1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: Hike everybody on Dan Horde and thanks for downloading the 2 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 1: Bengals Booth podcast, The Baby What a big surprise addition 3 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: as we preview Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at 4 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: Paul Brown Stadium and discussed this week's surprising news, the 5 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:24,279 Speaker 1: anticipated return of Corty Glenn to the Bengals starting lineup. 6 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: Coming up, you'll hear from offensive line coach Jim Turner 7 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 1: on why the Bengals are giving Glen another shot and 8 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: what can be expected out of a guy who last 9 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: appeared in a game in the second week of August. 10 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: In my weekly pregame visit with Dave Lapham, we'll discuss 11 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: the early struggles of quarterback Ryan Finlay and how much 12 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: longer he'll have the starting job if he doesn't start 13 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 1: to show progress. My locker room conversation this week is 14 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: with special teams coordinator Darren Simmons, whose unit is ranked 15 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: number one in the NFL this year by the website 16 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: Football Outsiders. We'll discuss that and a special team's rarity 17 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: that Darren Simmons hopes to someday pull off. And in 18 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 1: this week's Know the Faux segment, we'll talk to Steelers 19 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: pregame host Tim Bens about the aftermath of the Miles 20 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 1: Garrett Mason, Rudolph Brew Haha. All of that is straight ahead. 21 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: But first, here's a quick reminder that you can have 22 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 1: the latest edition of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, 23 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: or computer by subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, 24 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:35,479 Speaker 1: or pod Bean. It's the greatest thing since the ability 25 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: to check scores at the touch of a button. It 26 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: used to be hard to get sports scores. If you're 27 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: as old as I am, you might remember Sports Phone, 28 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: a number you could call to get frequently updated sports scores. 29 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 1: It originally cost ten cents a minute. Then ESPN and 30 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: other sports networks came along and you could watch the 31 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: ticker and wait for the score you are interested in 32 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: to scroll across the screen. Now we can get any 33 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: score of any game in any sport instantaneously on our 34 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: phones or computers. For example, today in college basketball, Saint 35 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: Francis of Brooklyn beat Medgar Evers one twenty two to 36 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: fifty eight, a tough sixty four point l for the Cougars. 37 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 1: Now let's get to football. One of the most bizarre 38 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,519 Speaker 1: stories in a rough season for the Bengals has been 39 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:33,799 Speaker 1: the Cordy Glen saga. Following the bengals second preseason game 40 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: in mid August, the highly paid left tackle reported having 41 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: a concussion. Nobody thought much of it at the time 42 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: until Cordy remained in concussion protocol for days, then weeks, 43 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: and ultimately nearly two months after being cleared by an 44 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: independent neurologist. In returning to practice in early October, Cordy 45 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: reportedly got into a heated argument with a member of 46 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: the coaching staff and not show up for work the 47 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: following day. That led to a one game suspension and 48 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: a hefty fine. Since then, Glenn has been on the 49 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 1: scout team at practice and has been deactivated on game day. 50 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,239 Speaker 1: But after Ryan Finley got sacked five times last week 51 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 1: in Oakland, including three times in the fourth quarter by 52 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 1: rookie Max Crosby, head coach Zach Taylor announced on Wednesday 53 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:29,519 Speaker 1: that Glenn would practice with the first team. Following that practice, 54 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 1: reporters asked offensive line coach Jim Turner if Glenn was 55 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: likely to start this Sunday against the Steelers. He's going 56 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: to have a real good shot at it. So he's healthy. 57 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 1: He's been cleared to go, and he's a good ball player. 58 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: We want him in there. What does he bring to 59 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: the table? I mean other than he's bigger than a condo, 60 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: But other than that would skill sets. Ah well, I mean, 61 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: you know, like if you watch him over the years, 62 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: I mean he's been he's so massive and he's athletic 63 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: at that size, and he can definitely cover people up 64 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: in the past game, um, you know, and then it's 65 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: just a matter of in the run game obviously with 66 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: that size and power, you know, he can help us 67 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: move that line of scrimmage a little bit. But it's 68 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: you know, pass protection is his big strength of course, 69 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:17,720 Speaker 1: you know, so holding down that left side, especially in 70 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: this game coming that would be helpful. Did you see 71 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: a difference in him after what happened a couple of 72 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: weeks ago? A difference in what just his demeanor, the 73 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,160 Speaker 1: way he approached practice and was around here. I mean 74 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,160 Speaker 1: I have sense a difference in him for the last 75 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 1: couple of weeks. Ah. I'm sure it's been frustrating for him, 76 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 1: you know, Um, so he hasn't been in there, it's 77 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: been frustrating for all of us. So, you know, to 78 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: have that type of asset there and not be able 79 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 1: to use him is frustrating. So I'll tell you this, 80 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: I have more respect for John Jerry and Andre than 81 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 1: I have for any ball players that I've ever coached. 82 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:54,600 Speaker 1: So just for what they've been able to do, I'm 83 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,040 Speaker 1: asking John Jerry to play a left tackle. John Jerry's 84 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 1: not a left tackle. And then Andrey to come back 85 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: to he did and give us the support that he's 86 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: given us and the reps that he's given us. You know, 87 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: these both of these guys are older guys, and you 88 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: know what these bodies go through, and so for that, 89 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 1: I'm grateful for those two players. And then but they 90 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: have Corty back in the lineup, and you know, he's 91 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:21,840 Speaker 1: obviously well arrested, so he's not beat up, so there 92 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,799 Speaker 1: should be some juice there. And the kid looks excited 93 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: to be there, So what we're excited. As you mentioned, 94 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:29,839 Speaker 1: he is well arrested. On the other hand, he hasn't 95 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:33,839 Speaker 1: played since preseason game two. How difficult is it going 96 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: to be for Cordy at this point of the year 97 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 1: to run out there legitimate point, So there's a mystery 98 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: there for all of us. But we are all in ten, 99 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: all right, So we're trying to fight through that. In 100 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: other words, desperate times call for desperate measures. I sat 101 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: down with Dave Lapham for this episode of the podcast 102 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: just before Zach Taylor announced that Corty Glenn would have 103 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: a chance to return to the starting lineup. As you'll 104 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: hear right off the bat, lap had a feeling that 105 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 1: it was a strong possibility. John Jerry really struggled last 106 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: week at left tackle. He was signed to be a 107 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 1: backup guard and an emergency play a few snaps at 108 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: tackle if he absolutely have to do it. Well, he's 109 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: been starting for several games at tackle. What should the 110 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: Bengals do at this point, Well, if Andre Smith isn't 111 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: physically ready yet, I mean, the other option is Corty Glenn. 112 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:34,040 Speaker 1: And I know that would sound distasteful to a lot 113 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: of people, but you know what, everybody has to swallow 114 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 1: their egos, swallow their pride and decide, Okay, what's what's 115 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 1: best for the offensive line, what's best for the football 116 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: team to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, to win this football game. 117 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 1: They got great edge rushers. I mean, you know they 118 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 1: come off the edge, you know, as well as anybody. 119 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 1: And then you know, push inside from Cam Heyward. But 120 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: you got to control those edge as you get a 121 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:04,039 Speaker 1: control watya, I got a control dupri Cordy Glenn is 122 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 1: the best player that they have to play the left 123 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: tackle position. And he's been practicing for a little bit, 124 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 1: been running the scout team the other team's play as 125 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: pretty much as the extent of his practice. But now 126 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 1: it's now his football moral compass will be tested. You're 127 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: going to go out there and play. You're gonna go 128 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: out there and try to get it done, give the 129 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: best stuffort you possibly can to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 130 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: and help help your football team. So I think that 131 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: there's a strong chance they're going to have to go 132 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 1: in that direction. And as I said, it might not be, 133 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: you know, a real positive or popular decision for anybody, 134 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 1: but it is what it is, as they say. After 135 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 1: two starts, Ryan Finley has completed forty seven point five 136 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: percent of his passes. He has a passer rating of 137 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 1: fifty two point eight. Zach Taylor said on Monday that 138 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: Ryan will definitely start this week against this dealers. How 139 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: much rope do you think he has? Well? Initially Zach 140 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 1: said that he's going to get eight starts. You know, 141 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: the plan was to plan the rest of the season, 142 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: and I'm not sure that that's going to be deviated 143 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: from We'll have to see um. Honestly, though, there's the 144 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 1: old saying that I firmly believe in. It's never as 145 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: good as you think it is, and it's never as 146 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 1: bad as you think it is. When I went back 147 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: and looked at the game again, Tyler Effort did drop 148 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: a contested catch that you know he can make. Tyler 149 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: Boy dropped the third down pass. Joe Mixon dropped the 150 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: screen that could have gone for a touchdown touchdown, Gievarni 151 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: Bernard dropped the third down ball. So there there was 152 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 1: a lot of a lot of plays that if those 153 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 1: if those plays happen, you're looking at over one hundred 154 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: more yards to the passing game. And I'm not saying 155 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: that's tremendous, but you know it would have been over 156 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 1: two hundred with I mean the net with the sacks 157 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:52,959 Speaker 1: and everything takes it down to seventy whatever and two 158 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: yards per attempt. So I'm not What I'm saying is 159 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: that there are other people contributed besides Ryan Finley to 160 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 1: the wolful numbers of the passing game, and then you know, 161 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: mad Max Crosby getting four sacks potential ASC Defensive Player 162 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: of the Week makes me want to swallow my own vomit. 163 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 1: Please doubt Tyler Boyd was targeted three times last week. 164 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:21,079 Speaker 1: He had one catch for zero yards. Did the Raiders 165 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: make it that hard to get Tyler Boyd the ball? 166 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 1: He did have one drop on third down that you 167 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: know was uncharacteristic of him. But there may be some frustration, 168 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 1: you know, involved there they were there was a safety 169 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: over the top. I mean, Paul Gunter realized that he 170 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 1: was the primary guy. He was the he was the 171 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: guy that he felt like he had to take away 172 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 1: in the in the passing game. But you know, Tyler 173 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 1: felt like there were plenty of times where he had 174 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: opportunities and anytime they were playing man against him, he 175 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 1: feels like he can beat man coverage and he is, 176 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: I mean, he's a great route runner. So I think 177 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 1: you still have to You can't give up on Tyler 178 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: Boyd as a as a potential target, even if they 179 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: are trying to take him away. Sometimes you peticularly, like 180 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 1: on fourth down play as a great example, he went 181 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 1: to Damien Willis into double coverage and he had Tyler 182 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:15,840 Speaker 1: Boyd and Tyler Ryffant the other side of the field. 183 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: Both Tyler Boyd had the first down. Tyler Tyler Eifford 184 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 1: was running the same thing that Damian Willis was running 185 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,440 Speaker 1: the other side of the field. Looked like he had 186 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 1: a better opportunity. Tyler Boyd was the clear cut guy 187 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: to go to to get the first down. It shouldn't 188 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 1: have been fourth down anyway, if Giovanni Bernard holds out 189 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 1: of the football. But that's another that's another issue. So 190 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:43,200 Speaker 1: at times like that, forget the play think about the 191 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 1: player and who's the guy that's done it the most, 192 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: has the most experience, you know, playmaker, and you get 193 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 1: to think, Okay, I gotta look at Tyler Boyd, I 194 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: gotta look at Tyler ryfan in this situation, and uh, 195 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: you know, that's a learning experience and next time maybe 196 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:03,320 Speaker 1: it'll turn out differently, but you know it is. It 197 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 1: is difficult when you can't make the defense respect the 198 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: deep ball. You know you can't. You can't stretch the defense. 199 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 1: Um without aj Green and John Ross talking, it's been 200 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 1: a season long problem. Can't take the top off the defense. 201 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 1: We talked about it at nauseum. They're playing in a closet, 202 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 1: they're playing in a box. They're gonna load the box 203 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: to stop the run, and then they're gonna, you know, 204 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 1: make it very tough for receivers to get open and 205 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: the short and immediate routes with with tight coverage because 206 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: they're not worried about anybody running by them. So it's 207 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: a conundrum. So how do you get big plays on 208 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 1: offense when you don't have receivers with blazing speed. You 209 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: just have to scheme it up. You know. One of 210 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: the most surprising touchdowns this year was the Arizona Cardinals 211 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: when they blocked with eight guys and Tyler Boyd just 212 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: ran a double move on a safety. Isolated safety and 213 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: ran a double move on them and caught a forty 214 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 1: some one yard touchdown reception. You don't think that that 215 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 1: that chunk play in that situation. The numbers games that 216 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 1: you were facing were not favorable and it happened. I mean, 217 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 1: you do have to scheme things up instead of just saying, 218 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 1: you know, this guy, I don't care what they do. 219 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: This guy can get over the top of that guy. 220 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 1: This guy's speed is too much to deal with and 221 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: you know, even if he doesn't get over the top, 222 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: he's going to remove so many people from the short 223 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: and intermediate area that there's just space to work with. 224 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: I mean, the whole thing is about is about space, 225 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:32,360 Speaker 1: and I think I mean the window differential for the 226 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: two quarterbacks. Finley's windows were about the size of a 227 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 1: porthole that he was trying to thread. And car had, 228 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 1: you know, sliding glass windows out to your patio to 229 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 1: throw too. I mean, they got separation by scheme and 230 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: you know, athletic ability, and the Bengals didn't. In that 231 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:53,679 Speaker 1: football game, the Bengals had one hundred and seventy three 232 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:57,160 Speaker 1: rushing yards. That's their most sense twenty sixteen and it 233 00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: came after having one hundred and fifty plus the week before. 234 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: Or are they building something sustainable in the ground game. 235 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 1: I think they are. I think they are. I like 236 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 1: the variation in the in the schematic in terms of 237 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: you know, the blocking scheme, blocking patterns and instead of 238 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 1: you know, relying so much on inside outside zone, they're 239 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: they're running um, you know, they're pinning alignment by blocking 240 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: down on them and then they're pulling people and you 241 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: can call it, you know, gap scheme. You can call 242 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: it power scheme, whatever you want to call it. Everybody's 243 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 1: got different terminology for it. But basically, you're you're sealing 244 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 1: one guy with a down block and pulling other people 245 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 1: and the one Joe Mixon's responding to it, the offensive 246 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 1: lineman responding to it. They've got guys that can pull. 247 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 1: You know, Billy Price's player has played garden center. Trey 248 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: Hawkins has played garden center. John Miller has played you know, 249 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 1: can pull. Bobby Hart's mobile guy, he can pull. Everybody 250 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:51,200 Speaker 1: can pull. So it's not that they're not athletic enough 251 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:52,439 Speaker 1: up front to do it. And I think it's a 252 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 1: good change up. Plus the other thing that does sure 253 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: a defensive lineman instead of just playing inside outside zone 254 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: all the time. Now you're getting hit from all angles. 255 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: Now you have to think about, okay, man, are they 256 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: going to down block on me here or instead of 257 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: just like, all I have to do is make sure 258 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 1: that I really hold my own and this double team, 259 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 1: I hold this gap and I don't let them push 260 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: me off the line of scrimmage. And you know, now 261 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: my linebacker is going to make plays. You got more 262 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 1: to think about than just that and that alone, I 263 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 1: think is a big, big plus because defensive lineman, when 264 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: they're getting hit from all angles, it slows them down, 265 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 1: and it slows down their pass rush, It slows everything down. 266 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: The team MVP this year might be special teams coordinator 267 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 1: Darren Simmons. Brandon Wilson leads the NFL and kickoff return average. 268 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: Randy Bullock has made twelve out of his last thirteen 269 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: field goal tries. Kevin Huber is having his best net 270 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: punting year in five years. Top to bottom, they have 271 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: been solid on special teams. You know, one site that 272 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 1: everybody goes to with respect in the NFL special teams 273 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 1: has the Bengals rated number one and their number two 274 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: and kickoff returns, their number five and kickoff coverage and 275 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 1: their number seven in punt ridge. They haven't had a 276 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: whole lot of opportunity to return punts. Other teams haven't 277 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: punted that much quite honestly, and when they've punted, it's 278 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: been you know, directional kicking or you know, trying to 279 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: pin them back inside the ten yard line with you know, 280 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: would be kicking into short field rather than long field 281 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: where you get a lot of punt return opportunities. So 282 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 1: They've only had three return thirteen return opportunities all season long, 283 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: so they they I think is to think that an 284 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 1: O and ten football team is rated number one in 285 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: special teams in the entire NFL is mind boggling to me. 286 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: The fact that they haven't been able to take advantage 287 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 1: of favorable field position everything that goes with it. The 288 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: game that comes to mind is the Rams game in London. Hell, 289 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 1: the Rams average drive start was their eighteen yard line 290 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: and you make them go long field after long field 291 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: like that didn't bother them much. You know, they want 292 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: eighty five yards for touchdowns multiple times. But I mean, 293 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 1: the special teams are giving an opportunity. They're just not 294 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 1: playing complimentary enough football offensively and defensively. But the special teams, 295 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 1: the third phase, has consistently held up their end of 296 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: the bargain. And I think Darren Simmons deserves a hell 297 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: of a lot of credit for that because you know, 298 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: he's always he's He's got a core of guys that 299 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: um that he works with. But there's been a lot 300 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 1: of change, you know, with injuries and other things in 301 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 1: the linebacker position not a big contributor to Bengal special teams. 302 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 1: That other teams maybe have um and you look at it, 303 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: Cedric Peerman, not just kickers, not just your snapper holder kicker, 304 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: but the special teams guy that makes the Pro Bowl 305 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: because of his excellence in terms of coverage and tackling 306 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 1: and all that. Cedric Peerman, the running reverend got it 307 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 1: for a bit. Vegulum is in that mold. So, I 308 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: mean he he coaches them up. Now, he coaches them 309 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 1: up in every single way they can be coached up. 310 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: And uh got to give coach Combs a you know, 311 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: some credit on this too. I mean he's he's he's 312 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 1: working in concert, him, in him with Darren Simmons. That 313 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: Darren's been the stable here though for well over a 314 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 1: decade and a half, and it's been a decade and 315 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: a half plus of excellence. The Bengals host the Steelers, 316 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 1: said Paul Brown Stadium, and this will be Pittsburgh's first 317 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:14,880 Speaker 1: game since the Miles Garrett Mason Rudolph Helmets swinging incident. 318 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:19,439 Speaker 1: Rudolph has started seven games. His best one was against 319 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 1: the Bengals with a passer rating of one twenty four 320 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 1: point six. His worst game was last week in the 321 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 1: loss to Cleveland. Passer rating of thirty six point three 322 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:32,200 Speaker 1: with four interceptions. What must the Bengals do to limit 323 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:36,159 Speaker 1: Mason Rudolph and the Steelers. Well, the interesting thing to 324 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: me is what is his offensive coordinator going to do, 325 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 1: Randy Fickner. Is he going to do what he did 326 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: against the Bengals where everything was shovel passes, screen passes, 327 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 1: swing passes to the back out of the backfield. I 328 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:51,400 Speaker 1: think he went twenty four for twenty eight or something 329 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,120 Speaker 1: ridiculous like that, and he never threw the ball downfield. 330 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: There was one completion of over forty yards where the 331 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 1: Bengals blew a coverage and it was wide open. He 332 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 1: made that throw. But Kichner said, and this was early, 333 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,359 Speaker 1: This was, you know, fairly soon after Ben was ruled 334 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 1: out for the rest of the season and Kickner went 335 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 1: he ran wildcat with Samuel you know he had He 336 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 1: went three for three with shovel passes. They were shovel passes, 337 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 1: jet sweep stuff, shovel passes off the jet sweep, very 338 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 1: short throws. Get the confidence at the quarterback, you know, 339 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: build it. See him with completions being made. Is he 340 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 1: going to go back to that? After that meager performance 341 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:29,880 Speaker 1: against the Cleveland Browns or I didn't really see any 342 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:32,680 Speaker 1: of that. After the Bengals game, the element's surprise was done. 343 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 1: They sprung it on the Bengals. You know, they had 344 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 1: an extra data prepare Monday Night football and the Bengals 345 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 1: had no clue what was coming, and they executed it. 346 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:43,720 Speaker 1: And they hadn't really run a whole lot of it 347 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 1: since in a tape I've seen in the Pittsburgh Steelers 348 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: stins well, they bring it out of off balls. The 349 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:50,160 Speaker 1: Bengals are going to have to prepare for it, there's 350 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: no question about that. They're going to take some of 351 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 1: their preparation time having to deal with all that stuff 352 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:57,200 Speaker 1: that happened in the first game. So it'll be interesting 353 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 1: what Kickner does with Mason Rodolf after his worst performance 354 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:03,640 Speaker 1: as a starter in the NFL. The Steelers are five 355 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 1: and five despite losing big ben early in the season, 356 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 1: and they can thank their defense. If the Bengals are 357 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 1: going to have a chance this Sunday, they have got 358 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 1: to limit the sacks and the giveaways, no doubt about it. 359 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:19,200 Speaker 1: And that's that's that's Pittsburgh Zamo. They got thirty four sacks, 360 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:22,719 Speaker 1: fourth in the NFL, headed by t J. Watt with 361 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 1: ten and a half, third in the NFL. But the 362 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:28,800 Speaker 1: takeaways are incredible. I mean, they've they've got twenty six 363 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: on the season, second only the Patriots twenty seven. They've 364 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: got fourteen interceptions Minca Fitzpatrick has five of them, tied 365 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 1: for most in the NFL. And they've they've forced twenty 366 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 1: one fumbles and recovered twelve. It's just ball security is 367 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 1: paramount in this football game. I mean, they were they 368 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:50,360 Speaker 1: were plus thirteen on the season before the Cleveland game. 369 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 1: Now they still find themselves plus nine, tied for second 370 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 1: best in the NFL in terms of turnover ratio. But 371 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: they're taking it away. I mean, they're It's just it's 372 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 1: just unbelievable how much how many more opportunities they were 373 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: giving their offensive football team and taking possessions away from 374 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:10,119 Speaker 1: the opposing offense. So yeah, they're Finley is going to 375 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 1: have to be very sharp in terms of, you know, 376 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 1: making sure to not turn the football over the offensive line. 377 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: If I'm an offensive lineman, I'm embarrassed by what happened 378 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:24,719 Speaker 1: in the first matchup on Monday night. Eight sacks. Cameron 379 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 1: Heyward and his boys threw them around and that's embarrassing. 380 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 1: So I'm looking for a rematch. And you can't be 381 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 1: minus eight in the sacked ratio department in any football 382 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 1: game because that that affects hidden yards, that affects field position, 383 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: that affects everything, not in the mindset of your offensive 384 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: lineman and the mindset of your quarterback. So with a 385 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 1: rookie quarterback being because the third NFL start, you can't 386 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: you can't expose them to that kind of pressure. Now, 387 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: time for this week's locker room conversation. When you're oh 388 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: and ten, you don't expect to be ranked No. Number 389 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 1: one in anything but the projected draft order. But according 390 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 1: to the number crunchers at the website Football Outsiders, the 391 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 1: number one team in the NFL in overall special team's 392 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: performance so far this year is Cincinnati. I talked to 393 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: the man in charge. We're in the locker room with 394 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:21,919 Speaker 1: Bengals special teams coordinator Darren Simmons. Let's start with Brandon Wilson, 395 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:24,399 Speaker 1: who leads the NFL and kickoff return average at thirty 396 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:29,120 Speaker 1: six yards are return. He's obviously fast. What else makes 397 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 1: him so dangerous? Well, I think the fact that he's 398 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: had the ball in his hands before you know, he's 399 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 1: a former running back. I think that shows up. He's 400 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 1: very instinctive when he does have the ball. He can 401 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 1: make cuts at speed and he's not afraid. But I 402 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:45,439 Speaker 1: think the one thing that really sticks out is his 403 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:47,439 Speaker 1: past history as a running back shows up. I mean, 404 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 1: people just think of him as a dB, but he 405 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 1: also put running back in Houston too, so he's just 406 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 1: very natural running the ball. It's his third year here. 407 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:59,639 Speaker 1: Why didn't you use him earlier? Well, because the guys 408 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: we had in the past, you know, didn't lose the job. 409 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: You know, Alex was ranked highly in the league a 410 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 1: couple of years um, and Brandon was a blocker force. Um. 411 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 1: There's a time where you know, Brandon wasn't even active 412 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 1: the first or the first half of his first year here. Um, 413 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:18,639 Speaker 1: you know, the other part of the two. So he 414 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 1: got to feel confident in handling the ball and catching 415 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 1: the ball cleanly. UM. And he's you know, progressed at 416 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 1: that too. So obviously you know, in hindsight you wish 417 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:27,919 Speaker 1: you to put him back there sooner, but it was 418 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:30,760 Speaker 1: it's in the same token. You know, we start off 419 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 1: the year with Alex, Alex gets or we start off 420 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:36,359 Speaker 1: here with Darius. I'm sorry, Darius scores against Buffalo. So 421 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:38,480 Speaker 1: it's we've We've had a variety of guys who've been 422 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 1: productive in that role. Um. You know, obviously Brandon's kind 423 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:43,640 Speaker 1: of take it to a new level. He's also tied 424 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:46,479 Speaker 1: for the team leading special teams tackles. Is he building 425 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: a Pro Bowl resume well as an all around player? 426 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 1: I think for sure. You know, Um, he's he's been 427 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:55,359 Speaker 1: productive in his role the last you know, two years. 428 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:58,439 Speaker 1: He's been a good gunner. Um again, because he is fast, 429 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 1: he is tough, he can ale um, all those things 430 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:03,639 Speaker 1: that you're looking for in a core special teams player. 431 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,080 Speaker 1: He has, Um. You know, we haven't we haven't had 432 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: to cover a bunch of kickoffs ring. He's been doing 433 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 1: a good job of hitting touchbacks. But he's been in 434 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 1: position to make plays even on kickoff even though he 435 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:13,800 Speaker 1: hasn't really been called on him to do him in 436 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 1: or had to do him, but he's been in position. 437 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 1: We're visiting with special teams coordinator Darren Simmons. The website 438 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:22,320 Speaker 1: Football Outsiders, which has a bunch of analytics and a 439 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 1: wide variety of topics, has Cincinnati ranked number one for 440 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: overall special teams performing so far this year, who have 441 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 1: been some of the unsung heroes in your group. Well, 442 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:34,400 Speaker 1: I think right now the Specials are doing a good job, 443 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:37,880 Speaker 1: you know. I think Kevin's had a very efficient year, 444 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: doesn't He doesn't rank super high in terms of overall 445 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 1: gross average, but we're not giving up much in the 446 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:46,280 Speaker 1: returning game, and I think he's that's her credit to him. 447 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: He's doing a good job of placing the ball um 448 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: and putting our guys in position to make tackles or 449 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: force fair catches. I think we've had as many fair catches, um, 450 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:57,160 Speaker 1: you know this year's he's ever had. U. I think 451 00:23:57,200 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 1: Clark does a good job too. Um. You know, they're 452 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:02,360 Speaker 1: rushing us more than they have in the pass, which 453 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 1: again frees up our gunners to be in single more 454 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: to make more of those plays. I think Raindy's Raindy's 455 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 1: kicked the ball pretty well too. Obviously had a little 456 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 1: hit up against the Raiders. But when those three guys 457 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 1: do their job and do their job, do their jobs well, um, 458 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: it makes the jobs and the rest of the guys easier. Um. 459 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: I think Jordan Evans has done a nice job for 460 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:22,199 Speaker 1: us this year. You know, he started off kind of 461 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 1: with me, then he transitioned to a year ago become 462 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:26,760 Speaker 1: a defensive starter. Now he's kind of back with me again. 463 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:29,159 Speaker 1: He's played very solid. You know a guy that we 464 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:32,920 Speaker 1: missed super really missed a year ago, Sethan Carter. I 465 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 1: think Sethan Carter is playing well. Let me getting contributions 466 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:38,600 Speaker 1: from a lot of different guys. Tony McCrae's played very 467 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:43,160 Speaker 1: well this whole year. Um, it hadn't been been really 468 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: one guy. It's it's been a They've played pretty really 469 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:47,720 Speaker 1: will as a unit. They believe in each other. Um 470 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:49,160 Speaker 1: that there Really it's a lot of fun to coach 471 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:50,400 Speaker 1: hip right now. I know we're not having a bunch 472 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: of a bunch of success as a team, but these 473 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:54,440 Speaker 1: guys are as good a group. It's fun a group 474 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 1: of guys because they really believe they're gonna make every play. 475 00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:59,560 Speaker 1: And as a coach, that's all you can ask for. Dared, 476 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 1: you're the august tenured coach on this staff. You came 477 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:05,120 Speaker 1: with Marvin originally in two thousand and three. How big 478 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:07,680 Speaker 1: of an adjustment has it been for you being part 479 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:10,239 Speaker 1: of a completely different staff this year. I think just 480 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:12,200 Speaker 1: the staff dynamics a little different. You know, you're not. 481 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:14,359 Speaker 1: It's kind of like when I first came in here 482 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:15,879 Speaker 1: in two thousand and three. You don't know a lot 483 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 1: of these guys, haven't had haven't had the chance to 484 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:20,320 Speaker 1: work with very many of them. But it's getting a 485 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: feel for how Zach one thing's done, and I think 486 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 1: permitting that that same theme through the rest of the team, 487 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: uh and through my group specifically, and trying to spread 488 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 1: his message um I. And that's not been a challenge. 489 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:35,440 Speaker 1: It's been different. Um I think the way we practice 490 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 1: is a little different. The way we conduct day to 491 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:40,160 Speaker 1: day business at different. It's so it's there's but it's 492 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 1: from anything. It's there's transition when it comes with that stuff. Um. 493 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:44,920 Speaker 1: You know, you get kind of set in your ways 494 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:46,919 Speaker 1: when you do it one way for sixteen years in 495 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:50,000 Speaker 1: a row, and then when that changes, it becomes different. 496 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 1: But but in addition to that too, it kind of 497 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:55,680 Speaker 1: stimulates me, um to change, you know, and it makes 498 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: me think about things in a different way. So that 499 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:01,159 Speaker 1: that part of has been very thankful for. Final question 500 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 1: for Special teams coordinator Darren Simmons. My favorite special teams 501 00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:10,840 Speaker 1: play almost happened in mid October the fair catch free kick. 502 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:13,320 Speaker 1: So for people that aren't aware of it, you can 503 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 1: fair catch a punt, and if you do it within 504 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 1: field goal range, the other team has to stand ten 505 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:22,480 Speaker 1: yards away. So there are a limited set of circumstances 506 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 1: where you would even try it. But what do you 507 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 1: think is that's something that like in the back of 508 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: your mind as a special teams coordinator, you're always dreaming 509 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 1: that maybe it'll work out. Oh. Absolutely, there's a couple 510 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 1: of things that have to happen. Obviously, anytime you fair 511 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:37,080 Speaker 1: catch a punt, this could happen at any point in 512 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 1: the game. You have the opportunity to do two things. One, 513 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:42,960 Speaker 1: you can put it in play with an offensive snap, 514 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:45,400 Speaker 1: which happens ninety nine point nine percent of the time, 515 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 1: or be you can take a fair catch free kick, 516 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:50,320 Speaker 1: which means you take a field goal from the spot 517 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:53,439 Speaker 1: of the fair catch and they can't rush you. And 518 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:54,719 Speaker 1: if you kick it through the goal pos you get 519 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:56,400 Speaker 1: three points. That could happen to any point in the game. 520 00:26:57,040 --> 00:27:00,080 Speaker 1: But the unique set of circumstances where that comes into play. 521 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 1: It could be the end of the half or the 522 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:03,960 Speaker 1: end of a game, and you do not have to 523 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,320 Speaker 1: have time on the clock for a fair catch free kick. 524 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:09,040 Speaker 1: So if you have the opponent backed up, he's punting 525 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:10,960 Speaker 1: out of his own end zone, there's two seconds left 526 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:13,199 Speaker 1: in the half, he punts it to you and you 527 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:16,680 Speaker 1: fair catch it. Time expires, zero time left on the clocks. 528 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 1: So obviously you can't put the ball in play with 529 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:20,680 Speaker 1: an offensive snap, but you can take a fair catch 530 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:23,439 Speaker 1: free kick. Just I'd love to have the opportunity if 531 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:26,359 Speaker 1: somebody backed up and force him to punt with you know, 532 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 1: inside of five or six seconds to go, and you know, 533 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:30,800 Speaker 1: fair execute a fair catch and get the chance to 534 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 1: do it. That would be, you know, one of those 535 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:34,120 Speaker 1: players you kind of dream would be awesome to bible 536 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 1: to execute. One of these days, we'll get the chance 537 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 1: to go out and do it, and hopefully when we do, 538 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:40,440 Speaker 1: our players will be very comfortable and no exactly that 539 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:42,480 Speaker 1: execute it. I love it now. I know it can 540 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:45,960 Speaker 1: be done with no time left on the clock. Congratulations 541 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,159 Speaker 1: on the special team's performance so far this season. I 542 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 1: always appreciate your time. Thank you, appreciate you having me. 543 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:54,880 Speaker 1: That's Darren Simmons. Earlier this year, Carolina kicker Joey Sly 544 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:57,680 Speaker 1: attempt at a sixty yard field goal on a fair 545 00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:01,639 Speaker 1: catch free kick at the end of half, but missed it. 546 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:05,880 Speaker 1: The last kicker to make one was the Chargers Rayworshing 547 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: way back in nineteen seventy six. Now time for this 548 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: week's No The Faux Segment. Tim Bens is a Pittsburgh 549 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: sports columnist and talk show host, and joined Dave Lapham 550 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:18,920 Speaker 1: and me I'm the Bengals game Plan Show this week. 551 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 1: Normally we take an in depth look at the Bengals 552 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:26,320 Speaker 1: upcoming opponent, but this week most of our conversation with 553 00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:32,119 Speaker 1: Tim revolved around last week's helmets swinging fracas between Myles 554 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 1: Garrett and Mason Rudolph. I started out by asking Tim 555 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 1: if Miles Garrett has replaced Vontes Berfect as public enemy 556 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 1: Number one in Pittsburgh. Yes, absolutely, yes he has. I 557 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:51,040 Speaker 1: can't believe it's possible, but I think it's a very 558 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 1: apt comparison. I don't think Miles that's the track record 559 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 1: that yet, but he's well on his way, and I 560 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: think you're are the something there. Dan. Let me ask 561 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: you a question about Mason Rudolph. Everybody's up at arms 562 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:07,920 Speaker 1: that he has not been suspended. He's going to receive 563 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 1: a fine. Obviously, and everybody said, well, he exacerbated it 564 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 1: when he went, you know, after Miles Garrett a second time. 565 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,360 Speaker 1: I'm telling in my opinion, when I saw it, I said, 566 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 1: Mason Rudolph was just reacting that he lost his helmet. 567 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:24,120 Speaker 1: He's trying to get his helmet back. You don't want 568 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:26,760 Speaker 1: to be on a football field in an altercation without 569 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:29,480 Speaker 1: a helmet on your head because what can happen is 570 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:32,840 Speaker 1: exactly what happened. You might take a shot from somebody's 571 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 1: fist or a help or whatever. You don't want to 572 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:37,920 Speaker 1: be exposed like that. So in my mind, he wasn't 573 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 1: going after Miles Garrett. He dove right after his helmet. 574 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:44,080 Speaker 1: He was going after his helmet, and to me, he 575 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 1: wasn't trying to prolong any kind of a fight. I 576 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 1: don't think with Miles Garrett. I mean, what am I 577 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 1: wrong on that? Or am I right? The narrative that 578 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 1: Mason ulf is somehow responsible for what happened is about 579 00:29:56,920 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 1: one of the dumbest things I've come across in my 580 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:02,440 Speaker 1: time covering sports. I've just shown you how I think 581 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 1: social media has softened our brains and has made all 582 00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 1: of us try to think we're smarter than we all 583 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 1: are by looking for some dumb excuse to marginalize what 584 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:14,920 Speaker 1: somebody did. And that's exactly what's happening here. You know, 585 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:17,840 Speaker 1: I think it's funny that O. J. Simpson has been 586 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:21,320 Speaker 1: the guy to advance this more than anybody else because 587 00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:25,720 Speaker 1: in throwing that Mason Rudolf is at fault, it's sort 588 00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:28,280 Speaker 1: of like saying one Goldman was a fault for delivering 589 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:33,000 Speaker 1: the sun glasses to Nicole. It's absolutely astonied. How do 590 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:35,840 Speaker 1: you blame Mason Rudolf when he was the one that 591 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:38,640 Speaker 1: got thrown to the ground laid trying to get up. 592 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:42,200 Speaker 1: There's notion that he was Danielson m karate kid and 593 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 1: kicked Miles Garrett, and the growing is a joke. He 594 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:47,560 Speaker 1: was getting pulled up by his face mask. He's trying 595 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 1: to separate himself from Garrett. People are working so hard 596 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 1: to marginalized or alleviate the re fox on to Miles Garrett. 597 00:30:55,760 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 1: And I don't know why. He's got a track record 598 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:03,640 Speaker 1: and he did something to Pittsburgh sports columnist and Steelers 599 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:07,440 Speaker 1: pregame host Tim Bens is our guest. I do want 600 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:10,040 Speaker 1: to ask you about Mike Tomlin's comments at a news 601 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:12,880 Speaker 1: conference yesterday, he was asked what the Steelers could learn 602 00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 1: from that incident, and he said, quote, I don't know 603 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:17,680 Speaker 1: that we did anything to make it happen in the 604 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:20,360 Speaker 1: first place. That's why I said we didn't have anything 605 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:23,240 Speaker 1: to learn from it. Did he mean that the way 606 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:26,240 Speaker 1: it sounds? I mean, I agree with you that what 607 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:31,280 Speaker 1: Miles Garrett did was infinitely worse than anything you could 608 00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:35,160 Speaker 1: possibly suggest that Mason Rudolph did. Having said that, it 609 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:39,440 Speaker 1: doesn't seem to me the Steelers were completely blameless. Where 610 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:41,800 Speaker 1: would you fix the blame? That he would be wrong 611 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:45,480 Speaker 1: in that statement? Then well, what about pounce You who's 612 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:47,720 Speaker 1: now suspended for three games for kicking a guy in 613 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:52,400 Speaker 1: the head. Is that conducted Mike Tomlin condones I think 614 00:31:52,440 --> 00:31:55,400 Speaker 1: he condones it. But I think what Garrett did was 615 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:59,760 Speaker 1: so above and beyond the pale that I think that 616 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 1: that point Pouncey just lost his mind. Did I have 617 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 1: to keep this guy from doing anything further? I think 618 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:12,600 Speaker 1: what Garrett did was so differentiating from any other behavior 619 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 1: that football players have sleet on the field that there 620 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:18,320 Speaker 1: has to be a little attitude and how they responded 621 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:23,440 Speaker 1: both you know what Pouncing did initially and then even 622 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:26,720 Speaker 1: beyond when he kicked him. I think at that point 623 00:32:26,720 --> 00:32:30,240 Speaker 1: it's suppressed the crazy man who was so unhinged and 624 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:33,920 Speaker 1: swinging the helmet and um, you know, I think one 625 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:37,560 Speaker 1: game is the absolute most from pouncing. And if probably 626 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 1: came off sounding Kurtz for ignoring that part of the equation, 627 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:44,760 Speaker 1: I don't blame him to that because I think he 628 00:32:45,120 --> 00:32:49,760 Speaker 1: incredibly I have no problem with Pouncey restraining him, you know, 629 00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:52,840 Speaker 1: pin him, punch him in the gut, kicking him in 630 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:55,960 Speaker 1: the head, and that's not restraining. That's trying to get 631 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:59,160 Speaker 1: your shots in that There's a big difference there, big difference, 632 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:01,400 Speaker 1: and that's why gets trying to restrain him. Or do 633 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:04,000 Speaker 1: you think he's trying to stop him because I viewed 634 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:05,840 Speaker 1: it as trying. I think he's trying. I think it's 635 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:08,200 Speaker 1: trying to it's trying to damage him. He's got it. 636 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 1: You know, Decastro's got him on the ground and he's 637 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:12,880 Speaker 1: kicking him in the head. I mean, you know, the 638 00:33:12,920 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 1: restraining was being done by DeCastro. Pause, he could have 639 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:19,200 Speaker 1: helped restrain him. Pause, he decided to take some shots, 640 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:21,480 Speaker 1: whether it's punching, and then kick him in the head. 641 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:25,080 Speaker 1: I mean, let me ask you this, ding, especially when 642 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:29,520 Speaker 1: you were playing before, everybody was so suspension and fine crazy. 643 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 1: I think, and I don't know about this, but I 644 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:36,880 Speaker 1: think that Filer and DeCastro clear Garrett off the pile 645 00:33:37,040 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 1: before any of that happened. But everybody is so pentitive 646 00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:43,480 Speaker 1: anymore that they didn't do that, and they were looking 647 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:45,520 Speaker 1: for the refs to blow the whistle or do something 648 00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:48,320 Speaker 1: about it. And I think that's part of the reason 649 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:51,040 Speaker 1: why it went nuts, is because these guys are afraid 650 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:53,000 Speaker 1: of getting fined. He's just spend it in the first place, 651 00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:55,719 Speaker 1: because I bet you those two were fighting the natural 652 00:33:55,760 --> 00:33:58,720 Speaker 1: reaction to get Garrett off of a Mason Rudolph to 653 00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:02,160 Speaker 1: begin with. All I can say is in any era 654 00:34:02,320 --> 00:34:05,960 Speaker 1: of football, when I played, or before or after, kicking 655 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:09,800 Speaker 1: is termed a cowardly. I mean, kicking is not something 656 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:12,000 Speaker 1: that you do. I mean, you know, it's it's like 657 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:14,600 Speaker 1: if you see a street fight and somebody has a 658 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:16,439 Speaker 1: guy down on the ground the other one's kicking him. 659 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:19,200 Speaker 1: It's like, what the hell is that? I mean, the 660 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:22,440 Speaker 1: kicking stuff, that's why he suspended for three games, and 661 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:25,200 Speaker 1: it might be reduced, but I mean the suspension is 662 00:34:25,239 --> 00:34:28,360 Speaker 1: for him kicking him, I mean that's a bad look too. 663 00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:31,120 Speaker 1: You don't you don't want kids watching a football game 664 00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:33,319 Speaker 1: and a fight breaks out and hit Hitting him with 665 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:37,279 Speaker 1: the helmets is inexcusable, But kicking him is not a 666 00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:39,480 Speaker 1: good sign. It's it's not a good it's not a 667 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:42,920 Speaker 1: good look. It just isn't. I mean, you know, I mean, 668 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:45,560 Speaker 1: it isn't. And if you want him to apologize, like 669 00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:47,480 Speaker 1: I thought he did that at the beginning of the 670 00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:50,160 Speaker 1: fresh commence, I thought he said, we own an a 671 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:52,360 Speaker 1: portion of what took place. And I don't know what 672 00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:55,720 Speaker 1: else he could possibly be referring to beside that, unless 673 00:34:55,719 --> 00:34:59,000 Speaker 1: he really feels like Mason Rudelf acted out too much 674 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:01,920 Speaker 1: and be frank with you, I think Mason Rudolph kind 675 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:04,360 Speaker 1: of got bullied into making that apology or the team 676 00:35:04,440 --> 00:35:07,840 Speaker 1: got bullied into making him make that apology because he 677 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:11,120 Speaker 1: read an apology. He read an apology. It wasn't like 678 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:14,239 Speaker 1: a heartfelt apology. He read the thing. Yeah, well, I 679 00:35:14,239 --> 00:35:17,080 Speaker 1: think he's I think he's sorry for I think he's 680 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:20,480 Speaker 1: sincerely sorry because of what he did got Pouncey suspended. 681 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:23,440 Speaker 1: I think he's sorry about that. And you know, he 682 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:26,080 Speaker 1: did go off scrip and started looking out the cameras 683 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:28,120 Speaker 1: and say, look, I lost my cool and I shouldn't 684 00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:31,040 Speaker 1: have done that. But again, I don't know what player 685 00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:34,719 Speaker 1: has to wherewithal at that point to say, after being 686 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:37,120 Speaker 1: thrown to the turf laid you know, I'm not going 687 00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:38,560 Speaker 1: to push back or I'm not going to get in 688 00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:44,560 Speaker 1: the guy's face. I disagree that that Rudolph should apologize 689 00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:48,760 Speaker 1: for Pouncy getting suspended. Pouncey did something that got pounced 690 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:52,920 Speaker 1: you to suspended. Rudolph didn't. Pouncey did Pouncey by kicking. 691 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:56,000 Speaker 1: I mean to me, that's that's totally that's the separating 692 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:58,080 Speaker 1: point I had. No, I would have no problem of 693 00:35:58,160 --> 00:36:00,960 Speaker 1: him laying on top of him, him down, punching him, 694 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:05,000 Speaker 1: but kicking him in the head. Worry, no, no go, 695 00:36:05,560 --> 00:36:08,399 Speaker 1: no go. That's well, if if that happens in a fight, 696 00:36:08,480 --> 00:36:10,160 Speaker 1: if that happens in a fight on the field in 697 00:36:10,200 --> 00:36:13,000 Speaker 1: the day, everybody would grab the guy that did kicking 698 00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:17,120 Speaker 1: and wail on his tail. Well, you're purty right on it, 699 00:36:17,239 --> 00:36:20,040 Speaker 1: and I'm wrong, And you know in the NFL decided 700 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:22,880 Speaker 1: to suspend him. But I think there's nothing more cowardly 701 00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:26,320 Speaker 1: than slinging a helmet if somebody else's head. I totally agree, 702 00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:29,920 Speaker 1: totally agree, totally agree, and he should be suspended for 703 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:32,360 Speaker 1: more than six games. But I got no problem with 704 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:34,360 Speaker 1: Pounds of being suspended for as many games as he 705 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:36,759 Speaker 1: is for kicking a guy when he's down in the 706 00:36:36,800 --> 00:36:39,799 Speaker 1: head and he's being pinned by somebody else. I mean, 707 00:36:39,920 --> 00:36:42,520 Speaker 1: you know that that's not I think that's a cowardly 708 00:36:42,560 --> 00:36:46,600 Speaker 1: act as well. Our guest is Tim Ben's, Pittsburgh sports 709 00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:49,520 Speaker 1: columnist and Steelers pregame host. Didn't intend for this to 710 00:36:49,560 --> 00:36:51,880 Speaker 1: be entirely about that incident. We got you for a 711 00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:54,480 Speaker 1: couple more minutes, so let's at least to hit on 712 00:36:54,520 --> 00:36:59,640 Speaker 1: a couple of other topics. Yeah, I'm sure, I'm sure 713 00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:03,040 Speaker 1: you've you've covered this topic a little bit in Pittsburgh. 714 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:05,080 Speaker 1: But let's hit on a couple of other things before 715 00:37:05,120 --> 00:37:08,120 Speaker 1: we let you go Number one or I guess number two. 716 00:37:08,239 --> 00:37:12,680 Speaker 1: After all we've been talking about to this point. Two. Yeah, 717 00:37:12,719 --> 00:37:16,560 Speaker 1: the status of some key Steelers going into this game, 718 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:22,400 Speaker 1: Juju Smith, Schuster, James Conner, Deyanta Johnson. I mean, Pounce, 719 00:37:22,480 --> 00:37:26,160 Speaker 1: he's already out because he's suspended. How limited are the 720 00:37:26,239 --> 00:37:30,160 Speaker 1: Steelers going to be in this game very limited throwing 721 00:37:30,239 --> 00:37:33,000 Speaker 1: the ball. Juju Smith Shues, even though he has not 722 00:37:33,080 --> 00:37:35,319 Speaker 1: a good year, is still the number one receiving threat 723 00:37:35,360 --> 00:37:38,880 Speaker 1: and draws all sorts of attentions from opposing defense, and 724 00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:41,360 Speaker 1: another guy still can't get open. So I can't imagine 725 00:37:41,360 --> 00:37:42,839 Speaker 1: how hard it's going to be for people to get 726 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:46,080 Speaker 1: open when Juju isn't being doubled all the time. So 727 00:37:46,120 --> 00:37:49,000 Speaker 1: that's gonna be a problem. Rudolf had problems delivering the 728 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:53,040 Speaker 1: ball when on the rare occasions where players have been opened. Um, 729 00:37:53,280 --> 00:37:55,319 Speaker 1: you know, like you talked about the running backs these 730 00:37:55,400 --> 00:37:58,760 Speaker 1: connor is out, they were so good running the jet, 731 00:37:58,840 --> 00:38:04,600 Speaker 1: sweet miss, direct, easlextended handoff, shovel past, wildcat stuff against 732 00:38:04,640 --> 00:38:06,960 Speaker 1: the Bengals the first time. I don't know, maybe that 733 00:38:07,040 --> 00:38:09,080 Speaker 1: comes back, Maybe that comes back a little bit. I 734 00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:13,440 Speaker 1: know that both Shanlon Samuels and Mike Tomlin intimated both 735 00:38:13,719 --> 00:38:16,080 Speaker 1: coming out of the Bengal game last time and this 736 00:38:16,120 --> 00:38:18,960 Speaker 1: week going into it, that there are some matchup things 737 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:21,560 Speaker 1: that they think that they liked about playing against the Bengals. 738 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:24,239 Speaker 1: With that wildcat team into play, I don't know if 739 00:38:24,239 --> 00:38:26,879 Speaker 1: it's as prominent as it was back in week four 740 00:38:27,080 --> 00:38:30,120 Speaker 1: excuse yeah, week four on Monday Night Football. But with 741 00:38:30,280 --> 00:38:32,600 Speaker 1: Benny Smellby and the other running back, now, maybe they 742 00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:34,799 Speaker 1: try to do some of that again to insulate the 743 00:38:34,840 --> 00:38:38,440 Speaker 1: passing game even further because the weapons are so uh 744 00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:41,680 Speaker 1: scaled back with the knee injury to Juju on top 745 00:38:41,680 --> 00:38:44,759 Speaker 1: of the concussion. Art Johnson at least practice today, So 746 00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:47,400 Speaker 1: that's a good thing from their standpoint, but they are 747 00:38:47,520 --> 00:38:51,200 Speaker 1: limited skill position wise for SUA. I agree with you though, 748 00:38:51,239 --> 00:38:54,200 Speaker 1: because the you know, the Jets sweep the shovel passed 749 00:38:54,239 --> 00:38:58,000 Speaker 1: the Wildcat. Haven't seen very seen very little of it 750 00:38:58,120 --> 00:39:00,920 Speaker 1: since the Bengals game, but we talked about it earlier 751 00:39:00,920 --> 00:39:03,000 Speaker 1: in the week. I mean, obviously the Bengal is going 752 00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:04,680 Speaker 1: to be preparing for It's going to be a big 753 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:07,080 Speaker 1: part of their preparation time during the week. You know, 754 00:39:07,120 --> 00:39:09,600 Speaker 1: it's going to take away from preparing for things they 755 00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:12,480 Speaker 1: maybe have run the weeks since they played the Bengals. 756 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:15,279 Speaker 1: But with all that's going on in terms of player 757 00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:18,520 Speaker 1: of availability, you got to be able to be able 758 00:39:18,520 --> 00:39:20,319 Speaker 1: to defend it better than you did the first time, 759 00:39:20,360 --> 00:39:22,840 Speaker 1: that's for sure. On Monday and Night Football. Yeah, and 760 00:39:22,880 --> 00:39:25,920 Speaker 1: Benny Snell is a guy with a drafted should be 761 00:39:27,280 --> 00:39:30,200 Speaker 1: a short yardage option to be a closure at the 762 00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:33,359 Speaker 1: end of games. And he's been so injured and unavailable 763 00:39:33,960 --> 00:39:36,399 Speaker 1: during the course of games this year that we haven't 764 00:39:36,440 --> 00:39:38,680 Speaker 1: been able to see that much yet. In Pittsburgh and 765 00:39:39,600 --> 00:39:43,000 Speaker 1: their biggest struggle of late, especially that Browns game is 766 00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:46,480 Speaker 1: on third and short, fourth and short, and I'm wondering 767 00:39:46,520 --> 00:39:48,480 Speaker 1: if they could feature him and just run between the 768 00:39:48,560 --> 00:39:51,280 Speaker 1: tackles more effectively. I mean, with this and rule struggling 769 00:39:51,280 --> 00:39:53,920 Speaker 1: to win it is. I think they had seven chances 770 00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:57,560 Speaker 1: thirty fourth to short and they threw five of them 771 00:39:57,719 --> 00:40:00,359 Speaker 1: because the line was so poor and moving the Kyle 772 00:40:00,440 --> 00:40:03,960 Speaker 1: even six feet. There's a real kind of I don't know, 773 00:40:04,280 --> 00:40:07,360 Speaker 1: chicken and egg debate there. Are you getting too complicated 774 00:40:07,360 --> 00:40:09,919 Speaker 1: because the line camp walking to get the fourth downs 775 00:40:09,920 --> 00:40:11,960 Speaker 1: concerned downs that way, or should you just make it 776 00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:14,040 Speaker 1: simple and go behind the line and make them get 777 00:40:14,040 --> 00:40:17,279 Speaker 1: better at it. I'm leaning towards the ladder, all right. 778 00:40:17,320 --> 00:40:19,400 Speaker 1: Thanks to Tim Benz And that's going to do it 779 00:40:19,440 --> 00:40:22,120 Speaker 1: for this episode of the podcast. If you haven't done 780 00:40:22,160 --> 00:40:25,160 Speaker 1: so already, don't forget to subscribe, and if you have time, 781 00:40:25,480 --> 00:40:28,080 Speaker 1: give it a rating or share. A comment. Those five 782 00:40:28,080 --> 00:40:32,279 Speaker 1: star ratings help more Bengals fans find this podcast. I'm 783 00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:35,320 Speaker 1: Dan Horde and thank you for listening to the Bengals 784 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:36,640 Speaker 1: Booth podcast.