You ASK, we ANSWER: Bills 'overlooking' the Cardinals, QUESTIONS at safety & McDermott's 'hot seat'

Summary

Buffalo Plus Podcast: "You ASK, we ANSWER"

Episode Date: September 3, 2024
Hosts: Mike Catalana & Dan Fetes (Jenna Cottrell off for Labor Day)
Main Theme: The hosts answer listener questions about the Buffalo Bills as Week 1 approaches, focusing on concerns about “overlooking” the Cardinals, question marks at safety and wide receiver, the pass rush, coaching staff, play-calling, McDermott’s “hot seat,” and more.

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Episode Overview

This timely mailbag episode from the Buffalo Plus team tackles fan-submitted questions heading into the Bills’ Week 1 matchup. Mike and Dan dive into some of the biggest uncertainties for the 2024 squad—from the possibility of a Week 1 “trap” against the underdog Cardinals, to the makeup and readiness of the safety and wide receiver units, to how secure Sean McDermott’s job is after another playoff shortfall. The answers bring in both humor and insight, with plenty of behind-the-scenes context and candid host opinions.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Could the Bills "Overlook" the Cardinals in Week 1?

• Trap or Letdown Game?

  • The hosts downplay the idea that the Bills could be “overlooking” the Cardinals, especially with a whole offseason to prepare and it being Week 1.
  • Mike: “The bad teams don’t know they’re bad yet... Shock the world is going to be said in a bunch of locker rooms. Nobody believes in us, which is true for a lot of teams.” (03:45)
  • Dan notes that the Bills can’t go too much off last year’s tape because teams overhaul their approach in the offseason.
  • Quote: “It’s week one. You really don’t know what you’re getting.” – Dan (03:40)

• On the Cardinals’ Unknowns:

  • Kyler Murray is back, but even Arizona’s fans don’t really know what to expect from him or the offense due to preseason secrecy.
  • Reference to the famous “Hail Murray” – only a few defensive players (Ed Oliver, Matt Milano, Taron Johnson) remain from that roster.

2. Bigger Concern: Safety or Wide Receiver Experience?

• Dan: More worried about the safeties, given injuries and limited practice reps. Mike Edwards (newcomer) and Damar Hamlin (hamstring) are both returning from time off.

  • “I think the safeties will eventually be good. I just worry about in the beginning of the year because... they missed out on practice reps for a while.” (09:03)

• Mike: Wide receiver is the bigger issue due to timing/chemistry with Josh Allen amid so much turnover.

  • “That is so much more timing. It is so much more feel and connection and the lack of that... There wasn’t a lot of it in the preseason. Josh threw three passes.” (09:03)
  • Both agree the concern is less for the unit’s talent and more about early-season cohesion.

3. Defensive Adjustments Without Milano: “Big Nickel” & 3 Safeties?

• Listener asks if the Bills will again use 3 safeties in passing downs, treating Dorian Williams like Tyrel Dodson last year.

  • Hosts agree it may appear in spots, but it’s not the base plan.
  • Dan: “That became a very prominent part of their defense last year... but now, I keep thinking they want to be able to do this. I don’t know who that player is at the moment.” (11:38)

• Cam Lewis and rookie Cole Bishop mentioned as possible “Swiss Army knife” options—pending their tackling ability.

4. Pass Rush: Should Fans Be Worried?

• Russo and Von Miller pointed as key: “If between he [Russo] and Von they get 16... 17, 18 sacks, that would be great... Leonard Floyd picked up slack last year.” – Dan (15:37-16:00)
• A.J. Epenesa seen as steady, but not electric: “He isn’t the crazy speed guy. He’s just tough and smart and is effective in the run game.” (16:41)
• General feeling is unease: They’ve invested a lot in pass rush (draft, Von Miller signing), but the issue’s still unresolved.
  • Mike: “Neither [draft pick] have really solved any problems... This year nothing was really done to address it.” (17:14)
• Expectation: Defensive coordinator Babich might use more creative blitzes because “I don’t know how many one-on-ones the Bills edge rushers are winning.” – Mike (17:52)

5. Coaching Staff & Play Calling

• On new defensive coordinator Bobby Babich or offensive coordinator Joe Brady “losing their mind” like Ken Dorsey’s viral clip:
  • Dan & Mike agree Babich (in the booth) is more likely for a sideline meltdown than Brady (“Sean’s there like, ‘Hey, figure it out’”).
  • “Iconic clip of Dorsey.” – Dan (19:43)
  • Dorsey’s issue was more bad play-calling than temper, per the hosts.

6. Run vs Pass Balance for Week 1

• Expect slightly more pass plays, but closer to even split versus prior seasons.
  • “It’ll be much more closer to an even split. But I think some of the passing plays will be very short—to Samuel, to Shakir… especially early on.” – Mike (20:50)

7. Sean McDermott’s Job Security (“Hot Seat”)

• Hosts make a clear distinction between “pressure” and “being on the hot seat.”
  • “His seat can be hot and he can be under pressure, but when I think of hot seat, it’s coach that’s on his way to getting fired. And I don’t think that Sean McDermott... It would have to go comically bad for Sean McDermott to get fired.” – Dan (22:25)
• Mike highlights ownership: “I don’t hear even a whisper of that.” (25:38)
• McDermott still has locker room buy-in, unlike “fake, phony, bad coaches that are rah rah... Sean has been a steadying force.” (24:30)
• Several historical comparisons (“Bum” Phillips, for example) showing sometimes changing coaches after big playoff failures doesn’t work out.
• If McDermott lost the team or Allen, it’d be different: “If Josh Allen had a problem with Sean McDermott... Don’t get a hint of that at all.” (27:14)

8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The bad teams don’t know they’re bad yet... shock the world is gonna be said in a bunch of locker rooms.” – Mike (03:45)
• “You can hope in one hand and you got — you can a pile in the other.” – Mike (18:38, after discussing hand-wringing about pass rush)
• “Who do you want? ... For every shiny new coordinator, they don’t all pan out. Some of them fall on their face... There are a lot of good coordinators that are not even average head coaches. It’s a different beast.” – Mike (27:24)
• “If he [Stefon Diggs] catches the ball, they probably win. Plenty more content...” – Mike (29:32)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:06 – “Are you worried the Bills might play down to opponents?” (Overlooking Cardinals discussion)
• 06:51 – “What’s a bigger concern? Safety or WR experience?”
• 10:03 – “Does defense go three safeties on passing downs & what’s the plan for Dorian Williams?”
• 14:44 – “How do you feel about safeties, pass rush & assistant coaches’ playcalling?”
• 19:10 – “First coordinator to lose their mind?” (Babich vs. Brady discussion)
• 20:36 – “Do the Bills pass or run more vs Cardinals?”
• 21:55 – “Is Sean McDermott on the ‘hot seat’ if the Bills lose to Bengals/Chiefs again?” (long discussion, main segment until 29:39)

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Conclusion & Closing Thoughts

This episode offers fans realistic, well-reasoned expectations for the opener as well as a candid assessment of recurring issues. The hosts reassure listeners that while there are genuine concerns—especially about pass rush and the need for secondary/receiver units to gel—there’s no reason to expect a Week 1 trap or a coaching “hot seat” situation. Culture and leadership remain stable, entering another season full of expectations and uncertainty.

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For more, subscribe to Buffalo Plus on YouTube and check out their coverage leading up to kickoff.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[A]

Limited availability pickup through participating Hyundai dealer in select markets. Jenna would chime in here and would have more of a take on it. Where are you on the pass rush?

[B]

Bless you, my son.

[A]

So sorry.

[B]

You know what's funny? I've been on the air for 36 years. I never sneezed on TV. I've never sneezed on the air.

[A]

Hall of Famer.

[B]

Yeah, that's what did it. They were like, damn, this guy hasn't sneezed on the air.

[A]

We'll start with this question from Robin. So there's still a damn good defense.

[B]

I have zero problem with them bringing this guy in.

[A]

Hey, everyone, welcome Back to the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel. Presented by Connors and Ferris, Mike Catalana, Dan Fates.

[B]

Do you know how much we disappoint people when she's not here?

[A]

People have already clicked. They have already moved on to the next. No. Jenna getting a day off today as we record this on Labor Day.

[B]

Listen, we're going to be putting up a lot of content.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

So it while it would be great that we can all three be in everything all the time, sometimes there's days off.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

So in this edition of you Ask, we answer, presented by Stellar Roofing Siding Windows. We are going to answer your questions. And before we get into our questions though, as always, please be sure to like, comment and subscribe again. Special shout out to Stellar Roofing Window sidings and a home project. I. I should probably give them a call. We got a lot of things going on at the new place.

[B]

You can't do them all.

[A]

Yes, I cannot do them all.

[B]

Are you going to put a new roof on the house? No, just yourself. Get up there.

[A]

Yeah, we just. We hope that the roof is good. If we do need help though, you can call. We'll call Stellar.

[B]

And by the way, you're the questions. We have our answers. We probably know what Jenna's going to say anyhow. We speak for her a lot.

[A]

We speak over her and for her quite a bit.

[B]

That's it.

[A]

I didn't say before. Please be sure to like comment and subscribe. We appreciate it. As always, tons of content. As we are officially here to week one. We've made this.

[B]

You guys made it.

[A]

Yeah. Credit to you.

[B]

Labor Day for me is that. Let's. It's football.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Like we've been doing all this, we've been at camp, we've been talking a lot of it. But when Labor Day hits, that's when everybody else joins in.

[A]

That's it.

[B]

Now they're ready. Yes, now they're ready. So everybody's on board. It's a great week. The league starts Thursday. Bill's on Sunday.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And you're gonna have two games within five days.

[A]

Thursday, Friday.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Sunday. Football this week.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

College football was great this past weekend.

[B]

Crazy amount of games.

[A]

Awesome stuff.

[B]

So all those future Bills wide receivers you're seeing out there.

[A]

Yes. We'll get right to the questions. The first one was from the Reza Roya, 7-281-butcher that as always. Are you worried that the Bills might, quote, play down to their opponents again since everybody is expecting them to win? I am very much in this. We've had these discussions trap let down games, some of these spots. I don't think there's ever such a thing as a overlooking opponent that you have had all off season two.

[B]

Not only have you had all off season two, it's week one. You really don't know what you're getting.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I'll say this all the time. The bad teams don't know they're bad yet.

[A]

Correct.

[B]

You know, shock the world is going to be said in a bunch of locker rooms. Nobody believes in us, which is true for a lot of teams. I mean, there's people that doubt the Bills. There's a lot of people that doubt the Cardinals. They didn't play Kyler Murray the entire preseason. No, I think Marvin Harrison was out there for three plays, maybe four. So they really don't have any idea what this version of the Cardinals offense is going to look like. And there's a lot of changes for the Bills.

[A]

And Josh was asked last week when or it was before the it was when they knew he wasn't playing in the preseason finale. Was asked the question of like, hey, when do you start looking at the Cardinals?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And he's like, well, we'll get to them when the time comes. Like they're still going through their motions of training camp in the off season. And then on top of it he said like it's Week one. Like you don't know what you're going to expect. He goes, we can watch all of last year's film and everything like that, but we have to be able to adapt because maybe this off season they've decided to do a whole new way of defensive adjustments, things like that. So that was one that, like, said to me where it's like, you can't really go too much off of last year's stuff because every team is making adjustments.

[B]

Tom, we're going to have a video post. If you're watching this, it may already be there. I'm scheduled to talk with Bo Brack. He's from PHNX in Phoenix. They cover the Cards all the time. I can tell you this. There's a lot of optimism there on what they can do. And they're one of those teams and a fan base that's saying nobody knows what we're going to have. Kyler Murray is a polarizing player.

[A]

Well said.

[B]

But we have seen him make plays. And I'm not just talking about Hail Murray. I was thinking about it. Somebody asked me this, how few players are still left on this roster from Hail Murray. That play alone was. That play alone was right.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then just think of all the guys on defense that are gone. I mean, I think Ed Oliver was there.

[A]

That was Milano 20. That was Covid year.

[B]

Yeah. Milano was there. Ed Oliver was there.

[A]

Neither of the linebackers.

[B]

Neither are the other. Yeah. No. Nobody else.

[A]

There would have been Levi Wallace, Dane Jackson.

[B]

Right. So Taran.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And those on defense, on an offense, it's Josh Dion. Josh Dion. Oh, wait a minute. Oh, well, Knox. Dawson. Knox. Yes.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So to go back to the last time they saw him.

[A]

Yeah. Just to put salt in the wound.

[B]

But Kyler Murray is a player. There's hype around him who can make plays. He runs around, he gets away. And their offense was better when he got back. Obviously, they had played without it. They've got issues. But no, I don't think. I think there's times coming off a win team that's been losing has issues that you can be maybe a little less attentive to what you want.

[A]

I agree.

[B]

It ain't happening in week one.

[A]

No, I agree. From Andy Dickens. What is the bigger concern? The lack of experience together at safety or the lack of experience together at wide receiver? Shout out to Andy, who is listening in. Winstead, Connecticut. Go Bills. Appreciate that. Following along.

[B]

I think that's a great question. While I have confidence in McDermott and Babich coaching the secondary, I also have confidence in the wide receivers because number 17 is the quarterback. So while it's continuity and getting the receivers together, you have Josh Allen on the other side. There's been guys out, but they usually find a way. Now, that being said, I probably have more concern about the safeties. Only because they've been injured and they haven't been on the field. And so getting out there, at least for the first few weeks is going to be a Mike Edwards who hasn't played, a demar who's coming off a hamstring. Yeah, that would be the only part. I think they'll be fine. But I would say early on that's what would concern me.

[A]

So me it's. It's no shock. It's the wide receivers.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like I have always had the utMost faith in McDermott and Babich getting the secondary ready and it's whoever they roll out there. I think we've seen even in limited times in the past. Demars looked good in spot starts. They have had times. We've talked about it, plugged holes when Poyer or Hyde was out. So rap in a second year and whether it is Edwards, another guy that has spot started at times. So those are the two guys that whoever's at safety. I'm just confident in that Wide receivers for as much and as great as Josh is, he's not overrated by any means. I just want to put that out in the channel. That is so much more timing. It is so much more feel and connection and the lack of that which Bean has talked about during the, you know, he said that there wasn't any. There wasn't a lot of it in the preseason. Josh threw three passes.

[B]

But in terms of practice, practice had practice. We're talking about practice. He's had. Keon's been there every day. Shakir's been there every day. Kincaid's been there. I know he's not a wide receiver. And it is Josh Allen, the offensive line. And I think because there is more continuity in general with the offense besides the wide receivers, obviously that's a big change. But the main. I think the main two in this offense have been around with Kincaid. I know it's only been, you know, a couple of years with Shakir. I'm concerned about both coming into the season. You're concerned about just about everything except quarterback. Right. That's the way it works. But there's levels of concern. But I can see you could make either answer. That's just. I think the safeties will eventually be good. I just worry about in the beginning of the year because they just ha. We're not talking about not game reps. They didn't have. They missed out on practice reps for a while.

[A]

Our next question comes from a celebrity really who like comments and subscribes as you should. Also Stephen A Smith, 51 9. Does the defense play the way it did when Milana was out last season? Treating Dorian like Dotson by taking him out and putting three safeties in on obvious passing downs? I think it's a good question by.

[B]

Stephen A. Yeah, I mean, he's busy.

[A]

He's.

[B]

He's got a lot of shows.

[A]

He also was. Did you see this tangent that he said that Aaron Judge is having such a good season because Juan Stto is batting behind him and he's got all the protection from Stto. Listen, Stephen A. Is great, but they asked him to give analysis and takes on a lot of things. Yeah, he can't know everything. He did a Monday night game when he was talking about somebody that hadn't been on the team before he did.

[B]

He came to Bill's camp once and he was talking about Darcelle Marius. Hell of a player. Darcel Marius. Yeah. Stephen A is. It can run kind of thin. They just pay him to breathe as.

[A]

They pay him a lot of money to breathe.

[B]

Yeah. But in that case, no. Juan Soto actually bats in front of him. But yeah, I think we get the idea that Steven doesn't watch those games.

[A]

Correct.

[B]

But in this case the defense. Yeah.

[A]

Similar way. Do you think they'll handle it?

[B]

I don't think that's the plan. I think there'll be moments of doing that. But it got to the point last year where that became a very prominent part of their defense.

[A]

Well, that was also when you had three safeties I think that you felt great about and it was Dodson who you didn't feel great about.

[B]

So you were putting Poyer out there while you already had Poyer and Hyde. But you put rap out rap out there and Poyer played that role. Now I keep thinking that they want to be able to do this. I don't know who that player is at the moment.

[A]

I think I have it.

[B]

Go ahead.

[A]

Cam Lewis.

[B]

That's interesting. I threw an interesting in there.

[A]

More coming up on that later this week. Yes, they have talked about him being used the term Swiss army knife and so he's played nickel.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

He's played safety. I could see him being the guy that comes in on those obvious third and longs to be in that spot.

[B]

I'm going to throw another one out there too.

[A]

Don't say kair.

[B]

Nope, not right away. You'll get this Bishop. It's got the size.

[A]

Does he?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Does he?

[B]

Yeah, he's basically the same size as Poyer. I mean, he's not poer. He's faster. I know.

[A]

At this point.

[B]

Yes. Listen, Poyer is. Well, we joke about it. If Poyer and Hyde were here, guess what? They would be the starting safeties. Yeah, we know that. Doesn't mean they are now what they were then. But they would be. But they're not so correct. It's other players who are younger and likely faster. We don't know about better, but they are. They are those things.

[A]

I need to see tackling from Bishop before I can want him to be out there in those spots.

[B]

I got you. But we're also talking about Dorian Williams here, a guy they have bigger plans for than Tyrell Dodson.

[A]

100%.

[B]

Dorian Williams was drafted to eventually play wherever he was going to fit.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Whereas Tyrell Dodson was a career special team or who I actually thought was better in defense.

[A]

I agree.

[B]

Than I anticipated. But the bar wasn't that high for me. I thought of him being that way. I think they wanted to give Dorian an opportunity to. They did last year. It was way too early.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

And they pulled the plug on that pretty quickly.

[A]

Next question from Darrell, longtime listener Darrell Barons. How do you feel about the safeties and our pass rush? How do you feel about the assistant coaches in reference to play calling? Love you guys. Look forward to the podcast. We've already talked about the safeties, so it goes back to the pass rush. And that's where Jenna would chime in here and would have more of a take on it. Where are you on the pass rush?

[B]

Bless you, my son.

[A]

So sorry.

[B]

You know what's funny? I've been on the air for 36 years. I never sneezed on TV. I've never sneezed on the air.

[A]

Hall of Famer.

[B]

Yeah, that's what did it. They were like, damn, this guy hasn't sneezed on the air. It's been close. You know, this is.

[A]

You ever one of these, you have to. You're supposed to hold your nose.

[B]

And then the worst is when you. You know, it's. It's coming and you.

[A]

I was fighting that sneeze from the beginning of the podcast and I was like. And then it just. It got me.

[B]

It gets you.

[A]

Okay. Pass rush.

[B]

Yeah. Where am I? I said that. Non. Josh Allen. I thought, Greg Russo has a chance to be the team mvp.

[A]

That was hot.

[B]

So that's where I think it can be if he is. I don't even know the numbers. To me, it's double digits for him this year, and that's asking a lot. But I think he has the talent to do it. If he's that player, I'll feel better about it. If. How about this? If between, if, if between he and VAUGHN they get 16, I was going to say 17, 18 sacks. Yeah, that would be great because they weren't close to that last year and Leonard Floyd really picked up some of the slack there. I think AJ's good. I think he's steady. I think he's fine. He's more of a. Well, he's not that good of a player. But if you guys, longtime Bills fans will remember Phil Hansen who was just so good in that other role. Never got the credit as much because he had Bruce Smith on the other side. But they've had some players like that, like Aaron Showbel, who was a really good player.

[A]

That was when I thought of.

[B]

Yeah, that is a worker works for that. He isn't the crazy speed guy. He's just tough and smart and can get there and be effective and is effective in the run game.

[A]

So I'm worried, yeah, I'm worried in the sense of there were so many years recently that it was like they need a pass rush, they need to get to the quarterback and they, that was why they went out and cut the big check for Vaughn and that's why they drafted Russo and Epaness and all these things. Neither of them have really solved any problems.

[B]

Right.

[A]

They've been fine.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then I feel like this year nothing was really done to address it. Now if you want to throw at Oliver into the pass rush category, that's fair. I think it is tough at times to expect 8, 9 sacks from a defensive tackle. It just doesn't happen all that much. I wonder if Babbage starts doing more exotic blitzes. If he sends Terrell Bernard more, if he sends Taran more, if he sends.

[B]

Rasul Douglas more, well, that gets coaching that Daryl was asking about. Yeah.

[A]

I think they're going to have to be more creative because I don't think straight up and we know that football is a man whooping another man.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I don't know how many one on ones the Bills edge rushers are winning.

[B]

Winning. Yeah. And I want to forget about Duan Smoot either because he has been a steady good player who will help them.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But yeah, I can see. Well, there should be concern because you know, a lot of teams walk in. Not a lot, but the good. You know, you walk in and say this guy's a double digit guy. He puts constant pressure on. Now we have to find it from some other place. I don't know if the Bills have that.

[A]

And that's my concern is in years past, it was like, we got this guy to do it, so there was like that. That hope.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But you can hope in one hand and you got.

[B]

You can a pile in the other.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

How's that?

[A]

So.

[B]

So, yeah, I would say on the defense, honestly, my levels of concern probably.

[A]

Would be, is it pass rush or safety?

[B]

Honestly, it's probably more. No, because I'll put the secondary as a whole and it wouldn't be the concern.

[A]

Right.

[B]

It would be pass rush, second linebacker.

[A]

Yep. That's fair.

[B]

In terms of where they're, you know.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Where they're looking. So where they're looking. And you have to say to yourself, what do we have there?

[A]

Yeah. Fun question here from Jonah Williams, who is the first to lose their mind. Use a different word. Like Dorsey did years back. Will it be Babbage or Brady?

[B]

Hmm.

[A]

This is easy one for me.

[B]

Yeah, I know you're going to say Babbage.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Also, he's going to be in the booth, so he's going to be up there to lose his mind and not be around Sean. I feel like it's tough for Brady to, like, lose his mind when, like, Sean's there, like, hey, he figured out, yeah, Babbage can be up there losing his mind.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Iconic clip. Iconic clip of Dorsey.

[B]

So the point I made at the time was not going to help him when people are looking at a guy being a head coach.

[A]

You did say that.

[B]

But a bigger thing not helping him is that he ended up getting dismissed in the middle of a season by the Bills.

[A]

Yeah. The fact that he wasn't very good at calling plays was more of a knock at him than the fact that he lost his cool.

[B]

Well, credit to me. I said it from the beginning. Or was that you?

[A]

That was me.

[B]

Okay. Credit to you.

[A]

Two more questions left. Take Massey, Cam. Do you think the Bills have more rushing or passing plays by the end of this game? One? That's the way I took the question that game, in this game. So do you think against the Cardinals, do you think they have more passing plays or running plays called?

[B]

I think last year they were about 55% passing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

A little lower once Brady took over.

[A]

Correct.

[B]

I still think it's more passing plays, but it's close.

[A]

It's a lot closer. It'll be much more closer to an even split. But I think some of the passing plays will be very short. To Samuel, to Shakir. It'll be that especially early on it'll be that quick passing game, bubble screens, all that in week one.

[B]

I'm only asking this not to highlight the preseason bet, but is MVS active in game one?

[A]

Stop it.

[B]

Is he active?

[A]

Stop it.

[B]

As the fifth receiver. He's five, right?

[A]

No.

[B]

Well, who's five?

[A]

Hollins.

[B]

I don't know.

[A]

That's such a shot. That's a. That's a low. That's a insulting question to ask.

[B]

You mean is he active or is he five? Because I think he's five right now.

[A]

I think both are insulting. It's a condescending tone to that question. Jenna would never allow that if she was here.

[B]

What do you think? Right. Hold on. She just texted me. She. She agrees with me.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. He says he's five.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

All right. One last question, and I think this is one that will get brought up throughout the year, or maybe it won't. The fact the question was from Thanos goat. Is Sean McDermott on the hot seat if the Bills lose to either the Bengals or Chiefs again? Is McDermott gone? I'd love to go. He's. He's not in the hot seat. Sean McDermott is not on the hot seat. His seat can be hot and he can be under pressure, but when I think of hot seat, it's coach that's on his way to getting fired. And I don't think that Sean McDermott. It would have to go comically bad for Sean McDermott to get fired. Mike.

[B]

So I always wonder if the Bills were to move on from Sean. I think the only way they do it is if they believe they've got to get offensive guy change around the. The way the team runs. But Sean's strength has been culture and dealing with whatever has come their way. The question was. It's a good, fair question.

[A]

Well, there's a lot of people that want that or feel that Sean should be on the hot seat. And that's fair. I understand that.

[B]

Because it's at the biggest moments when you're there 100%. Three of their losses have come to the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs. So your bar is now for the next person is get to wherever the Chiefs are and play them. Is the way I look at it. Because you feel like if you're going to do it, you've got to get higher. I will go back a million years ago. Everybody knows Wade Phillips. Wade Phillips. Dad was Bum Phillips.

[A]

That is correct.

[B]

He coached the Houston Oilers. Great team. Could not beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. Couldn't do it. Loaded with Hall Of Famers.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Three super bowl titles in a span of, what, five years that they won. I'm probably wrong about that. They fired Bum.

[A]

They won four out of six like that.

[B]

Yeah, they fired Bum.

[A]

Was that Jeff Fisher?

[B]

No, it was before. It was like Jerry Glanville was next, but they fired Bum and they never got there. Now, that doesn't mean that you couldn't find a coach and do better. I just don't think the Pulas are thinking like that.

[A]

I could do this. We could do an entire podcast on the. The dichotomy or the circumstances around Shawn McDermott. But to understand, and that's something, too, is. I know people have talked about. I would think differently if the team didn't respond the way they did at the end of last season. Things were bad. Like, very, very bad. You had the 911 comments. And what did the team do? They rallied around him. Like, I'm always in favor. If Sean McDermott lost or loses the locker room, that's fine. In wanting him to move on. He hasn't lost the locker room. And that is so important because there are so many fake, phony, bad coaches that are rah, rah, and this and this. Sean has been a steadying force that has had this entire locker room, from top to bottom, buy in.

[B]

Yeah. He beats the Miami Dolphins, your number one divisional rival. They win the division. Have they fallen short? Absolutely. They have fallen short of the ultimate goal, which is to get to the Super Bowl. They've lost to the Chiefs every which way.

[A]

So have a lot of other teams.

[B]

But that's your goal. I understand that there is what we think, but more importantly, what the Pulas think. Yes, and I don't hear even a whisper of that.

[A]

Agreed.

[B]

It doesn't mean that it couldn't happen also, but something big would have to happen.

[A]

The Pulas don't have a great track record of hiring coaches for NHL or NFL teams. So I don't think they want to throw away something. And again, if it is, I think we're talking about this at practice the other day. Is there maybe five coaches that you would rather have?

[B]

Well, the question is, when you look around, you say, what do you want? And if you want an offensive coach, I understand.

[A]

But if the Bills are good this year, that means their offense is good. That means Joe Brady. Like, you're not firing Sean to keep Joe Brady.

[B]

Right.

[A]

You know, like, if your offense is good, you're not going to fire McDermott, because unless they're losing games 50 to 40, and I just don't see that happening.

[B]

Yeah. I think it's more of the idea of listen. What it would really be. I'm getting them all in, by the way. I just said listen.

[A]

Oh, I've said. And again.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Like nine times.

[B]

And we will.

[A]

That being said, I've said that a bunch of times.

[B]

Another good one. Jenna would have had a few of them, but she hasn't had any today. We're going to address that this week in the podcast. But I. I kind of say to myself, like, if Josh Allen had a problem with Sean McDermott, if there was a conflict there, or Josh felt like he's not progressing, it's not working, whatever it is. Don't get a hint of that at all.

[A]

Not at all.

[B]

None of it. None of it.

[A]

And I always go back to it. Who do you want? Who?

[B]

So you think of coordinator for the Lions.

[A]

Ben Johnson.

[B]

Did a great job with the Lions. He's a coordinator. Never been a head coach. Maybe. Fantastic.

[A]

He may stink. He could be Matt Patricia. Like there are for every shiny new coordinator. They don't all pan out and some of them fall on their face. And they're great coordinators. There are a lot of good coordinators that are not even average head coaches. It's a different beast.

[B]

So you have Mike Vrabel out there.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Been a head coach. Been a good head coach. I. I mean, they've done okay. They didn't win big.

[A]

Correct.

[B]

But I think that.

[A]

I think that roster sucked.

[B]

Right. He's a. He's a good coach. And then you have Bill Belichick.

[A]

Pass.

[B]

Yeah, I. I just don't think that's happening.

[A]

You could probably talk me into variable, but I don't think. Why are you going to fire a defensive head coach to get another defensive head coach.

[B]

Right. And fire a defensive head coach who would have, up to this point, certainly had more overall success. So you may not like the answer because there's some of you. Yeah. I mean, I see Twitter accounts. Fire McDermott and all that. Go ahead. Your memories are short. They have maintained it. How? They, you know, through the injuries, through. I'm sorry. Bad decisions in the draft, bad free agent decisions. And Brandon Bean, as we say, came to my house. Like, we like Bean, but he's not perfect. McDermott. I'm. I have a lot of respect for both of them. They're not perfect.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But. But they're kind of in this together. And they've been mistakes in personnel, and there's been mistakes in coaching.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And 13 seconds looms over the whole organization. And that's on the coaching side. But on the other side, you just said you're paying Vaughn, you've drafted defensive ends and you still sit here and go the pass rush is a problem.

[A]

We've said it before. If Terrell Bernard plays in Kansas City, I think they against Kansas City, I think they win that game. We're having a different conversation.

[B]

Stefan Diggs catches the ball. There you go. There's some red meat for you guys. If he does. If he catches the ball, they probably win.

[A]

Plenty more content. Appreciate the questions as always. We're going to have a podcast. We're going to have our Thursday live show is back.

[B]

Yes. So we're planning on we're thinking maybe 7:15. We'll put out a post on Thursdays.

[A]

I just thought of something for everybody that says, you know, the fire Sean McDermott accounts is that the Braves. I've seen plenty of fire Brian Snicker accounts.

[B]

Yeah, right.

[A]

The Braves have been decimated every single injury possible and they still have a. I don't think they're a good team, but they're at least a respectable team. Well I, I think this may be Snitker's best managing job as he has Curly, Larry and Mike Catalana batting for them.

[B]

I get a few hits for him and listen they just play was painful. Two series with the Phillies and they were both rock fights and it just had to be somebody eventually hit the.

[A]

Ball but the head it's well, it's.

[B]

Easy to blame managers.

[A]

That's the thing.

[B]

Blame coaches.

[A]

That's the thing.

[B]

They make multiple decisions.

[A]

The it's impressive the amount of as we've gotten a Braves and baseball Tangent how many below 200 batters the Braves can bring off their bench to pinch hit.

[B]

Yeah, it's impressive. You're liking Castellanos now, aren't you?

[A]

I could have hit that was right down the middle because hasn't chased any pitches in his life or in that game.

[B]

In the ninth inning he swung at three terrible pitches.

[A]

Three pitches in the other batter's box. I gotta stop. Okay. Appreciate it. As always. This you ask we answer segment sponsored by Stellar Roofing Windows and Siding. We appreciate them.

[B]

Be sure to like Comment subscribe don't worry. Jenna will be back for the next video.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Yeah, she will be. We think she needs her time off.

[A]

That's it.

[B]

She needs time away from us. That's more of it.

[A]

Appreciate it. As always, tons more content throughout this week. As we get ready for kickoff on Sunday we will all be there for the game. For Mike Catalana, I'm Dan Fates. Thanks for watching. Here on the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel, we'll start with this question from Robin. So there's still a damn good defense.

[B]

I have zero problem with them bringing this guy in.