1 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:04,560 Speaker 1: Hi, get everybody. 2 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 2: I'm Dan Hord and thanks for downloading the Bengals Boot Podcast. 3 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 2: The holiday oh holiday addition, as the players begin a 4 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 2: five week break before training camp, but we don't here 5 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 2: On the pod. Coming up, I'll talk to Trevor Sikkama 6 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 2: from Pro Football Focus about what it's going to take 7 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 2: for the Bengals to surpass Baltimore in the AFC North, 8 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 2: followed by five observations about one of the biggest storylines 9 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 2: will be focused on in training camp. The Bengals Booth 10 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 2: Podcast is brought to you by pay Corps, proud to 11 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 2: be the Bengals official HR software provider, by Alta Fiber, 12 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 2: future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business 13 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 2: and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health 14 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 2: the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is 15 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 2: the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now here's a 16 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 2: quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of 17 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: this podcast as delivered write to your phone, tablet, or 18 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 2: computer by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the 19 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 2: greatest thing since Knockout Roses. My stepfather was a wholesale florist, 20 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 2: so you would think I would know something about flowers 21 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 2: and how to grow them. Unfortunately I don't. Whatever the 22 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 2: opposite of a green thumb is, you're listening to them. 23 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 2: That's why knockout roses are so great. They're already planted 24 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 2: in front of our house when we moved in, and 25 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 2: with little to no maintenance, they bloom beautifully year after year. 26 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 2: All we have to do is prune them occasionally and 27 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,199 Speaker 2: that's it. Sun and rain takes care of the rest. 28 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 2: So if you're looking to add some beautifully colored flowers 29 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 2: to your home, knockout roses are hard to beat and, 30 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 2: more importantly, for me, easy to grow. Now, let's get 31 00:01:55,880 --> 00:02:00,040 Speaker 2: to football. According to ESPN bet, at this point of 32 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 2: the off season, Cincinnati is tied for having the seventh 33 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 2: best odds of winning the Super Bowl. This week, I 34 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 2: discussed the roster and some key off season question marks 35 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 2: with Trevor Sikama, an analyst and podcaster for Pro Football Focus. Trevor, 36 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 2: you've probably been on a bunch of podcasts where the 37 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:25,359 Speaker 2: host near the end says, tell us where people can 38 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 2: find you or find your work, And I want to 39 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 2: start with that because it seems to me that, in 40 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 2: addition to your written content, you are doing more and 41 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 2: more podcasts and Pro Football Focus, so fill us in. 42 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 3: Pro Football Focus. 43 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 4: They keep you busy, but I'm glad that they do 44 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 4: because I work with a lot of great people, get 45 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 4: to do a lot of different shows. The main one 46 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 4: that I do is the PFFNFL show that I get 47 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 4: to do with mainly Dalton Washman, but we have a 48 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 4: lot of other great people who are in on that 49 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 4: show as well. Max Chadwick is a familiar face there, 50 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 4: those guys doing the college show also dabbling in the 51 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:01,959 Speaker 4: NFL world. I also cover the NFL Draft three sixty five. 52 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 4: That's my true passion, is the lead draft analyst for 53 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 4: Pro Football Focus, and I do that over the NFL 54 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 4: Stock Exchange show with my good friend and co host 55 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,959 Speaker 4: Connor Rogers. So it definitely keeps us busy, even here 56 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 4: in the middle of the offseason. It gives us things 57 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 4: to think about, and we're already thinking about that twenty 58 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 4: twenty six NFL Draft class to win some summer scouting. 59 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 4: So the work never stops, the podcast never stopped. 60 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 3: But I love it. I love what I get to do, 61 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:27,519 Speaker 3: so it's always great when I get the turn. 62 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:27,839 Speaker 1: Of my gun. 63 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 2: So with the title NFL Draft Analyst. Let's discuss the 64 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 2: Bengals draft. They had six picks. The top three were 65 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 2: Shamar Stewart, Demetrius Knight, and Dylan Fairchild. 66 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: How did they do? 67 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 4: I look, I actually really liked what the Bengals were 68 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 4: able to do in the draft. I think that the 69 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 4: Shamar Stewart pick, obviously, I think that what's going on 70 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 4: with him and the contract situation, it. 71 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 3: Put the dark cloud over it. 72 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 4: Honestly, though, the way that I saw this is this 73 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 4: is kind of what they really wanted Miles Murphy to be, 74 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 4: except for just maybe like a higher ceiling type of 75 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 4: version of that. Not that Miles Murphy can't find a 76 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 4: place on the defensive line, whether it's on the interior 77 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 4: or the edge, but I think they were hoping that 78 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 4: he'd probably find more of a home and be more 79 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 4: dominant as an edge rusher. And I think they think 80 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 4: the same now of Shamar Stewart, who I think is 81 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 4: like Miles Murphy just almost super charged a little bit, right, 82 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 4: taking a super Mario mushroom or something with the size, 83 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 4: to strength, the explosiveness, all that good stuff. So I 84 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 4: know that the contract situation that he's currently in kind 85 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 4: of clouds that a little bit. But this is a 86 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 4: very talented football player and one who is a highly 87 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:39,279 Speaker 4: regarded recruit for a reason, somebody who at texts A 88 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 4: and M really had to get on the field over 89 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 4: the last couple of years and develop him in any 90 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:42,840 Speaker 4: way that he could. 91 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 3: And then of course you have this year starting with Nick. 92 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 4: Scorton there on that team, So I think it's still 93 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 4: going to be a little bit of time and development. 94 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 4: It's going to take a little bit of time for him, 95 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 4: but he's got an incredibly high ceiling. 96 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 3: I like the Dylan Fairchilds selection as well. 97 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 4: This is an interior offensive line that really just had 98 00:04:57,240 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 4: to get a lot better from what it was last season. 99 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 4: And there's some familiar faces there, Ted Carris obviously one 100 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 4: of them playing at that center spot. 101 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 3: But then it. 102 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 4: Feels like those two guard spots are up for grabs 103 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 4: and it's sort of going to be a training camp 104 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 4: battle of who's going to come out and win those 105 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 4: and I think that Dylan Fairchild could very well. You know, 106 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 4: he's coming from such a highly successful program at Georgia. 107 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 4: He's faced some of the best interior defensive linemen in 108 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 4: the SEC over the last couple of years. So I 109 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:24,720 Speaker 4: like the fact that they've either got him his depth 110 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 4: or maybe as an early starter. Here, Demetrius Knight was 111 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 4: somebody who you know, when I was looking at night, 112 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 4: I didn't get to him until sort of late in 113 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:34,840 Speaker 4: the process. I didn't really know a lot about him. 114 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 4: And it kind of makes sense, right, I mean, he's 115 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 4: a Georgia Tech for all those years, plays but sort 116 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 4: of sparingly. Okay, maybe as one year left or I 117 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:43,840 Speaker 4: think he had two years left of eligibility. But he 118 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 4: goes to Charlotte, so he kind of goes down in 119 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 4: competition a little bit, but he shows out really well. 120 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 4: So then all right, well, Charlotte to Columbia South Carolina. 121 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 4: That's not too far away. They've actually been able to 122 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 4: see me play. Let me go to South Carolina. And yes, 123 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 4: he is an older prospect, but man, you love what 124 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 4: he's able to bring to the table, in my opinion, 125 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 4: especially as a will linebacker, which is perfect for what 126 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 4: the Bengals need. Right They've got Logan Wilson in the 127 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 4: middle to be able to play that mike linebacker role 128 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 4: as the centerpiece of that second level of the defense. 129 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 3: Now Demetrius Knight. 130 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 4: He's a player who you know, when I watched him 131 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 4: and I first looked at his measurables, I was like, man, 132 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 4: you know, he's big enough to be able to play Mike. 133 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 4: I actually kind of like him as a Mike backer, 134 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 4: and I still think that he could be a good 135 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 4: Mike linebacker. 136 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 3: But really it's that run and chaseability. 137 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 4: It's his fluidity and coverage and the potential that he 138 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 4: has there that really gets me excited. And so I 139 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:34,840 Speaker 4: think he landed in a perfect spot where he can 140 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 4: play more as that in space linebacker. You know, Logan 141 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 4: Wilson's the one who's calling things out, He's getting the 142 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 4: run fits set everything like that, and then Demetrius can 143 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 4: play a little bit more in space and run and 144 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 4: chase a little bit more. So I think that that 145 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 4: gets a lot out of what he brings to the table. 146 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 4: I think Breck Carter kind of the same way, coming 147 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 4: from Clemson, another athletic linebacker to bring in that depth 148 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 4: and kind of get that same player there. And then 149 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 4: I'll just shout out Tis Brooks as well. You know, 150 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 4: when I was watching Tis Brooks, he had some of 151 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 4: my favorite vision of any running back in the class. 152 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 4: Now that is my as people ask me all the 153 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 4: time kind of about how I scout and what I'm 154 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 4: looking for and things like that, generally not to give 155 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 4: away too much of the secret sauce. 156 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 3: I don't really care. I love talking about it. 157 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 4: But I have about ten categories for every single position, 158 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 4: and there are things like for running backs, for example, 159 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 4: it's you know, like how often they can make guys 160 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 4: miss elusiveness, you know what they are after contact, you 161 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 4: know their strength after contact, their vision. 162 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 3: Things like that, right, And it's not like all. 163 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 4: Those ten categories are just okay, it's one out of ten, 164 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 4: it's one out of ten. It's one out of ten, 165 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 4: and then we get to one hundred. That's a fine 166 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 4: way to do it. But as I've been scouting over 167 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 4: the years, I find tune in a little bit to say, like, 168 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 4: you know what, actually, visions the most important part for me, 169 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 4: and so I give it a little bit higher of 170 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 4: a weight, a higher percentage. So maybe out of ten 171 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 4: points instead, now vision might be out of sixteen or eighteen, 172 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 4: so there are more points to be gained, because I 173 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 4: think that that trait is more valuable if you can't 174 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 4: see the field the way that you need to. No 175 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 4: matter how fast yard, no matter how strong you are, 176 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 4: you're just gonna flame out in the NFL. 177 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 3: Trent Richardson is a great example of that. 178 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 4: Look how incredible Trent Richardson was when he was at Alabama, 179 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 4: and yet he gets to the NFL. He just could 180 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 4: not read blocking schemes the way that he needed to. 181 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 4: He did not have that running back vision to match 182 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 4: the athletic traits. Taj Brooks a little bit of the opposite. 183 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 4: I'm not sure that he is the best caliber athlete 184 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 4: for the position, but man, can he see it? He 185 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 4: is patient, He knows where these blockers are going to be, 186 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 4: he knows where his aiming points are. He knows when 187 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 4: he needs to arrive to get past them, past the 188 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 4: line of scrimmage and into. 189 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 3: That second level. 190 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:38,199 Speaker 4: So it might not be a big home run hitter 191 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:39,599 Speaker 4: for you, but I think there are going to be 192 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 4: a handful of plays throughout practice preseason whenever he gets 193 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 4: his chances to showcase his stuff. The Bengals could look 194 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 4: at him and say, man, all right, is he gonna 195 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 4: be the dynamic. 196 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 3: Early down back for us all the time? No, but 197 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:51,559 Speaker 3: especially if there are some. 198 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 4: Injuries, we feel good about the high football IQ this 199 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 4: guy has and putting him in the lineup. So that's 200 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 4: just sort of an overview of when I'm looking at 201 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 4: the names in their class, of this class some of 202 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 4: the thoughts that I had of them pre draft. 203 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 2: Trevor Sikramuff from Pro Football Focus is our guest. I 204 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,200 Speaker 2: want to circle back to Shamar Stewart for a second. 205 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:09,439 Speaker 2: Everybody is focused on the fact that he only had 206 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,199 Speaker 2: four and a half sacks, and that's fair. It's certainly 207 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 2: a major point of discussion. I've made the case though, 208 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 2: that saying that he wasn't productive just because of that 209 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 2: stat is an overstatement because he was good against the run. 210 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:24,199 Speaker 1: He had a lot of pressures. 211 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 2: Am I right? 212 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:27,959 Speaker 1: Is that how you felt about Shamar Stewart? 213 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:30,439 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I agree with you. 214 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:35,719 Speaker 4: He his tape looks different from a player that you 215 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 4: would say, like, oh, just you know, one and a 216 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 4: half sacks every single year. Like when you see a 217 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 4: player who has three years of either rotating and contributing 218 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 4: snaps or even starting snaps for them to have that 219 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 4: little production, I think that your mind immediately goes to like, Okay, 220 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 4: this guy can't play. 221 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 3: He's not gonna make it, and you know, a. 222 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:55,079 Speaker 4: Little bit of a puff in our chest here, I'd 223 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:57,079 Speaker 4: say that this is all Shamar Stewart's a good example 224 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:00,559 Speaker 4: of why PFF exists, in my opinion, because you get 225 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 4: to go beyond just the common stats there. And sometimes 226 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 4: the stats do tell the story correctly, but sometimes they don't, 227 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 4: and I think you need a little bit more context there. 228 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 4: In that regard, I will say this, The pass rush 229 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 4: metric that I like to lean on so much more 230 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:21,080 Speaker 4: so than sacks is a passers win percentage, and for 231 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 4: Schmar Stewart that passor's win percentage of And just to 232 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 4: give people a barometer here, you know, like twenty five 233 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:32,319 Speaker 4: to thirty percent of a pastor's win percentage how often 234 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,079 Speaker 4: you're winning one on one against your matchup that is 235 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 4: in front of you, whether or not you make it 236 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 4: to the quarterback or not. Right, because it's independent of that. 237 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 4: Let's say that the offense is running a play where 238 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 4: the ball's coming out of his hands within two point 239 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:48,559 Speaker 4: five seconds. Well, even if you're Trey Anderson, right, A 240 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 4: great example of somebody who wins one on one a 241 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 4: lot very quickly, even if he wins within the first 242 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 4: two seconds, well, he's not going to get a sack, 243 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 4: he might not even get a pressure because the ball's 244 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 4: coming out so quick. 245 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 3: But he still did his job. He's still won. 246 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 4: And so pastors win percentage is something that's a little 247 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 4: bit more concrete. It's something that's a little bit more 248 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:06,079 Speaker 4: stable that we can predict that we like to lean 249 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 4: on a little bit more. If you have a twenty 250 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 4: five to thirty percent pass or twin percentage, that's crazy. 251 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 4: That's like defensive player of the year type of category. 252 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 4: Twenty to twenty five is normally that tier one of 253 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 4: edge rusher's, the Trey Henderson's, the Miles Garretts, the Michael Parsons, 254 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 4: the TJ. Watts like those guys, a lot of them 255 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 4: in their best years, they're in that range fifteen to 256 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 4: twenty really good starting edge rusher. You get down to 257 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 4: ten to fifteen percent, it's like, okay, it's not bad. 258 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 3: Maybe a starter, rotational guy. 259 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:34,079 Speaker 4: And if you're below ten percent, you're probably your team's 260 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 4: probably looking to upgrade your spot if that's how you 261 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 4: are consistently playing. Shamar Stewart was right around that fifteen 262 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 4: percent pass or twin percentage this past year. So it's 263 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 4: much more indicative of what this guy can do as 264 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 4: a pass rusher rather than just looking at the one 265 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:50,600 Speaker 4: and a half sacks that he had. So he still 266 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 4: needs to put it together. I still think he needs 267 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,679 Speaker 4: a better pass rush plant, specifically before the ball is snapped, 268 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 4: but at least that physical ability was able to show 269 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 4: out in that sort of metric. So that's the way 270 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 4: that I viewed Shimar Stewart. And you're right, strength wise, 271 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 4: length wise, overall body type, really good run defender as well. 272 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 4: You picked this guy because you hope that he has 273 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 4: a high floor because of his athletic and strength gifts, 274 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 4: and then also because of high he has a high ceiling. 275 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:18,320 Speaker 4: Those are the types of first round picks that you 276 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 4: love to make, and hopefully we get to see him 277 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 4: on the field soon. 278 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 2: One more draft related question before I changed the subject. 279 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,719 Speaker 2: After the draft, the Bengals signed center Seth McLaughlan from 280 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 2: Ohio State and defensive tackle Eric Gregory out of Arkansas's 281 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 2: college free agents. Did you like either or both? And 282 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 2: did anybody else that they signed in the undrafted category 283 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 2: catch your eye? 284 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 4: So I haven't seen their entire undrafted free agency list, 285 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 4: so I'll kind of like go down their their depth 286 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:50,839 Speaker 4: chart and see if I recognize any names here. I 287 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 4: don't know a lot about Gregory, but I do know 288 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 4: a lot about McLaughlin, who, before he got hurt, man 289 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 4: he was playing very very well. And this is somebody 290 00:12:57,800 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 4: that before he even went to Ohio State, when he 291 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 4: was an Alabama he wasn't consistent. 292 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 3: The way that he needed to be yet. 293 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 4: But I watched him and I go, Okay, I mean 294 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,439 Speaker 4: we've got something here. We've got something where very clearly, 295 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 4: whether it was as a sophomore or a junior, before 296 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:14,319 Speaker 4: he got hurt and before he transferred over to Oiowa State, 297 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 4: he showed signs of like, all right, this guy kind 298 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 4: of plays the game like a pro, you know, like 299 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 4: the movement skills, they're quick, they're precise, He's thinking about 300 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:24,960 Speaker 4: things the right way. Now, there are times when, okay, 301 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 4: it might show up he's not the most physically gifted 302 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 4: interior offensive lineman. Okay, he might get knocked off of 303 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 4: his balance and off of his feet a little bit. 304 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 4: Maybe it takes him a little bit more and asking 305 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 4: him to reach completely across the body. If you're talking 306 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:41,439 Speaker 4: about an inside zone or an outside zone rushing play 307 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 4: like that's a little bit difficult for him, but he 308 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 4: does a lot of the really solid things well. And 309 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 4: I think it's traits like that when when you hear 310 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 4: stuff like that about an interior offensive lineman, you don't 311 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 4: have to worry as much as you would maybe if 312 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 4: you heard those exact same things about an offensive tackle, 313 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 4: because if you're an offensive tackle, you've got to kind 314 00:13:57,120 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 4: of be left on an island. 315 00:13:58,080 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 3: A little bit. 316 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 4: Well, when you're on the interior, actually when you were 317 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 4: at center, so much of what you're able to do 318 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 4: is chemistry based. It's so much around you know, Okay, 319 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 4: not only do I have to know my own strength 320 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 4: and weaknesses very well, because I. 321 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:12,080 Speaker 3: Talk about I feel like I talk about that all 322 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 3: the time. 323 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:16,679 Speaker 4: Interior offensive linemen have to self scout as good as 324 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 4: as good as anybody can, because you not only have 325 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 4: to know your own strength and weaknesses, you've got to 326 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 4: know the strength and weaknesses of the two guys next 327 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 4: to you, whether it's a tackle or in the center's case, 328 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 4: whether it's the two guards. So you got to know, like, okay, 329 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 4: well you know I got Let's say Fairchild wins the 330 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 4: starting gig right and and McLaughlin might be able to 331 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 4: go like, Okay, I got Fairchild next to me. 332 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 1: All Right. 333 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 4: He's a little bit lighter, but he is quick. So 334 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 4: if we're ever in a situation where I need him 335 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 4: to bounce off of one defensive tackle and help me out, 336 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 4: I know he's going to be able to do it. 337 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 4: So all that to kind of say, I hope that 338 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 4: he gets back to that pre injury form Seth McLachlin, 339 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 4: because I thought he was. He was playing at a 340 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 4: really high level before he ended up getting hurt. And 341 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 4: I just think that you already saw the baselines, whether 342 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 4: it was at Alabama or Ohio State of him preparing 343 00:14:58,800 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 4: and playing like a pro. 344 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 3: So I think that he was a really nice undrafted 345 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 3: free agent. 346 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 2: Dad, I actually have one more draft related question. It 347 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 2: goes back to last year's draft. The tackles last year 348 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 2: were thought to be historically good. Eight were taken in 349 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 2: the first round. A Marius Mims was the fifth tackle selected. 350 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 2: One year later, how high would a Marius Mims be 351 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 2: on that tackle list based on his rookie year? 352 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 3: Oh wow? 353 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 4: Okay, so the twenty twenty five class, let's take a 354 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 4: look at the offensive tackles and the guys that were 355 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 4: drafted there, Uh you had. 356 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 3: Will Campbell obviously went four harmon Membugo seven nine. 357 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: I meant last year's class. 358 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 2: So if the eight taken last oh oh, okay, Marius 359 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 2: was fifth. And I'm wondering based on the fact that 360 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 2: he got to play, he played well if if it 361 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 2: were done again, now, you know, would he be in 362 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 2: the top two or three? Would it be Joe Alton 363 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 2: then him, or would he be at the top. 364 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, Like I so, I think the all still still 365 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 4: that top guy there. But man, it's basically anybody's It's 366 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 4: basically anybody to take that second offensive tackle spot. 367 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 3: It really is. 368 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 4: I mean, like Leatham obviously got some playing time. He struggled, 369 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 4: but he moved from left to right. The same exact 370 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 4: situation with Tolise Fuanga. Both of those guys. I like 371 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 4: the decent amount, but anytime you're throwing them on the 372 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 4: other side of the line of scrimmage, it's hard enough 373 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 4: as a rookie, and then when you're switching everything, it's 374 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 4: sort of tough to think about. But I think a 375 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 4: Marius at least like to your point, like he looked 376 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 4: as advertised when he was out there, Like, yeah, okay, 377 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 4: he's a little bit raw, but we knew that was 378 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 4: going to be the case with his experience coming out 379 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 4: of Georgia and him missing that the time at Georgia 380 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 4: due to injury. I think I think Olu Fashonu probably 381 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 4: is still well. I guess not still he was the 382 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 4: third offensive tackle taking he's probably the second guy. But 383 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 4: then yeah, I mean, Mims could very well have been 384 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 4: right there, picked within the top ten. I think that 385 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 4: he had a year where you feel good about it 386 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 4: moving forward. You know, did he like the world on fire? 387 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 4: Was it as good as Joe Alt? 388 00:16:57,640 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 5: No? 389 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 4: Okay, but that's why Alt's going is the first defensive 390 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 4: tackle here in this discussion. But I really do think 391 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 4: that he gets picked eighteenth. You could very well make 392 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 4: a case for him to go fringe top ten if 393 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 4: this is sort of this redraft and be that second 394 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:13,880 Speaker 4: or third offensive tackle take and probably, I would say 395 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 4: in the conversation for that third offensive tackle take in. 396 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 2: Trevor Sikoma from Pro Football Focus is our guest as 397 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 2: PFF's lead draft analyst. I'm sure you watched a lot 398 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 2: of Notre Dames defensive players over the last couple of 399 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:29,919 Speaker 2: years and therefore saw Al Golden's defenses. What did you 400 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 2: think of the higher and do you expect significant improvement 401 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 2: in the Bengals defense specifically tied to Al Golden taking over. 402 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I like Al Golden. I liked what I 403 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 3: saw from. 404 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 4: Him last year at Notre Dame. You know, an aggressive 405 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:48,440 Speaker 4: style of defense, specifically in coverage, and I think that's 406 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 4: where you would really want to focus things for the 407 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,360 Speaker 4: Bengals when you're sort of like looking at what could 408 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:57,159 Speaker 4: be this season. I think specifically there is one player. 409 00:17:57,600 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 4: Dal Washerman did a really good job of pointing this 410 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:02,120 Speaker 4: out as well my coast on the PFFNFL show. 411 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:04,439 Speaker 3: Al Golden likes to play a lot. 412 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:06,360 Speaker 4: Of single high stuff, you know, and he had a 413 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 4: really good safety to be able to do it in 414 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 4: Xavier Watts last year. So you know, Wats is somebody 415 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 4: who I'm very excited about with him being in Atlanta 416 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 4: now getting to pair with Jesse Bates, who Bengals fans 417 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 4: obviously know very well. When you look at their current 418 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 4: situation with Al Golden coming over to Cincinnati, Geno Stone 419 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:26,880 Speaker 4: is the player that I would want to highlight because 420 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 4: Geno Stone comes over from Baltimore, he does not have 421 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 4: a good season. In his first year in Cincinnati, his 422 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 4: coverage grade went from an eighty five point seven all 423 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 4: the way down to I believe it was a fifty 424 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:38,639 Speaker 4: two point two or fifty two point three. 425 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 3: It just was not. It was a career low in 426 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 3: coverage grade. 427 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 4: Now, Luana Rumo was doing a lot of too high stuff, 428 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:46,400 Speaker 4: like Cincinnati's sort of been leaning into that they've got 429 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 4: these two high safety looks, and Geno Stone was Yeah, 430 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:51,040 Speaker 4: I think he was much more valuable when he was 431 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 4: in more of that single high situation, whether it was 432 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 4: with him as the free safety or sometimes as the 433 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 4: strong safety, the Robbert type over the middle. 434 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:00,439 Speaker 3: Golden leans more into that. 435 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 4: Golden is more of a Cover one, Cover three, single 436 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 4: high safety type of a defensive shell, at least from 437 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,040 Speaker 4: what we saw at Notre Dame. I think the best 438 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 4: coaches will always tell you, oh, you build the scheme 439 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 4: around the players. 440 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 3: So maybe it looks a little bit different. 441 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,359 Speaker 4: Maybe it's not as aggressive because he's going from having 442 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:19,440 Speaker 4: Watts at the Notre Dame college level to now, okay, 443 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:21,679 Speaker 4: it's the NFL. These guys are bigger, faster, stronger, I 444 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 4: think at every single position. But if they do lean 445 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:26,439 Speaker 4: more into that. I think that gets more out of 446 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:29,920 Speaker 4: Stone certainly as somebody who can then play as that 447 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:33,879 Speaker 4: center fielder, free safety and coverage. I like Jordan Battle 448 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:35,919 Speaker 4: in that situation as well, because when I watched him 449 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 4: at Alabama, he was very high at Football IQ all 450 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 4: the way back to his freshman season, as somebody who 451 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 4: could call things out, he control the middle of the field, 452 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:45,920 Speaker 4: he could play in that robber role, he could play 453 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 4: down in the box. So I think that fits both 454 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:49,439 Speaker 4: of those guys a little bit more. And then when 455 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 4: you were playing single high on the outside, sometimes it's 456 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,439 Speaker 4: cover three, sometimes it's cover one, but a lot of 457 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,520 Speaker 4: times it's man match, its zone match stuff. You still 458 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:00,040 Speaker 4: have to be aggressive, think quickly, and get the mo 459 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 4: most out of some very agile, elusive and explosive corners. 460 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:05,879 Speaker 4: That's what Dax Hill is, That's what DJ Turner is, 461 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 4: right like, That's why you drafted those guys so specifically. 462 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 4: I think a lot of times when you think about, 463 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:13,640 Speaker 4: all right, well, new defense coming in, you know, what's 464 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 4: it gonna look like? 465 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 3: Is it you know? Is it three four? Is it 466 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 3: four to three? That kind of stuff. 467 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:19,399 Speaker 4: A lot of people talk about the box in the front, 468 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:22,120 Speaker 4: with new defensive coordinators coming in, I am more focused 469 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 4: on what Golden is going to change for them on 470 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 4: the back end, because I feel like there were inconsistencies 471 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 4: there for the Bengals over the last couple of years really, 472 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 4: since they haven't had Jesse Bates back there to be 473 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 4: able to play that impactful safety role. And now with 474 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:40,120 Speaker 4: the signing of Stone and him still being there, him 475 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:43,439 Speaker 4: being a more advantageous situation, I think from the top down, 476 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 4: it's going to help this defense feel like those guys 477 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:48,440 Speaker 4: are in their more proper spots. 478 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 1: If you will. 479 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 2: We've got a few minutes left with Trevor Sikomuff from 480 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 2: Pro Football Focus, what are your biggest Bengals question marks? 481 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 2: Roughly a month before the start of training camp. 482 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 4: I think often line has to be the big one, right. 483 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 4: I think this unit really struggled along the interior offensive 484 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 4: line with Carris and Kappa and voltson last year, and 485 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 4: Carris was solid. I think I think it wasn't his 486 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:13,840 Speaker 4: best year, but I feel like he did kind of 487 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 4: as well as he could, you know, with with some 488 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 4: of the injuries of the offensive tackles and the the 489 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:19,159 Speaker 4: inconsistencies with the guys that were standing next to him. 490 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:21,439 Speaker 4: Obviously they don't have Alex cap anymore, and he got 491 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 4: a handful of guys that are fighting for those guard spots. 492 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:26,879 Speaker 4: But figuring out what the best starting three is on 493 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,600 Speaker 4: that interior is paramount for them heading into training camp, 494 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:35,120 Speaker 4: heading in the preseason, because there are so many teams 495 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:38,880 Speaker 4: in the NFL that are leaning into interior pressure. Now 496 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:41,200 Speaker 4: you know before and I look, the big money still 497 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 4: goes to the Miles Garretts, the Micah Parsons, the Nick Bosas, 498 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 4: it still goes to a lot of those edge rushers. 499 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 4: But there are a lot of defensive coordinators that realize 500 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:54,199 Speaker 4: the shortest distance to the quarterback is right up the 501 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 4: middle in a straight line, and if you can disrupt 502 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:58,359 Speaker 4: the center, if you can disrupt the guards, and if 503 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:01,880 Speaker 4: you can get in those a gaps, that really causes 504 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 4: a lot of a fuss for quarterbacks, especially a guy 505 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 4: like Burrow, who are for as elite as he is, 506 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 4: you know, heast doesn't have He's not the best scrambler, 507 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,919 Speaker 4: and so if you really pressure him immediately up front, 508 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 4: that's something that's going to kill the play I for 509 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:15,880 Speaker 4: you're the Bengals, and so for a team that has 510 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 4: two phenomenal wide receivers in Jamar Chase and t Higgins. 511 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 3: The Bengals really are. 512 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 4: A team that I feel like are going to be 513 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 4: in a lot of shootouts every single year if they 514 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:27,440 Speaker 4: are every single game, if those guys are fully healthy, 515 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:29,920 Speaker 4: because it's basically a matter of can you protect Joe 516 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:33,160 Speaker 4: Burrow for three seconds. If you can protect Joe Burrow 517 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:35,960 Speaker 4: for three seconds the majority of the game, I will 518 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 4: tell you I will bet on those two receivers to 519 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 4: win more often than they lose. And I think the 520 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:43,120 Speaker 4: Bengals are scoring, you know, twenty five thirty plus every 521 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 4: single game, so they're going to be led, in my opinion, 522 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:46,439 Speaker 4: by their offense. 523 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 3: I think that's always going to be the case. 524 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:49,639 Speaker 4: For as much as I like the Al Golden Higher, 525 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 4: I think it is going to take a little bit 526 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 4: of time. They're still obviously going to be fixing things 527 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 4: on the defensive line. Getting Trey Hendrickson out there is 528 00:22:56,680 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 4: paramount because he felt like he was a man alone 529 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:02,920 Speaker 4: last season. Getting Shamar Stewart out there by week one 530 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:04,919 Speaker 4: of the regular seasons so that the second half of 531 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 4: the season and hopefully the playoff run, he is more 532 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 4: acclimated to what NFL speed and NFL life is when 533 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 4: the game is going on. 534 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 3: So I think that certainly. 535 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 4: On the defensive line, you have those questions to get 536 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:17,320 Speaker 4: those guys out there as well. But as long as 537 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:19,439 Speaker 4: Hendrickson's out there and as long as Shamar Stewart are 538 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:21,880 Speaker 4: out there, as long as those contract things get worked out, 539 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:24,920 Speaker 4: I'm not as nervous about that. I'm still nervous about 540 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:28,639 Speaker 4: that interior offensive line because if it is as ineffective 541 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 4: as it was last year, it's just such a killer. 542 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 4: So we saw this team come on and still overcome 543 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:35,640 Speaker 4: things like that and really make a playoff push towards 544 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,400 Speaker 4: the end of last year. But the interior offensive line, 545 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 4: that is the biggest question mark that I have for 546 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:43,159 Speaker 4: the Cincinnati Bengals, because if it's good, I think this 547 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 4: can be one of the highest scoring teams in the NFL. 548 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:47,439 Speaker 4: But if it's not, it could be a reason that 549 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 4: keeps them out of the playoffs in a tough division. 550 00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:52,359 Speaker 2: All Right, that's a perfect segue to my last topic. 551 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 2: Baltimore's won the AFC North each of the last two years. 552 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 2: No team has ever wanted three years in a row. 553 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 2: So how do you handicap bau More, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and 554 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:03,560 Speaker 2: Cleveland at this stage. 555 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think that Baltimore has to be the favorites, 556 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 4: not that Cincinnati can't spoil them. I think they're right 557 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 4: there competing for what I would call is they're right 558 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:12,960 Speaker 4: there with one of those wild card teams. Now, of 559 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:16,440 Speaker 4: course it's the NFL. Crazy things happen all the time. 560 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 4: Maybe that race is closer than we think. At this point, 561 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 4: I'd feel like it's all I think the Ravens are 562 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 4: probably going to be two wins better than the Cincinnati Bengals, 563 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:27,399 Speaker 4: whatever number that is, fourteen, thirteen, twelve, whatever that is. 564 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,000 Speaker 4: I feel like they're going to be two wins better 565 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:35,119 Speaker 4: than the Bengals this upcoming season. I think the Browns 566 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 4: are in for a long season, and I look at 567 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:42,159 Speaker 4: the Browns long term out looking. Man, I have a 568 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 4: lot of respect for Kevin Stefanski as a coach, Tim 569 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:49,120 Speaker 4: Schwartz a defense coordinator, but that roster has only been 570 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:49,640 Speaker 4: getting worse. 571 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 3: I feel like as time has gone on. 572 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 4: Outside of a couple of the stars, certainly Miles Garrett, 573 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:55,880 Speaker 4: they paid to be around there for a long time. 574 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:57,640 Speaker 4: But man, just look at their offensive line I mean 575 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:00,440 Speaker 4: Joel Buttonio White Teller, their former All pros. Both of 576 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 4: those guys didn't play well last year. Now they're both 577 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 4: above the age of thirty. Ethan Postics to undrestricted free 578 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:08,160 Speaker 4: agent this upcoming season, so is Jack Conklin to want 579 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:10,239 Speaker 4: Jones struggled and he's probably gonna start for them at 580 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 4: offensive tackle so very quickly. I think three years ago 581 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:15,120 Speaker 4: Cleveland was thought of as one of the best offensive 582 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:16,960 Speaker 4: lines in the NFL, and now I think that it's 583 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:19,440 Speaker 4: bottom half of the league, maybe bottom ten, bottom five 584 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 4: in the league, depending on how those veterans are able 585 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 4: to play into their thirties. So it's tough there, especially 586 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 4: with the quarterback situation. 587 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 3: I don't know. 588 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 4: I have a lot of faith in the Cleveland Browns 589 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 4: to be super competitive. I feel like I've been trying 590 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 4: to hedge the Steelers like every year, but Mike Tomlin 591 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:38,400 Speaker 4: just keeps winning enough to keep the five hundred Street going, 592 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 4: you know, with Rogers there, I think the defense is 593 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:43,360 Speaker 4: still gonna be good. 594 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:47,199 Speaker 3: The offense, I just I don't know what the identity is. 595 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 3: I just don't like, you. 596 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:52,160 Speaker 4: Go out and you trade for DK Metcalf and he's 597 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:53,879 Speaker 4: sort of the same thing that George Picking was. It 598 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 4: doesn't really change your offense a lot. And now you 599 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:59,760 Speaker 4: bring in a quarterback in Rogers, who, yeah, okay, I 600 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:02,200 Speaker 4: think that just by nature he's going to be better 601 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 4: than a rookie and Will Howard and Mason Rudolph, who's 602 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:06,919 Speaker 4: proven to not be a starting quarterback. 603 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:07,080 Speaker 3: In this league. 604 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 4: But look at what Rogers has been the last two years. 605 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:12,160 Speaker 4: This is like what Tom Brady was in the back 606 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 4: end of the Buccaneer years. He's trying to get the 607 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:16,360 Speaker 4: ball out within two seconds. He's trying to hang onto 608 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,640 Speaker 4: the ball. Now you have wide receivers where DK metcalf, 609 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:21,440 Speaker 4: his whole thing is hold onto the ball for two 610 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 4: three seconds to throw it to me. Deep Rogers didn't 611 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 4: have as good of an arm as he used to, 612 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:26,880 Speaker 4: and he doesn't want to hold onto the ball because. 613 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 3: He's forty one, forty two years old. So I just 614 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:32,920 Speaker 3: there's good players in Pittsburgh. 615 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:34,639 Speaker 4: Obviously I have a ton of respect for Mike Tomlin 616 00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:37,399 Speaker 4: as a head coach, but I think their offensive philosophy 617 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 4: is just, certainly on paper, it's not very cohesive. So 618 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 4: I really do think it's a two team race, and 619 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:46,399 Speaker 4: we'll see how close the Bengals can can get to 620 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 4: whatever win total the Ravens end up putting up this year. 621 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 2: Trevor, this has been great. I really appreciate your time. 622 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:53,480 Speaker 2: Keep up the good work. 623 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:54,879 Speaker 3: Appreciated that anytime. 624 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 2: Trevor obviously knows his stuff. If you would like to 625 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 2: hear more of his content, you'll find him on the 626 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:06,400 Speaker 2: PFF NFL Podcast and the NFL Stock Exchange Draft Podcast. 627 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:10,679 Speaker 2: You can also follow him on x at Tampa Bay Trey. 628 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:14,120 Speaker 2: Now here's a quick reminder that the Bengals Booth Podcast 629 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:16,159 Speaker 2: is brought to you by pay Corps, proud to be 630 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:21,240 Speaker 2: the Bengals official HR software provider, by Alta Fiber future 631 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:24,359 Speaker 2: Proof Fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business and 632 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 2: community to a new level, and by Kettering Health the 633 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:30,399 Speaker 2: best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is the 634 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:34,960 Speaker 2: official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now time for five 635 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:38,200 Speaker 2: observations and the topic on this edition of the pod 636 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 2: is first round draft pick Shamar Stewart. As of this recording, 637 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 2: the twenty one year old defensive end out of Texas 638 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 2: A and M has not signed a contract or a 639 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:50,640 Speaker 2: waiver that would cover him in the event of injury 640 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:53,360 Speaker 2: and allow him to practice until a deal is done. 641 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:59,639 Speaker 2: Observation number one involves the coverage of this negotiation nationally. 642 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:04,119 Speaker 2: It's being portrayed like the Bengals are cheap or trying 643 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:07,959 Speaker 2: to insert a crazy and unusual clause that is somehow 644 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:12,360 Speaker 2: holding up the deal. That's simply not true. The clause 645 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 2: is reportedly standard among other NFL teams. However, the language 646 00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:21,919 Speaker 2: is slightly different from the bengals last two first round picks, 647 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:26,159 Speaker 2: and Stuart and his agent are fighting those changes. And 648 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:30,400 Speaker 2: now some people are floating doom and gloom scenarios, including 649 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:33,639 Speaker 2: the idea that Stuart could skip his rookie year and 650 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:37,480 Speaker 2: re enter the draft next year. That is so far 651 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:41,920 Speaker 2: fetched that it really doesn't deserve our attention. The second 652 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 2: pick in the draft, Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, is 653 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 2: also unsigned, and I haven't heard anybody bring up that 654 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:53,240 Speaker 2: possibility with him. History tells us that the Bengals and 655 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 2: Stuart will eventually reach a deal, hopefully in time for 656 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:02,400 Speaker 2: the first practice of training camp. Here's defensive coordinator Al Golden. 657 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 6: I've been around long enough to know these things. Sometimes 658 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:07,920 Speaker 6: they take some time, or they're more complicated than they 659 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:12,960 Speaker 6: are on their face, and we're hopeful to get this 660 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:15,000 Speaker 6: resolved in the next five six weeks and get him 661 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 6: out there and really looking forward. I love the young man. 662 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:22,040 Speaker 6: He's had a great attitude, he learns really well, he's 663 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 6: a tentive. He asked good questions, So from that standpoint, 664 00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:27,720 Speaker 6: he's doing everything we're asking. 665 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 2: Observation number two involves the notion that Stuart's status is 666 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:36,800 Speaker 2: a big distraction. Here are Ted Carris and Zach Taylor. 667 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 7: I don't think it's been a distraction. I think it's 668 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 7: more been a distraction for the fans mostly. I mean, 669 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:46,960 Speaker 7: I know Twitter, Twitter's hot right now, and since he 670 00:29:47,040 --> 00:29:50,480 Speaker 7: Twitter doesn't mess around, and you know, obviously you don't 671 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 7: want that to be. 672 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 3: You know, carry into you know, when it gets real. 673 00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:58,720 Speaker 3: This is uh, you know, like I said, I thought 674 00:29:58,720 --> 00:29:59,440 Speaker 3: of Produglis ring. 675 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:03,800 Speaker 7: This is a different time, and you know, I think 676 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:06,200 Speaker 7: it's you know, how it's how it's played out has 677 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:09,880 Speaker 7: been probably unfortunate for both sides. 678 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:12,000 Speaker 8: It gets a lot of attention to the media and 679 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 8: not as much attention in the locker room, and so 680 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:15,800 Speaker 8: I think it's very easy for us isolate ourselves in 681 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:18,720 Speaker 8: these walls. We spend a lot of time here you 682 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 8: get asked questions about it, but you just learned to 683 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 8: continue to keep it moving. So I think our players 684 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:25,440 Speaker 8: are doing a great job just focusing on what's important 685 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:27,920 Speaker 8: inside the walls. Getting our reps down to practice certainly 686 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:29,480 Speaker 8: gets a lot of headlines and stories and all that, 687 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:31,320 Speaker 8: but we don't worry about any that stuff. And it 688 00:30:31,360 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 8: could be a contract, it can be an injury, it 689 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:36,560 Speaker 8: can be any sort of adversity that can strike all 690 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:38,520 Speaker 8: thirty two teams in this league. It's all going to 691 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:40,960 Speaker 8: come in different shapes and forms. It's how your team 692 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 8: handles adversity the best, and this team's got a history 693 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:45,760 Speaker 8: of doing a great job handling adversity the right way. 694 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 2: If Stewart had a sore hamstring and was around every day, 695 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:52,960 Speaker 2: sitting in on meetings but watching practice from the sidelines, 696 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 2: would that be viewed as a big distraction. No, So 697 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 2: what's the difference? And that leads to observation number three, 698 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:04,480 Speaker 2: his lack of practice time. I don't want to be 699 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:08,280 Speaker 2: a homer and say that it's insignificant. Every practice is meaningful, 700 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:12,600 Speaker 2: and Chamar would benefit from getting reps. But there are 701 00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 2: still six weeks of practices in three preseason games before 702 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 2: the regular season opener in Cleveland. Here's Shamar's former college 703 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:24,920 Speaker 2: teammate who now has the locker next to him in Cincinnati, 704 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 2: McKinley Jackson. 705 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:29,080 Speaker 9: I don't focus on contracts and all that stuff. I 706 00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 9: just tell him like staying the playbook and stay in shape. 707 00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:34,920 Speaker 9: And I care for him very very much beyond football, 708 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:39,000 Speaker 9: Like he's a special guy, special person. Stands background. That said, 709 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:41,280 Speaker 9: where he came from, and I know where you can go. 710 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:44,040 Speaker 9: I know what he can do for this team. Like 711 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:47,280 Speaker 9: I said, he's really special. So just I'm hoping that 712 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:50,520 Speaker 9: all that gets figured upstairs. How all the time goes. 713 00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 9: He's ready and he's stuck, he's died, ain't locked in 714 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:55,640 Speaker 9: because he's the first runner for us. He's gonna have 715 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:58,040 Speaker 9: to he's gonna have to play. So he's going to 716 00:31:58,080 --> 00:31:59,440 Speaker 9: get in and I have I have a bunch of 717 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:02,400 Speaker 9: faith in him. Take four of a push every day. 718 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:07,640 Speaker 2: Observation number four involves a possible silver lining. The Bengals 719 00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:11,000 Speaker 2: have a lot of young defensive linemen, and since Shamar, 720 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:14,960 Speaker 2: Trey Hendrickson, and b J. Hill weren't on the field 721 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:19,000 Speaker 2: during OTA's and Mini gamps in BJ's case dudo minor injury. 722 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:23,840 Speaker 2: Guys like Miles Murphy, Chris Jenkins, Cedric Johnson, and McKinley Jackson. 723 00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:28,440 Speaker 2: We're getting extra reps here are Al Golden and Zach Taylor. 724 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:31,200 Speaker 6: It affects us in a positive way. As ironic as 725 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:34,360 Speaker 6: that is, because you're already preparing for that injury when 726 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:38,360 Speaker 6: it when it exposes itself. During the year, you forced 727 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 6: guys into playing multiple positions. H you know what we call, 728 00:32:41,440 --> 00:32:46,120 Speaker 6: you know, basically just horizontal depth. You know, ends playing tackle, 729 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:49,720 Speaker 6: tackles playing end, some linebackers playing on the edge, those 730 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:52,240 Speaker 6: type of things. So I think from that standpoint, we 731 00:32:52,280 --> 00:32:54,480 Speaker 6: always see the we always see the good in it 732 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:57,200 Speaker 6: and the opportunity. Uh And I'm being serious on that. 733 00:32:57,520 --> 00:33:00,360 Speaker 6: Some guys have really taken advantage of their reps in 734 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:03,720 Speaker 6: their opportunity and obviously I think will be more formidable 735 00:33:03,720 --> 00:33:04,560 Speaker 6: when those guys come back. 736 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 8: It's been really good for guys as we build that depth. 737 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:11,680 Speaker 8: Guys were fighting for opportunity in that way. It's been 738 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 8: a very positive thing. I think Al and our staff 739 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:16,720 Speaker 8: has done a great job, especially on outside of the ball, 740 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:21,680 Speaker 8: practicing with intent every single day. The install what we're 741 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:24,880 Speaker 8: trying to achieve holding guys accountable, and the players have 742 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:27,080 Speaker 8: really bought in and that's been exciting for me to see. 743 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:29,840 Speaker 2: My fifth and final observation is about what we're going 744 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:33,800 Speaker 2: to see when Schamar gets on the field. As I 745 00:33:33,840 --> 00:33:36,800 Speaker 2: mentioned in my conversation with Trevor Sikkima, I think there's 746 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:39,840 Speaker 2: been too much focus on what Chamar didn't do well 747 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:44,280 Speaker 2: in college than where he excelled. Pro Football Focus graded 748 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:48,560 Speaker 2: him number five in the country among defensive ends at 749 00:33:48,560 --> 00:33:51,600 Speaker 2: stopping the run and had him tied for twenty fifth 750 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:56,240 Speaker 2: in the Power Conferences in most quarterback pressures, even though 751 00:33:56,480 --> 00:33:58,760 Speaker 2: he only had one and a half sacks last year. 752 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:02,720 Speaker 2: Here's Bengal defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery. 753 00:34:02,840 --> 00:34:08,520 Speaker 5: We're literally talking about him missing sacks. But the guy 754 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:12,160 Speaker 5: with his violent in the run game, he affects the 755 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:15,239 Speaker 5: quarterback at a high rate. When I say affected, he's 756 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:20,839 Speaker 5: back there right first year playing, truly starting, so he's 757 00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:22,920 Speaker 5: just got to learn how to finish. But more importantly, 758 00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:28,880 Speaker 5: he's beating up on tight ends. He is destroying tackles 759 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:33,279 Speaker 5: run in pass. His effort and play style is phenomenal. 760 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:38,000 Speaker 5: Like his his effort to the ball is he leaked. Okay, Now, 761 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:42,040 Speaker 5: like I told everybody, if if he just finishes on 762 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:45,759 Speaker 5: let's let's just say he gets I don't know, you 763 00:34:46,080 --> 00:34:49,920 Speaker 5: call it six seven sacks. You know what, he's not. 764 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:50,680 Speaker 1: A Cincinnati bank. 765 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:56,279 Speaker 5: That's that to me is the biggest thing. And so 766 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:58,120 Speaker 5: people judged him off of that. But you got to 767 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:00,839 Speaker 5: remember it first time doing it. When I say first 768 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:04,239 Speaker 5: time doing it, it was a first year start. So as 769 00:35:04,280 --> 00:35:07,200 Speaker 5: he grows and develops as a player, I think the 770 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:12,000 Speaker 5: skies are the limit. And like I always compare similar 771 00:35:12,080 --> 00:35:15,239 Speaker 5: deal to Rashaun Gary when he was coming out. You know, 772 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:19,000 Speaker 5: he had all the traits, but he had he had 773 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:24,000 Speaker 5: good pressure productions, but he didn't have the sac production. Well, 774 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:27,759 Speaker 5: he gets to the league, he gets goes up, he's 775 00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:31,560 Speaker 5: on an edge more than he's been in college. And 776 00:35:31,600 --> 00:35:35,080 Speaker 5: then all of a sudden he he has two productions, 777 00:35:35,239 --> 00:35:38,560 Speaker 5: THENDO too, Bowl, those type of things. So but again, 778 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:41,759 Speaker 5: like I said, if he had the numbers would have 779 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:45,719 Speaker 5: been long gone. I'm saying top five, he was by 780 00:35:45,760 --> 00:35:49,520 Speaker 5: far the most explosive player in the draft. 781 00:35:49,719 --> 00:35:53,719 Speaker 2: You heard it. Jerry Montgomery says that Stewart has the 782 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:58,239 Speaker 2: talent worthy of a top five NFL draft pick, and 783 00:35:58,280 --> 00:36:00,959 Speaker 2: I'll repeat what I said earlier. It's only a matter 784 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:04,480 Speaker 2: of time before he's under contract. That's going to do it. 785 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:06,799 Speaker 2: For this episode of the Bengals Booth Podcast, brought to 786 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:09,320 Speaker 2: you by Pai Core, Proud to be the Bengals Official 787 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:13,960 Speaker 2: HR software provider, by Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet 788 00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:16,759 Speaker 2: designed to elevate your home, business and community to a 789 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:20,400 Speaker 2: new level, and by Kettering Health the best care for 790 00:36:20,440 --> 00:36:23,760 Speaker 2: the best fans. Kettering Health is the official healthcare provider 791 00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:26,960 Speaker 2: of the Bengals. If you haven't done so already, please 792 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:29,520 Speaker 2: subscribe to this podcast and if you have a minute, 793 00:36:29,560 --> 00:36:32,360 Speaker 2: give it a rating or share a comment that helps 794 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:36,319 Speaker 2: more Bengals fans find us. I'm Dan Horde and thanks 795 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:39,520 Speaker 2: so much for listening to The Bengals Booth Podcast