Mike Catalana (1:41)

Yeah, Tua's been playing great, right? Tyreek, even when he didn't do a lot, had a touchdown and picked up a fumble and ran in the end zone because he's a freak of nature with the way he can run. So he's a scary player when he's on the field. But it is interesting how quickly things in this league change. And Dan Orlovsky does a great job on ESPN and he's breaking down what's happening to them and the way defenses are playing a different. And he's suggesting, suggesting maybe the Dolphins need to run the ball more, go at Taryn Johnson, play differently and all. And if you're an elite offense, while you make adjustments, you dictate to the other team. And I'm not saying the Dolphins are going to do that. I'm saying is it's kind of interesting to say maybe you need to become more of a running team and take advantage of that. The Chiefs aren't saying that with Patrick Mahomes. The Bills aren't saying that with Josh Allen. You may talk in moments about doing something differently, but it's at your guy. So we don't know what the Dolphins are going to try to do on Saturday night, but if you got the guy and you got Tyreek Hill and you got Jalen Waddle, you better be able to run your offense that way and score points. And Dan, I think there's doubt now in Miami after what they've put on the field the last couple of weeks.

Dan Fates (2:57)

Yeah, I think it was understanding in San Francisco just because the Niners have a good defense. That was it. But the Chargers game was kind of the baffling one because Chargers don't really have that great of a defense and they, I mean, two was horrendous three of 14 to start the game. So I think there are some questions. I think the pendulum will swing back. But Mike, we were talking about it on the drive up to Buffalo on Wednesday that, you know, you talk about Brock Purdy and like you, there are times when you can sit there and say, like, well, I know that things are going to go back to the means. Like, like we're going to kind of.

Jenna Kaushal (3:29)

Even out into the mean.

Dan Fates (3:31)

Yeah. And if you're a good quarterback, like, usually that that ends up working out or if you're a bad quarterback, you may have a good moment, but it, you're going to come back to, you're going to turn back into a pumpkin at some point. I have faith. I, I, and I've been saying this all year that Mike McDaniel can make the adjustments and change. It's just a matter of we haven't seen it, Mike. And, and that was kind of what your point was, was like there are times when it's like, oh my gosh, this guy could be, you know, he's doing something that's never been done before. And it's like, yeah, it's probably going to end up evening out because there's a reason it's never been done before by Mr. Irrelevant or in this case, Tua and this offense trying to figure out can they make the adjustments that defenses have made on them.

Jenna Kaushal (4:14)

I think you're also seeing like, at this point in the season when there is a blueprint and you know, Dan Arlovsky talked about it on ESPN how if it is rep like able to be replicated, how other teams pick up on that. And also just the fact of the season, we've even seen this with the Bills. I feel like where they get into a little bit of a tough stretch where teams kind of know what to do and it's how you adapt. And I think that was obviously November for the Bills team, late November. But this is the adversity that we've all talked about the Bills having, how every team goes through adversity. And I'm curious because I feel like when you look at Mike McDaniel and obviously his team really is invested in him, it seems like they have a good rapport. You know, you've seen the sideline shots of him being like, that's my bad. I messed up all this stuff. But it's like, okay, but what do you do now to instill confidence in your team? Is it I wearing a I wish it was colder T shirt? I don't know. That's kind of a rip off of what I guess he said during training camp. He was wearing a I wish it was hotter T shirt during then. But at the same point, this is really the big test of the season. And when you have this game coming up and what it means for the division, what it means for the playoffs for this team. I believe the Dolphins can adapt because of the talent they have on the field, but it comes to their coach to be like, what are you going to do now? Because you need to make changes.

Mike Catalana (5:32)

Yeah. I mean, there's one thing, Jenna, about being the leader of the team, And I think McDaniel has gotten that out of his team. Then there's another thing about being the X's and O's guy and coming up with something. And we've seen it even with the Bills.

Jenna Kaushal (5:44)

Yeah.

Mike Catalana (5:45)

Where I mean, there's been some doubt about Ken Dorsey and making adjustments both pregame and in a game and making the most out of your offense. You have Tyree Kill and Jalen Waddle. Like that is your advantage.

Jenna Kaushal (5:58)

Yeah.

Mike Catalana (5:58)

And I'm not. You know, we're going to talk about the weather here in a minute, but I'm just going to say that in terms of adjusting when teams change, like give the Chargers credit. You know, Brandon Staley does a lot of odd things there and he hasn't maybe gotten the most out of his quarterback and a talented guy, but he coached a heck of a game and he changed things up and they played much More pressure on the wide receivers. And they changed some of those angles and those windows that two has been throwing the ball to. But if you're. Okay. So if you're Miami and you're McDaniel, how are we doing this? Because we have guys who win their matchups, right. Tyreek Hill wins his matchups. Jalen Waddle's a heck of a player. Like, you have to figure that out. And you got to help your quarterback. And I like to a lot of. But come on. Sometimes it's. It is partially scheme and then him making plays. And Dan's right. He was bad against the Chargers, but things changed. And I never really saw a major adjustment for them offensively. They struggled the whole game.

Dan Fates (6:59)

Yeah. The one thing like is I. I think it is funny. Jenna, you bring up the point of Mike McDaniel wearing the. I wish it was colder in here because not only that, but we talked about it. That the Bills brought in heated or the. The Dolphins brought in heated benches to LA when it was 55 degrees or whatever.

Mike Catalana (7:16)

And.

Dan Fates (7:16)

And they were practicing inside this week with the air conditioning cranking. And it was like somebody reported that, like, one of the reporters was like, it was like 60 degrees, but that was better than the 85 degrees in, you know, in. In Miami. So. But I will say this about Mike McDaniel. He is genuine. That is who he is. He is this weird guy. I mean, go back and look at anything. The thing that doesn't work out for coaches is when they're trying to be somebody they're not. It is. Look at everybody that has been under Bill Belichick, that tries to be Bill Belichick, and it doesn't work. I believe that Mike McDaniel has this. I think they're ahead of schedule as to what they thought they would be in this rebuild along with the Jets. So I. I actually think that the Bills are kind of getting a. Not a sleeping monster, but I think Mike McDaniel has another gear to get to and. And get this offense back to.

Jenna Kaushal (8:15)

I. I agree with you. I think he needs to. And I also think there's a very fine line. You talk about a guy being authentic and kind of fun with the media and all this stuff, because my brain goes to Rex ryan. Now, Mike McDaniel seems a lot more disciplined, a lot more X's and O's type of guy, but we know Rex is. That's who Rex is. Now, again, I think McDaniel has a lot more discipline in terms of everything, but there's a certain Point where like that act, I think can fade if you're not getting the results. Now, I think this is the initial stretch of, you know, issues for this team in terms of the Dolphins. I don't expect this to linger around because I do expect there to be adaptations by McDaniel. But the NFL is interesting in that way. Like you can have a shtick and all this stuff, but if things start to go sideways, what is it? It's win or panic. And sometimes that doesn't play the exact the same.

Mike Catalana (9:06)

Yeah. Let me tell you something. Miami is going to really be in a panic if they lose this game and the playoffs are on the line now. We're not talking about winning the division.

Jenna Kaushal (9:16)

Playoffs.

Mike Catalana (9:17)

Yeah. I mean, can you imagine that with the way Miami was going? And it changes fast in this league and it's a long season now. You know, the, the days of just a team got off to an 03 start and only certain percentage. That's all changing now. I mean, the way we start a season, the way teams are prepared. Some teams get off to a great start. The Cardinals last year were like eight. No. Or seven. And oh, and then they faded. I mean, this is what happens. So if you're McDaniel, you talk about panic, you lose Saturday night. I don't even care if you play well and lose the game. That's three in a row. All of a sudden you're in danger of missing the playoffs because those other teams, whether it's the Patriots.

Jenna Kaushal (9:59)

Yeah.

Mike Catalana (9:59)

The Chargers, who beat him head to head, like it becomes a thing. So it's a big, big moment for them. It's big for the Bills too, obviously, to stay number one, to get the offense going, all those things. But I'm going to say, Dan, walking into Orchard park when there's going to be snow after losing two in a row is not an ideal situation for this Dolphins team.

Dan Fates (10:24)

No, absolutely not. And do you want to talk about the weather now?

Mike Catalana (10:28)

Yeah, go ahead.

Dan Fates (10:29)

I, I, I thought Jordan Poyer. We talked about it on the, the post game practice was the perfect recap. And it's something that I think people talk about and they're like, no, they're professional athletes. That's not how they do. They, they get up for every single game and they don't. They're human beings. And guess what? If you think that players and teams prep the same way for every single week. The Dallas Cowboys did not prepare for the Houston Texans. They watched film on them and went, these guys suck. And then all of a sudden they were In a dog fight with the one win Houston Texans. So Poyer talked about the fact that he landed in Buffalo and he was playing with Cleveland. And he's like, the wind chill hits your face. He's like, I played in cold weather. And he's like, but this was different. And he's like, and I didn't want to be there. And it's like, that's a real thing. Like you talk about Jenna, like we're, we're freezing on the sidelines. It's like, do I really want to be here sometimes? Like this, this, this really sucks. While Mike is warm and cozy in the press box, I go, this can affect a two loss team. A team that's lost two in a row that is starting to squander. And then you got the wind blowing in your face and it's snowing and you're like, well, screw this.

Jenna Kaushal (11:44)

Yeah, no, it's so true. It's like you're adding another element into the mix. Like they're already dealing with trying to figure stuff out. And you're like, and also, and let's be real, like, you can only play where you're supposed to play. Like the Dolphins, like, yeah, it's 80. It's like in the 80s there right now. It's just so different. And I remember last year, even earlier on when I I Dan, we were picking games last season to figure out who wanted to go where. And I was like, I don't want to go to Miami week two. And you were like, oh, it's not, it's going to be hot, but it's like not going to be that bad. And this was last year. And you're like, yeah, that is real, like how hot it was. It's like the oppressive humidity, all that stuff. Well, in terms of where we're at in the season now, like December in Buffalo. I was talking to a former player a couple weeks ago and this was before, you know, the Dolphins started losing games. And I'm like, you know, what do you think of that matchup? And he goes, the Dolphins in December in Orchard Park. I'm not worried. And I was kind of. And this is a guy that's removed from the team and all this stuff. But I was like, that's interesting because, you know, the weather is such a, a dynamic, dynamic element of this game.

Dan Fates (12:52)

And.

Jenna Kaushal (12:52)

But I love what Jordan Poyer said also, where it's like, yeah, even when you're on the Bills, it's like, you know, it's, it's the, the weather is tough you adapt to it because you've been there. But it's. It's a challenge for everyone. You're just more used to that challenge we've talked about.

Mike Catalana (13:06)

They all hate it. They all hate it. I mean, Dan, you can answer this.

Jenna Kaushal (13:10)

Except for Dawson Knox.

Mike Catalana (13:11)

Dawson Knox, Yes. Because.

Dan Fates (13:14)

Gets worse.

Mike Catalana (13:14)

I asked Josh that, you know, at practice, and he's like, yeah, because he gets to go out there in his. What did he say is tank top. Tank. Tank top. And show off his arms. Yeah. So. But they all hate it. They all hate being out there. Here's the difference. You're at home, there's more energy. I picture just that game, and you guys know where it's. It's 10 to nothing, bills, the crowd's going crazy. You're standing on the sidelines fighting to get in front of the heater, and you're like, I could just stay here. Like it's. It is human nature.

Jenna Kaushal (13:43)

Yeah.

Mike Catalana (13:44)

And it's funny, you talk about, you know, we. You guys know. I mean, you're down there for. One of you is down there for the whole game a lot of times. And Dan, I remember when we were out there pre game for the. The playoff game, when it was zero, the sun was out a little bit early before we got out there, and it was still and we walked out, we were out there for probably, what, like 45 minutes or so. We were doing a couple live shots, half an hour, 40 minutes. And I remember we're both standing there going, hey, it's not that bad. It's not that bad because it wasn't. And then all of a sudden it's that zero just hits you. And it's a bit overwhelming because like, you guys say, you can talk about it, you can wear T shirts that say something, but until you feel it in the game, it's about being prepared for that. And Dan, that's different to me than the Dallas Cowboys, maybe not watching as much film. I'm saying is, you know, Mike McDaniel is basically trying to say to them, just take it out of your mind, like, don't let it bother you. But the only way you can do that is to be prepared for it and then not let it bother you. Because if you're not and whether that's what you wear, how you prepare way, you warm up, like, I don't know what it is.

Dan Fates (15:01)

Yeah.

Mike Catalana (15:01)

But if you're just out there thinking, hey, it's okay, it's okay, and it's going to hit you, and it's going to hit you, Hard. And they're not, they don't, they don't often play in this. They do. I mean, obviously they play in the afc, so. Yeah, it depends, Jenna, on the circumstances too. So for me, down in the game, it could feel really rough for them.

Dan Fates (15:20)

Absolutely.

Mike Catalana (15:20)

Yeah.

Dan Fates (15:21)

To me, everybody says this is such a. Bills have the advantage. And I've always kind of chuckled at that fact is because the Bills offense performs way better in a dome like they just would like than they, than they would in the elements. They're not this ground and pound team. They're not like the Tennessee Titans or something like that. Like, they have a high powered offense that can be hampered by elements. Like, that's whatever it is. But I do think it's a greater disadvantage to the Dolphins. Like, everybody just goes, oh, well, the Bills are, you know, they're used to it. It's like, I don't like it any more than the Dolphins, but the Dolphins are less, like Mike said, less prepared. I asked Josh, we, we had talked about. We talked. I had asked him about. Because you've been in it now a few years, have you learned how to deal with it? And he's like, it's cold. He's like, it's just cold. He's like, you learn how to do a couple more layers. He's like, you try and maybe you figure out whether you put icy hot on your toes to keep them warm. They were outside Yesterday, like what, 29.

Mike Catalana (16:24)

Degrees outside, pretty calm winds, sun was out. Yeah.

Dan Fates (16:28)

He goes, my toes froze. He goes, I had to come in and take off my shoes, my cleats, because my toes were frozen. I'm trying to warm them back up. Like, that doesn't give the Bills an advantage. It's just Josh has had to deal with that more than the Dolphins. So more of a disadvantage for the Dolphins.

Mike Catalana (16:45)

Jenna, I think he really hates it. I really do. I think it impacts Josh a little bit more. The whole thing with his feet is kind of crazy to me.

Dan Fates (16:54)

Those suckers.

Mike Catalana (16:55)

Yes, he's. I mean, he mentions it, but hey, Tom Brady would say it for years. Tom Brady didn't like it. And he's like, I had to get it out of my head and use it almost to an advantage. And he did. He played well in poor weather, but he didn't like it. That's the difference, I'm saying is they've been there, they've done it, they hate it. But you just, I mean, you guys are an example.

Jenna Kaushal (17:16)

You know what to expect.

Mike Catalana (17:19)

And wasn't it Dan almost Harder for you to adapt to what was going on in Miami just because you haven't had a lot of games when it was that bad. You've had a few of them where you're like, oh, my God, how do they play a game in this. Where you've been. You guys have both been on the field and running around in a lot of cold games. But that difference is, I think, what makes a difference. Difference.

Jenna Kaushal (17:41)

That's the thing. Sometimes it is nice to. When you do have to run around in the cold, like, you're like, okay, at least I. I'm not gonna lie. I'm curious to try. Have you guys tried the Icy Hot on your toes?

Mike Catalana (17:51)

I was thinking about that when. When he said it.

Jenna Kaushal (17:53)

I don't know if that's that, because I got frostbite on my toes when I was younger, and now it's like the first thing that goes. So I was like, oh, maybe I'll try that.

Dan Fates (18:00)

My hands and toes go. Are the first thing. Like the game on. On Saturday. Sunday.

Jenna Kaushal (18:06)

Sunday. Yeah.

Dan Fates (18:07)

Yeah. I was warm. New Buffalo plus coats were phenomenal. Kept me dry, but I kept losing the circulation. I kept going over to the heaters on the sidelines to warm my hands up because that's. It's hands and toes that go for me. And that's what Josh said, too. He's got poor circulation. So it is. It is something. And Brady said he used to love playing in the cold weather, in the snow, because it slowed the game down. The guys that are really fast, it slows them down. And he goes, I'm already so slow. It levels the playing field. And he could think. He thought faster. We know Brady looks at the game differently. So that. That, to me, is another. I guess that is a real. No, it's another disadvantage to the Dolphins, the fact that, you know, they're going to be Josh saying, you got to sit on the heated benches, you got to try and, you know, stay warm the best you can. So.

Mike Catalana (18:55)

Yeah, by the way, real quick, the playoff game against the Patriots, there was no real. There was no snow in that one, right?

Dan Fates (19:02)

No, just.

Mike Catalana (19:02)

It just was crazy cold. And they had the ball seven times and scored seven touchdowns.

Dan Fates (19:07)

That is correct.

Mike Catalana (19:08)

So it can work. But that was not. It wasn't windy and it wasn't snowing.

Dan Fates (19:15)

But it was wind. Game was the craziest.

Mike Catalana (19:17)

The craziest. Yeah.

Jenna Kaushal (19:18)

Well, yeah, the wind is. It's just. It's supposed to be very snowy on Saturday.

Mike Catalana (19:22)

Yep.

Jenna Kaushal (19:23)

So we shall see. I also think if you're the Dolphins. And you talked about it, Mike. A little bit. Just to add on though, like, if you're trailing by 10 and things aren't really working out, then you're like, it's cold, man. It's just discouraging. You're like, we've lost two in a row this side. And again, I think that's just human nature to be like, this sucks and I want to leave.

Mike Catalana (19:45)

Yeah. And people in the, behind you in the stands.

Jenna Kaushal (19:48)

Yeah.

Mike Catalana (19:48)

Screaming at you.

Jenna Kaushal (19:49)

Yeah, yeah.

Mike Catalana (19:50)

You know, taking their shirts off, laughing, saying, it's not cold.

Jenna Kaushal (19:55)

We see Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Mike Catalana (19:56)

Oh, could be. No, he's working. Well, he said not on Saturday. So.

Jenna Kaushal (20:02)

Yeah. No. All right, let's move on though. In terms of the Bills adding Cole Beasley as Beasley back in the building. He returned to teammates yesterday. And I want to get your guys opinion. Dan, I'll start with you because we got to hear from Beasley on Wednesday. And you tweeted about just how, you know his perspective and just how you said he was humble. Like, what was, what were your thoughts.

Dan Fates (20:23)

On what he had to say last year? Again, this isn't political. I'm not, not taking this the political route or anything like that. But Beasley was combative whenever he addressed the media. He had this arrogance. I'm right, you're wrong. I'm the, I'm the, the, the guy that's doing all the right things. Everybody, why are you questioning me? Was, was the sentiment. And I thought there was a chance that Bisa could sit down at that podium and go, I'm back. I'm your worst nightmare. I'm back to do it again. You guys wanted me gone and now you got to deal with me again. And instead it was a humble, contrite, good work, thoughtful, like I, I thought he, he. And again, for him to say, I had to have a conversation with Beam, I didn't like the way things ended in Buffalo. I had to own up to that. I had to have a man to man conversation. And he was asked, well, what, what didn't you like about how things ended? And he's like, well, I don't really want to get into that. Which I thought was another great way. Let's just play football. Like, he, he didn't want to get into it. He told some things about how he wanted to write some of the wrongs. He admitted that he didn't handle everything well, especially on the Internet world. That really took a toll on him. He said it was a hard two years for everybody, but I thought I, that It's funny, I was telling my wife about it, and I go, he. He sounded so mature. Coming from a guy that was 32 years old last year, it just seemed like, as Mike and I were saying, he needed some time away from the Bills, and the Bills needed some time away from him. And that kind of cleared everything up to, hey, I want to go back and play football with these guys. I love these guys. We've got something special here, and let's fix it.

Mike Catalana (22:02)

Immensely popular with his teammates. He was always a great teammate, and I think that whole thing separated himself not necessarily from them. You know, personally, they supported him, but it caused the rift. It did with McDermott. There's no. There's no doubt because it was more about back to 21. It was like, hey, you're talking about yourself in this and not the team. But I'm with Dan. I like the way he sounded, and I think it needed to happen now. I also think at the end of 21, he was a little beaten up, and I think they believed they could replace him, and it was a relatively easy call for them, because when you go into that off season, you're thinking, well, we got McKenzie. We can sign a player. We can. You have all these options. I didn't have a lot of options. Now it's December, and he called them to say, I'm interested, and they're looking going, okay. Like, honestly, you know, he knows the offense, he knows the players, he knows Josh. So I'm really interested to see how they incorporate him and how quickly. And as we're recording this, we don't know about Saturday, but, Jenna, it will not surprise me. I don't care what anybody else says, it will not surprise me if he's active in the game on Saturday. I mean, time is short now. It's December, you're playing the Dolphins, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's playing. If he's not, they'll get him ready for the next week.

Jenna Kaushal (23:29)

They. They missed that piece, that he has added that security, that safety blanket, all of those things. And, you know, I. I was curious how Isaiah McKenzie would handle everything, but from the outside, on social media, it seems like everyone is really excited to have Beasley back and including him. But Dan, I mean, I think Beasley just offers you that security like we talked about, and with how the passing game's been going and just. It's Stefan Diggs and then everybody else. And so for him to be able to, you know, be a guy that Josh can rely on, just. I Mean, where do you set your expectations for him now? Because we are in December because he's been off, but he's.

Dan Fates (24:11)

No, no, no. This. Because Mike and I had this conversation like the entire drive up yesterday.

Jenna Kaushal (24:15)

Oh, really?

Mike Catalana (24:15)

He talks all the time in the car. Jenna, Jenna.

Dan Fates (24:18)

I think I got. I think I got 12 words in.

Jenna Kaushal (24:20)

That's pretty good.

Dan Fates (24:21)

I was just nodding. It's just like, yeah, y. And look, I don't think Cole Beasley right now fixes the Bill's problems on offense. Can he be part of the solution? Absolutely.

Jenna Kaushal (24:37)

I think he alleviates some.

Dan Fates (24:40)

Yeah, we'll see. And I understand too. It's also about the right fit, but, but it's also very telling, you know, the moves that didn't happen. Cole didn't sign with another team. Now, did he get offers that were team showing interested? Yes, I'd imagine. But I think it is telling that nobody signed him for 10 weeks when you know, he left the Bills and everybody's like, oh, well, he'll sign somewhere. He was a good slot receiver. So I think that that needs to be put into context a little bit. He's a 33 year old slot receiver. To Mike's point, what we said, he is unlike any slot receiver in football. He is unlike any of them. He's not just a, oh, you got a small, quick, shifty guy, put him in the slot. No, Cole is different. Josh said he sees the field like a quarterback. He played high school quarterback, was coached by his father, all those things. He sees the game differently. If that can produce some easy throws. Those freebies I've been begging for Josh to get again, that will be a way of jump starting this offense. They're averaging four yards of play on first down the last four weeks. That's horrendous. They have been, as Dan Orlovsky has said, in third and Hope.

Jenna Kaushal (25:47)

I love that that is what they're.

Dan Fates (25:49)

Like because they're not drawing up anything. And I know it's Jimmy's and Joe's, but there's got to be X's and O's so Beasley can hopefully bring that. What is this, Matumbo?

Mike Catalana (25:58)

Here's what I'm give you, here's what he does. Jenna, I was looking, I put the glasses on not just because I'm older, but because I got numbers. So a year ago, I'm looking at their stat percentages now for snaps. Okay. This year Diggs is 77. A year ago he was 81. MacKenzie a year ago was 22% of the snaps. He's 51% this year. Gabe Davis a year ago, 48% of the snaps. This year, he's 85% of the snaps because there's no Emmanuel Sanders.

Jenna Kaushal (26:36)

Yeah.

Mike Catalana (26:36)

Who had 62% of the snapshot on offense last year. They really were using four. Honestly, when I look at what they have now, it's, you know, Knox is 75, is similar to what he was a year ago. Quinton Morris has taken what Tommy Sweeney did in terms of number of snaps, it's really been the three guys and they haven't had that other guy. I think his percentage of snaps comes in and they trust him. And less is more with Gabe and Mackenzie, and I think. Because it'll be somebody Josh trusts and he doesn't trust those guys totally. And that's a lot of snaps for them and it's a lot to be expected of. It's funny, Dan, I looked at the, like, trying to say, like, how different is it? Their yards per play is higher this year than it was last year, but it's different. Their total points is very similar through 13 games. You know, it's like, then they scored about 30 a game the rest of the way, but this team still scores 30 when the offense isn't playing well. Like, that's just who they are. But I think there's where your difference is, he's another guy they can trust. It can shift what they do on the field. Khalil Shakir is not getting a bunch of snaps. If Crowder were to come back, not getting a bunch of snapshots, it's the idea of what OBJ would have brought, which is that other guy who can play 30% of the snaps or whatever it is. And I think he's going to be rather somewhat limited but impactful to what they try to do.

Jenna Kaushal (28:13)

Dan.

Dan Fates (28:15)

I think we need to understand all of the things that had to go wrong for the Bills to sign Beasley back. Mike, you and I talked about it. It's a desperate move. This is a desperate.

Mike Catalana (28:28)

But all teams are desperate at this time of year. Yeah, all teams are looking for somebody that I. I would say that John.

Dan Fates (28:34)

Brown moved for last year like this. They weren't. And that's what you're talking about. It feels different. They weren't desperate like this.

Mike Catalana (28:40)

Well, they still. Everybody was healthy, too, but Beasley was.

Dan Fates (28:44)

Banged up and his snap counts. Like, I. I keep going back to that. Beasley in the playoff games only played like 33% of the snaps. I know he was banged up. I know that that's part of this, and I think it is. You're, you're signing him for six games and not 19. I, I think that is part of it. But they signed Jameson Crowder who got injured. Isaiah McKenzie hasn't progressed like they thought he would. When do we get to say Dan was right about Gabe? Do we get to.

Mike Catalana (29:13)

Well, what do you. What, what are you right about?

Dan Fates (29:16)

What do you mean? What, what, what, what, what?

Jenna Kaushal (29:18)

Like, what do you mean, like Dan? I. Here's the thing, here's. Internally, my struggle right now is I'm like, you know what? Looking at the data, Gabe has not had the consistency that we wanted, the number of catches. But your face makes me want to say we give it more time.

Mike Catalana (29:32)

Your face.

Dan Fates (29:34)

And what did I say last year? What did I say this off season? The consistency. I'm concerned about consistency, about a guy who hasn't done it and he has an inconsistent. So, yeah, don't, don't tell me more time. Don't tell me more time.

Jenna Kaushal (29:47)

No, I, I. You're making me not want to be reasonable right now.

Mike Catalana (29:53)

It is also interesting because last year they had the other guys. I did look at Beasley. You're right. He. Well, limited against the Patriots because they were cruising in that game. But he was only like 47% against Kansas City and he still caught six balls there and they were important. He had three games last year. Like, his numbers would go up and down depending on the opponent, but they had. Sorry about that. But they. There was three games last year, the Steelers early, the Titans and Tampa, where he was over 80% of the snaps. And I think some of that is based on what the defense does and how it dictates things. But I think again, I'm not looking for a huge percentage of snaps. I'm looking for another guy that Josh trusts and, and that's where I think he's going to be. Jenna, I was saying is in the game against Kansas City, you know, he'd catch a ball on a third and seven for four yards and then they went for it on fourth down and Josh ran for it and got the first. Like he, his plays where Alan said it yesterday. And Dan loves this, he's an extension of the running game because it's still Josh throwing the ball.

Dan Fates (31:02)

Yeah.

Mike Catalana (31:02)

But he's got him there. So I'm going to be fascinated to say it because he's the kind of guy they need. And I was saying all this time they missed the ghost of Cole Beasley.

Jenna Kaushal (31:14)

Yeah.

Mike Catalana (31:15)

So. And that, and that, that's not disrespectful to him. It sounds a little disrespectful, but it's the idea of what he has been. But he, he hasn't played this year and that can be a plus for a guy his age who's taken all those hits that you're getting him for this short stint and he's healthy. Go out there and play and I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Jenna Kaushal (31:35)

He's actually healthy, actually recovered. And I do think you're right. Like him going back to where he was kind of shifts everyone else to their spots that they were and more productive in. That's the hope at least, right? Something to look forward to.

Mike Catalana (31:48)

Shaking his head no.

Jenna Kaushal (31:49)

Okay. Last thing with the Dan on Gabe Davis. Dan. I think you're right. I think we wanted to see more out of Gabe Davis.

Mike Catalana (31:58)

You're right.

Jenna Kaushal (32:00)

I question. I. Yeah, I know. I, I question how healthy he is. But that being said, I think that we wanted to see more catches out of him. Maybe his strong suit is having four to five big catches a game.

Mike Catalana (32:14)

Oh, yeah.

Jenna Kaushal (32:15)

Maybe that's more him.

Mike Catalana (32:17)

Yep.

Dan Fates (32:18)

I will also. Here's another I. That's a great point about the ankle because Bean even addressed that and his press conference on Wednesday. I'll also put some of. I don't think Gabe Davis just suddenly got worse. I also don't think Talent wise, Isaiah McKenzie got worse. I put a lot of that on the coaching.

Mike Catalana (32:39)

Yeah.

Dan Fates (32:39)

And, and, and putting your players in the best positions to succeed. And I think we all thought that the offense would just. You, hey, Ken, you around Dabes enough that you know his playbook and you just run the same things. It hasn't been the case. And I, I think that is part of why we haven't seen the progression as we have for other players in the past under this offense.

Jenna Kaushal (33:02)

Yeah, I think that's fair. Look at us. Look at us.

Dan Fates (33:08)

I, I was, I was right. I was right.

Jenna Kaushal (33:10)

You were right on this. You are wrong on other things.

Dan Fates (33:13)

Fact.

Jenna Kaushal (33:14)

Just like we.

Dan Fates (33:15)

I will take the. Hey, I take the L's as well as anybody. I can take the L. I don't.

Mike Catalana (33:22)

Know about that, Jim.

Jenna Kaushal (33:25)

All right, let's talk about my words.

Dan Fates (33:27)

Take the Owls or the Wiz, probably the wins. I'm probably more annoying with the wins.

Mike Catalana (33:30)

Oh, yeah, for sure.

Jenna Kaushal (33:33)

Like can confirm. All right, let's talk about Micah Hyde. We've seen him at practices, kind of working off to the side. Dean said he had obviously earlier on the season what we thought would be season ending neck Injury, but he seems to be working himself back. And, Mike, I mean, where do you think the team is at with Hyde and his injury and the possibility of him coming back? Because we know Brandon being talked about that.

Mike Catalana (33:58)

Well, let's start with this. It's a neck injury, so. And the player decided to have surgery. It's a major thing for anybody to do that. He's full in on saying, I'm coming back. Like, I've heard him in other interviews where he's like, oh, no, I'm back. You know, like, he wants. He's ready to play when he's healthy.

Jenna Kaushal (34:15)

Yeah.

Mike Catalana (34:16)

The question is, when would he be cleared and ready to play and would he do it? And we are also talking about a team that could be playing for the Super Bowl. So I believe, out of respect to the player and the injury, if he had no shot and they were like, we're not letting this guy come back. That would be more about, like, could he come back from this injury? And I haven't heard anything like that. Like, the plan is he'll be ready in the off season, ready to go, but it could be a really long season for them. Right. There's a chance that they're playing into February, and it's Micah Hyde, and, like, when you look at that defense as good as they are, and I think demar Hamlin stepping in has done a nice job for them. Yeah, they can get Micah Hyde back on the field. He's playing because he is vital to what they like to do. And, you know, they don't give up very many big plays. And when he's on the field, it rarely happened, and he just makes plays. So the fact that they haven't shut it down and he hasn't shut it down tells me it's out there. It's not like. It's not like they're doing this for the. Some other strategic reason or, you know, you wouldn't know who you're playing or when or whatever. But I think the fact that we've seen him around and that it's even a topic and it hasn't gotten kiboshed right away. People still use that phrase?

Jenna Kaushal (35:40)

I think so, yeah.

Mike Catalana (35:41)

It hasn't gotten that. I will not be stunned to see it.

Jenna Kaushal (35:46)

Dan, where do you. So would you be what, level? Shocked? Surprised?

Dan Fates (35:54)

Surprised. I think I'd be surprised. I think he would really have to. Again, like, if Hyde is back, it's not. He's not getting in the first playoff game, 14 snaps. Like, he'd be the starting safety and Playing the game like that would be it. So I, I think that's a little bit of concern about football shape. I think that's also where we are with Cole Beasley. He even said it like, I've been playing basketball. Like, I like that. That's how I stay in shape. That's my conditioning. But football shape is. Is different. So. But I think what Hyde brings is the security. And I have said it. You know, we've said it. This defense has built. Designed back to front. It is built on Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde. Not only. It's not even about making the tackles, it's about making the calls. And Jordan Poyer talked about it on Wednesday that we all think, you know, all pro po knows, you know, everything. And they said he's going over to the sidelines during TV timeouts, asking Hyde what the call should have been, what the check should have been, what should I have been doing? That tells me a ton for a guy to say who's played next to him to be like, yeah, he's. He's really smart and I lean on him. So again, even if he's not flying around trying to even make tackles, it's the fact of he's there as a coach on the field.

Mike Catalana (37:21)

Yeah, it's also about making tackles. It's also about taking the right angles and not letting a guy take 40 and go to 90 Angles. Yeah, yeah. And it's. It's also. I'm not saying that he'd walk out there. Playoff game, say they get the buy and it's the first that he's out there playing 70 snaps because that's too much to ask of anybody. And then you put yourself at risk. Yeah, but he's definitely in the rotation and he's definitely out there to begin. If he's ready, he's playing. And there's not really ramp up time here. But, but in fairness, you can play all the basketball you want. You can do all the stuff you want going out there in an NFL game and just jumping out there and playing set. But I tell you what, Janet, they'd take him for 35 snaps in a playoff game. There's no doubt about it. He would play. And maybe he's just, you know, not playing as much.

Jenna Kaushal (38:11)

I don't know if you rotate.

Dan Fates (38:12)

I don't know if you rotate safeties.

Mike Catalana (38:13)

Why?

Dan Fates (38:15)

Because I think you want to know who's behind you. Like, like. And again, I've never played, but like, corners is one thing that you can sub in and out defensive lines another Thing you sub in and out like safeties are on the field.

Mike Catalana (38:26)

Yeah. If you can get Micah Hyde on the field. If right now you're saying it's demar Hamlin and he's playing well and they, they like what he does, and you could get Micah Hyde in there for half those snapshots. Maybe he plays in more obvious passing situations. I mean. Oh, he absolutely would play. You would sub out and put Micah Hyde on the field. It's. It's. For a guy like that, there's just, just no doubt that he would. But I'm saying is to put him out there and put him where, you know, fatigue and everything else. And he's been out there for 65 plays and you got him out there trying to protect the lead against the Chiefs. That's not smart. But, but, but if he's played 31 plays, the Chiefs have the ball late in Orchard Park. You're going to want Micah Hyde out there.

Dan Fates (39:09)

If Hyde is able to get on the field. I believe this is just an opinion. It's going to be really hard to get him off it. That's. That's just my point.

Mike Catalana (39:18)

Yeah. I mean, yes, but. But again, it. Sometimes it's dictated how the game goes.

Dan Fates (39:23)

That's.

Mike Catalana (39:24)

Yeah.

Jenna Kaushal (39:25)

And also sometimes you have to be as like a coach, you have to be like, no, we, like, we need you to do this. Like, of course he's going to be. Want to. Want to be out there, but at the same point, it could be, you know, not advantageous to have him when you know he's going to be. He could be tired. Like, let's be real. Like, these guys would all be tired, but when you're not in football shape, especially at that position, you can get gashed and fast.

Mike Catalana (39:48)

No doubt. No doubt. But they would, they would. That would be. That would have to be a plan going in.

Jenna Kaushal (39:53)

All right, so 11 to 10, what are we thinking? Because I want fans, like, I'm kind of. I don't, I don't want to say I'm shocked that they're letting this narrative out there just because obviously they know what they're doing, all these things. But at the same point, I think hope is much like confidence, a hell of a drug. And so it's like, what do you think? 1 to 10, a 2 the chances that he plays?

Mike Catalana (40:17)

Yeah, I would say it's a.

Jenna Kaushal (40:20)

This is all dependent also on how long the bill season goes.

Mike Catalana (40:23)

Right. Well, I'll factor that in because that has to be the idea behind it. I would say It's a four.

Jenna Kaushal (40:32)

Wow.

Dan Fates (40:32)

That he's four.

Mike Catalana (40:33)

Because it's.

Jenna Kaushal (40:35)

That he plays.

Mike Catalana (40:35)

That he plays. Yeah. And that's factoring in. They gotta win. They gotta be in the playoffs. Because I think it has to go farther.

Jenna Kaushal (40:43)

Yeah.

Mike Catalana (40:44)

But again, I. I just firmly believe that if there was no shot, they would have already said, we love Micah. He's not ready to play beyond the field. And he. And he might not be, but they're going to keep it out there.

Dan Fates (40:58)

So is one not playing? 10 is playing.

Mike Catalana (41:01)

Yeah.

Jenna Kaushal (41:01)

Yeah.

Dan Fates (41:02)

Six.

Mike Catalana (41:02)

Oh, wow.

Dan Fates (41:06)

I'm with you, Jenna. If. If they thought it was a 25 chance, I still think they're telling the media, no, no, he's not coming back. And then if it's a shock, then he does. But because they've let it go this far, the fact that we've been talking about this, Mike, like you said, for a few weeks now, lends me to believe that at least Micah thinks he's going to be back.

Mike Catalana (41:28)

Oh, yeah.

Dan Fates (41:29)

So I'll say six, because like you said, you'd protect him if he was. If you. With Micah and a neck injury, you 1000% err on the side of caution. It's like you. You protect Micah from himself and.

Mike Catalana (41:43)

Yeah, no, I was going to say. And the fact what you're saying about what you say about him, that's why always bothers me with Jerry Jones when he talks about players injuries and them, you know, dad.

Jenna Kaushal (41:54)

Yeah, that's.

Mike Catalana (41:55)

Oh, he could be back in three weeks. It's stupid to do stuff like that, to put that on the guy and to say, you know, so in this case, they're not saying he's, hey, there's a chance he could be back. They're just saying is, we're not ruling it out, and let's see what happens. So they're not. They're not doing that where it's on him, but at the same time, they're not shutting it down. Could they do that, Dan? Could they say, no, no, no, we're not looking at that at all. Yeah, maybe. But I think they would because the.

Jenna Kaushal (42:26)

Expectation is that he's not coming back. So the fact that you've even kind of greenlighted that. There's the.

Dan Fates (42:31)

That's what I'm saying. Like, Like, I. I would almost imagine if. If they said, like, yeah, we'll see. And then they come out the next day being like, hey, I think this is getting taken out of context. Like, he's not coming back. This. You know, we really don't See him coming back this year. That's not what they've said. They have let this smoke into a little bit of a. Of a tinder fire.

Mike Catalana (42:51)

Yeah. But it's not like they're putting it out there. Like, hey, okay, keep in mind, maybe he's.

Dan Fates (42:57)

But they're not. They're not squashing it.

Mike Catalana (42:59)

They're not squashing it. They're not pushing the narrative. They're just giving an adult answer, which is, hey, we're not ruling it out. I mean, again, I, I don't see any advantage to them to keep it out there unless there's an actual chance, like, it's not changing what any other team does.

Jenna Kaushal (43:18)

No, I, I agree, but the fact that they said it's a. Like, Brandon Bean knows how to use the media as a tool, and he knows what happens when you say that Micah Hyde could be back for the rest. Could be back at some point later on in the season. So that's why the fact that he even said that I'm like, yeah, I'm.

Mike Catalana (43:35)

Saying is I don't. I don't really see what it. What they gain. What are you pointing at me?

Dan Fates (43:41)

I was trying to. I was pointing that Jenna's right in this corner. Also, wait, really quick side note. Somebody said they don't like the guy in the bottom square. I have a name. That was a comment that we got also. It's written here. But I thought that was funny. Was like somebody turned the guy's mic off in the bottom square. It's like, I have a name.

Mike Catalana (43:58)

Please take Dan Fates to block, please.

Jenna Kaushal (44:02)

Seriously, Ex is the most. What were you saying? You were saying something, Mike, weren't you saying something?

Mike Catalana (44:08)

Well, just saying is I don't see any. You're right. You can use the media, but I don't. I don't see what it gets them to say. He could.

Jenna Kaushal (44:14)

I know, but I don't see what it gets them to say. If he's not able to just say no, he's not going to be ready.

Mike Catalana (44:19)

Right. So I, I think it's just actually the truth. I think they're waiting to see. See where he is, see where they are. And then. And it could happen.

Dan Fates (44:29)

Right. But it's. But it's. They. There could be truth that they're thinking that, but they wouldn't say it because they wouldn't want to put that expectation on.

Mike Catalana (44:39)

He thinks he can play. He thinks there's a chance he could get cleared and play. I don't think there's any doubt that he believes that. That could happen.

Dan Fates (44:47)

Yeah.

Mike Catalana (44:48)

Yeah. Because otherwise. That's my point about Jerry Jones. Otherwise, you're putting the player in this weird spot.

Dan Fates (44:53)

Glad Mike got to dunk on Jerry Jones.

Jenna Kaushal (44:56)

Yeah.

Mike Catalana (44:56)

I mean, make me feel badly for a Cowboys player, and I felt badly for Dak during that, and all the medical people were like, he's not back for five weeks, six weeks. Stop with this nonsense. And then it looks like Dak is coming back late. You don't do that to a player. That's stupid, Jerry. Jarrah.

Jenna Kaushal (45:14)

That's obnoxious.

Mike Catalana (45:15)

Yeah.

Jenna Kaushal (45:16)

Okay. All right. This was fun. I. I'm gonna go with a. A level five in terms of where I think you would.

Dan Fates (45:22)

You were gonna go right down the middle.

Jenna Kaushal (45:24)

Yeah. You know me. Hey, you got your one way, Mike's another way. I'm just right in the middle. That's why I'm the host.

Mike Catalana (45:35)

She is the host.

Jenna Kaushal (45:36)

All right, well, thank you all for joining us. Please be sure to, like. Why don't you comment your level of expectation, 1 to 10. Of what? Micah Hyde. The expectations you have of him playing at some point.

Dan Fates (45:49)

10 is absolutely. One is not.

Mike Catalana (45:51)

Yeah. And not. Not hope. I mean, we all hope to see Micah on the field.

Jenna Kaushal (45:55)

Yeah. What Your level of actually seeing. Do you believe Micah Hyde. Your level of confidence in Micah Hyde playing? 1 being he's not 10, being he's out there.

Dan Fates (46:04)

Yep.

Jenna Kaushal (46:06)

All right, thanks for joining us. Forgot to say subscribe.

Mike Catalana (46:10)

Yes.

Jenna Kaushal (46:11)

So subscribe. Do that for us over 20. 20.3.

Dan Fates (46:15)

Subscribe. Subscribe. Subscribe, please.

Jenna Kaushal (46:17)

We've had fun, so thank you. Mike, is there anything else you want to say? I feel like you're like.

Mike Catalana (46:22)

No, I. I just let you talk, so you go ahead.

Jenna Kaushal (46:26)

All right, we're going to wrap up here before I fight someone. So, Mike and Dan, I'm Jenna. Thanks for joining us here on Buffo Plus. We will catch you next time here on the channel.