← Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills podcast
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- [00:00]
A
This is great because these are plans and this is my ideas. And then rubber hits the road. You got to draft the guys. If Max Hairston can play, he'll have a better defense, right?
- [00:10]
B
Yeah.
- [00:10]
A
This is the way we look at it. If Greg get to the quarterback, he did all he could this year, basically carried the team. Can he do a little bit more? No, but I want to. My point is, like, there's the open.
- [00:32]
C
Foreign.
- [00:36]
B
Now from the Connors and Ferris podcast studio.
- [00:40]
A
This is the Buffalo plus podcast.
- [00:42]
C
All right, welcome back to the Buffalo plus podcast. Mike Catalana, Dan Fates, I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to like, comment, subscribe as well as share. We are here in the Connors and Ferris podcast studio. Today we were in Orchard Park. We got to hear from the new Bills coordinators. We're going to talk about our impressions of them. Joe Brady also meeting with the media as well. And Brandon Bean appearing on wgr. So our take on all those things. I want to start big picture.
- [01:07]
B
Michael, we had a million views over the last month.
- [01:10]
A
I knew you were ready to say that. Did you? I could see you. He was sitting there and he was like, I want to talk about the million views. Well, it's a million views in a month or 28 days actually.
- [01:20]
B
Yeah, I think that's pretty cool. So thank you to everybody that has. Obviously the Bills have given us, as somebody pointed out, thank you. They've given us a ton of content to talk about. Still, million views is in general a lot for a 28 day span was pretty cool. So appreciate everybody that has followed along and continue to spread the word. We're millionaires in views.
- [01:42]
C
Yes. Thank you all because you are what makes Buffalo plus so great. All right, let's go back to today. So we heard million views. We heard from the coordinators, Jim Leonard, the first one, the new Bill's defensive coordinator. I want to start with him because that's obviously going to be someone that I think will have a huge part in this way this new Bills team looks. Obviously Sean McDermott ran the defense for a long time and now things will be looking different ahead in Orchard Park. What did you make of Jim Leonard and the first impression he made today?
- [02:16]
A
Jim Lantern is going to be a head coach someday. He's got that to him. This is not the day. He's just taking over as defensive coordinator. He just has that feel to him. I remember him as a player and I remember when he came to the team, it was like, oh, that little guy is undrafted. And he just kept getting out on the field and getting out on the field. The only reason I bring that up about the head coach is I thought he had a very big picture feel to him. While he could get into specifics about what he wanted to do, he seemed to have an air of confidence and calm and a mission. Honestly, he reminded me a little bit of Shawn McDermott early Sean coming in, a guy who knew what he wanted to do but hadn't done it. But he had a plan. Not like fire and brimstone. I'm going to yell, I'm going to do whatever. Like, this is the way I see it, and I want to go from there. So, I mean, he's an impressive guy when you get to hear him talk, and he was that way as a player, but that was 20 years ago, so it was a little different.
- [03:23]
B
Yeah, I thought he hit all the right notes, you know, and especially what fans wanted to hear right now is kind of like Joe Brady hitting a lot of the right notes. And we talked about his introductory press conference. Aggressive attacking defense. He said, we want to be the type of defense that the NFL doesn't want to face. And talks about forcing offenses to react to them and not counter punches. I think that's great. And all those things. And you're still trying to get to what it's going to look like, Jenna. Because I think he did a nice job of, again, crediting what was there before. Like, it's not like this is some total complete overhaul in his eyes. And kind of like we talked about one of our last videos of, like, he came here because he obviously saw some of the pieces that were already here and kind of touched on those. And I want to mention that in a little bit, some of the players that was asked about that, I thought kind of raised my eyebrows a little bit, but I thought it was, again, Jenny, you talked about, like, adults in the room, and I thought that was. Was very well gotten across.
- [04:21]
C
Yeah. And it's not that there isn't a adult in the room. It just more so. He seemed very mature, very buttoned up, very disciplined. It was about respecting the players. He has been one. He knows what is appreciated in that room. And I just felt like he got his message across in a great way. Like, I understand why he was such an attractive candidate for other D.C. jobs, because I think when you listen to him, it's easy to buy in on the vision that he has. And look, I get it. Hey, we're going to be aggressive, but we're not going to be reckless. Every defensive Coordinator is going to say they're going to be aggressive. It's how the players fit into that scheme to then be aggressive. But I thought he did a really nice job and it's understandable why if I were Joe Brady and be like, you know what? I really like the direction this, this guy has. They talk so much about leader of men and I think you look at Jim Leonard and you say that guy could be a leader of men. But I do want to go back to the point you made about him talking about Shawn McDermott's defense, because I thought this point that he had was really important about where this franchise is now, but also the direction it will go in based off of where they have been.
- [05:27]
B
It was been a, the same system for a long time here.
- [05:31]
C
Right.
- [05:31]
B
It wasn't all broken.
- [05:32]
A
Right.
- [05:33]
B
It didn't. Doesn't all need to be thrown out. There's elements that we'll be able to build off of. There's a comfort level from players that you want to maintain and this is something that will continue to, to evolve. It might look a lot different in year two than year one, and that's okay.
- [05:48]
C
But I think that's good. Like it's, it's not broken, obviously. I mean this, this Bills. The Bills were playing at a very high level season after season into the playoffs.
- [05:57]
A
But.
- [05:57]
C
But there is going to be schematic changes. There's going to be different players that can be utilized in different ways. But I think it's important to acknowledge that there already was a successful defense.
- [06:07]
A
Well, and as he said, you know, it doesn't mean in year two, it's not different.
- [06:10]
C
Exactly.
- [06:11]
A
Because he's also got to be realistic. Look, the roster needs to be better. They have to get better players. It's great to say you're going to be aggressive, we're going to go after the quarterback. You need guys who can get after the quarterback. You know what they had in Denver, dudes who could get after the quarterback. I do think scheme matters. If you have a scheme that accentuates the physical skills and then the ability to adjust of the players, it can work. But it's always nice to have the one man whooping another man. I mean, that comes into play too. So what we're talking about here with Jim Leonard is him setting his plan. He's never called to play in the NFL. He's done it in college, which is, is encouraging because he has been a play caller. In fact, he was even a head coach for a while at Wisconsin. But it still comes down to them making. Making those plays and getting the players who can do that. And I think he's realistic enough to know with the limitations of this roster, especially on defense, that it might take a little longer to get a full vision of what he wants.
- [07:15]
B
Yeah. And I think that's also finding the balance between what your system is. And we've even heard that from Joe Brady a little bit over the last few days. And maybe that was. Maybe that was one of Sean's flaws. And maybe reflecting back, Sean would do that a little differently. Where his. His structure was, his system was his system, and he found players to fit his system. You also have to find a system that fits your players like. Like both sides of that sword and kind of going off of that. So I think he talks about being flexible. You know, he talks about being aggressive, which is kind of funny because you've joked around about it before, Mike.
- [07:49]
A
Imagine the guy coming in and going, we're going to sit back. We're going to be boring. We don't care about.
- [07:54]
B
We're going to play at our heels. We're going to let offenses take it to us.
- [07:57]
A
It's like a hockey coach going, we're just going to sit back. We're never going to press. We're never going to be down. Down the ice.
- [08:04]
B
Yeah.
- [08:05]
A
We're just going to be dull.
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B
Yeah.
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A
Right.
- [08:07]
B
Like, every defensive coordinator is like, we're going to be attacking and all these things. You kind of have to say it. Like, it's required of your press conference as you're introduced as the defensive coordinator of what you're going to be. But I thought that was the flexibility, because Matt Beauvais even asked him, like, how does your. I thought was interesting was he asked about how does your philosophy, system, mentality of that aggressiveness kind of does it change in the postseason? And he said like, no. But also understanding that in the postseason, you are playing better quarterbacks, better teams.
- [08:35]
A
No, no, no, you can't say that. Right. We just have to look at the numbers of when you're playing against the New Orleans Saints vs.
- [08:43]
B
The Kansas City Chiefs.
- [08:44]
A
Right.
- [08:45]
B
So not allowed to, you mean.
- [08:47]
A
Seattle had the best defense in the NFL and they gave up 27. Should have been 30, maybe more points to the Rams in that game. They're not playing better teams when you get to the playoffs. I just think that is also, to Jenna's point, an adult answer.
- [09:00]
B
Agreed, 100%. It just. I. You know, he talked about how your system and your mentality has to be adaptable. Was his Words.
- [09:11]
A
And they win games different ways.
- [09:13]
B
Yes. And I thought. I liked that. Which, again, I think we were texting kind of during the press conference, because I had to be at my daughter's career day. So I was talking to a hundred kindergarteners.
- [09:25]
A
Are you like the guy who stands up there with Derek Jeter next to him and they want to ask you all the questions? Which guy are you in that scenario? Are you the.
- [09:33]
B
I was. There were a lot of questions. I was. It was a little bit of a hit.
- [09:36]
A
Yeah.
- [09:36]
B
And I. Wow. And I was very nervous. Like, it's funny when we do this pod, like, because I. I thought the teacher, when I signed up for it, she said, we'll have about 12 kids. Perfect. Done this for five years.
- [09:49]
A
And you drew a big crowd.
- [09:51]
B
It was 12 classes. Oh. So it was like 120 kids.
- [09:56]
A
Face is a draw.
- [09:57]
B
And I was like, please make sure you, like, comment and subscribe.
- [10:00]
A
Like, appreciate it.
- [10:01]
B
Like, we're trying to get in there. But we were kind of texting. And what really struck me about Leonard was he was a. I give Sean credit for adapting to the way the NFL has changed defensively and how offenses have spread and how defenses have to have had to adjust to that. But Leonard was a guy that, like, was born in it. Like, he saw it firsthand in Wisconsin. Like, that's how he was. His first taste of coaching was that whereas it felt new school ish, with some blue collar of. I played in the days of Rex Ryan and getting after the quarterback and affecting all of that stuff. But I liked the way that his mind kind of worked in. When he was talking about the positionless. He talks about how, like, the NBA has changed and your players are now kind of have to be positionless to be successful. I thought all of that was really forward thinking with the times of. Of offenses in today's NFL.
- [11:01]
C
Yeah, I mean, I. I do agree, and I think things have evolved.
- [11:04]
B
I got a lot of blank stares on that. Did I? Was that.
- [11:06]
A
No, no.
- [11:07]
C
I think. No. No. I think your point stands. I just do think that that's, like, how the league has evolved, though. Anyways, I think maybe because it's a fresh new voice saying it, I think probably Sean would agree that while you have player archetypes of, like, body types that you want, you also look at guys and think, okay, like, a Terrell Bernard is not your traditional guy in terms of linebacker, in terms of size. So I just think it's a different voice saying something that's similar to what we have seen.
- [11:32]
A
Sean McDermott had two safeties immensely successful. They were ahead of the game on that. It used to be strong, free, different types of players. They made those two interchangeable. It is what made the Bills defense for the longest time with those two very difficult. Bill Belichick used to say was so hard to figure out Sean McDermott's defense because it was all drawn off the safeties. That's the way football was. Show me what the safeties are going to do. You hear a quarterback say, show me what the safeties are going to do. I'll tell you what's going to happen. And he had two guys who could interchange their responsibilities. So that's an example of being a little ahead of the curve. He did also mention different ways to win. I mean, two years ago in the playoffs, the Bills had to beat the Ravens and turn around and play the Chiefs like, you better be adaptable. They got one done, didn't get the second one done. So I agree with that. And, and he's right. It's adaptable in games. It's adaptable in. In years. It's adaptable to all the things that happen in the NFL. But I still get back to. This is great because these are plans and this is my ideas. And then rubber hits the road. You got to draft the guys. If Max Hairston can play, he'll have a better defense, right?
- [12:48]
C
Yeah.
- [12:48]
A
This is the way we look at it. If Greg get to the quarterback, he did all he could this year, basically carried the team. Can he do a little bit more? No, but I want to. My point is like, there's the open. But you know, what I'm saying is we can say all these things that they want to do.
- [13:09]
C
Yeah. You got to have players that could actually be players.
- [13:11]
B
Yes.
- [13:12]
A
But it's nice to see a guy with a plan. And it fascinates me because he played for Rex.
- [13:16]
B
Yeah.
- [13:18]
A
He is not Rex Ryan. Seriously, he is nothing like that, you know, so it was cool to say.
- [13:25]
B
He was also asked about a 4, 3, a 3, 4 defense, all those kind of things. And I thought he. Again, they're not going to tell you everything they're going to do, especially an introductory press conference. Like they're still getting to know the players. Like, he talks about. He just had like the meeting, like the scouting staff yesterday of like these. This is kind of what I would. What I want to run my scheme. But he talks about how when you can keep the same 11 guys on the field and tell and show different pictures, that's when you really put the quarterback in problems. Cases. And I thought that was really insightful. And again, that's not something that we've really seen because the Bills have alternated and switched personnel so much that if you could have the same 11 guys, you will be able to disguise more because of. Okay, well, now that Dorian Williams is on the field, this is what the Bills have run a lot of.
- [14:17]
A
Yeah, he did. He referenced the stress on an offense multiple times. And I. And I think Joe Brady has mentioned that. Brandon Bean has mentioned that. I think that has been a theme.
- [14:28]
B
Yep.
- [14:29]
A
And that is.
- [14:29]
B
That's the new vision.
- [14:31]
A
It's. The new vision is being more going forward, not going back. And I don't mean back in a. In just. I just mean in terms of dictating. We've talked about that. Dictating to. In this case, you dictate to their offense. Yeah. You put them. When that quarterback's helmet goes off, he doesn't know what you're doing yet.
- [14:50]
B
Yep.
- [14:50]
A
You know, at the 15 second mark. And that's. And I think that's what adds the stress.
- [14:54]
C
Yeah. But it does come back to the players being able to execute. So we'll see how that goes. Other side of the ball.
- [15:01]
B
Oh, I said he had two players. Yeah, that was. Well, it was really three, because he was asked about Benford, too, and he's like, I. I want to get to know him more as a person. He's traveled. We'll see how all of that works out. Like, he wasn't saying that. Like, he's 100% going to be Patrick Surtan.
- [15:17]
A
Like, that's a. That's goals.
- [15:20]
B
Correct.
- [15:20]
A
But Patrick Surtan is.
- [15:21]
B
But he was asked too, about Cole Bishop, obviously being a safety in the NFL, and he said he. He really liked Cole coming out of college, that he called him a jack of all trades and kind of seeing where he can help him get to the next level. All of those, you know, Bedford and, And obviously, Cole made sense. They're your key playmakers, really, on. On defense, especially for this year. Then it was asked about Cam Lewis. Yeah, that answer stood out to me.
- [15:46]
C
I couldn't hear what, like, I, I was like, is that. Did they ask about Cam?
- [15:50]
B
So the question to Cam was about how do you see him kind of fitting in to your scheme?
- [15:55]
C
So.
- [15:55]
B
And he said that Cam is an extremely great player. Finding out a perfect role for a player like that is, quote, very high on our priority list. That was surprising. And when he talked about Cole before that, and he talked about a jack of all trades I thought of Cam just because he had done so many of those things. He was also asked about Taren a little bit, and he's like, we'll have to wait and see and all of that stuff. But the easy thing for defensive coordinators to do that just get hired. Like, when they asked Jeff Rogers about this guy, he's like, I just got here.
- [16:27]
A
Yeah.
- [16:28]
B
But I thought that answer to Cam Lewis was an interesting one of.
- [16:32]
A
Huh.
- [16:33]
B
Was that a piece that maybe he saw from the outside and what. You know, Because Brady had even talked about how when you watch opposing defenses, which I thought was really cool, he talks about how, like, you would. He goes, I don't really talk to coordinators during the year, but he goes, bro, I'll write down a note. Like, I like how they're.
- [16:51]
A
They're.
- [16:51]
B
Their defensive backs are or how their linebackers prepare. And so I wonder if that was. If he's. If Leonard's looking at the Bill's defense just going through it and going, man, that guy should be on the. That guy should be on the field more. That guy should be doing this more. I wonder. I wonder why they're not doing this with him. That might be one of the guys again.
- [17:10]
A
You mean he might have also noticed that the one play he went out, the Broncos scored to touchdown.
- [17:15]
B
Right.
- [17:16]
A
Right.
- [17:17]
B
Yeah.
- [17:17]
A
And Cam Lewis. I always felt like fans were way too hard. Shouldn't just say fans. People are way too hard on Cam Lewis. I thought Cam Lewis is. Was a very valuable player. I am a little surprised that the new coach coming in, like, if you'd asked me name 20 players, I don't know if they would have gotten to Cam.
- [17:37]
B
Correct. And that's why. I guess that's why it piqued my interest a little bit. And it was such a. It wasn't the throwaway answer of, I'm Cam Lewis.
- [17:44]
A
I'm feeling pretty good.
- [17:45]
B
He said he walked past him in today in the building and was like. Got to know him. Like, he's really excited. All this stuff. It's like, I thought Kim, people have talked about him being a cut or, like, moving on. So it was kind of. Huh. I. I did a little wind Horse fingers where I went like, huh. That was. That was interesting.
- [18:01]
A
And I don't want to read too much into it, but you might feel that way about Taran.
- [18:08]
B
Correct. Because that was the. We'll see.
- [18:10]
A
Yeah. Because I do think there's moves like this that need to be made.
- [18:15]
B
Yep.
- [18:16]
A
And the most interesting things for him. And it didn't get asked today was about Max. Like, again, that one is limited time, relatively limited time on the field and injuries. But to me, for his defense, that's a key guy. He was your number one pick a year ago.
- [18:33]
B
And, and again, all this is so preliminary because even Leonard was saying he's like, I can't wait till we lock ourselves in a room and, and get to work on really dissecting this defense. And Carl Michael was saying it's kind of the same thing. Like, I haven't watched any of the Bill's offensive offensive tape. Like I gotta go watch their game film and we'll go through it together. So I thought that was, I guess that's why it piqued my interest a little bit about Cam was because, yeah, that was the one where I almost would have thought that he would have been like, yeah, we'll see. Good, good guy. Good, good, good dude.
- [19:04]
C
It would have been very easy to just say that and move on and not make anything of it.
- [19:07]
B
Because I went back and listened to it because I was like, is that, did I hear that right?
- [19:11]
A
So what you gotta do, My guess is if I'm Jim Leonard, I'm in that room and I'm talking to them about guys I know, guys that have played for me or I have a connection. There's some Wisconsin guys, I think, like Chanel, like there's guys around that he's interested in.
- [19:30]
B
Singleton is another. The linebacker.
- [19:32]
A
Yep. There are guys like, he'd be like. And that happens because it's like, oh, makes sense. Because this guy played his system, you know, and sometimes it's not even the bigger name guy. Correct. Guys who can come in and help teach this system what he would run.
- [19:48]
B
Or it's guys that didn't have an opportunity because somebody was ahead of them. But he would know, but he would know. And they're having those conversations of, hey, if I ever, if I ever get a chance, like, you're, you're coming with me. Yeah, like we'll see, you know, we'll get you to this, this spot. I know you can do more. So be interesting to see that, I guess. Again, great press conference. I liked his vibe. I liked everything that he had to say. And it, he talked about Buffalo and the, the close knit community that it felt like and that guys hung around Buffalo more. Things like that.
- [20:19]
A
He was asked about his memories of Buffalo and he brings up the game they lost to the Browns and how they lost crappy game and got stuck in Buffalo. So I was.
- [20:31]
B
It was in Cleveland.
- [20:32]
A
Yeah. For Cleveland? Yes. Where? They got stuck in Cleveland.
- [20:35]
B
They got some Cleveland.
- [20:37]
A
Just laugh when I say this. I was on the team playing, then I was doing the. I've done so many different. I was doing the pregame, postgame radio part of the broadcast. And so we go to Cleveland for that game, and if the Bills lost, they got eliminated. And it was Snowmageddon there. It was just atrocious. And the Bills lose, and that eliminates them from the playoffs. And about halfway through the game, the people from the team come around and go, fellas, we're not leaving tonight. Like, this snow is so bad. We're not leaving. So we. We did leave the stadium. Go back to the hotel. They got us back in the hotel. Bill's got eliminated from the playoffs. And he referenced it. He was like. It was kind of a cool vibe because the players were together. I can remember one of the players playing the piano in the. In the lobby. Lobby, and the guys were. It wasn't like a party, but they were just like, ha.
- [21:29]
B
Around.
- [21:30]
A
Yeah, it wasn't. What's that song? Old Old Lang's Eye. Is that the one from New Year's Eve?
- [21:35]
C
Yeah.
- [21:35]
A
Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, they didn't play that. But I was thinking is, you would think it's like, oh, it's the end of the year, like, we're eliminated again. But it was funny that he referenced that, by the way. The next morning we got up, got on the bus to go to the airport. Took us to the airport. This is just so bad for our teams eliminated. And they were like, the plane is stuck in the snow. So they just said, stay on the bus. And then they drove us back to Buffalo, and everybody had to dig their cars out at the airport, and then they left.
- [22:06]
B
And Jim Leonard saw that as one of his favorite moments.
- [22:09]
A
Well, they were pretty bad back then. That drought. That was a heavy drought era.
- [22:13]
B
That was malarkey, right? Because he said he was in with Malarkey.
- [22:17]
C
Yeah.
- [22:17]
A
Yes, it was Malarkey.
- [22:18]
C
I think they lost, like, eight. Nothing, right?
- [22:20]
A
Yeah, it was. It was. It was. It probably could have been one of those games. They didn't. They just stopped it. Like, it was so bad. Of course, it was also Bill's Browns. The other thing, football related, I wanted to mention. I asked Joe Brady about autonomy for the defensive coordinator. Now, Joe said, I don't have a side of the ball, Daniel.
- [22:46]
B
I didn't like that answer. You liked it?
- [22:51]
A
He's the head coach. He hired a defensive coordinator who we agree sounds good. And Has a good plan. He hasn't called a game yet. Like, I hear you. So the head coach, he's got to also set the tone. He's the coach of the whole group. That being said, my thinking is his goal is I don't have to worry about the defense. Not that you aren't involved, but I don't have to be managing the defensive coaches. So I think that is the goal. I think he wants to be part of it. I think his vision as the overall head of the team. He said. He did say. I mean, I have faith in Jim. That's why we hired him.
- [23:29]
B
Yep.
- [23:30]
A
He's going to coach the defense. But you. I. I don't mind that in January saying, I don't have a side of the ball. He obviously has a side of the ball. He's calling the plays.
- [23:41]
C
And to go off your point, I think too, he has been the offensive coordinator. He has worked so closely with the offense. He probably wants to add a little bit of separation to the offense in saying, okay, yeah, I don't have a side of the ball because I am now the head coach, but that's how I feel.
- [23:58]
B
But you can't separate and say it's not your side of the ball when.
- [24:02]
A
You'Re side of the ball. We know that. Yes.
- [24:04]
B
But he's just still calling plays.
- [24:07]
A
He's not saying, I'm gonna run the defense.
- [24:10]
B
He's basically saying that.
- [24:12]
C
I think he's trying to.
- [24:13]
A
It's a little hyperbole to say, like, I don't have a side of the ball. He's calling the place on offense. Correct message to everybody to say, I'm the head coach of the entire team.
- [24:24]
C
I agree. I think it's more the messaging about everything falls under my jurisdiction because I'm now the head coach.
- [24:30]
A
It's all new. Like, Jim Leonard's not called to play. So the head coach, plus, it's part of game planning and everything. He's going to be in those rooms.
- [24:41]
B
Yeah.
- [24:41]
C
No go off King.
- [24:42]
B
No, I just. That was the one thing I thought that struck me the. The wrong way. I. I understand Brady is the head coach. He is now the CEO of all of those things. Let's not pretend how he did not get this job and why he's in this seat. So I just want him to say, I'm not sitting there saying, oh, he doesn't have any impact on the offense, just like, how I don't think that, or no impact on the defense, just like how Sean obviously had an understanding and a game Plan and ideas for the offense. Like, I understand the coaches don't work.
- [25:16]
A
In a vacuum, but John's ideas on the offense were run the ball on every play and don't let Josh run.
- [25:23]
B
Correct.
- [25:24]
A
And.
- [25:24]
B
And Sean was calling jet sweeps to Dawson Knox and he was also. Did we forget about. Do we forget about those days and.
- [25:32]
A
Punting on every fourth down?
- [25:34]
B
Correct.
- [25:34]
A
Yeah. So I, I'm just. I'm just being. Usually coaches get criticized when it's not this side.
- [25:44]
B
He's really hammering home this. This pot. This is the mic show.
- [25:47]
A
The coaches get criticized when they dare to stray from their side of the ball. Sean's a defensive head coach. Joe is an offensive head coach. I think he's right to make the point. Like, okay, maybe he made it a little farther by saying, I don't have a side of the ball. He obviously has the side of the ball. Okay, so you're agreeing with me, but it's not something.
- [26:08]
C
Michael, come back.
- [26:10]
A
It's not something that I would like.
- [26:12]
B
Kyle Shanahan's out. Like, I don't have a side here. I don't have a side.
- [26:14]
C
He's established, though. I think if you're.
- [26:17]
B
Joe was hired, obviously you're going to have a say in the defense. That is understood. My point is, is to sit there and like, I still want Joe Brady to be 100% of this offense and also be involved in the defense. That's not crazy. I also want him to be involved in the special teams. All of those things are understood. But let's not act like he doesn't have a side.
- [26:36]
A
I think it's a little hyperbole is all it is. It's like, I don't have a side of the ball. I'm neutral. How many times would you say you're neutral on something, but you're not really.
- [26:45]
C
Neutral all the time.
- [26:48]
A
Right. So, Joe, I got your back on this one.
- [26:52]
B
I. I liked. I understand what he's saying. Like, even on his press conference. And he's like, I can't wait to celebrate with the defense in plays like when Josh Allen gets picked off. I can't wait to celebrate with Max. All those things. I get all of that because you were in a vacuum on one side. But to. You can't distance yourself from this offense when you're going to be.
- [27:12]
A
Just let it go.
- [27:14]
B
Let it go. He's not.
- [27:15]
C
Hey, Dan, relax. Hey, Dan.
- [27:17]
B
Like, what are.
- [27:20]
C
You're being hysterical.
- [27:22]
A
Dan.
- [27:23]
B
Not allowed to have a point on this pod.
- [27:26]
A
Dan, help me.
- [27:28]
C
Dan, you're being Hysterical.
- [27:31]
A
Really?
- [27:31]
B
You should smile more.
- [27:33]
C
You need to relax.
- [27:34]
A
Relax.
- [27:36]
B
I have one thing. I literally came, they got back from Buffalo and I said, hey, by the way, I wrote down the one thing I didn't really like that Brady said I didn't like how he said, I. I don't have a side of the ball. And Mike's like, oh, I loved it. And then we just.
- [27:48]
A
I never said I loved it. I didn't say.
- [27:51]
C
Michael did not say he loved it. I just. I didn't. I got what he was trying to say.
- [27:58]
A
He's making a point that I'm coach of the whole team.
- [28:00]
C
Yes.
- [28:00]
A
Yes.
- [28:01]
C
That's what I.
- [28:02]
B
That's what I was unaware. That is Joe.
- [28:06]
A
Well, I did ask him the question. Hey, I did use the word autonomy when I asked him.
- [28:11]
C
I did.
- [28:12]
B
Correct.
- [28:12]
A
So I put him in that spot a little bit. So it's my fault.
- [28:15]
C
No, it's kidding. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. You said peaked earlier. And do you know how to spell peak?
- [28:21]
B
Peaked. P, E, A, K, E, D. I.
- [28:24]
C
Knew you were gonna do that.
- [28:25]
A
Peaked.
- [28:26]
C
No. And when it's used like that, it's P I, Q, U, E. Oh, it piqued your interest.
- [28:31]
A
Yeah, I didn't. I thought you meant.
- [28:33]
B
Shut up.
- [28:33]
A
They peaked.
- [28:34]
C
No, it's peaked. P, I, Q.
- [28:36]
A
And what about when you use your eyes and you look. Yeah, how's that spelled?
- [28:42]
B
L, O? Okay.
- [28:45]
A
Peaked.
- [28:46]
C
Oh, yes. With your eyes.
- [28:50]
A
On a roll. But you don't know that piqued my interest. Not. You would have said P, E, A K. Right?
- [28:55]
C
You guys are just messing, I swear.
- [28:56]
A
Yeah.
- [28:57]
B
P, I, Q, U. Peaked.
- [28:59]
A
Yeah.
- [29:00]
C
D. I didn't want to ask you in the moment, but I got the best.
- [29:02]
A
That is peaked.
- [29:04]
C
Oh, well, our WI fi sucks. Stimulate interest or curiosity.
- [29:09]
A
Oh, my God, Daniel, you just.
- [29:12]
B
You just broke that looked like.
- [29:13]
C
I don't know if I want my kids going to.
- [29:15]
B
That looks like a bird.
- [29:16]
C
Future kids.
- [29:17]
A
You're speaking to kids.
- [29:20]
B
Didn't ask me to spell anything smart.
- [29:22]
C
Okay, let's talk Pete Carmichael, who very established who was Sean Payton's right hand man for a long time, worked with Drew Brees. Joe Brady, he said when he met Joe Brady early on he could tell that he was going to be successful in this job, in this industry. I thought, to me, Mike, it was like, Pete Carmichael. I'm like, yeah, he's got experience. He's. He's your guy.
- [29:44]
B
It doesn't.
- [29:45]
A
I'm just guessing this. Everyone in the league likes Pete Carmichael.
- [29:48]
C
I could imagine that he's that dude.
- [29:50]
A
He knows his role. I said to Jenna, it made me think the way Joe Brady explained it was like, I call the plays, but Pete is ready. And if I need to do something, he's ready. He's the backup quarterback. You prepare, like, you're going to call the plays, and when needed, you jump right in. You're calling the plays with him. Right. He's the backup quarterback. He's not in charge, but he does every. Especially a backup quarterback. Like with the Bills, where you're not competing with the starter. You know your role. Pete knows his role. I think for Joe Brady, great choice. And it's a very type of choice.
- [30:27]
B
And it's a similar role. Like, this isn't like Pete taking a back seat. This is what he's done for the last two decades.
- [30:34]
A
Yeah.
- [30:34]
B
It made me think of. We had talked about the parent analogy.
- [30:38]
A
Yeah.
- [30:39]
B
Like Joe's mom. And then when mom's not there, dad has to step in. Like, Renee runs the house. And then when I come in there, I have to continue off what. I have to reiterate what Renee has talked about. Like, it's my job to fulfill that.
- [30:53]
A
See, the difference is Pete's there all the time.
- [30:56]
B
Yes. Like right now. Right now, Renee is running the show. And then when I come home, I have to continue the. The philosophies and beliefs that we're on the same page. We're on the same. We're. We're aligned.
- [31:08]
A
You're aligned.
- [31:09]
B
Renee and I are aligned in our parenting, but I have to continue that. And then when she goes out and gets to have her night with her friends, I have to be able to hold the fort down.
- [31:18]
C
I look at Pete Carmichael as the wingman.
- [31:20]
A
Yeah.
- [31:21]
C
Like, he's there to, like, help support his guy. He can kind of talk to somebody if he needs to. He knows the message. He can get it out there. But, like, it's not about him.
- [31:29]
A
By the way, while we're saying that, I was a great wingman. Fantastic wingman.
- [31:36]
C
Really?
- [31:36]
A
Yes. Well, you don't think so, say whiffed?
- [31:42]
C
No.
- [31:43]
A
Great wingman, I guess.
- [31:46]
C
I don't know. I. I don't.
- [31:47]
A
It's like a point guard directing traffic.
- [31:50]
C
Can't you see Pete Carmichael to, like, manning the grill at a backyard barbecue? Just like, hey, guys, what's going. The beer's in the cooler.
- [31:57]
B
The cooler. Cornholes over here. Go help yourself.
- [32:00]
C
Yeah.
- [32:00]
A
And in control.
- [32:01]
B
Yes.
- [32:02]
A
Like, not rattled.
- [32:03]
B
I do love it when they always talk about. You had said that early on when he was with the Saints. He kind of had that feeling that Joe was going to be great. Do people file those away and then just wait for it to happen? Because how many of those stories are like, I thought this guy was going to be great, and then he just never panned out. And you just kept that story to yourself.
- [32:23]
A
You know, I remember one time I.
- [32:25]
C
Was thinking that with you.
- [32:26]
A
Right. Well, that's what I'm saying one day. And this guy kept coming, bugging me for stuff, and his boss came around and said, you got to tell that Dan Fates to get back to his production job instead of hanging around the sports department. And I thought, someday that Dan Fates is going to misspell words on the podcast.
- [32:46]
C
Someday that Dan Fates is gonna annoy me even more.
- [32:49]
B
Someday I'm gonna have a podcast with this guy. He's gonna be the worst. We're gonna argue about.
- [32:54]
C
You're right, though. There's probably some people that are like, I. I still put that one away. And you're like, I didn't need that.
- [32:59]
B
Right. Like, I. I guess I just thought of, like, somebody had that story about Adam Gaze and was like, I knew at an early age that Adam Gaze was going to be a mediocre head coach and fail as a head wife. Like, it's really funny. Just, he talks about how he was at Coach Ought up a couple times.
- [33:17]
A
Yeah, I was laughing.
- [33:19]
B
Carmichael's already been like, comment and subscribe to Buffalo Plus. But he talked about, you know, coachell wanted them to come to LSU and have this conversation and talk to the players. And then he also said, you know, do you have anybody to talk about RPOs? And he goes, we got done with our stuff. And then Brady came in and he goes, the whole building at LSU was just, like, drawn to it. And he's like, he was the rock star. We were the opening act and obviously goes to lsu, wins the national championship.
- [33:45]
A
Joe talked about it and said he told him afterward, they're going to call you up to hire you. And he said, I kind of dismissed it and then called and got hired.
- [33:53]
B
So Coach O. Yeah, shout out Coach O. Who would have thought, Coach, I'll be getting this much airtime on him.
- [34:00]
C
That is true, but I got the appeal of having him there. It seems like someone who knows that role and can be supporting and helping Joe Brady as he takes over this. And in terms of running the offense and being on both sides of the.
- [34:13]
B
Ball.
- [34:18]
A
He doesn't have a side. By the way, we knew Sean was a subscriber. At least we want to Believe that, Joe subscriber yet? Buffalo Plus?
- [34:26]
C
I think so. Yeah.
- [34:27]
A
I think so. Yeah.
- [34:28]
B
He's been on his phone. He's had a lot recently.
- [34:29]
A
Yeah.
- [34:30]
B
He has been on the media tour.
- [34:32]
C
Yeah. He's probably exhausted.
- [34:34]
B
He's got to be. He said he's been on his phone more this past week than he has been his entire life.
- [34:39]
A
Yeah.
- [34:41]
C
Jeff Rogers also talked. New special teams coordinator for the Bills.
- [34:44]
B
What I was just really hoping to be like. And Jeff Rogers talked. So what else we got to talk about?
- [34:49]
A
Fairness to Jeff Rogers. I just got off a plane.
- [34:51]
B
Yeah.
- [34:52]
C
Yes.
- [34:52]
A
He doesn't have any players he knows he can use. He's not even sure about the kicker, though. He knows Matt Prater because Matt Prater kick for everybody. And I love. I asked him because he's been nothing but a special teams coach, and he's like I said, was that, like, a plan? He's like, I kind of fell into it. And he's been in it for, what, 17 years?
- [35:10]
C
Yeah. He says now it fits his brain.
- [35:12]
A
It fits his way. He is. We don't know anything about what he's going to do because he's in a kind of an unfair spot to be just thrown out there. But good for him.
- [35:21]
C
I mean, he's had a successful career and he's stayed on in Arizona after the hirings and firings. He's been able to be there and withstood that. So I think that says a lot.
- [35:30]
A
It was hard to have anything from his style.
- [35:35]
C
What to expect.
- [35:36]
B
L, E, E, N. No, no.
- [35:39]
C
G, L, E, A, N. That's okay. All right. You mentioned Joe Brady.
- [35:44]
A
Yeah.
- [35:44]
C
He's kind of done. He. He talked to us once again today. Other than what Dan had to say, was there anything that stood out to you? No.
- [35:53]
A
I mean, we've heard a lot from Joe. Like you said recently, he's been on a lot of podcasts. He's been everywhere. I think he. He needs a little bit of a break now.
- [36:03]
B
I would agree.
- [36:04]
A
A lot of talking. Endless.
- [36:06]
C
Yeah. A week straight. Yeah.
- [36:07]
B
A lot of talking. Especially when you're with somebody.
- [36:11]
C
Yeah.
- [36:12]
B
You got a lot of talking.
- [36:13]
A
Was that a shot at me?
- [36:14]
B
It was.
- [36:15]
C
It was. Yeah.
- [36:16]
A
It's a lot of talking. And you have to avoid a little bit of saying a little too much or too little. They really don't know a lot yet. Correct. Because there's so many things that can happen between. Well, it's going to ramp up fast. Like now they're meeting with everything. They've met with the scouts, like this is when they make their plans for free agency and what they want to look at. You know, Bean talked about that today, cutting down the number to like 250 players that are going to be at the combine, the people they want to, who they decide to meet with. So this is when it's like ramping up because they go to combine. And the thought with most people is the draft, but the reality is free agency starts like right after the combine and it's your own free agents and that point. But no, I think it's been a lot of. He's had. He's been on a lot of stuff, you know, a lot of podcasts and done a lot of talking. But today was pretty, pretty similar.
- [37:10]
B
Brady also mentioned that they're keeping Kelly Skipper, Rob Boris, Austin Gunn and DJ Mangus.
- [37:18]
A
So we're talking about offensive line.
- [37:21]
B
The positions are still trying to work through details of positions and titles. So that's what makes me also wonder, like, would Austin Gunn move to a different position? Like kind of things like that. Obviously, we know Kelly Skipper has been the running back coach, Boris has been the tight ends coach, and then Mangus has been assistant wide receiver coach. And I know they've brought in a new quarterbacks coach. They brought in some more new linebackers coach from Oklahoma. Yeah, things like that. So that was just housekeeping duties.
- [37:54]
C
Another interview today, Brandon Bean was on wgr. He was sat down or not sat down, but he was with Joe and Jeremy earlier on today. Now, they did bring up the wide receiver talk. We know that was a huge topic this past offseason stretched into this year and being had the joke about I'm gonna see how many draft picks for receiver there's been before and essentially do that.
- [38:14]
A
It was every draft picks seven.
- [38:17]
C
Yeah.
- [38:17]
A
Wide receivers.
- [38:18]
B
Yes, I'm in.
- [38:22]
A
You know, he's at that point where it was. They're not going to give anything away. I think he was receptive. Certainly was a different interview than a year ago, which was right after the draft. Yes, but it was fine. It just is interesting. I will say one thing. Brandon Bean is going to talk a lot in the next little bit. He'll talk before the draft and all that time. I do understand we, we make the point that the salary cap is not real. Understanding that there is a real element to it and at times it is. Can be impactful. Right. When you draft play or when you sign players, draft players that don't work out, or you sign players that don't work out, it becomes more impactful. I will say this when I hear him, he deserves every credit in the world for drafting Josh Allen.
- [39:18]
B
Yep.
- [39:20]
A
But you can't have that and then complain about the cost of having a franchise quarterback. A lot of GMs in the world will flat out trade places with you 100 to have Josh Allen or a player of that magnitude. Yep. It's the price you pay for getting that guy.
- [39:42]
B
And to be getting out of quarterback.
- [39:43]
A
Hell and to be able to know he's your guy and keep kicking that can down the road, if you're going to kick the can down the road for 17 is a great Josh. Just keep doing it. So to that point, I understand there are some limitations. I really don't think it's advantageous for him. Like he'd care what I think, but advantageous for him to talk about when you've paid the quarterback. I'm not saying specifically today. That wasn't really the topic today. But I've heard him say that and it's like, yep, but you got the quarterback and we know other teams have the quarterback and they pay guys. And again, it depends on how the rest of the roster sure works out. Salary cap issues or franchise quarterback. You got that franchise quarterback, you got to make every other thing work. And I know there's hoops they got to go through and there's things they got to do, but at this point with this team in this spot, you got to figure out a way to make it work.
- [40:40]
B
And again, as we've talked about and the sourcap isn't real and the manipulations that you can do to it, a lot of that gets alleviated by drafting and hitting on draft picks that are cheap. Like, that's. They have been able to pay Spencer Brown and Dion Dawkins because Torrance is on a rookie deal. And then you kind of have to. And also reset.
- [41:05]
A
Spencer Brown were really good draft picks.
- [41:06]
B
Correct.
- [41:07]
A
So you kept them around.
- [41:08]
B
Correct.
- [41:08]
A
If Keon Coleman would have hit, we'd.
- [41:11]
B
Be having a whole different conversation.
- [41:12]
A
You don't need another outside wide receiver.
- [41:14]
B
Correct. So that's where drafting well, helps. Look at what Seattle's done. They paid a quarterback a lot of money this year and they were still able to, through free agency, hit on free agent signings, hit in the draft.
- [41:29]
A
And they're in the super bowl trade at the deadline.
- [41:33]
C
That is true.
- [41:34]
B
So, yeah, I'm with you, too. Where it's like, I've heard so much about the cap and that's kind of where at times I have felt like GMs use the cap as. As a crutch, as. As an excuse and not a reason. And like, let's.
- [41:49]
A
It just makes it. It can make it harder. They're going to have decisions to make.
- [41:52]
B
But what else is harder is finding Josh Allen. And you did. You did the really hard part. You did that finding.
- [41:58]
A
Yeah.
- [41:58]
B
Finding your franchise quarterback, which is in.
- [42:01]
A
Large part why Brandon Bean got elevated to the job he has now.
- [42:04]
B
Correct.
- [42:05]
A
Because he drafted Josh Allen. It has been the biggest move in the franchise's history.
- [42:09]
B
Correct.
- [42:09]
A
But the price of that is Josh makes a lot of money. Right. And you got to figure out how to help him out.
- [42:16]
C
So steak too juicy, Lobster too buttery.
- [42:19]
A
Right.
- [42:19]
B
It's.
- [42:19]
A
It's. It's tough problems. There's. There's guys in other cities going, I'll take that problem.
- [42:25]
B
Yes.
- [42:25]
A
Yeah.
- [42:26]
C
All right. Anything else, gentlemen?
- [42:28]
A
No.
- [42:29]
C
Okay.
- [42:29]
A
Doing any more going. Any more to talk?
- [42:32]
B
No, but it was. Best question I got was, does the. I talked about traveling for my job because they want to know the pros and cons. I think a third grader asked if I have to pay for my plane tickets to go to games, and I said no. My company pays for them and the dinners, and that got a lot of oohs and oz. And then they asked if I was on the team plane. I said no. Yeah, I fly with all the regular folk back in 27C.
- [42:58]
C
I'll be in the middle seat.
- [43:01]
B
But, yeah, it was. It was funny. I tweeted it out. Like, in all honesty, I get more nervous. I was more nervous today to talk to elementary school kids than I was at your wedding. Like, that is my.
- [43:12]
C
I'm offended.
- [43:13]
B
That is my level of. I was comfortable doing the wedding. I also. They said, like, do you have some slides to prepare? I may have prepared those at 10:30 last night.
- [43:22]
C
Oh, my God.
- [43:23]
B
So, like, that was being done at the last hour.
- [43:27]
C
Yeah.
- [43:27]
B
Which is me.
- [43:28]
A
Failure to prepare is preparing to fail. John wood, you were 10:30 at night doing this. And by the way, those kids spell better than you, don't they?
- [43:36]
B
100%. I kept that off. Like. Like what? They were like, what skills do you need? And I was like, writing, reading, creativity, all those things. And I. I did not.
- [43:46]
C
Did you put grammar up there? I was say. That's not exactly the.
- [43:50]
B
No, I said writing, reading, and creativity.
- [43:52]
C
I want to give a quick shout out to Paula and Jim. I met them the other day at Target. They were so nice, so sweet. Huge fans of the channel. Jim and I took a photo. It was. It was awesome. It made my day. So I just want to say shout out to Paula and Jim and I really appreciate you watching the Buffalo Plus.
- [44:11]
A
Channel One other Shout out Henrietta Senior Center.
- [44:13]
C
Yes.
- [44:14]
A
Jenna and I went there. Pretty soon I'll just be going there for lunch. Stop. People are awesome. It's great.
- [44:21]
C
Can I just say, it is adorable watching how excited people are to listen to Mike interact with Mike signed a couple autographs. It was really. It's really cool. Shelly, who runs the place, amazing. She's always great.
- [44:33]
A
They get a great crowd and they know their football.
- [44:36]
C
They really do.
- [44:37]
A
Into it.
- [44:37]
B
Love it. Absolutely into it.
- [44:39]
A
So it was fun. It was fun to go.
- [44:40]
B
So shout out Dudley elementary in Northside Fairport. Ms. Hal's class.
- [44:45]
A
We go see the adults. You go see.
- [44:47]
B
Yes. What? Somebody asked me who my favorite team was. I said, the Atlanta Braves because that's my favorite team. And then somebody asked me who my least favorite team was. And I said, that's kind of tough.
- [44:56]
A
And then I said, the New York Mets.
- [44:58]
B
I said, the New England Patriots. That got a big cheer.
- [45:02]
A
Cheer.
- [45:02]
B
That got a big cheer.
- [45:03]
C
So that is funny.
- [45:04]
B
Shout out to everybody.
- [45:04]
A
So excited for that Super Bowl. Wow.
- [45:06]
C
It's gonna be a Super Bowl.
- [45:08]
B
Yes. It will be a football game.
- [45:10]
C
It will be a football game. All right, thank you so much for joining us. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share. We'll catch you next time. Here for my Catalana and Dan feeds, I'm Jetta Cotrell. Thank you for watching Buffalo Plus.
- [45:30]
B
Now from the Connors and Ferris podcast.
- [45:32]
A
Studio, this is the Buffalo plus podcast.