Buffalo Bills vs. New York Giants | Pregame show featuring Anthony Prohaska of Cover 1

Buffalo Bills vs. New York Giants | Pregame show featuring Anthony Prohaska of Cover 1

Welcome to Buffalo pregame, your source for live Buffalo football discussion, news, analysis, opinions, and more, presented by ASM Publications and Bills Digest. [Music] Hello everybody and welcome to Buffalo pregame. My name is Alex Brasi. I am your host here on the show and we have a good one coming up for you here today as the Bills getting set to begin their preseason slate and we kick off our set of pregame shows. Hoping for 20 or so during the regular season that is in in the postseason, but a couple coming for you during the preseason as well. And I’m gonna be joined by Anthony Prohaskca of Cover One later on in the show. Coming up pretty shortly, actually. So stay tuned for that. And we’ll preview Bill’s Giants as they get set to kick off at 100 p.m. at Highark Stadium. What players do we have our eyes on? What are the storylines? Who’s on the roster bubble? Plenty of good stuff coming from Ant later in the show. Each week on Buffalo pregame, I’ll provide updates on the NFL, NHL, and more via daily articles, podcast videos, and more. Please subscribe to Buffalo pregame with Alex Brasi on YouTube or wherever you get your podcast along with Buffalo pregame with Alex Brassy on Substack, both of which are free of charge. All right, let’s get into it. Weather’s going to be hot today at Highark Stadium. expected to be in the 80s, which is to be expected of Western New York at this time of year. I know my former years sitting in the 300 level across from where the sun goes over the stadium, it can be like hell up there. Uh, when it’s 80° and and you don’t get a nice breeze. So, be sure to stay hydrated, as I’m I’m sure Bill’s Mafia has no trouble doing. and also just take note of the heat uh that that will be on site at the final game, the final preseason game that is at the current Highark Stadium with the new stadium set to open in 2026. This will indeed be the final preseason game as Buffalo is only scheduled to have one exhibition contest at home this season. The other two will be on the road coming up next week in Chicago. So, a little bit of pomp and circumstance surrounding this preseason game as much as there can be surrounding a preseason game with it being the final game in the current Highark Stadium. And I’ve seen that parents have been taking their young children there to to experience the a game for the final time. This is kids day at the stadium. So, it’s always a nice afternoon to get out with the family and enjoy the Bills. a little bit more pricey this year as I saw on the the resale market. But uh with that being said, it still should be a fine day at Highark Stadium and and one of historic nature for Bill’s fans and the players and coaches as well. Uh as far as that’s concerned, I’m sure that it’s going to be something to reme remember for people. And you can always say I I I was at the final game in the stadium, but uh at the same time, I think everyone is looking forward to really that stadium across the street opening. And as the fans go to the stadium today and they take a look, some of them for the first time, at that structure being built across the street, I I can just imagine they’ll be in awe with their jaws dropping. Uh when you look at the two side by side, it really is a stark contrast and really excited to see that new stadium when it gets completed, like I said, prior to the 2026 season. But let’s get into the nitty-gritty of this conversation. We’ll begin with a few injuries and and performance updates, I guess, as Josh Allen will not play in this game for the Bills. The starters are expected to play. Well, a certain amount of starters are expected to play at least one quarter per Shawn McDermott. For the Giants, you’ll see Russell Wilson getting the start at quarterback. He’s expected to be the team starter this year. So, he should see the team’s first team offensive line in front of him. And that should present a solid opportunity for the Bills young and new look defensive line to get a real nice look in this game. A games level experience for that group playing alongside one another for the first time. Like I said, in a game setting, if it were up to me, I would play most of the starters except for a list that we’ll get to soon that have been dealing with injuries with the exception of Joey Bosa, Matt Milano, and Tradavius White. I’ve seen video from Dom Tibbitz of WKBW already posted on X watching Tradavius White warming up before this game. So, it’ll be interesting to see whether or not we see White. I would not put he, Bosa, or Matt Milano out there in this game. Just really no need. You have the joint practice with the Chicago Bears coming up next week. Do it then. Uh, but put it in put them out there in a more controlled setting. Having been to the Bills Steelers joint practice last year, it’s much less aggressive than a preseason game will be with players out there trying to prove their spot on the roster and really no built-in structure as there is during a joint preseason practice. So, I would wait till then to put any of those three players and and perhaps more out on the field as there are several players still dealing with injury that extended into the final practice leading into this game on Thursday. You look at Spencer Brown who had returned but really only briefly uh and and really has not had an extended return yet. So, I don’t expect that we’ll see him today. Same thing with Terrell Bernard. He’s returned, but he hasn’t been back, I don’t think, for long enough that the team’s going to run him out there in a game setting. And then you have Khalil Shakir, who’s going to be out likely until week one with that high ankle sprain. Good news that he’s expected to return week one, but he’s out for the time being. And then you have Curtis Samuel at the wide receiver position, still dealing with that hamstring injury. somebody looking to really carve out a a contributing role on this team with this new look, wide receiver group this year. And Curtis Samuels been injured throughout training camp. So, I don’t think we’ll see him. I don’t think we’ll see Dorian Williams, who just uh returned with a calf injury. Cedric Van Pan Granger has yet to return. Taylor Rap is out with a knee injury for a week. And Cole Bishop also with that quad that he’s been dealing with. So, you look at the safety position and that could open opportunity for others here today. I’ve I’ve mentioned on a previous show that I think Demar Hamlin might not yet be in the conversation for uh a starting role in this team. But the longer that Cole Bishop proves that he can’t be available on a consistent basis, the more I think Demar Hamlin might work himself into that conversation. And then you look elsewhere at the position today and you look at the rookie Jordan Hancock. I think he’ll be thrown into the fire and really be given an extended look at safety as they’ve tried to work him in both at safety and nickel quarterback. I think they’re still in between what position they want him at. We’ll discuss that more with Ant down the road here in a few minutes, but I think Cam Lewis, Derek Force, Derek Forest, excuse me, get increased opportunity. Excuse me. I I I got to take care of a technical issue here. But yeah, I I think you’ll see a number of faces really get increased opportunity at that safety position. And you haven’t heard much from Derek Forest throughout this off season. And he’s been finding it difficult to work his way into the conversation. But I think today with the injuries that they’ve sustained at the position, they’re going to have to give him some time perhaps uh with the first or second team with Demar Hamlin in there as well uh and and the like. So uh interested to see how they manage the safety position as we look ahead to today’s game against the New York Giants. And then also the linebacker position without Terrell Bernard and Dorian Williams in this game. I wonder how much we’ll see Joe Andre Sha Thompson had been putting forth a a solid training camp before he went out with an injury. So, uh there’s going to be some shuffling, I think, at a number of positions. And I’m interested to see kind of the pecking order for these players throughout the preseason. And that’s one of the I guess positive signs uh or positive byproducts of all these injuries is is simply the fact that you get to see these other players kind of an increased playing time scenarios and and like I said before with Jordan Hancock kind of thrown into the fire uh during the preseason and this is the time for those players the the players that I mentioned earlier such as Matt Milano, Tradavius White, Joey Bosa really the Bills entire offensive line. They are proven players. I’m not sure we need to see much from those guys. It’s really the roster bubble uh and and excuse me, depth type players that I think need to be out there first and foremost. And and one of those players that the linebacker position, Edifan Olafosio, drafted by the team last year. Uh we haven’t seen much from him in terms of onfield production, but he did have a good return of the blue and red scrimmage. I thought he made a number of plays at the line of scrimmage. He He’s a relatively undersized linebacker. Kind of gets lost in the wash sometimes, but uh I think he’ll get increased opportunity today. And then you look at the quarterback position without uh Max Haristen, the rookie, who’s been seen on the sideline with a brace. I think he’s off the crutches at this point, which is a good sign, at least from what I saw uh on a video posted to X. You have Jammarcus Ingram, Dane Jackson, and then Takori Couch, Brandon Codton, Daquin Hardy working in as well. Uh so, and then you have the rookie Dorian Strong. He’s another one who I’m interested to see if they’ll put him out there. He was dealing with an injury on Thursday as well. So, a lot to watch in terms of players hanging around that roster bubble trying to prove themselves into contributing roles this season. And with that, why don’t we bring in our guest, Anthony Prohaskca of Cover One, my man. Nice to see you. And I am very, very grateful that you were able to join me this afternoon now as the Bills getting set about 50 minutes away from kickoff against the New York Giants. How are you, good man? I’m good. Thank you for having me. It uh I feel like camp just started. I feel like the draft just happened and now it’s preseason. I feel like every every season seems to the offseason feels shorter and shorter and it’s crazy how it’s kind of crept up and I’m super excited for today. There’s a lot of young guys to see, you know, potentially crack the roster from a lower end of the depth chart perspective, but potentially could make some waves based on the injuries we’re seeing or just with some of the, you know, spots that are opened up from a vacuum perspective. So, I’m excited to uh be here and talk some ball and watch the Bills and yeah, thank you for having me. Yeah, you got it. Why don’t we just start with this before we get into anything else? Who do you have your eye on the most? I know that Oh, during our discussions leading into this game, you mentioned a few names. If if you were to and I’m going to I’m going to force you one guy. You got to nail it down to one guy. Who are you watching going into this game who who needs to prove himself whether it be roster bubble or in terms of that depth role? Man, just one guy. These are always the hardest. And I always do things like this on my show and then like I cheat right before I have to give my answer and I get like three. I’m like well these guys I tiered my first um I’ll go with Javon Solomon. Okay. I I think you know that edge spot not necessarily to be pessimistic right but you know you’ve got Hoy suspended for six games and even you know he’s an edge but ideally and likely he’s used in a variety of spots. Bosa is probably going to get banged up at some point. Mhm. You’ve got Epanessa who they viewed towards more of an early down role last year. I think that’s likely to continue. Then you’ve got Greg Russo. We’ll see what you know who we know what he is. We’ll see what Landon Jacks can be. But I think Javon Solomon really has an opportunity to crack the like not only make the roster at edge because of injuries, but also just from a pass rush plan and technique perspective, he’s kind of a unicorn at that spot. and just him coming out of Troy, the the skill set, the traits, how productive he was, and then seeing some flashes of it last year. And then coming into camp and the scrimmage this year, I thought he’s looked tremendous as a rusher and as a run defender, physical, violent, juiced up, penetrating, but also smart, being able to drive some guys into the back field in addition to beat guys around the corner like he did in college. Um, I I think that the edge spot is so intriguing and interesting just given how they built it. Guys could get hurt. Guys could stay healthy even if everybody stays healthy. Who’s the best pass rusher? How does it work out? I I think it’s an opportunity for Solomon to really make some noise in this preseason starting right from the get-go against the Giants. Yeah, I think for Solomon, it’s really a time on task thing. When you’re an undersized pass rusher, I think the more opportunity you get out there at the pro level and just understanding your body and what it takes to kind of cut those corners and and and and work it to your skill set. And I think over the course of this off season, you’ve really seen that progression from him. And I’m also really excited to see what he has to offer. I I think he gets lost in in the conversation for me just because of all the added firepower they brought in this off seasonason, whether it be through the draft with Landon Jackson or Michael Hoy through free agency. But you really can’t forget about Solomon, especially during this preseason where he’s going to get ample room to shine. And we had a couple go Bills from Fred Palmer watching from New Woodstock, New York. Also Bill’s media outlet. Uh follow their stuff. I guess I I don’t want to give them too much of a a plug here without without knowing, but I’m sure they do. Uh good stuff. And then John Robert, to answer your question, Kaden Davis is expected to do the kicking, at least from my perspective, with Tyler Baz dealing with that pelvic area soreness. Ray Davis could also get an opportunity. Give Ray Davis the the keys to the card, Howards. The more you can do, right? I saw Lance Lysowski post that both Davis and Davis were were both getting some kicks in. So, we’ll see how that works out. I I don’t think it’s anything that’s going to be too concerning with Tyler Bass at this point. Uh I think it’s just a matter of of rest and recuperation. But why don’t why don’t we talk Jordan Hancock now? another player kind of on the bubble for a contributing role. I I think he’s somewhat of a roster lock due to his draft stock and and really how they view him in terms of what they’ve discussed with the long-term plan at both positions, whether it be nickel quarterback or safety. And I think he should get plenty of time at safety today with the injuries that the team is dealing with. And my question to you is, are you more comfortable with him there or nickel cornerback, somebody who watches tape and really dissects this stuff? Where do you project him more or is it an even split? It’s really tough with him because in in Ohio State’s defense, and I say it really tough with him from like a positive perspective. Um, in Ohio State’s defense, you know, especially last year, you had him, you had Downs, and then you had Ransom. And they would use Downs a lot kind of who’s one of the best players in college football last year. and one of the best college football players coming into this upcoming season. They would use him as almost this kind of like monster man and they would bring him down from the top and in and around the box, but he’d also drop deep. And then that really changed Hancock’s role like game to game. Sometimes he’s doing a lot of nickels, sometimes it’s a lot of traditional safety and in a variety of coverages and looks. I think he can do both. I like that he can do both. I would like him to focus on one because I don’t think it’s it’s so hard to be a master of both spots equally. I feel like if you try to be really good at two separate positions, it caps the ceiling on how good you could be for just one, which is rightfully expected. Like it’s so hard. But given the presence of Taran Johnson and even Cam Lewis, who I like as a backup nickel, and the questions at safety, I would like him to get more looks at safety, I think he can do that. He showed some flashes. He had a really nice pass breakup last Sunday towards the end of team when he was getting looks with the ones. Um Trey dapped him up cuz he made a really good play. I would like him to see I would like to see him get more reps at safety just you know and and I’m very superstitious. So no jinx. Fingers crossed on all this. You’ve got Taran at nickel. Cam I think is pretty locked as that backup nickel even though Cam can play some safety as well and we’ve seen him do that in the season ending camp this year. But yeah, I get give me Jordan Hancock at safety just because there’s questions around there. You know, we don’t know what Taylor Rap is long term. We don’t know what Cole Bishop is in the short term and in the long term because of time on task and injuries. Rap has shown propensity to get banged up a little bit and then after that it’s really anyone’s game. So I I think he can do the job at safety. I and I’m excited to see him get looks there today, especially after what Bobby Babage said. I think it was earlier this week with him being a good football player but needing to kind of focus on the details and progress in that area. Yeah. And Babich has really, like I said, laid out the long term. Well, hasn’t really laid it out, but he’s discussed it several times throughout the off season, how this was kind of the plan all along with Hancock, kind of throw him into the fire. I’ I’ve used that uh phrase a few times today. Yeah. And and kind of see where he fits. And I think that’s what you’re going to see throughout the course of the preseason with the injuries at safety right now. Maybe more opportunity there. Maybe there is more opportunity at Nickel Corner down the road. But I think you’re right. I think they like what they have in Cam Lewis. You might even see him on the back end today. And something else at the safety position I want to get your opinion on that I kind of came out and stoke the fire on earlier this week. Dear Hamlin is sitting there available as always. And once again, you have like you mentioned Taylor Rap and Cole Bishop both unavailable. And I don’t want to say at this point that either Demar Hamlin’s going to be a starter or Cole Bishop is in danger of losing what is expected to be a job that he’s going to be given the keys to once healthy because if you watch him on the sideline with athletic trainers, it seems like he’s working his way back. So, I don’t want to go that far quite yet, but are we getting worried about Cole Bishop in that sense? And is there room to consider that Demar Hamlin might end up being not only a week one starter for the Bills, but perhaps the starter for the long term during the regular season just to due to Cole Bishop’s repeated unavailability. Yeah, I I think everything you said there, I think, is pretty spot on. In an ideal world, I think the Bills want Bishop and Rap to be the starters. I kind of also thought that last season, though, too. If things had gone well and Bishop didn’t get banged up in camp last year, I think they kind of wanted to give him the keys potentially last year as well. A little more of a prove it year last year than this year. But he needs that time on task. I I’ve said this on Twitter. I’ve said this on so many shows. A lot of his best reps and a lot of his work at Utah, you know, the safeties of Utah were him and uh Sion Vaky Vaky. I forget what team he went to, but he was like a dual threat safety and running back. He plays running back now in the NFL, but him and Bishop would both work at the back at their best in and around the line of scrimmage, in and around the box. They were more of like a hybrid like safety, monster man, big nickel. Bishop would line up as like offball linebacker in blitz or cover a tight ended man coverage. But a lot of his best work was coming forward and playing, you know, as like a more of a buzz down robber type of safety or in the slot and nickel. Obviously, that’s a different type of world than what the Bills do with their safety. So, he needed a lot of time on task, especially with how much those safeties quarterback everything back there and align and adjust and the coverages that they play. I think he has a lot of fun traits that the Bills could use at safety, but I thought he needed more time on task to really progress there. And he didn’t really get it last year and his what that early on he’s playing against Houston. He has a mental mistake with Rasul Douglas. We see the big catch and conversion again. Collins deep down the field. Absolutely. But again, that’s to be expected. Like he hasn’t had a lot of time on task. He needs that time on task. And fast forward to this off season. Now he’s banged up again. And so it’s like, okay, do we have injury concerns? And not even with the injury concerns, which is a separate thing. So you have that, but then you also have, okay, he’s still not getting that time on task. How good do we feel about him? And then like you, you know, kind of juxtaposed him with Deamar Hamlin who is just this model of consistency who I know frustrates so many fans because he’s not sexy and he doesn’t have this highle skill set or highle traits and I don’t think he has a very high ceiling and I think that also kind of caps what the ceiling of the defense can be. But he’s just tremendously consistent and tremendously reliable. And you hear the coaching staff talk about it. You’ll hear players talk about it. and this defense and this coaching staff really values guys who can be in the right place at the right time and Hamlin’s upside is limited and putting him in there I think limits the upside of the defense a bit but he’s just been largely a model of consistency and his familiarity with this type of defense coming from pit he really was kind of a plug-and-play dude and yeah whether rightly or wrongly it just seems like the stars align to continue to give Dear Hamlin opportunities at that safety spot and Bishop again, as long as Bishop’s healthy, I think it’s going to be his job. But I don’t think it’s crazy to see a world where Bishop is either continuing to get banged up and that gives Demar Hamlin opportunities or, you know, the injuries that Bishop does have prevent him from getting the time on task that he needs, which causes him not develop at the rate they want him to or develop in the ways that they want him to. And so then it becomes like, okay, the riskreward piece of do we put the guy out there in the regular season to get that time on task or do we go with the known quantity and Demar Hamlin and play for the high floor, which is I think would probably upset a lot of fans. And Sion Vaky is a Detroit Lions running back. That’s what I was thinking and I was like I can’t remember. Yeah, there you go. He was fun. And on the Lions front, great to see that. I think it was Maurice Norris ended up being okay yesterday. That was a scary sign. and the game was suspended against the Atlanta Falcons. Uh looked like a ugly head and neck injury, but went to the hospital, was tested, and seems to be all good. And Nate uh alerted me to check X. James Cook is suited up for the Bills today. So, I was going to discuss this after you departed, but James Cook suited up for the Bills along with Curtis Samuel and Cole Bishop are the players that I’ve seen so far. So, all that discussion about the Demar Hamlin and Cole Bishop situation with Cole Bishop potentially set to perform against the New York Giants, that could certainly put that uh pour cold water on that conversation. And it’s it’s always interesting. It could pour cold water on top of that situation. Cold water. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. But it’s always interesting to track these injuries and how they play out and uh yeah, so some surprises there. So, let’s see. Yeah. I wonder if it’s like are they going to now I’m immediately like are they going to see game action or is it like stand on the sideline? Yeah. we just want them to go through warm-ups and get the feel and get ready because they are close to returning or we just want them to continue to get some work because we know they’re shut down for the game or it could just be you know kind of part of their plan of you know if this was a game they’d be going but it’s the preseason so we’ll kind of keep them in the barn and rest them a little bit but that any way you slice it it’s good to see even if Cook doesn’t play good to see him in uniform going through warm-ups same for Bishop same for Samuel um that’s really good to see instead just seeing them on street clothes for various reasons. Yeah. Someone mentioned on Twitter, can’t remember who it was. It wasn’t you, was it? Uh, this is the I think it was Adam actually. It was Adam from from cover one. He uh he said this is like the the quietest, most respectful Holden ever. Oh, yeah. Adam from James Cook. and and this just kind of continues that being in in uniform for the team’s first preseason game after holding in for four consecutive practices. So, James Cook is is in the mix and a few others as well. I I bring into the conspiracy theory that HBO was like, “Hey, we’re not really getting enough juice here. Everything is too nice. Let’s go offer James Cook some money to hold in and create some drama so that way episode two can have some spice to it because we didn’t get enough with episode one. I saw that circulating on social media as well. And I’m usually not a conspiracy theorist guy, but the Bills and the way that they handle the media, they really try to pull the puppet strings. And I I would not put that past them whatsoever because Hard Knocks got terrible reviews coming off that that first episode. I know that Bills fans were going to love it because if you love the Bills, you’re going to love everything Bills. And I don’t fault them for that at all. But from an unbiased perspective, I think you could look at it and and say, “Wow, this was kind of a milktoast uh hour-long session here.” But regardless, uh James Cook has seemed to pour some of that cold water on on his situation as well. So, it’ll be uh interesting to see who does get on the field today. A few players that will not be on the field for the Bills. Tyler Bass with that pelvic area soreness. Taylor Rap out for a week with that knee injury. Khalil Shakir ankle injury. Uh we’ll keep him out likely until week one. Max Haristston with the knee. Shaq Thompson the linebacker. That’s a that’s someone I was interested to see today with Terrell Bernard and Dorian Williams potentially not playing. But uh it seems to me that they’re in uniform. Cedric Van Granger with the calf. Tylen Greyel with the concussion. Alec Anderson with a knee. All those players not dressed for the Bills today. And that’s per Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News. So potentially some participation updates there as Josh Allen leads his team out onto the field. He will not participate today. The Bills in their all-white uniforms, white face masks. It’s a clean look for the Bills. Uh very very good look. What What’s your favorite uh uniform combo? Oh, I’m very Is this the 90s away uniforms? I like the red helmet. I like the white shirt with the blue piping and then the white pants with the blue piping as well. Um yeah, and that that’s that’s probably my top tier thing. Although I am a huge if I love the red helmets, I love the current helmets. My favorite helmet is the one behind me, the white Bill’s helmet with the blue face mask. Um, yeah, they have a lot of good iterations though. But if I had to put it all together, it’s the 90s away. The red helmet with the white the white top and the white pants. That’s a good look. Blue face mask. That’s the Jack Jack Kemp era. Yeah, that’s the even Ferguson a little bit too. And then the uh was one of them thinking even into the 80s a bit and then they switched it a bit in like the late 80s before they really started to take off. Like Kelly’s first couple iterations, it was the red helmet with the blue face mask and then they ended up putting the white face mask on the red. Patrick, not sure how long Tyler Bass is expected to be out, but we haven’t had any alarm bells raised by the team. So, I think we’re all just kind of waiting to see. He did seem to be per reports I think Patrick Moran of Talking Buffalo who had been there at camp several days said that he was moving around a little bit better on Thursday. So potentially he’s trending in the right direction. There’s obviously no need to put a kicker out there uh during a a preseason situation. And a question here from Scott, when does Shavers get a fair shot to make the team? And that’s another topic of conversation uh that I was planning on bringing up with you, Ant. and and we’ll do it. Now, Shavers was one of my players to watch within my five players to watch on Buffalo pregame substack. Make sure you subscribe to that and be sure to like, share, and subscribe to this post as well. I don’t uh prompt people to do that enough, but please go to YouTube and hit that like button. Subscribe as well. Also on all audio platforms, Apple, Spotify, you can find it wherever you’d like. But Tyrone Shavers has kind of been hanging on for dear life on this team the the past few years. and he’s got good measurables, just hasn’t been able to do much on special teams. Is is that going to factor in into his potential quest this preseason, do you think, or is it all about his production at receiver, which has seemed to take a step forward even from last year when he impressed during the preseason? Yeah, I think it’s a really fair question to ask. I do think the special teams piece will impact it because even even if he makes the team the final 53, you’re looking at likely like wide receiver five or wide receiver six, maybe wide receiver four if a bunch of guys ahead get banged up like we’ve continued to see a little bit here. So, anytime you’re at the bottom of the depth chart of the 53 for any position group, that means you need to contribute on teams in some way, shape, or form. So, you know, being good increases your odds of making the team. Not having teams value obviously hinders that and decreases it a bit. But I do think it’s it’s weird. Like he’s made plays at receiver. He looked good in camp last year. I thought he made some plays in the preseason last year. He’s looked good in camp this year. He’s gotten a bunch of time with the ones just because Samuels been banged up and then Palmer got banged up a bit and then Moore got banged up a bit and we had days where it was like wide receiver one and two on the field were Tyrell Shavers and Steven Gusnell and that’s what the wide receiver group was looking like and I am interested to see Shavers today. I’m interested to see the wide receiver group in general be just with you know Samuels warming up. We’ll kind of see what happens. But he’s another guy that, not to be negative, like I just expect at some point Curtis Samuel is going to get banged up. Curtis Samuel is going to miss time and Elijah Moore can get banged up and miss time. Keon plays a very physical game. There’s a chance he can get banged up. So, there’s been a lot of opportunity I think potentially in the future, but just in camp already like Keon has gotten a ton on task. Same thing with Palmer because Samuel has been banged up, Shakir’s been banged up. So, there’s a lot of opportunity for some for several receivers to kind of stake their claim potentially in the preseason today. I think Shavers has the inside track of everyone um just based off of the combination of size and frame and skill set and potential that he could have. Um and I know he’s Yeah, as you were pulling up comments, he’s a he’s kind of like a I feel like a sneaky like depth chart fan favorite and I feel like this is another year of like yeah, pumping that uh Shavers train and it’s understandable. I get it. And I’m continuing to follow the updates on X and James Cook going through warm-ups with the first team offense. So interesting. Uh Shawn McDermott did say the starters were going to play today. And with that list of the players that are not in uniform, you do have Terrell Bernard in uniform. You do have Dorian Williams in uniform. Uh like I mentioned, yeah, Matt Milano in uniform, Joey Coster, Trey White. So, a lot of names I I mentioned off the top here that I wouldn’t figure would be a high priority to get into this game. Yeah. It could also be that this is the only preseason game at home. It is kids day. You don’t want to trot out 30 guys in street clothes. Uh that could be a little bit disappointing for the kids. And and like I mentioned earlier, I think you should take it slow with some of these guys. You do have the joint practice with the Bears coming up. I think that’s a perfect time uh to get some of these guys back. I don’t think there’s any need to rush the veterans or some of these guys coming off injury. Maybe like you mentioned, it’s just kind of a warm-up to the warm-up trying to get them in into game mode and and what to expect on game day. There are a lot of new pieces on this team and you need some veteran leadership out there to kind of show them the ropes and and how we do things in Buffalo and and in uh air quotes I was putting we. So, uh I I think there is something to be said for that. So, still kind of interested to see who’s going to actually take the field for the Bills, but they’ll see Russell Wilson and they’ll see the Giants likely first team offensive line, which we mentioned Javon Solomon off the top. That should also give the rookies plenty of time to shine. I think you’re going to see a lot of TJ Sanders, a lot of Deion Walker, a lot of Landon Jackson. And you could comment on the other two, but I really want to ask about Landon Jackson because I think he might struggle to find a jersey to to start his his career on game days. I think he’ll make the final 53, but with the amount of players that they have at that position right now. I know that Michael Hoy is set to be suspended, but especially when he comes back, Jackson could get lost in the wash in that rotation. Where do you see him? But what what is his biggest area of need in terms of his progression when it comes to me? I think it’s his technical side. Is is that correct? Yeah, I I I would agree with that. I think he’s got the tenacity side down, the violence side, the lengthen frame and knowing how to play to it. Like he’ll play the run, he’ll stack and shed. He can long arm some guys and compress the pocket. But I think it is that technique. You know, he’s got a jumping cross chop that he can hit and he’s got some hand technique pieces that he flashed in college. But it’s really just nailing that and being a consistent downto-down rusher. I feel like in terms of just like and these are the guys the Bills always gravitate towards in terms of effort and run defense like that’s going to be there from him because that’s kind of a prerequisite for being in the edge room for them. But yeah, he’s got to show something as a rusher because you’ve got you know you’ve got Russo, you’ve got Epanessa, Hoy will be out but then you he’ll be back and then you’ve got Bosa and then you’ve got Solomon. I really I really feel like Landon Jackson and Javon Solomon are competing for edge four depending on who’s injured and who’s healthy and Hoy suspension or edge five. Like I really do think it’s between the two of them. And I know Jackson’s the higher pick. But as of right now, I feel like Solomon’s been playing better football. So it’ll be really nice to see those two kind of battle. Maybe they’ll probably be on the field together a bunch today. Um so it’ll be nice to kind of see them simultaneously and see what happens. Let’s flip back over to the other side of the ball. The primary position battle, I think, entering this game is quarterback two, Mitch Trabiscy, Mike White. Oi, a a big headliner entering this game. Uh Mitch Trabiscy, has he kind of worn out his welcome here? You think you think that they’re they’re going to go with White? Uh I think it’s obviously going to come down to to preseason performance. If one of them really struggles, the other one really thrives, they’re going to give it to the one that really thrives. But let’s say they they both perform relatively. Should they be through with with with Mitch Trabiscy at this point? Have we seen enough? I have I don’t know if they have. It’s tough. You and I were talking about it last night in the DM. I I feel like and I’ve said this on other shows. I feel like his experience in Chicago having such a strong rookie year and then things kind of bottoming out. I don’t think he has like the yips, but I think he kind of broke his spirit a little bit and he’s he’s almost just ultra conservative with the ball and even during practice. Yes, even during practice. And I know he doesn’t have the best arm, but he can throw and he’s really athletic. I would like to kind of have him. You saw the deep ball to I think it was Deion Kane the bomb down the field during camp. He’s got it in him. Like tap into that a little bit. And I just think for whatever reason, and again it could be like complete direction. They could be telling him like take care of the football. Your job is to take care of the football. So maybe he’s like that’s priority one and nothing else. But I would like again it goes without saying if anything happens to Josh Allen, the offense is going to have problems to deal with even with how good their run game is. But I think Mike White has the capacity to sling it a little bit more. Even just what he’s been in the league the past couple years, even his time with the Jets, you know, a couple high volume passing games. You know, there’s that one against the the Vikings I’m thinking of, and I think the other one against the Bengals, and I just really haven’t seen any of that from Trabiscy in a much longer time at a much larger sample size. I’m hoping it’s white. I just Yeah, I think Trabiscy’s spirit is broken and he just seems very I don’t know. I just feel like he’s going out there and he’s just like, “Yeah, I’m Yeah, he just seems Yeah. And I understand it, too. like that that time in Chicago wasn’t ideal for him. But yeah, I think he’s close to kind of showing himself out potentially um depending on what they value to what they’re looking for. It’s got to be hard to find that spark when you come in as highly touted rookie supposed to be the face of the franchise and then you fall this far to to QB2 on the Bills, a team where you’re hopefully never going to get a chance. Yeah. Uh to prove yourself. And they should have won his rookie year. It was against the Eagles. They had that missed field goal at home. They Was that the double doink? Yes. They should have They should have won that game and been on to the final four in the NFC like with a rookie Mitch Trabiscy and you’re coming out of that game thinking, you know what, this sucks. But our defense is back. Trabiscy looks real and then he just nose dives. I remember going into his second year how many people were picking him in fantasy and like building their team names off of like a a Trabiscy pun or a Biscuits pun because they got Mitch Trabiscy. He was a thing not just in Chicago but across the league. And yeah, it’s got to be tough to go from that to just kicking it around with the Bills and then the Steelers and then not looking good with the Steelers and you’re back with the Bills. It’s it’s got to take something out of you kind of mentally in addition to just how you are as as a as an actual player. For sure. Elsewhere on offense at center, they’re pretty banged up without Cedric Vanprin Granger and Alec Anderson. Uh it’s going to be interesting to see. I think that the name that I saw Joe Biscalia throw out Kendrick Green uh probably to get the majority of the snaps today at center. Uh maybe some Jacob Byer as well, but uh they’re really banged up there. But let’s look to the tight end position before you get out of here. And the rookie Jackson Halls, who I think has a chance to be the preseason darling for the Bills. I saw him during rookie mini camp catching passes all over the field and since then he’s really kind of continued on and you hear his offensive line teammates discuss his blocking ability. They consider him really a veteran in terms of that skill. So I I think there’s a lot to be shown for Jackson Haw over these next few weeks. What excites you about Jackson Haw in this passing game and as a potential sixth offensive lineman? I think it’s what he brings in totality and you know you you hit the blocking piece. It gets talked about so much. It’s been talked about nationally, locally of the fans like just what he is and kind of who he is as a player. And he’s a legitimate people mover at tight end. Some of my favorite reps in camp were him and Reggie Gilliam on the front side of runs just moving people and evacuating them like from the field. It was awesome. Um, but I think he brings he’s not a field stretcher as as a tight end, as a route runner, as a pass catcher. He’s not some athletic marvel, but I think he’s better from like 0 to 10 yards than he gets credit for. He’s a big powerful dude, but within that power, he’s got some not like quick burst, but he’s got some explosion type of movements from like 0 to five or 0 to 10, especially once he gets going. And he can function, you know, 0 to 10 running routes. if it’s going to the flat, if it’s on a drag route, if it’s, you know, a little over the ball route or even kind of a dig or a deep hook or a deep hitch. And then you pair that with the blocking capacity and not being like unathletic, then you get the opportunity to kind of go play action, do some tight end leak things with him, which they’ve done. He can handle some defensive ends and some linebackers. I really like what he brings, especially in this offense that we know is going to be condensed, reduce formational width, run the football, pass out of those looks, hopefully work in more play action than they did last year. I’m I’m really excited to kind of see what he brings, especially in a tight end room with how they’re constructed with what Knox is, what Cancade is. We’ll see, you know, what he is going into this year and then what Haw is just as a floor player. I I think he offers this offense a lot of value as as a late round guy and somebody that can be really used from a matchup perspective. Yeah. I think also at the tight end position, Dalton Concaden and and also extending to the wide receiver position, both he and Keon Coleman, I don’t think they’ll be out there extensively today or throughout the preseason overall. But I do think you’ll see them get some valuable reps, some valuable targets. And I’m really, I guess, more interested with Keon Coleman and to see if he can carry it over what he did during training camp into this first preseason game and beyond because I think he’s become much more technical. I think everything he does really has a purpose. As I heard Sal Kapacio discussing on the WGR round table, he used the term intentional and I think that’s the perfect term to use with Keon Coleman. Last year, he seemed to try to just be beating everybody based on raw ability, and now he seems to be more cerebral and in control of everything he’s doing on the outside. And I I think going up against these opposing cornerbacks is going to be really important for his preseason progression. But did we forget anything, Ant, or uh you all said as we’re about 17 minutes to game time here uh at Highark Stadium? I think that I think that’s everything. And especially with what you talked about, I was watching uh here on YouTube before I jumped on the stream with you. Yeah, I think we’ve hit uh pretty much all of it. Now it’s just a matter of everybody suiting up. Are they actually going to suit up and do stuff or are they just kind of going through the motions and doing the warm up to the warm-up? Cole Bishop, uh according to Dom Tibbitz, he did not see Cole Bishop going through warm-ups, just kind of standing to the side. And Curtis Samuel was going through warm-ups. So interesting. Like we mentioned previously, it could just kind of be a uh run through the motions for these guys and kind of a walkthrough of sorts uh for for preseason purposes. But like you said, we’ll see participation level uh and then we’ll go from there. Why don’t you plug what you have coming up? I think you got a postgame show coming up tonight. That’s right. I am live on the Cover One YouTube channel immediately following the Bills game today against the Giants and all the preseason games going forward as I have been the past couple years. And those postgame shows are really focused on what we saw schematically as much as you can on the broadcast before I dive into the tape when it comes out. Um, but the player evaluation pieces, who shine, who didn’t, stock up, stock down, positional battles, all that kind of stuff. And, uh, all the comments and questions and thoughts from everybody in the chat. So, uh, very excited to do that today. And, yeah, I’ll be tweeting on Twitter at pro_ant. I’ll also be posted on blue sky at prot, no underscores there. So, it’ll be a pretty fun and uh active day. I’m very excited and thank you for having me. You got it, my friend. Thank you for joining me and we will see you soon. Enjoy the game. You too, man. Have a good one. All right, Ant from Cover One, thanks for joining me and very good stuff from him. Much more on the analytical side than I am. I’m uh not as much of a film junkie as I don’t think anyone is as is those guys over at Cover One. stuff that they do is is so valuable for the fans and uh very very grateful for Ant to spend some time with us. But I’ll leave you with this. Just stay healthy. I think take some of these injuries slowly. I know that they have a lot of these guys dressed, but I think you need to take it slow. Uh there’s there’s no need to to rush any of these guys back, particularly a Cole Bishop, a Terrell Bernard, a Dorian Williams to mention a few. So, let’s just stay healthy. I don’t I wouldn’t even like to see Joey Bosa, Traavius White, Matt Milano in this game. Just move right along. Joint practice coming up next week and uh the final two preseason games to follow. So, my final thought is just stay healthy and I thank you for joining me here on Buffalo pregame. Please like, share, and subscribe. Please go to YouTube, hit that like button. You can find the YouTube link on my ex account or you can just search Buffalo pregame with Alex Barasi and it’ll bring you right there. Also, my Substack account. I’ll have postgame coverage on uh Substack the Written Word. Also some pregame coverage there with five players to watch entering this game. So, a lot of stuff for the people to follow. Also on the audio side, wherever you get your podcast. So, like, share, subscribe. I appreciate everybody tuning in and we’ll see you after the game. [Music]

The Bills kick off their preseason slate with a matchup against the New York Giants. Which players need a strong performance to lock down a roster spot? What to watch for, storylines and more with Anthony Prohaska of Cover 1.

Welcome to Buffalo Pregame! Your source for LIVE Buffalo sports discussion. Each week, we will dive into the latest comings and goings from both One Bills Dr. and KeyBank Center as Bills Digest editor Alex Brasky follows the Bills and Sabres with news, analysis, opinions and more.

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