Day 9 of BILLS camp: The 'KEON COLEMAN' show CONTINUES to IMPRESS

Summary

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Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills Podcast

Day 9 of BILLS Camp: The 'KEON COLEMAN' Show CONTINUES to IMPRESS

Date: August 4, 2024
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes

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Episode Overview

The Buffalo Plus team recaps Day 9 of Buffalo Bills training camp, focusing on rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman's standout performance. The hosts provide in-depth analysis on Coleman's development, the impact of Stefon Diggs' departure, depth battles at wide receiver and tight end, and notable moments from both offense and defense. They include behind-the-scenes observations, player interactions, and address roster speculation as camp intensity rises.

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Main Theme

Keon Coleman Emerges as a Standout

• The episode centers on Keon Coleman impressing on and off the field, particularly after a highlight-reel touchdown catch from Josh Allen. The hosts discuss what Coleman's rise means for the team as it adapts post-Stefon Diggs, while touching on the overall atmosphere and key position battles at Bills camp.

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Detailed Breakdown & Key Insights

1. Keon Coleman's Best Day Yet (00:38 – 06:05)

The Play of the Day:

• Jenna sets the stage: "Beautiful catch from Keon Coleman in the back of the end zone after a Josh Allen scramble." (00:38)
• Mike details the play: "Josh Allen pressured. Rolls out. There’s Keon trying to get open. Benford’s on him. Keon just goes up and over, pulls it in. Both feet in. Everybody reacts." (01:05)
• Dan highlights the chemistry: "That's the play you need to be able to do with Josh because of his ability to extend plays... Even though Benford was all over him, Josh just throws it up, gives him a chance, comes down with it." (01:48)
• Jenna adds, "It’s the poise that stands out — his ability to play above the rim, but today was really above above the rim. The poise and maturity is what stands out." (02:26)

Memorable quote:

• Mike, on Coleman's separation: “Keon’s separation is this way (vertical). He’s big... Going up and getting the ball with a defender right on you is very important.” (03:09)

Coleman's Consistency & Growth

• Dan: "Today was probably Keon's best day... He had a strong camp, but today was on top of it." (01:48)
• Jenna: "I haven’t seen anything I’m concerned about in his game." (08:14)

Notable:

• Dan notes Coleman staying after practice for extra work and a mentorship moment: “The 21-year-old stays to talk to Rasul [Douglas]... picking his brain on the other side of the ball. More maturity from Keon.” (05:23)

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2. The Stefan Diggs Void & Emerging Offensive Identity (06:05 – 08:14)

• Jenna shares a question from John Wawrow (AP) about replacing Diggs’ production.
• Coach Sean McDermott (06:27):

  "You don’t. You never replace Stefon Diggs. I don’t even think you try to. It’s a different team... No one’s going to… I’m not asking anyone out there to try and be Steph Diggs. They need to be themselves and build our offense around who we have."

Analysis:

• Hosts agree this is the right messaging, cautioning against burdening one player with Diggs' shoes and expecting a more distributed offensive approach.

• Dan: "I think Keon's exceeded expectations of where I thought he’d be nine days into camp." (07:41)

• Jenna counters: “For me, his expectations are about where he’s at — and that’s impressive, not a knock.” (08:14)

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3. Observations on Other Key Offensive Players (09:23 – 13:08)

James Cook’s Inconsistencies

• Dan: “James Cook caught a pass in 7-on-7, was in the running for pass catcher of the day. But then dropped the next one in 11-on-11.” (10:28)

• Mike: “Those are the frustrating plays… He’s not going to get eight balls a game. But James, when you’re open, you got to make that play. Made the tough one. Let go of the easy one.” (11:03)

• Jenna: "He is their guy in the passing game and as a running back, but it's plays like that that are a concern." (11:16)

Reliable Contributors

• The hosts highlight consistency from Khalil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid:
  • “He’s like Kincaid — we don’t talk about it enough because it’s just always there.” (Jenna, 12:09)
  • “The route running is outstanding… Kincaid himself is a challenge to all the defenders. Khalil is difficult to stay with, a challenge in a different way than Keon." (Mike, 12:14)

Emergent Tight Ends

• Dan: “Zach Davidson… outside Kincaid, I think he’s been the best tight end at camp for results.” (14:11)
• Contention on if the Bills can "sneak" Davidson or Tyrell Shavers onto the practice squad, given heightened league-wide awareness and social media coverage.
  • “It's not as easy as, ‘Oh, he's unnoticed.’ They get picked.” (Dan, 15:04)

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4. Roster Construction & Camp Depth Battles (15:50 – 16:40)

• Jenna: “Now we're at the point in camp where those roster conversations are starting — do you keep three or four tight ends? Quinton Morris is a contributor on special teams.”
• Mike: “Trust level with Quint. Morris, but they’ll play a lot of two tight end sets with Knox and Kincaid, otherwise it's limited. There might be a moment where they take a higher upside with another player.” (16:02)

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5. Defensive Highlights & Projects (16:40 – 19:20)

Gabe Steveson Flashes

• Dan: “One guy that stood out … Gable [Steveson] would have had a sack, had a pass breakup … all next-level things. He’s a project but worth the investment.” (16:40)
• Mike: “He’s going to be on the practice squad — can’t trust a roster spot to a guy who's never played unless he’s a dominant force in preseason.” (17:21)
• Jenna: “I was expecting it to be a cute story… but he’s shown athletic flashes — literally just whooped right to the quarterback.” (18:08)

Von Miller Sighting

• Jenna: “Von Miller had a sack today, chased down Josh.” (20:35)
• Dan: “What stood out was the bend to get around Spencer Brown… would have been a sack.” (20:59)
• Mike: “Difference between being in the backfield with a pressure or a sack is massive... Last year, he didn’t have that extra whatever that is in Von Miller... If he’s got it back, it’s monumental.” (21:19)

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6. Quick Hits & Insider Jokes (21:41 – 22:36)

Marquez Valdes-Scantling (MVS)

• Mike: "He didn’t mention MVS — he got tons of first team reps." (21:41)
• Jenna/Hosts note: While he’s getting reps, not a lot of targets. "Running around… not a lot of first team catches." (22:24)

Locker Room Chemistry & Fun

• Lighthearted banter about interrupting each other, Dan using up everyone else’s talking points, and recurring inside jokes on the podcast.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Sean McDermott on replacing Diggs:
  "You don't...You never replace Stefon Diggs. I don’t even think you try to...They need to be themselves and develop...build our offense this year around the personnel that we have." (06:27)

• On Keon's vertical separation:
  Mike: “Keon’s separation is this way”—motioning vertical—“He’s big…getting the ball with a defender right on you is very important.” (03:09)

• On Coleman's maturity:
  Dan: "Just more maturity from Keon, staying after practice to learn from veteran Rasul Douglas." (05:23)

• On practice squad challenges:
  Dan: "With social media, if someone's having a good camp, everybody knows. It's more difficult to sneak guys on the practice squad now." (15:04)

• On Von Miller's bounce-back:
  Mike: "If he’s got that [the bend, explosiveness] back, the difference...would be monumental for this defense." (21:19)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Keon Coleman's highlight catch and camp performance – 00:38–06:05
• Replacing Stefon Diggs; McDermott's honest answer – 06:05–08:14
• James Cook, Shakir, Kincaid & consistency – 09:23–13:08
• Practice squad, Davidson, and Tyrell Shavers – 13:08–16:40
• Defensive notes: Steveson, Von Miller, and roster philosophy – 16:40–21:38
• MVS & roster speculation – 21:41–22:36

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Takeaways

• Keon Coleman is exceeding or meeting high expectations—physically talented, mature for his experience, and showing the ability to thrive in the Bills' new-look offense.
• Bills are firmly not trying to “replace” Diggs, instead building around their current group and allowing new leaders/playmakers to emerge.
• Depth at tight end (Davidson, Morris) and WR (Shavers) is strong—practice squad spots are more competitive and visible than ever.
• Defensive progress to watch: Von Miller's improved health and impact, Steveson's surprisingly rapid growth.
• Overall camp intensity is ramping up, with both established and fringe players making their case as roster decisions loom.

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For more, subscribe to the Buffalo Plus YouTube Channel and visit BuffaloPlus.com for exclusive coverage and behind-the-scenes access.

Transcript

[Dan Fates]

We talked about a little bit and I kind of just picked Brandon Beers. Brandon Bean's ears a little bit after practice. Talking about.

[Mike Catalana]

Don't you pick his brain.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

He don't pick his ears.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was thinking that.

[Mike Catalana]

You pick his brain.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Don't pick his nose.

[Dan Fates]

I picked Brandon Bean's brain.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. Oh, my God.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What?

[Mike Catalana]

As Dan would say, there's the open.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right. Welcome back to the Buffalo Plus Channel, presented by Connors and Farris, Mike Catalana, Dan Fates. I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe as well as share the channel. We always appreciate that so much. The Bills with a day off on Sunday or. No, Today's Sunday. Those are the day off on Saturday. Back to work on Sunday. Let's start with the play of the day. Mike. Beautiful catch from Keon Coleman in the back of the end zone after a Josh Allen scramble.

[Mike Catalana]

It's the type of play that I think Brandon Bean described when they talked about bringing in a guy like Keon Coleman. Here's Josh Allen pressured. Rolls out to his right, pointing in the end zone. There's Keon trying to get himself open. Christian Benford is on him. Yep. Keon just goes up and over and pulls it in. Both feet in. Everybody reacts. Look, it's one thing to do it here. He's gonna need to do it when.

[Dan Fates]

It counts here as he points onto the field.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He loves doing that.

[Mike Catalana]

That's the field. I point all the time.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You do. I don't know what to do with my hands.

[Dan Fates]

Point.

[Mike Catalana]

He's going to need to do it, obviously, but, man, he shows he will go up and get the football.

[Dan Fates]

Acrobatic catches. He has shown that time and time again. A training camp he's had, I feel like a strong camp. Today was probably Keon's best day. That catch was on top of it. It's. It's the play that you need to be able to do with Josh because of his ability to extend plays when. When new wide receivers come in. It's almost like if you play with a stereotypical pocket quarterback, like, the play's never dead. So Josh extends the play, all of this happens. And again Benford was all over him. And Josh just throws it up there, gives him a chance, comes down with it. It's all over the bill, social media. We couldn't shoot the play. But I'm sure by now, as you're watching this video, you have seen the clip.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was Keon's. One of his best days so far. And it's catches like that, that we've seen, I just really love. I mean, we talk about his ability to play above the rim and all those things, but since some of the catches that he is above, above the rim, some of the catches he has been able to make this camp and today is another example of just the poise that he has. And I think that that to me is what has stood out a lot.

[Mike Catalana]

These guys are working here, they're hard workers at camp. So you may hear some people in the background. I was just talking to someone shout out to the sponsor, Greg Connors, and he said to me, he goes, you know, everybody talks about separation for the wide receivers. You think of it this way. Keon's separation is this way.

[Dan Fates]

That's a great point by Greg Connick.

[Mike Catalana]

Look at that. And it really is the case because he is big and look, there are tall receivers, there are physical players, but going up and getting the ball with a defender right on you and making those plays when you have it is very, very important. Like, it's easy to say because otherwise you just, you get a tall receiver and he's taller than it doesn't mean they can make those plays. It. It is a difficult thing to do to extend and go bring the football down. And Keon has shown when in one on one drills or in seven on sevens, and in this case at goal line, that I think is going to be important.

[Dan Fates]

Made myself laugh. Would Wemby be a number one wide receiver? Can the basketball players play above the rim on the football field? The other one too, that also stood out to me, is another reason why Keon's the pass catcher of the day for us. They did a two minute drill, drove down the field, Keon in the slot, just great release to beat Benford on a slant. And then just like you talked about, the pass wasn't on his number, number zero, it was up high. So even though he was wide open. God bless you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Thank you.

[Dan Fates]

It's just the ability of Josh having so much more range with a wide receiver like Keon who can play above the rim.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Above the rim, yes. Something to note.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, he can. By the way, when you just said I made myself laugh, is that credit to me? Does it fall under credit?

[Jenna Cottrell]

You know, it's funny, I was listening to Sean McDermott's press conference today and he was saying like, credit to the coaching staff, credit to the player. And I was just thinking about Dan saying credit to me. Very different mindset shirts in the work, in the works. In the work. Honestly, that's perfect.

[Dan Fates]

My dyslexic self.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do you think that Benford. I felt like a couple of moments he was getting a little frustrated because I feel like Keon has been able to do. And look, you're going to win some reps, you're going to lose some reps, but I feel like Keon has done a very good job, particularly when Benford is in front of him.

[Dan Fates]

Benford also broke up a pass against Keon. So again, they went against each other a lot.

[Mike Catalana]

Two opportunities, another one. Josh zipped the ball in a little lower. Keon got his hands on it, but Benford was right there. It popped loose. I thought that was an outstanding pass, great defense. It was not a drop, but it was just, it was just great football all around.

[Dan Fates]

After practice, he was on the field for 30, 35 minutes, was catching deep passes from Josh, did more goal line practice with Josh on some fade balls, but then he stayed around and probably had a 15 minute conversation with Rasul Douglas and they were both going through that. And I'm sitting here and I'm going, keon just had his best day of camp. Like, this is awesome. And the 21 year old stays to talk to the veteran and pick his brain on the other side of the ball. He's not. He's worked with Mack and things like that. But that was telling to me to sit there and learn from Rasul. Of what, what do you see when I do this and when I do this, what are you thinking as a. As an elite level corner? So just more maturity from Keon.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Love that. And earlier today, John Wara of the Associated Press asked a great question, just about the Bills and not having Stefan Diggs around anymore. And how does that. I don't want to mess up what he asked.

[Dan Fates]

He asked, how do you kind of replace Stephan Diggs and his stats and production? And this is what Sean had to say.

[Sean McDermott]

You don't. You never replace Stefon Diggs. I don't even think you try to. It's a different team. It's a, you know, each team is shaped a little bit differently. So this team will have to take on its own identity. And no one's going to. I'm not asking anybody out there to try and be Steph Diggs. They need to be themselves and develop and build our offense this year around the personnel that we have this year.

[Mike Catalana]

I was just going to say I thought that was a honest and right on the money answer. And I say that obviously Sean knows what he thinks, but he was being honest to say this And I think that's the way it should be. There is no Stefan Diggs out there at the moment. Guys can grow into being better players. So don't expect that. Don't ask for that. And to hear that, as I'll say the company line. Yeah, I think makes a lot of sense. Yeah. Don't pretend you have that, that level player yet.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think that's so smart to do too because I think if you start to try and pigeonhole someone who's not that, then you're an. Expectations are such a huge piece of this game and having that much pressure on one guy in particular when maybe they're not ready for that, I mean that could be detrimental. Which that is why it appears that everyone has been able to get a piece of the pie in this offense.

[Dan Fates]

I think to you the listener had high expectations for Keon. I'm not going to sit here and say, oh, the Bills have found their number one guy. I'm not going to go that far. But I think he's exceeded expectations to what I had. I don't know about you guys, I don't know about you commenting what your expectations were, but he has looked more polished and more ready even in the pads. Like I said, he had a couple of days where he was leveled out but again, I thought to build off this day, I thought was was good. I think he's exceeded my expectations nine days into camp.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't know if I agree with that because I felt like with the Bills not adding anyone else to the draft, they must have been really comfortable and confident in. In him. That being said, I haven't seen anything that I'm like, oh my God, this is a glaring hole in his game and. And I can't believe that they drafted him or I have real concerns about. So I think for me his expectation of where I landed on is about where he's at and that's been. He has been impressive and I don't want. I don't want that to be a knock.

[Mike Catalana]

What I noticed if I did not know the all the stuff that went on after the draft and all that stuff, I just see a guy working sort of has a serious tone to him on the field. Yeah, he's got a couple moments, little dance, whatever it is. To your point, staying after and working like this is what he should be doing. But I think there was a perception out there that Keon fun. Yeah. I think he's enjoying the work. Yeah. But he's certainly from our perspective, putting in the work looks like he's here to do his job. And not every player balances those things of being a pro, learning how to be in pro, all those things, and then obviously showing on the field that he can play.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. You mentioned dropping. Yeah. James Cook, we see.

[Dan Fates]

He was in. He was in the total interruption.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's okay. It's okay.

[Mike Catalana]

By the way, I. I also want to bring something up. Sometimes I go back and watch the tape. You know, I'm grading myself and I'm trying to find, you know, those moments when I'm interrupting. I see a lot of moments when you two interrupt me.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But it's because we have to get in a word. Yeah, we gotta.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, so you're entitled to interrupt.

[Dan Fates]

It's going back and forth. It's the reps in practice.

[Mike Catalana]

Like, I gotta get in there. Okay, old man, finish what you're saying. And you two think you're gonna finish what I'm saying. And sometimes you do finish what I'm saying.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Yeah. You gotta fight. Well, between you two both, when people are like, jenna needs to talk more, it's like, where. How.

[Dan Fates]

How swag.

[Jenna Cottrell]

How. How. You don't have the answers because how am I supposed to. I've said this before. Sometimes Dan talks so long that he takes the point I'm thinking of. He keeps. Keeps continuing to talk till he takes what I was going to say.

[Mike Catalana]

So let's just say this floor is yours. Go ahead.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I forgot what.

[Dan Fates]

So James Cook caught a pass in seven out of seven, was in the running for pass catcher of the day.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, tell what the play was. It was. It was the play. He's dropped in the games. He dropped in Philly wide open, a bit of a wheel route. He's going there. He beats Williamson, I think was the defender, Kendall Williamson. Great catch. Over the top.

[Dan Fates]

And then going to drop an 11. 11.

[Mike Catalana]

And when you say drop, the ball just skimmed off his hands. It wasn't like.

[Dan Fates]

It was almost like it didn't hit his hands. Like it didn't even slow down.

[Mike Catalana]

Just went through him and look. But those are the frustrating plays.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I mean, would have walked into the end zone.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. And, you know, we've seen that out of him, and that is something they're not. He's not going to get eight balls thrown to him in a game.

[Dan Fates]

Nope.

[Mike Catalana]

But James, when you're open, you got to make that play again. Made the tough one. Let go of the easy way.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's the frustrating thing, though. It's like you see the potential. You see what he's able to do in those really challenging moments. And then it's like the. The. Oh, this is a gimme. That's where the. The struggle comes. Yeah. I mean, I think that he will be. He is their guy in terms of what he adds in the passing game and what he adds, obviously, as a running back. But it's plays like that, where it's like that is such a huge concern for this team.

[Mike Catalana]

Go on.

[Jenna Cottrell]

See, I don't like when you guys do this.

[Dan Fates]

No, you were cooking.

[Mike Catalana]

You were. I was cooking. Good.

[Jenna Cottrell]

James.

[Mike Catalana]

I met James.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We have that shirt. We have that shirt available on the Buffalo Plus, YouTube or the Buffalo plus store. Just go to BuffaloPlus.com store.com. buffaloPlus store.com. yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, the notebook is out.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, let's. Let's talk notebook.

[Mike Catalana]

I got my own notebook too, but.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Mine'S more of a. Khalil Shakir had a nice day, too.

[Dan Fates]

Khalil Shakir had another solid day.

[Mike Catalana]

He's like Kincaid.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes. We don't talk about it enough because it's just always there.

[Mike Catalana]

I don't see drops out of them.

[Dan Fates]

Nope.

[Mike Catalana]

The route running is outstanding. There was a breakup over the middle going for Kincaid in a seven on seven, but that wasn't on him. It wasn't a drop. It was just good defense. I mean, look that he is. Kincaid himself is a challenge to all the defenders. They know it too. Yeah. They know how when a guy is just good enough, they just accept the fact this guy's really good and we got to make plays on him. I think Kincaid's there and I think Khalil is just a guy who, again, the way he runs routes, he is difficult to stay with. And I think it's a challenge for all the defenders in a very different way than obviously with Keon.

[Dan Fates]

Two guys that have continued their strong camp. Zach Davidson, he was also in the running for pass catcher of the day. He had a good day. You said on Friday as a red and blue scrimmage.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He would have won on Friday, in.

[Dan Fates]

My opinion, as well as Tyrell Shavers.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Continued. He caught a pass. Both of them caught passes in 11 on 11 from Josh Allen. And again, that starts to perk up my ears to go.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay.

[Dan Fates]

It's not just from Mitch now. Like, now he's getting reps with the one. So both of those guys really stood out to me and I. We talked about a little bit and I kind of just picked Brandon Beers, Brandon Bean's ears a little bit after practice talking about don't you pick his brain. Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

He'll pick his ears.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was thinking that.

[Mike Catalana]

You pick his brain.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Don't pick his nose.

[Dan Fates]

I picked Brandon Bean's brain.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. Oh, my God.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What?

[Mike Catalana]

As Dan would say, there's the open. Okay, so go ahead.

[Dan Fates]

Pull back in about. Can you sneak players on the practice squats?

[Mike Catalana]

We might have lost her.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I'm sorry.

[Dan Fates]

Olive Garden all over again.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, my God. That's a deep cut.

[Dan Fates]

The fact of Zach Davidson has had. Outside of Kincaid, I think he's been the best tight end at camp for results on the field. I think he's been as flashy as Dawson Knox has been.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay.

[Dan Fates]

And we were kind of talking like, can you sneak him on a practice squad? And we were like, tyrell Shavers is another guy. And I was just kind of picking Brandon Bean's brain. That's a tongue twister. And asked him, you know, like, are you able to sneak guys on anymore? And he's like, not really. Like, with social media, like, if somebody's having a good camp, like, everybody knows he's having a good camp. And it's more difficult now compared to other decades where there wasn't the media attention, there wasn't social media that guys can kind of slide on the radar. So when you. When. When people comment in, oh, maybe they'll try and sneak this guy in the practice. But I don't think it's as easy as, oh, he's unnoticed. Like, they get picked.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, yeah. It's definitely a different.

[Dan Fates]

It's worth taking flyers for other teams, they're saying, hey, we need a tight end. This Davidson guy is having a strong camp in Buffalo. Let's take a shot.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I mean, just going to Twitter or X and searching his name, you will see multiple tweets, I'm sure, that say, even I had a tweet on Friday just about the level of play we've seen. But it brings up an interesting point because, look, we know Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, but then three and four in terms of Quinn Morris, who actually had playing time last year for this roster, and then Zach Davidson, who was mostly practice squad, did they keep. I think they're gonna keep three tight ends. I don't think they would keep four, but Quinn Morris is definitely a contributor on special teams. So now we're kind of at the point in the middle of training camp where it's like, where the preseason, I should say, where those conversations are definitely starting to occur.

[Dan Fates]

They are.

[Mike Catalana]

And look, there's a trust level they have with Quint. Morris because he's been on the roster and has made some plays for them. I think they're going to play a lot of two tight end sets when it's Knox and Kincaid.

[Dan Fates]

Correct.

[Mike Catalana]

Otherwise, I think that's very limited. There wouldn't be. Unless you're talking about short yardage. I do think that makes it interesting. There is a moment where they may say to themselves, we have a higher upside here with this player. And then that's a big decision. But you don't know. Again, it doesn't mean that they don't have an idea of sneaking a player.

[Dan Fates]

Not in the building.

[Mike Catalana]

Not in the building. Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I thought. Because he said.

[Dan Fates]

Again, he also said, interesting, but I tried.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Did he say, listen, get out your bingo cards. You do. You do listen. Yeah, you do. It's okay. It's okay. We all have.

[Mike Catalana]

Again, trying to hit them all.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I thought the defense was better today. Again. It wasn't super hot. Once again. I don't think the intensity was fully ramped up. I thought the defense was. Would have won today. And one guy that stood out that I think we're still trying to figure out where he fits in. Gable Stevenson would have had a sack, had a pass breakup that Bobby Babich was all fired up about. He kind of tipped the pass of the line of scrimmage. Like those are next level things. Getting your hands up, tracking the quarterback's arm release. All of those things that stood out to me where I know some people are saying Gable shouldn't be on the team. He's taking a roster spot, all these things. He's a project, but it's worth the investment as he's kind of coming along.

[Mike Catalana]

He's a guy that is going to be on the practice squad.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

I don't think you can trust a roster spot to a guy who's never played before, unless he goes in in the preseason and it's like this dominant force.

[Dan Fates]

Nuts.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Could you imagine?

[Mike Catalana]

That was a nice move. You know, just the lateral quickness that he has.

[Dan Fates]

Ed Oliver esque. Because he's a shorter guy.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes, definitely.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

So the way, like I said, when you think of Ed and Daquan playing the same. I know they play different techniques of the nose tackle, but it's like you almost see and you go, I can't believe they play the same position. Like, their builds are so different. What Ed does is so different than what Daquan does and things like that. Gable falls into more of that Ed physique and role, I think.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, it's just a lot to think of him being on the active roster.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I completely agree, but I was expecting essentially it to be a cute story. And I feel like he has made plays at camp where you're like, wow, even today when we were right before the sack, right before that rep, I'm like, you know what? I'm just gonna watch Gable Steveson. I haven't really watched that much of him that he literally just was like, whoop right to the quarterback. So you see the athleticism, it's obviously there. It's just the fine tuning. But that is someone that I was not expecting to really have any sort of impact at camp. And he's.

[Mike Catalana]

He's had flashes for sure that that's going to be. When you say getting guys on to practice squads and all this kind of thing, like in his case, I think around the league, people realizing he's a project, but it doesn't mean a team doesn't take that flyer. The difference is, do they grab him and put them on there? They put them on their active roster.

[Dan Fates]

And also to pull a guy or to have guys in your practice squad too. It's kind of like your minor league system. You have guys that you've had in your building now this entire off season, you know what they are. So if you're another team, you've invested time, resources, everything into this guy that you have. And so to put another guy on your active roster and then to try and slide him and fit him back into your practice squad, it's tough because you're then letting somebody go that you've invested things in.

[Mike Catalana]

I would also add we have not heard what we were expecting best shape of his life during this camp from Gable, anybody, has there been a best.

[Dan Fates]

Shape of his life Complimented James Cook, more solid Brady. Joe Brady's talked about it multiple times.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He has said like the same.

[Mike Catalana]

But I'm talking about that actual phrase.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, no, I have not heard that.

[Mike Catalana]

So the other phrase you will hear in every tweet about a release is they've released this player and they plan to bring it back on the practice squad.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

But to your point, I think the retention of players is obviously greatly, greatly increased with the expanded practice squad. You might have thought before they'd be like, let's grab six players from another team. To your point, Dan, that's what teams do now. So there'll be an occasional player that jumps goes from team to team. But when you invest in that and you can keep them in and it's not just practice Squad like the old days, the practice squad is on any given week, part of the regular roster. Yep. So in terms of what the tight ends like, you made that point. If one of those tight ends is on the practice squad, there's a couple of games during the year. We've got the call ups and all. So I think that's great for the league, but I also think that it also increases the amount of players who don't get cut and said goodbye.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Another guy who made a flashy play today, Von Miller, he did. He had the sack today and chased down Josh. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

The play that Josh will out where again, you're not. He's not gonna try and chase him down.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Take from Josh.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. But it was good to see some of the agility of Vaughn. He's never been necessarily the fastest player on the edge. I think they've been faster.

[Mike Catalana]

It's the bend.

[Dan Fates]

That's. That's what you want to see back. And again, when. When Deion talked about thinking that 40's back and he's got his aura again, that's what I'm also looking out for. And so the bend to get around Spencer Brown to get to Josh, which would have been a sack, that stood out to me.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

The difference between those things is so small, but it's massive.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And last year he didn't have it. He didn't have that extra whatever that is in Von Miller. Whether it's power, speed, confidence, all those things in the knee. If he's got that back, obviously the difference between being in the backfield and making a pressure or sacking the quarterback would be monumental for this defense.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Truly. Yeah. Anything else you guys want to.

[Mike Catalana]

I just wanted to say he didn't mention mbs.

[Dan Fates]

I was just going to get tons of first team reps.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He did. Did he? Did he. Does that mean he got a lot of. Does that mean he got a lot of targets?

[Mike Catalana]

Yep. Oh, yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Also him and Josh walking off the field hugging each other.

[Mike Catalana]

Did Josh say, sorry, I didn't throw you the ball today?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Nope. Sorry I only looked your direction once.

[Mike Catalana]

Sorry. There's not a chance you're going to lead the team in receiving yards, haters. No, this has nothing to do with mps.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, it doesn't.

[Mike Catalana]

Nothing.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, that's. That's what's. That's what sucks. Like you. Like.

[Mike Catalana]

This is not mvs.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's actually personal.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, exactly.

[Dan Fates]

And it's not personal to mps. It's personal to Buffalo Buffs.

[Mike Catalana]

It's djf. That's who it's for Daniel J. Fates.

[Jenna Cottrell]

DJ Fates.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. DJ Fates.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Not a lot. You're right. A lot of first team reps for mbs.

[Mike Catalana]

He's running around.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And also not a lot of first team targets. Catches one.

[Dan Fates]

Let's do this again tomorrow.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay? All right, we'll do. Please be sure to like comment subscribe as well as share. We always appreciate it.

[Dan Fates]

Bean Orlovsky.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Orlovsky video is really good.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Buffalo plus to the freaking moon.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Love it. For Mike and Dan, I'm Jenna. We'll catch you next time here on the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel. I almost started laughing thinking about Dan.

[Mike Catalana]

Picked his ear. He picked Dan Orlovsky's ear.

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[Dan Fates]

So close.

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