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00:00All right, so I'm glad to hear Bulldog say he's got a lot that he wants to ask you.
00:04Because I'm scrounging around trying to think of stuff that we haven't just already talked about 50 times.
00:10But I think maybe this, and this again, well I say again,
00:15it a little bit traces to some of my fantasy podcasts and conversations,
00:19and that is James Cook and receiving potential.
00:25Do you think there's any reason, Sal, to think,
00:27whether that's the schedule or the coaching change or anything else,
00:31because the depth chart isn't any different at the position,
00:35do you think there's any good reason to think that James Cook will get more targets this year?
00:41Yes, there's a very good reason.
00:43His name is Pete Carmichael Jr.
00:45Pete Carmichael Jr. is known for this.
00:47He works with LaDainian Tomlinson, he worked with Alvin Kamara.
00:50He's going to have an influence on some sort of, some capacity,
00:55he's going to have an influence on the offense.
00:56And whether that's James Cook or someone else,
01:00which I think that's the kind of thing to figure out here,
01:03I believe they will incorporate the running backs into the passing game more.
01:08I believe they will throw running back screen passes sometimes,
01:12which we really haven't seen from this offense very much.
01:15So it would stand to reason to me that James Cook will have more of an uptick there.
01:20Now the question would be how much compared to Ty Johnson or Ray Davis,
01:24but I think Pete Carmichael Jr.'s influence will be directly reflected and we will see some of that.
01:32It would really be something if that, I don't know how I want to phrase this,
01:38if that took off, if that hit, if James Cook suddenly catches 60 passes, let's say, right?
01:44What's his career high so far?
01:46In the 30s, I would think somewhere?
01:47Maybe.
01:47Probably, but if that hits all of a sudden, it would really be something because when he was drafted,
01:54the man who drafted him referred to him as a sub back, which to me sounded like, yeah, he's our
02:01change of pace.
02:02He's our pass catching back, right?
02:04That's how we're going to use this guy.
02:06And that has not really, you know, he led the league in rushing last year.
02:10So it's evolved to the point where he's a number one running back and one of the top values in
02:16fantasy.
02:17I mean, not value now, but anyway, if you got him last year, you hit really big.
02:22But if he becomes a pass catcher that is, you know, has to be watched out for and it's dangerous,
02:30man, that could really be an element to this offense that we haven't had before.
02:34No doubt.
02:35I mean, you just want to avoid being predictable as part of it.
02:38And if he's on the field and you really don't throw very much, but when Ty Johnson is, you might
02:44throw more.
02:46You know, that's something you have to look at and want to avoid.
02:49And if you can incorporate James Cook into that, I think it would help the offense tremendously.
02:53Now, part of this is going to be a lot of it on James Cook, which is he's going to
02:57have to be willing and able,
03:00and I think he was last year, to be a third down blocking back.
03:03It doesn't mean he has to be great at it, but he has to be capable enough at it that
03:07when he's on the field,
03:08people know that it might not go to him, it might go to someone else.
03:11Because if not, he's on the field on third down.
03:14You're basically telling your linebackers and your edge rushers, whoever, I mean, look, he's either going out for a pass
03:22and catching it, or you're just going to beat him on a pass rush if he doesn't, right?
03:25Let me just, you kind of, you know what they're doing here.
03:28So I think that that has to be part of the equation, what he's going to do.
03:32But I think that they're going to try to make this more of the offense this year.
03:39While we're on running backs, unless there's more on Cook here.
03:42Well, I want to say one thing, because Carmichael, that's the right answer to that question, right?
03:48Because there is this history with New Orleans, and they threw the ball to Camara.
03:53It wasn't really, though, what they were about, like when they were at their best.
04:01Because Camara came along, I mean, Peyton was there a long time, Carmichael was there a long time.
04:05Camara came in toward the end of that and was excellent at that.
04:09We really don't know that Cook is excellent at it.
04:11And I guess I still think that this is the Joe Brady show, right?
04:17So he did hire this coach.
04:20That would have been up to him to do.
04:22And maybe there is an element where they want to do that.
04:25And the Bills don't exactly have, like, the perfect group of pass catchers to begin with.
04:30I don't know.
04:31Is it fair?
04:32I'll ask this to Sal about Cook.
04:34Is it fair to consider him just sort of, like, lukewarm in that particular area?
04:42I mean, yes, sub back.
04:45Because his size dictated that, too, and he wasn't, like, a bell cow or anything at Georgia.
04:49But I think we kind of all assumed that he was going to be good at that.
04:53And that was what they wanted him for.
04:54And that just hasn't really happened.
04:56So what do you think, Sal, of Cook's ability, like his talent in that area?
05:02It seems like he's a good route runner and can find separation.
05:05But he's had problems catching passes before, too.
05:08You know, he had a few tough drops a couple years ago.
05:12But he's been able to get down the field against guys.
05:15I think he's, you know, capable of it.
05:19But you might have to live with a tough player, too, which they've had to do over the years.
05:24You know, one of the things talking through this to think about, it's not just James Cook.
05:31Pete Carmichael.
05:32I mean, Deion Dawkins said the other day at a podcast, I think it was at Fanatics Fest, or maybe
05:37he wrote it on social, but I think it was at Fanatics Fest in a podcast.
05:40And he said something like, or he wrote on social something about him playing as light as he ever has.
05:46Like, he's going to be as light as he ever has.
05:48And I'm wondering, okay, like, I don't think this happens in a vacuum.
05:52Yes, he wants to be lighter.
05:54Maybe he feels like he needs to be lighter to have a better year.
05:57But I wonder if the Bills also want him to be more mobile, to do more of this kind of
06:01stuff, to be able to get guys out in space a little bit more.
06:04I think this is all part of it.
06:07Interesting.
06:08I wanted to, while we were on running backs, ask you a couple of things about the depth.
06:15Does Ray Davis' emergence as an all-pro kick returner, right?
06:22Like, he earned that.
06:23First-team all-pro.
06:24First-team all-pro kick returner.
06:25Like, does that limit him in any way as, like, the first, like, the, you know, I know Ty Johnson's
06:34got his role.
06:35Does Davis, do they want to, I know it sounds weird, it's backwards, right?
06:39We talk about this with Shakir.
06:41Do we want him fielding and running back punts?
06:43He's so integral to the offense.
06:45Like, I wonder if Davis, does it hurt his snap count on offense that they want him fresh for kickoffs?
06:53I think it can.
06:54I think it depends how the game is going.
06:56If you're in a higher-scoring game, I certainly think it can.
06:59Like, hey, you know, one play here and we need our guy out there.
07:02So, let's be aware of that.
07:04It's probably circumstantial based on the flow of the game, based on score effect, things like that.
07:10I would also think that Jeff Rogers, the new special teams coordinator, my guess is he would go to Joe
07:16Brady
07:16and he would go to, you know, Pete Carmichael Jr., whoever, and Kelly Skipper, running backs coach,
07:21and say, you know, hey, if you can, like, I think we can get something with Ray coming up here.
07:25Maybe limit his touches, this drive, or something like that.
07:28And that doesn't mean you have to, but those are how you have those conversations.
07:31And say, you know, we found something, or go into a game.
07:35Hey, I really want to use Ray this week to try to bust one.
07:39We're facing a coverage unit we think we can beat.
07:41Hey, you know, give me a fresh Ray Davis, I can really make something happen here.
07:45Like, these are the conversations coaches have, and that's how a game plan is formulated.
07:49So, to answer your question, yes, Bulldog, I think it is.
07:51I don't think it has to be directly all the time, hey, Ray Davis is a kick returner,
07:55so we're going to limit his touches on offense.
07:57But I do think he's good enough where you can game plan, or even game to game, series to series,
08:03half to half, and say, you know, let's think about using him here,
08:07so where else, you know, should we kind of be really careful about putting him on the field?
08:12Right.
08:13The other thing I'm wondering about is just, I think I know the answer,
08:17but Ty Johnson is still absolutely entrenched, though.
08:20All this talk about Cook and whether he can handle third down, you know,
08:24a third down roll and pass blocking and all that, like, for a second offseason in a row,
08:29heading into a second consecutive season, I feel like their running back room,
08:33for as much as we talk about through the years,
08:35is how interchangeable running backs are and replaceable they are.
08:40The Bills are probably all set, right?
08:45Yeah, sorry about that.
08:47I would say yes, but, I mean, Frank Gore Jr. sitting there just waiting for his opportunity.
08:53The problem is I don't think he can beat anybody out on the roster right now, right?
08:56But, I mean, he even played in the playoff game for them.
08:59You're only going to have three running backs.
09:00I mean, they signed this kid, I forget his name off the top of my head now,
09:03he was at the, when he was the XFL MVP in that, you know,
09:07when they played the world, the championship game.
09:11And because they had, Desmond Reed had the injury,
09:14who was the undrafted free agent out of Pitt.
09:16Anyway, they're going to have a couple guys, and those guys are there for insurance.
09:19And this is, what, Frank Gore's third year.
09:22He's done some nice things in preseason.
09:23I can't see anybody taking that spot.
09:26Now, if you're asking me just the depth chart itself, I,
09:29sure, Ray Davis, to me, could get more carries, which could impact Ty Johnson.
09:35But I think Ty Johnson right now is their third down back.
09:38He's the guy you want on third down.
09:40And because of that, he'll probably have, you know, touches and catches again.
09:44It's going to be interesting, though, again,
09:46to see how often they get the ball compared to James.
09:48And, oh, by the way, we asked this to Joe Brady during OTAs,
09:52during minicamps, whenever it was.
09:54And, you know, how do you balance it?
09:55And even he said, like, Joe Brady was just like us talking on the radio.
09:59He's like, look, it's a tough balance.
10:00Like, you want to get those guys' touches.
10:02But James Cook is really good.
10:03And you take the ball out of the hands of the league's leading rusher.
10:08Frank Gore did play in the playoffs, and I did not remember that.
10:12But he has a six-yard catch in the Jacksonville game.
10:14He did.
10:15What happened there?
10:16Who didn't play?
10:17Was somebody hurt?
10:18Ty Johnson.
10:18Was Johnson hurt?
10:19Ty Johnson.
10:20Guys, Ty Johnson missed both playoff games.
10:22I think if Ty Johnson plays against Denver, it could be a different game.
10:27See, I forgot why, Bulldog, from yesterday's show, because it was a good play.
10:31Right.
10:32I forgot about it because it was a six-yard gain.
10:36Yeah.
10:37Sal, what do you know about the uniform thing?
10:39I know this can wait until Monday because that's when it's formally going to be introduced.
10:44But I think you and I talked off the air about this a couple of weeks ago and never on
10:49the air.
10:50But it seems like the gray uniform set with the blue helmet with, to my eyes, there's not a buffalo
10:57on it, just like a red, the charge symbol on the helmet.
11:03It seems like that's going to be what is unveiled on Monday.
11:06I don't know if you can confirm that or not.
11:09But I'm just curious, like, if you know what they were after with this uniform set, or are you, like
11:15us, only going to find out when they introduce it on Monday?
11:19I'll find out then.
11:20But, I mean, there are definitely clues, right?
11:23They have really leaned in, the Bills have, to the charge logo, including so much, like, when you go to
11:28the new stadium, the charge logo is everywhere.
11:30It's even inside the mesh.
11:32Like, we were told that a couple of years ago when they were doing it, the stadium and saying that,
11:36that mesh that surrounds the stadium, you know, the wind confusion, the holes in the mesh aren't holes.
11:42They're charge logos.
11:43That's what they are.
11:44Like, they've been leaning into that.
11:46And there's a lot of signs that there's something that that's a big deal for them right now.
11:51And then today, I believe, on social, I thought I saw, they posted something about coming next Monday, and then
11:59they had Nichols.
12:01Right?
12:02Nichols.
12:02So, I think, like, you guys talk about gray, what are they going to call it?
12:04They'll probably call them the nickel uniform or something.
12:06Right?
12:06I mean, the Buffalo nickel, that's the color.
12:08To me, that's what it seems like it's going to be.
12:12I'm not falling for that.
12:13I noticed the color.
12:15I didn't really process it.
12:17I'm such an idiot.
12:19Like, I saw that 10 different times on my feed this morning and just went, oh, yeah, the uniform Monday.
12:26And I didn't put the Buffalo and the nickel thing together.
12:29So, I'm not super sharp.
12:31I didn't think about it for long.
12:33Out here in my world, we call that gray.
12:36Right?
12:37We don't call that nickel.
12:38We call that gray.
12:39We'll see.
12:41Miami announced that.
12:43I mean, the Bills are kind of like on the back end of this.
12:45A lot of teams have announced their uniforms for the whole season already.
12:50Miami announced that they're wearing these alternate uniforms for when the Bills are there in week 17.
12:56January 3rd, maybe it is.
12:59And I wrote down in my notes, I bet they don't call these black, but they look black.
13:03Right.
13:04Like, it's almost black or something close to black with blue, aqua numbers.
13:09Oh, no, I think they called it Dolphin Blue or something.
13:12Dolphin Blue.
13:12I don't know.
13:15It's not a new thing.
13:17They've had it.
13:18That's right.
13:19They've worn these before.
13:20They definitely didn't call it black.
13:21No, it can't be called black.
13:24It's not a coincidence.
13:25It's not a coincidence they're going to wear that, like, as late as they can in the winter, not when
13:28it's hot out.
13:29You know what I mean?
13:31Midnight blue, maybe, they went with.
13:33Midnight blue.
13:33It'll only be 77 in Miami on January 3rd, so they won't fry in these.
13:39Houston week one, you've got the preseason we're giving away here at Seneca Buffalo Creek today.
13:45Tickets to that preseason opener.
13:47Sal, that will be, that's Carolina, which had a pretty tough injury today at its, you know, first day at
13:54training camp.
13:54Welcome back football.
13:55Right.
13:56That'll be unlike, well, at least, maybe, any preseason game.
14:02Since 1973.
14:03Since 1973.
14:05Yeah.
14:05Because people will still, have still called us over the years, you know, remembering that day.
14:12Is that Wallace Francis?
14:13Or Washington.
14:14Whatever it was.
14:15Yeah.
14:15It was some first day at the stadium.
14:18And in this game, I don't imagine the Bills will necessarily play it any differently than any other preseason opener.
14:25But it's going to be a lot different.
14:27For the fans, it's going to be a lot more festive than your usual preseason opener, I would think.
14:31Yeah.
14:32Yeah, real quick on that injury.
14:34I don't believe it was an edge rusher, right?
14:37It's more of an off-ball linebacker, right?
14:39Off-ball linebacker, right?
14:40So, immediately, I started thinking about both Jack Thompson and Matt Milano because of Carolina's connection, he and Morgan being
14:47there as the GM.
14:48You know what I mean?
14:49Now, it's early enough where I don't know, but I just was thinking about that today when that happened.
14:56So, I don't know how the Bills will play it with, you know, three preseason games.
15:01You have a different head coach.
15:03And they do have those joint practices against Cleveland.
15:05One joint practice against Cleveland.
15:07And I remember in Pittsburgh a couple years ago, they kind of used the joint practice as really the game
15:11itself for the reps, if you will.
15:13Because, remember the game, there was rain the next day and Josh Allen didn't play.
15:17So, like, yeah, he got a lot of reps yesterday.
15:19You don't have to worry about it.
15:19Don't put him on a wet field.
15:20There's a lot of different ways you could do this.
15:22I mean, I know that you'd love to see guys out there in the new stadium, go to a preseason
15:29game, all those kinds of things.
15:31But, you know, you have to be very aware of and ready and be cautious of injuries.
15:37And I don't know.
15:39We're going to find out this year what Joe Brady's initial philosophy is on that.
15:44We have no idea.
15:46And I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see Josh Allen at all.
15:50I welcome new conversations about stuff like that.
15:53I mean, it wasn't that.
15:54It has nothing to do with whether they should have moved on from Sean McDermott.
15:57But, you know, some of these things are going to be a little bit fresh.
16:01You'd think with a younger first-time head coach, he'd be more apt to be in the trend of, like,
16:07yeah, my best guys aren't playing at all.
16:09Nobody plays.
16:10Right.
16:10Right.
16:10Like, that wave has cruised around the league.
16:14I don't say that McDermott did it wrong or anything, but I just – I might – I would bet
16:19on that, I guess.
16:20You know, I agree with that.
16:22On ADP chasing on Tuesday night, one of our guys, Davis Maddock, is gaga for Rams tight end Terrence Ferguson.
16:28Like, this is his favorite pick to make late in drafts.
16:30And everybody kind of wants to see – because the speculation is he'll be, like, their wide receiver three.
16:36He's not going to really play tight end.
16:37I'm like, Davis, buddy, you're not going to know until Australia.
16:40Right.
16:41Because McVay doesn't play anybody.
16:43Right.
16:43Like, he's not showing a single card in the preseason.
16:45Anybody that matters is not playing.
16:46And they have to go to Australia.
16:48So, if anybody – like, Kittle for San Francisco is one.
16:52Because now they're talking like he might not be ready.
16:55Well, you're not going to fly him to Melbourne, right, if there's any thought that he might not play.
16:59Just sort of stay home.
17:01Anyway, I digress.
17:03Sal, thank you.
17:04I'm glad for your day at Darien Lake.
17:06It sounds like it was really great.
17:07You've survived all the rides.
17:09And we'll catch up with you next week.
17:12Now it's time for a show-show and playoff game.
17:15I mean, it just never ends, maybe.
17:16Oh.
17:17Oh, boy.
17:18Yeah.
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