Buffalo Plus Podcast Summary

"5 BILLS STORYLINES for the start of TRAINING CAMP and your QUESTIONS ANSWERED"

Date: July 23, 2024
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off the Buffalo Bills' 2024 training camp with a lively, in-depth roundtable among veteran Bills reporters Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, and Dan Fetes. The crew breaks down the top five storylines heading into camp, tackles key fan questions, and closes with their signature hot takes. The tone is candid, energetic, and heavily laced with experience and humor as the hosts debate roster competitions, position battles, and coaching changes, with their analysis aimed at giving Bills fans an honest, behind-the-scenes look as the season begins.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Wide Receiver Room Overhaul

• Main Concern: Who can Josh Allen reliably target in crucial moments, now that Stefon Diggs is gone?
• Fan Question: Ranking WR1 to WR5 (05:42)
• On MVS vs Curtis Samuel as WR1:
  • Dan: “I think MVS is the most accomplished wide receiver in this room...if we’re starting tomorrow.” (06:11)
  • Mike/Jenna: “I think it’s Curtis Samuel...he is the most consistent performer.” (06:38)
• Khalil Shakir: Debate over whether he should (or could) be WR1.
  • Mike: “He has a very high floor.” (10:31)
  • Dan: “He’s best fit as a Welker...eating up the middle of the field.” (10:45)
• Rookie Keon Coleman: High-ceiling rookie who shouldn’t be overburdened with WR1 expectations immediately.
  • Mike: “He’s got star written all over him...but it’s hard for most rookies to start that way.” (11:56)
  • Dan: “I’d have him as WR2 if camp started tomorrow.” (13:08)
• Emergence of Dalton Kincaid: Hosts agree that Kincaid (TE) may end up being the team’s most-targeted "receiver." (15:03)
• Wideout Depth Names: Mack Hollins, Justin Shorter mentioned as candidates for “training camp darlings.” (15:13-15:28)

2. Vonn Miller's Outlook & Pass Rush Questions

• Where to Set Expectations:
  • Mike: “You just have to forget about how much money he makes. Honestly, he should be a pass rushing specialist...30% of the snaps and very effective ones.” (16:54-18:04)
  • Dan: “If he's going to have a successful year, it’s got to be nine [sacks].” (18:08)
  • Jenna: “My expectations are like five or six sacks...tough to bounce back at age 35.” (18:27-18:38)
• Edge Depth Problem: Worries about the lack of depth/impact beyond Miller and Greg Rousseau.
  • “If you’re saying Von’s going to be a spot guy...who the hell’s going to start?” (20:46)
• Possible Veteran Addition: Dave Myers and others hope for a veteran edge signing (21:50)
• Concern Meter: “Seven plus” out of 10 for the defensive end/pass rusher group. (22:36-22:42)

3. Safety & Secondary Transition

• No More Poyer & Hyde: The end of an era and the beginning of a competition featuring Mike Edwards, Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, and Damar Hamlin.
  • Mike: “I think it’s probably Mike Edwards and Taylor Rapp [starting].” (24:00)
  • Dan: “Don’t sleep on Damar Hamlin...he was really good when he played.” (24:09)
• Unsettled Battle: “It’s not set. It needs to be set.” (25:04)

4. Matt Milano’s Recovery & LB Competition

• Milano’s Return: Expectation that the Bills will “slow play” his camp snaps (26:15-27:16), focusing on a full return by week one.
  • “Guys only have so many snaps in them. He’s coming back from a serious injury.” (26:21)
• Dorian Williams & Baylon Spector: Both expected to draw attention as potential depth or breakout players.
  • “Dorian’s got a very high ceiling as an athletic freak.” (29:22)
  • Mike: “I will say I think fans are going to get excited about Dorian Williams this year.” (28:33)

5. Coaching & Playcalling Changes

• Bobby Babich Takes Over Defense:
  • Dan: “I think Bobby will call the plays week one...Sean can always take it back if needed.” (31:22)
  • Mike: “He’s ready for this. There will still be collaboration, but Babich gets the off-season to prepare.” (32:44-33:39)
• Joe Brady’s First Full Offseason as OC:
  • Jenna: “I just feel like [with Brady] he can sequence plays better, his rapport with Josh is different in a good way.” (41:18)
  • Dan: “There’s a lot of pressure for him to have it look good out of the jump.” (37:43)
  • Mike: “It was going to be different no matter what...you changed the center and the whole WR room.” (38:11)
  • All agree training camp is critical for the new offensive identity to emerge.
• Special Teams Uncertainties:
  • The new NFL kickoff rules are an unknown; hosts agree that not even teams/coaches know how it’ll play out.
  • “It’s either going to be nothing happens or guys are breaking long plays all the time because they don’t know.” (42:03)
  • Dan: “Do the Bills have a kicking problem?” “No.” (43:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On replacing Diggs:
  • Dan: “Who’s the guy on third and 14 that’s getting the ball...that defenses are worried about? That’s still to be undecided.” (04:07)
• On rookie Keon Coleman’s ceiling:
  • Mike: “He got star written all over him...he just has that. It’s just not every rookie receiver comes in [and is] the number one guy.” (11:56)
• On the uncertainty in the WR corps:
  • Dan: “I have MVS as the one and Keon as the two when I don’t really think...either is a one or two on 20 other teams...you’re trying to hodgepodge this together.” (14:38)
• On Von Miller's role:
  • Mike: “He should be a pass rushing specialist...I’d rather see him be the highly, highly paid specialist.” (18:04)
• On special teams and new kickoffs:
  • “We don’t know what to make of it because they don’t know what to make of it yet.” (42:03)
• On the mood entering camp:
  • Jenna: “We are approaching training camp. A reminder. We will be posting daily videos...who stood out for a good reason, who stood out for probably not so great reason.” (54:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Wide Receiver Room & Rankings: 03:35–15:30
• Von Miller & Pass Rush Depth: 15:54–22:42
• Safety Battle (No Poyer/Hyde): 23:05–25:21
• Matt Milano/Linebackers: 26:04–29:43
• Rookie/Dorian Williams/Babich as DC: 29:43–35:11
• Joe Brady and Offensive Pressure: 36:12–41:19
• Special Teams Rule Changes: 41:35–44:14

Under-the-Radar Players & Camp Darlings

• Dorian Williams: High-upside LB; likely to draw attention with Milano limited. (49:52)
• Justin Shorter, Zach Davidson: Both mentioned as strong “training camp darling” candidates, with Davidson already impressing with a touchdown and celebration in minicamp. (50:13-50:33)
• Matt Hollins: Noted for his unique personality; will be featured at camp and in stories. (51:00)

Hot Takes

• Dan: “This season, MVS will have more receiving yards than Shakir.” (52:12)
• Jenna: “I think Shakir will have more receiving yards than MVS.” (52:30)
• Mike: “Curtis Samuel will have more receiving yards than either one of those players.” (52:50)
• Bet proposed among the trio on who will be right (53:04).

Fan Questions & Miscellaneous Topics

• On McDermott’s Job Security:
  • Mike: “About as safe as safe can get...Bill Belichick isn’t coming here.” (44:22-44:39)
• Bills vs. Chiefs Roster:
  • Consensus is the Bills have an edge at linebacker/secondary. Chiefs have the advantage at QB and have impressively retooled.
• Under-the-Radar Player Picks:
  • Dorian Williams, Demar Hamlin, Justin Shorter, Zach Davidson (48:35–51:08)

Overall Tone

The hosts maintain an affable, at times teasing rapport, quick to note each other's quirks and hot takes, while also diving deeply into X’s and O’s. They balance optimism for new faces (and camp buzz) with frank assessments of roster question marks and Buffalo’s evolving identity. The episode’s pace matches the mounting excitement and tension of a new football season, with each host bringing expertise and a hint of local flavor.

Highly Watchable/Relisten Segments

• Wide Receiver Breakdown and Rankings Debate: (03:35–15:30)
• Von Miller Expectation Setting: (15:54–18:27)
• Safety Battle Early Camp Predictions: (23:05–25:21)
• Group Hot Takes and Bets: (52:01-53:15)

Ideal For Fans Who:

• Want digestible, honest Bills insight on roster battles and camp storylines
• Don’t mind real, sometimes playful banter
• Are seeking a primer on both established and under-the-radar Bills storylines heading into 2024 camp

Listen to this episode if you want a fast, honest, and entertaining orientation to the most pressing Bills training camp questions—and a sense of the personalities covering America's Team of the North.