- 2 days ago
Category
đŸ¥‡
SportsTranscript
00:00Okay. Practice this week. Sal, what's different about this week? I mean, if guys aren't there, there's consequences, I guess.
00:07That's one thing.
00:09Yeah, I mean, you got to be there or else you're going to get fined. Now, you could have an
00:13excuse, a personal excuse. Something could happen and the team excuses you. That's happened before. But you have to have
00:18an excuse from the team to be excused, I should say. Otherwise, you have to be there. That doesn't mean
00:26you have to be on the field.
00:27If you're injured, you know, you're not going to participate or you could have a hold in. But I don't
00:32think there's anybody of that. That's what I was going to ask you. Is there anyone that we expect to
00:38not be here for, you know, reasons that would worry us? You know, although injury could worry you too. But
00:44like, is anyone mad? Right. Yeah. No, the only player I think that we've talked about that could get an
00:51extension this season we're wondering about would be Osiris Torrance. But he's been at OTAs.
00:56Like, if you're going to do this, you wouldn't be at OTAs, which are voluntary. Right. So it's not like
00:59you're going to go to those and then not beat the other thing. So I don't think that's going to
01:02happen.
01:03There are a couple of players like the number one name that I haven't seen that I'm going to be
01:07interested in, but not for that reason is Dorian Williams.
01:10Like, I think it's a big year for him. It's a big offseason. Like, he has a chance. I just
01:14wrote today at WGR550.com about inside linebacker. And like, I think it's a true competition between Dorian Williams and
01:21Caleb Elarm's whore.
01:23And a couple people tweeted back at me and said, well, are you sure that even Terrell Bernard's going to
01:27start? Like, I am. I guess anything can happen between now and then.
01:30I think Terrell Bernard, as long as he's healthy, will be the starter. But who's next to him? And I
01:34think Dorian Williams needs to be at OTAs or at minicamp now.
01:37And I haven't seen him yet. So let's see. And it doesn't mean he wasn't working out on his own.
01:41And I have no reason to believe that he would come in and, you know, there's anything that he's upset
01:46about.
01:46But he is going into the last year of his deal, too.
01:49You know, this leads me to a question I was thinking about asking you already.
01:54And apologies for sort of founding this on a negative outcome.
01:58If the Bills season doesn't go the way they want it to, what's the likeliest reason for it?
02:04Is it you talk about position battles and these things, which somehow which might imply weakness at a position when
02:12you don't really have, you know, quarterback is not one of these positions.
02:15Right. So do you do you have a couple of ideas toward what is maybe likely to be their Achilles
02:24heel or what it's in a more positive slant?
02:28It would just be to ask, like, what do they really need to work on or figure out most of
02:32all?
02:35I think there's two different answers here of what would be kind of the kind of given reason versus what
02:42might be the actual reason.
02:44I don't know. Right. Because could we would all debate was Joe Brady the right guy? Right.
02:48That would certainly be the first and foremost thing. Like, did they hire the wrong coach?
02:51Like if the season goes wrong, did they hire the wrong coach?
02:53But I think we could kind of delineate between offense and defense here.
02:57And to me, if the season doesn't go the way we expect or the way everybody hopes, it's probably because
03:03they have a new defense and they're changing parts.
03:06And even the defensive coordinator last week said we have to be realistic about what we have in year one,
03:13trying to put it all together.
03:15It doesn't mean he's not trying to win or doesn't think he can't.
03:17But he even basically gave us some insight into, I don't have necessarily all the guys and the parts I
03:22need right now as I build this out.
03:24This is, I think, like the basement foundation of the house that I don't really want to build all the
03:33way.
03:34But when Mike alluded to it right at the outset of our show today, as I've mentioned a couple of
03:39different times with different guests, just sort of in passing.
03:41We haven't really dug in on it yet, and I'm not even sure how ready to dig in on it
03:45hard I am myself, but I'm just a little, I'm having trouble just assuming nothing misses a beat here.
03:53And the biggest part of that, it's connected to McDermott's departure because that means a new defense.
04:00So it's not entirely because McDermott isn't there to, whatever, sprinkle the magic pixie culture dust around or anything.
04:07It's that they're changing schemes, and I'm just sort of bracing for a world where next February comes, and there's
04:16a postseason wrap-up news conference, and we just get told, well, you know, it was year one with a
04:20new defense, and we just did not have all the parts we needed.
04:23I just, I just, I, that's, I don't think that's, like, unreasonable.
04:27Like, that's what happens when you replace systems and entrenched coaches.
04:34It's why not to do it.
04:35Yeah.
04:36So I'm, I'm, I'm just a little on guard about just assuming, like, the train's going to show up on
04:43time at every stop here.
04:46Yeah, I get it.
04:47I understand.
04:48I mean, look, when you have nine years, one of the, one of the reasons why the Bills have been
04:52very good, one of the top teams in the league, a contender every year for the last almost decade, is
04:58something that most teams covet.
05:00They have alignment.
05:01They had alignment between their, really, their ownership, but their, their GM and their head coach.
05:05When I say that, I know there were some fractures along the way in what ultimately happened.
05:07I get that.
05:08What I mean by alignment is they were both, they did what they had to do to make sure that
05:14they had the players necessary to run the kind of system and the kind of culture and the kind of
05:18team that they wanted.
05:19And that's for short term and long term, right?
05:21So Sean McDermott, he's the coach and he's going to have these players and he has a say in it.
05:25And we know that the team made us, you know, made it very aware that he had a say in
05:28the players, right?
05:29We know that when they had the press conference at the end of the year, this wasn't just Brandon being
05:32picking players.
05:33Sean McDermott had a say in that.
05:35The team kind of made it known that was the case.
05:38And with that comes, okay, if he has a say in this, he could tell Brandon being what he wants.
05:42Not only can Brandon being kind of go out and get those guys, but they can also develop a practice
05:47squad to get those guys to take over for the guys who leave for free agency or a guy who
05:52gets injured.
05:52Well, the downside of that, and it's really, you know, you don't, you love the fact that it happens, but
05:59the downside is when you make a really big change like this, you kind of have to go all in
06:05on a lot of that, which is the guys you've been prepping that you have even brought in as undrafted
06:10free agents.
06:10The guys that have been in your practice squad, they're not going to fit this system necessarily.
06:14They can, but you, it's not just a slight tweak here.
06:18Like you have to kind of think totally different on how you draft and the players you bring in.
06:22And that is a pretty good overhaul in year one.
06:26With Sal Capaccio.
06:28Did you guys dig into Ray Davis with Tyler Dunn?
06:31I have not yet done that.
06:33No, I haven't either.
06:34I saw it.
06:35I had not read it yet.
06:37Tyler has touted it as like Davis.
06:41It has a lot to say about his role and wants the ball, these kinds of things.
06:46And I just wonder what kind of chance he has at getting that, you know, like he's first team, all
06:52pro kickoff return.
06:53James Cook led the, literally led the NFL in rushing yards.
06:57I don't know, Sal, would you do same play caller, if not the same head coach, would you do anything
07:02different usage wise with running backs this year?
07:05Fewer they.
07:09I'd like to see Ray Davis a little more involved, but he wasn't as effective last year as a runner
07:13as he was the year before.
07:14I think now I think some of the numbers might show he did some nice things, but I like Ty
07:18Johnson in that role.
07:19Yes, I would.
07:20For me, a lot of it comes down to I want to kind of keep James Cook as fresh as
07:24possible.
07:25A lot of carries last year.
07:26Right.
07:26Like, so I don't necessarily have to have Ray Davis carry the ball more.
07:31I don't have to have Ty Johnson carry the ball more.
07:34But I kind of want James Cook to touch the ball less, to be honest with you.
07:37And that means those guys have to step up in that department.
07:41309 carries.
07:42I'm not counting.
07:44Receiving was another.
07:47Sorry, I don't have.
07:48I didn't quickly access that.
07:49But whatever.
07:50Yeah, it was a big workload.
07:51Like, I might tell you I'm more comfortable with him in the 250s range, like James Cook.
08:00But, you know, he did handle it fine.
08:02Right.
08:02He didn't miss it.
08:02He didn't miss a game.
08:03Yeah.
08:04So, you know, maybe they learned that they, you know, he knows how to take care of himself
08:08and avoid contact, et cetera.
08:10Maybe they feel like, you know, he's proven that he can do that.
08:14But, yeah, I mean, 309 last year, previous three years, 207, 237, 89 rookie year.
08:23Singletary's still here.
08:24It doesn't even really count.
08:25But as the number one back, 237 and 207 the other two years.
08:31I mean, guys, of all the things, like James Cook just kind of really blew everybody away
08:36last year, right?
08:37I mean, he had such a great season.
08:38It was awesome.
08:38Good for him.
08:39Of all the things he did awesome and all the things that, like, the numbers, to me, that
08:44was the most surprising thing.
08:45Like, how much he carried the ball.
08:48They gave him this extension.
08:49We sat here and debated.
08:50And I remember the debate was chicken and egg was, well, are they going to say we're paying
08:53you now?
08:54We got to use you more.
08:55Or, and my thought was, well, I think you're paying him a lot for the next few years.
08:58Like, you know, he's not the biggest dude.
09:00I think you want to see that come to fruition and have him available to you.
09:04I would never have expected him to carry the ball 309 times.
09:08I mean, not only was that high for James Cook, it was high for the league.
09:14James Cook last year finished, I think, let me look here, second or third in the entire
09:19league in rushing attempts.
09:20Third.
09:21Third.
09:22Behind only Jonathan Taylor and Christian McCaffrey last year in rushing attempts.
09:26Wow.
09:27Yeah, I think I'm with you on to see if we can get that into the 250 range.
09:33He got the ball more than Derrick Henry then.
09:35Right.
09:36And Bijan.
09:37He got the ball more than anyone besides those two dudes, which is another 33 receptions
09:43too, if you want it.
09:43Yeah.
09:45You know, so that's maybe a lot.
09:47I mean, I wonder.
09:49That'll certainly, I'm sure, come up here.
09:51Who's the better player in two years?
09:52James Cook or Alex Tuck?
09:55Who's more?
09:57Three years, if you want.
09:59Who's of more value?
10:00I don't know.
10:01I mean, need I say so?
10:03We're at a point in time in this league with running backs where the thing has shifted.
10:10Where, like, you wanted to bet against, I'll speak for myself.
10:13I wanted to bet against, did bet against McCaffrey, Henry, Barkley, et cetera, because of the
10:19number of touches they'd accrued over their careers.
10:22And they've kept going.
10:24I mean, Barkley was amazing in 24.
10:27McCaffrey is always amazing.
10:29Even Taylor.
10:29Well, Henry has to be mentioned here.
10:31Even Taylor has been around.
10:33But, you know, I think the principle is still valid.
10:37That there is a shelf life to this.
10:39So, yeah, I think I'd want to be more careful with Cook, too.
10:42Is that Davis, then?
10:44Like, is he?
10:44Ty Johnson is the third down guy.
10:46Maybe it's Ty Johnson that we move up if Cook were to play less.
10:53I think it's interesting.
10:54I still am very interested and curious about last year and how that role shifted a little bit.
10:59I mean, they really like Ty Johnson.
11:01They brought him back.
11:02Josh Allen has called him the best third down back in the league.
11:05They really like him.
11:06He's very smart on blitz pickup.
11:08He's a good receiver out of the backfield.
11:11I'm interested in that.
11:11And I think we have to note here, too, that Ray Davis has found a role as a kick returner.
11:16He was the best in the league at it last year.
11:18He was an all-pro kick returner.
11:20Like, do they want to make sure they really kind of have him available for that?
11:24That's become more of a thing now.
11:26And, like, that's something you're going to concentrate on more.
11:28So, I think all of this has to be kind of put into the pot and stirred up a little
11:33bit and figure out how you want to divvy up these roles.
11:37So, yeah, I think that part is interesting.
11:39James Cook, by the way, has also not been at OTAs from what we've seen.
11:42Now, you asked me earlier about what we're monitoring.
11:45Like, that's just somebody I want to see.
11:46Last year, we knew the contract stuff was happening.
11:48He did still show up for mandatory minicamp.
11:51So, I can't imagine he wouldn't be there.
11:54But it certainly would be a story of him or anybody else wouldn't.
11:56But that is somebody you want to see because you haven't seen him yet.
11:59Looking again, Sal, today at the schedule.
12:03And so, going into week 12, which is Thanksgiving night with Kansas City.
12:09Let's say the Bills are 8-3.
12:11Their bi-week will have happened.
12:12So, through – well, what would that – that's – I've already messed up.
12:16It's then 10 games through week 11.
12:207-3.
12:22Like, would you take 7-3, Bulldog?
12:24Probably.
12:25They've got Rams away, Lions, Baltimore.
12:28Yeah, I would.
12:29All right.
12:29So, let's say 7-3.
12:31Weeks 12 to 16.
12:33Thanksgiving night, Kansas City.
12:35Sunday late at New England.
12:37Sunday night at Green Bay.
12:40Saturday night, Chicago.
12:43Christmas night or afternoon at Denver the following week.
12:48Like, that is a gauntlet.
12:49It is.
12:50It is.
12:51But, I mean, Mike, if you say 7-3 after 10, and I'm looking at the schedule.
12:54Yep.
12:54Okay.
12:55If you say no, then you're thinking they have a chance to go 8-2.
12:58That would be dandy.
12:59But, holy cow, that would be really impressive against that first 10 games.
13:04Yep.
13:04Like, you find me, I can find two losses in various points.
13:08Easy, yeah.
13:09Yeah.
13:09I mean, like, okay, I'll take three losses in those first 10 games.
13:12I think that's a good job against that schedule.
13:14Then what's a good job in those five games?
13:173-2?
13:1810-5?
13:19We'd take 10-5 then.
13:20If we take 7-3, I don't disagree with you, by the way.
13:23If we take 7-3, then I think we'd take 10-5.
13:27Probably right.
13:27And then a chance to win the last two games to go 10-7.
13:30I don't know if you're winning the division, though.
13:31I think you've got to, yeah.
13:32Dolphins and Jets.
13:33Right.
13:34The last two weeks.
13:35You've got to win those.
13:36Yep.
13:36All right, yeah.
13:37We'll take 10-5 then.
13:38Yeah, I think so.
13:40Because that should be 12-5.
13:41And that should be, it's easily playoffs.
13:44It's easily playoffs that should be in contention for the division, I think.
13:49Tougher schedule for New England.
13:51But, you know, the usual conversation is the number 13 or 14 for the one seed.
13:56You're probably not getting there with 12.
13:58I wouldn't expect.
13:59Sal, are you into the Knicks?
14:03I was thinking about this today.
14:05I am into the Knicks from the perspective of how fascinating it is
14:12to watch their fan base and the vibe at MSG.
14:16And I think that's really cool.
14:18I am not a Knicks fan.
14:19But you know what?
14:21I've settled on their fans to me are not, I don't root against them
14:24because they're not obnoxious.
14:25They are very passionate.
14:27And, you know, I'll root against Boston teams.
14:29I think their fans are obnoxious.
14:30I'm not a Knicks fan.
14:32I kind of really, I didn't love the, you know, John Starks teams back in the day.
14:36This is a fun team to watch.
14:38The vibe is awesome.
14:39So, yeah, I think it's cool.
14:41Now, I think I would love to see Wemby also win it.
14:44You know, I think it's a great story.
14:45But I'm okay with the Knicks.
14:47And I think it's really cool what's happening in New York with them right now.
14:50If you go through fan bases, which I'm not always inclined to do,
14:53I think you probably need to give this one a pass for a couple reasons.
14:57One is, it's 53 years since they've won it.
15:01Like, hardly anybody remembers that's alive and following the Knicks
15:06remembers them winning a championship.
15:08And the owner seems to hate his fans.
15:11Well, you could add to that if you want.
15:14It's not, I mean, just terrible ownership.
15:15I would say the other thing, though, is if a fan base has a right to, you know,
15:21puff its chest out, so to speak, it's a fan of a team that is absolutely destroying
15:27the playoff field like this.
15:29I mean, they've won 13 games in a row.
15:32And we had met Vertoran the other day who, it turns out, is a Knicks fan.
15:36And he knew the stat that they, for 12 games, their margin of victory, 12-0,
15:42before the one-point win, is the greatest, like, in decades in the league,
15:47regular season or postseason.
15:48And it's more impressive in the postseason when you can just kill like that.
15:52Their clinchers have been blowouts.
15:55So, I don't know.
15:56Some teams are not that good.
15:58And their fans maybe win all the time and they're super annoying.
16:01But I can handle this.
16:02I was blown away by that stat.
16:03That is incredible.
16:04That's right.
16:04Right?
16:05I can handle this.
16:06I think Knicks fans should go as hard as they want right now.
16:09100%.
16:10Yeah, they could still lose.
16:11Yeah.
16:11I'd like to see a series, you know?
16:14Yep.
16:15But, you know, it's funny.
16:16Like, I mentioned this the other day, Sal.
16:18Like, the hockey final and the basketball final are the exact opposite of each other.
16:23Because I like both of these basketball teams.
16:26Like, I'm not a Knicks fan either.
16:27And I'm certainly not a Spurs fan.
16:29But when Benyama got me in at, like, the start of these playoffs or halfway through,
16:33I'm like, okay, I'm pretty fascinated.
16:35I want to see what's what.
16:36But, so, I watched a lot of the Thunder series with them.
16:40And, you know, the Knicks were just stomping their way through the East.
16:44And that was compelling.
16:45So, I'm pretty good there.
16:46I kind of, you know, either way, just give me a good series.
16:49Give me some drama.
16:50And the hockey is giving us drama.
16:52It's been incredible.
16:53And I hate both of these teams.
16:56I just don't.
16:57I don't.
16:58Any one score is I'm mad.
17:00And, you know, there's nine goals in the game on Saturday night.
17:04So, I'm mad a lot.
17:06I think a lot of people here share your sentiment.
17:08I do.
17:09I was coaching a 12-year-old baseball game the other day, Bulldog.
17:14And a kid on my team said, Coach, who do you want to win the Stanley Cup?
17:18And then a bunch of 12-year-olds started to say who they wanted to win.
17:21And there was a fiery debate about how much they hated either of the teams.
17:25Like, these 12-year-olds were like, how can you like Vegas?
17:28No, how can you want Carolina?
17:29It was crazy.
17:30It was unbelievable.
17:31You love to see that.
17:32Yeah.
17:33I mean, you really do.
17:33You learn that from parents.
17:35Yep.
17:36Probably.
17:37You have to say you're not, you know, having those conversations around the, I don't know,
17:40the water fountain at school.
17:42But whatever.
17:43Yes.
17:44Thank you, Sal.
17:45We'll talk tomorrow.
17:46You got it, guys.
17:47Thanks, guys.
Comments