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00:00:05Субтитры сделал DimaTorzok
00:00:39Субтитры сделал DimaTorzok
00:01:01Субтитры сделал DimaTorzok
00:01:03At home against the Pittsburgh Steelers
00:01:35And hi everyone alongside Bill's legend Steve Tasker
00:01:36Young Skyler Bell, fourth round draft pick, wide receiver.
00:01:39He's been injured with the groin.
00:01:41He's only been practicing a couple of days.
00:01:43He's been virtually off the field for a month.
00:01:46And of course, Max Harrison, who didn't play at all in the preseason last year
00:01:49and through the first seven games of the regular season last year,
00:01:53chance to get him on the field.
00:01:54He's been nursing some injuries as well.
00:01:56Josh Allen will not play tonight.
00:01:59However, he may call plays for a drive or two.
00:02:03He's got the headset on.
00:02:04He has a play sheet in his hand.
00:02:05We'll keep an eye on that.
00:02:07But Joe Brady did tell us it was a possibility.
00:02:09I don't think it'll be on this opening drive.
00:02:11As the Bills won the toss and they have elected to receive.
00:02:15And the quarterback tonight for Buffalo will be Shane Buschel.
00:02:20Kyle Allen will only play in an emergency situation.
00:02:23You can see Josh Allen is not even in uniform.
00:02:27It'll be Chris Boswell to kick it away for the Steelers.
00:02:32And on the return for Buffalo, it's McColl Hardman
00:02:36fighting to make this 53-man roster.
00:02:39And Hardman across the 25 and down at the 26.
00:02:42So down comes Shane Buschel, who's now in his fourth summer with the Bills.
00:02:48He was on their practice squad last year.
00:02:50But in late December, he signed to the Chiefs roster, made his NFL debut in Week 18 against
00:02:56Las Vegas, and then came back here to Buffalo.
00:02:59A lot of familiarity between Buschel, Joe Brady, and Josh Allen.
00:03:04Yeah, as this offense breaks the huddle, there's a lot of guys out there who really do feel like
00:03:09this is their Super Bowl right now.
00:03:10They've got to play well.
00:03:12And they're going to give it everything they've got.
00:03:15On first down, Frank Gore Jr. trying the right side and tripped up in the backfield by the
00:03:20veteran, Landon Roberts.
00:03:22Let's take a look at our players to watch.
00:03:24Brought to you by Collada Health, the official health care provider of the Buffalo Bills.
00:03:29We already talked about Skyler Bell and Trent Shurfield.
00:03:32Steve is also in that roster bubble right now.
00:03:35Yeah, Shurfield is in a deep, wide receiver room.
00:03:37They've got a lot of quality players, but Shurfield has really shown up a big time, and so has
00:03:43Jamori Macklin.
00:03:44All these guys are going to get a chance to play a lot of snaps tonight.
00:03:48Second down and nine.
00:03:49Quick pass.
00:03:50There's Hardman again, and Hardman is hit hard at the 28-yard line by Robert Spears Jennings.
00:03:56It brings up third down.
00:03:58In this offense, Buschel and so did Kyle Allen last week.
00:04:03Both quarterbacks played really well, but Buschel's going to take every single snap tonight.
00:04:07Get him a chance to get into a real rhythm, get into a play-calling mode, and it'll be
00:04:13interesting to see if Josh Allen does get a chance to call plays.
00:04:17Is he going to give Shane Buschel some plays that Shane likes, or is he going to give him
00:04:22plays that Josh likes?
00:04:23That's an interesting question.
00:04:25Third down and seven.
00:04:27Buschel in the shotgun.
00:04:30Pressure coming off the edge by Sawyer.
00:04:32Buschel lets it rip, and he's got a first down completion to Shurfield.
00:04:36That's his team-leading seventh catch of the preseason, a gain of 11.
00:04:41Tough catch by Shurfield.
00:04:44Buschel gets it out there.
00:04:45He looked like he threw this a little bit off his back foot.
00:04:47Saw some guys getting into his face right here.
00:04:50Didn't really, and the ball wobbles a little bit, but Shurfield pulls it in.
00:04:53Really crisp route.
00:04:55And that's how you convert a third down.
00:04:57That's a nice way to start the drive and to keep it going.
00:05:04Shurfield now in his ninth year out of Vanderbilt.
00:05:08High snap.
00:05:09Buschel looking left, has a wide open Macklin, and he runs out of bound with a first down.
00:05:14Jamori Macklin had the 71-yard touchdown a week ago against the Browns.
00:05:19This one goes for 13.
00:05:20One of the things I've noticed about this preseason with Joe Brady calling the plays,
00:05:26they are not just running vanilla offenses.
00:05:30They're running some pretty, a little higher level.
00:05:33Not sophisticated, but a little higher level than you usually see in the preseason.
00:05:37It's not just ins and outs.
00:05:39It's some flooded zones.
00:05:40It's some other things that you're seeing from Joe Brady.
00:05:42And it does give his quarterbacks and some of these young players a chance to show what they really can
00:05:46do.
00:05:47Play action.
00:05:48Buschel rolling right.
00:05:49Chase and will throw it away.
00:05:52Applying the pressure was Robert Spears Jennings, the rookie's safety out of Oklahoma.
00:05:57Yeah, this play was well defended.
00:06:01Buschel does the right thing here and throws it away, and he does it early enough as well.
00:06:04He did take a hit, but you get so used to guys in this uniform, number 17 out here.
00:06:10He stiff arms this DB and keeps pulling out to round the corner, and he still extends the play.
00:06:17Buschel doesn't have that option.
00:06:18He's not able to outrun people like Josh can.
00:06:21He's got to throw that away, and it was the right move.
00:06:30Frank Gore, Jr., the running back, and another play-action fake.
00:06:33Buschel looking deep down the field for Bell, and it's incomplete.
00:06:37He missed him.
00:06:38Skyler Bell had some separation, but they could not connect.
00:06:41Yeah, that's on Buschel.
00:06:43This one is Bell is in the exact right spot.
00:06:44He's got the right motion.
00:06:45He comes across.
00:06:46You'll see him come right underneath the crossing route of Gosnell, and Buschel just misses him.
00:06:52That's a tough miss right there.
00:06:55Bell, the fourth-round rookie out of UConn.
00:06:58He began at Wisconsin.
00:07:00Injured his groin at practice earlier in August, and said when he returned to practice this past Monday,
00:07:06he felt like a kid in a candy store, and Joe Brady wants to get Skyler Bell some reps tonight.
00:07:11They miss an opportunity there.
00:07:14Play clock down to two on third and ten.
00:07:18Buschel throwing left.
00:07:19He's got another first down, and still on his feet is Koleki Lattu.
00:07:23A couple extra yards for the first-year tight end out of Washington, and the Bills move the chains again.
00:07:31The Steelers are going to bring pressure.
00:07:33You'll see right up here, they're bringing everybody up.
00:07:36Frank Gore steps up in there.
00:07:37He gets bull rushed a little bit, but he gets just enough for the guy.
00:07:40A quarterback knows that the ball has to come out fast, so that's all Gore has to do,
00:07:46is get a piece of that linebacker in the hole.
00:07:48Buschel makes the throw perfectly executed on every aspect.
00:07:52A 13-yard pickup on first down.
00:07:55Bills go back to the ground with Frank Gore Jr.
00:07:58It was Ben Van Sumeren, the fullback, who was trying to lead the way.
00:08:01That's an interesting one, Steve.
00:08:03The Bills did cut Jackson Aker, the second fullback on the roster.
00:08:07So you think, okay, Ben Van Sumeren will be the guy, but that's if there's a guy.
00:08:12The fullback is certainly a position across the NFL where each team will go about it differently.
00:08:16It's not a given.
00:08:18And don't forget, the Bills did let Reggie Gilliam walk this offseason,
00:08:25so I don't know how committed they are to the position.
00:08:28Buschel back to the air.
00:08:29Fires a strike over the middle, and he's got Bell.
00:08:32And Bell's still going inside the 15.
00:08:36That's what Bills fans want to see.
00:08:38Skyler Bell for 16 yards.
00:08:41It's the only thing you've got to worry about right now, Andrew.
00:08:44You get a young guy, he's been watching, he hasn't been able to practice.
00:08:48His adrenaline is absolutely skyrocketing right now.
00:08:52He probably can't find enough oxygen to breathe.
00:08:55That's the way it happens in this.
00:08:56And you don't want him to go out there and pop something else, right?
00:08:59He's been waiting for this chance.
00:09:02I like the fact that they're giving him a chance to get the ball in his hands early,
00:09:06get him acclimated, and so he can calm down as the game wears on.
00:09:11It's a pitch to Gore, trying the left side.
00:09:13Good job by the Steelers to push back.
00:09:15A Landon Roberts again, along with Gabriel Rubio making the tackle.
00:09:20Yeah, Steelers held the line of scrimmage and strung this playoff.
00:09:23Gore had no place to run.
00:09:24Just get what you can get.
00:09:25That was actually a loss of a half a yard on that.
00:09:28That was well defended.
00:09:30The Steelers doing a nice job up front at the line of scrimmage.
00:09:33They're doing a nice job against the run game here in the early going.
00:09:37Their pass rush has not been able to find Buchel as yet.
00:09:47Ian Wheeler now into the game at running back, Buchel gets it out quickly, juggled, and dropped by McColl Hardman.
00:09:56He's going to want that one back as he tries to make this roster.
00:09:59Yeah, he was going to catch and pivot and started to catch and pivot before he caught it.
00:10:05He was going to turn back inside, it looked like, and just couldn't bring the thing in.
00:10:11He was thinking about three different things.
00:10:16Third down and 11.
00:10:24Good looking opening drive for Buchel, trying to keep it going here.
00:10:29Taking a shot in the end zone, looking for Bell, and it's incomplete.
00:10:33Good coverage on the play by Brandon Echols, the former Jet.
00:10:37And on fourth down, Tyler Bass will come out to attempt a field goal.
00:10:41And it's the rookie punter, Tommy Doman, who will hold.
00:10:44That remains, as Joe Brady and Brandon Bean told us,
00:10:48an open competition between Doman, the rookie out of Florida,
00:10:52and Mitch Wyshnowski, the veteran who punted for the Bills a year ago.
00:10:56And right now, Doman will hold.
00:10:58I was watching Tyler Bass in the pregames.
00:11:01He kicked a 60-yarder pregame.
00:11:03We'll see if he can do this from 33.
00:11:07Doman gets it down.
00:11:09Bass knocks it through.
00:11:11And Tyler Bass now 5 out of 6, kicking field goals this preseason.
00:11:17Bills on the board first.
00:11:19It's 3-0.
00:11:24Stadium, it's time now for our Highmark Stadium focus.
00:11:27And for that, we say hello to Maddie Glab.
00:11:30Thanks, Andrew.
00:11:31Highmark Stadium is setting a new standard in the NFL with its player facilities.
00:11:35The locker room is a work of art.
00:11:37It's an open concept, so players feel connected.
00:11:40The locker stalls connect in the ceiling.
00:11:42It represents unity.
00:11:43Very sleek design.
00:11:45When players saw it for the first time, wide receiver Khalil Shakir said,
00:11:48This is unreal.
00:11:49This place is so nice.
00:11:51I'm even smiling at the floors.
00:11:53Quarterback Josh Allen hit us with a very nice.
00:11:56The locker room opens up into a training room that has hot and cold tubs, sauna, steam room.
00:12:02That's right next to a 30-yard indoor turf field for players to warm up on.
00:12:06And general manager Brandon Beans says, So far, players are loving it.
00:12:11I think they're going to use it a ton in season.
00:12:14Maddie, thank you.
00:12:15That was our Highmark Stadium focus brought to you by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.
00:12:20The official health plan of the Buffalo Bills.
00:12:22And that was an interesting kickoff right there because Tommy Doman, the punter, did it.
00:12:28That is not something we've seen in the preseason.
00:12:30It's been Tyler Bass.
00:12:31Doman did do it in college.
00:12:33But a new wrinkle that he might be able to bring to the table, Steve.
00:12:36It's the more you can do, right?
00:12:37And if Doman can finish a game in that respect, that's a big plus for him and his bid to
00:12:43be on the roster.
00:12:45After a 13-play drive for Buffalo, their defense takes the field with Will Howard starting at quarterback.
00:12:52And he is sacked.
00:12:55Keontae Jenkins flying through.
00:13:00Yeah, this was well covered in the back end.
00:13:03And just had to hang on to it.
00:13:07Howard just didn't want to let it rip.
00:13:09And then it all ran out on him.
00:13:11Keontae Jenkins getting there.
00:13:12And then, of course, over the top comes Elarm Zor as well.
00:13:18And the punter loving it.
00:13:19That's my kickoff right there.
00:13:20All right.
00:13:21A loss of nine on first down.
00:13:30Howard.
00:13:31And he's got the completion.
00:13:33And Caleb Elarm Zor is right there for Buffalo.
00:13:38Pass was caught by Riley Nowakowski as we take a look at our players to watch.
00:13:44Brought to you by Collada Health, the official health care provider of the Buffalo Bills.
00:13:48Yeah, these two guys, Max Harrison and Michael Hoyt, both getting some reps tonight.
00:13:52Hoyt, obviously a guy who is looked at to be a huge contributor this year, as is Maxwell Harrison.
00:13:58But both those guys, Max coming off a little bit of an injury of late.
00:14:02Hoyt coming off a ruptured Achilles, wants to play in this game.
00:14:06And they'll probably have to let him play for a little bit, but they'll sit on him later on.
00:14:11Steelers just run it on third down up the middle.
00:14:14And they're going to be a couple of yards shy of a first.
00:14:18On the carry was Lou Nichols, the second year running back out of Central Michigan.
00:14:23And out comes the punt team for Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh.
00:14:26Third and long is something the Bills fans have really, really been sensitive to.
00:14:31They were vulnerable on third and long last year as a defense, could not get off the field consistently.
00:14:38And that's been something that guy there, Jimmy Leonard, the new defensive coordinator,
00:14:43he is really working hard at getting his mind around and getting his troops to rally the ball.
00:14:49On that, a running play, you should stop it.
00:14:51Joe Brady wanted to see Ray Davis return punts at night.
00:14:55He's done it during the day, and that's why he had him back there.
00:15:02And that is why, and that is not a live ball, that's a dead ball, so Ray Davis, that's a
00:15:09muff, not a fumble.
00:15:11Steelers cannot advance it, but it is a turnover.
00:15:24Point, and it is good, so back-to-back catastrophic plays for the Bills as Davis cannot field the punt.
00:15:33Hairston misses the tackle, and Bernard takes it in for six.
00:16:03Takes over as head coach, and you see what the Bills offense has done
00:16:07since he took over as offensive coordinator in November of 2023.
00:16:12And the rush yards per game, certainly the one that jumps out.
00:16:15Last year, number one in the NFL, averaging 159 per game on the ground.
00:16:19And Joe said, look, we need to continue to evolve our running game.
00:16:23We can't just run it back with the same plays that worked a year ago.
00:16:26It's going to look a little bit different.
00:16:27And, of course, they won't debut that until week one in Houston as Hartman with the return out to the
00:16:3333-yard line.
00:16:35There's a good return there.
00:16:37And we'll see if the Bills offense can get this back going.
00:16:39They had a nice drive to open the game.
00:16:41And then that unfortunate sequence they just had, two plays in a row,
00:16:44a muffed punt on the turnover inside the 10 or inside the 15,
00:16:49and then a quick catch and pass and catch and a touchdown for the Steelers.
00:16:54And just like that, it's a tie ball game again as Shane Buschel comes back out on the field with
00:16:57the offense.
00:17:01And now it is stopped dead.
00:17:04And one of the Steelers is walking off the field.
00:17:07Yep, the observer might have caught somebody stumbling a little bit out after the kickoff coverage.
00:17:12They're walking him right off the field.
00:17:18Now, he, yeah, he's a 12th guy on.
00:17:21He's, they had 12 guys on the field.
00:17:23He was not supposed to be out there.
00:17:25He's.
00:17:34Yeah, that's Ben Skronic.
00:17:38Heading right off.
00:17:40Yeah.
00:17:41With 7.03 to go in the first.
00:17:48Buschel on first down, hands it to Frank Gore Jr.
00:17:51He's got some room around the outside.
00:17:52Flags are down in the play.
00:17:54Gore Jr. picks up 13, but let's see if this one's coming back.
00:17:58Yeah, they're going to get him on a hold.
00:17:59A lot of flags flew on that one.
00:18:05Holding.
00:18:07Offense.
00:18:08Number 89.
00:18:09And they called on.
00:18:11We played.
00:18:1289.
00:18:13Does that give you flashbacks, Steve?
00:18:15A little bit.
00:18:15Steven Gosnell called for it.
00:18:17There's Alec Anderson.
00:18:18And Joe Brady did confirm with our crew that Alec Anderson has won the starting left guard job.
00:18:25That was a competition all summer long, along with Austin Corbett.
00:18:29Brady telling us that they like the physicality level that Anderson brought this summer.
00:18:34But he said, look, both of them played well.
00:18:36And I love our interior depth with not only Corbett now as a backup, but Lloyd Cushenberry at center and
00:18:42guard.
00:18:43Cushenberry is filled in all summer for the injured Connor McGovern.
00:18:46As that pass is held on to by Gore Jr.
00:18:50But Cole Holcomb was all over him.
00:18:52Yeah, they sniffed that play out before the snap.
00:18:55Holcomb was all over Gore.
00:18:57It's a good thing Gore might have been better off just batting it to the ground.
00:19:00You see him.
00:19:02Holcomb just runs straight at Gore.
00:19:05Obviously, man coverage.
00:19:06He just covered him up.
00:19:08Great job by Holcomb there.
00:19:10Read that play and reacted.
00:19:14Second down and 25.
00:19:16Buschel again in the shotgun.
00:19:18And that's Skyler Bell who goes in motion.
00:19:24Buschel gets rid of it.
00:19:26Another tough catch made by Gore Jr.
00:19:28And he's thrown down right away on the play by Carson Bruner.
00:19:32Yeah.
00:19:33Early on, you can tell the modus operandi for Shane Buschel, the ball has to come out.
00:19:39The Steelers are collapsing the pocket.
00:19:41Nobody's running free in on him.
00:19:44But the pocket is getting in around his legs and his body.
00:19:47You see there he tried.
00:19:48It's like throwing it out of a bush.
00:19:50Trying to get away from the branches.
00:19:54Tough throw and a tough catch as a result.
00:19:57Third down and 22.
00:20:07Buschel in trouble and down he goes.
00:20:11Sent to the turf by a Buffalo native, Kevin Jobity, who played at Maryvale High School in Cheek, Tawaga, and
00:20:19played his collegiate football at Syracuse.
00:20:23Tawaga, who played at Maryvale High School in Cheek, Tawaga, and played at Maryvale High School in Cheek.
00:20:27Just bull rushes and then spins in and goes low.
00:20:30And Lunt playing guard here.
00:20:35Just can't hold him off.
00:20:37Buschel had it in his mind he was going to break out, break, contain, and try and run.
00:20:40But Jobity does a nice job getting him on the ground.
00:20:45And this is Mitch Wischnowski punting for the Bills.
00:20:50Takes a Buffalo hop fielded by Regin at the 35.
00:20:54Gets away from Gosnell.
00:20:56And Regin is then stopped at the 33-yard line.
00:21:00Yeah, well covered by the Bills.
00:21:02Zero yards on the return.
00:21:04Maybe a loss of a yard.
00:21:05Great coverage.
00:21:07Wischnowski got the bounce on the punt, it turns out, for the best.
00:21:17The Bills threw a flag for a legal formation on the punt.
00:21:21So the Bills had to punt again.
00:21:23And Mitch Wischnowski did not hit a good one.
00:21:28At all.
00:21:29In fact, it goes out of bounds.
00:21:31And I think it hits Trent Shurfield.
00:21:32Or it hits this.
00:21:33The Shane guy right in the head.
00:21:35A 19-yard punt for number 19.
00:21:39And when you're trying to win the job, that is not going to help.
00:21:43So the Steelers take over with great field position at the 28-yard line.
00:21:48Some frustration there for the veteran.
00:21:50Here's Nichols on the carry.
00:21:52And he sneaks through down to the 20-yard line.
00:21:56Yeah, there's a missed tackle right there by Keontae Jenkins.
00:21:59Right at the point of attack.
00:22:02Running back just spun right out of it.
00:22:08And, yeah, just couldn't get him on the ground.
00:22:12The Bills have looked really sharp in this preseason.
00:22:15A 2-0 record.
00:22:16Pretty easy victories over Carolina and Cleveland.
00:22:18They have not been as crisp as we've seen all summer so far tonight.
00:22:23On second and three.
00:22:25And it's a first down run.
00:22:29It was T.J. Parker making the tackle.
00:22:32Geno Stone, the seventh year safety in his first year with Buffalo.
00:22:37Steve, do you have any concerns from a Bills perspective about the injuries in the secondary
00:22:43in terms of Cole Bishop and C.J. Gardner-Johnson?
00:22:46Have not had a lot of time together this summer because both have been injured.
00:22:50I don't, not as much.
00:22:52Both those guys are veteran guys and they've been around the block once in the NFL at least
00:22:57with Cole Bishop, Gardner-Johnson more than once.
00:23:01So I think they will acclimate very quickly.
00:23:04Plus, just because they haven't been on the field together doesn't mean they haven't spoken
00:23:08and had conversations about how they would play on the field together.
00:23:12Watching film, they say, I would do this.
00:23:13What are you thinking here?
00:23:14They can get very, very comp, they can get really communicative without taking the rep.
00:23:21So it will come when they both get on the field, no question about it.
00:23:27Virtual measurement showing that Pittsburgh had a first down.
00:23:31If you want to remind you that in the second quarter, Buffalo general manager Brandon Bean
00:23:35will join us here in the broadcast booth as the Bills have to get down to 53 by Sunday at
00:23:426 p.m.
00:23:45Howard flings it out to Nichols down the sideline, now cuts it up in a first down pickup
00:23:50for the running back Lou Nichols.
00:23:54Gain of 13 on the play.
00:23:57Yeah, nice play by the Steelers.
00:23:59Bills struggling to rally to the football, getting to the edge as quickly as they did.
00:24:05You can see there, Keontae Jenkins in at middle linebacker.
00:24:10Greg Gaines getting some reps inside, newly signed defensive tackle.
00:24:20First and goal for Pittsburgh.
00:24:22Howard, the quarterback, thrown in the end zone, incomplete.
00:24:25He was looking for Bernard, and Toriano Pride had the coverage for the Bills' defense.
00:24:32Showed you Jim Leonard down on the sideline today.
00:24:36He's varied that up.
00:24:38He was on the sideline week one of the preseason, and he was up in the box last week.
00:24:44Joe Brady told us he likes the sideline, so he's down there tonight,
00:24:48but we'll revisit where he's going to be before week one.
00:24:53That seems to be the really popular preseason topic.
00:24:56Which is he up or down?
00:24:58Which coordinator is leaping for the end zone, and it's a touchdown for Lake McCree.
00:25:03The undrafted rookie tight end out of USC adds to Pittsburgh's lead.
00:25:09Just a little bit of misdirection here as McCree comes across the formation.
00:25:13T.J. Parker was going to take him on like he was a blocker, thinking it was a play action,
00:25:18which it was.
00:25:20And the fake got T.J. Parker out of position, and that let McCree get to the edge and then
00:25:26dive in across the end zone.
00:25:28The misdirection got the Bills looking the wrong way, and that's all it took.
00:25:32So the short punt proves costly for Buffalo as Boswell comes out to attempt the extra point again, and this
00:25:38one is good.
00:25:4214-3 Steelers in front of the Bills, and a late flag has just flown, as it looks like some
00:25:49emotions were running high after that extra point went through.
00:25:54And the flag comes out by Craig Rolstad's crew.
00:25:59Saw Dwayne Carter in the mix there for Buffalo, along with Michael Hoyt.
00:26:10After the play, personal foul, unnecessary roughness, Buffalo number 90.
00:26:15That's a 15-yard penalty that will be assessed on the kickoff timeout.
00:26:19And it is on Dwayne Carter, the third-year defensive lineman out of Duke.
00:26:23There's a timeout on the field.
00:26:34Back at Highmark Stadium, and there is offensive line coach Pat Meyer, who spent the last four seasons as the
00:26:43offensive line coach for the Steelers.
00:26:45He's the subject of our Treasure Cave coaching profile, brought to you by Treasure Cave, the official cheese of the
00:26:53Buffalo Bills.
00:26:54And certainly an important job replacing Aaron Cromer, who is so well-respected here in Buffalo, Steve.
00:27:01Yeah, Pat Meyer has coached with Aaron Cromer.
00:27:03He was kind of a, finger-quotes, disciple, and has the same coaching techniques, same philosophy, and is very familiar
00:27:10with how Cromer did it.
00:27:11But he's also, obviously, made a name for himself in his own right as a good offensive line coach.
00:27:17But he's taken over a group that has lost maybe, I think, two man games.
00:27:23One offensive lineman missing a game twice in the last two years.
00:27:28So it's a pretty solid group up front that he's working with.
00:27:34Bill's still evaluating that swing tackle position.
00:27:38That's something that is still to be decided on this roster as Wheeler takes the handoff and a hard run
00:27:44there.
00:27:45Jude Bowery, the fourth-round pick out of Boston College, suffered a left leg injury last week against Cleveland.
00:27:52So he's not out there today.
00:27:59And there's Bruno Fino.
00:28:01We met with his dad, John, the longtime Bills offensive lineman last week in Cleveland.
00:28:06He joined us during the broadcast.
00:28:07Thanks, sir.
00:28:08Yeah, he's playing center.
00:28:09He's played tackle.
00:28:10He's played guard.
00:28:11And they said, how about center?
00:28:13And he's out there right now as Cedric Van Pangranger has suffered an injury this week as well.
00:28:21As Wheeler to the outside, turns it upfield, and it looks like he's got a Buffalo first down.
00:28:26That's Boykin on the tackle.
00:28:27Yeah, hesitation move out there really served him well.
00:28:30Made him, gave him a chance to get to the edge in the corner.
00:28:34Watch as he catches this.
00:28:37And then right there, cutting right back up inside behind Van Sumer.
00:28:41A nice run.
00:28:43Nice run by Wheeler.
00:28:47Did not join the Bills until after the UFL season ended.
00:28:54So he did not have the spring offseason workouts.
00:28:58Joe Brady said he met him the day before training camp.
00:29:00And Joe Brady told us, as Wheeler gets another carry, that he's really been impressed by this running back from
00:29:07Howard.
00:29:07Well, they're going to get tested tonight because they've got a patchwork offensive line.
00:29:10You've got Bruno Fina, who's a tackle, playing center.
00:29:13You've got Chase Lunt, who's a tackle, playing guard.
00:29:17I mean, it is a makeshift group up there, and they're trying to do their best.
00:29:21And the defensive line of the Steelers is having their way right now.
00:29:24So, Ian Wheeler, as much as you want to break a long run, he's got his work cut out for
00:29:31him tonight.
00:29:35Pressure coming, and Buschel is dropped.
00:29:37There's more of that.
00:29:39They just absolutely brought the house, and there's nothing the offensive line could do about it.
00:29:43Just got caught.
00:29:45Nick Broker playing right tackle right at the bottom of your screen.
00:29:50Two guys coming off the edge, and they just can't get out there in time to stop them off the
00:29:55edge.
00:29:55Julius Welshoff wrapped him up his second sack of the preseason,
00:29:59and that's going to be the final play of the first quarter here at Highmark Stadium.
00:30:04Pittsburgh 14, Buffalo 3.
00:30:11Good life.
00:30:16Start of the second quarter here at Highmark Stadium,
00:30:19and so pleased to be joining the booth now.
00:30:21Our annual summer tradition is Brandon Bean, the general manager, joins us.
00:30:24Brandon, thank you so much for coming up.
00:30:26And 14-3 Pittsburgh, let's talk about some of the jobs that we talked with you about yesterday.
00:30:31The one, the punter battle, and the one thing that we did notice in that first quarter
00:30:34was Tommy Doman kicking off.
00:30:36Give us an idea about that wrinkle that we just saw.
00:30:39Yeah, I mean, we want to give him a chance.
00:30:41Obviously, his first job is to win the punting job.
00:30:43Him and Mitch are battling that.
00:30:45It's been a great battle.
00:30:46Obviously, Mitch wants that punt back not his best.
00:30:49But, yeah, you know, it happens sometimes where kicker gets hurt in a game.
00:30:54So if something happens to T-bass, it's always a plus when your punter can go in there
00:30:59and fill in as a kicker.
00:31:00Yeah, and obviously you wouldn't want him to have to hit a 60-yarder from, you know,
00:31:04to win the game.
00:31:04But to finish a game or to kick off and just get you out is what you're really talking about
00:31:09because you get another punter for the next week if he can't go again.
00:31:13But also, the holding for the extra points, it's an old adage.
00:31:18But the more you can do, the better your chances of making the squad.
00:31:22That's a big part of it, the holding and making sure there's chemistry between him and T-bass.
00:31:26And that's one of the things we always take into consideration when we do it when we're looking at punters
00:31:30is, you know, what kind of holder are they?
00:31:33Well, that's a good punt right there by Wisnowski,
00:31:38who was able to bounce back after the 19-yard punt he saw in the first quarter.
00:31:42So good hang time there.
00:31:44A 49-yard punt.
00:31:45And the Bills go back on defense.
00:31:47One thing that we mentioned on the air that Joe Brady confirmed yesterday
00:31:51was Alec Anderson winning the left guard battle with Austin Corbett.
00:31:54Joe said he loved the depth you have there now with Corbett and Cushenberry.
00:31:58But how did you see that play out throughout the course of the summer?
00:32:01I thought it's been a good battle.
00:32:02I mean, you want to get it settled in time.
00:32:04You know, I didn't think it was a clear, you know, one guy clearly ahead of the other.
00:32:08But Alec's been here, did a great job.
00:32:11He and Deion and Connor have some continuity there.
00:32:14And, you know, Corbett, he's a ready-made pro.
00:32:17He'll be ready as our sixth guy.
00:32:19And he can play multiple spots interior, you know, either guard spot
00:32:24or if we need him he can go in there at center.
00:32:25So excited, as you said, Joe mentioned, to have the depth there.
00:32:29Here's your second-round pick, TJ Parker, getting a hand on that.
00:32:31How about TJ so far this summer?
00:32:33Yeah, TJ's done a great job.
00:32:34He's just getting better and better and he's learning.
00:32:37And, you know, one of the things that he's really, you know,
00:32:40done a great job is just following Bradley Chubb.
00:32:42Wherever Chubb goes, he's right there.
00:32:44And it's been one of the great additions of Chubb as a player.
00:32:48You know, he's obviously an excellent talent.
00:32:50But his leadership has just been, you know, unbelievable.
00:32:54You would think he's been here a number of years just the way the guys have taken to him.
00:32:59This has worked out well.
00:33:00Your second-round pick spawned back-to-back plays, making plays.
00:33:04That's Davison Igbenosin, the second-rounder out of Ohio State.
00:33:07Yeah, he sees this and snaps and triggers right away.
00:33:10And we saw Max get stiff-armed and select the guy in the corner, Igbenosin, not so fast.
00:33:16I'm going to – he breaks down and does a really nice job getting a guy on the ground.
00:33:19That's – it's a lot of space to have to defend against with one guy.
00:33:25IGB is tough.
00:33:26You will never question that he – he stands up.
00:33:29Even if he's going against DJ Moore, as talented as DJ is, he's – he's never going to back down.
00:33:36Obviously, a great form tackle in space, as you said, Steve.
00:33:39Well, he's from New Jersey, Brandon.
00:33:41You know those Jersey guys are tough.
00:33:42How about on the other side of the football, Kyle Allen.
00:33:46He's not going to play tonight.
00:33:48But he was 24-28 in the preseason.
00:33:50How about the job that Kyle did this summer?
00:33:53Kyle, you know, in my tenure here since we've had Josh, you know,
00:33:58I couldn't think of a backup quarterback that we've had some battles that put two good games together,
00:34:05you know, back-to-back the way he did.
00:34:07And I thought he played really good.
00:34:09He started – TJ, you know, Parker again.
00:34:11He started a little slow the first week of camp.
00:34:14But, you know, he was just, you know, back into this offense.
00:34:17You know, he was in Detroit last season.
00:34:19And so I think just kind of getting the feel,
00:34:21getting the feel of what receiving group he was going to be working with.
00:34:24And there's a calmness about Kyle that I think almost sometimes you're like,
00:34:29dude, are you breathing?
00:34:30Like he's just – but that's what you want, you know, from your quarterback, from your leader.
00:34:35And so I think – I think he did a great job.
00:34:37He didn't try and force things.
00:34:38He took, you know, what both defenses in Carolina and Cleveland gave him last week and the week before.
00:34:44You know, he's who watched this defensive line working here in the run game.
00:34:49You see Michael Hoyt out there.
00:34:51He was – it seemed to be such a spark last year when he got in.
00:34:56He was suspended, came in, really sparked – gave the front a real juice.
00:35:03And even tonight playing with T.J. Parker, you see him and Parker out there together working.
00:35:08Michael Hoyt wanted to play in this game badly.
00:35:11Yep.
00:35:11He did.
00:35:12He's a football player.
00:35:13I mean, he's a warrior.
00:35:15This is an Ivy League dude that is as tough as nails.
00:35:18The intelligence that he has to your football.
00:35:20I mean, he is – he's another coach on the field out there.
00:35:23And I think you saw that last year in the game in Carolina and Kansas City before he suffered that
00:35:28injury.
00:35:29There we go.
00:35:30Intercepted.
00:35:30It's Damar Hamlin with his second interception of the preseason.
00:35:35Back-to-back games with a pick for Damar.
00:35:37And the fans here at Highmark Stadium love it.
00:35:41This guy gets counted out more than anybody.
00:35:44And he just – he just shows up every time.
00:35:47Where the ball is, number three's there.
00:35:49Hang with us for one more segment, Brandon, as Hamlin gets the ball back for the offense.
00:35:55Interception for Damar Hamlin.
00:36:09Glad you made it.
00:36:11Grab a plate and fill your cup.
00:36:14Mind your elbows.
00:36:15Or not.
00:36:18I think Steve voiced that after a few cigars at Craigburn the other day.
00:36:22As we welcome you back here to Highmark Stadium.
00:36:25Bills General Manager Brandon Bean is still with us.
00:36:27And, Brandon, you have to get the roster down to 53 by Sunday at 6 o'clock.
00:36:31And one thing we talked about yesterday with you was the importance of special teams
00:36:36and how closely you'll be with new special teams coordinator Jeff Rogers on some of these decisions.
00:36:42Yeah.
00:36:43I mean, obviously you're looking at their line of scrimmage play.
00:36:45But as you get, you know, to players 48 to 53, you know, outside the kickers and the specialists themselves,
00:36:51that can be the difference.
00:36:53Sometimes you're choosing, you know, this linebacker who may not be as good of a line of scrimmage player,
00:36:57but he's a heck of a four-phase player.
00:36:59This fifth, sixth wide receiver, what is their fourth down value?
00:37:02So that will definitely weigh in, and today's game, you know, we're still,
00:37:06some of these jobs are still open, and we're paying attention.
00:37:10Your numbers are what they are.
00:37:12I mean, you've got to fit all the positions into the 53.
00:37:16But you've got two position groups, and if you lump all the defensive backs together,
00:37:20it's like ten of those, and maybe, what, ten offensive linemen or something like that.
00:37:25Then everybody else, it's like, okay, I can, you start to tinker with one or two spots,
00:37:31and those one or two spots sometimes make all the difference, right?
00:37:34No, they do.
00:37:35You have your minimums at positions, but, yeah, you say, hey, do you want to keep nine-o linemen?
00:37:39Do you want to keep ten?
00:37:39Well, if you keep ten, you've got to maybe take one less receiver or something.
00:37:44So there's always a give and a take.
00:37:46But you want to try and, you know, keep the best football players you can,
00:37:50even if that means going heavy somewhere, because ultimately your depth is going to get tested.
00:37:55And so it's important to keep the best players that you can as long as you hit the minimums by
00:37:59position.
00:37:59A couple of flags down on the field.
00:38:02One thing I wanted to talk with you about is Joe Brady,
00:38:04and we've talked with you at length this summer about Joe making the transition
00:38:08from offensive coordinator to head coach.
00:38:10We told the story earlier in the summer about how when you showed up at St. John Fisher at a
00:38:14team meeting,
00:38:15Joe Brady asked everyone in the room, who's been here before?
00:38:17Half the team put their hands up, and he said, no, none of you have been here for a training
00:38:21camp under me as head coach.
00:38:23So how have you seen that process play out since you named Joe as the new head coach?
00:38:27I think Joe's done a great job.
00:38:28Joe is humble, full of energy, doesn't act like he invented football,
00:38:33is always constantly learning and growing.
00:38:35But, you know, he's got his way.
00:38:37He knows how he wants things run.
00:38:39And I think he's done a great job of learning things from Sean Payton, Ed Orgeron, Sean McDermott,
00:38:45and taking a little bit of everything.
00:38:47And that's his point is, yes, there's been a lot of continuity here, which is great.
00:38:52But at the same time, I don't want it to be seen like this is year 10.
00:38:56This is year one.
00:38:58We're setting a new standard for how we're going to do things and operate going forward.
00:39:01And, again, he's not throwing everything that was done in the past.
00:39:03He appreciates what's been done, and he's just going to put his tweaks on it.
00:39:07And he did that when he – starting with how he assembled his coaching staff, which I think has been
00:39:12great.
00:39:12You know, a lot of the guys he brought in kind of match his energy and his intensity.
00:39:17It's a young, youthful staff, and it's been fun to watch these guys teach these young players.
00:39:21He also brought in the old sage advice, too, with John Fox coming in,
00:39:25who's been a head coach for multiple organizations, has a ton of experience,
00:39:30both as assistant coordinator and the top.
00:39:33Guys like that really are invaluable to a young head coach.
00:39:36Gore Jr. with a beautiful move, and he's down at the one.
00:39:40And, yeah, Foxy is – obviously I was with John for a number of years in Carolina,
00:39:45and 16 years in a row as a head coach tells you all you need to know about the success
00:39:50that he brought.
00:39:51And he learned under – we're playing the Steelers.
00:39:53He learned under Chuck Knoll, still quotes Chuck Knoll.
00:39:55And so I think he's been a great guy.
00:39:58Joe brings him in, his coordinator meetings.
00:40:00He is constantly bouncing things off of John.
00:40:03And John's not overbearing.
00:40:04He's here.
00:40:04Joe, I'm going to offer you ideas.
00:40:06Whatever you do with him is what you do with him, and I think it's been great.
00:40:09Let's see how we do in the red zone here with Shane Buschel.
00:40:14Got to get it back to Gore Jr. after that play.
00:40:18Get him the touchdown.
00:40:20Frank Gore Jr.
00:40:21There we go.
00:40:22Touch – no, not yet.
00:40:24Not yet.
00:40:24Not yet.
00:40:25There it is.
00:40:26There it is.
00:40:26It is a touchdown.
00:40:28His second of the preseason.
00:40:30Brandon, really quick before we let you go.
00:40:33He said year one for Joe Brady, but also year one of this beautiful new stadium.
00:40:36What have been your impressions as Highmark Stadium is open?
00:40:40This place is unbelievable.
00:40:41And I've had a couple more people today say it's – are we in Buffalo?
00:40:45I mean, it's just so cool.
00:40:47I could go on for hours.
00:40:47Our players are in love with it.
00:40:49They love coming over here.
00:40:51You know, everyone, not just the players, the staff.
00:40:53It's just – it's unbelievable how this turned out.
00:40:55Everybody that was a part of this, obviously starting with the Pagoulas and, you know,
00:40:59the taxpayers, everyone that contributed to this thing, everyone should be proud to be a
00:41:04Buffalonian, part of Bills Mafia, of what this is.
00:41:07And for those of you that have not made it here, I can't wait for you to see it and
00:41:10just
00:41:10be blown away.
00:41:13Bass's extra point is good.
00:41:15Brandon, thank you so much.
00:41:16Good luck getting the roster down and good luck this season.
00:41:18Thanks, Andrew.
00:41:19Appreciate you.
00:41:19Great to see you.
00:41:20Thanks, man.
00:41:20Brandon being the Bills general manager with us in the booth.
00:41:2214-10 after the Gore Jr. touchdown.
00:41:27Wait to see who's next.
00:41:31Ah, yeah, some of the legends.
00:41:34The Bison outside the stadium.
00:41:36The family circle.
00:41:38The ring of honor there.
00:41:39And our pal Steve Tasker proudly with that 89 displayed.
00:41:45Very nice.
00:41:46Thanks, guys.
00:41:47That's –
00:41:49Tommy Doman kicking off again.
00:41:50There's a flag down on the play.
00:41:54As Weijin on the return for the Steelers.
00:41:58This might be –
00:41:59this looks like a hold or it could be an illegal formation or somebody moved early as well.
00:42:05This looks more like a procedural penalty rather than a competitive penalty.
00:42:10If you get my meaning.
00:42:13I get it.
00:42:15You get it.
00:42:16Illegal formation.
00:42:18Receiving team, number 40.
00:42:21It's a five-yard penalty to be from the end of the play.
00:42:24First down.
00:42:24Yeah, that –
00:42:25nothing competitive happened there.
00:42:26Somebody was just lined up wrong.
00:42:32And they had a lot of guys up on that.
00:42:35All their guys on the line up on the 35.
00:42:38They're not –
00:42:38they don't have to do that.
00:42:42Yeah, this is new.
00:42:43You don't have to have all these guys up on the line.
00:42:47But they did.
00:42:48And then somebody moved early there, number 40.
00:42:52He can't move until the ball is caught.
00:42:53He moved a little early.
00:42:59Here's Lou Nichols on the carry.
00:43:02And he is spun down.
00:43:03That was Zane Durant, the rookie out of Penn State, coming up to make the play,
00:43:07the fifth rounder this year.
00:43:09Yeah, Zane Durant is an athlete, a little bit in the lines of Ed Oliver,
00:43:13who is a penetrator and a quick, explosive athlete.
00:43:17A little undersized as a defensive tackle.
00:43:19But there is space for those guys in the NFL when they can get on the other side
00:43:24of the line of scrimmage.
00:43:25Zane Durant is built for that.
00:43:27And on that play, he showed why.
00:43:28There's Ed Oliver cheering on from the sideline.
00:43:32Nursing a little bit of an injury.
00:43:34Did not travel to Cleveland a week ago.
00:43:36And we have another penalty marker here.
00:43:38And a false start against the Steelers.
00:43:40False start.
00:43:41Offense, number 37.
00:43:43It's a five-yard penalty.
00:43:45Still second down.
00:43:45Well, Zane Durant is in our Pepsi rookie spotlight.
00:43:50Told you he went to Penn State.
00:43:52He was captain last year.
00:43:53Ten career sacks.
00:43:55Also had an interception.
00:43:57Not bad for the 6'1", 290-pounder.
00:44:00Well, he's an athlete.
00:44:01You can do some things with a guy who's an athlete like that.
00:44:04Some defensive lineman, you put him there, stop the run, rush the passer.
00:44:09Some guys can do a little more than that.
00:44:11Durant's one of those.
00:44:12Howard over the middle.
00:44:13And he's got a man.
00:44:15And that is Max Herlemann.
00:44:19Undrafted for a year ago out of Notre Dame.
00:44:21Able to hang on.
00:44:23And it brings up third down.
00:44:26Nice quick release there.
00:44:28By Aller.
00:44:36Third down and two coming for Jim Leonard's Buffalo defense.
00:44:51Howard gets it out quickly.
00:44:53He's got a first down on the slant.
00:44:56Good coverage by Kanai Walker.
00:44:58Kanai Walker was all over it.
00:45:00Great catch by Smith.
00:45:01What a competitive play this is.
00:45:03This is two guys who won it.
00:45:05Look it.
00:45:06Watch as Kanai Walker closes, gets there, and tries to wrench it away.
00:45:12Some of this stuff is easy.
00:45:14Like run a quick slant.
00:45:15That's great.
00:45:15You've got a guy on your back who snaps, too.
00:45:18That's a competitive play.
00:45:20You've got to love that.
00:45:21Those two guys going at it hard.
00:45:23Great catch by Smith.
00:45:24Well defended by Walker, as well.
00:45:26And a penalty here on the next down.
00:45:28It was a substitution by the offense, which requires us to allow the defense to substitute.
00:45:34All right.
00:45:34Greg Rolstadt has been busy in this first half.
00:45:37That's not a penalty.
00:45:38They just stopped the play.
00:45:39The Bills did not get allowed to have a substitute come in.
00:45:43The Steelers sent a guy on and then snapped it before the Bills had a chance to retaliate
00:45:48with their own substitution.
00:45:49So instead of a penalty, it was just a whistle.
00:45:54So.
00:46:03First down and ten.
00:46:07And this is Nichols again.
00:46:10And the Bills defense is there.
00:46:12And Brandon Bean and Joe Brady have made it very clear that the Bills have to do a better
00:46:16job of stopping the run.
00:46:18Last year, they allowed 5.1 yards per carry.
00:46:21That was third worst in the NFL.
00:46:23Brandon Bean says, look, we have a new defense, 3-4 defense this year.
00:46:27But none of this matters unless we stop the run.
00:46:30It all starts with that.
00:46:31Yeah.
00:46:32And you've got to hold the line of scrimmage.
00:46:34And they just weren't able to do that enough last year.
00:46:38Howard play fake.
00:46:39Looking deep down the field.
00:46:41Walker is in coverage for Buffalo.
00:46:42And it's incomplete.
00:46:43He was looking for Brandon Smith again.
00:46:46Yeah.
00:46:46Can I walk or going down the side.
00:46:47Those two still competing.
00:46:49Can I walk or.
00:46:51The thing about it.
00:46:52He's an NFL coordinator.
00:46:53I know he wasn't drafted.
00:46:54But he's long.
00:46:56He's a great athlete.
00:46:58And I said it last week in Cleveland.
00:47:01These guys have confidence coming out of their pores.
00:47:05I mean, they want to go again.
00:47:07That last.
00:47:07He gave up that slant.
00:47:08He's running with the guy down the sideline again.
00:47:10And once.
00:47:11He hopes they throw at his guy every play.
00:47:13So he can compete for an interception.
00:47:15And he's competing for a roster spot.
00:47:17Undrafted out of Arkansas.
00:47:19On third down.
00:47:20Howard looks one way.
00:47:21Now rolls right.
00:47:22Directing traffic.
00:47:23Pressure's coming.
00:47:24And Howard is shoved down.
00:47:27That was Fadarian Mathis on the sack for Buffalo.
00:47:31Yeah, Fadarian Mathis is.
00:47:33He's a true.
00:47:34He's built like a true nose tackle in the NFL.
00:47:37The guy is 6'4", 3'12".
00:47:40And he's going to run around the horn.
00:47:41But this is why there was no way to throw the football.
00:47:44Everybody's covered up.
00:47:45By the time.
00:47:48Aller can look down the field.
00:47:50There's just nobody there.
00:47:51He can't.
00:47:52He doesn't have time once the guys come open.
00:47:55And Fadarian Mathis staying with it.
00:47:56Takes a long way around.
00:47:58And he finally gets the sack.
00:47:59Ray Davis is back to return the punt.
00:48:01Muff the first one leading to a turnover.
00:48:03This one from his own 10-yard line.
00:48:06Trying to redeem himself.
00:48:07And he is twisted down at the 22-yard line.
00:48:11That's a pretty good punt return right there.
00:48:13What you're really trying to do as a returner is just get a first down.
00:48:15He got 12 yards on that return.
00:48:17That's a good punt return.
00:48:26We're back with a look at our player profile brought to you by Wegmans.
00:48:30And it's the battle for that bottom half of the secondary room.
00:48:35And Toriano Pride and Kanai Walker both have had impressive summer, Steve.
00:48:39Yeah, and they're both twitchy athletes.
00:48:40I think both of these guys are an upgrade over the bottom of the cornerback room last year.
00:48:47I mean, that's how much better and more athletic the group is.
00:48:51And I don't know if either of them, you know, whether their technique or whether their scheme retention is what
00:48:58it is.
00:48:58But, man, athletically, the whole room is upgraded from a year ago.
00:49:02Wegmans enjoy delicious, freshly prepared meals and catering with Meals to Go.
00:49:06Download the app or visit Meals to Go dot com to order.
00:49:10And a long pass is incomplete intended for Dante Pettis.
00:49:14Pettis did not play a week ago in Cleveland because of injury.
00:49:18Yeah, he comes loose.
00:49:19He's going to run the corner out, give a little bit of wiggle, then just bend it out right there.
00:49:24It's a tough, that is a tough route to hit, no question about it.
00:49:27But as you come out, Pettis, at the top of that route, kind of bent the route out towards the
00:49:33outside
00:49:33instead of giving a little bit of a head weave and sticking his foot in the ground.
00:49:37And that helps the quarterback pick the angle he's going to throw it.
00:49:40And if Pettis would have done that, maybe Bushell would have been able to put that in a better spot.
00:49:48Macklin goes in motion on second and ten.
00:49:50It's a give to Wheeler, and Wheeler has tripped up, but Landon Roberts has made some plays tonight for the
00:49:57Steelers' defense,
00:49:58a guy that did not join Pittsburgh until August 13th.
00:50:03Yeah, that guy, he's been the heartbeat of the team so far tonight.
00:50:08He's been there a couple of weeks, and he's shown, I use this term a lot, he has been around
00:50:13the block
00:50:14and knows his way around.
00:50:16That guy has found the football a lot tonight.
00:50:21Third down and ten.
00:50:264.40 to go in the first half.
00:50:30Pittsburgh's showing pressure, and they back out of it.
00:50:32Bushell gets it out quickly, that's Max Tomczak.
00:50:35And Tomczak, the nephew of former Steelers quarterback Mike Tomczak,
00:50:41comes up just short of a first down.
00:50:43It brings up fourth, and out comes Tommy Doman, the rookie punter.
00:50:47Yeah, Tomczak didn't have much to do there, he got what he could get.
00:50:50There's two defenders waiting on him, and that's a hard thing to get out of, just quick release.
00:50:56The Steelers showed some pressure, backed out of it.
00:50:58Bushell saw it and took the dump route as they dropped into coverage and left the underneath route uncovered.
00:51:06And that's what defenses do.
00:51:08They give you the short pass and expect and see if you can get it after the catch.
00:51:12In this case, the Steelers rallied to the football.
00:51:18Weijin back deep to receive the punt from Doman.
00:51:22Good, high, spiraling kick.
00:51:25Weijin all the way back to his 15-yard line.
00:51:28Gets away from Gosnell on special teams, and Weijin is tackled at the 26-yard line.
00:51:34But Doman with a 55-yard punt.
00:51:38Yeah, it's hard to cover a punt when you come down there like Gosnell did.
00:51:44One of the things you look to do, for me, if you're not going to get there and time it
00:51:49just perfectly
00:51:50so you light the guy up right when he catches it, you've got to break down and make him hesitate
00:51:55and deal with your presence in front of him.
00:51:58Don't run past him because you're useless if you do.
00:52:02Well, we've seen Skylar Bell out there this entire first half for the Buffalo offense.
00:52:07The fourth rounder out of UConn began at Wisconsin before finishing his collegiate career with the Huskies.
00:52:14He was born in the Bronx and played hockey before fully focusing on football at age 15.
00:52:21And the connection with Jim Leonard because Leonard was at Wisconsin during the time that Bell was with the Badgers.
00:52:28And for more on that, we send it down to Maddie.
00:52:30Rookie wide receiver Skylar Bell and defensive coordinator Jim Leonard overlapped at Wisconsin from 2020 to 2021.
00:52:38And the two know each other really well.
00:52:40Bell said he was so excited when he got drafted by Buffalo.
00:52:43He said, Leonard is like a family member to me.
00:52:47We have spent so much time together on the field studying.
00:52:50He said we watch film together.
00:52:52And Leonard said, this guy's like a little brother.
00:52:54I sometimes give him a hard time.
00:52:56And he's done a great job in camp so far.
00:53:00Highly motivated.
00:53:01And Bell playing in his first preseason game coming off of that groin injury says, I'm really excited for the
00:53:08opportunity tonight.
00:53:09I'm just trying to show this coaching staff what I'm made of.
00:53:14It's an incredible story, Matty.
00:53:16I mean, growing up playing hockey in the Bronx and not really turning his full attention to football until he
00:53:22got into high school.
00:53:24And now playing as a fourth-round pick for the Buffalo Bills.
00:53:27Also had a lacrosse stick in his hand for a while.
00:53:29But Skyler Bell, just a tremendous athlete, and now could be a pretty big part of this Buffalo offense, Steve.
00:53:37Yeah, certainly what they're looking for him to contribute.
00:53:39It's been pretty frustrating for him not to be able to practice with the groin injury.
00:53:42But, you know, you talk about his relationship with Jim Leonard.
00:53:45This is more than just a guy who knows who the coach is.
00:53:48They spend time together.
00:53:51And I can't tell you how comforting it would have been for me to have somebody like that on the
00:53:58first team I got drafted by.
00:54:00You just feel like you're on an island sometimes.
00:54:02You've got to find your own way.
00:54:03But to have somebody, particularly as a coordinator, even if it is on the other side of the ball, to
00:54:08go up and say, hey, what about this?
00:54:09How am I doing this?
00:54:10And just to have a guy you can talk to on a personal level, man, what a huge boost it
00:54:15must be for Skyler Bell to have that guy, Jim Leonard, in your corner.
00:54:21Bell calls hockey his first love.
00:54:23Started playing at 5 and played until he was 15.
00:54:25Started out as a defenseman, then switched to center and wing.
00:54:29He said, I was hooked as soon as I started scoring goals.
00:54:33He says a lot transfers to the game of football.
00:54:35Balance, hand-eye coordination.
00:54:37Bell said when he got to Buffalo, man, I am so excited to be a Sabres fan.
00:54:43I can't get enough of hockey.
00:54:46Wow.
00:54:46Growing up in the Bronx, you think he'd be a Rangers fan.
00:54:49And he's already, he knows what to say.
00:54:50He's a smart rookie.
00:54:52You're a Sabres fan now.
00:54:53That's right.
00:54:54That is exactly right.
00:54:59Clock is running.
00:55:003.20 to go in the first half.
00:55:02It remains Will Howard at quarterback for Pittsburgh.
00:55:05Drew Allers expected to play the second half.
00:55:07And Howard is sacked.
00:55:09That's a big-time play by Andre Jones.
00:55:12Andre Jones, big 6'5", 260.
00:55:15The guy is a real physical player.
00:55:18Comes right off the edge.
00:55:20Gets a big sweep off the left.
00:55:22The right tackle there.
00:55:24And, man, oh, man, that's a big hit.
00:55:27You don't want to see that if you're an offensive coordinator,
00:55:29your quarterback getting hit right in the face
00:55:31by a guy coming off the right side.
00:55:34He played in three games for the Bills a year ago,
00:55:37all in December after he signed after training camp a year ago.
00:55:42And that makes it third down and 12.
00:55:46Howell just staying in the pocket now gets rid of it.
00:55:49And Keontae Jenkins is right there to bring Travis Homer to the ground.
00:55:53Good play by Keontae Jenkins in its fourth down.
00:55:56Yeah, after having a little bit of a swoon defensively
00:55:58midway through the first quarter
00:56:00and giving up a couple of touchdowns,
00:56:02now the Bills' defense seems to be hitting its stride a little bit better.
00:56:05Keontae Jenkins making a nice tackle in the open field there.
00:56:08And they're also shutting down the outside.
00:56:13Allers really having to hang on to the football in the pocket.
00:56:16That resulted in a sack there and also a late throw to a covered receiver.
00:56:22Two-minute warning in Buffalo.
00:56:33Small hands reach the farthest.
00:56:36Eyes full of hope.
00:56:39Smiles that can't hide.
00:56:41That's how Buffalo raises believers.
00:56:49Always good to see all the kids in attendance,
00:56:52including my kid right there with my wife and my in-laws.
00:56:56How about that?
00:56:58Great crowd on hand for this first night game at Highmark Stadium.
00:57:02Of course, week one will also be a night game
00:57:05against the Detroit Lions on September 17th.
00:57:07Week two, I should say.
00:57:08The first home game here during the regular season.
00:57:13And some of that tonight was with Joe Brady.
00:57:16They wanted to play a night game in the preseason
00:57:19to get that dry run before the week two home opener against Detroit.
00:57:23Here's Hartman on the return from the 20.
00:57:26And he's tripped up.
00:57:31Good play by Deshaun Jameson.
00:57:34Don't forget, coming up halftime, we have Built for Buffalo
00:57:38taking us behind the scenes of the Bison installation and Family Circle,
00:57:43plus a heartwarming Make-A-Wish story about Bills fan Desmond Aiken.
00:57:47It's all brought to you by Seneca Resorts and Casinos,
00:57:50the official casino of the Buffalo Bills.
00:57:55In years past, the Bills have been an extremely proficient team
00:58:00at the last two minutes of the first half.
00:58:03Of course, Josh Allen is the quarterback usually in those.
00:58:06He is a master at this.
00:58:07We'll see if Joe Brady can help Shane Buschel do the same.
00:58:11Skyler Bell still in there, catches the ball on the slant,
00:58:14tackled right away at the 30-yard line.
00:58:16And Bills have all three timeouts and 1.40 on the clock.
00:58:25Bell at the bottom of your screen.
00:58:27Buschel looking over the middle, now comes back to Bell.
00:58:30He's got another catch.
00:58:32That was a nice catch by Bell there, coming back.
00:58:35Defender all over his back there.
00:58:38It was Danico Slaughter.
00:58:40And Bell did a nice job getting that and securing it
00:58:43before he rolled over on his back.
00:58:45Long-time Sabres fan with back-to-back catches.
00:58:48He's been a Sabres fan since April.
00:58:52High snap.
00:58:53Buschel gets it and gets rid of it quickly to Zylstra.
00:58:56And he cuts across the 40-yard line.
00:58:58Yeah, a minute go and counting.
00:59:00Still a lot of time here.
00:59:02They've got three timeouts.
00:59:04They're not going to take one of them until probably,
00:59:07hopefully, if they get a big play, they may snap off a timeout here.
00:59:12Buschel throwing incomplete.
00:59:14Intended for Zylstra.
00:59:15And Spears-Jennings had the coverage for Pittsburgh.
00:59:19That stops the clock with 45 seconds to play.
00:59:24You see Josh Allen there.
00:59:26He is so good in the last two minutes, particularly of the first half.
00:59:31Throughout his career, it has been a characteristic of his.
00:59:34And they've been efficient with their time.
00:59:37They've been efficient with their timeouts.
00:59:38And nobody scores touchdowns like that dude.
00:59:41So, that's one of the assets he brings to the table as a quarterback.
00:59:45Third down and six.
00:59:48Buschel's pass is incomplete.
00:59:50It was intended for Quinton Skinner.
00:59:53And on fourth down, Buffalo will punt.
01:00:02Tommy Doman back out to punt here.
01:00:07This is one where, if I'm Jeff Rodgers, special teams coordinator,
01:00:12I tell Tommy Doman to punt this one through the uprights.
01:00:24Doman awaiting the snap from Reed Ferguson.
01:00:29Good snap.
01:00:30Doman gets it away.
01:00:31High, spiraling kick.
01:00:34And a fair catch called at the 10.
01:00:36What a kick by Doman.
01:00:38You know, Brandon Bean told us both of these punters are going to be on week one rosters.
01:00:43Someone's going to be on the bills.
01:00:44Whoever wins the job.
01:00:45And the other one is probably going to be picked up in a trade.
01:00:47Wyshnowski had the shank earlier in the game.
01:00:51Doman just punted that one.
01:00:52Just on the money to the 10-yard line.
01:00:55Just inside the 10-yard line.
01:00:57On the out-of-bounds line.
01:00:58Just an absolutely outstanding punt.
01:01:0149-yard boot.
01:01:03By the rookie.
01:01:04And also, not only was it in a great spot,
01:01:06the thing was high in the air.
01:01:08And there was plenty of guys running underneath it
01:01:10to make sure they didn't risk giving up a return.
01:01:13Just an outstanding job on that play.
01:01:17Pittsburgh with all three timeouts.
01:01:21Then Howard looking to throw on first down.
01:01:24Into the flat it goes.
01:01:26Flag is down.
01:01:27Pass is caught by Lake McCree.
01:01:30And we'll see what the penalty marker is.
01:01:32This one could be coming back.
01:01:34Holding.
01:01:35Offense number 71.
01:01:37The field is half of the distance for the goal.
01:01:39Replay first down.
01:01:40That is on the rookie first-round pick.
01:01:42Max Ihanachor, who's been injured the last couple of weeks.
01:01:48Starting at right tackle.
01:01:49Projected to be the starter.
01:01:51Had right tackle for Pittsburgh.
01:01:52Andre Jones, Jr.
01:01:57Jones got a sack on Ihanachor earlier in the last drive.
01:02:02And now draws a holding penalty.
01:02:05It's not going well.
01:02:10First down and 15.
01:02:15Nichols up the middle.
01:02:18And Nichols is taken down on the play.
01:02:23And there's a timeout called with 21 seconds to go.
01:02:28I believe Joe Brady called that timeout.
01:02:30Jalen Kilgore made the tackle.
01:02:34Joe Brady told us his biggest takeaway from the Cleveland game a week ago,
01:02:38as Pittsburgh calls timeout,
01:02:40was the tackling by the cornerbacks.
01:02:43He was really impressed by how these guys,
01:02:45who don't really tackle that much during the summer,
01:02:47got the Browns receivers and backs to the ground.
01:02:50Yeah, it was a stark contrast to what we'd seen earlier.
01:02:53And it was one of the things that Jim Leonard,
01:02:57defensive new defensive coordinator,
01:02:58said that was the Achilles heel of the defense that I saw on tape last year.
01:03:02For the Buffalo Bills,
01:03:03their inability to tackle,
01:03:05and particularly wide on the outside,
01:03:07they have made it a point of emphasis in this training camp.
01:03:11And it showed up big time last week in Cleveland.
01:03:16Second and four.
01:03:21Howard in trouble.
01:03:22Trying to escape Dana.
01:03:23And he throws this one away.
01:03:27And very close to intentional grounding.
01:03:30But he got it outside the tackle box.
01:03:32And there was also a guy over there.
01:03:33He threw it right over the top of his receiver.
01:03:37Mike Dana already with two sacks in the preseason.
01:03:41Just outside.
01:03:43Yeah, you'll see.
01:03:45McCree is out there.
01:03:46And he tries to get it to him.
01:03:47So this is not grounding.
01:03:49But Dana has been outstanding this preseason.
01:03:53He has been a menace on the pass rush off the edge.
01:03:57First six years with the Chiefs.
01:03:59Won a couple of Super Bowls now in his first season with Buffalo.
01:04:02It brings up third down and four.
01:04:04Pittsburgh will run it.
01:04:06Nichols spinning forward for a first down.
01:04:10That's going to do it for the half.
01:04:19That's...
01:04:1914-Buffalo 10 preseason finale at Highmark Stadium on a beautiful night in western New York.
01:04:28The Bills trying to finish the preseason with a perfect 3-0 record.
01:04:40This is nice weather compared to Indiana.
01:04:42It's probably like 9 degrees.
01:04:44Back at Highmark Stadium getting set for the start of the third quarter.
01:04:48The Bills trail the Steelers 14-10.
01:04:51And back in the booth with Bills legend Steve Tasker.
01:04:54I'm Andrew.