1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,359 Speaker 1: This is Tony Pike Cincy three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati, 2 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: sponsored in part by Penn Station East Coast Subs. Hand 3 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: crept it I grilled subs, fresh cut fries in lemonade. 4 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: It's all about good taste. Penn Station East Coast Subs 5 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: order on mine today. This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati 6 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:25,600 Speaker 1: Sports Station. 7 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 2: Hi, Hello, and welcome into the final hour of Tony 8 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,199 Speaker 2: Pike Cincy three to sixty here on ESPN fifteen thirty. 9 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:35,639 Speaker 2: No Tony Today. Tony in for Lance down the Haul 10 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 2: on WLW tonight. You can listen to him after you 11 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 2: listen to Moe from three to six this afternoon. Mo 12 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 2: forty minutes from right now joins me for quick hits. 13 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 2: But right now we talk to Joe daniman earlier. We 14 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 2: now go to Joe Goodberry on this Joe Filled Tuesday 15 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 2: on ESPN fifteen thirty, long time friend of the show, 16 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 2: host of Bengals on the Brain. Joe Goodberry joins me. Now, Hi, Joe, 17 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:00,120 Speaker 2: how are you well. 18 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 3: I'm doing great, Excited to be on here, excited for 19 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 3: the week. 20 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, thank you for being here. Let me start 21 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 2: with the defense. The Bengals defense what specifically has has 22 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 2: led to this Bengals defensive turnaround over the last three weeks. 23 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 3: Oh, there's a lot of layers to that. Because they 24 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 3: were so bad, right, they're historically bad. They're on a 25 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 3: pace that well, you don't want to be on. And 26 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 3: the last three weeks, I think they've figured a few 27 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 3: things out. Number one, their blitz rate has gone up 28 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 3: a lot more. Nol Golden has said that that's because 29 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 3: the young guys are now able to do these things. 30 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 3: They're able to expand some of these calls and give 31 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 3: some different looks, and they understand the defense better so 32 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 3: he can expand the playbook. I believe some of that. 33 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 3: The other part is I think Al Golden figured they're 34 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 3: going to be better against the run if they do 35 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 3: more three to four looks on these base downs and 36 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 3: early downs. And they've been doing that, and I think 37 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 3: it has helped getting bigger bodies at defensive tackle, not 38 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 3: using Demetrius Knight to do like a quasi three four 39 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 3: defense to bring them down to the edge play outside linebacker. 40 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 3: I don't think that ever made sense. They would sometimes 41 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 3: kick in at the end and then have night at 42 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 3: outside linebacker. Instead, they've been going with three defensive tackles. 43 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:09,679 Speaker 3: McKinley Jackson's getting more run. I think he's been a 44 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 3: plus player when he's been in for his fifteen snats 45 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 3: or so, and then you're getting Josephsai and Miles Murphy 46 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 3: kicked out at least one more tech, one more gap 47 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 3: and giving them more advantageous situations on the edge, giving 48 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 3: you five defensive linemen on the front, and I think 49 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,239 Speaker 3: that helps you defend the run for sure. I think 50 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 3: the other part is underrated. One that probably nationally no 51 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 3: one would bring up or even be aware of, is 52 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 3: eltlevating Jalen Davis to the slot corner rolling kicking Dax 53 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:37,880 Speaker 3: sell out to the boundary. At first, they hurt Dax. 54 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 3: I mean that first game he got beat d by 55 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 3: the Patriots, Kishon Boody had those couple of one pass 56 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 3: interference that didn't look good for him. But I think 57 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 3: Dax need to get his legs under him. We know 58 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 3: he can do it. He did it last year. But 59 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 3: Jaylen Davis has been a plus player in terms of 60 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 3: blitzaying run, defense, tackling, and I think that's been good 61 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 3: for them overall to get some three guys they can 62 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 3: trust that those positions. 63 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 2: Why do you think it took so long to get 64 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:03,799 Speaker 2: Jalen Davis an opportunity. 65 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 3: I think they really still wanted Cam Taylor Britt to 66 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 3: be that guy on the boundary right, Like we've seen 67 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,359 Speaker 3: enough flashes throughout his four years before, you know, going 68 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 3: on IR this year that I think made people believe 69 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 3: and I always felt it too, like, man, if they 70 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 3: could just straighten him out, if he could just apply himself, 71 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 3: if he could just go on a heater, that he 72 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 3: would look really good and that would make your cornerback 73 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 3: room better. Like, let's be honest, even with Jalen Davis 74 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:29,839 Speaker 3: playing well right now, in the corner room looks really good. 75 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 3: DJ Turner's at an all pro level. If if Cam 76 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 3: Taylor Britt was who we've seen flashes of and he 77 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 3: was that high end guy orderline cornerback one looking in 78 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 3: a lot of these flashes, your corner room would be 79 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 3: really really good with Dex in the slot. So I 80 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 3: think ideally you always wanted that to happen, and sometimes 81 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 3: sometimes the decisions made for you. Cam is out for 82 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 3: the foot injury, and you say, you know what, what's 83 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 3: our best pass forward? It's kicking decks out to the 84 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 3: boundary and elevating Jalen Davis, I think makes. 85 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 2: So those few things that you outlined that in your 86 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 2: mind have have been the keys to them playing better 87 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 2: over the last three weeks. Is that sustainable in your 88 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 2: mind over the last five weeks? 89 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 3: I think it is because they are playing a lot 90 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 3: of young guys. So if All's right and al Golden's 91 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:19,479 Speaker 3: correct and saying, you know, we really couldn't do this 92 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 3: stuff with the playbook because they couldn't handle it. While 93 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 3: that was sad to hear, you know what I mean, 94 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 3: like that maybe we don't have the right guys on 95 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 3: the defenctive side of the Bengals. If it's slowly growing 96 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:31,280 Speaker 3: and you can now do more things and you can 97 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 3: trust guys to do their jobs and you can trust 98 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 3: that you can make this call and guys can make 99 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,040 Speaker 3: adjustments based on it on the field, well then yeah, 100 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 3: that's sustainable. Everyone should grow into their role. You're not 101 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,359 Speaker 3: supposed to play rookie linebackers around the league unless they're 102 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 3: like hit the ground running, they're really good. You know, 103 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 3: there's two guys this year, but Carson Schwessinger and John 104 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 3: Campbell and even Campbell's lost the starting job in Philadelphia. 105 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 3: He's only begetting about ten to fifteen cents per game 106 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 3: as well. So you're not supposed to play these guys 107 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 3: because it limits your defense. And so the college linebacker 108 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 3: is is much different than the NFL linebackers position. So 109 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:04,919 Speaker 3: I think when the Bengals did this and made this commitment, 110 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 3: they really had to peel back what they were asking 111 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 3: this entire defense to do, and they hurt them because 112 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 3: if you're not going to be overly talented, then you 113 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 3: better be confusing, you better be fundamentally sound, you better 114 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 3: be physical, you better be great tacklers. And they were 115 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 3: none of that stuff for a long time this year. 116 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 3: So as the linebackers slowly get better, and I think 117 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 3: they have, it allows your defense to slowly get better. 118 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 3: And as they all get playing time from the front 119 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 3: to the back half to the linebackers, that allows the 120 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 3: defense to mix it up more and more. So I 121 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 3: do think that's sustainable. 122 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 2: I think one of the bridespots this year has been 123 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:40,359 Speaker 2: DJ Turner. You mentioned him a moment ago. Why do 124 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 2: you think it has clicked for him? And what has 125 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 2: been you know, the reason he's been so successful? So 126 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 2: far this season. 127 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 3: Well, let's go back to when he was a prospect. Right, 128 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,679 Speaker 3: We've got a smaller guy. He's about one eighty, super fast, 129 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:55,479 Speaker 3: four two six. I believe it was uh and forty. 130 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 3: Very good in man coverage and good ball tracking, ball skills, 131 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 3: but he had short arms. He wasn't the most physical guy, 132 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 3: so a lot of times at the catch point you 133 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 3: would get out muscled, or he just couldn't affect the 134 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 3: play enough. And I called him more of like a 135 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:13,279 Speaker 3: he's a humberd around these receivers in his rookie year, 136 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 3: or he was tight on their hips, but he couldn't 137 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 3: really affect the play. And as the years have gone 138 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:20,840 Speaker 3: now he's gotten better and better of finding a way 139 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 3: to just knock the ball down when the receiver's pulling 140 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 3: it in, or being a little more physical, or getting 141 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 3: stronger as being a third year NFL player, now, I 142 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 3: think all of these things have started to click for 143 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 3: him slowly. And then you bring out Golden then, who's 144 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 3: a heavy man defense guy, and now he's playing more 145 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 3: man than he ever has in his career. It's going 146 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 3: to make him look good. You're putting him in his 147 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:43,160 Speaker 3: element in order to get the best version of himself. 148 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:46,559 Speaker 3: So I think all of those things combined is putting 149 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 3: him on a trajectory this year where I think he 150 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 3: should be considered probably second team All Pro. He should 151 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:53,719 Speaker 3: get a Pro Bowl, not if enough people around the 152 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 3: country recognize it. And I've been trying to put the 153 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,239 Speaker 3: data out there and like, you know, here's PFF numbers. 154 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 3: DJ Turner is excellent. Film reviews on DJ Turner. Look 155 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,280 Speaker 3: how good he looks. I do think he looks real good. 156 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 3: And we're gonna be talking about when we get to the 157 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 3: spring in summer of potentially an extension in Cincinnati. 158 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 2: Do you think that the light bulb has finally turned 159 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 2: on for Miles Murphy. 160 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 3: I don't know that it's turned on. I would say 161 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 3: it's definitely flickering more often than it was. I thought 162 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 3: his rookie year. And I went back and watched this 163 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 3: recently because I wanted to see what he looked like 164 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 3: year one, year or two, and I just watched the 165 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 3: Bills Bengals games from twenty twenty three. He got a 166 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 3: decent amount of snaps in that game as well, But 167 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 3: I wanted to go back and look and say, Okay, 168 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 3: what was the difference because some of the data even 169 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 3: says that Miles was winning at a similar rate as 170 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 3: a pass rusher to what he's winning at now when 171 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 3: he was a rookie. So I said, okay, I don't 172 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 3: remember it that way, so let me go back and look. 173 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 3: And I thought he was. But so the big thing 174 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 3: I saw that was different now is he's much more 175 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:54,239 Speaker 3: aware of how offenses are attacking him, how blocking schemes worked, 176 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 3: and how they're going to try and trick him or 177 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 3: get him to go inside and then they're going to 178 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,239 Speaker 3: steal him off. Much more aware where the ball is going, 179 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 3: where the playflow is going, so it allows him to 180 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 3: make more plays. We know he's long, he's very athletic, 181 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 3: and he's got a great get offs. He's always had 182 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 3: a good get off since spending the league. Where he's 183 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 3: lacked was I think the awareness. He didn't have the 184 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 3: snats right, he never was consistently playing. So I think 185 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 3: experience and awareness are tied together for a lot of players, 186 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 3: and you can see that starting to snowball and really grow. 187 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 3: The other part is your hand usage and your moves 188 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 3: and your counter moves. He was elementary at maybe his best, 189 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 3: and now I think it's starting to progress a little 190 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 3: bit more than that. I'm not going to say he's 191 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 3: good yet. He doesn't look like a guy that's a 192 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 3: ten sec guy yet, but those flashes are starting to 193 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 3: be a little bit more consistent. Because we've had games 194 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:42,960 Speaker 3: in moments like this from Miles in the past. But 195 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 3: good players do it three out of four games, right, 196 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 3: So he needs this to continue for the final five games. 197 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 3: If it does, he might get his fiftyeer option picked up, 198 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 3: which is like thirteen point six million, So I'm sure 199 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:54,959 Speaker 3: he's got a lot of reasons to play for that. 200 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 2: Talking to Joe Goodbarry, host of Bengals on the Brain 201 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 2: also on X at Joe Goode, Let's go to the 202 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 2: offensive side of the ball, it felt like to me, 203 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 2: Joe that it was basically the same old Bengals offense. 204 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 2: With Joe Burrow back at the Helm against Baltimore on Thursday. 205 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 2: What did you make of his performance and overall, how 206 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 2: do you evaluate the offense after Buffalo? 207 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, so Burrow, I thought it was a little rusty 208 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 3: at first. They kind of put him through a crash 209 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 3: course of Hey, forty two throws in the first half. 210 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 3: We're going a treaty like Forrest Gump with his braces, 211 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 3: They're just going to run right out of him, right. 212 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 3: And it worked because in the second half he would 213 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,559 Speaker 3: look like Joe Burrow completely. He was moving around, which 214 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:38,079 Speaker 3: is great to see, right. I mean, that was the 215 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 3: one thing, like, all right, it's going to be like 216 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 3: coming back from the calf injury where they got it. 217 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:43,439 Speaker 3: Just going to keep him in a shotgun and he's 218 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:44,679 Speaker 3: not going to move at all. He's just going to 219 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 3: get the ball out in two point two seconds. It 220 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 3: wasn't that, Honestly, if you didn't know he was injured, 221 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 3: especially in the second half after the Russ was off, 222 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 3: you would have no idea that it was his first 223 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 3: time coming back in nine games or to ten weeks, 224 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 3: whatever it was. And I thought he looked like his 225 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 3: normal self, and I he was feeling it and he 226 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 3: was excited. I think the entire offense felt it. Maybe 227 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 3: the defense and special teams are feeling it too. I 228 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:08,719 Speaker 3: don't see why. There's no reason to believe these guys 229 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 3: won't be better when they feel like their franchise quarterback 230 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:12,559 Speaker 3: is going to lead the offense down the field. That 231 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:14,319 Speaker 3: you see it around the league. It always does happen. 232 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 3: I just can't explain it other than you know, if 233 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 3: you during that locker room or not, they might all 234 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 3: to just be seeing Joe Burrow out there and being like, 235 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 3: you know what, we can do it. But the offense 236 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 3: as a whole, the run game has been really good 237 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 3: for the most of this year. Efficiency wise, EPA wise, 238 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 3: success rate wise, this is the best running game of 239 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 3: the Zach Taylor era. In terms of efficiency. They may 240 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 3: miss some of the power speed combo that Joe Mixon had, 241 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 3: but in terms of explosiveness and consistency and pass protection, 242 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 3: they were in a great shape for the running back position. 243 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:48,439 Speaker 3: And on top of that, their pass protection and especially 244 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 3: that Thursday night Thanksgiving game was the best pass protection 245 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 3: we've seen in a long time. It's the highest pass 246 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 3: blocking grade PFF has given them since I believe twenty sixteen. 247 00:10:57,640 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 3: And when you think about that, that's been a long 248 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,439 Speaker 3: ten year of watching and talking offensive line. Now we're 249 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 3: talking about it in a positive way. They're not allowing 250 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 3: saxis this year. It's the lowest rate since twenty fourteen. 251 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 3: We're talking about elite offensive lines in front of Andy 252 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:13,959 Speaker 3: Dalton those two years. It's good. We're in good shape, 253 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 3: and I hope this continues. To hope t Higgins gets 254 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 3: back and they can find their elite level over the 255 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 3: final five games, because if they can, I don't think 256 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 3: anyone wants to play them when they're at their peak 257 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 3: gun offense. 258 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 2: That's my favorite thing to say about the Bengals at 259 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 2: the end of every season. Nobody wants to play them 260 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 2: at home, right, Yeah, especially when the other thing to 261 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 2: you you mentioned the run game being so good. Is 262 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 2: it as simple as the offensive lineman are just performing better, 263 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 2: or do you think it's a scheme tweak that has 264 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 2: led to that being a more explosive and dependable part 265 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 2: of their offense. 266 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:48,959 Speaker 3: I think it is a lot of a scheme tweak. 267 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:50,600 Speaker 3: I think Chase Brown is running really well, but we've 268 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 3: also seen smagp Ryan have more explosives than he's ever 269 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 3: had in his career. Maybe not this last Thursday night 270 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:56,679 Speaker 3: where it seemed like, come on, give the ball to 271 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 3: Chase Brown. Love the finish this game, but the offensive 272 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 3: line has blocked a lot better. And when I talk 273 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,680 Speaker 3: in this scheme, I think it's the marrying of the 274 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 3: run in the past and when we used to use 275 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 3: that phrase in the pass and we've talked about that 276 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 3: for a how many offseasons. At this point I was 277 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 3: doing right, like, they got to figure out how to 278 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:13,599 Speaker 3: marry the run in the pass game. Usually I was 279 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 3: thinking about it from the perspective of to make the 280 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 3: passing offense better, Right, let's get the run game going 281 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 3: so the pass offense can look better. They actually did 282 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 3: it in reverse, and it made me think differently this season. 283 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,440 Speaker 3: Is their passing the offense is good and everyone around 284 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:28,959 Speaker 3: the league knows it, and they give the Bengals the 285 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 3: lightest boxes in the league. So what are the Bengals 286 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 3: do to get the run game going with that? Is 287 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 3: they make everything still look like a pass and they 288 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 3: run out of it, and they will have screens built 289 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 3: on one side and they'll run the ball the other way, 290 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:42,640 Speaker 3: and it really takes even more defenders out of the box. 291 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 3: And they are there for the first time, really toying 292 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:50,200 Speaker 3: with defenses in terms of instead of letting the defense 293 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 3: dictate when they're going to run the ball, they're almost 294 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 3: dictating to the defense for the first time. I think 295 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 3: them the Zach Taylor era of Hey, we know we're 296 00:12:56,960 --> 00:12:58,439 Speaker 3: going to show this, we know we're going to throw 297 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 3: the ball sixty times a game. That's if you let us. 298 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 3: But if you don't bring that other safety in that box, 299 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 3: we will run the ball and we'll actually get explosive 300 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 3: runs out of it. And it's it's it's been great 301 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 3: and I think it's a good way of keeping the 302 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 3: game off of Joe burrow shoulders. Now. I know I'm 303 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 3: saying this after the game where he just threw the 304 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,680 Speaker 3: ball forty two times in the first half, but they're 305 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:19,679 Speaker 3: going to get in these games. It's going it's December now, 306 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:21,959 Speaker 3: these games are going to be a grosser, right. The 307 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 3: field is not going to be perfect condition, it's going 308 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 3: to be colder. You're gonna have to lean on Chase 309 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 3: Brown AND's magic Peterran, and I think they are in 310 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 3: position to do that if they have to. 311 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 2: What do you make of the split between Brown and 312 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 2: p Ryan. It feels like a little bit two fifty 313 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:37,440 Speaker 2: to fifty to me. What do you make of that? 314 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 3: Yeah? I agree, maybe this Thursday was because they just 315 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 3: rode Chase Brown so heavily the last few weeks whilst 316 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 3: Madgic p Ran was out. That's kind of how I 317 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 3: you know, justified it in my head. Maybe give Brown 318 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 3: a piece snaps off, but he's been too good to 319 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 3: take off the field right now. Honestly, he's been their 320 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 3: second best offensive weapon. It's it's Jamar Chase and then 321 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 3: to me, it's Chase Brown right now. Tiegans is great, 322 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,959 Speaker 3: but like you know, you look, get the amount of 323 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 3: usage you're putting on a running back. The guy's gonna 324 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 3: touch them all way more than the number two receiver. 325 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 3: He's gonna have fourteen's on page fourteen hundred and nine 326 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:10,200 Speaker 3: yards I believe it is, which would way out pace 327 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:12,560 Speaker 3: the number two receiver. That's just how the game goes. 328 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 3: And he's been really good, six straight games of one 329 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 3: hundred plus yards because I got to look at the 330 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 3: receiving production because it's an extension of the run game 331 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 3: for the Bengals, especially when it comes to Chase Brown, 332 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 3: and he's got the second most catches on the team. 333 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 3: So I would like to see him on the field more. 334 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 3: I kind of get it, though. They got to give 335 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 3: him a little bit of a break. And I think 336 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 3: Samaja is so reliable usually other than the fumble on 337 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 3: Thanksgiving in past protection, he's so reliable that they would 338 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 3: like to get him out there for at least that 339 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 3: if you can give Chase Brown a mental break from 340 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 3: pass protection, maybe a physical break in past protection, because 341 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 3: he's fine there. He's got one hundred percent pass block 342 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 3: efficiency over the last six weeks as well, so you 343 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 3: can use these guys interchangeably. But I do agree I'm 344 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 3: looking for like a seventy thirty split rather than more 345 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 3: of a fifty to fifty like we saw on Thursday. 346 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 2: Last thing before I let you go. Does the Trey 347 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 2: Hendrickson situ seem odd to you? 348 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 3: It does, for sure, and I think it's because we've 349 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 3: been talking about trade for so long. We've heard so 350 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 3: many like you know, the Bengals just being frustrated with 351 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 3: Trey being unhappy every year, wanting a new contract every year. 352 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 3: It's been drama every year for a long time. And 353 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 3: he's a great player, no doubt about it, and he 354 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 3: makes the defense better. I would love to have Trey 355 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 3: Hendrickson back for this stretch run, for this defense, to 356 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 3: try and take it to another level. But the last 357 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 3: we heard, you know, they went from being a back 358 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 3: issue to a hip area issue, maybe a sports hernia, 359 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 3: which it may take time, and I wonder if there 360 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 3: is frustrated frustration, like, hey, this should take a month 361 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 3: or so to heal, and Trey Hendrickson's looking at it like, listen, 362 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 3: I'm not committed to for multiple years. You guys gave 363 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 3: me a one year contract again. I don't have guarantee 364 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 3: money pass this year. I have to worry about myself 365 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 3: and free agency in the offseason. I'm going to make 366 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 3: sure I'm healthy when that time comes. I will play 367 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 3: when I'm ready to play. I already tried to come 368 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:01,240 Speaker 3: back early and got hurt and it didn't work out 369 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 3: for me. He can't have that happen again. So if 370 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 3: he's just waiting until he's healthy and he's going to 371 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 3: take his time, I can't blame the guy because they 372 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 3: haven't committed to him in the long term. But on 373 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 3: the other hand, the Bengals Katie Blackburn's rightly looking at 374 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 3: this like this is exactly why we didn't commit to 375 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 3: Trey andricks in long term. So you know what, I 376 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 3: just as a fan, as someone who enjoys watching the team, 377 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 3: I just want to see him back so it can 378 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 3: help them out. And I hope he's healthy and I 379 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 3: hope he can You're in a high note, so he 380 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 3: can get the money he deserves in the off season. 381 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, you've pointed this out on your social media in 382 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 2: the past before, and I do think it's important to 383 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 2: note that that sometimes football can be as simple as 384 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 2: you just want to watch the best players play for 385 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 2: your team. I think sometimes we forget about that as fans. 386 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's exactly right, and that's why I always wanted 387 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 3: them to trade for Joe Flacka when it happened. I 388 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 3: wanted them to get a quarterback in here because I 389 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 3: wanted to see t against jamar Chees do their thing. 390 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 3: And I wanted Burrow to return because I like watching 391 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 3: Joe Burrow play, and on the defensive side, I want 392 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 3: to watch Trendrickson play. And if it's the last year 393 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 3: he's in Cincinnati, and what a great five years. It's 394 00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 3: been four and a half years. I would like to 395 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 3: see him one more time before it's over. 396 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 2: No doubt about it. Joe Goodberry Bengals on the Brain, 397 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 2: What are you working on? What do you got coming up? 398 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:09,400 Speaker 2: How can people follow along with everything you're you got 399 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 2: going on? 400 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, tonight at seven o'clock, we got a Bengals on 401 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 3: the Brain presented by First Star Logistics film review of 402 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:18,679 Speaker 3: Joe Burrow's return versus Baltimore. Look for that on the 403 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 3: First Media YouTube channel seven o'clock tonight. 404 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,640 Speaker 2: Awesome stuff. Joe, thanks so much. Man, really appreciate it. 405 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 3: Thank you, Austin. 406 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:30,640 Speaker 2: It is Joe Goodberry at Joe Goodberry on x Dude 407 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 2: knows this stuff. He watches the film. Uh, he consults 408 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 2: the data as you heard him reference a couple of 409 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:40,360 Speaker 2: different times there. And awesome when we get a chance 410 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 2: to talk to him and have him on the show. 411 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 2: One of my favorite guests, one of my favorite people 412 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 2: to follow on Twitter that I've I think I've been 413 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:49,440 Speaker 2: following him for almost fifteen sixteen years now, which is 414 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:52,640 Speaker 2: kind of crazy just to go all around. Good dude. 415 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 2: So go check him out if you haven't already. We'll 416 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 2: take a break. Phone lines back open five, one, three, seven, four, nine, 417 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 2: fifteen to thirty. Anything you want to talk about. Plus 418 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 2: hear what Richard Patino said after his Xavier Team one 419 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 2: last night, Here what Wes Miller said after his Bearcat 420 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:12,479 Speaker 2: Team one last night, and each coach's final tune up 421 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,879 Speaker 2: ahead of the Skyline Chile Crosstown Shootout. All that, plus 422 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 2: Moegar about half an hour from right now, it's all next. 423 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 2: This is ESPN fifteen thirty. 424 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: From locker room whispers to stadium roars. He's got it 425 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:30,920 Speaker 1: all Moegar today at three pm on ESPN fifteen thirty