1 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: Hi, Get everybody. I'm Dan Horde and this is the 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:11,720 Speaker 1: Bengals Booth Podcast. Let the Healing begin. Addition, as the 3 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: injury ravage Bengals take the field for the final time 4 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:17,479 Speaker 1: in twenty eighteen, looking to end the season on a 5 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: winning note and potentially knock the Pittsburgh Steelers out of 6 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: the playoffs if the Baltimore Ravens don't do it. First 7 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,479 Speaker 1: coming up, my broadcast partner Dave Lapham joins me to 8 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:32,479 Speaker 1: discuss several key topics, ranging from the murky future of 9 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 1: linebacker Vantz Berfect to whether this season qualifies as the 10 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: most disappointing that lap has experienced in forty three years 11 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: as a Bengals player and or broadcaster. There have been 12 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: some bright spots, including twenty three year old Sam Hubbard. 13 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: I'll talk to the molar High and Ohio State grad 14 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: before the final game of his rookie season, and in 15 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: this week's No The Faux segment, we'll get the Steelers 16 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: scoop from the always entered hating Tim Ben's, a long 17 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 1: time buddy of mine who is a columnist and radio 18 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 1: host in Pittsburgh. All of that is straight ahead, but first, 19 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:10,960 Speaker 1: here's a quick reminder that you can have the latest 20 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: edition of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, 21 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: or computer by subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, or pod Bean. 22 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 1: It's the greatest inventions since solar powered Christmas lights a 23 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: great way to decorate the house. They work by gathering 24 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: in sunlight during the day, then emitting light when it's 25 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: not sunny, such as nighttime. They're affordable, eco friendly, and safe, 26 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 1: and you don't have to worry about where your power 27 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: outlets are located outside the house. Now, let's get to football. 28 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: The first meeting between the Bengals and Steelers seems like 29 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: it was two years ago rather than two and a 30 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 1: half months ago. Heading into that game, the Bengals were 31 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 1: four and one and the Steelers were two two and one, 32 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: and with one minute and eighteen seconds to go, it 33 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 1: looked like Cincinnati was about to have a two and 34 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: a half game lead over Pittsburgh in mid October, second 35 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: down and three at the Steelers four, the Bengals down 36 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: by six, Dalton hands it off to Mix Churches into 37 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: the end zone, touchdown Bengals. Cincinnati has tied the game 38 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: with one eighteen left, and the Bengals can take the 39 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: lead when Randy Bullock lines up for the extra point. 40 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: Bullock made the kick, but as you know, the lead 41 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 1: didn't last. Ben Roethlisberger calmly drove the Steelers down the field, 42 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 1: thanks in part to a third and ten defensive holding 43 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: penalty against Drake Kirkpatrick. With fifteen seconds left, the Steelers 44 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 1: were at the Bengals thirty one, and the Bengals defensive 45 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: coordinator at the time, Tarall Austin, elected the gamble. The 46 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:01,079 Speaker 1: Bengals have nobody back deep. They are crowding the line 47 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 1: of scrimmage. Roethlisberger catches the shotgun snap quick throw of 48 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,959 Speaker 1: the mental cup. Antonio Brown sprinting down the middle of 49 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 1: the field. He's into the end zone for as Steeler's 50 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 1: touchdown with ten seconds left. Since that touchdown pass, the 51 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: Bengals are two and seven and the following players have 52 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: gone on injured reserve Andy Dalton, A J. Greene, Carl Lawson, 53 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: Tyler Croft, Preston Brown, Josh Tupo, and Adolphus Washington. There 54 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 1: are others, but you get the point that when for 55 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 1: the Steelers was the second of a six game winning 56 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: streak that put them at seven two and one with 57 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: a two and a half game lead over Baltimore in 58 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: the AFC North, but it's been an epic fail in 59 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: the Steel City since the Steelers have dropped four out 60 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: of their last five games, despite having second half leads 61 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: in all five. And in the Steelers case, it is 62 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: not injury related. Pittsburgh is only missing one starter from 63 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: opening day, right tackle Marcus Gilbert, who went on injured 64 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: reserve in mid December. Now time for this week's visit 65 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:15,320 Speaker 1: with my broadcast partner, Dave Lapham Lap. Between playing and broadcasting, 66 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 1: you've been part of this franchise for forty three of 67 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: its fifty one years, considering the four and one start 68 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:23,160 Speaker 1: this year, that was almost five and one before they 69 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 1: got Roethlisberger. Does this go down as one of the 70 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:29,840 Speaker 1: most disappointing seasons ever? I think when you look at 71 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,679 Speaker 1: it in that regard, because there was such high hopes. 72 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:34,720 Speaker 1: I know when we talked a bunch of times watching 73 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:37,599 Speaker 1: them during training camp, were like, man, this looks like 74 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: could be pretty good. I think people, you know, they 75 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 1: didn't have them under the radar. They had him off 76 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: the radar. I mean, they were dismissed totally. People were 77 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: saying four wins Max and we thought differently when we 78 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: saw how it was being put together. You have a 79 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:54,799 Speaker 1: chance to see it every day and how it's being assembled, 80 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: and they get off to that great start, and offensively 81 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: there was something to watch. And then the beginning of 82 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 1: it was Tyler Eiffort. When Tyler Eiffort was lost for 83 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: the season, that started the downslide, and the football god said, 84 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 1: not so fast, my friend, it's not going to be 85 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 1: the kind of year you think when Effort was in there. 86 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 1: When you have a tight end AJ Green, you can 87 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: double team, but then Iffort's going to eat if you 88 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: double Effort. You can't double AJ's easily because there's a 89 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 1: run threat too. With Tyler Eiffort in the game. We 90 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 1: talked about it many times. Every snap he played, they 91 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: went nickel because they couldn't match up with him in 92 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: the passing game. They didn't want a linebacker on them, 93 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: so they'd bring in a smaller body to, you know, 94 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 1: be able to run with him with his excellence and 95 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 1: route running, and then they could bunch it up and 96 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 1: run in those smaller people. And the first two games 97 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: of the season they scored thirty four points in each game, 98 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: and they look dynamic offensively, Tyler Boyd, you know, was 99 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: showing some things as a third option. So you have Effort, 100 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: you have Aj Green, you have Tyler Eiffort, Andy Andy 101 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 1: Dalton is just you know, making Pittsburgh get out of 102 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: their blitz. I mean, Baltimore Ravens get out of their 103 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: blitz pattern. You know, It's like Wink Martindale wanted to 104 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: blitz every single snap and he said no, Moss. I 105 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: mean he went like a quarter and a half without 106 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 1: blitzing at all. So it's like, Wow, these guys are 107 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 1: looking pretty good and then the injury started and they 108 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 1: never did recover. And you know it's like I'm telling people, uh, 109 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 1: you know, over the weekend here going into the Pits, 110 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:28,359 Speaker 1: this Pittsburgh game, how would the Pittsburgh Steels look without 111 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Juju Smith Schuster. I don't know, 112 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:34,600 Speaker 1: but I'd like to see it. I know that'd be 113 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 1: that'd be a lot easier for Marvin Lewis to defend. 114 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 1: I mean, this foot this Bengals football team isn't is 115 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: nowhere near the team that started out the season, not 116 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 1: even close, not even close. And you know, fifteen guys 117 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: on injury reserve that's not to count guys that missed 118 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,359 Speaker 1: two or more games. I think it would be easier 119 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: to say the number of guys on the roster that 120 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:00,120 Speaker 1: played sixteen games. Not many of them. I mean, they 121 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:03,159 Speaker 1: might go on one hand they've missed guys for two 122 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: or more games, a bunch in some for half a 123 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 1: dozen games or more. And you know you're not gonna 124 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 1: have Vontes Berfett playing this game against Pittsburgh. You're not 125 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: gonna have dray Ker Patrick played against in this game 126 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: against Pittsburgh. You're gonna be depleted offensively, defensively. It's a 127 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 1: it's a shame when you look at the way the 128 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 1: season started, what could have been, and the way it 129 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 1: ended up. Man, the football gods, Oh you won the 130 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: big time lab. Vontes Berfeckt began the year on suspension, 131 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: he never played that well once he was active, and 132 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: last week in Cleveland he suffered his seventh known concussion 133 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 1: in seven NFL seasons. He's twenty eight, he's got two 134 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: years left on his contract. What does Vontes Berfick's NFL 135 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: future hold, Well, that's a that's a great question. It 136 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: doesn't look promising for him. Honestly, that many concussions and 137 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 1: that short of time frame is a concern. You know, 138 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: if you're Vontes berfect, you're probably thinking about getting hurt 139 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 1: and you're thinking you're gonna get fined every time you play. 140 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: You think you're a marked man, and your style of 141 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 1: play is conducive to the concussions that he's had. So 142 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 1: to me, it doesn't look promising. He didn't play as 143 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: well as he's played in years past. There was an injury. 144 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: He's had a history of injury and suspension. The amount 145 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: of money he's given back the league could support small 146 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: communities in the country. It's amazing. You know. You just 147 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: don't no matter how much money you make, you don't 148 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 1: want to give a big chunk of it back. That's 149 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: for darn sure. So it's interesting. The Bengals have a 150 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:40,559 Speaker 1: big decision to make there. That's one of their bigger 151 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: decisions I think in the offseason. If the Bengals allow 152 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: twenty two or more points this week, they will break 153 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 1: the franchise record from most points allowed in a season. 154 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 1: Let's take a look at each level of the defense 155 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:55,959 Speaker 1: defensive line, linebackers, in secondary. Where must they improve in 156 00:08:56,000 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 1: each of those areas well. I think in the defensive line, 157 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: i'd maybe try to get another big interior guy, you 158 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 1: know Glasgow and two Power. I mean they're they're on injuriserve. 159 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 1: Glasgow is playing very well. I think i'd try to 160 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 1: get another one, though not real high in the draft. 161 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: It might be my you know, third priority in the draft. 162 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: My first priority's offensive line tackle. With what's happened, I mean, 163 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 1: Certico Bay, he's catching his chips. Fisher, you don't know 164 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 1: if you can play because of the physical aspect of it, 165 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 1: So they're going to find a tackle. It's a good 166 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: one down an old mess. Wouldn't mind to see him 167 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: up there in the first round. But and then second round, 168 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: I'd probably go linebacker because we've seen how they've been attacked, 169 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 1: they've been put in space. The only linebacker win healthy 170 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,200 Speaker 1: that you know, shows that he can do what needs 171 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: to be done is Nick vigil. You know, they need 172 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: to they need to get a little bit better in 173 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: that area. So I draft I draft a linebacker that 174 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 1: is a linebacker that fits day's NFL almost like a 175 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 1: hybrid safety linebacker type guy, guy that can stay on 176 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 1: the field and defend the run. But if you put 177 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 1: them in space, it's not an embarrassment because we've seen 178 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 1: how teams have attacked the Bengals linebacker level at tight 179 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: ends with running backs with shallow crosses from every position group, receiver, 180 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:22,320 Speaker 1: tight end or running back. Those crossers. I mean, I 181 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: think every Bengal fan when they close their eyes in 182 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: the offseason going to see crossing routes up on the 183 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 1: ceiling and instead of with the back of their eyelids. 184 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,079 Speaker 1: But so that's that's where I'd really make a move 185 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:38,599 Speaker 1: is at the linebacker position. But I would like to 186 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 1: see them if there's a good interior defensive lineman in 187 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 1: that in that third round kind of area, you know, 188 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: go go that route as well. Secondary. Yeah, I mean, 189 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: you can never have enough, you know, corners obviously, and 190 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 1: they've had a history of drafting corners in the first round. 191 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: I don't think they go that route, you know, this year. 192 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 1: I do think they've got a budding star in Jesse 193 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: Bates at the safety position. I think he's he's going 194 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: to be here for a long time barring injury. Knock 195 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: on wood for everybody in that regard. But you know, 196 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 1: you can always there's no harm in bringing bodies in 197 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: to compete at the safety or cornerback position for sure. 198 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 1: The Bengals wrap up the season at Pittsburgh. The Steelers 199 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 1: are seven two and one after ten games, but after 200 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 1: losing four out of their last five, they are currently 201 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: out of the playoffs unless they beat the Bengals on Sunday, 202 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 1: and it's a big end. The Cleveland Browns go to 203 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: Baltimore and beat the Ravens, who are red hot. Are 204 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 1: you surprised the Steelers are where they are? Some but 205 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:47,839 Speaker 1: not totally. I maintain that when Bell decided he was 206 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:51,600 Speaker 1: done with Pittsburgh, that's when it started. They thought seven 207 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 1: two and one, Bell still could return for the final 208 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 1: six games of the season. Man, we get a boost, 209 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 1: man like Bell comes back. Are you kidding me? We're 210 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: go now we're a super Bowl favorite. Nope, not coming back. 211 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 1: The offensive lineman kept saying, oh yeah, he keeps communicating 212 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:09,199 Speaker 1: with us he's coming back, coming, And then all of 213 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 1: a sudden, you know, they're all mad because he's not 214 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: doing what he says he's going to do. So not 215 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 1: only is he causing a wedge, you know, in that 216 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,199 Speaker 1: communication aspect of it, then when he doesn't return at all, 217 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:25,439 Speaker 1: I really think that was the straw that that loaded 218 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: up the camel's back. I really do, because the guy 219 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: is so dynamic in the running game, in the pass game. 220 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:33,319 Speaker 1: I mean, he's as big a weapon for Ben as 221 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 1: he is, you know, on the ground. And Connor, you know, 222 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 1: made the Pro Bowl, I mean a good year, but 223 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: a Belle is a different breed of cat. And then 224 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 1: Connor has gotten nicked up. So and then you look 225 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 1: at their turnover ratio. What team has made the playoffs 226 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: going minus ten? That's that's very, very difficult. They're they're 227 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 1: a good football team. Many of the games that they've 228 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 1: lost in this little stretch you think many they're a 229 00:12:57,280 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: better team, they played better. How do they lose that game? 230 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 1: How did that happen? I think part of it is, 231 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 1: you know, Leveon Bell helps you close games. Not having 232 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 1: him is a big, big deal. There's there's no doubt 233 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: about it. I mean, that would be like having you know, 234 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: the best back in Bengals franchise history decide ten games 235 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:20,079 Speaker 1: of the season. I'm going somewhere else. I mean that 236 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: that would be crippling mentally to a football team. And 237 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 1: I think that's where it started. Thanks Lap, the Steelers 238 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: have won the last seven meetings between the two rivals, 239 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 1: including the infamous melt down at Paul Brown in the 240 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: twenty fifteen wild Card game. Pittsburgh's longest ever winning streak 241 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 1: against Cincinnati was eight straight from nineteen ninety one to 242 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 1: ninety four. The Bengals longest winning streak against the Steelers 243 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: was sixth straight from eighty eight to ninety when Ben 244 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 1: Roethlisberger was in elementary school. Ben is thirty six now, 245 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: meaning that when he started his NFL career, Sam Hubbard 246 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: was an elementary school. I spoke to Sam this week. 247 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 1: We are in the locker room with rookie Sam Hubbard, 248 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: one of the bright spots this season. I would say, 249 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:12,440 Speaker 1: evaluate what you've done well your rookie year and where 250 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 1: you still need to think you need to get better. 251 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 1: I think I did a good job coming in. You know, 252 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 1: you got a lot of coaches trust and teammates trust 253 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: to earn. I think I came in worked hard and 254 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 1: I did what I was asked to do, and you 255 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: know earned the coaches trusting my trusting my teammates to 256 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: get on the field more and throughout the year played 257 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: more and more. I had a bigger role, and you know, 258 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: got really comfortable as the season went on. I think 259 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 1: just everything comes down to enhancing what I've done this 260 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 1: year for next year, because I'll have a leg a 261 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: big role in a varied role. Four or seventy snaps 262 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 1: on defense, two eighteen on special teams, twelve on offense. 263 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: Has that all been a bit of a surprise? I 264 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: mean that's what I set out to do. You know, 265 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: I'm not a surprise. You know, I accomplished a goal 266 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: that I playing a lot and having a big all 267 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 1: on this team this year. But um, you know, it's 268 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 1: it's a blessing that I've been on the field that 269 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: much and contributed that much. One of the highlights last 270 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: week was Clayton Federlem's block punt in Cleveland, and he 271 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 1: gave you all the credit after the game. Can you 272 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: describe what you did on that play? Yeah, it's just 273 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: a two man, two man game. I don't want to 274 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 1: talk too much. Scheme between me and Clayton and the 275 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: PP and the snapper of the punt team, and my 276 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: job was to beat the snapper across the face. I 277 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: did that and PP had no choice to pick me 278 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: up and double tee me and that like Clayton go 279 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 1: free and you know, that's just what teammates do and 280 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: I'm happy to do it pp being personal protector. After 281 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: the game, Joe Mixon said, I've never been part of 282 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: a losing program, and I can promise you it's not 283 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 1: going to be that way for long. And Cincinnati you 284 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 1: saw that and tweeted you couldn't have said it better yourself. 285 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 1: What gives you that confidence? I just think we got 286 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: uh you know, guys didn't hear that want to win? 287 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 1: You know they're they're frustrated. You know, we got people 288 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: out of practice that are put in the work and 289 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: we really just want to change the culture to a 290 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: winning attitude around here. And that's easier said to do 291 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 1: than to do. But it all just comes down and 292 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 1: putting in the work and backing up what we're saying 293 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 1: with our actions. And that's personally what I'm gonna do. 294 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 1: We're visiting with Sam Hubbard. In your college football career, 295 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 1: you don't get summers off after your final college season, 296 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 1: you're preparing for the draft. That's a full time job. 297 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 1: When you complete your rookie year, you finally get the 298 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 1: opportunity if you choose to to take a little time off. 299 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:33,360 Speaker 1: Have you given that any thought? Oh? Yeah, you know, 300 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: I haven't had more than a week off or a 301 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 1: week and a half, two weeks off in about five 302 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 1: or six years. But you know, it's gonna be nice 303 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 1: to get a few weeks off and just you know, 304 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 1: let my body rest and recover, my mind recover, and 305 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: you know, then I'm excited to get back in the 306 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 1: weight room and getting ready for next year. A couple 307 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: more questions for Sam Hubbard. You finished the season against 308 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: the Steelers on October fourteenth. Was it strange to look 309 00:16:56,240 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: across the line of scrimmage and see and hear Ben Roethlisberger. Yeah, 310 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: it was crazy. I think you're you know, you watch 311 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 1: watch those games for years growing up, and you got 312 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: you got big Ben across from you, and Steelers offensive 313 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 1: line trying to protect them, and you know, I was 314 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 1: still still young early in the season trying to survive. 315 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,160 Speaker 1: I feel like I'm a lot more comfortable this this 316 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 1: uh time around, and hopefully get some pressure on the quarterback. 317 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 1: That old line is widely regarded as one of the 318 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 1: best in the NFL. Did you feel that way facing 319 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 1: them the first time? Yeah, you know, they get a 320 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 1: lot of credit for a reason. Um, they work very 321 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:35,400 Speaker 1: well with the quarterback and you know, extending plays and 322 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: keeping guys away from Big Ben, so you can sling it. 323 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,400 Speaker 1: But um, yeah, I mean across the board, I think 324 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 1: one of the three all Pro guys and uh, we 325 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: got a big challenge, but I think we got enough 326 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:48,919 Speaker 1: on our side too to have a big impact on 327 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 1: the game. Last thing for Sam Hubbard, you potentially could 328 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 1: knock the Steelers out of the playoffs on Sunday as 329 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 1: a Cincinnati area kid. Does that add anything to this 330 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 1: final game? Oh? Of course, you know you wanna, wanna, 331 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: you want to win this game. We've lost quite a funeral, 332 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:08,120 Speaker 1: and you know we're, like I said earlier, we're focusing 333 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:12,440 Speaker 1: on ourselves and seeing what we can do to be 334 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 1: better as a team and an organization. But obviously we 335 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:19,400 Speaker 1: got a little something something extra this week. Let's play 336 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 1: for Congrats on a great rookie here, thank you. Sam 337 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 1: Hubbard has six sacks this season to rank third on 338 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: the team, behind Geno Atkins, who has ten, and Carlos 339 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 1: Dunlap who has eight. Now time for this week's No 340 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:33,680 Speaker 1: the Faux segment. As we take a closer look at 341 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:38,360 Speaker 1: the upcoming opponent, and this week our expert is Tim Bens, 342 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:42,640 Speaker 1: a columnist and radio host in Pittsburgh. He joined Dave 343 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:45,160 Speaker 1: Lapham and me on the Bengals Game Plan Show this week, 344 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 1: and I started our conversation by asking Tim about a 345 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:53,160 Speaker 1: column he wrote after Pittsburgh's heartbreaking loss to the Saints 346 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 1: last Sunday. The headline of the column read, Steelers deserved 347 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 1: the coal they got in their stockings. Well, you know, 348 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 1: that loss against New Orleans was a tough break. They 349 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 1: had some bad calls against them, they had some misfortune. 350 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 1: Tomlin rolled the dice and went for a fake hunt 351 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:13,119 Speaker 1: when I don't think you should have, but you know, 352 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: all in the name of being aggressive and so forth. 353 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 1: I think I walked away from that Saints game saying, 354 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:19,440 Speaker 1: if you go on the road and you have a 355 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 1: lead in the fourth quarter against New Orleans, a team 356 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: that's lost only twice all year, if you play that 357 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:28,680 Speaker 1: game in Week nine, you could walk away saying, hey, 358 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:30,399 Speaker 1: we gave it a great effort. We kind of got 359 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: screwed over by some Carls. Live to fight another day, 360 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 1: and let's go forward the rest of the season and 361 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:38,719 Speaker 1: maybe we can pull some positives off of this. But 362 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 1: you can't do that when you put yourself in the 363 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 1: position that they did by losing two Oakland, by blowing 364 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:50,119 Speaker 1: a lead against DLA Chargers, by losing at the Denver Broncos, 365 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 1: by tying the Browns the Fort Baker Mayfield was the 366 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,360 Speaker 1: quarterback back in Week one when they had multiple opportunities 367 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:58,639 Speaker 1: to win that game. You know, they're not going to 368 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 1: miss the playoffs because they lost the game in New Orleans. 369 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:04,359 Speaker 1: They deserve a better faith. That team that played against 370 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,159 Speaker 1: New Orleans deserved a better faith. The overall team of 371 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 1: twenty plants does not because of those performances. And it's 372 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:14,639 Speaker 1: something we have seen on numerous occasions under Mike Tomlins. 373 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 1: Good Steeler teams left out of the playoffs five hundred 374 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:20,679 Speaker 1: and above Steeler teams left out of the playoffs because 375 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:23,960 Speaker 1: they lose to lesser competition and tim it seems like, 376 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,639 Speaker 1: you know the thing that the barometer that holds true, 377 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:31,160 Speaker 1: it's a football axiom turnovers. You know, you're minus ten. 378 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:33,560 Speaker 1: You don't have many playoff teams that are minus ten. 379 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:38,199 Speaker 1: You know, after fifteen football games only fifteen takeaways. I mean, 380 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:40,920 Speaker 1: they're not doing either well. They're only take The Bengals 381 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:43,160 Speaker 1: have more takeaways in the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have two 382 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:46,479 Speaker 1: more takeaways and they have eight fewer giveaways. I mean, 383 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh's given it away twenty five times. The Bengals are 384 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 1: even seventeen takeaways, seventeen gives. If the Steelers were even 385 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: instead of minus ten, shoot, they maybe be like, you know, 386 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:01,919 Speaker 1: eleven three and one. Yeah, Steelers are even versus minus 387 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 1: ten and that probably means that they haven't turned it 388 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 1: over what was it three times in Denver and win 389 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:09,640 Speaker 1: that game. And ye, maybe it's because the fumbles against 390 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 1: dew Orleans. They win that one. At least they're keeping 391 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: pace and where a game ahead of Baltimore where Baltimore 392 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 1: would they need help to get in as a wild card. 393 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: You're right about that. I think if you continue to 394 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 1: look at those notes you got in the turnover column, 395 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 1: I'm pretty sure when you look at differential not wrong, 396 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 1: and that the only four teams that are worse than 397 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:28,119 Speaker 1: them in differential or non playoff teams that have been 398 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 1: eliminated already. Yeah, that's the case. You're right. They're twenty 399 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 1: eighth in the NFL and the only four are are 400 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: not playoff contention exactly right, you know that, yeah, killer. 401 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 1: In fact, In fact, I think even when they were 402 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:44,639 Speaker 1: in good playoff position, like seven three and one something 403 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:48,119 Speaker 1: like that, they were still in the bottom five in differential. 404 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: If they'd managed to mask the turnover problem with other 405 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 1: victories against teams that sort of fell off, like you know, 406 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 1: Carolina in Atlanta, those kinds of clubs, they'd managed to 407 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 1: mask that for a while, but a problem all year. 408 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: It's really manifested in losses though in recent weeks. Tim 409 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:09,360 Speaker 1: The other thing that's mind boggling to me, I look 410 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 1: at these ratios. At the sack ratio, they're plus twenty five. 411 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 1: They've accumulated forty eight, you know, tied for the amongst 412 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:19,440 Speaker 1: the top in the NFL. They've only allowed twenty three 413 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:22,119 Speaker 1: fourth viewers, so they're plus twenty five, second best in 414 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 1: the league. Interception ratio, they're minus eight, twenty ninth in 415 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 1: the league. They've thrown sixteen, only got an eight. Usually, 416 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:30,480 Speaker 1: if you're putting that much pressure on usually you have 417 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: more interceptions, and if you're protecting your quarterback, usually you 418 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:37,120 Speaker 1: have fewer interceptions thrown. It's just the reverse in both 419 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:40,679 Speaker 1: of their scenarios, it's kind of odd, really it is. 420 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 1: I would say that the defensive part of that equation 421 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:50,199 Speaker 1: is harder to explain because the Roethlisberger interceptions, as you 422 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 1: guys will know so often are born from them keeping 423 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:56,199 Speaker 1: plays alive, using to take an open check down and 424 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: trying to go something deeper down the field and trying 425 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 1: to so he might have protection, look away from a 426 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 1: guy who's open for five yards and try to get twelve. 427 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:07,360 Speaker 1: And that's where some of those interceptions are born from. 428 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 1: So you can kind of explain the pressure versus interception 429 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:15,440 Speaker 1: disparity on offense easier than you can on defense. That's 430 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: been a major threw line for all this turnover talking Pittsburgh. 431 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 1: You're right about that, Davi. Is that there's a lack, 432 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:25,399 Speaker 1: there's a gap there as to why the pressure isn't 433 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:30,399 Speaker 1: resulting in at least more bad throws, hurry throws, tipped passes, 434 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: things of that nature. But then the flip side of 435 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 1: it is of his thirty three touchdown passes, maybe ten 436 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 1: or come from extending it like you're talking about. So 437 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: you have to take the bad with the good with 438 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: the guy, right, I mean, he'll he'll he'll make a 439 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:47,360 Speaker 1: play and you know by you know, shucking people off 440 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:49,560 Speaker 1: of him and extending it and all that, and then he'll, 441 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:51,360 Speaker 1: like you said, he'll turn it over. I mean, that's 442 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 1: just Big Ben, that's him. Yeah, you know, And there 443 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:57,199 Speaker 1: was like that Denver game kind of drove me crazy 444 00:23:57,200 --> 00:23:59,120 Speaker 1: in that regard, where you know, he makes some great 445 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,280 Speaker 1: throws and then he just decided he's going to make 446 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:04,880 Speaker 1: the throw come hell or high water in situations where 447 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:08,639 Speaker 1: he shouldn't. I don't think he's lost anything in his game. 448 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:12,119 Speaker 1: As I was writing notes during the Saints game, I 449 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:13,760 Speaker 1: can't tell you how many times to put a star 450 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:18,640 Speaker 1: next to seven hyphen eighty four or seven nineteen. I mean, 451 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:21,879 Speaker 1: he made so many great throws to those guys. They 452 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 1: but jus you fumbled at the end, and you know 453 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 1: Ridley fumbled earlier in the game. I think his worst 454 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 1: season when he came to interceptions was two thousand and 455 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:32,880 Speaker 1: six after they won the Super Bowl, and a lot 456 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 1: of that had to do with the concussion that he 457 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:38,320 Speaker 1: got during the season and the motorcycle accident in the offseason. 458 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 1: You know that that was kind of easy to explain away. 459 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:43,160 Speaker 1: But I guess my point is, it's not like he's 460 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:46,640 Speaker 1: lost his fastball and that's why the interceptions are high. 461 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:48,880 Speaker 1: I think it's more than anything else, But then it's 462 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 1: decision making. Pittsburgh radio host and columnist Tim Benz is 463 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 1: our guest. The Steelers were seven two and one with 464 00:24:57,480 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 1: a two and a half game lead in the division. 465 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,719 Speaker 1: Now they are six and one and at least at 466 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:04,440 Speaker 1: the moment, on the outside looking in when it comes 467 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:08,360 Speaker 1: to the playoffs. Pittsburgh's had three head coaches since nineteen 468 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,200 Speaker 1: sixty nine, so they are not going to just fire 469 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:15,480 Speaker 1: Mike Tomlin on a whim. But is somebody feeling the heat, 470 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:20,040 Speaker 1: assistant coach, a player in particular, Has anybody kind of 471 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:23,680 Speaker 1: become the focus of the this guy's gotta go crowd? 472 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 1: Danny Smith and Keith Butler. There have been so many 473 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:30,960 Speaker 1: penalties on special teams that have cost them and errors 474 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:33,119 Speaker 1: on special teams that have cost them. Now the counter 475 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 1: two that is boy, they've been really good blocking kicks 476 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:38,959 Speaker 1: this year. Their kick block schemes have been fantastic. So 477 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 1: I don't know if they're gonna swing the hatchet on 478 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 1: Danny Smith. Keith Butler. I think people view him as 479 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: just an extension of what was the Dick Lebau defense, 480 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:51,479 Speaker 1: and Mike Tomlin has kind of put his thumb prints 481 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:55,240 Speaker 1: on the defense as well here and maybe minimized or 482 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: marginalized with Butler is doing. And I think some folks 483 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:00,880 Speaker 1: are saying, we'll put a new true to defensive coordinator 484 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:04,200 Speaker 1: in there to install his own stuff and get away 485 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 1: from what the Steelers are doing right now. But it's 486 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:09,679 Speaker 1: not the old lebou three four. It has definitely changed 487 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:12,200 Speaker 1: in a lot of ways, particularly relying on pressure from 488 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 1: Hayward and two as opposed to what the old three 489 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:17,639 Speaker 1: four defensive ends used to do. And they do drop 490 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 1: the outside linebackers quite a bit now. I think those 491 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 1: two are getting it. But honestly, your question, Dan, it's 492 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 1: it's far more just fans angry at Tomlin, like he's 493 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:30,280 Speaker 1: probably not feeling any in the building. But this is 494 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:32,879 Speaker 1: the loudest I've ever heard the fire Tomlin crowd. And 495 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: it's been loud in the past at times, especially during 496 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:37,920 Speaker 1: that stretch of seasons where they didn't have a playoff 497 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:40,919 Speaker 1: win prior to the you know Vantes perfect game in 498 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 1: Cincinnati that you know, they've gone four straight years out 499 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 1: of playoff victory prior to that and looked like it 500 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 1: was going to be five up until the last minute 501 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:49,920 Speaker 1: of that game. So I've heard it loud. This is 502 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:52,800 Speaker 1: as dense as it's been, and you made the points. 503 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:55,120 Speaker 1: In nineteen sixty nine three coaches, right, there have been 504 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:58,680 Speaker 1: fewer popes than there have been Steeler coaches. I'm pretty sure. 505 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:02,600 Speaker 1: So release at least the tie you crazy, I think. 506 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:04,960 Speaker 1: But that being said, I think that you know, like 507 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:07,200 Speaker 1: Bill Cower would still be the head coach to Pittsburgh 508 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:09,200 Speaker 1: Steelers to say if he hadn't wanted to retire. I 509 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:11,720 Speaker 1: think we all know that Bill Caller would still be coaching. 510 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 1: So it's not like and then they never would have 511 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 1: hired Tomlin. So my point is just because you don't 512 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 1: have to hold on the coach just because you feel obligated, 513 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:23,239 Speaker 1: like I'm sure there's another there's a Sean McVay out there, 514 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:26,199 Speaker 1: there's a Frank greyk waiting to be promoted. So you know, 515 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: if the Steelers do feel the urge, and I don't 516 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:31,720 Speaker 1: think that they do to fire the coach, I don't 517 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:35,240 Speaker 1: think it would be as galling as maybe they feel 518 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:38,040 Speaker 1: in their gut because in Pittsburgh you just quote unquote 519 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 1: don't do that, but you know what if you get 520 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:43,520 Speaker 1: a better one. My question, tim is does Boswell have 521 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:47,680 Speaker 1: pictures that are compromising into somebody? How does with twelve misses, 522 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 1: you know, missing five extra points and seven field goals 523 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:54,360 Speaker 1: that you know they've been costly in some of these 524 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 1: tight losses. I mean, what's the deal? How much heat 525 00:27:57,560 --> 00:28:00,280 Speaker 1: is he feeling? Yeah, a lot, a lot of well 526 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 1: many people myself included, thought they should have reade to 527 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 1: move there. If it's the Pirates, then you're just saying, well, 528 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:07,639 Speaker 1: they're trying to honor a contract and they're trying to 529 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:10,359 Speaker 1: you know, not eat the rest of the money. You know, 530 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 1: that would be the narrative around here if it was 531 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:14,520 Speaker 1: a baseball situation. I don't think they want to be 532 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:16,920 Speaker 1: stuck with that cap hit. I think they think he's 533 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 1: good and he's going to swamp the boys. This's been 534 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:21,640 Speaker 1: in Long Swamp and it's the same thing, or every 535 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:24,240 Speaker 1: cake has missed the same way. Everything is being pushed 536 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:27,000 Speaker 1: right again, kind of like the turnover thing earlier. They 537 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:28,879 Speaker 1: danced through the ranger ups there where a lot of 538 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 1: his missus weren't affecting the outcomes of games. They either 539 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:34,960 Speaker 1: came back and overcame them more. There were losses that 540 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:37,680 Speaker 1: were going to be losses anyway, So he didn't materially 541 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:41,600 Speaker 1: affect a lot of games until the Charger game, where 542 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:44,200 Speaker 1: that kind of swung how the Chargers approached their offense, 543 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:46,800 Speaker 1: and then of course the Raider game when he slipped 544 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 1: and that was his second miss kick of the afternoon. 545 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: That one was definitely directly on him. That was why 546 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:55,160 Speaker 1: I was so confused about the fake punt against the Saints. 547 00:28:55,560 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 1: You know, part of Thomlin's rationale was, well, if they 548 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 1: come down and score, we at least have time to 549 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 1: come back and score to tie it. What with him 550 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 1: with Boswell they won't you kidding me? You know, just 551 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:09,400 Speaker 1: just maybe get a field goal off to tie it, 552 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 1: so then you kick it off to Drew Brees to 553 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:13,840 Speaker 1: get an overtime perhaps, Like you know, I thought that 554 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 1: was It was to me, that was aggressiveness masking cowardice, 555 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:22,680 Speaker 1: or aggressiveness masking and lack of faith in your own defense, 556 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:25,640 Speaker 1: because um, you know, it dealt to me like a 557 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 1: self defeating truism that at some point true was going 558 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 1: to beat us anyway, and let's rely on the boss 559 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 1: to maybe extend the game. Which you know turns my 560 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:36,360 Speaker 1: summer to think about. But wait a second, Tim, that 561 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:40,480 Speaker 1: fake punt worked. I saw Roosevelt Nick celebrate he got 562 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:44,640 Speaker 1: the first down. How about that? How did that play 563 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:49,040 Speaker 1: in Pittsburgh? There was a meme going around in Pittsburgh. 564 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 1: The probably still find it on Twitter somewhere where it 565 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:54,800 Speaker 1: was like some guys said, this is my Tomlin eront 566 00:29:54,840 --> 00:30:00,280 Speaker 1: da Vinci and it's you know, going first down, believe 567 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:02,280 Speaker 1: the bruce down the other way. It was the key 568 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 1: to that Green based Seattle game. Remember the failed merry 569 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 1: game where the one rap is putting his hands up 570 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: to incomplete. Yes, they got this duality on the photo. 571 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 1: And it's just called the Tomlin Years. I thought. I 572 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 1: thought that summed it up pretty well. Final question and 573 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:20,840 Speaker 1: thanks so much for your time, Tim. What are the 574 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:23,800 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh stealers or what's the locker room the feeling about 575 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 1: the Bengals. The Bengals obviously struggling. Uh, they probably don't 576 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 1: recognize the offense. The guys that are playing in the 577 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 1: skill positions, I mean, the four most important players offensively, 578 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:35,200 Speaker 1: they couldn't afford to lose. I've lost all of them. 579 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 1: It is Pittsburgh just thinking they got to roll their 580 00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:40,280 Speaker 1: helmets out there and uh, it'll take care of itself. Well, 581 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:42,800 Speaker 1: today is the first state that the guys talk um. 582 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:46,200 Speaker 1: You know, as far as the interaction with them, it's 583 00:30:46,240 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 1: been minimal from a media point of view, so I 584 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 1: haven't been able to glean what they're thinking. The concerning 585 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 1: thing is for any game where the stealers are heavy favorite, 586 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:57,560 Speaker 1: it's not what they say, it's what they think. They 587 00:30:57,560 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 1: were really good telling us that this is going to 588 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 1: be different against the You know, they were really good 589 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 1: telling us already they were for the Browns. They knew 590 00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:05,760 Speaker 1: it was a new hell for the Browns, and then 591 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:08,360 Speaker 1: they tied. They're really good telling us, hey, there are 592 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:10,480 Speaker 1: some good things about this Denver team. Don't just look 593 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 1: at their record. And then they went out there and 594 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:14,320 Speaker 1: got beaten by them. So I don't put a lot 595 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:16,920 Speaker 1: of stock in what they say about an opponent coming up. 596 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:18,840 Speaker 1: I bet you to say all the white things all 597 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:21,239 Speaker 1: week long, iss the Bengals, and then I think they 598 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:23,120 Speaker 1: look in their hearts and they look at that wine 599 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:25,960 Speaker 1: and say, seventeen point favorites. That's about we should do 600 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:29,280 Speaker 1: that to these guys. And I'm certain this is going 601 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:31,640 Speaker 1: to be a game in the fourth quarter. I'm not 602 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:33,640 Speaker 1: certain that Baker's going to keep the Browns in it 603 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 1: that long, and honestly, that's every bit. It's much important, 604 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 1: if not more important, for the Steelers right now than 605 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:42,800 Speaker 1: anything else and what happens in Baltimore. We should explain 606 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:44,960 Speaker 1: that there is a way for the Steelers to make 607 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:49,640 Speaker 1: the playoffs even if Baltimore wins the AFC North by 608 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:54,000 Speaker 1: beating Cleveland on Sunday. If Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati, the Steelers 609 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 1: could grab the AFC's final wildcard spot if the Sunday 610 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:02,600 Speaker 1: night game between the Colts and Titans ends in a tie. 611 00:32:03,200 --> 00:32:06,720 Speaker 1: Keep in mind that the NFL did shorten the regular 612 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 1: season overtime period from fifteen minutes to ten minutes last 613 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 1: year in the interest of player safety, but that hasn't 614 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:18,000 Speaker 1: led to a slew of ties. There have been two 615 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:22,360 Speaker 1: in four hundred and eighty six games since that rule change. 616 00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:25,440 Speaker 1: Our thanks to Tim Benz, and that's going to do 617 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:28,000 Speaker 1: it for this episode of the podcast. If you haven't 618 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 1: done so already, don't forget to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, 619 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:34,240 Speaker 1: or pod Bean, and if you have a minute, give 620 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:37,240 Speaker 1: it a rating or leave a comment. Your feedback is 621 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:40,720 Speaker 1: very much appreciated, and five star ratings help more Bengals 622 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:45,280 Speaker 1: fans find this podcast. I'm Dan Horde, Happy New Year 623 00:32:45,520 --> 00:32:48,800 Speaker 1: and thanks for listening to The Bengals Booth podcast