Buffalo Plus Podcast: "Bills Decisions on Offense, Plus Stef Speaks and Super Bowl Thoughts"

Date: February 14, 2023
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Buffalo Plus team analyzes the Buffalo Bills' pivotal offseason decisions on offense, with a focus on free-agent running backs, the offensive line, and key skill players. They dive into the ambiguous situation surrounding Stefon Diggs after his public sideline outburst, and reflect on lessons from the Super Bowl, contrasting the Bills’ offensive struggles with the high-powered Chiefs and Eagles. The tone is candid, insightful, and occasionally tongue-in-cheek, with plenty of strong opinions and memorable lines throughout.

Key Discussion Points

1. Bills’ Running Back Situation & Devin Singletary's Future

Timestamps: [00:36]–[06:55]

• Mike: Argues that Devin Singletary is the most consistent player on the offense, but that doesn't make him the best; consistency can be a double-edged sword.
  • "When I say consistent, that doesn’t mean the best. It just means he’s been the same guy I think the whole time he’s been on the team. He is a good NFL player, but now you'd have to pay him a little more as a player with a few more miles on him." [01:13]
• Dan & Jenna: Agree that Singletary has value, but question the wisdom of a second contract for a non-elite running back, given the Bills' investment in James Cook and others.
  • "They've wanted to try to replace Devin Singletary for a while... I don't think you're spending on a second-year contract of a guy that is, like you said, probably a top 25 running back in the league. So you're probably not going to pay him." [03:46]
• Bills' future at RB is Cook as the starter, Hines with a bigger role, and potentially a cheap veteran or practice squad option for RB3.

Notable Quotes:

• Mike: "Nobody pays running backs. They're not going to pay big money to running backs... I think it's a rare thing now to pay a running back in his second contract and that's no dig on Devin Singletary." [01:11][02:25]
• Dan (re: RB consistency): "It's like man, we love having you on the team. We just never love you enough to start you and actually make you a feature player." [06:04]

2. Offensive Line: Upgrades Needed

Timestamps: [06:55]–[10:42]

• Roger Saffold: Consensus is to move on; he struggled all year despite being a Pro Bowler and is not part of the future.
  • Dan: "I think you need to get better in the interior. I think there’s a lot more options, better options than Roger Saffold." [07:23]
• Ike Boettger’s return from injury could help, but expectations should be tempered due to his Achilles’ recovery.
• The Chiefs’ offensive line overhaul after their Super Bowl loss is cited as a blueprint for the Bills: aggressive upgrades via drafts, deals, and spending if necessary.
  • Mike: "That's what I think the Bills need to do." [09:17]

3. Burning Offseason Questions & Super Bowl Comparisons

Timestamps: [10:42]–[19:38]

• State of the Roster: Many looming decisions—despite strong Super Bowl odds, the hosts are cautious due to the season's poor finish.
  • Jenna: "There’s just so many decisions ahead... there are real concerns."
• Dan: “The transition from [Brian] Daboll to [Ken] Dorsey didn’t go well.” [11:19]
• Stefon Diggs’ Outburst: Dan recounts Diggs’ lack of apology for his sideline outburst and hints of deeper issues in the offense post-Cincinnati loss.
  • "He didn’t apologize... That one moment, his outburst wasn’t just based off that game or even that play, that it had built up." [11:19]
• Hosts note the lack of “a ringing endorsement” or clear sign of closure between Allen and Diggs.
  • Mike: "I was listening live when he was talking to Dan Patrick, and I was kind of waiting for the 'Josh is my dude...' And I didn't hear it. I kind of wanted to hear it. I didn't hear it." [13:02]

Memorable Comparison:

• Chiefs and Eagles' Super Bowl offenses lauded for creativity and adaptability—contrasted starkly with the Bills’ “boring” offense.
  • Mike: "Pre snap movement is something. The Bills are just boring." [18:36]

Notable Quotes:

• Dan: "[Andy] Reid made [Juju] Smith-Schuster look pretty damn good in that game... coaching matters." [16:44]
• Mike: "It looked like it was a difference of chess and checkers." [19:17]

4. Skill Positions: Receivers, Slot Roles, and Trust Issues

Timestamps: [21:33]–[24:08]

• Jamison Crowder: Veteran presence is a plus; could be re-signed cheaply.
  • Mike: "He makes those plays. Is he great? No, he’s really good. All I know is I picture him in that game last night, catching five balls for 58 yards and three first downs from Mahomes." [21:55]
• Isaiah McKenzie: Hosts express disappointment and lack of trust; time to move on and get Khalil Shakir more snaps.

5. Backup QB Debate: Should the Bills Do Better?

Timestamps: [24:08]–[29:39]

• The group debates Case Keenum’s value as a backup. They raise the importance of having a trustworthy backup given Josh Allen’s injury struggles.
  • Mike: "I want Sam Darnold as the backup... I think he needs a reboot year." [25:46]
• Dan highlights that even less-than-100% Josh Allen is still better than most backups, but the team should be less terrified to rest their starter.
• A backup QB only works with a well-constructed roster and a flexible gameplan, which the Bills lacked.
  • Dan: "They couldn’t come up with one game plan with Josh, let alone coming up with a game plan for Case Keenum." [29:41]

6. Candid Look at Super Bowl & AFC Hierarchy

Timestamps: [30:01]–[34:35]

• AFC hierarchy: Chiefs on top, Bengals ahead of Bills based on head-to-head, but Bills still favored highly in Vegas due to Allen.
• Competitive landscape: Many "great teams" but fine margins separate Chiefs, Bengals, Bills.
• Super Bowl discussion covers the big moments, including the controversial holding call, the challenges of beating the very best, and Mike’s personal reflections as an Eagles fan wanting Bills fans to get to experience a title.

Notable Quotes:

• Mike: "Brady’s lost three Super Bowls. Mahomes has lost the Super Bowl. Like it's hard to win the Super Bowl!" [33:57]
• Jenna: "It's just so scary where you're just like, obviously Vegas has faith in Brandon Beane and stuff, but I just..."
• Mike: "Vegas has faith in Josh Allen." [30:28]

Super Bowl Lessons for the Bills

Timestamps: [16:44]–[19:55]

• Creativity in playcalling and adaptability is crucial—both Chiefs and Eagles showed this, while Bills stagnated.
• Both hosts and listeners "need to see progress" from Ken Dorsey, especially in creating easier throws for Allen and expanding trust in other offensive weapons.
• Mike: "When [Josh Allen] is at his best, everybody's getting the ball, and I think they need to get back to that." [21:04]

Memorable Quotes (with Speaker & Timestamp)

• Mike Catalana on RB contracts:
  "Nobody pays running backs. They're not going to pay big money to running backs. I think it's a rare thing now to pay a running back in his second contract and that's no dig on Devin Singletary." — [01:11]
• Dan Fetes on Singletary's role:
  "It's like man, we love having you on the team. We just never love you enough to start you and actually make you a feature player." — [06:04]
• Jenna Cottrell on trust issues:
  "There are real concerns. And when you watch the Super Bowl and just the playcalling by Andy Reid... it just makes me question like there's a big difference between good and good enough." — [14:29]
• Dan Fetes on coaching:
  "Coaching matters... this is the caliber that we need to be playing." — [17:24]
• Mike Catalana on Diggs/Allen dynamic:
  "I was listening live... waiting for the 'Josh is my dude'... I kind of wanted to hear it. I didn't hear it." — [13:02]
• Mike Catalana on offensive philosophy:
  "Pre snap movement is something. The Bills are just boring." — [18:36]
• Dan Fetes:
  "They couldn’t come up with one game plan with Josh, let alone coming up with a game plan for Case Keenum... This coaching staff couldn’t figure it out." — [29:41]

Final Thoughts & Takeaways

• The Bills face critical decisions at running back, offensive line, and among their depth skill players—largely shaped by cap constraints and roster priorities.
• The consistency at certain positions, like RB and O-line, has been a double-edged sword: reliable but limited in upside.
• Offseason priorities must include creativity on offense, maximizing Josh Allen’s supporting cast, and ensuring roster flexibility, especially if Allen isn't 100%.
• Issues of trust (receiver rotation, O-line, play-calling) are repeatedly highlighted as necessary areas for improvement.
• The hosts look to the Chiefs and Eagles as models for necessary adaptation, creativity, and investment when so close to championship level.
• Despite concerns, the Bills remain favorites in the AFC East and among the conference's elite due to the presence and talent of Josh Allen.

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