Buffalo Fanatics podcast recaps first two days of Buffalo Bills training camp
The Big 3 is here! Rico, Rev, and Z-Bot come together to bring the heat talking about Buffalo Bills training camp. They are also joined by special guest, Alex Lucci (Thigh Doctor) who will give an analysis on some of the injured Bills. Later in the show, producer Evan Harrington joins to give his analysis on Bills training camp.
Buffalo Bills WR room (20:30)
Isaiah Hodgins: A very interesting player in this year’s Bills wide receiver room. Hodgins was selected with the 207th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. Coming into training camp Hodgins and Gabe Davis were two receivers with potential that Bills fans had high hopes for.
Early on in the 2020 training camp Hodgins was showing up and outplaying Gabe Davis to a point. Then a very unfortunate injury would limit Hodgins throughout the rest of camp and the 2020-2021 NFL season.
The same thing happens the following season as Hodgins was showing promise, but another injury would hold him back once again. There is no denying the former Oregon State wide receiver has talent, but each time he gets injured, the more and more Hodgins will be buried down the depth chart.
Isaiah McKenzie: McKenzie comes into the 2022-2023 season with a bigger chip on his shoulder than in years past. In the offseason, McKenzie signed a 2 years extension with the Bills. The first big contract that he has received throughout his NFL career.
Isaiah has been dealing with adversity everywhere he has played in the NFL. Whether that’s with the Broncos or Bills McKenzie has had to deal with some sort of problem in his path to success.
This year’s problem is that Brandon Beane brought in Jamison Crowder, Khalil Shakir, and Tavon Austin. Rev says that it is McKenzie’s job to lose, as he is the longest-tenured receiver in this scheme. Rico points out that he believes McKenzie he a new sense of swag to his game with his number change of 19 to 6.
What is the timetable on Tre White’s return? (32:11)
The Buffalo Fanatics are now joined by special guest Alex Lucci (Thigh Doctor) to discuss Tre White’s injury. Tre White is starting the season on the NFL PUP (physically unable to perform) list as he is still recovering from his ACL injury last season.
To start things off Alex is breaking down a video from the Bills training camp of Tre White doing individual drills. Alex mentions how White is about 80% of the way through his rehab, but still has a ways to go.
The one thing Alex states in this is that while seeing Tre getting more comfortable with his workouts there is still that unsure feeling of landing on one leg. Also, within Tre White’s running cycle there is still massive work to be done there.
Tre is still on pace for being it is seven months since the injury. There still isn’t a timetable on when the All-Pro corner will return for the Buffalo Bills.
Punter Battle?? (1:22:36)
The Bills have an interesting positional battle taking place between 2 punters in Matt Haack and rookie 6th round pick Matt Araiza. The big issue with Haack last season was his consistency punting the football.
Bills fans wanted an upgrade immediately.
The Bills front office went out and spent a draft pick on a punter in Matt Araiza in the 2022 NFL Draft. The only worry people have with Araiza is his holding ability, as he has never had to hold in the college ranks. Matt Haack on the other hand has exceptional holding skills compared to most punters in the league. This will be a very interesting positional battle throughout Buffalo Bills training camp.
New look for the Buffalo Bills offense? (1:26:51)
The Bills lost offensive coordinator Brian Daboll to the Giants. First time offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey takes over.
It’s very apparent that Dorsey wants to run more 2 and 3 tight end sets on the field. The Bills signed O.J. Howard this offseason. Howard is a field stretcher and Dorsey is gonna look to use Knox and Howard in a more key role this year.
Dawson Knox said yesterday that the Bills have been running more 13-personnel (1 RB/3 TE/1 WR) than 22-personnel (2 RB/2 TE/1 WR) this is more 13-personnel that he can ever recall running. With these 2 athletic freaks of nature at the TE position, it will be exciting what new OC Ken Dorsey has in store.
Hot Takes for training camp? (1:43:11)
To end off the show the big 3 is joined by show producer Evan Harrington to share their hot takes for Bills training camp.
Rico: Nick McCloud a player that got Bills fans excited in last year’s training camp, but the amount of depth the Bills have at the corner held him back last year. McCloud has made noise thus far in this year’s camp. Watch out for McCloud this year in camp.
Rev: Khalil Shakir is a name that Rev mentions for his hot take. As Sean McDermott values veterans he will still have to keep an eye out for the Bills mid-round draft pick as he has already made his stance be heard in this years training camp.
Evan: Terrell Bernard the 3rd round draft pick by the Bills who is a 6’1 224-pound linebacker with safety movement. Bernard has made plays in camp on the likes of Dawson Knox and James Cook showing his athleticism. The Bills can run more big nickel on defensive with the versatility that Bernard brings to the table.
