1 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,439 Speaker 1: Hi, get everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: the Bengals boot Podcast the ABC easy as one two three. Addition, 3 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:16,119 Speaker 1: as I introduce you to one of the guys that 4 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: Zach Taylor hears in his headset during games, Sam Francis. 5 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 1: Sam's title is Football Data Analyst, meaning he's the guy 6 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: who crunches the numbers and advises Zach on when to 7 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:30,159 Speaker 1: go for it on fourth down, when to try for 8 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: a two point conversion, when to start calling timeouts, late 9 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: and a half, etc. I'll talk to Sam about his 10 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: path to Cincinnati and how he does his job during 11 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: a game. Then I'll spend a few minutes with the 12 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:47,879 Speaker 1: goat Anthony Munio's and get his thoughts on the Bengals 13 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: offensive line improvements and find out what advice he has 14 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: for the players the year after going to the Super Bowl. 15 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth podcast is presented by Ultimate Bengals. Download 16 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: Ultimate Bengals ahead of the twenty twenty two season. It's 17 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: free to play next level fantasy football with fantastic Bengals prizes. 18 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: Get it now on the App Store and Google Play. 19 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:13,400 Speaker 1: If here's a quick reminder that you can have the 20 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: latest edition of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, 21 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 1: or computer by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's 22 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: the greatest thing since Jungle to the Hall two. This Saturday, 23 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:31,479 Speaker 1: June twenty fifth, Bengals super fan Jim Foster is organizing 24 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: an event with a worthy purpose to try to get 25 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: more Bengals in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, deserving 26 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: candidates like Ken Anderson, Ken Riley, and Willie Anderson to 27 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:44,400 Speaker 1: name a few. The first Jungle to the Hall event 28 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: took place last year in Canton, and this year it's 29 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: being held at the in Between Bar in downtown Cincinnati. 30 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: I'll be there along with my broadcast partner Dave Lapham, 31 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: and Willie Anderson will be there too. Tickets are limited 32 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: and going quickly, so if you're interested act now. You 33 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: can get all of the details by finding Bengal Jim 34 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: on social media or by searching for Jungle to the 35 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: Hall two. Now, let's get to my first guest. Last year, 36 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: the Bengals ranked in the top five in the NFL 37 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,080 Speaker 1: from most points scored in the final two minutes of 38 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 1: the first half. They were in the top five and 39 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: fourth down conversion percentage, and they won five games on 40 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: walk off field goals, indicating skillful clock management in those situations. 41 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,079 Speaker 1: Sam Francis deserves some of the credit. As the Bengals 42 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 1: football data analyst. He advises Zach Taylor on situations like 43 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 1: those during games. I spoke to him this week about 44 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: his job and how he landed it. Sam, let's start 45 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: with your background. You attended Bates College in Maine, where 46 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,359 Speaker 1: you had a double major in math and economics. It 47 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: feels like you should be managing a hedge fund. How 48 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: did you wind up working in professional sports? So when 49 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 1: I was graduating, I thought I was going to take 50 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 1: a normal job in Boston, like a bunch of people 51 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: sort of had a couple lined up. Spoke to one 52 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,079 Speaker 1: of the fathers on the lacrosse team that I was 53 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,239 Speaker 1: playing for, and I kind of explained to him what 54 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: I was thinking about doing, and he sensed little enthusiasm 55 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: in my voice. So he knew a guy who worked 56 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: for the Bills put me in contact with him, interviewed 57 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 1: for an internship up there, ended up getting it. That 58 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: was a right win. Sean McDermott was coming in and 59 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 1: Rex Ryan was going out, so it was a little 60 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: bit of a similar transition to what was going on 61 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: in Cincinnati at the time. Worked for them for four 62 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 1: or five months, and then got a job with the 63 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: Craft Analytics Group, which is based in Foxboro, sort of 64 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: under the Craft umbrella for the Patriots, but it's on 65 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: the business side of analytics. And then the Bengals job 66 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: came open, and in twenty nineteen, when Zach was starting, 67 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 1: I threw my name in the ring and ended up 68 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: in Cincinnati. Did you read Moneyball or Scorecasting or other 69 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,480 Speaker 1: books about sports analytics and developed an interest in it 70 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 1: a little bit? Yeah, it was. It was It always 71 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: seemed like a pipe three while I was in college, 72 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: Like you think about how a few few of these 73 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: jobs there are. Um, I definitely saw a Moneyball. I 74 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: read it when I was I was younger. Um, but 75 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: that it's just I don't know, it's you always expect 76 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: your want to be able to connect your your passions 77 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: for math and and analytics and stuff like that with 78 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: with your passion for sports, but there's just so many people, 79 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: so few people will get the opportunity to do it. Um. 80 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: It's It's definitely something I wanted to do, but I 81 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: don't know's it's always you're always hoping for it, but 82 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: you never know if it's actually gonna come, and I'm 83 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: happy happy it did. As you mentioned, you came aboard 84 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:38,239 Speaker 1: with the Bengals in Zach Taylor's first year as head coach. 85 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: Did you have specific marching orders or did you kind 86 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: of develop the Bengals analytics side of things on your own. 87 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: There's some ideas that they had in place, things that 88 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 1: were that were asked of people from the prior staff. 89 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: That was sort of why they created the position. It was, Hey, 90 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: we need to find the skill set to to fit 91 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 1: what we're being at to do that we don't really 92 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 1: have that skill set in building. So from the coaching side, 93 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: I kind of worked with them to sort of build 94 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:08,039 Speaker 1: it up and make sure that we had systems in 95 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 1: place that fit what we needed to do. Right. This 96 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: thing is so young around the NFL that you probably 97 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: look at all thirty two people around the league with 98 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 1: my title and they probably do thirty two different things. 99 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: So what we try and focus on is what works 100 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: for us and solves the problems that we have. The 101 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 1: one person who who I always try and give a 102 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: shout out to who who doesn't get outside. As Tyler 103 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: grows who's upstairs. So he was building out the scouting 104 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 1: system and he's our web developer up there, and he's 105 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 1: phenomenal at his job, and he builds that out upstairs 106 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 1: and working with the scouts for I think I'm going 107 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 1: into my fourth season. I believe this will be his 108 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:45,159 Speaker 1: fifth season, if not a little longer. And he does 109 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: a great job up there. So from a scouting side, 110 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 1: work with him a bunch to add what I can 111 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: add to the system that he's already built out for 112 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,720 Speaker 1: them upstairs. Sam Francis is our guest. They did a 113 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: little Internet research, and I'm fairly certain I saw your 114 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: father played lacrosse. He was an All American at Cornell. 115 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: He played in the nineteen eighty seven Final four, which 116 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: I covered because Cornell faced Syracuse and beat Syracuse in 117 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: the semifinals. How did his athletic success in background influence you? 118 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,480 Speaker 1: So he coached me in my whole life from when 119 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 1: I was young. I picked up a lacrosse stick, probably 120 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: when I was three or four, throwing the ball around 121 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: in the backyard with him and my brothers. So he 122 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 1: coached me my entire life, all through all through high school. 123 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,040 Speaker 1: He was my high school acrosse coach. He started the 124 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:36,239 Speaker 1: high school across program in New Report God two thousand 125 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 1: and eight ish somewhere around there, maybe earlier than that, 126 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: and he was a great, great influence. I mean, never 127 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: missed a game while I was in college, was at 128 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 1: every football game at the majority of my lacrosse game. 129 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:52,599 Speaker 1: So it's kind of that a little bit of a 130 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: coaching background that I have. Him and my grandfather was 131 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 1: the athletic director and coached out in Williston. And it's 132 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: probably a sub anxiously what drew me to to a 133 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: position like this Since your dad was an ivy league athlete, 134 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: did you discuss strategy and xs and ohs growing up 135 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: or just play like a normal kid would play a 136 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: little bit of both. I mean, you always want us 137 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 1: to go out there and have fun. That sort of 138 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: his philosophy to lacrosse is it's a free flowing, creative sport. 139 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: That's it's built under some structure, but it is at 140 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: a certain point it's up to the players to go 141 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: out there and execute. You can't can't just have set 142 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: plays every time. It's a little bit like basketball in 143 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:32,119 Speaker 1: that sense. Um, But there's I mean, it was always 144 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: my coach there's always a little bit talk of strategy 145 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: and how we were going to play and things of 146 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: that nature, and who we're playing and how how the 147 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: matchups fit. So you're a linebackerround the football team at 148 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: Bates and obviously played lacrosse as well. Do those experiences 149 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: have a big impact on you now? Definitely? It's I 150 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 1: think what this position fills for me that uh, you 151 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: don't really get in some other jobs. Is that that 152 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: sense of competitiveness, right, It's you You prepare all offseason, 153 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: you prepare all week, and you went out and tested 154 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: on Sunday, and it's measurable you win or you lose. 155 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: I think that's something that I've always enjoyed, is the 156 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: preparation and then you get to go actually see the 157 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: results of that preparation and how it pays off on 158 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: the field on Sunday. So let's get into the nitty 159 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: gritty of your job a little bit. On game day? 160 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: Where are you and what do you have in front 161 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: of you? So I'm in the booth with all the 162 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: other coaches talking to Zach and the other coordinators and 163 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: everyone up there, and I've got all sorts of charts 164 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: and stuff in front of me. What I always try 165 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 1: to mention is that the charts. It's nice to chart 166 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: everything out, but some of these decisions have to be 167 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: made in three, four or five seconds, so you don't 168 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: always have time to reference them. So it's really building 169 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 1: it into your brain and making its second nature during 170 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: the process of making the chart, and then during game 171 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 1: day it's you don't always have time to reference that. 172 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 1: So it's nice to have, but it's a little bit 173 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,079 Speaker 1: of comfort paper. At a certain point, can you have 174 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,439 Speaker 1: a computer or a tablet in front of you or no? Now, 175 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: the only sort of technology you can have is those 176 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: surface tablets that have the play or play pictures on them, 177 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 1: same ones that they have on the sideline we have 178 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: up in the booth. But other than that, no computers, iPads, 179 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: nothing like that. Sam Francis is our guest. Do you 180 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 1: wait until Zach asks for your input or do you 181 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:23,119 Speaker 1: weigh in on a headset when you feel it's appropriate. 182 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:26,719 Speaker 1: Whenever it's appropriate. You're trying to anticipate everything that's coming up. 183 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: Some of these situations sort of jump up on you 184 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 1: and there is really no time to santicipate. You got 185 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:34,839 Speaker 1: to just recognize it off the top of your head 186 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 1: and process what way you're going to suggest and be 187 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 1: able to communicate that very quickly. There are certain ones 188 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: like the fourth down one, which gets a lot of publicity. 189 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 1: That's obviously something you can't anticipate because you know the 190 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:47,959 Speaker 1: downs are coming you you sort of give them the 191 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: heads up and first and second down and just try 192 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 1: and find time where there's dead air on the headset 193 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 1: to sort of slip in your message. And Zach's not 194 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:58,719 Speaker 1: always going to respond, but he hears it, and then 195 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: he'll always always ask questions if he hasn't. How about 196 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 1: during timeouts, timeouts, TV, timeouts, challenges, those are those are 197 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: always a good time to do. You have time to think, 198 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: process and there's always a little bit of open air 199 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: where you have more than five seconds to communicate something. 200 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: This is a young coaching staff. Do you think that's 201 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: a factor in being open minded about your input? I 202 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: think so. I think it helps um, But there's there's 203 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: people around the whole staff who don't necessarily fit that 204 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: that that young description, who are open to it as well. 205 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: I mean Mark Duffner's office, not not to call you 206 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: old Duff, but using his offices right next to mine, 207 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: and I do a bunch of work with him, UM 208 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 1: throughout the season, throughout the office, in really year round. 209 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 1: So it's it is. I think generally it does help, 210 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:48,319 Speaker 1: but I do think that that there are people young 211 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 1: and old who are open minds to this. So we 212 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 1: think of decisions like when to go for it on 213 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 1: fourth down, going for a two point conversion is pretty 214 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 1: obvious things where you might be involved. But what are 215 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,959 Speaker 1: other in game decisions that you might weigh in on 216 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 1: to help with with with challenges, UM, sort of timing 217 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: and aggressiveness at the end of the half, just anything 218 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: that really is about managing the game and less about 219 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:17,079 Speaker 1: specific schemes and play calls and things of that nature. 220 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,200 Speaker 1: UM just sort of while Zach's calling the plays, give 221 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: him an overview of here's sort of the situation in 222 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: the game, Here's here's what it looks like going forward, 223 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 1: here are some things that could come up, and trying 224 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: to anticipate, trying to sort of be able to anticipate 225 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: and give an idea of what's coming, what could be 226 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: coming down the pipe. While he's focused specifically on, hey, 227 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:38,959 Speaker 1: here's the first and second down play calls. Here's we're 228 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:40,959 Speaker 1: third in this third and that here's here's what we're 229 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: going to want to call. Trying to take some of 230 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 1: that off his plays that that he can he can 231 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 1: focus on play calling as much as he can. So 232 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,079 Speaker 1: the Bengals were exceptional last year in the so called 233 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 1: middle eight last four minutes of the first half, first 234 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: four minutes of the second half. Do you consider that 235 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:58,439 Speaker 1: to be a key stat and was that a big 236 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: point of pride last year? We've taken a lot of 237 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 1: pride in that every season we've been here so far. 238 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 1: Last season sort of a lot of it paid off 239 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: and we were super successful doing it. But it's something 240 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 1: that we always focus on. It's the goal at the 241 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 1: end of the half for most teams, or really for 242 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 1: all teams, is you want to score as the clock 243 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 1: ends as little time as possible want it so the 244 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: other team can't drive back down. And the only way 245 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: to gain an extra possession of football is to also 246 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:26,439 Speaker 1: get the ball at the start of the second half, 247 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 1: So you want to score with zeros on the clock, 248 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: get the ball back and score again. There's it's proven 249 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 1: that that that really has an impact on winning. The 250 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 1: less time that they have the ball in their hands, 251 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 1: it sort of ends up being sometimes close to an 252 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: hour in real time without the other offense having the ball, 253 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 1: and you get it twice in that time, and if 254 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: you can put fourteen points on the board, that's a 255 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 1: big toys winning. We're chatting at Sam Francis, the Bengals 256 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: data analyst, what do you do in the off season, 257 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 1: so it'll start right when the season ends, sort of 258 00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 1: help the coaches put the past season to bed, whatever 259 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:01,959 Speaker 1: reports and stuff they need there they need, sort of 260 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: turns to a scouting focus from there, help help do 261 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: can his staff as much as you possibly can with 262 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:10,839 Speaker 1: getting ready for the free agency and the draft. And 263 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,520 Speaker 1: they've by that point. It's sort of the tenth eleventh 264 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: dollar at that point, so so they've got a lot 265 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: of stuff. You're trying to just add as much value 266 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: you can working with Tyler Gross, like I mentioned earlier, 267 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 1: and then as soon as that ends, it's getting getting 268 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:25,959 Speaker 1: everything we're going to need ready for the season. It's 269 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,199 Speaker 1: all the projects and pain points that we felt that 270 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:31,679 Speaker 1: we didn't have time to accomplish during the season, making 271 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:34,680 Speaker 1: sure we've ironed those out and have processes and whatever 272 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 1: it may be ready to solve those problems in season, 273 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: and then working with the new coaches who were on board, 274 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 1: and so, what are you guys going to need, What 275 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:44,440 Speaker 1: did you have in the past, what are you going 276 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 1: to need access to? How can I help you? And 277 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: just get them familiar with what we already have in place, 278 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 1: but also pick their brain on what they've done in 279 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: the past and what we can do to help us here. 280 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 1: Do coaches or front office personnel give you projects? Yeah, 281 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 1: for sure, I think coachings. Obviously, it's two different types 282 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 1: of work. The scouting is more of a long term project, right, 283 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 1: so there are some solutions that work for coaching that 284 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 1: don't work for that just because the form of information 285 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: I give you, If it's sort of a short term fix, 286 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:18,679 Speaker 1: this is going to get lost in the whole year 287 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: long process of scouting. Whereas coaching, it's you're asking me 288 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 1: a question on Monday, You're using that to put it 289 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 1: in the game plan on Tuesday, it's installed on Wednesday, 290 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: and a couple of weeks later you may want to 291 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 1: reference that, but rarely you do. It's sort of a 292 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: new game plan each week. So it's two different types 293 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: of questions and information. Once more long term, one short term, 294 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 1: but definitely definitely get projects from both sides. So when 295 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: I was in college watching sporting events with my broadcasting 296 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: want to be fellow students, kids that were not prospective 297 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: broadcasters used to hate it because we'd be picking apart 298 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 1: the announcers the whole time. We couldn't just watch the 299 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 1: game for the game's sake. Do you watch all sporting 300 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: events with analytics in mind? Yeah, I think it's it's 301 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 1: that's part of my job as I watch all the 302 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 1: situations in the league or situations from around the league 303 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: each week, so I'm already watching those with with that eye. 304 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 1: And then if it's whatever, if it's Monday night football 305 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: or Thursday night football and I'm not in the office, 306 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 1: I do end up watching it that way. And then 307 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: it hasn't fled a little bit into other sports where 308 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: watching the Celtics in this past this past playoff run 309 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: that they had and the little trick they did where 310 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 1: I think there was three minutes twenty seconds or so 311 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: left and they scored and the ball rolls out of 312 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: bounds and they let the clock take before they picked 313 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: it up a toss to the ref. They about twenty 314 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: seconds bleed off before they passed it in because they 315 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: think they're abut ten or so at that point. Yeah, 316 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 1: there are little clock tricks in every sport that that 317 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: maybe I'm not aware of. So there was a playoff 318 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:55,239 Speaker 1: game several years ago where the Patriots used an ineligible 319 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 1: receiver to confuse the Ravens and it led to a 320 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: rule change in the offseason the next year. And then 321 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: more recently, in another playoff game, the Titans took a 322 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: few minutes off the clock late in the game by 323 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: having intentional penalties that was against the Patriots before they punted, 324 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: and that led to a rule change. Without giving away 325 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 1: any secrets, are there still loopholes in the rules that 326 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 1: you dream of exploiting in the right situation. Yeah, there's 327 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: there's a few. Um they've gotten. They've done a very 328 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 1: good job of sort of closing the big ones, but 329 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: there's a few that we've recognized, and there very unique, 330 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 1: niche situations that probably will never come up. That's one 331 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: thing I learned early on working with Dan Pitcher that 332 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 1: I did in the first year is how you got 333 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: to prepare for everything. And some of this stuff is 334 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: probably never going to come up, but you've got to 335 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: treat it as if it is. You've got to take 336 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: it seriously, and you've got to have a plan for 337 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: if because because the worst thing is if it comes 338 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 1: up and you recognize if it aren't prepared to sort 339 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 1: of take advantage of it or to handle that situation. 340 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: So that's that's one of my jobs is to know 341 00:16:57,280 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: the rule book inside and out and be able to 342 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: advise act when those sorts of things come up. But 343 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:05,920 Speaker 1: there's there. They've done a really good job of making 344 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 1: sure that there aren't those those little loopholes in the 345 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 1: rule book like you mentioned. How does a data analyst 346 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:16,919 Speaker 1: deal with luck? I think that's football. I think that's 347 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 1: what makes football as successful of business as it is. 348 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,720 Speaker 1: That's why it has the popularity. It's it's not predictable. 349 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 1: Um it's Baseball is probably the most predictable and that's 350 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 1: the example. But that's what makes football. Football makes football 351 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 1: great is on any given Sunday, you don't know who's 352 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 1: going to win, right, and it is predictable to a sense. 353 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:38,359 Speaker 1: That sort of my job is to try and make 354 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,679 Speaker 1: it as predictable as possible and be able to predict 355 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:43,920 Speaker 1: certain things that are going to come up. But that's 356 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 1: that's why people love football. Is on any given Sunday, 357 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: any team can come out on top. So I hear 358 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:52,960 Speaker 1: from a lot of aspiring young sportscasters who would like 359 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:55,680 Speaker 1: to get into broadcasting. I imagine a lot of young 360 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 1: people would like to do what you're doing right now. 361 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: What advice do you give them? Find a way gain experience. 362 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 1: That's what I always tell them. There's battle thirty two 363 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:07,440 Speaker 1: of these jobs, but there's I mean there's more than that, 364 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: because obviously teams have multiple people in certain positions, but 365 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:12,639 Speaker 1: there's very few of these jobs. And what people are 366 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: always looking for in a job is you have to 367 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:17,640 Speaker 1: have experience, right, and that's a tough thing to get 368 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,400 Speaker 1: for this job because there's only so many sports teams 369 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:22,120 Speaker 1: that you can go work for that have these positions. 370 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 1: So I always tell them, you're always going to lead 371 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: with Hey, I want to, like I mentioned earlier, connect 372 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 1: my passions for math and analytics with my passion for sports. 373 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,919 Speaker 1: That's awesome. That's that's great, Like, you can't do this 374 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:37,679 Speaker 1: job without that. But I always look for the follow 375 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:40,679 Speaker 1: up of So I did whatever right. I did this 376 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 1: project on my own time. It was my thesis or 377 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:46,400 Speaker 1: for this class, whatever it may be. I took this internship. 378 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,440 Speaker 1: One of the big ones now is Michael Lopez, who's 379 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 1: the director of Analytics with the NFL, is actually a 380 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 1: Bates grad as well. So he runs every year this 381 00:18:56,760 --> 00:19:00,119 Speaker 1: competition called the Big Data Bowl, and it's open or 382 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: He takes actual NFL data to the next gen stats 383 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: data I think this past year at PFF Data as well, 384 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 1: and he provides it publicly to anyone who wants to 385 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 1: enter the competition. You get to work with real NFL 386 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:16,480 Speaker 1: data and solve problems brainstormed by real NFL people, coaches, scouts, etc. 387 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: And you get to submit a project. It's part of 388 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 1: the competition, and there's judges. I believe a couple of 389 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:29,640 Speaker 1: years ago the new GM of the Vikings, Questia Dopelmenta, 390 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: was a judge in it. So there are real NFL 391 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 1: people looking at this, and to me, that's probably the 392 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: greatest way to gain experiences is to solve actual NFL 393 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 1: problems with actual NFL data and have them judge by 394 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: actual NFL people. I don't think it gets much better 395 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 1: than that. So that's I always point people in that 396 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: detection of if you're looking to do this, you've got 397 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,520 Speaker 1: to sort of take initiative to gain experience. It's not 398 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 1: an easy thing, but here's sort of a competition and 399 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:55,919 Speaker 1: a resource that's out there for you to do. So. 400 00:19:56,880 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 1: Did you write a football related thesis, Abates did. I 401 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 1: wrote about, uh, like salary cap inefficiency and sort of 402 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:10,399 Speaker 1: how intra team wage disparity effects winning in the NFL. 403 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:12,440 Speaker 1: Looking back on it, I would probably do the entire 404 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:15,640 Speaker 1: thing differently. Um, sort of, that's I mean, that's that's 405 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 1: gaining experience, that's learning from learning from your experiences. I 406 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 1: feel the same way about the stuff I did in Buffalo. 407 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: It's you learn, you learn new processes, you learn new 408 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 1: strategies and different analytical tactics, and you sort of apply 409 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:30,880 Speaker 1: those as you go on. And then two three years 410 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 1: everything moved so fast that you look back and you're like, 411 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,360 Speaker 1: I can't believe that that's that's the that's the strategy 412 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 1: that I took, and that's how I decided to do it. 413 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:39,919 Speaker 1: But um, yeah, it's I did, and it was It 414 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 1: was a good, good learning experience for me and wasn't 415 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:44,680 Speaker 1: as intentional as I try and tell people to be 416 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: about gaining experience. But looking back on it, it was 417 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: one of the things that I was able to talk 418 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 1: about at least tep people in interviews that Hey, I 419 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 1: did this, and this is sort of why I know 420 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: this is. This is an initiative I took to sort 421 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:59,200 Speaker 1: of propel me to this type of career final thing 422 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:02,640 Speaker 1: for Sam France, how many of the players do you think, 423 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: no and understand what you do? There's a few, there's 424 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 1: a few. I'm sort of that guy who's that who's around. 425 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: My office is right on the catwalk that overlooks the 426 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:14,880 Speaker 1: weight room, so they probably all see me. I interact 427 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:17,639 Speaker 1: with some of them sometimes and I don't explain to 428 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: them what I do, but I think some of them 429 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:22,400 Speaker 1: are aware, just through asking questions to the coaches and whatnot. 430 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:26,440 Speaker 1: But yeah, my office is my doors open. If anyone 431 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: want to come and discuss it, I'll give them a 432 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 1: full rundown of it. Sam, this has been fun. I 433 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:33,760 Speaker 1: appreciate your time and look forward to seeing you at 434 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 1: to training camp. Yeah. Thanks, Dan, I appreciate you. Sam 435 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: mentioned the NFL's annual Big Data Bowl competition, where contestants 436 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:45,439 Speaker 1: can win cash prizes based on their football research, and 437 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 1: you can find a bunch of those projects online. For example, 438 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:52,200 Speaker 1: one of the finalists this year was titled Punt Returns 439 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:56,640 Speaker 1: Using the Math to find the path sounds like it's 440 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:59,440 Speaker 1: right up, Darren Simmons Alley. If you want to check 441 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:03,480 Speaker 1: out some of the research, just search for Big Data Bowl. 442 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 1: Before I get to my next guest, here's an invitation 443 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:10,119 Speaker 1: to grab your yoga mat and join HUDE on Saturday, 444 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 1: June twenty fifth at nine am for Namas Day Yoga 445 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 1: on the field at Paul Brown Stadium. Register now at 446 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 1: Bengals dot com slash Yoga. It's presented by Cott Nell 447 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 1: in partnership with Kroger and Title Babe Period Bank. Anthony 448 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:28,360 Speaker 1: Munio's has been a member of the Pro Football Hall 449 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,240 Speaker 1: of Fame since being enshrined in nineteen ninety eight, his 450 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 1: first year of eligibility. But now he's also working for 451 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:39,240 Speaker 1: the Hall in a new position called the Chief Football 452 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:42,960 Speaker 1: Relationship Officer. He'll help promote the Hall of Fame, engage 453 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: with prospective business partners, and be involved in philanthropic efforts. 454 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:50,600 Speaker 1: The Hall of Fame could not have made a better choice. 455 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:53,399 Speaker 1: I caught up with Anthony this week at a golf 456 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 1: event featuring the Cincinnati chapter of the NFL Alumni Association. 457 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:02,920 Speaker 1: Anthony the Bengals had an obvious weakness to address in 458 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 1: the offseason, and they did by signing three veteran established 459 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:09,359 Speaker 1: offensive lineman. What was your reaction, Well, I think I 460 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 1: go back to I forget what press conference it was 461 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:15,439 Speaker 1: when Zach said, just believe in our process, you know, 462 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:17,679 Speaker 1: because I mean the first two years quite frankly, but 463 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:21,479 Speaker 1: you could see things turn into culture and stuff. So 464 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 1: that's what I continue to be impressed with is there 465 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 1: was that glaring weakness and man, they didn't waste any time. 466 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 1: And I was really happy and impressed that they went 467 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:35,200 Speaker 1: after you know, Kappa and Harris and Collins right away 468 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:37,399 Speaker 1: and fill that need because you know, so many times 469 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:39,359 Speaker 1: teams go to the draft. Now you bring it in 470 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 1: young guys that have to step in. Well, now you 471 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: got some guys at a couple of Super Bowl rings 472 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:45,920 Speaker 1: and you know, another guy that played for a pretty 473 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 1: good football team with the Cowboys. So with that being said, 474 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 1: I'm excited about what's going on. I mean not only that, 475 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:55,280 Speaker 1: but then you lose Uzama, they go ahead and get hurt. 476 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:57,440 Speaker 1: I mean, so it's like, Okay, we lose somebody, let's 477 00:23:57,480 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: get it. We have weakness. So I really like what's 478 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,879 Speaker 1: going on. Have you looked at those three offensive lineman 479 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 1: closely over the years. Do you have any thoughts on 480 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 1: any of the three? I really haven't. I haven't watched 481 00:24:08,359 --> 00:24:11,840 Speaker 1: them a whole lot. But I guess anytime you come 482 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 1: to another team and you started on a super Bowl 483 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 1: team and you got a ring, you gotta be pretty good. 484 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:18,400 Speaker 1: And you're playing with, I guess, a pretty good quarterback, 485 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:21,920 Speaker 1: and so you're protecting, you know, one of the best ever. 486 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:24,879 Speaker 1: And then Collins a little concern there, you know, on 487 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: what happened. But you know, talking to Frank Pollock, who 488 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:29,880 Speaker 1: is there and coached him, he says, pretty good talent. 489 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 1: I guess, maybe a couple injuries in the past and 490 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:34,439 Speaker 1: a couple ofs but hopefully, you know, he comes in 491 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 1: and stays healthy and and really plays up to where 492 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 1: he says he can. So not Pollock, but Collins says 493 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:45,159 Speaker 1: he can. So No, I really haven't watched any of 494 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 1: the three at all, so I'm looking forward to watching them. 495 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:50,160 Speaker 1: Left guard is open. It sounds like the top two 496 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 1: candidates going into training campbell by Jackson Carmen and the 497 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:56,920 Speaker 1: guy they drafted this year, Cordell Volson. Are you confident 498 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:59,560 Speaker 1: that a player will emerge at left guard that will 499 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:01,880 Speaker 1: be able to a solid job. Well, I hope. So 500 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 1: you know, uh Jackson, I mean you look at him 501 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 1: and you watch him. I've watched him since you know, 502 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 1: high school days in college. He has the ability. I 503 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,800 Speaker 1: think the main thing is just understanding what he has 504 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:14,479 Speaker 1: to do and you know, stepping you know, stepping up. 505 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:16,959 Speaker 1: I mean this, uh, this young man they drafted him, 506 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 1: and everything I hear about him, he's he's got the 507 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 1: mentality and the you know what you love to to 508 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 1: see in an offensive linement. So what I love about 509 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:26,199 Speaker 1: that is you bring in a guy like that. You've 510 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:29,439 Speaker 1: got Carmen who's been here. Competition, you know, if you 511 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 1: really want that job, Jackson, you got a guy that's 512 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 1: you know, they're high on And that's what I loved 513 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:36,480 Speaker 1: when I was playing. You always had somebody, you know, 514 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:38,200 Speaker 1: nipping at your heels, and I think that's going to 515 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 1: be good. Competition is always great for so you know, 516 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 1: hopefully that will happened. You know, they have Joan over 517 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 1: there who now has some experience to help out. So uh, 518 00:25:47,359 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 1: you know, we'll see I'd like to see, you know, 519 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 1: one of the two just really, you know, boom rise 520 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:56,680 Speaker 1: to the top and take it over. Joan is at 521 00:25:56,680 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 1: your old position. Did you see a lot of growth 522 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:00,639 Speaker 1: there last year? I did. I mean, you know, I 523 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:03,480 Speaker 1: watched him closely, and you know, I've always liked his tenacity. 524 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: I've always liked his work ethic. I've seen that, you know, 525 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:10,280 Speaker 1: there's progress being made, So I'm happy with that. You know, 526 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: at first, you know, you know, it's hard to say, Hey, 527 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:15,240 Speaker 1: I'm a little concerned for it. But the guy's young. 528 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 1: I mean, it's young when you expect people to come 529 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:19,119 Speaker 1: in you know, a number one picks to light it 530 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:22,360 Speaker 1: on fire. And but I have seen some progress there 531 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 1: and I'm excited about to see how he continues to grow. 532 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:28,160 Speaker 1: Where do you like about Frank Pollock? Well, I guess 533 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 1: the first thing I like is the technical part of it. 534 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:34,119 Speaker 1: Anytime you're teaching sound, fundamental technique, I love. But the 535 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:36,240 Speaker 1: fact that he'll get in your face, I love that 536 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:38,600 Speaker 1: even more. You know, and guys like that you don't 537 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 1: have to be screaming young and all the time you 538 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:44,040 Speaker 1: know when to do it, and I'd forget. I don't 539 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 1: think I've ever seen I forget. You might want to 540 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 1: help me playoff game. He's like by the number, screaming 541 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:49,879 Speaker 1: and young, I'm going, yeah, I love that. You know, 542 00:26:50,359 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 1: you know you're going back to I hate to do this, 543 00:26:52,520 --> 00:26:55,199 Speaker 1: but when Jim mcnallyly was my coach, if something happened, 544 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:57,679 Speaker 1: I'd never come off the field where he wasn't at 545 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:00,880 Speaker 1: least three or four yards on the field looking up. Okay, 546 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: what happened? What happened, and don't tell me. You don't know. 547 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:05,680 Speaker 1: So you know accountability And that's what I love about Frank. 548 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 1: He's gonna he's gonna give you the right things to 549 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: really put you in the right position. But he's not 550 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 1: one that's gonna shy away from holding the accountable. And 551 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:15,280 Speaker 1: I love that about him. I was there at training 552 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 1: camp last year when Joe Burrow approached you, stuck out 553 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 1: his right hand and said, mister money was my name 554 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:23,159 Speaker 1: is Joe, which I thought was awesome. What's impressed you 555 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 1: most about Joe Burrow? Well, if you remember that day too, 556 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:28,200 Speaker 1: he sat there and UH really encouraged Lapp and I 557 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 1: to be around a lot, and other guys to be around. 558 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 1: How much they appreciated that. I mean that to me, 559 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 1: spoke volumes that you know, he got a young quarterback. 560 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 1: A lot of times they kind of look, do I 561 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:39,880 Speaker 1: go over? Do I not? And he just came right over, 562 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:42,080 Speaker 1: and man, he was bold and I love that. But 563 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 1: just watching the way he he handles it. And I'm 564 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 1: not inside the facility, so I can't say, but I 565 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:51,440 Speaker 1: love watching reaction interaction, and you can you can tell 566 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 1: that the guys absolutely love the guy, will follow him 567 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 1: and just have fun playing with them. And to me, 568 00:27:57,080 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 1: and not to talk about his physical bility, because that's 569 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:02,040 Speaker 1: over the top. I mean, I mean someone who's got 570 00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:04,400 Speaker 1: been hit that much and did what he did last year, 571 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:06,879 Speaker 1: you know, he's a competitor. But I just love the 572 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 1: intangibles of him, the leader he is, and you know, 573 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,680 Speaker 1: I'm sure he gets rattled inside, but he doesn't let 574 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 1: you see that he's rattled if something and it always 575 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 1: happened if the adversity happens, Man, he pops back and 576 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:23,440 Speaker 1: he makes things happen, you know, good after that adversity. 577 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 1: So I enjoyed watching him. I really do enjoy watching him. 578 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 1: And uh, you know, the kind of reminds me of 579 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 1: a guy that I played nine years with and Boomero 580 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:34,919 Speaker 1: Science and you know, it's very confident and tremendous leaders 581 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 1: and not bad with physical ability and the mental part 582 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:42,840 Speaker 1: of it. I mean, it's it's rare if somebody gets 583 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 1: him on the mental side of the game. Last thing, 584 00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:48,120 Speaker 1: he played on two super Bowl teams. What's the biggest 585 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:51,560 Speaker 1: challenge the year after going to a super Bowl? From 586 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: that last game the super Bowl until camp is is 587 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 1: really keeping the priorities not being because you're gonna be 588 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 1: pulled and tugged to do this and do that, and 589 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:03,080 Speaker 1: not let that overtake what you have to do, and 590 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:05,720 Speaker 1: that's get ready for another run. And you know, looking 591 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 1: back at those two I think there was a little 592 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:09,680 Speaker 1: bit of that with us. I think, you know, I 593 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:11,640 Speaker 1: got to a super Bowl and now you're speaking here, 594 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 1: you're doing this appearance you're doing, and you forget you 595 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 1: forget about what you made it possible for you to 596 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:20,040 Speaker 1: do those appearances, and that's busting your tail and getting 597 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:22,560 Speaker 1: ready and having a great year. So I'd say that's 598 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:26,280 Speaker 1: probably the biggest thing, is the distractions of taking away 599 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:30,239 Speaker 1: from your preparation. I always appreciate your time. Congratulations on 600 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:32,040 Speaker 1: the new position with the Hall of Fame. The Hall 601 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 1: could not have found a better ambassador. Well, Dan appreciate 602 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:37,880 Speaker 1: it very much. You know, when that came up, I 603 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 1: really didn't think that that was something that I'd be 604 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:42,280 Speaker 1: looking at. But you know, when I heard there's a 605 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:44,640 Speaker 1: lot of board members nominating me, I looked at the 606 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:46,520 Speaker 1: job description. I said, Man, this is what I've been 607 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 1: doing in the last twenty twenty five years, and I'm 608 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:51,280 Speaker 1: thrilled to be representing the entire Hall and everything that 609 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:54,000 Speaker 1: it stands for. And I'm looking forward to building this 610 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:58,200 Speaker 1: new position with our President Ampany. By the way, he 611 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:00,760 Speaker 1: held his annual golf tournament about a week ago to 612 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:04,920 Speaker 1: raise funds for the Anthony Munio's Foundation. Over the years, 613 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 1: he's awarded more than two and a half million dollars 614 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:12,880 Speaker 1: in college scholarship money to students in need. That's going 615 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: to do it. For this episode of The Bengals Booth 616 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 1: podcast presented by Ultimate Bengals, download Ultimate Bengals ahead of 617 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty two season. It's free to play next 618 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 1: level fantasy football with fantastic Bengals prizes. Get it now 619 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 1: on the App Store and Google Play, And if you 620 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:33,160 Speaker 1: haven't done so already, please subscribe to this podcast and 621 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 1: if you have a minute, give it a rating, or 622 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 1: share a comment that helps more Bengals fans find us. 623 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:42,800 Speaker 1: I'm Dan Horde and thanks for listening to the Bengals 624 00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 1: Booth podcast