WEBVTT - Drive Time: Jeff Wilson Jr Chat, AFC North Preview 0:00:01.680 --> 0:00:04.720 You are listening to the Miami Dolphins Podcast Network. 0:00:05.120 --> 0:00:07.600 This is Drive Time with Travis Wingfield. 0:00:07.680 --> 0:00:10.640 Back to throw to a looking slips about. 0:00:10.280 --> 0:00:17.000 A wide Olphen touchdown turn Rick Quel unfelievable, just blow. 0:00:16.840 --> 0:00:19.239 By it for a second time. Don knew where he 0:00:19.320 --> 0:00:21.880 was going right away. I want to hit that though. Man, 0:00:22.320 --> 0:00:23.080 I'm going to help you. 0:00:23.120 --> 0:00:26.239 Someone will keep on his man away Wattle Wadle to 0:00:26.440 --> 0:00:30.120 a shotgun, back to throw, looking at them up Myers touchdown. 0:00:31.000 --> 0:00:34.840 It's Waddle his sixth touchdown. Parado's the tea. 0:00:35.960 --> 0:00:40.720 Drive Time with Travis Wingfield begins. Now we check your 0:00:40.720 --> 0:00:44.919 pulse if you're not for of what is up? 0:00:45.000 --> 0:00:48.760 Dolphins And welcome to the Drive Time podcast, part of 0:00:48.760 --> 0:00:53.800 the Miami Dolphins podcast Network, covering your team, your Miami Dolphins. 0:00:53.800 --> 0:00:55.000 How's it going everybody? 0:00:55.080 --> 0:00:58.160 I am your host, Travis Wingfield. And on today's show 0:00:58.240 --> 0:01:01.840 we continue our divisional pre series and our walking talks. 0:01:02.120 --> 0:01:05.039 I'll have Jeff Wilson with me today on the podcast, 0:01:05.040 --> 0:01:07.920 as well as James Rapeene breaking down the AFC North 0:01:08.160 --> 0:01:11.520 from the Baptist Health Studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex. 0:01:11.560 --> 0:01:14.280 This is the Draft Time Podcast. 0:01:14.400 --> 0:01:18.600 Jeffy, Let's kick it off today with my interview with 0:01:18.720 --> 0:01:20.399 Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson. 0:01:20.640 --> 0:01:21.880 What's up, guys, Travis Spectfield. 0:01:21.880 --> 0:01:23.880 Here another edition of one hundred yards My guess today, 0:01:23.959 --> 0:01:25.440 Jeff Wilson, Let's go ahead and make awa down the 0:01:25.480 --> 0:01:28.440 field there. Jeff, So you got here last year mid season. 0:01:28.680 --> 0:01:31.240 I'm always curious to hear about how guys incorporate into 0:01:31.280 --> 0:01:32.959 a new locker room and just kind of how that 0:01:32.959 --> 0:01:33.959 whole process went for you. 0:01:34.400 --> 0:01:37.280 Yeah, it was kind of. It was kind of smooth, 0:01:37.520 --> 0:01:40.520 I would say, because, like you said, obviously, we had 0:01:40.800 --> 0:01:42.640 a couple of guys that I was familiar with in 0:01:42.680 --> 0:01:45.960 the locker room already, and those guys were kind of like, 0:01:46.360 --> 0:01:48.640 I guess, good outlets for me are good resources for 0:01:48.760 --> 0:01:50.720 me to the other guys. So let them know kind 0:01:50.760 --> 0:01:53.160 of who I was and what I was about. And 0:01:53.240 --> 0:01:55.640 so once they did that, and then I came in 0:01:55.720 --> 0:01:58.480 and they seen how it worked and then how I played. Shoot, 0:01:58.520 --> 0:02:00.480 it was just like a that's. 0:02:00.360 --> 0:02:01.400 Made from heaven. I don't know. 0:02:01.480 --> 0:02:05.480 Everybody was locked in, coaches in, players, even people around. 0:02:05.240 --> 0:02:06.320 The facility got to help. 0:02:06.360 --> 0:02:07.960 Having your teammate Raheem Moster here in town. 0:02:08.000 --> 0:02:09.600 He was talking about this off season how they kind 0:02:09.600 --> 0:02:11.600 of wanted to get you guys back together. How pumped 0:02:11.600 --> 0:02:13.679 you to have the entire room back together plus a 0:02:13.760 --> 0:02:15.119 rookie and Devon h Man. 0:02:15.200 --> 0:02:17.880 That's that's crazy, and that's around this league. You know, 0:02:17.960 --> 0:02:20.160 that's almost unheard of for you to have guys that 0:02:20.240 --> 0:02:23.360 stick around like that, especially the same exact ones from 0:02:23.400 --> 0:02:26.200 the previous year. And then to add on those young guys. 0:02:26.200 --> 0:02:29.040 Man watching them out here work and run and be 0:02:29.160 --> 0:02:31.400 happy and excited about it. You know, he bring back 0:02:31.480 --> 0:02:33.440 members when I was a rookie. But to see them 0:02:33.440 --> 0:02:36.360 and joining and thriving in the passion that love for 0:02:36.400 --> 0:02:38.320 the game, and it's another beauty, Like. 0:02:38.320 --> 0:02:39.680 To see give me one of the old head at 0:02:39.680 --> 0:02:39.880 this point. 0:02:40.080 --> 0:02:40.840 Yeah, that's what I'm saying. 0:02:40.919 --> 0:02:43.359 So weird that so fast, it's crazy, it really does. 0:02:43.400 --> 0:02:45.440 And speaking of you know when you're you're upbringing the league, 0:02:45.560 --> 0:02:47.600 you know, the story about you and coach McDaniel meeting 0:02:47.600 --> 0:02:49.560 and the scouting process of all that, I just kind 0:02:49.560 --> 0:02:51.680 of wanted to get your measure of how he as 0:02:51.680 --> 0:02:53.760 a coach and how like going from you know, run 0:02:53.800 --> 0:02:56.000 game coordinator to head coach here, how he's grown as 0:02:56.000 --> 0:02:57.760 a pro since you saw him from that day at 0:02:57.760 --> 0:02:59.639 your workout back in college to now as a head 0:02:59.639 --> 0:03:00.760 coach the Dolphins. 0:03:00.919 --> 0:03:03.440 Oh, you know, every year you want to try to improve. 0:03:03.480 --> 0:03:05.920 And I would say, in this game, in this fashion, 0:03:05.919 --> 0:03:08.440 in this field that we're in, if you're not improving, 0:03:08.520 --> 0:03:11.000 you're losing. So you know, from the moment I'm at 0:03:11.080 --> 0:03:14.519 night tonight, it's like he's he's changed dramatically, you know 0:03:14.560 --> 0:03:16.480 what I mean, not even to say as a person, 0:03:16.560 --> 0:03:19.359 but his knowledge of the game, his mindset of the game, 0:03:19.400 --> 0:03:21.160 where he wants to be, where he wants to go. 0:03:21.480 --> 0:03:23.079 You can tell it when he talks, and you can 0:03:23.080 --> 0:03:24.359 feel it when you want you know what I mean. 0:03:24.400 --> 0:03:26.440 And that's kind of the whole thing about Mike. He 0:03:26.520 --> 0:03:28.280 means what he say and he's going to do what 0:03:28.320 --> 0:03:30.800 he say. And he's been doing all that ever since 0:03:30.919 --> 0:03:33.560 I've been here, and still is. So he's going to 0:03:33.600 --> 0:03:36.160 do everything for this program, everything for this team, and 0:03:36.200 --> 0:03:38.760 that's always been Mike. He's gonna always put us in 0:03:38.800 --> 0:03:39.400 the right direction. 0:03:39.520 --> 0:03:40.680 And we love hearing that about the coach. 0:03:40.720 --> 0:03:42.160 We're here all the time of all the guys. So 0:03:42.200 --> 0:03:43.880 you've got a couple of football camps coming up right 0:03:43.920 --> 0:03:45.920 back back home in Texas, I. 0:03:45.880 --> 0:03:48.560 Got one in my high school where I grew up, 0:03:48.640 --> 0:03:51.160 Elkhat High School. It's gonna be the first one back home. 0:03:51.400 --> 0:03:55.119 It's an all three camp ages eight fifteen. Then that's seventeen. 0:03:55.200 --> 0:03:57.600 That's on June sixteenth, and June seventeenth. You're going to 0:03:57.640 --> 0:03:59.840 go right up to Dallas and have another one at 0:03:59.840 --> 0:04:03.640 the academy, First Bapti Academy. Pull up eleven. It's all 0:04:03.640 --> 0:04:06.280 from eleven to one. Bring you kids, let's have fun. 0:04:06.640 --> 0:04:08.320 Turn out you go so you can learn football there. 0:04:08.360 --> 0:04:09.000 But also I'm curious. 0:04:09.000 --> 0:04:10.480 We're on like the t guard line here. When you 0:04:10.520 --> 0:04:11.880 get the ball down here and you score a touchdown, 0:04:11.960 --> 0:04:12.600 we got a thinking. 0:04:12.480 --> 0:04:12.920 It's for force. 0:04:12.960 --> 0:04:14.000 Let's hear some new celebrations. 0:04:14.000 --> 0:04:16.120 Baby oh man, We're gonna have fun this year. That's 0:04:16.120 --> 0:04:18.360 what I said. Now we all claim it. We affiliated 0:04:18.400 --> 0:04:20.839 were back at home. Everybody kind of knows who I am, 0:04:20.960 --> 0:04:23.080 so once they see it, they's not acting all. He's 0:04:23.160 --> 0:04:25.479 just they actually know that's me. So we definitely have 0:04:25.520 --> 0:04:27.360 a fun and the end zone this year, for sure. 0:04:27.760 --> 0:04:31.719 You said that us kind of see a theme developing here, 0:04:31.720 --> 0:04:34.039 don't you. On the podcast, all these guys and the 0:04:34.040 --> 0:04:36.039 team just so easy to talk to you and so 0:04:36.240 --> 0:04:38.680 likable and playing for your favorite team obviously helps, but 0:04:38.720 --> 0:04:41.440 also so easy to root for these guys when they 0:04:41.480 --> 0:04:43.480 have personalities like the ones they do have. So again, 0:04:43.480 --> 0:04:45.799 thanks to Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson, let's go ahead 0:04:45.800 --> 0:04:47.599 and take our first break right here and come back 0:04:47.640 --> 0:04:50.960 on the other side and continue our summer preview series. 0:04:50.960 --> 0:04:53.520 The AFC North is up today. James Rapen is going 0:04:53.560 --> 0:04:56.000 to be my guest here on the Draft Time podcast. 0:04:56.080 --> 0:04:58.760 Your host Travis Wingfield, brought to you by Auto Nation 0:05:02.760 --> 0:05:05.680 and joining us now today, is a former colleague of mine. 0:05:05.720 --> 0:05:08.560 He's now the publisher of All Bengals and All Bearcats, 0:05:08.560 --> 0:05:13.760 really holding down that Cincinnati reporting sector of our country. 0:05:13.800 --> 0:05:16.000 Here Lockdown Bengals as well. In the big chair there, 0:05:16.080 --> 0:05:18.160 James Rapine, James, longtime man. 0:05:18.200 --> 0:05:18.760 How you doing. 0:05:19.320 --> 0:05:21.440 I'm doing well. I appreciate you having me. How are you. 0:05:21.920 --> 0:05:23.920 I'm very good, very happy to have you on here. 0:05:24.440 --> 0:05:27.440 Did you have a break in the Lockdown Bengals hosting? 0:05:27.480 --> 0:05:29.080 Didn't you go somewhere else for a minute? 0:05:29.760 --> 0:05:32.920 Yeah, it kind of is fitting because I think I'm 0:05:32.920 --> 0:05:35.840 pretty qualified to discuss this division, maybe more so than 0:05:35.880 --> 0:05:37.760 some of the other reporters of the division because I 0:05:37.800 --> 0:05:41.440 covered Cleveland, so I was in the division and it 0:05:41.480 --> 0:05:45.200 was around Miles Garrett and Baker Mayfield and Freddy Kitchens 0:05:45.200 --> 0:05:46.559 and during that era. 0:05:46.720 --> 0:05:48.719 So yeah, and I think this is one of the 0:05:48.720 --> 0:05:52.279 divisions to me that has like the maybe besides the 0:05:52.360 --> 0:05:55.720 NFC East, the best like rivalry at every single game 0:05:55.720 --> 0:05:58.200 that you get, like all these teams when they match up, 0:05:58.200 --> 0:05:59.919 it's like a fun little back and forth with the 0:06:00.080 --> 0:06:02.560 fans and the history between these teams here. And not 0:06:02.640 --> 0:06:03.880 to mention, I think this is one of the best 0:06:03.920 --> 0:06:06.599 divisions in football as we head in a twenty twenty 0:06:06.600 --> 0:06:09.080 three And so with that, I'll start this podcast when 0:06:09.120 --> 0:06:11.839 I've started all these divisional previews here by just asking 0:06:11.839 --> 0:06:14.200 you to give us the kind of thirty thousand. 0:06:13.960 --> 0:06:15.599 Foot view of the AFC North. 0:06:15.640 --> 0:06:17.840 Obviously, you know, we have our own division storylines out 0:06:17.839 --> 0:06:19.800 here in the AFC East. But as you kind of 0:06:19.800 --> 0:06:22.160 go into the you know, I guess this summer the 0:06:22.480 --> 0:06:24.719 dead period as it were, of the NFL, and you 0:06:24.760 --> 0:06:26.240 look forward to training camps. What are some of the 0:06:26.279 --> 0:06:29.360 things you're keeping eye on here with a division as 0:06:29.400 --> 0:06:29.719 a whole. 0:06:29.920 --> 0:06:32.640 In the AFC North, I think one of the biggest 0:06:32.640 --> 0:06:36.360 storylines is certainly what happens in Cleveland with the Shan Watson. 0:06:36.520 --> 0:06:39.359 Is he the guy that we saw in twenty twenty 0:06:39.440 --> 0:06:42.520 play for Houston and obviously before that a few years 0:06:42.520 --> 0:06:45.200 prior just become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL? 0:06:45.440 --> 0:06:47.839 Or is it the guy that missed a year and 0:06:48.000 --> 0:06:50.240 was suspended and then at the end of the season, 0:06:51.360 --> 0:06:54.160 you know, certainly struggled last year. That's that's such a 0:06:54.160 --> 0:06:58.160 storyline because if so, if he is that elite quarterback, 0:06:58.200 --> 0:07:02.000 still this division to me, and it might be anyways, 0:07:02.160 --> 0:07:04.600 but is the best division in football because top to 0:07:04.680 --> 0:07:08.600 bottom there is either a complete team in the Steelers 0:07:08.600 --> 0:07:11.080 with a question at quarterback, but outside of that, you'll 0:07:11.160 --> 0:07:15.080 like that roster overall, and then three other teams that 0:07:15.320 --> 0:07:18.920 have top ten qbs, like Lamar Jackson's a former MVP, 0:07:19.360 --> 0:07:21.640 and I know some aren't as high on him, but 0:07:21.720 --> 0:07:24.520 the dude is a baller and it's a quarterbacks league. 0:07:24.560 --> 0:07:27.240 And so you have Lamar with actual weapons for the 0:07:27.240 --> 0:07:29.760 first time in his career. And maybe I wouldn't go 0:07:29.800 --> 0:07:32.000 that far, but he certainly has more weapons now than 0:07:32.040 --> 0:07:35.120 he's ever had. The Browns I think did well in 0:07:35.160 --> 0:07:38.160 the trenches and obviously have been able to build around 0:07:38.160 --> 0:07:40.200 to Shaun Watson, and then we know what the Bengals 0:07:40.200 --> 0:07:42.920 have done. So I think that this is the best 0:07:42.960 --> 0:07:45.400 division in football. And I know the NFC West last 0:07:45.480 --> 0:07:48.720 year AFC West excuse me, was getting a ton of 0:07:48.800 --> 0:07:51.800 run and that disappointed. I don't think the North will 0:07:51.840 --> 0:07:53.880 disappoint this year. I think it's going to be a 0:07:53.920 --> 0:07:56.600 really competitive division. And so that's what stands out. If 0:07:56.600 --> 0:07:59.160 Deshaun Watson is the guy the Browns hope he is, 0:07:59.800 --> 0:08:03.680 that this is a very real four team race for 0:08:03.680 --> 0:08:04.800 the AFC North title. 0:08:05.080 --> 0:08:05.240 Yeah. 0:08:05.240 --> 0:08:06.960 Absolutely, I thought they had one of the best off 0:08:06.960 --> 0:08:08.960 seasons as well. You talked about adding to that defense 0:08:08.960 --> 0:08:11.800 and getting some real key parts up on that defensive line. 0:08:11.840 --> 0:08:13.680 We'll come back to them and talk about them. I 0:08:13.720 --> 0:08:16.200 think they're fourth in my line up here with the 0:08:16.240 --> 0:08:18.240 Cleveland Browns. So we're gonna go back to the reigning 0:08:18.240 --> 0:08:21.120 division champions, the kind of team that's that's ran that 0:08:21.200 --> 0:08:23.200 in terms of playoff success the last couple of years. 0:08:23.240 --> 0:08:26.760 Where you currently are stationed with the fellow team in Ohio, 0:08:26.760 --> 0:08:29.400 the Cincinnati Bengals. You mentioned Joe Burrow and kind of 0:08:29.400 --> 0:08:31.520 what he's done for that team in that division and 0:08:31.560 --> 0:08:33.840 just kind of taking the range there for the Cincinnati Bengals. 0:08:34.080 --> 0:08:36.000 And I guess I start here at the Bengals with 0:08:36.000 --> 0:08:39.800 this question, James, because you know, it's a team that 0:08:39.840 --> 0:08:43.440 you would assume. I think for most you know, most 0:08:43.480 --> 0:08:46.480 teams in that position might be super aggressive. But for 0:08:46.520 --> 0:08:48.600 the Bengals, you know, we've we've heard all this stuff 0:08:48.600 --> 0:08:50.240 about how they you know, putting them putting the money 0:08:50.280 --> 0:08:52.880 in Escro, getting ready for Joe Burrow's big contract extension. 0:08:53.040 --> 0:08:55.800 I'm curious how you see that and their free agency 0:08:55.800 --> 0:08:58.679 period this offseason kind of paired together because they made 0:08:58.679 --> 0:09:00.800 the one big move on Lando Brown junie, they lost 0:09:00.800 --> 0:09:03.280 some pieces. To just kind of give us the overview 0:09:03.320 --> 0:09:06.400 of the Bengals off season and how Joe Burrow's contract 0:09:06.400 --> 0:09:07.440 looming impacted that. 0:09:08.200 --> 0:09:08.960 I think it did some. 0:09:09.480 --> 0:09:14.280 I think that is as much as fans might have 0:09:14.360 --> 0:09:16.400 wanted to see, you know, another big move or another 0:09:16.440 --> 0:09:21.040 splashy move. They were Orlando Brown Junior signing at least 0:09:21.080 --> 0:09:23.000 as of now, and it depends on how it works. 0:09:23.000 --> 0:09:25.160 They've had a lot of good free agency signings, but 0:09:25.320 --> 0:09:27.560 is the best free agent signing they've had certainly the 0:09:27.559 --> 0:09:31.400 most surprising that they've had maybe during this run. And 0:09:31.440 --> 0:09:34.280 they've added a bunch of guys in free agency. DJ Reader, 0:09:34.360 --> 0:09:39.720 Chidobeo Woozi A, Mike Hilton, Trey Hendrickson, all guys that 0:09:39.840 --> 0:09:42.320 they've added that that have contributed it in a huge, 0:09:42.400 --> 0:09:47.120 huge way. And so to go get alignment of his caliber, 0:09:47.120 --> 0:09:50.640 they added Alex Kappa last year, Lel Collins, Ted Carris, 0:09:50.679 --> 0:09:53.160 guys that contributed and started last year and made a 0:09:53.160 --> 0:09:56.040 difference in the trenches. But getting Orlando Brown Junior, I 0:09:56.080 --> 0:09:59.240 think it's arguably the biggest free agent addition in team 0:09:59.320 --> 0:10:02.560 history because this franchise didn't do that. That's not how 0:10:02.600 --> 0:10:04.520 they used to build their teams even when they had 0:10:04.520 --> 0:10:08.160 success in the past, and so I think that that 0:10:08.280 --> 0:10:09.040 was a huge get. 0:10:09.080 --> 0:10:11.000 I think it's going to have a major impact. 0:10:11.679 --> 0:10:16.520 But yeah, you're starting to see younger guys on defense 0:10:16.760 --> 0:10:18.880 start to emerge. You know, they're going to be reliant 0:10:18.880 --> 0:10:21.360 on Cam Taylor Britt this year second rounder from last 0:10:21.440 --> 0:10:25.760 year to start at cornerback. They drafted Miles Murphy in 0:10:25.800 --> 0:10:28.920 the first round and he's a defensive end. Well, could 0:10:28.920 --> 0:10:32.040 that be Trey Hendrickson's replacement long term? Or Sam Hubbards. 0:10:32.640 --> 0:10:35.800 They're going to have to allocate more resources to offense 0:10:36.040 --> 0:10:39.080 because they drafted Burrow and drafted Higgins and drafted Chase 0:10:39.640 --> 0:10:41.959 and so as you do that, you're going to have 0:10:42.000 --> 0:10:44.000 to get younger on defense. And they've had so much 0:10:44.000 --> 0:10:47.800 success and free agency adding these guys on their second 0:10:47.840 --> 0:10:51.320 contracts in the NFL that it's just shifting a little bit. 0:10:51.400 --> 0:10:53.240 So I don't think it had a huge impact. 0:10:53.280 --> 0:10:55.760 I think they planned on being aggressive and they kind 0:10:55.800 --> 0:10:57.480 of knew that they were going to lose some of 0:10:57.520 --> 0:11:01.880 those guys. Jesse Bates negotiations just we're never close over 0:11:01.920 --> 0:11:03.920 the past couple of years, and they knew that. Von 0:11:04.000 --> 0:11:06.720 Bell I think it came down to a third year 0:11:06.880 --> 0:11:08.640 and they didn't give him a third year. Instead, they 0:11:08.679 --> 0:11:12.000 got Nick Scott for a cheaper deal from the Rams, 0:11:12.040 --> 0:11:15.440 and we'll see if that works out. So certainly some risks, 0:11:15.480 --> 0:11:18.120 some question marks, but overall, I do think that they're 0:11:18.120 --> 0:11:20.439 better now than they were when they lost in the 0:11:20.480 --> 0:11:22.040 AFC title game in January. 0:11:22.320 --> 0:11:23.960 Yeah, they do seem to be one of those teams 0:11:23.960 --> 0:11:26.840 in the enviable position where they can kind of draft 0:11:26.840 --> 0:11:28.520 for future playing and the way they did it last 0:11:28.559 --> 0:11:33.400 year I think with both Dack's Daxon Hill brain fart 0:11:33.400 --> 0:11:35.480 there for a second. You mentioned Cam Taylor britt to 0:11:35.520 --> 0:11:37.480 kind of you know, offset a loss of a Jesse 0:11:37.559 --> 0:11:39.880 Bates and Aavon Bell there, and you talk about Trey 0:11:39.880 --> 0:11:41.640 Hendrickson as well. It's just really smart drafting to be 0:11:41.679 --> 0:11:43.120 able to put yourself in a position where you can 0:11:43.320 --> 0:11:45.480 potentially have a replacement, you know, the second year of 0:11:45.520 --> 0:11:47.880 their career, opposed to just trying to you know, put 0:11:47.880 --> 0:11:49.120 a rookie into your biggest need. 0:11:49.160 --> 0:11:50.400 And I think they did a good job there. 0:11:50.400 --> 0:11:51.719 I think they did a good job the last couple 0:11:51.760 --> 0:11:54.120 of years of building the offensive line. You mentioned that, 0:11:54.160 --> 0:11:55.880 and that's kind of where I think this team, you know, 0:11:56.080 --> 0:11:57.960 a lot of their success hinges on that on that 0:11:58.040 --> 0:12:00.360 offensive line, right because if they can get help wealth 0:12:00.440 --> 0:12:02.480 you play from those guys up front, you know, lyle 0:12:02.559 --> 0:12:04.560 Call I don't think played to the level they hoped 0:12:04.559 --> 0:12:07.880 he would last year. Mentioned Ted Carris and Alex Kappa. 0:12:08.280 --> 0:12:10.480 Have to have pretty high expectations for the offensive line 0:12:10.520 --> 0:12:12.600 to really help Joe Burl stay upright, stay clean. 0:12:12.840 --> 0:12:14.520 If he does that, he's just get anybody else in 0:12:14.520 --> 0:12:14.800 the league. 0:12:14.880 --> 0:12:19.360 Right, Yeah, I think I'm not sure there's a quarterback 0:12:19.400 --> 0:12:23.240 in the league Mahomes included that could have done what 0:12:23.280 --> 0:12:25.520 Burrow's done the past two years with the offensive lines 0:12:25.559 --> 0:12:30.480 that he's had and the adversity that he's faced. I mean, 0:12:30.760 --> 0:12:34.040 he was coming off of that torn acl and you 0:12:34.080 --> 0:12:36.920 go into that that twenty twenty one season and that 0:12:36.960 --> 0:12:40.320 offensive line still wasn't good and they were still working 0:12:40.360 --> 0:12:44.040 through some things, and multiple guys that started for them 0:12:44.040 --> 0:12:47.160 in the Super Bowl in Super Bowl fifty six didn't 0:12:47.280 --> 0:12:50.720 even get into a camp that following summer. So you 0:12:50.760 --> 0:12:52.959 go from February to that summer and they weren't even 0:12:52.960 --> 0:12:56.520 in an NFL camp and they've never played or participated 0:12:56.520 --> 0:13:00.200 in another NFL practice. So getting them to that point 0:13:00.200 --> 0:13:02.200 with that line, I think Joe Burrow deserves a ton 0:13:02.240 --> 0:13:05.320 of credit for that. And then last year, same thing. 0:13:05.400 --> 0:13:08.760 The offensive line had its issues. You're right, Level Collins 0:13:08.800 --> 0:13:12.400 was battling some injuries, Joanah Williams played through a dislocated 0:13:12.480 --> 0:13:15.160 kneecap for the majority of the year, and so they 0:13:15.160 --> 0:13:19.319 were underwhelming at times, but they also showed flashes of 0:13:19.360 --> 0:13:22.360 being just a solid unit. I wouldn't say like league, 0:13:22.400 --> 0:13:24.120 but you know, top ten or anything. Like that, but 0:13:24.200 --> 0:13:27.000 just the solid unit. And that's when this offense started 0:13:27.000 --> 0:13:29.520 to show what it could do and they won ten 0:13:29.600 --> 0:13:31.480 straight and got really close to making it to a 0:13:31.480 --> 0:13:34.160 second straight Super Bowl. And so yeah, this year, I 0:13:34.200 --> 0:13:36.880 think expectations are the highest they've been during this run 0:13:37.480 --> 0:13:40.440 because I don't really see a glaring hole on the 0:13:40.480 --> 0:13:44.160 offensive line for the first time since Joe Burrow was drafted. 0:13:44.080 --> 0:13:46.560 Really the entire roster, and going back to that Super 0:13:46.600 --> 0:13:48.439 Bowl team when they just lost to the Rams there 0:13:48.440 --> 0:13:51.680 in the final mins of that game, wasn't there wasn't 0:13:51.679 --> 0:13:55.160 it like all eleven players on that defense that started 0:13:55.160 --> 0:13:56.760 that Super Bowl or like free agents from the last 0:13:56.760 --> 0:13:59.800 couple of years, something crazy like that, right, I. 0:13:59.800 --> 0:14:03.200 Think they were all They might have all been new additions. 0:14:03.240 --> 0:14:05.679 They had some guys that they had drafted, like Logan Wilson, 0:14:05.760 --> 0:14:08.320 Jermaine Pratt, so there were some draft picks in there, 0:14:08.400 --> 0:14:12.439 Jesse Bates, but they might have all been new. I'm 0:14:12.480 --> 0:14:14.920 trying to think if there were any holdovers. I think 0:14:14.920 --> 0:14:18.000 you're right that there probably weren't, and I would have 0:14:18.000 --> 0:14:20.280 to look to make sure, but that sounds correct now. 0:14:20.360 --> 0:14:21.960 Duke Tobin just doing a great job up there at 0:14:21.960 --> 0:14:24.040 the Bengals and getting that thing really turned around, turning 0:14:24.080 --> 0:14:27.280 them into a you know, a mainstay. I should stay 0:14:27.280 --> 0:14:29.320 in the AFC North in the AFC playoffs, So we'll 0:14:29.360 --> 0:14:30.920 look forward to seeing that a team that we're gonna 0:14:30.920 --> 0:14:32.840 have to see probably, you know, in that position for 0:14:32.880 --> 0:14:35.560 a long time to come. Here. You mentioned Orlando Brown junior. 0:14:35.800 --> 0:14:38.480 They retained Jermaine Pratt like you talked about there Cody 0:14:38.480 --> 0:14:41.360 for Sidney Jones Earsmith. You talked about kind of some 0:14:42.160 --> 0:14:43.920 high risk, high reward there in terms of the freeze. 0:14:44.000 --> 0:14:46.560 I think there's a lot of opportunity there with those guys. 0:14:46.600 --> 0:14:49.280 And you know, I kind of did this exercise here 0:14:49.280 --> 0:14:51.760 looking at this roster like really not many holes, man. 0:14:52.120 --> 0:14:54.200 You talk about the offensive line, really the entire roster 0:14:54.280 --> 0:14:56.040 looks that way. So I think this probably has to 0:14:56.080 --> 0:14:58.920 be I would assume the division favorite because for a 0:14:58.920 --> 0:15:00.880 long time there, this division was ran by two other 0:15:00.920 --> 0:15:03.960 teams we'll talk about here next and the Baltimore Ravens, 0:15:04.000 --> 0:15:05.840 the first one that I think kind of has been 0:15:06.040 --> 0:15:07.440 at the top of the division there for a while. 0:15:07.440 --> 0:15:10.080 You mention off the top Lamar Jackson getting his contract 0:15:10.080 --> 0:15:12.440 and now getting equipped with weapons. I'm curious how you 0:15:12.440 --> 0:15:15.200 see that offense evolving this year, you know, going from 0:15:15.240 --> 0:15:17.640 what it was previously under Greg Roman and all the 0:15:17.680 --> 0:15:20.320 heavy run principles. Now make a switch and go out 0:15:20.360 --> 0:15:22.600 and get an Odell Beckham junior and you have Rashad 0:15:22.600 --> 0:15:26.640 Bateman and you draft Say Flowers in the first round 0:15:26.680 --> 0:15:28.600 as well. Are we going to see a different style 0:15:28.640 --> 0:15:30.360 of offense in Baltimore or is it going to be 0:15:30.440 --> 0:15:33.360 more of the same just has more flavor to it. No. 0:15:33.520 --> 0:15:35.640 I think it's going to be a different offense. And 0:15:35.800 --> 0:15:39.720 a big reason why is Todd munkin their new offensive coordinator. 0:15:39.760 --> 0:15:43.600 You're right, you know you change from Greg Roman, who 0:15:43.640 --> 0:15:46.400 clearly put Lamar Jackson in a position to succeed, and 0:15:46.440 --> 0:15:49.320 you go to Monken and he's going to air it out. 0:15:49.440 --> 0:15:52.400 I think you're going to see this become a pass 0:15:52.480 --> 0:15:55.960 first offense. Now, will it be successful? I think that's 0:15:56.040 --> 0:15:57.880 that's a big question. But I think that's how you 0:15:57.960 --> 0:15:59.480 have to be welcome to the NFL. 0:15:59.520 --> 0:16:00.520 It's three. 0:16:00.560 --> 0:16:03.600 Even with Lamar Jackson is dynamic as he is as 0:16:03.640 --> 0:16:06.240 a runner, he can make plays with his arm. We've 0:16:06.240 --> 0:16:09.200 seen that he can, you know, complete deep passes and 0:16:10.320 --> 0:16:12.320 slants and different things like that, and yet you look 0:16:12.320 --> 0:16:16.440 at their weapons. Odell Beckham Junior doesn't have to be 0:16:16.600 --> 0:16:19.880 the twenty fourteen Odell. He's just got to be a 0:16:20.080 --> 0:16:23.360 solid starting wide receiver because if they have that, Zay 0:16:23.440 --> 0:16:26.560 Flowers adds a bit to them. They just they haven't 0:16:26.600 --> 0:16:29.560 had that. Like the bar is so low for their 0:16:29.600 --> 0:16:33.000 starting receivers in Baltimore that if they get that combined 0:16:33.040 --> 0:16:35.040 with a Mark Andrews, combined with a running game, and 0:16:35.080 --> 0:16:36.960 they still will run the ball, no doubt about it. 0:16:37.880 --> 0:16:40.520 And that defense, which we know is one of the 0:16:40.680 --> 0:16:44.600 NFL's best, I think that they're forced to be reckoned with. 0:16:44.680 --> 0:16:48.560 And part of it is pretty simple. Lamar Jackson is 0:16:48.760 --> 0:16:50.800 one of the best players in the league, and I 0:16:50.800 --> 0:16:52.440 think he's going to show that. I know it got 0:16:52.480 --> 0:16:54.800 weird with the contract and people were questioning him and 0:16:54.840 --> 0:16:57.640 there was all this stuff that's fine, that can be uncomfortable, 0:16:57.920 --> 0:16:59.720 but now it's done, and so when they get on 0:16:59.720 --> 0:17:01.400 the feet, we know that number eight is still one 0:17:01.400 --> 0:17:03.120 of the best quarterbacks in the in the world. 0:17:03.720 --> 0:17:05.639 Yeah, I couldn't agree more. I think that what JK. 0:17:05.760 --> 0:17:08.080 Dobbins does because you know, they've always had so much 0:17:08.080 --> 0:17:10.399 success run in the football with very running backs. But 0:17:10.400 --> 0:17:12.800 I think that Dobbins takes him from you know, getting 0:17:13.040 --> 0:17:15.320 really good production out of maybe an average, you know, 0:17:15.400 --> 0:17:17.920 capable running back, and he's one of those top tier guys, 0:17:17.960 --> 0:17:20.040 I think, and really with his talent, make it that 0:17:20.119 --> 0:17:22.520 running game, you know, fire on all cylinders to complement 0:17:22.600 --> 0:17:24.840 Lamar Jackson, and then that obviously makes the passing game better. 0:17:25.000 --> 0:17:26.439 But I think it all starts with an area that 0:17:26.440 --> 0:17:28.400 I want to ask you about from an opponent's perspective, 0:17:28.400 --> 0:17:31.840 you know, being a Bengals covering the Bengals. I'm curious 0:17:31.840 --> 0:17:34.920 because like for a long time, this offensive line. 0:17:34.640 --> 0:17:36.840 Was kind of the bread and butter of the team. 0:17:36.840 --> 0:17:38.760 But Ronnie Stanley's had so many injuries the last couple 0:17:38.760 --> 0:17:40.480 of years is one of the best left tackles before 0:17:40.480 --> 0:17:43.360 the injuries started to take their toll. Patrick McCary played 0:17:43.400 --> 0:17:45.960 a bunch last year, Morgan Moses we see on the inside, 0:17:46.000 --> 0:17:48.359 Kevin Zeitler's there now, Andrew Voorhe's a high draft pick 0:17:48.359 --> 0:17:50.439 a couple of years or this last year, Daniel Falale 0:17:50.520 --> 0:17:52.639 a couple of years ago, and Tyler Linderbaum in the 0:17:52.640 --> 0:17:54.720 first round. When you look at the offensive line, is 0:17:54.720 --> 0:17:56.760 that a group that you know, when you talk about 0:17:56.760 --> 0:17:59.960 a Bengals Ravens preview, are you worried about the offen 0:18:00.000 --> 0:18:01.920 defensive line, Like, how do you view that group? Because 0:18:02.040 --> 0:18:03.879 to me, it kind of is the engine that drives 0:18:03.880 --> 0:18:05.320 this offense with Lamar Jackson. 0:18:05.840 --> 0:18:09.200 Yeah, I think the tackle play is the big question 0:18:09.280 --> 0:18:13.240 mark because can Stanley stay healthy. We know how talented 0:18:13.280 --> 0:18:15.399 he is and how good of a player he is 0:18:15.440 --> 0:18:18.400 when healthy, but that is a huge fly and annointment, 0:18:18.480 --> 0:18:20.240 so to speak. When it comes to that left tackle 0:18:20.280 --> 0:18:23.560 spot and right tackle Morgan Moses, I think he leaves 0:18:23.560 --> 0:18:25.720 a little bit to be desired. There's some health stuff 0:18:25.720 --> 0:18:28.240 with him in the past, and he's it's not like 0:18:28.320 --> 0:18:31.360 he's twenty four either, so there are some questions at tackle. 0:18:31.960 --> 0:18:35.560 I like their interior. I loved Tyler Lindnerbaum. 0:18:34.960 --> 0:18:37.639 Coming out, and I know someone worried about his size 0:18:38.000 --> 0:18:41.120 and different stuff like that, and I was all over 0:18:41.200 --> 0:18:43.879 him last year for the Bengals in Round one. I 0:18:43.920 --> 0:18:46.920 don't think they were in on him in Round one anyways, 0:18:46.920 --> 0:18:49.480 but he didn't even make it there because Baltimore saw 0:18:49.520 --> 0:18:51.439 I think what I saw, and I think he's already 0:18:51.440 --> 0:18:54.520 one of the best centers in the league, and I 0:18:54.560 --> 0:18:58.679 think a guy that not that, I think a player 0:18:58.720 --> 0:19:00.920 that not only the Bengals, but the Browns know well, 0:19:00.960 --> 0:19:01.719 this division knows well. 0:19:01.760 --> 0:19:02.520 Kevin Zeitler. 0:19:02.800 --> 0:19:05.160 He's one of the better guards still, a veteran guard 0:19:05.200 --> 0:19:08.080 that has aged very well, and I know he wants 0:19:08.080 --> 0:19:09.800 a new deal, but I expect him to play well 0:19:09.800 --> 0:19:13.159 this year. So you look at that interior. Ben Cleveland 0:19:13.200 --> 0:19:14.640 will see if he'll take a step. But I really 0:19:14.720 --> 0:19:17.399 like Zeitler and Linderbaum a lot. But you're right, it 0:19:17.440 --> 0:19:19.680 isn't the offensive line of a few years ago. They 0:19:19.680 --> 0:19:23.240 lost Orlando Brown Junior at right tackle, obviously Ronnie Stanley 0:19:23.320 --> 0:19:27.760 was healthy. Then you don't have those guys and you 0:19:27.800 --> 0:19:29.520 take a little bit of a step back at tackle, 0:19:29.600 --> 0:19:32.639 and we'll see. I still think they're solid in that area, 0:19:32.720 --> 0:19:34.320 but the depth isn't what. 0:19:34.280 --> 0:19:36.199 It once was, and which could you know? 0:19:36.240 --> 0:19:38.679 That's one of those I always look at, like what 0:19:38.720 --> 0:19:41.879 are trapped door scenarios for teams where event A and 0:19:41.960 --> 0:19:43.800 B happens, then X and Y could be the result 0:19:43.840 --> 0:19:46.520 of that. In this division, if you're not solid at tackle, 0:19:46.560 --> 0:19:48.399 man teams can take advantage that With what we have 0:19:48.480 --> 0:19:49.680 off the edge with TJ. 0:19:49.800 --> 0:19:50.960 Watt, Miles Garrett. 0:19:51.040 --> 0:19:53.520 You've got Trey Hendrickson over there in Cincinnati, so plenty 0:19:53.520 --> 0:19:56.000 of pass rush in this division. And I think one 0:19:56.040 --> 0:19:58.680 of the more curious parts about this team and injuries 0:19:58.760 --> 0:20:01.359 seem to hit this Ray team every single year in 0:20:01.400 --> 0:20:03.320 a way that just kind of deflates them, even though 0:20:03.359 --> 0:20:05.879 they still find ways to win games and make playoff appearances. 0:20:05.920 --> 0:20:08.280 But no one's gotten hit by the injury bug harder 0:20:08.320 --> 0:20:09.240 than the Ravens the last. 0:20:09.119 --> 0:20:09.760 Couple of years. 0:20:09.960 --> 0:20:12.000 And I want to take the conversation over the defensive 0:20:12.000 --> 0:20:14.200 side of the football, because we saw this Ravens defense 0:20:14.240 --> 0:20:17.000 last year in Week two, as you know, Miami Dolphins, 0:20:17.280 --> 0:20:19.359 and the Dolphins went up and down the field, scored 0:20:19.440 --> 0:20:21.800 forty something points in that game or maybe it's thirty 0:20:22.080 --> 0:20:24.280 forty two or something. A great comeback winning for the 0:20:24.280 --> 0:20:27.359 Dolphins offense, getting touchdowns you know at will in the 0:20:27.400 --> 0:20:30.000 fourth quarter. But that was a pretty banged up secondary 0:20:30.040 --> 0:20:31.560 at that time, going up against two of the best 0:20:31.560 --> 0:20:33.600 receivers in the game and a hot quarterback into a 0:20:33.640 --> 0:20:36.359 tongue by Lowa. How does this defense, how did it 0:20:36.440 --> 0:20:37.960 kind of come together in the second half of the season, 0:20:38.000 --> 0:20:40.280 because they played a lot better down the stretch than 0:20:40.280 --> 0:20:41.000 they did it early on. 0:20:42.119 --> 0:20:45.679 They did, and they gave this Bengals offense fits in 0:20:45.720 --> 0:20:49.000 that final week of the regular season and then obviously 0:20:49.000 --> 0:20:51.800 in the playoff game as well, where it really came 0:20:51.840 --> 0:20:53.480 down to the wire, even though Tyler Hunt was in 0:20:53.520 --> 0:20:57.200 at quarterback. And you look at it, and I think 0:20:57.240 --> 0:21:00.600 that the thing that changed their defense last year. And 0:21:00.640 --> 0:21:03.439 I know people try to say linebackers don't matter, and 0:21:03.480 --> 0:21:06.119 that could be the case for a lot of the league, 0:21:06.720 --> 0:21:10.520 but a guy like Rokwan Smith matters. He is such 0:21:10.520 --> 0:21:15.000 a difference maker in this defense. You notice eighteen just 0:21:15.080 --> 0:21:16.760 watching them, It's like where is he? All? 0:21:16.840 --> 0:21:17.000 There? 0:21:17.040 --> 0:21:19.280 He is and he just pops out. 0:21:19.880 --> 0:21:22.159 He was getting in Jamar Chase his ear, He was 0:21:22.160 --> 0:21:26.919 making tackles, making plays all over And I think that 0:21:26.320 --> 0:21:29.480 that was such a great trade for them because it 0:21:29.600 --> 0:21:33.280 injected new life and raise the level, raise the floor 0:21:33.960 --> 0:21:37.160 of this Ravens defense, which not many linebackers can do. 0:21:37.200 --> 0:21:39.320 And part of that had to do they picked Patrick 0:21:39.400 --> 0:21:40.720 Queen in the first round a few years ago, and 0:21:40.840 --> 0:21:43.919 I don't think he's lived up to expectations. So you 0:21:44.000 --> 0:21:46.200 go get a guy in Smith that you know can 0:21:46.200 --> 0:21:48.639 be that type of game changer. So there are some 0:21:48.760 --> 0:21:51.720 questions pass rush wise, are they going to take a 0:21:51.720 --> 0:21:54.080 step forward or some of these young guys. Is OA 0:21:54.160 --> 0:21:56.000 going to take a step forward as a pass rusher. 0:21:56.240 --> 0:22:01.960 Do they go out and bring back justin Justin Houston? 0:22:02.359 --> 0:22:03.000 Do they do that? 0:22:03.160 --> 0:22:06.520 I'm not sure, but I think that they could use 0:22:06.520 --> 0:22:08.600 another pass rusher. But we certainly saw that they could 0:22:08.640 --> 0:22:09.160 be effective. 0:22:09.160 --> 0:22:10.080 And by the end of the year. 0:22:10.400 --> 0:22:12.080 I don't want to say they had the Bengals number 0:22:12.160 --> 0:22:14.639 because the Bengals were working through some injuries as well, 0:22:15.040 --> 0:22:17.879 but they were able to slow down Joe burrowing Company, 0:22:17.880 --> 0:22:19.000 which is really tough to do. 0:22:19.440 --> 0:22:21.680 Those games were close than most folks expected, especially that 0:22:21.720 --> 0:22:24.159 playoff game going on because against Tyler Huntley, you know 0:22:24.240 --> 0:22:26.320 that that wasn't a ninety eight yard funbl return for 0:22:26.320 --> 0:22:28.000 a touchdown or something late in that game kind of 0:22:28.320 --> 0:22:30.360 swung that game and basically put it on ice after 0:22:30.359 --> 0:22:31.520 it was going to be, you know, come down to 0:22:31.560 --> 0:22:33.720 the wire there late. But just looking at this Rayvens 0:22:33.720 --> 0:22:36.600 defensive roster, it's just it's such a trope to say this, James, 0:22:36.640 --> 0:22:39.240 but I always feel like they have like true Baltimore 0:22:39.280 --> 0:22:41.600 Ravens on their roster every single year and rokwand Smith 0:22:41.640 --> 0:22:43.080 seems to be one of those guys you know you 0:22:43.200 --> 0:22:46.480 talk about Adolphe Oway was one of the guys Justin Madabke, 0:22:46.880 --> 0:22:49.880 Michael Pierce and that secondary Marlin Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton. 0:22:50.000 --> 0:22:52.120 Like there's names all over that defense. So I think 0:22:52.119 --> 0:22:53.800 this Rayven's team. If you think they're gonna go away 0:22:53.840 --> 0:22:56.159 time zoom, I think you'd be remissed to say that. 0:22:56.400 --> 0:22:58.320 So it's it's a fun division battle here with those 0:22:58.320 --> 0:23:00.600 two teams. Let's go ahead and take our last break first. 0:23:00.640 --> 0:23:02.080 Before I do that, though, want to remind you guys, 0:23:02.080 --> 0:23:04.880 Dolphins will go to Baltimore in week seventeen to face 0:23:04.920 --> 0:23:07.679 the Ravens on Sunday, December the thirty first, forty one 0:23:07.720 --> 0:23:10.840 o'clock kickoff. That's the only game inside the AFC North 0:23:10.840 --> 0:23:12.880 of the Dolphins this season. Let's go ahead and take 0:23:12.880 --> 0:23:14.639 our last break rate there and come back on the 0:23:14.680 --> 0:23:17.120 other side and talk Steelers and Browns with my guest today, 0:23:17.200 --> 0:23:20.400 James Rapine on the Draft Time Podcast, your host Travis Wingfield, 0:23:20.520 --> 0:23:26.680 brought to you by Auto Nation. Back here on a 0:23:26.680 --> 0:23:30.199 AFC North preview edition of the Draft Time Podcast, My 0:23:30.280 --> 0:23:33.760 guest today from Lockdown Bengals, All Bengals, all Bearcats. 0:23:33.760 --> 0:23:36.000 He is all everything Cincinnati, James Rapine. 0:23:36.040 --> 0:23:38.000 We're breaking down the AFC North and we're gonna go 0:23:38.000 --> 0:23:40.120 ahead and pivot now to a team that went through 0:23:40.160 --> 0:23:43.280 a bit of a transition year last year and still miraculously. 0:23:43.680 --> 0:23:45.639 I was certain, James, the streak was going to come 0:23:45.640 --> 0:23:46.560 to an end last year. 0:23:46.640 --> 0:23:47.320 It did not. 0:23:47.840 --> 0:23:50.600 Still no losing seasons for Mike Tomlin after what was 0:23:50.640 --> 0:23:52.520 like two and six or something. But they go to 0:23:52.520 --> 0:23:54.240 a rookie quarterback off the bench and he kind of 0:23:54.240 --> 0:23:56.520 sparks them for a run there down the back part 0:23:56.520 --> 0:23:59.399 of the schedule there. I'm curious, you know, I always 0:23:59.440 --> 0:24:02.119 like getting the opponent's perspective of these teams because you 0:24:02.160 --> 0:24:03.840 have such you can feel for the rest of the division. 0:24:03.880 --> 0:24:07.240 Here was that Steelers run? Was it repeatable? Do you 0:24:07.240 --> 0:24:09.800 think it was a mirage as far as the schedule goes? Like? 0:24:09.800 --> 0:24:11.200 What was your take on the way they finished that 0:24:11.280 --> 0:24:14.199 year and continue to get Mike Tomlin to not have 0:24:14.280 --> 0:24:15.080 a losing season. 0:24:16.240 --> 0:24:19.440 I think they're a really good team, and I think 0:24:19.480 --> 0:24:22.600 I'm in the minority certainly in Cincinnati. I think there's 0:24:22.640 --> 0:24:25.480 this narrative that the Steelers just stink now and they don't. 0:24:25.800 --> 0:24:28.520 They have a question market quarterback. But when I look 0:24:28.560 --> 0:24:30.679 at this roster, there's a lot of guys I like 0:24:30.880 --> 0:24:34.520 a lot of difference makers still that can be game changers. 0:24:34.520 --> 0:24:37.240 Obviously, you have Cam Heyward on defense, TJ. Watt. 0:24:37.480 --> 0:24:39.679 That alone, you just start with those two guys. It's like, 0:24:40.200 --> 0:24:41.800 all right, you have the inside guy, you have the 0:24:41.800 --> 0:24:45.560 outside guy. Every offensive coordinator stays up at night thinking 0:24:45.560 --> 0:24:48.800 about those two. You add in Alex high Smith and 0:24:49.320 --> 0:24:51.479 they can get pressure. And in a passing league, if 0:24:51.480 --> 0:24:54.239 you can get pressure, you feel good about it. And 0:24:54.280 --> 0:24:56.959 on offense, I like a lot of their weapons. They've 0:24:57.520 --> 0:25:00.240 added offensive line pieces over the past cup couple of 0:25:00.320 --> 0:25:04.320 years to upgrade the floor. I think of that unit 0:25:04.359 --> 0:25:07.680 because that's been their biggest issue outside of Ben Roethlisberger at. 0:25:07.640 --> 0:25:08.399 The end of his career. 0:25:08.600 --> 0:25:10.640 That's been their biggest issue, I would say, is offensive 0:25:10.680 --> 0:25:13.920 line play. So I think this is a really solid roster, Travis, 0:25:14.160 --> 0:25:16.800 and I'm not going to be shocked at off that 0:25:16.840 --> 0:25:19.520 street continues. In fact, I would probably be surprised the 0:25:19.520 --> 0:25:22.080 other way if the Steelers finished with a losing record. 0:25:22.119 --> 0:25:24.080 I would, yeah, the offensive line. 0:25:24.320 --> 0:25:26.200 It's a great place to start because I just look 0:25:26.240 --> 0:25:28.240 at this group and you know, to me, I thought 0:25:28.240 --> 0:25:31.080 Broderick Jones was ot one personally. I don't think everyone 0:25:31.080 --> 0:25:32.520 felt that way, but I thought he was a great 0:25:32.520 --> 0:25:34.800 pick there. And then Isaac Samala was one of the 0:25:34.840 --> 0:25:37.520 best free agent guards they could have added. A year after, 0:25:37.560 --> 0:25:39.159 they bring in James Daniels is one of the top 0:25:39.200 --> 0:25:41.280 free agent interior offensive linemen as well. So they've kind 0:25:41.280 --> 0:25:43.280 of done a good job of rebuilding that front, and 0:25:43.359 --> 0:25:45.800 especially to kind of compliment with Nauji Harris Offers in 0:25:45.800 --> 0:25:46.480 that backfield. 0:25:46.640 --> 0:25:47.520 We know what he can do. 0:25:47.800 --> 0:25:49.840 But I think we have to ask the question about 0:25:49.840 --> 0:25:52.719 the quarterback because again, you know, I thought he got 0:25:52.800 --> 0:25:53.240 hot late. 0:25:53.240 --> 0:25:55.359 I thought the schedule kind of helped him to do that. 0:25:55.359 --> 0:25:57.600 The Steelers won some tight ball games late down the stretch, 0:25:57.640 --> 0:26:00.000 but certainly showed you some signs. I thought his ability 0:26:00.080 --> 0:26:01.760 to kind of get off script on third downs and 0:26:02.200 --> 0:26:04.320 play in time and on rhythm was pretty good for 0:26:04.320 --> 0:26:06.280 a rookie quarterback. I just want to hear your take 0:26:06.320 --> 0:26:08.680 on Kenny Pickett's first year and what fans can expect 0:26:08.720 --> 0:26:10.600 for a second season there in Pittsburgh. 0:26:10.880 --> 0:26:12.280 I expect him to be okay. 0:26:13.160 --> 0:26:15.680 And I know that's not like the best take in 0:26:15.680 --> 0:26:17.959 the rule, but I don't expect him to cost them 0:26:17.960 --> 0:26:20.680 a bunch of games and throw a bunch of interceptions. 0:26:21.040 --> 0:26:23.439 I also don't think he's the next Joe Burrow. I 0:26:23.440 --> 0:26:26.879 don't think he's the next big thing quarterback wise in 0:26:26.920 --> 0:26:27.560 the AFC. 0:26:28.280 --> 0:26:28.720 I don't. 0:26:28.880 --> 0:26:32.520 And that's okay because this Steelers organization, the Steelers team, 0:26:32.920 --> 0:26:36.080 the franchise, they're all built from Mike Tomlin to the 0:26:36.119 --> 0:26:39.639 front office on down. To have an okay quarterback, yeah, 0:26:39.680 --> 0:26:43.000 and get the most out of him. And just looking 0:26:43.080 --> 0:26:46.000 with what he's working with, I expect Kenny Pickett to 0:26:46.000 --> 0:26:50.080 play at a solid level. I think back to the 0:26:50.119 --> 0:26:53.720 twenty let's say twenty twelve Bengals, and that was Andy 0:26:53.760 --> 0:26:56.199 Dalton's second season. They made the playoffs. His first year 0:26:56.240 --> 0:26:58.840 went nine and seven. The second year they made the playoffs. Again, 0:26:59.240 --> 0:27:02.200 you look at those Rocks and they weren't amazing, but 0:27:02.240 --> 0:27:06.000 they played solid defense and they had some weapons and 0:27:06.080 --> 0:27:08.440 the quarterback didn't turn the ball over. And I think 0:27:08.480 --> 0:27:11.720 that's what Kenny Pickett will do. And it's a tough division. 0:27:12.080 --> 0:27:13.600 Like I said, I think it's the best division in 0:27:13.640 --> 0:27:16.480 the NFL. But if he can do that, I think 0:27:16.520 --> 0:27:18.840 that they can keep their head above water and be 0:27:18.960 --> 0:27:20.600 competitive and be in the playoff mix. 0:27:21.280 --> 0:27:23.280 I think one of the things that makes this division 0:27:23.320 --> 0:27:25.240 so intriguing is that you have so many teams that 0:27:25.440 --> 0:27:27.760 just know who they are. And I talked about it 0:27:27.760 --> 0:27:29.800 on the other side with the Ravens, like always drafting 0:27:29.840 --> 0:27:30.760 Baltimore Ravens. 0:27:31.080 --> 0:27:32.320 The Steelers the exact same way. 0:27:32.359 --> 0:27:34.080 To me, I look on the defensive side of the football, 0:27:34.119 --> 0:27:38.440 and their off season was basically checking boxes of bat 0:27:38.440 --> 0:27:40.280 guys at Pittsburgh Steeler are gonna go go ahead and 0:27:40.320 --> 0:27:42.480 bring him in. Like Larry Olgan Jobi, I think he's 0:27:42.480 --> 0:27:44.520 made his entire tour on the AFC North at this point. 0:27:44.920 --> 0:27:47.399 Patrick Peterson seems like an absolute Steeler fit for me, 0:27:47.520 --> 0:27:49.680 especially they kind of transition he made last year to 0:27:49.680 --> 0:27:51.560 playing more often more zone where he gets eyes on 0:27:51.560 --> 0:27:54.239 the quarterback. Landon Roberts. We know him here well as 0:27:54.240 --> 0:27:56.280 a thumper in the middle of the defense. De Monte 0:27:56.400 --> 0:27:59.399 kz Kean O'Neil, all these guys. I'm curious how you 0:27:59.400 --> 0:28:01.679 see this defense kind of coming to together here with 0:28:01.880 --> 0:28:04.680 you know, hopefully a healthy TJ. Watt, Minka Fitzpatrick two 0:28:04.720 --> 0:28:07.280 the very best at their positions. But is this is 0:28:07.320 --> 0:28:08.919 this going to be closer to the steel curtain of 0:28:08.920 --> 0:28:10.840 old or was last year more reflection of kind of 0:28:10.880 --> 0:28:12.800 an aging defense that might be kind of, you know, 0:28:13.000 --> 0:28:14.960 past its prime years. No. 0:28:15.280 --> 0:28:16.960 I think that they can have one of the better 0:28:17.000 --> 0:28:19.520 defenses in the NFL because they can do a lot 0:28:19.560 --> 0:28:21.639 of what you need to be able to do pressure 0:28:21.640 --> 0:28:24.320 the quarterback, and they have playmakers on the back end. 0:28:24.480 --> 0:28:26.400 You mentioned it with Mika Fitzpatrick. 0:28:26.440 --> 0:28:29.879 He's a heck of a safety and he can do 0:28:29.920 --> 0:28:31.760 a lot, and he's versatile, and he'll move around and 0:28:32.000 --> 0:28:35.680 he'll make big plays and force fumbles and catch interceptions 0:28:35.720 --> 0:28:37.800 and so you got to be aware of him. But 0:28:38.040 --> 0:28:40.840 I agree with you with Patrick Peterson. It's the type 0:28:40.840 --> 0:28:43.760 of landing spot where he's just going to go under 0:28:43.760 --> 0:28:46.840 the radar and be like, not the star that he 0:28:46.920 --> 0:28:49.720 used to be, but be that solid presence in the 0:28:49.760 --> 0:28:52.520 cornerback room that they needed because that's an area that 0:28:52.640 --> 0:28:55.040 has been hit or miss at times. But what better 0:28:55.080 --> 0:28:58.440 guy to help mentor Joey Porter Junior than a guy 0:28:58.480 --> 0:29:01.200 like Patrick Peterson That worked out really, really well for 0:29:01.320 --> 0:29:04.320 the Steelers, so I like this defense a lot. You're right, 0:29:04.400 --> 0:29:07.920 Larry Ogan, Jobi is an under the radar type move. 0:29:07.960 --> 0:29:10.040 He made an impact in Cincinnati a few years ago 0:29:10.160 --> 0:29:13.280 during that Super Bowl run, and last year obviously played 0:29:13.280 --> 0:29:15.800 for the Steelers and they resigned him again. So I'm 0:29:15.840 --> 0:29:17.840 excited that he got a multi year deal. I know 0:29:17.880 --> 0:29:20.000 he was looking for it. He certainly deserves it, and 0:29:20.000 --> 0:29:21.720 I think he's a big part of their defense as well. 0:29:22.080 --> 0:29:23.680 Yeah, I feel like the league might have messed up 0:29:23.720 --> 0:29:25.760 letting Joey Porter fall to the second round and just 0:29:25.760 --> 0:29:27.600 put that chip on his shoulder with Pops in his 0:29:27.680 --> 0:29:29.840 ear to help that chip grow a little bit. That's 0:29:29.840 --> 0:29:31.920 gonna be a fun combination to watch there in Pittsburgh 0:29:31.960 --> 0:29:34.040 for a long time. He's he's such an impressive player. 0:29:34.240 --> 0:29:36.200 I can't wait to see what he does his rookie 0:29:36.240 --> 0:29:38.120 year and beyond. Let's go ahead and finish up the 0:29:38.160 --> 0:29:39.920 AFC North. Herore with the last team we have not 0:29:40.000 --> 0:29:42.560 yet discussed, in the Cleveland Browns, and you let off 0:29:42.560 --> 0:29:45.719 the open of the show talking about storylines, talking about 0:29:46.000 --> 0:29:48.080 who I think is one of the biggest storylines in 0:29:48.120 --> 0:29:50.320 the entire National Football League, because I like you think 0:29:50.360 --> 0:29:53.520 this Cleveland Browns roster, they are ready to win and 0:29:53.600 --> 0:29:56.320 win right now. And that's probably the entire idea of 0:29:56.360 --> 0:29:58.160 the investment into a quarterback that they knew was going 0:29:58.200 --> 0:29:59.840 to have to sit out most of the twenty twenty 0:29:59.840 --> 0:30:01.880 two season, and it didn't. 0:30:02.080 --> 0:30:03.200 He got back on the field. 0:30:03.400 --> 0:30:04.719 And I'd love to hear your take on this as 0:30:04.720 --> 0:30:07.160 someone who watches this division so closely, watches these teams 0:30:07.200 --> 0:30:10.480 so closely. It was bad James like, and my question 0:30:10.640 --> 0:30:13.160 is was that because of a layoff? Was it because 0:30:13.200 --> 0:30:15.280 of you know, it's been just a distraction of a 0:30:15.280 --> 0:30:17.920 couple of years for him. I'm curious why you think 0:30:18.000 --> 0:30:21.480 the performance of Deshaun Watson fell off so much late 0:30:21.520 --> 0:30:23.960 down the stretch last year and can it get fixed 0:30:23.960 --> 0:30:25.880 and revert back to what he was in Houston. 0:30:27.360 --> 0:30:30.160 I think it was all of the above, and so 0:30:30.240 --> 0:30:33.560 everything that that you that you stated was a factor. 0:30:33.600 --> 0:30:35.360 But I'll get to the thing that I think. 0:30:35.280 --> 0:30:39.120 Is the the most that it had the most impact. 0:30:39.200 --> 0:30:39.840 It's pressure. 0:30:40.240 --> 0:30:44.920 Yeah, and when you go through everything, and a lot 0:30:44.960 --> 0:30:47.560 of it's obviously self inflicted. But the stuff that the 0:30:47.640 --> 0:30:50.360 Shawn is has gone through, and again I'm not paining 0:30:50.440 --> 0:30:51.040 him to be a Martin. 0:30:51.080 --> 0:30:52.160 A lot of its self inflicted. 0:30:52.200 --> 0:30:56.520 But when when you do that and then you sign 0:30:57.120 --> 0:30:59.520 the NBA Max deal and you have your agent out 0:30:59.520 --> 0:31:02.080 there saying and that's a max contract in all of 0:31:02.120 --> 0:31:04.200 those things, all right, Well, then there's there's pressure that 0:31:04.240 --> 0:31:07.400 comes with that. And I know a firsthand that there's 0:31:07.440 --> 0:31:10.640 a certain pressure that comes with being a member of 0:31:10.640 --> 0:31:15.239 the Cleveland Browns. And he better performed this year. He'd 0:31:15.280 --> 0:31:17.920 better be comfortable with that pressure, that weight that you 0:31:17.920 --> 0:31:20.000 have on your shoulders, because if you perform, you're gonna 0:31:19.960 --> 0:31:23.080 be a hero. But he did not perform last year, 0:31:23.120 --> 0:31:24.880 and I think it was that as much as anything. 0:31:25.400 --> 0:31:28.720 But he's going to be feeling that, and so I 0:31:28.760 --> 0:31:31.320 think it's important for this Browns team to get off 0:31:31.360 --> 0:31:33.400 to a quick start. They play the Bengals week one, 0:31:33.480 --> 0:31:36.240 September tenth. They need to get off to a quick 0:31:36.280 --> 0:31:39.640 start if they're going to be a playoff team, just 0:31:39.720 --> 0:31:44.520 because culture, identity, all of those things, none of that's established. 0:31:45.160 --> 0:31:48.200 And it's really hard, even a guy is as talented 0:31:48.200 --> 0:31:51.400 as Deshaun Watson to overcome that kind of pressure because 0:31:51.400 --> 0:31:55.640 it's not like big game pressure, it's like life pressure. 0:31:55.920 --> 0:31:58.080 Like I don't even know how to describe it. I 0:31:58.280 --> 0:32:01.800 haven't experienced it, but I can only am what goes 0:32:01.840 --> 0:32:05.000 through your head after all of the stuff from signing 0:32:05.040 --> 0:32:08.360 that deal and getting suspended and coming back and everything 0:32:08.400 --> 0:32:11.520 off the field. So we'll see, but I think that 0:32:11.520 --> 0:32:13.280 that's the part of it. He needs to make sure 0:32:13.320 --> 0:32:16.040 he's able to handle that pressure and go out there 0:32:16.400 --> 0:32:18.560 and be the guy that he was in Houston. Because 0:32:18.560 --> 0:32:22.200 if he is, you're right this roster it's really talented 0:32:22.240 --> 0:32:24.280 and they'll be right there in this in this division. 0:32:24.840 --> 0:32:28.120 IM just looking at the offensive lineup behind what could 0:32:28.240 --> 0:32:30.720 arguably be the best offensive line of football too. 0:32:30.760 --> 0:32:33.000 Like I don't know if there's many you would take 0:32:33.040 --> 0:32:33.400 over this. 0:32:33.480 --> 0:32:35.280 I mean like Nick Chubb is to me one of 0:32:35.320 --> 0:32:37.240 the top two or three backs in the NFL. I 0:32:37.280 --> 0:32:39.360 think David Njoku's one of the top tight ends in 0:32:39.360 --> 0:32:41.440 the NFL. And then at receiver, it's not like you 0:32:41.640 --> 0:32:43.760 don't have your Tyreek and Jalen Waddell, but you've got 0:32:43.920 --> 0:32:46.360 or your Jamar Chase and your T Higgins, but you've 0:32:46.400 --> 0:32:48.120 got I mean Elijah Moore, I think is a really 0:32:48.160 --> 0:32:49.880 good player. I think he has a really good chance 0:32:49.880 --> 0:32:52.080 to bounce back and get back to his rookie season production. 0:32:52.400 --> 0:32:54.560 I like Donovan People's jones. I think Amari. 0:32:54.280 --> 0:32:57.840 Cooper's super, super good player. Just they're loaded there, man, 0:32:57.920 --> 0:32:59.640 behind an offensive line, like I said, that can really 0:32:59.640 --> 0:33:02.080 create space in the running game there. So that side 0:33:02.120 --> 0:33:04.320 of the ball, it just for most teams goes back 0:33:04.320 --> 0:33:06.560 to the quarterback. For this team, man, that could be 0:33:06.560 --> 0:33:08.920 a big swing for them offensively. Let's talk about the 0:33:08.920 --> 0:33:10.880 defense though here, because you know they have one of 0:33:10.960 --> 0:33:13.880 the greats in Miles Garrett on that defensive line rushing 0:33:13.920 --> 0:33:14.480 the quarterback. 0:33:14.760 --> 0:33:15.720 They did a good job this year. 0:33:15.720 --> 0:33:17.880 I think of going out and supporting him were last year, James, 0:33:17.920 --> 0:33:19.400 it seemed like the defensive line was kind of an 0:33:19.440 --> 0:33:21.560 issue for them. How did you feel they addressed that 0:33:21.560 --> 0:33:23.719 that weakness from a year ago and improve the defensive 0:33:23.760 --> 0:33:24.880 line around Miles Garrett. 0:33:25.280 --> 0:33:27.840 They did a great job. They did, and they needed to. 0:33:28.120 --> 0:33:31.360 And you know, you have Miles Garrett and you got 0:33:31.440 --> 0:33:34.240 and you get Dalvin Tomlinson. You go out and you 0:33:34.280 --> 0:33:38.160 get Zadaria Smith and you just feel much better about 0:33:38.200 --> 0:33:40.080 the depth there. Now you're not banking on Perry and 0:33:40.120 --> 0:33:44.160 Winfree in year two to be a huge, huge contributor. Yes, 0:33:44.200 --> 0:33:46.560 he can contribute, but you don't have to have him 0:33:47.040 --> 0:33:49.560 make a jump. You already have a guy like Denzel Ward. 0:33:49.600 --> 0:33:51.720 You go out and get a guy super Bowl champ 0:33:51.760 --> 0:33:53.920 and Juan Thornhill, who I liked a lot and I 0:33:53.960 --> 0:33:56.360 thought the Bengals might be in on. Obviously, you have 0:33:56.400 --> 0:33:59.960 Greg Newsome as well, like I like what they've done defense, 0:34:00.840 --> 0:34:03.040 And the other part of this that I think is 0:34:03.080 --> 0:34:06.280 big is you bring in a guy that might be 0:34:06.320 --> 0:34:10.520 able to help the culture and help winning in Jim Schwartz, 0:34:10.640 --> 0:34:14.759 who has Super Bowls, who's coached high end defenses, and 0:34:14.840 --> 0:34:18.520 so this staff is on the you talk about pressure, 0:34:18.800 --> 0:34:21.440 this staff, there's a lot of pressure in Jim Schwartz 0:34:21.600 --> 0:34:24.240 has been able to respond to that throughout his career 0:34:24.440 --> 0:34:26.640 as a defensive coordinator. So we'll see if he can 0:34:26.640 --> 0:34:29.360 do it again. But there's certainly talent and anytime you're starting, 0:34:29.680 --> 0:34:32.759 much like with the Steelers, where you have guys that 0:34:32.800 --> 0:34:34.520 can get after the quarterback and guys on the back 0:34:34.640 --> 0:34:38.440 end that can cover Miles Garrett, Denzel Ward and Greg Newsom, 0:34:38.800 --> 0:34:41.360 that's a heck of a trio to start with. And 0:34:41.400 --> 0:34:44.960 then they've added those pieces, like I said, that should 0:34:45.040 --> 0:34:46.080 make a difference in Cleveland. 0:34:46.400 --> 0:34:48.520 It feels like the entire AFC, not the entire FC, 0:34:48.680 --> 0:34:50.400 but a lot of these teams in this conference just 0:34:50.440 --> 0:34:52.640 have where you can go down the entire roster like 0:34:52.640 --> 0:34:54.480 they're two or three deep in all these spots. Man, 0:34:54.480 --> 0:34:56.440 I'm looking at this defense and the offense toe like 0:34:56.440 --> 0:35:00.680 I mentioned, and you mentioned jan Thornhill and Darius Smith 0:35:00.680 --> 0:35:03.480 and Dallon Thomlinson I thought, and Postik was a great 0:35:03.480 --> 0:35:07.000 acquisition Obo Okawomkwell formerly of the Houston Texans as well. 0:35:07.080 --> 0:35:09.920 So man, they went out more aggressive and itt tracks 0:35:09.960 --> 0:35:11.719 because they use those draft picks and the salary, go 0:35:11.719 --> 0:35:13.000 get the quarterback and now you kind of have to 0:35:13.000 --> 0:35:15.000 fill in the roster around him, and they certainly have 0:35:15.120 --> 0:35:16.840 done that. So man, what a fun division this is 0:35:16.880 --> 0:35:18.480 going to be, and a good spot for us to 0:35:18.520 --> 0:35:21.000 kind of do our last segment here the division superlatives 0:35:21.400 --> 0:35:24.479 talking about the best in your estimation, James Rapine's top 0:35:24.560 --> 0:35:28.000 quarterback here in a really good AFC North. I have 0:35:28.040 --> 0:35:30.200 to imagine taking the hometown kid, But all ask you anyway, 0:35:30.200 --> 0:35:32.480 who's the best quarterback here in the AFC North. 0:35:33.480 --> 0:35:34.240 It's Joe Burrow. 0:35:34.400 --> 0:35:36.880 And I don't think that that's, you know, the orange 0:35:36.920 --> 0:35:39.640 and black glasses that I'm wearing. I think it's the 0:35:39.680 --> 0:35:41.440 fact that he's been able to lead this team to 0:35:41.480 --> 0:35:44.480 back to back AFC North titles, back to back AFC 0:35:44.560 --> 0:35:49.239 Championship games, a super Bowl appearance, and he's been the 0:35:49.239 --> 0:35:51.680 best quarterback in this division in back to back years. 0:35:51.800 --> 0:35:55.200 I'm not really sure anyone can debate that. So, yeah, 0:35:55.360 --> 0:35:57.120 I think he's the best quarterback right now. Could that 0:35:57.239 --> 0:35:59.920 change absolutely, but as of now I have. 0:36:00.200 --> 0:36:00.600 At the top. 0:36:01.520 --> 0:36:04.319 It's crazy because to me, this division more than when 0:36:04.320 --> 0:36:06.279 I've done so far on these previews, like you have 0:36:06.400 --> 0:36:08.640 pretty clear answers for most of these spots, but like 0:36:08.680 --> 0:36:10.840 you also have a debate for who that second and 0:36:10.880 --> 0:36:13.120 third guy could be, Whereas that's not always the case, 0:36:13.160 --> 0:36:15.680 like in the AFC West it's obviously Patrick Mahomes, right, 0:36:15.960 --> 0:36:18.200 or the NFC East it's obviously Jalen Hurts. But like 0:36:18.239 --> 0:36:20.799 it's an interesting conversation though because Lamar Jackson, as that too, 0:36:20.840 --> 0:36:22.840 is really pushing up there. How about the and this 0:36:23.080 --> 0:36:25.000 again probably a Bengal here, but the best player on 0:36:25.080 --> 0:36:27.200 offense who is not a quarterback in the AFC North 0:36:27.200 --> 0:36:27.920 for you is. 0:36:29.080 --> 0:36:33.000 It's Jamar Chase, and I do think it's I don't 0:36:33.000 --> 0:36:34.920 want to say it's close, but you mentioned Nick Chubb. 0:36:34.920 --> 0:36:37.239 He's the best runner in the NFL to me, like 0:36:37.320 --> 0:36:39.719 it is. You know, Christian McCaffrey is a better pass 0:36:39.760 --> 0:36:42.480 catcher and depending on the offense, so Nick Chubb is 0:36:42.520 --> 0:36:47.320 probably higher and deserves a shout out than most would realize. 0:36:47.360 --> 0:36:50.880 But yeah, it has to be Jamar. I mean, this kid, 0:36:51.160 --> 0:36:54.560 it's unbelieving. He's just twenty three years old and he's 0:36:54.880 --> 0:36:59.360 stronger now and I see him almost every day. I'm shocked. 0:36:59.400 --> 0:37:02.040 I was in on him a pre draft and I'm 0:37:02.040 --> 0:37:04.439 not afraid to mention that, but the fact that he's 0:37:04.480 --> 0:37:07.960 become this already, it's just wild. What he's done, and 0:37:08.000 --> 0:37:10.359 what Justin Jefferson's done for that matter. Those two young 0:37:10.360 --> 0:37:13.640 receivers are amazing. Whatever they have and whatever they're doing 0:37:13.680 --> 0:37:15.160 at LSU, they need to keep doing it. 0:37:15.440 --> 0:37:17.000 Yeah, no kidding in Alabama as well. 0:37:17.040 --> 0:37:18.920 I mean that entire draft class that year with Waddle 0:37:18.960 --> 0:37:22.600 and davonte'st both in phenomenal players too. Gosh, we are 0:37:22.680 --> 0:37:25.160 lucky in this time of this age of football fans 0:37:25.160 --> 0:37:26.360 to see those guys come in the league and do 0:37:26.400 --> 0:37:28.600 what they've done, and Jamar Chase from the word go 0:37:28.840 --> 0:37:31.759 was fantastic, So easy pick there. I think I just 0:37:31.760 --> 0:37:33.480 want to shout out a couple offensive LINEX. We don't 0:37:33.480 --> 0:37:35.800 give enough love to them ever, but Wyatt Teller and 0:37:35.880 --> 0:37:38.480 Joel Buttonio, the guards for the Cleveland brown just want 0:37:38.480 --> 0:37:40.200 to put their names in the podcast that got mentioned 0:37:40.239 --> 0:37:42.960 because they deserve it. They're two great players in important 0:37:43.000 --> 0:37:45.280 spots there for the Cleveland Browns. How about your best 0:37:45.280 --> 0:37:47.080 defensive player here in the AFC North. 0:37:47.800 --> 0:37:50.720 This one's tougher because you have guys like TJ. Watt, 0:37:50.719 --> 0:37:55.240 Minka Fitzpatrick, Denze Award. But I'm gonna go with Miles Garrett. 0:37:55.360 --> 0:37:59.800 I just I think he's such a dominating force and 0:38:00.480 --> 0:38:03.320 hasn't necessarily had the structure that comes with being a 0:38:03.360 --> 0:38:06.160 Pittsburgh Steeler and he's still been dominant. So if I 0:38:06.160 --> 0:38:07.880 had to pick one guy, it would be Miles. 0:38:08.200 --> 0:38:09.279 I think it's a safe pick there. I mean, the 0:38:09.320 --> 0:38:10.879 former number one pick in the draft who just has 0:38:10.880 --> 0:38:12.879 lived up to it. But in every stretch of the world. 0:38:12.920 --> 0:38:15.440 I mean, gosh, physically, the guys you talk about Jamar 0:38:15.480 --> 0:38:17.280 Chase in the way he looks like Miles Garrit. 0:38:17.640 --> 0:38:19.640 My goodness, man, he's built in a lab. 0:38:19.760 --> 0:38:20.279 Super good. 0:38:20.680 --> 0:38:22.120 He really is. It's crazy. 0:38:22.160 --> 0:38:24.319 These passports are just keep I mean, Jelen Phillips. They 0:38:24.320 --> 0:38:26.080 put a picture of land Phillips coming off of the 0:38:26.120 --> 0:38:27.560 practice field without a sure on the other day and 0:38:27.760 --> 0:38:29.720 it just blew up our entire Twitter. Like these guys, 0:38:29.840 --> 0:38:32.280 I don't understand how the human body hits those limits. 0:38:32.280 --> 0:38:34.800 But that's for those guys to work on, I suppose. 0:38:34.840 --> 0:38:37.480 But best coach here in the AF you North. This 0:38:37.520 --> 0:38:40.239 one to me maybe a little bit more controversial in 0:38:40.320 --> 0:38:41.680 terms of the pick might be, but you said you 0:38:41.719 --> 0:38:43.560 had a locked in pick here. 0:38:44.160 --> 0:38:47.000 Yeah, there's three guys that you could make the argument. 0:38:47.040 --> 0:38:49.920 You could certainly make the argument for Zach Taylor recently, 0:38:50.560 --> 0:38:54.040 I would still not pick him. And it's nothing really 0:38:54.080 --> 0:38:56.680 against Zach. It's just the fact that John Harball has 0:38:56.719 --> 0:38:59.920 done it for so long. But Mike Tomlin has done 0:38:59.920 --> 0:39:01.880 it so long and I think done it better and 0:39:01.960 --> 0:39:04.640 done more with less than recent years, and so it's 0:39:04.640 --> 0:39:07.239 hard for me to go against him. And I know 0:39:07.800 --> 0:39:10.520 some Steelers fans are like, no way, Mike tom can't 0:39:10.520 --> 0:39:13.160 get it. Whatever, man, he gets the most out of 0:39:13.200 --> 0:39:16.000 his guys so I would still give it to Mike Tomlin. 0:39:16.640 --> 0:39:19.319 I remember when Eagles fans were talking about Andy Reid 0:39:19.320 --> 0:39:21.279 that way. It's like, dude, he's a great coach. You 0:39:21.320 --> 0:39:23.879 don't know what you had. Mike Tollin's the absolute man. 0:39:23.920 --> 0:39:24.359 I love him. 0:39:24.400 --> 0:39:26.359 I love that pick. He's my pick as well. And 0:39:26.800 --> 0:39:28.160 I think I know where we're going here. But I 0:39:28.200 --> 0:39:30.439 have to ask it your division champion this year? Will 0:39:30.440 --> 0:39:32.120 it be the Bengals for the third straight season. 0:39:33.200 --> 0:39:36.040 No team in AFC North history, and we're talking about 0:39:36.120 --> 0:39:38.759 just over two decades, but no team in AFC North 0:39:38.800 --> 0:39:39.440 history has won the. 0:39:39.440 --> 0:39:40.759 Division three straight years. 0:39:41.040 --> 0:39:47.960 It's been such a competitive division that everything historically and 0:39:48.000 --> 0:39:50.600 there's been some really good teams in this division. Says 0:39:50.880 --> 0:39:54.920 to pick the Bengals to win three straight. But if 0:39:54.920 --> 0:39:56.920 you think I'm gonna sit here and bet against Joe 0:39:56.920 --> 0:39:59.960 Burrow Jamar Chasing Company, well I'm not gonna do that, 0:40:00.000 --> 0:40:01.719 and I'll take the Bengals to win the division for 0:40:01.760 --> 0:40:04.239 a third straight year. I think it's going to be tough, though, 0:40:04.239 --> 0:40:06.040 because I really do think this is the best division 0:40:06.040 --> 0:40:10.399 in football. I like all four rosters, and man, it's 0:40:11.040 --> 0:40:14.080 almost a shame because I think in a lot of divisions. 0:40:14.400 --> 0:40:17.279 These teams could push for division titles, and at least 0:40:17.320 --> 0:40:19.120 one of these teams is going to be on the 0:40:19.120 --> 0:40:22.000 outside looking in in January when the playoffs. 0:40:21.680 --> 0:40:22.160 Ro all around. 0:40:22.480 --> 0:40:23.880 I think we both agree it would be nice to 0:40:23.880 --> 0:40:25.400 see some of the balance of power go back to 0:40:25.440 --> 0:40:28.279 the NFC, because this conference is so dang good man, 0:40:28.400 --> 0:40:30.959 Like you can have like you can have like seven 0:40:31.000 --> 0:40:32.799 teams that make the playoffs, and you can say, I 0:40:32.800 --> 0:40:34.520 can see each one of those teams going to the 0:40:34.560 --> 0:40:36.359 super Bowl, and that just never happens, like usually your 0:40:36.400 --> 0:40:38.200 six and seven seed. It's like, Okay, they got in. 0:40:38.200 --> 0:40:39.560 It's a fun story, but they don't have a chance 0:40:39.560 --> 0:40:41.920 to compete against the top teams in the conference. But man, 0:40:41.960 --> 0:40:44.759 it's seven, eight, nine teams deep at this point in 0:40:44.760 --> 0:40:45.320 the AFC. 0:40:45.440 --> 0:40:46.560 So crazy stuff. 0:40:46.560 --> 0:40:47.719 And this d AFC North could be one of the 0:40:47.760 --> 0:40:49.840 pivotal ones in the division or in the conference, I 0:40:49.840 --> 0:40:51.520 should say, in terms of how the playoffs get the 0:40:51.560 --> 0:40:52.160 termine this year. 0:40:52.320 --> 0:40:53.800 James, thank you so much for your time today. 0:40:53.800 --> 0:40:55.520 Man, can you tell us what you're working on what 0:40:55.560 --> 0:40:57.800 the folks can look forward to in terms of Bengals 0:40:57.800 --> 0:40:58.720 coverage this summer. 0:41:00.040 --> 0:41:02.200 I will just so Dolphins fans don't crush me. I 0:41:02.239 --> 0:41:05.080 have the AFC East second. I think they're right there too, 0:41:05.120 --> 0:41:08.239 which shows the strength of the conference. To your point, 0:41:08.280 --> 0:41:12.320 I mean, it's absolutely loaded this summer covering all things Bengals. 0:41:12.360 --> 0:41:14.960 There really is no offseason, Travis, as you know, and 0:41:15.120 --> 0:41:19.240 so Allbengals dot Com. We're still doing the Lockdown Bengals podcast. 0:41:19.320 --> 0:41:23.320 Plenty of good interviews coming up. We have multiple coaches 0:41:23.320 --> 0:41:26.200 coming on this summer to discuss the offseason and preview 0:41:26.239 --> 0:41:28.160 the year. So a lot of stuff and if you're 0:41:28.160 --> 0:41:31.000 looking for more, I'm also on YouTube Cincinnati Bengals Talk. 0:41:31.080 --> 0:41:34.560 So you're right, I'm all things Bengals all the time. 0:41:35.520 --> 0:41:35.680 Oh. 0:41:35.719 --> 0:41:37.759 I love it and also enjoy that prospect you guys 0:41:38.320 --> 0:41:39.799 have out there on the baseball team as well. 0:41:39.920 --> 0:41:41.600 He's been fun to watch last couple of days. 0:41:41.880 --> 0:41:44.920 Ellie da La cruz Man. He says he's the fastest 0:41:44.920 --> 0:41:46.920 man on the planet. I'm not going to debate him. 0:41:46.920 --> 0:41:47.680 He can fly. 0:41:48.280 --> 0:41:49.879 Tyreek my eyes, I'm gonna say about that. He likes 0:41:49.920 --> 0:41:52.239 to get in those debates as well. That's he kind 0:41:52.280 --> 0:41:54.600 of reminds me of Julio Rodriguez man, Like it's fun 0:41:54.600 --> 0:41:56.400 when you get those young prospects in baseball, they can 0:41:56.480 --> 0:41:58.680 kind of lift an entire organization. So enjoy it while 0:41:58.719 --> 0:42:00.920 you have it. And James again, thank you for your 0:42:00.920 --> 0:42:01.319 time today. 0:42:01.360 --> 0:42:01.520 Man. 0:42:01.560 --> 0:42:02.520 We really appreciate it. 0:42:02.960 --> 0:42:04.200 Of course, thanks for having me. 0:42:04.680 --> 0:42:07.239 And there he goes James Rapine from All Bengals and 0:42:07.280 --> 0:42:10.000 Lockdown Bengals. Very helpful to get him on here with 0:42:10.040 --> 0:42:12.880 all of his expansive knowledge and coverage of that division 0:42:13.160 --> 0:42:15.080 over the last handful of years. All right, we're gonna 0:42:15.080 --> 0:42:17.480 go ahead and get out of here. Enjoy your holiday everybody. 0:42:17.600 --> 0:42:20.040 July fourth tomorrow. We'll come back with you guys on 0:42:20.120 --> 0:42:22.960 Thursday to breakdown the NFC North and here from Dolphins 0:42:23.000 --> 0:42:26.399 offensive lineman Rob Hunt. That's on July the sixth. Until then, 0:42:26.560 --> 0:42:28.720 that's gonna be my time you all. Please be sure 0:42:28.920 --> 0:42:32.000 to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. 0:42:31.520 --> 0:42:33.160 Leave us a rating, leave us a review. 0:42:33.320 --> 0:42:35.640 You can follow me on Twitter at LinkedIn, NFL and 0:42:35.680 --> 0:42:38.319 the team at Miami Dolphins. Check out the Fish Tank 0:42:38.360 --> 0:42:41.360 Podcast with Seth and Juice. Check out our YouTube channel 0:42:41.400 --> 0:42:44.640 for Dolphins Today, Media Availabilities, dragt time, Fish Tank content, 0:42:44.680 --> 0:42:47.120 and so much more, and last but not least, Miami 0:42:47.160 --> 0:42:47.920 Dolphins dot com. 0:42:48.000 --> 0:42:51.839 Until next time Finns up. Caroline Cameron, Daddy, He's coming home.