← Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills podcast
Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills podcast
The new Josh Allen, a surprise player so far and a Commanders preview
00:48:36
Meet the new Josh Allen
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- [00:00]
Dan Fates
In the time it takes you to actually board a flight from Group 8.
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Mike Catalana
Now boarding Premier Altitude Elite Club members.
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Dan Fates
You could have bought a Hyundai on Amazon. Visit HyundaiUSA.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details. Limited availability pick up through participating Hyundai dealer in select markets.
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Jenna Cotrell
This is the Buffalo plus podcast, brought.
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Dan Fates
To you by Connors and Ferris.
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Mike Catalana
All right, welcome Back to the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel, presented by Connors and Ferris. Mike Catalana, Dan Fates, I am Jenna Cotrell. We are talking entering week three, the Bills against the Commanders. Josh Allen coming off a great performance against the Raiders. He won AFC offensive player of the week. Before we get started, please be sure to like, comment, subscribe to the podcast and share if you enjoy our content. All right, Michael. Josh Allen winning AFC Offensive Player of the Week. It's the 11th time in his career. There was a lot to like from that game from him against the Raiders. Is Josh Allen fixed? Do you think he's fixed these problems that we've seen and do you think this time maybe it'll stick?
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Jenna Cotrell
Yeah, I think it's all fixed. I think he will never turn the ball over again. He will never take another chance. He will never try to leap over another player, even if it's a college teammate. I think Josh, I'm gonna say this. I'm gonna, I'm gonna do a little Dan Fates here and I'm gonna pat myself on the back and I'm gonna say the jets game was a tipping point. But that doesn't mean he's totally fixed. He is much more aware of what he was doing. He said it before, I believe he meant it now. He had little flashes of Josh, we can't take it all the way, Jenna. Men can change. They just. I agree. Change all the way.
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Mike Catalana
Dan.
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Dan Fates
Yeah, it was funny. We were sitting there, I'm on the sidelines during the Raiders game and Jenna puts in the group text. I guess men can change to that. Which I quickly responded saying, this is who Josh is. Like this. This is what it is. You take the good with the bad. I don't know if he's fixed. I think Mike makes a good point that he's more aware for the time being. Men can then become distracted and then get go back to certain ways. Sometimes they have to be reigned in quite often. So maybe that's part of it. Well, I think what the best part is what you saw and Jenna, we talked about it in the post game blog post, practice blog yesterday. Check that out if you haven't already. It was, though I can't remember how McDermott said he. McDermott called it solid. He said he had a solid game and that especially in recent memory, he said it was one of those games. And again, you can have Mike. I think you asked Sean after the game, actually, of, like, you can still be both, right? Like, you can still be Josh making the throw to Khalil and still be trying to hurdle guys. Right?
- [03:07]
Mike Catalana
Spectacular is what.
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Jenna Cotrell
Yeah. McDermott said, by the way, I will. I'll let you guys finish the point. But did you see when I asked Sean that question, the smile came on his face and he did the little nod. It was like the knowing parent who's like, see, you can get your homework done and still go out with your friends. I mean, he was like, yeah, it can work. And Sean is so excited, Jenna, to place this up on the pedestal for Josh and say, look, Josh, look at that Raiders game. And if you think about it, I mean, that is kind of the epitome of what every team would love every quarterback to be, right? Spectacular in moments like most men are, and then still steady and good the rest of the time.
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Dan Fates
Yeah, I mean, solid steady. It was almost at times, Jenna, like, boring's okay for Josh. Like. Like. Like that's okay.
- [04:04]
Mike Catalana
Yes. I think this is. We talked to Josh yesterday after practice, and he downplayed the award. Personal awards don't really mean anything to him, all this stuff. But I think for McDermott, he talked about that award. That trophy can actually be meaningful and a good reminder. Now, will it stick? I think there's the potential for that. But I also know that Josh Allen has his tendencies, and sometimes things are. You know, it's. It's discipline. That was a word that Sean McDermott said, and I think that that is an important piece about getting older and maturing is having the discipline you have. You know that every throw is available to you. But you also know sometimes that while it may appear like it's the throw to make, maybe you need the discipline to not make those types of things. So this game against the Raiders was an example. It wasn't a crazy stat game. We talked about it. Like, it wasn't some of the. It was AFC Offensive Player of the Week awards that Josh has won before, where it's like, you know, four. Five touchdowns, 400 passing yards, like, all this stuff. But it was good and good enough. And I think. I hope this sticks because the Bills have enough talent and they can show that they can play the way they did if they can continue to doing that that is what makes them so dangerous. The fact that it doesn't just have to be on Josh, it can be on other elements of the offense. And that is more powerful, in my opinion, because you have to respect everything they're putting out there as opposed to just try and shut down number 17.
- [05:42]
Jenna Cotrell
Yeah.
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Dan Fates
Jenny, you talk about it as discipline and kind of going off what Sean McDermott said. We were doing the blog yesterday, and I kind of want to expand on this in. In its own video, maybe in the channel. It made me think again about a video I did last year about taking the cheese. Like, taking that. What the defense gives you. The defense wants you to have to go 12, 13, 14 plays down the field to beat them. That is what the NFL is. Patrick Mahomes was a big part of that. Like, they didn't. Defenses don't want to give up big chunk plays. And they know that eventually as a quarterback, you will become undisciplined, that you will then try to force things. That's what Josh did against the Jets. And when you say discipline, I think of restraint. And I joked around about. It was like, josh, on Sunday against the Raiders, it was like when you show a dog a treat, and the dog's like, oh, I want the treat. I want the treat. And you have to be like, sit, sit. Stay, Josh, sit. Don't do it. Don't do it. And then he would check the ball down, and Josh was like, all right, all right. Okay, okay. I looked at it. We were talking about it yesterday. I've always made the comparison. I think it's one of the best things, is that great quarterbacks either fall into butcher or surgeon categories. I walked back in the sports office yesterday after we came to practice, and I said, mike, he's both. And. And a surgeon is the Peyton Manning. It's the Tom Brady, it's the Drew Brees. They. They both use sharp instruments.
- [07:00]
Jenna Cotrell
Is.
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Dan Fates
Is the. You know, is the example. But one of them uses a machete, flash sizzle, and you get a pastrami sandwich. The other one is so precise with a scalpel and can. And can cut you up and can save your life. And what we saw was Josh being that surgeon again that we have saw that he knew when to go for it, knew when not to go for it, kind of those things. And then we talk about restraint. And Jen and I were joking around about it. I know some of the comments were like, oh, you guys were hungry. It reminded me of a chef, and a chef that shows restraint and a chef that goes I can throw a hundred different things and use all these impressive ingredients. And sometimes Mike Little get a little sauce. Sometimes the sauce just needs like four or five ingredients and let the ingredients sing. And you don't need all these fancy things on the plate. You just put a really good thing of pasta and sauce, and it's delicious. And that's what we saw, I think, from Sunday with Josh. I called it Chef Allen, and he was a lot of fun to watch.
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Mike Catalana
So making a Sunday.
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Jenna Cotrell
Yeah. I got to pause you for one second and say, honestly, I never order pastrami.
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Dan Fates
Oh, I love.
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Jenna Cotrell
You do? Yeah, yeah.
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Dan Fates
Big pastrami fan.
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Mike Catalana
Is my mic. Okay, hold on.
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Jenna Cotrell
You went a little hollow there.
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Mike Catalana
My. My mic. I would go Reuben over pastrami, but I mean, I like everything.
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Dan Fates
I like corn. I like corned beef. I like.
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Jenna Cotrell
By the way, I just became like, what you talked about Josh, you mentioned the food, and I was like, oh, I'm listening to Dan talk, and I'm like, pastrami. I don't order that very.
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Mike Catalana
But to your get distracted.
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Jenna Cotrell
I know, but to your football point, you know, there's two different things about Josh. And, you know, taking the cheese and the underneath stuff, that's all cool, because that's one part of being smart. Just not chucking it down the field. And let's be honest, that's what he did in the jets game. It's what got him in trouble. But there's also the moments on the field in the 10, 15 yard range, just regular plays where you're like, do I fit that in there? Do I take it now? Look, he had a couple fourth down plays. You got to make that throw. But I asked him about fourth down plays, and you could see it was like he was going in his mind going, yes, I know. Because a fourth down play at the goal line, you can't turn it over. So you don't just go chuck it up and hope something happens. I mean, I guess unless it's right at the end of the game because you can't turn it over. So these are the things that are in his head. I do not expect them to be 247 every moment of every game, because no quarterback does that. Even the best of the best, Even Brady occasionally did dumb stuff or tried stuff that didn't work. Not that often, because he also was less spectacular in his game. You know, Mahomes would be the comparison. Right, Because Mahomes does both. No, no, no. I'm saying is the ability to do both. Because I think Mahomes Is as good at it as any guy we've ever. We've ever seen.
- [10:08]
Dan Fates
Yes.
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Jenna Cotrell
He does not do a lot of really dumb stuff. He has his moments, but he. He makes spectacular. Different, kind of. By the way, Josh did make a Mahomes play. I'll give him that. The one to Khalil Shakir.
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Mike Catalana
That was unbelievable.
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Jenna Cotrell
Phenomenal throw. It was arm strength, but it was more arm position. So, you know, and I go back to Sean even yesterday, where he's like. He's saying it because he wants it to be in Josh's mind that, guess what? Not only does this work for you, it works for us, it works for your teammates. Everybody got involved.
- [10:46]
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
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Jenna Cotrell
Now, Jenna, I'm sure the comments will say it was against the Raiders, and it was. That's not a good defense or not a great defense, but the style of play can work against anyone. Maybe you just need to bump up the spectacular in certain situations against certain teams.
- [11:04]
Mike Catalana
Yeah. Dan, what were you gonna say?
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Dan Fates
No, I agree. Like, that throw to Khalil is insane. It was. It's your signature dish. That's the dish that has the bells and whistles. That's the dish that gets people to come back and say, man, this restaurant is great. Have you had this?
- [11:24]
Mike Catalana
Nobody loves an analogy like Dan Faiths.
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Dan Fates
Hey, this is the first analogy that's not a golf or a baseball analogy. So we're evolving. Men can change.
- [11:34]
Mike Catalana
Men. Men can evolve.
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Jenna Cotrell
Jenna, tomato pie at Red and I had other people go there. Elite dish. You gotta try it. That's the way I look at it. Signature.
- [11:44]
Mike Catalana
I've not had that so good.
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Dan Fates
I'd like to made a pie. I've had it. I like Red. Red's very good.
- [11:52]
Mike Catalana
Red, the restaurant in Rochester is very good.
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Dan Fates
Three in Rochester.
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Jenna Cotrell
Wow, look at Dan.
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Mike Catalana
I've been there in a minute. I want to go back.
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Jenna Cotrell
We'll have a Buffalo plus party there.
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Mike Catalana
Do we wear our hats?
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Jenna Cotrell
Yeah.
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Mike Catalana
I will say, there's always the fear that, like, the thing I want to see next is someone being able to reach him in a game. Like, in a game when things are kind of spiraling out of control, I want, like, we saw the cutaways of Sean McDermott being, like, be smart, like yelling in the jets game. Dan, I think the next evolution of this is, like, in a game, can he calm himself, quiet himself, and have someone be able to help him. Or maybe it's him that realizes it and play that more style of sharing the football, taking what's available, not trying to force it. Like, all of These things. I think that's the next step in this process.
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Dan Fates
I think that's. That's a really great point. And just like I said, I, I always go back to you. Dan Orlovsky's. Again, he, he will make fun of his own NFL career and for running out of the back of the end zone, but that dude knows, yeah, quarterback play. I. When he talks, I listen. And it was that moment when he talked about the jets game of, like, grow up. That, like, hey, we love the fact that Josh treats every play, every game like it's his last, but it's not an understanding of knowing when to. Like you said, Jenna, okay, I made a bad play. Forget about it, move on and start kind of refresh, restart. And I always think about. Josh has admitted that he gets nervous before games. It's well documented that he throws up before games, all those kind of things. And I remember a few years ago when we talked about how, like, he would get hit, and he was like, I like to get hit because it calms me down. I, I wonder if there's something that he can have or a player that can, like you said, connect with him, reach him. Like, you said, that when things start to get a little bit squirrely, when things start to get a little bit Texans or Jetsian, that, that he can pull him back in to be like, hey, remember. Remember that Raiders game? Just, just. We got you, Dan.
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Jenna Cotrell
You had some great shots. Video from on the field, including the. The time he tried to hurdle his former college teammate Marcus Epps. And then you had a shot at Diggs talking to him. It seemed to be more funny. Did you get that impression? Playful. It's kind of probably like, dude, what do you. What are you doing? And they were laughing. But I think if there's a guy During a game, 100 may be able to get to him. It stakes.
- [14:22]
Dan Fates
Oh, we saw Diggs do that in the jets game right before when they had to go down and. And get the touchdown. And there were a couple times I. That was the TV broadcast I saw where Diggs kind of went up to Josh and was kind of like, like, we're good. And then I saw it right before the timeout when it was. It was almost like they came to the sidelines, and normally just the quarterback goes over the sidelines, but it was. It was Allen and Diggs going over to where, you know, break Joe Brady was and McDermott. And it was almost like, just throw it to me, man. Like, I'm. I'm gonna get it. Like, we're good. Like, we're good. And then to do that and that goes back to. They have that level of connection and I know we're kind of stumbling off of it, but like, think about the Detroit game when things kind of went squirrely at the end and he has to make one throw and it's pretty much like, hey, Steph, run down the middle. I'm gonna throw you the ball. And like, you just make a play. Like, again, Stefan Diggs is super unhappy in Buffalo. I think that's well seen on a lot of videos and in practice. But he may be the one guy that, like, you're right, is a constant leader. And even he's the grownup one for the most part, especially this year. I will take out a couple of moments. He's the grownup this year that has been very calm, level headed on the bench. I, I from the, I've been on the sidelines for both games. He has been the one that has been the calming figure on that bench.
- [15:45]
Mike Catalana
I would hope at some point it is Josh able to reach himself though? Like, that is something that I think would be the most beneficial is if he is the one that could instill that calmness in himself. Maybe that's not possible. Maybe that's kind of asking for too much, but I feel like that would be, that would be the, the pinnacle of him being able to control, you know, and play the way that he wants to play and not leaving it up to someone else to reach him, but having him have the ability to be like, what am I doing? Because we've seen before where, and, and the jets game was an example of this of like a mistake happens and then it gets compounded. It's like, oh, I did this so I can't. And then it's like it's, it kind of the train goes off the tracks of like, how do we, how do you figure out how to, you know, be still in those moments and not force stuff? And we saw an example against the Raiders and it's like, I know we've talked about, like, the Raiders aren't the best team by far that the Bills are going to see, but I even asked Josh, like, is there any momentum, like, what can you take away from this past week? And he talked about just like the honest conversations and keeping that open and keeping things in that same approach and how beneficial that was. So I think there are things that can be learned and takeaways that can be, like, played out now as we move forward in the season.
- [17:05]
Jenna Cotrell
Yeah. So we're Back to what I said in the beginning. He's totally fixed and they'll never be a problem again.
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Dan Fates
Well, I just want one thing because Jenna makes a I love your point, Jen. About like, hopefully it's one point. It's Josh that can calm Josh down. We factor in sometimes it's like, oh, that was such a stupid play by Josh. Or what was he thinking? Like, the competitiveness is what makes Josh special. It's what also can be that double edged sword. Like he talks about it and he's not going to dull one edge of his sword to just become a check down Charlie. But I always think about like Brady was super competitive, right. And eventually he was the one that knew his mistakes like before anybody else. Because there was a clip. I was just watching it. It was successful. Trying to find a Tony Romo clip for, for a short. And Romo, it was a New England game and he threw an interception and the Romo was breaking down Brady walking to the sidelines and Josh McDaniel was there and was like, hey, man, you can't do that. Like, he's telling him like you had this guy open in the seam and you that. And Tom's going, I know, I know. And he's yelling back at Josh McDaniel like, shut up. I know. You don't need to tell me. I know. And he's like throwing the iPad and some of that. Romo's like, he's telling him.
- [18:21]
Jenna Cotrell
He's.
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Dan Fates
He's aware. Like he knows it too. Like he made the mistake. Like, if Josh can get to that point too, you're not going to take away the competitiveness. You're not going to tell him to try to do, you know, try not to be you, but you can kind of turn it down a little bit.
- [18:34]
Mike Catalana
Well, it's that discipline. It's that restraint. Yes.
- [18:39]
Jenna Cotrell
And Jenna, deep down we always know. We just don't like to be told.
- [18:45]
Dan Fates
Yeah.
- [18:46]
Jenna Cotrell
Always know what we're doing wrong. We, we recognize it. And then you hear it. You're like, I know, I know, I know. Right?
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Mike Catalana
It's so funny.
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Jenna Cotrell
We always know somewhere deep in the recesses of our brains.
- [19:00]
Mike Catalana
Yeah, we know. I mean, I would make the case that for like as an adult, like what makes you successful is your discipline.
- [19:09]
Dan Fates
Yeah.
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Mike Catalana
Routine scheduling, like, yeah, like all that stuff. That's a piece. I feel like you got to learn too. So maybe Josh is. It's been so much athleticism and spectacular plays, but now it's also the balancing and the other side of the coin of being as Sean McDermott said, solid. Still being who you are, are, and both the duality of that, but also, you know, making sure you see the other side of the coin too.
- [19:33]
Jenna Cotrell
Yep.
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Dan Fates
Not a butcher, not a surgeon. A chef. His chef, Chef Allen.
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Jenna Cotrell
Tipping point, week one, Jenna. Tipping point.
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Mike Catalana
I. I actually do think there's something to that. All right, let's talk about the defense, though.
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Jenna Cotrell
Yep.
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Mike Catalana
Oh, okay. Dan, I saw that look.
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Dan Fates
We all three of us were so good and I have to mend my smug face at some point.
- [19:55]
Mike Catalana
Your smug face got that smug face. All right, this defense, Dan, you asked first like adjustments. Sean McDermott. The first drive against the Raiders when Vegas walked down the field and scored, there were some scary moments, but defense able to force a turnover after that and really shut things down. Like, how good do you think we've seen. Seen the defense play? Not great against Zach Wilson, obviously weapons with the jets, but where do you think this defense is? How good are they?
- [20:29]
Dan Fates
Obviously you can't take away a couple plays. Like, that's the obvious. You can't take away the breeze Hall. You can't take away his long run. You can't take away the. The Raiders opening drive. But besides that, if Greg Russo and Ed Oliver play at this level and you bring back and Matt Milano, I'm thinking of players that have just dominated games and we really haven't seen much out of Trey or Benford or even Poyer and Hyde. And like, that's all good because I've always thought that this defense has been built, the strength has been in the back end, but it really looks like the front seven has been. Front six, I guess in this defense has been really, really impressive. So when I, when I see that and I see Sean McDermott again, kind of going into his bag of tricks a little bit and, and finding his groove. Obviously it helps when the Raiders only ran like 38 offensive snaps. Like, that's part of it when you have a nine minute drive. Offensively, Sean said, hey, the best defense sometimes is just keeping the offense off the field. But. But I just looked at and I talked to Greg Rousseau yesterday and just the fact of like Sean talked about that he's. That he's nastier.
- [21:40]
Jenna Cotrell
My light almost fell. Sorry.
- [21:44]
Mike Catalana
I'm sorry.
- [21:45]
Dan Fates
Everybody. Everybody listening. Just like ducked like, I don't know what happened.
- [21:49]
Mike Catalana
So sorry.
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Jenna Cotrell
Not that I need to tell you, but you want to clip that.
- [21:53]
Dan Fates
Okay. Yeah, that'll be good.
- [21:55]
Mike Catalana
That I thought my light was. I'm sorry.
- [21:57]
Dan Fates
Every 23 minute mark.
- [21:59]
Jenna Cotrell
Okay, hold on. You're Micah Hyde, this guy is falling week one.
- [22:03]
Dan Fates
Yeah.
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Mike Catalana
Oh, my gosh. That was so scary. Okay. Sorry, Dan.
- [22:08]
Dan Fates
No, and I think the adjustments that, that McDermott made, I, I think that I, I asked him because I, I don't think they made great adjustments in the jets game, especially going from Aaron Rodgers being out to, To Zach Wilson. I don't think they made enough in game adjustments, especially in the second half. I liked the adjustments that they were able to make. After that opening drive of the Raiders, Sean complimented the staff, the coaches, all of those things, because that's, that's new again, like, this is the first time we talked about, like, things where you're going to have to have some growing pains. And Sean said he still kind of laughed, saying he's still kind of shaking off the rust on some of these things. So to know that Sean's getting more comfortable in the. What do you call it, like, the organization of a game and the flow of a game as doing multiple jobs and wearing those multiple hats. I think it's encouraging the fact that Von Miller will be coming back soon, all of those things. But Rousseau, Oliver and Milano have just played at such a high level.
- [23:02]
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
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Dan Fates
That it has been a. They've dominated so far these through two weeks.
- [23:09]
Jenna Cotrell
Yeah. Janet, you can. We can all talk about coaching, we can talk about adjustments and all those things. Sometimes it just comes down to guys winning the one on ones. And I was going to bring him up later. We talk about surprise players, but I'm going to go with Dan here with Ed Oliver. And the reason I say surprise is normally you'd be looking at that guy. Right. But there's been so much else going on, you'd say, well, Ed signed that. Big deal. How's he playing? He's been great. He's been living in the backfield, he's been winning constantly in the games. And he started out with one where he just shoved the offensive lineman right into the quarterback. Was the one play they made on that drive. He's been really good and come up with all the schemes, but when Greg Russo is beating guys off the edge, it makes the defense so much more dangerous. So I agree with all that. I like this defense. Now, again, it's two weeks in. Jimmy G. Is an okay player and, you know, he's got Adams, he's got some good skill guys, but, you know, down the line, you're going to see Mahomes, you're going to see Burrow, you're going to see Hertz, you're going to see Dak. All These guys, this is what the schedule is. But, you know, you can't go by anything other than what they've played. And I gotta tell you, for a guy who hasn't done it, Sean looks pretty comfortable. The defense seems pretty comfortable with what he's doing. And then we'll see week to week how it goes, you know, what teams try to do to them, what they look for, especially with the change, like the change in middle linebacker is a substantial one. So. But so far, so good, I think with the defense.
- [24:43]
Mike Catalana
Yeah, no, I would agree. I was. Was very nervous because of that jets game. Just in terms of, you know, this. Bill's defense at points kind of looked in disarray, I would say, like just like frazzled maybe is the word. But I think what we've seen is just the defensive line really playing well and what that can do and why the Bills have been chasing that for so long, they've invested so in that defensive line. But to see Greg Russo getting the pressure, Leonard Floyd, obviously, Ed Oliver, like, guys like that, what that does to the rest of the defense and how just impossible it seemingly makes it for the offense at certain points, I just think it's. It's like, yes, it's. It's nice to see some return on that investment. And thinking that, okay, Von Miller will be coming back like that to me is another really big thing I've been. Leonard Floyd did not practice on Wednesday, but he's someone who I've really. I have been very impressed with because I wasn't sure exactly what to expect from him. But I think he's been that veteran guy and has been able to win in his one on ones. And Greg Russo is just someone that, I mean, breakout season, like that type of buzz around him because I love Sean McDermott saying, he added. He's adding nastiness to his game. Because first of all, Sean McDermott saying that word, I was like, oh, I was never expecting that.
- [26:13]
Jenna Cotrell
He loves that word. He used it like four times in that answer.
- [26:17]
Mike Catalana
Yeah, but when you talk to Gregor, so he's such a nice guy, and then seeing the way he plays, seeing McDermott talk about the nastiness, like he has so many physical attributes and to see him kind of coming into his own, like he's been building and all this stuff and it's like, yeah, this is the year to really put it all together and show what you can do.
- [26:40]
Jenna Cotrell
And real quick, Jenna, you know, like, we talk about quarterbacks and it's not all just the spectacular. Rousseau has been so Good on the edge. He's made about three plays. Dan, again, you had a really good shot of it. Him just not allowing that back to get to the outside, chasing him down. He did it in the jets game. He did it in the Raiders game. That's a huge part about playing that defensive end. I know you love the one in the jets game when the ball came loose.
- [27:05]
Mike Catalana
It's so funny. It's just like. It's like he's like. Immediately becomes like a polite gentleman, like, oh, I gotta. We tried.
- [27:14]
Jenna Cotrell
Yeah, but he's. That's. That's a disciplined play. That's a smart play. You know, there are some guys that's just, you know, tee off, go after the quarterback. And there are times they do that, but you always have to be aware of your responsibility. And I'm going to sound like, Sean, do your 1/11, and part of your 1/11 is protecting the edge there. That's what you're doing. And he's got the wingspan, right? He's the wingspan guy now. You know, he's the wingspan guy. And that's been really good. It's been really good to see.
- [27:43]
Mike Catalana
Yeah. Also, Matt Milano is just absurd. Just talking about someone who. I mean, it's already. We already know what he was gonna be and what he can add and what he can be in the spills defense. But I mean, that interception, amazing.
- [28:02]
Dan Fates
Two things. The fact we just mentioned all those players that are already playing well. When Trey White is playing well, you, like, we don't talk about him because defense offenses are so scared to go at him. When Trey was playing all pro level, he was so good at offenses would see where Trey was lining up and they would just kind of exclude that part of the field that it was okay. If he's on this side, then we're not looking there. And the fact that Trey is like, I haven't noticed him is. Is good because he kind of got picked on a couple times last year, obviously, coming back from the ACL, like, teams one at him. And Sean McDermott was asked and he said he's starting to see flashes of all pro Trey White again, which is another great sign. Like, we're talking about these guys gearing back up along with Von Miller. So, like, that, to me is a guy that we're saying is like. We're talking about guys that have flashed and really popped through these first two weeks. Trey White hasn't. And that's actually a good thing in my eyes, knowing that, like, teams are having to respect him again and avoid him again, which is huge. And finally my last point trail. Bernard has already made more flash plays and splash plays.
- [29:12]
Mike Catalana
Thanks. As soon as he had that pick, I was like, flash play.
- [29:16]
Dan Fates
Yeah. You know what would have happened? We would have caught it. He got it.
- [29:20]
Jenna Cotrell
Big difference.
- [29:21]
Dan Fates
Yeah, it would have. It would have gone through Edmund's hands and then he would have ran to the camera going like. He would have been like, oh, I'm so close. And we would have had that conversation of like, well, he was there. He just gotta. He's young. We just would. Had to get more reps into him.
- [29:35]
Mike Catalana
You find a way to circle back.
- [29:38]
Dan Fates
That's why I'm good. That's why I'm the skill.
- [29:42]
Jenna Cotrell
Jenna, as you gave him grief for circling back to thanking himself. He just said, I'm good. Yes. It was a great prediction on Terrell Bernard. And it's funny you go back to. I think it was. Was it his first preseason game when he picked up a fumble and ran it for a touchdown.
- [30:00]
Mike Catalana
Oh, last year.
- [30:02]
Jenna Cotrell
Big play, guy.
- [30:03]
Dan Fates
Yeah, big. Another splash play. And he's been good in the run game. He's been good.
- [30:08]
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
- [30:09]
Jenna Cotrell
And Danny, one quick thing. Milano interceptions. I'm going to be on pace guy under over 15. Where are you on this over?
- [30:20]
Mike Catalana
After the play that he had against.
- [30:22]
Dan Fates
The Raiders, Wilbur is going to lead the league.
- [30:26]
Mike Catalana
I said, someone say that was taunting in itself.
- [30:29]
Jenna Cotrell
Yes.
- [30:30]
Dan Fates
Yeah, it's gonna get fine just for that.
- [30:34]
Mike Catalana
All right, let's talk Commanders 2 0. The 20 Washington Commanders. Mike, you've seen a lot of. Seen a lot of Commanders teams.
- [30:46]
Jenna Cotrell
Yeah.
- [30:46]
Mike Catalana
And they're playing with confidence, though. They really are coming off two wins. Where do you think this team is at? This Washington team is coming into this game against the Bills.
- [30:58]
Jenna Cotrell
So when you think about what they have been. Right. It has been pitiful. And you guys, honestly, I'm not being, you know, just saying this, but you almost don't remember at your age is when the Commanders, the Washington Redskins at the time were a dominant franchise in this league and they were. They were the epitome of what everybody wanted. They had Joe Gibbs, you know, and he won with whatever quarterback. They beat the Bills in a Super Bowl. Great fan base, all those things. What Daniel Snyder did to that organization is criminal. It probably was criminal.
- [31:33]
Dan Fates
And I probably.
- [31:35]
Jenna Cotrell
Right. I talked to David Harrison who is on. You'll. You'll see his video will be on here this week. He's on the Locked on Commanders podcast. And I said, what was it like when, you know, he sold the team and he said it was like the sun came out. It was because these fans were so beaten up on just he lost them. And it's hard to believe that a fan base like that kind of went away for a while. And look, doesn't mean everything is fixed. And they're great and they're going to the super bowl here, but they're two and oh, for the first time since 2011, I think if they were to beat the bills, they haven't been 3, 0 since 2005. Maybe it is. And there's life with this team now. Like I don't know how good Sam Howell can be. He's off to a pretty good start. You know, he's a fifth round guy. He's playing okay. It's the kind of guy the Bills would have had at some point. A Trent Edwards type playing. I'm not saying he plays like Trent. I'm just saying is another guy. And they have talent on this team. I mean you, you talk about Montrez Sweat has been living in the backfield. Yeah, right. They have guys like that. Terry McLaurin is a great NFL player who has played with just bad quarterbacks in his time in the league. And we always, I said this, you know, and the Raiders didn't hold up. But you know, the bad teams don't know they're bad. They're thinking they can win this game. I mean they're underdogs at home, but they're two and oh, so you're catching Washington at a point where I think they, they're in the Bills mindset. They're not thinking anything other than this is a pretty good football team with some high end talent that you have to go against. Not saying they're great, not saying the Bills don't deserve to be favorites, but they've been at least, you know, the kind of team that's found a way in both games and, and I think they're going to be tough.
- [33:29]
Mike Catalana
Dan, before you get to your point, thinking about like confidence is a hell of a drug. Hope is also a hell of a drug. And I think this is a very hopeful commander's team.
- [33:40]
Dan Fates
Yeah, this defensive line scares the out of me. You know, imagine having four. Four Max Crosby's maybe not to that level, but the guys were talking about it interior wise. They're probably better than the jets and the jets defensive line gave them tons of issues. You have Chase Young coming back who looked really good in his start. Mike talked about sweat. You have Jared Greg Allen. Jared Allen, it's one of The Allens, I'm mix. I'm mixing up with the other one. But they, they have dudes on that defensive line and for as good as we saw Spencer Brown play, I hope he takes some of that confidence to carry over into D.C. because this where I said, oh, Max Crosby can ruin games. The in anybody on the commander's defensive line can ruin this game. So this is going to be another test you're hoping that they're building off of the Bills are building off of what they did against the Raiders. But again, this defensive line is very scary.
- [34:48]
Mike Catalana
Yeah, that's my fear is that. And I said this in our post practice video, but like I worry that the commanders can yuck this game up. Like they can force that much pressure. They can make the Bills offense kind of look go awry once again and then the Bills will kind of play down to the comma commander's level. And I say play down because obviously they. Sam Howell is still establishing himself. There's talent on that offense. But at the same point, my fear is that, you know, the Bills kind of start to struggle again and then things kind of compound. And we've seen this before. So I think the Bills will have. That offensive line will definitely have a challenge. Yeah, but this is life in the NFL. Like you're gonna face really good teams. And the way that this commander's team wins is by getting a ton of pressure on Josh Allen. And how will the Bills offensive line hold up? How will they be able to do that? Spencer Brown, another big game for him like you talked about. So there are pieces of this team that are really, really good and that will stand to be quite a big test. And that's what you got to do, though. The Bills are the better team. The Bills should win this game. Like it's all of these things. They're favorites on the road. Of course they are. But to be a really good team, you have to beat inferior teams. And yeah, while they're, while the, the commanders are not as good as the Bills, there are definitely units that the pills are. Are know are going to be a huge challenge.
- [36:21]
Jenna Cotrell
Yeah, it's. It's Jonathan Allen because there's a lot of Allens and they've chased him down. The other thing is, you know, this is Sean's good friend. You know, we always talk about Sean with Andy Reid, but you know, he has, he and Ron Rivera are very tight.
- [36:38]
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
- [36:39]
Jenna Cotrell
And you know, Rivera gives him a ton of credit. And so those two have always had that bond from their Carolina days. And then you got Eric B. Enemy calling the offense. And remember, that was pretty interesting when he went there. And you know, he's, he's a guy who likes it a certain way. It rubs some players the wrong way. But I think he's gotten the attention of those players because look, it's not Patrick Mahomes, your quarterback. It's not, you know, Tyreek Hill at wide receiver. It's guys who are looking for that help. And I think they're buying in. At least early on they're buying in and they've made some really good halftime adjustments and they've come back in games. So again, it's all fresh and new and it's two zero. It's two zero. And that to your point, Jenna, that plays well for a team. They're sold out now. They're going to be some Bills.
- [37:32]
Dan Fates
Back to back. Yeah, back to back sellout.
- [37:35]
Jenna Cotrell
By the way, there's going to be some Bills fans there. Enjoy yourself. Maybe a stadium still terrible. They're trying to make it wait. It's the worst stadium in the league. The broadcast position for the radio guys and all is so bad that some teams don't even send their guys. I don't know if they've changed it this year, but it is so bad. And that's just the. That part. But it's been terrible also. I've had a few fights there. They had a big one there in the game, in the stands. So that's been going on around the league a little bit this year. Not, not, not great. You know, the terrible thing that happened with the Patriots fan, I mean that stuff. So they had a little bit of that in Washington. But I was asking a David Harrison, he said, look, there's going to be Bills fans there. You got Bills fans down here visiting fans still do it. Giants and Eagles fans take the place over. I think that's starting to change the commander's fans, even though he says a lot of people walk in still with, you know, they want to wear Redskin stuff. I mean, look under, under the owner they had. They had three names and two playoff wins, I think right. Was their history. So they're buying in because they have to to this commander's thing. But I think the atmosphere is going to be pretty cool there on Sunday.
- [38:48]
Mike Catalana
Yeah. Who is Dan? Who's a player that surprised you so far?
- [38:54]
Dan Fates
Greg. Greg Oliver. Yeah, both of those guys. How about that for you? I'm all mess. Messed up by names. Greg Russo. And talking to him yesterday was just one of those things too. Where I was, he has this nastiness. And I remember talking to his high school coach when the Bills drafted him. He had played safety in high school, and he talks about just how kind of a person he is. And I couldn't agree more. And I remember sitting down with him and saying, like, hey, your coach thinks you thinks. Like your high school coach kind of joked around that you're almost like, too nice, that, like, you need to be meaner. And he was like, I'm not too nice. Like, I'm just polite. Like, I, like I'm not like, like, I, I am, I, I'm. I'm not too nice and things like that. And like, what I was telling him, I was like, do you feel like you're, you're taking over? Do you feel like you're taking that next step? Do you feel all these things that you're ready to be the, an elite level pass rusher in the NFL? And he was like, thank you. Yeah, I do feel that way. I was like, you're so kind, Greg. Like, I, I really appreciate this. And it's, that's where I'm seeing is that again, Sean talks about how he had the finesse, now he's getting some of that nastiness. And Greg talks about, like playing volleyball. And he goes, there was a play in the Tennessee game last year where he goes, I took an offensive lineman, I pushed him back into the quarterback, and that's how I got a sack. He's like, I now know I can do that more. And it's also. We talk about, confidence is a hell of a drug. He now believes that every play he's out there, he's going to make an impact compared to like, hoping you make an impact. Like, there are some times when baseball analogy, I was telling Mike, like, there are times when you're on the on deck circle and you don't want to bat. Like, you're hoping there's. It's the ninth inning, there's two outs, and you're on deck and you're like, I hope the guy in front of me gets out because I don't want to go up there again. And then there are times when you, you get up there and you're like, I'm. I just want to hit. I just want to play all these things. Rousseau now is a guy that's like, I dare the play to come to me. Like, let have them. I dare them to run the ball my way, those kind of things. So I, it's not a shock because we knew how good he was and could be, but now he's doing it at a consistent basis. And to me, that's. That's terrifying in a good way for this. Bill's defense.
- [40:55]
Jenna Cotrell
Yeah, Jenna. Dan's impression of Greg Russo sounded like he was doing the impression of Greg from succession.
- [41:02]
Mike Catalana
I was thinking that. Except Greg from succession was not that nice.
- [41:07]
Jenna Cotrell
Yes. And two, I'm thinking in Dan's analogy, it's like you're on the first tee and you're not sure if it's gonna be a fastball or a curve, but you just want a pastrami sandwich.
- [41:16]
Dan Fates
So that's.
- [41:20]
Mike Catalana
Perfect.
- [41:21]
Dan Fates
Yeah, that one. Locked and loaded.
- [41:25]
Mike Catalana
Dan loves you. You love your analogies. I would say for me, it's a guy we kind of mentioned, but it's hard to say. I'm surprised by Matt Milano, but it's like this year it's just another level. Like it's. It's. He's been playing at an unbelievable level for his career, but just the, the turnovers that he's forced, the physicality of his tackles. Like, he is another guy who I think can make a game changing play when he's out on the field. So that to me is someone that I've just.
- [41:57]
Dan Fates
I.
- [41:57]
Mike Catalana
Not to say we kind of forgot about him, but we're like, oh, yeah, Matt Milano, he's good. And then you see him making some of these plays where you're like, oh my gosh, like bully ball. Talk about that. So he's someone that I kind of. Yeah. Just pencil it in and like, okay, yeah, Matt Milano. And just the way he's been playing has been so dominant. And then another guy who I'm. I really. We talked to him this week. Dan. Christian Benford has, has. He hasn't surprised me. He's played well, but I think he is a guy that I'm looking for him to take another step and I think he is capable of that. We've talked to him. He's. He's a quieter guy, but I think he is someone that is always working in those. In those small moments that fans wouldn't be able to see. But at practice, keeping his head down on the jugs machine after practice, like, and you even talked about like a lot of times guys will be in a different spot in practice if they are a starter and all that stuff. And you know, Benford doesn't care about that. Like the kind of like the little polit. Political stuff. I should. Maybe it's not political, but you know what I mean? Like the little things that are involved in where you line up in a practice. Like he doesn't care as long as he's getting in his work. And I think that humble and hungry attitude is something Sean McDermott loves. But I think with his instincts and that work ethic, I think good things are on the horizon for him.
- [43:31]
Jenna Cotrell
Yeah, I said Ed Oliver already as a surprise just because he's been again taken that step and there was questions like they signed him. Can he do that at least early and the other guy in Jenna. We're going to watch the face here.
- [43:48]
Dan Fates
Don't do it.
- [43:50]
Jenna Cotrell
Ken Dorsey. Oh, gross. I thought the game plan last, the game plan last week was outstanding. It was quarterback. It was and your quarterback did it. Now again, it's just I, I, they're going to this 12 personnel and that is a big difference and that's an adjustment for everybody, including the quarterback and everybody. But when you play that way, your quarterback's efficient and spectacular. You, you smartly give Spencer Brown some help against a great player and it works and everybody gets their chances. You spread the ball around, James Cook runs. Look, give it to him now. Again, it's, they're two games in and one of them wasn't great at all. But there were circumstances around that. But the second one was really good. I mean encouraged that he's, this isn't just him adapting and being better. It's him adapting to what is basically, I won't say a new scheme but certainly a new primary alignment for your offense. And I think he's done a good job. Plenty of work to do. Really good defense, certainly the D line this week. So let's see how he does. But Dan, Ken Dorsey. Gross.
- [45:12]
Dan Fates
But I will say that was the best game he's called. The caveat will be it was the Raiders. It's probably the worst defense the Bills will face. But he, Dorsey looked dable esque in his play calling job on Sunday.
- [45:27]
Mike Catalana
You always gotta circle back.
- [45:29]
Dan Fates
Yeah, I thought you were gonna say Gabe Davis.
- [45:33]
Jenna Cotrell
No, no, I think Gabe, Gabe was really good on Sunday, which is good. But he, he blew it by going over 70 yards. We want him to be the 5 and 70 guy. He got in the 90s. What's he doing? Showing off.
- [45:49]
Dan Fates
And if you've made it this far in the pod, you're probably sitting there going. Because now I think about it like what the hell? Why isn't anybody talking about James Cook? I think he's probably been another surprise for me offensively knowing what he can do out of the backfield. He doesn't seem to really like to run between the tackles, but he has shown the speed to get outside. And it's just been a lot of 5, 6, 5, 6, 5, 6-4, 5, 4, like runs that, that just kept the Bills, especially against the Raiders, on schedule and it kept them from second and long, third and long. I thought Cook was a big part of that and because midway, you know, early on in that game, Murray got a lot of carries on that third drive, second or third drive. And I was like, boy, what does this mean for James Cook?
- [46:36]
Jenna Cotrell
And then they came back with him the next series. Yeah, yeah. Which was interesting, but. And Murray looked good in his limited time. Everybody really, Damien Harris, everybody played well. You know, Dan, it's good you mentioned Cook and Jenna. He has just that little bit more of shiftiness and speed that there are plays that we all look and go, it's dead. And yes, around the corner and it's a three yard gain or a four yard gain, but it would have been a one yard loss. And I think when Devin Singletary was there, there were times when he was maybe bigger, a little stronger, maybe he would run over a guy like Devin Singletary had some nice plays. We're not gonna. But Cook's game, again, it's one game.
- [47:16]
Dan Fates
But a little more.
- [47:17]
Jenna Cotrell
They can get the effectiveness out of him where he becomes, God forbid, a weapon in the backfield. That's really helpful. But you know, yeah, it's a couple games in, but that's a good guy to recognize.
- [47:30]
Mike Catalana
Look at Dan talking about the running game. I know men can change.
- [47:37]
Jenna Cotrell
But he's giving you a gross and all these things. Yeah.
- [47:43]
Mike Catalana
All right.
- [47:44]
Dan Fates
Myself.
- [47:45]
Mike Catalana
Oh my gosh.
- [47:45]
Dan Fates
Stop.
- [47:47]
Mike Catalana
Thank you all for joining us here on the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel. Please be sure to like, comment and subscribe as well share if you enjoy what we do here. My Catalana, Dan Fates. I'm Jenna Castrel. Check out the buffalo+store, buffaloplus.com and Dan. What?
- [48:04]
Dan Fates
Comment in with what you were most encouraged about or what you're most encouraged about moving forward.
- [48:12]
Mike Catalana
Yeah.
- [48:12]
Dan Fates
And that what. What you think has obviously vibes are a lot higher than they were when we all left the Meadowlands. So where are you at?
- [48:18]
Mike Catalana
Yeah, yeah. Comment in your opinion about what you're encouraged about and if there's a player to you that's been a surprise that is pleasantly surprised you so far as we now enter week three. All right, well, thank you all for joining us. We will catch you next time here on Buffalo plus, presented by Connors and Fairs Thanks.