1 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: Hi, get everybody on Dan Horde and this is the 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 1: Bengals Booth podcast Waiting on the world to change. Addition, 3 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: as the Bengals try to get over the hump after 4 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: another nail biting loss and pick up their first win 5 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,600 Speaker 1: of the season on Monday Night in Pittsburgh. Coming up, 6 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:24,920 Speaker 1: I'll spend about twenty minutes with my broadcast partner Dave Lapham, 7 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: as we discussed the emergence of Autumn Tate at wide receiver, 8 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: how Billy Price did and his first started left guard, 9 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: why the Steelers are off to an Owen three start, 10 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: and since we're heading to Pittsburgh, we'll find out what 11 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:43,160 Speaker 1: lap thinks of the steel Cities legendary Fromante Brothers Sandwich. 12 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 1: We'll also hear from Sports Illustrated's Andy Benoit on this 13 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 1: episode of the pod of the many things written about 14 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: Zach Taylor after the Bengals hired him, I thought Andy 15 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: wrote the best story. He spent time at Zach's house 16 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,279 Speaker 1: office and in the meeting rooms at Paul Brown Stadium, 17 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: and you'll hear what Andy thinks of Zach Taylor and 18 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: his chances of being a successful NFL head coach. And 19 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: in this week's no the faux segment. We'll get the 20 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 1: lowdown on the Steelers from pregame radio host and local 21 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 1: columnist Tim Bens. All of that is straight ahead, But first, 22 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 1: here's a quick reminder that you can have the latest 23 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: edition of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, 24 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 1: or computer by subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, 25 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 1: or pod Bean. It's the greatest thing since Marty Brenneman. 26 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,319 Speaker 1: What do you consider to be the greatest streak in 27 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: baseball history? Joe Tomaggio's fifty six game hitting streak, Cal 28 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 1: Ripken streak of playing in two thousand, six hundred and 29 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: thirty two consecutive games, or maybe it's Derek Jeter's streak 30 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: of dating nothing but perfect tens in his twenty seasons 31 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 1: as shortstop for the New York Yankees. All impressive streaks, 32 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: especially Jeters, but none of them is the correct answer. 33 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: The greatest streak in baseball history is forty six years 34 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: and approximately seven thousand games old. It is Marty Brenneman's 35 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: streak of never blowing a big call as the voice 36 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,920 Speaker 1: of the Reds. Take it from somebody who got completely 37 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: fooled by Andy Dalton Zone read fake to Joe Mixon 38 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: last Sunday, that streak is nothing short of miraculous. As 39 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 1: a play by play announcer of live sporting events, you 40 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: work without an e racer or a backspace key. You 41 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: get one chance to get the moment right. For Marty Brenneman, 42 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 1: whether it was the final out of the World Series, 43 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 1: a perfect game by Tom Browning, or the Jay Bruce 44 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: walk off homer that clinched a division title back in 45 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: two ten, there was never a stumble, never an incorrect name, 46 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: never a botch detail. The words and the tone have 47 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,679 Speaker 1: always been perfect. Marty Brenneman is one of the most 48 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 1: important people in Red's history, as he has provided the 49 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: soundtrack to summer throughout the state for more than four decades. 50 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: He was the voice of the Big Red Machine and 51 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: the Wire to Wire World Series champs, and has helped 52 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: entertain us through the inevitable lousy seasons as well. Perhaps 53 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 1: the biggest thing that makes Marty unique is that he 54 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: is the most candid home team announcer in the history 55 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: of broadcasting. If the Reds are screwing up, Marty isn't 56 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: afraid to say so. But that's not the only thing 57 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: that makes him an all time great. He is effortlessly entertaining, funny, opinionated, 58 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: quick to poke, funded himself, and an absolute masterd making 59 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: his broadcasting partners sound good. And I speak from experience, 60 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 1: having had the privilege of calling games with both Marty 61 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 1: and the late Joe Knoxhall. This podcast is being posted 62 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: on the same day that Marty concludes his Hall of 63 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: Fame broadcasting career. So here's to a friend, mentor, and 64 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: broadcasting hero, the truly one of a kind, Marty Brennaman. 65 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: Now let's get to football. Is I bring in my 66 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: broadcast partner Dave Lapham to look back at last week's 67 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: four point lost to Buffalo and look ahead the Monday 68 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: night football between two teams still looking for their first win. 69 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: The O and three start is obviously disappointing, but there 70 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:18,920 Speaker 1: are some guys that have been playing well. Give me 71 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: a guy on each side of the ball that stands 72 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: out to you, I think for the exact same reasons 73 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 1: in terms of no matter of the situation, haven't had 74 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 1: many leads, but when they're in the lead, they play hard, 75 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: and when they're trailing by you know, twenty four thirty 76 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 1: one points, they're still playing hard. Tyler Boyd for the offense, 77 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:45,160 Speaker 1: Andy Dalton can count on him. The guy competes no 78 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 1: matter what the situation. He's gonna he's gonna work hard 79 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 1: to get open. He's tough as there is, tough as nails, 80 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 1: catches everything. Andy Dalton knows that Tyler Boyd's gonna give 81 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 1: him every ounce of effort. And on the defensive side 82 00:04:57,279 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: of it, Sam Harvard the same way, you know when 83 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:02,359 Speaker 1: you watch Hubbard play, can't tell if the teams ahead 84 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: or behind. Playing with his hair on fire, running every 85 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 1: play down, his pursuit angles are really good and his 86 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 1: effort to get there unbelievably good and leads the team 87 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 1: in sacks. Disruptive player, and I think every single game 88 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: after the football game, even though all three of them 89 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 1: been defeats, two of them pretty close defeats, they can 90 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: look in the mirror and say, Yep, gave everything I 91 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 1: had emptied. The tank couldn't have done more physically out there, 92 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,039 Speaker 1: just didn't work out for us. At halftime of last 93 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 1: week's game in Buffalo, I think both of us were 94 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: thinking the same thing, along with probably every Bengals fan watching. Yikes, 95 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: this team's not very good, but they managed to turn 96 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: around in the second half and at least come away 97 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: with something positive from that game. I don't think I've 98 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 1: seen in quite a while, particularly in the Bengals organizations. 99 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: They've probably been cases of it around the National Football League, 100 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: but a team that was so subpar in the first half, 101 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 1: I mean, couldn't get out of their own way. Uh 102 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 1: didn't generate a first down until less than two minutes 103 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: to go in the first half, oh for five on 104 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 1: third down. Andy Dalton's first completion at the end of 105 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 1: the play was a fumble. I mean, that's the exercise 106 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: and futility if you'd ever seen or heard a one 107 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 1: and and to regroup a little bit like they did 108 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: at halftime and realize that, you know, we're our biggest problem. 109 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: Buffalo's defense is good, and they are They're very good. 110 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:28,719 Speaker 1: I mean they're they're well put together, and the players 111 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: understand every nuance of it, and they understand how to 112 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: take things away from the opposition offense. You know, they're 113 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 1: right in line mentally with with what the coaches are 114 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,160 Speaker 1: trying to ask them to do. So that's a good 115 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: defensive unit. But when they came out and in the 116 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,920 Speaker 1: second half and and put three straight scores on the board, 117 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: three straight possessions and run a seventeen point total up 118 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 1: there and take a lead. It was it was not stunning, 119 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: but it was surprising. You know that what we're were 120 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: these guys to go from to go from the outhouse, 121 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 1: not to the penthouse, but closer to the penthouse than 122 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: you were. I mean, you were definitely in the outhouse, 123 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:08,840 Speaker 1: there's no question about that. For them to you know, 124 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: pull themselves up individually and collectively by the bootstraps like 125 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: they did, I thought, I thought was pretty impressive. You know. Unfortunately, 126 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: the defense, I honestly think that the number of snaps 127 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 1: they took in the first half had a cumulative effect 128 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: on them. They took forty six snaps in the first half. 129 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: In the fourth quarter, you know, that's that's when you're tired. 130 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: You're not only physically tired, your mind is a little 131 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: bit tired. And you know, they made made a big 132 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: assignment error on a forty nine yard completion to the 133 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: tight end Knox that killed them. Lap. Let's talk about 134 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: wide receiver autumn Tate, who had the best game of 135 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: his young career last week. Six catches for eighty eight 136 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: yards against the Bills in the first two games, Damian 137 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: Willis was getting those snaps. Last week they went to 138 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: Autumn Tate. What I think you get healthy. You know, 139 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: Autumn Tate had been fighting that foot ankle injury that 140 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 1: that he sustained or nagasus was a knee injury that 141 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 1: he sustained during training camp. And you know he's rehabbing, 142 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 1: you know, real aggressively, but he just wasn't able to 143 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: make the dance, you know, in the first first couple 144 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: of weeks. So I think that, you know, he just 145 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: keeps working hard. I mean, I'd like everything about his 146 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: work ethic and he's got he brings a lot to 147 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: the table. I mean six to five between two twenty 148 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: five and two hundred and thirty pounds, long arms, big, 149 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: huge catching radius, broad shoulders, huge frame, easy target to 150 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: see in the middle of field, and he looks like 151 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: a tight end to a quarterback when he's running routes 152 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: in the middle of the football field. And he's not 153 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: he's not going to run by you necessarily, you know, 154 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 1: straight line speed, but he has way above average short 155 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: space quickness for a guy his size, so he gets 156 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:44,959 Speaker 1: in and out of cuts well. He can make people miss, 157 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 1: you know, initially when they're trying to contact him after 158 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: the catch, and because of his length and his size, 159 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: he's a contested catch, you know, maniac. I mean, it's 160 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: not a fifty fifty ball in his mind. It's one 161 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 1: hundred zero ball in his mind. Every time it's up 162 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 1: for grabs, he's going to get the thing. Big vice, 163 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: grip hands. You know two things you want in a receiver. 164 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 1: We've talked about a Lockdan Tyler Boyd gives it and 165 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 1: this kid does too. Is toughness and you know, good hands. 166 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: The thing that impressed me most is he got screwed. 167 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 1: No other way to put it. He got shafted on 168 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: a holding call that nullified at ninety two yard touchdown 169 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 1: return on a kickoff. He could have gone in the tank. 170 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 1: A lot of guys would you know, man let that linger. 171 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: You know, because of that play, you know, the next 172 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: half dozen times you're targeted, it doesn't work out because 173 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 1: your mind's messed up. He didn't do any of that 174 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 1: that impressed me as a young player. Put it aside. 175 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 1: You know, I know I didn't do what he said 176 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: I did. I'm going to put it aside and see 177 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 1: if I can make plays other ways to help the 178 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 1: team win the football game, because that play would have 179 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:47,959 Speaker 1: been a huge spark and it could have taken away unnecessarily, 180 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: and he was the guy that was, you know, pointed 181 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: the finger at and so doing it. Didn't do anything 182 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:55,719 Speaker 1: wrong really, So sometimes that's life in the NFL with 183 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 1: the Zebras. After three weeks, John Ross is third in 184 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: the NFL and heaving yards, but number one in drops 185 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 1: according to Pro Football Focus, five of them so far. 186 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 1: He had a fumble last week against Buffalo. Is this 187 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: just the John Ross experience, as we have kind of 188 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 1: jokingly referred to it, You got to live with a 189 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:14,679 Speaker 1: few drops in order to get the big plays. I mean, 190 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: his good has been exceptionally good, and as bad has 191 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 1: been frustratingly bad as it always is, you know. I 192 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,319 Speaker 1: mean it's like easy throws or boom right there in 193 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 1: the hands and you know, not drop him. And yeah, 194 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 1: I was on the overthrow from Andy Dalton to John Ross. 195 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 1: My first reaction was, why don't you dive, you know, 196 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: full extension, go for the football. Now I watched the 197 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 1: trajectory of the throw from Andy and that you can't dive. 198 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: You gotta put some marunder it and let him run 199 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 1: underneath it. And you know, if he did dive, he 200 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: wouldn't have been able to get his hands up high 201 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: enough to catch in anyway, because it was more of 202 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 1: a direct line show. I mean, Andy was trying to 203 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 1: just put it on him from that distance and the 204 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: margin Farr is minimal at that point, and the overthrow 205 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 1: him by yard if he just puts a little air 206 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 1: in it, because you can't overthrow John Ross. It's like, 207 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: how do you overthrow John Ross? Put a little more error, 208 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: and I think he would have been able to run 209 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: underneath that thing, and that that's a you know, that's 210 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:13,439 Speaker 1: a touchdown right there, that that the Bengals didn't take 211 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 1: full advantage of. So U you know, those kind of 212 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 1: things can can be frustrating. And you know, five five 213 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: drops a drop at least one drop every game. So 214 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 1: it's not you know, something that is coming and going. 215 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's there. And you know, if I 216 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 1: know the fans are crossing their fingers hoping every time 217 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:37,320 Speaker 1: it's thrown to him, he's gonna make a play. If 218 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:40,079 Speaker 1: his quarterback starts thinking that and the coaches start thinking that, 219 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: you know, pretty soon as like man, do I throw 220 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: it to him or not? You can't have those kind 221 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 1: of thoughts. You just have to gun it and cut 222 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:48,839 Speaker 1: it loose. He just needs to uh. And I thought 223 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: that the opposite of Odd and Tate one aud and 224 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 1: Tate faced the adversity of the holding call. He never wavered. 225 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 1: I thought John Ross kind of checked out for a 226 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: little while. I mean, he just wasn't, you know, he 227 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: let it bother him for too long a period of time. 228 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 1: You just have to have, you know, selective amnesia. Put 229 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: it aside, move on. You can't let one mistake turn 230 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: into not even being available for a period of time. 231 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 1: You got to get yourself right back into the game. 232 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: You can't mentally say, oh, man, I can't believe I 233 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: did that, and you know, pout and whine about it. 234 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: You know, internally just can't do it. You just have 235 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 1: to be the mental toughness that you know that Zach's 236 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: talking about. You gotta come right back, you know, like 237 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: he did when when he dropped the ball and then 238 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 1: has a fifty yard touchdown pass the very next play 239 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:38,560 Speaker 1: and it makes a big play to make up for 240 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 1: the drop. I mean, that's what you have to do. 241 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 1: And in this case. I thought he'd let it linger 242 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: too long. I'm going to save this recording the next 243 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:49,839 Speaker 1: time I play golf, because nobody goes into the tank 244 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: after a double bogie like Dan or what I'm telling you. 245 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 1: My recovery skills are not great on the course. Let's 246 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: talk about the offensive line. How did they do as 247 00:12:57,640 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: a whole, and how did Billy Price do, in particular 248 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:02,439 Speaker 1: get his first studied left guard. Yeah, I respect the 249 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: job that Billy Price did. I'll start with that one. 250 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: You know, the thing when something happens to a you know, 251 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 1: a highly decorated player coming out of college, you know, 252 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:17,680 Speaker 1: everybody's all American in first round pick to play a 253 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: center for the Bengals, and you lose that job, and then, 254 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:24,439 Speaker 1: you know, instead of moaning and pouting and grousing about 255 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 1: it and putting your chin on your chest, he basically 256 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:29,440 Speaker 1: handled it pretty darn well. You know, he said all 257 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: the right things. That's one thing, But then do all 258 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 1: the right things. Make sure you're working hard, make sure 259 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: you're trying to overcome the deficiencies that cost you, you know, 260 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 1: that starting position. And I do think that he's still 261 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 1: not right physically. I still think he's got a little 262 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 1: bit of a foot problem. I truly believe that. And 263 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 1: you know it's it's not the Liz Frank, it's the 264 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 1: planet face Siatis stuff. Liz Frank was last year, Planet 265 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: face Siatis this year, and those things can hang on. 266 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 1: I mean, I've had it, you know, not because the 267 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:04,439 Speaker 1: distance running. I know you've had it from distance running, 268 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 1: not me, but I've had but I've had plant of 269 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 1: facey itis and man, it's nasty. Depending on the severity 270 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: of it, it can be very nasty. So you know 271 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:18,839 Speaker 1: the fact that Billy worked hard physically and mentally even 272 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 1: more so to be ready for an opportunity because it's 273 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: some time. At some point, you know it's going to come. 274 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 1: Somebody's gonna get nicked up in the interior of the 275 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: offensive line and he's gonna have to step in and 276 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: them not miss a beat. And unfortunately it was Michael 277 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: Jordan that went down with the knee injury. Not severe. 278 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 1: You know, I think he'll be able to play this week. 279 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: But Billy went in there and acquitted himself. Well. I 280 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: thought he did. Thought he played played a solid football game. 281 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: And I think up and down the line of scrimmage, 282 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: I thought they all did you know, there was one 283 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 1: false start. Andre had a false start. So in two loud, 284 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: boisterous stadium's toughest, you know, amongst the toughest in the NFL. 285 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 1: There a silent staff count system that they installed was impeccable, 286 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: you know. And and in the communication again, Trey Hopkins 287 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 1: communicating calls really well. They picked up things from Andy 288 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: Dalton they needed to pick up. So I thought the 289 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 1: operation was, you know, pretty pretty darn efficient. And I 290 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 1: didn't think that that the offensive line was the big 291 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: reason that they weren't in SYNK, you know. I thought 292 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: it was other reasons that they weren't in SYNK. And 293 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: I thought the offensive line pretty much from the entire 294 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: game played at the same level of consistency. And that's 295 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: that's what you want. Like we're talking with John Ross, 296 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: you know, man to be impeccable one snap and putrid another. 297 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 1: You just can't have that rise and fall. Your graft 298 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: can't be North Pole South Pole. You know, it's going 299 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 1: to be a steady The coaches have to know what 300 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 1: they can expect every single snap from he's a football player. 301 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 1: Speaking of Trey Hopkins, he remains the highest graded player 302 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: on the team. According to Pro Football Focus, he's no 303 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 1: longer number one among centers, but he is still number four, 304 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: which is obviously very good. On defense. Their highest graded 305 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 1: player after three weeks is Andrew Billings, number eleven among 306 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 1: interior defensive lineman. It's telling they don't have anybody in 307 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: the top ten after three weeks. But he had a 308 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: good game against Buffalo. Five tackles, including two for losses. 309 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 1: He did. I thought that he his penetration was you know, 310 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 1: was consistent. You know. Yeah, I thought he was winning 311 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 1: at a very high level. There's no question about it. Um. 312 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: And I think the big thing is now he's healthy. 313 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: When he had that knee injury, such a big body, 314 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: you know, and he's not a real tall guy, so 315 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: he's got he's got a lot of weight packed on 316 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: a you know, not a real long frame, and when 317 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 1: you have a knee injury in that regard, I thought 318 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: it really hurt his lateral movement, you know. I thought 319 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: I thought he could still go ahead and pet you know, 320 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: straight ahead and penetrate kind of thing, but then to 321 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 1: stop and redirect it, that's where he was having difficulty. 322 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 1: Now he's got all that back where he can penetrate, 323 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: he can move laterally, he's staying on his feet better. Um. 324 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: You know, I think that now they're starting to see 325 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 1: the Andrew Billions that when they draft him in the 326 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:05,640 Speaker 1: fourth round, they said, well, you know, we had him. 327 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 1: He's great as a first round talent. You know, coming 328 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:10,159 Speaker 1: out of Baylor, he was a co defensive player of 329 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: the Year in the Big Twelve. I mean, this guy 330 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: was a player. And I think now they're starting to see, 331 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 1: you know, that type of player. You often talk about 332 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,719 Speaker 1: how the offensive line, you want the sum to be, 333 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 1: you know, greater than the individual parts. How about the 334 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:27,360 Speaker 1: secondary Because I look at those guys individual and I'm thinking, 335 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:29,160 Speaker 1: all right, he's a decent player, he's a good player, 336 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: he was an igh draft pick, etc. But that group 337 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:35,119 Speaker 1: as a whole has not played well, at least to 338 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:37,400 Speaker 1: my eyes, in the first three games. Yeah, I don't. 339 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: I don't think it's been up to up to standard 340 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 1: that they the expectations they have of themselves, or their 341 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 1: coaches have of them, or defensive coordinator Luana Rumo has 342 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:50,159 Speaker 1: of them. Um. I think that one of the bigger 343 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:53,400 Speaker 1: areas is inconsistent tackling, you know, I mean the when 344 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: the edge when the edge is being captured, like it's 345 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: being captured a lot of times the run support the 346 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:02,640 Speaker 1: run forces to be coming from that cornerback spot and uh, 347 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 1: and it's not. It's not being you know, it's being 348 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:10,199 Speaker 1: fulfilled from an assignment responsibility. So and when I know 349 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 1: in the first in the first two games, I think 350 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: it was eleven and eight tackles missed, nineteen tackles missed 351 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: eight and the opener eleven in the second game or 352 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 1: something like that, I know, I know against San Francisco 353 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 1: there are eleven tackles missed Seattle, it wasn't that bad, 354 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 1: but there are eleven tackles missed against against the San 355 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 1: Francisco forty nine ers and a lot of them were 356 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:36,400 Speaker 1: on that in that level, you know. So I think, yeah, 357 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 1: it's in a perfect world, you have to have the 358 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 1: two components. You have to have the pressure and in coverage. 359 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 1: If you have both, you know you're in great shape. 360 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 1: And good pressure will you know, lessen the burden on 361 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:51,679 Speaker 1: the back end. Great coverage can sometimes create sacks that 362 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:54,680 Speaker 1: you normally wouldn't expect to be there if a quarterback 363 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: has to pull it down and start running around unless 364 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 1: you're Josh Allen who fakes everybody out and throws them 365 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:04,120 Speaker 1: all down the field. But I think I think there's room. 366 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 1: There's room for growth, for sure, there's room for improvement 367 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: on the back end. I think they can tighten things 368 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 1: up big time. The Bengals head to Pittsburgh on Monday 369 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 1: night and lap somebody sprayed a big old can of 370 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: raid on the Killer Bees. Bell is gone, Brown is gone, 371 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:23,679 Speaker 1: Big Ben is injured. How good is the Steelers offense 372 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:26,919 Speaker 1: without those guys? Time for the Bengals defense to sting 373 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: the Steelers offense. Man, their numbers aren't very good. You know, 374 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 1: who would have thought that they'd be thirtieth in the 375 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: NFL and yards per game twenty sixth in yards per 376 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: pass twenty ninth and rushing yards per game twenty fourth 377 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 1: and rushing average twenty fifth and passing yards twenty seventh 378 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:50,439 Speaker 1: and passing average that is unsteelerlike, tied for twenty seventh 379 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 1: and points scored. That's a different a different football team. 380 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 1: The thing is, though, Dan, as we know, you're as 381 00:19:58,000 --> 00:19:59,679 Speaker 1: good as your guys up front in a lot of 382 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 1: instant and the guys up front are still pretty good 383 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 1: for the Pittsburgh Steels. They have three Pro bowlers. Pouncey 384 00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: has been a Pro Bowler, to Castro and Villaneueva. Sixty 385 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:11,880 Speaker 1: percent of their offensive line has been Pro Bowl participants, 386 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:15,360 Speaker 1: so you know that's something to work with. Um, they're 387 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 1: all back. They signed Ramon Foster even though he's advanced 388 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 1: in years. They didn't want to break up the break 389 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 1: up the band as such, and they're still operating, you know, 390 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 1: I think pretty effective. They've only allowed four quarterback sacks, 391 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 1: which is amongst the fewest in the National Football League. 392 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 1: But their offensive line coaches in Denver and Mike Munchak, 393 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: is as good as there is in the National Football League, 394 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 1: And in my mind that's that's a big difference. But 395 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 1: when when those Killer Bees all lost their stingers or 396 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 1: flew away, there's a ripple effects as a defense hasn't 397 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 1: playing as well either. You know, the offense isn't holding 398 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:53,640 Speaker 1: up there under the bargain, so the defense has more 399 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: pressure on them. They're more snaps out in the field, 400 00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:00,680 Speaker 1: more exposure. So when the Killer Bees either died or 401 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 1: flew away, really really hurt the football team in a 402 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: lot of ways. Lap In their last twenty games against Pittsburgh, 403 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 1: the Bengals have not scored more than twenty one points 404 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 1: one time. They've only won four out of those twenty games. 405 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:19,399 Speaker 1: Why does the Steelers defense always give Cincinnati so much trouble? 406 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: I think that as an organization, they have a belief 407 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 1: in the defensive scheme addict that they're running, and they 408 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,679 Speaker 1: run it very well, and they draft to fit that 409 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 1: defensive scheme. You know, they don't. They don't say, oh, 410 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 1: this is a great player and we might be able 411 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:38,880 Speaker 1: to transition him into what we do. It's like, this 412 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:41,400 Speaker 1: guy is a solid player and does exactly what we 413 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:44,359 Speaker 1: need at this position or that position. Let's draft him 414 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 1: and develop him. Many they've very rarely miss on, you know, 415 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:53,399 Speaker 1: somebody that they've targeted to fill a very very necessary 416 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 1: role in that defensive structure. And you know it started 417 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: with Dick lebou. You know, the great Dick Lebau put 418 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: together a package that was amazing and highlighted and accentuated 419 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,880 Speaker 1: the talents of his great defensive players, particularly the linebackers. 420 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:13,160 Speaker 1: I mean, Pittsburgh's had unbelievable linebackers for so long, amazing linebackers, 421 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: and you know, Bush is the latest one they drafted. 422 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:18,439 Speaker 1: He's not quote in the starting lineup, but he's in 423 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: there on a lot of packages. And uh, you know, 424 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: they've also had safeties like Troy Polamalo that was such 425 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 1: unbelievable playmakers and they just traded for one, making Fitzpatrick 426 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 1: who can fit that bill. So they've always been good. 427 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 1: They have a defensive line in the middle, they have 428 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 1: a linebacker, and they have a safety. We talk about 429 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:38,440 Speaker 1: in baseball you want to be strong catcher, shortstop, center 430 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: field defensively, and they're strong up the middle defensively normally 431 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 1: with what they've done, and that's where it starts. They 432 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:47,560 Speaker 1: take take the middle of the field away from him, 433 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 1: make you go to the outside in the running game 434 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:53,360 Speaker 1: and throwing the football, and that's that's been their their 435 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: formula for success for a bunch of years. Let's talk 436 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:59,679 Speaker 1: about the Bengal Steelers rivalry. He has been spirited in 437 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 1: a bad way in recent years. We've seen a lot 438 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:04,880 Speaker 1: of cheap shots. We've seen guys, you know, taken off 439 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:09,080 Speaker 1: the field unconscious, etc. Vontes Perfect isn't around anymore, Joey 440 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:11,479 Speaker 1: Porter isn't around anymore. Do you think there is a 441 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 1: reasonable chance that these two teams will will get after 442 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:17,360 Speaker 1: it without at crossing a line. Yeah, when you think 443 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: about um, that that game in the playoffs, Um Vontes Perfect, 444 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:25,959 Speaker 1: Adam Jones, Joey Porter. The three prime figures in that 445 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 1: in that drama are no longer with their respective football team. 446 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: So maybe with that turnover, um, you know maybe, but 447 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:38,200 Speaker 1: there's a lot of guys still on both teams that 448 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:42,439 Speaker 1: were part of that of that fracas, in the the 449 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 1: ending of the fracas and everything that goes along with it. 450 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:48,200 Speaker 1: My my thing, one of my big keys this week 451 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:55,920 Speaker 1: is razor sharp mental focus and no no hidden agendas, 452 00:23:56,280 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 1: no personal vendettasn't doing any good. It's past history. You 453 00:24:00,359 --> 00:24:03,880 Speaker 1: gotta go win this football game on a snap by 454 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 1: snap basis period. You know, don't don't be like, yeah, 455 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 1: this is for so and so that you knocked out out, 456 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 1: This is for so and so who you knee, you 457 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 1: wrecked or you know that that kind of stuff never 458 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: ends up working out well for you. You know, playing 459 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 1: football now now it can be part of your your 460 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:24,880 Speaker 1: overall you know, getting yourself adrenaline pump and getting ready 461 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:27,480 Speaker 1: for a game. You know all the pre pre but 462 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:30,119 Speaker 1: once the game starts, man, you still have you have 463 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,840 Speaker 1: to be. You know, I call it the controlled rage, 464 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:35,280 Speaker 1: which is a delicate balance. You want to be able 465 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 1: to pick the stadium up, but you want to be 466 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 1: able to fulfill your assignments and not be out of 467 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 1: your mind because you know, you're you know, adrenaline's pump 468 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:43,680 Speaker 1: is so of coursing through your veins and you're you're 469 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:46,399 Speaker 1: a wild man that didn't do anybody any good. You 470 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 1: know you're gonna have unnecessary penalties, be a pre snap 471 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 1: penalties because you're out of your mind and you're not 472 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 1: focused or um you know, after the play, late hit, 473 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 1: whatever the case may be. Those are the kind of 474 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 1: things you don't want to have. And in my mind, 475 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 1: in the two things that have cost this football team 476 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: dearly offensively staying on schedule, it's been penalties self destruction 477 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 1: penalties defensively misdirection. Those are the if I had to 478 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 1: pick one thing for each side of the football, that's 479 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:22,680 Speaker 1: what I would pick. And both of them require immense 480 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:26,880 Speaker 1: focus to rectify. You know, just you know you're gonna 481 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:29,119 Speaker 1: you're gonna be in allowed place again. You've handled the 482 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 1: noise and everything. It hasn't been false starts and those 483 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:34,679 Speaker 1: kind of things, but holding penalties, you know, sloppy hands, 484 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 1: very opportune times. You know, you have to be real 485 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:42,160 Speaker 1: focused on that stuff and defensively and you Pittsburgh's gonna 486 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 1: run misdirection. Everybody's gonna run misdirection. You're gonna see it 487 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:47,440 Speaker 1: once once the forty nine ers had the success they 488 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:51,680 Speaker 1: had in week two. The other fourteen weeks remaining from there, 489 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:54,120 Speaker 1: everybody's going to do some of it, maybe not as much, 490 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 1: but you're gonna see it until you stop it. You're 491 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 1: gonna see it. So you better start sharpen your folks 492 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 1: and getting your eyes right because everybody thinks that the 493 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 1: Bengals defense man. All you have to do is get 494 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:09,679 Speaker 1: them running one way their eyes are fooled and misdirection 495 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:11,400 Speaker 1: the other way, and they can't get back to where 496 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 1: they need to be. Final thing, as we make our 497 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:17,920 Speaker 1: annual trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where do you stand on 498 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 1: the Promante Brothers sandwich where basically they stick everything in 499 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: between two pieces of Italian bread, The burger, the fries, 500 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 1: the coleslaw, the whole bit stuffed inside those two pieces 501 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 1: of bread. When it's freshly made and warm, I'm okay 502 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:39,360 Speaker 1: with it, but a cold greasy. I feel like I'm 503 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:43,479 Speaker 1: eating Crisco between They can usually give it to us 504 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:45,920 Speaker 1: on the flight home, which is a lovely gesture. They 505 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:50,000 Speaker 1: try to tie the postgame flight home meal to whatever 506 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:52,679 Speaker 1: city you're in, which is a really cool concept. But 507 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 1: it does tend to be a little chilly. Yeah, and 508 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:58,959 Speaker 1: at that point, I mean, forget the fries. I mean, 509 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 1: there's nothing worse than like cold no cold fries that 510 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: look like they have lard on him. You know, it's 511 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 1: like I'm going on that. But it is a nice 512 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:15,000 Speaker 1: gesture though, And I mean that is that is like, 513 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:17,919 Speaker 1: you know, the Montgomery and the greater is the skyline 514 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 1: of Cincinnati that that sandwich is. That's Pittsburgh. Now, that's 515 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 1: that's a slice of Pittsburgh. But when there's cold fries, 516 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 1: they can keep the slice. One of our favorite guests 517 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:33,920 Speaker 1: on Bengals radio shows is Andy Benoit from Sports Illustrated 518 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 1: and The MMQB. He's one of the best in the 519 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 1: business at breaking down the tape and sharing what he 520 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 1: sees in an entertaining and informative way. Andy has written 521 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 1: a couple of great stories about Zach Taylor. Last December, 522 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: he wrote about Zach and his brother Press, who is 523 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 1: an assistant coach with the Eagles, and the title of 524 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:56,520 Speaker 1: that story was the Brothers Taylor are Coaching's next big thing. 525 00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:00,560 Speaker 1: Then this year during OTAs in June, and he spent 526 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:03,800 Speaker 1: twenty four hours behind the scenes with Zach and provided 527 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:08,400 Speaker 1: a very illuminating look at the Bengals new head coach. Recently, 528 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:12,040 Speaker 1: Andy Benoit joined Dave Lapham and me to discuss Zach 529 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:15,680 Speaker 1: and his coaching staff. Well, I think very highly of 530 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:19,360 Speaker 1: him on a personal level, him and his brother. I'm 531 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: big fans of both guys as people and as coaches. 532 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 1: And one thing that really impresses me about Zach is 533 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,000 Speaker 1: and Sean McVay was the first that emphasized this to 534 00:28:29,119 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 1: me first. I mean, you notice that anyone notices it 535 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:34,160 Speaker 1: when he talked to him, but to hear McVay elocuted 536 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: he has great emotional intelligence, and McVay talked about how 537 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 1: good he was in meeting. There's a natural openness to 538 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 1: the way everyone can communicate around him. There's no pretense 539 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:47,480 Speaker 1: at all with either of the Taylor brothers, and you 540 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:50,360 Speaker 1: feel like you can be vulnerable to make mistakes, which 541 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:52,959 Speaker 1: is in my opinion, that's a big deal. When you're 542 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,160 Speaker 1: trying to get creative minds in the room and thinking 543 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:57,640 Speaker 1: about what's best to do for a football team. And 544 00:28:57,680 --> 00:28:59,840 Speaker 1: that stood out when I spent time with him too. 545 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:03,600 Speaker 1: It's a group effort on that coaching staff, and Zach 546 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:06,320 Speaker 1: Taylor will never pretend that he knows something that he 547 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 1: doesn't know. He wants to learn and the moment, and 548 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:11,400 Speaker 1: he doesn't care whose idea it is. He wants the 549 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:15,360 Speaker 1: best idea. Yeah. I mean that. That's one thing Andy 550 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 1: that he mentioned to me early on. I said, you know, 551 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:20,760 Speaker 1: you obviously have not hired a bunch of yes men. 552 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 1: You have hired guys that have opinions. You want that? 553 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 1: I mean, are you basically searching for that? He goes absolutely, 554 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 1: I who want guys to look at me and nod 555 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:32,719 Speaker 1: in agreement with everything that I'm talking about. I remember 556 00:29:32,760 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 1: hearing Cincinnati one of the best offenses ever put together, 557 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 1: Sam White and Bruce Costlin battles fights, I mean, arguments 558 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:42,400 Speaker 1: over what to put in the game plan. They had 559 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 1: different maybe ideas, and out of those, out of those 560 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 1: meetings came an unbelievable game plan. And I think you 561 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:54,080 Speaker 1: do have to have different opinions. There's no question about it. Right, absolutely, 562 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:56,080 Speaker 1: And one of the really cool things that I saw 563 00:29:56,120 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 1: when I was what I was with them those well, 564 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 1: people don't realize offensive staff in the NFL spend a 565 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:05,520 Speaker 1: lot of time trying to figure out ways to beat 566 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:08,200 Speaker 1: their defensive staff. These guys face each other all off 567 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 1: season that these are some of the most competitive men 568 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 1: on the face of the planet. And as Bill Callahan 569 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 1: once said to me, we want to beat the crap 570 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 1: out of our own defensive coaches. Now you want those 571 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:21,959 Speaker 1: guys to succeed, but it's competitive. So Loui, Anna Rumo 572 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:25,120 Speaker 1: and Jack Taylor got in the conversation when I was there. 573 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: Taylor's spend all day trying to figure out, Okay, here's 574 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:30,200 Speaker 1: what Lou's gonna do. We think he's gonna play this 575 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 1: route this way. They get into the practice and Anna 576 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:37,480 Speaker 1: Rumo's defense destroys the route and the plays at stack 577 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:40,600 Speaker 1: or whatever it was, and Taylor goes to Loui Anna 578 00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:42,960 Speaker 1: Rumo afterwards and just said, hey, how did you know 579 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,040 Speaker 1: it was coming? Tell us because we need to know that. 580 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:47,840 Speaker 1: And to watch Anna Rubo break it down, and the 581 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:50,560 Speaker 1: aha look on Taylor's faith and the back and forth 582 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:53,400 Speaker 1: that those two guys had. It's one of the really 583 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:56,360 Speaker 1: fun things about football because when you're learning that way, 584 00:30:56,520 --> 00:30:59,360 Speaker 1: you're not just learning answers for the question you're addressing 585 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 1: at that moment, and you're learning how to think together 586 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:04,360 Speaker 1: and think of other answers for questions that you don't 587 00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:07,800 Speaker 1: even know exists yet. We are talking to Andy Benoy 588 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:10,800 Speaker 1: from Sports Illustrated and the MMQB. He is a great 589 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:14,920 Speaker 1: Twitter follow at Andy Underscore Benoit b E n o I. 590 00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:18,080 Speaker 1: Once again this year, Andy, the big question mark for 591 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:21,920 Speaker 1: the Bengals revolves around the offensive line. How much can 592 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 1: a Sean mcvayh like offense might be a little bit different, 593 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:28,040 Speaker 1: but certainly that's a big part of it. How much 594 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:33,320 Speaker 1: can that type of offense help the offensive line? Well, 595 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 1: that's a little bit of a chicken or an Ago 596 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:38,440 Speaker 1: question because when you had that offense, it's an outside 597 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:43,080 Speaker 1: zone running scheme first and foremost. Just think elephants on parade, 598 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:45,800 Speaker 1: all these big men moving in unison off the snap, 599 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:48,800 Speaker 1: and in order to play that way, you have to 600 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:52,000 Speaker 1: have a certain threshold of athleticism up front. You don't 601 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:55,800 Speaker 1: need world beaters, but you you need guys who are 602 00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:58,600 Speaker 1: a plus athlete that are nimble, that get off the ball, 603 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:01,600 Speaker 1: and if you don't have that, you're gonna struggle. And 604 00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:03,960 Speaker 1: if you're gonna struggle in your outside zone running game, 605 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 1: then your play action game and therefore your passing game 606 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 1: will struggle as well. And that's my big concern for Cincinnati. 607 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:13,320 Speaker 1: They have a good offensive line coach and Jim Turner. 608 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:17,640 Speaker 1: The system is a smart sound system, and it's still 609 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:19,520 Speaker 1: the NFL, and you have to have a thirtain level 610 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:21,920 Speaker 1: of talent ups front, and I don't know if they 611 00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:23,920 Speaker 1: have that taler not. They've had a lot of injuries 612 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:27,920 Speaker 1: so far, but you know, we'll find out through three games. 613 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:31,480 Speaker 1: One offensive lineman gets extremely high grades from the website 614 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:35,880 Speaker 1: Pro Football Focus, as Trey Hopkins has ranked fourth among centers. 615 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:39,600 Speaker 1: John Miller is tied for twentieth among guards who have 616 00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:42,120 Speaker 1: been in there for at least fifty percent of their 617 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:45,720 Speaker 1: team snaps. Now time for this week's Know the Faux segment. 618 00:32:46,080 --> 00:32:48,440 Speaker 1: When the Bengals head to Pittsburgh on Monday night, it'll 619 00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:51,280 Speaker 1: be the first time in fifteen years and ten months 620 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:55,320 Speaker 1: that they will face the Steelers without Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. 621 00:32:55,960 --> 00:32:58,760 Speaker 1: Over the first fifteen years of his career, big Ben 622 00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:03,600 Speaker 1: missed twenty five starts, but none of them were against Cincinnati. 623 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:08,360 Speaker 1: He always played against the Bengals, and he almost always won, 624 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:12,480 Speaker 1: going twenty five and seven against Cincinnati, including a pair 625 00:33:12,560 --> 00:33:16,280 Speaker 1: of playoff wins. Instead of having big Ben back there, 626 00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:19,960 Speaker 1: it'll be second year pro Mason Rudolph at quarterback, and 627 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:23,280 Speaker 1: there's an interesting storyline there. Last year, in the third 628 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:26,440 Speaker 1: round of the draft, Seattle had the seventy sixth pick, 629 00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:30,560 Speaker 1: The Bengals had the seventy seventh, followed by Kansas City 630 00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:35,440 Speaker 1: and then Pittsburgh. The Steelers made a trade, moving up 631 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:39,360 Speaker 1: three spots in order to take Rudolph, supposedly because they 632 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:42,760 Speaker 1: thought the Bengals were going to take the Oklahoma state quarterback. 633 00:33:43,360 --> 00:33:45,720 Speaker 1: I don't know if they're right, but I do know 634 00:33:45,920 --> 00:33:49,000 Speaker 1: the Bengals were perfectly happy to get Sam Hubbard at 635 00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:52,520 Speaker 1: number seventy seven. For a closer look at the Steelers, 636 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:55,320 Speaker 1: Tim Bens joined us on the Bengals Game Plan Show 637 00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:58,520 Speaker 1: this week. He hosts the Steelers pregame show, and I 638 00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:01,960 Speaker 1: started our conversation by asking him to describe the mood 639 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:05,720 Speaker 1: in Pittsburgh these days when the Killer Bees gone and 640 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:08,080 Speaker 1: the team off to an O and three start. I 641 00:34:08,160 --> 00:34:11,520 Speaker 1: think the fan base tried really, really hard to talk 642 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:15,360 Speaker 1: itself into everything would be fine with Levion Bell officially 643 00:34:15,440 --> 00:34:19,200 Speaker 1: gone in Antonio Braun leaving, there was so much anger 644 00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:22,000 Speaker 1: at those two guys as to how they treated the 645 00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:25,320 Speaker 1: organization and Roethlisberger and the coach and the players in 646 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:27,520 Speaker 1: the way out the door that it galvanize the fan 647 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:30,520 Speaker 1: base to the point that maybe we kitted ourselves to 648 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:34,560 Speaker 1: believe that they could be okay with their absence. Unfortunately, 649 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:38,160 Speaker 1: the negatives and manifested. Then it's just been exacerbated by 650 00:34:38,200 --> 00:34:41,200 Speaker 1: think Ben's injury for sure. Let me ask a two 651 00:34:41,239 --> 00:34:45,600 Speaker 1: part question your reference negatives. You know that you ended 652 00:34:45,640 --> 00:34:48,759 Speaker 1: up kind of fooling yourselves a little bit with the 653 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:51,279 Speaker 1: effect that the killer bees going out the door by 654 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:56,080 Speaker 1: injury and other reasons. But what about the killer m 655 00:34:56,120 --> 00:34:59,520 Speaker 1: Mike Munchak, the offensive line coach in his absence, is 656 00:34:59,560 --> 00:35:03,200 Speaker 1: the offense some line playing as well? No, it isn't. 657 00:35:03,239 --> 00:35:07,760 Speaker 1: I think that the factors may be not limited to 658 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:11,000 Speaker 1: the fact that Munshack was a master technician and seeing 659 00:35:11,239 --> 00:35:14,160 Speaker 1: a magic charge even with the ability to continue to 660 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:18,319 Speaker 1: teach your veterans when their technique swift. Beyond that, I 661 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:20,839 Speaker 1: think he was a vocal component of how the run 662 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:24,399 Speaker 1: game should operate, and that is worth pattered at best 663 00:35:24,440 --> 00:35:29,120 Speaker 1: here in Pittsburgh, just simple nuanced things like do you 664 00:35:29,160 --> 00:35:32,760 Speaker 1: really want a perceived power back like James Connor speaking 665 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:35,960 Speaker 1: handoffs and the shotgun starting flat footed instead of running 666 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:38,000 Speaker 1: into the handoff and taking it from a quarterback that's 667 00:35:38,040 --> 00:35:43,239 Speaker 1: under center. You constantly want a run game that's kind 668 00:35:43,280 --> 00:35:46,280 Speaker 1: of built for Levion' bell or a guy like James Conner. 669 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:48,320 Speaker 1: And if same Conner, is it getting it done that 670 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:52,280 Speaker 1: Mike munschac makes suggestment to better utilize deal and Samuels 671 00:35:52,440 --> 00:35:57,200 Speaker 1: or Benny's Snell. I think Munshack's absence has really been 672 00:35:57,200 --> 00:36:00,719 Speaker 1: felt so far for those reasons. Daryl Drey, who was 673 00:36:00,760 --> 00:36:04,160 Speaker 1: a wide receivers coach for the team that was beloved 674 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:07,960 Speaker 1: by his players guide during twenty Times and was replaced 675 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:10,040 Speaker 1: by Ray Sherman, and I think a lot of the 676 00:36:10,120 --> 00:36:12,160 Speaker 1: things that have been said about how much he helped 677 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:16,200 Speaker 1: teach the young Waters Shivers, those intangible to have become 678 00:36:16,239 --> 00:36:19,759 Speaker 1: tangibly obvious because they haven't taken a step without Antonio Brown. 679 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:22,600 Speaker 1: So I think that hurts. There's a mart wrong here, 680 00:36:22,719 --> 00:36:26,840 Speaker 1: no doubt. Steelers free game host Tim Benz is our guests, 681 00:36:26,880 --> 00:36:30,640 Speaker 1: So no Bell, no Brown, no ben That helps explain 682 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:34,240 Speaker 1: some of the problems on offense. Why has the defense 683 00:36:34,280 --> 00:36:36,759 Speaker 1: been so lousy? They'd given up four hundred plus in 684 00:36:36,840 --> 00:36:40,719 Speaker 1: every game this season. Yeah, they did not take this 685 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:43,560 Speaker 1: scrudge that they thought they would in the middle third 686 00:36:43,560 --> 00:36:47,000 Speaker 1: of the defense with better coverage from the safeties and linebackers. 687 00:36:47,040 --> 00:36:50,880 Speaker 1: I think there's one major blaring problem. Darrell Edmunds hasn't 688 00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:54,080 Speaker 1: started to show that year two leap that try Paulamalu 689 00:36:54,160 --> 00:36:56,040 Speaker 1: did when they were both kind of playing the same 690 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:59,160 Speaker 1: position that us try being tryer, but they had high 691 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:04,080 Speaker 1: hopes Stregmond not that degree, but better than what he's been. Also, 692 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:07,480 Speaker 1: I think the linebackers Devin Bush and Mark Barron haven't 693 00:37:07,480 --> 00:37:11,080 Speaker 1: solved that big problem from last year. Vince Williams, who's 694 00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:14,400 Speaker 1: a run stuffer, has been hurt. Neither Bell nor Baron 695 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:16,680 Speaker 1: are great at getting off bocks of supporting the run, 696 00:37:17,320 --> 00:37:20,000 Speaker 1: and they haven't been as a depth in coverage as 697 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:21,640 Speaker 1: the team at Hope when they acquired them to be 698 00:37:21,640 --> 00:37:24,319 Speaker 1: a free agency in the draft. The Steelers have not 699 00:37:24,440 --> 00:37:27,760 Speaker 1: fired a head coach since nineteen sixty eight. How safe 700 00:37:27,840 --> 00:37:30,719 Speaker 1: is Mike Tomlin. Well, that's that's a great way to 701 00:37:30,719 --> 00:37:32,560 Speaker 1: frame it, because you know what else they hasn't done 702 00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:35,239 Speaker 1: in nineteen sixty seven is straight a first round draft 703 00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:38,960 Speaker 1: lace and they did that right. So you know, I'm 704 00:37:38,960 --> 00:37:41,520 Speaker 1: glad if a certain astee's been thinking on some things, 705 00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:43,319 Speaker 1: and I'm wondering if the coach is still in the 706 00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:45,440 Speaker 1: hot seat, and that's why he endorsed the street form 707 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:48,480 Speaker 1: make it attraction to get up a first rounder. I 708 00:37:48,600 --> 00:37:52,200 Speaker 1: think there is a built in excuse with Roofisberger being absent. 709 00:37:52,719 --> 00:37:56,040 Speaker 1: I think that the Rooney's hate the idea of firing 710 00:37:56,080 --> 00:37:59,960 Speaker 1: the coach. I think they like Mike Comlin a lot, 711 00:38:00,400 --> 00:38:07,520 Speaker 1: and I think unless it really goes bad, plays list 712 00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:11,680 Speaker 1: of the judge mcdolphin, something like that, and he concerned 713 00:38:11,719 --> 00:38:13,839 Speaker 1: about time as a coach without row with his further 714 00:38:14,040 --> 00:38:17,879 Speaker 1: manifest before in our eyes, I think he'll be back. Yeah. 715 00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:19,920 Speaker 1: I mean, he's never had a losing season as a 716 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:22,520 Speaker 1: head coach. I think it would be tough to cann them, 717 00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:26,520 Speaker 1: you know, based on but you know, Pittsburgh's expectations are high. 718 00:38:26,560 --> 00:38:28,680 Speaker 1: They're seven and two at one point last year, wasn't 719 00:38:28,719 --> 00:38:32,200 Speaker 1: it and didn't make Yeah yeah, seven two and one. 720 00:38:32,640 --> 00:38:36,839 Speaker 1: So talking about Maker Fitzpatrick, first round pick for him, 721 00:38:37,239 --> 00:38:39,960 Speaker 1: but you know, you want the Troy Paulamalo type, you know, 722 00:38:40,040 --> 00:38:43,319 Speaker 1: playmaker on the back end. His first start against San Francisco, 723 00:38:43,680 --> 00:38:47,360 Speaker 1: he has an interception on a deflection and uh and 724 00:38:47,480 --> 00:38:50,440 Speaker 1: he also or he has an interception he and he 725 00:38:50,480 --> 00:38:54,040 Speaker 1: also forces a fumble. So the last time that happened 726 00:38:54,040 --> 00:38:58,000 Speaker 1: in the same game was two thousand and sixteen, William 727 00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:00,319 Speaker 1: Engage did it against the Colts. So in his first 728 00:39:00,360 --> 00:39:03,560 Speaker 1: game he's involved with two turnovers. Is that what they 729 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:06,120 Speaker 1: expect out of make of Fitzpatrick? And is the fan 730 00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:08,840 Speaker 1: base content with giving up that first round pick for 731 00:39:08,920 --> 00:39:13,040 Speaker 1: Makeum Fitzpatrick. It's a tremendous question, and it's a tremendous debate. 732 00:39:13,160 --> 00:39:15,600 Speaker 1: And the direct answer the question about fitspatric is yes, 733 00:39:15,640 --> 00:39:18,719 Speaker 1: that's what they're anticipating and hoping for. He attacked the 734 00:39:18,719 --> 00:39:20,759 Speaker 1: line of scrimmage with Blitz is a lot more than 735 00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:24,120 Speaker 1: what was anticipated last week. And that was a scheme 736 00:39:24,280 --> 00:39:27,160 Speaker 1: specific thing. He told us to try to disrupt the 737 00:39:27,280 --> 00:39:29,319 Speaker 1: Niners run game, which is what happened. At first, they 738 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:31,920 Speaker 1: adjust him and the Niners started to run better. But 739 00:39:32,120 --> 00:39:34,080 Speaker 1: they do like him a lot, and they do think 740 00:39:34,080 --> 00:39:37,400 Speaker 1: he can provide that. I thought it was a crystallization 741 00:39:37,440 --> 00:39:40,200 Speaker 1: of the entire debate I who loved the player. If 742 00:39:40,200 --> 00:39:42,200 Speaker 1: the Steelers had a chance to take Fitstatrick in the 743 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:44,360 Speaker 1: first round last year, I wish they could have done it. 744 00:39:44,600 --> 00:39:48,280 Speaker 1: I'm glad he's en. I don't, however, like the notion 745 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:50,719 Speaker 1: of giving up a first round pick to get him 746 00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:52,760 Speaker 1: if this is in fact the first year the Steelers 747 00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:55,480 Speaker 1: draft in the top ten or the top on eleven 748 00:39:55,520 --> 00:39:58,280 Speaker 1: when they got Roethlisberger since two thousand and six. Because 749 00:39:58,640 --> 00:40:00,680 Speaker 1: if you're drafting that high, as good as he is 750 00:40:00,680 --> 00:40:03,200 Speaker 1: as a press team, if you're drafting that high, give 751 00:40:03,239 --> 00:40:06,560 Speaker 1: me Roethlisberger's successor as a quarterback. Give me the next 752 00:40:06,560 --> 00:40:09,359 Speaker 1: great pass rusher, you know, because Bud Dupree is gonna 753 00:40:09,400 --> 00:40:12,520 Speaker 1: leave it white outside linebacker. Get these replacements. Get a 754 00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:15,080 Speaker 1: replacement for Joe Hayden mc corner. Get me a more 755 00:40:15,120 --> 00:40:18,520 Speaker 1: impactful position if your team is drafted in that high. 756 00:40:18,840 --> 00:40:22,760 Speaker 1: Bengals were interested in Devin Bush potentially in the draft 757 00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:26,600 Speaker 1: this year, they took Jonah Williams. Unfortunately, he's hurt. He's 758 00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:30,759 Speaker 1: got a labrom surgery done on a labrom ter. Devin 759 00:40:30,840 --> 00:40:34,120 Speaker 1: Bush twenty nine tackles leads all rookies, sixth in the 760 00:40:34,200 --> 00:40:38,040 Speaker 1: National Football League. He's recovered three fumbles in three games, 761 00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:41,200 Speaker 1: Number one in the National Football League. Are they happy 762 00:40:41,239 --> 00:40:43,640 Speaker 1: with Bush? I noticed they don't list him as quote 763 00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:45,440 Speaker 1: a starter, but he's playing a hell of a lot 764 00:40:45,480 --> 00:40:47,319 Speaker 1: of snaps. Are they happy with him or is he 765 00:40:47,360 --> 00:40:49,439 Speaker 1: got a lot of room to grow? Well, they should 766 00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:51,640 Speaker 1: be listening to the starter now unless they're assuming that 767 00:40:51,680 --> 00:40:55,040 Speaker 1: they're doing at the time to begin, because Vince Williams 768 00:40:55,160 --> 00:40:57,720 Speaker 1: is hurt. So maybe it's just because they're not ruling 769 00:40:57,719 --> 00:40:59,919 Speaker 1: out Williams that they don't list him that way. He's 770 00:41:00,120 --> 00:41:02,640 Speaker 1: getting plenty of snaps, especially with Williams. Joss is the 771 00:41:02,680 --> 00:41:05,640 Speaker 1: last well for the most part, two games. Really, the 772 00:41:05,680 --> 00:41:07,759 Speaker 1: way he's been playing a lot of those tackles are 773 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:10,360 Speaker 1: not to draw an analogy to last year's star and 774 00:41:10,440 --> 00:41:12,760 Speaker 1: start a rookie life backer Darius Leonard did not Dennis 775 00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:16,200 Speaker 1: Leonard tackles. The ball has fortunately bounced his way by 776 00:41:16,280 --> 00:41:19,160 Speaker 1: virtue of good plays. Blacker guys to get those fourth tumbles, 777 00:41:19,520 --> 00:41:22,640 Speaker 1: all those tackles are downfield, he's gonna be trouble getting 778 00:41:22,640 --> 00:41:24,879 Speaker 1: off the blocks. He hasn't looked quite at a depth 779 00:41:24,920 --> 00:41:27,719 Speaker 1: in coverage as they've hoped. Um, you know, they didn't 780 00:41:27,760 --> 00:41:30,200 Speaker 1: trust him initially to be the communicator with the green doubt, 781 00:41:30,200 --> 00:41:32,080 Speaker 1: which forced him to put it on an outside learned 782 00:41:32,120 --> 00:41:34,640 Speaker 1: doctor and T. J. Watt, which is the first time 783 00:41:34,719 --> 00:41:37,000 Speaker 1: I've seen that happen in my years covering the team, 784 00:41:37,120 --> 00:41:40,040 Speaker 1: going back to two thousand and one. Now, and he's 785 00:41:40,080 --> 00:41:43,400 Speaker 1: will guys, I mean he's he was lifted small, but 786 00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:45,920 Speaker 1: he looked smaller than that, and he has had some 787 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:48,160 Speaker 1: trouble getting away from the lineman that have gotten out 788 00:41:48,200 --> 00:41:50,520 Speaker 1: to the second level of him. Yeah, he's not when 789 00:41:50,520 --> 00:41:53,480 Speaker 1: you look at him, I mean he looks the height 790 00:41:53,520 --> 00:41:56,160 Speaker 1: of his safety, I mean he's not. I'm you about 791 00:41:56,200 --> 00:41:59,600 Speaker 1: five ten, yeah, five ten. I think they list him 792 00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:02,839 Speaker 1: a little bit, always five ten and a half. If 793 00:42:02,880 --> 00:42:06,239 Speaker 1: you look at the height comparisons between like him and 794 00:42:06,280 --> 00:42:09,480 Speaker 1: She's Deer and James Barrier, they arn't all that different. 795 00:42:09,520 --> 00:42:11,560 Speaker 1: But right I can tell you just being around him 796 00:42:11,560 --> 00:42:13,680 Speaker 1: in the losh room like Farrier and she's here with 797 00:42:13,880 --> 00:42:16,320 Speaker 1: bigger guys. Right, it doesn't feel like an inch and 798 00:42:16,360 --> 00:42:18,440 Speaker 1: a half or two inches should make that much different, 799 00:42:18,920 --> 00:42:21,600 Speaker 1: but it sure doesn't look that way, all right, thanks 800 00:42:21,600 --> 00:42:24,239 Speaker 1: to Tim Bens. And before we wrap this up, if 801 00:42:24,239 --> 00:42:27,560 Speaker 1: you'll listen to this podcast before Friday afternoon at three, 802 00:42:27,680 --> 00:42:29,160 Speaker 1: we invite you to come out and join us for 803 00:42:29,160 --> 00:42:32,120 Speaker 1: the Bengals pep Rally show. We'll be at Buffalo Wings 804 00:42:32,120 --> 00:42:35,399 Speaker 1: and Rings in Crestview Hills, Kentucky from three to six 805 00:42:35,480 --> 00:42:38,799 Speaker 1: on Friday, and Tyler Eifford will join us for the 806 00:42:38,840 --> 00:42:41,840 Speaker 1: final hour of that show. We'll have some giveaways too, 807 00:42:42,080 --> 00:42:44,080 Speaker 1: but you have to be there in order to win. 808 00:42:44,760 --> 00:42:47,040 Speaker 1: That's going to do it for this episode of the podcast. 809 00:42:47,080 --> 00:42:50,320 Speaker 1: If you haven't done so already, don't forget to subscribe, 810 00:42:50,360 --> 00:42:52,279 Speaker 1: and if you have a minute, please give it a 811 00:42:52,360 --> 00:42:55,520 Speaker 1: rating or share a comment. Five star ratings help more 812 00:42:55,560 --> 00:42:59,719 Speaker 1: Bengals fans find this podcast. I'm Dan Horde and thank 813 00:42:59,760 --> 00:43:05,320 Speaker 1: you for listening to the Bengals Booth podcast. H