July 17, 2025 • 33 mins
On this week's episode of Bills by the Numbers presented by FanDuel, Chris Brown and Steve Tasker discuss the Bills roster as a whole ahead of training camp and compare it to last year's makeup. They share their thoughts on the strongest position group, the one with the biggest question mark, and the players who will emerge and surprise to be viable contributors. Steve is quizzed on Bills roster shaping history in The Numbers Game. Finally, the two give their answer to this week's One Burning Question, which position group could see the most turnover from last season to the start of this regular season?
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We are back here on Bills by the Numbers, where
we let the stats tell you where the Bills are at.
We're presented by FanDuel make every moment more coming your way.
As training camp gets going.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Is this a stronger roster than that of last season?
Speaker 3 (00:12):
And why?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
What position group has the biggest questions to answer? Steve
will be quizzed on roster shaping history, and we'll have
our one burning question. Someone get me my dorm room key.
(00:37):
Glad you're here with us on Bills by the Numbers,
Bill's qull of Famer Steve Tasker Bills played by playman
Chris Brown, here with you, and we begin with an
assessment of Buffalo's roster as training camp gets underway at
Saint John Fisher. Is the Bills twenty twenty five camp
roster better overall than the one they fielded last seasons?
(01:00):
Even if so, tell me why I.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Believe it is better offensively? No question more.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
A year, another year under the belt of Khalil Shakir,
another year under the belt of Keon Coleman, more proven
options at wide receiver with the free agent signings. Their
offensive line continues to be deep and talented, and it seems.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
To be even better and healthier.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Obviously at this point with no season going on. Defensively,
there's more potential up front with the new signings with
Bosa if they can keep him healthy. Of course, the
draft picks, the three draft picks on the defensive side
of the ball, all on the on the front seven,
and of course Maxwell Harrison, who is an elite athlete already,
(01:53):
can you can kind of plug him into the cornerback
two spot. The return of Tredevius White another year uner
the belt and more athletic in the back end at safety,
Cole Bishop coming back with some experience. You get down
that the list of the top twenty two guys that
are going to be on the field, and even probably
the top thirty guys that are going to be on
(02:13):
the field and any given capacity for the Bills, Yeah,
I think they're much more proven, their pedigrees better, their
experience is obviously more with another year for some of
the younger guys, and we sent because of the way
they exceeded expectations given the preseason expectations last year. These
(02:34):
guys really fill you up with a lot of potential.
You know, you really feel like they're going to be
able to swing for the fence this year.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
I would agree.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
I think it's a more talented roster by a sizable margin.
And the reason I say that is because of the
position groups they addressed, which you outlined. You know, I
believe Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore are upgrades over Amari Cooper,
who was added mid season based on what he gave you,
(03:05):
and Mac Collins who was a nice role player but
was never going to be more than a role player.
And then everything else on offense is largely the same.
You could argue that Jackson Hawes, although we haven't seen
much of him yet, is a bigger, stronger, and probably
more versatile third tight end, you know, than who they
(03:30):
had previously, you know, from Quinton Morris, so that's encouraging.
And then on the defensive side of the ball, I
think they are significantly more talented. To Steve's point, a
lot of it is potential right now because there was
a concerted youth movement on that side of the ball
(03:53):
over the last two years in the draft. And while
you can't count on any of that potential just yet,
the talent alone TJ Sanders, Dion Walker landon Jackson, Maxwell Hairston.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
The talent alone gives you.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
The possibility of being significantly better, not only upfront, but
on the back end as well, especially if Cole Bishop
wins the starting safety job over Toamar Hamlin to pair
him with Taylor Raps. So you look at those things
and compare it to last year, where largely the depth
of Buffalo's defensive line was filled with spare parts, people
(04:35):
like Austin Johnson, for example, a journeyman veteran player. Now
you're using middle round draft choices with a lot of
upside instead, and I think.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
There is more to be gained there.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Maybe not right away in the first six or seven games,
but you get to the back half of the schedule
when bodies are hanging. Young bodies feel a lot better,
Young bodies bounce back from bumps and bruises and getting
nicked up better. I just think, come the second half
of the season, this defense, if it's developed properly, and
this is a coaching staff that knows how to develop players,
(05:09):
they could really kind of make some hay in the
second half of the season. There will admittedly be a
lot of new pieces, even when the roster is reduced
to fifty three players on August twenty sixth. Which position group, Steve,
do you believe has the biggest questions to answer?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Well?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
To me?
Speaker 4 (05:29):
At this point, there's so many more challenge I think
on the defensive line than any place else. I was
wavering on this, but the D line is the one
with the question marks because you've got two guys that
are going to be suspended for six games, and you've
got a draft pick that's in Landon Jackson that now
is injured on the active pup list.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
You've got two.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
Young guys coming up in the middle, Dwayne Carter is
another one, TJ Sanders, who is yet to sign.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Walker.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
You've got some questions up there about how that's all
gonna fit together, who's gonna play well with each other? Now,
certainly the guys you mentioned, the draft picks in Jackson
and in particular Deon Walker, they've got an enormous upside.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
They're toolsy, they're gifted.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
But at this level, it's about what's above the neck
as much as it is what's below the neck. So
I think I think the D line is where the
most challenges are because there's so much to sift through there.
With the two suspensions of og Ogunjoby and Hoyt. There's
a lot in that and I think that's where the
most question, not because there's a lack of talent or
because you don't know have enough got You've got some
(06:41):
pro level guys, no question, but I just don't know
what it's gonna happen and how it's gonna fit. The
rotation that they like to use is a jumble.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
I get that the D line made my list, but
it was not, and they have questions. I just feel
there's one other group that has more And the reason
why i'd I didn't pick the D line here is
because you can at least definitively say and know I
can line up Greg Russo at Oliver Daikwon Jones and
(07:11):
aj Epenessa and know what I have. Sure you can't
do that in the secondary right now, that's correct, and
for me it's the secondary.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yes, you know what Hamlin is. I don't know if he's.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
An ideal seventeen games a season starter. I think he's
a great spot starter. I think he gets the most
out of what his skill set offers him at the
NFL level. But it's clear that in an ideal world
Bishop is the more athletic and higher upside option at
(07:45):
safety if he can master the responsibilities of the position
and get the coaching staff to trust him implicitly. Does
that happen?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
We don't know. That's a question right there.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Max Harston already has the smoothest hip flip of any
cornerback on this roster. Steve and I saw it in
spring practice. It's like butter. The kid's head doesn't even
pop up an inch. It's remarkable his athletic skill set,
but is he going to be able to master all
his responsibilities and play effectively enough, not only in coverage,
(08:18):
but in the run support that is demanded of corners
in this system to get on the field and play.
That's why Kyrie Elam could not get on the field.
He really struggled with the run support elements demanded of
the outside corners in this defensive system and had trouble
getting on the field because of it. And now he's
in Dallas. So that's another question there, because do you
(08:39):
have to go to a default option like Tredavius White instead?
Another question, who is your sub package player? Is it
going to be a third safety? Is it going to
be a third linebacker. Do you want to find a
way to get Dorian Williams on the field or is
(08:59):
it going to be a third safety like a Cam
Lewis or somebody else.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Or even a Jordan Hancock.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Yeah, Derek Forrest is in the fairy forest.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
So that's another question in terms of how the sub
package roles are going to shake out. So to me,
the questions in the secondary, I think they outnumber every
other position group that we've got on this roster right now.
What players, Steve do you believe needs to emerge and
(09:28):
become a significant contributor in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
It would really solve a ton of problems for this team.
If Joey Bosa came in and played well, it would
solve a ton of He's an elite pass rusher when
he's healthy, There's no question about it.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
He's a load.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
But obviously, and the reason he's available, the reason Bill
simoned to a one year deal, the guy's injury prone.
As we've seen already, he's got a sore cap. But
if Joey Bosas days healthy for seventeen or eighteen weeks
or you know, the entirety of the season, he his
ability to rush the passer will be exactly what the
Bills wanted to get and had with Vaughan early in
(10:12):
his tenure in Buffalo. They got a guy who's a
problem and closes out games, and not only closes out games,
but can close them out in early in the third quarter.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Right.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
I mean, you don't ever get to these games where
you're coming down the wire it's a one score game.
You got to get a dot of With a guy
like Bosa, it never gets to that. It's a two
score game for the entirety of the second, last two
and a half quarters. That's the guy I think that
can make the biggest difference on this team. The Bills
do not have anybody on this roster except Bosa, who's
(10:43):
been flashes of it, who is an elite pass rusher.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
They don't have it. They got to send extra.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Pressure or they can fool somebody. If Bosa does that,
I think that is the biggest XP. It will make
XP difference for the rest of the entire defense. The
DBAs will play better, Max Harriston will play better, Christian
Benfitt will play better, the safeties will play better. Everybody's better.
(11:11):
If the quarterback doesn't have two and a half seconds.
If he's only got two point one, everything changes, so
that Joey Bosa is the one I think could really
be the difference maker for this club.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
I'm looking at defensive line as well, and I don't
mean to put too much on a rookie, but for
my money, a guy that needs to emerge and become
a significant contributor, if not right away, hopefully by mid
season and down the back half of the schedule is TJ. Sanders,
the second round draft choice. Ed Oliver was drafted ninth overall.
(11:48):
He had a big year in twenty twenty three with
nine and a half sacks. It's been hit and miss
in every other year in terms of getting weak to
weak consistency out of him, and I think the Bills
are at a point in time where if that inconsistency
continues this year and one young player like a TJ.
(12:10):
Sanders can provide the kind of production they're looking for
series in and series out from that position, it's going
to cost at Oliver playing time.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
And I want TJ.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Sanders to push at Oliver this year, and I think
if he does, he'll be on the field and Ed
will not, at least not as much. So I'm I
guess selfishly, I'm counting on TJ. Sanders to bring out
the best in At Oliver. But if he does, that
means TJ. Sanders is making a difference on the football field.
(12:44):
And look, there may be times in certain pass rush
packages where they're on the field together, but I want
to see TJ. Sanders come in and establish himself early
to kind of be a wake up call for Ed,
like you're not getting handed this thing. I mean, is
he probably gonna be the starter week one, two, three, four, five, Yes, right,
(13:06):
But yeah, I want to see TJ. Sanders come on
as a rookie. I was a forty first pick in
the draft. He has a unique skill set for a
man his size. I want to see him emerge as
a contributor to the point where Ed Oliver's looking over
his shoulder.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
I'll say this, and we we've alluded to this, and
people are smart enough to know this as well.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
We've spent three or four.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Years saying this about the Bills defensive line. You know,
if we can get von Miller in here, he'll bring
out the best in Ed Oliver. He'll help a j
Appiness or Greg Russo. The same thing when we need
day Kwon Jones because Daykon really takes the pressure off
Ed Oliver.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
And if you're.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Spending a lot of all your conversation effort on your
defensive line into bringing somebody into help somebody else because
you don't have that guy's it's that simple. If you've
got that guy you need, you don't need no help.
He don't need this guy to get a double team.
You double team me. If you want to stop, let's go.
(14:11):
And obviously I come from a different frame of reference.
I played with the best defensive end in the history
of the game, and Bruce Smith.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
He didn't need he didn't need.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
Somebody not help when he got him, Yes it did,
but he didn't need it. He was getting thirteen sacks
with a bunch of guys with a two to fourteen roster.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
I mean, he was dominant.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
If you want to have if you've got a handful
of guys, who said, what if we bring one more
guy in that'll help this guy?
Speaker 3 (14:39):
We ain't got time for that. He ain't got time
for that.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Well, I think I think based on the attention to
the defensive line in the draft class that the Bills
made this spring, I think it serves as notice to
everybody on that defensive line. If you're not bringing it,
We've got other people to do it instead. And so
I'll say this too, shape up or you know what if.
(15:03):
And I don't think they do this here in Buffalo,
and I'm not advocating it, but some of the strategies
you've seen other teams use is listen, you you trade
somebody who you thought was an absolute lock, or you cut.
It used to be a thing in when I.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
Was young in the league decades ago, there was always
a surprise release at the end of training camp, like,
oh my gosh, I thought, I can't believe that guy,
and I said, well, he wasn't playing well. And it's
like it was a wake up call for the entire roster,
like hey, you're not safe, You've got to play. I
don't think that flies like it did back in that day,
(15:37):
but that message, if you have a way to get
that message across to your veteran players who you're waiting
on to emerge or to blossom or you're or you
need to light a fire them they're one of those
kind of guys. You got to find a way to
send that message. Having three draft picks in the fronts
on the defensive line in rounds two three, in rounds two,
three and four. Yeah, that that does it. Now, Now
(16:00):
what happens in the reps and the rotation and when
they start to get placed ahead of a guy who
is sitting in his recliner, so to speak, that may
be what's in order here in this.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Training, production based business.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
And if you are a veteran in this league and
you forgot that, you're going to be reminded of it
right quick. Finally, who is a player that you believe
could surprise people and open some eyes in this training
camp as a more viable contributor than maybe some believe.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
I think it might be Dion Walker. I think he's
so gifted, and he's got that size, and I think the.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Way he plays is very.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Unusual for a guy his size. He plays slippery for
a guy who weighs three hundred and fifty pounds. He
plays with some finesse and some technique for a guy
like that. Now, certainly he was hampered last year by
a back injury, and they'll they'll manage that. But when
he and I don't think that, I really don't believe
(17:04):
his back is going to be an issue this year. Now,
I could be completely off base, but he's going to
come in and be if he comes in, and certainly
at the start of training camp, he's going to be healthy.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
I think he.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Could be a guy who, because of his physical traits
and the way he plays, he could thrive in what
goes on here at One Bill's Drive. I think they
handle players like Dion Walker extremely well. And I think
he'll come in and he'll blossom here. Oh he's got
a chance to. And I think that's my call.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Okay, I'm going with the guy that was taken right
after him in the draft, the tight end Jackson Hawes.
This is a guy who I think already is penciled
in as the team's third tight end. He's more of
a traditional why tight end. He's a bigger, stronger, more
versatile player than Quinton Morris. And I think, as you
(17:55):
say all the time, guys that play a long time
in this league are either enormous, you know, they're mutant
type players, or they're really smart. And Jackson Hawes is
a Yale grad and then finished up at Georgia Tech,
which is not an easy school.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
To get into. Eight He's and he's not small.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
He's six four, two fifty and he's a He's a
He's deemed the best blocking tight end in the class,
and look, is his role going to be huge? No,
he's got Dalton kin Kid and Dawson Knox in front
of him. But I think as far as third tight
ends go, it wouldn't surprise me if we get to
(18:36):
mid season or a little bit later and this offensive
staff likes him enough to start using thirteen personnel among
other things. We saw Kansas City use it with pretty
good success last year when they lose Rashi Rice to
a season ending injury, they don't have Hollywood Brown for
most of the season, and Andy Reid goes, we're going
three tight ends, let's just make it happen. And they did,
(19:00):
and they did it with pretty good success. You had Kelsey,
you had Noah Gray, Peyton Hendershot, and they were more
than just a functional offense. Like they used thirteen personnel
to their advantage. And look, they were still AFC champs.
So it's not a bad team to copy. And if
(19:21):
you got a guy that's capable of helping you in
that vein, I think Hawes might be able to do
it because he's certainly intelligent enough. I think he can
win the trust of the coaching staff. Is it going
to be a gigantic role. No, we're talking about something
that might be comparable to the way we saw Alec
Anderson used last year. But he's going to factor into
the passing game, I think more than people realize.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
I think so too.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
There's only five guys in the room for tight ends,
and if you go three tight ends, you know he's
going to get reps. Because of the nature of the
game and at the current moment, tight ends are a
big part of every team's alignment personnel groups. So he's
gonna get some a chance to show what he's got.
(20:03):
And I think even casual fans who've come out to
training camp are going to see the guy on the
field more than you're going to see a guy like,
you know, some of the other rookies like Dion Walker.
There's like nine thousand guys on the defensive line, right
there's five tight ends.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
So we'll see.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Time now for the numbers game where Steve will be
quizzed on Bill's roster shaping history.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
So Steve, question.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Number one, what Bill's first round pick since the AFL
NFL merger.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
So we're going from nineteen seventy to the present day.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
What Bill's first round pick played the fewest games for Buffalo?
Speaker 2 (20:42):
You should know this, at least I think you should.
Aaron Mabon, Not Aaron Mabon who did not play a
lot of games. But there's somebody that played fewer.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
They trade the guy, uh No, did not trade him.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
Sammy Watkins.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
He's not Sammy Watkins played too. Yeah, he played three seasons.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
Let me see first ground draft.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Do you want to hint?
Speaker 1 (21:22):
I can give you the year jef Gilmore, not Stefan
Gilmore's which year?
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Nineteen seventy nine?
Speaker 1 (21:30):
What?
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Oh, it's a tight end? Tight end?
Speaker 2 (21:35):
You're there.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
I can't remember.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
You're there.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
I can't remember, Yes, you can No, I can't. What
was his name? I can't remember?
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Tom Cuzan?
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Oh, oh, my gosh.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Who elected to play for the CFLs Montreal Alouette or linebacker?
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Sorry, linebacker linebacker Tom wow?
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Yeah, decided not to play for the Bills and went
to play in the FL.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Can you imagine a player doing that today?
Speaker 1 (22:02):
No way, Jose linebacker Tom Kuzino. Question number two prior
to Brandon Codrington who was the last player the Bills
acquired via trade, not during draft weekend?
Speaker 3 (22:23):
Owed by a trade?
Speaker 1 (22:27):
So last year they acquired Brandon Coddrington right before the season,
they acquire Mari Cooper mid season, who was the last
player acquired prior to those two?
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Not during draft weekend?
Speaker 5 (22:38):
I will say, Man, the only way I'm going all
the way back to That's not too far.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
That's too far back.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
That's I'm thinking about the deals they made right before
the start of the twenty seventeen season.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Oh, don't go back that.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Yeah, it's not that far. I don't know. I can't
remember Rasul Douglas. Oh, that's right, I should have gotten.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Mid season trade in twenty twenty three. Happen Tom question
question three.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
In the last two drafts, the Bills have selected a
total of three picks from the University of Kentucky, Ray Davis,
Max Harriston, Dion Walker. When was the last time the
Bills selected three players from the same school in back
to back drafts?
Speaker 4 (23:27):
Like six guys overall, No, at least three.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
From back to back.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Drafts from the same school.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
I will say last year, or you.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Will know what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna make it
easier for you. Give me the school you think it is.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
That the Notre Dame.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
It is not Notre Dame Georgia. It is not Georgia.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
That's not Penn State.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
It is not penn Stak.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
I'm gonna say, is the U.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
It is not the U.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
But you're warm.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
I'm gonna sh no, no, don't do it, Uh, North Carolina.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
It is University of Florida.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
In the twenty twenty two and twenty three drafts, the
Bills selected Kyrie Elm, Justin Shorter, and Osiris Torrence oh Man.
So when those back to back drafts three players out
of the University of Florida.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
We should yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Question for which.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Bills twenty twenty four rookie appeared in the most games
for the Bill's last season appeared in the most games?
Bishop it is not coldhop really remember he got hurt
in training camp.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
And let's say rookie, yes year.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
And there are two possible answers. Because these got hurt,
he is not the answer here. Two. I'll just tell
you two players played in all seventeen games for the
Bills last year who were rookies.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
I'll say Javon Solomon not.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
I thought I had my God, he was inactive for
a few Eddie U. No, Eddie only played in four games. No,
played in thirteen games.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Not the most. We're running out of rookies.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
We are Codrington, Randon Codrington is won played in all
seventeen games.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Want to try to go for the second one?
Speaker 1 (26:00):
Yeah, Ray, Ray Davis correct, Steve took him minute, but
you got there.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
Let me tell you so.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
Brownie sent me the script for the pod, and he
sent me the He sent me the answers to the questions.
So I was gonna nail it. But I said, hey,
we I know, you know he sent me the wrong script.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
One. He's changed all the questions and I had no shot.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
He was mad at me.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
D he was mad at myself. Yeah, and he took
it out on me maybe a little bit. Uh So
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(26:43):
Buffalo Bills. I'm now for our one burning question, Which
position group, Steve, do you believe could undergo the most
turnover from last season to this season when the fire
old roster is set in late August?
Speaker 4 (27:05):
Well, it's the secondary. I think a safety position has
a chance. But I also think it's corner. So the
DB's yeah, you want to say, I think you could have.
You could have a new starting corner and two new safeties.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
I think even the depth and district.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
You know, Dorian Strong I think has a good chance
to make the fifty three man.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
Roster Handcock round draft Kock will make the shot Handtock.
I think he's too good, he's too versatile a player
not to make it. And Hm, So I think then
you're right, I don't. I think Rap's gonna be on
the field, no question, Bishop. I think they hope he
can get on the field. With Tredavious White in the
in the room along with Max Harriston, I mean, you
(27:50):
got one of those guys is going to be the
last guy standing and he and the next guy will
be the third guy in you know, so you know
that's all new.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Yeah, and I would say the only other position group
that is gonna match that maybe even exceeded, is the
defensive line, just because you have so many new faces
already on the roster. So even when you reduce the
roster to fifty three compared to last year, you're still
gonna have a ton of new faces because the only
holdovers on the D line from last year ed Day, Kwon,
(28:19):
Epanessa and Rousseau and Javon Solomon.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
I mean, that's it. Everybody else is new.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
So just by virtue of the fact that you got
so many news Dwayne Carter Carter.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
Yeah, sorry, yeah, so you got you'll have if Sanders
comes in and gets signed, you have Sanders, Dion Walker, Load,
Zion Los, Dwayne Carter, Zion log was on the press,
Dakuon and ed Uh, those guys were in the building,
Uh Carter and Army Los and Uh Oliver and those guys.
But yeah, you're gonna have a ton more guys perking
(28:51):
them down inside, and then Land and Jackson and Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
And Bosa and Bosa and Hoyt and Olgan Joby, like
holy Crow, there's gonna be a lot of new faces there.
Our closing figure deals with former undrafted players that make
the bills fifty three man roster. Last year, nine players
who were undrafted as rookies made Buffalo's active roster, but
(29:15):
Joe Andreeson was the only undrafted rookie last summer to
make the squad. You had guys that were former undrafted
rookies that made the roster for a total of nine players.
So others like Alec Anderson, Ryan Vandermark, they were undrafted
a few years ago. This summer, there are twelve undrafted
(29:37):
rookies on Buffalo's roster.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Gonna be interesting to see. Is the number nine again
or is it less?
Speaker 3 (29:45):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
We'll see.
Speaker 4 (29:47):
I think some of those guys are good enough to
hang around the practice squad. We'll see what happens, particularly
at the linebacker spot.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
It's a tough roster to make, men.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
Tough roster to make.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Although you know they you know, seven guys is just
kind of like all they got on the inside got
off the ball guys.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
M Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
Well, I mean, we don't think so I'm just gonna
say no, there's not gonna be nine undrafted.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
We talk all the time about how the Bills largely
just played with two linebackers because they play nickel so much.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
I wonder if we see a shift there.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Because Williams is becoming the caliber of player where you know,
you hear coaches say all the time, we got to
get our best eleven on the field.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Dorian Williams.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
He's going to push that envelope to where the defensive
staff may have to try to find creative ways to
get Dorian Williams on the field more.
Speaker 4 (30:44):
The problem is, and as obvious is, you got to
sit somebody down. That's where the push comes to shop.
He may be a better linebacker than one of the
defensive linemen and we're standing in front of him, but
he can't get he can't get into that spot.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Or is he better than a third safety, you know,
as a coverage player, And you know it's tough to
say that, but if then you take some strides in
that area of his game, but might earn some consideration.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
But you're also talking about, you know, a third safety,
You're talking about personnel grouping, you're talking about situational suble package.
And yeah, certainly he's a part of that conversation. But
if the Bills start looking at teams who are like
the Baltimore Ravens, for instance, we go on who go
(31:27):
heavy and they're gonna they're gonna bear up, and that
they go, you can put your nickel on the field
and we're gonna push them around with our quarter packet,
you know, with our dime, with our thirteen personnel, and
we're just gonna push you down the field. Williams, you
might see Dorian Williams come out and play a lot
in Week one, something like that in a matchup in
the league. The pendulum of the league. We saw the
Bills do it last year fifty fifth. It went from
(31:49):
sixty forty or sixty three thirty seven down to fifty
to fifty run pass.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Yeah, Bills were fifty one percent run last year.
Speaker 4 (31:57):
And that's that's not just the Bill. Most teams will
try and do that now. The Bills have a larger
margin of error because of the person they have taken
snaps at quarterback. But other teams will see that and
as defenses got lighter and lighter, offenses are going to
go back to being heavier and heavier.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
We'll see if it plays out that way.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
That's it for this episode.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Be sure to subscribe on whatever podcast platform you use
so you know when our next episode is out. Because
when you need to know about the bills, you need
to check bills by the numbers.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
Thanks for listening. We'll catch you next time. Everybody,
We are back here on Bills by the Numbers, where
we let the stats tell you where the Bills are at.
We're presented by FanDuel make every moment more coming your way.
As training camp gets going.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Is this a stronger roster than that of last season?
Speaker 3 (00:12):
And why?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
What position group has the biggest questions to answer? Steve
will be quizzed on roster shaping history, and we'll have
our one burning question. Someone get me my dorm room key.
(00:37):
Glad you're here with us on Bills by the Numbers,
Bill's qull of Famer Steve Tasker Bills played by playman
Chris Brown, here with you, and we begin with an
assessment of Buffalo's roster as training camp gets underway at
Saint John Fisher. Is the Bills twenty twenty five camp
roster better overall than the one they fielded last seasons?
(01:00):
Even if so, tell me why I.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Believe it is better offensively? No question more.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
A year, another year under the belt of Khalil Shakir,
another year under the belt of Keon Coleman, more proven
options at wide receiver with the free agent signings. Their
offensive line continues to be deep and talented, and it seems.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
To be even better and healthier.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Obviously at this point with no season going on. Defensively,
there's more potential up front with the new signings with
Bosa if they can keep him healthy. Of course, the
draft picks, the three draft picks on the defensive side
of the ball, all on the on the front seven,
and of course Maxwell Harrison, who is an elite athlete already,
(01:53):
can you can kind of plug him into the cornerback
two spot. The return of Tredevius White another year uner
the belt and more athletic in the back end at safety,
Cole Bishop coming back with some experience. You get down
that the list of the top twenty two guys that
are going to be on the field, and even probably
the top thirty guys that are going to be on
(02:13):
the field and any given capacity for the Bills, Yeah,
I think they're much more proven, their pedigrees better, their
experience is obviously more with another year for some of
the younger guys, and we sent because of the way
they exceeded expectations given the preseason expectations last year. These
(02:34):
guys really fill you up with a lot of potential.
You know, you really feel like they're going to be
able to swing for the fence this year.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
I would agree.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
I think it's a more talented roster by a sizable margin.
And the reason I say that is because of the
position groups they addressed, which you outlined. You know, I
believe Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore are upgrades over Amari Cooper,
who was added mid season based on what he gave you,
(03:05):
and Mac Collins who was a nice role player but
was never going to be more than a role player.
And then everything else on offense is largely the same.
You could argue that Jackson Hawes, although we haven't seen
much of him yet, is a bigger, stronger, and probably
more versatile third tight end, you know, than who they
(03:30):
had previously, you know, from Quinton Morris, so that's encouraging.
And then on the defensive side of the ball, I
think they are significantly more talented. To Steve's point, a
lot of it is potential right now because there was
a concerted youth movement on that side of the ball
(03:53):
over the last two years in the draft. And while
you can't count on any of that potential just yet,
the talent alone TJ Sanders, Dion Walker landon Jackson, Maxwell Hairston.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
The talent alone gives you.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
The possibility of being significantly better, not only upfront, but
on the back end as well, especially if Cole Bishop
wins the starting safety job over Toamar Hamlin to pair
him with Taylor Raps. So you look at those things
and compare it to last year, where largely the depth
of Buffalo's defensive line was filled with spare parts, people
(04:35):
like Austin Johnson, for example, a journeyman veteran player. Now
you're using middle round draft choices with a lot of
upside instead, and I think.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
There is more to be gained there.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Maybe not right away in the first six or seven games,
but you get to the back half of the schedule
when bodies are hanging. Young bodies feel a lot better,
Young bodies bounce back from bumps and bruises and getting
nicked up better. I just think, come the second half
of the season, this defense, if it's developed properly, and
this is a coaching staff that knows how to develop players,
(05:09):
they could really kind of make some hay in the
second half of the season. There will admittedly be a
lot of new pieces, even when the roster is reduced
to fifty three players on August twenty sixth. Which position group, Steve,
do you believe has the biggest questions to answer?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Well?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
To me?
Speaker 4 (05:29):
At this point, there's so many more challenge I think
on the defensive line than any place else. I was
wavering on this, but the D line is the one
with the question marks because you've got two guys that
are going to be suspended for six games, and you've
got a draft pick that's in Landon Jackson that now
is injured on the active pup list.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
You've got two.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
Young guys coming up in the middle, Dwayne Carter is
another one, TJ Sanders, who is yet to sign.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Walker.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
You've got some questions up there about how that's all
gonna fit together, who's gonna play well with each other? Now,
certainly the guys you mentioned, the draft picks in Jackson
and in particular Deon Walker, they've got an enormous upside.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
They're toolsy, they're gifted.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
But at this level, it's about what's above the neck
as much as it is what's below the neck. So
I think I think the D line is where the
most challenges are because there's so much to sift through there.
With the two suspensions of og Ogunjoby and Hoyt. There's
a lot in that and I think that's where the
most question, not because there's a lack of talent or
because you don't know have enough got You've got some
(06:41):
pro level guys, no question, but I just don't know
what it's gonna happen and how it's gonna fit. The
rotation that they like to use is a jumble.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
I get that the D line made my list, but
it was not, and they have questions. I just feel
there's one other group that has more And the reason
why i'd I didn't pick the D line here is
because you can at least definitively say and know I
can line up Greg Russo at Oliver Daikwon Jones and
(07:11):
aj Epenessa and know what I have. Sure you can't
do that in the secondary right now, that's correct, and
for me it's the secondary.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yes, you know what Hamlin is. I don't know if he's.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
An ideal seventeen games a season starter. I think he's
a great spot starter. I think he gets the most
out of what his skill set offers him at the
NFL level. But it's clear that in an ideal world
Bishop is the more athletic and higher upside option at
(07:45):
safety if he can master the responsibilities of the position
and get the coaching staff to trust him implicitly. Does
that happen?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
We don't know. That's a question right there.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Max Harston already has the smoothest hip flip of any
cornerback on this roster. Steve and I saw it in
spring practice. It's like butter. The kid's head doesn't even
pop up an inch. It's remarkable his athletic skill set,
but is he going to be able to master all
his responsibilities and play effectively enough, not only in coverage,
(08:18):
but in the run support that is demanded of corners
in this system to get on the field and play.
That's why Kyrie Elam could not get on the field.
He really struggled with the run support elements demanded of
the outside corners in this defensive system and had trouble
getting on the field because of it. And now he's
in Dallas. So that's another question there, because do you
(08:39):
have to go to a default option like Tredavius White instead?
Another question, who is your sub package player? Is it
going to be a third safety? Is it going to
be a third linebacker. Do you want to find a
way to get Dorian Williams on the field or is
(08:59):
it going to be a third safety like a Cam
Lewis or somebody else.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Or even a Jordan Hancock.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Yeah, Derek Forrest is in the fairy forest.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
So that's another question in terms of how the sub
package roles are going to shake out. So to me,
the questions in the secondary, I think they outnumber every
other position group that we've got on this roster right now.
What players, Steve do you believe needs to emerge and
(09:28):
become a significant contributor in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
It would really solve a ton of problems for this team.
If Joey Bosa came in and played well, it would
solve a ton of He's an elite pass rusher when
he's healthy, There's no question about it.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
He's a load.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
But obviously, and the reason he's available, the reason Bill
simoned to a one year deal, the guy's injury prone.
As we've seen already, he's got a sore cap. But
if Joey Bosas days healthy for seventeen or eighteen weeks
or you know, the entirety of the season, he his
ability to rush the passer will be exactly what the
Bills wanted to get and had with Vaughan early in
(10:12):
his tenure in Buffalo. They got a guy who's a
problem and closes out games, and not only closes out games,
but can close them out in early in the third quarter.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Right.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
I mean, you don't ever get to these games where
you're coming down the wire it's a one score game.
You got to get a dot of With a guy
like Bosa, it never gets to that. It's a two
score game for the entirety of the second, last two
and a half quarters. That's the guy I think that
can make the biggest difference on this team. The Bills
do not have anybody on this roster except Bosa, who's
(10:43):
been flashes of it, who is an elite pass rusher.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
They don't have it. They got to send extra.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Pressure or they can fool somebody. If Bosa does that,
I think that is the biggest XP. It will make
XP difference for the rest of the entire defense. The
DBAs will play better, Max Harriston will play better, Christian
Benfitt will play better, the safeties will play better. Everybody's better.
(11:11):
If the quarterback doesn't have two and a half seconds.
If he's only got two point one, everything changes, so
that Joey Bosa is the one I think could really
be the difference maker for this club.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
I'm looking at defensive line as well, and I don't
mean to put too much on a rookie, but for
my money, a guy that needs to emerge and become
a significant contributor, if not right away, hopefully by mid
season and down the back half of the schedule is TJ. Sanders,
the second round draft choice. Ed Oliver was drafted ninth overall.
(11:48):
He had a big year in twenty twenty three with
nine and a half sacks. It's been hit and miss
in every other year in terms of getting weak to
weak consistency out of him, and I think the Bills
are at a point in time where if that inconsistency
continues this year and one young player like a TJ.
(12:10):
Sanders can provide the kind of production they're looking for
series in and series out from that position, it's going
to cost at Oliver playing time.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
And I want TJ.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Sanders to push at Oliver this year, and I think
if he does, he'll be on the field and Ed
will not, at least not as much. So I'm I
guess selfishly, I'm counting on TJ. Sanders to bring out
the best in At Oliver. But if he does, that
means TJ. Sanders is making a difference on the football field.
(12:44):
And look, there may be times in certain pass rush
packages where they're on the field together, but I want
to see TJ. Sanders come in and establish himself early
to kind of be a wake up call for Ed,
like you're not getting handed this thing. I mean, is
he probably gonna be the starter week one, two, three, four, five, Yes, right,
(13:06):
But yeah, I want to see TJ. Sanders come on
as a rookie. I was a forty first pick in
the draft. He has a unique skill set for a
man his size. I want to see him emerge as
a contributor to the point where Ed Oliver's looking over
his shoulder.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
I'll say this, and we we've alluded to this, and
people are smart enough to know this as well.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
We've spent three or four.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Years saying this about the Bills defensive line. You know,
if we can get von Miller in here, he'll bring
out the best in Ed Oliver. He'll help a j
Appiness or Greg Russo. The same thing when we need
day Kwon Jones because Daykon really takes the pressure off
Ed Oliver.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
And if you're.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Spending a lot of all your conversation effort on your
defensive line into bringing somebody into help somebody else because
you don't have that guy's it's that simple. If you've
got that guy you need, you don't need no help.
He don't need this guy to get a double team.
You double team me. If you want to stop, let's go.
(14:11):
And obviously I come from a different frame of reference.
I played with the best defensive end in the history
of the game, and Bruce Smith.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
He didn't need he didn't need.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
Somebody not help when he got him, Yes it did,
but he didn't need it. He was getting thirteen sacks
with a bunch of guys with a two to fourteen roster.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
I mean, he was dominant.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
If you want to have if you've got a handful
of guys, who said, what if we bring one more
guy in that'll help this guy?
Speaker 3 (14:39):
We ain't got time for that. He ain't got time
for that.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Well, I think I think based on the attention to
the defensive line in the draft class that the Bills
made this spring, I think it serves as notice to
everybody on that defensive line. If you're not bringing it,
We've got other people to do it instead. And so
I'll say this too, shape up or you know what if.
(15:03):
And I don't think they do this here in Buffalo,
and I'm not advocating it, but some of the strategies
you've seen other teams use is listen, you you trade
somebody who you thought was an absolute lock, or you cut.
It used to be a thing in when I.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
Was young in the league decades ago, there was always
a surprise release at the end of training camp, like,
oh my gosh, I thought, I can't believe that guy,
and I said, well, he wasn't playing well. And it's
like it was a wake up call for the entire roster,
like hey, you're not safe, You've got to play. I
don't think that flies like it did back in that day,
(15:37):
but that message, if you have a way to get
that message across to your veteran players who you're waiting
on to emerge or to blossom or you're or you
need to light a fire them they're one of those
kind of guys. You got to find a way to
send that message. Having three draft picks in the fronts
on the defensive line in rounds two three, in rounds two,
three and four. Yeah, that that does it. Now, Now
(16:00):
what happens in the reps and the rotation and when
they start to get placed ahead of a guy who
is sitting in his recliner, so to speak, that may
be what's in order here in this.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Training, production based business.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
And if you are a veteran in this league and
you forgot that, you're going to be reminded of it
right quick. Finally, who is a player that you believe
could surprise people and open some eyes in this training
camp as a more viable contributor than maybe some believe.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
I think it might be Dion Walker. I think he's
so gifted, and he's got that size, and I think the.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Way he plays is very.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Unusual for a guy his size. He plays slippery for
a guy who weighs three hundred and fifty pounds. He
plays with some finesse and some technique for a guy
like that. Now, certainly he was hampered last year by
a back injury, and they'll they'll manage that. But when
he and I don't think that, I really don't believe
(17:04):
his back is going to be an issue this year. Now,
I could be completely off base, but he's going to
come in and be if he comes in, and certainly
at the start of training camp, he's going to be healthy.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
I think he.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Could be a guy who, because of his physical traits
and the way he plays, he could thrive in what
goes on here at One Bill's Drive. I think they
handle players like Dion Walker extremely well. And I think
he'll come in and he'll blossom here. Oh he's got
a chance to. And I think that's my call.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Okay, I'm going with the guy that was taken right
after him in the draft, the tight end Jackson Hawes.
This is a guy who I think already is penciled
in as the team's third tight end. He's more of
a traditional why tight end. He's a bigger, stronger, more
versatile player than Quinton Morris. And I think, as you
(17:55):
say all the time, guys that play a long time
in this league are either enormous, you know, they're mutant
type players, or they're really smart. And Jackson Hawes is
a Yale grad and then finished up at Georgia Tech,
which is not an easy school.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
To get into. Eight He's and he's not small.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
He's six four, two fifty and he's a He's a
He's deemed the best blocking tight end in the class,
and look, is his role going to be huge? No,
he's got Dalton kin Kid and Dawson Knox in front
of him. But I think as far as third tight
ends go, it wouldn't surprise me if we get to
(18:36):
mid season or a little bit later and this offensive
staff likes him enough to start using thirteen personnel among
other things. We saw Kansas City use it with pretty
good success last year when they lose Rashi Rice to
a season ending injury, they don't have Hollywood Brown for
most of the season, and Andy Reid goes, we're going
three tight ends, let's just make it happen. And they did,
(19:00):
and they did it with pretty good success. You had Kelsey,
you had Noah Gray, Peyton Hendershot, and they were more
than just a functional offense. Like they used thirteen personnel
to their advantage. And look, they were still AFC champs.
So it's not a bad team to copy. And if
(19:21):
you got a guy that's capable of helping you in
that vein, I think Hawes might be able to do
it because he's certainly intelligent enough. I think he can
win the trust of the coaching staff. Is it going
to be a gigantic role. No, we're talking about something
that might be comparable to the way we saw Alec
Anderson used last year. But he's going to factor into
the passing game, I think more than people realize.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
I think so too.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
There's only five guys in the room for tight ends,
and if you go three tight ends, you know he's
going to get reps. Because of the nature of the
game and at the current moment, tight ends are a
big part of every team's alignment personnel groups. So he's
gonna get some a chance to show what he's got.
(20:03):
And I think even casual fans who've come out to
training camp are going to see the guy on the
field more than you're going to see a guy like,
you know, some of the other rookies like Dion Walker.
There's like nine thousand guys on the defensive line, right
there's five tight ends.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
So we'll see.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Time now for the numbers game where Steve will be
quizzed on Bill's roster shaping history.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
So Steve, question.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Number one, what Bill's first round pick since the AFL
NFL merger.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
So we're going from nineteen seventy to the present day.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
What Bill's first round pick played the fewest games for Buffalo?
Speaker 2 (20:42):
You should know this, at least I think you should.
Aaron Mabon, Not Aaron Mabon who did not play a
lot of games. But there's somebody that played fewer.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
They trade the guy, uh No, did not trade him.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
Sammy Watkins.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
He's not Sammy Watkins played too. Yeah, he played three seasons.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
Let me see first ground draft.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Do you want to hint?
Speaker 1 (21:22):
I can give you the year jef Gilmore, not Stefan
Gilmore's which year?
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Nineteen seventy nine?
Speaker 1 (21:30):
What?
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Oh, it's a tight end? Tight end?
Speaker 2 (21:35):
You're there.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
I can't remember.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
You're there.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
I can't remember, Yes, you can No, I can't. What
was his name? I can't remember?
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Tom Cuzan?
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Oh, oh, my gosh.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Who elected to play for the CFLs Montreal Alouette or linebacker?
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Sorry, linebacker linebacker Tom wow?
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Yeah, decided not to play for the Bills and went
to play in the FL.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Can you imagine a player doing that today?
Speaker 1 (22:02):
No way, Jose linebacker Tom Kuzino. Question number two prior
to Brandon Codrington who was the last player the Bills
acquired via trade, not during draft weekend?
Speaker 3 (22:23):
Owed by a trade?
Speaker 1 (22:27):
So last year they acquired Brandon Coddrington right before the season,
they acquire Mari Cooper mid season, who was the last
player acquired prior to those two?
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Not during draft weekend?
Speaker 5 (22:38):
I will say, Man, the only way I'm going all
the way back to That's not too far.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
That's too far back.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
That's I'm thinking about the deals they made right before
the start of the twenty seventeen season.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Oh, don't go back that.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Yeah, it's not that far. I don't know. I can't
remember Rasul Douglas. Oh, that's right, I should have gotten.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Mid season trade in twenty twenty three. Happen Tom question
question three.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
In the last two drafts, the Bills have selected a
total of three picks from the University of Kentucky, Ray Davis,
Max Harriston, Dion Walker. When was the last time the
Bills selected three players from the same school in back
to back drafts?
Speaker 4 (23:27):
Like six guys overall, No, at least three.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
From back to back.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Drafts from the same school.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
I will say last year, or you.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Will know what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna make it
easier for you. Give me the school you think it is.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
That the Notre Dame.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
It is not Notre Dame Georgia. It is not Georgia.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
That's not Penn State.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
It is not penn Stak.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
I'm gonna say, is the U.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
It is not the U.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
But you're warm.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
I'm gonna sh no, no, don't do it, Uh, North Carolina.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
It is University of Florida.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
In the twenty twenty two and twenty three drafts, the
Bills selected Kyrie Elm, Justin Shorter, and Osiris Torrence oh Man.
So when those back to back drafts three players out
of the University of Florida.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
We should yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Question for which.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Bills twenty twenty four rookie appeared in the most games
for the Bill's last season appeared in the most games?
Bishop it is not coldhop really remember he got hurt
in training camp.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
And let's say rookie, yes year.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
And there are two possible answers. Because these got hurt,
he is not the answer here. Two. I'll just tell
you two players played in all seventeen games for the
Bills last year who were rookies.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
I'll say Javon Solomon not.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
I thought I had my God, he was inactive for
a few Eddie U. No, Eddie only played in four games. No,
played in thirteen games.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Not the most. We're running out of rookies.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
We are Codrington, Randon Codrington is won played in all
seventeen games.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Want to try to go for the second one?
Speaker 1 (26:00):
Yeah, Ray, Ray Davis correct, Steve took him minute, but
you got there.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
Let me tell you so.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
Brownie sent me the script for the pod, and he
sent me the He sent me the answers to the questions.
So I was gonna nail it. But I said, hey,
we I know, you know he sent me the wrong script.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
One. He's changed all the questions and I had no shot.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
He was mad at me.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
D he was mad at myself. Yeah, and he took
it out on me maybe a little bit. Uh So
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(26:43):
Buffalo Bills. I'm now for our one burning question, Which
position group, Steve, do you believe could undergo the most
turnover from last season to this season when the fire
old roster is set in late August?
Speaker 4 (27:05):
Well, it's the secondary. I think a safety position has
a chance. But I also think it's corner. So the
DB's yeah, you want to say, I think you could have.
You could have a new starting corner and two new safeties.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
I think even the depth and district.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
You know, Dorian Strong I think has a good chance
to make the fifty three man.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
Roster Handcock round draft Kock will make the shot Handtock.
I think he's too good, he's too versatile a player
not to make it. And Hm, So I think then
you're right, I don't. I think Rap's gonna be on
the field, no question, Bishop. I think they hope he
can get on the field. With Tredavious White in the
in the room along with Max Harriston, I mean, you
(27:50):
got one of those guys is going to be the
last guy standing and he and the next guy will
be the third guy in you know, so you know
that's all new.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Yeah, and I would say the only other position group
that is gonna match that maybe even exceeded, is the
defensive line, just because you have so many new faces
already on the roster. So even when you reduce the
roster to fifty three compared to last year, you're still
gonna have a ton of new faces because the only
holdovers on the D line from last year ed Day, Kwon,
(28:19):
Epanessa and Rousseau and Javon Solomon.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
I mean, that's it. Everybody else is new.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
So just by virtue of the fact that you got
so many news Dwayne Carter Carter.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
Yeah, sorry, yeah, so you got you'll have if Sanders
comes in and gets signed, you have Sanders, Dion Walker, Load,
Zion Los, Dwayne Carter, Zion log was on the press,
Dakuon and ed Uh, those guys were in the building,
Uh Carter and Army Los and Uh Oliver and those guys.
But yeah, you're gonna have a ton more guys perking
(28:51):
them down inside, and then Land and Jackson and Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
And Bosa and Bosa and Hoyt and Olgan Joby, like
holy Crow, there's gonna be a lot of new faces there.
Our closing figure deals with former undrafted players that make
the bills fifty three man roster. Last year, nine players
who were undrafted as rookies made Buffalo's active roster, but
(29:15):
Joe Andreeson was the only undrafted rookie last summer to
make the squad. You had guys that were former undrafted
rookies that made the roster for a total of nine players.
So others like Alec Anderson, Ryan Vandermark, they were undrafted
a few years ago. This summer, there are twelve undrafted
(29:37):
rookies on Buffalo's roster.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Gonna be interesting to see. Is the number nine again
or is it less?
Speaker 3 (29:45):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
We'll see.
Speaker 4 (29:47):
I think some of those guys are good enough to
hang around the practice squad. We'll see what happens, particularly
at the linebacker spot.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
It's a tough roster to make, men.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
Tough roster to make.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Although you know they you know, seven guys is just
kind of like all they got on the inside got
off the ball guys.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
M Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
Well, I mean, we don't think so I'm just gonna
say no, there's not gonna be nine undrafted.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
We talk all the time about how the Bills largely
just played with two linebackers because they play nickel so much.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
I wonder if we see a shift there.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Because Williams is becoming the caliber of player where you know,
you hear coaches say all the time, we got to
get our best eleven on the field.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Dorian Williams.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
He's going to push that envelope to where the defensive
staff may have to try to find creative ways to
get Dorian Williams on the field more.
Speaker 4 (30:44):
The problem is, and as obvious is, you got to
sit somebody down. That's where the push comes to shop.
He may be a better linebacker than one of the
defensive linemen and we're standing in front of him, but
he can't get he can't get into that spot.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Or is he better than a third safety, you know,
as a coverage player, And you know it's tough to
say that, but if then you take some strides in
that area of his game, but might earn some consideration.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
But you're also talking about, you know, a third safety,
You're talking about personnel grouping, you're talking about situational suble package.
And yeah, certainly he's a part of that conversation. But
if the Bills start looking at teams who are like
the Baltimore Ravens, for instance, we go on who go
(31:27):
heavy and they're gonna they're gonna bear up, and that
they go, you can put your nickel on the field
and we're gonna push them around with our quarter packet,
you know, with our dime, with our thirteen personnel, and
we're just gonna push you down the field. Williams, you
might see Dorian Williams come out and play a lot
in Week one, something like that in a matchup in
the league. The pendulum of the league. We saw the
Bills do it last year fifty fifth. It went from
(31:49):
sixty forty or sixty three thirty seven down to fifty
to fifty run pass.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Yeah, Bills were fifty one percent run last year.
Speaker 4 (31:57):
And that's that's not just the Bill. Most teams will
try and do that now. The Bills have a larger
margin of error because of the person they have taken
snaps at quarterback. But other teams will see that and
as defenses got lighter and lighter, offenses are going to
go back to being heavier and heavier.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
We'll see if it plays out that way.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
That's it for this episode.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Be sure to subscribe on whatever podcast platform you use
so you know when our next episode is out. Because
when you need to know about the bills, you need
to check bills by the numbers.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
Thanks for listening. We'll catch you next time. Everybody,
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