Previewing the Buffalo Bills' Year 2 Players | Under Review - Under Review

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:20):
Previous play, we'll go under review. What's up everybody, Happy

(00:51):
Tuesday evening, and thank you so much for being here
for this week's episode of Under Review. My name is
Joe DeRosa. You can find me on Twitter slash x
at show Underscore de Rosa. You can find me on
bousk Guy, under Review, c one Piece Guy. So so yes,
I did have to look down at it so I
would have won that while we were live and happy
OTAs everybody. It's seeming like after the draft we were

(01:13):
in a little bit of a lull besides the schedule release,
and now we finally have some tangible bills content to
work with as we have seen the players at least
most of them back in the Bill's facility for some practices,
some drills, and it's been a very exciting time amongst
our fan base and the fan bases around the NFL,
and this time of the year usually leads to discussion
on projections for a lot of players with uncertainty or

(01:36):
at the very least high hopes slash optimism surrounding that player,
and that's why I wanted to do tonight's episode around
the sophomores. I do this every year where we take
the former rookie class and see how we think they're
going to shake out in year two, their projection, how
they're going to be used. A few weeks ago, I
did do an episode reviewing our rookie class, and I
want to build off of that and talk about players

(01:58):
that we have our eyes on and to keyon Coleman
Cole Bishop Dawayne, Carter and the like, and see just
what we think they're gonna look like this upcoming season,
if fan should be optimistic, and who we think might
potentially break out. And when I say we, I never
just made me. I always have a guest on the show,
and tonight's is someone that you will recognize very well.
They are live every Monday Night. Well, he is one

(02:19):
half of this show that is the air Raid Hour,
and that is mister David Tilton. David, welcome back to
the show. The last time you and I talked live
it was during the draft, during the six hour marathon.
You were there for like I think like two hours
of it, so a good junk of it. Welcome back
to the show. How are you doing tonight? Doing well?
I was getting a little getting the itch a little bit.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
Obviously, we didn't have an air raid last night, Memorial
Day holiday and some stuff going on for each meet
me and Judge. So when you asked me to come
on tonight and I was like, absolutely, yes, need to
get my talking in this week for whoever is willing
to listen. But yeah, this is this I found to
be a really interesting timepic and I also think a

(03:02):
topic now that we're past the twenty twenty five draft
to look back on and really kind of a lot
of people, I think are are having their eyes on
this particular topic, what are the guys from last year's
class going to do in year two, especially because as
we're going to talk about, last year's draft was I

(03:24):
wouldn't say met with resistance so to speak, but there
was definitely more of a mixed opinion, especially on some
of the players, whether it was keyon Coleman or Cole
Bishop specifically when the Bills took those guys, which guys
there was obviously the famous infamous now trade with Kansas City,
so a lot of like drama, I guess you could

(03:45):
say a little bit with the twenty twenty four draft class,
not because of what the players have done, but just
the nature of kind of what went into it and
now going into the second year for these guys, so
a very interesting topic and certainly the success so this
class might go a long way until in determining how
the Bills fare in twenty twenty five.

Speaker 1 (04:05):
Yeah, I totally agree with you. It's a difficult I'm sorry.
I just sol rois comment. It's a difficult class to evaluate,
at least in year two because, and we talked about
it briefly this morning, the variance of what your expectations
are for them is probably it's just so hard to
nail down what a realistic outlook is. And that's because

(04:27):
of how muddy the rookie season was for a lot
of these players, you know, the only one that really
had a clear cut, like full season where you could say, like, Okay,
we know what we got. We I think it's fair
to say this is what it could be in year
two is Ray Davis. The other players dealt with some
sort of injury or some sort of growing pains that
made you think, damn, this isn't the rookie season we

(04:47):
had hoped for. But it also doesn't make you pessimistic
at the same time, because there's a case for at
least the top three that there is something that could
benefit from this upcoming season. But again, why I wanted
to be the episode is for this conversation, for the
uncertainty around it, and to get deeper into these players,
and just to keep it on the topic of players
returning and back to action. As I said when I

(05:10):
started the show, OTAs have ramped up. Most of the
roster is there. Obviously, the Joey Bosa news came out
that he injured his calf and probably isn't ready till
the start of training camp. We hope we'll see, and
James Cook, for obvious reasons, not there for the voluntary
portion of practice. I mean, did you see anything you
like today, David, anything that stood out to you, anything
that really you felt like you wanted to comment on

(05:30):
While we're just in that swing of the offseason.

Speaker 2 (05:34):
My friend who's a Broncos fan text to me and
he goes, I see Joey Bosa's heard already, and obviously
he's very familiar with Joey Bosa, being a Broncos fan,
having seen him on the other side with the Chargers
for all those years, and he was like, it seems
like Joey Boso just would strain his calf just getting
out of bed. And I jokingly said, I think he
would strain his calf just thinking of getting out of bed.

(05:58):
And I know it was a somewhat like cynical way
to view it, but look like this, this is what
you get with a guy like this. There's a reason
he was had at a discount. Whatever you might think
of what the Bill's paid for, that was a discounted
price for a guy like Joey Bosa because of the
injury history the one year deal obviously. And I texted you,

(06:21):
I was like, feels like Sean Merriman vibes former charger
as well, came to the Bills really could never get
his footing either because of injuries recovering from an achilles.
I believe it was for Sean Merryman, so you know,
a little bit different. But look, I mean, nothing surprising,
Like I didn't expect James Cook to be at the
voluntary portion. We'll see what happens when the mandatory portion

(06:42):
kicks off in June, the mandatory mini camp in mid June.
So for me, no no real surprises from the voluntary OTAs.
And in a way you could say I'm not even
surprised Joey Bosa has already hurt A little concern on
Sean McDermott loves to use that word concerning, and yeah,
Bruce Nolan made the fun like a very funny tweet

(07:03):
today where he's like John McDermott in the summer saying
something's concerning. It's like tale as old as time or
whatever he said, and it's like, yeah, because I mean
we are like like nearly two months right, I expect
training camp. I know the dates. I don't think have
been officially announced yet, or maybe they have, but I
believe the twenty third is likely when it will start.
They may have announced the dates. I haven't been paying attention,

(07:23):
but I don't think they have. Last year they started
on Wednesday the twenty fourth. I imagine they'll start on
Wednesday the twenty third this year. So we're talking about
two months right for Joey Bosa to come back from
this calf injury. And like, if you're talking about this
isn't being in the regular season. That's a six to
eight week injury you're talking about now. I'm sure they're

(07:46):
playing it cautious like they always would do in the
summer but it is a little bit concerning that he's
hurting himself while working out with the team, by the way,
not something off campus, if you will. Yeah, that's really
I guess the biggest noteworthy item, and with with Hoyts
suspension looming, and we're going to talk about a guy

(08:08):
tonight who may be then able to afford some opportunity
from that from the draft class from a year ago.

Speaker 1 (08:15):
One hundred percent. The Joey Bosa injury to me only
concerns me in the sense that it's so early to
be seeing an injury like this. You know, it's he's
essentially at this point on prove it money. He's a
proven that no longer with this home team that he
got drafted by playing for a team to try and
rack up a larger contract for the following seasons. And

(08:36):
to get that money is to stay healthy, which is
the caveat a signing him. Like you said, it is
a player that needs to stay on the field to
prove that there's still viable production as he enters his thirties,
where those injuries are only going to become more frequent
and the ability is going to drop off steadily like
it does for everybody, So it sucks to see that
in May we are already getting word of what is

(08:59):
pretty much of six to eight week injury. And even
though it doesn't mean he's not going to play this season,
it doesn't mean he won't be ready for training camp.
It does make you wonder, well, if he has to
now recover for six to eight weeks, is there going
to be something of like a compensation from him when
he ramps back up in activity that could lead to
another injury? Like are we going to have to be

(09:21):
holding our breath every single time he's on the field
getting a rep. And that was something that I already
had in the back of my mind when they signed him,
because again, love the prospect of the player if he's healthy,
but if he's healthy, part has to come with the
the analysis of the player. So it stinks, But I
wouldn't be overly worried about his stance for the season

(09:43):
because I do think that now he's getting time to rest.
If he comes back and you're worried about the ramp
up period, totally fair, I am too, but he will
be there for training camp. This hasn't been designated as
anything worse. Knock on wood and we'll just have to
see how it goes with him. But yeah, I think
his potential injury history it is going to open up
the opportunity for a larger snapshare from younger players or

(10:06):
players that have been here that I do think will
benefit not only the younger player but Bosa himself on
a limited snapcount where maybe he inherits that Von Miller
role and is truly just a pass rusher with very
very few run defense snaps. But otherwise I don't really
have anything on OTA since it's just like you know,
it's the first practice. It's exciting, it's fun, but there
isn't really anything of note because everyone every receiver looks

(10:29):
good in OTAs unless they're just having a major drop issue.
DB's are going to get dusted because they can't tackle
and can't really do much. So Trey White got worked
a bunch today and I saw people saying, oh, no,
Trey White's cook, We shouldn't even have him on the roster.
I'm like, Trey White would probably be doing that in
OTA's when he was healthy and younger. It's just the
way it goes there. So I don't have any strong
thoughts either way other than I'm glad it's back. It's

(10:51):
nice to keep up with it, and I'm watching out
for the young players. And speaking of young players, David,
let's begin our conversation tonight by talking about Keon Coleman.
Year one for him was I think there were, and
I've said this before, flashes of brilliance from him, times
where it felt like he was getting in a groove
that was hard to pull him out of. He was

(11:12):
you know, it wasn't just a matter of like high
pointing the ball and winning fifty to fifties and that
was it. There were savvy moments from Keon Coleman, whether
it was actually a short route run that he was
able to kind of create separation, use his feet well,
get hands, be able to you know, cause an explosive play,
or good recognizing of zone spacing and fighting the soft
spots and getting himself in position for Allen and then

(11:35):
just building off those moments. It felt like, pre injury,
you were getting a Keon Coleman that was emerging. Then
the risk gets injured and here we are talking about
what could have been. Because when he comes back, the
ramp up is just very slow and it doesn't seem
like he's as involved for year two. Talk to me
about your expectations for Keon Coleman. Do you think that

(11:57):
now with the absence of Matt Collins and then bring in,
you know, a receiver that's a separator but not really
as physical as Coleman, might you know, essentially be and
another route running tactician and Josh Palmer. Do you think
it's you know, at all realistic to say that Keyon
Coleman is going to take on that Mac Collins role.
The snapshare will increase, but so too will the more
physical assignments like the blocking and just certain things that

(12:18):
you had Holland's do in his routree that might be
passed on to Kion. Well.

Speaker 2 (12:22):
It's interesting with Coleman because in the beginning of the season,
he was receiving significant snap percentages. Right, he was in
the ninety plus percentage snap count. It was him and
Hollands on the outside with Shakir in the slot, and
he was on the field a ton, right. He was
on the field a ton for his blocking, and the

(12:43):
volume on the receiving game didn't necessarily come and follow,
but he was playing a lot of games and at
the end of the season He did end up playing
in thirteen games, and I know it felt like maybe
he missed more than that, but he was on the
field a lot, especially before the injury, So to me,
you kind of take stock of, like what he gave
you in twenty twenty four, played in thirteen games, started twelve.

(13:05):
We know the risk hand injury was a setback end
of the season. With twenty nine catches for five hundred
and fifty six yards and four touchdowns, his nineteen point
two yards per reception was the third highest in the
NFL of any player with at least twenty five receptions,
So you do love that with the limited sort of

(13:25):
reception count he got, he did make the most of
that with that high yards per reception. I think you
start to project what Keon Coleman can be in twenty
twenty five, and you do have to take into account
a few other things, right. You mentioned Josh Palmer coming
in probably with the money that the Bills are giving him,
they expect him to be a more of an offensive

(13:48):
threat than they had with Mac Collins in that sort
of roster spot a year ago. You expect that and
hope that Dalton Kincaid can bounce back from a subpar
sophomore season himself, where he battled through injury, that he
gets stronger and bigger and he will be a more
focal point of the offense. Curtis Samuel was injured and

(14:08):
not healthy through most of the training camp last year.
Came in at the beginning of the season and was
active but didn't really play a lot. And you wonder
how much that foot injury was affecting him. And you
know Shakira is gonna end up leading the team in
targets against. You start to kind of piece it all together,
and you wonder, like, is there really going to be
a huge uptick in volume for Coleman. And you would

(14:29):
expect there would be because they did invest in him,
and you expect they would be if he played the
entire season. But my expectation for him is that he'll
continue to be a boundary sort of man beater type
of threat like he was a year ago. He'll continue
to be a red zone threat like he was against
the Jets and like he was against the Seattle Seahawks,

(14:50):
and he made those nice touchdown catches. But I don't
think you should and maybe this is just me being conservative.
I don't think you should look at Keyon Coleman and
is ever really, at least in this offense right now,
being a super high volume producer when it comes to
catches and targets and things of that nature. I think
it would be fair after his twenty nine catch season

(15:12):
a year ago to see that number come up and
uptick into the forty to maybe forty five catch range
around seven hundred yards, which will put him around fifty
eight sixteen yards per perception, which is slightly lower than
he was a year ago, but obviously on more volume
you're going to get that number is going.

Speaker 1 (15:29):
To come down.

Speaker 2 (15:30):
And five to six touchdowns I think would be a
reasonable projection for him, and I think an improvement upon
last year. It means he's pretty significantly contributing. If he
comes in around seven hundred yards, forty odd catches and
adds you know, you know, half a dozen or five
or half a dozen touchdowns, I think that's a pretty
good jump for him. I think it will depend on

(15:51):
what the Bills have planned for him, but his role
in the offense, I don't think his role on the
offense is going to be all that much different from
what it was a year ago. I think the chemistry
will get better between him and Allen. It was pretty good,
and I think what they expect for him to do
on the boundary and beating some man coverage will be similar,
and it'll just be a matter of how much they
want to kind of feed that type of style, feed

(16:13):
that type of route with him in year two coming in,
By the way Sean McDermott praised him, felt like he
came into OTA's that was a note. I guess, very
in very good shape, ready to go. Looked like he
had put in the work in the off season. So
I think that's reasonable. I don't think it's necessarily too conservative,
But I also don't think it's necessarily like, you know,

(16:35):
some people are gonna sit in here and say he's
gonna have seventy catches in the thousand yards. I just
don't see that.

Speaker 1 (16:39):
Yeah, I'm in alignment with you on the production. I
don't think he's ever going to be in the Bills
offense a top end alpha. Again, I could be wrong,
maybe we get proven wrong and he actually does take
that leap. But I think with the construction of the
Bills offense, he was drafted because he does fit a
skill set that they wanted more of, which was again

(17:00):
that bruising physicality when it comes to him at the
catch point, the big bodied wide receiver that could develop
his blocking because he had some positive blocking reps in college,
and really just be someone that kind of continued that
mindset of imposing physicality from the Bills offense in all facets,
including the wide receiver corps and something where when they
played the Rams, it felt like that type of personality,

(17:21):
that type of profile was so needed in a game
where they just wanted to get as physical down in
the trenches as possible, block their corners and just create
lanes for their rushers. And I really wanted to see
more of that from Coleman his rookie year. But I
think you are going to see a lot of that
year too, which is why I think he is going
to get a lot of the snapshare, and I think
you are going to see him into a similar role

(17:43):
where he is going to be that boundary option. He's
going to go out wide, he's going to go upfield,
and they're going to ask him to try and catch
some contested passes. I do have concerns of his separation
ability going vertical. I think across the field horizontally, he
has shown he can be able to create space and
create cushion, and I think that's really where he's at

(18:03):
his strongest. But considering that the Bills all but seem
to like avoid using him in in the slot and
really want him to become like that true X receiver,
I do have concerns over his top end separation ability,
and even though I've praised his catch point ability, the
high pointing everything he can do when he's near the ball,
that to me isn't a sustainable way if they're going

(18:24):
to have you go upfield constantly to win, And therefore
I think it tempers my expectations on what Keon Coleman
is going to do in year two when it comes
to production, where I agree that it's probably going to
look like something more in the tune of seven hundred
and fifty to eight hundred yards and maybe like four
to six touchdowns, which is still very good. In what
I said to you, David was I think the ceiling

(18:45):
for Keyon Coleman, at least the season, but maybe in general,
is high end wide receiver too. I would love for
him to be wide receiver. One. I don't doubt that
that's possible as much as I think the more realistic path,
given what year one looked like, given the profile of
the player, and given how this offense functions, is that
production we have listed. But I do think there is
going to be more responsibility for him to lay down

(19:07):
and become a solid blocking option because this offense really
does rely on that, and they relied on Matt collins
blocking ability quite a bit the same way they relied
on Gabe Davis's before him, and it feels like you
have to now take on that role and be someone
that they can trust, especially when some of the other
bodies in the room, while willing, might not have the
ability or the frame that you have. So it's more
imperative that you developed that this year. So I think

(19:29):
if that does continue on in a positive direction, that
will justify the snapshare and in turn get him opportunities.
But I do want to see, you know, just some
more creativity and how you align Keon Coleman, because what
did bother me last year was it felt like he
was put in a box. Not all the time, but
there were moments where I felt like just lining them

(19:49):
up as the X wasn't effective. Enough, and I want
to see them get more creative with a guy that
I think you can get creative with, because let's face it,
if you believe that that separation ability isn't going to
get better or at least marketably better than what it
is now, maybe it improves a little bit, but it's
not someone he's getting consistent one point two one point
five yards of separation on a vertical route. Then help

(20:10):
him and scheme him open, get him in some motion,
get him across the field, lind him up in the slot,
use him in a myriad of ways where you can
get him going. Because I'll say this about Keyon Coleman,
where I am most confident in him is the second
the ball is in his hands. And I think his
best reps were when you were able to get him
the ball quickly and let him go make plays with
the ball in his hands. I would like to see

(20:32):
more of that. But I do believe in the player,
and I do believe the player can be productive. Just
I don't know if top end wide receiver one is realistic,
But also I don't think it's a failure if he's
if he's just a high end wide receiver two, because
you got him in the second round, you traded back,
you accrued capital for another player, and ultimately, if he's
still contributing positively, and what is a wide receiver by

(20:55):
committee in the Bills offense and has his plays, has
his role, is doing his role well enough, and other
opportunities are opening up for other players, and the offense
is still humming, I truly don't care how it gets done.
Just get it done. Maintain the level of production you've
had as the Bills offense, and we'll be squared. We'll
be fine. So that's really where I see it as
far as his usage, as far as his production, do

(21:18):
you have any more thoughts on him, David before we
move on to our.

Speaker 2 (21:21):
Next player, I'll just say he's gonna have to really
use his frame, his body in his hands, like that's
gonna be his calling card. Right. I don't think he's
gonna I personally don't think he's ever gonna be even
an above average separator. But his hands, his body is
framed like he's gonna have to learn how to use that.
And I agree. I think horizontally, you know, creating space

(21:44):
for him and sort of the intermediate areas to get
him the ball in his hands where he can run
after the catch is gonna be ideal. And we'll see
if they do more of that this year. I think
they tried a couple times last year with mixed results,
but yeah, we will see.

Speaker 1 (21:58):
Yeah, And I mean there were moments where it was
just like a quick hit or a quick hitch, something
to the flat, something like a slant where he had
success and also was able to maintain contact, maintain balance
and just go and just make these plays. And then
like from that, they build off of it and continue
to target him and you could see the confidence develop.
I truly believe that that spark those moments make me

(22:20):
bullish on the player. I just like, again, the health
was a factor, so I have to keep in mind
that the risk injury did slow down his development in
his rookie year. I'm very interested to see what a
full offseason and a full camp does for him because
there is plenty of potential for the player. As much
as I say high end wide receiver too. I do
want to make it clear that I don't totally doubt

(22:40):
that I could be dead wrong and this guy's a
stud because the athletic ceiling he has like that the
build he has, it's all there for him, and he
can make it work. I just need to see it.
So I'm keeping them tempered. And I think it's fair
to temper your expectations because that's how you don't get
too excited and get wet down and moving on to
the next player. I'll talk about Cold Bishop now. Cole

(23:01):
Bishop another interesting case and kind of the microcosm of
this whole conversation, because the Bills take him. Brandon being
on camera is visibly excited that they got this player,
meaning that he was high on their board. They wanted
the safety and they believed in the prospect. He is
getting reps with the first team defense in training camp,
then injures his hamstring, then misses time and loses the

(23:24):
role to DeMar Hamlin, and Taylor rap ends up taking
the other side that you're starting safety tandem because Mike
Edwards also got hurt too. Bishop comes back, and because
safety is a very difficult position to learn. In the
Bill's defense looks rough, just looks rough to start, and
you know, it's communication, it's knowing where you got to be,
processing the play in real time, and there were just
busted coverages. But it eventually did seem to improve down

(23:49):
the stretch where Bishop was making great place from ranging coverage.
It seemed like he was recognizing where we had to be.
He had a few great pass defense reps. What do
you think about him, David? I mean, this is such
an interesting rejection because it's so open ended. It doesn't
feel concrete. It doesn't feel like someone's wrong for saying
they don't believe in the player, But it also doesn't
feel like someone's wrong for saying this guy is going

(24:10):
to be their stud safety to start. I mean, what
do you think about Cole Bishop in year two?

Speaker 2 (24:16):
Well, I think from the start, I would imagine, just
based on kind of how things played out to start
the season last year, you're gonna likely have Bishop starting
in sort of that Jordan Poyer role where Hamlin was
a year ago, in Rap, sort of in his role
where he was a year ago, kind of being that

(24:36):
last line of defense. Now neither guy is necessarily that
sort of center fielding type. Rap did it a bit
more last year. I thought he improved in that area personally. Obviously,
there's always the risk with Rap of the friendly fire.
We've seen that happen, But as a last line of defense.
I think Taylor Rap did a solid job last year,
So I do think going back to where Cole Bishop

(24:57):
was strongest in college at an around the line of scrimmage.
We know he's a good athlete. We know he can
come down and play around the linus scrimmage and play
the run fairly well. To me, that's where I would
kind of start the journey, the restart the journey of
Cold Bishop, especially if you're gonna kind of have him
and Taylor Rap penciled in as your two starting safeties,

(25:18):
That to me makes the most sense. Now, at the
end of the day, they are going to want to
be able to interchange these guys like they used to
do we were and hide, not pigeonhole them into like
a box or deep you know, deep half type of
guy on every single play. Right, They're going to have
to interchange much, and I think they're they're hopeful probably

(25:39):
that Cold Bishop with as his athleticism and some of
the reps he got in the latter part of the
season last year, and especially those valuable reps in the
AFC Championship Game, where yes it was not great at times,
but a great learning experience for the long run hopefully
for Cold Bishop and gives the Bills some hope that

(25:59):
that duo can be better than the duo of Rap
and Hamlin a year ago. So that's where I see him,
at least starting out as kind of playing the more
of the Jordan Poyer role with Rap, kind of going
back to where he played best last year. I don't
see any reason to really change Raps role from where
he was a year ago, assuming he's healthy, because he

(26:21):
did a pretty good job as that last line of defense.
So that's kind of where I see it starting out.
Things could change. I don't think you can count out
a guy like Derek Forrest pushing for some reps either,
But for me, like Bishop has has to beat out
Hamlin for that for that role. Like there's no there
is absolutely no reason outside of injury that DeMar Hamlin

(26:42):
should be starting again for this team in twenty twenty five.
And I love DeMar Hamlin the person, but the football
player is adequate. I'll say, but you drafted Cold Bishop
in the second round for a reason because you wanted
some seat more ceiling at that position, So that's what
you're hoping for, you know. I think if your fan
and if you're the organization as well.

Speaker 1 (27:03):
Right, I think he has to be at out Hamlin,
I think, and that was the I think that was
the plan for them really from the get go was
they wanted him to be at out Hamlin Again. An
injury really hampered the mental side of his development, physical
side of his development, whatever. I think that Rap spot
is solidified given how much he played last year and
how much they relied on him. And I think I

(27:24):
think Taylor Rapp had a good season. I think he's
over hated and I understand the friendly fire component because
it's unfortunate, but that's also just the nature of the
position and the way he plays, Like I think that
it also.

Speaker 2 (27:36):
With the benefit at times, right, Like it is a
benefit at times he broke out passes in the end zone.
Like you got to take the good with the bad
with Taylor Rap in that style, like, because it did
benefit the Bills at times. Yes, it hurt them at times,
but that's just who he is, and I don't want
to take away from who he is because it is
good at times as well of his beneficial Yeah.

Speaker 1 (27:55):
He's not a perfect safety, you know what I mean.
If we're talking Taylor Rap and tomorrow Hamlin duo compared
to the twenty nineteen Hide and poyerdu or the twenty
twenty one Hide and Poyer do I'd be like, absolutely,
I'll take the all pros. But I think Taylor rep
does a good enough job in that spot, and I
think he's a safety that for the time you have
him can be built around. And I think that col
Bishop is the compliment because Cold Bishop does have a

(28:16):
lot of athleticism, and you know, you pointed out the
strengths he has, which is playing closer to the line
and being a bit more in that box realm, which
I think he'll get plenty of opportunity to do considering
the bills and they're now like no, I don't want
to say newfound reliance, but the uptick and one high
and maybe one high pair with pressman jam and keeping
safety lower down like Cold Bishop. I think that's where

(28:36):
you can start him playing, primarily if you decide to
run that look a bit more frequently this year and
get him going. But when they do the deep has
or when they're playing their cover three like, that's when
I think, Cole Bishop, I want to see the growth,
you know, from the actual recognition and processing point because
I think the athleticism is there for him to actually
thrive as a free safety, to thrive as a deep

(28:59):
ath safety because he's quick, he has a tackling ability,
and when he hits, he hits hard. I think there's
plenty there to work with. I think when it comes
to fluidity and his hips and the ability to kind
of twist and turn around the field, he has all
the potential to do it. It's just being able to
recognize your assignments. And I mean, like you could see
the benefits of just feeling confident in this playbook when

(29:20):
you look at Micah Hyde and you look at Jordan Poyer,
two safeties that didn't have high RAS scores but played
way beyond their athletic potential because of how smart they
were in that secondary and how good of communicators they were.
I think, obviously the athleticism, we've called it out, we've
pointed it out with Bishop. I want to see the
development of that confidence in your position. Play with your

(29:41):
hair on fire, be a communicator, and show us that
you are someone that, while you are entering in year two,
can become basically a quick vet and someone that can
be a stalwart safety for this unit because it's not
just you who's taking on like this newfound leadership role,
or it's not just you that's being relied on, but
there are rookies the secondary that let's make their lives

(30:02):
easier by making you someone who is more comfortable in
this position and someone who can really be someone we
can depend on. I'm just walking for those signs of
growth from Cole Bishop. Again. I think in the back
half of the year he did play better. I think
even in the AC Championship game, everyone was getting dusted
that game. I think that was just kind of a
failure by schematic I guess if I want to call

(30:26):
it a Sean mcdermoy getting out coached by Andy Reid
in the first half of that game and kind of
the whole defense being it put in a really rough spot.
I think the individual player I'm still confident in can
develop because again, the physical component will work. What does
the mental side look like this year? And I see,
you know, conversation about Derek Forrest. The signing to me

(30:46):
just feels like we need something. God forbid, this doesn't
pan out like we already had. Tomorrow Hamlet DeMar Hamlin
came back on a cheap deal and DeMar Hamlin ken
start if we need him to in a pinch. Derek
Forrest though, with the high athletic potential the starting experience,
how it looked pretty good Washington before the regime change.
That to me is just like a Hey break glass
in case of emergency. Col Bishop's just not getting it

(31:06):
and we need to put someone in with tailor wrap
that might give us more athletic upside than DeMar Hamlin.
But I think it's Bishop's job to lose, So stay
healthy in camp, show the signs of progress. I think
once I see in training camp that Bishop's running with
the ones and making plays, I'm going to be feeling
a lot more comfortable with the prospect of him, especially
when we need to feel comfortable because of who they're

(31:27):
playing week one and how much it's going to matter
for discipline, deep haaf coverage, just because of how much
eye Candy Baltimore presents to you and how they're going
to try to manipulate you and get you sleeping so
they can create separation, you know, with some of their
speedier receivers and guys like Zay Flowers and Rashad Bateman.
So Cole Bishop is a player that I have optimism for.

(31:48):
I hope he can grow. We'll just have to see
any final thoughts on him, David before we move on
to the next player, which I think has the most
to prove. I mean, that's gonna be tall tasks week one,
hopefully for me.

Speaker 2 (31:58):
I want him to just to get through camp, no injuries,
get as many reps as he can. I do think Forrest,
in my mind, is a little bit more than a
break glass in place of emergency. I think he could
he could push somebody for playing time. And I do
think that given the you know, in and outs of

(32:20):
the lineup they had with Hamlin and Rapp last year,
and I think they they probably expect that they're gonna
have to end up playing three safeties, not necessarily at
the same time, but having.

Speaker 1 (32:28):
Three usable guys. Yeah, at some point.

Speaker 2 (32:31):
So let's hope for health during training camp with that group,
because it was not healthy. It was not a healthy
group in camp last year.

Speaker 1 (32:38):
It was one of the more uncertain groups and then
it got decimated by injury and we were like sh like,
I can't believe this is happening. And for that reason,
I can at least give flowers to demore Hamlin for
the ability to kind of just like come in and
even though it's been described as adequate play like that
average level safety where it wasn't so terrible that they
were just getting gashed every game, but didn't really have

(32:58):
the same upside or potential that you saw when they
had the roll pros and I saw, you know, the
conversations about Jordan Hancock because obviously they took him later
on on day three, you know, a pick. I had
to wait several hours for that. I really had to
use the restroom in that stream while I was waiting
for Jordan Hancock to get picked, so that that's kind
of associated with this. So I'm hoping that's not a
bad omen for the player. But I do wonder too

(33:21):
what his usage might look like this year. I know,
like it's mentioned he could be a backup Nickel two,
but maybe if there is any sort of prospect of
him being safety three or someone that they might use
in dime packages, that could be exciting or interesting too.
I don't know, but I wonder if there's going to
be any impact with this player in camp, and if
there's any prospect of any sort of like competition with

(33:42):
Cole Bishop. I don't know. I don't think it's likely,
but just for the buzz around him, I liked the player,
so I'm interested, really, but I want to move on
to the next player. And if you guys didn't get
a chance to check out Eric and Anthony's conversation with
him on the film room, it was awesome. He seems
like the coolest dude, very knowledgeable guy, really down to earth,
and that's Dwayne Carter, someone that, as everybody who knows

(34:05):
me or follows me knows, I championed this player. I
mean I was a huge fan of him as a prospect.
The Bills picked him, I was so excited because I
thought one they needed defensive line help last year too,
and I was really confident in the player. I thought
he was disruptive. I thought that while his tape at
Duke in twenty twenty three was better than twenty four,
I believe that the twenty twenty three tape was still there,

(34:26):
that he was someone that could create pressure, be a
disruptor at the line of scrimmage, hold his own in
double teams. Then his rookie season comes around and it
just felt like it wasn't it just didn't click, you know,
really right away. But throughout the year, there were just
moments where he was getting completely destroyed during double teams.
There were moments where he wasn't making an impact at

(34:46):
all and getting washed out against the run. But there
are also were some moments when he was singled up
where he was generating pressure and he did have some
positive reps and some good flashes. And I think that,
you know, given the fact that he himself had described
as playing weight around, I think it was a round
three ten. So like a Bill's one tech profile, he
you know, has a lot to prove this year. And

(35:07):
I'll spin it back to you, David, because this is
the question I had for you. All the defensive line additions,
it clearly means that they didn't feel comfortable with the
construction of the room as it was with him there.
It doesn't mean that he has gone, it doesn't mean
he's going to get cut. But do you think that
the additions to all these you know, all these defensive
linemen being added to the room, do you think it

(35:29):
helps or hurts Dwayne Carter as far as his longevity
on the team, as far as his role this season.

Speaker 2 (35:36):
Well as far as his role this season, I it's
hard to say that it changes anything because firstly, before
the draft, Brandon Bean went out and said, we think
Dwayne's going to be at Oliver's backup, and they signed
on when Joe Bean said, Owen Joby's going to be
the backup Ted Oliver. Then they draft TJ.

Speaker 1 (35:55):
Sanders and they say, well, TJ.

Speaker 2 (35:58):
Sanders can play one or one tech at or three tech,
but we think he's primarily going to start in the
rotation behind Ed Oliver. So that's three different guys that
they said we're going to be behind Ed Oliver. And
then Brandon Bean kind of backtracked his comments a bit
on Carter specifically and said, actually, he's probably more likely
to be Daikwon Jones's backup at the one tech than
he is now, at least with the addition of TJ.

(36:20):
Sanders and Ogunjobi when he's back to really be in
that rotation behind Ed Oliver. And I think that's better
for him. I think that suits his skill set a
bit more as far as where he can kind of
hone his craft of being a run defender. He's not
a super great penetrator when it comes to when it
comes to that element of his game, So I think

(36:41):
he's probably going to be better suited to kind of
sit behind Daikwon Jones in that rotation. I also think
at that three to ten weight he's really going to
be the guy that probably fits best in behind Daikwon Jones.
So I look, maybe it changes his role in the
sense that, like Brandon being he's the GM, Sean mcdermot's

(37:02):
the one deciding really kind of where these guys are
gonna end up playing. It takes some of the uncertainty
away and maybe allows Duane Carter to really focus on
one position in one position only, as opposed to having
new wonder Am I going to be playing behind Ed?
Am I gonna be playing behind dua Dae Kwon do?
I need to kind of figure out how to play

(37:23):
both roles like this hopefully helps him focus on one role.
You're gonna have TJ. Sanders obviously moving around, but primarily
kind of being a pass rushing uh pass rushing player
next to Ed Oliver I'm passing downs, which is great
and a backup to him probably at least to start.
And you have Ogunjobi, who they said is going to
play behind Oliver as well. We'll see what happens after

(37:44):
his suspension. So I do think it helps Carter in
the sense that it allows him to focus on one
specific area before the draft, and really before they signed Ogunjoby,
like the Bill's twenty twenty six outlook, and I know
Ogunjoby's only here for one year, but twenty twenty six
outok was Dwayne Carter and not Oliver at the interior.
I mean, that was it, that was all they had.

(38:05):
So I think that for twenty twenty five it helps him. Hopefully,
like ramp Up, I would say for maybe a more
expanded role in twenty twenty six, when you have maybe
a new core four of Oliver Walker, Sanders, and Carter,
and potentially with Walker maybe having a year as well

(38:28):
now to learn to play the run a bit better,
maybe Dwayne Carter becomes the main one tech in twenty
twenty six, with Walker kind of maybe learning that role,
because obviously we know from the tape in the scouting
he wasn't really that great at defending the run. He
was more of a penetrating type even at his size.
So I think for the Bills they want to probably

(38:51):
line Dwayne Carter up to be that run stuffing guy
playing the one teche one tech behind Dake one this
year and ideally, depending on what they do in free
agency in the draft next year, becomes maybe the starter
in twenty twenty six.

Speaker 1 (39:05):
At that spot.

Speaker 2 (39:06):
It is a long way to go. It is a projection,
but as of right now, it doesn't seem like there's
much else of an option beyond twenty twenty five. So
I think the outlook for the long term on the
team is good. It's just a matter can he deliver
on those expectations.

Speaker 1 (39:25):
I think yeah. And hearing them say that they're going
to commit to him being at least what they say
is he'll be the primary backup one tech is nice
if you believe that simplifying his role will help him
as a pro, because he himself said that he was learning,
you know, new positions, you know, new spots on the line,
because he did play three and he also played one

(39:46):
last season, and when you have to juggle both of
those in an NFL defense, you know, especially in the Bills,
who are asking you to get out field and try
to penetrate. That can be a lot to put on
a rookie, especially a third round pick, and you would
hope they'd get, but not everyone does, so that can
lead to some issues and sometimes some uncertainty lapses in
technique issues where you end up getting pushed off balance

(40:08):
or not playing to your full potential. And then, of course,
like every other thing pick that we had last year,
pair that with an injury that slows the development down
and it makes matters a lot worse. And Dwayne Carter
is someone that is going to benefit greatly from the
fact that there is a six game suspension for Larry
ogen Joby because now I think that that means more

(40:32):
of a snapshare for him. I think ogen Joby is
probably still going to cut heavily into the amount of
snaps he gets. But what you end up getting from
Dwayne Carter now is a six game audition. In my opinion,
what I think this is is we need to see
growth from you as the player, especially since you are
the one that we are considering the primary backup to

(40:52):
our one tech because obviously now with dian Walker, who,
to be honest with you, I have no idea what
the hell they're going to to do with Dion Walker.
Because deon Walker could play at three, he could play
at one, he could play as an edge, he could
play as a four. Like a lot of different things
are on the table for Deon Walker to a point
where I feel like the likelihoods move him around so

(41:13):
you can give more opportunity to Wayne Carter in that
solidified role as the one tech. Because again, Dion Walker
isn't the greatest run defender either, so it's not like
the sure thing that just because he's a big body
that he's going to automatically be one T. He could,
but I think it's more likely that with the experience
in the Bill system that Dwayne Carter has, that would
be your justification to have him make that role and

(41:33):
play that role primarily. And I think that again, making
it so that he only has to focus on playing
that position is better for him because now it's I can,
like you just said earlier, David Home, my craft be
able to walk in into what I have to do
position wise, technique wise as a one tech as someone
who is playing on the inside versus you know, more
freedom is a three tech more of I have to

(41:55):
balance my run defense with a true pass rush play,
and I have to rush in specific ways. I feel
like that could really benefit Carter by just taking some
things off of his plate, and these six games for
him are going to be imperative because if he actually
plays well, if he shows progress from year one to
year two, where you could comfortably say that you feel
good about him rotating in for Daikwon Jones. I don't

(42:16):
think Larry Ogan Joby coming back is a death sentence
for Dwayne Carter as a snapchair on the team. I
don't think that's going to mean that we're going to
expect him to be inactive again and probably part ways
with him in the offseason. I think this is, unfortunately,
just given the nature of last year and what they've
done to address this positional group, a do or die
stretch for him. But you guys know me, I'm rooting

(42:38):
for the player. I go down with the ship. If
Carter fails, I fail, and if he succeeds, I succeed,
and I will be insufferable. I am rooting for the
player seriously, like just a person who I can tell
he loves the game. I could tell he loves being
on the team, and I could tell he wants to succeed.
He went through some adversity last year. I want to
see improvement from him on the field. I will be
realistic about it whatever happens. But the fact that there's

(43:00):
a consolidated path for him right now to start the
year does feel good if you think that will help him,
and I think it can. That's my take on Dwayne
Carter David. Anything else to add before we move on
to Ray Davis.

Speaker 2 (43:13):
No, I think you're right on that, and I think
that you know, the Bills obviously don't want people to
get injured. And we'll see kind of what happens with
Walker in that back. You know, with Ogin Jobe coming back,
there may be an opportunity to move someone to IR
at that point. We'll see, right. I don't want to
expectuate too much on that, but that's the thought, right,

(43:34):
is that you're gonna have decisions to make whence those
suspensions are up. And yeah, look, I mean, like you
put in the comments section right there, assuming no other additions, right,
we don't know what they might do next year. It's
like I would see actually Walker as more of a
pass rushing back up to ann Ed Oliver as it

(43:55):
stands right now. Now, he may develop his run defensibility,
but you know, you have Carter and TJ. Sanders. Let's
say if he's up to three ten and you put TJ.
Sanders in Oliver in that first wave, and you have
Walker and Carter in that second wave, it's not a
bad core for to have, especially when you went into

(44:15):
when you went into the draft literally with only Oliver
and Carter on the roster beyond twenty twenty five. So anyway,
we can move on.

Speaker 1 (44:24):
I do love this idea though, because I think TJ. Sanders,
given the frame he plays at what he said he
plays at, which I believe he said he's up to
three ten as well with the six to four frame
height at least, I think if he is showing flashes
early on this year as a run defender, then you
could get the revamped interior line of AED being your
primary three Sanders being that Bills one tech, which is

(44:45):
just a spicy three tech at this point, I'm just
going to call it a spicy three at tech. I'm
not even going to call it a one tech, even
though it's objectively the position they play. And then maybe
because of that, you do get the opportunity of Dion
Walker is not someone you could go around the line with,
but rather just again consolidate the position to one specific
role and see how well he does it. Because I
like Dean Walker as an upfield penetrator. I think there

(45:07):
are reps where he's just so violent with with his
length with his hands that he's able to just rip
through offensive lineman's shoulders and create disruption. And I think
that would fare really well if he's primarily playing as
a pass rushing three tech to rotate with that. So
this alignment that could be the future. Like you only
got Ogunjobi on a one year deal and you only
like you obviously have Carter for the foreseeable future. So

(45:30):
if you do think that even if Ogunjobi comes back
and Carter's not playing well, that there is a future
for the player, this is a realistic outlook on what
it could be like the following year unless they draft
somebody else to take maybe carter spot or somebody's. But
if Carter plays well, this is all moot because we'll
feel comfortable with him as rotational depth. Then then we
can go from there and that's what we want, and
it'll be a very large boost to this draft class

(45:52):
if he pans out well, especially considering the gravity of
Dwayne Carter. When you talk about that trade with Kansas
City and the fact that he is the third round
we got back and what we used, and you don't
want a negative association with that. So I'm rooting for
Dwane Carter. I hope he figures it out. Another player
I'm also rooting for is Ray Davis, who I think
had just the most like, like the most comfortable rookie

(46:14):
season we saw from all these players, like peaceful. There
was no like no really bad injury, there was no
like buzz like everything anything I saw about Ray Davis
was just good stuff, ray good rep Like it was
very sunshine and rainbows with Ray Davis, because I think
the expectations for him were very realistic when he came in,
right like I thought, Okay, you got James Cook, you

(46:35):
got Ty Johnson, it's probably gonna be Ray Davis taking
the three slash two role. He has a different play
style than James Cook. He'll rotate in, he'll get his reps,
he'll be a pass blocker at times. He'll be fine.
It'll look good because we have a good old line.
And that's exactly what happened. Like it was pretty clear cut,
which is like a rarity, like everything that you projected

(46:55):
about the player. Maybe not the volume per se, but
just like the actual usage was pretty damn realism. So
I mean, I foresee more of that this year. But David,
talk to me about Ray Davis. Talk to me about
if you expect more snaps from him. Do you think
there is going to be more of a lean on
Ray Davis, whether it's goal line or in pass blocking,
or do you think it's gonna just look more of

(47:15):
the same from last year because of James Cook's gravity
to this team, the contract situation, maybe playing better because
of it, and really his development is a runner too.
A couple things.

Speaker 2 (47:26):
So Number one, the Bills made it, i'll say a priority,
but they did kind of make it a priority to
bring back Ty Johnson, right, and he kind of now
that they've brought type Johnson back, gonna he's gonna slide
back into that role he had a year ago. Was phenomenal.
Effishent he did his thing. James Cook obviously less than
fifty percent of the snaps. So if you're expecting a

(47:47):
huge uptick in Ray Davis, I'm not sure that that's
the right expectation. Some fun stats here for Davis. If
I told you without looking, to guess how many carries
Ray Davis had?

Speaker 1 (48:00):
What would you say, without looking, I'm sorry, repeat how many? Yeah?
How many carries?

Speaker 2 (48:10):
Oh? No, because I want uh one thirteen? Okay, all right,
I wasn't too far off. No, you were actually over
what I thought you were going to say, under one hundred.
So it's interesting, right you said one fifty. James Cook
only had two hundred and seven carries last year, so
you know ray Davis had one hundred and thirteen carries.

(48:32):
And then if I said, guess how many receptions Ray
Davis had compared to Tide Johnson, what would you say,
without looking?

Speaker 1 (48:38):
Oh, this is going to be tough. This I'll say
off the time I had, I'm going to say fifteen.

Speaker 2 (48:46):
Yeah, So ray Davis had seventeen receptions last year, all right,
Ty Johnson at eighteen, so what they wasn't that far off,
like it might be surprising that he only had one fewer.
So look, the reason I asked these questions was they
were bit leading. Was to say that there's a few
factors here. The bills brought back Ty Johnson. I think
his role is going to be defined much like it

(49:07):
was a year ago. The Bills aren't a team that
runs a workhorse back like some other teams. You know,
They're not even a team that really runs a two
back rotation like some other teams where they had to
have their early down guy and the third down guy.
They really run three backs, and it's frustrating for like
fantasy football people, But for the Bills it's great because

(49:27):
they have three guys that they can lean on. I
expect they're going to do more of the same this year.
I in fact expect maybe, if anything, they might try
to squeeze a little more out of James Cook this
year while they still have him, in anticipation that they
probably won't bring him back, while still giving ray Davis
his one hundred plus. Maybe a slight uptick in carries

(49:49):
this year, maybe gets one hundred and twenty five hundred
and thirty. But I'm not expecting a huge, huge uptick
in overall statistical production from Ray Davis from last year
to this year because of what Ty Johnson does on
passing downs, because of what they want to squeeze out
of James Cook for this run that they want to
go on, for this Super Bowl run that they want
to go on, while they still have James Cook, and

(50:09):
Ray Davis plays the role that he had nicely. You know,
some of his efficiency numbers don't look great, and that's
because they just drove him into piles at the end
of games last year, and some games where they were
up big still managed three point nine yards per carry,
which on the surface doesn't seem great, But the guy
was just running into piles at the end of games
at some points last year, so he had some really

(50:30):
good looking runs. He brought a little bit more powered,
a little bit more juice to some of those runs.
But James Cook also really ran well up the middle
last year as well, so I think it's a credit
to the Bills offensive line. I think if the Bills
envision Ray Davis is kind of like maybe the future
starter that is possibility for twenty twenty six. But I

(50:50):
don't think they're just going to give a huge uptick
in carries to him because they think he might be
the starter next year when they still have James Cook
for this year and they want to get the most
out of him. So my assessment is that I don't
expect his statistical production numbers to really change that much.
Maybe he gets a little bit more efficient. Maybe he
sees a slight uptick, but with Ty Johnson back, and

(51:11):
with the Bills probably continuing to rotate those three guys,
with even James Cook getting under fifty percent of the snaps,
I just don't see the huge, huge uptick in production.
Not taking away from what the Bills might see for
him in the future, but for twenty twenty five, that's
how I see it.

Speaker 1 (51:30):
I totally agree with you. I don't see much of
a change to his overall production, snap count usage. I
think it's going to look more of the same while
you still have James Cook. I think if I were
to end or if I were to be kind of
expecting any sort of difference from last year to this year,
maybe it's more goal line usage. If they decide they
want to get Cook off the field and go with

(51:52):
a more power option, and if Sean McDermott is just
not having the toush push as much as they were
last year this up coming season and want to get
away and maybe go with some more under center running
in the goal line, then maybe it's better suited to
have a more physical back like Ray Davis in that spot.
But that's really it, unless again, Brady maybe goes more

(52:13):
pony and gets Davis and Cook on the field. Like
there's not really much else I could say would be
demonstrably different from his rookie season and now just because again,
like it worked, it was a rotation. Like not only
were the snap scouts not I'm sorry, the rushing attempts
to receptions, they weren't crazy different, but like it worked,
it was a productive rushing offense. So why really change

(52:36):
that dynamic up unless you have to do to something
like injury which happened to James Cook earlier in the year,
or if there's an injury to anybody that's the reason
you would switch it up. I think it's a fine rotation.
I think you have a good, complimentary back and Ray
Davis whose role suits him well. Maybe a little more
ramp up in the past game. If you believe that
he's a viable enough pass catching option who generates the act,

(52:58):
which I think he does do that pretty well when
he has the ball in his hands. If you think
you could get him some more screens or some more
quick hitters become a checkdown option, that'd be a lot
of fun. But even then it's not gonna change to
a dramatic level his production. I think you'll see more
of the same from Ray Davis, but more of the
same from Ray Davis is good. Like it's a good

(53:18):
thing for the Bills offense. Like it might not be
like people's hope because maybe they think the flashes lead
to something like a thousand yard year for him, But
I think Davis what he was able to do last
year was still perfectly productive and perfectly beneficial to this
Bills offense. And I'm okay with it being the exact
same thing. I'm okay with the Bills rushing offense looking
the exact same as it did last year, because the

(53:40):
exact same as last year would mean a boost for
this offense to become a top unit in the NFL
again in terms of EPA and DVOA, and be a
team that, no matter what your rushing defense looks like,
the Bills can still drive it down your throat, still
be able to be physical with you. And Ray Davis
just adds to that fire. So I don't need him
to be like it's awesome if he is, I'll be

(54:02):
happy if he is. Like any of these players, if
they exceed my expectations, that's great. But I don't need
Ray Davis to be a thousand yard rusher to be
happy with his year two. I think a perfectly comfortable
number is something similar to last year. Anything else you
got on that, David.

Speaker 2 (54:16):
And I would just say the goal line thing I
think might be a tad overstated, right, because Josh Allen
really is kind of your goal line back as it is,
and when you have James Cook and Josh Allen in there,
like you saw some of the ability for Cook to
cut it to the outside near the goal line last year.
The Seattle game comes to mind, the Jacksonville game early

(54:37):
in the season comes to mind, where that's not something
Ray Davis can give you at the goal line, so
things get bottled up in the middle. James Cook has
that ability to cut it to the outside and get
to the pylon, knowing you have Josh Allen anyway kind
of as your goal line back. I'm not saying like
Ray Davis wouldn't be effective in his own right, like

(54:58):
on a true power situation, but like you're almost kind
of like in some ways I think giving it away
unless you do some kind of rollout maybe with Josh
Allen in that scenario, which is possible, right, but I wouldn't.
I wouldn't take away from the fact that the Bills
do have some interesting options with James Cook on the
goal line as well.

Speaker 1 (55:17):
That's fair, Yeah, and I agree with that you don't
want to telegraph it either, but I do think if
you if you do decide, hey, we're just going to
run it at you and like try to defend it,
which they will do with the goal line too. Like
sometimes they want to telegraph it because they want you
to know it's coming, because they want to prove they
can beat you, even if you do. Like it's a
it is a mentality thing for teams, and I think
Davis can aid that. But yeah, I think like if

(55:39):
I mean it more so in the mindset of if
you think because Josh Allen's getting older and Josh Allen
took some you know, bruises and even potentially broken hand,
that's all touch pushing. I think Sean McDermott would be
the first person to make the call and say, it's like,
we don't want to stop running the ball, but maybe
we just don't run the play as frequently. Let's like
switch it up and then maybe try this physical back

(56:00):
and the goal let's just see if it works. But
otherwise I agree with you though Cook is the better
outside option when you talk about goal line packages. What
he did against Kansas City proves that, I mean not
probably was incredible and it's something they do need. And
Cook leaves next year, like they will have to replace that.
I don't think Ray Davis blocks them from doing it.
I think they will still get another back. But I'm

(56:20):
optimistic for year two of Ray Davis looking more of
the same in it being quality. But I want to
end the show with this final topic, and it's simply
because we have other players that didn't really show you
much or just showed you very little throughout the year.
Talk to me about one of the remaining of this
twenty twenty four class, one of the remaining sophomores that
you think has the highest chance to have a breakout

(56:41):
year in their year two.

Speaker 2 (56:45):
Man, it's tough because the pathway to playing time for
most of these guys is pretty limited. But I will
say this right, there's two guys. Probably number one may
come as a surprise, but Javon Solemn with the injury
to Joey Bosa, Lyndon Jackson's a rookie. I mean, you
don't have Ajpiness under contract beyond twenty twenty five, so

(57:08):
you're talking and Joey Bosa not under contract beyond twenty
twenty five. Hoyt suspended the first six games, so depending
on sort of how Landon Jackson comes on. You know
how effective Ajpanessa is early in the season as a
pass rusher. There is a small window of opportunity for
Javon Solomon to show what he can do. And he's

(57:32):
in a good situation in the sense that the Bills
beyond twenty twenty five really have just him, Hoyt and
Gregor Rousseau as as perceived, you know, primary contributors. So
I would like to see Javon Solomon insanely productive in college. Right,
has some good pass rush ability to see if he

(57:53):
can make a leap, And the other one, Zula Fohio.
I think you've got Milano, Bernard and Doria Williams ahead
of him, but beyond that a chance, right, he could
be the fourth linebacker. He could be a direct backup
to Milano. Specter can't stay healthy and Dreasin not really
the same position as a guy like Ulafohio. Healthy scratch

(58:13):
for most of last year. I believe he only appeared
in three or four games. But a fit at least
from a prospect standpoint a year ago, a great fit
for the Bills defense, and depending on sort of what
the Bills sort of plan for Milano, like not saying
they're gonna take Malana off the field, but like there
is a small window as well for Ulafotio to maybe

(58:34):
get some make some hay and then I'll throw a
dark horse out there for you.

Speaker 1 (58:40):
Dark horse, two dark horses. I'll give you.

Speaker 2 (58:43):
My main dark horse is Daikwon Hardy. There were some
high hopes for him a year ago as a return
man that didn't really pan out. They had Codrington on
the roster. We'll see what Hardy can do. Defensively. The
room is a bit more crowded now.

Speaker 1 (58:58):
There's some vets.

Speaker 2 (58:59):
Obviously, as we know with Dan Jackson and Trey White,
they did draft a bunch of corners. So it may
seem on the surface that like there's not really a
path for Daikwon Hardy, But at the same time, they
kept branding Coddrington on the roster as a defensive back
last year as a return man. If Daikwon Hardy can
show something in year two as a return man, then

(59:19):
maybe that's the path for him to making a contribution,
not necessarily on defense, but as a special teamer and
a return man, potentially push Codrington for that roster spot.
That's going to be a very tough decision for the
Bills come into training camp, because I don't think you
really want to keep a roster spot just for a

(59:39):
guy that can only return kicks and punts, as they
did last year for Codrington. Ideally that guy fits somewhere
else on your team, whether it's a defensive back or receiver.
But they did it last year with Codrington. They might
do it again this year. So I know they traded
for Codrington last year, but maybe Hardy could push him
a little bit. But I would say the path, although

(01:00:02):
it's the windows not open much, Solomon and litl Fotio
seemed to me to have at least the likeliest path,
even though the percentage is still pretty low to making
a decent impact in twenty twenty five.

Speaker 1 (01:00:16):
Yeah, all good takes, I think, just to kind of
go in reverse order. I really liked Jaquon Hardy in
the preseason last year and thought there was actual potential
for him to earn a starting role even as an
outside corner despite his frame. I thought he was playing
really well on the boundary, and I thought the potential
returnability made him kind of not a lock, but very
likely to earn that final spot. Then the trade for

(01:00:37):
Brandon Codrington, I was like, oh, all right, so never mind,
and then he ended up getting resigned to the practice squad.
So I would like to see Daquon Hardy prove it
in camp this year and get that spot, because I
don't think there's really anything I looked at and said, yeah,
this guy's kind of this or whatever. I thought there
was all positive flashes, and just it was the uncertainty
of the returning position that I felt like was a

(01:00:57):
big enough factor for them to keep him if they
felt like he wasn't good enough at it and was
uncertain as a corner even despite the good preseason, So
a better year two for him might earn him a spot.
And now it's just such an uphill battle because you
got to deal with all the new bodies to your
secondary and all the new players, including Jordan Hancock. Where
if you thought the role for Daikwan Hardy was back

(01:01:18):
up Nickel. It's very likely that Hancock could be that
backup Nickel option in their mind too, and that just
takes another spot away from him. And if it's like, okay,
well maybe boundary corner, well there's Trey White, there's not
saying he'll make it, but Dane Jackson, and then there's
your two other rookies, and Max Harriston and Dorian Strong
who are very likely in my eyes, going to be
the ones that take those deaf spots. It's hard for

(01:01:40):
me to find a path for Hardy, but I'm not
rooting against him, but I think of all of them,
I agree it's Solomon. I think if you want to
say that Joey Boza's injury concerns make it that whether
the snap share is going to be limited or he
just doesn't play at all, even with Land and Jackson,
I think Javon Solomon has opportunity to get more snaps
as a rotational pass rusher, as a true pass rush specialist,

(01:02:03):
considering his size, and maybe they're you know, discomfort with
him as a run defender more of a true pass
rush threat. And I think there were flashes from him
last year that make you say this, can actually be
a viable role for this player who was a fifth
round pick, who does have you know, the ability to
do that, And I would be very comfortable with it
to say, of these players, he's the one I think

(01:02:23):
is most likely to get playing time but also be
productive with this playing time and actually rack up like
a tangible amount of sacks. I'm not talking ten, I'm
not talking fifteen, but like even five six, maybe like
that could be something that could be in the ballpark
for him. And when you talk about a fifth round
edge rusher out of Troy, that's a win for someone
who you have on the back end of your d

(01:02:44):
line rotation, especially if the following year, even if Landon
Jackson's good, but maybe you move on from Epineza and Bosa,
that's a player that's at the end of the room
capable of filling in, being able to be leaned on
as a productive pass rusher while you aid and build
on that room further for the future. So I like
the idea of him being that potential breakout or at

(01:03:04):
the very least more playing time player. I'm gonna throw
my dart at Tyler Rabel as the potential primary backup
tackle for Dawkins and Brown. Obviously, I don't think he's
going to start over either of the two, but I
think there's a potential for the profile of this player
who got to sit in the Aaron Kromer offensive lineman
lab for a year and be able to be showing

(01:03:27):
enough in camp to actually earn that backup tackle spot. Again,
it's an uphill battle for him to climb. I think
it's more likely that Vandermark still maintains the rule. But
when I look at what the the fact of like
the UCF reps that I got to watch from him,
and some of the dominance he played with despite having
like a huge frame, and the fact that this felt

(01:03:47):
like a Chromer heat check pick, I just have a
suspicion that there is optimism for his development to be
primary backup tackle, potentially taking vandam Mark's place with more
how do I describe this more longevity because he's had
more years, as you know, the second year of a
four year contract, So that's someone I'm also watching out for.
I feel like we forgot about Tyland Grabil, we forgot

(01:04:08):
about Travis Clayton. Travis Clayton out on a he I
don't even know man, I won't even try to put
an evaluation out there for him. Grabel is the one
just to pick someone from this list that I feel
like has a path that at least being like primary
just because of what he can bring to the table
at his position. I like the idea of him potentially
being tackle three. But also we had good injury luck

(01:04:29):
and I hate to say this, and I'm gonna knock
on wood and hope this doesn't happen, but like, I
really don't know if we're gonna have the same injury
luck at the tackle position and if Spencer Brown or
Deon Dalkins go down. I felt good with vandam Mark there,
but if Grabel has a good camp, I'm gonna be
pounding the table for this guy to be to be
that person that fills in for either one of these players.

(01:04:49):
So apart from that, Solomon's my main guy. I think
he has a good chance to at least make some
noise this year, and modest noise is still a win
for the fifth round pick. But that's all I got.
And David, any final thoughts your two players, anything else
you want to say before we wrap it up for
the evening.

Speaker 2 (01:05:06):
Yeah, Grabel is a good one. I had him kind
of right below the list of hardy you know, for
the Bills to have Vandermark and Grabel as potential guys
in the wings, that's like very comforting because the backup
tackle swing tackle position has been uncertain for this team
for a couple of years, and so you were just

(01:05:26):
praying the Dawkins and Spencer Brown could stay it could
stay healthy. And it's funny we didn't even taste talk
about Cedric van penn Grainger, who was a pick that
a lot of people lauded last year, but like there's
really no path for him right now, and I mean
he could end up being the forgotten guy out of
this class. You know, I think he's probably gonna make
the team again, but like, yeah, I don't know, I

(01:05:48):
don't know about him.

Speaker 1 (01:05:49):
Maybe as guard death maybe, I mean, or if McGovern
goes down. I do like the fact that a true
center sits behind him and you wouldn't have to shoehorn
someone into that spot. And also maybe they're comfortable enough
of him being the successor if the mcgoverned extension doesn't happen.
I just don't think it's right this year like that.
That's for you two. I just don't see the path
of him being like a breakout candidate or like crazy

(01:06:11):
meaningful time that isn't like rotational guard unless the guard
development was so good that if like David Edwards or
o Cyrus Torrance go down like this is your primary guy.
But I think Anderson would just take that spot.

Speaker 2 (01:06:23):
Yeah, i'd really like to see a Connor McGovern extension
announced at some point.

Speaker 1 (01:06:27):
Now before this would be nice. That would be That
would be great.

Speaker 2 (01:06:32):
I mean, looking back at what a bargain that contract
was we got for him after he kind of came
in played guard that first year, then moved to center
last year. A bargain honestly, so another good one by
being one of those sort of signings that don't people
don't talk about a lot. But man, how important was
that and how how much of a bargain does it

(01:06:53):
look like?

Speaker 1 (01:06:53):
Now?

Speaker 2 (01:06:53):
So I'd love to see that announced sometime before the season. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:06:57):
Absolutely, Man, he's been he's been a vital part. Slide
over to center was and the ability he showed how
good he just played, and I mean.

Speaker 2 (01:07:06):
Filling Mitch Morse's shoes like like he was under the microscope,
moving over and I know, like they kind of had
that like you know, handshake agreement, like hey, you're gonna
move over once once Mitch is gone. But like they
had to consciously decide to cut Mitch Morse who was
still playing well, played pretty good in Jacksonville last year,
and like hand him the keys right at the pivot.
And you know, that was a tough decision, probably for

(01:07:30):
Brandon Bean. I mean, maybe not so much when saw
the cap space he saved by cutting Morse, But at
the end of the day, like McGovern then had to
deliver in a difficult spot and filling in for a
guy like Morse, So he did.

Speaker 1 (01:07:42):
He did good with that one. Mm HM and Aeric
Cromer retrusts though, I mean if McGovern does test the
market and he goes and end up finding another team
that pays him more money. SVPG is someone that I
can just see sliding in because of the center experience
playing for an SEC team to being a true center,
Like I think he had one and a senior season
at guard and the rest was all center. Like it's

(01:08:03):
a good option to have in your back pocket just
in case. But I think the lifespan of Cedric Vanpereng
Granger's career in Buffalo is just solely contingent on what
they do at McGovern And if but Governor gets extended,
then it's either backup guard or probably going to be
a piece that you trade or someone that just tests
the market to get a center job elsewhere. And it's
no bad blood, it's just I think they they needed

(01:08:23):
to take the player with the uncertainty of center last
year then McGovern played so well that it's like, oh, well,
the cover it's full now we have we have to
make room if we retain them. So we'll see what
goes on with that. But David, that's going to end
our conversation. And as always, you are a tremendous guest. Again,
I appreciate all the work you do here. Are eight
hour is an exceptional show and if you guys have

(01:08:44):
not checked it out, please check it out. Every Monday night,
him and Judge Matthis go live and talk about bill stuff,
just like we do here. But every now and then
we get to have you on the show. And it's awesome. David.
I know I just basically plugged your show for you,
but I will still give you the four Where can
the people find you? What do you got going on?

Speaker 2 (01:09:00):
Yeah, So Air Raid, we're doing something new this June
June months weeks ahead for the show. We're gonna do
a little summer scouting on the next couple of weeks
at positions of need for the Bills in twenty twenty six.
So next Monday, we're gonna be on at nine doing
a little running back review. So we'll take a take us.
We'll take stock of the bills running back room as

(01:09:21):
is in the contract situation going into twenty twenty six.
Obviously the big question mark and what will happen is
with James Cook. So we will take a look at
maybe four or five of the top running back prospects
in college going into college football for the twenty twenty
five season, as we kind of contrast that against the
Bill's running back room and their contract situation to see
where we might want to start looking at some players.

(01:09:43):
So I've got that coming up. We'll do a couple
other position groups as we head into our summer break
in early July, and then of course we will be
back right before training.

Speaker 1 (01:09:52):
Camp right on. Yeah, check it out, guys, because this
is your opportunity to stay in the know. If you're
uncertain about what the future looks like. If you're so
focused on this year, but you might be thinking, hey,
what could we actually be hitting in the draft free
agency next year. It's a great opportunity to do so.
And these guys do the work. It's not just it's
not just always a conversation. It's a conversation with detail,

(01:10:12):
with layers to it because of all the work that
they put in, all the analysis that they are providing
for you, it's so worth your time. So check them
out when you can. David, once again, thank you for
being here. I always appreciate you joining me for me.
I am Joe DeRosa and you can find me on twitters,
slash x at show underscored A Rosa, the host of
this show, the producer of the Film Room. Check out
what Eric and Ann have going on again their episode

(01:10:33):
with Dwane Carter. If you are a one Past member,
thank you for watching. If you are interested, check out
the description. The sign up link is there and for
sixty dollars a year you can become a one Past member.
It is very much worth your time. If you are thinking, damn,
these guys were so good, I just want more cover
one content well, I have two options for you. One,
you could check out the YouTube channel and all of

(01:10:54):
our podcasting platforms and listen to our shows, watch the
rest of the shows going on with this network, whether
that air right hour, whether that is Cover one, Buff,
whether that's Film Room, or you could do option number two,
which is wait until nine pm because mister Anthony Prohaska
will be going live for an episode of Disguised Coverage
where he will be discussing the importance of Joey Bosa,
which you know, that could make you feel really good

(01:11:18):
or that could make you feel like a really pessimistic
doomer by the end of the night, depending on what
that injury looks like throughout the year. But regardless, Ant
does fantastic work. I've had him on the show. You
guys should check him out if you are interested, So
don't close out on YouTube, Facebook, wherever you're watching. But
for us, we're gonna say good night, thank you again
so much for tuning into this week's episode of Under Review,

(01:11:40):
and as always, go bills. We will see you next time.
Take care, everybody,

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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;}Previewing the Buffalo Bills' Year 2 Players | Under Review