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.

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.

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)

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)

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.

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