- 2 days ago
Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase continue their Buffalo Football Monday coverage by discussing the Bills matchup with the Rams coming up tonight. The guys express their concern about the Bills defense ahead of this game as the unit has been struggling, and the Rams could be as dangerous as anyone in the league. Jeremy lays out what he believes is the best path to victory on that side of the ball, and highlights the lack of mobility from Matthew Stafford and how the Bills elite pass rush could be an asset.
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00:00There's a fine line between it all.
00:01It's no secret between being courageous and being reckless.
00:05Sometimes you have to toe that line, given the circumstance of the game and the inflows.
00:09And there's obviously times during the game where you don't want to do that.
00:12Every situation is an opportunity to learn from.
00:14And, you know, sitting here three and one in our first four.
00:17And again, we're not focused on what we did last week or what's ahead next week.
00:21We're focused on this week right now and just trying to have the best week of practice.
00:24I'm obviously traveling out.
00:25We're playing Monday night.
00:26It's an exciting opportunity against a really good team.
00:29So, yeah, just putting our best foot forward this week.
00:32Bills quarterback Josh Allen at Slice of Audio from the locker room brought to you by Picasso's.
00:37We are Buffalo Pizza.
00:38Jeremy and Joe, good morning, everybody.
00:39Happy Monday.
00:40It's a big one.
00:40Sabres and Panthers at 1 o'clock at Key Bank Center.
00:43Bills in the primetime spot in L.A. against the Rams.
00:46Monday night football for Allen and the Bills in this era.
00:49It's been a bit of a mixed bag.
00:51For Allen against the Rams, it's been an absolute rocket show.
00:55Just points, points, points, and lighting up the Rams.
00:59We'll see what happens.
01:00I sense in our YouTube chat a lot of Bills fans that are very nervous about this Bills defense tonight.
01:07And, you know, what's the story that comes out of this game tonight?
01:09Maybe it's that Allen is running the offense at the top level.
01:13We'll see about DJ Moore.
01:15Skyler Bell will be up.
01:16He's activated for this game.
01:17That's in part because Josh Palmer has picked up an injury.
01:21And he's already ruled out.
01:22Yeah.
01:23Palmer out with an injury that got in practice.
01:26I mean, the guy, you know, whatever.
01:28You can make your snarky comments.
01:29The guy can't catch a break, right?
01:31Like, he's been hurt a lot.
01:32It's another part of his story here.
01:34But Skyler Bell, we'll see if he's inserted in the lineup.
01:38Joe Brady said they've had Skyler Bell running the DJ Moore role at practice this week.
01:45Because Moore missed Thursday and Friday.
01:46Yeah.
01:47He's questionable for the game.
01:48But Moore was limited Friday.
01:50Okay.
01:50Limited Friday.
01:51So he got something in, like, non-contact jersey stuff.
01:55That was the only reason over the weekend I thought, like, okay, maybe we do see him.
02:01But, I mean, that could also even be, you can see Ladd McConkie yesterday for the Chargers.
02:08No.
02:08Like, he was active.
02:09He played, like, four snaps.
02:11Yeah.
02:11Like, he was just there, maybe in case of emergency.
02:15And maybe you would do that with Moore.
02:17Like, you would dress him and he would be either a total decoy or, like, there just to play if
02:24everybody else gets hurt.
02:26But I don't even know if you need to do that because at that point.
02:29No, DJ Moore did not practice Friday.
02:31He didn't?
02:31No.
02:31Their injury report says that he was limited.
02:34Oh, is that Saturday's injury report?
02:36Saturday's injury report.
02:37Oh, I'm sorry.
02:38Right.
02:39Days are off.
02:40That's right.
02:40That's right.
02:40Right.
02:41The final day of the practice week is usually Friday.
02:42Saturday he was limited.
02:43Gotcha.
02:43You're right.
02:44And I wonder how much of that, did the media see that?
02:46Or is that just, we're going to list him as that because we want the Rams to think he's playing?
02:50That could definitely be true.
02:51Get out there.
02:52Be limited.
02:52We'll have to check in with Sal on that.
02:54I haven't seen the latest on that.
02:55Make them prepare for him.
02:56Yeah.
02:56Because if he gets one in, you would make the Rams think they have to prep for it.
03:00But because really, even the decoy part of it, if he doesn't play, where are you at?
03:04You're at Bell, Shakir, and Coleman.
03:07And then who's the other, is it Dorch?
03:10Or are they picking someone up off the practice squad?
03:13All of a sudden, that's pretty bleak.
03:15Yeah, it gets thin really quick.
03:16Yeah.
03:17Really quick.
03:17And Marvin Harrison Jr. got traded over the weekend as well.
03:20He'll be headed to the Houston Texans.
03:21We can break down that trade if you want.
03:22He actually did get traded.
03:24D'Amico Ryan said we traded for him.
03:26Schefter couldn't decide whether he'd been traded or not.
03:28It was the weirdest trade ever.
03:29He's been traded, but I don't know where.
03:31I can't tell you where.
03:33Eventually, we find out it's Houston.
03:35Gina in Delaware.
03:36Gina, good morning.
03:36Starting us off on a football Monday.
03:39Good morning, Jeremy.
03:40So listen, Jeremy, this is for you and I, okay?
03:44It's 5 o'clock somewhere.
03:46We both need a big shot of woosah.
03:51That's what we need right now.
03:53Because it is way too early for me to be way too nervous right now.
03:57I watched those games over the weekend, the Giants game, the Ravens game, the San Francisco game.
04:03Those games, oh my God.
04:04And every play was like, okay, what would the Bills do?
04:06What would the Bills do?
04:07We are Monday night football, guys.
04:10All eyes are on us.
04:13The defense, Russo, the whole bunch needs to make big splashes.
04:18They need to make big plays.
04:20I want to hear how great our defense was tomorrow morning, not how bad they were.
04:26I am so pulling for them.
04:28Keon Coleman, boy, I hope you have a great game tonight.
04:32But I definitely need some woosah, Jeremy.
04:36How about you?
04:37Go Sabres.
04:38Go Bills.
04:39Let's get it.
04:40And let's do it right, guys.
04:42Let's get it done.
04:43Thanks, Gina.
04:44Honestly, I need to feel better about the Sabres than I do the Bills.
04:49I'm not worried about the Bills right now.
04:51I mean, listen, the game will be, I'm excited for it tonight.
04:54Could the defense get let up?
04:56Of course.
04:56If there's one path for them to winning for me, it's Greg Russo, Deion Walker.
05:04They can win their one-on-ones enough.
05:07They can win, even Walker wins double teams.
05:09They can win up front and pressure a quarterback in Matthew Stafford that is bad under pressure.
05:14You want some stats on Stafford under pressure?
05:16Sure.
05:17Here you go.
05:17So, historically, I think he's good under pressure.
05:19Not anymore.
05:20Not anymore?
05:20Yeah.
05:21So, the Bills have been at the very top of the league in generating disruption.
05:25This came from Judah Forking, formerly Pro Football Focus.
05:29Yep.
05:29Now at his own sub-sec, it's throw the damn ball.
05:31Anyway, the Bills generate pressure disruption.
05:34That's a play where a quarterback can't stay in rhythm because of pressure.
05:38They also have the second highest pressure rate without blitzing.
05:41So, the Bills have not been blitzing.
05:44They're third lowest in the league in blitzing.
05:46Here they are, second in pressure rate without blitzing.
05:49Matthew Stafford has seen one of the lowest rates of disruption this year.
05:53So, it's tough to disrupt them.
05:55He gets the ball out quick.
05:56But if you do get there, he's been a disaster.
05:59He loses close to a full point per play on EPA.
06:02He's been pressured with four rushers 23% of the time.
06:07The Bills get there 45% of the time.
06:09Anyway, on plays where he is pressured, he's the second worst quarterback in football.
06:16Man.
06:17Right?
06:17Yeah.
06:18So, if I can get there with my four, which for the first time in a long time, I think
06:23I might be able to get there sometimes with my four, thanks to Walker and Rousseau.
06:29The quarterback is not good.
06:31You can get him to make mistakes.
06:33He has six picks this year.
06:35You can get him to make mistakes.
06:36You can pressure him.
06:37He's not going to escape.
06:38His overrunner on rushing yards tonight is what?
06:40A half?
06:41It's got to be half.
06:41It's always a half.
06:42He never moves.
06:43He doesn't move.
06:44Steve, Stafford is a bottom three quarterback when he's under pressure, and the Bills are
06:50getting pressure.
06:51So, how do they win?
06:53They win with pressure from their front four, which is kind of everybody's dream.
06:57The problem is, maybe they can't get there because the secondary can't hold up.
07:01And if there's one potential matchup where I would worry about scheme and talent, it would
07:09be this one.
07:10Sean McVay could have these defenders' brains in a blender.
07:15This secondary is having trouble communicating and understanding where to be, and won't
07:19McVay and Stafford put them in real conflict?
07:23Where do I go?
07:24What do I do?
07:25What's my key?
07:25What's my read?
07:26Right?
07:27So, if they can win up front, they can win this game, and I think we can come out of
07:31this thinking the defense is actually in a good spot.
07:32Basically, your only path is creating...
07:35You've got to create a lot of negative plays by the Rams.
07:38Yeah.
07:38Like, a fumble in this game, a couple of picks that are caused by pressure right in
07:45their face.
07:46You could also get them off schedule by stopping the run, something the Bills have been doing
07:50well.
07:50Right.
07:50The Rams are a good run offense so far.
07:52Yep.
07:53But, you could do that.
07:55Because, right, like, I would expect McVay knows I'm getting Puka against whoever I want
08:00in this game.
08:01And if it's not that...
08:01Like, I am going to work to get Puka...
08:03Do you even need to work?
08:04You might feel good about any matchup that he has.
08:07And wouldn't you feel about any matchup with Adams?
08:09And wouldn't you feel about any matchup of a tight end against one of these guys in coverage?
08:13I mean, D. Alford's had really rough coverage numbers, too.
08:16So, you pick your poison out there.
08:18The Rams should have the opportunity to pass the ball.
08:20If they can keep Stafford from getting pressured, then I think the Bills are in a ton of trouble.
08:24I mean, maybe Benford would have a fighting chance against Adams.
08:27I just wouldn't expect that to go well.
08:30But, the last time...
08:31Wasn't he on Puka a lot the last time these two teams played?
08:35There were a lot of...
08:37Even, like, draped in coverage.
08:38And, like, Puka was making hero catches, like, over top.
08:41And was still getting his.
08:43So, yeah, like...
08:45That isn't a path for them.
08:48Like, their secondary winning that battle just seems impossible going into tonight's game.
08:53It would have to come from...
08:55Like, do I get a scoop and score?
08:56Or, that really flips the tide on that side of the ball?
09:00Or, something like that?
09:01Because Walker, or so, and maybe Chubb are, like, right in his face the whole game?
09:06That would also tell me they're not blitzing in this game.
09:09Meanwhile...
09:09Like, your secondary needs all the help that it can get.
09:11If I'm already getting pressure with four, then I'm not blitzing.
09:14I think what you're going to try to do, right, is drop as many as you can.
09:17And get Stafford to throw.
09:19Try to get a hand up.
09:21Do something like that.
09:22Right.
09:22What if I told you that Matthew Stafford's over-under for rushing yards, and this game
09:25has moved?
09:26It's one and a half.
09:28It's gone up a yard?
09:29What?
09:30That's...
09:30That's a...
09:31That's a big number!
09:32I've never seen...
09:33I haven't seen it at one and a half in a long time.
09:35And it's even money at one and a half.
09:37Over.
09:38Over is even at one and a half?
09:39What is that going up for?
09:41That's very weird.
09:41Ah, it's very strange.
09:43It's just everybody's betting the over.
09:45I guess.
09:46I think.
09:48Right?
09:49I mean, doesn't everyone always bet the over on it?
09:51No one ever bets the under on it.
09:52Oh my god, no.
09:53I bet the under on Safford.
09:54You bet the under on the Safford run?
09:55All the time.
09:55It's the most fun betting football.
09:57And besides, when they win a game, you get three yards taken off when he kneels down.
10:00When you have that over, though, and he starts, like, hobbling is a little strong.
10:04Like, fast walking out of the pocket, like, oh, that could be electric.
10:08I can't believe that number's up to one and a half.
10:10Puka in that last meeting, by the way, 12 on 14 targets for 162 and a touchdown.
10:15Pretty good.
10:16Yeah.
10:17Larry in South Florida.
10:18Hey, Larry.
10:20Hey, good morning, gentlemen.
10:21I spoke with Joe Kelly about this on Saturday.
10:24And the nail in the coffin's there for me now because of our GM.
10:29And I know we can't remove him.
10:30He got promoted.
10:32But I do think it's time to give that GM to someone else and just let him be, you know,
10:38president of operations.
10:39But I know that's not going to happen.
10:41So here we go again.
10:41We're talking about the defense.
10:43Well, the last two years, all Bean has done is spent all our draft resources, with the exception
10:48of a handful here and there on defense, completely ignoring the wide receiver position.
10:55And he's also really ignored, with upper-level picks, the linebacker position.
11:00Our linebackers are terrible.
11:02When you look at Terrell Bernard, he really looks like maybe a strong safety, but I guess
11:07he's not fast enough to be strong safety.
11:11Mario Williams doesn't appear to be a linebacker that's going to make it in this league either.
11:23So, you know, you got the rookie, so give him a shot.
11:26I know he's been in there sparingly and he hasn't looked fantastic, but let the kid play.
11:31Also, Kilgar, you brought him in.
11:32Let him play.
11:33Bell's finally going to get a shot.
11:35But what killed me is that it was reported that Houston was the main player in Marvin
11:41Harrison Jr.
11:42Now, Marvin Harrison Jr. had a really good rookie year, and he really didn't have a great,
11:47you know, quarterback or offensive line at the time.
11:51And then all of a sudden, he just can't play anymore?
11:53I don't buy it.
11:55Something happened there to really ruin this guy in Arizona.
11:59Now, it's going to really stink if he goes and plays with C.J., his quarterback from college,
12:05and C.J. makes him look like an all-pro, and we drop the ball, and yet again, another way
12:10to get a weapon.
12:11Now, I'm tired of saying, well, we got to get a cornerback.
12:14Well, we don't need a cornerback named Tredavious White or another linebacker named Matt Milano.
12:20You know, if Bean was doing his job the right way in the draft or even making some trades,
12:26which he doesn't seem to do, we would have these positions taken care of.
12:30Now, I'm just tired of talking about why the defense is terrible.
12:34It's terrible because we did not make good choices.
12:38That's why it's terrible.
12:39So, here's an opportunity to go get a guy that could really help out Josh, especially,
12:44I know he probably wouldn't be able to play tonight, but this guy is a threat.
12:48He's a downfield threat, he's got hands, he can get open, he caught everything in college,
12:54and, you know, Ohio State played some of the best teams in the country.
12:57So, there is no way, in my opinion, that we could not have, we gave up a second-round pick
13:03for D.J. Moore.
13:04Why couldn't we have given them a second and a fifth?
13:08Because they got a second and a sixth.
13:09I think the difference is that D.J. Moore was established and good, and you are betting
13:15on Harrison Jr. not being what you've seen already.
13:17Which, you say he did a good rookie year.
13:20He got thrown the ball a lot in his rookie year.
13:22He was not necessarily great in his rookie year.
13:24Like, the efficiency stats were not amazing.
13:26He was fine.
13:28But, I also saw a list last night that, this doesn't have to matter to Harrison,
13:33but Sam Monson put a screenshot up that they showed on the broadcast last night
13:38of top five overall draft picks that have been traded within their first three seasons,
13:43and it's like nine players that never did anything.
13:46Trey Lance, Trent Richardson, Aaron Curry, Gaines, like, just nowhere.
13:50So, I don't assume that it can't work.
13:54I would sooner look at that every Ohio State receiver that's entered the NFL
13:57ends up being a really good player.
13:59And, it would be weird if the one we thought was going to be the best is the worst of
14:02them.
14:03But, that one is not as automatic to me.
14:07Because, you're betting on somebody that has looked disengaged for two seasons,
14:15suddenly becoming one of the best receivers in the league like he was expected.
14:18I wouldn't want to take that bet.
14:20No, I think it's a fine gamble for the Texans.
14:23I think last year's Bills should have made a gamble like this,
14:27but I just don't see the path for him on the team, really.
14:32You'd have to say goodbye to another receiver, and who would that be?
14:35Like, Josh Palmer?
14:36You could do that if you wanted to.
14:37Yeah, that would be Palmer.
14:38Matt Harmon's latest on Marvin Harrison Jr. at receptionperception.com
14:42is a profile of a good receiver,
14:45who beats man coverage at the 80th percentile,
14:48press coverage at the 77th percentile.
14:51Maybe the fit had always been wrong in Arizona.
14:53I think it's a fine bet,
14:55but I'm not mad that the Bills didn't do it,
14:59because I need those picks on a receiver in the next draft.
15:02I can't get rid of a second-round pick.
15:04I'm counting on a receiver there.
15:06You know, once Josh Palmer's off the team,
15:07and Coleman's in the final year of a deal,
15:09and Moore's a little older, it'll be time.
15:12Don't take that away from me, Larry.
15:13I got a whole offseason for that.
15:14I mean, Palmer could lose it tonight.
15:16To Skyler Bell.
15:17If Bell is really good tonight,
15:20like, there's Palmer's spot.
15:22Gone.
15:22Yeah.
15:23803-0550, Jeremy and Joe.
15:24It's a football Monday,
15:25and a Sabres Monday as well.
15:27Talk of the Tables,
15:29brought to you by Treasure Cave,
15:30the official cave,
15:30sorry, the official cheese of the Buffalo Bills.
15:33That's Treasure Cave,
15:34talking Marvin Harrison Jr.,
15:35talking receiver,
15:36talking Bills Rams,
15:37talking the tables here on WGR.