1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: Eric Wood, the former Elder Panther and Louisville Cardinal is 2 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 1: the color analyst on the Buffalo Bills Radio network and 3 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: kind enough to join us. It's awesome to have you, 4 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: as always love having you whenever the Bengals played the Bills. 5 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: Buffalo is eight and four. How would you describe the 6 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: season to this point? 7 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 2: It's been a roller coaster ride. 8 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 3: You come into the season with a lot of expectations, 9 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 3: high expectations at that to. 10 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 2: Start off the season four to oh. 11 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 3: And then with injuries and a lack of a passing 12 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 3: game at times and turnover issues that are rearing a 13 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 3: tad this year, find ourselves at eight and four, but 14 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 3: still a long way to go in this season, and 15 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 3: there's still plenty of optimism around the franchise. But with 16 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 3: the injuries, especially at receiver in them including Dalton k 17 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:51,840 Speaker 3: Kdar tight end in that and on the defensive side 18 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 3: of the ball, it's led to some more struggles this 19 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 3: year than we're probably anticipated. 20 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: So obviously, James Cook has been a savior. He's been 21 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 1: awesome this year. I'm not sure the Bengals are equipped 22 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: to take him away. But when teams do take him away, 23 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: where does Buffalo find more consistency in the passing game. 24 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:09,320 Speaker 2: Well. 25 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 3: Against the Ravens early on in the season and against 26 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 3: the Buccaneers, those are the two games the passing game 27 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 3: really came a lot this year. 28 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 2: It's spreading the ball around. 29 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 3: They have this philosophy of everybody eats and they want 30 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 3: to spread the ball around to all their different playmakers. 31 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:25,839 Speaker 3: The backs out of the backfield will catch the ball. 32 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 3: The most consistent pass catcher on the season has been 33 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 3: Dalton Kinkaid, the tight end who was drafted as more 34 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 3: or less a receiver, not necessarily an inline blocker in 35 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 3: the first round out of Utah, and so when he's 36 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,559 Speaker 3: been healthy, which has now been a consistent thing this year, 37 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 3: he's been the main focal point of the offense in 38 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 3: the passing game. We hope to get him back this week. 39 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 3: Josh Palmer was brought in a free agency and he 40 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 3: was likely going to be our top receiving threat on 41 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 3: the outside beyond Khalil Shakir, but he's been dinged up 42 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 3: for a majority of this season and doesn't sound great 43 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 3: for him to return this week. 44 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: Josh Allen, when he's at his best, he's an MVP. 45 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: I've seen him at his best at times this year, 46 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: not all season long. We've talked about the injuries. How 47 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:14,519 Speaker 1: would you grade his play this season. 48 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it's been up and down. 49 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 3: And you know a lot of what the Bills have 50 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 3: done this year is if you can't stop the run, 51 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 3: they'll simply run it into submission. And so there's games 52 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 3: where he doesn't have to do a whole lot. The 53 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 3: design runs for him have been down this year. I 54 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 3: think that's by design. Where As he progresses throughout his career, 55 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,239 Speaker 3: you want to use him less like a battering ram 56 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 3: out there, but they will turn to it, especially in 57 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 3: the red zone. But they're trying to get away from 58 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:42,679 Speaker 3: that as much as possible and lean into more of 59 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 3: a traditional run game to quite frankly, extend his career. 60 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,239 Speaker 3: This is an organization that you know, the leadership within 61 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 3: our organization in the front office and head coach, we're 62 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:56,920 Speaker 3: around for Cam Newton in Carolina and the last thing 63 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 3: they want to do is break him down in similar 64 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 3: ways that they did to what the Panthers did with 65 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 3: Cam Newton in Carolina. So that being said, I think 66 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 3: he's had some great performances this year. They haven't had 67 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 3: to rely on him a ton this year. But I 68 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 3: will say this, the passing game has been one of 69 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 3: our weaknesses this year. At times it looks great and 70 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 3: then there's other times where he misses a couple throws, 71 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 3: there's a couple penalties, there's a turnover to and a 72 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 3: lack of separation on the outside and it doesn't look great. 73 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: We all watched the Bills play the Steelers on Sunday, 74 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: rooting for Buffalo. Pittsburgh's offense seemed broken. It did feel 75 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: like a step in the right direction for the Bills. 76 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: On defense, it'd be great from your perspective if you 77 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 1: had Joey Bosa moving forward. 78 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 2: We will see. 79 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: But what's the strength of his Buffalo defense? 80 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, I would say the strength of the defense is 81 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 3: the pass defense. Christian Benford's our lockdown corner. I would 82 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 3: expect him to travel a bunch with Jamar Chase throughout 83 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 3: the game. And this is one of the top ranked 84 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 3: secondaries as far as the statistics go in the league, 85 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 3: and we've gotten younger and more athletic in the secondary 86 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 3: at a few different spots. Cole Disho of second year 87 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 3: safety is playing great on the back end of the defense. 88 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,159 Speaker 3: The tackling has improved. That's been an issue at times 89 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,040 Speaker 3: this year where you've seen some of these monster rushing 90 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 3: performances against this defense. 91 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 2: That has seemed to improve. 92 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 3: In Shaq Thompson filling in that linebacker this season, which 93 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 3: I would expect him to start again this week against 94 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 3: the Bengals, he has been a boost to this defense. 95 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 2: So we'll see. 96 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,359 Speaker 3: You know, this is a defense that kind of similar 97 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 3: to the offense, has been on a little bit of 98 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 3: a roller coaster rode. That's where you see us at 99 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 3: eight and four. 100 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: Sean McDermott has been there for what feels like forever 101 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:49,920 Speaker 1: and in NFL terms, since twenty seventeen. That is an eternity. 102 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:52,799 Speaker 1: What's the biggest strength of Sean McDermott as a head coach? 103 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I got I was fortunate enough to play for 104 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 3: him for one season and remain friends with him to 105 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 3: this day. I would say the consistency that he brings 106 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:07,840 Speaker 3: from his leadership that permeates into the team where he 107 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 3: doesn't get too high, he doesn't get too low. He 108 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,479 Speaker 3: generally gets this team peaking towards the end of the season. 109 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 3: In the last since twenty twenty, I believe from the 110 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 3: last week in November through the end of the regular season, 111 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 3: the Bills are twenty eight and five since twenty twenty. 112 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 2: One of those is. 113 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 3: A meaningless game where we didn't play our starters, and 114 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 3: two of those are overtime losses, and so he generally 115 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:33,799 Speaker 3: gets this team to peak towards the end of the season. 116 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 3: But I would say his strength is just the consistency 117 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 3: that he brings each and every day, modeling it by example, 118 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 3: but then that permeating into the team. 119 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 1: Awesome stuff. Eric, It's got to be fun when you 120 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: call a game between your team and your hometown team. 121 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 1: Should be an interesting game on Sunday. We appreciate the 122 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 1: time as always. Thanks so much. 123 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, for sure, it's always fun to call this matchup. 124 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 3: It was fun to play in these matchups and always 125 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 3: look forward to see him. 126 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 2: My man, Dave Lapham, you know, one. 127 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 3: Of the biggest personalities in the broadcast uh booth area. 128 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 2: Whenever I get to see him, so always enjoy it. 129 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 1: Ring of Honor inductee Dave Lapham. You got to make 130 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: sure you mentioned that when you see him on Sunday. 131 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 3: Okay, absolutely, I need to bring him a note and 132 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:18,839 Speaker 3: congratulate him.