WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: A Change Would Do You Good 0:00:03.600 --> 0:00:06.519 Hike and everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.519 --> 0:00:10.799 the Bengals Booth Podcast. The I Think a change A 0:00:11.280 --> 0:00:17.400 change would do you good. Addition, as we visit with 0:00:17.440 --> 0:00:20.840 a player and a coach who are changing teams this year. 0:00:21.000 --> 0:00:25.000 The player is offensive lineman Xavier sua Philo, who joins 0:00:25.000 --> 0:00:27.600 the Bengals after four years in Houston and two years 0:00:27.600 --> 0:00:31.640 in Dallas. The coach is Al Golden, the former head 0:00:31.680 --> 0:00:34.760 coach of the Temple Owls and Miami Hurricanes, who is 0:00:34.800 --> 0:00:38.760 now in charge of the Bengals linebackers. And speaking of change, 0:00:39.280 --> 0:00:42.960 nearly everybody in that group is new to the Bengals 0:00:42.960 --> 0:00:47.240 this year. Those conversations are coming up. The Bengals Booth 0:00:47.280 --> 0:00:51.199 Podcast is presented by Prime Sport, the official fan, travel 0:00:51.320 --> 0:00:54.720 and hospitality partner of the Cincinnati Bengals. And here's a 0:00:54.800 --> 0:00:57.200 quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of 0:00:57.280 --> 0:01:01.480 this podcast delivered right to your own tablet or computer 0:01:01.680 --> 0:01:06.920 by subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, or pod Bean. 0:01:07.400 --> 0:01:12.600 It's the greatest thing since finding the right golf ball. 0:01:13.480 --> 0:01:16.839 I have no idea if my favorite golf ball fits 0:01:16.880 --> 0:01:19.959 my swing speed or is technically the one I should 0:01:20.000 --> 0:01:23.280 be using. All I know is that when I use 0:01:23.360 --> 0:01:27.760 the Calloway Chrome Soft brand, I feel more confident. And 0:01:27.880 --> 0:01:31.440 that's the key, right. Maybe it's because they're expensive and 0:01:31.480 --> 0:01:34.839 I'm a sucker for marketing. Who knows, but the Callaway 0:01:34.920 --> 0:01:38.360 Chrome Soft is my current favorite. If you would like 0:01:38.400 --> 0:01:41.520 to try one, just get a tea time after me 0:01:42.120 --> 0:01:45.119 and search the woods to the right on any hole 0:01:45.200 --> 0:01:49.680 that requires a driver. Now, let's get to football. My 0:01:49.760 --> 0:01:53.240 first conversation this week is with one of eight unrestricted 0:01:53.240 --> 0:01:55.800 free agents who signed with the Bengals in the offseason, 0:01:56.320 --> 0:02:00.840 offensive lineman Xavier sua Philo, who reportedly got a three year, 0:02:01.000 --> 0:02:04.240 nine million dollar deal. Xavier was a two time All 0:02:04.280 --> 0:02:07.920 American at UCLA before being selected with the first pick 0:02:08.000 --> 0:02:11.799 of the second round in the twenty fourteen NFL Draft 0:02:11.880 --> 0:02:14.880 by Houston. After coming off the bench as a rookie, 0:02:15.240 --> 0:02:18.240 Xavier started for three seasons at left guard for the 0:02:18.280 --> 0:02:22.400 Texans before joining the Cowboys as a free agent. He 0:02:22.560 --> 0:02:25.200 began each of the last two years in Dallas as 0:02:25.200 --> 0:02:30.040 a backup before moving into the starting lineup due to injuries. Now, 0:02:30.040 --> 0:02:32.679 the six four, three hundred twelve pound lineman is a 0:02:32.760 --> 0:02:36.480 Bengal and is expected to replace John Miller as Cincinnati's 0:02:36.520 --> 0:02:39.840 starting right guard. I spoke to Sue Philo this week 0:02:40.160 --> 0:02:43.560 from his home in Arizona. Xavier described the free agent 0:02:43.680 --> 0:02:46.240 process this time around and how things came together with 0:02:46.280 --> 0:02:49.080 the Bengals. It was a pretty quick process. You know, 0:02:49.200 --> 0:02:52.440 got done and really the first day, and it was 0:02:53.120 --> 0:02:56.560 awesome relief. It was really grateful for it. But once 0:02:56.560 --> 0:02:59.080 your contract is up with a team and you're not 0:02:59.160 --> 0:03:01.000 quite sure what happened and you hit the market, you know, 0:03:01.080 --> 0:03:04.240 anything can happen. I've done it twice, and so you know, 0:03:04.280 --> 0:03:06.600 I was just very very excited that, you know, the 0:03:06.639 --> 0:03:09.680 Bengals called and can't wait to get out there. After 0:03:09.840 --> 0:03:13.000 you signed, I asked Zach Taylor if he expected you 0:03:13.040 --> 0:03:15.720 to be the starting right guard, and he didn't hesitate 0:03:15.800 --> 0:03:19.240 in saying yes. How do you approach the season knowing 0:03:19.280 --> 0:03:21.880 that the job is there for the taking? Well, that's 0:03:21.880 --> 0:03:24.160 the ship is. You know, the kind of faith that 0:03:24.240 --> 0:03:26.600 you're coach has to you. That's awesome. But you know, 0:03:26.680 --> 0:03:28.680 coming out there, you know that you said that it's 0:03:28.720 --> 0:03:30.640 there for the taking, you have to take it. You 0:03:30.680 --> 0:03:34.760 know everything's turned that way, and I know that it's 0:03:34.800 --> 0:03:37.640 not going to be easy, you know. Ever, coming in 0:03:38.160 --> 0:03:40.400 to a new place with a new system, with other 0:03:40.440 --> 0:03:43.120 players to compete, you know, And so that's what I'm 0:03:43.120 --> 0:03:46.600 planning to do. And I'm very, very excited. We're visiting 0:03:46.600 --> 0:03:49.600 with Xaviers Sue a Philo. You're twenty nine years old, 0:03:49.640 --> 0:03:52.800 so you're not exactly old, but it's a very young 0:03:52.880 --> 0:03:56.400 offensive line. Trey Hopkins is twenty seven. Everybody else is 0:03:56.440 --> 0:04:00.920 twenty five or younger. Will you look to lead this group? Yeah, 0:04:00.960 --> 0:04:04.320 I hope to, um lead by example and see how 0:04:04.360 --> 0:04:06.320 it goes. Like I said, I'm coming in new and 0:04:06.880 --> 0:04:08.320 you know, there's a lot of guys. You know. You 0:04:08.360 --> 0:04:11.640 mentioned Trey. You know, Stay's a good player, and he's 0:04:11.680 --> 0:04:14.280 a center, you know, and um, you know, being the 0:04:14.320 --> 0:04:17.800 starter and running that room. You know, I'm sure he'll 0:04:17.839 --> 0:04:19.600 continue to do what he's good at, you know. And 0:04:19.640 --> 0:04:22.280 so for me, I just like to come in and uh, 0:04:22.760 --> 0:04:27.279 you know, learn, earn everybody's respect, and then uh compete 0:04:27.279 --> 0:04:31.600 and win games. Xavier suffered up broken fibulous in the 0:04:31.640 --> 0:04:34.919 next to last game of the year. Broken bones. He'll obviously, 0:04:35.040 --> 0:04:37.559 but were you worried about the timing in the final 0:04:37.640 --> 0:04:40.480 year of your contract? You know, I wasn't too worried 0:04:40.480 --> 0:04:44.080 about it. I was just worried about the recovery. You know, 0:04:44.120 --> 0:04:46.599 I've never broken a bone before, knocked on wood and 0:04:46.640 --> 0:04:49.680 so um, you know, I have faith, and uh, I 0:04:49.800 --> 0:04:52.080 just thought the timing was it just kind of sucked. 0:04:52.120 --> 0:04:54.080 You know, boning in the offseason. You know, it's nothing 0:04:54.080 --> 0:04:57.280 that somebody wants, but it also is part of our 0:04:57.360 --> 0:05:02.200 game and injuries happen. And firm believer, and you know, 0:05:02.360 --> 0:05:05.760 basically it's kind of how you manage those and mentally 0:05:05.760 --> 0:05:09.840 and physically, you know, kind of determined on exactly how 0:05:10.200 --> 0:05:14.120 quickly your rehab goes and how I guess tolerable it is. 0:05:14.760 --> 0:05:18.280 You have primarily played on the left side in college 0:05:18.279 --> 0:05:21.839 and in the NFL, the anticipation is the right side 0:05:21.839 --> 0:05:25.200 in Cincinnati. Have you practiced much on the right side? 0:05:25.200 --> 0:05:27.839 And how big of a challenge is that as a guard? 0:05:28.560 --> 0:05:31.400 As a guard, switching side isn't always easy. But you know, 0:05:31.520 --> 0:05:34.839 fortunately for me, I've had to wrap it both sides. 0:05:34.880 --> 0:05:38.520 And even though like you mentioned, I've primarily played on 0:05:38.560 --> 0:05:42.039 the left side and cause in the NFL in games, 0:05:42.720 --> 0:05:44.400 I've done a lot of reps and taking a lot 0:05:44.440 --> 0:05:48.479 of work on the right side, especially in practice, in 0:05:48.560 --> 0:05:51.839 some preseason and stuff, and so you know, getting comfortable 0:05:51.880 --> 0:05:54.120 there in a game, you know, something that's going to 0:05:54.200 --> 0:05:58.360 have to be by experience. But I definitely so good there. 0:05:58.400 --> 0:05:59.920 End up getting in a right handed stands to do 0:06:00.160 --> 0:06:02.800 things on the right side. Is It's not foreign to me. 0:06:03.400 --> 0:06:06.279 The Bengals were very successful in the second half of 0:06:06.320 --> 0:06:09.400 the season last year with a pin and pull rushing attack. 0:06:09.440 --> 0:06:11.599 Had really paved the way for Joe Mixon to have 0:06:11.640 --> 0:06:15.920 a big second half. Does that fit your strengths? Hey, 0:06:15.960 --> 0:06:18.680 I'm an offensivelnement. I love running the ball. We always do, 0:06:19.240 --> 0:06:21.119 and we know that. You know, a lot of stress 0:06:21.160 --> 0:06:23.239 gets taken up the quarterback and the rest of the offense. 0:06:23.680 --> 0:06:25.599 You know, if you're able to run the ball successfully, 0:06:25.600 --> 0:06:28.800 and so starting with the big guys up front, part 0:06:28.839 --> 0:06:32.080 of protection is being able to run the ball. And 0:06:32.120 --> 0:06:34.560 having a big chunk back that I fixed in. You know, 0:06:34.560 --> 0:06:37.200 it definitely helps. I've been fortune the buck for some 0:06:37.240 --> 0:06:40.359 good facts in my career, so you know, to me, 0:06:40.480 --> 0:06:42.679 that's very important. And I love running the ball too. 0:06:43.440 --> 0:06:45.960 We're spending a few minutes with Xavier suet Filo. The 0:06:46.040 --> 0:06:48.520 Bengals were among the most active teams in the NFL 0:06:48.560 --> 0:06:53.520 and free agency, including signing your former Houston teammate DJ Reader. 0:06:53.680 --> 0:06:57.160 What are the Bengals getting in him? And a great 0:06:57.160 --> 0:06:59.680 player and a great person, you know, I just remember 0:06:59.720 --> 0:07:02.640 any came in and just kind of how he was, 0:07:02.760 --> 0:07:05.040 you know, a real easy going, laid back person off 0:07:05.080 --> 0:07:08.400 the field, but on the field, very very, very competitive, 0:07:08.440 --> 0:07:10.520 and I'm excited to have him as a teammate again 0:07:11.000 --> 0:07:14.040 in this year's draft Savior. Six of the bengals seven 0:07:14.120 --> 0:07:17.080 draft picks were captains in college. And when I look 0:07:17.120 --> 0:07:22.280 at your background, I see Eagle Scouts, team captain of UCLA, 0:07:22.680 --> 0:07:25.560 somebody who served others in a two year Mormon mission. 0:07:25.600 --> 0:07:30.000 It seems like that stuff's very important to you. Yeah. Absolutely, 0:07:30.040 --> 0:07:33.800 it's being service oriented. It's definitely who I was raised 0:07:33.840 --> 0:07:35.640 to be by my folks, and I'm grateful to him 0:07:35.680 --> 0:07:39.880 for it. Growing up, getting your Eagle Scout was kind 0:07:39.920 --> 0:07:42.800 of a rule in my family, especially for the young men, 0:07:42.880 --> 0:07:45.040 and so it started off as something I had to do, 0:07:45.760 --> 0:07:48.280 ended up finishing it as something that I was excited 0:07:48.320 --> 0:07:52.160 to do. So it means a lot. How have you 0:07:52.200 --> 0:07:55.200 been training during this pandemic? You know, I have some 0:07:55.240 --> 0:07:58.400 stuff at home, but I also go to a you know, 0:07:58.440 --> 0:08:00.760 I live in Phoenix, in the Phoenix area, and there's 0:08:00.800 --> 0:08:02.679 been a couple of gyms and a couple of rehab 0:08:02.760 --> 0:08:05.360 facilities that have been deemed essential and they've been privately 0:08:05.360 --> 0:08:09.440 owned and are opened, and you know, through proper social 0:08:09.480 --> 0:08:12.880 distancing and cleansing and all that kind of stuff, I've 0:08:12.920 --> 0:08:16.000 been able to keep working out and keep listening way 0:08:16.080 --> 0:08:19.600 to keep rehabbing it. So I've been fortunate in that sense. 0:08:19.680 --> 0:08:22.680 Gonna have to, you know, Mike, any time due to 0:08:22.760 --> 0:08:26.320 the pandemic, how challenging has it been to try to 0:08:26.400 --> 0:08:29.320 learn the offense and get to know your teammates from afar? 0:08:29.880 --> 0:08:32.840 That is the challenge right there, you know, learning the offense, 0:08:32.880 --> 0:08:35.360 I've been fortunate. You know that it's you know coming 0:08:35.400 --> 0:08:39.200 pretty easy. You know, playing going on seven years. You know, 0:08:39.720 --> 0:08:41.800 a lot of you know a lot of the football 0:08:41.880 --> 0:08:45.880 stuff that extras and os is very similar. Um it's 0:08:45.960 --> 0:08:49.000 just identified differently or they use different words in different terms, 0:08:49.000 --> 0:08:51.920 and so a lot of that is memorization. But getting 0:08:51.960 --> 0:08:55.000 to know my teammates, you know, I that's something I 0:08:55.040 --> 0:08:58.520 feel like, Um, it's a little harder virtually obviously, but 0:08:59.440 --> 0:09:01.600 I don't think I have a problem, you know, sitting 0:09:01.679 --> 0:09:04.079 right in just being able to talk ball, talk football. 0:09:04.160 --> 0:09:08.480 See how things hit people's heads differently, you know, they're 0:09:08.480 --> 0:09:12.000 formed a way of thinking communication. It's it's been cool. 0:09:12.040 --> 0:09:15.480 And you know, I've I've I knew Billy Price before 0:09:15.559 --> 0:09:17.720 I got signed by Cincinnati. I went to school with 0:09:17.760 --> 0:09:21.360 Alex Redman, you know, obviously I know DJ and so 0:09:21.920 --> 0:09:25.360 it's some familiarity that way, especially in the offensive line room. 0:09:25.640 --> 0:09:29.160 Uh but you know there's always room, you know, to 0:09:29.200 --> 0:09:30.920 get to know him better, and we will once we 0:09:31.000 --> 0:09:33.160 get this thing rolling. How did you get to know 0:09:33.240 --> 0:09:38.360 Billy Price? You know, Billy I met Billy Um when 0:09:38.360 --> 0:09:40.760 he was training for the Combine out here in Phoenix 0:09:40.800 --> 0:09:43.160 as well, and I've always kind of, you know, kept 0:09:43.200 --> 0:09:45.040 in touch with him, you know, and he was one 0:09:45.040 --> 0:09:48.320 of the first people to to text me congratulations, you know, 0:09:48.320 --> 0:09:50.559 when I got drafted or when I got signed with 0:09:50.600 --> 0:09:53.960 the with the Bengals, and so seeing him in the 0:09:54.000 --> 0:09:57.120 meetings you know every day too is as always as 0:09:57.160 --> 0:10:01.199 always a few more questions for Saviors A Philo. What 0:10:01.360 --> 0:10:04.280 are your impressions of Joe Burrow, whether it was from 0:10:04.559 --> 0:10:07.760 watching him on TV or any contact you might have 0:10:07.840 --> 0:10:10.920 had since man. You know what, I haven't met him 0:10:10.960 --> 0:10:14.520 yet obviously in person or or virtually. You know, he's 0:10:14.559 --> 0:10:18.960 been in our team meetings, but I just excited to 0:10:19.000 --> 0:10:22.520 have him. You know, he's the truth, you know, as 0:10:22.559 --> 0:10:25.240 someone you know, some people could say he's had as 0:10:25.280 --> 0:10:29.080 an exciting career college career as anyone can have in 0:10:29.120 --> 0:10:31.599 a memorable one too. You know, I'm just excited for 0:10:31.720 --> 0:10:34.320 him to, you know, come in and be in the 0:10:34.440 --> 0:10:37.760 NFL and and have that same type of success. And 0:10:37.320 --> 0:10:40.120 I only wish the best for him, you know, especially 0:10:40.760 --> 0:10:43.920 now that I have the opportunity of block for him. Xavier, 0:10:44.000 --> 0:10:47.520 your father is of Samoan descent, and I understand that's 0:10:47.559 --> 0:10:50.240 led to a connection to former Bengals Ray Mala Luga 0:10:50.320 --> 0:10:54.440 and Domata Peco. Is that correct, right? So, you know, 0:10:54.679 --> 0:10:56.760 I'm not sure if it's you know, what it is, 0:10:56.800 --> 0:10:58.800 but you know, in the NFL, there's quite a bit 0:10:58.840 --> 0:11:01.600 off someone, quite a bit of tongue in, you know, 0:11:01.679 --> 0:11:05.840 and then everyone just kind of gravitates towards each other. 0:11:05.880 --> 0:11:08.560 You know, it's almost pretty common to seek out, you know, 0:11:08.559 --> 0:11:10.680 if there's any pald Agians on the other team after 0:11:10.679 --> 0:11:13.760 the game. But I played against Don't Talk when he 0:11:13.840 --> 0:11:15.920 was in Cincinnati, and he's always been cool to me. 0:11:15.960 --> 0:11:17.880 And I know he's a lot older than me, but 0:11:17.880 --> 0:11:20.000 when I was a young player, especially him being a veteran, 0:11:20.080 --> 0:11:21.480 you know, he was just always real good to me, 0:11:21.600 --> 0:11:24.200 you know, whenever we played against them, and you know, 0:11:24.520 --> 0:11:26.480 just asking me things after the game, you know, just 0:11:26.520 --> 0:11:28.640 about you know, my family, who they are and how 0:11:28.679 --> 0:11:30.840 they're doing, you know, just taking an interest that way. 0:11:30.840 --> 0:11:33.640 And so I know he played there for a long time, 0:11:33.640 --> 0:11:35.880 and so I've always you know, been thought that was 0:11:35.960 --> 0:11:39.199 neat and Ray. I watched Ray it, you know, when 0:11:39.240 --> 0:11:42.080 he was at USC, like we all did, and you know, 0:11:42.120 --> 0:11:43.959 he just wanted like he had a heck of a 0:11:44.040 --> 0:11:46.800 career over there. And him being someone like you know, 0:11:46.840 --> 0:11:49.160 in USC being as popular as they were at that time, 0:11:49.200 --> 0:11:51.400 you know, it's really neat to you know, you know, 0:11:51.480 --> 0:11:54.000 get to see him. And likewise, I played against Ray, 0:11:54.559 --> 0:11:57.200 you know, in the NFL while he was was Cincinnati too, 0:11:57.200 --> 0:11:59.720 and so you know, he reached out to me as 0:11:59.760 --> 0:12:01.960 well when I signed with the Bengals and told me 0:12:01.960 --> 0:12:03.200 when I got out there, you know, to give him 0:12:03.240 --> 0:12:06.439 a call and maybe grabbed some lunch and he can, 0:12:06.480 --> 0:12:08.559 you know, just kind of you know, teach me a 0:12:08.600 --> 0:12:11.760 little bit about there and you know, maybe the Kentucky 0:12:11.840 --> 0:12:14.880 side or the Cincinnati side, and so just very neat 0:12:14.880 --> 0:12:18.040 and very cool the you know, to met those guys 0:12:18.040 --> 0:12:20.120 and nipples happened to, you know, be with the Bengals 0:12:20.160 --> 0:12:23.120 for a significant amount of time. Final question for newcomer 0:12:23.240 --> 0:12:25.559 Xaviers Sue a Philo. Tell us a little bit about 0:12:25.559 --> 0:12:29.360 your family and how you've been coping with COVID nineteen restrictions. 0:12:30.400 --> 0:12:33.720 I've been married five years to my wife, Heather. We 0:12:33.800 --> 0:12:37.280 met when we were in Utah. She played volleyball at YU. 0:12:37.440 --> 0:12:39.440 We have two kids. We have a four year old 0:12:39.480 --> 0:12:41.640 son named Lennox, and I have a two year old 0:12:41.720 --> 0:12:45.720 daughter named TVN. Tan's birthday's next month, my son's birthday 0:12:45.800 --> 0:12:48.800 is a month after, and sometime in between there, my 0:12:48.840 --> 0:12:51.880 wife's expected to give birth to a new to another boy, 0:12:52.920 --> 0:12:56.880 so we're just getting ready for that. And during this 0:12:57.320 --> 0:13:00.400 pandemic has been really cool, you know this, And even 0:13:00.440 --> 0:13:02.000 though I've been able to work out, it's been really 0:13:02.040 --> 0:13:03.920 cool to spend a lot of time with my wife 0:13:03.960 --> 0:13:06.040 and kids. You know, as you know, during the season 0:13:06.040 --> 0:13:08.640 it can get hard especially with work and even with 0:13:08.720 --> 0:13:13.360 OTAs and so having a virtual offseason. You know, it's 0:13:13.400 --> 0:13:16.880 been Obviously it's different enough being in there as the team, 0:13:16.920 --> 0:13:19.679 but it's been nice, you know, spending as much time 0:13:19.720 --> 0:13:23.800 of my wife and kids as I have. And I'm sure, 0:13:24.360 --> 0:13:26.440 well I'm sure they would say the same, you know, 0:13:26.600 --> 0:13:29.240 even though some days I'm not sure about my wife 0:13:29.240 --> 0:13:33.160 wants me to go to work around but I yeah, 0:13:33.240 --> 0:13:36.320 it's just been really neat and living in Phoenix out here, 0:13:36.360 --> 0:13:40.120 you know, we've been safe and really really blessed. Actually, 0:13:40.240 --> 0:13:41.800 you know, I know it's a lot of folks are 0:13:41.800 --> 0:13:44.440 having a hard time, you know, out there, and so 0:13:44.679 --> 0:13:48.040 it's an interesting time in our country, and I you know, 0:13:48.120 --> 0:13:51.400 and I'm just we're just fortunate. I think that extra 0:13:51.440 --> 0:13:54.079 family time has been the silver lining for many of us. 0:13:54.320 --> 0:13:56.839 And we certainly wish you the best. With the baby 0:13:56.920 --> 0:14:00.000 boy on the way, that's very exciting and we're excited 0:14:00.240 --> 0:14:02.640 to have you with the Bengals organization. So thank you 0:14:02.679 --> 0:14:04.120 with the time, and I look forward to meeting you 0:14:04.160 --> 0:14:07.400 face to face. Yea, sir, thanks for having me man, 0:14:07.480 --> 0:14:12.120 I'm really excited. Xavier has appeared in seventy eight career games, 0:14:12.120 --> 0:14:16.440 including three playoff starts for Houston. Before we get to 0:14:16.480 --> 0:14:18.839 the next guest, here's a quick reminder that you can 0:14:18.880 --> 0:14:21.440 take your Bengals pride to the next level in twenty 0:14:21.480 --> 0:14:25.640 twenty with an official Bengals fan package from Prime Sport. 0:14:26.600 --> 0:14:28.880 One of the most obvious areas where the Bengals must 0:14:28.880 --> 0:14:32.320 show improvement this year is the play of their linebackers. 0:14:32.840 --> 0:14:35.800 Nick Vigil and Preston Brown, who started the first eight 0:14:35.840 --> 0:14:39.480 games last year, are both gone, and so is linebackers 0:14:39.520 --> 0:14:43.400 coach Tim Lucaboo, who left to become the defensive coordinator 0:14:43.600 --> 0:14:48.280 at Boston College. The bengals new linebackers coach is fifty 0:14:48.360 --> 0:14:51.200 year old Al Golden, who spent ten years as a 0:14:51.240 --> 0:14:54.640 college head coach at Temple and the University of Miami 0:14:55.080 --> 0:14:58.680 before spending the last four seasons as an assistant coach 0:14:58.840 --> 0:15:01.680 with the Detroit Lion Al. I know the wide receivers 0:15:01.680 --> 0:15:04.280 coach Bob mcnell was on your staff at Temple. Was 0:15:04.360 --> 0:15:08.720 that connection significant in leading to your opportunity with the Bengals, Well, 0:15:08.720 --> 0:15:13.880 it certainly was, but there were others as well. Coach 0:15:13.920 --> 0:15:17.960 Callahan and I were together in Detroit. Jimmy Turner, I 0:15:18.080 --> 0:15:20.560 used to work with him at the Boston College football 0:15:20.600 --> 0:15:26.480 camp when I was up at Boston College, so really 0:15:26.680 --> 0:15:29.280 I crossed paths with the You know a lot of 0:15:29.280 --> 0:15:32.120 these guys in the past or had mutual friends, but 0:15:32.280 --> 0:15:38.040 certainly Bob was instrumental in this whole process. You're new 0:15:38.080 --> 0:15:40.200 to the Bengals, and so are the guys in the 0:15:40.240 --> 0:15:43.600 linebackers room. Of the nine guys you have, Jermaine Pratt 0:15:43.600 --> 0:15:46.280 and Jordan Evans were basically the only two that played 0:15:46.280 --> 0:15:49.560 for Cincinnati last year. How big of a challenge is 0:15:49.600 --> 0:15:53.400 that for you? Well, I don't know if it's any 0:15:53.520 --> 0:15:56.960 different challenge wise. I think you know, the defense starts 0:15:57.000 --> 0:15:59.760 over every year, and you know, from Matt standpoint, we're 0:15:59.800 --> 0:16:04.680 just trying to implement and install based on what Cincinnati 0:16:04.720 --> 0:16:08.840 d last year. Where Lucy's you know, the defense going 0:16:09.080 --> 0:16:12.880 this year, and then you know, our job is to 0:16:13.200 --> 0:16:17.080 kind of fill in that chasm really between where our 0:16:17.080 --> 0:16:20.560 goals are an execution. So we're spending all of our time, 0:16:21.480 --> 0:16:25.080 you know, basically trying to iron out the details and 0:16:26.200 --> 0:16:29.640 find some corrections. And the veterans in the certainly the 0:16:29.720 --> 0:16:32.680 veterans in my room have been really really instrumental, and 0:16:33.160 --> 0:16:36.360 uh and moving it forward, let's discuss the personnel, beginning 0:16:36.360 --> 0:16:40.400 with free agent signy Josh Bines. It's a nine year vet, 0:16:40.760 --> 0:16:42.960 he's got a Super Bowl ring, he's got a National 0:16:43.040 --> 0:16:46.600 Championship ring from his time with Auburn. How important was 0:16:46.640 --> 0:16:51.000 it to add a seasoned veteran like Josh Bines, experienced, 0:16:51.360 --> 0:16:56.480 proven winner, leader, very bright, a vocal leader at the 0:16:56.520 --> 0:17:00.160 last strument. So I think from from that standpoint, he 0:17:00.200 --> 0:17:03.120 brings a lot to the room. And I wasn't here 0:17:03.200 --> 0:17:05.879 last year to contrast, but certainly I can tell you 0:17:06.000 --> 0:17:11.119 just moving forward that he's been pivotal, uh in the 0:17:11.160 --> 0:17:15.399 standard that he's setting, in what he demands of the 0:17:15.480 --> 0:17:18.160 younger guys, and the example that he said. So it's 0:17:18.200 --> 0:17:20.879 been it's been great having him. It really has been. 0:17:21.200 --> 0:17:24.800 So that even shows in Zoom meetings. Oh, there's no 0:17:24.840 --> 0:17:28.520 doubt in terms of the Zoom meeting. You know, sometimes 0:17:28.920 --> 0:17:32.399 guys can play their way, you know, out of a 0:17:32.440 --> 0:17:36.840 mistake on the field, through instincts or where the ball hits. 0:17:36.880 --> 0:17:40.119 But when you're running the Zoom meetings or you're asking 0:17:40.160 --> 0:17:42.320 him questions, there's really nowhere to go. And I think 0:17:42.320 --> 0:17:45.960 what Josh does better than most is he's confident in 0:17:46.000 --> 0:17:49.800 his answers and he's not afraid to ask why so, Um, 0:17:49.840 --> 0:17:52.640 he makes you a better coach, he makes his peers better, 0:17:52.960 --> 0:17:56.040 he makes our defense better. He's come up with some 0:17:56.119 --> 0:17:59.480 good ideas as well, and uh, and we're not afraid 0:17:59.480 --> 0:18:02.000 to implement game as we move forward. We're chatting with 0:18:02.080 --> 0:18:05.800 linebackers coach Al Gold and Jermaine Pratt wound up playing 0:18:05.800 --> 0:18:07.879 forty one percent of the snaps last year as a 0:18:07.960 --> 0:18:10.480 rookie and started the final eight games of the year. 0:18:11.000 --> 0:18:13.560 What stands out about Jermaine when you watch him on tape. 0:18:13.960 --> 0:18:17.080 The one thing is, you know, he plays big. He's 0:18:17.080 --> 0:18:19.560 a big man. He could play inside or outside. He's 0:18:19.560 --> 0:18:22.639 got a good long speed and I think from that standpoint, 0:18:23.280 --> 0:18:27.760 he's got versatility. So I think the one thing that 0:18:27.960 --> 0:18:30.960 is jumping off, you know right now in terms of 0:18:31.000 --> 0:18:34.480 the offseason program is you know, he's just much more 0:18:34.520 --> 0:18:38.440 confident in his answers according to everybody that that's been 0:18:38.480 --> 0:18:41.680 with him, you know. So I think the year things 0:18:41.680 --> 0:18:43.760 are slowing down a little bit for him, which should 0:18:44.480 --> 0:18:47.600 translate the faster play on the field. So we're excited 0:18:47.640 --> 0:18:50.040 about Jermaine and he's had a good off season. We 0:18:50.160 --> 0:18:52.679 just got to continue to maintain that. He struck me 0:18:52.720 --> 0:18:54.960 as a guy last year during his rookie season that 0:18:55.119 --> 0:18:59.000 was all ball, I mean, love football, wanted to get better. 0:18:59.280 --> 0:19:02.560 Do you sense the same I do. I'm excited, you know, 0:19:02.560 --> 0:19:05.560 I'm excited to work with him and uh, he was 0:19:05.600 --> 0:19:07.960 a young man. I had a chance to interview, you know, 0:19:08.000 --> 0:19:11.560 the previous year coming out and uh. You know, now 0:19:11.640 --> 0:19:13.680 I have a chance to really, you know, sit down 0:19:13.720 --> 0:19:16.200 with him and uh and work with him. And I'm 0:19:16.240 --> 0:19:18.600 looking to you know, get get with him face to 0:19:18.640 --> 0:19:21.159 face here and then your future. Now. Three of the 0:19:21.240 --> 0:19:24.399 seven draft picks were linebackers, beginning with third rounder Logan 0:19:24.440 --> 0:19:27.879 Wilson out of Wyoming, a three time captain there. What 0:19:28.040 --> 0:19:31.440 are you getting in Logan Wilson? I think Logan has 0:19:31.440 --> 0:19:35.119 the ability to play four downs, um and uh and 0:19:35.119 --> 0:19:39.119 and really, when you look at the pool of talent 0:19:39.200 --> 0:19:41.360 coming out of college anymore, it's hard to find guys 0:19:41.400 --> 0:19:44.320 that are two h forty plus souh. He's a two 0:19:44.600 --> 0:19:49.159 forty pound throwback linebacker on early downs. But man, he 0:19:49.320 --> 0:19:53.280 played so much coverage uh at Wyoming and covered the 0:19:53.320 --> 0:19:57.160 field really well. So he gives us versatility there uh, 0:19:57.240 --> 0:20:01.480 not only inside but outside. H has coverage responsibilities. And 0:20:01.520 --> 0:20:04.600 then obviously if you think he's a candidate to help 0:20:04.680 --> 0:20:07.440 us on special teams, so we're really a bright kid. 0:20:07.480 --> 0:20:09.800 He's working hard at it, he's learning well, and we're 0:20:09.800 --> 0:20:12.840 excited to work with him moving forward. The game has 0:20:12.880 --> 0:20:17.000 obviously changed. How critical is coverage ability for a linebacker 0:20:17.040 --> 0:20:21.120 in the current NFL? Well, I think it's it's it's 0:20:21.160 --> 0:20:23.920 really hard because you know, we used to say guys 0:20:23.960 --> 0:20:27.360 that couldn't cover were two down players, but the reality 0:20:27.440 --> 0:20:29.800 is those guys now are one or one and a 0:20:29.840 --> 0:20:32.920 half down players because second and long, you know, there's 0:20:32.960 --> 0:20:35.800 so much pass in our league now. So I think 0:20:36.160 --> 0:20:39.600 that kind of transitions into why we felt so confident 0:20:39.800 --> 0:20:42.760 about a team Davis Gaylor and Marcus you know, Bailey 0:20:43.240 --> 0:20:46.280 and taking them when we did. So. Both of these 0:20:46.359 --> 0:20:49.600 young men are also four down candidates. They're guys that 0:20:49.600 --> 0:20:51.600 can play on early downs, they can play in the 0:20:51.640 --> 0:20:54.960 sub you know, certainly they could be out there in 0:20:54.960 --> 0:20:57.840 two minute situations. You love to match up with them 0:20:57.880 --> 0:21:00.320 on a tight end or a running back, and I 0:21:00.359 --> 0:21:03.239 think Darren Simmons and Cult are going to love them 0:21:03.240 --> 0:21:06.359 in the special team's room. So again we're excited about that, 0:21:06.359 --> 0:21:10.600 that entire group. And then Marcel Spears, an undrafted free agent, 0:21:11.200 --> 0:21:14.360 another kid that can play all the downs, and we're 0:21:14.359 --> 0:21:17.159 excited about him as well. So again it's a it's 0:21:17.200 --> 0:21:19.920 a good group to work with. They're working hard, they 0:21:19.960 --> 0:21:24.080 come prepared every day, and I think the tone that 0:21:24.119 --> 0:21:27.919 has been set by the older guys, you know, Austin 0:21:27.960 --> 0:21:32.360 Khalatro and Josh and Jordan Evans, I think those guys 0:21:32.400 --> 0:21:34.760 have done a great job following up on a Keen 0:21:34.880 --> 0:21:37.760 Davis Skaith, your fourth round pickout of app State. He's 0:21:37.800 --> 0:21:39.800 two hundred and twenty four pounds, so he is a 0:21:39.800 --> 0:21:42.880 little bit undersized. How did he convince you that he's 0:21:42.920 --> 0:21:45.840