Buffalo Plus: Have the Bills Taken a Step Back?

Date: February 2, 2023
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes

Episode Overview

In this episode of Buffalo Plus, hosts Mike, Jenna, and Dan break down the reasons behind the Buffalo Bills’ disappointing end to the 2022 season. They debate whether coaching, roster construction, injuries, or execution were most at fault, and preview the key off-season decisions facing GM Brandon Beane—most notably the future of Tremaine Edmunds and Jordan Poyer. The team delivers deep analysis on coaching personnel, player performances, draft philosophy, and what Buffalo must do to stay in contention.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who’s to Blame for Falling Short?

(Starts ~00:27)

• Mike believes it’s a collective problem but ranks the roster as the top concern:

  “Everybody is at fault here...I am not absolving Brandon Beane. It's not a total roster issue but the roster is not good enough. Were the coaches up to it? No.” (01:16)

• Dan started with most of the blame on coaching, but after perspective, sees it as more balanced:

  “After watching that Bengals and Chiefs game...I was 75% of the blame should go on the coaching staff...I'm much more 50-50, if not a little bit more on the player side being at fault because at some point you got to make plays.” (02:10)

• Jenna notes Beane’s unusually guarded tone at the end-of-year presser, suggesting he feels roster pressure.

  “You can't base your entire season...off of the way the last game went...but every game was [close]. This team barely good enough all season long.” (04:30)

2. Coaching Debate: Dorsey vs. Frazier

(Key segment: 07:28–13:00)

• Fans often want Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier gone, but Dan is harsher on Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey:

  “If there is, you know, an excuse to go around, you can look at Leslie Frazier and say, man, he was playing shorthanded...I looked at that Ken Dorsey game and just said...they had all their guys. There was no real excuse on that offensive side of the ball...I’m way more move on from Dorsey than move on from Frazier.” (07:34–09:22)

• Despite better statistical output, the offense felt stagnant, relying too much on Josh Allen’s heroics:

  “Just Allen having to be outstanding. Allen having to put the team on his back...every single week, the expectations of that, like, you're going to be disappointed at certain moments because that's just how life works.” (09:38)

• Dan suggests the need for proven, innovative offensive minds—not just continuity:

  “I would rather have a guy, joke, trying to with you guys, somebody that's had a cup of coffee with Sean McVay...because I lacked the creativity, I lacked, you know, seeing a design from Ken Dorsey.” (10:55)

3. Roster Shortcomings & Injuries

(05:13 onward, integrated discussion)

• The team acknowledges key injuries (Von Miller, Micah Hyde) but stresses the roster’s inability to produce impact players and depth.
• Mike criticizes the lack of player emergence and second-tier playmakers failing to step up (e.g., Gabe Davis).
• Jenna and Dan highlight costly investments on the defensive line with limited payoff:

  “They have sunk so much capital, whether it be actual money, signing free agents, draft picks...and it's still Von Miller going out, huge piece of that. But...they just have consistently not gotten enough out of that position.” (22:09)

• Dan sums up the situation:

  “Vaughn covered bandages of that defensive line and covered up some wounds...they didn’t have a single player in the top 40 of pass rush win rate, which is just pathetic...” (24:48)

4. The Challenge of Major Offseason Decisions

- Tremaine Edmunds’ Future

(27:19–31:59)

• Tremaine Edmunds, a young and consistent linebacker, is up for a second contract.
• Dan doubts the team will re-sign him:

  “If they wanted to get something done, they would have gotten it done by now. If they would have wanted to keep him around, I think they would have found a way to get something done beforehand.” (28:13)

• The cost and cap situation, plus the presence of cheaper options (like Terrel Bernard), complicate things.
• Mike frames the dilemma:

  “This is a seminal moment for them in terms of Tremaine because...they had time to do that. I think if he gets into free agency then their plan was to not sign him.” (29:29–32:07)

• The defensive philosophy and McDermott’s value on linebackers are noted, but both Dan and Mike feel the Bills may let Edmunds walk if his price rises.

- Jordan Poyer and the Safety Position

(33:39–36:42)

• Poyer had an extraordinary, self-sacrificing year but is aging and likely too expensive:

  “I think it's going to lead to him playing for another team...That's going to be a good team that pays Jordan Poyer. That's going to be a playoff team that pays him.” (33:40–34:37)

• Dan: “Safety position is the number one thing that needs to be addressed...even more than Tremaine.”
• The group discusses potential replacements, the value of experience at safety, and whether the Bills could bring in a younger free agent or develop in-house talent.

5. Where Do the Bills Stand Now?

• Mike’s summary:

  “I think they've taken a step back as a franchise. They all have. ...I think it's a good thing mindset wise that they've taken...step back, get a little pissed off, approach the offseason with we need to make these moves...” (37:49–38:58)

• Jenna:

  “I think being the underdog will be big for them because I think that they've earned that...anointing them Super Bowl favorites...maybe it made them blind to the weaknesses in the roster...” (39:16)

6. Comparisons and Broader NFL Talk

(14:00, 17:55, and scattered)

• The team compares Buffalo’s GM/roster building to the Eagles’ Howie Roseman—highlighting successes and examples of bouncing back from mistakes.
• Mike and Dan note that coaching, scheme, and player talent are all intertwined:

  “Bring in Kyle Shanahan, bring in...Sean McVay...say ‘this is your roster’, because Kyle Shanahan's a lot better play caller when he's got Christian McCaffrey.” (20:50)

• Insights on the offense: “Josh Allen, give Ken Dorsey Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins and those guys...I think he'd be a play caller.” (19:35)

7. Offseason Outlook and Final Thoughts

(42:00–end)

• After Bills talk, the hosts touch on Tom Brady's retirement, NFL announcers (Romo vs. Greg Olsen), and off-season plans.
• Dan and Mike will attend the NFL Combine to gain further insights.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan, on Dorsey as offensive coordinator:

  “It was tough to give the keys to this Ferrari to a guy with a learner's permit...and guess what? He's stalling out the clutch.” (16:13)

• Mike, emphasizing need for roster upgrades:

  “Bring in Sean McVay and say ‘okay, this is your roster’...Odell Beckham made a huge difference to him when they brought in another guy.” (20:50)

• Jenna, on team’s close games:

  “Every game was...so they really struggled to close teams out, bad teams. ...this team was barely good enough all season long.” (04:30)

• Dan, on direction at key positions:

  “Linebackers and running backs seem to be the...positions where you...take the two- or three-year flyers. ...I don't see the Bills really giving a 4 or 5 year deal to any linebacker/slash running back.” (32:46)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:27 – Opening topic: Who’s to blame? Roster vs. coaching vs. injuries
• 07:28 – Coaching debate: Ken Dorsey vs. Leslie Frazier’s jobs
• 13:00 – Offensive stagnation, Dorsey’s shortcomings, need for innovation
• 22:09 – Defensive line investment & free agent/draft disappointment
• 27:19 – Tremaine Edmunds' contract situation, LB value debate
• 33:39 – Jordan Poyer’s future & the critical safety position
• 37:49 – Have the Bills taken a step back? Attitude and franchise status
• 42:00 – Miscellaneous NFL discussion (Brady retirement, announcers, off-season plans)

Summary and Takeaways

The Buffalo Plus team delivers a frank and insightful autopsy of the Bills’ season, identifying multiple layers of blame but pointing most attention at the need for a deeper, more dynamic roster—particularly on both lines and support for Josh Allen. While injuries were a factor, the panel believes the organization must hit on key decisions this offseason, including how to handle major free agents, inject creativity into the offense, and make hard choices about investments versus leadership continuity.

The next few months are described as “seminal” for the franchise, whose window to contend remains open, but now faces more uncertainty and urgent need for roster evolution and sharper coaching. As Mike summarizes:

“They’ve taken a step back as a franchise. … Approach the offseason with, ‘We need to make these moves.’ Get back a little bit of that underdog, which I think helps teams.” (38:58)

For more in-depth Bills news and off-season coverage, subscribe to Buffalo Plus on YouTube and follow their updates at BuffaloPlus.com.