Buffalo Plus Podcast Summary: "Replacing Von, balance on offense & what Bills have to prove"
Date: December 8, 2022
Hosts: Mike Catalana (A), Jenna Cottrell (B), Dan Fetes (C)
Theme:
This episode addresses how the Buffalo Bills move forward after Von Miller's season-ending injury, examines the offense’s run/pass balance, and discusses what the team must prove as the playoffs approach. The Buffalo Plus crew leverages decades of Bills coverage for a nuanced group discussion.
Main Topics and Key Insights
1. Replacing Von Miller on Defense
(00:57 – 12:24)
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Irreplaceable Impact:
Mike Catalana (A) sets the tone, emphasizing Von Miller was acquired for his knack to make game-changing plays in crucial moments, not just stats:"You're not replacing Von Miller for what they brought him in for...when you got to get Mahomes on the ground or Tua or whatever it is. So we won't really know if they've made up for the loss of Vaughn until somebody makes up for the loss of Vaughn. It's that moment, right?" (01:12)
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Looking for the Next Man Up:
Dan Fetes (C) identifies Ed Oliver as the player the Bills need to step up, especially for interior pressure that disrupts elite quarterbacks:"To me, Ed, it's your defensive line. You take charge." (03:43)
Jenna (B) adds that it will take a collective effort, pointing to a "by committee" approach:
"I think it's almost going to be a group effort..." (05:12) -
Locker Room Mindset and Leadership:
Jenna recounts positive attitudes from Allen and Poyer, and how Poyer personally challenged Greg Rousseau to step up (05:00). The adversity of injuries has created new opportunities and demands for leadership (04:05-05:59). -
Big Play Reference & Mentality:
Mike retells the analogy of the Eagles’ Super Bowl and how one play (Brandon Graham’s strip-sack) made the difference, underscoring the Bills don’t necessarily need to replace all of Von’s production—just his clutch-factor at the right time (07:04). -
Underdog Energy:
"This team just in general loves being written off...this Vaughn injury is another opportunity for people to write them off." (12:24 – 12:39, Jenna Cottrell)
2. Offensive Balance, Running Game, and Evolution
(13:05 – 34:00)
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Need for Offensive Firepower:
Mike wants the offense to put "fear" in opponents again—reclaim the explosion and scoreboard dominance from earlier in the season:"I want to see this offense be able to put fear back in another team...they're going to outscore you." (13:05)
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Being the Underdog Again:
The hosts reflect on how the Bills have historically rallied in adversity, noting previous years’ midseason lulls followed by hot finishes—suggesting the "underdog" narrative could help them now (14:29–16:14). -
Run Game Debate:
Dan remains skeptical, arguing the improved run efficiency is more about worn-down defenses late in the season (22:32, 26:18). Mike and Jenna counter that actual improvement and offensive intent have changed, crediting both Devin Singletary and rookie James Cook.- Notable banter:
Dan: "This isn't new...this is December, this is when Devin Singletary got hot last year...Defenses are tired." (22:32) Mike: "I do think tackling in the cold, a lot of times that's a factor...they were embarrassingly bad at attempting to run the football..." (23:27)
- Notable banter:
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Effective, Not Run-First:
All agree the Bills won't become a run-first team, but that being "effective" makes the passing attack more dangerous:Jenna: "Again, this team is not going to become a run first team, but the fact that they're now effective in the rush game is important because it's another way to win." (25:12)
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Role of Play Calling and Execution:
The group agrees successful running is only useful when efficient—Dan is fine with running "if you can do it effectively," but opposes empty carries for the sake of physicality (27:01–27:33). -
Emergence of James Cook:
Mike highlights Cook's higher ceiling and credits Stefon Diggs’s tough love pushing him to grow out of his rookie role:"I love Diggs's answer on Cook after the game. He said...yeah, it was okay. I got high expectations for him." (33:39)
3. What the Bills Must Prove Heading into the Playoffs
(35:12 – 41:43)
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Divisional Dominance Needed:
Despite leading the AFC, Mike says the Bills must "show everybody they're still the team in the AFC East," stressing the psychological and structural importance of beating divisional rivals, especially after the Jets loss:"It's embarrassing to me for them to look and say they're one and two in the division...It's not a cliche. It all starts with the division and they had separated themselves..." (35:34)
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Upcoming Crucial Stretch:
The hosts preview a critical run: Jets, Dolphins, and Bengals games—all barometers for playoff readiness (35:12 and after). -
Patriots Win as a "Flex": Dan sees the recent Patriots game as a statement victory—the type of confident performance that needs to continue:
"That Patriots game was never in question...This was a flex. I thought the Patriots game was a flex." (38:14)
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Jets as Real Threats:
The group recognizes the Jets are “a way better team than the Patriots” and bring a different challenge with Mike White at QB, noting their confidence and defensive toughness (39:59–41:09).
Notable Quotes & Moments
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On why big playoff moments matter (Mike Catalana):
"This is what I mean about the play, and the overall play is one thing, but in the moment, somebody's got to step up. And you guys have mentioned they, they do have legitimate candidates to do that, right?" (07:04)
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On adversity and the Bills’ character (Jenna Cottrell):
"This team... loves being written off. They won't say it openly, but they adore being written off. I think this Vaughn injury is another opportunity for people to write them off." (12:24)
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Historical perspective and reality check (Mike Catalana):
"Just forget about the drought years. They were boring. They weren't good... This happens even sometimes in hindsight. You look at, oh, four straight Super Bowls like it was this linear thing... it wasn't the case. It's hard to find a team that didn't have a moment like that or a few and didn't have injuries like that, because they've all had them and they fight back." (17:20)
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On run-pass balance and play-calling logic:
Dan: "I've never disagreed with...running the ball on first down for the sake of running the ball to get a second and nine, like, to me, that's a waste." (31:58)
Mike: "I think Cook lights a little bit of a fire there. I think Cook has a higher ceiling and I think he's shown those moments and, you know, nobody's a rookie anymore." (33:15)
Timestamps of Key Segments
- Von Miller’s Loss & Defensive Impact: 00:57 – 12:24
- Bills as Underdogs & Adversity Fuel: 12:24 – 13:05
- Offensive Identity & Play-calling Philosophy: 13:05 – 29:23
- Run Game Debate & James Cook’s Emergence: 22:32 – 34:00
- Establishing Divisional Dominance: 35:12 – 38:14
- Patriots/Jets Analysis & Stretch Run: 38:14 – 41:43
Overall Tone & Takeaways
The Buffalo Plus team blends sharp, candid analysis with banter and deep institutional knowledge. They acknowledge the challenge of losing an elite player like Von Miller but don’t see it as fatal. Their central message: The Bills must find new leadership and clutch play on defense, recapture some of their offensive aggression, and reestablish dominance over their division before the postseason. Throughout, they stress realism—nothing in the NFL is linear, and adversity is both a curse and an opportunity for a team that “loves being written off.”