Which Bills players (and coaches) see their stock trending up/trending down after Week 2 win against the Dolphins?
The Buffalo Bills went to South Beach and steamrolled the Miami Dolphins, 31-10, showing that, yet again, Miami’s been more of a pretender than contender for the AFC East crown.
After another impressive performance despite injuries to several important defensive players early in the season, here are the players and coaches who’re trending in the right direction, and the ones who could’ve been better despite the team’s excellent start.
Catch up with my thoughts on Bills-Dolphins in my latest episode of Leading the Charge!
Arrow up — HC Sean McDermott, DC Bobby Babich, OC Joe Brady
Sean McDermott and his main coordinators have been on fire to start the season. No matter who’s been asked to play, mistakes have been limited and players are on the same page executing the schemes on both sides of the ball.
A lot has been said about the talent that left One Bills Drive this past spring. However, when teams draft and develop players properly — having them 100% committed and able to executing schemes — they’re likely to have a team that should be very hard to beat. That’s especially true if they’re not beating themselves as some of the recent Bills teams have done. Good coaching, plus a selfless group with a team-first mentality, plus a superstar quarterback — that should add up to plenty of wins — and that’s what we’ve seen from the Buffalo Bills so far.
Arrow down — ST Coordinator Matthew Smiley
Smiley makes the list for the second week in a row and the reason is simple — removing an element from the game isn’t the same as fixing the problem.
That was Smiley’s choice regarding the kickoffs, after allowing the only return for a touchdown in the season so far, in Week 1. Tyler Bass booted all kickoffs inside the end zone, giving the Dolphins free starts at the 30-yard line, instead of trying to pin them inside the 30. It shows the lack of confidence Smiley has with the group and how the coaches prefer to take that element out of the game instead of using it to their advantage to help change field position. Not ideal.
Arrow up — CB Christian Benford
Every time a team is well-coached, plays a hard-nosed and disciplined brand of football, and has players who carry a team-first mentality, the results will come. With those result comes the potential for new stars, since the media and fans always want to crown players from winning teams as the NFL’s ultimate players. That soon could be the case with cornerback Christian Benford.
The third-year pro out of Villanova has been establishing himself as the league’s new up-and-coming star cornerback with a pair of impressive performances to start the season. Matching up against some of the NFL’s best wide receivers in Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Marvin Harrison, Jr., Benford has allowed just four receptions and one first down on 10 targets, while also intercepting a pass. He also added two defensive stops and hasn’t missed any tackles so far (per Pro Football Focus).
It’s time for a new generation of players like Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer to emerge under McDermott’s tutelage, and Benford certainly looks like one of the main candidates in this secondary.
Arrow down — Kicker Tyler Bass
A lot more positives than negatives after two weeks of Buffalo Bills football in 2024. What hasn’t been ideal for quite some time is Tyler Bass’ performance. In Week 1, despite making his field goal attempts, he kicked a kickoff out of bounds in the biggest moment of the game, allowing the Cardinals to start a potential game-winning-drive from the 40.
Fast forward to Week 2 and Bass made another mistake — this time missing a very makeable 45-yard field goal wide left. Thankfully, the game was already decided but let’s be honest, it’s really difficult to be fully confident in Tyler Bass right now.
Arrow up — CB Ja’Marcus Ingram
Another week, another former Buffalo Bull performing at an extremely high level. After Cam Lewis in Week 1 (he was also very good in Week 2), it was time for Ja’Marcus Ingram to put put on a show with two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.
With Lewis stepping in as the team’s go-to nickel cornerback in Taron Johnson’s absence, Ingram has been the choice to replace Lewis in his dime role, and he’s delivered. The former undrafted free agent has made the most of his opportunity and, being considered primarily an outside cornerback, I wouldn’t be surprised if he has already surpassed cornerback Kaiir Elam as the primary option outside. Simply put: Ingram has played significant snaps, and he’s done so at a high level. That’s for sure an advantage over the former first-round pick.
Arrow up — WR Khalil Shakir
Eight targets, eight catches, 96 yards, and one score. Shakir continues to be “Mr. Dependable” every time Josh Allen needs a wide reciever to make a big catch. Unlike some others who’ve recently played for the Bills, Shakir delivers and then some.
His numbers haven’t been extremely impressive yet, thanks largely to a focus on running the ball and working within a system where “everybody eats” at receiver. No problem, though: Every time Shakir’s number is called, he’s ready — and recent history tells us that should continue.
Arrow down — WR Curtis Samuel
Maybe it’s because of his recent injury — a turf toe in the last week of preseason — but the truth is, even if you weren’t a big Curtis Samuel believer (not my case) must more was expected from him, even early in the season.
Samuel has three catches on four targets so far, and for just 18 yards. He’s been utilized coming out of the backfield on some pass concepts, but that’s been it. Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, and Mack Hollins all have seen more snaps than Samuel — with Marquez Valdes-Scantling posting similar numbers to Samuel.
The offense has been good and Samuel’s disappearing act hasn’t been cause for concern yet. I still expect him to become more of a factor in this offense going forward, though.
Arrow up — James Cook
Cook didn’t even need to play much to make a difference and help the Bills put the game away early against the Dolphins. On just 11 carries Cook gained 78 yards at a whopping 7.1 yards-per-carry average, and scored two rushing touchdowns. He added another touchdown on a well-designed pass play and was simply too much for Miami’s defense all night long.
In Ty Johnson and rookie Ray Davis, the Bills have a nice running back room with different skill sets. However, it’s pretty clear Cook is the top weapon there, being able to pair his speed with a newfound patience to read his blocks, find the right holes, and burst through them confidently.
Honorable Mentions
Arrow up: DT Ed Oliver, DE Von Miller, LB Dorian Williams, NCB Cam Lewis, S Damar Hamlin, TE Dalton Kincaid, DE A.J. Epenesa.
Catch up with all this and more within my latest edition of Leading the Charge!