Buffalo Plus: Buffalo Bills Training Camp 2025 — Offense Preview, Concerns, and Breakout Picks

Date: July 22, 2025
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell (Dan Fetes absent)

Episode Overview

This episode of Buffalo Plus dives into the biggest offensive storylines as the Buffalo Bills begin training camp for the 2025 NFL season. With Dan Fetes absent (away for a family milestone), Mike Catalana and Jenna Cottrell tackle pressing questions about contract situations, offensive improvement, potential breakout players, and the evolving wide receiver and running back rooms. The duo’s discussion is rich with their signature blend of statistical analysis, insider perspective, and friendly banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major Storylines Heading Into Camp

• Hard Knocks Arrives:

  • Mike: “The biggest storyline overall, I think, is Hard Knocks… we’re going to learn stuff that even in my 350 years of covering this team, I’ve never been privy to.” [02:50]
  • The show’s impact on exposure, daily insights, and fan engagement is expected to be huge.

• James Cook Contract Situation:

  • Will running back James Cook attend, hold out, or simply not practice?
  • Jenna: “How will it all play out with him wanting a new contract?… Will he come to camp and then not practice? Will the Bills and him find a deal?… There’s just so many things up in the air.” [03:36]
  • The potential loss of Cook looms large for offensive continuity and playmaking.

2. Offensive Trends and Areas for Improvement (2024 Recap & 2025 Outlook)

• Turnover Differential & Replicability:

  • Bills had only 8 turnovers last season — lowest in franchise history.
  • Mike: “Josh [Allen], you had 100% of the team’s turnovers. Their turnover differential was phenomenal… I look at it as a negative going forward… It’s so hard to replicate that.” [06:43]
  • Statistical regression toward the mean is expected; unlikely to maintain such low turnover rates.

• Offensive Efficiency:

  • 9th in yards per game; 2nd in points per game; 14th in passing yards.
  • O-line stellar in pass protection (only 14 sacks allowed).
  • The run game was a bedrock, but the passing attack lagged behind its potential — surprising given Josh Allen's prowess.

• What’s Next for the Passing Game?

  • The expectation is for an uptick in air yardage and greater dynamism.
  • Jenna: “They were not always the pass-first offense that we have seen in years past in Buffalo.” [11:30]
  • Mike: “With Josh Allen and [his] talent… they can improve on that. Would they need to more if James Cook is out?” [15:56]

3. Running Back Room Analysis

• Depth and Roles:

  • James Cook saw fewer touches but was more efficient and explosive in 2024.
  • Mike: “I like the running back room a lot… I like Ray Davis in that number two running back role… I love Ty Johnson in his role.” [13:28]
  • Ty Johnson praised for clutch third-down plays: “It seems like every catch he made was a big catch.” [12:52]

• Cook Regression Concerns:

  • If Cook regresses, Bills may need to rely more on improved passing attack.
  • Jenna: “If [he] takes a step back and has a season similar to 2023, how worried are you?” [15:14]

4. Offensive Line Stability

• All five starters returning, rare continuity.
• Mike: “[The] six top snap counts for the team… the offensive line, which makes sense.” [14:17]
• Health and improvement, particularly from Spencer Brown, were highlighted as turning points.

5. Wide Receiver Room Shakeup

• Lead Candidates & Uncertainties:

  • Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman (expected to make a leap), Curtis Samuel, Josh Palmer, Elijah Moore, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (MVS) form a crowded, but uncertain, room.
  • Jenna on Shakir: “I didn’t expect him to have the breakout that he did have… but the yak that we saw was obviously a really nice pop.” [18:22]

• Curtis Samuel’s Role:

  • Mixed opinions, with Mike referencing past praise and patience: “If [he] has a really good year this year, I’m gonna say I was way ahead. I was a year ahead of everybody else.” [21:01]
  • Contract and durability open the door for change or even a trade.

• Josh Palmer & Elijah Moore:

  • Both have 100-target seasons in their careers, bringing experience.
  • Mike: “I like Josh Palmer’s skillset. He’s had big target years, too… When you look at his year from, like, two years ago — very similar to numbers of what Khalil Shakir put on…” [23:12]

• Keon Coleman’s ‘Make or Break’ Year:

  • Self-awareness and hunger to improve after a disappointing rookie campaign.
  • Jenna: “He called his rookie season trash. I liked that… because that… says you’re ok coaching yourself hard.” [25:33]

6. Tight End Expectations

• Dalton Kincaid’s Development:

  • Injuries and a high number of uncatchable passes led to an underwhelming sophomore season.
  • Mike: “I haven’t seen any of that [matchup nightmare stuff]. I’ve seen moments where he’s smooth… my expectations are much more moderate. I think I was pretty high on him going into year two.” [32:00]
  • Jenna: “Maybe we did have too high of expectations on Dalton, and maybe by lowering them a bit, he can surpass them.” [34:21]

• Dawson Knox’s Steadying Presence:

  • More trust in clutch moments; regarded as TE1 by Jenna down the stretch.

7. Special Teams and WR Contributions

• Lack of special teams contributions by primary WRs means a roster challenge.
• Candidates for kick returner include Chenault, Jalen Virgil, KJ Hamler, and Brandon Codrington, though none stand out definitively.

8. Player Health and Offseason Work

• Josh Allen reportedly in “the best shape of his life,” cutting butter and dairy.
  • Jenna (quoting): “Quote: I’m also taking the butter and dairy out, trying to eat very clean.” [36:37]
  • Offseason body transformation spurs playful speculation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On turnover luck:

  • Mike: “The two fumbles lost was the best season in NFL history. It was tied with a couple other teams.” [10:36]

• On the offensive line’s improvement:

  • Jenna: “I think about a couple years ago when we were questioning Spencer Brown… he showed [he can be the guy].” [14:42]

• On Keon Coleman’s honesty:

  • Jenna: “He called his rookie season trash. Yeah, I liked that… because that to me says that you’re ok coaching yourself hard.” [25:33]

• On Kincaid’s chemistry with Allen:

  • Mike: “I don’t think playing more Madden with one another is going to fix that.” [29:41]

• On breakout picks:

  • Mike: “I think I’ll stick with Josh Palmer… Also, on the defensive side, I’m going to go with the rookie. I think TJ Sanders is going to be good for them.” [37:58]
  • Jenna: “I love Landon Jackson. That’s who I think is going to have [an impact].” [38:39]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Buffalo Plus Introduction & Personal Update: [00:43 – 02:25]
• Hard Knocks & Top Storylines: [02:45 – 03:36]
• James Cook Contract Drama: [03:36 – 06:21]
• Turnover Analysis/2024 Review: [06:21 – 10:36]
• O-Line & Running Back Room: [11:08 – 14:27]
• Wide Receiver Room Breakdown: [15:14 – 21:48]
• Special Teams/KR Problem: [21:48 – 23:03]
• Breakout Receiver & Offseason Prep: [23:12 – 27:56]
• Tight End Outlook & Kincaid Discussion: [27:56 – 34:21]
• Josh Allen’s Diet/“Best Shape of His Life”: [34:28 – 37:38]
• Camp Breakout Picks: [37:44 – 39:06]

Summary Table: Hosts’ 2025 Offensive Breakout Picks

| Host | Player (Offense) | Reasoning/Comments | |---------------|------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | Mike Catalana | Josh Palmer | Proven WR, prior big-target seasons, fits in new scheme | | Jenna Cottrell| Josh Palmer | Shares confidence in Palmer’s upside, also mentions Samuel |

Tone & Delivery

The podcast is conversational, informed, and often playful, balancing statistics with eye-test impressions and locker-room insight. The hosts challenge each other’s views, mix in self-deprecating humor (especially Mike’s "350 years covering the team" line), and keep the discussion fan-focused and accessible.

For full coverage and in-depth Bills analysis, Buffalo Plus promises ongoing updates, Hard Knocks breakdowns, and social media interaction throughout the 2025 training camp.