Bills EXTEND James Cook, Injury Outlook, and Preseason Week 2 Preview vs. Bears | UR - Under Review

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
This week on Under Review, we have a lot to cover.
James Cook and the Buffalo Bills have reached a very
long anticipated contract extension. There is an injury report that
we have to cover, and there is a preseason game
occurring this weekend with plenty of players that we are
keeping a close eye on. The boom Arm is back

(00:30):
in action. The vibes are at an all time high,
and I thank each and every one of you for
tuning in to this week's episode of Under Review. Without
further ado, friends, let's go.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Previous play, We'll go Under Review.

Speaker 1 (01:11):
Citizens of Earth. I appreciate each and every single one
of you watching or listening to this week's episode of
Under Review. And as I mentioned in the revived intro
format that I've actually wanted to bring back for quite
a long time, there's plenty to discuss tonight. And when
I say we, at least I said we in the intro,
it never just me and me, Friends. I have a
returning guest of the show, someone who I love speaking to,

(01:33):
someone whose insight is simply incredible when it comes to
really anything but especially football, and that person is the one,
the only the blue ethereal floating orb with the meanest
warrior impression in the Tri State area. Mister Bruce Nolan,
known as the SEU Chef deliver by second of his name.
How you're doing tonight, Bruce?

Speaker 3 (01:54):
You know, it's always good to know that the person
you're talking to listens to the show, you know, because
let's be honest, there's a lot of content and not
all content creators get to all content creators.

Speaker 4 (02:06):
It's just not the way it is.

Speaker 3 (02:07):
But I gotta be honest, I count it among my
greatest blessings in the space that there are lots of
content creators who listen to my show. Like I almost
I didn't want to like put this in the profile
because it sounds kind of narcissistic. But for a second,
I thought, your your favorite content creator's favorite content creator,
like I put that in my like in my bio.

Speaker 4 (02:29):
You know.

Speaker 3 (02:29):
But no, I didn't want to do that. That I
just I don't want to shine like that's just it
seems egotistical.

Speaker 4 (02:34):
I don't want to do that. I was like, no, no, no,
that's bad.

Speaker 3 (02:36):
But yeah, I'm glad you listened, and you listened on Thursday,
the day you're day one Bruce Nolan listener.

Speaker 1 (02:43):
Yeah, Bruce, I love your show, and I'll admit you know,
there are plenty of busy weeks I have where I
am fortunately have to miss it, whether it's when it
drops I don't get the chance to listen. But really,
what sold me was you do a me and Warrior impression.
And I'm like, I need to see if he actually
does this, because like, this could be a great POI
by him to get me to just listen, which it
would never not be worth it to listen to your show.

(03:05):
I never wanted to sound like it isn't, But if
you're gonna do a Warrior impression, you got me sold. Man,
Like I'm a Nintendo truther, I grew up one of
my all time favorite games is Warrio World, so like
I'm bought in and you did one and it was masterful,
and we don't have to do it right now, brus, Like,
we got bill stuff to talk about, but maybe this
episode I can get another Warrior impression out of you.

(03:26):
If you're feeling so.

Speaker 4 (03:27):
Kind, you felt good about it, then I felt good
about it.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
I felt I felt good about the Warrio pressure. It
was a quality Warrio. I felt like an honest critique
though I felt like you were holding a little bit back,
like just the smidge like I feel like we could
really like.

Speaker 3 (03:40):
I mean, I try and get a little you try
and just not go too far over the time, especially
with you know, with the impressions in general. You know,
it's because sometimes people lean into it a little bit
too much. It's almost like it's like when you're doing
a Bill Clinton impression, right, So you doing a Bill
Clinton impression, you're pulling the You're pulling it back all
the way in the back of your throat and you're going.

Speaker 4 (03:58):
No, I don't have true relations with that woman.

Speaker 3 (04:01):
Yeah, But the point is if you pull it too far,
then it becomes like fog horn leghorn, you know what
I mean.

Speaker 4 (04:08):
So that's that's always the worry.

Speaker 3 (04:10):
The worry is you're gonna overshoot Warrio, Right, You're gonna
overshoot all the things, and you end up with a
bad like for example, you overshoot Kermit the Frog, what
do you end up with? Marvin the Martian, Right, that
that's what happened. So he didn't wanna overshoot Warrio. So
maybe I was holding back a little bit, but it's good.

Speaker 4 (04:26):
It's a good reason.

Speaker 1 (04:27):
Yeah, I understand that that's very valid to say, and listen,
the Warrior is a very delicate impression. You go a
little too far, Like you said, it's like it's like
a spectrum of deep voice, raspy cartoon characters. If you
don't nail the Warrior, you're just gonna sound like really
any other character who's similar. So I appreciate that thought,
but it was still a very good impression. I don't
want it to come off that it wasn't. And I

(04:48):
bet you guys have noticed already. The tagline tonight is
Joe Maine Lettuce because lettuce is green, folks, and you
know what else is green? Bruce money money, money is
green money. He talks and it has a beautiful, lush
hue of green. And you could ask Bill's running back,
James Cook, who just inked a contract extension with the
Buffalo Bills for four years, forty eight million, And what

(05:11):
seemed to be a twelve AAV seems actually to be
eleven and a half. So when they were revealing some
of the details to this contract, it's actually even in
my opinion, a smidge more favorable for the Buffalo Bills.
But Bruce, this was obviously a heavily anticipated extension. The
drama had been mounting really since the season had ended,
and I was here kind of saying, I don't think

(05:34):
it's gonna happen, just for a couple of reasons. One,
we haven't seen Brandon Bean gave a contract extension to
a running back, nor give significant money to a running back.
It's either been holistic in the draft or these one
year rental slash players that keep coming back on one
year deals that are super team friendly. But he broke

(05:54):
the mold and did something we haven't seen him do,
and he paid a running back. But I think there
is a very good argument to make that James Cook
did deserve this contract extension just for the value he
brings to this offense and how leaned on he was,
especially down the stretch and in their final playoff game.
But Bruce, I do want to ask you, I mean,

(06:14):
did you think that this extension was going to happen? First?
First question? And secondly, what do you think about the deal?
Do you like it? Do you not like it? I mean,
I want to hear your thoughts on this, even though
I might know the answer, because again watching an episode, I.

Speaker 3 (06:28):
Didn't think it was going to happen. I thought there
was a chance it might have happened at the end
of the year, because running backs are one of those
scenarios where it's a very volatile position. Right one acl injury,
you burn basically two years of a running backs prime,
which is a very short prime to begin with. So
I was thinking maybe procrastination and you know, might be

(06:51):
the way to go for Brandon Bean when it comes
to this one. When it comes to the actual deal,
the fact that it's especially eleven and a half million
dollars a year deal and putting it right around the
Kira and Williams deal makes sense to me from a
monetary standpoint. I would not have done it. I have
said this before. I would not have done it. And

(07:11):
somebody asked me, like, what number.

Speaker 4 (07:13):
Would you have been? Come like, what number would you
have done it? I said, no number that he would
have accepted. Right Like.

Speaker 3 (07:18):
So let's assume for a second the brand of Mean
is not the general manager of the Buffalo Bills. Bruce
Nolan is the general manager of the Buffalo Bills, right,
and they come to me to negotiate a contract extension,
I would tell them the truth, and I would say
We're not going to resign you for any number that
you would be comfortable with, Like, yeah, I'll offer you
three million dollars year. You're not gonna take it because
you're that's insulting, and I get that.

Speaker 4 (07:39):
That's cool.

Speaker 3 (07:40):
So what I'm gonna do is I'm not gonna offer
you that money, and then I'm gonna promise not to
tag you so that you can just I'm not.

Speaker 4 (07:46):
Gonna tag you.

Speaker 3 (07:47):
You can walk free. That's the deal, right. I know
you want a bunch of money. I don't have anything
to do it, but I also don't intend to stop
you from going out and getting that money. So I'm
not gonna I'm not gonna do this in bad faith.
I'm just gonna tell you, listen, you're not in ours
after this year. And if he gets upset, he gets
upset like that, and that's just the way it works.
So I'm I want Connor McGovern to come back. I

(08:10):
want a Cyrus Torrance to come back. And we live
in a limited resource environment. And so I'm not saying
that because you signed James Cook, you can't. I'm saying
because you signed James Cook, the probability is lower now
that you can sign those two. That's just the way
it works. So for me, I don't look at this
deal as like a bad deal, Like I'm not like
up in arms about it. It's not like those draft

(08:31):
picks that you.

Speaker 4 (08:32):
May just like.

Speaker 3 (08:33):
I just don't like that player that much. I didn't
have them rate a great example, right, I did not
have a high grade on Keon Coleman. I had a
late day two, early day three ish grade on Keon Coleman.

Speaker 4 (08:46):
Right.

Speaker 3 (08:46):
I thought he was a perfectly fine possession receiver who
could potentially give you seven eight hundred yards a year
as a possession yak quality hands guy I compared to
Mohammed Sanu Right when they drafted him at the top
of the second round instead of lad McConkey, I was
not pleased, right, I remember this. That's not the way
I feel about this. I don't feel that strongly negatively

(09:09):
about this deal because I get it, Like I understand
why it would have happened. If your branded bean and
you're in this specific spot where you're at right now,
and you think that there's a chance that Josh Allen's
prime is gonna be gone in three or four years,
I mean, do you really want a good player to

(09:30):
walk right now, it's like it's now the right time
to let a good player walk, Like I feel like
probably not. And so there's a big difference between in
my opinion, going like all in right trading for von Miller, sorry,
not trading, but signing von Miller to a massive deal,
or going out and trading first five Like these are
all in type moves. These are chips to the middle
of the table moves. Having a player like James Cook

(09:54):
walk away from your organization isn't indicative of a team
that's trying to win it all right now and things
they're close. So I get it, Like, I understand why
he did it, Like that doesn't mean I would have
done it, because my philosophy is be as good as
you can for as long as you can, hope you
get lucky. Like that's that's the brucism, right, So I
can simultaneously say I wouldn't have done it, and then

(10:18):
also say I totally understand why he did it, and
then also say I don't think the contract is that
bide relative to market.

Speaker 1 (10:25):
I think those are valid points. And back when the
conversation first came up about a potential Cook extension. I
was very heavily on board with the side that unless
it's a reasonable deal, I'm all for letting him test
the market and either letting him come back on a
favorable deal or letting him walk and go get paid
by a team that probably has ample cap space, the

(10:47):
type of team that either has the cap to pay
a running back more than you think he's potentially work
based on production, or is just a running back away,
similar to kind of what the Eagles did with Saguon Barkley,
which again not saying that the player at all, but
the Eagles really were just a running back away. I mean,
they still had a great draft and got some great
young defensive talent, but for that offense, that line, the

(11:08):
skale position players there, they were running back away from
truly taking it a step further, and they did. But
in the case of the Bills, I was cool with
Cook potentially moving on. What I think happened was as
time progressed and the conversations began with him and the organization,
I warmed up to the idea a little bit more,
only because I think that James Cook, when you talk

(11:32):
about the true identity of this offense right now and
This is not to say that the Bills can't throw.
This is not to say that Josh Allen can't do
it without him. But when I think of what this
Bills offense has really made themselves out to be over
the past two seasons, since Joe Brady took over full time,
since they shifted the type of runs they're attacking defenses with,

(11:54):
since they really added a nasty factor, James Cook has
been a constant through that metamorphosis for this offense and
has been in my opinion, when you take out Josh
Allen and obviously the offensive line, because I think if
you were to ask me who my actual tops would
be for this offense, it's that structure. James Cook's at
the forefront. I would put him above Dalton Kincaid. I

(12:16):
would put him above any of the receivers. I put
him above really any other player that's not named Josh Allen,
Dion Dawkins, and probably Connor McGovern as my third. I
think that he has been a vital asset to this offense.
He's been consistent and even though there are deficiencies in
his game that I do think can keep me from

(12:36):
saying he was ever worth fifteen million twenty million a year,
because I never thought that I thought he was valuable
enough for this offense to be worth something in the
range of again ten to twelve million, with thirteen me
considering that an overpay, but understanding if the Bills did it,
and what I think you got here, whether you are
pro running back pay, whether you or not, is the

(12:58):
retention of a very valuable assas set to this offense,
one that I think can help this team achieve the
goals they've set out for themselves, which is to win
a super Bowl, which is the only seemingly thing they
have left to do. They've seem to prove everything else,
and I think what they have done is they've allowed
themselves to maintain their identity on offense. Not to say
that another running back couldn't, but it's so much better

(13:19):
when you have someone who's familiar with what you're running offensively,
schematically and could compliment it. I feel like, while yes,
running back contracts can be bad, they can age poorly.
You can look at his brother as an example of that.
Dalvins really didn't pay dividends the way Minnesota had hoped.
I can understand why they did it, and I think
eleven and a half million per year is a perfectly

(13:41):
fair deal. It puts him underneath Alvin Kamara, It technically
puts them underneath Kyn Williams, or actually no, I think
it puts him right above Kien. Kyron got eleven on
the nose, but he's in that like second tier running
back market, and I think that that's an okay price
to pay. And if he stays healthy, or if he
develops even further, which is the thing that bills always
hope for with these types of deals, as in, if

(14:03):
James Cook becomes a better pass blocker, or if even
the receiving out of the backfield component becomes even better
than it's been in the past, I think it's even
of value despite it being a market, or despite it
being a contract for running backs, which is a very
volatile market. So I definitely understand the point you have,
because it is a risk with running backs specifically, because again,

(14:24):
one bad break and you're not going to see him
for half of his contract life cycle, and you don't
even know if he'd be the same player if he
comes back. But he's been knock on wood, a mostly
durable player, he's been again a cog in this machine
and someone that I'm very comfortable paying that much money to.
And as far as the future extensions that you refer to, Bruce,

(14:45):
I do not like the fact that it puts McGovern's
extension and potentially like an Osiris Torrents extension at jeopardy.
But knowing Brandon Bean, there are other level levers to pull.
There are other options in contracts that he has on
the team or players that could potentially move on from
a restructure to open up that money to give these
extensions to their offensive lineman. And if someone's got to

(15:06):
walk on this offensive line, and that happens to be
Connor McGovern, I think they have contingency plans. But also
I feel good about Aaron Kromer being the guy in
the room if they run into that situation to a
point where I feel more comfortable with this extension happening
for James Cook because I do trust that much in
Aaron Cromer to figure it out if he has to.
But we don't know if that'll be the case. And

(15:27):
that's really where I'm at on it. Bruce, any more
thoughts on this before we move on?

Speaker 4 (15:32):
No, I think you covered it.

Speaker 1 (15:34):
Beautiful, all right, well, let's move on to our next point.
And I love when I have you on, Bruce, because
you are straight to the point, and anytime we got
to pivot topics, it's just no, I don't got anything
else to say. Hell yeah, let's go all right, But no,
I appreciate it. And I want to talk about the
injury report because I kind of been talking about this
each week on this show, Bruce, because this is a

(15:55):
conversation that I think gets simultaneously overblown but also like
not talked about enough in certain ways when we get
to this point in the off season every single year.
The overblown component for me though, outweighs the other because
I feel like we see a lot of names on
a list and we get really paranoid and we get
really worried about the derision of the year. And I

(16:16):
distinctly remember last year, even later in August, where the
injury list was quite long, and by week one we
had most of the personnel back, Say for a couple
of people. Now you see Dion Dawkins this week, go down.
A few of the receivers are on the injury report,
including Elijah Moore to Else Shavers, and it's not optimal
but also it's not something I am personally worrying about
too much. Now I want to ask you because I'm

(16:38):
very interested to hear your take on this. I mean,
what are your thoughts on where the Bills stand with
their injury report right now? And what are you assuming
this is it? Assuming this is the list and we
don't get any new people, knock on wood, what is
your like, I guess prediction for what week one looks like.
As far as the health of this.

Speaker 3 (16:56):
Roster, I think that there's a very reasonable chance Maxwell
Harriston is not active for the first six weeks. Like,
I think that there's a chance. I think that they
don't want to risk that. I don't think they want
to deal with it right now. I think that really

(17:16):
that's the biggest piece of this. I think if there
is if there is a player that sticks out to
me as a hey, I don't think this is a
guy because they we talk about defensive line. Okay, I'm
gonna pivot for a second. We talk about defensive line
a lot, and the numbers and the tough.

Speaker 4 (17:33):
Decisions they have to make.

Speaker 3 (17:35):
Defensive backfield sneaky like that too, Like, I don't know
if you've done a fifty three man roster projection yet Joe.
But when you go through, when you go to do it,
you're like, WHOA Like I have to put players and
I have to cut them, and I don't love it yet.

Speaker 1 (17:51):
Real quick, before you continue, I apologize. I've been doing
it for the past week and constantly modifying it. This
is the hardest one I've done while I've been a
cover one. It is very difficult to figure this out.
I don't think I'm going to be right, and I'm
still going to do an episode on it, so fair warning.

Speaker 3 (18:05):
Right, So for me, the thing that sticks out is
that I think that they're going to take the opportunity
and go we're comfortable with our defensive back depth. We're
gonna go ahead and put Harston on. You know, We're
gonna put them on hold for six weeks and we'll
see him later. And I think that's the reasonable possibility.

(18:25):
I mean, LCL injuries are tricky, and defensive backs, of
all the positions, you can make an argument, the defensive
back is the one position where you can really tell
if someone's a half a step slow, you know, like
the half a step is what separates you know, Darrel
reevas from Prince of Mukamara. You know, like that's a
half a step. So for me, I think that that's

(18:48):
the player when I sticks out to me on the
injury board, that's the player that I think they're just
going to take the opportunity. Hey, we feel good about
this defensive backfield, We're gonna put them on the shelf.
That'll make our fifty three men roster a little bit easier.

Speaker 1 (19:00):
So I love that point, really about Harriston specifically, because
he was someone I did want to talk about. I
do think they have I don't want to call it
a luxury because that's not the right word, because I
think outside of Benford there are a lot of questions
about this cornerback room. But what I will say is,

(19:21):
if there's anything I can trust McDermott and really this
coaching staff with, it's getting at the very least serviceable
enough play from the cornerback room to be able to
survive and kind of hold the bleeding. But again, Max,
Harriston's a rookie. You don't even know what you were
going to get with him. So I guess it's fair
to say that I would be more comfortable with not
rushing him if he's not one hundred percent, and I

(19:42):
am totally comfortable with the Bills putting him on the
IR for that reason if they have to, depending on
how he recovers. I feel like he missed valuable reps
in camp too, things that he really needed while he
was kind of in that one two race with Trey White,
and therefore I think the better thing for him is
to get to one hundred percent where once you get
to that middle of the season where there are a
mix of you know, favorable quote unquote games. Obviously we're

(20:05):
not going to know that till the season starts, but
just looking at the schedule right now, I feel better
about trotting him out there when he's ready and not
putting him out there and still recovering from a bundee
and either getting really bad play from him and messing
with his confidence or worse, hurting him and not having
him for a longer term. So with that, I get it,
And I mean like, as far as the rest of
the injury list goes, I'm not overly concerned with really anyone.

(20:28):
I would say this though. The one thing that I
do think we talk about too on the other side
of the conversation when it's well, people don't talk about
it enough. It's when those names are off the list.
But how effective are those names when they actually come back,
Because we've just been talking about Harston and his effectiveness
if he comes back, and I really pointed at Khalil
Shakir and I don't want to put Khalils share in

(20:50):
the iron. I don't think they're going to. They've they've
said he's going to be ready for week one, but
sprains are very tough. I mean, depending on the severity.
It's the type of injury that can really limit you.
And for someone like Khalil Shakir, you know, their best
slot option, someone who is constantly cutting and making quick
pivots with his feet and bending with his ankles. It's

(21:10):
not an easy injury to work back from, and it's
certainly not an easy injury to play with. And you
have to ask the question, is it even more of
a disservice to put Khalil Shakir out there if he's
not fully recovered from this injury week one? And if
they do, I mean, do you expect the same production?
Do you expect the same really anything from him? Or
do you think it would take a few weeks, and

(21:32):
that's what I'm keeping an eye out for, too. And
when I look at the whole list, I'm not overly concerned.
I mean, Dion Dawkins's reaction the other day sounded like
he was going to be fine, and maybe it's just
precautionary or something minor. I think Curtis Samuel was ramping
back up, you know, Terrell Shavers. There wasn't really much detail,
but I don't think his is too bad. Otherwise we
probably would have heard something more on him. But Shakira

(21:52):
is the one I'm really watching out for too, because,
like Harriston, if he's not one hundred percent, I just
don't know if he's going to be as effective as
he could possibly. He did have a similar injury last year,
but four to six weeks, I think it's the same angle.
If I'm not mistaken, I'm just a little worried about it,
and I would like to see or be proven wrong
by week one, or if they have to, if there's

(22:13):
a different option, like Curtis Samuel, who's healthy enough to
man that role for him while he's recovering to do so,
because you're your first game of the year is the
ultimate test as it is, it's the it's the team
that you just beat in the divisional round. It is
an insanely difficult ask to have an unhealthy player go
out there and be his usual self. So I feel
like for this injury conversation, I'm hoping that we get

(22:35):
good news. Is the week's ramp up. One final thing
I want to mention on it, Bruce, and I want
to turn this back to you because again briefly, I've
heard it from you, and I've seen you tweet about it,
and I've seen just this conversation. But Cole Bishop and
Taylor Rap, what is your I know we just talked
about the dB room, but just a little more detail.
I mean, the concern level for you with these two
at this point now just starting to get reps on

(22:56):
the field, I'll be at limited ones. Are you at
a ten, A six, three? As far as your worrying
level for these two being ready to go for week
one and being ready to answer the bell?

Speaker 4 (23:06):
I live perpetually at about six and a half.

Speaker 1 (23:09):
Okay, like just all the time, just.

Speaker 3 (23:11):
In general, Like we're not even talking about the bills now,
We're just talking about perpetual status of Bruce. I live
my entire life slightly worried about everything all the time. Yah,
so nothing really Listen, the sun could be shining and
I could be on a beach with a my tie

(23:31):
and it would still be six and a half. That's
just the way it goes for me. So I am
consistently six and a half. And I think the point
that you made that I think is valuable is that
just because your back doesn't mean you're back. And we've
seen this, I mean, think about this, but what happens
is we only see it in this is an entire time.
I could do an entire Bruce exclusive topic on this.
I'm not going to, but I could the idea that

(23:53):
would only ever see the impact of an injury in
its entirety in retrospect, do you remember the at Oliver
year where he had a high ankle sprain.

Speaker 4 (24:05):
He was off to a good start, he had a
high ankle.

Speaker 1 (24:07):
Sprain Visional Round year against the Bengals.

Speaker 3 (24:09):
Bruce were like, I think that was that year. Yeah, Yeah,
And he comes back and he's just not the same.

Speaker 4 (24:15):
Player, and we're all like, hey, what's wrong with that? Oliver?

Speaker 3 (24:17):
You're by and by the end of the year, You're like, man,
that ankle injury really affected him more than we thought.
But the second he came back, we were like, oh sweet,
at Oliver's back. Just because he's back doesn't mean he's back.

Speaker 1 (24:26):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (24:26):
And it's the same thing with Khalil Shakir. It's the
same thing with Maxwell Harriston. Like, this is the reason
why I don't think you just have to temper expectations
for both players now because of the effects that lingering
injuries can have. Your strength and conditioning staff is not
primarily focused on preventing injuries because injuries prevention is mostly

(24:49):
a random occurrence thing. They are about managing injuries and
preventing them from being worse. And so the fact that
you can operate at seventy percent effectiveness is a testament
to your own ability, the coaching staff's ability to manage
your workload, and the training staff's ability to make sure
that you're getting your workloadvantaged as well. But the fact

(25:10):
that you're at seventy to begin with is because you
previously had an injury. You're down diminished capacity because of that.
So I think it I don't want to say I
don't want to get all like really pessimistic and say, oh,
it casts a dark shadow, but it kind of does.
It sort of casts a dark shadow over those two
players for at least the next couple of months.

Speaker 1 (25:32):
Yeah, I man, I'm sad now, No, I'm just kidding,
but I think with just going back to shake care
before we touch upon the safeties again. The one thing
that does give me a little bit of hope, though,
is for an injury like that to occur at this
time of year, you do get kind of the luxury
of the team saying we're being a little more pre
cautious and being a little more mindful of like not

(25:52):
pushing him back too far, getting him I guess in
the fray too quickly, and maybe that four to six
week timeline or by week one time line is actually
being like overly cautious. Now I'm not downplaying the severity
of the injury or anything like that, but when it
comes to this time of year, you do get an
opportunity to kind of slow play things because there isn't
a game next week. You got like, well there isn't

(26:13):
a regular season game next week, you got about two
to three weeks to kind of figure your things out.
So I'll hold out that little shroud. I hope that
they're just being very cautious about the ramp up for Shakir.
But again, if it's not that, and it really is
truly just he is a high ankle sprain, it's running
its normal course and by week one it'll be mostly okay.
I don't like the idea of mostly okay being the
primary slot receiver against a really talented Raven secondary. And

(26:37):
if there is a receiver that can replicate that role
just for one week, I'll take it. I think that
would be Curtis Samuel. But again, same thing. He's coming
back from amstring injury. He's just getting ready to cut again.
I mean, is he even effective by the time week
one rolls around? Do you feel confident that Elijah Moore
can maintain his health and be that person. That's what
I'm looking out for, and it's why again I'm not,
you know, running for the hills over this as much

(26:59):
as I'm just a little worried about total effect of
this week one, but for the safeties, I'm more worried.
I mean, I'm probably right there with you on the
day to day six six rating, Bruce, but for the
safety I'm probably sitting there at a similar number, maybe
a little higher, like seven. I believe in both players.
I think Taylor Rap has been an effective safety since

(27:19):
the you know, since he became the starter with not
even just since he signed with them, but since he
became the starter for the secondary. And Cole Bishop is
a player that, again in the athletic mold, I'm a
huge fan of. I think he's got plenty of juice,
whether it's playing safety closer to the line, whether it's
being one of the DP half guys. There's a lot
to like about him, and I think he had flashes
last year, But availability for him has been my biggest
concern at seeing him go down with a quad injury

(27:41):
that sidelined him for two weeks in camp, that does
not help me. Now that they're back on the field,
I'm hoping that these next threeish weeks can be enough
time for them to get everything down. But you know,
there's a lot of communication. You basically are the generals
of this defense. You're the generals of the secondary. You
got to know every single coverage, you got to know
every single call. You got to have perfect, pristine communication.

(28:02):
And as Bills fans were spoiled. We got to watch
Jordan Boyer and Micah Hyde do it so seamlessly in
their prime that we kind of forgot how much it
takes to get that kind of play out of someone.
But it takes a hell of a lot. And Cole
Bishop is a player who did not have the luxury
to miss time, did not have the experience to miss time.
I mean, it's not that you want to see anyone
get hurt, But if Michaeh Hyde had a quad strain

(28:24):
and came back like two weeks before the season, you'd say, well,
Michah Hide's been in this defense for X amount of years,
you feel good about it. Cole Bishop is not someone
I feel good about that with. Not yet, I'm hoping
to be proven wrong. I'm hoping that despite the injuries,
he goes out and has a tremendous performance, not even
just Week one, but for the regular season. But again,
missing time, what is the effectiveness of him back on

(28:45):
the field. Does he have enough time? Do you think
the curve of difficulty for the safety position is a
lot more than maybe the curve of difficulty for Shakir,
who again has been here for a few years. Coming
back from his injury and do you trust it week one?
So those are the questions I have Bruce any final
thoughts injury yet anything.

Speaker 3 (29:03):
I think the curve. I think the curve. You're right
on Coal Bishop. I think that it's different because of
the time he missed last year versus Khalil Securer who's
been around for a.

Speaker 4 (29:12):
While and a little bit more of a veteran.

Speaker 3 (29:14):
But for me, it's about as long as nothing else
goes wrong with Cole Bishop, I think he can still
be on trajectory. I really feel like I don't say
strike three, but I want to say it's one of
those things where if something else happens and Cole Bishop
misses a meaningful amount of time, we're gonna be going
into the year and this is insane to think about it.

(29:35):
We're gonna be going into the year where you have
to make a decision on extending Coal Bishop and we
still wouldn't have seen Cole Bishop right, Like, that's insane
to me.

Speaker 4 (29:47):
I think the fact that.

Speaker 3 (29:48):
You brought back to mar Hamblin means you know what
that floor looks like at safety, so at any given
time you can just say, okay, well we're just gonna
go to the guy we had last year. Yeah, I
know the ceiling isn't quite the layer we probably want
it to be, and that's the reason why you draft
a player like Cole Bishop in the second round to
get that ceiling. But we'll see what looks like week one,

(30:09):
and most importantly, I want to see where Cole Bishop
is playing.

Speaker 4 (30:14):
In the third preseason game. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (30:17):
If he's playing in the second half of the third
preseason game, then I think the bar Hamblin might be
the starter week one.

Speaker 1 (30:23):
You're one hundred percent right, And you know this kind
of segues into the next topic, which is our preseason
preview against the Bears, but also kind of a point
that you made on your show that I firmly agree with.
I will say, we'll get to something on this list,
but there's only one thing I didn't fully agree with.
But as far as the who, what or No, I'm
not even gonna try and recite it because, to be

(30:43):
honest with you, I will butcher it. If you want
to say what the top the acronym stood for again,
you can when I turn it back to you, but
I will stutter and I will ruin it. So please
don't make me do that. But when we're talking about
the preseason game, I mean, if you're seeing Bishop that
late in the game, I think it most likely means
that he's lower on the deaf chart, like you just
alluded to. I also think it means that they need

(31:05):
to get him experienced, they need to get a hot
life bullet reps. So I won't totally rule out the
fact that it would mean that he's above Damar, but
I definitely don't think it would bode well if you're
a fan who didn't want Damar starting. I think that
would tell you if he goes out there, plays you know,
the second half, even like most of the second half,
and either doesn't prode on a show or even just

(31:26):
has a subpar performance, I think you got to open
yourself up to that idea that Himlin will be the
starter again until Bishop is fully ramped up and ready
to go. But yeah, I want to just oh, you
have any more thoughts, Bruce before Yeah.

Speaker 4 (31:39):
No's that's exactly the point right there.

Speaker 3 (31:41):
And it's the idea that if they feel that they
need to get him repped so badly that they're willing
to play him in the second half of the vinal
free season, game.

Speaker 4 (31:48):
That's like a that's a red flag, right.

Speaker 3 (31:50):
It's not a red flag for like him as a
player moving forward, but it's a red flag for Okay,
maybe he doesn't start. We won not because he wasn't
ahead on the depth chart. It's because he's not ready
and we needed to get him rough so badly that
we were exposed to a preseason game to do it.
So that would tell your prioritization.

Speaker 1 (32:07):
A preseason game, and even though it's preseason and everything
super vanilla, I would have to imagine that there's going
to be some sort of creativity from Ben Johnson, you know,
some sort of creativity when it comes to how he's
running or some of the motion pieces he throws at people.
Even if it's super basic, it is something worth getting
cold Bishop. I guess in the weeds on if he
needs the experience. But we'll just have to see. But

(32:28):
I want to get a little more into this matchup,
specifically just players on our end that we're watching out for,
because you know, the first game, we saw some flashes
from some people. We saw some really nice performances from
some players that I think are cementing themselves as roster options.
You know, I had a tweet this past week where
I mentioned Reggie Gilliam being one. I mentioned Joe Andreeson,

(32:48):
which didn't have a perfect game, but I thought he
had some nice, nice moments during that second half. I
thought that TJ. Sanders and Dion Walker alike both had
some moments. TJ. Sanders was stable and you know, any
of pressure, plenty of juice. Dean Walker. You know, again,
I don't want to like recite word for word what
you said, Bruce, but really like the whole he had

(33:08):
flashes and then it was kind of fine. But for me,
that's kind of a world I'm more than willing to
live in with Dean Walker in his first year. And
then you know, Jordan Hancock was another player I really liked.
I mean, these are guys that I think are going
to make meaningful contributions to the team this year, and
I'm really excited to watch them further. I have a
few more, but Bruce, I want to turn it back
to you if it's any one of these guys or

(33:30):
anyone we haven't mentioned, who are you really interested in
watching in this preseason game just coming up.

Speaker 3 (33:36):
It's Cam Lewis and Jordan Hancock. Those are the players
that I want to see, and I thought it was
interesting that cam Lewis and Jordan Hancock both played almost
exclusively safety.

Speaker 4 (33:45):
Especially after Karen Johnson got banged up.

Speaker 3 (33:48):
When Terren Johnson got banged up, I was like, Oh,
one of them's gonna play nickel and that's gonna tell
us something, right, Nope, to.

Speaker 4 (33:53):
Corey Couch, baby like that, we're rolling out to Corey Couch.

Speaker 1 (33:56):
I'm like, it's probably so hyped about that too.

Speaker 3 (33:59):
So hyped right, And so for me, I'm sitting there
going Okay, they both played safety. That's kind of the
weird competition where when you draft Jordan Hancock and you
draft him the fifth round and you go, Okay, this
guy's a utility defensive back, you go immediately go, oh,
cam Lewis, are you in trouble? Like is this is

(34:20):
this a player we need to pay attention to? And
then cam Lewis comes out and he's the starter alongside
Damar Hamlin, so that means what they think, he's safety
four Like it was just a I think that was
the most shocking thing from the preseason game was having
cam Lewis and Jordan Hancock both play overwhelmingly safety and
basically not Nickel at all. So if that happens this

(34:43):
upcoming week where they both play the majority of their
time at safety, man that that's very different than what
I thought it was going to look like. Or if
they both play Nickel, then it's like, Okay, they're playing
him off and on and they're real kind of rotating
and okay, maybe they're competing for a similar role. But

(35:04):
that's the thing I'm looking at, probably more than anything.
The second thing is does Mike White gets time with
the starters, Because we've been talking about this the entire offseason,
right that the Bills can save X amount of dollars
if they got mich Trubisky. I mean, I think it's
been reported on a gajillion times. Yes, we know right
at this point, I've said it a gazillion times. I
feel like I'm like the Charlie Brown teacher when I say, are.

Speaker 1 (35:27):
Wah wah wah wah wah wah.

Speaker 3 (35:30):
And so I think that if you see Mike White
get reps with the starters, then it's okay, it's a competition. Now,
If Mitch Trubisky is the only one who gets reps
with the starting offensive line, then it's like, Okay, well
it's not really a competition right now. Trubisky's in the
driver's seat and Mike White has to knock them out
like that. Those are the two things that I know

(35:51):
that sounds incredibly boring, like, oh, I'm looking at safety
four and QB two, But those are the things I'm
looking at for this preseason game.

Speaker 1 (35:59):
That would QB two battle. Even if people don't want
to admit it, it's underrated, it's fun. I like looking
at our backups. You got to know who's gonna be
taking the man til God forbid something happens to Josh Allen,
you know what I mean. And you want to feel
secure in that. Now, I'll never feel secure in that.
I don't think anyone would. But who is the stop gap?
If it has to be that way, and I will

(36:20):
be watching out for that. I am a fan of
Mike White. I thought there were moments from him in
his time with New York and his time in Miami
where you could buy into this guy being your backup quarterback.
I like that they went out of their way to
go get him. I just don't know if he lapsed Trubisky,
if Trubisky's healthy, I just feel like Trubisky's been here
a little bit longer, has more rapport with this offense,
and I think has just a leg up on Mike White.

(36:42):
And also, if you think about what Joe Brady might
introduce to this offense a bit more of this year,
which is more play action and more of the ability
to get his quarterback moving around, whether it's bootlegs or
just the freedom to kind of extend a play. I
personally think Mitch Trubisky's better suited for that. And if
you remember in the last game, there were a couple

(37:02):
of moments it was kind of ugly for really everyone,
but there were a couple of moments where Trubisky made
a really nice play when he got to roll out.
And I'm okay with that being an option if it
has to be, but I hope it's not at the
same time, but I will be watching out for that.
And when you talk about Jordan Hancock and Cam Lewis,
I mean cam Lewis is the player I thought was

(37:23):
gonna be the odd man out this year. I thought
when they took Hancock and I saw versatile dB in
the fifth round who played at Ohio State, I'm like, oh, Okay,
so you basically just got your cam Lewis Upbret, like
that's it. He's gone. But he's not going down without
a fight. And I don't think he's going anywhere. And
I think even more so what you just talked about
with you know they're gonna be playing safety, but do
you see him anywhere else? I have to wonder too,

(37:45):
if one the uncertainty with the health of Cole Bishop
and Taylor rap has this team has this defensive room
kind of like, shit, man, we might just need to
keep these guys at safety to just see if we
can get good play from them in these preseason games.
I feel a little more comfortable if we have to
turn these guys in a pinch because our starters are out,

(38:06):
which is shaping up to be a very real possibility.
Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop Bishop have each missed time,
and it leads you to wonder if we because of
these injuries and because of the uncertainty of what the
tandem looks like with a ton of starting experience, do
you feel like the best thing for this defense as
a whole. Even though Sean McDermott had said that he

(38:27):
wants Hancock to learn a bunch of things, or at
least indirectly said it is to keep him at safety
and to get him those reps at safety. So I
think that is a good thing to be watching out
for because it would tell you a lot about their
security with the room right now. I mean, they know
what they have in tomorrow, Hamlin. As you said before,
Derek Forrest has been kind of like a guy that's
there that they've trotted out, but we haven't really heard

(38:48):
too too much about him, and I'm interested if they
get him a lot of reps. I'm sure they will,
But really, what happens with those two versatile dbs. Are
they boxed into that safety role? And what does it
mean for your starters to have these guys that should
be playing multiple positions playing one because they're not confident
in you staying healthy or staying on the field. So
I'm watching out for that. There's one thing that when

(39:09):
I said I disagreed with you on something. We were
talking about Shavers and more. Now, assuming they're both good
to go, because I know both were on the injury report,
we'll see how they do. I like Elijah Moore and
I have said I think he's going to be an
underrated part of this receiving corps. But when I said underrated,
not a thousand yards. He is not the second coming
of Stefan Dicks. I meant like a serviceable three to

(39:30):
four hundred, maybe five if it really goes well for him.
But what I will also say is there was a
constant from last year and it's happening this year, and
it's Tyrrell Shavers making plays, and again injury had made
a part of it, but getting reps with the ones,
building rapport with Josh Allen, and shining and making moments

(39:50):
happen for himself when he has limited playing time, unlimited opportunities.
And even though I know you said you think More
might have slight leg up right now, I personally think
that even though More got his time and more. Yes,
if you want to talk about the same conversation we've
had this episode, you would say that More probably as
the back end of the room. I think Shavers has
done more with this opportunity and in my opinion, has

(40:13):
the role above more. But I also wonder this person,
I'll turn it back to you, do you think kind
of like what we're talking about with the uncertainty of
the safety room and their health, but also with this
wide receiver room facing consistent injury in camp Shakira again,
what is he going to be when he comes back
to see one hundred percent right away? Curtis Samuel's the
same thing. Do you think because of the suspensions and
some of the manipulation they're going to have to do

(40:35):
with this final roster with some of the guys that
they could put on IR or they have to wait
six games for Is there a possibility that it's a
six wide receiver room and that they actually get both
of these guys involved or do you think maybe it's five.
I know it's a lot of questions at once, but
I want to bring this back to you. I'm very
interested to hear what you got to say about the
receiving back end of the receiving room.

Speaker 3 (40:53):
Yeah, I think there's a chance, but that six person
is going to have to play teams and then you'd
have to going to activate five of those six and like,
I can see it. But also remember when when Sean
McDermott was asked about Tyrol Shavers, it was yeah, you.

Speaker 4 (41:09):
Know, cool, let's see what he can do on teams, right.

Speaker 3 (41:11):
Like he added the caveat implying that Tyrel Shavers is
not maybe a high level teams player, right. The implication
there is that he might not be. And so when
you think about Shavers and what you just said, Hey,
you know he makes the most of every opportunity. I
don't disagree with that statement that he absolutely does. But
he keeps getting opportunities at the back end of the

(41:33):
roster like that's the way. So let let let's say,
for example, that Mike White comes out and plays markedly
better than Mitchell Trubisky.

Speaker 4 (41:44):
I know this is going to sound strange when I
say it.

Speaker 3 (41:47):
It doesn't matter because Trubisky started ahead of Mike White.
The fact that Mike White played better in those few
snaps doesn't really matter. If the next time you see
Mike White he's getting reps with the starters, then guess what,
Now it mattered. But the order tells us way more

(42:07):
than the quality of play. This is where the warrio
acram right. It stands for this just for you know,
as you call it out, Where when and with whom? Results,
insights and observations warrio wwawwrio Where when and with whom? Results,
insights and observations and these are the things that matter.

Speaker 4 (42:29):
It's where, when, and with whom you play.

Speaker 3 (42:31):
And so I agree that Tyrrel Shavers has consistently made play,
specifically in the preseason when he's given his opportunity, but
he's consistently giving his opportunities at the end of games,
like that's when he's getting the opportunities.

Speaker 4 (42:44):
And that's what tells us something.

Speaker 3 (42:46):
It's not that he made plays, it's when did he
have the opportunity to make plays? And it's always the
end of the game, which means he's at the bottom.
So when Elijah Moore is playing in the fourth quarter
and Tyrell Shavers has already shipped out and he's done
for the day, and he was done in the first half,
then I'll buy it at that point like that, then

(43:06):
I'll then I'll be like, okay, guys, guys, guys, guys,
quick quick, like hit the like pull the red phone,
hit the alarm. It was do you remember the conversation
around Zach Davidson last offseason?

Speaker 2 (43:15):
Oh?

Speaker 4 (43:16):
Yeah, and whether or not he was going to be
to E three.

Speaker 1 (43:18):
And and funny enough, I didn't think he was, I
and I and yeah, I didn't think he was.

Speaker 4 (43:23):
At the end of the first game.

Speaker 3 (43:24):
I did a podcast and said, no, he's not He's
not in competition because Quinton Morris got time with the
starters in place of people who were injured before and
then came off the field the first quarter and Zack
Davidson was still on the field on the last nap
of the game, and I was like, there is no
competition for t E three. That's it's not happening. I'm sorry,
because it doesn't matter how Zach Davidson played. He was

(43:46):
playing at the very end, and quin Morris left after
drive three. Okay, it's clearly not a competition, and sure enough,
that's what happened. I feel the same way about this.

Speaker 1 (43:56):
I get it completely, and I don't want to sell
like a hypocrite because again, like what I just said
for Mike White before, like I agreed that I think
Mitch Trubisky has the leg up, and I also think
that when you're watching it, if Mitch Trubisky gets those
roles with the starters again, then he's probably the QB too.
I think for me, why I feel like this is
slightly different is just because and I didn't mention this earlier,
so I probably should have made the point then too.

(44:17):
I feel like when you and and this isn't a
lock by any stretch of the imagination, and there's a
very realistic possibility that More is your wide receiver five.
I mean, my early expectation was he was by default
and there wasn't really a competition. But I just feel like,
given Shavers again, even despite the lack of special teams ability,
the consistent rapport he has gotten with the ones, even

(44:38):
in this preseason game, and even with Sean McDermott's comments,
I feel like that, paired with the experience he has
in the room and the skill set he can bring,
and with an uncertainty that does happen with this offense
when you talk about what the receiving corps looks like
right now, in a swath of injuries that we don't
know the severity as far as long term impact for
a few players, I think that there is a realistic chance,

(44:59):
say you're not saying it's realistic, but more so like
there is a possibility that he is going to be
able to cement himself a roster spot that we can
see him as the six if they go for six,
but even possibly as the five, and that will be telling,
for sure, but I don't think it's a very just
from my personal opinion, a very wide apart race. And
we could disagree on this. It's fine. Don't hate me forever, Bruce,

(45:23):
I please, but no, I think it's I don't think
it's a very far apart competition. I think Tyrell Shavers
has a very good chance to make the final part
of this roster, even despite everything we've discussed, Even if
it does seem a little ass backwards relative to what
we just talked about, there's just something about the way
he plays. There's something about his experience, and there's something
about the fact that it's been consistent that I feel
like at some point the well will break and he

(45:44):
is going to get his opportunity. And if I'm wrong,
I never said anything, this episode will be deleted immediately
moving moving on.

Speaker 3 (45:51):
Tell you what, though, if Tyrell Shavers plays equal or
ahead of Elijah Moore, man, you and I are going
to message each other.

Speaker 4 (45:58):
Okay, there's your boy. We did it. We did the thing.
I'll talk about it next week on the show.

Speaker 3 (46:04):
I'll be like Danger Alert, Will Robinson in Danger has
passed Elejah Moore.

Speaker 1 (46:10):
Bruce, I do a thing, and I don't know why
I do it. Maybe I just root for the underdog,
or maybe it's just because I pick really random players
to champion. But that's exactly it. I pick really random
players to champion and it hasn't paid off the way
I'd hoped for it. Like this year's draft darling for
me has been Jackson Hawes. Now, I'm very realistic about
what I expect out of Jackson Hawes, which is really

(46:31):
just blocking with occasional receiving chops. But like, I love
this player and I think he's going to be a
menace as a blocker. But like Dwyane Carter last year
and now Tyrrel Shaver's talking about this receiving battle, my
track record needs to improve, Bruce got I gotta get
better at this because so far it hasn't panned out
the way I had hoped and I'm upset. But hey,
we got plenty of time. Maybe it comes to fruition.

(46:51):
And I did want to talk about on the topic
of DL just to wrap this show up. Players. You
mentioned players that have been covered on this network, but TJ. Sanders,
del Walker and I did throwing Duane Carter on this
list only because I mean, I just want to see
again for a position that is very very questionable, a
position that's very very unproven. Outside of you, you're really

(47:11):
your starting interior guys day Kwon Jones at Oliver, I
mean with the suspension to Ogan Jobi too, so you
lose that interior presence. You're looking at guys like Sanders Walker,
Duane Carter being not only contributors, but like guys that
have to get reps in and have to perform to
keep this thing afloat on the interior. So what are
you looking out for from these specific players? I mean,

(47:33):
what do you think at the very least, like what's
your confidence level or if we want to talk about
at paranoia level with this room right now, given those factors, you.

Speaker 3 (47:42):
Broke up just a quick bitt. You're talking about the
defensive tackles.

Speaker 1 (47:45):
Right, Yes, yes, I apologize, I didn't know where.

Speaker 3 (47:48):
No, it's I think it's my headset, it's not you.
So I think okay, First off, I know that Hoyt
is a is a technically listed as an edge rusher.
He's a vistal player, but I do want to point
out I thought he had a really nice game, like
I do think that that hoint coming in from the Rams,
he's kind of this enigma. It's you know, what is
he gonna play? Sometimes the Bills will take these players

(48:10):
and they look so versatile, right, and you're like, oh man,
it's incredibly versatile, and then the versatility just never pans out,
and what it means is they're not really good at anything, right,
And I don't think that's the case with White. So
I just want to point that out real fast. When
it comes to defensive tackles. We mentioned the Dion Walker
conversation and how I do think the Jordan Phillips comps
are really like legitimate, Like I do think I do

(48:33):
think that's legitimate.

Speaker 4 (48:34):
I really do. I thought TJ.

Speaker 3 (48:37):
Walker was really good. I thought I's sorry TJ. Sanders
just a Dion Walker and J Walker. They merged, I
merged in one person.

Speaker 4 (48:44):
I thought t J. Sanders was really really good.

Speaker 3 (48:46):
Seriously, I thought that just because you're bigger doesn't mean
you play the run better, right, And that's a big
conversation around t J.

Speaker 4 (48:53):
Sanders.

Speaker 3 (48:54):
Everybody assumes, because he's two ninety something that he can't
play the run really well, and that's not true. Playing
the run is about leverage, it's about lower body strength,
it's about anchor, it's about hand placement. And so for me,
watching TJ. Sanders against the run was actually very encouraging
because we all know he can rush the passer and
that's great. Can I put him next to at Oliver?

(49:17):
That's the question, it's can I put him next? I
know he can put him in place of at Oliver,
that's great, But if I want my most talented players
on the team, can I put him next at Oliver?
And I think the answer to that question is yes.
So my biggest takeaway from the defensive tackle room is
that TJ. Sanders might not eat into at Oliver's time.
He might eat into Daiquon Jones's time. And if that's

(49:39):
the case, that's a good thing. That's a really good thing.
And so being able to solidify yourself as a force
against the run so that you don't just have to
show up in NASCAR packages that are third and long.
You can show up on second and five like that's
an appropriate place to put TJ.

Speaker 4 (49:56):
Sanders.

Speaker 3 (49:57):
That's a big deal. And for me that's one of
the Okay I mentioned the where when and with whom?
Right where is he playing is he playing at the nose?

Speaker 1 (50:06):
Like?

Speaker 4 (50:06):
Are they going to play him at one tech.

Speaker 3 (50:08):
Or are they exclusively going to play him when he's
outside the guards outside shoulder, you know what I mean.
So for me, that's one of my big takeaways from
the defensive tackle.

Speaker 1 (50:17):
Yeah, and TJ Sanders, I'm again I'll rehash this because
I've said it on the show a couple times, you know,
over the past few weeks. When the Bills made the
pick in the second round, I fully thought that it
was going to be and I bought. I drank the koid.
I thought they were going to draft Alfred Collins. When
they traded up, I thought that they wanted to get
a true blugger in the interior, get a big boy,
like a true proven run stuffer, even if he doesn't

(50:40):
have the pass rush chops. Let the guy just eat
up space. Because they there was very heavy illusion, or
at the very least, it was kind of revealed by
Tyler Williams that the Bills were going to take him indirectly.
So I was like, well, if they were going to
take him and he's a two gap of run stuffer,
Alfred Collins felt like that guy to me, then they
took TJ. Sanders, and I was like, oh, okay, so

(51:00):
I'm just gonna all.

Speaker 4 (51:02):
Right, and I just don't know anything about anything.

Speaker 1 (51:05):
I don't like I'm clueless. I mean, that's also true.
I don't know anything about anything. However, I especially don't
know anything about anything to Brandon Bean's mind. But I
guess it's almost like when you do like a Dynasty
draft and you say, man, I really need a running back.
It makes the most sense, and then you just take
the receiver. Anyways, in this case, it's profile of defensive
tackle and TJ. Sanders. You know, We've talked about this
enough times. He fits their mold. He's the Bills one

(51:28):
tech in the fact that he's basically just you know,
more of a three tech. But he's good enough with
the way he plays at the way he plays at
the frame. He has to still maintain the role and
assignment of you know, more expanded position on the front.
Now I'm not saying trot him out as a nose
tackle right away, but watching him in that game, he
was disruptive beyond just the pass rush, Jews being able

(51:48):
to get under the pads and just really skew the
line skew the front and be able to muddy lanes
up and make it more difficult. Like that's very encouraging
to see from him. And I wonder if, like, yeah,
if they do decide to do that with TJ. Sanders
in this game and get him straight up on the center,
get him straight up as a one, or if he's
just more of a three again, but it still works

(52:09):
and they just want to play into that, and then
what that means for the upcoming season where you have
at Oliver in front of you, and whether it's just
we're going to start him out as a rotation for
at Oliver to keep the Jews coming from that side
and see if Daikwon Jones can hold his own with
Carter in that rotation, or is Sanders sound enough to
hold his own as a Daiquon Jones successor and instead
he's the immediate replacement, and then for ed Oliver, your

(52:32):
a replacement for him eventually Oginjoby, but maybe even Dion
Walker is the three. And yes, Dean Walker. You know
he's a big body, but Dean Walker can rush the passer.
Dean Walker has power if you're asking him to essentially
rush against one guy and just create disruption and push
and get your arms up and that can work. Like,
I'm cool with that. He doesn't need to be that

(52:53):
immediate one sech if you have that guy in front
of him, and it would just be so beautifully on
brand for the Buffalo Bills to find the guy that
needed at completely inverse frames, like, Oh, here's this six
foot six mammoth of a human being that's over three
hundred and thirty pounds. That's our three and he just
rushes the passer. But the two ninety seven six' to three,
guy oh, no that's the. One he's good and like

(53:15):
it would still be fine as long as it. Works
and The, bills from a philosophical approach to their defense
numerous times have, said it's not about your, frame it's
how you. Play everyone's a shadow to. Us they said
this about their, linebackers And i'd imagine the same philosophy
bleeds into their defensive. Line and it's Why i'm now
pretty bullish ON. Tj, sanders even though he isn't your
more conventional, guy seeing what he's been doing in, practice training,

(53:38):
camp and now subsequently the. Preseason he has a good
showing Against. CHICAGO i Think this is a player that
fans can really buy into as becoming someone that not only,
contributes but actually takes a very significant role very quickly
and maybe even changes the complexion of how you feel
about the. Interior but that's getting very optimistic. Here and,
LASTLY i just want to briefly talk About Dune, carter
because AGAIN i haven't quit on, You, duane AND i will.

(54:00):
NOT i go down with the. Ship if you, SINK i.
Sink we're in this. TOGETHER i just need to see.
SOMETHING i need to see. DISRUPTION i need to see
something that gives me any inclination that he can handle
his assigned. Role they drafted him last. Year they really
put him in that position early. On it didn't work
out right. Away he was kind of thrown into the
fire a. Bit then he gets hurt and he comes,
back and he's essentially a game day. Inactive show us,

(54:22):
Something show us that you can handle your own against the,
run that you're not going to get washed out or pushed,
Around show us that you could create disruption. Consistently show us.
Something that's ALL i. Ask but if it's too much to,
ask it's unfortunate BECAUSE i really like the. Player he
seems like an awesome human AND i just want to
buy into someone who actually ends up being. Awesome AND
i still think he. CAN i haven't quit on, him But,
bruce final thoughts on this interior group or anyone else

(54:44):
you want to point out before we sign off for the.

Speaker 3 (54:46):
Evening I'm i'm worried About Dwayne. CARTER i was high
on him coming out of. COLLEGE i was, like, MAN
I i love this guy in the third and then
they drafting the third and, YEAH i was not thrilled
about the play his first, year And I'm I'm i'm.

(55:08):
Worried there's no question now, again how many players have
we seen start to get better at the end of
their second year and then they turn on year? Three
Right so to say, THAT I i don't think you
should quit on him. EITHER i don't think anyone should quit.

Speaker 4 (55:21):
On him right.

Speaker 3 (55:22):
NOW i think the sample size would say, don't BUT i.
DON'T i don't see the trend in a positive. Way
that's my. Concern it's not THAT i don't think he's
playing at a high. Level it's THAT i DON'T i
don't see the gradual increase that you'd like to see
from younger players who are eventually going to peek in year,
three and so for, Me I'M i know that you
don't want to quit. HIM i don't want to quit him,

(55:43):
either But i'm. Worried, Like, YEAH i don't Say i'm
taking a victory lap on K Keon coleman and, everything
Because Kean coleman was perfectly fine his rookie. Year in my,
opinion he Wasn't lad, McConkey, Right So i'm taking a
victory lap on lab mconaky being awesome for, sure BUT
i lovelod just he's, very very, good And i'm feeling
pretty good about my call. There But i'll tell you,

(56:04):
What i'm feeling pretty bad about my call when it
comes To Dwayne carter right. Now and SO i JUST
i need to see, more AND i think by the
time this year is, OVER i need to at least
see a trajectory.

Speaker 4 (56:16):
Moving in an upward.

Speaker 3 (56:16):
Position and if, NOT i, mean you've seen players who've
gotten their best versions of themselves year, three but those
don't usually come after two.

Speaker 4 (56:25):
Years of nothing.

Speaker 3 (56:27):
Good, yeah So i'm keeping an eye on. It when
they told me he was going to be more of
a one tech this, year my eyebrows raised, yeah BECAUSE
i didn't think that was his best path to.

Speaker 4 (56:36):
Victory and we're just gonna.

Speaker 1 (56:38):
See, yeah when he came into the, LEAGUE i was
very optimistic that he could do. IT i don't think
right now he can. Consistently but WHAT i would say
can help him really is if one of these other
players does actually take a quick. Ascension now that's asking a,
LOT i get, it but let's just say. It this

(56:58):
bullish conversation we're having ABOUT. Tj sanders ends up leading
into the regular season where he is that guy very
quickly and you don't like. It essentially you're talking ABOUT.
Tj sanders being that Primary Dai Kwon jones. Inheritor then
maybe it helps D Wayne. Carter Now i'm not saying
he was great at free, either BUT i think given
what he is panning out to be in the, league
maybe it's better to limit him to that one role

(57:20):
and feeling good about it because you have a guy
who can take On Da Kuan jones' role more consistently
means that that one, dimensional if you want to call,
it role For carter helps him become a consummate pro
and a good rotational rusher or run defender in that.
Spot that's the bright side. TALKING i don't know if
it's going to get, there but we got to see.
More you. Know it's just you took him in the third.
Round there was a lot you liked about him when

(57:41):
he came out Of. DUKE i, thought you, know he
played with ALL i will say it's wrong to say
play with a lot more. Confidence but also like you
come into the league and you don't have a great
showing right away and it's very, different and that might
mess with your psyche a little. Bit but when you
saw like that season At duke team, captain where he's
just a menace on the, Line i'm, LIKE i think
they got something. HERE i don't think that went. AWAY
i wonder if there's just something more of like a mental,

(58:03):
Hurdle AND i wonder if this position changed for. Him
isn't the best answer to get him to play his
best in the Pros and hopefully if it takes someone
like A. T. J sanders Or Dion walker becoming that
guy to get him, THERE i won't be mad at.
It but, YEAH i mean we're in alignment on. This
we want to see more from. Him don't want to
quit him, yet but there's got to be, something AND

(58:24):
i hope it happens for, him because, again seems like
just an awesome. DUDE i root for good, people and,
like by every, account he seems like the coolest guy
on Planet, Earth so why wouldn't you want someone like
that to just be an awesome? Player like there's nothing
to not like About Dwayne. Carter fun, fact his father
actually or his father in law actually tuned into one
of these, episodes LIKE i think it was like last

(58:44):
year after we drafted, him AND i was, like holy,
crap that's so, Cool like just seems like a good
dude with a good. Family, like, Oh i'm rooting for the.

Speaker 3 (58:50):
Guy SO i don't really have incredibly well STATED i
have nothing else to.

Speaker 1 (58:54):
ADD i appreciate, That. Bruce do you have anything else
you want to, add just for any of these, topics
not even just this conversation about The, bears but any
final sayings before we call it a night.

Speaker 3 (59:05):
Now i'm good, Man i'm looking forward to. IT i
think these we're having different conversations this year than we
have historically, had AND i think that's kind of. Cool
the fact that we're talking about safety, four WE'RE i
think it's pretty, neat AND i think it's probably a good,
team AND i think The bills are going to be,
good AND i think we should probably just relax and
have a good.

Speaker 1 (59:23):
Time, yeah, listen we it feels like the sky's, Falling
AND i get it for a lot of, people because,
yes the same thing happened last, year that happened the year,
prior and the year prior and the year. Prior it's
not the result you, want but this is still a,
very very good football. Team this is still a team
that's going to win a lot of. Games this is
still a team that you're going to tune in to
watch Every sunday Or saturday, sometimes Or thursday, sometimes but

(59:46):
really every week and expect great play from because that's
become the standard and we're lucky to have. It we
want to get over the, hump and when we major
in the, minors it's just because we care enough about
the team that we can see these cracks and hope
that they can patch them to get to that next.
Level i'm hoping for the. Same but we got to
remember to have fun with, it AND i think we're
gonna have plenty of fun this. Year and just one
final thing, like BECAUSE i know we talked about him very,

(01:00:07):
briefly BUT i want to keep just giving him some.
FLOWERS i really Like Jordan, hancock, LIKE i really like the.
Player i'm very excited to see what he does for
the rest of. PRESEASON i hope he makes the active,
roster and, honestly even if it's just in that safety,
ROLE i see the potential for him because he just
seems like a, smart you, know sound, player someone THAT
i think would give you a high four and they
need that right now in their safety. Room SO i

(01:00:29):
just had to throw that out. There But, BRUCE i,
mean you're the. MAN i can't say it enough. Times
you're one of my favorite guests to get on the.
Show there was no blue ethereal floating or like. You you're
a one of a. Kind appreciate the heck out of
you and all the insight you.

Speaker 4 (01:00:42):
BRING i, mean what.

Speaker 1 (01:00:43):
You got going, on. DUDE i think the people, know
but some people might not, know and they want to
know things. Too so what are those people who don't
know want to know about?

Speaker 3 (01:00:50):
YOU i have literally nothing going. On i'm the most
boring man on the. Planet you can find me at
the exact same spot every Single thursday for the Last,
gosh we're coming up on six years, Now, Joe i've
been dropping shows On, thursdays, wow for six years. NOW i,

(01:01:12):
mean at this, point anyone who's gonna listen has already.
Listened at this, Point i've Already i've lost more listeners
THAN i could possibly count at this point Because i've
done something, crazy, LIKE i don't, know say that we
shouldn't Resign Jordan phillips and then have him yell at
me on social, media OR i did a musical you,
Know oh, yeah that was before your, time. MAN i

(01:01:33):
wrote an article For Buffalo, rumblings great. Story wrote an
article For Buffalo rumblings When Shack losson And Jordan phillips
were ready to be free, agents and the article was
an opinion, piece AND i, SAID i wouldn't Resign Jordan
phillips to the DEAL.

Speaker 4 (01:01:45):
I think he's going to.

Speaker 3 (01:01:46):
GET i think he's going to get ten million dollars a,
year AND i don't think they should pay. IT i
don't think that the type of player that he is
is going to give you ten million. DOLLARS i Think
Ed oliver's you're better player right. NOW i think he's
also your, future all this stuff like, this. Right Jordan
phillips himself responded to that on social media and didn't love,

(01:02:11):
it and so, then of course, everybody because it's social, media,
right everybody responds To Jordan phillips comments, goes.

Speaker 4 (01:02:19):
Oh we love, You.

Speaker 3 (01:02:20):
Jordan don't pay attention to that. Guy he's a, loser you,
know blah, blah AND i mute at every single one of.

Speaker 4 (01:02:24):
Them of, course the hundreds of.

Speaker 3 (01:02:25):
People, yeah, yeah to this, day they're all, like, why
why why does The bruce ever respond to?

Speaker 4 (01:02:29):
Me remember back in twenty, Nineteen bruce, Remembers, yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:02:34):
That's that was A it was just kind of a
fun time BECAUSE i was still fairly new it at this.

Speaker 4 (01:02:38):
TIME i THINK i started doing this IN i think
it was It october of, EIGHTEEN i think.

Speaker 3 (01:02:45):
Is WHEN i started doing, This so that was just
a few months AFTER i Had it Was march of
nineteen probably is when this. Happened so, yep THAT'S i didn't.
Know you didn't know that, Story but there you.

Speaker 4 (01:02:56):
Go there's a.

Speaker 1 (01:02:56):
Story i've never. KNOWN i, MEAN i don't even know
how i'd react in that, situation AND i try to
be pretty careful about HOW i like speak about players
because my my not saying you weren't like not to
take it that, way but more so Like i'm a big,
Believer Like i'm just talking about What i'm seeing as
again someone who just watches the, team which is a limited,
perspective And i'm like very careful about any WAY i

(01:03:18):
construct criticism about a player BECAUSE i never wanted to
be taken to a level of like personal you, know
where someone thinks Like i'm attacking, them because it's never
THAT i want every if it's up to, me, MAN
i want every player to be. Good IF i doubt,
YOU i want to be proven, wrong make me look
like an. Idiot but like there are cases to be.
Made Like i've openly said on, HERE i didn't want
to Pay James cook fifteen million dollars And i'm sure
he wouldn't have liked, that but it. Didn't SO i

(01:03:39):
mean it ended up working. Out but you bring through, It,
bruce and you still give us tremendous. Content you. KNOW
I i AGAIN i have Said i've listened to your
show many, times and if you guys, haven't please please
please check out The Bruce Exclusive. Exclusive it's one of
the most unique shows we have in our. Space it's
not like anything else you hear in The Buffalo bill's
content creation. Community he does just exceptional work and just

(01:03:59):
brings you insight that is incredibly, valuable but in a
way that you just you can't put the phone or
the podcasting platform down when you're listening to. It AND
i can attest for. That and he doesn't mean warrior, impression, Right,
BRUCE i think you. SAID i think you, said you
do a really good.

Speaker 4 (01:04:13):
One it's too.

Speaker 1 (01:04:14):
Late it's okay if it's too.

Speaker 4 (01:04:15):
Late, no it's not too. Late we're gonna you want
to do.

Speaker 1 (01:04:17):
IT i Want i'll let you go. First if you
need me to do one with, You i'll do it with.

Speaker 4 (01:04:21):
You google, first and Then i'll.

Speaker 1 (01:04:23):
Go, okay all, right all, right.

Speaker 4 (01:04:25):
Here we Go. Warrio, okay that's not.

Speaker 1 (01:04:29):
Bad we just ruined someone's ear drums, on.

Speaker 4 (01:04:32):
So i'm gonna try mine, Ready i'm. Wrio i'm.

Speaker 1 (01:04:40):
Uh oh my, god it's so. Good thank you for doing.
THAT i appreciate THAT i put you on the spot
for that, one but you're a. Trooper burse thank you
so much for being. Here, again to all of you
who have who have tuned into this week's. EPISODE i
appreciate the heck out of each and every one of.
You you're a fan of the, network but have it
subscribed to the YouTube, channel feel free to do so,
now and while you're, there check the description of this

(01:05:02):
video for the sign up for the one pass that
is the lifeblood of the. Network it gives you access
to our premium discord channel and some other amazing perks
that you can get for just sixty dollars a. YEAR
i promise you it is worth your. Time you interact
directly with the content creators and an access to a
myriad of different, channels including some of our film channels
and some of our bills. Discussions it's, very very very
worth your. Time check that. Out check out the rest

(01:05:24):
of the content we have on the. Network the Air
raid guys are crushing. It aunt And eric on The
Film Room aunt With disguised, coverage And greg And aaron
on The Cover One buffalo. Podcast these guys are crushing
it every single, day and, again just it's awesome to
be a part of a network And i'm very excited
to really ramp things up as the season gets going
here and let's see what happens this, Weekend, bruce because

(01:05:45):
we'll have a lot to talk about next. Week but
that's next. Week for this, WEEK i say thank, you
enjoy the rest of your, evening enjoy the rest of your,
day and as, always friends Go. Bills we'll see you.

Speaker 4 (01:05:55):
Soon

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Bills EXTEND James Cook, Injury Outlook, and Preseason Week 2 Preview vs. Bears | UR