1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,479 Speaker 1: Hi, get everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 2 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:10,719 Speaker 1: the Bengals Booth Podcast. The There's just no telling how 3 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: far I'll go. Addition, as we look ahead to the 4 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four season with Robert Weintraub, who writes about 5 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:22,279 Speaker 1: the Bengals for the FTN Football Almanac and Cincinnati Magazine 6 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: dot com. The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you 7 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: by pay Core, Proud to be the Bengals official HR 8 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 1: software provider, by Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet designed 9 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: to elevate your home, business and community to a new level, 10 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 1: and by Kettering Health the best care for the best fans. 11 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: Kettering Health is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. 12 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: Now here's a quick reminder that you can have the 13 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: latest edition of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, 14 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: or computer by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's 15 00:00:55,560 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: the greatest thing since the Cincinnati Three Way. No, this 16 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: is not a reference to Skyline Chile. The three Way 17 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: in this case is the trio of Joe Burrow, Red 18 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:13,400 Speaker 1: shortstop Eli de la Cruz and FC Cincinnati midfielder Lucco Acosta. 19 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 1: Does any city have a more fun and charismatic trio 20 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: of sports stars in different sports than Cincinnati. De la 21 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: Cruz is an All Star at twenty two years old 22 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 1: and on a pace to have twenty six homers in 23 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:32,320 Speaker 1: seventy eight stolen bases this season. Acosta is the reigning 24 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: MLS MVP and currently has five more assists than anybody 25 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 1: else in the league. Leonel Messi ranked second, and the 26 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: last three times Joe Burrow has finished a season healthy, 27 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: he's won a college national championship, gone to the Super Bowl, 28 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: and made it to the AFC Championship Game. They say 29 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 1: that good things come in threes, and I can't think 30 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: of another city with a better trio of must see 31 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 1: sports stars. Now time for this week's guest. The ft 32 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: On Football Almanac, formerly known as the Football Outsiders Almanac, 33 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 1: came out this week and if you're thinking about buying 34 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: one preseason guide to the NFL, this is the one 35 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: to get. There are a lot of stats in advanced 36 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 1: data in the book if that's your thing, but I 37 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: mostly enjoy it for the writing. The Almanac is not 38 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: only informative, it's very entertaining. There's an in depth look 39 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 1: at every NFL team and the Cincinnati chapter was written 40 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 1: by my friend Robert Weintraup, who also writes about the 41 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: Bengals on a regular basis for Cincinnati Magazine dot com. Robert, 42 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 1: I want to start with a sentence in your season 43 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: preview that sounds a little ominous for Bengals fans. 44 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 2: Here's the quote. 45 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: The team is poised for one more championship run before 46 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:56,519 Speaker 1: Joe Burrow's massive contract extension fully kicks in in twenty 47 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,640 Speaker 1: twenty five. Do you view this as something of a 48 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: make or break year? 49 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 2: Make or break is awfully strong, you know, especially in Cincinnati. 50 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 2: I know they don't ever look at, you know, their 51 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 2: team that way. It's always with a big picture, and 52 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 2: certainly fans don't want to think of it that way 53 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:17,919 Speaker 2: in terms of, hey, we got to be here next year. 54 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 2: What's going to happen if they don't win the Super Bowl? 55 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 2: Joe Burrow's gonna be traded, you know. I mean Jamar 56 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 2: Chay He's going to go into his fashion career and 57 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 2: Jamar Chase will be alongside him wherever he goes. And 58 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 2: Perry or Milan or whatever. I don't think so, And 59 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 2: it's not really so much that state of mind as 60 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 2: much as it just is. As we all know, Burrow's 61 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 2: contract extension really kicks in starting next season goes I 62 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 2: thinking cap percentage somewhere along the lines of from you know, 63 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 2: twelve percent to seventeen percent going from next year to 64 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 2: this year. And last year was only around eight so 65 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 2: you know, obviously the cap goes up. Things change. We 66 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 2: don't have to worry too much about that. But I 67 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 2: definitely think there's a sense that the time is not 68 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 2: you know, I think there was that sense last year too, 69 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 2: and obviously it got you know, Pig Skinnis interrupt this 70 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 2: as I call it in the in the almanac this 71 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 2: year because of the fact that Burrow was hurt and 72 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: they had some problems, but mainly it was because of 73 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 2: the fact we didn't get to see Joe at his 74 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 2: full you know, greatness is I like to always point 75 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 2: out with you, and you know, now is a season 76 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,159 Speaker 2: where he can pick up where he left off before 77 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 2: he got injured for good last year. And I think 78 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 2: we're seeing, you know, the team realize that with t 79 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:34,839 Speaker 2: Higgins one more run, maybe you know some other players 80 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 2: who we don't know about just yet, but you know, 81 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 2: I think it's really more of the fact that they've 82 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 2: drafted now, you know, so heavily on defense. In the 83 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 2: last three years of their ten premium picks, eight have 84 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 2: been on defense. It's it's almost like a combination of 85 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 2: a make or break and a transition year. It's time 86 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 2: for those guys to kind of step forward and become 87 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 2: the new core of the defense. The new core of 88 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: the team really let the team win in somewhat different ways, 89 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 2: rather than relying on the burrow and the passing attack 90 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 2: all the time. Do kind of what Kansas City has 91 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 2: proven they've been able to do over the last couple 92 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:11,039 Speaker 2: of years. They re energized and reignited their defense with 93 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 2: great drafting and didn't have to rely on Patrick Mahomes 94 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 2: quite so much until the time came, you know, in 95 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:22,040 Speaker 2: the postseason when his greatness shown. I think that's a 96 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 2: plan and a method of attack for the Bengals probably 97 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 2: would want to use in the end too, win in 98 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 2: a lot of different ways. And then when they have 99 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 2: to have Joe come through, we know he's capable of 100 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:31,479 Speaker 2: doing so. 101 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: All right, So, as you pointed out, t Higgins is 102 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 1: the most obvious star who could be gone at the 103 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 1: end of the year. The market for Tea I think 104 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 1: has been established by some of the other contracts that 105 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 1: are out there. It's probably around twenty three million dollars 106 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: a year. Jamar Chase is going to get Justin Jefferson's 107 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: money roughly thirty five million dollars a year. So, in 108 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:55,799 Speaker 1: your opinion, should they try to keep both of those 109 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,599 Speaker 1: guys at those prices or they are are they better 110 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 1: off spending he's approximately twenty three mili on other positions? 111 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 2: Yeah? Well, I mean I think that decision's pretty much 112 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 2: been made really that they're not going to resign Tee 113 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 2: barring you know, unforeseen circumstances happening. You never really know. 114 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 2: I mean, God forbid, Chase could get hurt and they 115 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 2: feel like they need Higgins or me to you know, 116 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 2: they can franchise tag him again for another year, potentially 117 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 2: next year. So you know, nothing is obviously written in concrete. 118 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 2: But I think the overall vibe is a you can't 119 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 2: pay two receivers enormous money, or if you can, you're 120 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 2: really hamstringing your team in other areas, especially if you're 121 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,120 Speaker 2: also paying the quarterback huge money. That's that's now you're 122 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 2: talking about an enormous percentage of your cap tied up 123 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:46,480 Speaker 2: in just three guys, and we've seen, especially with t 124 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 2: you know, injuries are going to you know, play a 125 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 2: major factor. As part of the reason why his you know, 126 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:56,480 Speaker 2: sort of contract projection as you put it, around twenty 127 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,159 Speaker 2: three million ish is so low is mainly because he 128 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 2: hasn't been able to stay on the field over the 129 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,359 Speaker 2: last year a year and a half. So, you know, 130 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 2: I think they think to themselves wide receivers are much 131 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 2: more replaceable than some other positions. We've seen that all 132 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 2: through the league. It's not really a reflection on TEA. 133 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 2: Kind of reminds me of where Aj Green was a 134 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 2: little bit in his first year with Burrow, Burrow's rookie year. Obviously, 135 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 2: he and Green and t Higgins are different places in 136 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 2: their respective careers, but it was sort of the same 137 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 2: can you stay healthy? Are you worthy of a bigger 138 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 2: contract right now? Where are you? He's sort of caught 139 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 2: in between. It's in his best interest to have a 140 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 2: big season this year. Obviously, that would help him in 141 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 2: the market, it would help the Bengals greatly obviously, and 142 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 2: it might rethink and recalibrate the Bengals thinking too. But 143 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 2: I think overall, they're probably more inclined to spend the 144 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 2: money elsewhere, you know, eventually replace at other positions of need, 145 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 2: which are going to have to do and spend more 146 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 2: money to do so. And you know that's where a 147 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 2: guy like Jermaine Burton, who they were happy to get 148 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 2: in the third round this year, players are going to 149 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 2: have an important role this season already as to show 150 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 2: themselves worthy of being replacements for Higgins. And if that's 151 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 2: the case, then you know everybody will shake hands and 152 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 2: move on. But I do think in their minds it's 153 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 2: certainly leaning towards this is Te's final year in Cincinnati. 154 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: A perfect segue to asking you about the draft, because 155 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 1: you read about this year's draft class for Cincinnati Magazine 156 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: and called the picks solid but slightly risky in your view, 157 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: was this the time to take big swings on players 158 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 1: like Jermaine Burton, who had some maturity concerns and first 159 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: round pick Marius Mims, who had some injury issues. 160 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, you know, we say is at the time. 161 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:45,319 Speaker 2: It's sort of like if a guy who you think 162 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 2: is as quality and as high level of potential as 163 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 2: Amarius Mims is available to you where he was in 164 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 2: the draft, you know, and there's always a good time 165 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 2: to do that. You know, it remains to be seen 166 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 2: whether their evaluation is correct, but there's no question that 167 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 2: he has the sort of pedigree and talent and overall 168 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 2: physical presence that was worthy of a top ten pick, 169 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 2: and they obviously got a much later than that, So 170 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 2: you know, there's never a wrong time to do that theoretically. 171 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 2: I mean, if they had been picking in the top 172 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 2: ten and had their choice, would they have picked a 173 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 2: quote unquote safer guy there? Maybe, But you know, I 174 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 2: think it's he was obviously the pick where they got him, 175 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 2: and I don't think they thought of it as a 176 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 2: particularly big risk. You know, we just look at it 177 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 2: from a sort of background point of view. He had 178 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 2: some injury problems at Georgie, didn't get a lot of 179 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 2: playing time, so he's not the finished product. But you 180 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 2: can't argue with his prospect. He's as high graded prospect 181 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 2: as they've drafted on the offensive line in some time, 182 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:48,199 Speaker 2: really so. And in terms of Burton, again, they were 183 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 2: very comfortable with taking him where they did. Clearly I 184 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 2: think they thought about taking him earlier than that. I 185 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:56,680 Speaker 2: think TJ. Houschmanzata was in their ears, saying take this guy, 186 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:58,679 Speaker 2: and they listened to TJ and how could you not? 187 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 2: I mean, you know, Who'sh's Who'sh's magic when it comes 188 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 2: to that kind of stuff. And again, you know, they 189 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 2: need a player of his caliber to step forward if 190 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 2: they are going to replace t. Higgins next year and 191 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 2: they need a you know, ideally a first round level player, 192 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 2: and if they can get him in the third round, 193 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 2: then yeah, that was that was turned into a great pick. 194 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 2: Whether it happens or not remains to be seen obviously, 195 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 2: but you know there's no oh, you know, we had 196 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 2: to play it safe this year because of Burrows contract 197 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 2: kicking in or anything like that. I think the two 198 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:35,560 Speaker 2: are pretty mutually independent. You take the prospect, the best 199 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 2: one where you can get him, and how he fits 200 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 2: into your team, and looking ahead for this year and 201 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 2: next in the year after potentially without thinking to yourself, oh, 202 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 2: like you know, oh, with this big year for us 203 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 2: in terms of getting to the super Bowl, we got 204 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 2: to take our big swings on uh, you know, boomer 205 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 2: Bus dish products. You know, for the most part, everybody 206 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 2: is a boomer Bus prospect. Really, I mean there's only 207 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 2: a handful of guys you know are going to be 208 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 2: really good players, like Jamar Chase and Joe Burrow. Everybody 209 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 2: else you crossing your fingers a little bit, so I 210 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 2: don't even really look at it that way. I thought 211 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 2: they did a good job getting those guys where they did, 212 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 2: and now you just hope that they can contribute, and 213 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 2: the earlier the better. 214 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: Robert Weintraub is our guest. He writes about the Bengals 215 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: for Cincinnati Magazine, and he has written the Bengals chapter 216 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 1: and this year's FTN Football Almanac. The almanac projects win 217 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: totals for every NFL team. The Bengals check in at 218 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:30,199 Speaker 1: nine point eight with a sixty percent chance of making 219 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 1: the playoffs. Can you give us a reader's digest version 220 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 1: of how that's calculated and what it means? 221 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 2: Well, as I have told you in the past, we 222 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 2: play out the season and it's your favorite number one 223 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 2: million times through with the doctor evil impressions in that sense. 224 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 2: But yes, we played the season out humongous number of times, 225 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 2: and that just counts for every potential variable, and you know, 226 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 2: the better teams win more off in in that giant 227 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 2: sample size. It's basically the way to look at it 228 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 2: in terms of the nine point eight number. That doesn't 229 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:10,840 Speaker 2: mean they're going to go ten and seven, you know, definitively, 230 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 2: or nine to eight, however you want to look at it. 231 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 2: It just gives you sort of a baseline approach to 232 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 2: how good they are. And you know, the real place 233 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:20,679 Speaker 2: to look is in the margins in terms of percentages 234 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 2: of their seasons. You know, the Bengals for a long 235 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 2: time kind of were more likely than not to win 236 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 2: fewer than nine games, or really fewer than five games, 237 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 2: and not really win twelve or more, which makes them 238 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 2: what we call a super Bowl contender. This year, you know, 239 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,200 Speaker 2: twenty five percent of those seasons they win twelve plus games, 240 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 2: putting them right into the super Bowl mix. Only I 241 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 2: think four percent of the seasons that they win five 242 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:47,439 Speaker 2: or fewer games, which puts them near to the top 243 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 2: of the draft. And you saw last year, you know, 244 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 2: we I think had the same conversation and I said, 245 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,199 Speaker 2: sort of idly, the only way that was going to 246 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 2: happen where they finished at the top of the draft 247 00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 2: would be a Joe Burrow injury. Sure enough, Joe Burrow 248 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 2: was her and they still won nine games, So I 249 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 2: should tell you the level of the team is obviously 250 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 2: much higher than just dependent on one player. They have 251 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 2: a you know, a very good chance of being in 252 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 2: the mix for the Super Bowl. Whether or not they 253 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:14,319 Speaker 2: win the division, whether or not they win nine games, 254 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 2: ten games, eleven games sort of not really important from 255 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 2: the way we look at it in terms of those numbers. 256 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:22,719 Speaker 2: What is important is there a top flight contender in 257 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 2: the AFC, and you know, barring again more injuries, it's 258 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 2: a key players at key times. Really they should be 259 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 2: right there in the mix. 260 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 1: The schedule could help them exceed nine point eight wins. 261 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:37,679 Speaker 1: The Almanac raided the Bengals schedule last year among the 262 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 1: toughest in the publication's twenty year history. What do the 263 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: numbers tell us this year, at least going into the season. 264 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:47,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, I always have to remember, of course, it's a 265 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:51,200 Speaker 2: projection and anything can happen, as we saw last year. Yeah, 266 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 2: they had the eighth hardiest schedule of all time by 267 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:56,839 Speaker 2: our numbers, in terms of when we've been doing it 268 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 2: since I think we recalculated all the way back to 269 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 2: the nineties now, so you know, it's a long time 270 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,199 Speaker 2: to have the eighth hardest schedule and that was because 271 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 2: of obviously the division was extremely difficult, plus the first 272 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 2: place schedule came around, had a lot of tough games, 273 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 2: and the Bengals actually had a top twelve ranking in 274 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 2: terms of our efficiency which is adjusted by opponents and 275 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:20,359 Speaker 2: the you know, their overall efficiency just as a baseline 276 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 2: was a little bit above average, but then when it 277 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 2: was adjusted because of their difficult schedule, it got much higher. 278 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 2: And you know, we do the same thing as a 279 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 2: projection for coming up this year with the last place 280 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 2: schedule and the rotation and just in terms of you know, 281 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 2: sort of the movement around the league, we project them 282 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 2: as having the twenty seventh hardest schedule in the league. Now, 283 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 2: again that doesn't mean necessarily anything. Teams rise and fall 284 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 2: the time. Look at the Houston Texans, everybody thought, y, oh, 285 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 2: that's the automatic w last year, and of course they 286 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 2: turned out to be a really good team. And you know, 287 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 2: that's written the same way throughout the week, but it 288 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 2: is a sort of baseline to look at and think, Okay, 289 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 2: they have a much better shot at least of having 290 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 2: a few breathers in the schedule where they didn't have 291 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 2: last year. And obviously that was compounded by the fact 292 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 2: that they were playing without Burrow for a lot of 293 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 2: those games, et cetera. And the fact that Jake Browning 294 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 2: did so well when he took over really helped their 295 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 2: overall numbers in terms of efficiency and kind of helped 296 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 2: their projection going forward this year. So that's a big 297 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 2: part of it too. So kudos to Jake. I don't 298 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 2: want to leave him out of this discussion to make 299 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 2: it about Joe, but yeah, the schedule definitely on paper 300 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 2: at least lightens up quite a bit, so hopefully that'll 301 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 2: have a nice effect on the season overall. 302 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 1: How did Browning compare to Burrow? Keeping in mind last 303 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: year that in the first four weeks of the season 304 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 1: Burrow wasn't Burrow. It was just the five game stretch 305 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: after that where he performed as were accustomed to seeing 306 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 1: him perform. 307 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, you know, we didn't necessarily the numbers 308 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 2: don't take that into account. The fans do. We all 309 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 2: saw it. He was not He was a shadow of Burrow. 310 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 2: He wasn't the real Joe. I like to say so 311 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 2: in that sense, you have to take the numbers with 312 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 2: the grand salt. But the good numbers are the Jake 313 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 2: Browning performed exceptionally well on a lot of advanced metrics 314 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 2: and really kind of surprising to me that no team 315 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 2: pushed harder to try and try him loose from Cincinnati. 316 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 2: I thought that, you know, a guy, granted small sample size, 317 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 2: but we've seen it before, backup quarterbacks come in and 318 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 2: have a good half and all of a sudden their 319 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 2: desired commodities around the league, and that didn't happen so 320 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 2: much with Browning. Whether or not he just put it 321 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 2: out there that he wanted to stay in Cincinnati and 322 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 2: that was it, or there were other behind the scenes 323 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 2: machinations I couldn't tell you, but you know, he obviously 324 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 2: gives the Bengals a backup that they haven't had quality 325 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 2: backup they haven't had in the Borough era or even 326 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 2: you know, going back to John Kitnap maybe. So I mean, 327 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 2: that's great to have. As we've seen around the league 328 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 2: and not just in Cincinnati, having a second quarterback rather 329 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 2: than a backup quarterback is very important. I live in 330 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 2: Atlanta and they put their entire drefts around that as 331 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 2: we sell, so you know, it's it's a good thing 332 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:06,879 Speaker 2: to have. And he was very, very strong in our 333 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:10,879 Speaker 2: numbers Browning last year and above Burrow in certain areas 334 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 2: as well. Again you know with the caveat that Burrow 335 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 2: was only Burrow for about a month month and change 336 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 2: last season. 337 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: All right, Robert, what are your biggest concerns and or 338 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:24,479 Speaker 1: question marks going into this season? 339 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 2: Well, I think it's the same as we were having 340 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:29,919 Speaker 2: last season, which was the defense has to step up. 341 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:31,959 Speaker 2: And again it goes back to those rookies and the 342 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,920 Speaker 2: younger players now that I've talked about, you know, stepping 343 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 2: forward and becoming key members of the team. You know, 344 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 2: it's sort of Bengals defense last year in particular, was 345 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 2: unless Trey Hendrickson gets a pass rush, you know, they're 346 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 2: getting gas for huge yardage, whether it's on the ground 347 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 2: or through the year. Uh, you know, the Bengals had 348 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 2: the biggest difference in terms of our numbers when from 349 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 2: between when they got pass pressure on a quarterback and 350 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,920 Speaker 2: between when they did not. In other words, if Henry 351 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 2: Soon got a rush in or you know, one of 352 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 2: the other guys less often, but mainly Hendrickson when he 353 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 2: was around the quarterback, the defense was good. When he 354 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 2: was not around the quarterback, it was good news for 355 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 2: the offense, and they moved the ball pretty much at will. 356 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 2: Bengals were really near the bottom and forcing three and out. 357 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 2: They were terrible in terms of outside the perimeter coverage. 358 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:23,120 Speaker 2: Teams threw deep on him. They were terrible in terms 359 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:26,880 Speaker 2: of tackling. I think they went from seventy six miss 360 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:29,200 Speaker 2: tackles in twenty twenty two to one hundred and twenty 361 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 2: four last season. That's a pretty sizeable leap. Jermaine Pratt 362 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 2: just not to single him out, because it was a 363 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 2: team wide breakdown. It takes a village to be defense 364 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 2: that bad. But Pratt went from six miss tackles in 365 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 2: an outstanding twenty twenty two last year, he missed seventeen. 366 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 2: And I think we can all agree him and Logan 367 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 2: Wilson took a bit of a step back last year. 368 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 2: And the linebackers are a key element in your team 369 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 2: sort of overall run defense and speed vibe, and the 370 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 2: way they played in twenty two is a big reason 371 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:02,919 Speaker 2: the defense was good. Obviously, they played without you know, 372 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 2: their starting safeties from twenty two last year. That's a 373 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 2: concern whether or not Geno Stone can lock down that 374 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 2: deep third of the field and whether or not the 375 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 2: young corners can step up. Does Dax Hill have a role? 376 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 2: There's a lot of question marks around the team. Miles Murphy, 377 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:19,400 Speaker 2: how does he fit in? Do we, you know, get 378 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 2: a real first round production out of him, even though 379 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 2: he's not going to get necessarily the playing time that 380 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 2: you would imagine for a guy picked in the first 381 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 2: round because of Sam Hubbard and Hendrickson's presence. So a 382 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 2: lot of question marks. They have talent, though, I mean, 383 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 2: and that's key, and they haven't established defensive coordinator who 384 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:38,879 Speaker 2: can make the most out of that talent. Who's probably 385 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,640 Speaker 2: I would imagine lou Anrumo anxious to put twenty twenty 386 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,359 Speaker 2: three behind him, get the team back to tackling the 387 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:47,920 Speaker 2: way they were the year before, and really just that. 388 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 2: I mean, if you can improve those tackling numbers even 389 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 2: by half, you know that puts you much closer to 390 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 2: the base one of the league, and your team looks 391 00:19:57,640 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 2: a whole lot better. You get off the field on 392 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 2: third a lot more, and you know you're you're not 393 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 2: always playing behind the eight ball and worrying about the 394 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 2: other team running the ball down in your throat. That 395 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:09,880 Speaker 2: was a big problem last year. We'll see if Chris 396 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 2: Jenkins helps out at all. We'll see how Sheldon Rankins 397 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 2: helps out. Losing DJ Reader was a problem. But you know, 398 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 2: it's not like Sheldon Rankins is not a good run defender. 399 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 2: He's a very good run defender. He had basically the 400 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:26,199 Speaker 2: same run stopping numbers in our stats as Reader. There 401 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 2: are different players, and Reader is more of a you know, 402 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,639 Speaker 2: giant in the middle who just gums up everything, whereas 403 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:34,439 Speaker 2: Rankings actually goes and makes the tackle. But you know 404 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 2: he can play very good run defense when asked. So 405 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 2: I'm you know, I'm anxious to see how that works out, 406 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:43,439 Speaker 2: how the overall run defense steps up after a disastrous 407 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 2: twenty twenty three and if they can make those changes. 408 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,160 Speaker 2: You know this, this guy's the limit for this defense. 409 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,439 Speaker 2: They've played really well in the past. It's just a 410 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 2: question of getting back to that level. 411 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:55,880 Speaker 1: Or with Robert in a moment. But first, a quick 412 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,159 Speaker 1: reminder that the Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you 413 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 1: by pay Corps, proud to be the Bengals official HR 414 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 1: software provider, by Alta Fiber future Proof fiber Internet designed 415 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 1: to elevate your home, business and community to a new level, 416 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 1: and by Kettering Health the best care for the best fans. 417 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:17,160 Speaker 1: Kettering Health is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. 418 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 1: I want to follow up on Trey Hendrickson. Miles Garrett 419 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 1: was the NFL defensive Player of the year. 420 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 2: TJ. 421 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 1: Watt finished second. You point out in the Almanac this 422 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,959 Speaker 1: year that Trey Hendrickson had more pressures than either of 423 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 1: those guys, which I wasn't aware of. Just how good 424 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 1: is Trey Hendrickson. 425 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:38,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, if you will get his numbers, not just last year, 426 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:42,440 Speaker 2: but over the last three years, even basically since Trey 427 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 2: became Trey in Cincinnati, his numbers are right there with 428 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 2: Garrett and TJ. Watt a little bit be slightly behind, 429 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 2: a half step behind, but you know, certainly not to 430 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 2: the point where as I say in the Almanac, you know, 431 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:57,960 Speaker 2: he has basically one one hundredth of the sort of 432 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 2: national Q rating if you of Garrett and Watt. Now, 433 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:05,360 Speaker 2: part of that is because Garrett and would have made 434 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:09,119 Speaker 2: sort of splash gear plays. They have more turnovers. Garrett 435 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 2: obviously is a one man wrecking crew. We've seen it 436 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 2: first hand all these years. It's terrible lot to Hendrickson. 437 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 2: Slightly behind maybe in that respect respect, but he's been 438 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:21,920 Speaker 2: outstanding in terms of generating pressure on quarterbacks, and as 439 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 2: I alluded to before, he's basically the one man who 440 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 2: sort of sets the tone for the Bengals defense. If 441 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:31,200 Speaker 2: he's around the quarterback, the Bengals defense looks a heck 442 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:33,159 Speaker 2: of a lot better. And when he's not on the field, 443 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:36,920 Speaker 2: you really notice it. So it's a big problem that 444 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,119 Speaker 2: they haven't really been able to generate rush outside of 445 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:43,280 Speaker 2: him for the most part, and his presence on the 446 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 2: field a lot is key, and I think that you know, 447 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 2: he has to play a few more snaps probably than 448 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:52,239 Speaker 2: is maybe warranted for his advancing years, and just in 449 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 2: general at the length of the season, you'd like to 450 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 2: get that third pass rusher, which is why Murphy again 451 00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 2: is so key, I think for this season to get 452 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 2: another player at least in the stratosphere of Hendrickson's ability 453 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,280 Speaker 2: to get near the quarterback. And as for you know, 454 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:09,919 Speaker 2: just in terms of why he doesn't get the you know, 455 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 2: same pub as a Garrett or what part of it 456 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:14,919 Speaker 2: is because they're they're the Bengals and not the Browns 457 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:17,119 Speaker 2: and the Steelers who have you know, the huge national 458 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 2: followings and certainly the Steelers, and you know, his personality 459 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:24,639 Speaker 2: is not just what the other two guys are. Perhaps 460 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:27,480 Speaker 2: it's hard to really know for sure. The Bengals generally 461 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,120 Speaker 2: don't get those kind of, you know, sort of national 462 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,919 Speaker 2: love as other teams players do necessarily I'm here stumping 463 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 2: for you, Trey, though I think you should. And he 464 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 2: talk about great pass rushers. Pass rushers excuse me in 465 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:43,719 Speaker 2: the league really has to include Hendrickson because he's right 466 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 2: up there and at the top. You know, more than 467 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 2: just one year now, it's been a it's been a 468 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 2: large sample size. 469 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,720 Speaker 1: Robert Weintraub is our guest. He wrote the Bengals chapter 470 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: in the FTN Football Almanac this year. There's some interesting 471 00:23:55,880 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 1: data in the almanac about the age where players traditionally 472 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:05,200 Speaker 1: decline at each position, so it breaks it down by position, 473 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 1: and for running backs, the age is twenty eight. Joe 474 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:13,399 Speaker 1: Mixons about to turn twenty eight. Did the Bengals act 475 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:14,160 Speaker 1: at the right time? 476 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 2: You know, it's amazing how the narrative has changed, because 477 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,480 Speaker 2: at this time two years ago, we were talking about 478 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:23,639 Speaker 2: is it time to move on from Joe Mixon. Feels 479 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 2: like we've had this discussion for a while, and then 480 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:27,639 Speaker 2: they signed him and he played well, and then of 481 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 2: course last year he took a pay cut to stay, 482 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 2: and it was sort of a surprise that he did, 483 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:34,879 Speaker 2: and he responded with an excellent season. I have no 484 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:37,560 Speaker 2: doubt that he has football left in the tank, and 485 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 2: we all love Joe, but that doesn't mean the time 486 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 2: wasn't right for him to go. He certainly is not 487 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:45,240 Speaker 2: an explosive back, and they were looking to up their 488 00:24:45,359 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 2: explosiveness out of the backfield. I think there's no question 489 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 2: about that. I don't know if it was necessarily just 490 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 2: because he's turning twenty eight. I think in a couple 491 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:57,960 Speaker 2: of places they did what I call doing the Belichick, 492 00:24:58,040 --> 00:24:59,680 Speaker 2: which is you get rid of a guy maybe a 493 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 2: year earlier rather than a year too late. I think 494 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 2: you saw that with DJ Reader. Really that was a 495 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 2: you know, sort of a fifty to fifty on defense decision, 496 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 2: and sometimes it's better just to pull the cord. Now 497 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:14,119 Speaker 2: with Mixing, I think, you know, the handwriting was on 498 00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 2: the wall last year and it was sort of, you know, 499 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:19,600 Speaker 2: surprised that he came back and played so well and 500 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:22,359 Speaker 2: he had an excellent season. Finally catching the ball on 501 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:24,680 Speaker 2: the backfield they used them the way we'd been us 502 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:27,360 Speaker 2: analyst types had been begging for the team to use 503 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 2: him all these years, and he had an outstanding season 504 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 2: catching the ball. The good news is Zach Moss, his 505 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:36,679 Speaker 2: nominal replacement, at least partially, had a very good season 506 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 2: also catching the football, and we saw what Chase Brown 507 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:42,679 Speaker 2: can do in his limited snaps as a receiver. They 508 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 2: should be able to make that happen. It still feels 509 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:46,639 Speaker 2: to me like the Bengals are a little light in 510 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:48,520 Speaker 2: the running back room, and I mean that in a 511 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 2: literal way. They could use sort of the extra poundage 512 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 2: that they lose with mixing at twenty five. They don't 513 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:58,399 Speaker 2: really have a running back of that size or you know, 514 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 2: Moss three for eleven inside the five yard line last 515 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 2: year in terms of punching it into the end zone. 516 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:07,400 Speaker 2: Chase Brown no real history of that, but doesn't seem 517 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 2: like that kind of running back necessarily. You'd like to 518 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:12,520 Speaker 2: have a guy, as they were talking about last year, 519 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 2: perhaps getting in Jamal Williams type frame back there and 520 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:18,760 Speaker 2: if he's cut, maybe he's available, or you know, a 521 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:21,479 Speaker 2: guy in the street, even like Kareem Hunt, who you know, 522 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 2: we don't think of as having much left, but he 523 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 2: was outstanding in short yardage situations last year, and we 524 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:29,159 Speaker 2: know he can catch the football. Well, somebody like that 525 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 2: just who you know isn't going to get a lion's 526 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:33,679 Speaker 2: share of the carries, obviously, but somebody who can improve 527 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 2: your depth and in those specific short yardage situations where 528 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:39,960 Speaker 2: the Bengals were terrible last year in part because of 529 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:43,080 Speaker 2: the offensive line but also because of running back situations. 530 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:46,480 Speaker 2: I think they'd be well behooved to add to their mix. 531 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 2: And I think, you know, a three headed monster is 532 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:51,119 Speaker 2: better than a two headed monster in this scenario. 533 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 1: Maybe some I JP Ryan gets cut. 534 00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:58,080 Speaker 2: That's possible. I mean, certainly he would be welcomed back 535 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:01,879 Speaker 2: with open arms. I tend to doubt it, just because 536 00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:05,160 Speaker 2: he's such a good, heady player, a safety valve, very 537 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:07,879 Speaker 2: good receiver. We know he's good in pass protection. And 538 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:10,520 Speaker 2: then you have a rookie quarterback now in Denver. Presumably 539 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 2: that's kind of a guy you'd like to have around 540 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:15,640 Speaker 2: a rookie and you know, just be a security blanket 541 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 2: of the backfield. So I'd be surprised, But stranger things 542 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,080 Speaker 2: have happened, and I'm sure that the Bengals will be 543 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:24,760 Speaker 2: circling around all the cuts who who you know, code 544 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:27,800 Speaker 2: down to the wire there and probably almost certainly will 545 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 2: sign somebody else you know going forward. 546 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:34,200 Speaker 1: I also just want to clarify that doing the Belichick 547 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 1: does not refer to dating a much younger woman. 548 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 2: If you're correct, and you know, it doesn't mean that 549 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:47,480 Speaker 2: you appear at a roast all of a sudden for 550 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:50,040 Speaker 2: your ex quarterback and deal a sense of humor that 551 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:53,639 Speaker 2: you've had apparently tucked away for lo these many years. 552 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 2: But there's many definitions of doing the Belichick. I chose 553 00:27:56,880 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 2: the on field and the front office one, no question. 554 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:02,200 Speaker 1: All right, let's talk about some of the other teams 555 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 1: in the division. Baltimore is projected to win eleven point 556 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:08,679 Speaker 1: two games, Number one in the AFC, number two in 557 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 1: the NFL behind San Francisco. I think the Ravens lost 558 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:16,960 Speaker 1: more good players and coaching talent than any other team 559 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:19,399 Speaker 1: in the NFL, But it doesn't seem to have had 560 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:23,639 Speaker 1: much impact on the FTN Football Almanac forecast. 561 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:27,680 Speaker 2: Why not, Well, mainly because they were coming from such 562 00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:29,919 Speaker 2: a high place to begin with. It's sort of like, 563 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 2: you know, if you're on top of the Empire State 564 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:36,480 Speaker 2: Building or the Bursh Khalifa and you step down into 565 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:39,200 Speaker 2: an ordinary skyscraper all of a sudden, it's like, oh, 566 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 2: what happened? But the truth is, you know, yes, I agree, 567 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:45,880 Speaker 2: they've lost a lot of players in a lot of depth, 568 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 2: and it doesn't get much run. I feel like in 569 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:51,240 Speaker 2: the national media, not yet anyway, were stir early. But 570 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:54,320 Speaker 2: you know, three fifths of their offensive line, and obviously 571 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:58,240 Speaker 2: they're highly talented defensive coordinator Geno Stone as we know 572 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:01,400 Speaker 2: in Love, etc. Et cetera, Odell Beckham who had sort 573 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 2: of an underrated not necessarily statistical performance but just sort 574 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:08,400 Speaker 2: of the presence on the team last year. I thought 575 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:10,480 Speaker 2: he helped. But let's face it, they still have a 576 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 2: lot of really good players. They're really strong that spine 577 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 2: of their defense with Mattibuike and Rokwan Smith and Kyle 578 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:21,000 Speaker 2: Hamilton his outstanding obviously got the MVP at quarterbacks, So 579 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:24,960 Speaker 2: that's a good place to start. And you know, there, 580 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 2: we've seen it before. They've lost a lot of players 581 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 2: and you sort of think other Ravers in or trouble, 582 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:34,040 Speaker 2: whether through free agency and trays and things like that, 583 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 2: or just from injuries, and yet they still somehow managed 584 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 2: to have a good team. They have a great organization. 585 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:42,160 Speaker 2: As we know, they're really our chief rival. I think 586 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 2: in a lot of ways, you know, not not emotionally necessarily, 587 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 2: but just sort of realistically, and you know, underestimating them 588 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 2: is something I've learned to do and not to do 589 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:57,280 Speaker 2: anymore or at my peril. So you know, they're they're 590 00:29:57,320 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 2: still very high, and you know that's kind of why 591 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 2: you know, the projection system still loves where they're at, 592 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:06,760 Speaker 2: is because they were so good last year and they 593 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:09,000 Speaker 2: didn't have very far to fall and even you know, 594 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:12,760 Speaker 2: unless they lose Lamar or something like that, you know 595 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:15,440 Speaker 2: they're still going to be a handful in the AFC Overall. 596 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:18,640 Speaker 1: In the question, the Browns have the third highest projected 597 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 1: wind total in the division at nine point two. The 598 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 1: Almanac describes Cleveland as having one of the best non 599 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 1: quarterback rosters in the NFL. So let's talk about the quarterback. 600 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 1: Deshaun Watson has played twelve games in two years in Cleveland. 601 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:34,600 Speaker 1: The traditional stats aren't goods past the ratings bad. He 602 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:38,880 Speaker 1: hasn't thrown many touchdown passes. What did the advanced stats 603 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:43,080 Speaker 1: say about Deshaun Watson's play when he's been available. 604 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:46,920 Speaker 2: It's been bad. I mean, there's just no way, you know, 605 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 2: around that. And I'm not saying it's a bad thing 606 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:54,120 Speaker 2: as a Bengal fan either. Yeah, I think you saw 607 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:56,480 Speaker 2: what they did last last year in Cleveland, though in 608 00:30:56,600 --> 00:31:01,719 Speaker 2: large part was because they got want to they get Watson. 609 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:04,640 Speaker 2: He was hurt, you know, but they played almost the 610 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:08,480 Speaker 2: way they wanted to play without Watson in there, which 611 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 2: is never a safe position. But because of the contract, 612 00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:14,320 Speaker 2: they can't really admit that out loud, certainly and to themselves. 613 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 2: Maybe you know that the offense looked the way I 614 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:20,040 Speaker 2: think they wanted it to play much more with Joe 615 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:23,840 Speaker 2: Flacco than with Deshaun Watson. And you know they brought 616 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:27,320 Speaker 2: in Ken Dorsey as no offensive coordinator to sort of unleash, 617 00:31:27,480 --> 00:31:30,720 Speaker 2: if you will, a deeper game that Flacco managed to 618 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:34,800 Speaker 2: get done. For Deshaun Watson, the question is is he 619 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:37,760 Speaker 2: capable of that? You know, first of all, coming off 620 00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:41,240 Speaker 2: a shoulder surgery that's obviously going to have some effect. 621 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:43,600 Speaker 2: It's hard to know what. And more to the point, 622 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:46,800 Speaker 2: he hasn't played like the quarterback that quote unquote Deshaun 623 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:51,400 Speaker 2: Watson is supposed to be in you know, a lifetime 624 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:54,240 Speaker 2: in terms of NFL the way of thinking. It's I 625 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:56,400 Speaker 2: can't even remember, you know what year was when I 626 00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:59,160 Speaker 2: last went into a game thinking, Oh, Deshaun Watson's going 627 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:01,160 Speaker 2: to win this one by him. So, you know, the 628 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:04,240 Speaker 2: Browns last year did a lot with mirrors. They had 629 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:08,680 Speaker 2: obviously an outstanding defense, and they finally sort of addressed 630 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 2: the properts and a lot of those guys like Martin 631 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:17,480 Speaker 2: Emerson and the joker Ousu Carasmo and you know, various 632 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:20,200 Speaker 2: other players on their defense and really had an outstanding unit. 633 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 2: But you know, their their offensive baseline, which we always 634 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:28,080 Speaker 2: think of with the Browns, their great offensive line wasn't 635 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:31,000 Speaker 2: so great last year. And now they lose Bill Callahan, 636 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:34,960 Speaker 2: their all time great offensive line coach, who should have 637 00:32:34,960 --> 00:32:36,960 Speaker 2: been in Cincinnati all these years. I'll never get over 638 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:40,920 Speaker 2: that either. But that's another side topic. So there's question 639 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:42,800 Speaker 2: marks there. You know, they kind of ran the football 640 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:45,120 Speaker 2: a little bit with mirrors last year, got some big plays, 641 00:32:45,120 --> 00:32:48,640 Speaker 2: but weren't very efficient about it. And of course now 642 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:50,760 Speaker 2: you don't know what you're gonna get with Watson, and 643 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:53,200 Speaker 2: I think they showed their hand by ruy loading up 644 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 2: in terms of backups in Cleveland, they have now four 645 00:32:56,840 --> 00:33:01,440 Speaker 2: guys who could realistically play, not Joe Flacco. So yeah, 646 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:03,560 Speaker 2: they're a real question mark for me. They had a 647 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:06,000 Speaker 2: good projection because they had a very good season last 648 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:11,479 Speaker 2: year and it's not like they lost obvious players aside 649 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:13,280 Speaker 2: from Bill Callahan. You know, you know, look at their 650 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:16,760 Speaker 2: roster and think, oh, it's going to get substantially worse. 651 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 2: But of course, as we know, the quarterback is the 652 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:23,640 Speaker 2: main you know pull on your entire team, and I 653 00:33:23,640 --> 00:33:25,080 Speaker 2: don't think they can count on that, and I don't 654 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:27,520 Speaker 2: think anybody watching them should count on that until you 655 00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:28,840 Speaker 2: see it out of Deshaun Watson. 656 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:31,680 Speaker 1: And finally we get to the Steelers. They have the 657 00:33:31,720 --> 00:33:35,000 Speaker 1: lowest projected win total at seven point four. Don't you 658 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:39,080 Speaker 1: number crunchers know that a Mike Tomlin coach team is 659 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:41,160 Speaker 1: going to find a way to win at least nine games. 660 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:44,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, we've got to figure that into the algorithm. Somehow. 661 00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:48,600 Speaker 2: Surpise that Mike hasn't shown up at the offices and 662 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:51,240 Speaker 2: just you know, started smashing things and talking, you know, 663 00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:53,320 Speaker 2: one of his great pep talks and said we're winning, 664 00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:55,240 Speaker 2: We're going nine to eight. I don't care what we 665 00:33:55,320 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 2: have to do or what the numbers say. It is 666 00:33:57,920 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 2: true they somehow managed to pull that winning record out 667 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:05,120 Speaker 2: of their posterior seemingly every year without particular reason for it. 668 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:07,440 Speaker 2: I mean, it's not like they don't have good players. 669 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:10,160 Speaker 2: And I think a large part this year the projection 670 00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:13,319 Speaker 2: system is looking at the course their quarterback situation and 671 00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:17,400 Speaker 2: thinking to themselves, well, you got you replaced one or 672 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:20,160 Speaker 2: two or three bad quarterbacks with one or two or 673 00:34:20,640 --> 00:34:25,640 Speaker 2: x bad quarterbacks, and what's going to change? And you know, 674 00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:30,240 Speaker 2: the projection last year they obviously exceeded, but that doesn't 675 00:34:30,239 --> 00:34:32,440 Speaker 2: mean that we should project them to do that again. 676 00:34:33,480 --> 00:34:35,359 Speaker 2: You know, like you say, they always find a way. 677 00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:39,879 Speaker 2: So perhaps that's just you know, the numbers not really 678 00:34:39,880 --> 00:34:42,520 Speaker 2: taking reality into account. But it's hard to take that 679 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:45,400 Speaker 2: kind of magic into account when you look at their team. Now, 680 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:48,600 Speaker 2: it's possible that either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields find 681 00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:51,400 Speaker 2: some sort of magic out of nowhere and blend with 682 00:34:51,520 --> 00:34:55,080 Speaker 2: Arthur Smith. They're a new offensive coordinator and obviously Tomlin 683 00:34:55,239 --> 00:34:58,600 Speaker 2: and they're better than we think. But it's going to 684 00:34:58,640 --> 00:35:01,319 Speaker 2: be very hard for you know, again the projection ships 685 00:35:01,360 --> 00:35:03,760 Speaker 2: and these to see it before they believe it, especially 686 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:06,560 Speaker 2: with quarterbacks who have had you know, several poor seasons 687 00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:10,279 Speaker 2: in a row and ancholytically like Wilson and fields. So 688 00:35:10,920 --> 00:35:13,800 Speaker 2: despite you know, having players like t. J. Watt on 689 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:16,560 Speaker 2: the field and Jalen Warren and all their other good players, 690 00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:18,400 Speaker 2: and you know, they have a decent roster. It's not 691 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:21,799 Speaker 2: like they're a bad team. We know that firsthand. But 692 00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:25,120 Speaker 2: just looking at their projection, it's hard to see them 693 00:35:26,320 --> 00:35:28,799 Speaker 2: again doing anything until the quarterbacks prove that they can 694 00:35:28,840 --> 00:35:30,800 Speaker 2: do it one or the other. Sort of the same 695 00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:33,000 Speaker 2: situation with the Browns were in. They're just kind of 696 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:36,840 Speaker 2: the Browns writ a little bit less talented. Really, the 697 00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:39,880 Speaker 2: Browns have a little bit more of a steadier defense 698 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 2: than last year than the Steelers did and the more 699 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:45,000 Speaker 2: of a reliable kind of way to win games. The Steelers, 700 00:35:45,239 --> 00:35:47,359 Speaker 2: you know, as we know, seem to you know, find 701 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:50,759 Speaker 2: these miracle ways of pulling w's out of nowhere, and 702 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:54,080 Speaker 2: it's not sustainable and not something the projection system likes 703 00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:56,160 Speaker 2: to see. So that's that's why they're ready to low. 704 00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:59,240 Speaker 2: But again, you know, I don't think any any Bengal 705 00:35:59,280 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 2: fans taking the Steelers and looking at them and scalping 706 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:04,680 Speaker 2: and not worrying when we play them, that's for sure. 707 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:08,640 Speaker 1: We have about three minutes left in our zoom call 708 00:36:09,239 --> 00:36:12,440 Speaker 1: time for one more topic. I was excited to see 709 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:15,920 Speaker 1: the latest two entries in the NYC one thousand in 710 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:19,319 Speaker 1: my inbox today. For those who are not familiar with 711 00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:24,160 Speaker 1: this incredible project that you have undertaken, explain the NYC 712 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:24,960 Speaker 1: one thousand. 713 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:27,799 Speaker 2: It's hard to believe I'm still alive, but I am, 714 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:31,239 Speaker 2: and about two hundred entries into it, we're getting down 715 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:34,040 Speaker 2: totter number eight hundred. Now I am counting down ranking 716 00:36:34,120 --> 00:36:37,880 Speaker 2: the top one thousand sporting events in New York City history. 717 00:36:37,920 --> 00:36:40,960 Speaker 2: I am in New Yorker. You are too, although you're 718 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:44,839 Speaker 2: more state than city. But yes, it's kind of a 719 00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:47,120 Speaker 2: side project that I do on my sub stack, the 720 00:36:47,280 --> 00:36:51,040 Speaker 2: NYC one thousand. Just google that or winehrap r dot 721 00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:55,160 Speaker 2: substack dot com and you can see where I've gone through. 722 00:36:55,239 --> 00:36:58,040 Speaker 2: The conceit is. It has to have happened in New 723 00:36:58,120 --> 00:37:01,000 Speaker 2: York proper, the footprint there, So you know, a Super 724 00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:03,560 Speaker 2: Bowl that the Giants played in Miami does not count 725 00:37:03,680 --> 00:37:05,520 Speaker 2: as long as that happened in New York. And of 726 00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:09,600 Speaker 2: course that goes through you know, over a century and 727 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:12,520 Speaker 2: a half now almost of not just sporting events, but 728 00:37:12,800 --> 00:37:15,280 Speaker 2: really the history of New York, the history of the country. 729 00:37:15,719 --> 00:37:19,440 Speaker 2: So much has happened there that relates to how, you know, 730 00:37:19,520 --> 00:37:22,320 Speaker 2: sports and the culture have really grown together. It's really 731 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:24,319 Speaker 2: interesting to see when you go back and look at 732 00:37:24,360 --> 00:37:27,880 Speaker 2: things like a match from the eighties between Martine and 733 00:37:27,920 --> 00:37:32,400 Speaker 2: Navatarova and Steppie Garoff, how enormous and how epical that 734 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:36,000 Speaker 2: seemed to the time, and yet you know now it's like, oh, yeah, 735 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:38,600 Speaker 2: we've moved on. Who were those two? You know? But 736 00:37:38,760 --> 00:37:40,719 Speaker 2: I like to relive the fact that these were two 737 00:37:40,840 --> 00:37:44,480 Speaker 2: enormous sporting figures. And obviously that doesn't even take into 738 00:37:44,480 --> 00:37:47,920 Speaker 2: account all the great athletes and all the great sporting events, 739 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:50,439 Speaker 2: not to mention teams that have taken place in New York, 740 00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:54,360 Speaker 2: really the heart of the sporting city and the cultural 741 00:37:54,360 --> 00:37:57,120 Speaker 2: capital of the world, one would argue. So anyway, that's 742 00:37:57,160 --> 00:37:59,000 Speaker 2: what I've been doing on the side for the last 743 00:37:59,040 --> 00:38:01,680 Speaker 2: couple of years, and keep on keeping on until we 744 00:38:01,719 --> 00:38:04,399 Speaker 2: get to number one. Hopefully I'll still be alive. This 745 00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:07,759 Speaker 2: project won't kill me or other outside forces will keep 746 00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:09,960 Speaker 2: me going, and we'll find the countdown, and then I'll 747 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:12,200 Speaker 2: start in on the Cincinnati two to fifty or whatever 748 00:38:12,200 --> 00:38:14,560 Speaker 2: you think the proper number is, Dan, and we'll go 749 00:38:14,600 --> 00:38:15,000 Speaker 2: from there. 750 00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:18,000 Speaker 1: I love it well. You mentioned Martine and Stephanie. They 751 00:38:18,080 --> 00:38:21,520 Speaker 1: are the subject of the most recent entry, number eight thirteen. 752 00:38:22,239 --> 00:38:24,520 Speaker 1: You're writing about their match in nineteen eighty six was 753 00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:27,000 Speaker 1: so entertaining that I watched a chunk of the match 754 00:38:27,080 --> 00:38:29,879 Speaker 1: on YouTube. So you do a great job with the 755 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:34,600 Speaker 1: NYC one thousand and for the FTN Football Almanac, the 756 00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:38,399 Speaker 1: Bengals chapter is great. Robert, always appreciate your time. Thanks 757 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:40,560 Speaker 1: so much for joining us, and keep up the great work. 758 00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:43,359 Speaker 2: Thanks so much, Dan, The pleasure is always mine. 759 00:38:44,040 --> 00:38:45,880 Speaker 1: You don't have to be a New Yorker to enjoy 760 00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:49,600 Speaker 1: Robert's list of the top one thousand sporting events in 761 00:38:49,640 --> 00:38:52,959 Speaker 1: the New York City area. Is writing is the fun part. 762 00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:56,600 Speaker 1: If you're interested in checking it out, just search for 763 00:38:57,000 --> 00:39:01,960 Speaker 1: NYC one thousand sub stack. That's going to do it 764 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:04,279 Speaker 1: for this episode of the Bengals Booth podcast, brought to 765 00:39:04,280 --> 00:39:06,840 Speaker 1: you by pay Core, Proud to be the Bengals official 766 00:39:07,400 --> 00:39:11,640 Speaker 1: HR software provider by Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet 767 00:39:11,640 --> 00:39:14,239 Speaker 1: designed to elevate your home, business and community to a 768 00:39:14,280 --> 00:39:17,879 Speaker 1: new level and by Kettering Health the best care for 769 00:39:17,920 --> 00:39:21,320 Speaker 1: the best fans. Kettering Health is the official healthcare provider 770 00:39:21,600 --> 00:39:24,640 Speaker 1: of the Bengals. If you haven't done so already, please 771 00:39:24,680 --> 00:39:27,120 Speaker 1: subscribe to this podcast and if you have a minute, 772 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:30,120 Speaker 1: give it a rating or share a comment that helps 773 00:39:30,239 --> 00:39:34,200 Speaker 1: more Bengals fans find us. I'm Dan Hord and thanks 774 00:39:34,200 --> 00:39:37,200 Speaker 1: for listening to the Bengals Booth podcast.