MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 07: a Buffalo Bills helmet rests on the field before the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
1. I’m curious as to how much of the Brian Daboll/Ken Dorsey offense that Joe Brady will retain while also putting his own spin on the system. Daboll’s offense (which Dorsey inherited and quite frankly, didn’t execute well) was based off the Erhardt-Perkins concepts he learned while in New England with some college spread stuff sprinkled in, while Brady cut his teeth under Sean Payton in New Orleans before making his name elsewhere. Payton’s system is a vertical form of the West Coast offense that loves having big bodies at wide receiver (hence the drafting of Keon Coleman, who was compared to former Saints WR Marques Colston and Brandon Marshall coming out) and lining them up in the slot to create favorable matchups.
2. I’d bet that when the Bills signed Curtis Samuel, Brady watched a lot of 49ers tape to figure out how best to use him. Samuel has some similar traits to San Francisco’s Deebo Samuel (versatile, fast and physical) and both are dangerous with the ball in their hands. No relation, of course.
3. I wonder how long of a leash Sean McDermott and new defensive coordinator Bobby Babich will have for Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp at safety. Even before he had his injury, Hamlin was very inconsistent and Rapp has never proven himself as a full-time starter in the NFL. Same goes for Dorian Williams, who will replace Matt Milano for now - he shows flashes of scrape and flow quickness and burst and he’s athletic with long arms, but he’s slow to key and diagnose against the run while also taking false steps. He needs to process better in pass coverage, otherwise maybe Joe Andreessen will get a shot.
4. How much of the old Von Miller will we see out there? For the most part last season, he looked, well, old. By his own admission he shouldn’t have been playing a year ago but if he’s anywhere close to his prior form, that could be a big boost for Buffalo’s pass rush. Don’t forget, he was on pace for almost 12 sacks in 2022 before he tore his knee up.
5. A quick scouting report on Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray: he doesn’t play the game with nuance, detail or subtlety. Overreacts to bodies around him, perceives pressure. Doesn’t play within structure unless his primary receiver is open. The longer he stays in the pocket, the more likely he is to run. Coaches need to create defined, clean reads for him. Can make plays outside of structure but not a great quarterback. Defenses need to squeeze depth of interior pocket on him since he’s short. Can make throws falling away, similar to Cam Newton. Scrambles more to run rather than throw. His balls lose velocity on the back end.
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