1 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:06,359 Speaker 1: I get everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 2 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:10,800 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth Podcast. The Black and Yellow, Black and Yellow, 3 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: Black and Yellow, Black and Yellow Audition as the Bengals 4 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:17,639 Speaker 1: look for a road win against the dreaded, hated, but 5 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: always respected black and yellow wearing Pittsburgh Steelers. Coming up, 6 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: i'll talk to the senior NFL reporter for Sports Illustrated's 7 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: MMQB website, Albert Breer. In May, he wrote a great 8 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: behind the scenes story about Joe Burrow's comeback, and we'll 9 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: get his thoughts on the Bengals QB after the first 10 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:38,639 Speaker 1: two games of the season and much more. My one 11 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 1: on one player conversation this week is actually one on two, 12 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: as I talked to former NC State roommates Jermaine Pratt 13 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 1: and b J Hill about being reunited in Cincinnati. Dave 14 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: Lapham joins me to discuss the latest Bengals news and 15 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: share some keys to beating Pittsburgh. And finally, it's our 16 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: no the faux segment, as we discussed the Steelers with 17 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: a guy who has the team for more than three decades, 18 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: Ed Bouchett. The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by bud Light, 19 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: Seltzer refreshed the game. And here's a quick reminder that 20 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: you can have the latest edition of this podcast delivered 21 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: right to your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, 22 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: Google Play, Spotify, or pod Bean. It's the greatest thing 23 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: since the Bengals fans who regularly turn out for our 24 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: radio shows. Dave Lappleman I host the Bengals Game Plan 25 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: Show at a different Cincinnati area sports bar every Wednesday 26 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: night from six to eight, and there are quite a 27 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,759 Speaker 1: few loyal fans who never miss a show. Of course, 28 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: it helps that we're usually joined by former Bengal standouts 29 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: and have giveaways during the commercial breaks. But regardless of 30 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: the location, or the weather or how the team played 31 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: the previous week, we know that our loyal crew will 32 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: be there. Having said that, the More the Merrier will 33 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 1: be at the Holy Grail across from Great American Ballpark 34 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:01,919 Speaker 1: next Wednesday night, and expect to be joined by Kenny 35 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: Anderson one night before he enters the Bengals Ring of Honor. 36 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: Now let's get to my guests, beginning with Albert Brier 37 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: from Sports Illustrated and it's MMQB website Albert. You have 38 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: written a lot about Joe Burrow in the last couple 39 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: of years, including a great behind the scenes look at 40 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: his comeback from knee surgery. As you talked to Joe 41 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: and his parents and Bengals coaches for that story, what 42 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 1: stood out the most of you. I think it was 43 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 1: sort of how he attacked the rehab and you know 44 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: how aggressive he was about it. And you know that 45 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 1: first offseason for a lot of guys coming into the 46 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 1: NFL is sort of one where you decompress, you know, 47 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: and you think about the way guys come into the 48 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: league and you go from your final college season, then 49 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: usually to a college All Star game, then usually to 50 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 1: the Combine. Then you have your visits, your your interviews, 51 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 1: you have all of that different stuff leading into the draft, 52 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 1: and you get drafted. Then you go to OTAs, then 53 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: you go to mini camp, then you have a little 54 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 1: bit of a break there, then you come back for 55 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: training camp and it's onto the season and really what 56 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 1: it winds up atting up to his eighteen months, you 57 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 1: know where you're just sort of in this meat grinder, 58 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: and you know, I think the fact that Joe was 59 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: so aggressive and attacking this being on the back end 60 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: of that period as a player, I think sort of 61 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: shows how motivated he was to get back. The fact 62 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 1: that he stayed in Cincinnati and worked with his trainer 63 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: there exclusively, didn't take vacations really, I mean, he went 64 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: to Florida with his parents for a little while, I 65 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: think for a week or so or whatever it was. 66 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: But you know, even that, like he was taking his 67 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: work with him, and so I think, you know, as 68 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: much as anything else, Dan, it was the sort of 69 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: I think, constant focus on I need to get myself back. 70 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 1: And I even think that that played into some of 71 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: the struggles early in camp because I know, you know, 72 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: just having talked to him, he wanted to go through 73 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: the whole process of feeling comfortable with people around his 74 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: legs before he saw it in game action, and I 75 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: think that was sort of why things were interpreted as, oh, 76 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: you know, he hit a real roadblock like here in 77 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: the first or set week at camp, whereas he was 78 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: really trying to just just generate and fast track generate 79 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: situations in fast track his recovery. So you know, I've 80 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 1: just sort of been impressed with the think intention, attention 81 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: to detail, and also like how he's really stayed on 82 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: it as much as anything else. You know, at a 83 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: period of time when most guys that age coming into 84 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: the NFL are pretty worn out and need a break. 85 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: So Joe was tremendous in Week one against the Vikings, 86 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: had a tougher time obviously last week against the Bears. 87 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: How do you think he looks through two games? Great 88 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 1: and week one? Not as good in Week two? And 89 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: I think that's part of it too. You know, there's 90 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: gonna be the back and forth, I think a little bit. 91 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 1: I mean, look, they need to play better in front 92 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: of upfront. Two. Um, you know, I think with the 93 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 1: defense looking a little better through two weeks, that's really 94 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: going to be the story of the season. It's what 95 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 1: the offensive line looks like. Not that I need to 96 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: tell you that, because I know you guys have been 97 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: talking about that for over a year now. So you know, 98 00:04:57,920 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 1: I think the things around him were better and we 99 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:01,559 Speaker 1: one than they were in Week two, and that played 100 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: into it, you know. But I did like the way 101 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: that you know, he kind of kept swinging at the 102 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: end and the Bengals had a chance there. Now, obviously 103 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: the Bears plows him out in the end, but they're 104 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: able to take advantage of the turnover and he throws 105 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 1: a touchdown passed so quickly to Tea. I think a 106 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,599 Speaker 1: couple of plays after that, you know. I like the 107 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 1: resiliency in week two and then the overall game operation 108 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 1: in week one, and you know what he was able 109 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: to do down the stretch in that game, and you know, 110 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: changing the play in overtime and getting the ball to 111 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,799 Speaker 1: CJ and um, you know, sort of his command overall 112 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 1: of the offense. I think it's really impressive for a 113 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:35,919 Speaker 1: guy in his second year. And again, there are going 114 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 1: to be some ups and down still because he's only 115 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: in his second year, you know, but I think right 116 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:43,919 Speaker 1: now he's got the Bengals in a chance, in a 117 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 1: position to be competitive every week. And I think he 118 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: even saw it last week in a game where you know, 119 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: quite honestly, like most quarterbacks play like that, yere out 120 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:54,919 Speaker 1: of the game and they're able to put him in 121 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: a position to to to kind of compete in the end. 122 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,279 Speaker 1: And so it was encouraging to me the way he 123 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: kept swinging in that game. And I think you see 124 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 1: too some of the belief that the other players and 125 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 1: the team having him and that they were in that 126 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,039 Speaker 1: situation at the end of the game, even though it 127 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: was as sloppy as it had been for three hours 128 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 1: out there. Our guest is Albert Breer. You can follow 129 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: him on Twitter at Albert Breer. You made a trip 130 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 1: to Cincinnati for training camp in early August. Aside from 131 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: watching Joe Burrow, What were some of the things that 132 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 1: caught your eye. I think one of the things that 133 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 1: sort of come up big for the Bengals early in 134 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:28,279 Speaker 1: the season. This is something that actually Joe point out 135 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: to me, you know, last week was just and this 136 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 1: is something the coaches talked about back in the summer 137 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 1: too when I was there, is sort of how the 138 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,280 Speaker 1: secondary is having an effect on the entire team and 139 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 1: how they focused in the offseason. I'm bringing in and 140 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: guys from winning programs, and so you know, you gotta 141 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 1: at Adobie Woozy who's coming over from Dallas. You have 142 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: a Mike Hilton who's coming over from Pittsburgh. You know, 143 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: you have a Von Bell who played in New Orleans. 144 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: Trey Hendrickson, of course he's not in the secondary, but 145 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 1: he played in New Orleans as well. And so you've 146 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: got all of these guys now on the roster, who've 147 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: been in winning programs, who've been in playoff games, and 148 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: you know, I think the way the secondary is sort 149 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 1: of coming together now and the way you're seeing the 150 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: experience that they've injected in the secondary, you know, through 151 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: being aggressive in free agency, the way that that's sort 152 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: of paying dividends. That's one of the things that's really 153 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: stuck out to me. And I think when you look 154 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: at some of the things that the coaches are a 155 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: staff are talking about over the summer, and then through 156 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 1: two weeks you see those things sort of coming to life. 157 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: It's an encouraging sign. At least the vision that they 158 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: have for the team is working, you know. And so 159 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: I think, you know, having guys like you know, again 160 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: like Cheeto, like Mike Hilton in the building, you know, 161 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: like Avon Bell in the building, and I know he 162 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 1: was acquired a couple of years ago, not this offseason. 163 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: You know, I think you're actually seeing some of the 164 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: beliefs that they're able to inject into the program. And 165 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 1: you know, I think the communication on defense has been 166 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: better on a micro level of the communication on defense 167 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: has been better. This is a result of having those 168 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: veteran players in the equation. But I think overall, just 169 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 1: as far as you know, trying to, you know, make 170 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 1: the team believe that that that they've got a chance 171 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: in every game and that they can be a playoff contender. 172 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: I think bringing in all these guys from winning programs 173 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 1: has really helped for a team that hasn't been in 174 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: the playoffs the last five years. Albert Breer from Sports 175 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: Illustrated is our guest, what does success look like for 176 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: the Bengals this year in your opinion, being in the 177 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 1: running until the end, you know, and in December having 178 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 1: a chance entering that month with you know, an opportunity 179 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 1: to compete for a playoff spot. And then I think 180 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: player developments the other big part of it, you know. 181 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:41,719 Speaker 1: So do these players look like they're ascending at the 182 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: end of the year. Does Joe Burrow look like he's 183 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 1: ascending at the end of the year. Do Jamar Chase 184 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: and Tee Higgins look like they're ascending at the end 185 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: of the year. How's Jonah Williams holding up at left tackle? 186 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:53,599 Speaker 1: You know? On the defensive side, you know, how have 187 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 1: the veteran players come together and maybe elevated some of 188 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,080 Speaker 1: the young guys They have on the roster there. I 189 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: think this year in a lot of different ways, is 190 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 1: going to be about, you know, taking another step in 191 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: Zach Taylor's third year and competing for a playoff spot. 192 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 1: But I also look at like the players they've invested 193 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 1: in and young players they've invested in in the draft, 194 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:15,839 Speaker 1: and I think so much of it's going to kind 195 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: of come down to what this looks like when we 196 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 1: get to the end of the year and whether or not, 197 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 1: you know, you're in December and you're saying, God, these 198 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 1: guys like this Jonah Williams, this Jamar Chase, this Tee Higgins, 199 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: this Joe Burrow, like these guys look really good now, 200 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 1: but man, what are they going to be in twenty 201 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 1: twenty two? Like that, to me is going to have 202 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: to be a big part of the success of this 203 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: season is that, from you know, a player development standpoint, 204 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: they're getting back to where they were in like twenty 205 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 1: eleven and twenty and twelve, when you started to see 206 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: some young players in the who had been in the 207 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: pipeline for a while starting to turn corners. The Bengals 208 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: and Steelers renew their rivalry this weekend. Pittsburgh got off 209 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 1: to a great start with a win at Buffalo in 210 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: Week one, then lost at home to the Raiders last week. 211 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: What's your take on Pittsburgh this year? It's like a 212 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 1: lot of teams. You know, you read a lot into 213 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 1: Week one and then you find out maybe week one 214 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 1: didn't mean as much as as you thought it did. Uh. 215 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: It feels like halfsolute. I mean, it feels like like 216 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: I don't know what the count is, but it feels 217 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 1: like there are a lot of one and one teams 218 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: right now, So you know, I think you know, my 219 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 1: overall feeling on the Steelers is actually sort of mirrors 220 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: what we've just been talking about with the Bengals, which 221 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: is that the offensive line it's going to dictate a 222 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:31,079 Speaker 1: lot as far as how far the team can go. Defensively, 223 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 1: I think they'd be really good. Now that's pending t J. 224 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: Watt's injury and um, you know how quickly they can 225 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 1: get them back and all of that. But defensively, I 226 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 1: think against Buffalo you saw what they're capable of, and 227 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,079 Speaker 1: I think they have a front that's capable of being 228 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: the best in football. And if you start there and 229 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: you're better in the secondary, and I think they believe 230 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 1: they're better in their second than the secondary than they 231 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: have been. Like now, all of a sudden, you know, 232 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:57,839 Speaker 1: I think you're talking about a defense that maybe you 233 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 1: can get back to the level that they were at, 234 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 1: you know, ten fifteen years ago with the Troy Palomalos 235 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: and the James Ferriers and the James Harrisons and the 236 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: Lamar Woodleys. So like, I think the defense is capable 237 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: of being at that level of TJ's, you know, if 238 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: he's healthy and right. And I think for a little 239 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: while at least, that defense is going to have to 240 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 1: carry the offense because they are going to be figuring 241 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 1: out some things now. Naji Harris looks like he's a 242 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:26,319 Speaker 1: real player, and they've got a couple of rookies starting 243 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: on their offensive line, and so I think, you know, 244 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: their ability to kind of develop an identity offensively over 245 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 1: the next i'd say two months is I think going 246 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: to dictate how far they can go, And so much 247 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: of that is gonna ride on how an offensive line 248 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,839 Speaker 1: plays and a group that lost all at once. Now 249 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 1: Alandro Villanueva, David de Castro, and Marquis Pouncy, who have 250 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 1: been foundation pieces for them for quite some time, So 251 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 1: I'd tell you right now, Dan, you know, I think 252 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:56,440 Speaker 1: a team is capable as long as t J. Watt 253 00:11:56,520 --> 00:12:00,120 Speaker 1: is healthy of being elite on defense, a team and 254 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 1: it's got good skill and a team ultimately that's going 255 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: to you know, a lot is going to ride on 256 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 1: their ability to develop that offensive line and bring that 257 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:12,959 Speaker 1: offensive line along. Well. As for t J. Watt, I 258 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 1: think he needs to think big picture and take a 259 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 1: week off. That's just me, but I think that that 260 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:21,200 Speaker 1: would be good for his long term prognosis. Final question 261 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: for Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, Am I correct in thinking 262 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: that you are a big fan of the Bengals new uniforms. 263 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 1: I love them? Yeah, I mean I thought the last 264 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: I had, the last set like had a little too 265 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 1: much going on, you know. And I mean, I don't know, 266 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 1: I'm old school, so I guess you'd call me minimalist, 267 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 1: right like where I think less is more and uh yeah, 268 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,680 Speaker 1: so I think like the fact that they're just and 269 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: I don't know, I'm like, I mean, like, look at 270 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: how I'm dressed right now. I don't know if if 271 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: anybody should be taking fashion advice for me, but m 272 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: I H yeah, I mean I like the fact they 273 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 1: look cleaner to me, and I like the fact that 274 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: they're a little simpler. And I actually made this comment 275 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: a couple of years ago, like, I thought their color 276 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:07,679 Speaker 1: Rush uniforms were awesome, and these feel like kind of 277 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: like a I would say, uh like, kind of like 278 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: a continuation of those. Now. The one thing I would 279 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 1: have done differently, I would have gone with a I'm 280 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: a big fan of the block letters. I think block letters, 281 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: like are the block numbers like the block numbers I 282 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 1: think look great on football uniforms. But other than that, 283 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 1: I think they did. They did a really nice job. 284 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 1: It's a much much cleaner look. And that's I think 285 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 1: about as much fashionate analysis as anybody wants from me. 286 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 1: By the way, Albert is a proud Ohio State grad, 287 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 1: and if you see him on TV or YouTube while 288 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: he's being interviewed from home, you'll notice an Ohio State 289 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: helmet over his shoulder. It's game used and belong to 290 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 1: current Bengal Eli Apple when he was a Buckeye. The 291 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 1: Bengals Booth podcast is presented by Bud Light Seltzer. It's 292 00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:00,319 Speaker 1: light and refreshing with a hint of fruit flavor. When 293 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: the Bengals traded Billy Price for b J. Hill just 294 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: before the start of the season. They not only acquired 295 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: a solid defensive tackle, they added one of Jermaine Pratt's 296 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 1: closest friends. I sat down with the two of them 297 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: this week. They have been reunited in Cincinnati, four years 298 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 1: after they were roommates at NC State linebacker Jermaine Pratt 299 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: and defensive lineman b J. Hill. Jermaine, how did you 300 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 1: two guys wind up rooming together in college? They sep 301 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: their roommates. We was early in rodies, so I guess 302 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: they put us together. You know, I don't know. I 303 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: don't know why. I really don't DJ. Did you two 304 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: hit it off right off the bat? He was kind 305 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: of to hisself at first, being a little a little awkward, 306 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:47,560 Speaker 1: But then we all, you know, that close. So you 307 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: two guys are too young to remember the TV show 308 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: The Odd Couple, But when I was a kid, there 309 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 1: was a show about these two roommates. Oscar was a 310 00:14:56,240 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: total slob, Felix was a neat freak. Jermaine, does that 311 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,520 Speaker 1: describe you two guys living together in college? Pretty much? 312 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 1: I'm neat for you? He told us, law I would 313 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 1: like but I think for the most part, the house 314 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 1: is clean. It'sill like we had like game the season started, 315 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 1: get hited, you know, it started being like a lot 316 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 1: of decent stuff, but it was covering my other roommate. 317 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 1: He was just terrible. It's terrible. We did this is 318 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: and stuff. He always out to play with other days, 319 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 1: but it was my other roommate, So BJ. I've been 320 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 1: out of college for more than thirty years now, but 321 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 1: I still talk to my roommate every few days or 322 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: text him every few days. Have you guys stayed in 323 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: regular contact while you were playing for the Giants and 324 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: he was playing for the Bengals. Oh? Yeah, we talked 325 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 1: perby every other day every day. We always shooting till 326 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 1: the text message, FaceTime or some Instagram, So we always talking. 327 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: And we also lived near each other during the offseason. 328 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: So yeah, he can't get away from both North Carolina guys. 329 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 1: We're talking to Jermaine Pratt and BJ Hill. So this year, 330 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 1: just before the start of the regular season, the Bengals 331 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 1: pull off a trade. They send Billy Price to the 332 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 1: Giants for BJ Hill and now you guys are reunited. Germaine. 333 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 1: What was your reaction to that? Trade from like a player. 334 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 1: At standpoint, I was like inside of you know, getting 335 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 1: a new addition on the defensive line. You know what 336 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: kind of player he is, you know, hard, hard working 337 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: and like take take home blocks to keep the linebackers free. 338 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: So I thought it was a great opportunity for him 339 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: to come play and be better, and then as a 340 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 1: friend being a friend with him, it's a new new 341 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: start for him, you know, new challenges in the NFL, 342 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 1: new opportunity for him to showcase his talent, and whatever 343 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 1: happens after this happens. BJ. When the trade went down, 344 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: was your friendship with Germaine? One of the first things 345 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 1: you thought of, Oh, yeah, that's the first person I 346 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 1: called crazy little story. Um, I called him. I knew 347 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: that Sunday I was gonna get traded. I called him like, 348 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 1: I'm coming to sense. He was like, now you just playing. 349 00:16:57,360 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: Then the day later I called him back, I would 350 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 1: saying I'm really come to sense, and he's like, man, 351 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: why are you playing? Did he call coach or whatever 352 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:06,360 Speaker 1: and ask him? I was like, I told him coming. 353 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 1: So it was I was excited just knowing that he's here. Um. 354 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 1: He made it easy on that, you know, just coming 355 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:15,640 Speaker 1: over here and making you know me field. We're talking 356 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 1: to Jermaine Pratt and b J Hill. So in your 357 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 1: first NFL game as teammates, you forced the fumble and 358 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 1: then recovered the fumble in overtime that led to the 359 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: game winning field goal. BJ had two sacks of Kirk 360 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 1: Cousins in that win. I want each of you guys 361 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 1: to describe the other one as a football player and 362 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 1: as a person and what you admire and respect about him. 363 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 1: So Jermaine, you go first talking about your friend b 364 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 1: J Hill. I would say I forgot the question. I 365 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 1: was stuck out. To be honest, I would say, like, 366 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 1: he just a hard nosed player. You know, a guy 367 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:53,880 Speaker 1: that get outrever, he athletic, three tait and eat whatever. 368 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 1: He could play all over the the line. So he 369 00:17:55,840 --> 00:18:00,199 Speaker 1: was athletic, big, strong, physical guy they can thinking is 370 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,239 Speaker 1: not bagging dead, getting the rusting and like create hit 371 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: in bedfield. And as a person. As a person, he's 372 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 1: a chill, laid back guy, goofy guy. I say, like, 373 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 1: but here, cool guy. All right, BJ, here's your chance 374 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: to talk about Jermaine Pratt as a linebacker and as 375 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: a friend. Uh a line becker he knows what he's doing, 376 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 1: um all the time. He knows what play's about to come, 377 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:27,199 Speaker 1: he knows what the formations, the they're about to line up. 378 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:31,880 Speaker 1: He just he just you know, think ahead. And he's 379 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 1: very smart as a friend, you know, one of my 380 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 1: best friends. Uh routerda No matter what, by you do 381 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 1: it all all right. So your two games into the season, 382 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:45,959 Speaker 1: the defense has played extremely well so far this year. 383 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: You got the Steelers coming up on Sunday, Jermaine, Let's 384 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 1: start with stopping the run, because you guys have done 385 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:53,919 Speaker 1: a great job against Dalvin Cook and David Montgomery in 386 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 1: the first couple of weeks. Three and a half yards 387 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: to carry for those guys. What is the biggest key 388 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 1: to playing great Runde defense. Everybody just doing their job. 389 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 1: You know, everybody had that mentality stopping the run, trying 390 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:09,040 Speaker 1: to eliminate exposal plays and everybody just doing their job 391 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:13,640 Speaker 1: and trying to eliminate trying to one dimension on offense. 392 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,199 Speaker 1: It's hard for a team to really attack you if 393 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 1: you didn't stop the run game. You know, the ring 394 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 1: games started. They got to start throwing the ball or 395 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 1: spreading out, you know what they're doing. And then now 396 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:25,360 Speaker 1: that you got d line ask head that you got 397 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:28,840 Speaker 1: interior guys that can get to them to the quarterback, 398 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:31,440 Speaker 1: yet outside the guys can't get the ball. So it's 399 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:35,120 Speaker 1: really showing showcasing what we brought here over the last 400 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 1: year or so, showing how elite we working and trying 401 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:40,680 Speaker 1: to come together and trying to be that top defense 402 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 1: in the NFL. And BJ, you guys have been getting 403 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 1: after the quarterback. Six sacks in the first couple of games. 404 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:50,440 Speaker 1: What do you think the front four has shown teams 405 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:54,800 Speaker 1: so far this year? Just playing physical, playing tough, and 406 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:58,679 Speaker 1: stopping to run. It's the most important part. I'm sitting 407 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:01,199 Speaker 1: down the run. Didn't have some fun third down or 408 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,880 Speaker 1: whenever they throw the ball, and there was our goal 409 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: the first two games. It's gonna be our goal this 410 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 1: week two well, playing physical, getting not back, use hands 411 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 1: and get to the running back and then get into 412 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 1: the quiabit. Germaine has been great to have you on 413 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: the team for three years. BJ. It's great to have 414 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: you reunited with your former teammate. I appreciate your time. 415 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 1: Best of luck this week. By the way, Pro Football 416 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:30,119 Speaker 1: Focus currently has BJ Hill graded as the fourth best 417 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 1: interior defensive lineman in the NFL. Josh Tupo is ninth 418 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 1: and DJ Reader is eleventh. Impressive stuff by the guys 419 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 1: in the middle of the Bengals defense. Now time to 420 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: discuss some of the key storylines heading into the Pittsburgh 421 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:48,640 Speaker 1: game with my broadcast partner Dave Lapham. Lap I want 422 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 1: to start with the Bengals offensive line. According to ESPN's 423 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:56,680 Speaker 1: pass block win Rate stat the Bengals are seventh best 424 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,680 Speaker 1: in the NFL. According to Pro Football Focuses pass blocking 425 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 1: efficiency rankings, the Bengals are nineteenth in the NFL. So, 426 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:08,200 Speaker 1: according to Dave Lappham, are they top ten? Are they 427 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 1: middle of the pack? Are they lower than that so far? Yeah, 428 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:14,680 Speaker 1: I wouldn't. I would not say that they're much above 429 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 1: middle of the pack. But I think, honestly a lot 430 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 1: of it has to do with who they're playing against too. 431 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: I mean, they're playing against some pretty good defensive fronts. 432 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 1: And I know you can say, oh, you know, that's 433 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: an excuse that's real in Pittsburgh, even though you don't 434 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:31,959 Speaker 1: know exactly who's going to be out there. If T J. Wat, 435 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 1: for example, can't be out there, you know, obviously that's 436 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: a that's a huge factor. But man, don't count Melvin 437 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:41,359 Speaker 1: Ingram Short watching him on tape, Bengals had trouble blocking 438 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:45,640 Speaker 1: him last year. And that guy, that guy's a definite, 439 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:49,880 Speaker 1: definite threat. And they still have Cam Hayward. I mean all, 440 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:51,760 Speaker 1: he's got his thirty three sacks in the last four 441 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 1: years as an interior pass rusher. And and to me, 442 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:59,360 Speaker 1: you know, I guess he's win rate. Everything's subjective. All 443 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: I know is too many times space is an issue, 444 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:09,399 Speaker 1: not necessarily time and times an issue quite quite regularly 445 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 1: as well. But even when there's time there, it's closing 446 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:15,399 Speaker 1: in on them. They're not given enough space. And you know, 447 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: I remember from the very beginning, you know, Tiger Johnson saying, man, 448 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: you know it's not just given the quarterback time. Man, 449 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 1: we got to give him some room, some space. He's 450 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 1: got to see the football field. You know, we can't 451 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:31,639 Speaker 1: we can't be crowding his crowding his space. And uh, 452 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:36,120 Speaker 1: he's right. Joe Burrows stats were far worse in game 453 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: two than they were in Game one, but he told 454 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: reporters today actually felt more comfortable in game two than 455 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:43,920 Speaker 1: he did in game one. How comfortable does he look? 456 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 1: You know, I think I think that repetition breeds comfort level, 457 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 1: you know. I think just just the raw repetition factor 458 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:56,479 Speaker 1: is probably a contributing factor to that. Uh, it's going 459 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 1: to be interesting how long it takes them to design 460 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 1: moving the pocket and that sort of thing getting him 461 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 1: out of pocket, because if you are getting consistent pressure, 462 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 1: the best way to combat it is moved the pocket 463 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 1: a little bit, not give the defensive front a stationary target. 464 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 1: They know, like you know, if he's in the gun, 465 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:19,679 Speaker 1: exactly where he's going to be, if he's under center, 466 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:22,159 Speaker 1: depending on three step five, step seven drop. They have 467 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 1: aiming points, they have targets there. So if you can 468 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:29,399 Speaker 1: disrupt that, you know, and change the launch point, that 469 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 1: could be a factor. And they haven't done that much yet. 470 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 1: They have done it with him in the past, haven't 471 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:37,960 Speaker 1: done it yet that I can recall by design all 472 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:41,199 Speaker 1: that much. So that's that's something that they can do. 473 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,879 Speaker 1: And I think as they feel that he's more comfortable, 474 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 1: and as they become more comfortable seeing he's more comfortable, 475 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:53,480 Speaker 1: I think those things may may eventually occur. But I 476 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 1: do think we talked about the final box that needed 477 00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: to be checked was having that that push in your face, 478 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 1: and that was his mental block at training camp for 479 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: a period of time until it happens live bullets. That's 480 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:09,399 Speaker 1: something that you're you know, you haven't done yet. You know, 481 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:11,840 Speaker 1: it's sure if that's the final box to check, He's 482 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:15,119 Speaker 1: checked that box. You know, it's been checked many times unfortunately, 483 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:18,080 Speaker 1: and I think he's getting more and more comfortable, you know, 484 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:22,160 Speaker 1: having to deal with that. The Steelers drafted some offensive linemen, 485 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:24,719 Speaker 1: none of them in the first round. Two are starting, 486 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: one at left tackle, one at center. The Bengals drafted 487 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 1: three offensive linemen, none of them are starting yet. Here's 488 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 1: my question in the modern NFL, when they don't hit 489 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 1: that much during the week, once the season begins, really 490 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:39,360 Speaker 1: in training camp too, but especially once the season begins, 491 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 1: how does a guy like Jackson Carmen get better to 492 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 1: the point where he can slide into the starting lineup. Yeah, 493 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:47,439 Speaker 1: that's a good point in I mean, I think I 494 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:52,680 Speaker 1: think that they're not is concerned with him his physical 495 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:56,639 Speaker 1: components as much as can he handle all the exotic 496 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 1: Mike Zimmer Sabant on third down, all these exotic pressure packages. 497 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 1: Can he decipher and handle it all in the in 498 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:09,439 Speaker 1: the heated battle? Can he accept communication and pass on 499 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:12,600 Speaker 1: communication and then at the snap of the balls, be 500 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 1: able to apply that communication to full speed action in 501 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 1: front of them and all those kind of things. So 502 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:22,040 Speaker 1: they're they're in that in that, like we talked about before, 503 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 1: that decision making part of Well, I've got veteran players 504 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:28,399 Speaker 1: that I feel like I can trust. They've played a 505 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: lot of football, They've seen a lot of NFL snaps, 506 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:32,920 Speaker 1: They've seen a lot of blitz packages, they've seen seen 507 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 1: seen all this kind of stuff. I feel comfortable with 508 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 1: them mentally, but physically the young bucks may be better, 509 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:43,080 Speaker 1: but mentally we're gonna have to take our lumps. They're 510 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 1: gonna have to take their lumps, and we're gonna have 511 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: to take him as well. And you know, it's like, 512 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:51,159 Speaker 1: as as an offensive line coach, I'd be like with 513 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 1: some young guys not I think Deante Smith to me, 514 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 1: it looked like he kind of caught onto things a 515 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 1: little bit faster, you know, in terms of trans positioning, 516 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:04,080 Speaker 1: and you know, maybe maybe that gap is being closed. 517 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:07,119 Speaker 1: Obviously Smith's been down and Carmen hasn't been if you 518 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:11,680 Speaker 1: activated so, but if I'm an offensive line coach, I'm like, ah, 519 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:13,879 Speaker 1: I know a Rex coming. I just hope it's a 520 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:16,240 Speaker 1: fender bender. I don't want I don't want the car totaled. 521 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:18,760 Speaker 1: I just just make it a little fendom mender, you know. 522 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 1: And Joe Barrow's probably thinking the same thing. So those 523 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 1: are the kind of things that you have to sift 524 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 1: through and sort through a little bit. So A hot 525 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:29,720 Speaker 1: topic this week is throwing deep especially after Jamar Chase 526 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:31,639 Speaker 1: said after the Bears game that the Bengals should have 527 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:34,679 Speaker 1: been doing it earlier in that game. Is that valid? 528 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:41,360 Speaker 1: You know? To me, it's a lot easier to say 529 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 1: after the fact, but you know, you hear you hear 530 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:48,719 Speaker 1: Jamar Chase saying in press conferences, Yeah, I knew it. 531 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:50,880 Speaker 1: He knew it, Joe knew it. We were all talking 532 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,159 Speaker 1: about it. Well, if you guys were all talking about it, 533 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:56,199 Speaker 1: did you talk to the coaches about it? And if 534 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:58,480 Speaker 1: you talk to the coaches about it, how come it 535 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:02,400 Speaker 1: didn't happen? And I do think there were some instances 536 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 1: where the deep ball opportunities were there. T didn't handle 537 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 1: a deep ball, Joe didn't throw it. If Joe could 538 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:12,399 Speaker 1: have had that throw over again, he wouldn't have thrown 539 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:14,159 Speaker 1: He would have thrown more to the middle of the 540 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:17,280 Speaker 1: field than the hash mark because the corner had outside 541 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:19,920 Speaker 1: technique and they were playing outside technique. Was safety helped 542 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 1: the whole day, and he took it back to the 543 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 1: corner more than to the middle of the football field. 544 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:28,440 Speaker 1: So where the ball was thrown, you know, the spot 545 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:30,080 Speaker 1: that it was thrown too, could have been better, but 546 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 1: t could have still could have made a catch on it, 547 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,480 Speaker 1: and he didn't. You know, another one was thrown out 548 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:39,119 Speaker 1: of bounds. I mean other times, obviously things might have 549 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:41,960 Speaker 1: happened that took it away, including pressure and not being 550 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: able to see things. But you know, it's during the 551 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:48,159 Speaker 1: whole in the second half, I kept saying to myself, 552 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 1: oh man, where's the double move? The double move? Let's 553 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:53,280 Speaker 1: they're so prime for the double move because they're breaking 554 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:55,800 Speaker 1: on everything they're doing. There's you know, they're squat and 555 00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 1: sitting whatever you want to say, and they're just breaking 556 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:01,920 Speaker 1: on these routes. So you know, confidently make them pay. 557 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 1: You know, just a hook and go or a outnup 558 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:06,959 Speaker 1: or whatever. Just a double move takes a little bit 559 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,960 Speaker 1: of time. And then even you know, like like they 560 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:12,360 Speaker 1: hit Chicago hit a couple of crossers. You know, they 561 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:14,640 Speaker 1: missed one and hit one for about thirty yards. Those 562 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 1: take a little time too, and it's like, where are 563 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:18,440 Speaker 1: the crossers? Where are this? Where are that? And it 564 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 1: just seemed like the Bengals almost almost game plan against them. 565 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:26,960 Speaker 1: Cells a little bit. They gave Chicago credit, which they deserved, 566 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:29,119 Speaker 1: but maybe too much credit because they eliminated a lot 567 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:33,000 Speaker 1: of things. You know, I went empty and said, we're 568 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:35,520 Speaker 1: getting out quickly. We're gonna hit our slants, our quicks, 569 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 1: you know, intermediate and short field range passes. And in Chicago, man, 570 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 1: they just they jumped them and they had confidence in 571 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:46,960 Speaker 1: their pass rush. And the thing that probably disappointed me 572 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:49,960 Speaker 1: as a former lineman the most though, is when they're 573 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 1: doing that, they're not loading the box, and they still 574 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:54,200 Speaker 1: didn't run the ball well enough against a box that 575 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 1: wasn't jammed up at that point. You know, you got 576 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:00,480 Speaker 1: to win more of those battles. And that's that's where 577 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:04,880 Speaker 1: I think Chicago really kind of, you know, stuck it 578 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 1: in their face, like, you know, we're not only going 579 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 1: to pass Russia, You're not even gonna be able to 580 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:11,959 Speaker 1: run the ball against us. When when we're not stacking 581 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:13,920 Speaker 1: the box, you know, and we're going to take that 582 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,600 Speaker 1: away from you as well, because the game in the 583 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:19,080 Speaker 1: first half it was, you know, anybody's football game, and 584 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 1: it was until you know, the interceptions, the turnovers in 585 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 1: the third quarter, and then they had their furious comeback. 586 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:26,840 Speaker 1: And in that time frame, it's like I wish I 587 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 1: saw saw more carryover of the momentum they established in 588 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 1: the Minnesota game run the ball, particularly when the box 589 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:36,840 Speaker 1: wasn't that full. So it sounds like Trey Wayne's is 590 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:39,320 Speaker 1: getting closer to coming back. I don't know if it'll 591 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:41,840 Speaker 1: be this week or not too soon to say. Do 592 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:44,760 Speaker 1: you think he's going to have a big impact when 593 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:48,280 Speaker 1: he returns. I think he will. I think he will, 594 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: you know. But the danger now is you can't panic 595 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:55,560 Speaker 1: and say come back too soon and then all of 596 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:59,080 Speaker 1: a sudden, man, you know, it's not quite one hundred percent, 597 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 1: and then you read tweak it and now you're out 598 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 1: another you know, a month plus, and those things can 599 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:08,239 Speaker 1: be they can nag like that. So you know, the 600 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:11,080 Speaker 1: experiences that I had with with guys that had hamstring. 601 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:12,880 Speaker 1: I never pulled a hamstring in my life. I don't 602 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: think I've got one, but you or it wasn't that 603 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:18,680 Speaker 1: that finally tuned where I was going to be pulling it? 604 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 1: I had I had the hamstring of a of a 605 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:25,560 Speaker 1: plow horse, as opposed to Isaac having the hamstring of 606 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 1: a thoroughbread um. But with with Isaac he would always say, 607 00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:34,800 Speaker 1: I feel pretty good. One more week, do that extra week. 608 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:38,840 Speaker 1: That amster week makes a huge difference. So if trades 609 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:42,160 Speaker 1: practicing this week and getting close, it would not shock 610 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 1: me if they decide, you know, one more week and 611 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 1: uh and get it even even better and reduced the 612 00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:51,960 Speaker 1: chance of oh man, it was almost there and then 613 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 1: retweaked it all right. So let's talk about the Steelers 614 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 1: a little bit. They started last year eleven and oh. 615 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:01,239 Speaker 1: They ended the regular season one and four. They got 616 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:03,600 Speaker 1: blown out in their playoff game at home by Cleveland. 617 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 1: Started this year with a great win at Buffalo, then 618 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:08,760 Speaker 1: lost at home to the Raiders. So if he didn't 619 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 1: just quickly do the math at six losses in their 620 00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:13,880 Speaker 1: last eight games going back to last year, how good 621 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:19,120 Speaker 1: are the Steelers. It's an interesting question because you look 622 00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:21,800 Speaker 1: at it. They didn't run the ball worth the darn 623 00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:24,960 Speaker 1: last year, I mean at all. They were just they 624 00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:28,720 Speaker 1: threw the ball three to one, you know, in play selection. 625 00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 1: This year in the first couple of games is still 626 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:34,360 Speaker 1: two to one. So they're still wanting to throw the football. 627 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 1: And Ben, you know, got the ball out of his 628 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:39,200 Speaker 1: hand last year in two point two two point three seconds, 629 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:41,680 Speaker 1: the fastest in the league. He's doing the same thing 630 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 1: this year. He's quick draw mc graw back there. Man, 631 00:31:44,080 --> 00:31:47,320 Speaker 1: he's getting it out. And if you know, I think 632 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 1: he's gonna play obviously, you know, I'd be stunned if 633 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:54,120 Speaker 1: he doesn't. But you wonder they haven't gotten their running 634 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 1: game going yet either this year. I mean, they're dead 635 00:31:57,000 --> 00:32:00,440 Speaker 1: last in the NFL in the yards per carry. So 636 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 1: they drafted rookie running back in the first round, Naji Harris, 637 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:06,400 Speaker 1: thinking they may strike lightning twice with the Harris name, 638 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:08,960 Speaker 1: you know, Hall of Famer and Franco and they haven't 639 00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 1: gotten them going. And you have a quarterback that's maybe 640 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:14,440 Speaker 1: wounded a little bit, you know, you have young offensive line. 641 00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:17,000 Speaker 1: The best thing to do is get the running game established. 642 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:19,520 Speaker 1: At home. I think they're probably going to try to 643 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:22,440 Speaker 1: run it a little bit more than they have. We'll see, 644 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:27,680 Speaker 1: but yeah, it's that the offense is it looks to 645 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:30,120 Speaker 1: me they're still running duo. They're still running some things. 646 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:32,480 Speaker 1: They're running a little more counter, a little more misdirection 647 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:35,720 Speaker 1: counter than they've run in the past, but a lot 648 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:37,880 Speaker 1: of it. Even though they have a new offensive coordinator 649 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:39,760 Speaker 1: who this is the first year he's ever done it, 650 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:42,760 Speaker 1: I do see some carry over, some similarity from my 651 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:46,960 Speaker 1: Randy Fittner's offense. How about that offensive line. They've lost 652 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:52,040 Speaker 1: three Pro Bowlers Polac dicstro Villa Nueva I mentioned earlier. 653 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:54,680 Speaker 1: They've got two rookies starting. There's just one returning guy 654 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:58,840 Speaker 1: back from last year. Are these guys any good? They're 655 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:01,360 Speaker 1: not as good as last year, and last year they 656 00:33:01,360 --> 00:33:03,720 Speaker 1: had trouble, you know, running the football. But I don't 657 00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:06,080 Speaker 1: think they're as good as last year. And you know, 658 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:08,840 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get on my soapbox again about Trey Turner. 659 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:12,600 Speaker 1: We get ejected for spitting in today's NFL with all 660 00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:15,560 Speaker 1: the protocols in the NFL has for COVID, and you're spitting, 661 00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:18,400 Speaker 1: you know, and I know if you were spent on first, 662 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:21,560 Speaker 1: you know, natural instincts is to retaliate and spit back. 663 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:25,040 Speaker 1: But the guy who responds always gets caught. And you 664 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:27,720 Speaker 1: don't act like a couple of five year olds out 665 00:33:27,760 --> 00:33:31,360 Speaker 1: there spitting on each other in that is so stupid. So, 666 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:33,840 Speaker 1: you know, Turner get kicked out, it looks like that's 667 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:35,240 Speaker 1: going to be the end of it. Kicked out in 668 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:38,640 Speaker 1: the fine and all that sort of thing. But yeah, 669 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:41,440 Speaker 1: I've seen him on tape before. He's you know, he 670 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:43,960 Speaker 1: can play the right side of their offensive line. They 671 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:46,120 Speaker 1: probably have more confidence in than the left side of 672 00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:49,040 Speaker 1: their offensive line at this point in time, but you know, 673 00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:53,720 Speaker 1: they're still obviously young. I think the way the Bengals 674 00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:56,800 Speaker 1: defensive line is playing, I give the edge to the 675 00:33:56,800 --> 00:33:59,520 Speaker 1: Bengals defensive line, and then I give the edge even 676 00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:02,000 Speaker 1: though you don't know who's exactly going to be playing 677 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:04,440 Speaker 1: for the Steelers. I give the edge to the Steelers 678 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:07,320 Speaker 1: defensive line in front seven stopping the Bengals running game 679 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:09,960 Speaker 1: as well. So to me, that's going to be a 680 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:14,719 Speaker 1: big key in the game, which offensive line establishes themselves 681 00:34:14,840 --> 00:34:18,239 Speaker 1: enough to be quasi balanced, some modicum of balanced, and 682 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:20,839 Speaker 1: not having to just drop back and chuck it all 683 00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:24,960 Speaker 1: the time. As we've learned from Davel Appham over the years, 684 00:34:25,120 --> 00:34:28,040 Speaker 1: a loose groin is a happy growing well. Right now, 685 00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:33,280 Speaker 1: we've got some unhappy groins in Pittsburgh. Yeah, t J. Watt, 686 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:36,359 Speaker 1: Devin Bush, Joe Hayden. Bush and Hayden didn't play last week. 687 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:40,239 Speaker 1: Watt had to exit the game. If those guys don't go, 688 00:34:40,960 --> 00:34:44,400 Speaker 1: is the Steelers defense all that formidable? I mean it's 689 00:34:44,640 --> 00:34:47,919 Speaker 1: it's incredible. High Smith is on the four groins. Man, 690 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:51,279 Speaker 1: They're not happy in that training room over there at all. 691 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:54,919 Speaker 1: There's a bunch of unhappy, miserable groins over there. Yeah, 692 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:57,960 Speaker 1: Hayden has had it all through training camps, and that's 693 00:34:57,960 --> 00:34:59,879 Speaker 1: what I'm talking about. You try to come back a little, 694 00:35:00,040 --> 00:35:02,400 Speaker 1: he said, it's I yanked it again. You know, it's 695 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:05,400 Speaker 1: still kind of it, jazz me. So I have to 696 00:35:05,480 --> 00:35:06,640 Speaker 1: I have to get out of the out of the 697 00:35:06,680 --> 00:35:10,200 Speaker 1: football game. I don't think obviously, if if if a 698 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:12,879 Speaker 1: handful of those guys, there's a handful of those guys, 699 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:14,640 Speaker 1: if a couple of them don't play, it could have 700 00:35:14,680 --> 00:35:17,600 Speaker 1: a factor. There's there's no doubt. 'allo 'ALLU how'd you 701 00:35:17,600 --> 00:35:19,839 Speaker 1: like to be him? He turned down a lucrative deal 702 00:35:19,840 --> 00:35:22,720 Speaker 1: from Jacksonville stay with the Steelers and then breaks his ankle. 703 00:35:22,840 --> 00:35:25,360 Speaker 1: He's on injury reserve. I mean that that that's a 704 00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:28,000 Speaker 1: blow right there. Like I said, though, I do think 705 00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:31,480 Speaker 1: Ingram is a guy that can they can pressure or 706 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:34,360 Speaker 1: pressure the quarterback. I think that he would still provide 707 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:38,120 Speaker 1: some edge rush. But if all these guys play, the 708 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:43,000 Speaker 1: fact is they're impaired, so they're not as explosive. They 709 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:45,840 Speaker 1: can't be if they if they try to be as explosive, 710 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:49,040 Speaker 1: they may yank there you know, the injury and uh 711 00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:51,759 Speaker 1: and not be able to play at all. So in 712 00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:55,719 Speaker 1: your mind you think I can go. Can I go 713 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:58,600 Speaker 1: one hundred percent? Now? Can I go at least seventy five? 714 00:35:58,840 --> 00:36:01,400 Speaker 1: Can I try eighty five? This one? Now that starts 715 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:04,480 Speaker 1: to play with your head. You know, as a player, 716 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:05,840 Speaker 1: you want to say, look, I'm either going to go 717 00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:08,640 Speaker 1: one hundred percent or I'm not going to play well 718 00:36:08,719 --> 00:36:11,279 Speaker 1: if if any of these guys, maybe none of them 719 00:36:11,320 --> 00:36:13,759 Speaker 1: will be one hundred percent, They're all not gonna sit. 720 00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:16,279 Speaker 1: Some of them I think are gonna play, you know, 721 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:20,080 Speaker 1: hurt play and paired a little bit, and that'll diminish 722 00:36:20,239 --> 00:36:22,719 Speaker 1: potentially you know how well they can perform out there. 723 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:25,840 Speaker 1: I do think that it's very important for T. J. 724 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:29,040 Speaker 1: Watt to think big picture and give it another week 725 00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:32,560 Speaker 1: I just for his sake, I really think that's important. Agree, 726 00:36:32,640 --> 00:36:36,600 Speaker 1: how about three sacks and two forced fumbles already unbelievable. 727 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:42,440 Speaker 1: I mean, over the last three years, the Pittsburgh Steelers 728 00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:45,640 Speaker 1: have more sacks than anybody, and they had fifty fifty 729 00:36:45,760 --> 00:36:48,799 Speaker 1: whatever it was last year and twenty seven turnovers as 730 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:50,960 Speaker 1: a result of those sacks. They led the league in 731 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:54,319 Speaker 1: sacks and I think we're third and turnovers. It's It's 732 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,799 Speaker 1: a disruptive bunch of guys, There's no question about it. 733 00:36:58,120 --> 00:37:00,759 Speaker 1: And Keith Butler does a good job of taking the 734 00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:05,600 Speaker 1: talent and putting it together and concocting, you know, configurations 735 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:09,400 Speaker 1: that are are problematic. He he emphasizes their strengths as 736 00:37:09,440 --> 00:37:14,759 Speaker 1: what he does is what's what every good coach does. Sees, Boy, 737 00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:16,440 Speaker 1: this guy can really do this. I'm going to make 738 00:37:16,480 --> 00:37:18,480 Speaker 1: sure that I have a package where that's going to be, 739 00:37:18,640 --> 00:37:20,520 Speaker 1: you know, first and foremost. He's going to be front 740 00:37:20,560 --> 00:37:23,840 Speaker 1: and center with that stuff. I think that Butler takes 741 00:37:23,840 --> 00:37:26,319 Speaker 1: his scheme and matches it with his personnel, and I 742 00:37:26,320 --> 00:37:30,839 Speaker 1: think I think the Steelers organization as an organization does 743 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:33,640 Speaker 1: that better than anybody. They'll be in the draft and 744 00:37:33,840 --> 00:37:36,280 Speaker 1: they'll instead of having three hundred guys, they'll have fifty 745 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:40,200 Speaker 1: guys that their Steelers because they fit what we do. 746 00:37:40,239 --> 00:37:42,360 Speaker 1: We don't give a damn what Dallas thinks about this 747 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:46,040 Speaker 1: guy that guy. These guys that the physical requirements of 748 00:37:46,080 --> 00:37:48,680 Speaker 1: what we asked our guy to do, whatever position you're 749 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:51,120 Speaker 1: talking about, and they hit on them. You know, they 750 00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:53,120 Speaker 1: draft those kind of guys to fit their scheme and 751 00:37:53,160 --> 00:37:55,719 Speaker 1: then develop them. And Pittsburgh has done that over the 752 00:37:55,800 --> 00:37:58,120 Speaker 1: years as well or better than anybody. I really respect 753 00:37:58,200 --> 00:38:01,279 Speaker 1: him for that last thing. Tom Brady is forty four, 754 00:38:01,840 --> 00:38:04,560 Speaker 1: looks like he's twenty four, playing like he's twenty four. 755 00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:09,200 Speaker 1: Ben Roethlisberger's thirty nine. What age does he appear to 756 00:38:09,239 --> 00:38:15,120 Speaker 1: be physically and in terms of his play? Sometimes he 757 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:17,160 Speaker 1: looks at least, you know, at least that age. You know, 758 00:38:17,400 --> 00:38:19,560 Speaker 1: it looks like he's pushing forty. I'll tell you though, 759 00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:23,600 Speaker 1: that guy man. I mean, he's as we all know, 760 00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:26,959 Speaker 1: he played at Minami, Ohio when he ran the table there, 761 00:38:27,480 --> 00:38:30,000 Speaker 1: and every time he comes to Cincinnati or Cleveland seems 762 00:38:30,040 --> 00:38:33,400 Speaker 1: like he wins. His record in Ohio is crazy, um, 763 00:38:33,480 --> 00:38:35,279 Speaker 1: and you know he's sure fire Hall of Famer. He's 764 00:38:35,320 --> 00:38:41,399 Speaker 1: not what he was obviously, but he's he's he's very intelligent. Um, 765 00:38:42,120 --> 00:38:45,600 Speaker 1: but he I honestly think this is a swan song. 766 00:38:45,640 --> 00:38:48,560 Speaker 1: I think he came back for one more year and uh, 767 00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:51,680 Speaker 1: and he took a five million dollar pay cut. Other 768 00:38:51,719 --> 00:38:55,040 Speaker 1: guys signed you know, friendly deals to stay and try 769 00:38:55,080 --> 00:38:57,000 Speaker 1: to make it one more time. This this is the 770 00:38:57,680 --> 00:39:01,399 Speaker 1: swan song, the final attempt for Ben Roethlisber and Juju Smith. 771 00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:03,640 Speaker 1: Schuster ended up signing a one year deal when there 772 00:39:03,680 --> 00:39:05,839 Speaker 1: weren't big things out there, and now he's signing a 773 00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:07,880 Speaker 1: proved deal and hoping to have a big deal with 774 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:11,240 Speaker 1: Ben Roethlisberger. So it all kind of centered around centers 775 00:39:11,239 --> 00:39:16,640 Speaker 1: around the quarterback. And he's still very capable, but he's 776 00:39:16,680 --> 00:39:21,360 Speaker 1: not like he was where it was almost like he 777 00:39:21,440 --> 00:39:23,759 Speaker 1: stood in the pocket like the Empire State Building, and 778 00:39:24,160 --> 00:39:26,080 Speaker 1: you'd hit him and roll off and bounce off and 779 00:39:26,239 --> 00:39:29,240 Speaker 1: it was like, gosh, he was like an impenetrable force, 780 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:32,239 Speaker 1: you know. And then and then he'd he'd be on 781 00:39:32,280 --> 00:39:34,399 Speaker 1: the right hash mark and throw it all the way 782 00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:37,000 Speaker 1: back to the left sideline on a rope, you know, 783 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:39,000 Speaker 1: and it's like, oh, they just don't make those roles 784 00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:41,279 Speaker 1: in the NFL. Guys just don't do that Ben did 785 00:39:41,719 --> 00:39:45,960 Speaker 1: and his prime Ben was uniquely special. And I still 786 00:39:45,960 --> 00:39:49,680 Speaker 1: think he's very effective, very efficient, but he's not playing 787 00:39:49,719 --> 00:39:52,680 Speaker 1: at the Hall of Fame level he once did last 788 00:39:52,680 --> 00:39:54,839 Speaker 1: but not Lee. He's time to take a closer look 789 00:39:54,880 --> 00:39:58,520 Speaker 1: at the reigning champs in the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers. 790 00:39:58,920 --> 00:40:01,080 Speaker 1: They opened the season with the seven point win at 791 00:40:01,080 --> 00:40:04,320 Speaker 1: Buffalo before losing at home by nine to the Raiders. 792 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:07,720 Speaker 1: Ed Bouchet from The Athletic has been covering the team 793 00:40:07,760 --> 00:40:10,240 Speaker 1: for more than thirty years, and when he joined Lapping 794 00:40:10,320 --> 00:40:12,680 Speaker 1: Me this week on the Bengals Game Plan Show, I 795 00:40:12,719 --> 00:40:16,239 Speaker 1: started our conversation by asking Ed how good he thinks 796 00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:20,880 Speaker 1: the Steelers are? Probably thing in Pittsburgh right now seems 797 00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:25,080 Speaker 1: to be How bad are they? You know that that 798 00:40:25,280 --> 00:40:30,040 Speaker 1: loss at home to the Rangers was was kind of 799 00:40:30,080 --> 00:40:35,600 Speaker 1: disappointing for everybody involved. Um, you know, after the after 800 00:40:35,640 --> 00:40:40,360 Speaker 1: the big winning in Buffalo against a team that you 801 00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:44,120 Speaker 1: know it was considered maybe an AFC contender this year, 802 00:40:44,280 --> 00:40:47,200 Speaker 1: not maybe they were considered an AFC contender this year, 803 00:40:47,239 --> 00:40:50,719 Speaker 1: you go up there and beat them, boom, but you 804 00:40:50,760 --> 00:40:53,480 Speaker 1: know they have a ton of injuries now, their offensive 805 00:40:53,520 --> 00:40:58,200 Speaker 1: line is terrible, Ben Roethlisberger is not getting any time 806 00:40:58,239 --> 00:41:02,000 Speaker 1: to throw in. The running game is going nowhere. Other 807 00:41:02,080 --> 00:41:07,319 Speaker 1: than that, they look pretty good. So let me ask 808 00:41:07,360 --> 00:41:13,320 Speaker 1: you about Matt Canada first time offensive coordinator and Adrian Clem. 809 00:41:13,360 --> 00:41:15,960 Speaker 1: You mentioned the offensive line, he's the offensive line coach. 810 00:41:16,040 --> 00:41:20,600 Speaker 1: There was a shake up in the staff, and what 811 00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:23,560 Speaker 1: is the take from the players that you've talked to 812 00:41:23,680 --> 00:41:28,760 Speaker 1: or had a chance to inquire their thoughts on these coaches? 813 00:41:28,760 --> 00:41:31,480 Speaker 1: Where are they? Where are the players with these new 814 00:41:31,560 --> 00:41:36,000 Speaker 1: coaches offensively? Yeah, Dave, I have to tell you, in 815 00:41:36,120 --> 00:41:39,160 Speaker 1: this age of COVID, it's hard to talk to anybody. 816 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:42,480 Speaker 1: You know, you don't get the time to talk to 817 00:41:42,520 --> 00:41:45,920 Speaker 1: them anymore. They bring them out for mass interviews and 818 00:41:46,040 --> 00:41:51,120 Speaker 1: that's it. So it's hard to judge. Ben Roethlisberger seemed 819 00:41:51,160 --> 00:41:56,880 Speaker 1: to be a little not happy with Matt Canada after 820 00:41:56,960 --> 00:42:00,440 Speaker 1: the game. He talked about not having as a no 821 00:42:00,600 --> 00:42:02,880 Speaker 1: huddle offense. He said, we don't have a no huddle 822 00:42:03,040 --> 00:42:07,160 Speaker 1: offense and that was his bread and butter through the years. 823 00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:11,680 Speaker 1: So there seems to be maybe some some disconnect there. 824 00:42:12,280 --> 00:42:15,440 Speaker 1: You know, their offensive line, it doesn't matter who's coaching them, 825 00:42:15,560 --> 00:42:19,560 Speaker 1: right now, Um, they're they're just not very good, and 826 00:42:19,920 --> 00:42:24,719 Speaker 1: they're they're young. They're hoping they develop, but there's a 827 00:42:24,760 --> 00:42:27,480 Speaker 1: lot of hope there because they have two rookie starting, 828 00:42:28,239 --> 00:42:33,000 Speaker 1: a second year guy starting, and it's just not not 829 00:42:33,000 --> 00:42:36,359 Speaker 1: not working out. I mean, Ben was knocked down ten 830 00:42:36,600 --> 00:42:39,520 Speaker 1: or he was hit ten times on Sunday Fox Life. 831 00:42:40,760 --> 00:42:44,960 Speaker 1: They can't run. I'm drafted naj Harris in the first 832 00:42:45,040 --> 00:42:51,160 Speaker 1: run on first round. Sorry and Art Ernie, the Steelers president, 833 00:42:51,719 --> 00:42:54,600 Speaker 1: proclaimed that they needed to be better at the running 834 00:42:54,640 --> 00:42:57,879 Speaker 1: game and they're worse. Um, and now they have all 835 00:42:57,880 --> 00:43:01,319 Speaker 1: these injuries on defense, so it's it's not a very 836 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:05,160 Speaker 1: good spot where they're in. Right now, we're talking to 837 00:43:05,280 --> 00:43:07,799 Speaker 1: Ed Buchet, who covers the Steelers for the Athletic. Let's 838 00:43:07,800 --> 00:43:12,200 Speaker 1: talk about those injuries. T J. Watt, Devin Bush, Joe 839 00:43:12,239 --> 00:43:15,760 Speaker 1: Hayden and others. I guess they all practiced in subway 840 00:43:15,800 --> 00:43:18,920 Speaker 1: shape or form today. But do you think those guys 841 00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:23,120 Speaker 1: answer the bell? And even if they do, are they 842 00:43:23,160 --> 00:43:25,480 Speaker 1: going to be the t J. Watt, Devin Bush, and 843 00:43:25,719 --> 00:43:28,759 Speaker 1: Joe Hayden that were accustomed to see? Yeah, they have 844 00:43:28,880 --> 00:43:32,480 Speaker 1: groin injuries and what's unbelievable is there's like for them. 845 00:43:32,520 --> 00:43:36,399 Speaker 1: They have groin injuries. I've never seen so much at 846 00:43:36,440 --> 00:43:40,000 Speaker 1: one time since I've been covering them, and those are 847 00:43:40,080 --> 00:43:42,880 Speaker 1: things it's hard to tell. I mean, they can feel 848 00:43:42,920 --> 00:43:46,600 Speaker 1: one good one day and then go out and you know, 849 00:43:46,960 --> 00:43:50,560 Speaker 1: do a few things and bang, it's it's back. T J. 850 00:43:50,760 --> 00:43:55,440 Speaker 1: Watt was limited in practice today. I'm Devin Busch who 851 00:43:55,480 --> 00:43:59,560 Speaker 1: missed the game totally because he injured his groin and 852 00:43:59,640 --> 00:44:02,600 Speaker 1: practice this last Friday. It was a full practice guy today. 853 00:44:02,680 --> 00:44:08,160 Speaker 1: So if it's Wednesday, that's a good sign. Um. Joe 854 00:44:08,280 --> 00:44:11,399 Speaker 1: Hayden was limited in practice. He also missed the game, 855 00:44:12,040 --> 00:44:17,200 Speaker 1: and they had added another linebacker, Alex Highsmith to their 856 00:44:17,280 --> 00:44:22,600 Speaker 1: groin injury list UM after the game, and he didn't 857 00:44:22,680 --> 00:44:26,319 Speaker 1: practiced today. So it's it's really guys, it's really up 858 00:44:26,360 --> 00:44:28,440 Speaker 1: in the air of who is going to play and 859 00:44:28,600 --> 00:44:33,120 Speaker 1: what effectiveness if they do play, they're going to have. Yeah, 860 00:44:33,160 --> 00:44:36,280 Speaker 1: I've got a little slogan for you about the groin 861 00:44:36,400 --> 00:44:39,480 Speaker 1: that you want to use. Feel free. Just tell the 862 00:44:39,520 --> 00:44:42,640 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Steeler players that a loose groin is a happy groin, 863 00:44:42,800 --> 00:44:45,439 Speaker 1: and right now they don't have many happy groins over there. 864 00:44:45,440 --> 00:44:49,719 Speaker 1: It doesn't doesn't sound like so um that is. It's 865 00:44:49,760 --> 00:44:52,799 Speaker 1: it's amazing how there seems to be an outbreak and 866 00:44:52,840 --> 00:44:55,800 Speaker 1: an injury. You know, if there's if there's hamstring injuries, 867 00:44:55,840 --> 00:44:58,839 Speaker 1: there's like three or four groin injuries. It's almost like 868 00:44:58,880 --> 00:45:03,360 Speaker 1: a contagious thing. What about Ben rothters Burger's left pectoral? 869 00:45:03,800 --> 00:45:06,120 Speaker 1: You know in Cincinnati everybody kids about him being a 870 00:45:06,200 --> 00:45:08,840 Speaker 1: diva with respect to injury. He wants to be John 871 00:45:08,880 --> 00:45:13,080 Speaker 1: Wayne and save the day. Is the left pectoral legit 872 00:45:13,320 --> 00:45:16,759 Speaker 1: or is it just Ben being Ben David's not just 873 00:45:16,880 --> 00:45:20,200 Speaker 1: Cincinnati that jokes about that. They joke about it Pittsburgh too, 874 00:45:20,239 --> 00:45:25,680 Speaker 1: and all over the league. It's his left pectoral and 875 00:45:25,760 --> 00:45:30,920 Speaker 1: he's right handed. They do have these things called pain killers. 876 00:45:31,719 --> 00:45:34,759 Speaker 1: So I think he's gonna be okay. He didn't practice today, 877 00:45:34,920 --> 00:45:39,960 Speaker 1: never practices on Wednesday, but they did list that as 878 00:45:40,000 --> 00:45:44,720 Speaker 1: the reason. Usually they left conscious decisions. But I expect 879 00:45:44,840 --> 00:45:48,040 Speaker 1: him to be okay. But if that offends the line 880 00:45:48,120 --> 00:45:51,520 Speaker 1: can't block any better than they did the first two games, 881 00:45:52,880 --> 00:45:56,000 Speaker 1: How long he's gonna be okay? Yeah, he's thirty nine 882 00:45:56,080 --> 00:45:58,240 Speaker 1: years old. When he was twenty nine, he could avoid 883 00:45:58,239 --> 00:46:00,800 Speaker 1: the rush a little better. He did a good job 884 00:46:00,880 --> 00:46:04,920 Speaker 1: actually of avoiding some hit Sunday and getting rid of 885 00:46:04,920 --> 00:46:10,040 Speaker 1: the ball. He was sacked twice, but you know that's 886 00:46:10,040 --> 00:46:14,120 Speaker 1: not going to work much longer if that continues to happen. 887 00:46:14,719 --> 00:46:17,399 Speaker 1: You said, he got hit ten times and he gets 888 00:46:17,400 --> 00:46:19,480 Speaker 1: the ball out like two point two seconds. What's he 889 00:46:19,520 --> 00:46:21,600 Speaker 1: gonna have to get down to one point eight? I 890 00:46:21,680 --> 00:46:24,640 Speaker 1: mean to get out without getting hit. It's crazy. Yeah, 891 00:46:24,680 --> 00:46:26,799 Speaker 1: you know, I don't know how they keep those the 892 00:46:26,920 --> 00:46:29,400 Speaker 1: clock on it. I guess that's an average, but I 893 00:46:29,440 --> 00:46:32,680 Speaker 1: mean he was running around at times where it was 894 00:46:32,880 --> 00:46:36,920 Speaker 1: much longer than that, and it was like that in 895 00:46:37,000 --> 00:46:43,000 Speaker 1: Buffalo as well. You know, he came back to win 896 00:46:43,040 --> 00:46:46,120 Speaker 1: a super Bowl. That's his only reason to come back, 897 00:46:46,400 --> 00:46:50,680 Speaker 1: and that is after watching the first two games. That's 898 00:46:50,800 --> 00:46:55,439 Speaker 1: so far away right now. I mean, if they don't 899 00:46:55,480 --> 00:46:59,799 Speaker 1: get this offensive line six. I can't emphasize enough how 900 00:47:00,280 --> 00:47:03,920 Speaker 1: they've been. You know, he's not going to make it 901 00:47:03,960 --> 00:47:08,279 Speaker 1: through half the season. And here's my final question. Is 902 00:47:08,320 --> 00:47:12,239 Speaker 1: the Steelers opening day quarterback for next year currently on 903 00:47:12,280 --> 00:47:15,880 Speaker 1: the roster? You know, that's the question We've been asked 904 00:47:16,000 --> 00:47:19,640 Speaker 1: for a long time. Really, that was a popular question here, Dan, 905 00:47:21,560 --> 00:47:25,279 Speaker 1: I don't know I really don't know. I thought that 906 00:47:25,320 --> 00:47:28,040 Speaker 1: it Ben played well this year, he could even try 907 00:47:28,040 --> 00:47:30,880 Speaker 1: and come back next year. But that is soot the 908 00:47:31,000 --> 00:47:36,080 Speaker 1: question a moment. Dwayne Haskins, we have not been enough 909 00:47:36,080 --> 00:47:40,759 Speaker 1: of him. Mason Rudolph, I don't know that. Um, you 910 00:47:40,760 --> 00:47:44,920 Speaker 1: know they did it send him another year, so I 911 00:47:44,960 --> 00:47:48,040 Speaker 1: would I don't know. I can't answer that question. I 912 00:47:48,080 --> 00:47:51,800 Speaker 1: really can't. Ben took a pay cut, Hallo Hallo, turned 913 00:47:51,800 --> 00:47:54,320 Speaker 1: down less money or turned down more money with Jacksonville 914 00:47:54,360 --> 00:47:56,160 Speaker 1: to come back and try to make this last run. 915 00:47:56,600 --> 00:48:01,440 Speaker 1: You know, with Ben, um, you you almost like wow. 916 00:48:01,960 --> 00:48:04,319 Speaker 1: In the early stages here it's too bad, too bad 917 00:48:04,360 --> 00:48:11,400 Speaker 1: with some of these guys. But Pittsburgh Smith one year right, 918 00:48:11,480 --> 00:48:14,480 Speaker 1: took the one year deal and expected to come back 919 00:48:14,560 --> 00:48:18,680 Speaker 1: right right. So, and Mike Tomlins never had a losing season, 920 00:48:19,120 --> 00:48:22,360 Speaker 1: you know, fourteen years into his fifteenth. So it's funny 921 00:48:22,560 --> 00:48:25,719 Speaker 1: in my mind, haven't seen this stealer organization for so 922 00:48:25,760 --> 00:48:29,440 Speaker 1: many years. Just when it looks it's bleakest, they just 923 00:48:30,200 --> 00:48:32,799 Speaker 1: they just come after you somehow. I mean, I'm never 924 00:48:32,840 --> 00:48:35,879 Speaker 1: going to count them out until all seventeen games are over, 925 00:48:36,320 --> 00:48:39,720 Speaker 1: but man, it sounds like they've they've got a few problems, 926 00:48:39,760 --> 00:48:42,960 Speaker 1: these injury problems in your mind. You know, I guess 927 00:48:43,080 --> 00:48:45,520 Speaker 1: I don't think you have an injury crystal Ball. But 928 00:48:45,760 --> 00:48:48,720 Speaker 1: do you think every almost every one of those players 929 00:48:49,239 --> 00:48:50,920 Speaker 1: are going to try to play or do you think, 930 00:48:50,960 --> 00:48:53,359 Speaker 1: like you were talking about, you can't come back too 931 00:48:53,400 --> 00:48:56,759 Speaker 1: soon and you know, reinjure the growing er, exacerbate the 932 00:48:56,760 --> 00:48:59,239 Speaker 1: groin injury or whatever the injury may be. Do you 933 00:48:59,280 --> 00:49:01,560 Speaker 1: think most of these guys are gonna play or do 934 00:49:01,560 --> 00:49:05,279 Speaker 1: you think, yeah, maybe half of them won't. You know? Uh, 935 00:49:06,280 --> 00:49:10,360 Speaker 1: injuries are so funny. Um, I would think t J 936 00:49:11,080 --> 00:49:15,560 Speaker 1: is going to play. The fact he practiced on Wednesday, 937 00:49:15,760 --> 00:49:19,080 Speaker 1: even in limited form that I would think he's gonna play. 938 00:49:19,120 --> 00:49:24,120 Speaker 1: I think Joe Hayden's gonna play. Um, I'm not sure 939 00:49:24,120 --> 00:49:30,280 Speaker 1: about Alex Highsmith. But you know they've lost two thirds 940 00:49:30,280 --> 00:49:33,080 Speaker 1: of their starting defensive line as well. I mean Stefan 941 00:49:33,200 --> 00:49:37,920 Speaker 1: to It and all Oallu um And and Cam Hayward 942 00:49:37,920 --> 00:49:41,080 Speaker 1: were their starters and they Cam's the only long standing 943 00:49:41,160 --> 00:49:44,640 Speaker 1: right now, and that was a pretty good offense defensive line. 944 00:49:44,719 --> 00:49:47,919 Speaker 1: So even if those two guys are not going to play, 945 00:49:48,120 --> 00:49:54,439 Speaker 1: Lullu and Stefan to it, So you know it's Mike 946 00:49:54,520 --> 00:49:58,040 Speaker 1: Thomas said a long time ago when he was hired. 947 00:49:58,080 --> 00:50:02,920 Speaker 1: It's a game of attrition and they're losing the attrition 948 00:50:03,040 --> 00:50:06,480 Speaker 1: war right now. If I'm an offensive lineman looking like 949 00:50:06,520 --> 00:50:09,360 Speaker 1: you said, 'allo 'allo out with a broken ankle, to 950 00:50:09,560 --> 00:50:13,320 Speaker 1: it on injury reserve bud Dupree, you know, with it 951 00:50:13,400 --> 00:50:16,359 Speaker 1: with another team with Tennessee now it's it's a much 952 00:50:16,400 --> 00:50:19,720 Speaker 1: different look out front. But I don't know. Man Ingram, 953 00:50:20,520 --> 00:50:24,040 Speaker 1: don't don't sleep on Ingram. I've seen that. Look good 954 00:50:24,840 --> 00:50:29,080 Speaker 1: Ingram looks good. Ingram look really looks good. The problem 955 00:50:29,320 --> 00:50:32,520 Speaker 1: is they have three outside linebackers and they want to 956 00:50:32,640 --> 00:50:36,240 Speaker 1: rotate them to give them breaks, make them fresh. DJ 957 00:50:36,480 --> 00:50:41,040 Speaker 1: want Ingram and Alex Heismith. And when they're all healthy, 958 00:50:41,160 --> 00:50:45,720 Speaker 1: that first game they were unbelievable. Now and the second 959 00:50:45,719 --> 00:50:49,000 Speaker 1: game they lost Watt and now Heismith has a growing injury, 960 00:50:49,040 --> 00:50:53,879 Speaker 1: so it's all, you know, it all will depend on that. Otherwise, 961 00:50:54,400 --> 00:50:56,600 Speaker 1: they were getting a pass rush on four man rush 962 00:50:56,640 --> 00:51:02,040 Speaker 1: in Buffalo, like I think they blitzed twice and it 963 00:51:02,239 --> 00:51:06,040 Speaker 1: really worked for them. But with all these guys out, 964 00:51:06,239 --> 00:51:08,759 Speaker 1: that's not working. So I don't know how they're going 965 00:51:08,800 --> 00:51:10,680 Speaker 1: to do it thorough, you know, if they're going to 966 00:51:10,719 --> 00:51:12,480 Speaker 1: try and flit them a little more than they've been 967 00:51:12,520 --> 00:51:16,520 Speaker 1: doing or what. When it comes to learning about the Steelers, 968 00:51:16,560 --> 00:51:19,080 Speaker 1: there's no better guests than Ed Boushell. It's been covering 969 00:51:19,080 --> 00:51:21,239 Speaker 1: the team for decades. We really appreciate you coming on 970 00:51:21,239 --> 00:51:24,160 Speaker 1: the show tonight. Ed. Thank you, good being with you guys. 971 00:51:24,440 --> 00:51:27,320 Speaker 1: Thank Just a quick reminder to join lapping me for 972 00:51:27,360 --> 00:51:29,960 Speaker 1: the Bengals pep Rally show this Friday from three to 973 00:51:30,040 --> 00:51:33,759 Speaker 1: six on ESPN fifteen thirty. That's going to do it 974 00:51:33,800 --> 00:51:36,000 Speaker 1: for this episode of the Bengals Booth Podcast, brought to 975 00:51:36,040 --> 00:51:39,400 Speaker 1: you by bud Light. Seltzer refreshed the game. If you 976 00:51:39,440 --> 00:51:41,680 Speaker 1: haven't done so already, please subscribe and if you have 977 00:51:41,719 --> 00:51:43,800 Speaker 1: a minute, give it a rating or share a comment 978 00:51:44,200 --> 00:51:48,080 Speaker 1: that helps more Bengals fans find this podcast. I'm Dan 979 00:51:48,160 --> 00:51:50,880 Speaker 1: Horde and thank you for listening to The Bengals Booth 980 00:51:51,120 --> 00:51:51,719 Speaker 1: Podcast