1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody on Dan Horde and this is the Bengals 2 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: Booth podcast, the No Retreat, Baby, No Surrender addition, as 3 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: the Bengals keep striving for their first win of the 4 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: year and hope to get it this Sunday in Openend 5 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: against the five and four Raiders. Coming up, I'll be 6 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: joined by my broadcast partner Dave Lapham as we discuss 7 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: the latest Bengals news, including this week's shocker, the release 8 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: a veteran linebacker Preston Brown, less than one year into 9 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: a three year free agent contract. Speaking of linebackers, we'll 10 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 1: hear from Raiders coach John Gruden, who provides a passionate 11 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: defense a former Bengal Vontes Berficht who was suspended for 12 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: the final twelve games of the season back in September 13 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:54,279 Speaker 1: for a helmet to helmet hit on Colts tight end 14 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:58,279 Speaker 1: Jack Doyle. My locker room conversation this week is with 15 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: kick returner Brandon Wilson, who admits he has started thinking 16 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,479 Speaker 1: about the possibility of going to the Pro Bowl thanks 17 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: to his league leading kickoff return average. And in this 18 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: week's Know the Faux segment, we'll get the lowdown on 19 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: the Raiders from their radio analyst former three time Pro 20 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 1: Bowl offensive lineman Lincoln Kennedy. All of that is straight ahead. 21 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 1: But first, here's a quick reminder that you can have 22 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: the latest edition of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, 23 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: or computer by subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, 24 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: or pod Bean. It's the greatest thing since the TV 25 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: screen at the gas pump. So there I am at 26 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 1: ud F the other day, filling up my tank on 27 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: a frigid morning, when a news and weather update starts 28 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: playing on the TV screen right there on the pump, 29 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: along with several ads for the delicious coffee and doughnuts 30 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: if I walk inside. I didn't this time, but the 31 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: simple fact that somebody figured out how to get a 32 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: local TV news update into a gas pump deserves some recognition. Now, 33 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: let's get to the latest Bengals news with my broadcast 34 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:14,399 Speaker 1: partner Dave Lapham. Zach Taylor has not been publicly critical 35 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: of the players this year, but I thought that changed 36 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: a bit on Monday when he called out the linebackers 37 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,519 Speaker 1: and his opening statement at a weekly news conference. The 38 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 1: next day, the Bengals waived Preston Brown in the first 39 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 1: year of a three year deal. What's your reaction. Yeah, 40 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 1: it's interesting. I mean what Zach was calling for someone 41 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 1: to emerge as a leader, you know, at that position group, 42 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: and then the very next day they wave a guy 43 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: who probably had as much NFL experience at linebacker as 44 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: anybody they had, you know, on the football team. So, 45 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: I mean, you can guess and surmise anything I guess 46 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 1: you want to out of that. Bottom line is I 47 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: think Zach Taylor's just trying to get a better performance 48 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 1: out of that position group. That position group has struggled, 49 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: There's no question about it, and it's been isolated and 50 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 1: picked on and attacked. So I think he's using every 51 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 1: measure he can think of as a motivational tool to 52 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:14,639 Speaker 1: try to get better performance and and shaking it up 53 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: by waving a guy like Preston Brown sends a message, 54 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 1: you know, And obviously with what he said at his 55 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: press conference yesterday and what took place today this morning, 56 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: that's that's a big statement, a big statement at that 57 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: position group. For sure. The Bengals historically have not liked 58 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 1: to eat contracts, no, so you wonder, um, you know, 59 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: what was Preston Brown's reaction about maybe his playing time 60 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: being curtailed. Um, maybe Zack's comment the press conference. Maybe 61 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: Zac's comment came after some kind of comment from Preston Brown. 62 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: Who knows. I mean, I guess again you can speculate 63 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: in s fromis all you want Bytom Line is Bengals 64 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: let Preston Brown go for a decade or so? The 65 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: Bengals have always had a big thumper at linebacker, Ray 66 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 1: Mala Luga, Vontez perfect Preston Brown. Do they need to 67 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: reconsider what they look for at that position? You know, 68 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:20,040 Speaker 1: everything's cyclical and um. You know, now so many teams 69 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:23,160 Speaker 1: are spreading you out. Um. But then you have a 70 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 1: team like the Baltimore Ravens that played the type of 71 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 1: offense they play, so you feel like you, you know, 72 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: you should have somebody that can can stop the stop 73 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 1: the run. U there's always going to be an outlier 74 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 1: like the Baltimore Ravens. They're gonna go. Um contrarian thinking 75 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: in terms of being ahead of the game before the 76 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 1: offense starts to cycle back a little bit. I mean, 77 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 1: last year the Patriots decided to go two tight ends 78 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: and a fullback and hammer people m you know, on 79 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 1: their way to another Super Bowl. Win. So, yeah, the 80 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: one thing that you can't you can't all into the 81 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 1: trap of those is is just have a thumper that 82 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 1: you know can only play in a closet. You know, 83 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: he still has to be able to do uh some 84 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 1: other things for you because that that that guy's going 85 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 1: to get isolated and picked on. There's no question about it. 86 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 1: In today's NFL. So, um, the game is getting faster. 87 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: It has gotten faster, so you do have to take 88 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 1: that into consideration. I mean, the linebackers aren't as big 89 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: as they used to be, in there a lot faster 90 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: than they used to be, So I think, you know, 91 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 1: that's the that's the way you have to approach it. 92 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: That's what you have to look for. That's what everybody's 93 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: looking for. And there's not enough of them, just like 94 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 1: they're on enough offensive lineman for the NFL, because there's 95 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: five of them with every football team three linebackers. You know, 96 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 1: it's that's a significant number at a position. Um, so 97 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,359 Speaker 1: there's the NFL's eating up a lot of numbers. Well, 98 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 1: you know it's it's for a while it was almost 99 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 1: like they've decided, let's just beef up safeties and try 100 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 1: to you know, play them at linebacker, and you know 101 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: that that's had some mixed results, so you're always looking for, 102 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 1: you know, a linebacker that can can play the run 103 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: but still is not limited so much athletically that you 104 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 1: can't leave him on the football field after first down. 105 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 1: Ryan Finlay will make his second start this week, evaluate 106 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 1: his first. Some tragedy obviously, and you can't have it 107 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: any worse than a than a pick six. When you're 108 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: going into score. You know you're in the red zone 109 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: and you throw a pick six. That's tough. That's a 110 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 1: very very tough dynamic. You know, you feel terrible about it, 111 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 1: You feel terrible about letting your whole team down and 112 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: all that goes along with it. And then compounded by 113 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 1: you know, spitting the spitting the bid a little bit 114 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: with a fumble in the in the pocket. You know, 115 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,359 Speaker 1: ball security when you're a quarterback is going to be big. 116 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: So he had two touchdowns in two ways that you 117 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: can turn the football over, and they both happened in 118 00:06:57,240 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 1: the same game. So he's not going to face any 119 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: more tragedy. He faced and he seemed to rebound from it, 120 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 1: which was a good sign. I was asking guys in 121 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 1: the locker room after the game. Did you see any 122 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 1: deer in the headlights? Did you see anything like, oh, 123 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: this is starting to look a little bit too big 124 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: for him? And they were like new, nothing like that, 125 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: just the opposite. You know, he's a very competitive guy, 126 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: and it seemed to like, you know, even narrow his 127 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 1: focus even more. And on the good side of it, 128 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:26,559 Speaker 1: as we expected, don Wick Martindale brought everything. He brought 129 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: the house. So the exposure that Ryan Finlay had to 130 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: everything possibly that you can see in his very first start, 131 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: a lot of people were like more, you know, you'd 132 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: wish for a softer landing than that. But the other 133 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: side of it is he's had exposure to a bunch 134 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: and he got through it, and he handled it and 135 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: he's going to learn from it. And I think Zach 136 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: Taylor's got running the money with this thought of, you know, 137 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 1: don't make the same mistake twice. But a lot of 138 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: guys were saying, man, he had a big burden responsibility 139 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: of checking out of plays runs that weren't going to 140 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: work against a lot of Martindale's looks protections. He had 141 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 1: to change places, he had to change to in the 142 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: passing game, he had a lot on his plate, and 143 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: he handled all that with flying colors. You know, the 144 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 1: pick six was just an execution thing. He just left 145 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: the ball inside. And you know, if you're they're running 146 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 1: eleven men up at the line of scrimmage, zero coverage, 147 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: you got to make sure if that ball is not 148 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 1: caught by your receiver, nobody else is getting it. It's 149 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: got to go out of bounds. And he left an 150 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: inside and he paid for it. So lesson learned. You know, 151 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:32,559 Speaker 1: it's not the end, it's just the NFL. It's not 152 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 1: college football. You might have been able to get away 153 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,959 Speaker 1: with that throw in college, but not at this level. Um, 154 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:41,680 Speaker 1: they're faster and his arms not a howitzer. You know, 155 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 1: he has to he has to. I thought he waited 156 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 1: a little too long to throw it. He has He 157 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: does throw with the anticipation. Actually he's accuracy. He's shown 158 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: that and I think he's going to grow with that. 159 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 1: But overall, from the mental part of it, the preparation 160 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:58,679 Speaker 1: for that week against Wink Martindale is intense as he's 161 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 1: going to have and he passed the test. So was 162 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: it something that you say, oh my gosh, what a 163 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: great beginning. No, But there are a lot of a 164 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:12,839 Speaker 1: lot of bricks to you know, start to lay a foundation. 165 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:16,320 Speaker 1: Paul Gunt, to let's face it, he and Mike Zimmer 166 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 1: they basically took the double A gap, putting the linebackers 167 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 1: up on either side of the center and either bringing 168 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: one of them or both of them, or none of 169 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 1: them and dropping them to coverage. And you can run 170 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: probably sixty percent of your coverages out of that double 171 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: A gap looks still so it presents a lot of 172 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 1: problems for quarterbacks. Joe Flacco never figured it out, and 173 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:38,839 Speaker 1: I'm sure Ryan Finley will be closing his eyes in 174 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: Oakland pre game night before the game with double A 175 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: gap dancing through his head and ways to ways to 176 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 1: handle it because they're going to be bringing a lot 177 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: of it, I'm sure. So you know, it's going to 178 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 1: be interesting how he goes from week one to week two. 179 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: And the best thing that can happen is they continue 180 00:09:57,920 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: to run the ball effectively. With Joe Mixon, that'll be 181 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: Ryan Finley's best friend. And that's our next topic. Two 182 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: games ago in London, the Bengals ran for one hundred 183 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:10,199 Speaker 1: and four yards against the Rams. Last week against Baltimore, 184 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: the team ran for one fifty seven. That's forty nine 185 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 1: more than their next best game this year, and Joe 186 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: Mixon ran for one fourteen. The Bengals are the only 187 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 1: team all year to run it well against the Ravens 188 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,439 Speaker 1: when Brandon Williams has been on the field. Previous teams 189 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: that succeeded in the ground game face the Ravens when 190 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: he was out. What was different last week? What allowed 191 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: the Bengals to run it that well? Yeah? I think 192 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 1: they made a nice adjustment during the bye week with 193 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:40,839 Speaker 1: the blocking scheme. They ran more you know what people 194 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 1: call gap where you'll you'll block down seal somebody and 195 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: pull people, you know, instead of inside outside zone. Is 196 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: like two guys going laterally and double teaming a down 197 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 1: lineman somebody coming off to the linebacker level. It's just 198 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 1: kind of like a horizontal push. You know, you're you're 199 00:10:57,520 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 1: trying to capture the line of scrimmage and push that 200 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 1: up the football field and then somebody have a cut 201 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: off block or even take them off their feet and 202 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: have a lane, a cutback lane, um that can be utilized. 203 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: That hadn't that wasn't working as well as you know, 204 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:15,199 Speaker 1: the Bengals obviously hoped it was going to work. So 205 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 1: they went to the more of the uh, the gap 206 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:21,959 Speaker 1: power type game, blocking down and pulling people. And they 207 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 1: made an adjustment double team and the three technique on 208 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: the outside shoulder of the guard, with the guard and 209 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: the tackle in the center pulling around for the linebacker 210 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 1: instead of you know, the center and guard, uh you know, 211 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 1: double teaming and one of them rubbing off the linebacker. 212 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: They're being very more, much more definitive and trying to 213 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 1: move people and and and get get somebody up the 214 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: football field. So Joe Mixon read it out well, I thought, 215 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: and made some very very good cuts and ran hard. 216 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 1: He ran very hard the entire football game, and I think, um, 217 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 1: you know, he basically realized that they were getting a 218 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 1: lot better push up front, or the execution was a 219 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 1: lot more sound. He wasn't having people leaking into his backfield. 220 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: We'd have to make his first cut. So you can 221 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: see his confidence, you know, start to increase in the 222 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: confidence to the guys up front increase as well. So hopefully, 223 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 1: you know, everybody's prideful in their job and they'll take 224 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:20,560 Speaker 1: pride in a little bit of improvement and look to 225 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,960 Speaker 1: even take it even further against Oakland. The Bengals faced 226 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: the Raiders on Sunday under head coach John Gruden in 227 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: the second year of that ten year, one hundred million 228 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: dollar contract. After going four and twelve last year, the 229 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:35,559 Speaker 1: Raiders are five and four this year, despite playing five 230 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: straight games away from home, four road games in a 231 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: London game. Where have the Raiders improved this year? They've 232 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 1: improved closing close games. They've won five their five wins 233 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: or by a total of twenty seven points, so they've 234 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: had six games decided by a touchdown or less. They've 235 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: won five of them. You know, that's that's what's going 236 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 1: to happen for you. And the biggest reason is in 237 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,080 Speaker 1: the West Coast offense that John Gruden runs, you have 238 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 1: to be able to run the football, and they've got 239 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: a rookie out of Alabama, Jacobs, who's running the football 240 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: well behind a behemoth offensive line. You get a pair 241 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: of offensive tackles six foot eight and one of them 242 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 1: six eight two three eighty six foot eight, three hundred 243 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 1: and eighty pounds. My goodness, Jacobs eight hundred eleven yards rushing, 244 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: sixth best in the league, seven rushing touchdowns, six best 245 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 1: in the league. Got to have a running game to 246 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 1: operate out of that for that West Coast offense, and 247 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:30,439 Speaker 1: you have to have a tight end, and they found 248 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 1: a tight end. This young kid, Waller who's been cleaned 249 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 1: for two years now, had drug issue that he's cleaned 250 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: himself up from. You get a respected kid fifty one 251 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: catches five eighty eight yards, three touchdowns. It's a very 252 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: tight end friendly offense. West Coast offense cars playing at 253 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 1: a very high level, completing over seventy percent of his passes. 254 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 1: And that's the West Coast offense. You know, throws that 255 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 1: you can anticipate and throw with accuracy and in attack 256 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 1: required in the football field. They're playing very good offense 257 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:03,440 Speaker 1: and playing good enough defense under Paul Gunter to win 258 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: some close games. Did you say? Six eight three eighty 259 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 1: six eight three eighty depending what he has for pregame meal. 260 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:13,719 Speaker 1: Sunday will mark the last time the Bengals will play 261 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:17,559 Speaker 1: at Oakland, Alameda County Coliseum, the so called black Hole. 262 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: You played there four times, including a playoff game in 263 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 1: seventy five. What stands out about the black Hole? A 264 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 1: lot of things, you know, John Madden, Al Davis, great players. 265 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: You know, a bunch of characters, I mean the cast 266 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: of characters. That place was the wildest place I think ever. 267 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: And I was pretty good friends with Dave Casper, and 268 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 1: he was telling me stories our rookie year about what 269 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: it was like playing there in Oaklands. It's almost unbelievable stuff. 270 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 1: I mean, you can't you can't comprehend it. But the 271 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: biggest thing is those crazy fans. I mean, those people 272 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: are nuts, the way they dress up, and I mean 273 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: the vulgarity of the language. They don't there's not two 274 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: words in a sentence that doesn't have one of them 275 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 1: being vulgar. I mean, it's just I mean they'll spit 276 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: on you, They'll they'll do everything and anything to you. 277 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 1: And uh, you know, it's almost like you're you're in 278 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 1: the middle of Hell's Angels, um, you know, international meeting 279 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: or something. The way they're all dressed looks like they 280 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: just get off their bikes and and and they're ready 281 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: to roll um. But they're they're passionate and they were 282 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: rabid fans. And man, that was a huge home field 283 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: advantage for the Raiders. And the other thing I remember 284 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: is how long the grass was because Al Davis had 285 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: big backs. Mark van egu and Marv Hubbard not real speed, 286 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: so he would grow and you know his his Danny 287 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: of Bramm and people like that, Fred Bullittencoffe. I should 288 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 1: say they didn't run well. He let that grass grow 289 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: because you know, didn't affect their team speed. They didn't 290 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 1: have it. He wanted to affect your team speed. Our 291 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 1: boy from Syracuse, man, he didn't miss any trick. Al Davis, 292 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 1: proud Syracuse grad. Normally we wear Bengals gear to the 293 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: stadium on Sunday. I might seek a one game exemption 294 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 1: just to not have those people get all over me. 295 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: What do you think, I'll tell you they are They 296 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 1: are something else and they will challenge it. They are challenging, 297 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: and I do remember we want a game out there, 298 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 1: and they literally started pounding on the buses. I mean 299 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 1: they were trying to tip our buses before we rolled 300 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 1: out there to get to the airport. I'm like, we're 301 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 1: gonna be able to make it out of here or 302 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: what I mean those folks they're serious is a heart 303 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: attack about their raiders. Man. The big story in the 304 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 1: NFL on Friday morning was the shocking end to the 305 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: Thursday night football game as Cleveland Brown's defensive end Miles 306 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 1: Garrett ripped the helmet off of Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph 307 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: and then swung it hard at Rudolph's head. It was 308 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: a violent act that is certain to lead to a 309 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 1: lengthy suspension. The longest suspension for an on field incident 310 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 1: in NFL history was handed out earlier this year the 311 00:16:55,960 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: former Bengals linebacker von tz Perfect. He got twelve games 312 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 1: for a helmet to helmet hit to Colts tight end 313 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: Jack Doyle. In Berfick's case, the league cited his history 314 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: of violating unnecessary roughness rules despite his checkered passed. The 315 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 1: Raiders signed Vontez as a free agent in the off season, 316 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 1: and head coach John Gruden defended that move this week. 317 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 1: He was a good addition. I mean, we have Liptoncott here, 318 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 1: He's a linebacker coach who coached him as Cincinnati, and 319 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:28,439 Speaker 1: Gunther was a coordinator. So I don't know how much 320 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: more intelligence I could have. I'm not happy about what 321 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: the league did to him, I'm not at all. I'm 322 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 1: really appalled by it, ticked off by it, But what 323 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: can I do? You know, I got a lot of 324 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 1: respects for what Burfick did. Coming in here. He was 325 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 1: elected team captain by every man on our team. He 326 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 1: played very very well, He had a helmet the helmet 327 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: contact play, and he was thrown out of the league 328 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:53,199 Speaker 1: for twelve games, unprecedented in NFL history, and I'm not 329 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:55,640 Speaker 1: happy about it, given the way that his tenure kind 330 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:57,719 Speaker 1: of wrapped up in Cincinnati. Did you have any concerns 331 00:17:57,720 --> 00:17:59,639 Speaker 1: about bringing him on the roster and how much did 332 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: you everything that happened here before you brought him in. 333 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: I don't want to vet any more than what I've 334 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: already said. You know, Like I said, I have two 335 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 1: coaches that coached him that have a lot more contact 336 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 1: with him than I had, And he came in here 337 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:18,679 Speaker 1: did exactly what we asked him to do, and what 338 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: has happened to him is unprecedented in the history of football, 339 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: and I hope someday we can get a chance to 340 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: coach him again. Test is twenty nine years old and 341 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:30,240 Speaker 1: has been suspended for a total of twenty two games 342 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 1: in his career for illegal hits or peed violations. Now 343 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 1: time for this week's locker room conversation as I visit 344 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: with one of the bengals most pleasant surprises This season. 345 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 1: We're in the locker room with Brandon Wilson, the NFL 346 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 1: leader and kickoff return average at thirty six yards per return. 347 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 1: Has leading the NFL in that category become a personal goal, 348 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: you know, it's a blessing. I mean, the guys of France, 349 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 1: they really they really just do a good job. And 350 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:01,919 Speaker 1: I mean they just make it so easy for me 351 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 1: to return the ball there far, So I mean just 352 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: props uping down. Honestly, you've been in that role before. 353 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 1: Is the guy trying to block for somebody else? Is 354 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:15,119 Speaker 1: there anybody on that unit in particular that's just known 355 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:19,160 Speaker 1: as being great at crushing people in the blocking role 356 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 1: on kick returns? I mean Clayton, Shoot, try Vaughn, you 357 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: know all those really, all those guys they always make 358 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: great blocks, honestly. So, I mean they just they just 359 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 1: really do their job out there. We're talking to Brandon Wilson, 360 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 1: the NFL leader and kickoff return average. You had the 361 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 1: ninety two yard touchdown return against Baltimore, but your average 362 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: isn't the result of like one or two really long returns. 363 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 1: You've had a big one in all four games where 364 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:50,879 Speaker 1: you've been the kick returner. You've had one of at 365 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 1: least forty nine yards in every game. How close have 366 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:58,919 Speaker 1: you been to multiple touchdowns? I mean, I know the 367 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:03,160 Speaker 1: jackson I know the Jacksonville game almost had another one. 368 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 1: I mean, as soon as I came out of the 369 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:06,480 Speaker 1: out of the scene, I was like, oh, I'm gone, 370 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: but guy, he kind of tripped me up. And you know, 371 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,880 Speaker 1: I had a I had a couple couple more. That's 372 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: that's been really close to just a few little steps 373 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 1: or just almost did. Really people might have heard in 374 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 1: the background Brandon Combs, assistant Special teams coach Justin said 375 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: to me, are you driving the Pro Bowl bus or what? 376 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:30,159 Speaker 1: So I'll ask you the question. Have you started to 377 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:31,879 Speaker 1: wonder if you might be able to go to the 378 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:34,399 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl this year as a special teamer? Yeah, I 379 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,200 Speaker 1: kind of have, you know, I mean, it'll be it'll 380 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:38,919 Speaker 1: be good if I'm if I'm able to do that. 381 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,959 Speaker 1: But at the same time, you know, it's just shows 382 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 1: you how good our our kickoff return team is. And 383 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:48,680 Speaker 1: that's props so that you know, the guys, the guys 384 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:51,159 Speaker 1: in front just making them blocks and just making it 385 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,119 Speaker 1: so easy for me to just re read blocks and 386 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:58,600 Speaker 1: you know, make cuts. What kickoff returners, present or former. 387 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 1: Do you admire Devin Hester the man, that's the man. Yeah, 388 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 1: he's one of the legends, and you know he's one 389 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:11,439 Speaker 1: of the greatest, honestly in my opinion kickoff returns. So 390 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:14,639 Speaker 1: on your kickoff return touchdown against the Ravens, you were 391 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 1: timed at twenty two point zero three miles an hour. 392 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 1: You are one of three people in the NFL while 393 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:23,440 Speaker 1: carrying the ball to top twenty two miles an hour 394 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:28,680 Speaker 1: this year. Do you know the other two? Matt Breda 395 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 1: and I can't remember Cordeol Patters Pisen, Yeah, Cordell Patterson. 396 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,399 Speaker 1: That's what I was thinking. It was so inquiring minds 397 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: want to know if you can run twenty two miles 398 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 1: an hour, are you the fastest guy on this team? 399 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 1: I don't think I am. I know John Ross he's 400 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:51,920 Speaker 1: real fast. William Jackson's fast, So I mean it's it's 401 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:55,120 Speaker 1: somewhere between us. Honestly, that's a pretty good top three. 402 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: A couple more questions for Brandon Wilson. You've got six 403 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 1: brothers and sisters. How excited are they by what you've 404 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:04,120 Speaker 1: done so far this year? Every time I do something 405 00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 1: specialty always like send something like group message that we have, 406 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:11,160 Speaker 1: so they're always excited. All right. Last question. You went 407 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:15,240 Speaker 1: to the University of Houston, but you're from Shreveport, Louisiana. 408 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 1: Are the folks back home caught up in LSU fever? Yeah, 409 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:24,440 Speaker 1: some of them more. I know my wife's family. They 410 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 1: like Ellis you a lot, but my family not much. 411 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:29,440 Speaker 1: They're big Houston fans because I went to Houston, so 412 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 1: as they should be. I'm looking forward to calling another 413 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:37,120 Speaker 1: kickoff return touchdown hopefully this week. Congratulations on your great 414 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:39,399 Speaker 1: season to date. Best of LLULL going forward. Thank you. 415 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 1: That's Brandon Wilson. Brandon's current average of thirty six yards 416 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:46,760 Speaker 1: per kick return would rank second best for a single 417 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,879 Speaker 1: season in NFL history if he keeps it up. The 418 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 1: record is forty one point one, set by Travis the 419 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 1: road Runner Williams of the Green Bay Packers as a 420 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:01,959 Speaker 1: rookie back in nineteen sixty seven. That year, Williams returned 421 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 1: a total of eighteen kickoffs and took four back for touchdowns. 422 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 1: Now time for this week's Know the Faux Interview, as 423 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:12,720 Speaker 1: we do a deep dive into the Bengals upcoming opponent. 424 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:16,120 Speaker 1: After going four and twelve last year, The Raiders already 425 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:19,479 Speaker 1: have five wins this year, and if the season ended today, 426 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,919 Speaker 1: Oakland would be the sixth and final playoff team in 427 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:27,440 Speaker 1: the AFC. Former Pro Bowl offensive lineman Lincoln Kennedy calls 428 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 1: Oakland games on the radio with the legendary Brent Musburger, 429 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 1: and he joined Dave Lapham and me this week on 430 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 1: the Bengals Game Plan Show to discuss the much improved Raiders. 431 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 1: Drafting smart has been one part of it, but more importly, 432 00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:45,199 Speaker 1: putting a scheme that's more conducent to the players that 433 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 1: you have when you take a look at the scheme 434 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 1: this year, they put a lot ins assists into Antonio 435 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,720 Speaker 1: Brown for having him on his roster, and he wasn't. 436 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 1: He didn't come on the roster, so they had to 437 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 1: make adjustments and change it. The receiving corps has been 438 00:23:57,359 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 1: a sort of a disarray with the injuries, but Josh 439 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,680 Speaker 1: Stacas has been a positive. Um. I really do believe 440 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:07,399 Speaker 1: he's offensive rookie of the Year. And more importantly, Derek 441 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:09,879 Speaker 1: car has been a lot more setting consistence because the 442 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:13,480 Speaker 1: protection up front is really else. Yeah, that protection up front, 443 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:15,479 Speaker 1: Like you know all about that as a as a 444 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 1: former player, at twelve quarterbacks. Sacks tied for third fewers 445 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:23,920 Speaker 1: in the league, but sack per pass attempt third best 446 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: in the NFL. And the only team in the league 447 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 1: that has shut teams out without a sack. Shut defense 448 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 1: is out four games, the only team that's spendable to 449 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: do that four different times. So that offensive line is mammoth. 450 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's hard to get around that offensive line. 451 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 1: And has it been them? Has it been Car? Has 452 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,520 Speaker 1: it been a combination? Well, you know, when it comes 453 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 1: to pass pro and pass plays, it's everyone receivers getting open, 454 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 1: offensive line doing the job, Derek Carr making the right race. 455 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:54,199 Speaker 1: But you know, Derek Carr has been in this OFFICI well, 456 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:55,919 Speaker 1: not in this offense. Has been in the league for 457 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 1: quite a few times, and there's been some times where 458 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 1: he takes some hilations hits. Last year, I think he 459 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 1: was sacked fifty nine times or something like that, fifty 460 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:04,959 Speaker 1: one sacked. But and so it kind of made him 461 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 1: a little skittish. This time, he's getting rid of the 462 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:10,080 Speaker 1: ball quickly, he's making proper reads, and he's doing something 463 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:11,480 Speaker 1: of the ball rather than trying to hold on it 464 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:15,160 Speaker 1: and make a bigger play. We're visiting with Lincoln Kennedy 465 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,719 Speaker 1: talking about the Oakland Raiders. Let's talk about tight end 466 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 1: Darren Waller. He's a guy that overcomes some drug issues 467 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 1: early in his career in twenty sixteen and twenty seventeen. 468 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:27,680 Speaker 1: Right now he's playing about as well as any tight 469 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:30,880 Speaker 1: end in the NFL. Does he belong in the conversation, 470 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 1: is one of the best. Yeah, without a doubt. I mean, 471 00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 1: I think when you look at last year, even though 472 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:38,960 Speaker 1: there was a whole lot of wins, the production that 473 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 1: Derek carrhead with Jared Cook was now in New Orleans 474 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: shows you how much you like succid in position. And 475 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:45,919 Speaker 1: I'm sure you guys will agree with today's game. The 476 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 1: slot receiver and the tight end are extremely important because 477 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 1: there's so much space and the rules that allow them 478 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:53,639 Speaker 1: to get open. With all that being said, Darren Waller 479 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 1: has done a great job of not only turning his 480 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 1: life around, but also become a very popular player. Not 481 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,200 Speaker 1: only the last game to San Diego, I'm not saying Nego, 482 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:05,639 Speaker 1: the Charges played against the Raiders. They doubled them. They 483 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 1: doubled them a lot. And the same thing was said 484 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:09,880 Speaker 1: before with Detroit. So they're trying to take him out 485 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 1: of the game plan, but that just frees up other people. 486 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:16,880 Speaker 1: Paul Gunter. Everybody here in Cincinnati is obviously very familiar 487 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:20,720 Speaker 1: with Paul Gunter's name and his brand of defensive play. 488 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 1: His side, his group. I mean, they're young, he's got 489 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:27,680 Speaker 1: some injury issues he's battling with. You know, the numbers 490 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 1: don't look you know, spectacular, buy any stretch at this point. 491 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:33,920 Speaker 1: But when you throw tape on and then they play hard, 492 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 1: I mean they run around the field, they get after, 493 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 1: they're giving effort out there. I totally agree. That was 494 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:41,200 Speaker 1: one of the things that set out to me about 495 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 1: the team. When people ask me what is this team's identity, 496 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:46,240 Speaker 1: I say, it's never say die. They're never going to 497 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:48,520 Speaker 1: give up. There are a lot of young players out there. 498 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 1: There's a lot of contribution from the defensive line. The 499 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 1: linebacking corps has been a little bit of upheaval because 500 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:56,320 Speaker 1: of injuries as suspensions that the hero Whitehead has done 501 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 1: a pretty fairly decent job at that middle linebacker spot, 502 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:01,479 Speaker 1: and the second there has been kind of complete disarray 503 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:04,440 Speaker 1: with injuries all around. In trades. You know, a couple 504 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:06,919 Speaker 1: of weeks ago, they traded Garyan Connley to the Euston Texans. 505 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 1: That kind of left a little bit of home. But 506 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 1: they have a lot of a lot of upside to 507 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 1: guys like Trey von Muellen and Keishaan Nixon that they're 508 00:27:13,720 --> 00:27:15,639 Speaker 1: looking forward to. So there have been a number of 509 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 1: players that have stepped in and done a fairly decent job. 510 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 1: But make no mistake about it, guys, this is a 511 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:21,720 Speaker 1: team that's going to have to score. The Raiders are 512 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:23,200 Speaker 1: a team that's going to have to score at least 513 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 1: twenty eight to thirty one points a game in order 514 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 1: to just be in a consideration of winning because their 515 00:27:27,359 --> 00:27:30,359 Speaker 1: defensive is going to go some place. We're talking to 516 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:34,680 Speaker 1: Raiders broadcaster Lincoln Kennedy. Barring a home playoff game or 517 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:38,080 Speaker 1: more than one home playoff game, there are three games 518 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: left in the black Hole before the Raiders moved to Vegas. 519 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:44,720 Speaker 1: What's the atmosphere like right now at a Raiders home game. 520 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:48,800 Speaker 1: It's really a frenzy and raucous atmosphere because a lot 521 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 1: of people in Oakland, a lot of the Raider Nation, 522 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:53,399 Speaker 1: are really happy that the Raiders are doing, you know, 523 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:55,480 Speaker 1: fairly well. I don't think a lot of people gave 524 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: the Raiders credit. I think the over and under out 525 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:59,639 Speaker 1: of Vegas coming into the season was like six games. 526 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,160 Speaker 1: Well they're on the doorstep of that. And I came 527 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 1: into the season saying, look, I think the Raiders are 528 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:06,440 Speaker 1: an average team. They should finish around eight and eight. 529 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:07,959 Speaker 1: And if they get that eight to win and they 530 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:10,239 Speaker 1: still have some games to go, maybe, just maybe they 531 00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:12,639 Speaker 1: could probably find that a ninth win that possibly challenged 532 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 1: for a wild card. But that being said, I think 533 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 1: people are starting to feel like that the possibility that 534 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:19,359 Speaker 1: there might be another playoff game, or that they can 535 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 1: see they probably won't be at home, but still, you know, 536 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:25,399 Speaker 1: there's a chance because the Chiefs I thought were going 537 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:27,560 Speaker 1: to be stronger than where they are, and so there's 538 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 1: a chance that the Raiders find a way that they 539 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 1: can take one in Kansas City and maybe take a 540 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 1: couple all along the division. They might be able to 541 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:35,719 Speaker 1: get past the Chiefs and maybe host the playoff game. 542 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 1: Who knows. Man, you look at the quarterbacks that you've 543 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: gone up against the last four weeks. You go to 544 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:45,520 Speaker 1: Green Bay, you got to battle Aaron Rodgers. You go 545 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 1: to Houston, Deshaun Watson, play them a three point game. 546 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:51,480 Speaker 1: I mean, that's a hell of football game. Then you 547 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:55,360 Speaker 1: get Stafford, you know with Detroit and in Philip rivers 548 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 1: the charges. I mean, you know you split those games 549 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 1: two and two. But man's that's all of a run 550 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 1: of quarterbacks that you had to go go face and 551 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 1: came out you know pretty good. Well that's the NFL. 552 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 1: You know that, that's the NFL. There aren't many quarterbacks 553 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 1: where you can just sit and look down your nose. 554 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 1: I'm like, well, you don't give him a chance. Even 555 00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:15,479 Speaker 1: some of the backup quarterbacks, like what Teddy Bridgewater did 556 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:19,160 Speaker 1: in New Orleans, it was a comparable deal. So the 557 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:22,479 Speaker 1: thing is, the thing is that when you're playing up 558 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 1: against these teams, like I said, the Raiders are happy 559 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:26,400 Speaker 1: that they're at a five and four record. Sure there 560 00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 1: was a couple of games that could have went either way, 561 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 1: but they still have a lot of holes. They still 562 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 1: have a lot of things they have to address, and 563 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:34,640 Speaker 1: it's I'm also a battle of attrition at this point 564 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:38,200 Speaker 1: because everybody's beat up, everybody's injured. You can't take anybody 565 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 1: for granted. I don't think the Raiders will, but you know, 566 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:43,240 Speaker 1: that's the Cincinnati Bengal team coming in doesn't have a 567 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 1: win yet, but you'd hate to be the first one 568 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 1: to give it to him. A few more questions for 569 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:51,000 Speaker 1: Raiders broadcaster Lincoln Kennedy. We spoke on the phone today 570 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:56,440 Speaker 1: with John Gruden and he made a impassioned or gave 571 00:29:56,480 --> 00:30:00,960 Speaker 1: an impassioned defense of Vantaz perfect saying that it's a 572 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:03,920 Speaker 1: total injustice that he was suspended for the rest of 573 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 1: the year. There's never been anything like this in NFL 574 00:30:07,480 --> 00:30:11,360 Speaker 1: history for a helmet to helmet contact play. Do you agree? 575 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: I do agree, And the fact that the fact that 576 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 1: the official ruling was is that he was too rough 577 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:20,160 Speaker 1: and that's why I suspended for a year is to 578 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:22,320 Speaker 1: me as an agree to say it because it's ridiculous. 579 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: I thought we were talking about football, but I guess 580 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 1: this is what we become. And I'm not just saying 581 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:29,160 Speaker 1: that because he plays for a team I cover. I'm 582 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 1: saying that because I don't like how tiki tack they are, 583 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 1: how they claim that they're protecting players when they still 584 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:37,480 Speaker 1: they still wanted to let them play. They let certain 585 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 1: things go, but then they call they call other things 586 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:42,320 Speaker 1: to the to the team, and it just it's never 587 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 1: been consistent with me. It's never been a good fill 588 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 1: of me. I felt this is a contact game. I 589 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:50,320 Speaker 1: felt that these were men playing, But sometimes I think 590 00:30:50,360 --> 00:30:52,880 Speaker 1: that they wanted want everybody to walk around and where 591 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:55,880 Speaker 1: something else. I guess, play a little pattycake out there. 592 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:57,840 Speaker 1: I guess I was what's looking for? I mean, it's 593 00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:01,400 Speaker 1: it's crazy to hand too much? Yeah, exactly, so John 594 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:05,719 Speaker 1: Gruden he is. You know, every coach talks about establishing 595 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 1: their culture. In your mind, what is John Gruden's culture? 596 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:13,080 Speaker 1: What do you think it's supposed to be and how 597 00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:17,720 Speaker 1: close is it to you to being fulfilled? Do you think, Well, 598 00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:19,720 Speaker 1: he came in last year and pretty much cleaned the house, 599 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 1: didn't he? Sure? You know, given away Khalil Mack and 600 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:26,040 Speaker 1: Amari Cooper and made it a bunch of other decisions 601 00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:28,480 Speaker 1: about other players that have been drafted by Reggie McKenzie 602 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:30,680 Speaker 1: and his staff. I think that pretty much sends the 603 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:33,560 Speaker 1: staple of an identity. But the more so than that, 604 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:36,560 Speaker 1: guys look at this, will you take into consideration how 605 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:39,880 Speaker 1: many rookies are first year players on the starting roster 606 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:42,480 Speaker 1: of this team and how they've contribute to this five 607 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:45,400 Speaker 1: and four record. I think that's a testament in itself. 608 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:47,600 Speaker 1: Do you know him? You know what I mean? Yep, yep, 609 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 1: absolutely our thanks to Lincoln Kennedy and that's going to 610 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:55,280 Speaker 1: do it for this episode of the podcast. If you 611 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:58,720 Speaker 1: haven't done so already, don't forget to subscribe, and if 612 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:01,560 Speaker 1: you have time, given a rating or share a comment. 613 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 1: Five star ratings help more Bengals fans find this podcast. 614 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:08,360 Speaker 1: I'm Dan Horde and thank you for listening to the 615 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:10,080 Speaker 1: Bengals Booth Podcast.