WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: Scout's Honor 0:00:03.560 --> 0:00:06.519 I get everybody on Dan Hord and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.559 --> 0:00:12.200 the Bengals Booth Podcast, the It's True Swear Scouts Honor 0:00:13.000 --> 0:00:17.319 edition as I visit with Bengals scout Andrew Johnson, now 0:00:17.480 --> 0:00:20.840 entering his tenth year with the team. Then it's the 0:00:20.920 --> 0:00:23.680 latest edition of five Questions with one of this year's 0:00:23.760 --> 0:00:29.120 draft picks, followed by five observations after watching practice. The 0:00:29.160 --> 0:00:31.960 Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Corps, 0:00:32.040 --> 0:00:36.159 proud to be the Bengals official HR software provider, by 0:00:36.280 --> 0:00:40.879 aulta Fiber future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business, 0:00:40.880 --> 0:00:44.360 and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health 0:00:44.680 --> 0:00:47.680 the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is 0:00:47.720 --> 0:00:51.519 the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now here's a 0:00:51.560 --> 0:00:54.440 quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of 0:00:54.480 --> 0:00:58.040 this podcast delivered write to your phone, tablet or computer 0:00:58.200 --> 0:01:02.440 by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest 0:01:02.440 --> 0:01:06.320 thing since a Ring of Honor case for my broadcast 0:01:06.360 --> 0:01:10.600 partner Dave Lapham. This week, the Bengals announced that voting 0:01:10.640 --> 0:01:13.800 has started for this year's Ring of Honor Class Season 0:01:13.840 --> 0:01:17.840 ticket members have until Friday June sixth to cast their vote. 0:01:18.319 --> 0:01:20.880 I joked in a speaking engagement recently that I have 0:01:20.959 --> 0:01:25.240 three wishes this year. Number one a cure for baldness, 0:01:26.000 --> 0:01:30.080 Number two a Bengals Super Bowl title, and number three 0:01:30.360 --> 0:01:33.880 seeing Dave Lapham inducted into the Bengals Ring of Honor. 0:01:34.520 --> 0:01:37.640 Lapp was a Bengals offensive lineman for ten years and 0:01:37.680 --> 0:01:40.600 the starting left guard on their first Super Bowl team. 0:01:41.240 --> 0:01:45.039 His skill and smarts made him a Paul Brown favorite 0:01:45.360 --> 0:01:48.000 and allowed him to play all five spots on the 0:01:48.040 --> 0:01:52.360 offensive line in the same game. And since his stellar 0:01:52.440 --> 0:01:56.720 playing career, Dave has arguably been the team's best ambassador 0:01:56.920 --> 0:02:01.560 as a radio analyst, public speaker, and member of the community. 0:02:02.320 --> 0:02:06.080 This will be Lap's fiftieth year with a franchise as 0:02:06.120 --> 0:02:09.720 a player and broadcaster. I can't think of a better 0:02:09.760 --> 0:02:14.200 way to celebrate his golden anniversary than adding Dave Lapham 0:02:14.240 --> 0:02:18.040 to the Bengals Ring of Honor. Now, let's get to 0:02:18.080 --> 0:02:22.200 my first guest. Andrew Johnson is entering his tenth season 0:02:22.240 --> 0:02:25.240 as a Bengals scout and he had some interesting things 0:02:25.280 --> 0:02:29.920 to say about recent Bengals draft picks, the return of 0:02:29.960 --> 0:02:34.600 Al Golden, his defensive coordinator, and how he benefited from 0:02:34.639 --> 0:02:39.040 working in the hotel industry. Andrew, for all the times 0:02:39.040 --> 0:02:42.240 that we've talked about draft picks or college players or whatever, 0:02:42.280 --> 0:02:44.720 it occurs to me that we have never discussed your 0:02:44.800 --> 0:02:47.919 path to the NFL. I know you played at Cornell, 0:02:48.040 --> 0:02:50.520 you were a tight end. There wasn't your plan to 0:02:50.680 --> 0:02:54.080 pursue a scouting or front office type job in the NFL. 0:02:54.720 --> 0:02:59.040 It was I knew since I was in high school 0:02:59.040 --> 0:03:01.880 that I want wanted to make a career out of it, 0:03:02.520 --> 0:03:07.040 and was fortunate enough to play in college. And you know, 0:03:07.080 --> 0:03:11.440 I actually came up here and interviewed. So I medical 0:03:11.480 --> 0:03:15.959 redshirted as a freshman at Cornell. I had three right 0:03:16.000 --> 0:03:19.840 elbow surgeries in high school, all of which came my 0:03:19.919 --> 0:03:25.560 senior year. So I was rehabbing elbow surgeries my freshman year, 0:03:25.720 --> 0:03:28.120 so didn't play ball that year, then played the next 0:03:28.160 --> 0:03:32.600 four years. So I graduated in May of fifteen. Actually 0:03:32.680 --> 0:03:36.040 drove from Ithaca, New York, down here to what was 0:03:36.080 --> 0:03:41.520 then Paul Brown Stadium and interviewed with Troy Blackburn, Duke Tobin, 0:03:41.640 --> 0:03:45.320 and Bill Scanlon, who is who used to be our CFO, 0:03:45.840 --> 0:03:48.880 and got in the car drove back to Ithaca and 0:03:49.000 --> 0:03:54.280 played my last season the fall of twenty fifteen, and 0:03:55.640 --> 0:04:00.480 Duke reached out to me January of sixteen. I remember 0:04:00.520 --> 0:04:02.680 it was a couple of weeks after the Steelers game 0:04:02.760 --> 0:04:07.640 that year, and I was I was trying to I know, 0:04:07.760 --> 0:04:09.920 just finished school and I was trying to find a 0:04:10.040 --> 0:04:13.160 job in football and was debating when to reach out 0:04:13.200 --> 0:04:16.000 to people at the Bengals, And you know, I was 0:04:16.200 --> 0:04:20.280 very fortunate that Duke reached out to me and I 0:04:20.360 --> 0:04:25.240 came on as an intern February fifteenth of twenty sixteen. 0:04:25.560 --> 0:04:28.320 I was hired full time May first to twenty sixteen, 0:04:28.400 --> 0:04:31.119 and a little over nine years later, we're still here. 0:04:31.200 --> 0:04:35.320 So I'm very, very fortunate to work for wonderful people 0:04:35.640 --> 0:04:39.240 that treat me very well, from Duke to the ownership family. 0:04:39.720 --> 0:04:42.840 And had one full time employer and intend to keep 0:04:42.880 --> 0:04:43.320 it that way. 0:04:43.600 --> 0:04:46.839 So it's interesting because I had the dream of becoming 0:04:46.880 --> 0:04:51.640 a sports broadcaster, and it's difficult in some ways, but 0:04:51.640 --> 0:04:54.279 there's a path. You go to Syracuse if you can 0:04:55.120 --> 0:04:57.640 send out your material, and if you're lucky enough, you 0:04:57.720 --> 0:05:01.440 land a gig. Your dream is a little bit less linear. 0:05:02.000 --> 0:05:05.880 Did you have a strategy for getting into scouting or 0:05:05.880 --> 0:05:06.720 front office work. 0:05:07.360 --> 0:05:10.919 So at Cornell, I wouldn't say football is in the 0:05:10.960 --> 0:05:15.000 forefront of most people's minds, even in the athletic world. 0:05:16.360 --> 0:05:21.440 You know, it's a hockey, lacrosse, wrestling school. And you know, 0:05:21.520 --> 0:05:25.680 I tell I told people that, you know, throughout my 0:05:25.880 --> 0:05:27.960 years at Cornell that I wanted to work in football, 0:05:28.160 --> 0:05:30.279 and they were like, Okay, you know, how are you 0:05:30.279 --> 0:05:32.560 going to make money? You know, is it you know, 0:05:33.040 --> 0:05:35.039 that's a great hobby. And I'm like, no, no, you know, 0:05:35.080 --> 0:05:37.680 I can. I can make it work. And the other thing, 0:05:37.920 --> 0:05:40.839 you know, a lot of people who get into football 0:05:40.920 --> 0:05:45.159 their their parents or siblings or extended family work in it, 0:05:45.240 --> 0:05:47.680 and I didn't have any of that. I had two 0:05:47.880 --> 0:05:51.159 wonderful parents that supported me greatly growing up. But my 0:05:51.240 --> 0:05:53.600 dad's been in academics his whole career. My mom is 0:05:53.640 --> 0:05:56.760 a lawyer by trade. So the foot we all played, 0:05:56.800 --> 0:05:59.960 my brother played at Cornell, I played, my younger brother played, 0:06:00.320 --> 0:06:03.400 but nobody worked in it. And Cornell is not exactly 0:06:03.440 --> 0:06:05.719 the school that had It's not like I went to Alabama, 0:06:05.800 --> 0:06:08.960 where you know, you can get hired as a GA tomorrow. 0:06:09.520 --> 0:06:13.160 So I had to really work at it and find 0:06:14.120 --> 0:06:15.880 any connection I possibly could. 0:06:15.920 --> 0:06:16.159 I was. 0:06:16.200 --> 0:06:20.000 I was prepared to go coach high school, to go GA, 0:06:20.120 --> 0:06:25.159 to volunteer, whatever it took. But it was a relentless 0:06:25.200 --> 0:06:30.280 pursuit of finding my foot in the door. And then, 0:06:30.600 --> 0:06:33.560 you know, my first couple of years here, you know, 0:06:33.720 --> 0:06:36.240 sleeping under my desk three four nights a week, and 0:06:36.440 --> 0:06:39.360 you know, first and last out and trying to think 0:06:39.400 --> 0:06:41.880 it any way I could make, you know, Duke and 0:06:42.600 --> 0:06:45.520 our other guys make their lives easier and make our 0:06:45.560 --> 0:06:49.920 team better. And you know, growing up and in ann Arbor, 0:06:50.000 --> 0:06:52.240 I was a big beauchem Beckler guy, and you know, 0:06:52.360 --> 0:06:54.200 the team. The team. The team has always kind of 0:06:54.200 --> 0:06:58.560 been my personal mantra and approached everything that we do. 0:06:58.760 --> 0:07:01.440 No man is more important than the team, so it's 0:07:01.520 --> 0:07:02.320 kind of been my thing. 0:07:03.120 --> 0:07:06.919 Cornell has the most prestigious hotel management program in the country. 0:07:07.000 --> 0:07:09.680 I've read that was your major. Were there lessons that 0:07:09.720 --> 0:07:12.000 you learned that are applicable to what you do now? 0:07:12.400 --> 0:07:16.600 Yeah, proud School of Hotel Administration grad. I personally think 0:07:17.040 --> 0:07:19.880 everybody should work in service at some time in their life. 0:07:19.920 --> 0:07:25.480 I worked in hotels for six or excuse me, three 0:07:25.520 --> 0:07:29.360 summers in high school. My first two summers in college, 0:07:29.440 --> 0:07:32.760 and I did everything from being a banquet server to 0:07:32.920 --> 0:07:37.720 being a line cook, to being a bellman, to working 0:07:37.800 --> 0:07:43.280 valet to I washed dishes and I waited tables, and 0:07:43.480 --> 0:07:46.680 you know, those are things that I just think. It's 0:07:46.720 --> 0:07:52.480 an ir irreplaceable trade and experience. And my summer summer 0:07:52.560 --> 0:07:56.160 after my sophomore year academically at Cornell, so it would 0:07:56.160 --> 0:07:59.600 have been gosh. I think this summer of thirteen, I 0:07:59.640 --> 0:08:04.480 worked at the Hilton Chicago in Chicago, and it was 0:08:04.520 --> 0:08:08.240 a fifteen hundred room hotel that in the summertime would 0:08:08.280 --> 0:08:11.080 have a thousand check ins and a thousand checkouts on someday. 0:08:11.440 --> 0:08:13.400 And I was working the front desk that summer. And 0:08:13.880 --> 0:08:15.960 you have to have the exact same approach to every 0:08:16.040 --> 0:08:17.720 person that comes up to you. And you're having the 0:08:17.760 --> 0:08:21.640 same conversation for eight hours a day, and you see 0:08:21.680 --> 0:08:24.680 all walks of life downtown Chicago, and you know, you 0:08:24.760 --> 0:08:27.440 learn how to deal with people. And and my job 0:08:27.520 --> 0:08:31.240 now in personnel and scouting, you know, throughout the fall 0:08:31.280 --> 0:08:34.040 in the spring, I'm on a different college campus most 0:08:34.120 --> 0:08:35.920 days of the week, and I have to be able 0:08:35.920 --> 0:08:39.080 to interact with all different types of sources and people 0:08:39.200 --> 0:08:42.280 and players, and whether it's you know, the head coach 0:08:42.360 --> 0:08:46.520 at you know, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, or the 0:08:46.559 --> 0:08:49.920 equipment guy at Slippery Rock. You know, I have to 0:08:49.960 --> 0:08:53.040 be able to, you know, interact with those different people. 0:08:53.160 --> 0:08:55.680 I have to be able to, you know, interact with 0:08:55.800 --> 0:08:59.120 kids that are from inner cities or tougher backgrounds, or 0:08:59.320 --> 0:09:02.120 you know, kids that come from you know, nice private schools. 0:09:02.160 --> 0:09:05.000 So I think working in service, you know, taught me 0:09:05.240 --> 0:09:08.960 just how to work with people. And I think everybody 0:09:09.120 --> 0:09:11.400 should have worked in service at some point in their life. 0:09:11.640 --> 0:09:13.440 So I loved it. 0:09:13.520 --> 0:09:16.800 I wouldn't trade it for for anything. And we'll always 0:09:16.800 --> 0:09:17.880 remember those times. 0:09:17.960 --> 0:09:21.760 We're visiting the Bengal Scout Andrew Johnson, describe your responsibilities 0:09:22.080 --> 0:09:23.360 in the Bengals front office. 0:09:23.920 --> 0:09:27.880 Yeah, so going on, just finished up Draft ten, going 0:09:27.920 --> 0:09:32.559 on Season ten, and you know, we are as We've 0:09:32.559 --> 0:09:35.439 got a little bit of movement in our department right now. 0:09:35.880 --> 0:09:38.280 I think we're doing a little bit of reshuffling that 0:09:38.360 --> 0:09:42.040 we're going to iron out over the summer. But college wise, 0:09:42.280 --> 0:09:45.760 you know, I've I've covered you know, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, 0:09:45.920 --> 0:09:49.040 West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina all the way up to 0:09:49.120 --> 0:09:52.960 Maine and everything in between. So I've had the opportunity 0:09:53.040 --> 0:09:56.280 to evaluate a lot of guys that we've ended up with, 0:09:56.440 --> 0:10:00.960 you know, the Dax Hills, Chris Jenkins, Jesse Bates, guys 0:10:01.040 --> 0:10:03.400 like that that have come in and had a huge 0:10:03.400 --> 0:10:06.680 impact on our team. But you know there are guys 0:10:06.720 --> 0:10:09.520 like you know, if you remember Jake Dolagala, who was 0:10:09.520 --> 0:10:12.120 a college free agent out of Central Connecticut. You know, 0:10:12.840 --> 0:10:16.000 finding guys like that is always fun. But been scouring 0:10:16.000 --> 0:10:21.160 that area for a while now and have really you know, 0:10:21.720 --> 0:10:25.280 going on, you know, the the tenth year here, have 0:10:25.679 --> 0:10:27.559 you know, have a good feel of what I'm doing 0:10:27.640 --> 0:10:30.360 and what I'm trying to accomplish on every visit in 0:10:30.440 --> 0:10:33.480 pro day and and interview with a player and just 0:10:33.520 --> 0:10:35.640 trying to be you know, when you cover an area, 0:10:36.120 --> 0:10:38.720 you have to be the master of anyone you know 0:10:39.520 --> 0:10:42.200 in the draft at that time. So if we're sitting 0:10:42.200 --> 0:10:45.400 in the draft room and Duke or Mike Potts or 0:10:45.440 --> 0:10:48.439 Mike Brown asks me, hey, you know, why did Dax 0:10:48.480 --> 0:10:52.199 Hill move from nickel to safety? Why did Jesse Bates 0:10:52.240 --> 0:10:55.400 not return punts full time? You know, why did Chris 0:10:55.520 --> 0:10:57.600 Jenkins rotate out on third down. You know, I have 0:10:57.679 --> 0:10:59.439 to know those things like the back of my hand, 0:10:59.559 --> 0:11:01.640 or you know, what does Dax Hill's mother do for 0:11:01.679 --> 0:11:05.640 a living? You know where'd he play? You know where 0:11:05.640 --> 0:11:09.640 did Dax's brother go? You know, Dax's brother, Justice was 0:11:09.160 --> 0:11:13.160 a draft pick to Baltimore. Literally, you have to know 0:11:14.559 --> 0:11:19.000 those kids inside and out, and the higher level of 0:11:19.080 --> 0:11:22.160 prospect they are, the more you have to know about them. 0:11:22.360 --> 0:11:25.520 You know, I'll continue to come back to Dax probably 0:11:25.720 --> 0:11:28.840 because he's you know, one that hit home for me. 0:11:29.040 --> 0:11:31.839 He's one that I stood on the table for and 0:11:32.000 --> 0:11:34.760 put in more work on him than probably anybody I 0:11:34.800 --> 0:11:38.240 ever have. And you know, with a with a first 0:11:38.320 --> 0:11:42.120 round prospect, I may speak to fifteen different people at 0:11:42.160 --> 0:11:44.560 the school about him, and I may talk to those 0:11:44.600 --> 0:11:48.760 fifteen people, you know, upwards at three different times, you know, 0:11:49.280 --> 0:11:52.640 and you're following having covered the same area now for 0:11:52.640 --> 0:11:55.440 a little while. I've been able to attract these kids 0:11:55.640 --> 0:11:58.160 coming out of high school and throughout their whole career, 0:11:58.679 --> 0:12:02.880 and you get a really good feeling for him with 0:12:03.400 --> 0:12:06.199 you know, Dax was a five star kid out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, 0:12:06.600 --> 0:12:10.040 played right away, played multiple positions, was highly effective on 0:12:10.080 --> 0:12:14.679 special teams, and to follow him from really when he 0:12:14.720 --> 0:12:17.400 was a junior in high school to us taking him 0:12:17.920 --> 0:12:22.319 was a really special moment. But I would say ninety 0:12:22.360 --> 0:12:24.880 percent of my job is on the college side and 0:12:25.360 --> 0:12:29.719 knowing my area inside and out. And you know, as 0:12:29.760 --> 0:12:31.800 I said, if any questions come up, it could be 0:12:31.840 --> 0:12:34.599 the smallest thing. Hey did this kid play basketball in 0:12:34.679 --> 0:12:37.559 high school? Like that came up. We were talking about 0:12:37.120 --> 0:12:39.400 a kid in the third round this year that we 0:12:39.480 --> 0:12:43.160 ultimately didn't take, And you know, Duke asked me at 0:12:43.160 --> 0:12:45.680 one point, hey, did this kid play basketball in high school? 0:12:46.040 --> 0:12:48.200 And that was one I had to dig a little 0:12:48.200 --> 0:12:50.000 bit deep, but I had the answer. But it's it's 0:12:50.040 --> 0:12:52.320 little things like that that you have to know, like, hey, 0:12:52.679 --> 0:12:54.840 was he a big recruit? You know, did his dad 0:12:54.880 --> 0:12:57.360 play in college? What did he run track? Did he 0:12:57.400 --> 0:12:59.280 what was this one hundred meter time? You have to 0:12:59.320 --> 0:13:02.400 know all these things. Was he a captain? You know, 0:13:02.440 --> 0:13:04.840 why wasn't he a captain? What did he play on 0:13:04.880 --> 0:13:07.280 special teams? You know, who did he live with? Any 0:13:07.360 --> 0:13:11.440 little piece of information that you think is valuable for 0:13:11.600 --> 0:13:14.559 us to know and what we are getting and how 0:13:14.600 --> 0:13:16.680 we can put the kids in the best position to 0:13:16.720 --> 0:13:20.200 be successful here with the Bengals, I'm responsible and knowing 0:13:20.240 --> 0:13:22.840 for the schools. I go to sorry that that that 0:13:22.920 --> 0:13:25.520 might have been a loaded welcome to my world here, 0:13:25.559 --> 0:13:29.760 but it's it's a lot of fun. It's it's something 0:13:29.800 --> 0:13:34.560 that you kind of can't do lack of days ago. 0:13:34.640 --> 0:13:37.000 It's something you have to be all in on. So, 0:13:37.080 --> 0:13:39.240 like right now here in the summertime there's no football 0:13:39.280 --> 0:13:46.760 being played, I kind of think, okay, evaluating a college prospect, 0:13:47.120 --> 0:13:49.880 I think sixty percent of it is the character in 0:13:49.880 --> 0:13:54.200 the background and forty percent is the evaluation of the player. 0:13:54.320 --> 0:13:58.439 Other people may have different takes on that, but that's 0:13:58.559 --> 0:14:00.960 kind of where I come out on it. And in 0:14:01.000 --> 0:14:03.920 the summertime now May, June July, when there's no ball 0:14:03.920 --> 0:14:06.960 being played, I do my very best to get ahead 0:14:07.000 --> 0:14:09.720 on the personal character in the background so when the 0:14:09.720 --> 0:14:13.960 fall comes, I can really focus on the player and 0:14:14.000 --> 0:14:18.720 evaluating the tape and my live exposures of the kid. 0:14:19.520 --> 0:14:23.200 So that's that's probably ninety to ninety five percent of 0:14:23.200 --> 0:14:25.960 my job is on the college side, and I take 0:14:26.000 --> 0:14:28.760 a lot of pride in that and have learned a 0:14:28.800 --> 0:14:32.440 ton from from Duke and Mike and Trey and Steven. 0:14:32.880 --> 0:14:36.920 They're phenomenal coworkers to work with. And then on on 0:14:37.000 --> 0:14:39.720 the pro side, I, you know, have a role at 0:14:39.840 --> 0:14:42.360 roster cutdown. We come on, I'll go out on the 0:14:42.400 --> 0:14:46.160 road for three weeks in August, come back and for 0:14:46.600 --> 0:14:49.480 about a week will grind bubble players for the cut 0:14:49.520 --> 0:14:52.320 down and you know, see if there's anybody that's going 0:14:52.400 --> 0:14:54.760 to be released at cut down that can possibly upgrade 0:14:54.800 --> 0:14:57.520 what we have. One that comes to mind for me 0:14:57.640 --> 0:15:00.920 is Jeff Driscoll. Jeff was a a fifth round pick 0:15:01.360 --> 0:15:04.480 to San Francisco that was cut after his rookie camp. 0:15:04.920 --> 0:15:08.360 We claimed Jeff and you know he contributed for us 0:15:08.360 --> 0:15:11.480 for a few years and was was a great add 0:15:11.520 --> 0:15:14.080 to our team. And then I will have a few 0:15:14.120 --> 0:15:17.560 positions every January and February and free agency to watch. 0:15:18.320 --> 0:15:21.040 So this year I had the tight ends and the linebackers. 0:15:21.320 --> 0:15:24.680 It's changed every year. You know, Steve does a really 0:15:24.720 --> 0:15:27.560 good job of trying to get us to see different positions. 0:15:27.600 --> 0:15:32.160 And you know, I think that's another big thing here. 0:15:32.640 --> 0:15:34.920 As in a lot of other personnel departments, you may 0:15:34.960 --> 0:15:38.400 be you know a college guy or a pro guy. 0:15:38.760 --> 0:15:41.800 And Duke does an excellent job of letting us do 0:15:41.960 --> 0:15:45.040 both of those, and it gives you a great grasp 0:15:45.160 --> 0:15:48.160 of what's still playing in the league while you're out 0:15:48.200 --> 0:15:49.800 evaluating the college players. 0:15:50.640 --> 0:15:54.080 Your affection for Dax Hill shines through anytime you talk 0:15:54.160 --> 0:15:57.400 about him. The team recently picked up his fifth year options, 0:15:57.400 --> 0:16:00.440 so he's under contract this year and next. Made that 0:16:00.440 --> 0:16:03.400 switch last year from safety to outside corner. He seemed 0:16:03.440 --> 0:16:06.160 to really be thriving before he tore his ACL. Do 0:16:06.200 --> 0:16:08.800 you feel like the Bengals have found the best spot 0:16:08.840 --> 0:16:09.440 for him? 0:16:10.720 --> 0:16:14.000 I I do, you know when he was coming out 0:16:14.440 --> 0:16:17.720 the bottom line of my report is this player is 0:16:17.760 --> 0:16:22.720 a starting level free safety, nickel and outside corner. And 0:16:23.600 --> 0:16:26.160 you know, early on in his career his I remember 0:16:26.200 --> 0:16:29.520 his rookie year, we were kind of, you know, we 0:16:29.640 --> 0:16:32.520 had Jesse and Vaughn back there at free safety, so 0:16:32.600 --> 0:16:35.120 we you know, we told ourselves that Dax is, you know, 0:16:35.160 --> 0:16:36.920 going to be a safety and we're gonna, we're gonna 0:16:36.960 --> 0:16:39.560 we're a good team. We've got two starters, and we 0:16:39.640 --> 0:16:42.320 can we can move him in at a good pace. 0:16:43.320 --> 0:16:45.480 But what it ended up happening is, you know, guys 0:16:45.480 --> 0:16:48.480 were going down at different positions corner, nickel, and we 0:16:48.840 --> 0:16:50.680 he kind of we had to throw him in the fire, 0:16:50.760 --> 0:16:54.080 and you know, I think he did a lot of 0:16:54.120 --> 0:16:58.200 growing as a rookie and then I thought he had 0:16:58.480 --> 0:17:00.680 a pretty darn good year as a free safety and 0:17:00.880 --> 0:17:03.760 uh it would have been twenty three. He played one 0:17:03.800 --> 0:17:07.200 hundred percent of our snaps and you know it's it's 0:17:07.240 --> 0:17:09.040 free safety is a hard position to play in this 0:17:09.160 --> 0:17:13.800 league with with how much passing there is. Had he 0:17:13.600 --> 0:17:16.120 he was off to a phenomenal start last year at corner. 0:17:17.119 --> 0:17:18.960 You know, I think we made it easier on him 0:17:19.000 --> 0:17:22.199 and let him focus on just one spot. You know, 0:17:22.280 --> 0:17:26.040 I I think the world of him. He's a phenomenal, 0:17:26.080 --> 0:17:28.840 phenomenal young man. He's gonna whatever we asked him to do. 0:17:28.880 --> 0:17:32.199 He's gonna work his tail off. He he hit the 0:17:32.200 --> 0:17:34.359 ground running last year. He was gonna have a great year. 0:17:35.000 --> 0:17:37.280 It's his first. I think it's his first surgery he's 0:17:37.280 --> 0:17:39.600 ever had. He did the finger too, he did his 0:17:39.640 --> 0:17:42.439 I think he did his a little pinky at the 0:17:42.480 --> 0:17:45.159 same time of his knee. But he's been crushing his 0:17:45.200 --> 0:17:48.880 rehab and I'm thinking he'll win Comeback Player of the Year. 0:17:49.040 --> 0:17:51.760 So have have big hopes for Dex. 0:17:53.040 --> 0:17:55.199 You also put a lot of time in on his 0:17:55.280 --> 0:17:58.840 college teammate DJ Turner. What kind of growth did you 0:17:58.880 --> 0:18:01.520 see in DJT year in his second NFL season. 0:18:02.000 --> 0:18:04.840 I think the biggest thing with DJ is just knowing 0:18:04.880 --> 0:18:08.680 how to play against bigger receivers. You know, DJ is 0:18:09.160 --> 0:18:13.760 a is a rare athlete. He was four to eight 0:18:14.040 --> 0:18:16.880 coming out in the forty but he is a slighter 0:18:16.920 --> 0:18:20.040 built guy, which there's nothing he can do about it. 0:18:20.040 --> 0:18:25.480 That's what his god given dimensions are. But seeing him 0:18:25.560 --> 0:18:29.439 learn how to play against big receivers on the outside 0:18:29.920 --> 0:18:33.280 was the biggest step I saw DJ take. And the 0:18:33.720 --> 0:18:37.640 game against the Chargers stands out to me when he 0:18:37.680 --> 0:18:42.000 had to go outside and cover Quinton Johnson and probably 0:18:42.040 --> 0:18:44.880 had his best game that he's ever had here. I think. 0:18:44.960 --> 0:18:47.119 Unfortunately he also that was the game he broke his 0:18:47.160 --> 0:18:50.960 collar bone, but he had a phenomenal game. DJ is 0:18:51.119 --> 0:18:57.520 very smart, He's very confident. He's also very tough, so, 0:18:57.840 --> 0:19:01.120 you know, despite being a smaller stature guy, he's he's 0:19:01.119 --> 0:19:04.080 not afraid to anyone. So I think playing on the 0:19:04.119 --> 0:19:09.400 outside against bigger receivers, bigger and faster receivers, despite playing 0:19:09.600 --> 0:19:12.280 you know, at a very high level in college, seeing 0:19:12.320 --> 0:19:16.040 that every week and you know, adjusting to Okay, how 0:19:16.080 --> 0:19:17.400 am I going to play this ball in the air? 0:19:17.720 --> 0:19:19.520 How am I going to play at the top of 0:19:19.560 --> 0:19:21.399 the route when this guy's got longer arms than me 0:19:21.440 --> 0:19:23.280 and he's going to try and push off? You know, 0:19:23.320 --> 0:19:25.040 how am I going to make up for those things 0:19:25.760 --> 0:19:30.240 with my feet, my speed, my leverage. So seeing that, 0:19:30.680 --> 0:19:33.600 I would say that that you know, just adjusting to 0:19:34.160 --> 0:19:37.720 the heightweight speed that you see in outside receivers in 0:19:37.720 --> 0:19:41.800 the NFL. You know, I think in college it's rare 0:19:41.840 --> 0:19:43.840 to see a big guy with speed on the outside. 0:19:43.880 --> 0:19:46.280 You may see a big guy that can't really run 0:19:46.440 --> 0:19:48.440 or you know, and he saw a lot of those. 0:19:48.960 --> 0:19:52.120 But that was a huge adjustment I saw for him 0:19:52.280 --> 0:19:55.600 to make. And I also, you know, he DJ is 0:19:55.640 --> 0:19:58.239 a good tackler. He's not afraid to anybody. He'll come 0:19:58.320 --> 0:20:00.879 up and smack you. He plays with no gloves. You know, 0:20:00.960 --> 0:20:05.159 he's he's a fearless, fearless player. I think we're going 0:20:05.240 --> 0:20:08.080 to see him take another step. And unfortunately, like Dax, 0:20:08.119 --> 0:20:12.600 he also got hurt. But you know, they're they're they're 0:20:12.600 --> 0:20:15.359 a little bit different personalities, but they're wired the same way. 0:20:15.880 --> 0:20:19.440 They they love football, they're smart, they live right away 0:20:19.440 --> 0:20:21.760 from the building and they represent our team in a 0:20:21.760 --> 0:20:22.359 great manner. 0:20:23.440 --> 0:20:25.879 Then there's Chris Jenkins, who played a big chunk of 0:20:25.880 --> 0:20:28.080 his rookie year with a giant club on his hand, 0:20:28.119 --> 0:20:30.240 which couldn't have been easy. What did you think of 0:20:30.280 --> 0:20:31.080 his rookie season? 0:20:31.600 --> 0:20:33.640 Chris got thrown in the fire a little bit. We 0:20:33.640 --> 0:20:36.280 we got banged up, uh in the interior last year. 0:20:37.160 --> 0:20:40.439 I think Chris is going to take a huge step 0:20:40.480 --> 0:20:43.119 this year. You know, he went from being you know, 0:20:43.280 --> 0:20:47.880 captain big fish in a big pond essentially at Michigan 0:20:48.200 --> 0:20:51.360 to kind of, you know, not being the man last year. 0:20:51.440 --> 0:20:54.560 Is a rookie and I and Chris is is is 0:20:54.640 --> 0:20:58.960 such a big, outgoing, fun personality to be around and 0:20:59.080 --> 0:21:01.600 having to adjust to, hey, I'm a rookie now, like 0:21:02.320 --> 0:21:04.720 you know, so so things like that, having a year 0:21:04.800 --> 0:21:08.560 under his belt, you know, having a system that I 0:21:08.600 --> 0:21:11.199 think what we're going to ask our interior guys to 0:21:11.280 --> 0:21:15.119 do is going to to pair up with his skill 0:21:15.160 --> 0:21:16.200 set a little bit better. 0:21:17.400 --> 0:21:17.560 You know. 0:21:17.600 --> 0:21:19.800 I think we were asking him to do some things 0:21:19.880 --> 0:21:23.440 technique wise and assignment wise that maybe he hadn't done 0:21:23.440 --> 0:21:26.800 in the past at Michigan. So I think this year, 0:21:27.400 --> 0:21:30.440 you know, we're gonna really utilize his skill set in 0:21:30.720 --> 0:21:33.879 a great way and and I'll allow him to to 0:21:34.000 --> 0:21:36.520 highlight the things that he does best, and you know, 0:21:36.600 --> 0:21:39.160 play with his length, and play with his get off, 0:21:39.200 --> 0:21:42.359 and play with his speed and bend. And Chris is 0:21:42.359 --> 0:21:47.440 is very, very gifted athletically. He has all the physical 0:21:47.480 --> 0:21:51.280 tools and in tangibles to be a good starter in 0:21:51.320 --> 0:21:55.480 our league. And I think this year with us being 0:21:56.119 --> 0:21:58.119 you know that we you know, we didn't draft a 0:21:58.160 --> 0:22:01.800 defensive tackle. We obviously signed T and BJ, but Chris 0:22:01.840 --> 0:22:03.960 is going to have to play a lot. You know. 0:22:04.040 --> 0:22:06.639 I think last year it was good for him to 0:22:06.640 --> 0:22:08.400 get his feet wet. I think he played just over 0:22:08.440 --> 0:22:12.600 forty percent of our snaps. But allowing him to play 0:22:12.640 --> 0:22:16.080 within his skill set and play to what he does 0:22:16.200 --> 0:22:18.560 best is what I think is really going to help 0:22:18.640 --> 0:22:22.760 him this year. And he's a tremendous kid. He loves football. 0:22:23.160 --> 0:22:25.919 He works really really hard, he loves the game. His 0:22:25.960 --> 0:22:28.800 teammates love him, so I expect him to take a 0:22:28.840 --> 0:22:29.399 huge step. 0:22:30.000 --> 0:22:32.800 We're chatting with Bengal scout Andrew Johnson. Let's get to 0:22:32.800 --> 0:22:36.320 this year's draft class. First round pick Shamar Stewart has 0:22:36.359 --> 0:22:39.679 the physical traits of Miles Garrett. But many people have 0:22:39.720 --> 0:22:41.400 focused on the fact that he didn't have a lot 0:22:41.440 --> 0:22:43.560 of sacks at Texas A and M and that's fair, 0:22:44.119 --> 0:22:48.040 But what does he do well right now and how 0:22:48.080 --> 0:22:49.919 can he improve in that area? 0:22:50.520 --> 0:22:56.639 So Schamar is obviously a rare athlete, rare size, length, speed, explosiveness. 0:22:57.080 --> 0:23:01.320 He plays with excellent effort, toughness, physicality, and violence. I 0:23:01.359 --> 0:23:04.800 think the the instinctiveness part of the game is something 0:23:04.800 --> 0:23:07.399 that he still has to work on. Finishing at the 0:23:07.440 --> 0:23:09.800 top of the rush, you know, not you know, he 0:23:10.119 --> 0:23:12.600 reminds different body types. He reminds me a little bit 0:23:12.640 --> 0:23:14.760 of Carl Lawson the way that the way that they played. 0:23:14.760 --> 0:23:18.280 They're they're two totally different body types, but play styles. 0:23:18.359 --> 0:23:19.840 You know that they remind me a little bit of 0:23:19.880 --> 0:23:24.919 each other. But you know, finishing on the quarterback, knowing 0:23:24.960 --> 0:23:27.440 when to bend your rush at the top or when 0:23:27.480 --> 0:23:30.080 to counter back and not just you know, sprint up 0:23:30.080 --> 0:23:31.959 field and kind of take yourself out of the play. 0:23:32.880 --> 0:23:35.600 But that comes with with playing time, that comes with reps. 0:23:35.640 --> 0:23:38.280 You know, instincts is something that that develops over time. 0:23:38.640 --> 0:23:42.200 Chamar is a young player with a super high upside, 0:23:42.600 --> 0:23:47.960 trending up player, but his his physicality, his his toughness, 0:23:48.000 --> 0:23:50.879 his strength, and his his pursuit of the ball and 0:23:50.960 --> 0:23:54.320 the quarterback despite not having great production, I think it's 0:23:54.359 --> 0:23:57.280 something that will come. You know, when we talked about 0:23:57.320 --> 0:24:00.320 Schamar in the draft process, we talked about guys like 0:24:00.440 --> 0:24:03.879 Jason Oway, who wasn't super productive at Penn State but 0:24:04.000 --> 0:24:09.119 has turned into a productive player. Unfortunately for Baltimore. Daniel 0:24:09.240 --> 0:24:13.840 Hunter was a guy that had similar highway speed to Shamar, 0:24:15.240 --> 0:24:19.600 wasn't super productive at LSU, has turned into a very 0:24:19.600 --> 0:24:22.680 productive player. Rashan Gary, I think, had three and a 0:24:22.720 --> 0:24:25.280 half sacks at Michigan in his career and has turned 0:24:25.320 --> 0:24:28.879 into a highly productive player who's gotten a big second 0:24:28.880 --> 0:24:31.439 contract for Green Bay. So those were all guys that 0:24:31.520 --> 0:24:36.640 had similar strengths and weaknesses as Shamar. Rare physical talents 0:24:36.720 --> 0:24:39.800 that were young players when they entered the draft and 0:24:40.000 --> 0:24:43.479 instinctively were still figuring things out how to use their hands, 0:24:43.760 --> 0:24:45.720 when to bend at the top of the rush, when 0:24:45.760 --> 0:24:48.199 to counter back inside, when to long arm, when to 0:24:48.480 --> 0:24:53.080 push pulls, stuff like that. So everything is there for 0:24:53.359 --> 0:24:57.879 Chamar to be an all pro player. Everything is there 0:24:58.760 --> 0:25:00.880 and I have faith in our coaching staff that will 0:25:00.920 --> 0:25:04.880 get him there. So it's it's really exciting to get 0:25:04.920 --> 0:25:09.120 a guy like that because had he had I would 0:25:09.160 --> 0:25:11.280 even say six or seven sacks, we probably wouldn't have 0:25:11.320 --> 0:25:14.760 seen him. It's it's kind of similar to when we 0:25:14.800 --> 0:25:18.000 took A Marius last year. A Marius is as rare 0:25:18.119 --> 0:25:22.080 physically as anybody in the National Football League, but he 0:25:22.359 --> 0:25:26.680 was hurt and you know was I think he was hurt. 0:25:26.880 --> 0:25:30.200 I don't cover Georgia, but being in interviews and meetings, 0:25:30.240 --> 0:25:32.840 but he had, you know, some injury stuff that he 0:25:32.920 --> 0:25:35.960 was working through through the draft process, and that's why 0:25:36.000 --> 0:25:37.720 we got him at I think it was eighteen when 0:25:37.720 --> 0:25:41.720 we took him. And for anybody that watched this last year, 0:25:42.240 --> 0:25:45.200 A Marius has a chance to be as special as 0:25:45.359 --> 0:25:49.960 anybody that I've seen it. So I'm hoping that, you know, 0:25:50.119 --> 0:25:53.840 Chamar kind of you know, has a similar trajectory because 0:25:53.960 --> 0:25:56.840 you know, we've I think Marius is a is a 0:25:56.960 --> 0:26:00.320 huge trending upward player, and I see a similar path 0:26:00.359 --> 0:26:02.400 for Schamar despite them being different positions. 0:26:02.880 --> 0:26:05.280 Your second round pick was linebacker Demetrius Night out of 0:26:05.320 --> 0:26:09.960 South Carolina. He's got a personality that screams future captain. 0:26:10.440 --> 0:26:13.240 What does he immediately add on defense? 0:26:13.720 --> 0:26:20.560 He immediately adds a smart, athletic, hard hitting, well rounded, 0:26:20.680 --> 0:26:24.440 three down linebacker. He's a little bit of an older guy, 0:26:24.880 --> 0:26:27.240 he's played a lot of college football, but he's a 0:26:27.280 --> 0:26:31.440 phenomenal young man. He's smart, he can play all three 0:26:31.480 --> 0:26:35.040 linebacker positions. He can blitz, he can tackle, he can 0:26:35.040 --> 0:26:37.920 get off blocks. He's going to contribute on special teams 0:26:38.000 --> 0:26:41.680 right away. I think we took Demetrius with the thought 0:26:41.680 --> 0:26:44.320 process that he's also going to play on defense right away. 0:26:45.640 --> 0:26:48.840 So you know, he's somebody. He's a phenomenal athlete. He's 0:26:48.840 --> 0:26:53.680 a phenomenal young man. He's great to be around. He's 0:26:53.680 --> 0:26:57.080 assimilated very quickly in the locker room, and I think 0:26:57.119 --> 0:27:00.159 he's somebody that is going to, you know, bring a 0:27:00.160 --> 0:27:04.000 a sense of physicality and violence and toughness to our defense. 0:27:04.440 --> 0:27:06.800 And I would agree with what you just said, a 0:27:06.800 --> 0:27:08.320 potential future captain for sure. 0:27:09.160 --> 0:27:11.280 In the third round, you addressed the guard position with 0:27:11.280 --> 0:27:15.200 the selection of George's Dylan Fairchild. Right now, it looks 0:27:15.240 --> 0:27:17.520 like he's the leading candidate to start at left guard. 0:27:17.960 --> 0:27:20.720 This was thought to be a deep guard class, were 0:27:20.760 --> 0:27:23.560 you confident that you could get somebody that could compete 0:27:23.560 --> 0:27:26.400 for a starting job as late as the third round 0:27:26.440 --> 0:27:27.040 or even later. 0:27:27.520 --> 0:27:31.600 Yeah, Dylan is someone that we did a ton of 0:27:31.640 --> 0:27:34.919 extensive work on throughout the process we had. You know, 0:27:34.960 --> 0:27:37.680 our coaches did a lot of hands on work with them. Again, 0:27:37.920 --> 0:27:40.320 I don't cover Georgia, but I know that he is 0:27:40.359 --> 0:27:44.959 somebody that as a Bengals staff, as a whole, we 0:27:45.000 --> 0:27:47.359 did as much work on as any other player in 0:27:47.400 --> 0:27:50.920 the draft. And you know, Dylan is a phenomenal kid. 0:27:51.680 --> 0:27:55.160 He loves football. He's young, he is still a little 0:27:55.160 --> 0:27:58.720 bit of a raw prospect, but he's got length, he's 0:27:59.200 --> 0:28:03.000 very very wrong and for what we do on offense 0:28:03.040 --> 0:28:06.120 as a pass heavy offense, he's a great pass protector. 0:28:06.400 --> 0:28:09.880 He's got very good punch and hand strength and grip strength. 0:28:10.640 --> 0:28:13.920 So I think from a from a scheme fit, he's 0:28:13.960 --> 0:28:17.360 an excellent scheme fit for us. From a personality fit, 0:28:17.400 --> 0:28:19.760 he's going to blend right in with our room. So 0:28:19.960 --> 0:28:22.200 you know, he is somebody that I think we would 0:28:22.200 --> 0:28:26.359 have felt comfortable taking earlier than where we got him. 0:28:27.400 --> 0:28:29.840 And you know, only having six picks made things a 0:28:29.880 --> 0:28:33.520 little bit tougher, you know, it we we had to 0:28:33.560 --> 0:28:36.440 make some some tough calls, you know, here not there 0:28:36.520 --> 0:28:39.520 throughout the draft, but I think everybody is very happy 0:28:39.560 --> 0:28:43.160 we have Dylan. I think it was it certainly was 0:28:43.200 --> 0:28:45.280 a position of need, and obviously he's going to need 0:28:45.320 --> 0:28:48.239 to compete for the job. And he is still a 0:28:48.320 --> 0:28:50.760 little bit of a raw prospect that's got to work, 0:28:51.000 --> 0:28:54.120 you know, work through some some technique things, but physically 0:28:54.240 --> 0:28:59.200 he has everything to be a good starter in our league. 0:28:59.280 --> 0:29:01.680 He was one of the strongest players in the draft, 0:29:02.880 --> 0:29:09.760 and having unanimity with our coaching staff and our personnel staff, 0:29:10.960 --> 0:29:12.320 we feel really good about Dylan. 0:29:13.280 --> 0:29:15.680 In the fourth round, he took another linebacker, Barrett Carter 0:29:15.760 --> 0:29:18.520 out of Clemson. In watching the drills over the last 0:29:18.520 --> 0:29:20.680 few weeks, he looks fast and fluid to me, what 0:29:20.760 --> 0:29:22.040 impressed you about Barrett? 0:29:22.200 --> 0:29:25.960 Barrett is super athletic, another guy that we had a 0:29:26.040 --> 0:29:28.160 higher opinion of than where we took him. We would 0:29:28.160 --> 0:29:30.560 have felt comfortable taking him earlier if we needed to. 0:29:32.200 --> 0:29:35.240 He's probably the best cover linebacker in the draft. He's 0:29:35.280 --> 0:29:38.000 super athletic. He can run, he can change direction, he 0:29:38.040 --> 0:29:41.800 can flip his hips, he can play sam linebacker, will linebacker. 0:29:42.680 --> 0:29:46.240 He was highly productive on special teams. He's a great kid. 0:29:46.280 --> 0:29:49.440 He's a leader. But the biggest thing he's going to 0:29:49.560 --> 0:29:52.320 help us with day one is covering on third down. 0:29:52.360 --> 0:29:54.320 He's a phenomenal cover linebacker. 0:29:55.360 --> 0:29:58.120 In the fifth round, you took Jalen Rivers as six 0:29:58.160 --> 0:30:01.000 to six offensive lineman out of the University of Miami 0:30:01.040 --> 0:30:04.880 with thirty five inch arms. He played tackling guard almost 0:30:04.920 --> 0:30:08.680 equally at the you where did he perform best? 0:30:08.840 --> 0:30:12.680 In your opinion, I think Jalen's a tackle. He's He's 0:30:13.000 --> 0:30:17.280 another kid that is an exceptional young man, somebody that 0:30:17.320 --> 0:30:20.239 we you know, I don't do Miami, but saw him 0:30:20.280 --> 0:30:22.600 at the Senior Bowl, and I think he's somebody that 0:30:23.560 --> 0:30:25.920 we see that can that can fill in at both spots. 0:30:26.840 --> 0:30:27.040 You know. 0:30:27.080 --> 0:30:29.080 I think, if if we had to pick one, I 0:30:29.080 --> 0:30:32.480 think tackle is probably his best spot. He's athletic, he's long, 0:30:32.560 --> 0:30:37.560 he can bend, he's got good feet, you know, going inside. 0:30:37.920 --> 0:30:40.800 You know, for what we do on offense, playing guard, 0:30:41.320 --> 0:30:43.720 you know, you you almost have to pass protect like 0:30:43.760 --> 0:30:46.640 a tackle just because how much we pass protect. But 0:30:46.680 --> 0:30:51.120 I think his versatility, his intelligence, his athletic ability, and 0:30:51.200 --> 0:30:54.880 his dimensions, his length were really what stood out to us, 0:30:55.280 --> 0:30:58.640 and you know, I think that he could fill in. 0:30:58.920 --> 0:31:00.760 You know, if somebody goes down to guard, we think 0:31:01.120 --> 0:31:02.800 he can go in and help us. And if somebody 0:31:02.800 --> 0:31:04.880 goes goes down to tackle, we think he can he 0:31:04.920 --> 0:31:06.880 can go in and help us. He reminds me a 0:31:06.920 --> 0:31:09.680 little bit of Deontay Smith. When Deontay came out. I 0:31:09.680 --> 0:31:12.120 did Deontay coming out of East Carolina, and I think 0:31:12.160 --> 0:31:15.720 they had similar bodies of work to this point. Deontay 0:31:15.760 --> 0:31:18.440 had some some injuries here, but you know, there there 0:31:18.440 --> 0:31:21.760 were flashes of Deontay that, you know, we thought we're 0:31:21.800 --> 0:31:24.280 gonna be really good. You know, he unfortunately had a 0:31:24.280 --> 0:31:27.960 couple of injuries here and there. But those two remind me. 0:31:28.040 --> 0:31:30.080 We took Deontay at the back of the fourth and 0:31:30.120 --> 0:31:32.239 those two remind me of each other a little bit. 0:31:32.840 --> 0:31:35.360 Your sixth and final pick was running back Taj Brooks. 0:31:35.720 --> 0:31:38.280 You've got an emerging Chase Brown. You brought back some 0:31:38.360 --> 0:31:38.760 I J. P. 0:31:38.960 --> 0:31:39.200 Ryan. 0:31:39.800 --> 0:31:41.640 What does Taj Brooks add to the mix? 0:31:42.040 --> 0:31:46.400 Taj was very productive at Texas Tech. He's tough, he's strong, 0:31:47.440 --> 0:31:50.840 he's instinctive, he's got good vision, he's got good make miss, 0:31:51.080 --> 0:31:54.880 he can pass protect, He's somebody that we feel can 0:31:54.920 --> 0:31:58.400 do everything that we need. You know, if if somej 0:31:58.600 --> 0:32:00.520 goes down, he can go in, be the past protector. 0:32:00.840 --> 0:32:03.360 If you know, Chase goes down, he can go in. 0:32:03.560 --> 0:32:05.920 You know, God forbid all these If Chase goes down, 0:32:05.960 --> 0:32:07.880 he can go in and carry the ball twenty times 0:32:07.920 --> 0:32:10.120 a game if we need him to. If you know, 0:32:10.240 --> 0:32:11.920 we need him to go in on third down and 0:32:12.000 --> 0:32:14.560 catch a swing out of the backfield, he can do that. 0:32:14.640 --> 0:32:19.080 He's a jack of all trades type of player. You know, 0:32:19.360 --> 0:32:23.160 it was an exceptional running back draft, probably the best 0:32:23.400 --> 0:32:27.640 you know, I saw, and even just this this year 0:32:27.720 --> 0:32:32.760 being the year where all these extra COVID seasons were ending, 0:32:33.480 --> 0:32:37.040 you know, there were more what we would call draftable 0:32:37.080 --> 0:32:40.160 players in this draft than any year that you know, 0:32:40.280 --> 0:32:43.520 of the ten that I've been doing it. So you 0:32:43.560 --> 0:32:47.520 know that that led to you know, guys that we 0:32:47.640 --> 0:32:50.200 had high opinions of being there in the sixth round. 0:32:50.320 --> 0:32:53.280 So you know, we see Taj as somebody that is 0:32:53.320 --> 0:32:56.320 a make it player, a contributing player, and you can't 0:32:56.360 --> 0:32:58.720 say that for every six or seventh round pick. So 0:32:58.760 --> 0:33:01.600 somebody that we feel has a very well rounded skill 0:33:01.640 --> 0:33:05.440 set and could go in and you know, if, as 0:33:05.480 --> 0:33:08.360 I said, he can carry the ball, he can pass, protect, 0:33:08.360 --> 0:33:11.960 he can catch the ball and run routes. So phenomenal 0:33:12.040 --> 0:33:16.440 young man too. Has has really these last couple of weeks, 0:33:16.640 --> 0:33:19.360 you know, just getting here been a great ad and 0:33:19.560 --> 0:33:20.520 fit in very well. 0:33:21.280 --> 0:33:24.480 We're chatting with Bengal scout Andrew Johnson. Let's talk about 0:33:24.520 --> 0:33:27.760 a couple of the undrafted free agents, beginning with center 0:33:27.840 --> 0:33:31.200 Seth McLaughlan out of Ohio State. He won the Remmington 0:33:31.240 --> 0:33:33.720 Award He's the best center in the country before tearing 0:33:33.720 --> 0:33:36.400 his achilles in November. He hopes to be back by 0:33:36.400 --> 0:33:38.760 the start of training camp. What grade did you have 0:33:38.840 --> 0:33:40.400 on Seth before the injury. 0:33:40.840 --> 0:33:44.080 Yes, certainly. You know, in the scouting world, you grade 0:33:44.080 --> 0:33:47.720 the medical separate from the playing ability. So you grade 0:33:47.760 --> 0:33:49.720 the playing ability for what it is, You grade the 0:33:49.800 --> 0:33:52.080 character for what it is, and you grade the medical 0:33:52.120 --> 0:33:55.600 for what it is. There are three independent evaluations that 0:33:55.720 --> 0:33:59.120 all you know, it's all part of the player's body 0:33:59.120 --> 0:34:01.720 at work. But certainly thought Seth was a was a 0:34:01.800 --> 0:34:07.240 draftable player and a late day too early day three pick, 0:34:07.360 --> 0:34:11.520 I would say, going into you know, the draft process, 0:34:11.640 --> 0:34:13.920 not being able to work out at the combine not 0:34:14.000 --> 0:34:16.400 being able to work out at Pro Day and having 0:34:16.440 --> 0:34:21.720 an active injury during the draft is very difficult. Certainly 0:34:21.719 --> 0:34:23.920 think Seth was going to get drafted, you know, tearing 0:34:23.920 --> 0:34:27.360 your achilles. I think it was in practice, you know, 0:34:27.480 --> 0:34:29.400 either the second or last week of the season for 0:34:29.480 --> 0:34:34.160 Seth is really difficult. Played at a very high level 0:34:34.719 --> 0:34:37.160 for two blue bloods in college football at Alabama and 0:34:37.200 --> 0:34:40.560 Ohio State. Was obviously part of a national championship winning 0:34:40.560 --> 0:34:45.040 team this year. He's super, super smart. He plays with 0:34:45.120 --> 0:34:49.520 outstanding leverage, outstanding instincts. He plays like a veteran on 0:34:49.600 --> 0:34:53.400 the field. You know, he may not be the god 0:34:53.440 --> 0:34:56.640 given athlete that you know, a first round or second 0:34:56.719 --> 0:35:01.120 round center is, but he makes up for that with 0:35:01.280 --> 0:35:06.560 his intelligence, his anticipation, his leverage, his hand use, and 0:35:07.160 --> 0:35:09.480 you know, I'm really excited for him. I hope he 0:35:10.160 --> 0:35:12.960 I hope we can you know, see him in camp 0:35:13.120 --> 0:35:14.800 be what he was. I know it's going to be 0:35:14.840 --> 0:35:20.319 tough coming back from from a major injury, but you know, 0:35:20.600 --> 0:35:23.719 I think we're planning on, you know, whether it's active roster, 0:35:23.800 --> 0:35:26.799 practice squad, you know, getting him through this injury and 0:35:26.840 --> 0:35:29.359 getting him back to where he was. I think it's 0:35:29.360 --> 0:35:31.200 going to be a really really good ad for us 0:35:31.200 --> 0:35:34.120 when we when we can see Seth back at his 0:35:34.360 --> 0:35:38.319 full go his full potential. So we were thrilled to 0:35:38.320 --> 0:35:40.560 get to get him as a college free agent, and 0:35:40.920 --> 0:35:43.640 I think he's one that you know, will eventually factor 0:35:43.680 --> 0:35:45.280 and be a contributing player for us. 0:35:45.920 --> 0:35:48.480 You didn't draft to safety, but you did sign one 0:35:48.680 --> 0:35:52.400 in Chequan Loyal out of Rutgers. He reportedly had offers 0:35:52.440 --> 0:35:55.680 out of high school from Alabama and Ohio State. What 0:35:55.800 --> 0:35:56.919 can you tell us about him? 0:35:57.320 --> 0:36:01.080 Yeah, really really excited about Shaq. He's as you said, 0:36:01.080 --> 0:36:04.120 we did not draft a safety. You know, it was something, 0:36:04.200 --> 0:36:06.520 it was a position. It's I would still call it 0:36:06.560 --> 0:36:08.680 a position and need for us, and it was just 0:36:08.760 --> 0:36:10.880 one of those positions. We're here in the draft and 0:36:10.880 --> 0:36:13.040 only having six picks, you know, we had to make 0:36:13.080 --> 0:36:16.400 some tough decisions, but we had very very high opinions 0:36:16.680 --> 0:36:19.480 a shack coming out of Rutgers. I was at the 0:36:19.480 --> 0:36:24.440 pro day. I worked him out myself. He is a big, tough, strong, 0:36:25.200 --> 0:36:30.879 physical safety that has played free strong and nickel. He's 0:36:30.880 --> 0:36:35.040 been a high level special teams player. I was just 0:36:35.280 --> 0:36:38.160 you know, watching our buzzing through some of our tape 0:36:38.480 --> 0:36:40.520 before we jumped on here, and he made a play 0:36:40.560 --> 0:36:43.280 in individual last week. I think it was on Tuesday 0:36:43.360 --> 0:36:46.080 or I think it was Tuesday of last week where 0:36:46.120 --> 0:36:48.640 it you know, we're just doing drills on air here 0:36:48.640 --> 0:36:52.279 in shorts and t shirts. But it was a run 0:36:52.320 --> 0:36:54.120 and catch a deep ball, high point it, and he 0:36:54.200 --> 0:36:57.240 made an incredibly athletic play to high point this ball 0:36:57.320 --> 0:36:59.560 and and and come down with it. And that was 0:37:00.320 --> 0:37:02.760 something he was more of a box guy at Rutgers, 0:37:02.760 --> 0:37:04.799 so to see him do that, it was like, WHOA. 0:37:05.400 --> 0:37:09.640 So he's somebody that I think, just in these first 0:37:09.719 --> 0:37:13.839 couple weeks of being here, has really impressed. You know, 0:37:13.880 --> 0:37:18.319 he looks the part. He's athletic, he's strong, he's very 0:37:18.360 --> 0:37:21.759 tough and physical. He was very productive. He plays in 0:37:22.080 --> 0:37:24.799 a program that I have a lot of respect for. 0:37:25.560 --> 0:37:29.879 It's a tough place to play, and he's a he's 0:37:29.920 --> 0:37:32.480 a great ad and I think he's really gonna factor 0:37:32.520 --> 0:37:34.279 for us and eventually be a contributor. 0:37:34.960 --> 0:37:38.080 We're visiting the Bengals scout Andrew Johnson. You worked with 0:37:38.120 --> 0:37:40.960 Al Golden previously when he was a Bengals assistant coach. 0:37:41.000 --> 0:37:43.439 I'm sure you watched a lot of his Notre Dame 0:37:43.520 --> 0:37:46.640 defenses as you studied tape as a college scout over 0:37:46.640 --> 0:37:49.360 the last few years. What stood out to you about 0:37:49.360 --> 0:37:50.600 those Notre Dame defenses? 0:37:51.360 --> 0:37:55.320 Al first of all, couldn't be more excited to have alback. 0:37:55.600 --> 0:37:59.040 I think the absolute world of Al and can't believe 0:37:59.080 --> 0:38:01.480 he's not a head coach. Hopefully we win the Super 0:38:01.520 --> 0:38:05.080 Bowl here and you know, maybe maybe he gets one then. 0:38:05.120 --> 0:38:07.000 But I that just tells you what I what I 0:38:07.040 --> 0:38:11.280 think of Al. One story I like to tell about 0:38:11.320 --> 0:38:14.280 Al is he was our linebackers coach in twenty twenty 0:38:14.280 --> 0:38:16.680 and twenty twenty one. We went to Super Bowl and 0:38:16.800 --> 0:38:21.160 during the twenty twenty draft, I think it was the 0:38:21.160 --> 0:38:24.680 twenty twenty and twenty twenty one draft, we couldn't do 0:38:24.719 --> 0:38:27.880 our draft visits because of you know, COVID rules, So 0:38:27.920 --> 0:38:30.080 we were doing all these zoom calls with these kids 0:38:30.640 --> 0:38:33.680 and I would, you know, if it was a guy 0:38:33.680 --> 0:38:35.800 in my area, I would jump on with Al and 0:38:36.200 --> 0:38:41.520 listen in. And I remember, I'll leave the player un names. 0:38:41.560 --> 0:38:43.799 But it was a high level first round player that year. 0:38:45.040 --> 0:38:48.520 And you know a lot of times, you know, some 0:38:48.600 --> 0:38:52.160 coaches will you know, spend five ten, maybe a whole call, 0:38:52.320 --> 0:38:54.880 just getting to know the kid. And we jumped on 0:38:54.960 --> 0:38:58.120 this call with this player. It was a Sunday morning, 0:38:58.160 --> 0:39:00.879 I think it was like eight am, and Al said, Hey, 0:39:02.120 --> 0:39:03.600 I'm not going to say his name, but hey, you know, 0:39:03.640 --> 0:39:05.600 thanks so much for jumping on the call. You got 0:39:05.600 --> 0:39:07.560 to coach, no problem. All right, I'm gonna put this 0:39:07.600 --> 0:39:09.239 front up here, and I want you to tell me 0:39:09.280 --> 0:39:12.120 what happens when you know this guy goes in motion, 0:39:12.239 --> 0:39:13.759 and how you pass it off and what you call 0:39:13.840 --> 0:39:16.560 on your defense. And for forty five minutes straight, we 0:39:16.600 --> 0:39:20.719 did nothing but talk about defenses and fronts and adjustments 0:39:20.760 --> 0:39:24.160 and calls and checks and you know, how to close 0:39:24.200 --> 0:39:26.480 the front and what to communicate to the safeties. And 0:39:27.040 --> 0:39:29.960 I was sitting on the call, like, you know, I'm 0:39:30.000 --> 0:39:33.080 having a hard time following this. So he's he's one 0:39:33.120 --> 0:39:37.280 of the most detail oriented people I've ever been around. 0:39:38.200 --> 0:39:42.680 But at the same time, he's a phenomenal personality. He's 0:39:42.800 --> 0:39:45.640 so easy to get along with. He knows when to 0:39:45.680 --> 0:39:49.120 be serious and when to to you know, be you know, 0:39:49.280 --> 0:39:52.840 have fun and be loose. And he's you know, I 0:39:53.120 --> 0:39:57.640 think Al's players love him. I think people I would 0:39:57.719 --> 0:39:59.919 run through a wall for him, and I think our player, 0:40:00.120 --> 0:40:02.440 I think the Notre Dame players when we talked to, 0:40:02.960 --> 0:40:06.200 you know, guys in the draft that played for Al 0:40:06.239 --> 0:40:09.160 at Notre Dame, they loved him. And that's no shock 0:40:09.200 --> 0:40:11.800 to me. Our guys loved him in twenty twenty and 0:40:11.840 --> 0:40:16.240 twenty twenty one. So I think it's a huge, huge 0:40:16.280 --> 0:40:18.600 ad for us and I think it's it's going to 0:40:18.640 --> 0:40:20.640 be the X factor in US winning the Super Bowl. 0:40:21.280 --> 0:40:23.520 Do you think he has a unique ability to develop 0:40:23.560 --> 0:40:24.120 young talent? 0:40:24.440 --> 0:40:28.600 Absolutely, He's one thing about Al is he knows how 0:40:28.600 --> 0:40:30.719 to get along with all walks of life. You know, 0:40:30.760 --> 0:40:34.160 he can talk to, you know, an inner city kid, 0:40:34.320 --> 0:40:37.160 he can talk to a suburban kid. He can talk 0:40:37.200 --> 0:40:39.520 to a ten year of d or a rookie, and 0:40:39.640 --> 0:40:44.000 he strategically communicates to different people to know how to 0:40:44.400 --> 0:40:49.040 get the best out of them. So incredibly happy to 0:40:49.120 --> 0:40:53.640 have him here. And yeah, I think I think development 0:40:53.760 --> 0:40:56.440 is something that we're putting a huge emphasis on, and 0:40:56.520 --> 0:40:59.239 with a lot of you know, obviously everybody knows that 0:40:59.280 --> 0:41:01.120 we've spent a lot of money on the offensive side 0:41:01.120 --> 0:41:03.319 of the ball and that's resulting in a lot of 0:41:03.360 --> 0:41:06.040 young draft picks. On defense. So you know, we have 0:41:06.120 --> 0:41:08.280 a lot of young players that are going to be playing, 0:41:09.680 --> 0:41:11.680 and you know Hal knows that, and we've put an 0:41:11.719 --> 0:41:14.960 emphasis on development, So I have no doubt that he 0:41:15.040 --> 0:41:16.880 will get the best out of our young players. 0:41:17.719 --> 0:41:20.239 A couple more topics for Andrew Johnson. One of your 0:41:20.280 --> 0:41:23.560 colleagues with the Bengals, Christian Sarkisian, recently left the team 0:41:23.600 --> 0:41:27.880 to be the GM at Northwestern University College football. GM 0:41:28.000 --> 0:41:31.440 is a relatively new position. Is it something that people 0:41:31.520 --> 0:41:34.520 in your world are talking about? It's a possible stepping 0:41:34.560 --> 0:41:38.520 stone to be an NFL GM, not that. 0:41:38.520 --> 0:41:41.840 I have heard of. You know, I think it's a 0:41:41.880 --> 0:41:46.640 different world with the money aspect in college football right now. 0:41:47.320 --> 0:41:49.719 College recruiting is not what it used to be. You know, 0:41:49.760 --> 0:41:53.160 you used to recruit, you know, ten years when I 0:41:53.200 --> 0:41:56.080 was playing, you know, you recruited thirty high school kids 0:41:56.080 --> 0:41:58.319 a year and maybe you took one or two transfers. 0:41:58.719 --> 0:42:03.160 And now you know, you've got kids making seven figures 0:42:03.200 --> 0:42:07.719 and you're recruiting high school kids, you're recruiting transfers, and 0:42:07.760 --> 0:42:11.280 you're recruiting your own roster back every single day. Because 0:42:11.280 --> 0:42:16.560 of the current landscape of college football, you know, I 0:42:16.600 --> 0:42:18.960 could go on and on about that for a long time. 0:42:19.040 --> 0:42:21.440 But that's the one thing about the IVY League is 0:42:21.440 --> 0:42:23.440 there's no scholarships. We're just playing for the love of 0:42:23.440 --> 0:42:26.960 the game. But IVY League hasn't really been impacted by NIL. 0:42:27.040 --> 0:42:30.680 But no, really, really really happy for Christian. He's super smart, 0:42:31.320 --> 0:42:32.840 he was a great guy to work with. He's going 0:42:32.920 --> 0:42:35.920 to do an excellent job, and really happy for him 0:42:35.920 --> 0:42:36.720 and wish him the best. 0:42:37.440 --> 0:42:41.880 Is your ultimate dream NFL GM. 0:42:42.080 --> 0:42:44.880 Yeah, I'll answer that by saying that I have no 0:42:45.040 --> 0:42:47.719 intentions of working for any other team than the Bengals, 0:42:47.840 --> 0:42:51.279 and I'll work that back to something I said on 0:42:51.400 --> 0:42:53.400 the you know at the beginning, is that you know, 0:42:53.440 --> 0:42:56.040 we are very, very fortunate to work for the best 0:42:56.040 --> 0:42:58.680 people in football, and I truly mean that, from the 0:42:58.680 --> 0:43:02.279 ownership family to do Uk and Zach. This is a 0:43:02.280 --> 0:43:05.759 special place and that's something that anybody I talked to 0:43:05.840 --> 0:43:08.080 about our team, that's the first thing that I'll tell him, 0:43:08.239 --> 0:43:09.520 and it's the god honest truth. 0:43:09.640 --> 0:43:10.880 So, you know, I. 0:43:12.360 --> 0:43:15.239 Want to win a Super Bowl here. I want to 0:43:15.280 --> 0:43:18.440 win one for our owner, Mike Brown and everybody in 0:43:18.440 --> 0:43:22.279 the building. But that would be great if it was here. 0:43:22.320 --> 0:43:26.279 That would be great, but I would like to have 0:43:26.320 --> 0:43:28.120 one full time employer in my whole life and that's 0:43:28.160 --> 0:43:28.839 the Bengals. 0:43:29.600 --> 0:43:32.040 This has been fun. Really appreciate your time, Andrew, thank. 0:43:31.920 --> 0:43:33.520 You, Thank you, Dan Hudei. 0:43:34.800 --> 0:43:37.400 Before getting to my next guest, here's a quick reminder 0:43:37.440 --> 0:43:39.680 that the Bengals Booth podcast is brought to you by 0:43:39.719 --> 0:43:44.120 pay Corps, proud to be the Bengals Official HR software provider, 0:43:44.600 --> 0:43:48.040 by Alta Fiber future proof Fiber Internet designed to elevate 0:43:48.080 --> 0:43:51.360 your home, business and community to a new level, and 0:43:51.520 --> 0:43:54.360 by Kettering Health the best care for the best fans. 0:43:54.440 --> 0:43:58.280 Kettering Health is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. 0:43:58.880 --> 0:44:02.480 Now time to move on to another edition of five 0:44:02.640 --> 0:44:05.800 Questions with a Bengals rookie. It's my way of getting 0:44:05.800 --> 0:44:08.520 to know them a little bit better by asking five 0:44:08.640 --> 0:44:12.720 questions that hopefully they don't hear over and over again. 0:44:14.400 --> 0:44:17.839 Time for five Questions with third round draft pick Dylan Fairchild. 0:44:18.000 --> 0:44:20.600 Question number one. I think people have heard that you 0:44:20.640 --> 0:44:24.760 are a tremendous high school wrestler, four times all state 0:44:24.920 --> 0:44:28.280 undefeated as a junior and a senior. You reportedly pinned 0:44:28.320 --> 0:44:31.920 every opponent your senior year here's my question. Could you 0:44:32.080 --> 0:44:34.960 have been an Olympian and did you have any interest 0:44:34.960 --> 0:44:36.160 in trying to pursue. 0:44:35.800 --> 0:44:37.360 That an Olympian? I don't know. 0:44:38.120 --> 0:44:40.839 That's a hard that's a hard h thing to do. 0:44:41.080 --> 0:44:44.080 But I mean, you know, football is always like my 0:44:44.160 --> 0:44:47.080 main passion, so I mean, I really just wanted to 0:44:47.120 --> 0:44:49.400 pursue football, but I don't know an olympian. 0:44:49.760 --> 0:44:50.759 That's a hard thing to do. 0:44:51.000 --> 0:44:53.879 So I don't know if Gabe Stevenson will have something 0:44:53.880 --> 0:44:54.680 to say about that. 0:44:56.239 --> 0:44:59.880 I did hear or read that Cale Sanderson, legendary Olympic 0:45:00.000 --> 0:45:01.919 old Metal has tried to recruit you at Penn State. 0:45:02.000 --> 0:45:02.640 Was that the case? 0:45:02.840 --> 0:45:05.960 Yeah, he did well. He didn't try to recruit me necessarily. 0:45:06.040 --> 0:45:10.200 He just basically told me, like, you know, you can 0:45:10.239 --> 0:45:12.399 wrestle here, like if you you know, if you come 0:45:12.400 --> 0:45:14.839 here to play football. I mean it was really more 0:45:14.880 --> 0:45:16.560 of like almost a dual scholarship. 0:45:16.920 --> 0:45:20.240 Question Number two for Dylan Fairchild. You spent four years 0:45:20.280 --> 0:45:23.960 at Georgia. Who is the toughest person you either faced 0:45:23.960 --> 0:45:26.840 in a game or at practice. 0:45:27.520 --> 0:45:29.120 Definitely Jalen Carter in practice. 0:45:29.280 --> 0:45:32.760 I mean, you know, he's one of the elite guys 0:45:32.800 --> 0:45:35.800 in the league, right now, Yeah, I mean i'd probably 0:45:35.840 --> 0:45:37.359 just say him in the practice for sure. 0:45:38.480 --> 0:45:41.160 Was it miserable and what made him so tough to face? 0:45:41.360 --> 0:45:44.440 I think, yeah, that first year was pretty miserable. Was 0:45:44.560 --> 0:45:48.480 not even not even ever feeling anything like that? You know, 0:45:48.560 --> 0:45:51.040 like seven A Georgia football is a great it's a 0:45:51.080 --> 0:45:53.680 great division to play in high school. But you know, 0:45:53.680 --> 0:45:55.960 you got those rare guys that come into college and 0:45:56.480 --> 0:45:58.000 you know end up being like how he had a 0:45:58.600 --> 0:46:02.160 how his career shaped up. You know, I look at 0:46:02.280 --> 0:46:04.479 us as a blessing just to be able to see 0:46:04.520 --> 0:46:08.360 him early on in my career and feel what the 0:46:08.360 --> 0:46:09.400 best feels like. 0:46:09.520 --> 0:46:13.960 So yeah, question three for dylean Fairchild. According to your bio, 0:46:14.080 --> 0:46:17.880 you are an avid fisherman. What's your biggest catch or 0:46:17.920 --> 0:46:19.880 your proudest fishing accomplishment? 0:46:21.000 --> 0:46:23.719 My biggest I caught like a two hundred pounds shark 0:46:23.719 --> 0:46:28.719 when I was younger. Man, I don't even say my 0:46:28.760 --> 0:46:30.560 biggest bass because it wasn't that big. 0:46:31.560 --> 0:46:35.319 Well, let's talk about the two hundred pound shark. How 0:46:35.360 --> 0:46:38.040 did you bring in a two hundred pound shark? 0:46:38.080 --> 0:46:39.560 I think I was like eleven. It took me like 0:46:39.600 --> 0:46:40.320 three hours. 0:46:41.640 --> 0:46:43.960 Yeah, I actually went with my dad a long time ago, 0:46:45.120 --> 0:46:48.480 and we went fishing and hooked up on a shark 0:46:48.520 --> 0:46:49.359 and then brought it in. 0:46:49.560 --> 0:46:51.640 So is there a good photo? 0:46:52.480 --> 0:46:57.000 No, No, No, I know I wish I had one. 0:46:57.040 --> 0:46:58.840 I think we broke it off right at the boat. 0:47:00.400 --> 0:47:04.440 But yeah, I mean that's I know, I know, I 0:47:04.480 --> 0:47:05.640 really wish we got a photo that. 0:47:06.040 --> 0:47:09.400 I am actually devastated for you that there's no photo 0:47:09.440 --> 0:47:13.440 of that, all right? Question number four. Your Instagram feed 0:47:13.640 --> 0:47:16.799 includes picks of what appears to be your wedding proposal, 0:47:17.440 --> 0:47:20.120 and I was impressed. There's a giant heart that looks 0:47:20.160 --> 0:47:23.480 like it's made of flowers. There are candles, there's champagne. 0:47:24.200 --> 0:47:25.439 You went all out. 0:47:25.960 --> 0:47:27.359 Yeah I did, I did. 0:47:27.560 --> 0:47:31.000 I gotta give credit to the people at Athletes first 0:47:31.040 --> 0:47:33.160 hooking me up and helping me with that too. I mean, 0:47:33.800 --> 0:47:35.879 they hooked me up with all the people that could 0:47:35.880 --> 0:47:36.839 connect me and. 0:47:37.120 --> 0:47:39.359 Help me set it up for my wife. Now she's 0:47:39.400 --> 0:47:40.319 my wife now, so. 0:47:41.160 --> 0:47:44.040 I mean she can't say no when you go to 0:47:44.120 --> 0:47:45.120 those lengths. 0:47:44.840 --> 0:47:47.279 Right, Yeah, No, it was hard to hide it from her, 0:47:47.320 --> 0:47:48.959 Like walking up to it, she knew. 0:47:48.960 --> 0:47:51.719 She pretty much knew from a mile away. 0:47:52.480 --> 0:47:54.920 That's all right, when it's that elaborate the element of 0:47:54.960 --> 0:47:57.920 surprise doesn't matter quite as much. Fifth and final question 0:47:58.000 --> 0:48:02.000 for Dylan Fairchild. Tell us thing about you that not 0:48:02.280 --> 0:48:03.840 that many people know. 0:48:04.719 --> 0:48:05.200 I don't know. 0:48:05.520 --> 0:48:07.480 I mean, I'm a pretty open book, you know. I mean, 0:48:07.520 --> 0:48:10.200 I just pursue the Lord. I love my family and 0:48:10.239 --> 0:48:10.640 I love. 0:48:10.480 --> 0:48:14.640 Football, and that's really I'm simple guy. You know. I 0:48:14.680 --> 0:48:18.040 want to farm one day. You could say that. Really, Yeah, 0:48:18.080 --> 0:48:19.960 like a small farm, not like anything huge. 0:48:20.000 --> 0:48:22.319 But are there farmers in your family trade? 0:48:22.600 --> 0:48:23.239 No? 0:48:23.239 --> 0:48:25.520 No, I just it's something that I just want to learn, 0:48:25.560 --> 0:48:29.080 and I just want to be constantly learning, and you know, 0:48:29.880 --> 0:48:32.120 I feel like that's a great opportunity to do something 0:48:32.160 --> 0:48:32.480 like that. 0:48:32.640 --> 0:48:38.160 So I figured this out faith family Football farming. You 0:48:38.239 --> 0:48:39.879 got the big four Big four f's. 0:48:40.000 --> 0:48:41.440 That's right. There you go. 0:48:42.320 --> 0:48:44.239 This has been fun. Great to have you in Cincinnati. 0:48:44.320 --> 0:48:45.560 Appreciate your time, Sarah. 0:48:45.600 --> 0:48:45.920 Thank you. 0:48:46.920 --> 0:48:50.880 Now let's turn from five questions to five observations after 0:48:50.920 --> 0:48:54.240 watching the Bengals practice and talking to players and coaches 0:48:54.280 --> 0:48:58.479 on Tuesday. Topic number one is first round draft pick 0:48:58.640 --> 0:49:02.560 Shamar Stewart. As of this recording, Shamar is one of 0:49:02.600 --> 0:49:06.160 eleven first round draft picks who hasn't signed a contract 0:49:06.600 --> 0:49:10.160 that's basically one third of the first round, and in 0:49:10.239 --> 0:49:13.880 Stuart's case, he also has not signed a waiver that 0:49:13.920 --> 0:49:17.480 would allow him to practice during negotiations while protecting him 0:49:17.680 --> 0:49:20.719 in the event of injury. As a result, he's still 0:49:20.719 --> 0:49:24.320 observing from the sideline. I don't think it's an issue yet, 0:49:24.400 --> 0:49:27.560 but Zach Taylor says it would help Stuart to start 0:49:27.600 --> 0:49:29.279 practicing asap. 0:49:29.640 --> 0:49:31.560 It's always good to be out there physically in the field. 0:49:31.600 --> 0:49:31.719 You know. 0:49:31.800 --> 0:49:34.080 Mentally is one thing, and he's doing that. He's in 0:49:34.120 --> 0:49:37.160 the meetings, he studying, he's been great about all that, 0:49:37.480 --> 0:49:38.920 and then the physical thing. You just don't want to 0:49:38.960 --> 0:49:40.960 fall too far behind. You know, every week that passes 0:49:41.000 --> 0:49:44.120 and can be different, and you want to set yourself 0:49:44.160 --> 0:49:46.279 up to success. And we expect a great year from 0:49:46.280 --> 0:49:48.880 Schamar and so part of that will just be getting 0:49:48.920 --> 0:49:49.719 up to speed when he does. 0:49:49.760 --> 0:49:50.360 Get on the field. 0:49:50.520 --> 0:49:54.439 Oddly enough, the eleven unsigned first round picks include two 0:49:54.520 --> 0:49:58.080 more from the AFC North, the Browns Mason Graham and 0:49:58.160 --> 0:50:02.840 the Ravens Malachi Starks. Topic number two is another defensive 0:50:02.960 --> 0:50:06.560 end drafted in the first round by Cincinnati, Miles Murphy, 0:50:06.960 --> 0:50:10.439 and watching Miles during defensive line drills, he looks lean 0:50:10.640 --> 0:50:14.520 and fast. Murphy told Bengals dot Com editor Jeff Hobson 0:50:14.600 --> 0:50:18.280 recently that he's improved his diet in the offseason, including 0:50:18.360 --> 0:50:23.360 eliminating sugary cereals, and the change in his physique is noticeable. 0:50:23.880 --> 0:50:27.479 New defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery is eager to work 0:50:27.520 --> 0:50:31.360 with Murphy and try to help him reach his immense potential. 0:50:31.520 --> 0:50:33.480 Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest thing is we 0:50:33.480 --> 0:50:36.320 can just clean up some technique and fundamental things that 0:50:36.400 --> 0:50:39.879 can help them. You know, is this not like he's 0:50:39.920 --> 0:50:43.560 a bad football player. I mean, the kid's got he's 0:50:43.600 --> 0:50:47.480 got good size, he plays hard. You know, we can 0:50:47.520 --> 0:50:52.799 clean up hands, eyes, feed pad level, you know, help 0:50:52.880 --> 0:50:55.640 him put a better you know, rush playing together from 0:50:55.680 --> 0:50:59.560 a standpoint on how you want to attack guys, how 0:50:59.560 --> 0:51:05.200 somebody's going to set you those things. But like, I 0:51:05.680 --> 0:51:07.600 see a kid that has a chance to be a 0:51:07.600 --> 0:51:08.480 good football. 0:51:08.160 --> 0:51:11.319 Player, and following the retirement of Sam Hubbard, Miles is 0:51:11.400 --> 0:51:14.880 definitely going to get increased opportunities to show what he 0:51:14.920 --> 0:51:19.320 can do this year. Topic number three is a potential 0:51:19.360 --> 0:51:23.560 Bengals Pro bowler, Tyson Anderson, who is entering his fourth 0:51:23.600 --> 0:51:26.760 season has emerged as one of the best special teams 0:51:26.800 --> 0:51:30.480 performers in the league, leading the Bengals in special teams 0:51:30.560 --> 0:51:33.480 tackles in each of the last two years. 0:51:33.880 --> 0:51:35.399 I just want to be the best special teams player 0:51:35.400 --> 0:51:38.120 in this league. We got a lot of great guys 0:51:38.160 --> 0:51:42.879 in this league. Schooler reeves, there's a lot of great dudes, 0:51:42.960 --> 0:51:44.759 Killer Brew, It's a lot of great dudes. I just 0:51:44.760 --> 0:51:46.320 want to be brought up in no discussion. 0:51:46.600 --> 0:51:48.080 Try to push for all pro seasons. 0:51:48.160 --> 0:51:50.680 I got some big goals, but just trying to take 0:51:50.680 --> 0:51:51.719 baby steps to get there. 0:51:51.760 --> 0:51:55.000 But that's not his only goal. Gino Stone and Jordan 0:51:55.120 --> 0:51:58.560 Battle are the projected starters at safety, but the Bengals 0:51:58.560 --> 0:52:02.440 did not draft one or sign a veteran in free agency. 0:52:03.080 --> 0:52:06.040 Does Anderson view that as a vote of confidence that 0:52:06.120 --> 0:52:07.719 he can contribute in the secondary? 0:52:07.840 --> 0:52:09.120 This for sure confidence booster. 0:52:09.239 --> 0:52:11.719 Just know that they I guess they view me as 0:52:11.840 --> 0:52:16.479 a player who can contribute in this league, so for sure. 0:52:16.520 --> 0:52:20.000 But I'm confident regardless. So it's all interconfidence for sure. 0:52:20.120 --> 0:52:24.120 Anderson has great size and speed, but has not played 0:52:24.320 --> 0:52:27.799 any snaps on defense in the regular season. It'll be 0:52:27.840 --> 0:52:31.799 interesting to see if that changes under Al Golden this year. 0:52:32.560 --> 0:52:36.520 Topic number four is Jermaine Burton. I mentioned on this 0:52:36.600 --> 0:52:39.439 podcast last week that I've been encouraged by what I've 0:52:39.480 --> 0:52:42.520 seen so far from the second year wide receiver at 0:52:42.560 --> 0:52:45.680 practice and in the building. After a rookie year that 0:52:45.800 --> 0:52:49.160 featured too many instances of being laid or not living 0:52:49.280 --> 0:52:53.360 up to team standards, Burden is taking steps toward earning 0:52:53.360 --> 0:52:56.760 the trust of teammates and coaches. Here are Zach Taylor 0:52:57.040 --> 0:52:57.880 and Joe Burrow. 0:52:58.000 --> 0:52:59.879 All you can handle on is the president right now, 0:53:00.239 --> 0:53:01.520 and I think he's done a good job of that 0:53:01.640 --> 0:53:04.520 this offseason. He's been in the building, seen in the 0:53:04.520 --> 0:53:07.880 building outside of work hours, you know, doing his own thing, rehaving, 0:53:08.920 --> 0:53:11.080 preh having I should say, just keeping his body right. 0:53:11.760 --> 0:53:14.880 And so again he's attacked every practice and meeting the 0:53:14.960 --> 0:53:17.279 right way, and that's what he can control right now, 0:53:17.280 --> 0:53:18.960 and so so I appreciate that from treumat. 0:53:19.080 --> 0:53:21.520 I think he's stuffed up this year so far, he's 0:53:21.600 --> 0:53:23.120 taking it very seriously. 0:53:24.800 --> 0:53:25.280 Matured. 0:53:25.320 --> 0:53:29.200 It seems like that's exciting to see. I know, based 0:53:29.200 --> 0:53:32.000 on conversations that we have had, he's in a good 0:53:32.040 --> 0:53:34.680 spot mentally and physically, and he's been working hard. 0:53:34.719 --> 0:53:37.760 So that's exciting to see and exciting to hear, keeping 0:53:37.800 --> 0:53:40.360 in mind that we are a long way from the 0:53:40.400 --> 0:53:44.840 season opener in Cleveland. The fifth and final topic involves 0:53:44.920 --> 0:53:48.520 Joe Burrow's appearance on the upcoming second season of the 0:53:48.560 --> 0:53:54.120 Netflix Quarterback documentary. This edition features Burrow, Jared Goff, and 0:53:54.239 --> 0:53:58.240 Kirk Cousins and the highs and lows they experienced last year. 0:53:58.880 --> 0:54:02.080 Joe discussed it with Porters for the first time this week, 0:54:02.400 --> 0:54:05.640 sharing that he agreed to do the show after getting 0:54:05.640 --> 0:54:09.520 a call from Peyton Manning, who is an executive producer. 0:54:09.160 --> 0:54:10.920 Caught me on the on the right day, I guess, 0:54:11.360 --> 0:54:14.960 but you know, I think it's gonna be I think 0:54:14.960 --> 0:54:18.960 it's gonna be good entertainment. Not necessarily the season that 0:54:19.960 --> 0:54:25.800 I wanted to have in that spotlight, but you know, 0:54:25.840 --> 0:54:29.319 I think a big part was Peyton being involved. 0:54:29.000 --> 0:54:29.439 In it too. 0:54:30.280 --> 0:54:33.000 You know, I have a lot of respect for him obviously, 0:54:33.880 --> 0:54:38.600 and what he did does is as a person, so 0:54:39.840 --> 0:54:41.840 that guy reaches out to you and asks you to 0:54:41.840 --> 0:54:44.640 do something, then you know, most of the time I'm 0:54:44.640 --> 0:54:45.239 going to say yeah. 0:54:45.360 --> 0:54:48.600 Zach Taylor hopes the show gives viewers an added appreciation 0:54:49.040 --> 0:54:52.359 for what it takes to be a great NFL quarterback. 0:54:52.000 --> 0:54:54.719 And appreciation of what they go through every single day 0:54:54.719 --> 0:54:56.880 of a game and over the course of a season, 0:54:57.080 --> 0:54:59.960 and how their role can evolve as a season goes, 0:55:01.040 --> 0:55:05.840 the stresses they deal with in game, the pressure is 0:55:05.880 --> 0:55:08.799 not the right word that they put themselves, but just 0:55:08.920 --> 0:55:12.080 the commitment that they put in during the week. I mean, 0:55:12.120 --> 0:55:16.560 if you really filmed every install meeting we have, you know, 0:55:16.640 --> 0:55:21.239 from Wednesday through Saturday night in which I think that 0:55:21.239 --> 0:55:23.400 they do, their cameras are in there, so you're going 0:55:23.440 --> 0:55:25.480 to see some of that stuff with us, and it's 0:55:25.520 --> 0:55:29.640 impressive and it's not many people can do it. It's 0:55:29.680 --> 0:55:31.920 why there's only thirty two starters in the world, you know, 0:55:31.960 --> 0:55:36.640 at this level, and it's Having played the position, I 0:55:36.640 --> 0:55:38.759 obviously have a strong appreciation for what you go through 0:55:38.760 --> 0:55:42.520 physically and mentally. But again, the top dogs at that position, 0:55:42.640 --> 0:55:44.719 like Joe, I mean, what they put themselves through and 0:55:45.000 --> 0:55:47.719 the mental stress that they can handle and process so 0:55:47.840 --> 0:55:52.399 quickly is unbelievable. I'd be hard pressed to say it's 0:55:52.400 --> 0:55:55.799 matched at any position anywhere, just because of what they've 0:55:55.800 --> 0:55:58.279 got to go through mentally and physically. And so you know, 0:55:58.400 --> 0:56:00.279 I'm sure we'll see some of that with this that 0:56:00.280 --> 0:56:00.560 comes on. 0:56:00.800 --> 0:56:03.800 I for one can't wait. The show is scheduled to 0:56:03.840 --> 0:56:07.239 be released in July. That's going to do it for 0:56:07.280 --> 0:56:09.880 this episode of the Bengals Booth Podcast, brought to you 0:56:09.920 --> 0:56:13.239 by pay Core, Proud to be the Bengals Official HR 0:56:13.360 --> 0:56:17.880 software provider, by Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet designed 0:56:17.880 --> 0:56:20.600 to elevate your home, business and community to a new level, 0:56:21.040 --> 0:56:24.760 and by Kettering Health the best care for the best fans. 0:56:24.920 --> 0:56:28.600 Kettering Health is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. 0:56:28.960 --> 0:56:31.719 If you haven't done so already, please subscribe to this 0:56:31.880 --> 0:56:33.880 podcast and if you have a minute, give it a 0:56:33.960 --> 0:56:37.800 rating or share a comment that helps more Bengals fans 0:56:38.080 --> 0:56:41.680 find us. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for listening to 0:56:41.840 --> 0:56:43.719 The Bengals Booth Podcast