TGAF: Josh Allen's hand, covering Tyreek Hill, Sabres rookie camp

[Music] ctbk gives Executives and owners of  mid-market businesses unparalleled confidence   and Clarity so you can focus on strategic  objectives and organizational success their   multi-disciplinary advisers accountants and team  members have a wealth of experience and are all   available and responsive to each client to ensure  the most effective advice actions and outcomes no   matter the situation or complexity level that  experience base and one team approach combined   with integrated and efficient way of operating  enable them to be truly proactive Partners doing   the best thing for their client every time visit  ctbk or call 716632 2400 to learn how ctbk can   work for you you are listening to a podcast  by a guy that shouldn't have a podcast it's   Tim Graham and Friends welcome to Tim Graham  and friends brought to you by ctbk CPAs and   Business Consultants I'm Tim Graham of the  athletic here with my co-host Jonah bronstein   of bronsteen Sports Plus and this time last week  we were talking about how busy we were going to be   with Western New York Sports High School Football  starting up and Bill season starting up UB had a   big game at Missouri Sabers Camp around the  corner but look it's about as busy with the   exception of a local not playing for a tennis  major the Sabers have begun their rookie Camp   UB is at home Saturday afternoon against UMass a  game that UB should win Bill's playing Thursday   Night division play against the Miami Dolphins a  lot to talk about there including some significant   injuries on both sides of the ball so Jonah it is  uh here we are you were out at Sabers rookie camp   today but let's start with the bills because uh  that's what's on most folks Minds we're recording   this uh on Wednesday so the game is tomorrow  night hopefully you have a chance to listen   to this before the game um Josh Allen got an  injured left hand and he was dismissive of   any concern so have the bills been he was a full  participant in practice it is that offhand it's   his non-throwing mitt but uh I was talking  with some quarterbacks yesterday and the day   before for a story at the athletic and they all  say it's probably no big deal probably but then   we got into all all of the little things that  will matter when it comes to Josh Allen and his   left-and injury um interviewed Archie Manning  Warren Moon Phil Sims Jake plumber all four   who have played with offhand off arm injuries  obviously I just didn't pick those guys out of   a hat um but you were out there this week too  did you get any sense before we get into all   the little things that we are going to need to  be mindful of when we watch the Bills Thursday   in Miami Gardens to make sure that Josh Allen  is okay but Jonah you were out there this week   at one Bill's Drive uh it seems like they were  kind of just blowing it off but then again isn't   that what you would do regardless of the situation  short week the whole thing well yeah and I think   that the bills have done something similar maybe  not always but Josh Allen has had some injuries   that he's played through that didn't cause him  to miss any games or parts of any games but he   was uh appearing on injury reports in the past  and the bills have generally had the vibe that   it was not going to be a problem I there was the  one time with the elbow injury where he didn't   practice didn't throw early in the week and then  was kind of hiding the fact that he had returned   to practice and was throwing the ball later in  the week I think this is less concerning of an   injury than the elbow and shoulder injuries and  some of the other dinged up situations that Josh   Allen has had over the past couple of years it  probably doesn't prevent him from doing a lot of   the things that he's good at but anytime a player  who's important as important to the bills and as   important to any football team as Josh Allen is  less than 100% in any way and feeling any pain   um I think that there's some level of concern  concern about a possible reinjury or as you   mentioned or you kind of detailed the little ways  that having an injuries to your non-throwing hand   could affect a quarterback especially one like  Josh Allen who initi Ates contact on his runs and   might be stiff arming with that hand and before  he landed awkwardly on that hand he was you know   using it to propel himself over budha Baker's  helmet so the hurdles and and some of the extra   things that Josh alen is able to do as a running  quarterback might be limited by this hand injury   or he just might be more careful and less willing  to do those things if he can be more careful he's   such an instinctual player uh and that's the one  thing that Jake plumber brought up by the way   plumber you know probably the least accomplished  of the other uh three you know of the four that I   interviewed he's the least accomplished uh but he  was my favorite interview of the four and he got   into a lot of uh things that you wouldn't think of  and and I'll give a a brief overview I want you to   read the story it'll be posted Thursday morning at  the athletic very very early probably by 6:00 am   or so it'll be posted uh but you have the pain  number one but let's just say that it's not a   significant injury and there's no pain necessarily  it is the short week there is swelling there is   fewer days to get treatment on it fewer days to  also learn some maybe muscle memory type things   that they need to do with handing off to the  right for instance you're talking about from   imagine being from the quarterback's Vantage Point  well number one it's going to be this direct snap   from Center and you think well the bills can go  shotgun etc etc well the bills under Joe Brady   still went about 30% direct snap over 30% direct  snap over last season's games with Joe Brady as   the offensive coordinator and they were over 40%  direct snap uh against um the Cardinals I'll have   to I'll I'll look it up exactly but whatever it  was it was something like 44 maybe 44% something   like that direct snap so they do that Conor  McGovern has things that he's going to need to   worry about when he's snapping it back to Josh  Allen and yet he's got nothing to worry about   he's supposed to not be thinking about it because  even on the direct snap he's got to fire it back   just as much as he could on any other play they're  going to be uh in Miami Gardens loud crowd perhaps   silent count if Conor McGovern decides to kind  of just gingerly put it back there even to take a   little bit off of his snaps he might have somebody  jumping off sides um in a shotgun situation if he   floats it back there a little bit it could throw  off motion I'm talking about pre- snap motion it   could throw out off the running back's timing  if there's a hand off or a pitch involved so   Conor McGovern as he explained to me has to act  as though J Josh Allen is 100% he cannot be the   reason why the play blows up before it even begins  so that's a big part then you have Josh Allen   handing off to his right a quarterback uses his  left hand to stick the ball in the running back's   stomach uh it's it's a that all all four of the  quarterbacks I talked to stressed being a big one   uh and all the different things that they would  do to try to uh manipulate or cope with their   left arm injury when it came to that things that  they couldn't do things that maybe even made it   a little more dangerous to do with the ball maybe  using your right hand uh when you're supposed to   be using your left um he he Josh Allen's gonna  have to be concerned about further injury uh   it's supposed to rain uh hurricane blowing through  South uh Florida uh today I believe it's going to   strike a little bit more on the western side uh of  the peninsula then the Eastern side headed towards   Louisiana but you're probably going to have some  thunderstorms uh well I don't want to say probably   you could have thunderstorms but there's probably  going to be some prec precipitation so you have a   wet football with uh keeping it secure even two  healthy hands it's it's imperative and now Josh   Allen has one that's going to have a wrap on  it or a glove that he's been practicing iing   with um yeah I I just think there's a lot  to to look at and that's why I reached out   to these guys because they've played through it  and it was fascinating for them to get into the   granular things that when you read the story and  then watch the game Thursday night you're going   to be constantly thinking and considering okay  is is everything going to be all right and as   you see him go through these things that uh  that these uh longtime veteran quarterbacks   decorated quarterbacks went through then um then  I think it's going to make for the the well maybe   it'll make you a little nervous before the  game but it'll it'll should add to your uh   your educated uh enjoyment of of what Josh Allen's  up to on Thursday night yeah it's a good breakdown   of some of the micro ways that this injury could  affect any quarterback and specifically Josh Allen   on the macro sense you know Josh Allen could play  the rest of the season without sustaining another   injury it's certainly possible and he's shown an  ability throughout his career to uh remain healthy   be durable play through injuries however the bills  need so much out of Josh alen this season and week   one was a very good example of the superhero  type play that Josh alen needs to play just   for the bills to win a home game by six points  and over an inferior organization I'm not gonna   say a team because maybe the Cardinals are going  to be a surprise but that's an organization that   if they have figured it out after winning four  games last year then it'll be a minor miracle   that's a team that the bills have to beat in  their home opener if they want to get anywhere   near to the over of 10 and a half that Vegas has  them at with victories if they want to get to 11   wins they cannot uh they cannot struggle against  an Arizona and for Josh Allen to get injured in   the very first game on his most superh heroic  play of a a superh heroic second half and you   know I know the first touchdown came in the first  half but second kind of part of the game where he   had those four touchdowns it just makes you wonder  how if he can get through a whole season without   sustaining more injury uh a more serious injury or  even an accumulation of injuries is can the bills   get to the playoffs with Josh alen playing at this  level without somehow getting hurt in a way that   limits him and limits the offense and limits this  team's ultimate potential when it's happening so   quickly uh you know and they they had to be  very careful with Josh Allen in the preseason   to to prevent any kind of injury there backup  quarterback got hurt very early in you know in   the preseason backup quarterback plural yeah right  yeah absolutely and those things are not related   but it it does kind of feel that way it does kind  of feel like the bills can't get through a game   without their quarterback getting hurt and the  bills can't get anywhere this season if Josh Allen   gets hurt significantly one thing that the bills  do have going for them it was something that I was   actually surprised Phil Sims uh had he was pretty  passionate about this is that the game being on   grass will help him because the jarring nature and  he wasn't even talking about back when he played   when it was pretty much allpurpose office carpet  on top of concrete in those stadiums including   at Rich Stadium but at the metal lands too he's  saying even today's artificial turf adds to your   weariness about injury because you about how  you're going to feel the next day and how tough   it is to shake off injuries and feeling miserable  after a game on artificial turf so playing on the   grass uh in Miami Gardens will be very helpful  to Josh Allen and also augment that thought   by they don't play again until the following  Monday night so if the bills can get through   this game uh and play it the way they want to  play it and whether it be with hydration and   the south Florida humidity or avoiding more  injuries to their defensive back field with Taran   Johnson being out for a while with his forearm  injury um that this is maybe a pretty good time   to have a short week get it out of the way they're  going to have this mini buy uh and then they can   figure things out going into that game against  the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night um but to   your point Jonah about Josh Allen and playing like  he did on on Sunday and how they're going to need   it with a dimmer Supporting Cast and I'm I use  the word dimmer in terms of like star power you   know there's no Stefan Diggs anymore um Gabriel  Davis even though he was frustrating to watch did   have amazing games at times to be without him  to watch the Bills have to spray the ball all   over the place with Arizona taking Dalton concade  out of the game it's going to have to be an all   handson deck situation for the bills offense with  Josh Allen being bug eye as we saw to your point   uh which is why I wrote what I did off of the game  on Sunday that Josh Allen needs to be the MVP if   the bills want to get to where they go this year I  think that that's evident again it's just one game   maybe James Cook occasionally can pop up for 175  yard three touchdown game or there are different   dudes that can make a big play Terrell Bernard  uh has a pick six or you know who knows special   teams make a big play and Josh Allen doesn't have  to be a hero on a weekly basis but uh I think that   and that that was the the sentiment of my column  off of that Sunday game is if Josh Allen is an   MVP player and he shows it this year then you're  not going to have to worry about Lamar Jackson or   Patrick Mahomes uh or anybody else stealing away  his votes as Bill's fans have been or anybody   consider considering him under uh overrated uh as  uh as an NFL quarterback in in Anonymous player polls Taran Johnson being out uh obviously  that's a much bigger injury than Josh Allen   although Josh Allen being the Marquee player  Taran Johnson uh incredibly important to the   bills secondary they're able to survive the  Cardinals game without him I'm picking the   Dolphins to win this game uh on Buffalo  kickoff live on on Channel 4 tomorrow   before the game I don't know if I'm the only  one but I as as the predictions were coming   in uh I was I was the only one for a while I  don't know if it finished out that way but um   I have a hard time when I'm looking at this  game and I'm I'm imagining the chess pieces   moving around I'm having a hard time Imagining  the bills being able to cover Mike McDaniel   offense in a way that makes me forget how wide  open the Arizona Cardinals were running around   the field for Kyler Murray uh and their 37y old  offensive coordinat now Mike McDaniel's young too   but I guess that's the age maybe doesn't matter  as much as as I wanted to make it sound there when   when I threw on that caveat or that that qualifier  but the Cardinals did not have a lot of offensive   of wherewithal in ter you know their system being  a thing like Miami system is a thing that you have   to worry about every defensive opponent and I  don't know that I can just keep saying the bills   are going to win or predict the bills to win just  because Mike McDaniel has had a hard time doing   it uh based on what I saw if Mike McDaniel or if  uh if the Dolphins players were running around   the field like the Cardinals players were wide  open then the bills probably don't win on the opener yeah I'm picking the Dolphins to win  this game as well I think a lot of it I would   attribute to being a schedule loss for the bills  being the road team on a Thursday night I know   the numbers say that the HomeField advantage  in Thursday night games isn't much different   than it is in traditional Sunday games but it  does feel that way and there definitely does   seem like there's a I think a natural feeling  that the home team that doesn't have to travel   has an advantage in this shorter week just the  way the schedule is formulated for the bills   this does seem like one of their hardest  challenges having to turn around and go on   the road and play a division rival so quickly  after the first game the bills have dominated   the matchup with the dolphins during Josh alen's  career in the last five six however many years   that is I don't know if that necessarily  means the Dolphins can't beat the bill   I think there's been games where the Dolphins have  kept the game close and played well in spurts and   haven't put together their best game against the  bills and that might still be coming they might   have a motivation Edge from the way they've lost  to the bills and the way their seasons have ended   or their division title hopes last year ended  against the bills they almost won a playoff   game here with Skyler Thompson at quarterback they  had a very good chance I think to win that game in   Miami last year and it didn't go their way in the  end Jordan puyer I think gives them a little bit   of emotional juice in this game and maybe when  they play again later this year at his age and   his injury history that's not as much of a factor  the bills certainly can win this game I just think   a lot more is stacked against the bills than it  is the Dolphins and I think that's why you saw   this line open as a one-point Advantage for the  dolphins being favored by one point and I believe   it's moved to two and a half points now from the  outside objective perspective people seem to think   the Dolphins are the favorites in this game but  in Buffalo there's this knee-jerk response that   Josh alen is the Dolphin's daddy and you know the  Dolphins can't win the game no matter what happens   so Taran Johnson being out as crucial as that is  uh we were talking not that long ago about Joe   andrees being uh the UB hero the local but uh  there's another UB player now that is going to   have to step in and fill well hell two right  that we may see filling very important roles   and what are your thoughts on those two guys I  know that you know those are stories that you   were kicking around uh tying the because you  cover a lot of UB too and it's it's good for   it's a good Channel 4 story it's a it's a good  story period about ub's players going to have   a prominent role Thursday night it's a great UB  story didn't didn't get much reaction from UB this   week the interesting well the funny thing about  that is you know well they didn't know this guy   it's it's that's two regimes ago right two regimes  ago Sam Lewis and Jamarcus Ingram both played for   different coaches and now there's another coach  I mean Mark olut has been the athletic director   there there has been one constant John Fuller  the you know athletic Communications boss over   there so there are people that have watched all  of these guys play and I think appreciate these   connections Brandon Bean talked about how the  local pro day and having the ability to bring   all these UB players in on their own has been  somewhat of an advantage for the bills and finding   these gems on that you know something about cam  Lewis that might be inter now Taron Johnson is a   forearm injury hasn't been reported anywhere that  he broke his arm I think there is some belief that   that might be the case I'm not reporting that  myself but I think some of us believe that might   be the case cam LS played with a broken arm in  his senior season at UB and Lance Lio called him   the toughest player he's ever coached around that  time so you know just something about cam Lewis   he played excellent filling in for Taran Johnson I  don't think there's a huge worry about him in that   spot there maybe it's a collective worry of the  bills just continuing to lose their best players   and another All Pro Player who's not in the lineup  but I think the early returns and cam Lewis has   been building up to this and he's probably better  in that slot position than he maybe was on the   outside some of the times he had some trouble  defending deeper passes on the outside might not   be a factor in what he does he he show an ability  to get in the back field and be a run Defender   from the bill side of things I think this is  just another example of their ability to develop   defensive backs and players in that back seven  and have players who maybe three four years ago   cam Lewis wasn't quite ready for this role but the  coaching and experience in the system same with   Jamarcus Ingram they're now members of the Bill's  secondary that you rely on and it gives you even   more confidence in the Bill's ability to develop  Dorian Williams or whoever they're going to need   at safety down the line you know I I don't wor  as much when the bills lose a defensive starter   in the back seven anymore sometimes it takes a  few weeks but they usually find that replacement   and then lo and behold sometimes that replacement  ends up being as good or better than the guy that   was hurt that you were worried about you know the  younger guy coming in for Jamarcus Ingram came in   and played 11 snaps for the bills against Arizona  but um cam Lewis played 55 90% of the defensive   snaps cam Lewis was out there uh with uh uh Taran  Johnson herd he was only able to play seven snaps   the one thing I'd War wonder about cam Lewis  despite what I just said about him maybe being the   toughest player that Lance lifeold ever coach and  a guy who played every down in college is that he   hasn't often been an every down player in the NFL  and coming off a big game but a game where he had   to make a lot of tackles a lot of physical plays  on a short week maybe there's something I don't   want to say he's not ready for it but maybe  there's more acclamation needed for him to be   able to come back and play that well again in  a fay span so just the volume of snaps and the   volume of physical plays having not done that  so regularly in his NFL career and then he's a   key special teams player now that he's on the  defense does he not play special teams or does   that further tax his body that's something the  bills have to think about in way coming into   this game the bills historically have done well  against Tyreek Hill or at least as a dolphin but   clearly he is the player that the bill secondary  is going to need to be aware at all times as they   have all these moving Parts with Taylor W as a the  graybeard I guess of the safeties Demar Hamlin uh   played okay uh in the opener but a lot of people  still concerned about Demar Hamlin even from two   years ago thought that he was maybe a liability at  times it's a great story and where he is and you   know he's back to competitiveness and competency  and you know but with you then t uh taking Taran   Johnson out of the mix uh I just want I came  across this Tyreek Hill stat today and I want   to share it because I it was a head Shaker for me  I I I know that Tyreek hill was a great player uh   but this really sums it up so um through nine  Seasons he already has 22 games of 125 yards or   more excuse me that is tied for third with Calvin  Johnson and Randy Moss for players through their   first nine Seasons they also had 22 games of  at least 125 yards and second only to Lance   allworth and Jerry Rice for players who've had  that kind of production in a single game and so   that is how explosive this guy is it's uh again  the bills have done well against him uh since   he's joined the Dolphins but uh it'll be it'll  be interesting here uh to see if they can keep   the lid on this guy and rul Douglas played very  well and took Marvin Harrison JR out of the game   in the opener Ty Hill is a different obviously a  different type of receiver and a different type   of matchup and we don't even know how often rul  Douglas will be on him but you know he's been   rul Douglas has been excellent for the bill since  the day they traded for him and that's continued   into the season and might again be a factor in  this matchup with Tyreek Hill interesting thing   with Tyreek Hill I think is he's the biggest  story in football right now and it has nothing   to do with football has everything to do with what  happened on his ride to the stadium last week that   might not be a factor at all in this game but it  could be it could be a galvanizing factor for the   Dolphins it could be a distraction for Tyreek  Hill and the Dolphins this week they've been   talking about that and reacting to that in their  press conferences I think a lot more than they   have to the bills and Josh Allen in this matchup  I don't know which way that's going to fall and   it's certainly possible that it really has nothing  to do with what happens on the field but again it   does feel like that's a storyline coming into this  game that might coming out of the game you might   look at that and think that was a factor yeah  I agree with that I agree with all of that and   there's nothing for me to even add because you  summed it up perfectly um let's stay with UB I   mean we just I know we flipped it over there and  talked about Tyreek Hill a little bit there but   we just talking about UB um and then we'll get  to Sab rookie Camp uh UMass at UB in ham Hurst   1:00 Saturday afternoon this is a non-conference  game Joe and I don't know really what's to say I   mean it's one of those you know they already they  already won their early non-conference game these   are the games that make UB football fans uh  frustrated because they lose these games and   they have I don't know I just I'll just tee it up  for you that way what what what are your thoughts   on this matchup well it is a non-conference game  but not quite because you does have a Mid-American   Conference tie in they're Mid-American Conference  in waiting and they played two Mac teams so far   this season and you know after this season it's  going to be a conference game when UV plays UMass   and might be a bit of a Mac rivalry considering  they're the two most eastern teams they both play   in Amherst Amherst Massachusetts and Amherst New  York I I should have clarified that I said the   games in Amherst and some people might think that  it's in Massachusetts and even though it isn't a   game that's going to count in the Mac standings  it's a game that's a much better gauge of whether   UB can be competitive in the Mac this year than  playing against an FCS team in the home game   to open the season and then playing at Missouri  which was number nine and now up to number six so   whether the UB wins or loses I think you'll have  a much better sense of how good this team is and   how competitive it can be against Mt competition  based on this game and comparing it to the results   of the other two Mech teams that UMass has played  and just not having to play a team full of SEC NFL   draft picks but also not an FCS opponent where  UB has a little bit of that Talent Advantage   it's also a home game UB can I think this will  be the first time in Four Seasons that UB can   win its first two home games and it I think it's  just good you know I don't know if UB is going   to be a team that contends for Bowl eligibility  but this is the game they need to win I think to   get to six wins and have that as a hope and have  that as a carrot for them going into the end of   the season and they just need to play better  spec specifically on offense specifically in   the passing game and quarterback CJ Agana if that  doesn't happen and this isn't a good resol for UB   or it isn't a good offensive performance there  could be some questions about depth T changes   and whether a quarterback or somewhere else in  the offense UB needs to rec caliber for their   Mac opener that is coming up and I want to make a  comment on that game two weeks AG but before I say   that UB is also dealing with maybe a significant  injury Nick Millan their best wide receiver a   kichus high school former player he's going to  miss this game with a knee injury you know that   might hurt UB a little bit in one of the areas  of the game where they struggled a lot against   Missouri after this game against UMass ub's next  game is against Northern Illinois who's number 25   in the country and has a buy this week probably  going to stay in the top 25 going into that game   so UB will have two ranked teams on their schedule  within the four first four weeks Northern Illinois   just beat Notre day maybe the biggest win in  Mac history so that's going to be a tough match   up for you in South Bend by the way right and you  know Missouri probably better than Notre Dame but   you know UB lost 38 to nothing and really never  had a chance in that game they kept it close for   about a quarter Northern Illinois beat Notre  Dame but I think the line it's a thinner line   than that might suggest between a Max school that  doesn't beat a big 10 team on the road or an SEC   power five I'll say you know UB could play well  and have a chance to win at Northern Illinois it's   not that Northern Illinois is a juggernaut and UB  doesn't have the horses to play in that game so   I just think it's we talked about it last week he  asked me can you be win at Missouri I didn't think   they could but you know you never know you play  you execute well enough and division one football   these players do have enough talent I think to  compete and play these games but everything has   to go right and you have to play your A+ game and  you need that other team to play you know below   their A+ level it's funny because when I asked  that question and it was probably out of my mouth   for three seconds before I realized I should have  formulated the question better you know like can   they cover how competitive can they be um but what  I had in mind is look I I followed the Mac for a   long time because I grew up in Northeast Ohio  that was the conference that I had I was most   interested in even more than the Big 10 I followed  Bowling Green and Kent State and akan way more   than I followed OSU and Michigan and all this  other stuff why I don't know I probably because   kids in from my conferences and in my area that I  grew up in that's where they went and played and I   don't know my my brother and sister both graduated  from Kent State and I was just drawn to it I don't   know but every year they would have a competitive  game or two or sometimes four or five early on in   the season against a juggernaut these Mac teams uh  and then again latest example being what you just   said Northern Illinois goes into South Ben shocks  Notre Dame and again I I didn't know that that was   going to happen it's not like I was psychic about  Northern Illinois but when I'm asking the question   about UB you'd like to see them come up and do  something at some point over these years I moved   to Buffalo in 2000 that my first job was covering  college sports it was Craig cus trying to turn UB   football into a division 1A competitive program  and I don't know so it's been 24 years I I'd like   to see UB stun somebody and it doesn't seem like  if you were to compare the UB Missouri game and   the Northern Illinois Notre Dame game which you  were just doing it doesn't even seem like we're   talking about the same conferences are the same  this it's not it's not uh there's no allegory   maybe they need to get an Notre Dame on the schedule a Syracuse maybe yeah that that that  has happened I know that has happened I don't   know I would like to see him play army I'd like  the New York teams to have to play each other   they played Army in the past it's been a few  years you know on a regular basis I mean yeah   scheduling is tough for Max schouls I mean they  get these games and they make a lot of money in   these games but you have to book them out like  10 years in advaned and they don't have much   uh say in who they get or they kind of just take  the the most money and the best opportunity they   have for those schedules but yeah eventually you  know as a division one program UB kind of needs   that signature win at least for the fans sake and  maybe they don't need it but it does feel that way   and it's been a long time I think since they went  into one of these games and you thought they had   a good chance of pulling it off they they played  tough at Penn State few years back um a lot of   it depends on how good that other team is and how  ready to play that power five team is but you also   probably need to be U at its best like it was with  Lance lightbolt as the coach or or brief period   with Turner Gil and not UB in a downward Swoon  as it is coming out of moris Ling's tenure and   now Pete Lambo trying to rebuild things speaking  of booking things 10 years out Jonah uh you were   out at sab's rookie camp today I I was not I was  uh consumed with Bill's football and heading to   Miami and the whole thing on the short week but  uh Sab rookie Camp people get excited about it   every year or at least well maybe not excited  they're borderline interested I don't but again   to me it's always uh fascinating that we we start  covering these guys who we're not going to see   for years you know booking them several years out  you're drafting in the NHL and yes maybe there's   a guy who might make the roster but but you're  going to you're talking mostly about Rochester   guys maybe ECHL guys maybe guys who are you know  floating around and maybe not making a making any   Sabers organizational roster but how how do you  go out there and cover it what's the what's the   vibe regarding the roster I know that I think  there were five first round draft picks on the   ice today um what's what what Drew your attention  well you know it's a cumulative thing I'm kind of   out there for a few days and then hope hopefully  you find some storylines or or what I'm most   likely going to write is some sort of catchall  at the end about everything that happens it's   part of the ramp up towards the season but yeah  you are right in that you know you might not be   seeing guys that are on the NHL roster this year  at all in this prospects challenge but there are   a lot of players that figure into the Sabers  future and probably near-term future Yuri khle   Zak rosan they've already played two full seasons  in Rochester and if they're not ready to play in   the NHL right now they're very close and the  way the Sabers approach free agency and fill   out the roster there might not be a roster  spot for them unless Zack Benson is going   down to Rochester and I don't know if that's the  case he's not here at the rookie Camp prospects challenge you know I think it's it's an  interesting event to kind of scout for the   future and see these prospects and especially if  you're a Rochester Americans fan and you get to   see up close what that team's going to look like  this season Ryan Johnson he's here he's a player   who has played with the Sabres for a large number  of games before being sent back down to the miners   it's be interesting to see if any of these players  are ready you know can be Camp surprises can steal   a roster spot the way Zack Benson did last year  or if they're playing so well in Rochester that   the time does come that they need to be elevated  into the roster the Sabres do seem to have this   whole in the forward line right now for a top  six forward who can score goals replacing what   Jeff Skinner gave them maybe Yuri Kik is that guy  eventually you know they need to he needs to all   of these guys really need to show that they can  play defensive hockey in a two-way game and maybe   not a top six high-scoring Winger role but the  Sabres might need that type of player and they   might have a few young options and a lot of them  possible options are going to be on the ice at   Harbor Center this weekend what's the situation  there with these practices are open to the public   or some of them are or all of them are what's  the well the prospect challenge games are open   to the public I don't believe the practices are  at least today's practice was not um public oh   there were some PE I don't know exactly how Harbor  Center works if it's a little bit like uh you know   UB alumni Arena where it's kind of always open  because people are running around on that track   just living life students coming through can't  keep them out of there it seems like there's   sometimes a little bit of that at Harbor Center  but I don't want to say that they're open to fans   when they're not but there weren't a lot of fans  it did seem like a not public practice today and I   believe that's the case for tomorrow's practice  but then they're they're playing games Friday   Saturday and Sunday night anything else Jonah  nlll draft coming up Bandit putting together   their roster and I think a schedule announcement  is probably coming soon after that and and we'll   see when they get to lower their Banner at Key  Bank Center and this you know this um prospects   challenges the ramp up to the real training camp  for the sabr and next week we're going to get to   see we've seen photos but you get to see up close  uh the new scoreboard and the other new I guess   you just had to drive on the Skyway to see the  new roof but the new things that are there at   Key Center and the new season and Lindy Ruff back  behind the bench the new players the new roster   then they go overseas to Germany for an exhibition  game and opening the season in Prague but hockey   season's going to be here sooner than later and  this prospects challenge is really the start of   welcoming back the hockey season I have it jotted  down here so I might as well share it I'll leave   everybody here with a Josh Allen stat uh before  I get to that though let me remind you please uh   like subscribe comment do all the things that you  can do on your platform of choice to support Tim   Graham and Friends uh we greatly appreciate it uh  but here is a stat heading into Thursday night's   game against the Dolphins Josh Allen is tied with  with Cam Newton in NFL history with 37 games of   at least one passing and one rushing touchdown  so you got to think that he's eventually going   to get that record and with the way that we we  were talking about Josh Allen and how he needs   to play and the bills are going to be leaning  on him this year you'd like to think that he   breaks that record uh pretty soon here in the ne  that's not like the Tyreek stat earlier that's not   through nine Seasons or through this or through  that that's for NFL history most games with a   rushing and passing touchdown uh another stat I  might as well empty the empty the notebook here   uh he's also tied with Cam Newton for 10 games  with two rushing touchdowns but he's behind Jaylen   Herz in that one so it may take so just because  he passes Cam Newton which he'll eventually do   he's still gonna have to catch up the Jaylen Herz  who is Young and is's looks like he's going to be   doing this for a while too so that could be a a  race that that Josh Allen has trouble winning but   that record for passing and rushing touch Downs  uh looks like that'll be his pretty soon Josh   Allen is the quarterback on one of my fantasy  teams so we'll see if he benefits my team I I   had him on one team and I played against him  on the other team so I don't know whether I   should be rooting for him to score or not or if  I should even be having those kind of thoughts   while I'm sitting in the Press Box trying to be  an objective journalist well Jonah what you should   be rooting for is not necessarily your opponent  because that's just one week you need to root for   Josh Allen to stay healthy yeah well I think the  problem with that team is too many Buffalo Bills   players oh do you want to you want to talk about  that I got let's save it for next week let's save   it for next week because we can get into that for  a good 10 minutes I I it's it is amazing let's   let's just leave it at that uh thanks to everybody  out thanks to everybody out there for listening   or for watching whichever you preferred on to  uh Tim Graham and friends brought to you by CT   BK CPAs and Business Consultants the financial  needs of a business go beyond tax and attest   Services that's why ctbk goes beyond accounting  services and offers outsourced Solutions through   their affiliation with CFO Solutions Plus  these additional Services allow clients to   focus on their operational and long-term strategic  goals trust cbk's outsourc solutions to provide   costeffective 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