Buffalo Plus Podcast Summary

Episode: Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins rivalry renewed. Josh vs Tua & McDermott vs McDaniel
Date: September 28, 2023
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes
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Overview

This episode dives into the renewal of the heated Buffalo Bills–Miami Dolphins rivalry, focusing on the evolving identities of both teams, the marquee quarterback battle (Josh Allen vs. Tua Tagovailoa), and the strategic chess match between coaches Sean McDermott and Mike McDaniel. The trio discusses each team's strengths, the significance of this early-season divisional clash, and what it reveals about the AFC East landscape.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Rivalry Refreshed: Contrasts & Stakes

• Mirror Images: The hosts highlight the contrasting identities—Miami as the “flash and sizzle” with a high-powered, speedy offense, and Buffalo as the “steak,” relying on solid fundamentals and a methodical defense.

  • Jenna: “Miami has all of that sizzle, like flashy, you know, these explosive plays, all the speed. Then you look at this Buffalo defense, and it's more of, like, playing fundamental football...” (02:14)
  • Mike: “They're kind of opposites. They're almost mirrors of each other. Both with outstanding quarterbacks, though. So I love the matchup.” (00:40)

• Big Divisional Implications: Despite being a Week 4 matchup, the hosts stress its importance given the competitive AFC East.

  • Dan: “It's a massive Week 4 matchup because falling to 0–2 in the division is a tough hole to dig out of.” (01:18)

2. Offensive Explosions: Do Scores Lie?

• Parsing Big Wins: The Dolphins' historic 70-point game is discussed, but the hosts question the level of opposition (Denver), much like people question the Bills' dominance over Washington.

  • Mike: “70 to nothing is just ridiculous, right? ...Denver, you're just awful. And Miami is really good. Really good. And they are lethal. They are a fast break offense.” (05:09)
  • Jenna: “It's interesting how people are parsing that Bill's win over Washington and not kind of doing the same to the Dolphins.” (04:48)

• Sample Size Caution: Both teams have yet to face top-tier competition consistently, making it hard to judge who’s “dramatically better.” (03:43)

3. Quarterback Comparison: Josh Allen vs. Tua Tagovailoa

• Tua’s Leap and Debate Over “System QB”:

  • Jenna: “He has been having a phenomenal season. And…I mean, he's MVP right now…the leader in terms of the odds?...Tua is kind of asserting himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the league, whether fans like that or not.” (07:14)
  • Dan: “You know, I feel like ‘game manager’ is a dirty word to call a quarterback. ‘System quarterback’ could be...” (07:57)

• Mike’s Defense of Tua:

  • “Watch him. His decision making is first elite, not all first reads...He'll stand in there for a guy who's taken a bunch of hits...I like for Tua, he's got a little cockiness to him right now. Yeah, he knows he's good.” (09:02)

• Allen’s Mentality:

  • Jenna: “Josh, by the way, Josh plays his game. You know that he's cocky. And I don't mean that as a dig…you need to be.” (09:44)

• How Coaching Sets Them Up:

  • Dan: “What Mike McDaniel is doing is what I want somebody to do for Josh Allen. Give him throws that guys are wide open...” (08:21)
  • Mike: “McDaniel…is a little mad Professor-ish. But man, he knows [how to get his guys open].” (12:50)

4. Coaching Chess Match: McDermott vs. McDaniel

• Contrasting Styles:

  • Jenna: “You have McDaniel calling the offense, younger guy, interesting character...McDermott calling the defense, more of old-fashioned, disciplined.” (24:54)

• Mad Scientist Vibes:

  • Mike: “When I see [the Dolphins], …[McDaniel] is a little wacky, but this guy knows what he is doing, right? Yeah, he really does. …they just find the fastest guys at every position.” (12:50 & 13:35)

• Player Relationships:

  • Dan: “Players respect and respond to you when you’re true to yourself…Sean’s not going to try and dance to hip hop music...he relates as a family man.” (28:47)
  • “McDaniel…is a football nerd…not only this passing attack and that sort of innovative, he also respects the guys up front.” (28:52)

5. Dolphins Speed—A Unique Problem

• The Influence of Tyreek Hill & Waddle: The Dolphins' multiple elite speedsters create unusual stress for opponents.

  • Mike: “Tyreek Hill…he just moves differently than everybody else…you make one step the wrong way, he's gone.” (17:28 & 18:12)
  • Jenna: “When is he gonna slow down? And he always looks like he does something to his hamstring, and then he's fine. It's just like clockwork.” (18:12)

• Scheme Complexity:

  • Dan: “All of the pre-snap motion that they throw in…I hope Ken Dorsey watches their film and says, ‘Hey, we should do some of this stuff.’” (20:32)

6. Defensive Countermeasures: The Buffalo Adjustment

• Going Smaller and Faster:

  • Dan: “They saw the speed that Miami has had. …You went from a big middle linebacker to a small agile guy that can cover and run…it’s like you kind of have a Matt Milano and a poor man's Matt Milano.” (14:09)

• Coaching Admits Limits:

  • Dan (on McDermott): “He’s almost kind of like, ‘I don’t know. If you guys have any suggestions, I’ll be happy to take them.’ …It’s gotten to that point.” (19:32)

• Press vs. Soft Coverage Dilemma:

  • Dan: “If you press them and throw off timing, great. If not, they’re by you. …If you play off, they’ll just hit you for quick stuff. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” (19:32)

7. Game Expectations & X-Factors

• High-Scoring Outlook:

  • Dan: “I see this game being played in the 30s because I like both offenses against these defenses.” (24:45)
  • Mike: “The Chargers got to them. …Chargers scored a bunch and Dolphins pulled it out.” (24:49)

• Defensive Tests for Miami:

  • Dolphins D (with Vic Fangio, Javon Holland, Xavien Howard) not yet truly tested by an offense like Buffalo's—“have they really been challenged by an offense like this?” (24:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On narrative-driven comparisons:

  • “Miami has all that sizzle…Buffalo defense…more like playing fundamental football…one is the flash, one is the sizzle, and …one is more the steak.” – Jenna (02:14)

• On coaching innovation:

  • “This guy’s a little wacky, but this guy knows what he is doing…he’s a little mad Professor-ish.” – Mike (about McDaniel) (12:50)

• On Tua’s confidence:

  • “I like for Tua, …he’s got a little cockiness to him right now. Yeah, he knows he's good.” – Mike (09:02)

• On defending the Dolphins:

  • “If you are able to press them, that’s great…If you don’t…and try to play off, then you can’t be physical with them. So it’s damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” – Dan (19:32)

• On Tyreek Hill’s video-game speed:

  • “He just moves differently than everybody else…It’s not like Tua is throwing the ball up 70 yards in the air. He’s getting them to him. And these guys make plays.” – Mike (17:28 & 18:12)

• Comment on head coaches’ personalities:

  • “Players respect and respond to you when you’re true to yourself…Sean’s not going to try and dance to hip hop music and act like he can do any of those…he relates…as a dad.” – Dan (28:44)

Important Timestamps

• Rivalry Introduction and Contrasts: 00:40 – 03:30
• Parsing Both Teams’ Quality of Opponents: 03:43 – 06:34
• Tua vs. Josh Discussion: 07:14 – 11:29
• Coaching Styles & Schemes: 12:50 – 14:09, 24:54 – 26:36
• Dolphins’ Offense & Speed: 17:28 – 21:37
• Defensive Adjustments & Press Coverage Dilemmas: 19:32 – 21:37
• Coaching Dynamic & Relationships: 28:04 – 29:48
• Score Predictions & X-Factors: 24:45 – 24:54

Final Thoughts & Outlook

The panel agrees that this Bills-Dolphins clash is a hallmark moment early in the season, likely to have implications for the AFC East title race. Both teams present unique, contrasting strengths, and the matchup pits innovation versus discipline on both sides of the ball. Expect a high-scoring duel, with both defenses facing their steepest tests thus far.

Notable Closing Thought:

• “To be the best, you gotta beat the best. And it's going to be a huge test for this Bills team.” – Jenna (16:52)

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