WEBVTT - Bills By The Numbers: Projecting Starting Roles And Fiercest Competitions On Defense 0:00:00.640 --> 0:00:03.680 Welcome to another edition of Bills by the Numbers, where 0:00:03.680 --> 0:00:05.480 we let the stats tell you where the Bills are 0:00:05.600 --> 0:00:09.719 at coming up, What roles must be solidified on Buffalo's 0:00:09.840 --> 0:00:14.200 new defense for you to feel comfortable. Which position competitions 0:00:14.240 --> 0:00:18.079 could be the fiercest on d And we'll have our 0:00:18.280 --> 0:00:21.880 one burning question We've got to get moving. Players are 0:00:21.920 --> 0:00:37.400 back on the field. Glad to have you along with 0:00:37.479 --> 0:00:39.120 us here on Bills by the Numbers. He is Bill's 0:00:39.159 --> 0:00:41.200 Wall of famous Steve Tasker on Bills play by playmak 0:00:41.240 --> 0:00:44.640 Chris Brown, and our agenda begins with the biggest area 0:00:44.640 --> 0:00:49.559 of interest concerning the Bills this offseason, their defense. Jim 0:00:49.640 --> 0:00:52.600 Leonard is Buffalo's new defensive coordinator and with him comes 0:00:52.640 --> 0:00:55.160 a brand new defensive scheme with the unit moving to 0:00:55.200 --> 0:00:58.200 a three to four system. First order of business is 0:00:58.240 --> 0:01:01.120 finding the fits for the starting and I would think 0:01:01.800 --> 0:01:06.200 the defensive line, at least in pencil is the following 0:01:06.560 --> 0:01:11.679 left to right, counting the outside linebackers Bradley Chubb, Ed 0:01:11.720 --> 0:01:16.760 Oliver Dion Walker, TJ. Sanders, Greg Russo, how do we 0:01:16.760 --> 0:01:18.399 feel about that group? 0:01:19.440 --> 0:01:24.039 Not too bad? I mean, Rousseau and Chubb have got 0:01:24.040 --> 0:01:27.360 some chops you and I both feel I think we 0:01:27.400 --> 0:01:29.319 talked about on the radio show a little bit the 0:01:29.400 --> 0:01:33.240 Daily Show. I think Solomon, Javon Solomon is a better 0:01:33.240 --> 0:01:35.280 fit in a three to four outside linebacker than he 0:01:35.319 --> 0:01:37.200 was his a defensive end stand up or with his 0:01:37.240 --> 0:01:37.839 hand on the ground. 0:01:37.840 --> 0:01:39.080 Probably a rotational piece. 0:01:39.319 --> 0:01:43.800 He's a rotational piece. I think the athletes they have, 0:01:44.240 --> 0:01:48.080 in some respects, some of them are gonna be better 0:01:48.080 --> 0:01:51.720 fitted for Jim Leonard's defense. Rousseau's the one that kind 0:01:51.720 --> 0:01:53.480 of surprised me. They're right out of the gate that 0:01:53.520 --> 0:01:55.480 said he's going to have his hand off the ground 0:01:56.080 --> 0:01:58.000 and he's going to be standing as an outside linebacker. 0:01:58.080 --> 0:02:01.840 Moved his number, changed his number. That says a lot. 0:02:01.880 --> 0:02:04.880 I think they feel really good. In fact, I think 0:02:04.920 --> 0:02:07.520 this coaching staff on the defensive side is like, Okay, 0:02:07.800 --> 0:02:09.440 they feel like they're going to be able to do 0:02:09.480 --> 0:02:12.880 some things with these guys, and they like them despite 0:02:12.919 --> 0:02:15.320 having the fact that you know they drafted six more. 0:02:16.040 --> 0:02:17.400 Yes, I think that. 0:02:18.919 --> 0:02:22.160 You can probably Lockstock and Barrel, Rousseau, and Chubb on 0:02:22.200 --> 0:02:26.200 the on the edges to start. Dion Walker, I think 0:02:26.280 --> 0:02:28.200 is a lock because you need a big player next 0:02:28.240 --> 0:02:31.520 to Ed Oliver especially in this scheme. I think it's 0:02:31.560 --> 0:02:36.080 that other spot, that other defensive end spot that I 0:02:36.080 --> 0:02:39.320 mean I just penciled in TJ. Sanders, right, It could 0:02:39.360 --> 0:02:42.200 be Landon Jackson, it could be one of the rookies, 0:02:42.280 --> 0:02:45.480 Like you don't know who that player is. I think 0:02:45.520 --> 0:02:49.639 that is a wide open role to be filled. And 0:02:49.960 --> 0:02:52.160 we know the work that Landon Jackson did in this 0:02:52.200 --> 0:02:56.400 offseason putting on twenty pounds of lean mussel mass, because 0:02:56.639 --> 0:02:58.160 in the four to three system he was going to 0:02:58.200 --> 0:03:00.760 be a hand on the ground defensive end edge rusher. 0:03:01.400 --> 0:03:04.720 Now he's kicking inside to play that you know, five 0:03:04.840 --> 0:03:09.200 technique or four I if you will. And we've seen 0:03:09.280 --> 0:03:11.960 him in the building and he looks like a different 0:03:12.040 --> 0:03:14.520 human being. He's like two hundred and eighty five pounds 0:03:15.560 --> 0:03:18.760 after being two sixty seven last year. So it's a 0:03:18.840 --> 0:03:22.960 dramatic transformation. And I wonder how much that helps him 0:03:23.560 --> 0:03:27.840 compete for one of those roles on the defensive line 0:03:27.840 --> 0:03:29.720 because we've got a lot of young players in the 0:03:29.720 --> 0:03:33.600 mix there. Inside linebacker is where we anticipate there being 0:03:33.639 --> 0:03:37.680 a competition for the right to play alongside Mike linebacker 0:03:37.760 --> 0:03:42.240 Torel Bernard. How realistic is it? That Dorian Williams is 0:03:42.320 --> 0:03:45.520 pushed by a player with a very similar skill set 0:03:45.560 --> 0:03:48.480 in rookie Caleb Elarms or very realistic. 0:03:50.480 --> 0:03:53.080 Dorian has been a good player, and he's he's flashed, 0:03:53.120 --> 0:03:55.040 no question about it. He's been a part of the roster. 0:03:55.080 --> 0:03:57.120 He's almost never been a leading tackler for this team 0:03:57.160 --> 0:03:59.920 in one of his three seasons. He's never He's never 0:04:00.280 --> 0:04:02.520 not on the field for the team in some way, 0:04:02.600 --> 0:04:04.560 shape or form, whether it be special teams, wherever he 0:04:04.640 --> 0:04:07.520 gets a game day jersey. But he's never been the 0:04:07.560 --> 0:04:09.880 centerpiece of the defense. He's never been a guy that 0:04:10.040 --> 0:04:12.000 he's got to play for us, he's going to play 0:04:12.120 --> 0:04:14.560 one hundred percent of the defensive snaps or even fifty 0:04:14.560 --> 0:04:19.280 percent of the defensive snaps. I think his his role 0:04:21.000 --> 0:04:26.200 has been limited for different reasons, for whatever reason, and 0:04:26.240 --> 0:04:28.680 whenever that's the case for any player in the league, 0:04:30.120 --> 0:04:34.360 it's up for grabs unless you're the guy, unless you've 0:04:34.400 --> 0:04:36.960 got a green dot on your helmet, or you know 0:04:37.000 --> 0:04:40.960 you're a guy that's playing a lions share of the snaps. Now, 0:04:40.960 --> 0:04:43.800 even in even in the years past, when they've rotated 0:04:43.839 --> 0:04:46.000 all four defensive linemen through and they've you know they've 0:04:46.080 --> 0:04:50.320 found combinations that worked. We don't know that that's going 0:04:50.400 --> 0:04:52.039 to happen, right. 0:04:52.080 --> 0:04:53.800 Or at least not to the degree that it has 0:04:53.880 --> 0:04:54.400 been happening. 0:04:54.440 --> 0:04:56.000 And even if they do, it's going to be three 0:04:56.040 --> 0:05:00.400 guys rotating, not four. It'll be the defensive and the 0:05:00.440 --> 0:05:04.960 nose guard. And you've got some versatility because and this 0:05:05.040 --> 0:05:06.839 is one of the things about this three four concept 0:05:06.839 --> 0:05:08.919 that we don't know yet. A guy like Michael Hoyt 0:05:09.000 --> 0:05:11.599 can line up anywhere at any of the four linebacker spots. 0:05:11.800 --> 0:05:13.359 That's the kind of athlete he is. Same thing with 0:05:13.440 --> 0:05:16.240 Javon Solomon. Now, certainly he's not going to be as 0:05:16.520 --> 0:05:20.240 experienced playing inside a linebacker off the ball as he 0:05:20.320 --> 0:05:23.599 has been on the edge, right, But the athleticism's there. 0:05:24.240 --> 0:05:26.200 And if you get into these games where they start 0:05:26.360 --> 0:05:28.760 tinkering with it and getting deeper and deeper into the 0:05:28.760 --> 0:05:30.960 season and they show some stuff and prove some stuff, 0:05:31.000 --> 0:05:32.800 and they want to show some things to get other 0:05:32.839 --> 0:05:35.760 teams to prepare for you got guys who can do that. 0:05:36.080 --> 0:05:38.840 Dorian Williams is in that. I have a hard time 0:05:38.839 --> 0:05:40.880 seeing him on the edge, but you could certainly do that. 0:05:41.160 --> 0:05:43.000 And it's the same thing with kleb e. Larms or 0:05:44.120 --> 0:05:51.440 their athleticism. Those four linebackers aside from the responsibilities, man, 0:05:51.720 --> 0:05:54.880 they're the same kind of athletic build. The inside guys 0:05:54.880 --> 0:05:56.200 I don't have to be quite as big as the 0:05:56.200 --> 0:05:58.080 outside but there you have it. You can still switch 0:05:58.160 --> 0:05:58.640 them around. 0:05:58.800 --> 0:06:01.160 That was gonna be my I think what makes this 0:06:01.279 --> 0:06:06.159 potential position competition so intriguing is Dorian Williams and Caleb 0:06:06.279 --> 0:06:11.560 el arms Or have similar skill set profiles. Both are 0:06:12.440 --> 0:06:16.880 extremely athletic players who can run and you need that 0:06:16.960 --> 0:06:20.599 on the quote unquote week inside linebacker position guy that 0:06:20.640 --> 0:06:23.320 can cover a little more round and both of those 0:06:23.360 --> 0:06:28.000 players can do that. So I'm to me it's apples 0:06:28.040 --> 0:06:30.920 and apples in that competition. It's not apples and oranges. 0:06:31.400 --> 0:06:33.880 And so it's really going to come down to who 0:06:33.920 --> 0:06:37.200 is quickest on the uptake in terms of the assignments 0:06:37.440 --> 0:06:41.000 and reading their keys in this new system, and whoever 0:06:41.080 --> 0:06:43.159 is better at that and proves to be the more 0:06:43.200 --> 0:06:47.400 consistent player in sniffing out offensive plays, making plays on 0:06:47.440 --> 0:06:49.760 the ball, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. I think 0:06:49.880 --> 0:06:51.960 is going to get the upper hand here through the 0:06:52.000 --> 0:06:55.800 course of training camp at outside corner. Christian Benford's name 0:06:55.839 --> 0:06:59.640 is in penn at one spot. And then I think 0:06:59.680 --> 0:07:02.840 it's reasonable to assume that Max Harriston is going to 0:07:02.920 --> 0:07:07.520 be pushed by Davison Igbinosan. So assess for me your 0:07:07.640 --> 0:07:10.280 anticipat anticipation of that competition. 0:07:10.680 --> 0:07:16.360 Well, Igbinosen is the corner that this defensive staff had 0:07:16.360 --> 0:07:20.760 a voice in choosing. I'm not saying they don't like Max, 0:07:22.160 --> 0:07:26.880 but they're different. Max and Igbinosen are different guys. Igbinosin's 0:07:26.880 --> 0:07:29.640 built a little bit more like Benford, a little bigger, 0:07:29.680 --> 0:07:32.160 little longer, that kind of thing. Max Harrison is an athlete, 0:07:32.200 --> 0:07:35.360 and I mean he can scoot. We know that, so 0:07:35.960 --> 0:07:40.040 that may have that may be something that tilts the 0:07:40.040 --> 0:07:43.080 field a little bit more in Igbinosen's favor in that 0:07:43.760 --> 0:07:46.080 he's the exact kind of athlete they want out there. 0:07:46.160 --> 0:07:48.840 You would think having this defensive staff in the room 0:07:48.880 --> 0:07:51.240 when they picked him, that doesn't mean they don't like Max, 0:07:51.680 --> 0:07:55.560 but it does mean that What does mean they like 0:07:55.600 --> 0:07:59.200 igb You like, Yeah, they prove they picked him, and 0:07:59.240 --> 0:08:00.920 they picked the trade it up to pick that and 0:08:00.960 --> 0:08:03.880 they picked him number two, right their second pick of 0:08:03.920 --> 0:08:09.480 the draft. That's you know that's big. That's, you know, 0:08:09.960 --> 0:08:11.880 thirtieth pick of the second He's the thirtieth pick of 0:08:11.880 --> 0:08:14.800 the second round sixty two overall. Yeah, they like the guy, 0:08:15.120 --> 0:08:17.600 So yeah, I think there is gonna be some competition there. 0:08:17.600 --> 0:08:19.280 I think it's gonna be good for both those guys. 0:08:19.280 --> 0:08:21.080 I think they're both gonna have a spot on the roster. 0:08:21.480 --> 0:08:24.040 I think it also opens up the possibility for an 0:08:24.120 --> 0:08:27.520 athlete like Max to move down inside with some space 0:08:27.560 --> 0:08:30.720 and a two way go for a slot receiver because 0:08:30.720 --> 0:08:34.040 when you're on the outside, the sideline's there to help 0:08:34.080 --> 0:08:37.240 an outside corner and he can use it to his advantage. 0:08:38.000 --> 0:08:43.960 Inside there's a two way go for that the receiver 0:08:44.120 --> 0:08:48.600 that you need athleticism and absolute twitchy speed to hang 0:08:48.640 --> 0:08:51.040 in there with. Tarren Johnson was very good at it, 0:08:51.080 --> 0:08:53.560 and I think Max has got that kind of athleticism. 0:08:53.840 --> 0:08:56.720 It'll take some reps because he's an outside corner, but 0:08:56.800 --> 0:08:58.920 he's got that kind of athletic So that to me, 0:08:59.120 --> 0:09:03.200 that competition in a corner. They certainly at the way 0:09:03.200 --> 0:09:06.200 the season has ended for them, they want to make 0:09:06.240 --> 0:09:08.680 sure they've got enough corners to go out there and 0:09:08.760 --> 0:09:10.680 line up because they didn't last year. 0:09:10.720 --> 0:09:16.280 At the end, I think in stark contrast to the 0:09:16.320 --> 0:09:19.880 inside linebacker competition that we anticipate to be between Dori 0:09:20.000 --> 0:09:23.559 and Williams and Klebb E Larms or could be other candidates, 0:09:24.040 --> 0:09:29.320 those two are very similar. Hairston and Igb play very 0:09:29.360 --> 0:09:33.000 different styles of football. Right. Harston is the pure athlete, 0:09:33.440 --> 0:09:36.760 runs like a deer, can run with anybody out there 0:09:36.760 --> 0:09:40.719 at the receiver position, and makes plays on the ball. 0:09:40.880 --> 0:09:48.640 Igb is in your face pressman, plays the body almost 0:09:48.640 --> 0:09:53.760 more than the ball, and clearly to your point, this 0:09:53.800 --> 0:09:58.240 defensive staff liked him, recommended him to their personnel department, 0:09:58.679 --> 0:10:01.640 and then they ultimately trade up and pick him because 0:10:01.679 --> 0:10:05.720 I think they believe he embodies the playing style they 0:10:05.800 --> 0:10:07.960 want on their side of the ball. 0:10:08.800 --> 0:10:10.360 Now, how does. 0:10:10.160 --> 0:10:12.040 That all come out in the wash in terms of 0:10:12.120 --> 0:10:16.080 positions filled, We'll have to see. But I think that's 0:10:16.720 --> 0:10:20.280 a competition that is going to be a lot fiercer 0:10:20.760 --> 0:10:24.959 than some might be anticipating going into training camp. I 0:10:25.040 --> 0:10:28.720 think we believe that CJ. Gardner Johnson is the starting 0:10:28.760 --> 0:10:32.679 safety opposite Cole Bishop, but there is other talent at 0:10:32.679 --> 0:10:37.640 the position who do you believe most makes it a competition? 0:10:37.920 --> 0:10:42.720 Geno Stone Jalen Kilgore or Damar Hamlin Well. 0:10:42.760 --> 0:10:44.560 I think it's Geno Stone out of the gate because 0:10:44.600 --> 0:10:47.200 he's going to have some familiarity with playing in the NFL. 0:10:48.120 --> 0:10:50.559 The concepts are going to come better to him because 0:10:50.559 --> 0:10:58.520 he's a veteran guy. Jalen Kilgore has the athleticism and 0:10:58.559 --> 0:11:00.520 he has the ability to do a physical but we 0:11:00.559 --> 0:11:03.880 haven't seen it. Yeah, you don't know. And Damar. I 0:11:03.920 --> 0:11:10.880 think Damar is probably odd man out. Could be Gino Stone, 0:11:10.960 --> 0:11:16.920 Jalen Kilgore, and CJ. Gardner Johnson. I think that's where 0:11:16.920 --> 0:11:19.320 the competition is. And you can bet that all of 0:11:19.320 --> 0:11:20.400 those guys are gonna have a say. 0:11:20.400 --> 0:11:23.840 And who's on the squad, Yeah, kill Gore to me 0:11:24.440 --> 0:11:28.480 is the superior physical specimen obviously. 0:11:28.520 --> 0:11:28.800 CJ. 0:11:28.960 --> 0:11:33.599 Gardner Johnson. Once again, we go back to the physical, 0:11:34.320 --> 0:11:39.320 intimidating approach that Jim Leonard wants this defense to take. 0:11:39.760 --> 0:11:40.080 CJ. 0:11:40.200 --> 0:11:44.680 Gardner Johnson has a track record of that. People on 0:11:44.800 --> 0:11:46.760 offense in the middle of the field better have their 0:11:46.760 --> 0:11:49.160 head on a swivel when CJ. Gardner Johnson is on 0:11:49.200 --> 0:11:52.600 the field because he will deliver a blow. So I 0:11:52.640 --> 0:11:56.160 think that appeals to this defensive staff. This guy has 0:11:56.600 --> 0:11:59.920 played in multiple playoff games. He's got a proven tray, 0:12:01.000 --> 0:12:03.120 So I think he's the odds on favorite to be 0:12:03.760 --> 0:12:07.640 Cole Bishop's partner at the safety position. But I think 0:12:07.679 --> 0:12:12.000 if Kilgore can prove to be a quick study, his 0:12:12.040 --> 0:12:17.400 physical skill set is the kind of presents the kind 0:12:17.440 --> 0:12:21.800 of ability where a defensive staff will say, if we 0:12:21.840 --> 0:12:24.400 want our best eleven on the field, he's got to 0:12:24.440 --> 0:12:26.800 be one of them, even if it's just some of 0:12:26.840 --> 0:12:29.440 the time. He might still be learning on the job. 0:12:29.720 --> 0:12:33.480 And I could foresee a situation where the defensive staff says, look, 0:12:34.000 --> 0:12:36.320 he doesn't have it all figured out yet, but let's 0:12:36.360 --> 0:12:39.120 have a package here. When we go to three safety, 0:12:39.120 --> 0:12:40.600 Look he's on the field. 0:12:40.760 --> 0:12:43.679 And even so when he in the beginning, if they 0:12:43.720 --> 0:12:45.720 want him on the field, they will put him on 0:12:45.760 --> 0:12:47.920 the field when they've got a shorter menu, a defensive 0:12:47.960 --> 0:12:52.320 scheme and calls. It'll put him into situationals where they 0:12:52.360 --> 0:12:54.400 know what they're gonna get and so he doesn't have 0:12:54.480 --> 0:12:56.880 to he's not gonna get caught unawares and something he 0:12:56.920 --> 0:13:01.200 doesn't expect. Right, He's got it. And it's like every 0:13:01.200 --> 0:13:04.200 young player you start with a small menu of stuff. 0:13:04.240 --> 0:13:06.440 You let him master that, then you start to expand 0:13:06.440 --> 0:13:07.920 it a little bit, a little bit and a little bit, 0:13:08.320 --> 0:13:10.880 and then when you need it, they've got the full 0:13:10.920 --> 0:13:13.920 repertoire of moves. You're not gonna have that in the beginning. 0:13:13.920 --> 0:13:19.000 But certainly, certainly you're right. He's got the Kilgore's got 0:13:19.000 --> 0:13:25.160 the athleticism they're looking for. While CJ. Chauncey Gardner or 0:13:25.200 --> 0:13:30.080 Gardner Johnson, I'm sorry that guy brings some tude, he 0:13:30.080 --> 0:13:31.920 brings some attitude, and. 0:13:33.880 --> 0:13:35.160 It could be a veteran presence. 0:13:35.160 --> 0:13:37.040 Ben and I have talked a lot about one thing 0:13:37.080 --> 0:13:40.320 this defense has missed in the last you know, half 0:13:40.360 --> 0:13:44.560 a decade is some grit an edge. They don't have 0:13:44.720 --> 0:13:47.720 any anger and any aggression on the field, or at 0:13:47.760 --> 0:13:50.760 least don't have it often enough, and it shows. It 0:13:50.840 --> 0:13:54.800 shows I think they'd get some benefit from a guy 0:13:54.880 --> 0:13:55.760 like Gardner Johnson. 0:13:56.240 --> 0:14:01.120 Finally, the most intense competition could very well be at 0:14:01.200 --> 0:14:04.720 Nickel corner, which is an open position after Tarren Johnson 0:14:05.200 --> 0:14:08.360 was traded to Las Vegas this offseason. De Alford, a 0:14:08.400 --> 0:14:12.320 free agent signee, and Jordan Hancock, second year player who 0:14:12.440 --> 0:14:15.880 was a fifth round pick out of Ohio State last year. 0:14:16.000 --> 0:14:20.000 Are likely the prime candidates. There could be others, but 0:14:20.080 --> 0:14:21.560 what are your expectations there? 0:14:23.200 --> 0:14:25.640 Well, I don't know that nickeol is going to be 0:14:25.760 --> 0:14:29.120 as as important as it was under the McDermott defense 0:14:29.120 --> 0:14:34.200 when they're in the four to three, okay, because their 0:14:34.200 --> 0:14:37.440 philosophy was to leave the same eleven guys on the 0:14:37.480 --> 0:14:39.200 field all the time as much as they could. Now 0:14:39.240 --> 0:14:41.760 they'd rotate the defensive line, but the secondary was on 0:14:41.800 --> 0:14:44.680 the field and they didn't move. They stayed in nickel. 0:14:45.040 --> 0:14:47.360 They didn't go to sub packages. They stayed in one 0:14:47.400 --> 0:14:50.240 pack as much as possible short yardage maybe in goal line, 0:14:50.240 --> 0:14:53.600 of course, but they remember there were times when then 0:14:53.640 --> 0:14:55.680 they played nickel ninety percent of the time or a 0:14:55.720 --> 0:14:58.200 lot of it. And I don't know that that's going 0:14:58.240 --> 0:15:01.440 to be the case. So this nickel back, if he's 0:15:01.520 --> 0:15:03.360 really good, yeah, they're gonna try and get him on 0:15:03.400 --> 0:15:05.320 the field. But I don't think there's an urgency to like, 0:15:05.360 --> 0:15:10.200 we've got to play this. Don't forget. Even under McDermott, 0:15:10.360 --> 0:15:12.800 they went to because that was their best eleven. They 0:15:12.840 --> 0:15:16.000 were the most effective, yeah play in that nickel, and 0:15:16.240 --> 0:15:21.520 teams felt like they could run against five dbs and 0:15:21.920 --> 0:15:25.320 six heavies, Well, they couldn't get it done because tarn 0:15:25.360 --> 0:15:31.400 was feisty and competitive. This best eleven for this de 0:15:31.520 --> 0:15:36.680 Bill's defense might not include a fifth dB perhaps, So 0:15:36.760 --> 0:15:41.240 I don't think they're gonna need a nickel as vitally. Now. 0:15:41.240 --> 0:15:43.360 They're gonna need one, absolutely, but they're not gonna need 0:15:43.360 --> 0:15:44.880 one as Violet and won't be as huge a part 0:15:44.880 --> 0:15:50.320 of it now. Having said that, I have always thought, 0:15:51.200 --> 0:15:53.680 like with the wide receivers on the other side, when 0:15:53.680 --> 0:15:55.360 they're in the slot and you get a nickel down 0:15:55.400 --> 0:15:58.800 in the slot, it's a special kind of athlete. We 0:15:59.280 --> 0:16:01.360 just talked about Max Harriston. But one of the things 0:16:01.400 --> 0:16:03.760 we talked about last year when Jordan Hancock was drafted, 0:16:03.800 --> 0:16:06.880 how versatile an athlete he was safety corner and he's 0:16:06.920 --> 0:16:10.120 a little bigger. So all of that being said, d 0:16:10.320 --> 0:16:12.680 Alford has experienced doing it. I mean, they like what 0:16:12.720 --> 0:16:15.320 they saw and don't forget, and once again they went 0:16:15.320 --> 0:16:17.360 out and picked him. They went out and signed him. 0:16:17.560 --> 0:16:17.840 Yep. 0:16:18.520 --> 0:16:20.080 So that was a short list of guys that they 0:16:20.080 --> 0:16:21.920 were gonna get and he was one of them. So 0:16:22.280 --> 0:16:25.520 I think those guys Hancock and Alford are the guys 0:16:25.560 --> 0:16:29.560 you in, the club leaders in the clubhouse. But I 0:16:29.600 --> 0:16:33.760 would not be surprised if once they start taking live 0:16:33.840 --> 0:16:36.240 reps and get a load of some of the athletes 0:16:36.280 --> 0:16:38.960 on this field, like Max Harriston, that they don't give 0:16:39.000 --> 0:16:41.280 him a shot at it. So I'm yeah, I'm with you. 0:16:41.360 --> 0:16:44.800 I think that is a competition between Alford and Hancock 0:16:44.840 --> 0:16:47.720 at the moment, maybe Harriston and down the line if 0:16:47.760 --> 0:16:52.320 they want to do that. But I don't think it's 0:16:52.360 --> 0:16:53.880 as vital as it has been in the past. I 0:16:53.920 --> 0:16:55.640 don't think it'll play as big a role as it has. 0:16:55.680 --> 0:16:56.960 Maybe it will, I don't know. 0:16:57.280 --> 0:17:01.760 I see Alford as your veteran president security blanket at 0:17:01.760 --> 0:17:06.000 the position. I'm not saying he's in case of emergency 0:17:06.000 --> 0:17:09.000 break lass. I think he could very well win the role. 0:17:09.800 --> 0:17:11.919 But I guess what I'm saying is he is your 0:17:12.000 --> 0:17:15.840 high floor player because you know he's capable. You've seen 0:17:15.920 --> 0:17:19.680 it on tape in NFL games. So he's a guy 0:17:19.720 --> 0:17:23.000 that at least you feel comfortable putting out there, and 0:17:23.080 --> 0:17:27.800 then it's on Jordan Hancock or whoever else to outperform 0:17:27.880 --> 0:17:32.360 him or demonstrate that you haven't even higher ceiling than 0:17:32.520 --> 0:17:36.439 said veteran player. Now, that might be a lot for 0:17:36.520 --> 0:17:40.240 Hancock to pull off in one offseason and a training camp, 0:17:40.520 --> 0:17:43.359 knowing in his rookie year he probably got more reps 0:17:43.400 --> 0:17:46.760 at safety than he did at Nickel corner. So even 0:17:46.800 --> 0:17:49.480 though he was listed as a dual role player last year, 0:17:49.560 --> 0:17:52.040 more of his reps came at safety than they did 0:17:52.040 --> 0:17:55.520 at nickel. And now he's shifting back there and he's 0:17:55.560 --> 0:17:59.159 in a different system. So how quick can he master 0:17:59.400 --> 0:18:03.800 all those responsibilities for that job and can it exceed 0:18:05.000 --> 0:18:09.439 the level of experience and consistency that Alford brings to 0:18:09.440 --> 0:18:09.840 the table. 0:18:09.920 --> 0:18:11.320 I'm not so sure. We'll have to see. 0:18:11.480 --> 0:18:14.359 It's it's a level playing field. Everybody's learned it for 0:18:14.400 --> 0:18:18.120 the first time, right, except for what whoever's came from 0:18:18.119 --> 0:18:20.920 Denver with Leonard, I mean if anybody did right, I 0:18:20.960 --> 0:18:23.840 mean right, so they got to learn it. It's a 0:18:23.880 --> 0:18:27.240 level playing field. Like Hancock gets no help from the 0:18:27.359 --> 0:18:30.000 year he put in last year in another system, except 0:18:30.040 --> 0:18:32.680 for the he gets the reps of playing actually playing 0:18:32.680 --> 0:18:38.080 when he did. So. Yeah, I think because of the 0:18:38.119 --> 0:18:40.960 philosophy switch and the system switch, they're all starting from 0:18:40.960 --> 0:18:43.000 ground zero trying to learn this thing from from the 0:18:43.119 --> 0:18:43.760 studs up. 0:18:44.320 --> 0:18:45.440 We pivot now. 0:18:45.400 --> 0:18:48.800 To the numbers game, where Steve will be quizzed on 0:18:48.960 --> 0:18:54.679 player jersey numbers because several of them have changed. 0:18:54.240 --> 0:18:56.440 From last year. So let's do it. 0:18:57.000 --> 0:19:01.480 Question Number one, rookie fourth three round pick Jude Bowery 0:19:02.040 --> 0:19:05.400 is wearing jersey number seventy four in his first year 0:19:05.440 --> 0:19:08.679 with the Bills. Who wore jersey number seventy four for 0:19:08.760 --> 0:19:18.080 Buffalo last season. Vandermark correct, Ryan, Vandermark, Very well done, Steve. 0:19:18.800 --> 0:19:23.480 Question Number two, free agent signee CJ. Gardner Johnson is 0:19:23.520 --> 0:19:26.479 wearing number twenty two in his first season for the Bills. 0:19:26.840 --> 0:19:28.880 Who wore that number last year for Buffalo? 0:19:29.880 --> 0:19:31.040 Twenty two? 0:19:32.440 --> 0:19:36.320 Nobody, somebody did wear it. Otherwise I probably wouldn't have 0:19:36.359 --> 0:19:36.960 asked the question. 0:19:37.160 --> 0:19:39.200 I thought it was a trick question number twenty two. 0:19:39.480 --> 0:19:50.000 Come on, twenty two. Oh No, it wasn't running back. 0:19:55.320 --> 0:19:55.800 It wasn't. 0:19:56.160 --> 0:20:01.960 It wasn't wasn't running back. 0:20:02.119 --> 0:20:03.639 Take a stab at it, all right. 0:20:03.560 --> 0:20:07.119 I'll say, I'll say, uh Man, wasn't Ty Johnson. It was. 0:20:07.560 --> 0:20:11.600 It was the other running back theyhead, Frank gor Junior. 0:20:11.680 --> 0:20:16.280 Now I don't know you're on the right track, Steve. 0:20:16.359 --> 0:20:19.680 It was Ray Davis, Ray did Ray Ward twenty two 0:20:20.280 --> 0:20:20.880 last year? 0:20:21.560 --> 0:20:23.800 I did not, I did, I didn't. He got me. 0:20:24.040 --> 0:20:25.320 Question number three. 0:20:26.119 --> 0:20:29.600 Dj Moore is wearing jersey number two for the Bills 0:20:29.640 --> 0:20:31.720 after he was acquired via trade. 0:20:32.359 --> 0:20:34.600 Who last wore jersey number two for Buffalo? 0:20:36.200 --> 0:20:37.880 I thought Tyler Bass was number two. 0:20:38.359 --> 0:20:39.040 I'll give it to you. 0:20:39.080 --> 0:20:42.359 It was Tyler Bass, which was harder than most because 0:20:42.359 --> 0:20:44.760 you didn't see him at all last year wearing that 0:20:44.840 --> 0:20:45.640 number two every day. 0:20:45.680 --> 0:20:48.000 He changed, well, he kind of had to. He gave 0:20:48.119 --> 0:20:50.040 Dj Moore number two, which. 0:20:49.800 --> 0:20:55.440 Brings us to question number four. Tyler Bass, Ray Davis, 0:20:55.480 --> 0:20:59.919 and Greg Russo are all wearing new jersey numbers for 0:20:59.920 --> 0:21:03.280 the Bills this season. Can you name two of their 0:21:03.359 --> 0:21:07.480 three new jersey numbers? Russo's fifteen, that is correct. 0:21:08.400 --> 0:21:10.359 I don't know who Bassie. Who's the other third number? 0:21:10.440 --> 0:21:16.560 Ray Davis, Ray Davis is wearing number single digit eight nine, 0:21:16.800 --> 0:21:21.159 No sevens and it was a single digit and I 0:21:21.240 --> 0:21:21.920 got to write them. 0:21:21.960 --> 0:21:26.280 And Tyler Bass is wearing number sixteen sixteen. 0:21:26.520 --> 0:21:30.159 Yeah, Joe Montana, Okay, we'll go with that. All right. 0:21:31.400 --> 0:21:33.800 That is the numbers game. We thought we'd have a 0:21:33.840 --> 0:21:34.879 little jersey fun with you. 0:21:35.000 --> 0:21:38.040 And also educate, educate our listeners because there's gonna be 0:21:38.040 --> 0:21:40.680 guys running around with different numbers that they're used to seeing, 0:21:40.680 --> 0:21:43.639 but not with those numbers on their back. So it'll 0:21:43.680 --> 0:21:47.560 be an exercise in refamiliarizing yourself with some players. 0:21:47.640 --> 0:21:48.560 I didn't do two. 0:21:48.720 --> 0:21:50.040 No, you did pretty good there too. 0:21:50.080 --> 0:21:55.360 Bad Time Now for our one burning question, what new 0:21:55.400 --> 0:21:59.440 player on defense do you believe will deliver the most 0:21:59.680 --> 0:22:03.240 signal magnificant impact this coming season? 0:22:03.359 --> 0:22:10.160 New player, I'm gonna say Chubb. 0:22:10.640 --> 0:22:10.960 Chubb. 0:22:11.119 --> 0:22:12.880 Yeah, I think he's gonna. I think he's gonna turn 0:22:12.920 --> 0:22:14.560 it up a notch. I think I think he's gonna 0:22:14.560 --> 0:22:16.600 respond to the culture. I think he's going to respond 0:22:16.640 --> 0:22:19.360 to the I think he's gonna be rejuvenated a little bit. 0:22:19.440 --> 0:22:22.119