Buffalo Plus Podcast: Josh Allen is a Big Kid, Gabe Davis is a Rising Star & Von Miller is Different

Date: July 28, 2022
Hosts: Mike Catalana & Dan Fetes (Jenna Cottrell absent)

Episode Overview

This episode, recorded during the first week of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher, gives an insider look at camp energy, player development, and roster dynamics. The hosts focus on the team's atmosphere with Josh Allen as leader, Gabe Davis's rise to a starting role, and the transformational presence of star pass-rusher Von Miller. Listeners are treated to authentic behind-the-scenes anecdotes, direct player/coaching staff quotes, and an analysis of how the Bills are shaping up for the season.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Return to Training Camp at St. John Fisher (00:35-06:54)

• Atmosphere & Energy:
  After two years away due to COVID, camp is back in Rochester. The hosts liken the experience to a "rock concert" with rabid fan support and McDermott’s desired sense of competition.
  • "What better way to do that than fans screaming their head off after a five yard completion..." – Mike (01:49)
• Organizational Buy-In:
  The decision to return is presented as a unified front—except for the clear influence Josh Allen wields, even if unofficially.
  • "They're doing everything to make it good for Josh Allen. And I believe if he would have said...this doesn't work for me, guys...that would have had a huge consideration." – Mike (02:35)

2. Josh Allen: The 'Big Kid' Leader (03:22-06:54)

• Josh Allen Loves Camp (03:22-03:45):
  Allen expresses genuine affection for camp life, camaraderie, and, humorously, the dorm food.

  • Quote: "I freaking...I love it. I love going to camp. All last night...it's turkey burger time. They've got the best turkey burgers here. Put a little jalapenos on them. That's the main reason I like coming here. But again, the camaraderie that you get to build...you spend every waking second with your teammates." – Josh Allen (03:23)

• Locker Room Impact:
  Allen’s boyish enthusiasm is contagious, setting the emotional tone for camp.

  • "It goes back to him just being a big kid, kind of hanging out in the dorms with his buddies, playing cards..." – Dan (04:13)

• Team Priorities:
  Josh's preferences shape key decisions.

  • "If Josh said...I don't feel comfortable here. They wouldn't do it." – Dan (04:24)

• Brand-Building:
  Camp at Fisher is about shaping the team's identity—on and off the field.

  • "The brand, who they are as a football team, because it is football first...they do it the same way, they work the same way..." – Mike (05:15)

3. Gabe Davis: From ‘Boy Band’ Member to Breakout Star (08:00-13:27)

• Elevated Expectations:
  Davis must transition from supporting role to starting-caliber WR2; much more is demanded of him in 2022.
  • "He's gone from a part of the boy band to now doing his own solo thing...now all eyes are going to be on him." – Dan (08:15)
• Internal & External Confidence:
  Coaches and teammates universally praise Davis's work ethic and patience waiting his turn.
  • "Mike and I tried to find somebody to say a bad thing about Gabe Davis, and we couldn't do it...it's impossible." – Dan (09:54)
  • "He could have been a starter in this league for three years. His potential, his ceiling—we still don't know it yet." – Chad Hall, WR coach (11:33)
• Learning Patience:
  Davis credits Stefon Diggs and others for teaching him to bide his time, using that as fuel for growth.
  • "Now he says...the fruits of his labor, all the work that he has put in..." – Dan (12:12)
• Coaching and Utilization:
  OC Ken Dorsey is still unlocking Davis’s potential. The hope: Davis blossoms into a top 15-caliber WR.
  • "...the hope is for Gabe Davis." – Dan (13:27)

4. Isaiah McKenzie & the Slot Receiver Position (13:27-17:57)

• McKenzie's Emergence:
  Four days into camp, McKenzie is the leader for the slot receiver role due to expanded offensive usage.
  • "When they've gone through first team reps, it's like they have made it a priority to get him involved." – Dan (14:19)
• Veteran Leadership & Unique Personality:
  McKenzie’s personality, versatility, and resilience after setbacks are highlighted.
  • "He's been there for five years. He's the longest tenured wide receiver on the roster." – Dan (15:39)
  • "Oddly, maybe the most interesting guy on the team...he owns restaurants, was a singer on America's Got Talent..." – Mike (15:39)
• Overcoming Adversity:
  McKenzie has been benched and bounced back, demonstrating why coaches trust him in key moments.
  • "He has failed, fallen on his face, struggled, and the coaching staff has always gone back to him, I think is very telling..." – Dan (17:08)
• Technical Skills:
  Praised for elite footwork and the ability to be “unguardable” in certain short-yardage scenarios.
  • "His footwork is elite level...that little where he does that drop and spins, that's almost unguardable." – Mike (17:57)

5. Von Miller: The Game-Changer (17:57-26:00)

• Energy and Edge:
  Dion Dawkins is effusive in describing the unique challenge of facing Miller each practice.
  • Quote: "Playing against Vaughn. Every play, every rep, it's a hate love thing...but I know over the course of this...I'm going to get better. And I'm blessed to...be able to be a tackle playing against him..." – Dawkins (19:17)
  • "He tried to explain he's like a rubber band...elastic...describing a superhero and how you cannot get your hands on him." – Mike (19:51)
  • "Jerry times four..." (referring to Jerry Hughes) – Dawkins via Dan (20:24)
• Unusual Athleticism:
  Miller's physical gifts transcend typical edge rushers; his “bend” and movement defy expectations for his size.
  • "The way that he uses his body is what is fascinating. What they call the bend. The way that he gets around the edges. That's what Dion's talking about: being elastic." – Dan (23:05)
• Comparisons & Historical Context:
  The only comp for Miller in recent Bills history is Bruce Smith, with hosts shading Mario Williams as merely "physically impressive."
• Locker Room Impact & Professionalism:
  Miller's infectious energy and experience are seen as a multiplier for both starters and depth players.
  • "I think Von Miller's been great. He still loves LA. Who wouldn’t love LA? He loves his teammates. He loves Denver. Isn't that great though?" – Mike (27:36)
  • "He will get a standing ovation the next time he goes back to Denver, and the same thing in LA." – Dan (27:57)
• The Final Piece for a Title Run:
  Buffalo hopes Von Miller is the "over-the-top" veteran the team has lacked on defense in recent years.

6. The Camp Grind and the Mental Challenge (25:11-27:24)

• The Second Week of Camp:
  With the honeymoon period over, mental stamina becomes critical.
  • "Week two is when they talk about the grind." – Mike (25:11)
  • "You really have to take it one practice at a time...if you start thinking...this is all going to be monotonous..." – (Knox via Dan, 26:17)
• Veteran Wisdom:
  Players are learning to pace themselves over a long season; even stars like Von Miller take “rest days.”
  • "V had a rest day. Day three. He had one before I did and I'm twice his age." – Mike (27:17)
  • "Vaughn was like, two days coach, I'm good..." – Dan (27:24)

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• Josh Allen on Camp:
  "I freaking...I love it. I love going to camp...they've got the best turkey burgers here." — Josh Allen (03:23)

• On Gabe Davis's Ceiling:
  "He could have been a starter in this league for three years. His potential, his ceiling—we still don't know it yet." — Chad Hall, WR coach (11:33)

• Dion Dawkins on Von Miller:
  "Playing against Vaughn. Every play, every rep, it's a hate love thing because I'm like, dang...But I know...I'm going to get better." — Dawkins (19:17)

• Dan on McDermott, Beane, and Allen:
  "When McDermott, Bean and Allen are leading the way, I think camp's coming back to Fisher." — Mike (06:54)

• Von Miller as a Unique Talent:
  "The way that he uses his body is what is fascinating...he's here and then he's...there he goes. It doesn't make sense." — Dan (23:05)

• On Camp's Second-Week Grind:
  "Week two is when they talk about the grind...they get that break and then they go back out there...This is where you need that energy." — Mike (25:12)

Important Timestamps

• 00:35: Show opens; camp returns to St. John Fisher
• 03:23: Josh Allen on his love for training camp
• 08:15: Transition to Gabe Davis’s expanded role
• 11:33: Chad Hall on Davis's untapped ceiling
• 13:27: Analysis of slot position, focus on Isaiah McKenzie
• 19:17: Dion Dawkins' detailed breakdown of facing Von Miller
• 23:05: Discussion of Miller’s athleticism and comparison to past Bills greats
• 25:11: Hosts discuss the 'grind' of the second week of camp
• 27:17: Discussion of rest days and smart camp pacing
• 27:57: Von Miller’s rare, lasting legacy across teams

Conclusion

This episode offers strong insight into the Bills’ internal dynamics during training camp. Josh Allen’s approachability and infectious attitude, the anticipation surrounding Gabe Davis’s breakout, the complexity and trust in Isaiah McKenzie, and Von Miller’s superstar impact on both the field and the locker room, are all deeply explored. The hosts provide a layered view into how these elements contribute to the team’s Super Bowl aspirations, and listeners will come away with a richer understanding of the leaders, up-and-comers, and difference-makers on this Buffalo team.