WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: Bounce Back 0:00:03.680 --> 0:00:06.519 Hig and everybody. I'm Dan Hord and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.559 --> 0:00:09.800 the Bengals Booth Podcast. The last night I took an 0:00:09.960 --> 0:00:13.840 l but tonight a bounce back addition, as the Bengals 0:00:13.840 --> 0:00:16.439 look to rebound from Sunday's loss to the Texans as 0:00:16.480 --> 0:00:21.200 they face the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football coming up, 0:00:21.640 --> 0:00:25.000 Andrew Whitworth will be part of the Amazon Prime broadcast 0:00:25.040 --> 0:00:28.120 team and I'll talk to Big Wit about the Cincinnati 0:00:28.200 --> 0:00:33.240 Baltimore rivalry and his friendship with Joe Burrow. Then I'll 0:00:33.280 --> 0:00:36.200 go one on one with safety Michael Thomas, who hasn't 0:00:36.200 --> 0:00:39.040 appeared in a game yet this year, but continues to 0:00:39.080 --> 0:00:42.120 be one of the biggest leaders on the team. The 0:00:42.159 --> 0:00:44.600 Bengals Booth Podcast has brought to you by pay Corps, 0:00:44.600 --> 0:00:48.559 proud to be the Bengals official HR software provider, by 0:00:48.680 --> 0:00:53.159 Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business, 0:00:53.159 --> 0:00:56.640 and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health 0:00:57.040 --> 0:00:59.760 the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is 0:00:59.760 --> 0:01:03.320 the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now here's a 0:01:03.360 --> 0:01:06.120 quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of 0:01:06.160 --> 0:01:09.920 this podcast delivered write to your phone, tablet, or computer 0:01:10.080 --> 0:01:14.280 by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest 0:01:14.280 --> 0:01:20.840 thing since Jeff Wagner aka Bengal banner Boy. If you've 0:01:20.880 --> 0:01:23.200 ever been to a game at pay Court Stadium, chances 0:01:23.240 --> 0:01:26.280 are you've seen one of the forty foot long banners 0:01:26.640 --> 0:01:30.120 hanging high above the fifty yard line in section three forty. 0:01:30.760 --> 0:01:33.119 They've been made for every home game for more than 0:01:33.160 --> 0:01:37.319 twenty years by a rider dive Bengals fan named Jeff Wagner. 0:01:37.640 --> 0:01:42.240 His social media handle is at Bengal banner Boy. The 0:01:42.240 --> 0:01:46.920 banners are skillfully painted, very clever, and often paid tribute 0:01:46.959 --> 0:01:51.600 to specific players or coaches. Examples include Joey to Chase 0:01:51.840 --> 0:01:56.120 was the Choice and Loudini's d is Elite. 0:01:56.760 --> 0:01:56.920 Well. 0:01:57.000 --> 0:02:01.680 Last week, the banner read coffin Nails Bam Bam bam, 0:02:02.040 --> 0:02:04.640 a nod to what Dave Lapham and I typically say 0:02:05.120 --> 0:02:09.440 after plays that clinch Bengals wins. Unfortunately, there was no 0:02:09.560 --> 0:02:12.800 such play against Houston last week, but here's hoping we 0:02:12.880 --> 0:02:17.200 get to scream that on Thursday night. Now time for 0:02:17.240 --> 0:02:20.680 a game preview, beginning with one of the best players 0:02:20.919 --> 0:02:24.680 in Bengals history. He was a four time Pro Bowler. 0:02:24.720 --> 0:02:27.000 He was the NFL's Man of the Year in twenty 0:02:27.080 --> 0:02:29.200 twenty one, and one day he will be in the 0:02:29.240 --> 0:02:31.720 Pro Football Hall of Fame. It is great to visit 0:02:31.800 --> 0:02:35.079 with our friend Andrew Widworth. Which are going to be 0:02:35.120 --> 0:02:37.000 part of the broadcast team on Thursday Night when the 0:02:37.000 --> 0:02:39.160 Bengals take on the Ravens and you were part of 0:02:39.200 --> 0:02:43.480 that rivalry twenty two times. What stands out about Bengals 0:02:43.600 --> 0:02:44.360 Ravens games? 0:02:45.480 --> 0:02:48.280 Man, I got so many good stories of playing those games. 0:02:48.600 --> 0:02:50.760 I you know, some really good ones. I think one 0:02:50.800 --> 0:02:54.760 of my first starts in Primtime actually was Bengals Ravens 0:02:54.560 --> 0:02:58.680 in Cincinnati. Might have been Thursday Night Football actually playing 0:02:58.760 --> 0:03:01.960 Terrell Suggs. So I'll never forget that moment, you know, 0:03:02.200 --> 0:03:04.360 for first time ever growing up as a fan watching 0:03:04.440 --> 0:03:07.760 him play, getting drafted to Cincinnati and realizing you got 0:03:07.800 --> 0:03:10.640 to playim and prime Time wasn't as exciting, but it 0:03:10.760 --> 0:03:12.880 was fun. There's a lot of great robberies there, man, 0:03:12.880 --> 0:03:14.480 there's a lot of fun. I'll also remember, I think 0:03:14.520 --> 0:03:17.639 twenty ten or eleven, maybe I try to finish Ray 0:03:17.720 --> 0:03:19.800 Lewis after a play and I found out real quick. 0:03:19.840 --> 0:03:22.000 While he's considered their leader in Captain because I think 0:03:22.000 --> 0:03:23.400 the entire defense jumped me. 0:03:23.360 --> 0:03:27.560 After the snap. So I've had some great Bengals Ravens memories. 0:03:27.600 --> 0:03:29.680 Man, it's a lot of fun. The band, the Flags. 0:03:29.720 --> 0:03:31.960 I always loved playing in Baltimore. I tell people now 0:03:32.000 --> 0:03:34.040 it's still one of the places I thought was the. 0:03:33.960 --> 0:03:36.960 Most fun to go play. Just the energy of that stadium. 0:03:37.760 --> 0:03:39.800 The atmosphere is going to be awesome on Thursday night. 0:03:39.840 --> 0:03:42.360 It always is in Baltimore. Let's talk a little bit 0:03:42.360 --> 0:03:45.320 about Joe Burrow. You two became close back in twenty 0:03:45.400 --> 0:03:48.200 twenty when he was recovering from knee surgery and you 0:03:48.280 --> 0:03:51.600 were recovering from knee surgery, hung out on your couch 0:03:51.640 --> 0:03:55.040 in California. What'd you learn about Joe during that time period. 0:03:56.280 --> 0:03:58.760 I think just what a rare duty is man. I mean, 0:03:59.080 --> 0:04:01.520 on the football, off of it, just a rare human being, 0:04:01.600 --> 0:04:02.160 I think I was. 0:04:02.480 --> 0:04:06.520 I walked away from that. Uh. You know, obviously you're. 0:04:06.360 --> 0:04:08.520 Playing at LSU as a fan of his, playing in 0:04:08.600 --> 0:04:11.360 Cincinnati at place I love, you know, like two places 0:04:11.360 --> 0:04:14.000 that I really special in my heart. But I walked 0:04:14.000 --> 0:04:15.720 away from it just a fan of Joe Burrow, the 0:04:15.760 --> 0:04:19.120 man and the competitor, and so I have been an 0:04:19.160 --> 0:04:22.320 avid aviod border of him, and and uh, you know, 0:04:22.360 --> 0:04:25.039 I I producers are guys on the crew. They always 0:04:25.080 --> 0:04:28.280 laugh they know I'm taking Joe's side on anything. Uh, 0:04:28.400 --> 0:04:30.000 just because I believe in him that much. I think 0:04:30.040 --> 0:04:32.560 he's that specially young human being, you know. And and 0:04:32.600 --> 0:04:34.680 I think in this career and where he is in 0:04:35.040 --> 0:04:38.359 this league as a young man, I think that sky's 0:04:38.440 --> 0:04:40.560 the limit. And I can't wait to watch the journey 0:04:40.560 --> 0:04:43.320 and the ride because I think he's just one of 0:04:43.360 --> 0:04:45.680 those guys that being at your best when your best 0:04:45.720 --> 0:04:49.919 is require competitive greatness. He's one of the most unique 0:04:49.960 --> 0:04:52.119 people when he comes to that that I've been around, 0:04:52.200 --> 0:04:54.560 and he has the mindset of it. And so I 0:04:54.560 --> 0:04:56.560 always just get excited and look forward to what the 0:04:56.600 --> 0:04:57.520 journey is going to look like. 0:04:57.560 --> 0:04:58.920 Man, I can't wait to keep following it. 0:05:00.120 --> 0:05:03.080 Let's turn to the guys that are protecting Joe. Since 0:05:03.120 --> 0:05:05.479 their Super Bowl loss to your Rams, the Bengals have 0:05:05.560 --> 0:05:08.640 certainly addressed the offensive line. They've signed three free agents 0:05:08.640 --> 0:05:11.880 that are starting. They drafted Cordel Vohlson. How do you 0:05:11.920 --> 0:05:13.080 think that group is playing? 0:05:13.800 --> 0:05:15.839 I think they've continued to get better and better this year. 0:05:16.000 --> 0:05:18.720 I think that one thing it really sticks out to 0:05:18.760 --> 0:05:20.880 me is that, you know, Jona Williams man what a 0:05:21.279 --> 0:05:23.480 move for him. I mean I was telling somebody this 0:05:23.560 --> 0:05:25.280 a couple of weeks ago. I did a podcast on 0:05:25.360 --> 0:05:28.680 offensive line play, and to me, he's one of those 0:05:28.680 --> 0:05:31.760 guys that this may literally have gone from something that 0:05:32.240 --> 0:05:34.960 you know, you always say in life with career opportunities, 0:05:35.000 --> 0:05:36.840 you know, sometimes what you think could be the worst 0:05:36.920 --> 0:05:40.120 thing ever is the best, I think, and moving to 0:05:40.160 --> 0:05:44.120 the right side maybe something that extends his career and 0:05:44.160 --> 0:05:46.520 even maybe his ceiling in the league as a player. 0:05:46.640 --> 0:05:47.720 I thought. I think he's. 0:05:47.920 --> 0:05:50.159 Really shown that he's got a lot of upside there 0:05:50.160 --> 0:05:54.800 and could be a really solid, you know, consistent player, you. 0:05:54.760 --> 0:05:56.760 Know, and even maybe an elite one. I think that 0:05:56.839 --> 0:05:58.159 he's looked really good. 0:05:58.200 --> 0:06:00.159 So it's being signed to watch and then, you know, 0:06:00.200 --> 0:06:02.680 I think with Orlando and everybody else, it's just it's 0:06:02.680 --> 0:06:04.839 been fun to watch as they've grown together, got to 0:06:04.880 --> 0:06:07.840 know each other. He's me playing a new offense, you know, 0:06:07.880 --> 0:06:09.880 it's for him coming over from Kansas City. It's it's 0:06:09.880 --> 0:06:11.839 still different and getting to know your quarterback. 0:06:12.240 --> 0:06:12.400 Uh. 0:06:12.440 --> 0:06:15.039 He's continued to show why he was that prize free 0:06:15.040 --> 0:06:17.520 agent at that position. And then you know, the rest 0:06:17.520 --> 0:06:19.839 of that group has gotten better and better over the years. 0:06:19.920 --> 0:06:22.920 You know, I know Rod Fitzpatrick, my teammate with the Amazon, 0:06:23.000 --> 0:06:25.520 has plosed with Teddy Karris, so we we get updates 0:06:25.520 --> 0:06:28.200 from Teddy and what a fun guy he is, and 0:06:28.240 --> 0:06:30.680 that group and the interior has really gotten better and better. 0:06:30.760 --> 0:06:33.159 So I think it's a fun group to watch. Maybe 0:06:33.200 --> 0:06:36.159 you know, potentially, you know, the best O line for 0:06:36.200 --> 0:06:38.520 sure that Burrows had since he's been there, and one 0:06:38.560 --> 0:06:40.359 of the better old lines. And you know, in the 0:06:40.360 --> 0:06:43.520 recent memory of Cincinnati, if they continue to progress this way, 0:06:44.000 --> 0:06:45.840 really what they're going to have to lean on though, 0:06:45.839 --> 0:06:48.680 When you've got a special quarterback as unique as Joe, 0:06:48.800 --> 0:06:50.800 you need a special offensive line to go with them. 0:06:50.839 --> 0:06:53.320 And so it's been good to see that group continue 0:06:53.320 --> 0:06:54.559 to get better and better every week. 0:06:55.640 --> 0:06:57.800 Going back to that Super Bowl game you were matched 0:06:57.880 --> 0:07:00.400 up against, Trey Hendrickson has become one of the elite 0:07:00.440 --> 0:07:03.719 pass rushers in the NFL. We've heard that Trey takes 0:07:03.720 --> 0:07:06.400 on a different personality when he's on the field. There's 0:07:06.760 --> 0:07:10.200 on field tray and off field tray. Was it a 0:07:10.320 --> 0:07:11.600 unique experience for you. 0:07:12.560 --> 0:07:15.120 It was you know, he's he's a funny guy man 0:07:15.200 --> 0:07:18.040 on the field, he talks a lot and just a character, 0:07:18.640 --> 0:07:18.880 you know. 0:07:19.240 --> 0:07:21.200 I think there's that famous clip of him and I. 0:07:21.080 --> 0:07:23.640 You know, when a play gets blown dead that he 0:07:23.760 --> 0:07:26.040 keeps rushing and then asked me to stop blocking him 0:07:26.040 --> 0:07:27.480 and like screaming at me by it, and I'm like, 0:07:27.480 --> 0:07:29.280 if you're gonna keep moving, I'm gonna keep moving. That's 0:07:29.280 --> 0:07:32.040 how football works, like, you know, so I don't stop 0:07:32.080 --> 0:07:36.200 till you stop. So it's it's entertaining, but it's fun 0:07:36.200 --> 0:07:37.840 to watch. I mean, he's he's a guy man, his 0:07:38.040 --> 0:07:39.720 energy and passion and he's one of the guys to 0:07:39.800 --> 0:07:43.160 me that that really changed this era of Cincinnati Bengal 0:07:43.280 --> 0:07:45.560 history and the way they play. I mean, honestly on 0:07:45.600 --> 0:07:48.160 that side of the football, the energy and passion he 0:07:48.240 --> 0:07:52.240 plays with, I think that that's who they lean on now, 0:07:52.440 --> 0:07:54.720 especially with some of the safeties gone with Von Bell 0:07:54.800 --> 0:07:56.920 and then Jesse Bates gone. I mean, he's kind of 0:07:56.920 --> 0:07:58.600 that one of those guys that it's like, hey, we're 0:07:58.600 --> 0:08:00.400 gonna look to a veteran on this football team and 0:08:00.440 --> 0:08:03.080 how we play the game of football and compete He's 0:08:03.120 --> 0:08:05.160 that guy. So it's been fun to continue to watch 0:08:05.200 --> 0:08:06.960 him and had a lot of fun playing with him 0:08:06.960 --> 0:08:08.960 in the Super Bowl, just because I'd played him in 0:08:09.000 --> 0:08:10.880 New Orleans a couple of times. But you know, it's 0:08:10.960 --> 0:08:13.360 unique when you go somewhere else and you're kind of 0:08:13.400 --> 0:08:16.280 signed there to be the guy. I think your personality 0:08:16.320 --> 0:08:18.280 comes out a little more. And I thought New Orleans 0:08:18.440 --> 0:08:20.960 I couldn't even remember him speaking, And in Cincinnati he 0:08:21.040 --> 0:08:23.680 was quite a character and we had a good time. 0:08:24.680 --> 0:08:27.920 We're visiting with Andrew Whidworth. You overlapped with Zach Taylor 0:08:27.920 --> 0:08:30.760 for two years in Los Angeles. What are his biggest 0:08:30.760 --> 0:08:31.800 strengths as a leader? 0:08:33.480 --> 0:08:34.240 Oh, man, I. 0:08:34.280 --> 0:08:37.599 Think just consistency and really the pulse he has on 0:08:38.040 --> 0:08:40.520 his guys and his team in his locker room. I mean, 0:08:40.640 --> 0:08:43.560 I can remember him being here and coming to me 0:08:43.600 --> 0:08:45.280 and telling me that he was going to take the 0:08:45.320 --> 0:08:48.640 interview opportunity. And I also remember talking to Duke, you know, 0:08:48.760 --> 0:08:51.120 way before that, even about guys that I thought across 0:08:51.160 --> 0:08:54.040 the league that would be possible candidates. 0:08:54.040 --> 0:08:56.560 And so I was excited to hear that they were 0:08:56.559 --> 0:08:57.480 going to interview. 0:08:57.240 --> 0:09:00.440 Zach and he because he was down one of the 0:09:00.440 --> 0:09:02.760 guys on that list for me, and then to hear 0:09:02.800 --> 0:09:05.240 his act excitement about going there. I can remember him 0:09:05.240 --> 0:09:08.120 talking about Cincinnati with me and us kind of going 0:09:08.160 --> 0:09:10.760 through the city and everything else, and we had some 0:09:10.800 --> 0:09:12.920 good memories of that, and then him getting the job. Man, 0:09:12.960 --> 0:09:14.920 I was so excited for him. I think he's I 0:09:14.920 --> 0:09:17.400 always thought he was this guy to me that like, 0:09:17.960 --> 0:09:20.040 if you've ever played on a team with a really 0:09:20.080 --> 0:09:24.280 good just like a quarterback or backup quarterback who just 0:09:24.360 --> 0:09:25.800 kind of is the guy that you're like, Man, when 0:09:25.800 --> 0:09:28.360 this dude's in the game, you just feel like we're 0:09:28.360 --> 0:09:30.400 gonna do something because he just has that energy and 0:09:30.440 --> 0:09:33.160 belief about himself and just carries himself in a way 0:09:33.160 --> 0:09:36.000 where you know, like when it just comes down to competition, 0:09:36.480 --> 0:09:37.920 we're going to compete in a way that. 0:09:37.840 --> 0:09:39.440 We're gonna have some fun and get after it and 0:09:39.440 --> 0:09:41.280 we're gonna wing it and let it ride. 0:09:41.320 --> 0:09:44.080 And he has that personality and I'm sure his players 0:09:44.120 --> 0:09:46.000 feel that too, that that's who he is. He's a 0:09:46.000 --> 0:09:49.880 fighter and a competer, competitor, and so I think, you know, 0:09:49.880 --> 0:09:51.240 I couldn't be more happy for him. 0:09:51.280 --> 0:09:53.600 Man. I'm really excited to see and continue to watch 0:09:53.600 --> 0:09:54.920 how his coaching career goes. 0:09:56.040 --> 0:09:59.280 There's one player left from your last year in Cincinnati, 0:09:59.280 --> 0:10:01.680 and that's why Tyler Boyd, who's had a great year 0:10:01.679 --> 0:10:03.920 but unfortunately had a costly drop at the end of 0:10:03.960 --> 0:10:06.600 the game last week. As a teammate and friend, how 0:10:06.600 --> 0:10:07.520 would you approach that? 0:10:08.720 --> 0:10:10.400 Oh, Man, I mean, I think you got to remember 0:10:10.400 --> 0:10:12.720 who he's been and what he's been for this franchise. 0:10:12.760 --> 0:10:16.439 I mean, moments are exactly that. They're small moments, and 0:10:16.480 --> 0:10:19.640 that'll be forgotten in three weeks when you know they 0:10:19.640 --> 0:10:21.400 have a chance to get back on this thing. If 0:10:21.400 --> 0:10:24.440 they get back to winning and doing things the right way, 0:10:25.000 --> 0:10:27.440 he'll continue to make plays and be exactly who he's 0:10:27.480 --> 0:10:29.280 always been and. 0:10:29.160 --> 0:10:30.800 Nobody will remember that moment. Man. 0:10:31.000 --> 0:10:35.040 You know, look, setbacks are just great opportunities for amazing comebacks. 0:10:35.040 --> 0:10:38.000 And so anytime you have those moments, I've given up sacks, 0:10:38.040 --> 0:10:39.920 you know, in a critical moment of a game, or 0:10:40.000 --> 0:10:41.720 let a quarterback get hit, or maybe I had your 0:10:41.720 --> 0:10:47.360 best snap. Guys that are wired like Tyler Boyd is man, 0:10:47.720 --> 0:10:50.880 he's gonna have something special happen because that's who he is. 0:10:51.120 --> 0:10:53.920 And you watch those kind of guys play, you know, 0:10:53.960 --> 0:10:57.080 It's almost like having this small thing that you consider 0:10:57.120 --> 0:11:00.559 a setback or a moment that they failed set up 0:11:00.559 --> 0:11:03.560 for an insane run after. And so I expect nothing 0:11:03.640 --> 0:11:05.400 less from him, man, because of the guy he is 0:11:05.440 --> 0:11:07.640 and the competitor is with. 0:11:07.800 --> 0:11:10.120 The Bengals are last in rushing yards per game, They're 0:11:10.160 --> 0:11:13.360 twenty eighth and rushing yards per attempt. Does it matter 0:11:13.520 --> 0:11:15.920 when Burrow and these receivers or do they need to 0:11:15.920 --> 0:11:17.120 get more out of the running game. 0:11:17.760 --> 0:11:18.960 Well, I think you look at it up. 0:11:19.000 --> 0:11:20.840 You know, a lot of people always compare Joe and 0:11:20.880 --> 0:11:23.520 Tom Brady and put them in those sentences of you know, hey, 0:11:23.640 --> 0:11:27.280 these are guys that are similar, those comparisons, and I 0:11:27.280 --> 0:11:29.640 think there is and there's been years where Tom Brady, 0:11:29.679 --> 0:11:31.959 you know, especially in the Tampa years, struggle. 0:11:31.600 --> 0:11:32.400 To run the football. 0:11:32.520 --> 0:11:35.640 His offenses did, but they were still really productive and 0:11:35.760 --> 0:11:36.880 really good football team. 0:11:37.320 --> 0:11:37.520 You know. 0:11:37.640 --> 0:11:40.760 I still think for me, you know, and how I 0:11:40.800 --> 0:11:43.200 love football, I would love to see him, you know, 0:11:43.320 --> 0:11:45.200 find a way to be more effective in the run game. 0:11:45.240 --> 0:11:47.200 I've always said this about him. I mean that's usually 0:11:47.200 --> 0:11:50.240 the first thing that I look to, and when the 0:11:50.280 --> 0:11:53.040 Cincinnati Bengals are running the football well under Joe Burrow. 0:11:54.000 --> 0:11:55.000 They're unstoppable. 0:11:55.320 --> 0:11:58.160 I don't think anybody can stop them offensively if they 0:11:58.200 --> 0:12:00.280 can run the football well, because when they do it 0:12:00.360 --> 0:12:04.080 seems like that offense there's really no answers. And so 0:12:04.200 --> 0:12:06.120 them figuring out the run game and how they can 0:12:06.200 --> 0:12:09.280 run it well and and what situations and who with 0:12:09.360 --> 0:12:11.320 I think that it's a big part of this offense. 0:12:11.360 --> 0:12:13.560 And to me, I put that right there with his 0:12:13.640 --> 0:12:15.520 ability to check the ball down and be able to 0:12:15.559 --> 0:12:17.480 get yards out of that as well, you know, and 0:12:17.520 --> 0:12:19.920 I think that you look over time when Burrow can 0:12:19.960 --> 0:12:21.559 do that, he has the kind of guys that get 0:12:21.600 --> 0:12:24.960 him some yat yardage off of those checkdowns, and also 0:12:25.040 --> 0:12:27.280 the you know, kind of a you know, almost like 0:12:27.320 --> 0:12:29.280 a run, but it's a short version of it, you know, 0:12:29.360 --> 0:12:31.040 and then throwing it. But when you see him be 0:12:31.080 --> 0:12:33.959 able to do that, spread the ball around, get yat yardage, 0:12:34.640 --> 0:12:37.160 and then also them run the football effectively, they're a 0:12:37.160 --> 0:12:39.320 really tough offense to get off the field. And so 0:12:40.120 --> 0:12:41.920 those are really the things I look to when I 0:12:41.920 --> 0:12:44.360 turn on the tape and say, hey, how Cincinnati playing 0:12:44.400 --> 0:12:46.160 up front and how they're playing on offense. 0:12:47.280 --> 0:12:50.160 You see the Thursday Night game every week now with Amazon, 0:12:50.360 --> 0:12:54.199 what's the biggest challenge for players to participate in a 0:12:54.240 --> 0:12:55.040 Thursday night game. 0:12:56.400 --> 0:12:58.960 I mean when I was playing, you know, I don't know. 0:12:59.000 --> 0:13:00.679 I was just one of those guys ever sided with 0:13:00.720 --> 0:13:02.880 the guys who thought it was tough. I mean, to me, 0:13:03.000 --> 0:13:06.160 it's like, you know, if you're a daily rhythm guy, 0:13:06.320 --> 0:13:09.400 to where on Sunday you playing a game, and on 0:13:09.480 --> 0:13:11.400 Monday you come in, you get your lift and you're 0:13:11.480 --> 0:13:14.080 in really your flush or your body and everything else. 0:13:14.120 --> 0:13:16.760 On Tuesday you move. I mean, you look at our week, 0:13:16.920 --> 0:13:19.560 Wednesday and Thursday are usually our roughest, you know, most 0:13:19.600 --> 0:13:22.640 physical days, you know, in our practice schedule anyways, And 0:13:22.679 --> 0:13:25.320 so even later in my career when I didn't practice 0:13:25.360 --> 0:13:27.920 on Wednesdays, Thursday was still like even my career of 0:13:27.920 --> 0:13:31.040 the Rams, I still practiced in every padded practice on 0:13:31.120 --> 0:13:34.839 Thursday because that was our padded day. So I could 0:13:34.880 --> 0:13:37.000 handle that load that day. So to me, when you said, 0:13:37.000 --> 0:13:38.920 all right, man, I get into my rhythm of like 0:13:38.960 --> 0:13:42.560 it's practice Thursday, I'm going in pads playing this game 0:13:42.600 --> 0:13:44.120 and then get a little bit of a bye week 0:13:44.200 --> 0:13:47.200 after it. Man, I was signed up for that any 0:13:47.240 --> 0:13:49.480 week now, maybe that was my age and just want 0:13:49.520 --> 0:13:51.439 a little bit of a break to go in the building. 0:13:51.480 --> 0:13:54.480 But you know, I think to me, the biggest challenge 0:13:54.480 --> 0:13:56.679 really is just, you know, do you have a process. 0:13:56.720 --> 0:13:58.120 And so I think that you see some of these 0:13:58.160 --> 0:14:00.400 guys that maybe they've always trusted their by he just 0:14:00.440 --> 0:14:02.160 heals by the time the next time they play, and 0:14:02.520 --> 0:14:05.600 they're not as on top of those things, take care 0:14:05.600 --> 0:14:08.160 of their body day in and day out, they might 0:14:08.240 --> 0:14:10.080 not enjoy these game as much. But I think if 0:14:10.120 --> 0:14:14.120 you're on top of those type things, then man, you enjoy. Hey, man, 0:14:14.160 --> 0:14:16.600 I get extra couple of days to let the body reset, 0:14:16.720 --> 0:14:19.480 even maybe get more conditioning and different things in that 0:14:19.520 --> 0:14:22.720 I wouldn't only get to get in between games. I've 0:14:22.760 --> 0:14:26.120 always thought to me it was a positive looking at 0:14:26.120 --> 0:14:26.800 this matchup. 0:14:26.880 --> 0:14:29.240 The Ravens defense is number one in the NFL and 0:14:29.280 --> 0:14:32.920 fewest points allowed, number two in yards allowed. What makes 0:14:33.000 --> 0:14:34.520 this defense so formidable? 0:14:35.520 --> 0:14:36.640 Man? They have been special. 0:14:36.680 --> 0:14:39.200 I think, you know, really since the addition of Rokwan Smith, 0:14:39.480 --> 0:14:43.120 you've really seen this defense take that next little step. 0:14:43.160 --> 0:14:45.400 And then they continue to have some guys show up, 0:14:45.440 --> 0:14:47.960 you know, young guys that they relied on. You know, 0:14:48.080 --> 0:14:50.360 that's said, hey, we know these guys eventually are going 0:14:50.440 --> 0:14:52.560 to be who we think they are. And you've seen 0:14:52.600 --> 0:14:54.800 that in their past, Russ, You've seen it in their secondary. 0:14:55.200 --> 0:14:56.720 You know, it's really they're starting to become in a 0:14:56.760 --> 0:14:58.840 group that has a little bit of, you know, similar 0:14:58.880 --> 0:15:00.520 to what Cincinnati had. 0:15:00.200 --> 0:15:00.680 Go on there. 0:15:00.720 --> 0:15:02.920 You know, when you really saw Trey Hendrickson come in 0:15:02.920 --> 0:15:05.120 and DJ Reader and then when Jesse Bates and Von 0:15:05.200 --> 0:15:07.960 Bell and those guys, you almost saw different guys stepping 0:15:08.040 --> 0:15:09.480 up all different levels. 0:15:09.160 --> 0:15:09.880 Of the defense. 0:15:10.320 --> 0:15:12.000 And I think that's one of those things that's really 0:15:12.040 --> 0:15:14.960 made this group tough is that you kind of can 0:15:15.000 --> 0:15:18.000 see playmakers at every different level of it, and they're 0:15:18.000 --> 0:15:19.800 all feeding off of Hey, we got this guy in 0:15:19.800 --> 0:15:23.280 the middle named Rokwan Smith who's a tackling machine. And 0:15:23.400 --> 0:15:25.640 really is that tone center that sets that this is 0:15:25.680 --> 0:15:27.680 the identity and who we are and how we're gonna 0:15:27.680 --> 0:15:28.280 play football. 0:15:29.600 --> 0:15:32.040 Final thing for Andrew Whitworth, what are a couple of 0:15:32.120 --> 0:15:34.240 keys for the Bengals to get out of Baltimore with 0:15:34.280 --> 0:15:35.480 a victory on Thursday night. 0:15:36.600 --> 0:15:38.800 I think they're gonna be really have to be really efficient. 0:15:38.880 --> 0:15:40.880 I mean this team, this team, you know, Baltimore is 0:15:40.920 --> 0:15:42.880 gonna mix it up. They're gonna do some things similar 0:15:42.920 --> 0:15:45.040 to a Buffalo did. Try to disguise mix it up 0:15:45.040 --> 0:15:46.800 a little bit of what they're doing. How they're gonna 0:15:46.840 --> 0:15:49.960 come after you, and they're going to force, you know, 0:15:50.040 --> 0:15:52.320 the Bengals to have some answer for you know what, 0:15:52.360 --> 0:15:54.360 if you're not run the football, we're gonna tee off 0:15:54.360 --> 0:15:56.160 on you. And so they're going to try to make 0:15:56.240 --> 0:15:58.760 Joe get the ball out of his hand, and you 0:15:58.800 --> 0:15:59.880 can't let that pass rush. 0:16:00.000 --> 0:16:00.560 I'm gonna chew. 0:16:00.560 --> 0:16:04.640 But you look at this team Cincinnati typically under Joe 0:16:04.640 --> 0:16:06.640 burrow Man, they've had a response when they've had a 0:16:06.680 --> 0:16:09.640 setback and when they've had a loss, and so it's 0:16:09.640 --> 0:16:11.040 gonna be a lot of fun. And then to see 0:16:11.080 --> 0:16:13.680 Baltimore coming off the two. I mean, somebody was telling 0:16:13.720 --> 0:16:15.120 me the other day that, you know, man, I can't 0:16:15.160 --> 0:16:16.840 believe this happened to us. We got their game and 0:16:16.880 --> 0:16:18.680 they both end up losing. I said, man, this is 0:16:18.720 --> 0:16:20.400 the greatest thing that ever happened to us. Because if 0:16:20.440 --> 0:16:24.119 you know Baltimore and Cincinnati, it's gonna be an absolute 0:16:24.240 --> 0:16:27.240 war come Thursday night, because both these teams do not 0:16:27.360 --> 0:16:30.760 handle losing very well. So it's gonna be fun to 0:16:30.840 --> 0:16:33.280 watch who comes out he gets this done, because I 0:16:33.280 --> 0:16:35.760 know for Cincinnati, you're gonna have to be prepared for 0:16:35.800 --> 0:16:39.280 all the things that this new offense under Lamar really brings. 0:16:39.320 --> 0:16:41.720 It's a different style offense than he's had in the past. 0:16:41.840 --> 0:16:45.200 And then defensively they are really good, so you're gonna 0:16:45.200 --> 0:16:48.160 have to be efficient and you know, hopefully if t 0:16:48.280 --> 0:16:50.400 Higgins is back, you know that'll help them. If not, 0:16:50.960 --> 0:16:53.240 you know what it's gonna be. Jamar Chase is the 0:16:53.280 --> 0:16:55.200 superstar and we're gonna have to prove why. 0:16:56.520 --> 0:16:58.720 Wit after a Hall of Fame career, you are doing 0:16:58.760 --> 0:17:02.160 a fantastic job. It's a broadcaster. It's no surprise. I 0:17:02.200 --> 0:17:04.480 appreciate your time and look forward to seeing you on Thursday. 0:17:04.760 --> 0:17:07.359 Appreciate so much, Sam Man, Thank you always for the time. 0:17:08.240 --> 0:17:10.879 The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Corps, 0:17:10.960 --> 0:17:14.720 Proud to be the Bengals official HR software provider, by 0:17:14.840 --> 0:17:18.600 Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, 0:17:18.640 --> 0:17:22.040 business and community to a new level, and by Kettering 0:17:22.080 --> 0:17:25.400 Health the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health 0:17:25.440 --> 0:17:28.960 is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. I've seen 0:17:28.960 --> 0:17:31.560 a lot of references this week to the bengals lousy 0:17:31.680 --> 0:17:35.840 record in primetime games on the road. Our friend Jay Morrison, 0:17:35.840 --> 0:17:38.800 who covers the Bengals for Pro Football Network, pointed out 0:17:38.800 --> 0:17:42.480 this week that they've dropped fourteen in a row. Those 0:17:42.560 --> 0:17:45.240 numbers are accurate, but as I like to point out, 0:17:45.680 --> 0:17:50.280