1 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: Hi, get everybody. 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 2: I'm Dan Hoard and thanks for downloading The Bengals Booth Podcast. 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 2: The Find My Way Back to Tennessee addition, as the 4 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 2: Bengals head to Nashville for the third year in a 5 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 2: row and look to beat the Tennessee Titans for the 6 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 2: third straight time. Coming up, I'll talk to former NFL 7 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 2: offensive lineman Ross Tucker, the host of the Ross Tucker 8 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 2: Podcast and a game analyst for CBS this year, and 9 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 2: find out if his opinion of the Bengals changed after 10 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 2: Monday Night's win over the Rams, and what he thinks 11 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 2: it's going to take to beat the Titans. On Sunday, 12 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 2: My one on one player interview this week is with 13 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 2: AJ McCarron, whose pro football career has come full circle 14 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 2: with a return to Cincinnati. Dave Lapham joins me and 15 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 2: shares a great story about Titans coach Mike Vrabel, and 16 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 2: in our No The Faux segment, we'll get the latest 17 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 2: time this week's opponent from Nashville's sports anchor and sports 18 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 2: talk show hosts John Burden. The Bengals Booth Podcast is 19 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 2: brought to you by Pai Corp, the official HR software 20 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 2: provider of the Bengals by Alta Fiber, future proof Fiber 21 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 2: Internet elevate your connection with Alta Fiber, and by Kettering Health, 22 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 2: the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now here's a 23 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 2: quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of 24 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 2: this podcast delivered rite to your phone, tablet, or computer 25 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 2: by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest 26 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 2: thing since sincey Light. That's the name of a light 27 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 2: beer from Ryenggeist Brewery in downtown Cincinnati that's one of 28 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 2: the hottest selling Cincinnati brewed beers of all time. As 29 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,199 Speaker 2: the radio announcer for UC football and basketball, I had 30 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 2: the honor of pouring the first beer at the brewery 31 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 2: back in June, and a portion of the proceeds from 32 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 2: every sincey Light sold goes to Cincy Rains, the nil 33 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 2: collective that helps pay UC athletes through name, image and 34 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 2: likeness deals. So if you're a beer drinker and room 35 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 2: for UC in addition to rooting for the Bengals, give 36 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 2: since he lte a try every sip helps the Bearcats. 37 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 2: Now time to hear from my first guest, former offensive 38 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 2: lineman Ross Tucker, host to popular podcast calls NFL games, 39 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 2: for CBS and Westwood One and introduced me to my 40 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 2: front page story dot com. That made for the perfect 41 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,800 Speaker 2: Mother's Day gift this year. I caught up with Ross 42 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 2: this week and started our conversation by asking if his 43 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:33,839 Speaker 2: opinion of the Bengals changed after Monday Night's win over 44 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 2: the Rams. 45 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:37,959 Speaker 1: Maybe a little bit, Dan. 46 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 3: I think they were obviously able to get Jamar Chase involved, 47 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 3: which they hadn't been able to do. And I thought 48 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 3: Mixon showed some real burst and juice, which I thought 49 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 3: was highly encouraging with some of his runs. Hadn't seen 50 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 3: that as much from him recently, so I think the 51 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 3: ability to get both those guys going a little bit 52 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 3: was encouraged. You know, obviously, Burrow missed throws that you 53 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 3: just never see him miss. 54 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,399 Speaker 1: I mean, he's so good and he's. 55 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 3: So accurate that it's like jaw dropping when he misses 56 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 3: some of the easy throws that he missed the other night. 57 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 3: But as long as he doesn't suffer a setback, and 58 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 3: I think even he said this, as long as you 59 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:22,679 Speaker 3: know that Calf continues to get better and they can 60 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,920 Speaker 3: manage it these next couple games. Now, listen, the Titans 61 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 3: D line is legit, so that won't be easy. But 62 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 3: if Joe can get through this portion of the calf injury, 63 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 3: I think the Bengals will be able to break through 64 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 3: to the other side and get back to being what 65 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 3: they've been in the last couple of years. 66 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 2: You played in the NFL, what would you think of 67 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 2: Joe's willingness to play if you are his teammate. 68 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: Just really appreciate it. 69 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, just really appreciate it because you know that it's 70 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 3: not fun to play when you're injured. Now listen, I 71 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 3: will say this as a former offensive lineman. A lot 72 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 3: of those guys have something bothering him, right. I Mean 73 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 3: it's like I always laugh when these people say, are 74 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 3: you one hundred percent later in the year. 75 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: If you're a hundred percent later in the year, what 76 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: have you been. 77 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 3: Doing the whole time? I mean, you're not going to 78 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 3: feel like you're one hundred percent. But he very easily 79 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 3: could have sat that one out and said let's be 80 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:18,479 Speaker 3: safe and let's be smart about this. 81 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:19,799 Speaker 1: But I think. 82 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 3: Burrow knew the risk of going on three, didn't want 83 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,239 Speaker 3: to take that chance, and especially I think the mental 84 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 3: toughness dan for him to battle through performing poorly in 85 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 3: the first half and just stick with it to be 86 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 3: able to lead his team to a critical, critical victory. 87 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 3: I think that's what the guys really appreciate as much 88 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 3: as anything. 89 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 2: We are visiting with Ross Tucker. The defense was awesome 90 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 2: on Monday Night, six sacks, two takeaways. Does that group 91 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 2: have to lead the team right now while Burrow and 92 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 2: the offense are still jelling well. 93 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 1: I think they do, and I think they have been. 94 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 3: I'm really impressed by the Bengals defense and have been 95 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 3: for the last few years. I said it last year, 96 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 3: I'll say it again this year. Dan, I'd be really 97 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 3: surprised if lou Ana Rumo does not get a head 98 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 3: coaching job. 99 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:12,039 Speaker 1: But I don't know. 100 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 3: He didn't even get that many interviews, so maybe I 101 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 3: don't know what I'm talking about. 102 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:17,719 Speaker 1: But they're just a really good group. 103 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:22,040 Speaker 3: Love Logan Wilson and what he does Hendrickson on the 104 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 3: D line. 105 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: I mean, it's been the same guys. 106 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 3: Now for a few years that are really high level 107 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 3: players in the prime of their career, and they're showing 108 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 3: it every week now. To have a corner like Cam 109 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 3: tayl Or Britt and what he brings the table, they 110 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 3: just have a really good team, and for them to 111 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 3: be able to massage the situation of losing both safeties 112 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:47,600 Speaker 3: and still being able to play really good on that 113 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 3: side of the ball, I think speaks really well. Even 114 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 3: more so, I would say I have Anna Rumo and 115 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:54,359 Speaker 3: the position coaches for that matter. 116 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 2: So after three weeks, the other three teams in the 117 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 2: AFC North, the Browns, the Ravens, and the Steelers are 118 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,919 Speaker 2: all off to two and one starts. Does anything jump 119 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 2: out about the other three teams in the division so far? 120 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, I would say one thing jumps out for sure, 121 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 3: and it's the Browns defense. The Browns defense is really 122 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 3: really good. So now you've got a team where the 123 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 3: Browns defense was a liability last year they were horrendous, 124 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 3: and now it's a strength. I mean, I'm watching those 125 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 3: guys and they've been almost unblockable so far. 126 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: To start this year. 127 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 3: Miles Garrett is as good of a defensive player as 128 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 3: there is in the NFL. So to see what those 129 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 3: guys have been able to do on that side of 130 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 3: the ball, that's probably the most noteworthy thing, right. I mean, 131 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 3: the Steelers are probably about where I thought they'd be. 132 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 3: The Ravens losing to the Colts. That was a bad 133 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 3: loss for the Ravens and a good one for the Bengals. 134 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 3: Obviously that the Ravens lost that game at home against 135 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 3: the Colts in overtime. 136 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 1: But I would say the Ravens and Steelers. 137 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 3: Are about who or what I thought they'd be. It's 138 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 3: the Browns defensively that has done the biggest one to 139 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 3: eighty from last season. 140 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 2: You're a Princeton guy. The Bengals drafted one this year 141 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 2: and rookie Andre Yosi Bosch the wide receiver. What do 142 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 2: you think of Andre and his long term NFL potential? 143 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 3: I think he needs to go back to Princeton because 144 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 3: we lost to Bryant last Saturday, and I'm not real 145 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 3: happy about it. We need Andre back in our black 146 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 3: and orange, not the Bengals black and orange. 147 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: By the way, what are the odds of that? 148 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 3: The odds there aren't that many teams that have orange 149 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,119 Speaker 3: and black. For him to be able to go from 150 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 3: Princeton to the Bengals is pretty wild. 151 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: But no, it sounds like you had a good preseason. 152 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 3: I saw where you guys mic him up for a 153 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 3: game that was pretty funny. You know, it's so interesting 154 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 3: because a guy like that, they don't usually get that 155 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 3: many snaps unless someone ahead of them gets hurt or 156 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 3: they kind of earn that opportunity. 157 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: But I'm excited for him. I'm excited for you guys. 158 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 3: He's never just been a you know, I mean, and 159 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 3: I'm sure you talked about it. But he's doing winter track, 160 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 3: he's doing spring track. He's an All American decathlete. I 161 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 3: think if this guy's just doing football year round, he 162 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 3: obviously has the physical ability. He's got terrific guys to 163 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 3: learn from, with Chase and Boyd and Higgins, and so 164 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 3: you've got he has a mental acuity, he's got the 165 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 3: physical ability, and he's got. 166 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 1: Good guys to learn from. 167 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 3: There's certainly a really good recipe there for him to 168 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 3: be able to have some success. 169 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 2: So the Bengals are at Tennessee on Sunday. What are 170 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 2: a few keys to beating the one in two Titans. 171 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: Well, I don't think they're gonna be able to run 172 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:41,719 Speaker 1: the ball very well, because. 173 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 3: Nobody runs the ball very well against the Tennessee Titans. 174 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 3: That is clearly their focus. So I guess I would 175 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 3: start with protecting Burrow. They've got some real difference makers 176 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 3: up front, whether it's Landry or arn Key. On the outside, 177 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 3: Jeffrey Simmons is probably about as good of a defensive 178 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 3: tackle as there is in the NFL. So I would 179 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 3: say run it enough to keep them honest, and then 180 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 3: make sure you're double teaming Jeffrey Simmons and trying to 181 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 3: get the ball out of Burrow's hands quickly, which. 182 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 1: By the way, he does very well. 183 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 3: It's a huge positive for Burrow, but that's a big 184 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 3: concern when they're on offense and on defense. 185 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: Kind of interesting. 186 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,839 Speaker 3: I don't know why the Titans aren't leaning on Derrick 187 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 3: Henry as much as they have in recent years. Maybe 188 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 3: it's game script, they've gotten behind or whatever, but they've 189 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,079 Speaker 3: been having that Tajy Spears play a lot, the rookie 190 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 3: out of Tulane. You can't let Henry get going. They're 191 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 3: clearly better at home than they are on the road. 192 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 3: And if they get a lead and they can just 193 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 3: pound away at Henry, that's tough for any defense. 194 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 2: Your schedule is nuts. I appreciate your time. Keep up 195 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:53,239 Speaker 2: the great work. 196 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 1: Dan, it's my pleasure love hearing you. Love those all 197 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:00,040 Speaker 1: white unis. You guys were rocking on Monday night. I 198 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: don't know you guys call it White Tiger. That was awesome. 199 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 1: Always good to be with you, Happy to be on 200 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: with you. Thank you so much for having me. 201 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 2: As Ross noted, the Bengals defense can't allow the King 202 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:14,559 Speaker 2: Dereck Henry to get rolling this week, and Cincinnati has 203 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 2: contained him on the road in each of the last 204 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 2: two years. Henry had sixty two yards on twenty carries 205 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 2: in the Bengals playoff win two years ago and just 206 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,439 Speaker 2: thirty eight yards on seventeen carries when Cincinnati beat the 207 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 2: Titans in the regular season last year. That's two point 208 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 2: six yards of carry in those two games. As for 209 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 2: the Bengals offense, barring a setback at practice, we won't 210 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 2: be doing the Willie play or Won'ty play thing with 211 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 2: Joe Burrow this week. He threw for two hundred and 212 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 2: fifty nine yards with a passer rating of fifty nine 213 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 2: point eight in the win over the Rams, and I 214 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 2: discussed that performance with Dave Lapham. His personal numbers weren't 215 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 2: spectacular on Monday night. He didn't throw a touchdown pass. 216 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 2: It's the first time in the Joe era they have 217 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 2: won a regular season game where he did not throw 218 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 2: at least one touchdown pass. Now, his numbers would have 219 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 2: been better if t Higgins didn't have a rare case 220 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 2: of the dropsies, But in any case, Joe did enough 221 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 2: for the Bengals to get a badly needed win over 222 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 2: the Rams. Let's hear from offensive coordinator Brian Callahan. 223 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 4: It was a tough week, you know, just not knowing 224 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 4: for a long stretch of it what it was, who 225 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 4: was going to be, what it was going to look like. 226 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 4: And then you know, there was a beginning part of 227 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 4: the game where like what is this going to look like? 228 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 1: You know? 229 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 4: And Joe Guy's an absolute warrior to be able to 230 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:40,319 Speaker 4: go out there and play the way he played and 231 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:43,640 Speaker 4: those in that state was really impressive. 232 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 2: Good enough to beat the Rams. But let's be honest, 233 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 2: the offense has to get much better if the Bengals 234 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 2: are truly going to be the type of team that 235 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 2: we all expected them to be going into the season. 236 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 5: Well, in reality, dan three football games offensively, their highest 237 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:02,719 Speaker 5: production was the nineteen points net one win against the 238 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 5: Rams twenty seven to twenty. Fourth Baltimore offense scored seventeen. 239 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 5: There was an eighty one yard punt return, special teams touchdown. 240 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 5: So offensively, they scored three in the opener, they scored 241 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:17,199 Speaker 5: seventeen points in Week two against Baltimore offensively, and then 242 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 5: nineteen points in the victory against the Rams. 243 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 1: So it's trending up. 244 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 5: Yeah, So hopefully that continues in the Tennessee. I you know, 245 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 5: it's the Bengals have won down there. The interesting thing 246 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 5: is against Zach Taylor, Mike rabelers zero and three's that's 247 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:42,680 Speaker 5: his worst record against any individual coach head to head. 248 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 5: So the Bengals and Zach Taylor at this juncture, we've 249 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 5: kind of had the Titans in Mike Rabel's number. And 250 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 5: I remember, I can't remember if it was the playoff 251 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 5: game or the last regular season game last year, where 252 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 5: I just happened to be walking out of the locker 253 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 5: room trailing Vrabel, and man, he went to his car. 254 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 5: I was going to the bus. He walked to his car. 255 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 5: He started kicking his car, dent in his car. 256 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 1: Come on, he was pissed kicking his car. 257 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 5: He kicked the side of his car, put two huge 258 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,680 Speaker 5: dentst and I'm like, whoa boy. It was after the 259 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 5: playoff loss down there, he was I mean, he was 260 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 5: hot man, he was human. 261 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 2: The Bengals have not scored a ton of points in 262 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:27,200 Speaker 2: those two most recent victories over Tennessee twenty last year 263 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,440 Speaker 2: nineteen in the playoff game, but that's been enough. It 264 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,319 Speaker 2: was similar to the Rams game on Monday night. Their 265 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 2: defense has really shut down the Titans. We talked about 266 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,559 Speaker 2: how they slowed down Derreck Henry the last couple of games, 267 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 2: but they've really given Ryan Tannehill trouble. Three interceptions in 268 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 2: that playoff game. 269 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 5: Absolutely the last two times the two victories sixteen points 270 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 5: that held him two both times twenty to sixteen. And 271 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:53,719 Speaker 5: just like last week's score in the victory, they'd beat 272 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 5: Tennessee nineteen sixteen as well in the playoffs. So you know, 273 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 5: it's a tough place to play. It's going to be 274 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 5: loud down there. It's crazy down there. As I recall, 275 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 5: the stands are right on top of the players. I mean, 276 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,600 Speaker 5: it's just I remember the players talking about people could 277 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,319 Speaker 5: have been throwing things out of me. They could hear everything, 278 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 5: they were right on top of them. So the noise 279 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 5: kind of just hangs right in there, and it's very 280 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 5: very difficult. So your non spoken communication has to be 281 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 5: top shelf because you're not going to be able to hear. 282 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 5: And what bothered me is it's third and one, back 283 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 5: to back fall starts at home when you don't have 284 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 5: to deal with crowd noise, two separate veteran players, Tyler 285 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 5: Boyd or Orlando Brown junior back to back fall starts. 286 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 5: Now it's third in eleven, third and one where you 287 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 5: have a short guardage goal line play to convert. Now 288 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 5: it's starting eleven, and it's like one of the many 289 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 5: times there were third and ten or more and struggled 290 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 5: on third down having those kind of down a distance conversions. 291 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 5: So you're going to have to play a clean game 292 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 5: down there, and the Tennessee Tits are going to lean 293 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 5: on those fans to give the Bengals there's as many 294 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 5: promis with crowd noise as they can. 295 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 2: The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by Alta 296 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 2: Fiber future Proof Fiber Internet elevate your connection with Alta 297 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 2: Fiber by Kettering Health, the official healthcare provider of the Bengals, 298 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 2: and by pay Corps, the team's official HR software provider. 299 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 2: Following the Baltimore game, where Joe Burrow's status was up 300 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 2: in the air after he tweaked his calf injury. The 301 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 2: Bengals signed an old friend and added him to the 302 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 2: practice squad. AJ McCarron, who spent his first four NFL 303 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 2: seasons in Cincinnati before bouncing around to Buffalo, Oakland, Houston, Atlanta, 304 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 2: and even Saint Louis of the XFL. AJ, it's great 305 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 2: to have you back here in Cincinnati. I know Bengals 306 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 2: fans have been rooting for you since you left. What 307 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 2: was it like for you to walk back into the building. 308 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 6: Yeah, that was awesome. Listen, I've told everybody since I've 309 00:15:57,280 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 6: got here, you can feel the love that the city 310 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 6: has for me, and it's greatly appreciated. And I loved 311 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 6: coming back to this organization and being back in this city. 312 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 6: It's awesome to be a part of it again and 313 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 6: see the excitement within the city surrounding the organization. It 314 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 6: is awesome. 315 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 2: It sounds like it was in the back of your 316 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 2: head to possibly come back to Cincinnati someday. 317 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 6: Oh yeah, you always want to kind of go back 318 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 6: as a player and where you first started and be 319 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 6: able to, you know, maybe retire there. But I mean, 320 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 6: I don't plan on retiring anytime soon. But yes, it's 321 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 6: awesome to kind of full circle and come back to 322 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 6: this organization. It's special for sure. 323 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 2: You have already played a football season this year in 324 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 2: the latest version of the XFL with Saint Louis after 325 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 2: nearly a decade in the NFL. Why did you make 326 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 2: that choice? 327 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 6: It was mainly just my oldest son wanting to watch 328 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 6: me play. And I tour my ACL in twenty one 329 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:05,640 Speaker 6: in Atlanta, So it's really just coming back and being 330 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 6: able to play and lead a team and play, you know, 331 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 6: weekend and week out and have him experience and my 332 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 6: middle son Cash as well, so have him both be 333 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 6: a part of it and see daddy play. Was you 334 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:25,239 Speaker 6: know something that every player that has kids dreams of. 335 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 2: Your oldest son was born when you were here. Yeah, 336 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 2: back in twenty sixteen, I believe. Was he able to 337 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:31,920 Speaker 2: be around the team much? 338 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 5: Yeah? 339 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 6: Yeah, he was ball boy and we come to practice, 340 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:40,239 Speaker 6: come to meetings, sit in and hang out, and it 341 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 6: really helped him from playing. You know, me as a 342 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 6: dad coaching him in baseball and in flag football, but 343 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 6: seeing how dad got coached at practice and knowing like, okay, 344 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 6: well Dad's not mad at me. He's just coaching me, 345 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 6: So it really actually helped him grow as a player. 346 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 6: And this year base ball and then leading into football 347 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:04,919 Speaker 6: was such a huge difference for him, and I mean, 348 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:07,119 Speaker 6: he grew as a player. So it's it was awesome 349 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:07,880 Speaker 6: to see. 350 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 2: You led the league in touchdown passes, you led the 351 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 2: league in passing efficiency. Did it renew the belief that 352 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 2: you can help an NFL team win? 353 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 5: Yeah? 354 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,240 Speaker 6: I mean listen that that was the first time in 355 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 6: twenty one tear my ACL that I've ever had an 356 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:25,639 Speaker 6: injury to not be able to play football that season, 357 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 6: so and sit out, and you know, as somebody that's 358 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 6: going through the injury like that, you always have doubts 359 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 6: can you get back to where you were and can 360 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 6: you still play at. 361 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:37,399 Speaker 5: A high level. 362 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:41,160 Speaker 6: So being able to come out and prove not only 363 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,400 Speaker 6: to myself but everybody else that I can still play 364 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 6: at a high level and play the QB position in 365 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 6: an efficient way, it was something that I was excited 366 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,919 Speaker 6: about and have the opportunity to do. And you know, 367 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 6: I had great teammates that helped all that, you know, 368 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 6: be possible. And so it was a year. 369 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 2: Let's turn the clock back to twenty fifteen. Your first 370 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 2: year on the Bengals active roster. The team was ten 371 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:09,480 Speaker 2: and two when Andy Dalton broke his thumb. You took 372 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 2: over for the rest of the year despite not having 373 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 2: really any NFL experience and played great. What was your 374 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:16,360 Speaker 2: most vivid memory of that stretch. 375 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:18,879 Speaker 6: Yeah, I think just being kind of thrown into the 376 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 6: fire because rookie year, being on NFL, never getting any experience, 377 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 6: and then really had that preseason of fifteen and then 378 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:33,440 Speaker 6: other than that it was scout team practice reps because 379 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 6: didn't I didn't get any reps as a two for 380 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,439 Speaker 6: our own offense that year, So all of a sudden 381 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 6: being thrown in in that Pittsburgh game here and then 382 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 6: having to go from there to San fran and then 383 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 6: Denver and then Baltimore again and then playoff game against 384 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 6: pitt here. Listen, it was a special year. It was 385 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 6: a lot of great memories for my family. I mean, 386 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 6: definitely sucks and it was tough to lose that playoff game, 387 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 6: but it was still something that I'll, you know, cherish 388 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 6: for the rest of my life. 389 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,439 Speaker 2: Your touchdown past aj Green with one fifty to go 390 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 2: gave the Bengals a one point lead. It would have 391 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 2: gone down as one of the most memorable plays in 392 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 2: franchise history. If not for what happened after that, does 393 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:18,680 Speaker 2: it still sting? 394 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 6: Oh for sure, because you know, you just never know 395 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 6: what would have happened from a career standpoint, and then 396 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 6: maybe being able to start, you just you don't know 397 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 6: what the next year leads to. But listen, I've always 398 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 6: been a firm believer. God has a plan for everything, 399 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 6: So just roll with the punches sometimes and enjoy the 400 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:44,159 Speaker 6: journey while you're on it. 401 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 2: A couple more questions for AJ mccaron. There are a 402 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 2: couple of guys left from when you were here previously, 403 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 2: Tyler Boyd and Joe Mixon, but the other guys are new, 404 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 2: including Joe Burrow. Would have been your impressions of him 405 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 2: watching from afar? 406 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:57,639 Speaker 6: I told him when I first got here, it's been 407 00:20:57,680 --> 00:20:58,640 Speaker 6: awesome to watch him. 408 00:20:58,720 --> 00:20:58,959 Speaker 5: You know. 409 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:01,360 Speaker 6: I got to watch him a little bit in college 410 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:06,080 Speaker 6: just staying so busy, but mainly the big games, and 411 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 6: then now meeting him and watching him in person the 412 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 6: other night was something that was awesome to see. But listen, 413 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 6: he's a special talent. He's special quarterback, and I mean, 414 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 6: this guy's the limit. He's an awesome leader and a 415 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 6: great quarterback, and it's it's fun to be in that 416 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 6: room with him and you know, help in any way possible. 417 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 2: You're thirty three, father of three young boys, You're financially 418 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:36,439 Speaker 2: secure from your time in the NFL. What do you 419 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 2: still have left that you would like to accomplish in 420 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 2: the NFL? 421 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 6: Well, I mean I'd like to, you know, work my 422 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:46,639 Speaker 6: way to either playing or being on the active roster 423 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 6: again and and helping the team out in a certain way. 424 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 6: So but right now, I'm taking it day by day, 425 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:58,720 Speaker 6: just enjoying this this ride and and then we'll figure 426 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:02,320 Speaker 6: everything out once this season ends. But for right now, 427 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 6: I'm just I just want to enjoy my time while 428 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 6: I'm back in the city and part of this organization, 429 00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:09,720 Speaker 6: and then we'll see what the future holds. 430 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:12,360 Speaker 2: Welcome back the Orange and Black. Looks good on you. 431 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 2: Nice to have you back in this locker room. 432 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 6: Thanks for the time, Thank you, I appreciate it. 433 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 2: Now time for this week's Know the Faux segment. John 434 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 2: Burton is a Nashville sportscaster and joined Lapping Me this 435 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 2: week on the Bengals Game Plan show. 436 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 7: It's an interesting Titans football team. We're watching, you know, 437 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 7: one win, two losses, both losses. They haven't scored an 438 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:37,359 Speaker 7: offensive touchdown, which is certainly not expected. So you know, 439 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:39,920 Speaker 7: in the ultimate week to week league, the Titans appear 440 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:42,160 Speaker 7: to be the ultimate week to week team, at least 441 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,080 Speaker 7: so far through three games. 442 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 1: So John. 443 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 2: When these teams met last year, the Titans were seven 444 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:50,680 Speaker 2: and three. The Bengals won a tight game. The Bengals 445 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:53,880 Speaker 2: didn't lose again until the AFC Championship game. The Titans 446 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 2: never won again. They lost their last seven. They're one 447 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:01,160 Speaker 2: and two so far this year. What are the biggest issues? 448 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 2: What is plaguing the Tennessee Titans. 449 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:10,640 Speaker 7: Well, offensively, it's inconsistently inconsistency, especially along the offensive line. 450 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:13,160 Speaker 7: You know, they lost two pillars of that offensive line 451 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:16,439 Speaker 7: last year or this past offseason. And Taylor Lawan and 452 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:19,359 Speaker 7: Ben Jones. Not only were they two Pro Bowl type 453 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 7: productive players la one at left tackle and of course 454 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 7: Jones at center, but they were also two big time 455 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:27,200 Speaker 7: leaders in that locker room. And you know, you lose 456 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:30,359 Speaker 7: you lose production and leadership there. You know, you had 457 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:33,640 Speaker 7: Peter Skronsky, who they drafted first in the first round 458 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:36,640 Speaker 7: out of Northwestern. You know, he's dealing with an appendectomy. 459 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 7: He hasn't played in a couple of games. He's probably 460 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 7: not going to be back for a while. And they 461 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 7: you know, they have four new starters, actually I believe 462 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:47,199 Speaker 7: five new starters on along that offensive line, and you know, 463 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:48,960 Speaker 7: they're the one guy that they were counting on the 464 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 7: right tackle, Petique Frere. You know, he's suspended six games 465 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:57,439 Speaker 7: for gambling violations. So they've had all kinds of problems 466 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:00,399 Speaker 7: along that offensive line. And you know, with thes you 467 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:02,439 Speaker 7: guys know this, it starts with the running game. It 468 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:05,120 Speaker 7: starts with Derrick Henry. They haven't been able to get 469 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:08,119 Speaker 7: that going on a consistent basis. And last week they 470 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:11,240 Speaker 7: had a lot of trouble against the Browns protecting Ryan Tannehill. 471 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:13,639 Speaker 7: He got sacked five times, three and a half of 472 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 7: those by Miles Garrett, who you guys know is an 473 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 7: absolute beast. You know, they signed Andre Dillard at left 474 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 7: tackle during the offseason from the Eagles. He hasn't really 475 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:26,119 Speaker 7: provided much, to be honest with you. So that's the 476 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:29,399 Speaker 7: problems on offense. Defensively, a lot of breakdowns in the secondary. 477 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 7: You know, this Titans team is one of the best 478 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:34,240 Speaker 7: front sevens in all the football, you know, led by 479 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:38,200 Speaker 7: their superstar defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons. But if you can 480 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:40,639 Speaker 7: get that front seven blocked, We've seen a lot of 481 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 7: breakdowns in the secondary with the corners in the safeties, 482 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:46,120 Speaker 7: and teams have been able to get big plays over 483 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 7: the top in the passing game. So you know, those 484 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 7: those are the issues facing this team, and you know 485 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:54,119 Speaker 7: they're they're a lot more inconsistent than a lot of 486 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:56,400 Speaker 7: us thought we were going to see here in Nashville. 487 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:02,400 Speaker 5: So that the defensive line, like you talk about Jeffrey Simmons, 488 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,440 Speaker 5: I mean, the Bengals go from Aaron Donald last week 489 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 5: with the La Rams to Jeffrey Simmons, who I think 490 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:12,320 Speaker 5: of the best two interior defensive players the National Football 491 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:15,359 Speaker 5: League has to offer. I do think that Simmons has 492 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,680 Speaker 5: a better supporting cast around him right now than Aaron 493 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:22,440 Speaker 5: Donald does. I mean, You've got you know, Autrey, You've 494 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 5: got Key, You've got Landry. I mean it's that down 495 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:29,960 Speaker 5: line group is responsible for six sacks, I mean eight 496 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 5: sacks already. So are they playing well enough? Is it 497 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:37,640 Speaker 5: a surprise there's breakdown in the secondary because I look 498 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:41,920 Speaker 5: at the two guys. In my mind, defensively, Jeffrey Simmons 499 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 5: is way big a cut above, and I thought that 500 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 5: Bayer at safety was way big a cut above as well. 501 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 5: Is with twenty seven career interceptions, number one for safeties 502 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,639 Speaker 5: in time he's been in the NFL, number two overall 503 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:59,120 Speaker 5: in the NFL. Is he not playing up to snuff? 504 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:02,560 Speaker 7: Yeah, I think Dave A lot of it has to 505 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:04,720 Speaker 7: do with the fact that and we talked about this 506 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:07,639 Speaker 7: after the game on Sunday when they lost to the Browns, 507 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 7: communication appears to be an issue in that secondary and 508 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 7: he talked about, guys need to be on the same page. 509 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:16,000 Speaker 7: And you know, there was a play where Amari Cooper 510 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 7: got free right down the seam, wide open, caught a 511 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 7: pass from Deshaun Watson from the touchdown that really put 512 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 7: this game away. And you know there's there appear to 513 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:29,160 Speaker 7: be communication issues and that the one phrase you hear 514 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 7: from the secondary guys is we need to be on 515 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 7: the same page. We're not on the same page. And 516 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 7: again it's about getting that front seven blocked. If you 517 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 7: can get Simmons blocked, if you can get Harold Landry blocked, 518 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 7: if you can get the Nico autrey blocked and give 519 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:44,680 Speaker 7: quarterbacks time to throw. You see a lot of big 520 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:46,880 Speaker 7: plays down the field. So yeah, it is a price. 521 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:49,399 Speaker 7: It is a surprise to see a guy like Kevin 522 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 7: Byer not be able to be the ballhawk he's been 523 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 7: his entire career. And this goes back to his college 524 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:57,120 Speaker 7: days at Middle Tennessee State just down the road. So yeah, 525 00:26:57,119 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 7: there are issues in the secondary. And you know, obviously 526 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:02,399 Speaker 7: the further you go in the season, you're gonna be 527 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:06,119 Speaker 7: playing better quarterbacks and better passing attacks. They need to 528 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:09,160 Speaker 7: get that cleaned up quickly because you know your face, 529 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:11,879 Speaker 7: they're gonna be faithing Joe Burrow and those great receivers 530 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 7: coming up this weekend, and they don't get these problems fixed, 531 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:15,720 Speaker 7: it could be a long day for him. 532 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:20,560 Speaker 2: We're visiting with Nashville broadcaster John Burton. Let's talk Ryan Tannehill. 533 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:24,399 Speaker 2: The Bengals have beaten his teams the last five times 534 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:25,840 Speaker 2: he started against Cincinnati. 535 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 1: How's he playing a. 536 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:30,880 Speaker 7: Little up and down right now? But you know, unfortunately 537 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:33,360 Speaker 7: for him, he's not getting the protection that he needs now. 538 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:35,680 Speaker 7: He was terrible in the first game against the Saints, 539 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:40,080 Speaker 7: got sacked three times, I believe through three interceptions. Was 540 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:44,119 Speaker 7: just absolutely really bad, to be honest with you bounce 541 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 7: back nicely in the almost s at San Diego. In 542 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:50,440 Speaker 7: the LA Charger game, you know, completed twenty to twenty 543 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:55,960 Speaker 7: four passes, you know, no no interceptions, no turnovers. Really 544 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:58,199 Speaker 7: was a big reason why they won that game. And 545 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:01,000 Speaker 7: then this past week, you know, he barely throws for 546 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 7: one hundred yards, no turnovers. But man, Miles Garrett and 547 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:08,840 Speaker 7: that Cleveland defensive front, we're all over him all day. 548 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:12,680 Speaker 7: And you know, he's got some talented receivers to work with, 549 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:15,879 Speaker 7: and obviously DeAndre Hopkins, we know what he's done in 550 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:19,000 Speaker 7: this league. Treylan Burks is the second year guy that 551 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:21,960 Speaker 7: they hope will be the replacement for aj Brown, who 552 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:24,680 Speaker 7: they traded away last week. They've got a talented, athletic 553 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:27,840 Speaker 7: tight end in Chigakonkuo. But I think it comes down 554 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:31,320 Speaker 7: to inconsistency in the running game and lack of protection 555 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:33,880 Speaker 7: in the passing game. And you know, Tannehill is a 556 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:37,440 Speaker 7: good quarterback, He's not an elite level guy. I don't 557 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:39,440 Speaker 7: believe he's the type of guy that can just put 558 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:41,240 Speaker 7: a team on his back and go to the Super Bowl. 559 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 7: He needs help and right now, he's not getting the 560 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:44,920 Speaker 7: help he needs. At least in two out of the 561 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 7: first three games, we haven't seen it. 562 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:52,280 Speaker 5: Derrick Henry has averaged over three hundred rushes the last 563 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 5: four years. Is there any sign of where and tear 564 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 5: or is Derrick Henry still the beast he once was? 565 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:02,360 Speaker 7: In all honesty, I really think Derek has lost a step. 566 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:05,720 Speaker 7: And you know, he's twenty nine years old and he's 567 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:07,640 Speaker 7: he's had a lot of carries, as you mentioned, the 568 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:09,680 Speaker 7: last couple of years. What they've tried to do is 569 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 7: they drafted Tai J. Spears out of Tulane to be 570 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 7: like the change of pace running back. And trust me, 571 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:17,760 Speaker 7: ever since Derek has been here, they've been looking for 572 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 7: that quote unquote change of pace back. But Spears appears 573 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 7: to be the guy that can get it done. You know, 574 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:25,360 Speaker 7: he's good out of the backfield, he can catch the ball. 575 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:28,479 Speaker 7: He's small, but he can run between the tackles. I 576 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 7: think the hope is this year, let's get Spears involved 577 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 7: in the running game a little bit more because Derek, 578 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 7: as good as he's been, as great as he's been, 579 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:37,880 Speaker 7: we all know, is not a three down back. He's 580 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 7: not a traditional three down back. So I think the 581 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 7: idea is to share. Maybe not obviously Derek's gonna get 582 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:47,080 Speaker 7: the bulk of the carries, but I think they want 583 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:49,040 Speaker 7: to involve Taij. Spears a little bit more for a 584 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:52,000 Speaker 7: couple of reasons. Right Number one, it keeps Derek fresher 585 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:54,880 Speaker 7: in the fourth quarter and obviously later in the season 586 00:29:55,280 --> 00:29:59,640 Speaker 7: as well, because you know, listen, the three of us, 587 00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:01,840 Speaker 7: we we all love to be twenty nine years old again. 588 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:05,800 Speaker 7: But you know, as with running backs, you know as 589 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:08,040 Speaker 7: you get closer to thirty year, production is going to 590 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 7: you know, probably diminish a little bit. And going back 591 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:14,480 Speaker 7: to Tannehill and Derrick Henry, both these guys are in 592 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:17,000 Speaker 7: the final years of their contracts, so you know, they're 593 00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:19,360 Speaker 7: days here in Tennessee may be numbered and we'll have 594 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:22,160 Speaker 7: to see where what the future holds. But yeah, to me, 595 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:25,400 Speaker 7: it appears Derek has slowed a bit. I mean, probably 596 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 7: his worst games. It's becoming the Titans full time bell 597 00:30:29,320 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 7: cow back last week, twenty yards on eleven carries. You 598 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 7: just don't see that from Derrick. 599 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 5: Henry Mike Rabels after a loss like like they suffered, 600 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:43,560 Speaker 5: and this guy, his whole game was physicality, there's no 601 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 5: question about it. I mean, and to lose a football 602 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:51,680 Speaker 5: game to Cleveland twenty seven to three and Henry rushes 603 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:54,360 Speaker 5: for twenty yards and they're just kind of you know, 604 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 5: beaten up and beaten down. What is he like after 605 00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 5: that type of that type of a game, and what 606 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 5: what a practice has been like? What can the Bengals 607 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 5: expect And they expect a Tennessee Titan team that is 608 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:09,880 Speaker 5: going to be up in the bit and they better 609 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:11,120 Speaker 5: put on the big boy pats. 610 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:15,760 Speaker 7: Yeah, I would say so, Dave, because you know, the 611 00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 7: one thing that Rabel preaches well a few things, effort, finish, 612 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 7: and violence. He wants his team within the rules to 613 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 7: be as violent as possible. So they're gonna they're gonna 614 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:31,880 Speaker 7: emphasize physicality this week. Obviously with Joe Joe Burrow probably 615 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 7: still being a little bit limited because of that calf, 616 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 7: they're gonna want to go after him and test him early. 617 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:39,720 Speaker 7: See you know, see how his mobility is, Uh, see 618 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:42,720 Speaker 7: how he if he can avoid the rush. Obviously, this 619 00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:45,880 Speaker 7: defense has had a lot of success individually against Burrow 620 00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:48,040 Speaker 7: sect and what nine times in that playoff game, even 621 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:51,400 Speaker 7: though the Bengals still won. As to what Rabel's like, 622 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:55,720 Speaker 7: after a week like this, Uh, it's Belichick two point zero, 623 00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:58,080 Speaker 7: it's on the Cincinnati. That's kind of what he's been 624 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:01,520 Speaker 7: preaching this week. And you know, he's a no nonsense guy, 625 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:03,960 Speaker 7: as we all know, he's a hard nosed guy. He's 626 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:08,560 Speaker 7: a Northeast Ohio guy, Ohio State, Pittsburgh Steeler, New England Patriot, 627 00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 7: Kansas City Chiefs. So yeah, you know, we're not allowed 628 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:14,800 Speaker 7: to watch practice. We can watch the warm ups and 629 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:17,000 Speaker 7: all that stuff, but I would imagine he's going to 630 00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:19,160 Speaker 7: be turning the heat up and practice this week because 631 00:32:19,360 --> 00:32:21,320 Speaker 7: let's face it, guys, we got two one in two 632 00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:24,400 Speaker 7: teams going at each other. Neither team can can you know, 633 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:27,480 Speaker 7: afford a loss because at one in three it's an 634 00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:30,320 Speaker 7: uphill climb and I think both teams realize that. And 635 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:33,080 Speaker 7: you know, after the performance last week when they stunk 636 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:36,200 Speaker 7: it up in Cleveland, Vrabel does not want to repeat performance, 637 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:39,120 Speaker 7: especially in front of the home fans coming up this Sunday. 638 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:41,800 Speaker 2: That's going to do it for this episode of the 639 00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:44,280 Speaker 2: Bengals Booth podcast, brought to you by Kettering Health, the 640 00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:47,880 Speaker 2: official healthcare provider of the Bengals by pay Corps. The 641 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:53,080 Speaker 2: Bengals official HR software provider and by Alta Fiber future 642 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:57,080 Speaker 2: Proof Fiber Internet elevate your connection with Alta Fiber. If 643 00:32:57,080 --> 00:32:59,680 Speaker 2: you haven't done so already, please subscribe to this podcast 644 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 2: if you have a minute, give it a rating or 645 00:33:01,840 --> 00:33:05,640 Speaker 2: share a comment that helps more Bengals fans find us. 646 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:09,000 Speaker 2: I'm Dan Hord and thanks for listening to the Bengals 647 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:10,240 Speaker 2: Booth podcast