WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: Jessie's Back In Town 0:00:03.640 --> 0:00:06.559 Hi, Gat everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.559 --> 0:00:12.879 The Bengals Booth Podcast. The Jesse's Back in Town. Addition, 0:00:13.320 --> 0:00:16.360 as we hear from Bengal safety Jesse Bates, who has 0:00:16.360 --> 0:00:19.960 signed the franchise tag and started practicing with the team. 0:00:20.320 --> 0:00:24.040 We'll also hear from Thaddeus Moss on the Twitter firestorm 0:00:24.120 --> 0:00:28.160 that resulted from his legal block last Sunday against the Giants, 0:00:28.440 --> 0:00:31.400 and my broadcast partner Dave Lapham joins me to take 0:00:31.440 --> 0:00:34.920 an in depth look at Wednesday's joint practice with the 0:00:35.159 --> 0:00:39.720 La Rams. The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by Ultimate Bengals. 0:00:40.080 --> 0:00:43.080 Download Ultimate Bengals ahead of the twenty twenty two season. 0:00:43.520 --> 0:00:47.320 It's free to play next level fantasy football with fantastic 0:00:47.400 --> 0:00:50.519 Bengals prizes. Get it now on the App Store and 0:00:50.680 --> 0:00:53.760 Google Play. And here's a quick reminder that you can 0:00:53.800 --> 0:00:57.160 have the latest edition of this podcast delivered right to 0:00:57.160 --> 0:01:00.480 your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing where you get 0:01:00.520 --> 0:01:05.840 your podcasts. It's the greatest thing since getting new glasses. 0:01:06.600 --> 0:01:10.160 For the first time in six years, I visited the optometrist, 0:01:10.440 --> 0:01:13.600 shout out to doctor Jim Ellis and got the prescription 0:01:13.800 --> 0:01:19.119 updated on my eyeglasses. Note to self, don't wait six 0:01:19.280 --> 0:01:23.039 years next time. I feel like a new man, one 0:01:23.080 --> 0:01:25.479 who can read a license plate on a moving car 0:01:25.880 --> 0:01:31.480 a mile away. Okay, a slight exaggeration, perhaps, but uniform 0:01:31.560 --> 0:01:35.800 numbers from the broadcast booth should be a breeze. Now, 0:01:36.360 --> 0:01:39.760 let's get to my guests. In last Sunday's game against 0:01:39.760 --> 0:01:43.760 the New York Giants, Bengals tight end Thaddius Moss attempted 0:01:43.800 --> 0:01:46.959 to make a legal cut block on rookie defensive end 0:01:47.120 --> 0:01:51.920 Cavon Thibodeaux. It resulted in an awkward collision in Thibodeau 0:01:52.000 --> 0:01:56.240 suffered a knee injury that initially looked severe, but thankfully 0:01:56.560 --> 0:02:00.440 turned out to be an mcl sprain. However, the low 0:02:00.480 --> 0:02:05.320 block also resulted in a Twitter firestorm, with some people 0:02:05.400 --> 0:02:09.840 calling Moss dirty or even cowardly, before players around the 0:02:09.919 --> 0:02:13.720 league came to his defense. I talked to Thaddius about 0:02:13.720 --> 0:02:17.760 it on Wednesday. Were you kind of caught off guard 0:02:18.120 --> 0:02:22.679 by the national reaction to that block the other night? No? 0:02:23.160 --> 0:02:26.280 I wasn't really caught off guard. I don't I don't 0:02:26.320 --> 0:02:28.840 have social media on my phone. I'm not really into 0:02:28.880 --> 0:02:32.320 all of that stuff. So did it catch me off guard. 0:02:32.320 --> 0:02:33.919 I mean, it didn't really catch me any type of way. 0:02:33.919 --> 0:02:35.520 I mean, as soon as I got to the locker room, 0:02:35.520 --> 0:02:38.160 my teammates were already talking, you know, telling me about it. 0:02:38.200 --> 0:02:40.200 But you know, I don't I don't look into that stuff. 0:02:40.600 --> 0:02:42.880 I don't put any value into that stuff. So was 0:02:42.919 --> 0:02:45.520 I caught off guard by it? No? Watching the play, 0:02:45.600 --> 0:02:47.720 it just looked like there was kind of an awkward 0:02:47.800 --> 0:02:50.640 point where he didn't know whether you're going to go 0:02:50.720 --> 0:02:52.640 high or low. You didn't quite know whether he was 0:02:52.680 --> 0:02:54.480 going to go high and low? Is that just one 0:02:54.520 --> 0:02:56.680 of those things that happens? I mean yeah, I mean 0:02:56.720 --> 0:02:59.240 so first, first off, you know, I'm glad he's okay, 0:02:59.280 --> 0:03:02.120 and there was nothing you know, major major um. You know, 0:03:02.160 --> 0:03:04.480 I tried to reach out to him. Um, Like I said, 0:03:04.480 --> 0:03:06.040 I don't have social media, so it's kind of hard 0:03:06.040 --> 0:03:09.360 to reach out to people, you know nowadays without social media. Um. 0:03:09.440 --> 0:03:12.679 So I'm glad he's okay. First. Um. But with the play, yeah, 0:03:12.680 --> 0:03:16.120 it was it was an awkward play. Yeah, it was 0:03:16.160 --> 0:03:18.080 this awkward play. You know, the way the way that 0:03:18.120 --> 0:03:20.400 he m kind of played it and turned into it, 0:03:20.960 --> 0:03:22.760 you know, didn't didn't fully turn into it. It It just 0:03:22.800 --> 0:03:24.560 turned into an awkward play with a bad result. You 0:03:24.560 --> 0:03:26.080 know that play happens all the time. Was this a 0:03:26.080 --> 0:03:29.680 bad a bad result? For visiting the Thaddius Moss? We 0:03:29.720 --> 0:03:33.800 already know you're receiving ability that was well established before 0:03:33.800 --> 0:03:36.280 you got here. I think you're trying to show everybody 0:03:36.600 --> 0:03:38.840 that you can be a good blocker as well in 0:03:38.880 --> 0:03:42.080 the NFL. So a play like that is very important 0:03:42.120 --> 0:03:44.480 for you, I would think to make this team showing 0:03:44.480 --> 0:03:46.080 the ability to do what you have to do in 0:03:46.120 --> 0:03:49.640 the blocking game, right, Um, I mean essentially, you know, 0:03:49.680 --> 0:03:51.760 I'm fighting for my life out here. That's the reality 0:03:51.800 --> 0:03:53.880 of the situation. You know, I'm fighting for a roster spot. 0:03:53.880 --> 0:03:57.040 I'm fighting for my life out here. So anytime I 0:03:57.080 --> 0:03:59.200 step on that field in the preseason game, every play 0:03:59.240 --> 0:04:01.600 is important. You know, every play is important. You know, 0:04:01.600 --> 0:04:03.600 it doesn't matter if I'm backside of the play from 0:04:03.600 --> 0:04:05.600 front side, if it's a special team's rep, if it's 0:04:05.680 --> 0:04:08.280 you know, whatever it is. Um, you know, every play's vital. 0:04:08.360 --> 0:04:11.119 Every play is important. Um. You know, I'm I'm I'm 0:04:11.160 --> 0:04:14.839 I'm coached and told I'm coached and told to do 0:04:15.480 --> 0:04:19.040 you know, to to I'm coached and and told my 0:04:19.160 --> 0:04:20.800 job to do it. I need to go execute it, 0:04:20.839 --> 0:04:21.960 you know. So at the end of the day, that's 0:04:22.000 --> 0:04:23.440 just you know, I was coached and told to do 0:04:23.520 --> 0:04:26.600 something I wouldn't execute the play. We see that block 0:04:26.800 --> 0:04:29.839 in every NFL game. The Giants did the same block 0:04:29.920 --> 0:04:32.200 in that game the other night. But there is a 0:04:32.200 --> 0:04:34.440 little bit of a debate as to whether that block 0:04:34.520 --> 0:04:36.880 should be part of the game. Do you have any 0:04:36.880 --> 0:04:39.880 thoughts on I'm cutting guys and whether that's something that 0:04:39.960 --> 0:04:42.560 should not be part of football. No, I don't really 0:04:42.600 --> 0:04:44.000 have any thoughts of it. I mean, I know they 0:04:44.000 --> 0:04:46.000 out ruled the you know, they took out the rule 0:04:46.080 --> 0:04:49.360 of cutting on the you know, cutting on the perimeter. Um. 0:04:50.000 --> 0:04:51.640 You know, if they start up that, if if I 0:04:51.920 --> 0:04:54.360 started that debate up, you know, in regards to cutting 0:04:54.360 --> 0:04:57.320 inside the tackle box, and so be it. Um. You know, 0:04:57.360 --> 0:04:59.520 I don't really I don't really care for you know, 0:04:59.560 --> 0:05:01.840 the rules are the rules. If they change them, they 0:05:01.920 --> 0:05:03.599 change them. If they keep them, they keep them. You know, 0:05:03.640 --> 0:05:05.479 It's just a part of a game. It's a part 0:05:05.520 --> 0:05:08.159 of the game. And like you said, that play happens 0:05:08.640 --> 0:05:11.799 every single drive, you know, every single drive. Every single 0:05:11.839 --> 0:05:14.640 team does it. You know, so if they change the rules, 0:05:14.680 --> 0:05:16.000 they change the rules. But as of right now, the 0:05:16.040 --> 0:05:17.960 rules are the rules, and that happens every single drive. 0:05:18.440 --> 0:05:21.600 Your position coach, James Casey had a long NFL career 0:05:22.040 --> 0:05:24.760 primarily as a blocking tight end. That was the strength 0:05:24.760 --> 0:05:27.479 of his game. As he talked to you and said, hey, 0:05:27.720 --> 0:05:29.520 you were doing what you were supposed to do. Keep 0:05:29.560 --> 0:05:32.680 your head out. Yeah, I mean Zach, so you know, 0:05:32.800 --> 0:05:36.120 Zach Taylor. He talked to me probably a few plays 0:05:36.160 --> 0:05:37.359 after that, and he was like, you know, if it 0:05:37.360 --> 0:05:39.839 makes you feel any better, He was like, there, you know, 0:05:39.880 --> 0:05:41.680 they just ran the same exact play and they and 0:05:41.720 --> 0:05:43.640 they just did the same exact thing to our defensive 0:05:43.640 --> 0:05:47.320 and if that makes you feel any better, and then yeah, 0:05:47.360 --> 0:05:50.039 you know, yeah, James as well, position coach. He told me, 0:05:50.080 --> 0:05:51.880 he was like, you know, there's nothing egregious about it. 0:05:51.880 --> 0:05:54.120 There was nothing dirty about it. You know, you were 0:05:55.160 --> 0:05:56.960 you know, it was just what do your coach would do, 0:05:57.040 --> 0:05:58.279 is what you were told to do. There's nothing dirty 0:05:58.279 --> 0:06:01.400 about it, nothing crazy about it. You know, Football's football. 0:06:02.279 --> 0:06:05.680 Change of subject. You're practicing and then playing against the 0:06:05.720 --> 0:06:08.760 team you just competed against in a Super Bowl. How 0:06:08.839 --> 0:06:12.880 unusual is this week for you guys, I mean for 0:06:12.920 --> 0:06:14.800 the guys that played in the Super Bowl, you know, 0:06:14.920 --> 0:06:16.360 I bet it's a little weird for him and they 0:06:16.360 --> 0:06:18.440 probably feel some type of way, you know, for the 0:06:18.480 --> 0:06:21.159 guys that didn't play in a super Bowl, I mean, 0:06:21.160 --> 0:06:22.400 this is a big you know, with it being a 0:06:22.480 --> 0:06:25.120 last week anyways, a preseason you know, roster cuts, it's 0:06:25.120 --> 0:06:26.719 a big week anyways. And then on top of it, 0:06:26.760 --> 0:06:28.640 if you played in that game, you know, this is 0:06:28.760 --> 0:06:32.160 essentially four games and six days, you know, whatever whatever 0:06:32.200 --> 0:06:34.560 it adds up to be, but essentially for four games, 0:06:34.600 --> 0:06:37.279 and you know, in a week counting these two joint 0:06:37.279 --> 0:06:40.120 practices is pretty much a game. So it's gonna be 0:06:40.160 --> 0:06:43.720 fun week. You've added Hayden Hurst to your group this year. 0:06:44.200 --> 0:06:46.240 I think he's been impressive with just how fluid he 0:06:46.320 --> 0:06:48.839 is for a big athlete at your position. What have 0:06:48.880 --> 0:06:52.040 been your impressions of him from practicing with him and 0:06:52.320 --> 0:06:54.280 watching that tape on a daily basis. Well, I mean, 0:06:54.279 --> 0:06:55.920 I think that's what stands out the most is just 0:06:56.160 --> 0:06:57.800 you know how good he is moving, you know how 0:06:57.800 --> 0:06:59.599 good he is in and out of his cuts. You 0:06:59.640 --> 0:07:01.320 know how fast he is, how quick he is. I 0:07:01.360 --> 0:07:03.320 think that's you know, that's the most obvious thing, the 0:07:03.360 --> 0:07:06.360 most glaring thing. You know, not everybody can move like that. 0:07:06.400 --> 0:07:08.640 You know, he was just giving those. You know, he 0:07:08.680 --> 0:07:10.720 was kind of blessed. He was blessed with you know, 0:07:10.760 --> 0:07:13.520 how fast and how quick he is, you know, so 0:07:13.560 --> 0:07:15.400 I think that's what stands out most. But Hayden's gonna 0:07:15.400 --> 0:07:17.000 have a really, really good year, you know, really looking 0:07:17.040 --> 0:07:19.840 forward to seeing that, and you know, happy for him 0:07:19.840 --> 0:07:21.080 cause I know he's gonna have a good year in 0:07:21.080 --> 0:07:24.000 this offense. Appreciate your time, Appreciate your candor best to 0:07:24.040 --> 0:07:27.040 pluck this one flew. I appreciate it. Thank you. Patti 0:07:27.080 --> 0:07:29.400 has has four catches for forty yards in the first 0:07:29.440 --> 0:07:32.160 two preseason games, and that is the most of any 0:07:32.360 --> 0:07:37.240 Bengals tight end. Von Bell famously arrives at the stadium 0:07:37.240 --> 0:07:40.120 at the crack of dawn to work out, so imagine 0:07:40.120 --> 0:07:43.080 his surprise on Tuesday when he finished his workout, got 0:07:43.120 --> 0:07:46.080 to his locker, looked over his shoulder and saw a 0:07:46.120 --> 0:07:50.960 teammate and close friend, Jesse Bates. What was Bell's reaction. 0:07:51.360 --> 0:07:55.280 He's alive. It's following him, not seeing a ghost. But 0:07:55.920 --> 0:07:57.120 it's just love. At the end of the day, he 0:07:57.200 --> 0:07:59.840 hugging everybody, checking away. He Gladdy and makes sure everybody's okay, 0:08:00.160 --> 0:08:02.720 and everybody makes sure he's all right. So it's always 0:08:02.720 --> 0:08:04.600 just like I said, it's like a brotherhood's a family, 0:08:04.840 --> 0:08:06.840 and it's a tight knit group. So it was great 0:08:06.840 --> 0:08:10.160 to say. Bates finally signed the twelve point nine million 0:08:10.160 --> 0:08:13.720 dollar franchise tag on Tuesday and reported a training camp. 0:08:14.240 --> 0:08:17.880 Here are Chittabaya, Woo Jay and Joe Burrow on having 0:08:17.880 --> 0:08:20.760 the twenty five year old safety back in the building. 0:08:20.840 --> 0:08:23.800 It's always good to have one of your leaders, guys 0:08:23.800 --> 0:08:26.160 who went to World with especially after the season we 0:08:26.200 --> 0:08:28.040 had last year. You know God that we all trust 0:08:28.080 --> 0:08:30.320 and believe in, so this is a great feeling to 0:08:30.320 --> 0:08:33.320 happen back. Yeah, everyone loves Jesse, So when you have 0:08:33.440 --> 0:08:35.520 a guy like that, it's great in the locker room, 0:08:35.520 --> 0:08:38.080 great on the field, and is in the situation that 0:08:38.200 --> 0:08:40.800 he is. You're back as much as you can because 0:08:41.280 --> 0:08:44.320 now everyone loves Jesse. So like I said, his business 0:08:44.559 --> 0:08:46.840 is his business. I know he would have would like 0:08:46.920 --> 0:08:49.440 to get a deal done, but it didn't happen. He's 0:08:49.480 --> 0:08:52.160 here now ready to play. As you would expect, Jesse 0:08:52.360 --> 0:08:54.880 won't do much at practice for a few days, but 0:08:54.960 --> 0:08:57.280 when asked if he'll be ready for the season opener 0:08:57.320 --> 0:09:03.520 against the Steelers, he said absolutely. Bates is obviously disappointed 0:09:03.679 --> 0:09:05.559 that he wasn't able to reach an agreement on a 0:09:05.640 --> 0:09:09.959 contract extension, but he's betting out himself this year. It's 0:09:10.000 --> 0:09:13.559 a great opportunity for me to continue to present what 0:09:13.600 --> 0:09:17.800 I'm about who I am to this franchise and other 0:09:17.840 --> 0:09:20.760 teams as well. So, like I said, I'm looking at 0:09:20.760 --> 0:09:24.319 this as an opportunity to prove that I'm one of 0:09:24.320 --> 0:09:27.400 the best safeties in this league. And I'm not sure 0:09:27.400 --> 0:09:31.320 why I'm not there yet, but this is, like I said, 0:09:31.360 --> 0:09:34.840 this is a great opportunity for me to create some 0:09:34.880 --> 0:09:38.360 wealth for my family. You know, it's not a bad 0:09:38.440 --> 0:09:41.720 number at all. This franchise tag number isn't bad, So 0:09:41.800 --> 0:09:45.520 I'm not gonna be naive to that. So, like I said, 0:09:45.520 --> 0:09:48.679 I'm blessed. I'm happy to be here. While he's been gone, 0:09:48.800 --> 0:09:52.199 first round draft picked Dax Hill has gained valuable experience 0:09:52.280 --> 0:09:55.040 practicing with the first team defense, and he had an 0:09:55.080 --> 0:09:59.280 interception on Sunday night against the Giants. Then there's fifth 0:09:59.400 --> 0:10:02.440 round draft hick Tyson Anderson, who ranked second on the 0:10:02.440 --> 0:10:06.040 team and tackles in the first two preseason games. Bates 0:10:06.080 --> 0:10:09.640 says he understands why the Bengals used two of their 0:10:09.679 --> 0:10:13.719 six draft picks unsafeties. I think in any business, uh, 0:10:13.920 --> 0:10:18.720 in any negotiations, leverage is the biggest part of that. 0:10:19.720 --> 0:10:22.200 And I understand that me and Bonn are on our 0:10:22.280 --> 0:10:25.440 last year of our deals, So I mean it made 0:10:25.480 --> 0:10:28.760 sense for them to draft two safeties. M that's the 0:10:28.840 --> 0:10:34.000 uncomfortable conversations. But honestly, I don't care about the uncomfortable 0:10:34.080 --> 0:10:38.280 conversations at this point. So yeah, I expected that. UM. 0:10:38.600 --> 0:10:41.640 I had a call with coach Taylor UM I think 0:10:41.679 --> 0:10:43.240 a couple of days before the draft, and I told 0:10:43.320 --> 0:10:46.040 him I wouldn't be there at OTAs until I got 0:10:46.080 --> 0:10:50.240 a contract. So I expected them to draft safety. And 0:10:50.400 --> 0:10:53.120 like I said, I don't take it personally. UM. I 0:10:53.200 --> 0:10:56.839 look at it as an opportunity for Dax and uh 0:10:56.960 --> 0:11:01.400 Tie as well to come in and contribute to this team. 0:11:01.480 --> 0:11:05.000 It's a cycle. UM. I got drafted here second round 0:11:05.120 --> 0:11:09.240 and they cut George Iloka and I became a starter. 0:11:09.559 --> 0:11:11.920 UM I'm not sure if that was a decision from 0:11:12.720 --> 0:11:15.600 h my guy Ta, who was the defensive coordinator with 0:11:15.600 --> 0:11:20.200 the Stillers now. But he told me that we were 0:11:20.240 --> 0:11:23.840 gonna compete. He told me Sean, Sean Williams and George 0:11:23.840 --> 0:11:26.800 that we were going to compete for the starting job. 0:11:26.880 --> 0:11:29.400 And I know George was supposed to make whatever, eight 0:11:29.440 --> 0:11:31.840 million or whatever, and I was supposed to make five 0:11:31.920 --> 0:11:37.400 hundred thousand, So it made it made sense. Um. It's 0:11:37.440 --> 0:11:40.280 something that, like I said, I've paid attention to um 0:11:41.000 --> 0:11:43.080 throughout my years in this league, and I think that's 0:11:43.080 --> 0:11:45.880 what other players, young players should do as well. Jesse 0:11:46.120 --> 0:11:48.760 did not have a great regular season last year, but 0:11:48.840 --> 0:11:51.560 he was exceptional in the playoffs with a pair of 0:11:51.640 --> 0:11:56.080 interceptions and six pass deflections. If he plays like he 0:11:56.120 --> 0:11:59.040 did in those four games, he will become one of 0:11:59.040 --> 0:12:02.440 the highest paid seat in the league, whether it's in 0:12:02.480 --> 0:12:07.520 Cincinnati or elsewhere. The Bengals Booth podcast is presented by 0:12:07.640 --> 0:12:10.959 Ultimate Bengals, the free to play fantasy football game. This 0:12:11.040 --> 0:12:14.000 past season, Ultimate Bengals awarded a weekly winner during the 0:12:14.040 --> 0:12:17.839 course of the year, with tickets, autographed merchandise, and money 0:12:17.880 --> 0:12:21.840 can't buy experiences all up for grabs. Find Ultimate Bengals 0:12:21.880 --> 0:12:25.760 in the App Store and Google Play. For the most part, 0:12:25.800 --> 0:12:28.720 the Bengals starters have not seen action in the first 0:12:28.760 --> 0:12:32.680 two preseason games, but nearly all of them, including Joe Burrow. 0:12:33.000 --> 0:12:35.280 We're on the field Wednesday for the first of two 0:12:35.400 --> 0:12:39.280 joint practices against the Rams, and that's also expected to 0:12:39.320 --> 0:12:42.840 be the case on Thursday. After the Bengals and Rams 0:12:42.840 --> 0:12:45.680 walked off the field on Wednesday, I discussed that first 0:12:45.760 --> 0:12:50.880 joint practice with my broadcast partner Dave lapham Lap. The 0:12:50.880 --> 0:12:54.000 first of two joint practices against the Super Bowl champion 0:12:54.280 --> 0:12:56.640 La Rams is in the books. Give me a couple 0:12:56.640 --> 0:12:59.000 of things that stood out to you. It was good 0:12:59.000 --> 0:13:01.560 work for the office. It's because the Rams running unique 0:13:01.600 --> 0:13:04.640 style of defense dan where they play like a soft 0:13:04.760 --> 0:13:08.840 umbrella coverage and they break downhill on the football and 0:13:08.920 --> 0:13:11.040 they can do that because the pass rush is so 0:13:11.080 --> 0:13:13.000 extreme you gotta get the ball out of your hand quickly. 0:13:13.200 --> 0:13:15.880 So they're jumping routes and they're jumping routes left right. 0:13:15.920 --> 0:13:17.679 They don't worry about double moves. They don't think, you know, 0:13:17.760 --> 0:13:21.120 quarterbacks are gonna have time to execute that. So they've 0:13:21.120 --> 0:13:24.200 got a secondary of personnel that fits that scheme. They 0:13:24.200 --> 0:13:26.800 have a pass rush led by ninety nine that is 0:13:26.920 --> 0:13:29.040 uh you know, going to get to the quarterback quickly, 0:13:29.040 --> 0:13:31.120 particularly in the middle of the pocket, getting to the 0:13:31.200 --> 0:13:33.720 quarterback quickly, making them get rid of it, can't see 0:13:33.760 --> 0:13:35.880 the field as well. I mean, it's a hell of 0:13:35.960 --> 0:13:37.959 a hell of a good work to work against. And 0:13:38.720 --> 0:13:41.840 they had had some good moments, had some tough moments, 0:13:42.160 --> 0:13:45.000 and that's that's what it's all about. On the other 0:13:45.040 --> 0:13:48.720 side of it, I thought that the Bengals defense, from 0:13:48.720 --> 0:13:51.480 what I saw working against number one RAMS unit, is 0:13:52.880 --> 0:13:54.960 the Rams couldn't really run the ball that well. There 0:13:55.040 --> 0:13:57.480 was no tackling, but there wasn't much room to run 0:13:57.520 --> 0:14:04.040 the football. And two minute drills in that sequence of 0:14:04.120 --> 0:14:07.520 situational football defense got two interceptions to end both of 0:14:07.559 --> 0:14:11.040 the two minute drills. Very positive sign obviously, So I 0:14:11.160 --> 0:14:15.360 felt like, okay, working number one. They haven't really played 0:14:15.360 --> 0:14:18.600 in preseason games. The Bengals offensive line hadn't really worked 0:14:18.600 --> 0:14:21.840 together hardly at all. They took about fifty percent of 0:14:21.840 --> 0:14:25.120 the snaps. Maybe, so it stands to reason that a 0:14:25.240 --> 0:14:27.520 defense like that would be ahead of the offense, even 0:14:27.560 --> 0:14:29.840 though if both units hadn't really done all that much 0:14:29.840 --> 0:14:33.280 in terms of full speed, that the defense might be 0:14:33.280 --> 0:14:34.680 ahead of the offense, and I think that was the 0:14:34.720 --> 0:14:36.880 case on both sides of the line of scrimmage. I 0:14:36.920 --> 0:14:40.160 thought the Bengals defense won to one on one pass rills, 0:14:40.400 --> 0:14:43.400 rush drills overall. I thought the same for the Rams 0:14:43.480 --> 0:14:46.800 defensively winning against the Bengals offensive line one on one 0:14:46.840 --> 0:14:50.080 pass rush drill overall. So I do think the defense 0:14:50.240 --> 0:14:52.920 is probably a little bit ahead of the offense. And 0:14:53.000 --> 0:14:55.240 it doesn't stun me because, like I said, it's almost 0:14:55.280 --> 0:14:57.920 like the beginning stage is a training camp almost in 0:14:58.040 --> 0:15:03.760 terms of getting exposed. You're a high temple practice. But overall, 0:15:03.800 --> 0:15:05.560 I thought they got a lot of work done. I 0:15:05.560 --> 0:15:09.600 thought the temple was really good. They stayed on their feet, 0:15:10.520 --> 0:15:14.400 there was no chippiness, but they get after each other 0:15:14.440 --> 0:15:16.360 pretty well. I thought it was real good work, and 0:15:16.920 --> 0:15:19.920 let's see how they build on it, build on that tomorrow. 0:15:20.440 --> 0:15:23.000 You stood next to Aaron Donald on the sideline, up 0:15:23.000 --> 0:15:25.040 close and personal. You watched him on a lot of 0:15:25.040 --> 0:15:28.200 these snaps at practice. Today. You played against me and 0:15:28.280 --> 0:15:30.680 Joe Green, you played against Curly Coulp and other greats 0:15:30.680 --> 0:15:35.200 of your era. Is he among the greatest defensive linemen 0:15:35.240 --> 0:15:38.120 in NFL history? Yeah, when you look at him, you're 0:15:38.120 --> 0:15:40.760 not over the intimidated by his size, but then you 0:15:40.800 --> 0:15:45.320 watch his first his explosiveness is unbelievable. And honestly, I 0:15:45.360 --> 0:15:47.600 was talking to a couple of RAMS coaches after practice 0:15:47.600 --> 0:15:49.960 and they said, he wasn't giving you the full speed. 0:15:50.120 --> 0:15:52.040 He's got another gear. I said, get out of here, 0:15:52.080 --> 0:15:54.480 and they're like, no, no, he was going but not 0:15:54.560 --> 0:15:59.040 like going. And I'm like, oh, man, he's just he's 0:15:59.040 --> 0:16:01.720 got it all. He's got that first step, He's into 0:16:01.760 --> 0:16:04.200 you before you can move. He gets off the ball 0:16:04.320 --> 0:16:07.400 so quickly. His hands were a blur. I mean, he 0:16:07.480 --> 0:16:10.160 does martial arts stuff to work on his hands, and 0:16:10.480 --> 0:16:13.000 it's like you're going against the jiu jitsu king. It's like, like, 0:16:13.480 --> 0:16:15.720 you know, we're ar his hands. What's he doing? And 0:16:15.840 --> 0:16:18.560 it's all I was thinking, Okay, if I'm playing against him, 0:16:18.960 --> 0:16:22.080 would I try to jam them and get that arm extension? Nah? 0:16:22.440 --> 0:16:24.160 Not my hand down, and now he'll be at my 0:16:24.200 --> 0:16:27.160 shoulder like that. Do I keep my hands low and 0:16:27.200 --> 0:16:29.720 try to absorb them and he bulls you to death. 0:16:30.040 --> 0:16:32.480 He's a problem, man. I don't know. I think maybe 0:16:32.480 --> 0:16:35.000 the best thing is to get your hands and be patient. 0:16:35.040 --> 0:16:37.680 But then a six inch jab you know, as hard 0:16:37.680 --> 0:16:40.600 as you can and not overextend, because that's all he's 0:16:40.640 --> 0:16:42.720 looking for you to do, is overextend any way, shape 0:16:42.760 --> 0:16:46.760 or forhim. But man, this this guy is the real deal. 0:16:46.840 --> 0:16:50.160 I mean to say, so and so is going to 0:16:50.200 --> 0:16:52.080 single up on Aaron Donald. I don't care who the 0:16:52.080 --> 0:16:55.880 guy is. That's asking a lot. He is special. And 0:16:55.960 --> 0:16:57.960 that's one of the things that stood out to me today. 0:16:58.040 --> 0:17:02.680 It wasn't like cord of Olson or Alex Kappa spent 0:17:02.720 --> 0:17:05.000 the day blocking Aaron Donald. They moved him up and 0:17:05.040 --> 0:17:08.800 down the line, so at some point, every single guy 0:17:09.000 --> 0:17:12.520 on that offensive line had his crack at trying to 0:17:12.560 --> 0:17:16.440 block Aaron Donald. Aaron Donald is an equal opportunity butt 0:17:16.440 --> 0:17:20.200 whooper he wants to he doesn't want it. He wants 0:17:20.240 --> 0:17:23.359 every offensive lineman when the game is over to say, oh, 0:17:23.400 --> 0:17:25.359 not just the one poor guy that maybe won against 0:17:25.440 --> 0:17:28.240 him every snap. He wants to get a taste in 0:17:28.280 --> 0:17:31.320 the piece of everyone plus what he does. And I've 0:17:31.359 --> 0:17:34.960 seen this, you know, with other great pass rushers. This 0:17:35.040 --> 0:17:37.240 is the fish, this is the one I can utilize 0:17:37.280 --> 0:17:39.840 most of my moves against. So he goes, he explores. 0:17:39.880 --> 0:17:41.720 I mean, I'm talking about when we're in the regular 0:17:41.760 --> 0:17:44.879 season game time, he'll study tape and he'll have an idea, 0:17:44.920 --> 0:17:46.280 but then they'll get out there and move around to 0:17:46.320 --> 0:17:49.800 make sure that his idea is proper, and he'll whoever 0:17:49.840 --> 0:17:52.840 you are that gets chosen. When you're the chosen one, 0:17:53.240 --> 0:17:55.800 you don't want to be the chosen one. And then offensively, 0:17:55.840 --> 0:17:57.399 you have to make adjustments, you know, and you have 0:17:57.440 --> 0:18:00.439 to put more than one guy on him. And the 0:18:00.480 --> 0:18:03.679 one thing you do with Aaron Donald, and it's that 0:18:03.720 --> 0:18:05.639 way with every great player. You break the huddle, come 0:18:05.680 --> 0:18:07.640 to the line of scrimmage and you're looking a lot 0:18:07.640 --> 0:18:09.440 of times it might be you know, where's that safety. 0:18:09.440 --> 0:18:11.359 He's such a great plitz where you look for where's 0:18:11.359 --> 0:18:13.639 that linebacker? He can blitz from anywhere. You're going to 0:18:13.720 --> 0:18:16.840 locate him and set our past protection accordingly. You got 0:18:16.840 --> 0:18:19.720 to find ninety nine. Like you said, he's here there everywhere, 0:18:19.760 --> 0:18:22.080 so we'll be aware. You got to locate him and 0:18:22.240 --> 0:18:26.080 adjust your protections accordingly, because that is beast mode. Just 0:18:26.160 --> 0:18:28.800 follow the yellow gloves. That's how you can tell where 0:18:28.800 --> 0:18:31.320 he is on the defensive line. Let's move from Aaron 0:18:31.400 --> 0:18:34.720 Donald to Jalen Ramsey. When the two teams came out 0:18:34.720 --> 0:18:37.760 to stretch and warm up. Jesse Bates walked over to 0:18:38.160 --> 0:18:42.399 dap up Jalen Ramsey. They are both listed at six one. 0:18:42.800 --> 0:18:46.160 Jalen Ramsey's got two inches on Jesse Bates. I don't 0:18:46.200 --> 0:18:48.680 know why he's listed at six one. I'm six one. 0:18:49.080 --> 0:18:54.439 Jalen Ramsey I think is six three at least. He's huge, 0:18:54.840 --> 0:18:59.280 long wing span, obviously incredibly athletic. It's easy to understand 0:18:59.280 --> 0:19:02.320 when you see him in person why he's Jalen Ramsey. 0:19:02.640 --> 0:19:05.760 You hear all the time coaches talk about a tight 0:19:05.880 --> 0:19:07.720 end or a wide receiver of the big catch radius. 0:19:07.840 --> 0:19:10.360 Jalen Ramsey has a big catch radius. I mean, that's 0:19:10.359 --> 0:19:12.719 why he'll make plays on football. Is like, how did 0:19:12.720 --> 0:19:15.600 he do that? You know, not only closing on it, 0:19:15.680 --> 0:19:18.879 but to actually it almost looked like specter gadget. You know, 0:19:18.880 --> 0:19:21.119 it just keeps going and going, and he makes plays 0:19:21.119 --> 0:19:24.199 on the football. He's a big man, and you know, 0:19:24.440 --> 0:19:26.679 and he loves the physicality of the game. And with 0:19:26.760 --> 0:19:28.600 all of that said, to think he can't be a 0:19:28.640 --> 0:19:32.040 great one on one coverage. He's sticky man. He beats 0:19:32.040 --> 0:19:34.679 you up and rewrot you. But he had his plays. 0:19:35.920 --> 0:19:37.920 A guy named Jamar Chase had his. I mean it 0:19:38.320 --> 0:19:40.679 was a good battle, good match. There are two great 0:19:40.720 --> 0:19:44.000 players and that's what I really liked about this practice 0:19:44.040 --> 0:19:46.720 as well. Those guys getting reps against each other. That's 0:19:46.720 --> 0:19:49.480 at the highest level. I mean, you can't find a 0:19:49.560 --> 0:19:51.919 better matchup to get ready for the regular season. They 0:19:52.000 --> 0:19:55.159 have it a full practice, whether it be individual drills, 0:19:55.160 --> 0:19:58.400 teamwork against a guy like that for the offensive line 0:19:58.400 --> 0:20:01.840 and Volson and who however, against a guy like Aaron Donald. 0:20:01.920 --> 0:20:04.880 I mean, you just you can't manufacture anything better. So 0:20:04.920 --> 0:20:08.119 it is going to make it. It's good work for 0:20:08.240 --> 0:20:10.960 the regular season. And basically you look at it as 0:20:11.000 --> 0:20:14.959