That I did not know. That is 100% correct. That is a real thing. I'm not lying.
Bills' Training Camp and Offensive Line Challenges
00:33:55
Speaker
That's incredible. Our player is James Dalvin Cook and their player is Dalvin James Cook.
00:34:00
Speaker
I think that's, I feel like I'm having a heat stroke sentence, but that'll be a fun little thing to watch this season as those two, but yeah, we can get into something else here. Um, that's a fun fact. And that's why Tom hosts, uh, who the puck is that? That's right. Uh, guys, what do you got? What do you want to talk about? Well, Jake, I was going to ask you, I, so I'm thinking, um, well, Tom, let's do this. You want to, you and I want to give some, some of our updated training gap thoughts real quick.
00:34:29
Speaker
And then we want to do Jake's questions first. Do you have any questions? Jake's questions. Jake's questions will be some good conversation points. I like it. Let's go, Jake. I do have some, because I have been trying to follow and learn a little bit more about the team and camp. So I'll ask some questions and discuss a little bit with you guys. If I miss anything, please jump in. Yeah. OK. My first one, I've heard a lot about AJ Finesse over the course of training camp. And I've heard the name before.
00:34:58
Speaker
key part of the defense, but it seems like he's taken it to another level this year. I'm wondering, given some of the struggles that the Bills have had with their offensive line and a lot of players shifting between roles and maybe not being as solid as other teams, do you think the emergence of AJ Eponessa this year during training camp is
00:35:25
Speaker
the player elevating his game or more an indictment on the bill's offensive line where a player like AJ Upnessa can take advantage of it. So I just want to kind of throw that around a little bit. I think it could absolutely be a mix. There's no real way for us to tell until we're seeing him in the regular season.
00:35:48
Speaker
I think he's taken a step. I think he's finally been able to... So he's been a player. When he came into the league, he was a bigger player. He was pushing 260. I can't remember his actual weight, but he was... His weight was up and then they asked him to cut. So he was having a lot of different body transformations.
00:36:06
Speaker
where he was up and down 10, 15, 20 pounds. And that's a lot to deal with as you're a young player, he introduced the NFL and I think he wasn't sure his play style changes. When you're smaller, you have to rely on your footwork, your speed.
00:36:22
Speaker
your technique to really help you as opposed to if you're larger, then you can, right? Like you can use a lot more power, a lot more force that way. So I think, I think he's just been kind of fluctuating. I think he's probably settled in. He's probably had, um, a couple seasons to be able to work with, uh, there, the bills, defensive, um, line coached, uh, coach Washington. And I'm sure that's helped. And I think he's just coming to form. So, um, I'm hoping he, I'm hoping he does. Um, hope he has a great year. This is a contract year for him. Is that correct, Nigel?
00:36:52
Speaker
Right. Contract. Yes. He's going into his fourth season, right? Yeah. So it's a contract year for him. So man, let's ball out, boy. Let's go. Let's, let's see it. Show us and then make, make Brandon, Brandon Bean have to make a decision. That's what I want to see, especially because it's going to help the team.
00:37:08
Speaker
Interesting. Interesting. Nigel, I don't mean to put you on the spot. But do you want to do you want to take the other side of that? Explain explain why it's an offensive line issue or talk about what you like about the offensive line. I mean, maybe maybe I'm completely out of out of step. I'll tell you what, bro. I so by all accounts. So the way it typically goes down in training camp is early on, especially once the pads go on, the defense usually has the upper hand.
00:37:34
Speaker
They're way more savvy to what's going to happen. It usually takes a little bit for the offense to have days when they look better than the defense. There have been a handful of reports of the offensive line looking good at camp and practice.
00:37:51
Speaker
The majority has been them not looking great, which is super concerning because on paper, I thought this was the best offensive line that we would have had in the last several years. He got rid of Roger Saffold, replaced him with a much more serviceable player and Conor McGovern at left guard.
00:38:11
Speaker
Deanna is consistently a top 15 left tackle in the NFL. Mitch Morris is a top five. You know, like it seems, always seems like the pieces are in place, but the, the, the big thing, um, in terms of questioning for the offensive line is Spencer Brown at right guard. All this to say there have been a lot of question marks, at least with, with, with the offensive line performance in camp. I do think a lot of it is.
00:38:40
Speaker
Defensive line playing really well though. I'm not about to put it all on the offensive line because again Able of boys big time so big time I I I am not in panic mode about the offensive line yet. No not panicking, but it's
00:38:59
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. And it should be. But I think we won't know until we really see them in true form week one, where the offense is also doing what they're planning to do right now in training camp.
Bills' Linebacker Role and Defensive Strategy
00:39:11
Speaker
They're playing training camp. But in preseason games, they're playing a very vanilla offense. They're not showing any part of their hands. And we'll see. We'll see more as it goes.
00:39:24
Speaker
But good stuff. Yeah. OK. No, that's good. I mean, you guys definitely tell me if I'm I'm full of cheese, you know, like, I mean, it's a great question because you don't know. But I think I think that's the I think the root of the question is that we don't actually know. And so we're playing in a regular season. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Could absolutely be either way. It could it could be that the line is just they've all eaten their wheat wheaties and holy shit. We got we got a crew or it could be. Oh, my God. We have Swiss cheese for an offensive line.
00:39:53
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. Talking about defense a little bit more, if you guys will indulge me, I want to talk about middle linebacker. So who replaces Jermaine Edmonds, you know? And so to kind of back the periscope off a bit, I don't want to talk about Tyler Dodson, I think, as a candidate, right? Yeah. So back it off a little bit.
00:40:15
Speaker
I understand that the role of having that green dot on your helmet on this this is a complete new bq so if you have a sound effect dialed up for the new bq.
00:40:31
Speaker
Tom, I bought a new mic. You can't make me spit my beer out onto it. So my question is, who's wearing the green dot? You want it to be somebody that's communicative to the other players on the field, and I understand that Matt Milano is not necessarily that guy. So with the audition going on of the middle linebacker, it seems like it's an audition for that green dot. Is there really no one else on the field that's more experienced or has more connections with people on the team?
00:41:01
Speaker
that can take that role on of talking to the defensive coordinator that seems to be Sean McDermott? Is there really no one else? Why are we shoehorning the green dot onto this new player in the defense is my question. Let's walk through it a little bit. All this is going to lead to the fact that I think the only other person, or maybe potentially two people that could possibly wear the green dot,
00:41:31
Speaker
is Micah Heider, Jordan Poyer. But if you think about it, so that person has to never come off the field. You can't have multiple guys with green dots. That eliminates all of the defensive linemen. You go to your linebackers, well, the Bills run a base nickel. When I say base nickel, do you know what that means?
00:41:55
Speaker
not an absolute clue. So if you could, yeah, let's go. I hate pocket change in general, but, but we'll indulge for the football side of conversation. So what, what is a nickel? So a very, very, very base defense is typically four down defensive lineman down, meaning hand in the dirt, three linebackers, two cornerbacks,
00:42:21
Speaker
And two safeties, that's like the most basic entry level defense, right? We're up to, we're up to 11 players. If my math is correct, it's always 11 V 11. God, he's an accountant. Yeah. Right. Once, um, now when, so what a base nickel means nickel being five, right? What happens in a nickel is one of those linebackers will come off the field and what will come on.
00:42:47
Speaker
is more of a defensive back build kind of player. That nickel defense is typically what something or a formation of defense will bring out in an obvious passing situation, right? So like more coverage as guys leads to a higher probability of knockdown.
00:43:06
Speaker
five defensive backs would be corner, cornerback, cornerback, safety, safety. And then this new person, this new player that we just added, that would be the five. So that's the, that's the, that's the nickel term there. Yep. You don't need people on the line to stuff a run because it's third and 14. So you want people a little deeper to give you more coverage against us. You got it bro. Okay.
00:43:31
Speaker
Yeah. So that's that's nickel. They want the lighter, smaller bodies to be able to play in coverage as opposed to defending the run. Yep. You know, so sorry. Go ahead. Yeah. It was the one quick thing. What the bills do, though, the bills run their base defense. They're like starting vanilla defense is that nickel package. So you've probably heard the name Taryn Johnson. Yeah, of course. Taryn Johnson, slot corner, slot corner. But he's also called the nickel corner.
00:43:58
Speaker
Um, so meaning he's that fifth defensive back, but what you get with Taron Johnson is a guy that yes, can cover your slot players and your tight ends, but can also fill the run like a mother effort. So you get that kind of like hybrid, almost linebacker defensive back kind of player that just, I mean, he's a starting player on this defense. Typically a nickel corner isn't a starter. Taron Johnson's a starting player on this defense. Absolutely. He's out there. Interesting. Yeah.
00:44:27
Speaker
Um, I forgot how we got here. So, uh, we're talking about the green green dot player. So generally, like historically it's the middle linebacker, right? Cause that's the person who was in the center of the defense. And that's, he's the, he, they're able to be more central as to the, both the line and the DBs behind them. Um,
00:44:44
Speaker
And I think, I mean, at some point, there was a quote from Sean McDermott in an interview over training camp here that he's open to other players being it. It's just a leadership role. It's a centrality role of who's literally positionally, physically in the defense. Are they able to communicate well? Because if you're a DB, if Jordan Porter is shouting from 20 yards back, like who know? And if you I mean, we all know we've all I mean, if you've been to Orchard Park, you've been on the Ralph like it's loud.
00:45:14
Speaker
like opposing crowds can negate that. And then all of a sudden you have problems. And especially if, you know, the, you know, the, the Ralph is rocking and we're trying to, to really mess with an offense, like they need to be able to, our defense needs to be able to communicate too. So like that, that's, that's a problem, right? So, I mean, I think it's a leadership thing. I think we were absolutely will, we will miss Tremaine Edmonds. I think that there is had the Brandon Bean
00:45:38
Speaker
And right now my belief is that Brandon has dropped the ball that we have not truly gotten a actual body an actual player to come in and play a meaningful starter role. But, I mean if you look at any defense across the league.
00:45:55
Speaker
not everybody has 11 players who are top half of the league in their position like that there's gonna be a hole in every defense there is there's gotta be there's no way that's why the roster cap exists the salary cap exists like if we could just be like baseball and we play because it pay a gazillion dollars to everybody then
00:46:12
Speaker
We could have kept Tremaine and could have had like a, you know, a best defense ever, you know, like that's just not a thing. So while I'm concerned about it, I, I, I still am going to wait to be truly concerned until we see a few weeks of regular season. And we see this actually be an issue where teams are taking advantage of a weaker middle linebacker teams across the league. Other teams, like somebody's got to have the, you know, 25th, 26th, 27th best middle linebacker in the league, right? Somebody's got to have it. So other teams have.
00:46:41
Speaker
have had issues with this and have found ways to work around it. So I think, I think we need, um, I think we need, uh, Sean McDermott to step up and use his big brain and, and show us like, okay, can you scheme around this? Can you make this work? Exactly. Yeah. I agree. It's a concern, but like, I think we got to wait. I think we, I am going to have to wait and see until I'm truly concerned that we're actually being taken advantage of and put in teams are truly targeting that spot of the, of the field. Um,
00:47:13
Speaker
And that's kind of where I'm at. You got to design the defense around the players you have. That's simple as that. If you had the best every position in the league, your job's easy. It's how do you make a successful defense with the players you have against some of the most successful offenses in the league, like the Kansas cities, the Cincinnati Bengals that we've had issues with recently. So how do you go up against that?
00:47:42
Speaker
That's not a question. It can be. If you have an answer, please. But we also got to remember that we got Jordan Poyer. We have Micah Hyde. We have Tranavius White. We have a true actual battle at CB2, which the Bills have never had.
00:47:58
Speaker
So like and Taron Johnson, like I'm sorry, but like sign me up like Brother Bill just put tweeted today. I will fall those boys straight into battle. Let's get what they tell me to jump. How high let's go sign me up. Let's see it. Yeah, right. And we still have Matt Milano and we have this stud apparently really performing well defensive defensive line. So I'm here for it. I
00:48:24
Speaker
Let's see it. Let's go. Let's see what happens. Yeah. Nigel, before we move on, any other thoughts on defense in general? Um, in general, man, I just, my, my only prevailing thought right now is I hope the defensive line is actually as good as they're looking at camp. I feel like we've seen that before where they look unreal in camp and we're like, Oh my God, we're going to lead the league in sacks. And then we get like three in the first nine games. So I just, and every year that seems to be the thing that kills us. We can't get to the quarterback.
00:48:55
Speaker
So I like, and, and I want to see it. I want to see it without Von Miller. And then when he comes back, then I can be like, maybe we'll really take off, but I need this. Like, I just need these guys to take steps and the boogie to take steps and age up. And that's that it takes steps and he'd let her flow to be the guy he's always been. I need Craig Russo to take a big step. I need these defensive ends to start getting home, man, because that's what's killing us in all the biggest moments.
00:49:25
Speaker
Yeah.
00:49:27
Speaker
Yeah, I'm excited to see Sean McDermott is supposedly a much more aggressive play caller than Leslie Frazier ever was. So let's see. I think he's going to dial it up and really put some defenses and the offenses in some tricky situations.
NFL Kickoff Rule Changes and Impact
00:49:42
Speaker
So I'm excited for that. That is exciting with the dynamic athletes that are back there, especially like Najah, you said when Von Miller comes back and he starts pressuring quarterbacks. And that quarterback needs to get the ball off. And he's throwing at Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde.
00:49:57
Speaker
That's the whole point, dude. That makes me irrationally excited. I know. Let's go. Makes me giddy. Makes me just really happy. Maybe just really happy.
00:50:04
Speaker
So yeah, that's a bit, that's a, I mean, it's gonna be a big point. It's gonna be, this is why they get paid the big bucks, right? This is why. Yeah, for sure, for sure. I wanna talk, before we sign off, I wanna talk a little bit about the new kickoff rule in the NFL. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that. I know that there is a new kickoff rule, but as far as what it entails is a little murky. And then I just, I wanna hear from you guys about what's next for the bills and where we go from here. Yeah, man.
00:50:34
Speaker
So where do we start? Can I just quickly read the new rule? I'll let you comment. We would, Jake and I were talking free show and I decided just to put the cue it up here. So the new rule specifies that a player receiving a kickoff can claim a fair catch as a, um, offer free kick. So a kickoff.
00:50:56
Speaker
must recur behind the team's 25 yard line, and then they can be placed at the 25. So if you call for a fair catch behind the 25, it will be placed at the 25. And what was the rule before? If you're in the end zone, it's one thing?
00:51:14
Speaker
If you're in the end zone, it counts at the twenty five, the twenty five. So it's it's saying that the old rule is the same as it was, but it's now extending from the end zone all the way up to the twenty five yard line. Correct. And it was this has been a rule in college for several years at this point now. So. Yeah, so prior to you, like if you if you, you know, caught a fair catch on a kickoff at the 10 drive started at the 10.
00:51:43
Speaker
I don't want to get a massive concussion like let's just start a little bit behind the eight ball here. Yeah, that's pretty that would be what that is. So, okay. Yeah, got it. Just so yeah, that's the new rule as a side note watch for the bills to take advantage of that this year. Oh, absolutely. Let's go. Yeah, I saw him practicing squib kicks. So like that that's the kind of hey, if it's on the ground, you have to return it. Correct.
00:52:07
Speaker
What do you got coward? Like come, come run at us. Okay. Yup. Yup. The bills aren't going to give those yards up for free if they can help it. Nope. Not at all. Do you think that's something that happens around the league? Like a lot more, a lot more squid kicking. It's going to be a new high. Depends on the teams. If the teams that, that rely on special teams, the bill ballot checks, the, um, Sean McDermott's of the world are going to be that they're going to be licking their chops.
00:52:31
Speaker
at forcing these teams to return these kicks or field these kicks. Most teams, especially with this new world, will probably maybe de-emphasize some of these special teams' specialty players, players like Saran Niels, those kind of players who are just special team aces, but maybe not necessarily great on their actual...
00:52:59
Speaker
supposedly a defensive back. Well, is it defensive back? Let me, let me take that back. I'm sorry, Saran. Um, but is not somebody who you're going to probably start in the field, but if you put them out on special teams, absolutely. Like he's, he's lights out. That's where he makes his bread. And, um, but not everybody thinks that way, you know, not everybody wants to roster those players. Um, but it's, Hey, it's a third of the game, right?
00:53:24
Speaker
That's a third of the game. So that's, you know, that's, I think there's going to be teams that take that, that, um, ideology. And I think there's going to be teams that take the opposite. Interesting.
Bills Preseason and Season Start Excitement
00:53:36
Speaker
Interesting. Najany, any other thoughts on that rule before we move on to excitement levels? No, man. Yeah. We can move on to the excitement levels. I think we covered it pretty much there.
00:53:46
Speaker
Good stuff. So, so you go first. What, what, uh, what's coming up? What are you looking forward to, to seeing, hearing, reading anything about supposedly Josh Allen's going to play in one of these preseason games. Um, and that's going to be the thing I'm the most interested in seeing. I, I mean, I, it's just, I just can't wait to see him with the ball on his hands again with the entire first unit. I think that's going to be sick last year. I remember watching them in the preseason, that whole first unit and they looked dynamite. Um,
00:54:16
Speaker
I, like I said, I'm an overreactor. So if it looks rough in preseason against like some teams, second string players, I'm going to absolutely have a fit and be beside myself. Um, but I think at this point, like that's the thing I'm looking forward to the most is just, I want to see the ones out there against a different, a different helmet. Um, yep. I don't know if it'll be this weekend or game three, but they usually get Josh Allen out there for at least four to five series.
00:54:47
Speaker
Yeah, a couple throws, get the ball in his hands. Exactly. Sorry, walk me through. What's preseason game two? When is it? One of the other games. Actually, not even positive right now. I think it's Saturday. This week Friday, nope, this week Friday at 6.30, we're playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tom, look at you. Look at you. Nice.
00:55:08
Speaker
For those of you following at home, we're actually hanging out this weekend. So there's a possibility we get to watch part of this game together, which will be quite fun. We'll see. We'll see. We'll see if we have the time. I'm looking at I'm looking Saturday, August 19th at six thirty. Oh, Saturday. All right. Now Saturday. Sweet. Friday. Yeah. Take it back. Take your pickings. Which game we watch. Say that again.
00:55:33
Speaker
I said, take your pickings about which game we watch. Ah, as in George, you funny guy. If I had a pun for Friar Muth, I would use it, but God help me, I do not. Yeah, that's a tough one. So yeah, dude, for me, I don't know when it's going to happen, but I'm really- Josh is coming in. Yeah, I'm excited to see that first team offense. I'm looking itching to see Dalton Kincaid catch his first ball from 17.
00:56:01
Speaker
Oh, that's a good one. Yeah. Exciting. So what about you, buddy? Um, yeah, I mean, along the same lines, I'm excited for the season. This is this football time, man. There's this night just starting to get cool. He's starting to look a little long or a little shorter. Yeah, buddy. And I'm excited.
Episode Recap and Closing Remarks
00:56:19
Speaker
I'm excited to dial it up. So, Pals, what an episode. Here we go. Episode two. We touched on a little bit of
00:56:28
Speaker
uh some sabers kind of uh found foundational work here i'm excited for that season to start uh picking up and we can just spend more time talking more about them specifically and kind of a little bit of uh a bill's recap here um we got a couple weeks we got pre-season uh game two coming up this weekend preseason game three and then a week off and then nfl kickoff yeah buddy here we go
00:56:51
Speaker
All right, this is Tom. This is Nigel and this is Jake. Thank you so much for listening to the Let's Go Buffalo podcast. We appreciate you very much. Please give us a thumbs up, a five stars, whatever you can, wherever you are. And we hope you have a wonderful day.