WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: The Comeback 0:00:03.560 --> 0:00:06.640 Hi again everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.640 --> 0:00:11.000 the Bengals Booth Podcast. The Just when they think they've 0:00:11.039 --> 0:00:19.040 got you game said match, here comes the comeback. Addition 0:00:19.760 --> 0:00:23.360 is Joe Burrow and offensive line coach Frank Pollock return 0:00:23.680 --> 0:00:27.319 to Paul Brown Stadium. Coming up, Dave Lapham joins me 0:00:27.440 --> 0:00:31.160 for a thirty minute conversation as we discuss those comebacks 0:00:31.560 --> 0:00:36.640 and answer the ask lap questions that you submitted on Twitter. Plus, 0:00:37.080 --> 0:00:40.360 we'll talk to Special Teams coordinator and assistant head coach 0:00:40.760 --> 0:00:44.960 Darren Simmons. The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by bud 0:00:45.040 --> 0:00:49.159 Light Seltzer. Refresh the game, and here's a quick reminder 0:00:49.440 --> 0:00:52.200 that you can add the latest edition of this podcast 0:00:52.280 --> 0:00:55.920 delivered right to your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing 0:00:56.320 --> 0:01:01.120 on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, or odd Bean. It's 0:01:01.160 --> 0:01:06.160 the greatest thing since a new toothbrush. I went to 0:01:06.200 --> 0:01:09.839 the dentist last week shout out to doctor Eric Lenz, 0:01:10.360 --> 0:01:12.600 and as is always the case, I left his office 0:01:12.600 --> 0:01:15.760 with a little goodie bag, including a new toothbrush, and 0:01:15.880 --> 0:01:18.440 the first time I brushed my teeth with it, I 0:01:18.560 --> 0:01:21.560 was reminded of how good it feels to use a 0:01:21.600 --> 0:01:25.920 brand new one. According to the American Dental Association, a 0:01:26.000 --> 0:01:29.319 toothbrush is typically in good working order for about three 0:01:29.360 --> 0:01:32.920 to four months. So if it's been longer than that 0:01:33.319 --> 0:01:36.520 and the brushes are frayed and pointing every which way, 0:01:37.160 --> 0:01:40.600 by yourself a new toothbrush, it'll put a smile on 0:01:40.680 --> 0:01:45.920 your face, hopefully an even brighter one. Now time for 0:01:46.000 --> 0:01:51.880 Dave Lapham to answer my questions and yours. Lap Let's 0:01:51.880 --> 0:01:55.120 start with the return of Joe Burrow to Cincinnati. He'll 0:01:55.160 --> 0:01:57.960 be rehabbing five days a week at Paul Brown Stadium, 0:01:57.960 --> 0:02:00.440 and he did a zoom call with reporters on Tuesday. 0:02:01.040 --> 0:02:04.200 What stood out to you in that zoom call? I 0:02:04.240 --> 0:02:08.000 think his positive attitude about the rehab. You know, I 0:02:08.080 --> 0:02:11.960 think that he feels like he's a quick healer. The 0:02:11.960 --> 0:02:14.640 the torn ro trator cuff that he had surgery on 0:02:14.720 --> 0:02:17.880 and the quick healing process that he's gone through already 0:02:18.040 --> 0:02:20.840 from a rehab standpoint, I think is an indicator. You 0:02:20.840 --> 0:02:24.600 know that that's that's how his body type is, which 0:02:24.680 --> 0:02:28.240 is which is encouraging. And you know the thing about 0:02:28.320 --> 0:02:32.720 him is every grind is a challenge and this might 0:02:32.760 --> 0:02:35.880 be the biggest grind slash challenge of his of his 0:02:36.240 --> 0:02:39.160 career obviously, but I think he's up to it. I 0:02:39.200 --> 0:02:41.600 think in his mind he wants to be have the 0:02:41.760 --> 0:02:44.679 training staff and the rehab people say he's the best 0:02:44.720 --> 0:02:47.080 we ever had. Joe Burrow wants to be number one 0:02:47.080 --> 0:02:49.800 and everything, and that's that's the way he approaches it. 0:02:49.880 --> 0:02:52.880 And uh, and I think that's a that's a good thing. Obviously. 0:02:53.639 --> 0:02:56.200 I liked how he acknowledged the need to be better 0:02:56.320 --> 0:02:59.560 on the deep ball. I think sometimes athletes will kind 0:02:59.600 --> 0:03:01.880 of dan it's around something that was a weakness or 0:03:01.919 --> 0:03:05.079 a problem, and he addressed that head on, even saying 0:03:05.160 --> 0:03:07.720 that he needs to get bigger and stronger. Yeah. I 0:03:08.120 --> 0:03:13.000 think that that. Uh. You know, sometimes guys, players, really 0:03:13.040 --> 0:03:15.280 good players, are the last ones to realize they still 0:03:15.320 --> 0:03:17.720 have things they need to get better at. You know, 0:03:18.600 --> 0:03:20.920 they quote think they've arrived. As such. I don't think 0:03:21.000 --> 0:03:23.320 Joe Burrow is the kind of guy that'll ever think 0:03:23.360 --> 0:03:25.640 he's arrived. I think he's one of those guys that 0:03:25.760 --> 0:03:28.840 is always gonna, you know, strive to be better, find 0:03:28.840 --> 0:03:32.320 a weakness, build on that, and then and then take 0:03:32.360 --> 0:03:34.359 a positive and make that even better. You know. I 0:03:34.800 --> 0:03:37.880 think he just across the board. He's always never going 0:03:37.920 --> 0:03:41.040 to be satisfied, always going to want to strive to 0:03:41.080 --> 0:03:43.360 be better, and that's what makes the good ones great. 0:03:44.160 --> 0:03:46.720 He said something else that caught my ear, and this 0:03:46.880 --> 0:03:49.160 also gets back to something he said in his interview 0:03:49.160 --> 0:03:53.160 with Colin Cowherd last week. When Coward talked to him 0:03:53.200 --> 0:03:56.160 about what he can improve on from his rookie year 0:03:56.240 --> 0:03:58.840 or what lessons he learned, he specifically brought up the 0:03:58.880 --> 0:04:02.320 Colts game and said he learned that when it's twenty 0:04:02.320 --> 0:04:05.200 one nothing in the NFL, you cannot take your foot 0:04:05.200 --> 0:04:08.560 off the gas pedal. Yeah, there's there's no doubt. I mean, 0:04:09.040 --> 0:04:12.600 today's offense is the way people can attack the excellence 0:04:12.640 --> 0:04:16.360 at the quarterback position. No lead is safe, There's no 0:04:16.480 --> 0:04:19.039 question about it. That's why you know, in the Pittsburgh 0:04:19.040 --> 0:04:21.000 Cleveland game, when they jumped out to that twenty one 0:04:21.040 --> 0:04:23.160 nothing lead, I thought, well, yeah, that's a good that's 0:04:23.160 --> 0:04:26.240 a good indicator that this game could turn out well 0:04:26.279 --> 0:04:29.520 for them tonight. But is certainly not over. And you know, 0:04:29.680 --> 0:04:32.680 even Chris and all we're talking about when they in 0:04:32.720 --> 0:04:35.360 the second and the third quarter, there's still a two 0:04:35.440 --> 0:04:37.520 score game plus, so They're like, this football game is 0:04:37.560 --> 0:04:39.719 not over and that's just life in the National Football League, 0:04:39.920 --> 0:04:42.640 there's no question about it. And that's something that you 0:04:42.680 --> 0:04:45.520 know you have to adjust to for sure. So Burrow 0:04:45.600 --> 0:04:50.320 hopes to be throwing in mid February, twelve weeks after surgery, 0:04:50.440 --> 0:04:52.600 and he seems confident that he'll be ready to go 0:04:52.640 --> 0:04:55.080 in time for Week one of the regular season next year. 0:04:55.560 --> 0:04:59.080 Do you have any concern about him pushing too hard? 0:05:00.040 --> 0:05:01.960 I think that's always a concern with the guy of 0:05:02.080 --> 0:05:06.159 Joe Burrow's makeup. You know, Joe, Joe is h He's 0:05:06.160 --> 0:05:08.880 a very self motivated guy. You don't have to light 0:05:08.920 --> 0:05:11.240 a firecracker under Joe's but to get him going. Man, 0:05:11.480 --> 0:05:14.679 you know, he wakes up ready to roll every single day. 0:05:15.160 --> 0:05:18.000 Um So I think, honestly, yeah. The thing that you 0:05:18.120 --> 0:05:21.359 have to think about if you're directing his rehab, like 0:05:21.480 --> 0:05:24.039 Nick Cosgrey is gonna Nick. Nick is excellent. Nick's as 0:05:24.080 --> 0:05:25.799 good as there is in the in the world. Really 0:05:26.000 --> 0:05:28.440 in doing what he does, is you're gonna have to 0:05:28.440 --> 0:05:30.839 put a harness on him and continue to pull him back. 0:05:31.200 --> 0:05:33.480 You don't have to worry about pushing him. He's gonna 0:05:33.480 --> 0:05:36.719 push himself but you know, if you feel like boy, 0:05:37.000 --> 0:05:39.920 you know, my experience tells me, even though he might 0:05:39.960 --> 0:05:41.840 be able to do it at this stage, might be 0:05:41.839 --> 0:05:43.600 doing a little too much. I'm gonna pull him back, 0:05:43.640 --> 0:05:45.960 pull the reins a little bit, and uh, you know, 0:05:46.080 --> 0:05:49.279 try to tame this wild bronkin buck right now. Um, 0:05:49.320 --> 0:05:51.240 I think I think that's kind of that's kind of 0:05:51.240 --> 0:05:53.560 the mindset that everybody's gonna have to approach you with. 0:05:53.640 --> 0:05:56.240 And Joe's gonna have to realize that these guys, know, 0:05:56.760 --> 0:05:59.080 you know, it's not it's not anything personal. It's not 0:05:59.160 --> 0:06:03.120 like they're trying to, you know, retard your rehab process 0:06:03.240 --> 0:06:05.279 or anything like that. But you have to have trust 0:06:05.279 --> 0:06:08.120 and faith in your rehab people to make sure that 0:06:08.160 --> 0:06:11.080 you don't become your own worst enemy. You know, you 0:06:11.120 --> 0:06:13.480 don't do too much because there are going to be setbacks, 0:06:13.960 --> 0:06:16.760 and you don't want there to be self impost setbacks. 0:06:16.800 --> 0:06:19.280 Those are the worst setbacks to have when you do 0:06:19.320 --> 0:06:21.520 it to yourself. All right, let's move on to the 0:06:21.560 --> 0:06:25.000 return of Frank Pollock as the offensive line coach. Were 0:06:25.040 --> 0:06:27.800 you at all surprised the Bengals were able to lure 0:06:27.920 --> 0:06:31.040 him back, considering that Zach didn't try to keep him 0:06:31.040 --> 0:06:33.360 in the first place, when Frank was still under contract 0:06:33.400 --> 0:06:36.520 a couple of years ago. Yeah, that that was an 0:06:36.560 --> 0:06:42.840 interesting situation. I think it shows that both men aren't small, 0:06:42.880 --> 0:06:45.520 you know. I mean it was a situation where, all right, 0:06:45.720 --> 0:06:47.360 Zach had made a commitment that he was going to 0:06:47.400 --> 0:06:51.560 go with Jim Turner, and I think, I mean, there's 0:06:51.600 --> 0:06:53.880 no doubt in my mind that Mike Brown would have 0:06:54.120 --> 0:06:57.080 liked Zach to interview. You know, Frank can see what 0:06:57.120 --> 0:07:00.800 he thought. But at that point, I think through the 0:07:00.839 --> 0:07:03.680 grapevine or whatever, I think he knew that you know, 0:07:03.760 --> 0:07:07.159 Zach was was had his guy, had his guy, Jim Turner. 0:07:07.560 --> 0:07:11.400 So I think I'm going to credit Mike Brown on this. Obviously, 0:07:11.440 --> 0:07:15.000 Frank asked Mike Brown probably to say, look, would you 0:07:15.040 --> 0:07:18.640 please just let me go because I have opportunities out there. 0:07:18.960 --> 0:07:22.960 Don't don't don't make it a situation where you might 0:07:23.040 --> 0:07:24.800 want me to hang around an interview with a guy 0:07:24.840 --> 0:07:26.880 that I know has already made his mind up. Can 0:07:26.920 --> 0:07:30.000 I go somewhere else and take advantage of an opportunity 0:07:30.080 --> 0:07:33.520 that might present itself. So bottom line is, no bridges 0:07:33.520 --> 0:07:35.520 were burned anywhere. You know, I think there was a 0:07:35.520 --> 0:07:38.800 healthy ghost through respect everywhere. Frank said right away that 0:07:38.960 --> 0:07:41.040 he appreciated the way that he was treated by the 0:07:41.120 --> 0:07:45.000 Brown family upon his return. So it tells me that 0:07:45.080 --> 0:07:48.000 not only whe he was treated while he was here, 0:07:48.360 --> 0:07:51.600 but when he exited, he was treated with respect. So 0:07:51.800 --> 0:07:54.760 I think the fact that that that's the way they 0:07:54.800 --> 0:07:58.800 parted ways, I think led to coming back together again. 0:07:58.840 --> 0:08:02.440 And and and I think the run game coordinator, even 0:08:02.480 --> 0:08:06.160 though you know it's just a title, how much responsibility 0:08:06.160 --> 0:08:07.880 would come with that title. I think there will be some. 0:08:08.600 --> 0:08:10.560 And I think that you know, in the in the 0:08:10.600 --> 0:08:14.760 progression of Frank Pollock's career to have that title in 0:08:14.800 --> 0:08:18.800 addition to offensive line coach, and it probably economically was 0:08:18.800 --> 0:08:22.240 a benefit as well to have that title. Then you 0:08:22.280 --> 0:08:25.280 come back and put things back together again, and I 0:08:25.360 --> 0:08:29.000 see them working well together. And the good thing is 0:08:29.960 --> 0:08:31.960 the players that were here when Frank was here the 0:08:31.960 --> 0:08:35.360 first time are excited about his return, and that's always 0:08:35.360 --> 0:08:39.000 a big plus. Joe Mixon among them. Joe Burrow told 0:08:39.080 --> 0:08:42.240 us in that Zoom interview yesterday that Joe Mixon called 0:08:42.320 --> 0:08:45.040 him up after Frank Pollock was announced and was quote 0:08:45.280 --> 0:08:49.040 hooting and hollering, why do you think Frank is so 0:08:49.160 --> 0:08:55.160 popular among players. I think it's his whole approach to 0:08:55.200 --> 0:08:57.680 the game of football. You know, some guys talk about 0:08:57.760 --> 0:09:00.520 their love of the game. Frank doesn't have to talk 0:09:00.520 --> 0:09:02.880 about it. He just shows it all the time. It 0:09:02.880 --> 0:09:06.960 oozes out of his pores, you know. And he played, 0:09:07.200 --> 0:09:09.560 you know, he played nine years in the NFL as 0:09:09.559 --> 0:09:12.200 a player, so he understands a lot of what the 0:09:12.240 --> 0:09:16.280 guys are thinking, what they're going through, you know, from 0:09:16.320 --> 0:09:18.720 from firsthand experience. And I think that's always a plus. 0:09:18.720 --> 0:09:20.840 I mean, I think he feels like he can relate 0:09:20.880 --> 0:09:23.240 to the locker room because he did as a player, 0:09:23.679 --> 0:09:25.920 and he knows, he knows the type of coach that 0:09:26.000 --> 0:09:28.240 he respected as a player, so he wants to be 0:09:28.280 --> 0:09:30.079 that type of coach and make sure that he builds 0:09:30.120 --> 0:09:33.439 those kind of relationships. So I think all of that 0:09:33.520 --> 0:09:36.280 is a part of the equation. Plus, you know, he's 0:09:36.360 --> 0:09:38.160 damn good at what he does. I mean, he's really 0:09:38.200 --> 0:09:42.319 a good He teaches not only schematic not only does 0:09:42.360 --> 0:09:44.559 he teach a good scheme that you can believe in, 0:09:44.640 --> 0:09:48.560 And that's very important. Are you buying, honestly buying what 0:09:48.640 --> 0:09:51.920 your coach is selling. And I think with Frank, Guys 0:09:52.040 --> 0:09:56.800 really do consume and buy everything he's selling in terms 0:09:56.840 --> 0:10:01.560 of his schematic, this technique. And he doesn't just teach technique. 0:10:01.559 --> 0:10:04.199 He teaches you know, how to do, how to how 0:10:04.200 --> 0:10:06.400 to I execute the technique. Here's what I want you 0:10:06.440 --> 0:10:08.240 to do, and here's why I want you to do it. 0:10:08.559 --> 0:10:11.120 And when you have those questions answered, you know, it's 0:10:11.200 --> 0:10:14.160 much easier to digest, you know. And and I think 0:10:14.200 --> 0:10:18.120 he also is as a former player. I think he 0:10:18.240 --> 0:10:20.040 felt like, when I come off the field, if I 0:10:20.040 --> 0:10:21.800 have something to say to my coach, I hope my 0:10:21.840 --> 0:10:24.559 coach listens to it, you know, and appreciates it a 0:10:24.600 --> 0:10:28.240 little bit. So I think he realizes he knows that 0:10:28.320 --> 0:10:31.360 Hopkins is smart. He knows Bobby Hart's smart. He knows 0:10:31.400 --> 0:10:34.120 there are some smart guys intelligence football IQ guys and 0:10:34.240 --> 0:10:37.400 that and that upfront. If they come off the field 0:10:37.440 --> 0:10:39.760 and say something, you know, it's I don't know if 0:10:39.800 --> 0:10:42.080 I can believe that. I think he there's there's a 0:10:42.120 --> 0:10:44.880 trust there, you know, that develops between the line coach 0:10:45.320 --> 0:10:47.680 and the lineman, and I think that's a that's a 0:10:47.679 --> 0:10:50.640 big factor. I've always always said that when the coach 0:10:50.720 --> 0:10:55.800 has both they both respect and like, I mean that 0:10:55.920 --> 0:10:58.360 that's and you don't necessarily have to like them, but 0:10:58.480 --> 0:11:01.400 when that does happen, when you have both, man, there's 0:11:01.400 --> 0:11:04.440 a synergistic effect there. And I've said before and I 0:11:04.480 --> 0:11:07.480 still maintain that the guys that I saw that the 0:11:07.600 --> 0:11:10.839 best example of that I've ever seen as Dick Lebal. 0:11:11.520 --> 0:11:14.439 I don't think there's one ex player of Dick Lebal, 0:11:14.920 --> 0:11:17.960 whether it's quote disgruntled about lack of playing time or whatever, 0:11:18.120 --> 0:11:20.760 that does not love and respect Dick Lebo as a coach. 0:11:21.320 --> 0:11:23.880 That's hard to do. And I think Frank because of, 0:11:24.240 --> 0:11:26.360 you know, his experience as a player. Dick was a 0:11:26.760 --> 0:11:28.319 Hall of Fame player as well as a Hall of 0:11:28.360 --> 0:11:31.080 Fame coach. Frank was played a long time in the 0:11:31.120 --> 0:11:33.880 National Football League. That's hard to do, and I think 0:11:33.880 --> 0:11:37.240 players both respect, you know, and like Frank as well. 0:11:37.800 --> 0:11:40.040 The use of the word center just Dick has just 0:11:40.160 --> 0:11:43.320 elevated the intelligence level of this podcast, So thank you 0:11:43.440 --> 0:11:47.880 very much. Billy Price is another guy who very publicly 0:11:47.960 --> 0:11:50.760 came out in support of this move. He clearly looks 0:11:50.800 --> 0:11:53.240 at it like a new lease on life. Do you 0:11:53.280 --> 0:11:57.240 think Billy or anybody else in particular benefits from the 0:11:57.240 --> 0:12:00.800 return of Frank Pollock. I think that the thing that 0:12:00.880 --> 0:12:04.440 you have to go into it with, and I think 0:12:04.480 --> 0:12:07.040 Frank is doing it as well. It's kind of it's 0:12:07.040 --> 0:12:09.199 a clean slate, you know. I'm going to start by 0:12:09.400 --> 0:12:13.280 examining tape and see what I see with my own 0:12:13.280 --> 0:12:16.000 eyes in terms of what talent is available to me 0:12:16.840 --> 0:12:20.080 on the current roster, who's approaching free agency, who's back 0:12:20.120 --> 0:12:22.439 for sure, all those kind of things. Can they play. 0:12:23.640 --> 0:12:27.480 But you know, Billy had a great relationship with Franky 0:12:27.520 --> 0:12:30.960 were when they were first together, so you would expect 0:12:30.960 --> 0:12:34.600 that to continue, and Billy is looking for a fresh start, obviously, 0:12:34.679 --> 0:12:37.040 a new lease on life is such. The thing that 0:12:37.120 --> 0:12:39.480 Billy has to do is continued to try to improve 0:12:39.880 --> 0:12:44.000 on the areas where he's had problems. And in my mind, 0:12:44.080 --> 0:12:48.120 his big thing is balance. Because of his arms being 0:12:48.160 --> 0:12:50.160 a little bit short, he's out of balance a lot. 0:12:50.320 --> 0:12:53.160 You know, he's over extended his chins over his skis 0:12:53.800 --> 0:12:56.920 and you know he's on the ground some. So that 0:12:56.920 --> 0:12:58.880 that's the biggest thing. I don't care who the coach 0:12:59.000 --> 0:13:01.880 is if they can't figure out, together with the player, 0:13:02.320 --> 0:13:05.240 how to keep that player in balance and let him, 0:13:05.280 --> 0:13:07.520 you know, stay on his feet and finish plays. Um, 0:13:08.240 --> 0:13:11.000 you know, it doesn't really matter. But you know, maybe 0:13:11.040 --> 0:13:13.880 Frank has has some ideas to help Billy with that. 0:13:14.200 --> 0:13:18.080 You know that Jim didn't, and maybe Billy can respond 0:13:18.080 --> 0:13:20.640 to that and make an adjustment. And it's all about, 0:13:21.080 --> 0:13:24.880 you know, adjustments, and sometimes sometimes a coaching change is 0:13:24.920 --> 0:13:29.040 just what a player needs. People say, oh, he went 0:13:29.080 --> 0:13:33.199 to a he got a fresh start, new location, you know, 0:13:33.320 --> 0:13:37.079 new environment. You can get that internally instead of not 0:13:37.120 --> 0:13:40.199 necessarily a new place, but a new environment. I mean, 0:13:40.240 --> 0:13:42.959 it's it's the guy you deal with every single day 0:13:42.960 --> 0:13:46.960 of practice, your coach. When that changes, everything changes. So 0:13:47.080 --> 0:13:51.320 offensive line coaches filled Troy Walters is reportedly being promoted 0:13:51.320 --> 0:13:54.440 to become the wide receivers coach, They still have vacancies 0:13:54.480 --> 0:13:56.920 a defensive line coach and running backs coach as far 0:13:56.960 --> 0:13:59.679 as we know at least any thoughts on what they 0:13:59.679 --> 0:14:02.640 should be looking for there. If I'm the head coach, 0:14:03.240 --> 0:14:07.000 get together with the rest of my position coaches on 0:14:07.160 --> 0:14:10.000 offense and say who have you coached with that you 0:14:10.120 --> 0:14:12.600 really think is that I was standing running back? Give 0:14:12.640 --> 0:14:15.360 me your guy's input. Who do you think would mesh well, 0:14:15.640 --> 0:14:17.719 you know, with with the rest of these coaches, who 0:14:17.760 --> 0:14:19.760 do you think would mesh well with the type of 0:14:19.840 --> 0:14:22.560 personalities we have, you know, players that they're going to 0:14:22.600 --> 0:14:26.960 be coaching um and and there's always uh some you know, 0:14:27.000 --> 0:14:29.160 a list can be made up of that, because then 0:14:29.240 --> 0:14:31.800 then the mesh would be easier because there'd be some 0:14:31.840 --> 0:14:34.640 familiarity a little bit. And the same with defense. I 0:14:34.640 --> 0:14:37.360 would I would sit down, uh you know, if I'm 0:14:37.440 --> 0:14:39.920 lou Anna Rumo or Zach you know, I'd sit down 0:14:39.920 --> 0:14:42.840 with lou and offense, sit down with Brian Callahan and say, no, 0:14:43.280 --> 0:14:45.840 make a list based on what your assistants are saying, 0:14:46.040 --> 0:14:48.360 and you make me a list of guys that you 0:14:48.480 --> 0:14:51.600 feel would would uh, would mesh well marry well with 0:14:51.800 --> 0:14:54.080 the rest of our coaching staff, and let's target then 0:14:54.360 --> 0:14:56.800 instead of doing this big you know, bulls eye target, 0:14:56.840 --> 0:14:58.960 this big target, why don't we bulls eye it a 0:14:59.000 --> 0:15:01.520 little bit and see if we can come up with 0:15:01.600 --> 0:15:05.760 somebody that would would fit in philosophically, what we're trying 0:15:05.800 --> 0:15:07.640 to do, how we're trying to teach it, all those 0:15:07.720 --> 0:15:10.400 kind of things. All right, I am putting you in 0:15:10.480 --> 0:15:14.400 the shoes of Duke Tobin. Yeah, give me your top 0:15:14.600 --> 0:15:20.440 three priorities in order you're talking about from a position standpoint, Yes, sir, 0:15:21.200 --> 0:15:25.680 I would talk about initially both lines of scrimmage DAN 0:15:26.160 --> 0:15:28.000 one and two. You know, however, you want to do 0:15:28.040 --> 0:15:31.600 it one and one. A doesn't because even in this 0:15:31.640 --> 0:15:37.160 era of all kinds of formations, all kinds of personnel groupings, 0:15:37.240 --> 0:15:41.320 window dressing, motion jes see, follow this crap. Who advanced 0:15:41.360 --> 0:15:43.400 in the playoffs, the teams that won the line of 0:15:43.440 --> 0:15:47.280 scrimmage period, the teams that won the line of scrimmage. 0:15:47.600 --> 0:15:50.800 Cleveland beat Pittsburgh up up front on both sides of 0:15:50.800 --> 0:15:54.400 the ball. I was very surprised about it, but I 0:15:54.440 --> 0:15:57.120 guess I shouldn't have been because Cleveland Pro Football Focus 0:15:57.120 --> 0:16:00.280 has the Cleveland Browns number one rated run team, run 0:16:00.320 --> 0:16:03.160 game old line and pass protection old line, and they 0:16:03.240 --> 0:16:07.840 played that way. So I think that I think it 0:16:07.960 --> 0:16:10.800 starts there. It starts there. I think you have to 0:16:10.800 --> 0:16:13.200 find out who's who you're going to be able to 0:16:13.560 --> 0:16:15.880 make sure you don't lose anything in free agency, obviously, 0:16:15.880 --> 0:16:18.120 and what you might be able to retain in free agency, 0:16:18.360 --> 0:16:20.520 and then go to the draft and approach it accordingly 0:16:20.720 --> 0:16:23.280 based on what happened in free agency. First and foremost, 0:16:23.720 --> 0:16:28.520 But then I would address both lines of scrimmage. Initially 0:16:28.960 --> 0:16:31.880 I would. I'm a firm believer in you know, I 0:16:32.880 --> 0:16:37.440 think whenever guys have big games, guys up front played 0:16:37.480 --> 0:16:39.600 well as well and gave an opportunity. You know, you 0:16:39.640 --> 0:16:43.240 can have very talented players and they can look very 0:16:43.280 --> 0:16:46.320 average if the offensive line is getting overwhelmed by the 0:16:46.360 --> 0:16:49.520 defensive line, and vice versa. So if O line and 0:16:49.600 --> 0:16:52.120 D line are one and two in either order, do 0:16:52.200 --> 0:16:55.880 you have a third priority? You know, I would, depending 0:16:55.880 --> 0:16:58.000 on what happens on the back end. I just think, 0:16:58.480 --> 0:17:00.880 you know, if I've got my defense line address and 0:17:00.960 --> 0:17:04.720 my offensive line addressed, I'm looking at, uh, you know, 0:17:04.840 --> 0:17:08.119 somebody to cover people on the back end. I do 0:17:08.200 --> 0:17:11.520 think it's a it's a you know, it's a passing league. Still, 0:17:11.800 --> 0:17:14.240 even though teams that are running the football did well 0:17:14.280 --> 0:17:19.600 in the in the playoffs, Uh, Cleveland ran it well, obviously, Baltimore, Well, 0:17:19.400 --> 0:17:22.840 we know that the AFC northall other than Pittsburgh now, 0:17:23.080 --> 0:17:25.240 which is crazy for me to even think to say 0:17:25.240 --> 0:17:28.080 and then say it, they can't run the football. That's amazing. 0:17:28.520 --> 0:17:32.240 But um yeah, I think I think having a cover 0:17:32.320 --> 0:17:36.679 guy back there. But still in my mind, Dan, you 0:17:36.720 --> 0:17:41.919 can you can still get away with not having top 0:17:42.040 --> 0:17:45.080 notch cover people if you have an outstanding pass rush. 0:17:45.560 --> 0:17:47.520 If you have no pass rush, you have to address 0:17:47.760 --> 0:17:50.760 the back end. But even even with that, you can't 0:17:50.800 --> 0:17:54.760 cover people forever back there. It's impossible. The athletes are 0:17:54.800 --> 0:17:58.679 too good. So if you pass rush and coverage go 0:17:58.760 --> 0:18:02.320 hand in hand, Jing and Yang, But I would still 0:18:02.320 --> 0:18:04.200 try to improve both of those errors in that side 0:18:04.200 --> 0:18:07.600 of the football, all right. I threw out an invitation 0:18:07.680 --> 0:18:12.399 on Twitter for ask lap questions. They came pouring in 0:18:12.480 --> 0:18:17.680 this week. Many about the draft will start with Sam 0:18:17.800 --> 0:18:21.760 and basically many people ask the same question with different wording. 0:18:22.400 --> 0:18:25.800 Did the performance of Alabama wide receiver Davante Smith in 0:18:25.840 --> 0:18:30.040 the National Championship Game? Make you rethink what the Bengals 0:18:30.040 --> 0:18:33.760 should do with the fifth pick? And JT put it 0:18:33.840 --> 0:18:38.480 this way, If Piney Sewell, Jamar Chase, and Davante Smith 0:18:38.840 --> 0:18:41.640 are all there at number five, who do you think 0:18:41.680 --> 0:18:46.199 the Bengal should take. I'm like falling along what I 0:18:46.280 --> 0:18:48.200 talked about just a little bit ago. I'm a suol 0:18:48.240 --> 0:18:51.400 guy at that point. I think all those guys are 0:18:51.400 --> 0:18:56.679 phenomenal players, great weapons. But you know, T Higgins, Tyler 0:18:56.760 --> 0:18:59.400 Boyd still have guys. If you don't have people up 0:18:59.400 --> 0:19:02.760 front that are giving your quarterback an opportunity to not 0:19:02.840 --> 0:19:05.840 be affected by what he the first stage of it is, 0:19:06.160 --> 0:19:07.800 oh my god, I want to get I don't want 0:19:07.840 --> 0:19:10.120 to be watching the pass rush and being concerned there. 0:19:10.440 --> 0:19:12.520 I get to get my eyes down field the coverage. 0:19:12.640 --> 0:19:15.360 And if you're getting hit quarterbacks, I mean they don't 0:19:15.359 --> 0:19:17.840 get their eyes downfield as quickly as they should, you know, 0:19:17.920 --> 0:19:19.960 And and there's a whole and then and then it 0:19:20.040 --> 0:19:23.080 just kind of unfolds on unravels from there. But um, 0:19:23.280 --> 0:19:27.360 as I've seen, I've seen great skill people wasted because 0:19:27.680 --> 0:19:31.000 they weren't given an opportunity to perform. But if if 0:19:31.040 --> 0:19:34.440 if honestly, if Stool's gone, for example, at number five, 0:19:34.760 --> 0:19:36.479 and I think he might go as high as number two. 0:19:36.480 --> 0:19:38.160 I think the Jets might take him at number two. 0:19:39.000 --> 0:19:41.600 So if he and you know, and try to develop 0:19:41.680 --> 0:19:44.800 Donald and that tackle would help develop him, they have 0:19:44.880 --> 0:19:47.280 one and maybe try to get the book in tackling 0:19:47.640 --> 0:19:51.359 and see if Donald can develop. But if if Seol 0:19:51.480 --> 0:19:55.720 is gone and the next tackle is you know on 0:19:55.720 --> 0:19:57.639 my board is down there at you know, ten or 0:19:57.680 --> 0:20:00.720 eleven and I'm picking at five, and I've got these 0:20:00.720 --> 0:20:04.440 receivers that would would be closer to the top five, 0:20:04.240 --> 0:20:06.640 I'd stay true to my board, you know, I would. 0:20:06.760 --> 0:20:08.400 I would think about it at that point in time. 0:20:08.640 --> 0:20:11.720 I still would always if it's close, I would. I 0:20:11.760 --> 0:20:15.080 would draft by need if it's not a huge disparity 0:20:15.080 --> 0:20:17.440 and where I have them ranked on my board. But 0:20:17.600 --> 0:20:20.760 if there's a pretty good disparity there, if you know 0:20:20.800 --> 0:20:22.800 you're dropping out of the top five with a guy 0:20:23.200 --> 0:20:25.000 you're picking a fifth, and you're dropping out of the 0:20:25.000 --> 0:20:27.359 top five and you're maybe barely staying in the top 0:20:27.400 --> 0:20:30.720 ten with a position of need, I might stay true 0:20:30.720 --> 0:20:32.240 to my board and see if I can get it 0:20:32.280 --> 0:20:34.479 done early in the second round with the bigger need. 0:20:34.880 --> 0:20:37.800 A related question to that from Joe Joe Jammer. If 0:20:37.840 --> 0:20:40.879 you trade down, how far are you willing to go? 0:20:41.920 --> 0:20:44.639 If I'm if I'm trading down, I've got to have 0:20:45.040 --> 0:20:47.280 at least two guys in mind that i'd be comfortable with. 0:20:48.040 --> 0:20:51.399 So if I'm trading down to say number twelve, and 0:20:51.480 --> 0:20:53.320 I don't think one of the two guys that I'm 0:20:53.320 --> 0:20:56.960 comfortable with trading back, I think there's no way that 0:20:57.119 --> 0:20:59.440 both of them are going to be gone, I'd trade back, 0:20:59.720 --> 0:21:02.399 but my mind is dicey if both of them might 0:21:02.440 --> 0:21:04.960 be gone, I wouldn't trade back that far, you know, 0:21:05.000 --> 0:21:08.560 I'd always I would never trade back thinking I have 0:21:08.680 --> 0:21:10.960 this guy in mind, and that's the guy that's going 0:21:11.040 --> 0:21:14.159 to you never know. You have to have a plan B. 0:21:15.000 --> 0:21:17.120 You can't. You can in my mind, you can never 0:21:17.160 --> 0:21:20.479 trade back if you don't have two people that you 0:21:20.480 --> 0:21:23.800 know on your board. Aren't There's not a big disparity 0:21:23.960 --> 0:21:25.840