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Ep. 82 - NFL Draft Recap
27 Plays17 days ago
In this episode of the Let's Go Buffalo Podcast, hosts Nigel, Tom, and Jake reunite after a break to dive into the highlights and reactions from the NFL Draft, with a special focus on the Buffalo Bills' picks.
They encourage listeners to follow them on social media (@LetsGoBuffPod – that’s “Buff” with two F’s), especially on YouTube, and invite interaction—even sarcastic or critical comments!
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Relaunch
00:00:10
Speaker
You're listening to the Let's Go Buffalo podcast. Your new favorite podcast for everything Bills and Sabres.
00:00:21
Speaker
Thanks. Hello, what's going on? You're listening to the Let's Go Buffalo podcast, your favorite podcast for all things Bills and Sabres with the pals Nigel, Tom, and Jake.
00:00:37
Speaker
Episode 82 coming at y'all today. ah whoa excuse me Quick reminder, you know you know the drill, follow the socials. You can find this on all of them with the handle at Let's Go Buff Pod. That's Buff with Two Fs. If you're finding us on YouTube, please hit that like button, drop a comment, do something, even if it's mean.
00:00:55
Speaker
And let's get around here and say hello to the fellas. Tommy, what's going on, brother?
Hosts' Personal Updates
00:01:01
Speaker
Is this thing on? Seems to be. This thing still works? I had to get the dust off of mine, dude. It was a little bit dirty.
00:01:08
Speaker
My hibernation was was lovely. How was your hibernation? i Dude, it was it's it's been fantastic, dude. Just, ah yeah, getting getting used to a slightly new normal. And, and yeah, dude, it's been it's been great.
00:01:19
Speaker
Nice, dude. Nice. I'm so happy to be back on the on the old mic with you boys. Here we Mr. Torpedo, what's going on? Me too. I've been slumbering, but it's good to be back. We got some draft things to throw around and playoffs going on. it's ah It's a fun time of year.
00:01:36
Speaker
Yeah. The birds are tweeting. Here we go.
Nigel's New Job and Craft Beer Talk
00:01:40
Speaker
Tom is emerging from his cave. Yes. It's time to shed your whatever, Tom. Shall we have a beer, guys? yeah yeah that's Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Please start there. Here we go. Ready? Three, two, Cheers.
00:02:00
Speaker
Cheers, fellas.
00:02:03
Speaker
What do you drinking, Nite? man so one of the so since i think since i we've podcast at last um they've ah um a new job which is great um um slinging beers and and nice coffee drinks and a cool spot down here in nashville called living waters ah but one of the great things about working at a brewery is if you sell beer to go you probably have a canning or bottling line that you use to package your goods.
00:02:27
Speaker
And those bottling and canning lines don't work with a 100% level of accuracy. And sometimes the cans are just a little bit short and you can't sell them to people. And guess who gets them?
00:02:40
Speaker
I get them. So I'm back to drinking very free, very delicious craft beer in my day to day. So I am drinking my, one of my favorites over there, the Highgate. You can, we got some, it's like a Yeti guy with a coffee on him. He's a pretty cool artwork there. So it's a West, or excuse me, a New England IPA.
00:02:59
Speaker
So
Health Stints and Running
00:03:00
Speaker
delish. Oh yeah. You threw me off. i thought it was going to be a coffee beer. No, no coffee beer. No, I've never really been like a coffee stout fan unless it's on nitro.
00:03:10
Speaker
um But yeah, I find, don't know, I'm not a big dark beer slash stout guy, period. But ah do I do like a nice nitro stout.
00:03:20
Speaker
Everything good over there? I'm not used to this. I'm not used to this. I gotta remind myself to shut up. um I have a sour ale.
00:03:32
Speaker
And it's inspired by Pink Starburst. So I'm intrigued to see how this one tastes. Pink Starburst, whoa. Yeah, it's from a Rochester brewery, Stoneyard. My mom brought these up for me a few weeks ago. Oh, yeah, yeah.
00:03:45
Speaker
Oh, cool. We'll see if it tastes like Starburst. Man, that looks like it's going to be too sweet. You just took a sip. Is it sweet? Yes. Okay. it's It's very sweet. That sounds incredibly sweet. Yeah, yeah.
00:03:58
Speaker
Tommy, what do you got? i got I'm drinking athletic beer. Athletic Brewing Company, Free Wave, the Hazy IPA. I'm starting a little bit of ah a 45-day today ti ah till Father's Day, a little health stint just to try and... ah Jake and I have just recently ran a half marathon actually this past weekend, so we got to hang out, got to spend some time together, which was always as lovely as you might imagine.
00:04:19
Speaker
um
Buffalo Bills Draft Picks and Strategy
00:04:20
Speaker
I'll leave that to your imagination. And... But like, you know, we're actually we're prepped and planned where we have big goals this this this fall. we're We're running a full marathon. So to set myself up to like actually set this as a goal that is achievable. I'm trying to like launch myself into summer um with ah some good steps.
00:04:38
Speaker
So I'm going to be doing some athletic brewing for the the next couple weeks here. as long as that his father's day And then he said, Daddy, is ah yeah is that just ah an N.A. beer? Is that what that is?
00:04:51
Speaker
Yeah, it's an NA beer. Okay, cool. Awesome. yeah Sweet, dude. Good for you. I'm proud of you guys both for doing that. Fun fact, I once was supposed to do a running venture with these guys. and i Supposed to is like a really strong word for that.
00:05:06
Speaker
Yeah, well, yeah, I bailed out pretty early. i just I literally just did, i think I went on like two runs to try and prep, and then that was all the prep that I did. then the next thing I knew, it was like very, very, very close. And I said, hey, guys, I don't think I'm going to make it.
00:05:21
Speaker
Yeah. Well, pal, the door is always open. I will know I'm not going to push you out the door, but yeah. Yeah. And and you know what? I'm going to be honest. I just don't see myself ever walking through it either. So, but I appreciate the fact that you guys have left it open.
00:05:37
Speaker
All right, boys. What do you say? Should we get into some of the meat here? Yeah, some big Buffalo Bills news this past weekend. Well, the NFL Draft took place. that's ah That's fairly big. That's fairly yeah large. Kind of a big deal. Of large yeah of large sizes.
00:05:52
Speaker
And ah we have some new players, Tom. You want to start to lead us down the down that path? We're going to meander down this path. We're not going to have a guide. We're not going to have a set directions or a compass.
00:06:03
Speaker
But um I want to just kind of open this up. And let's just talk through, like, what's like what's what's what's the player that excites you? Like, out of the the draft class, who excites you? I'm sure as we go, i have a couple of different questions that I'm hoping for us to catch most player names here and kind of situations and all different things. So both of you guys, um is there anybody? Yeah, Jake, Jake, hit hit me with your first. who's Who's the player that's like, okay, let's see what happens here?
00:06:27
Speaker
I'll take, well, I'll take the low hanging fruit. I'm not to give you a player name, but the, the more overarching thought, the emphasis on the D line that we talked about beforehand was, was actualized by the picks that we saw. i think three big D linemen got picked.
00:06:41
Speaker
So I think the emphasis on that side of the ball, when we, we know we have a good ah offense, we know we can put up points. It really was the defense that needed to be focused on and improved. And I think they did a great job addressing those needs throughout the the rounds of the draft.
00:06:56
Speaker
So, yeah Like I said, not naming a player. I'll let you guys pick apart each individual player. But just just kind of seeing, like, it's it's cool that what we are identifying as this is something that this team should be going for is happening with the team.
00:07:10
Speaker
And, you know, we all hope it will lead to good results in the fall. it is ah It is very ah vindicating or affirming when you feel like something should happen and the team does it or you like predict a certain signing or something like that.
00:07:28
Speaker
it's ah Yeah, that's always a fun little moment there for sure. Hey, we're also smart. Yeah, we know things sometimes. um Should I go next time? Have at it.
00:07:39
Speaker
I think i think the one that I'm the most excited about is is Landon Jackson, the defensive end that we took with our third pick. Um, and, and the main reason there is, um, the, the size is, his size is, I mean, he's huge. He's six, six, uh, almost two 70.
00:07:58
Speaker
Um, so he's, he's a big guy, more, more of like a compression style player, I would say, which is it like the more typical bills, defensive end mold. Um, but also an off the charts, um, a really, a really solid athlete too. Sorry. I was thinking of, uh,
00:08:14
Speaker
TJ Sanders. I don't think Landon Jackson's RAS score was quite as high as TJ Sanders. If you can double check that for me, maybe Tom. um But yeah, dude, I just, once we, I wasn't too, too, too familiar with this guy going into the draft, but since then I've, you know, gotten my hand on whatever I can um for, you know, so most of these players, not all of them yet, truly, but um yeah, dude, I just really like his, his play. I mean, um I'm
Offensive vs Defensive Focus Debate
00:08:40
Speaker
blanking on the name of the offensive tackle that that was drafted first, but um There's a decent amount of film of ah Landon Jackson just absolutely dummying this guy with a really nice, diverse moveset to get to rush the passer. So I'm very excited about him and what he can do with a little bit of NFL coaching for sure.
00:09:00
Speaker
Yeah, so Landon Jackson had a ah RS score of 9.88. nine point eight eight Okay, so his name is still insanely high. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So freaking phenomenal in TJ Sanders. is Almost the same, I thought.
00:09:15
Speaker
This one says 8.55, but that sounds lower than what I was hearing. So maybe I got them mixed up then. Maybe I was thinking that TJ was the super high one and Landon was the opposite, but I got that reversed.
00:09:27
Speaker
That could just be worse. It's still, I mean, eight is still unbelievable. I'm seeing 9.3. 9.3. I'm seeing 9.3. That's the correct one. For TJ? yeah that's Yeah. Okay, so I'm not crazy, man.
00:09:39
Speaker
We've added some athletes. I think so kind of like kind of sew your two ideas together. um i we This and added emphasis on defense is ah exactly what this Bills roster needed.
00:09:50
Speaker
And holy cannoli, did we add some freaking like athletes. We added some some motors. And I would like I think i think this is a fair statement that.
00:10:02
Speaker
Sean McDermott and the bills defenses that have been fielded over the last five to seven years have been tremendous despite some not top of the charts athletes, right? We have very strong, we have a great scheme. The players, know they're incredibly smart. They know the scheme and they're good in the situations that the coaches put them in.
00:10:24
Speaker
But I think not, there's only been a handful of players that have been like, wow, this guy is just a freak and he's going to win because he's better. They won because they could play better together and they knew it was happening and they were phenomenal in that way.
00:10:38
Speaker
I'm excited. Let's continue to just pump Sean McDermott with with this. Who's this coach? Who's clearly had successful defenses in the past. Sean McDermott and Bobby Babbage. Like, let's give them some. Let's give us the horses.
00:10:49
Speaker
And we we did that. Yeah, dude. and And I think, you know, we just talked about Landon Jackson and TJ Sanders, um one being a defensive end, Landon Jackson, one being TJ or the other being defensive tackle and TJ Sanders.
00:11:01
Speaker
um And and there's I want to come back to TJ Sanders for a minute. But to touch on that insane athleticism, you got to talk about the first over or our first round pick. Yeah. In Maxwell Hairston there.
00:11:12
Speaker
And, and I think exactly what you touched on, Tom, it's, it's fun to have an insane, insane athlete like that, because yeah, we have been saying like, like when we talk about the dolphins, right. It's like, you know, we can't, we don't have anybody that's even close to keeping up with the Tyreek Hills.
00:11:29
Speaker
Right. yeah Yeah. You know, the Jalen models of the world. And that's not the case anymore with Maxwell Harrison. Maxwell Harrison is, I mean, we're talking a guy with a sub four, three 40. um I think it was a 4.28. He ran for a 40 yard dash. Fastest in the draft.
00:11:43
Speaker
Fastest one this year. Either side of the ball. Yeah. So the kid, the kid's got absolute. He's a burner, dude. Great ball skills. This the reason he wasn't on my radar for the bills um is because he's he's a the the best way to describe. I think Maxwell Hairston is he's a dog. He's a hunter.
00:12:03
Speaker
Right. Like he wants to get like stick his fan in the face and get up in the mix and and, you know, mix it up with with the guys on offense. And sometimes that aggression, while I think a lot of the time it's great, gets him into into some trouble. And I think he lacks some discipline.
00:12:18
Speaker
And a cornerback that lacks discipline to me doesn't feel doesn't scream a McBean player. Right. So he wasn't on my radar as somebody the Bills were going to go for. I was positive we were taking Trey Amos. Right.
00:12:30
Speaker
Yeah. with yeah what That was the name I was waiting for too. Yeah. That was my, with the way the board fell and, you know, um Kenneth Grant going to Miami
NHL Playoffs Analysis
00:12:40
Speaker
so much earlier than everybody thought. Like so much earlier. Yeah. yeah that Everything just got wonky and the only thing left were defender, like cornerbacks.
00:12:48
Speaker
um But yeah, Harrison wasn't on my list because sometimes he just gets himself a little ways out of position. But um he's definitely fun, dude. He's I mean, he's a fun defensive back. guy The ball skills are also off the charts, which is, yeah, he's a big play machine.
00:13:04
Speaker
and And I think just like name me a couple of CB2s of the last five to seven years, guys. Just throw out some names. Who's played cornerback two for this Buffalo Bills defense? Oh, dude, Levi Wallace. um Yeah, like who's the Dane Jackson?
00:13:19
Speaker
um Yeah, like some really, really, really low level athletes. Just like, hey, we're going to like we're going to tape you back together and we're going to just we're plugging a hole. We're hoping that this doesn't fucking come to bite us. And sure this we now I mean, things have to progress, right? We have to see this rookie come in. We've we've we've drafted a ah cornerback in the first round and fall seen it completely just fizzle and not i even any close to a successful pick.
00:13:47
Speaker
um I hope that I hope to God that ah that Maxwell Harrison has all this all the success in the world and becomes a dominant force here in Buffalo. And I think we had these guys have an opportunity, Christian Benford and Maxwell Harrison.
00:13:59
Speaker
of being the best cornerback duo that Sean McDermott's ever coached. Right. Yeah. Very, and very easily. Yeah. And I'd like to say, cause I mean, just from what I know about him, his time in Carolina, like he, he, I think it was always kind of doing this, like, Hey, we're going to figure it out at quarterback too.
00:14:16
Speaker
And which to be honest, I thought they were going to do this year. Going into the draft, we haven't talked about this yet. Tredavious White was signed to a $2.2 million dollar deal or something like that, up max of up to 6.8 based on other incentives and playing time.
00:14:31
Speaker
um And there was some time in our little chat thread that we were like, is this the solution? Right? Did they bring in Dane Jackson Trey White? Like... but And it sounds like a very Brandon being a Sean McDermott. Like, Hey, you know what? We're going to take, going to take players. We know who know our system and we're going to make it work.
00:14:48
Speaker
And to be honest with you, they probably would have been okay. They probably would have been okay. oh Yeah. You think even less than okay. I do. I do think less than okay. Those, those are, I mean, dude, Trey White's film last year was bad.
00:15:02
Speaker
It's really bad. And Dane Jackson's wasn't a whole lot better. that That would have made me super, super nervous. And I know we've done it in the past, but. oh yeah yeah like yeah yeah. Right. You can't fill every hole. So I don't know. I would write i was i was in expecting a moderate it's made possible solution or a draft resource used the to fill, a you know, hey, let's put another kid in the ring and see what happens at CB2.
00:15:27
Speaker
But Maxwell Harrison taking the first right at pick 30 is that's a hey, this is a expected to be a solution, a long term solution. Yeah, and you've got you've got the backups just in case he doesn't pan out, right? You've still got your Dane Jackson and Trey White if he's just simply not ready.
00:15:45
Speaker
Um, but I mean, you really, really, really, really want him to, I think that's the most exciting option and probably, I mean, athletically, certainly the best option for the bills, but you know, a big, a big piece of cornerback is, you know, of what's going on between the ears.
00:16:01
Speaker
Right. And think so thankfully that's the thing you can coach, right. You can coach that. You can coach that. And Trey white, you know, that's a, that's a great reason to have Trey white. You know, like that guy's, I mean, he's never been a top tier athlete. His, his, I mean, his whole thing is how cerebral and brilliant he is as a football player.
00:16:18
Speaker
So, right. I think that's, yeah. If he has time to break away from his goalie camp over at the Sabres, like I hope he has time to spend some of these young players, you know, bear carve out a lot of time this summer.
00:16:30
Speaker
um Yeah. And another just kind of like fun little tidbit for um for Harrison is he played last year. He played at Kentucky with Ray Davis. So he's got got a connection um and Dion Walker, who was drafted in round four. Right.
00:16:43
Speaker
Correct. So he's got some guys in the, you know, in the system and and in um ah in the, in the, in the, in the, in the building that, uh, he'll know and hopefully help him get settled and help him keep his, Hey, like, yeah let's figure this out. How do you be an NFL player now? And how do you be super successful? So, yeah, yeah, for sure.
00:17:01
Speaker
Um, I want to, Oh, go ahead, Tom, go ahead. My, i was just, I was getting ready to pivot. Were you, were you have some met with one last thought here or do you want to, I, yeah, there's, there's two things that I, well, where do you want to, where do you, where were you going to pivot to just real quick?
00:17:16
Speaker
I was going to pivot to TJ Sanders. Oh, perfect. That's where I'm pivoting as well. arm and arm. Here we go. Pivot away. yeah we're you know, really high and excellent quality podcast hosts here, folks. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Episode 82. definitely know what we're doing. like um TJ Sanders, I'm not sure the defensive tackle that people were were necessarily hoping for. i think if it wasn't going to be like a Kenneth
Western Conference Highlights and Predictions
00:17:40
Speaker
Grant type player, I think people were hoping for more of like a space eating one tech, um which I think is...
00:17:49
Speaker
a ludicrous thing for people to not hope for it or wish for, it but expect from Brandon Bean, who has a mile long resume of never drafting a player like that and, and only drafting, you know, defensive tackles, whether he's looking for three tech or one tech, or it doesn't really seem to matter betting or looking more for athleticism as opposed to just like a massive fire hydrant.
00:18:12
Speaker
Right. And that's what you're getting here with TJ Sanchez. You're getting, I mean, a guy that, It sounds like he, Brandon Bean wants to play three tech, but could be a one technique in, you know, like on obvious passing situations maybe.
00:18:26
Speaker
um But this is a, this is a penetration style defensive tackle. This is not a guy that where his best traits, he's not terrible against the run, but he's not great. His, his strengths as a football player are his ability to rush the passer
Stanley Cup Contenders Predictions
00:18:40
Speaker
as a defensive tackle. And,
00:18:42
Speaker
I think that's something this team still needs more of. You know, penetration on the interior is, it's it's your biggest instrument of success defensively is penetration on the interior because it's the quickest path to the quarterback, right? Your defensive ends have to travel like one and a half more yards, two yards than your defensive tackles. That's why the Chris Jones is like invaluable, right? You're, you're um what's the name of the guy for the Giants? Dexter or something.
00:19:07
Speaker
Dexter Lawrence. Dexter Lawrence, yeah. So, I mean, you know, you those guys are and absolute premium. And I'm not saying TJ Sanders is going to be those guys. But anytime you can generate pressure from the interior of the defensive line, that's your biggest instrument for success, in my opinion, defensively. So I like that pick. I love the athleticism. Sounds like a high-character guy.
00:19:28
Speaker
um i just think my my counterpoint to this was – I just think people need to stop expecting what Brandon Bean isn't going to do. I mean, just yeah a quick Google search can show you his history of defensive tackles. I mean, Starla Toulouloulay, I think, is the biggest one ever.
00:19:44
Speaker
Right. And he's small but for a defensive tackle. I don't know. those that's That's where I'm at. I think this just continues to tell us that this Bill's defense is going for splash plays, right? Maxwell Harrison, ball hawk extraordinaire.
00:20:00
Speaker
TJ Sanders just causing it havoc up the middle, but not necessarily a super stout run defender, right? He's not going to be soaking up double teams like, like i mean, I'm sure he will. I'm sure that's something that he's going to, we're going to see him do, but it's not going to be his strength.
00:20:13
Speaker
His strength is like, like you just said, is getting after the passer. I continue to think that this is what. the bills defense is trying to design themselves to be is make make uh set set up a they're gonna let them continue to run but we're so they're gonna you i'm ready to say that we're gonna have five or six games where the other opposing team runs more than 100 yards on us again this year right that's going to continue to happen right we're gonna be for yards per carry against the buffalo bills we're gonna be amongst the top in the league against yards per carry against.
00:20:45
Speaker
um But I'm willing to um to to bet that they're going to continue to design this defense to batten down the hatches hatches, make you have to suffer your way down the field and just gouge your way and just not going to give up the big plays. I think that's that's continuing to tell us that that's what the kind of defense they want to have.
00:21:04
Speaker
And TJ Sanders is going to be an awesome part of that. I really, go ahead, go ahead, Jake. My question to that is, Why? So is that something where the the Bills have identified that and that's the the defense that they've built um and want to continue getting players that can feed into that?
00:21:21
Speaker
Or is there a substantive argument that allowing but Allowing the less threatening plays and going for the big splashy turnovers and things like that is a better way for you to win football games.
00:21:36
Speaker
Or a mixture of both. I'm just a little bit of the theory behind it. Statistically, it's if you can get a splash plays on offense, so any play longer than 15, 20 yards, you're ah your likelihood to score that drive goes up astronomically.
00:21:53
Speaker
Astronomically. um So I, I pretty sure that, that Sean McDermott and Brandon Bean have, and Bobby Babich have designed the bills defenses of the last few years to avoid that, make them dink and dunk their way down the fields and have to take these small chunk plays and these run plays up the middle. And right. Like it continued to just kind of just,
00:22:15
Speaker
move the ball slowly down the field because it's, it's more likely that there's going to be a splash, a negative, a splash play against the offense. And we'll be able to either have a turnover, you know, turnover, force a punt, somehow get the ball back.
00:22:32
Speaker
And it's more likely that way. that At least that's my opinion. Nige, do you have a thought there? Yeah, I don't think that you're wrong, Tom, but I'm not sure I agree that that would be like, i guess, like the top reason. i think for me, i mean, but it's it's clear that Brandon Bean hasn't been satisfied with the the results of the defensive line, right? Like he keeps taking swings, whether it be, you know, I mean, he drafted at Oliver Super High, paid Von Miller all the money.
00:22:58
Speaker
You know, he drafted AJ up and that's what the first pick that we had that year. That was the year that we um didn't have a first round pick because we traded it for Stefan Diggs. um Like hes he's taken the swings that he can on the defensive line.
00:23:11
Speaker
And I think he continues to be uninspired by the results. And I think that was just further cemented by the fact that we watched Philadelphia win a Super Bowl almost exclusively with their front four defensively.
00:23:25
Speaker
yeah And and i i think I think what we're seeing is the result of him throwing his hands in the air and saying, i'm I'm obviously right. And that this isn't enough and it needs to be more for us to get where we need to go.
00:23:39
Speaker
And here comes the capital to back that up. um And and i think I think that's what it is. I don't think it has anything to do with, Yeah, I think ultimately the Bills are still willing to concede running yards versus passing yards.
00:23:53
Speaker
And I think these draft picks do support that notion in the sense that so far, these draft picks, well, I mean, ultimately, yeah, these draft picks were made to get after the passer, the quarterback. They weren't made to get after the running back.
00:24:08
Speaker
So I think we're still seeing the results of Brandon Bean just being like, we have to we we need more production in terms of sacks. And I think that's what we're seeing here with the with the investment on the defensive line.
00:24:22
Speaker
I am just kind of just and i get kind of a ah a foil to that that statement that we've just kind of been talking about. I'm very excited to have both Landon Jackson and Greg Russo defending the run because good fucking luck.
00:24:35
Speaker
ah you know Totally. like right yeah like i think I think there's other places where the run defense is incredibly strong. Exactly. right so And I mean, that's still still tough because like you know like if you've got Ed Oliver and TJ Sanders out there and Baltimore just wants to run it up the middle,
00:24:51
Speaker
They can't. They can't. Exactly. And who's behind them? Who's behind them to stop it? Matt Milano and Terrell Bernard? yeah And then Maxwell Harrison? Like, you know, yeah that's that's ugly there.
00:25:02
Speaker
It'll be interesting, right? It will be interesting. That is for sure. Yep. So good question there, Jake. Did did we answer to your satisfaction? Very, very satisfied. Thank you.
00:25:14
Speaker
very Well, I'm just here to satisfy you, Jake. so my ah My next favorite pick outside of those top three is the tight end drafted from Georgia Tech, Jackson Hawes, round five, number 169 overall.
00:25:30
Speaker
um Mostly because, boy, oh boy, I'm sure Joe Brady's so excited to have him block run block for him. Because he's just a road paver. he is He's not going to provide the Dalton Kincaid spectacular ball-catching ability. He's just not.
00:25:46
Speaker
um But, oh my God, he might be the best pass-blocking tight end of the draft. I think, considered that way at least, right? Yeah, 100%, dude. he's He is ah without question the best blocking tight end in the draft.
00:26:02
Speaker
The dude is a mauler. I mean, he's out there. like like Go watch his tape, dude. It's fun to watch this kid so in the running game. yeah like He just he just lives to he lives to bully other grown men physically.
00:26:17
Speaker
um he He's just, yeah, dude, mauler is the word that comes to mind. He's just a violent blocker. Yeah. Stick him right the end of the line. Right. Have him playing in tight and like good luck between yeah him and Dawson who are Dawson's a great run blocker as well. And I'm sure we're going to continue with the six ah offensive linemen do the jumbo tight end thing. Yeah. Who was our other tool?
00:26:39
Speaker
Alec Anderson, Alec Anderson. That's right. Yeah. But Alec Anderson and I was out there, dude, for forget it. Good luck. Yeah. So I think I think that was a fantastic move. It's also a fantastic player for tight end three. Right.
00:26:53
Speaker
That's kind of the player you want. You don't need another Dalton Kincaid there. Right. Right. you You need you need somebody who's going to give special teams um upside and who can come in and do the dirty work.
00:27:05
Speaker
And I think that's exactly who he is. I think that was a fantastic pick and a great value in the fifth round. sure the only thing that bums me out about this is i think this uh this probably signals the end for q morris did he actually sign anywhere else nope do we know he had not signed anywhere but i so this still signals to me that they expect him to um which i mean i still think he could be like a low end tight end too for somebody's team i i can't believe he hasn't i think easily i can't believe he hasn't been signed yet um He was probably waiting for the draft to see where the tight ends were taken.
00:27:38
Speaker
Right. I think that's, been he he probably wanted to make sure he signed someplace where he had an opportunity um to make a roster and and be a tight end too, or, you know, I really, maybe low end tight end one, but sure um i bet that's what he was waiting for. I agree, but you know what? Hey, let's get more young talent in here and a rookie contracts cost controlled for four years. Like, I think this was absolutely a great move.
00:28:02
Speaker
Yeah, 100%, dude. 100%. As a fifth-round pick, he might he he might be paid what Quentin Morris will be paid in one year over four years. Yeah, sure.
00:28:13
Speaker
Sure. right Yeah, dude, you're absolutely right. So very excited about him. um I think we got touch on. We talked, touched on him a little bit was ah or the fourth round pick Deion Walker de defensive tackle out of Kentucky.
00:28:25
Speaker
um yeah Not necessarily the player that I had begged that hoped that the bills were picking. um I'm hoping From what I've read and what I've listened to, there's a tale of two tapes.
00:28:40
Speaker
um His 2024 tape was disappointing. He didn't seem to have the get up and go. he did not seem to always kind of work his way back to the ball.
00:28:50
Speaker
He kind of got pushed around and just like kind of just just was not very effective. and What I've watched and what I've read as well, I still have to do more research, but the 2023 was a different story.
00:29:01
Speaker
He was a problem in 2023. um Was able to get on get after the quarterback, cause havoc, get behind the offensive line, and I bet that's what the Bills are hoping that they yeah get out of this kid.
00:29:14
Speaker
um he's 21, right? He's a young kid um who's giant, six foot seven, three 30, usually plays closer to to two 42 or sorry, three 43 50. um So this is the larger size like defensive tackle, just not necessarily the build. He doesn't really have the lower half to, to, to really eat and just soak up double teams yeah yet at least. Right. So I think that's that's the that's the worry. So I painted the positive kind of light negative or sorry. n
00:29:46
Speaker
Here's the negative. Yeah. And I worry about this guy and I worry what I saw on tape was a dude that was just extraordinarily top heavy and, and is not able to, to anchor himself at all.
00:30:00
Speaker
when it comes to the point of attack, I mean, there he's, it feels to me like another kind of penetration guy. Like he's, is so since 2021 at the one technique position, he's got six tackles for loss, which leads the sec. And for those that may not know, the sec is considered the most elite tier. If you want to use that term in college football, um, And and so that's not like a stat to, to you know, balk from a one-tech position.
00:30:27
Speaker
But, man, I saw this dude get pushed around like like crazy. Huge up top dude, like a very strong upper body. But as ah as a lineman and especially a dude that if you're hoping to, like if if they're hoping to put him at one tech, you've got to be able to anchor at the point of attack. Point of attack being, you know, once that ball is snapped where you engage with the offensive linemen.
00:30:49
Speaker
And offensive linemen are always going to have the upper hand because they know for sure when the ball is going to be snapped. Defensive linemen are always reacting. So if you can't anchor anchor yourself within a split second, you're cooked.
00:31:02
Speaker
and And it's an automatic positive, you know, if it's a running play, automatic positive yards for the offense. So this is a pick that I don't love. I mean, obviously there's a reason that they drafted him and it's it has nothing to do with what I know or don't know.
00:31:18
Speaker
uh because i'm an idiot but um it's not a pick that i'm a fan of at all i don't see the value in it um but again anytime i bitch you about stuff i'm always desperately hoping to be proven wrong right right this is a kid that hopefully we see something different in in in a year or two and um like yeah as always like Hopefully we're fucking wrong.
00:31:42
Speaker
Completely. I'd be so stoked. Yeah. Yeah. That'd be awesome to see this kid come up, coming in and be a problem, which I think he could be yeah there's there's he's, he's done it on the field. Can he do it in the NFL? That's gonna be the. Sure.
00:31:53
Speaker
Yeah.
00:31:57
Speaker
So just kind of like the remaining picks here, we will continue to to kind of piece in part and figure out where these guys go on this roster as we go. But um just to kind of fill in the spaces here um in the fifth round, Jordan Hancock, cornerback.
00:32:12
Speaker
um from Ohio State, who is well known for his ability to play um the nickel position. So I think this is a very interesting way to just get another body in that room who could be like a Teron Johnson or a Cam Lewis or a guy who can play down and play at at the nickel. I think that's important to continue that pipeline um because I think that's an important role in this defense. right like I think without that, this defense looks very different and cannot operate the same.
00:32:40
Speaker
um so i think continuing to have players who who can do that i think isn't very important um and ah feel free to hop in whenever you want, Nige, I'm just going keep working my way down. Yeah, I was just going to say real quick on Jordan Hancock, I think the biggest thing you get there is a little bit of versatility. This is a dude that has played ah nickel corner. He's played safety for Ohio State. He's moved around a lot in the secondary.
00:33:01
Speaker
So this this projects, this and he's another great athlete. So I think this probably projects maybe potentially as like a chess piece backup, like can go possibly at multiple spots. Like maybe he backs up to other rep.
00:33:14
Speaker
Maybe he's also the first backup in for Taron Johnson. Who knows? But just a ah dude that's played ah various positions in the secondary at a notable program. Very Cam Lewis. He, you know, who can Cam also does does that quite a bit. He's he started at Staphy and he started at cornerback and he started at um at nickel.
00:33:33
Speaker
So he's done all that, which is so valuable to have. Yeah, absolutely. Especially with a kind of a depth player like him, like you kind of will fit into. Sure. Round six, number 177 overall, Dorian Strong, cornerback out of Virginia Tech.
00:33:47
Speaker
um Really great to see that that Bean was ready and willing just to continue to throw darts to fill this need. um I think that was awesome. I don't know much about this kid yet, so I'm interested to kind of learn more.
00:33:58
Speaker
But I think the fact that we were continuing to kind of make make efforts there, I think is important. Round six that real quick, just, just on, just on Dorian strong, man. I mean, what happened the last time we drafted a cornerback in the first and the sixth round first one didn't work out, but the sixth round guide yeah is, is a top five cornerback in the league. So um I do one And then one more thing on Dorian strong, dude, um his best feature as a CB ah comes from and like press coverage. So press man coverage, meaning very, very close to the wide receiver, being able to get a hand on them to throw out the timing of the route.
00:34:34
Speaker
and stuff like that, which kind of, to me, signals similar to Maxwell Harrison, and we didn't touch on this, and I meant to, and I forgot, a potential shift in the way that, you know, this Bills defense may be looking to play, dude. Like, these are both guys that have more success, not necessarily more for Maxwell Harrison, but definitely more for this fellow that we're talking about, Dorian Strong.
00:34:58
Speaker
um Man coverage, something they can do. Christian Benford, man coverage, something he can do. And I'm not saying over the course of one season we're going to see the Bills become like the number one man coverage team in the NFL.
00:35:11
Speaker
But I think a significant jump in that number is starting to be something that we can expect to see based on the personnel that they're adding to this defense. which could really help us in those oper those moments when we are playing quarterbacks like a patrick mahomes who is incredible at getting the ball out of his hands and put it and where he needs to put it right if we can kind of and quickly right if we can the best way to limit that is to play to play man coverage and make it delay the ball leaving the quarterback's hand by even a fraction of a second so let's
00:35:44
Speaker
our D line who has not been able to affect Patrick Mahomes gives buys them an extra seconds or two and prevent just adds more chaos. And hopefully gives us another tool in our tool bell of how we can approach these quarterbacks.
00:35:58
Speaker
Um, we're problems like the drill burrows and the Patrick Mahomes of the world who could just think who could dice up any defense they want, um, because of just their abilities and and their brain.
00:36:08
Speaker
Like, um I'm glad to see that at least something different is being attempted here, right? We're not just continuing to try the same damn thing that has gotten to the same damn place, so meaning ex exiting the playoffs, you know, playing the games of the year.
00:36:23
Speaker
Exactly. A hundred percent. um The final two picks were at tackle and wide receiver. um Tackle Chase Lunt is a really interesting guy. He's he's got a very interesting frame.
00:36:37
Speaker
Incredibly short arms. I think zero percentile and in arm length. but Oh, my God. Yeah. So which is I'm not sure how he plays tackle, to be honest with you. ah um So it'll be interesting to see how he fits in. This is an incredible offensive line room.
00:36:52
Speaker
Like we were we were talking but even before the draft. I, if, if we draft anybody, do they make the team? Yeah. And where do they fit in? Right. I don't see. Yeah. I mean, the only thing that Chase Lunt, I think has going for him over ah some of the other guys is his ability to be a swing tackle.
00:37:08
Speaker
um He plays both sides left and right. So um that could be the only thing, but yeah, du tough year to be an offensive lineman drafted by the bills with, with the way this room is laid out right now. But,
00:37:19
Speaker
Once again, we have to address some elephants in the room and the fact that we've got two guys on expiring contracts in Conor McGovern and David Edwards and a right guard that could cost, you know, as much as King Midas is silver.
00:37:34
Speaker
So, ah yeah, we're going to need somebody. We're going to need bodies, maybe. Yeah. And and yeah you the offensive line and defensive line are just spots you can continue you always throw darts. You just always throw. If you're an NFL team, you got you need them.
00:37:47
Speaker
Especially if they're tools. Yeah. so um And I don't know if anybody ah caught the WGR clip of Brandon Bean just going scorched earth on those poor radio show hosts. Let's talk about this. Jake, did you see this?
00:38:01
Speaker
ah please Did you see this? I did see this. I loved it. I listened to it, and I thought it was I thought it was like, this is no way that this is Brandon Bean. But the guy had opinions, and he was sick of hearing them. And the unfortunately, Jeremy White was the the poor radio show host who was in the way at the time.
00:38:21
Speaker
um And yeah, he made it very clear that he did not think that the yeah the Bills offense had anything to so really... ah fix, um which I think he has a fair point, right? I think he has a fair point, but Knights, go ahead.
00:38:36
Speaker
Go ahead. take us take take ah Take a swing here. Yeah, dude. So, I mean, i think I think everyone was super surprised because we've never seen, you know, a Brandon being full of piss and vinegar, right? And he was he was definitely salty in that interview.
00:38:49
Speaker
That being said, dude, I already feel like it has blown So far out of proportion, dude. And I tweeted this last night. I think the the dude, like I know, i know, i recognize, ah understand as an NFL GM, it comes with the territory to be ridiculed constantly all the time by everybody.
00:39:07
Speaker
Right. It's very easy for us to sit here and be armchair GMs. And, and it's, I think it's an unfair expectation that, you know, as human beings, which all general managers are, they're just always expected to be perfect and, and, and be deaf and deflect that stuff.
00:39:25
Speaker
right and i think what we saw was maybe a dude that you know has and we there was a chink in the armor for a moment and and he caved a little bit and he was just a human being and i think as somebody that is in charge of putting this team together right or at least the main person in charge of putting this team together When your offense scores more points than anybody else over the course of the season and people still bitch ah about points being scored, you've got to throw your hands in the air and say, what the fuck do you possibly want me to do?
00:40:02
Speaker
yeah And I think that's basically what we saw. And dude, there was nothing... There was not a single thing that Brandon Bean said that was um that was factually untrue. Right. so So, I mean, like, people can be like, oh, yeah, overreaction, blah, blah, blah, blah.
00:40:16
Speaker
He's a human being, dude. He gets a pass from me for sure. Because I don't blame him one bit, dude. I don't know how you can watch this Bills team last year. And again, I'll bring up the past Super Bowl. I don't know how you can watch those two things and and give a single fuck about the offense and not just want to dump all your resources into the defense.
00:40:35
Speaker
I know that's where I'm at. I think it's mind boggling that people are still pissed off that we didn't get a wide receiver. And everyone was clamoring for a field stretcher when Josh Allen's downfield throwing numbers aren't that fucking great to begin with.
00:40:48
Speaker
So sorry do to address the other ugly elephant in the room. Nobody likes to criticize Josh Allen. He doesn't throw down the field that well. So why are we gunning for that player when it's not what we do best as a team and something that we have proven we don't really need that bad?
00:41:07
Speaker
Rant over. It's a good rant. It's a good rant. makes a lot of sense. Golf clap for me. yeah Thank you. And he acknowledged it. He was like, you guys got to bitch about something, so you might as well bitch about that.
00:41:17
Speaker
yeah he told He's right. get if i was If I was those radio guys, I'd just be like, yeah, you're right. Anyways, on to the wide receiver problem. ah yeah oh yeah Yeah. Oh, yeah. No, he that that radio show host must have been just licking his lips. He's like, yes.
00:41:32
Speaker
Thank you. Oh, my God. He's like giving a golden ticket, you know? I am not a big Jeremy White white fan, dude. i think he's I think he's a little bit of an asshole. um But, like, I – yeah, dude, he must have been he must have been like, oh, my God, please drop an F-bomb or something, dude. Yeah, come on, baby. Come on, baby.
00:41:50
Speaker
It was the Monday after the draft. the Brandon Bean probably didn't have a lick of sleep all week. Oh, my God, dude. Yeah, that's the other part of it, dude. He's probably absolutely fucked. He's on his 18th cup of coffee, right? Like he's, you know, and he just, he's probably hasn't left the office. He hasn't seen his poor wife um in three days. And he's probably just like, all right, you know, I'm fucking sick of it.
00:42:09
Speaker
um We scored more points than anybody. What else do you want for me? And we still have Josh Allen. A hundred percent. du Plus they added Joshua Palmer to that wide receiver room. I think he's a, yes, anybody isn't then thinking about it. Anybody we could have drafted.
00:42:21
Speaker
Tremendous. I think, it right. I think he's going to be fantastic. So that's the other thing people need to remember, dude, is like, Like, like people were, people were like, Oh, I got, I can't believe we didn't pick Jalen Royal at 30, dude. Like you're gonna, you're not going to pick a Jalen Royal at 30 when you've got Hairston and Trey Amos and bigger, way bigger, infinitely bigger position needs at pick their, it's just fans being unintelligent, dude.
00:42:46
Speaker
Flip the question too. what ask Ask people that are bitching about that. what What player, what type of player would make you happy? like ah is that Is that person only satisfied if Brandon Bean goes out and gets Jamar Chase or Justin Jefferson?
00:42:59
Speaker
Probably. like That's what they're looking for. yeah and that is It's just not realistic. You're not fitting that into your cap You're not fitting that in with but the assets you need to to move that. You're not getting that player to take 30.
00:43:10
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. so It's a it's a It's nonsense. i don't know it's I don't blame Brandon Bean for not giving it the time of day. Me neither. So good. So good to see. I liked a little bit of saltiness from him, dude.
00:43:24
Speaker
Yeah. i don't Yeah. I like a little bit. You want to know what that it tells me? Because I think, you know, it's i like it's like when I see Sean McDermott get really fired up, dude. Like, I get fired up.
00:43:34
Speaker
Like, it's nice to know that the guys in charge have a little bit of like, like a little bit of fuck you to them. Yeah. I like that. I don't know how you can be ah a top tier competitor and not have a little bit of that. Like, fuck you mentality. Right.
00:43:48
Speaker
Yeah. Like, and we are better than you. We are better than you. We have done more than you and we're, we're not going anywhere. So like not yeah. I mean, they've had success with building this team.
00:43:58
Speaker
Yeah. I like, I like a little bit of fire from, from the, I know he's not on the field, dude, but I like a little bit of that from, from the guy pulling on most of the strength. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Talk your shit, Brandon. Talk to you. Yeah. but Agreed.
00:44:11
Speaker
So going to be a lot of fun to kind of pick apart and keep can learn about these kids. Right. There's a lot of, a lot to learn here and kind of continue to look at. So yeah the next, the next two weeks, we're actually gonna take a look at, Hey, what is this?
00:44:23
Speaker
What does this side of the roster look like? What does this side of the roster look like? What kind of, you know, different ah situations can happen and all that kind of stuff. So we'll continue to piece this apart, but yeah, I'm really excited to hear because i want to learn about this, ah the NHL playoffs, so which the um the Sabres are absolutely nor even like, you know, spitting distance of.
00:44:41
Speaker
But but it's still fun to have playoffs. Right. And the NHL playoffs are some of the most exciting sports moments ever. So, um Jake, can you kind of give us lay the land for us? um Where are we at in this first series? And what should we be looking forward to?
00:44:56
Speaker
Yeah, it's a lot of fun. i've been watching a lot of hockey lately. ah So first round started. Most series are around game five. So, Nigel, i'll leave it up to you. We can we can dive into the series a little bit and talk about what we've seen, or we can kind of do a way, way too late playoff bracket.
00:45:13
Speaker
Do you have a steer on either direction? um A late playoff? but Well, most of the series are still pretty close right now, so I guess it wouldn't be too much of a cherry pick, but... let's let's Let's take more of a broad sweep right now. i was Doing a bracket feels feels cheesy right now, now that we're you know almost halfway done with the first round for for most of the series.
00:45:35
Speaker
That's super fair. That's super fair. And I hand to my heart The series that are not very close are all in the East, and the teams that are up, I would 100% have picked to win anyways.
00:45:47
Speaker
And then the teams in the West, it's a toss-up as it is. So I get it. It is it is way too late. But let's let's talk about it a little bit. So i think I think something that's been interesting, we've kind of seen this develop over the past couple seasons, but it's just it's picture perfect right now.
00:46:02
Speaker
Prior to Colorado and Dallas playing last night, all four of the series in the West were tied up two games apiece out of a set Tom, best of seven series. um In the East, each series is a 3-1 lead for one of the teams. So so it's there's just ah there's a big disparity in in how competitive the East is compared to the West, to me.
00:46:26
Speaker
yeah I think we've seen we've seen some of it the teams that snuck into the playoffs in the East getting out outclassed a bit for sure. You dude, I know you said you watched Toronto, Ottawa a bit and yeah, Toronto, Ottawa, they look, I mean, okay, here's, here's where I land on that whole series right now.
00:46:47
Speaker
Toronto has been in the playoffs. I mean, how many years have they been playoffs now in a row? It's several. It's a lot, right? i Yeah, this is Ottawa's first one in a long fucking time.
00:46:58
Speaker
So like, and and I really, I'm someone that is of the belief, Jake, I don't know if you if you land on this with me. I'm someone that is of the belief. that playoff experience on a team does matter.
00:47:09
Speaker
Like, like I think, I think if, you know, even when the Sabres do make the playoffs, so ah it'll probably be a first round exit situation because that group of players won't have played in the playoffs and experienced what that's like together.
00:47:22
Speaker
That being said, dude, to Ottawa's credit, and I can't stress enough, I fucking hate both these teams, which almost makes it easy to kind of, you know, acknowledge one's what I would call success.
00:47:34
Speaker
and i And I doubt the Ottawa fans would would agree with this. um But, dude, for Toronto to be in the playoffs for as long as they have now, they should be wiping the floor with Ottawa.
00:47:46
Speaker
And Ottawa took them to three overtime games in a row. Unfortunately for Ottawa, they lost two of those. So that series is technically 3-1 right now.
00:47:57
Speaker
but But dude, I mean, Ottawa's been right there with Toronto the whole fucking time. If you're a Toronto fan, I don't know how you're watching that series and being like... This it's like you got to be shitting your pants, dude, because you're like, how how is this happening like this?
00:48:13
Speaker
This series could easily, easily be tied right now. It could be. I that is funny. I do have a slightly different view. I don't disagree with you. I think it's it's it's a mark of success for Ottawa that they've been able to push three of these last three games to overtime.
00:48:31
Speaker
But I think this is the first time. ever since this streak of Toronto making the playoffs in a row, you know, after the rebuild with Austin Matthews, it's the first time ever since then that Toronto has looked like the more experienced team.
00:48:45
Speaker
And they do. looks like they have the playoff know-how. And they do. And, and you know, you're not you're not winning you're not winning playoff games seven to three every night. um So, yes, it's it's a so it's a success for Ottawa to push it to OT.
00:49:03
Speaker
But they they weren't the ones that put it home. you know i that's your that's the that's a success That's a mark of success in the playoffs. you know i it yeah it feels It feels believable to me that Toronto is coming out on top in those games. It doesn't feel like ah's ah they hung on to overtime and then snuck out with a fluke goal. like I do do think that they're more prepared than they have been in the past since this era of the Big Four.
00:49:28
Speaker
I agree with you completely. i And I should have been more careful in the way I phrased everything because according to the eye test, Toronto's, mean, they could be winning these games seven to two from what I'm seeing visually.
00:49:41
Speaker
But I do still think, I mean, the the most recent game that i watched, the one day before yesterday that Ottawa finally won, i mean... i I was really impressed by what I saw from an Ottawa team. And, you know, Ottawa's got, you know, guys like Claude Giroux. Like, you know, it's not like there's no experience on that team, but like Jake Sanderson was the one that won the game for them.
00:50:02
Speaker
yeah You know, and he's like a baby defenseman for them. So I don't know. I think if you're an Ottawa fan, you're probably like, fuck, we're down 31. But I do think There's a lot of positive to be taken away there for sure. Yeah.
00:50:14
Speaker
But ah the eye test, you're right. Toronto, the i they're crushing the eye test for the first time in forever for them in the first round. I can be talked very easily into a scenario where the series goes back to Ottawa and potentially goes back to Toronto for a game seven. They play tonight, right?
00:50:31
Speaker
love They do. Yeah, they play tonight. um It's I was expecting a tighter series, so I would love to see this one extended a little bit. I'll say this. If Ottawa wins tonight, and today's Tuesday the 29th, right? If Ottawa wins tonight, dude, they're going to win the series. I would i would put $10 down on that if they win tonight.
00:50:53
Speaker
I can see it. i could see I'm working now, so I'm okay to gamble again. allmar Allmark has not been dominant, I would say. I think he's made some saves where he needs to against a really An offense with a lot of firepower.
00:51:06
Speaker
But if he if he starts feeling himself and getting hot, I could get right behind you on that bet. Yeah. I just think once you go up three games and you don't close it out in that fourth game, dude, I think it's a recipe for disaster. Sorry, I cut you off there.
00:51:21
Speaker
No, no, you're fine. i was ready to bounce to other series because other 3-1 series in the in the East. Carolina, New Jersey. I think Carolina closes it out tonight. New Jersey's neutered without Jack Hughes. Yep.
00:51:34
Speaker
Carolina is a buzzsaw. So I think they close out. This would be their, I think it's like their eighth year in a row of winning at least one playoff series, which is <unk>s kind of the anti Toronto. Yeah, exactly.
00:51:45
Speaker
And then I don't know about you, the other two series in the East here. Let's start with Washington and Montreal. I i think Washington has, i thought there was a chance Montreal would hang around and they have. I mean, I think they looked good, really good in games three and four in Montreal, but I think Washington puts it home. They've they've been just too dominant this year and too much inexperience. Like you just talked about on Montreal.
00:52:05
Speaker
And i think yeah I think this, like, because, dude, I mean, the veterans that are for there for Washington, you've got Ovi, you've got John Carlson, right? Like, those two guys right there, dude.
00:52:17
Speaker
I mean, I'm not sure you could piece together, like, two better leaders, right? So, and I don't know, like, does Montreal have anybody that would be, like, in that tier of leadership? Like, I can't think of anybody but not Not yet. I mean, I think they're such a young team. it's Yeah, they are. think like Like Suzuki drives that bus, I think. Nick Suzuki, right? which Is that fair to say?
00:52:39
Speaker
For sure, for sure. so so And he's, yeah, dude, he's, I mean, yeah, he's not the experienced leader that Ovi and John Carlson are. So I think in this series in particular, you're seeing the experience thing rear its head more so than almost any other series.
00:52:56
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. And then This final series in the East before we move to the West, Florida and Tampa Bay, the the battle of Florida. This has been, i think, my favorite series to watch out of all all eight so This one's always a trip, dude.
00:53:09
Speaker
This one, I mean, this before the playoff season started, this was circle. This one and Dallas, Colorado. I'm like, these matchups could easily be the Western and Eastern Conference finals, respectively, and I wouldn't bat an eye.
00:53:21
Speaker
Florida came out hot in game one and dominated pampa ah Tampa, but Tampa's... And Tampa's hung around in the other games, but end of the day, they're down 3-1 right now.
00:53:34
Speaker
I don't like their odds, man. the The people before the playoffs were talking about, oh, the Panthers are banged up. Have they played too much hockey lately? i wasn't buying it, man. this This team just has a different gear that they hit once April comes around. And they they look every every part of it. It's just they wear you down. They're yes like right on the edge.
00:53:57
Speaker
That's it right there. They wear you down, dude. This Florida Panthers team just beats the piss out of you, dude. they just They beat the life out of you. But they only hit players with the puck.
00:54:10
Speaker
Right, right, right, right. I don't know if you saw those quotes from Paul Murray. He's flying around. But that's the stuff, too. It's been so much drama off the ice as well as on the ice. it's just it's It's an exciting moment.
00:54:22
Speaker
Anyone that wants to get into a hockey game, watch a Florida Panthers in Tampa. Yeah, it's violent is the word that that comes to mind, dude. Yeah, that Battle of Florida series is always a doozy. And, and i dude, this is part of the reason that I want, I'm clamoring for Ottawa to come back because how fun would it be to watch the Kachuk brothers in the semis against one another?
00:54:42
Speaker
Beat the shit out of each other. Dude, it'd be unbelievable. It'd be unbelievable. It'd be like Jack and Dan in like a competitive sporting again against one another.
00:54:54
Speaker
Please. Yeah. Give me the popcorn. Right. Sign me up for that. Nigel, let's move to the West. let it match All more tightly matched. All of them are two, two, except for Dallas went up three games to two against Colorado last night. Which, which series you to start with? Any that, any that pique your interest little bit more?
00:55:11
Speaker
Dude, i there's there's two big storylines for me. and And they're both sizable. but And I'll start with the one that I still think to me is slightly less important. um But it's still huge. And that is the return of Gabe Landis-Cogg for Colorado.
00:55:27
Speaker
Him scoring a goal in this most recent game, dude. I mean, what a what a just incredible story. So for those that don't know, Gabe Landis-Cogg, what was his issue? Jake, I don't even actually remember what it was.
00:55:38
Speaker
had to do with his knee. He had some really serious knee issues, had a bunch of surgeries to correct. He's he, he last played an NHL game three years ago. Yeah. So he's been away from the game for a couple of years, came back recently, did a conditioning stint um for Colorado's AHL affiliate.
00:55:55
Speaker
So like, and, and for those that might not know, Gabriel Landeskog is considered a top tier center. He's, he's a very, very good player. He's been the captain for the abs for a hundred years.
00:56:07
Speaker
um and And so him not being around was a big deal. His return on even bigger deal. And it just, you know, it's what a boost for the the morale on the team when not only he comes back, but he scored his first game back, which I mean, the highlight is unbelievable. The roof absolutely blew off that place. Like just a, just a really cool moment for the sport um and for that Colorado Avalanche team. yeah.
00:56:30
Speaker
I wanted to make sure I mentioned that and good for Gabe. You know, he seems to be in a good place mentally, which I mean, after, you know, everything he went through is all you can ask for for the guy. He's already made more money than God. doesn't need any more money, but the hockey players are just wired differently, dude. And I think for him to come back and, and be a positive contributing member is a huge deal.
00:56:51
Speaker
and Anything on that chick? This, this series is going seven. I don't see any world that Colorado doesn't push a game seven and i think that's going to be a cinematic game seven yeah i just they the the only reason i mean not the only one of the reasons they lost last night uh two really fluky goals from dallas in the first period i don't know if you caught either of those but just weird plays um but and colorado kept it competitive despite the six two score
00:57:24
Speaker
But just Colorado is a team that it just it feels like they can just go on a run. It doesn't feel like they can just score in in bunches against you. And they're they're a dangerous team, dude. But I think I think the biggest storyline, if Colorado ends up losing the series, will be Kellen Carr. He's looked bad and his numbers have been worse.
00:57:45
Speaker
um A lot would fall on him. It's certainly not Nathan McKinnon, man. He's stepped up every time. He's a he's a player. He's incredible. So i I don't know who's going to win that series, but i can tell you it's not going to end in game six.
00:57:59
Speaker
No, I would imagine it's yeah it's going to go seven. That would be my guess as well, for sure. um The one that surprises me in the West, dude, I'm shocked. Wait, let me guess. Let me guess.
00:58:11
Speaker
Let me guess. Minnesota, Vegas? Nope. Okay, that was the one that surprised me. Go ahead. Continue.
00:58:19
Speaker
Oh, Jake's having technical difficulties with his cords. Bill time. i got it. um i Yeah. So honestly, dude, what you or I was going to go this isn't a surprise. i can't get enough watching Connor McDavid, dude.
00:58:34
Speaker
I want Edmonton to win their Stanley Cup so bad because I want Conor McDavid to win a Stanley Cup, dude. He is, i mean, and and don't get me wrong, dude.
00:58:46
Speaker
LA looks awesome. They look like the more complete team than Edmonton to me. Conor might just do it his his damn self, dude. I mean, they he legitimately has ah gear. When he shifts into that gear, dude,
00:59:01
Speaker
Nobody can even compete with him. Like he just, he just, he has a set, like a switch flips where he just gets like so angry or so competitive or so I'm fucking done with this. Yeah. Fuck you guys. I'm doing it myself.
00:59:18
Speaker
He takes games over dude. And, and truly like, I wish hockey was a more high profile sport, dude, because like what we're watching from Connor McDavid is miles above the dominance that we see from like a Patrick Mahomes in the NFL.
00:59:36
Speaker
It is, it is not even close what this guy decides to do or what this guy can do when he decides to just say, fuck it, I'm going scorched earth and l LA can do everything.
00:59:48
Speaker
Nothing about it, dude. I'm watching Drew Dowdy and Anze Kopitar look lost against this kid. I mean, and and for those that may not know, Drew Dowdy, one of the best defensemen of the last 10, 15 years.
01:00:02
Speaker
Anze Kopitar, aside from Patrice Bergeron, probably with the best two-way center the league has seen in the same stretch of time. And these two guys look... just baffled by Connor McDavid. And it is such, it feels like a gift to watch, dude. Like I was watching their most recent game the other night. I was like, I can't believe that I'm blessed enough that I get to watch Connor McDavid play hockey in his prime.
01:00:28
Speaker
It is the most dominant thing I've ever witnessed in sports before. He is that good. Yeah. It's another level. he does If there was a league above the NHL, he'd be a star in it. yeah And he'd be by himself.
01:00:43
Speaker
it's It's just astounding and such a pleasure. that's where i was going though is is i'm shocked that that series is tied to two because they have been badly outplayed by la la has been dominant in the first and second periods the only reason edmonton is still in it at all and tied to two is third period heroics from mcdavid and bush and tricycl yeah the the three of them um so i i the right I'm never going to count out a team with Connor McDavid for the reasons that you wax poetically about.
01:01:18
Speaker
um But I, I think this might be the year LA sends them home instead. Oh God. I hope not, dude. I hope not. But if the eye test is real, LA deserves to win it. But watching Connor McDavid play hockey, it's just such a, such a gift, dude.
01:01:36
Speaker
it's It's astounding. Agreed. We got to get out of here, but, Tight series with Winnipeg and St. Louis and Vegas and Minnesota too. Those series have been really fun to watch. um Before we do, one last thing. Give me a team from the East who's coming out and a team from the West who's winning the Cup, and I'll do the same.
01:01:52
Speaker
Um, I dude, I from the east. I really like Carolina this year. I know think I say that every year about Carolina, but I think their time is coming. I just think the team is too deep, too good, too aggressive, too well coached.
01:02:07
Speaker
um I think their time is coming from the west, dude. I have a really sneaky, weird feeling about St. Louis. I don't know why.
01:02:18
Speaker
But they look really good right now. I mean, they beat the shit out of Winnipeg that most recent game, dude. Yeah. Handled them. Yeah. And Winnipeg was, i mean, I think the best team in the league this season aside from Washington. So.
01:02:32
Speaker
Bennington's done it before. I mean, a pretty similar story to when they won the cup back in 2019 or something like that. Uh-huh. i I cannot imagine.
01:02:43
Speaker
count out the Panthers. They're my pick from the East still. I know they've played a lot of hockey. I know they had some injury issues and they're playing a dogged team in Tampa Bay, but I just, I don't, I'm not betting against them against any of these teams from the e East. I think a Carolina, Florida, Eastern conference finals would be incredible, but thats that's my pick still until they prove me wrong. I can't bet against them.
01:03:06
Speaker
And then I think the West, like it's, it's, um, It's way more competitive, but I think that makes it more wide open even because you just don't know who you're going to run up against and who's hot.
01:03:17
Speaker
um I don't mind St. Louis. My my hesitation there is that when they get if they get through Winnipeg, then they get the winner of Dallas, Colorado. which I still think that's that's a stanley cut playoff like Stanley Cup final caliber matchup in the first round.
01:03:32
Speaker
Sure. i'm i'm really I'm really, really... I'm going to pick Dallas. I think if they can get through Colorado and get Miro Heiskanen back, I think they're going to be really, really tough team to shake.
01:03:49
Speaker
I think those are my two. I will definitely be wrong on both. And that's the way the Stanley Cup playoffs work, dude. Me too. Me too. Tom, any thoughts? you want to pick one?
01:04:02
Speaker
Don't say the Sabres, Tom. yeah Can't say them. Can't say them. But you know what? You can say that we'll be back next week. We will see you guys right here. Same spot. Same time.
01:04:12
Speaker
we We love you all. And hey, go Bills, go Sabres. 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.
01:04:25
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 Sabres. Let's go Buffalo.
01:04:36
Speaker
Let's go Buffalo.