1 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:06,359 Speaker 1: Hi, get everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 2 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth Podcast. The Wold His Dreams Uh. Addition, 3 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,159 Speaker 1: as the Bengals look to extend their playoff hopes to 4 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: the final week of the regular season with a win 5 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: over the Denver Broncos. Coming up, I'll talk to Mike 6 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 1: Hilton about his stellar play of late and the possibility 7 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: of returning to the Bengals next year. Robert Weintraub writes 8 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: about the Bengals for Cincinnati Magazine and other outlets. Discusses 9 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: the good, the bad, and the ugly from twenty twenty four, 10 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 1: and in this week's Know the Foux Conversation, we'll get 11 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 1: an in depth look at the Broncos from Beat reporter 12 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: Mike Cliss. The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you 13 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:49,200 Speaker 1: by pay Corps, Proud to be the Bengals official HR 14 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: software provider by Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet designed 15 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: elevate your home, business and community to a new level, 16 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:00,040 Speaker 1: and by kettering health the best care for the the 17 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: best fans, Cattering Health is the official healthcare provider of 18 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: the Bengals. Now here's a quick reminder that you can 19 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: have the latest edition of this podcast delivered. Write to 20 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing wherever you get 21 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: your podcasts. It's the greatest thing since Hall of Fame 22 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: recognition for an all time Bengals great. In twenty twenty two, 23 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 1: the Pro Football Hall of Fame established the Awards of 24 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 1: Excellence to recognize significant contributors to the game in behind 25 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: the scenes roles, such as assistant coaches, equipment managers, and 26 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 1: PR directors. This year's class includes former Bengals offensive line 27 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: coach Jim McNally. Jim held that role in Cincinnati from 28 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: nineteen eighty to nineteen ninety four, meaning he was the 29 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: O line coach for the bengals first two Super Bowl 30 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: teams and the only O line coach that Anthony Munoz 31 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: had in the NFL. He later returned to the Bengals 32 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: as a consultant before retiring last year. This year's class 33 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: will be honored at a luncheon in Canton next June. Now, 34 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 1: let's get to my first guest. One of my biggest 35 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: pet peeves is when the national media says the Bengals 36 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: aren't willing to spend money in free agency. In the 37 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: last five years, alone, Cincinnati has signed d J. Reeder, 38 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 1: Trey Hendrickson, Chitdebeya, Wouje, Ted Karris, Alex Kappa, Orlando Brown Junior, 39 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: and Mike Kasiki, among others, And when it comes to 40 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: bang for the buck, it would be hard to top 41 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: the signing of Mike Hilton, who's given the Bengals four 42 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: great seasons for an average of six million dollars a year. 43 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 1: I caught up with the Bengals five foot nine, one 44 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: hundred and eighty four pounds slot corner this week. Mike, 45 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 1: You've got five tackles for loss in the last two weeks. 46 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 1: Are you doing anything differently? 47 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:54,639 Speaker 2: No, I'm just being myself, you know what I mean. 48 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 3: Louis utilizing me a lot more lately in when then 49 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:00,080 Speaker 3: when I had the opportunity to make the play, you know, 50 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:01,679 Speaker 3: once I get back there, that's all that's all I 51 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 3: think about, is making that play. 52 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: For the season. You're up to twelve tackles for loss. 53 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 1: That's tied for fifteenth in the league. The fourteen guys 54 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: ahead of you are all defensive linemen or edge players. 55 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 1: How significant is that stat to you? 56 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:17,919 Speaker 2: That's big. 57 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 3: I bring a different, different type of play to the position, 58 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 3: you know what I mean. Not a lot of guys 59 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 3: my size can do what I do. And when I 60 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 3: go out there, I just try to be a playmaker. 61 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 3: And obviously having that type of stats, that's a good 62 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 3: sign and I'm just trying to, you know, keep building. 63 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: My broadcast partner Dave Lapham says the TfL should be 64 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: treated like sacks. It's a loss of down, it's a 65 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: loss of yardage. They don't seem to get the same publicity, should. 66 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 2: They, I would believe so. 67 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 3: Obviously, you know, it's the difference between a handoff and 68 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 3: the drop back. But if you're tackling the quarterback before 69 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 3: you even hands the hands the ball out to the 70 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 3: running back, I feel like should be considered a sack. 71 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 2: But you know, either way, I'm just happy to make 72 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 2: the play. 73 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 1: The team gave up a season low six points last week. 74 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: You made a reference after the game in the locker 75 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: room that lou Ariromo has simplified things a little bit 76 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: in what ways really just keeping. 77 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 3: Us out of multiple calls. I mean, officers are gonna 78 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 3: move and we have to adjust. But sometimes he's just 79 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 3: letting us play this one call where we're lining up 80 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 3: playing fast and doing what we do, so it kind 81 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 3: of slows everybody's thinking down and just let them react 82 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 3: more and you know, putting themselves in position to make plays. 83 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:24,919 Speaker 1: We're visiting with Mike Hilton. The defensive player of the 84 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,159 Speaker 1: game was the fifth play of the game, Von Bell 85 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:31,479 Speaker 1: forcing and recovering that fumble inside the one. Von was 86 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 1: recently taken out of the starting lineup. He's playing on 87 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:37,919 Speaker 1: special teams now, kick coverage, punt return, doing what he 88 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: can to contribute. What's your respect level for Von Bell? 89 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:42,359 Speaker 3: I have a lot of straight of Vine. You know, 90 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,599 Speaker 3: he's a pros pro. He's always one of the first 91 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 3: guys in here, one of the last leave. Obviously his 92 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 3: roles diminished, but he hasn't had little whether who he 93 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 3: is as a player. You know, he goes out there 94 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 3: and competes, and obviously on Sunday he's still able to 95 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 3: make big plays and game changing plays. 96 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: Gino Stone has an interception now in three straight. What 97 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: stands out about his. 98 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 2: Play his range. Obviously he's able to go sideline. 99 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 3: And sideline the way he's able to track the ball 100 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 3: and make plays on the ball. So he's been playing 101 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 3: wells of late, you know, and as a corner where 102 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 3: you got to a post safety like that, you feel 103 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 3: a lot more comfortable. 104 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: You guys have kept your playoff chances alive by winning 105 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: three straight games. As I look back over the season, 106 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 1: I could pick out five plays that are really the 107 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 1: difference between competing for the number one seed and being 108 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: where you are right now. Is there a little bit 109 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: of a what if in the back of your mind? 110 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, definitely. 111 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 3: We know it's a field goal here, a stop here, 112 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 3: one more drive by the offense there. It's little things 113 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 3: that we know if we make that play, you know, 114 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 3: our records totally different. 115 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:43,919 Speaker 2: But the thing about it, we can't. We can't do 116 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 2: it on it. We are where we are right. 117 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 3: Now and we're giving ourselves a chance, so things obviously 118 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 3: have to fall our way. But if we go out 119 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 3: and execute and do our job, you know, who knows 120 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 3: what can happen. 121 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: What's Denver doing well on offense. 122 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 3: Running the ball or obviously running the ball well, putting 123 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,159 Speaker 3: bow nicks in good situations, second and short, third in 124 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 3: short just make him, you know, play within hisself, not 125 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 3: trying to not try to do too much. 126 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 2: So we're gonna have a good game plan for him. 127 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 2: This weekend. We're gonna make a difficult for him. 128 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: Several weeks ago, Joe Burrow has asked about quarterbacks that 129 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 1: he's been watching this year, and he brought up Bonet, 130 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 1: which kind of surprised me. I didn't expect that to 131 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 1: be somebody he would mention, what is it about Bonix 132 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 1: that's impressed people around the league? 133 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 3: Oh, he's playing well in the Champagne system. He's moving 134 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 3: outside the pocket. He's a better athlete than giving credit for, 135 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 3: so he's extended plays, he's not turned over the ball, 136 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 3: which is obviously a plus, and he's just keeping their 137 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 3: offense in rhythm. So he's playing well and it's gonna 138 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 3: be a good challenge for Saturday. 139 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: Visiting with Mike Hilton. This is the final year of 140 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 1: the four year deal that you signed back in twenty 141 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 1: twenty one. It's going to go down as one of 142 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:47,559 Speaker 1: the great free agent signings in Bengals history. What's next 143 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: for you? Do you definitely want to keep playing? 144 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 3: Oh, definitely, I would. I actually love to be here. 145 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 3: You know, I obviously know the nature of the business, 146 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 3: so you never know. But I feel like I still 147 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:57,479 Speaker 3: have so much left in me and I can bring 148 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 3: a lot of value to different teams. So we'll see 149 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 3: how I'll season comes when that time arrives. But right now, 150 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 3: focused on these guys and trying to get this win Saturday. 151 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 1: You're thirty, you're eight years in. You've accomplished a ton 152 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 1: for playoff teams, a trip to the Super Bowl. Has 153 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: reality exceeded your dreams? 154 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 2: Yeah? It has obviously. 155 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 3: Being undrafted, how far I've come, how hard I've worked 156 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 3: to see myself reach this point. 157 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:23,679 Speaker 2: It's a blessing. 158 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 3: And then to realize I'm still not done yet and 159 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 3: I got a lot more ahead of me. It's the 160 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 3: best thing in the world. 161 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 2: Man. I'm just trying to embrace it day by day. 162 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 1: Do you see football being in your future for many 163 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: years to come? You strike me as somebody that could 164 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: be a great coach. 165 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure. 166 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 3: You know, I definitely want to get into it after football. 167 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 3: Obviously things change once I'm actually done, but you know, 168 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 3: my plan is to get in the coach and then 169 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 3: go from there. 170 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: Congratulations on great play of late, best of luck against 171 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: the Broncos. 172 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 2: Thank you appreciate it. 173 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: Mike has fifth onund the team in tackles and second 174 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: in tackles for loss three behind Trey Hendrick said. One 175 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: of the best writers covering the Bengals so from his 176 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: home near Atlanta. His name is Robert Weintraub, and he 177 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: writes an excellent weekly column about the team for Cincinnati 178 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:11,679 Speaker 1: Magazine dot com. You can read it for free. Robert 179 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: was in the Cincinnati area on business last week, so 180 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: he took the opportunity to cover the game in person, 181 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: and a few days later we caught up to discuss 182 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: this season and beyond. Robert, of the many things that 183 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 1: have been written and said about Joe Burrow over the years, 184 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: you are responsible for my all time favorite line. When 185 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: he was drafted, you said that Joe has awesomeness oozing 186 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 1: out of every poor He has obviously been awesome this year. 187 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: Is Joe Burrow worthy of MVP consideration? 188 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, somehow he's found a few more pores to be 189 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 4: awesome out of. I didn't think that was possible. But 190 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 4: he's got some kind of cleanser going on or skincare 191 00:08:55,360 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 4: regimen that's obviously working. Yeah, I mean obviously, first and foremost. 192 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 4: When MVP voters think to themselves, who's going to get 193 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 4: it this year, they look to a one win loss 194 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 4: record and that's you know, obviously what is working against Joe. 195 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 4: But I mean, given the fact of what he's been 196 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 4: having to work with, and the offensive line and the 197 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:21,840 Speaker 4: defense and so many other conditions around him, it's hard 198 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 4: for me to say he hasn't had an MVP level season. 199 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:26,319 Speaker 4: He's not going to win it. But I mean, if 200 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 4: you put up his numbers, they're right alongside, you know, 201 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 4: the Josh Allens and Lamar Jackson Jackson's and even the 202 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 4: possibility of a dare i say, a running back or 203 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 4: some other non quarterback position winning a Saquon Barkley. Perhaps 204 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:43,679 Speaker 4: Burrows numbers are certainly in the same stratosphere. And just 205 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 4: from a degree of difficulty standpoint, you know, it's funny. 206 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 4: I think if they had just flipped the results of 207 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 4: the two Ravens games and pin one of those losses 208 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 4: on Lamar's fumble there in overtime, and the Bengals just 209 00:09:56,440 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 4: win those two, you know, the Bengals wouldn't be you know, 210 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 4: dominating or having a huge win loss record season necessarily 211 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 4: thirteen to four or whatever, but it would look just 212 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 4: good enough, I think to maybe get Burrel a few 213 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 4: extra votes there, and possibly even sneak out. The ward 214 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 4: not going to happen, but he's certainly deserving in such 215 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 4: a shame. He had such a great season this year 216 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 4: and the rest of the team really didn't live up 217 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 4: to it. 218 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: They might not have an MVP winner, but they could 219 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 1: have a Triple Crown winner. Jamar Chase leads the so 220 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 1: called triple Crown categories as a receiver, catches, yards, and touchdowns. 221 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: It's only been done four times since nineteen seventy. Is 222 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: there anything in particular about his season that impresses you? 223 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 4: Well, First and foremost, you think back to how it started, 224 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 4: with the whole contract, you know, Concher Tommes, and the 225 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 4: fact he only had what ten catches for ninety seven 226 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,959 Speaker 4: yards over the first two weeks of the season pedestrian numbers. 227 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 4: Maybe he was distracted, Maybe it's just the way the 228 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 4: games went. It's hard to really get into his head necessarily. 229 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 4: But given the fact that he's had, he has this 230 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 4: all world season going on, and that the numbers are 231 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 4: so staggering when you kind of divided on a per 232 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 4: game basis by thirteen instead of fifteen where we are now, 233 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,079 Speaker 4: they look even more impressive. He's just been so consistent 234 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 4: after those first two weeks. So you know, just this 235 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 4: past game against Cleveland, when he didn't really do a 236 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 4: ton through most of the game, and yet he pops 237 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 4: up right at the end for a touchdown catch a 238 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 4: long one just kind of puts the icing on the cake. 239 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 4: He's really just you know, put everything together as everything 240 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 4: we knew that he was capable of and has shown 241 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 4: already as a pro. I mean, hard to find a 242 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 4: more finished product coming out of college ready to step 243 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 4: onto an NFL field than Jamar Chase was, and yet 244 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 4: he's still somehow almost exceeded expectations in that way. You know, 245 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 4: when t Higgins has been out and missed a few games, 246 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:56,440 Speaker 4: they haven't lost a step offensively. Everybody knows that they're 247 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 4: trying to get the ball to Chase at all times. 248 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 4: And still you know, he puts up such staggering numbers, 249 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 4: and not only that, but you know, makes huge plays 250 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 4: at huge times, as we saw against Dallas for example. 251 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 4: You know, it's really just you know, we talked about 252 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 4: how Burrow has also beness out of every pore. Not 253 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 4: too far behind is Jamar Chase, and there's a reason 254 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,200 Speaker 4: the two of them have been you know, sort of 255 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 4: connected in the mind's eye ever since their LSU days. 256 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:23,319 Speaker 4: They work so well together, and it's just it's a 257 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 4: joy to watch. Even in a season that's been disappointing 258 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:27,840 Speaker 4: in a lot of ways, you always get to watch 259 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 4: Burrow to Chase and that's something special. 260 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 1: Despite the fact that he missed five games, t Higgins 261 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: is putting up big numbers. He's tied his career high 262 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: for touchdown catches this year. Joe has been vocal recently 263 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 1: about expressing hope that Tea can be resigned after this season. 264 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 1: It can be done. My question for you is should 265 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 1: it be done? 266 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 4: Well, you know, I'm of two minds, and the reason 267 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,720 Speaker 4: why this is a fascinating sort of debate is that 268 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 4: you can go either way with it and not be wrong. 269 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 4: You know, obviously the team has a lot of needs, 270 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 4: so you think to yourself, well, why spend more money 271 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 4: on another receiver when you're going to obviously already spending 272 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 4: a ton on Joe and you're gonna have to pay 273 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 4: Jamar especially even more now after the season he's put up. 274 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 4: At the same time, though, you know, first of all, 275 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 4: if you look at the free agent lists, you know 276 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 4: it's tough to keep just trying to trying to buy 277 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 4: a team out of the store. A. B. Higgins is 278 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 4: by far the most you know, highly thought of free 279 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 4: agent out there. It's not like there's a ton of 280 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 4: guys who are necessarily going to help the Bengals. They'll 281 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 4: sign a few guys and they will certainly help, but 282 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 4: they're all sort of you know, B two C plus 283 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:37,680 Speaker 4: players except for Tea out there really And another thing 284 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 4: is that, first of all, Tea appears obviously to want 285 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:44,199 Speaker 4: to stay. He fired his agent, David Mulgetta, who's had 286 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 4: a lot of difficult relations with the Bengals front office 287 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 4: in the past, and you know, he's maing a lot 288 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 4: of noises about, you know, wanted to stay with his 289 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 4: with his buddies, with his friends Burrow and Chase. And 290 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 4: you know, there's a lot of guys around the league 291 00:13:57,600 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 4: who can't wait to step up, get the big money 292 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 4: and be the number one guy, you know, And I 293 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 4: don't know if he's built like that. Maybe he doesn't 294 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 4: want to go and you know, try and catch passes 295 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 4: from Drake may or whoever and be you know, under 296 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:13,839 Speaker 4: the spotlight constantly because of a huge contract. Maybe he's 297 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 4: really happy playing with his buddies a little in the 298 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 4: shadow of Jamar perhaps, but you know, there's nothing wrong 299 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 4: with being in the shadow of such a great player 300 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 4: like that, and he obviously they compliment each other so well. 301 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 4: As you say, it's not like they can't resign them. 302 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 4: You can argue whether it's you know, a proper roster 303 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 4: building to put all your eggs in that basket so speak. 304 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 4: But the Bengals have an identity. They have a you know, 305 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 4: explosive passing game that other teams fear and always have 306 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 4: to prepare for. And even then they're putting up tons 307 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 4: of points every week. As we're seeing in this capacity, 308 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 4: you're going away from one of your best year, letting 309 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 4: one of your best players walk out the door for 310 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 4: basically nothing. You're sending a message to the locker room 311 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 4: again that a player you've drafted and developed and have 312 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 4: seen emerged as one of the top players in the 313 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 4: league is not going to be kept out. The team 314 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 4: is in that sense not valued. And these things have 315 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 4: a knock on effect. And I think in that sense 316 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 4: it's because of everything that's going around behind the scenes 317 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 4: with Burrows comments and the way everybody's been talking and 318 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 4: the agent switch, and everything seems like it's all aligne 319 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 4: that everybody wants him to stay here. It makes a 320 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 4: lot of sense, and the team is so built and 321 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 4: identified around that triumvirate one five nine, so to speak, 322 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 4: that you really have to think long and hard before 323 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 4: you let a guy like that walk out the door. 324 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: There are some other free agents to be b J. Hill, 325 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: Mike Hilton, Mike Kasicki, Joseph Osai and some others. Is 326 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: there anybody on that list that you would like to 327 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: see the Bengals bring back? 328 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 4: Well? I certainly think Mike Kasecki's proven himself to be 329 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 4: an interesting combination player with the aforementioned Chase and Higgins, 330 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 4: and he gives them a lot. He's not a blocking 331 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 4: tight end in any capacity. He's really the slot receiver 332 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 4: that they lost when Tyler Boyd left in a lot 333 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 4: of ways, and I think he's only really scratch the 334 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 4: surface in some ways. With the amount of you know, 335 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 4: attention you have to pay to the two wideouts, I 336 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 4: think they can really build it even more of an 337 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 4: offense using him down the seam and in certain you know, 338 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 4: root combinations that they haven't really had a chance to do. 339 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 4: Part of that is because of the offensive line play, 340 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 4: various other rationales that we won't really dive into now necessarily, 341 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 4: but I think he's been worth, you know, coming back, 342 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 4: and I think he wants to come back. And who 343 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 4: wouldn't want to play with Joe Burrow after all, And 344 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 4: I think that's certainly a guy that I think Cincinnati 345 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 4: would like to bring back and and use in feature, 346 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 4: even in different ways than they have already as one year. Obviously, 347 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 4: Mike Hilton, He's been here a long time. He's a 348 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 4: valuable player. He's one of the few guys you can 349 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 4: point to and say, you know, he may have had 350 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 4: some issues this year along with the entire defense, but 351 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 4: he hasn't really been at a position too much. He's 352 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 4: been still a guy who is one of the few 353 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 4: who can make splash plays, as they say, you know, 354 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,920 Speaker 4: around the pig skin circle, you know, tackles for losses 355 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 4: in a good blitzer. I think it'd be hard to 356 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:08,400 Speaker 4: let him leave. He might want to go play in Tennessee, 357 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 4: given the success he always seems to have against the Titans, 358 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 4: But I think in general, there's another guy who you know, 359 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 4: would be similar to when they let Von Bell leave 360 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 4: a couple of years ago and rude the day because 361 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 4: of what he brought to the team, not just on 362 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 4: the field, but just institutional knowledge. You know, BJ Hill 363 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 4: is a case is interesting. You can certainly make a 364 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 4: case either way. It would sort of depend on what 365 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:32,879 Speaker 4: they could get him back in the fold. For I 366 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 4: think they'd like to try and keep them. Obviously, the 367 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 4: young players have only started to step forward at that position, 368 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 4: and they still have a void there. You know, it's 369 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 4: the kind of case where even if you look to 370 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 4: next year and say, all right, Chris Jenkins is ready 371 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:48,120 Speaker 4: to step forward and you have a good run stuffer 372 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 4: and McKinley Jackson, who are you know, rookies who are 373 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:54,199 Speaker 4: just sort of getting their feet into the deep end 374 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,919 Speaker 4: of the pool. Now, if you let Hill leave, that 375 00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:59,199 Speaker 4: still leaves you with a void there, and depending on 376 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:01,440 Speaker 4: who you bring in replaced him, that's gonna be tight. 377 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 4: So I think in those cases, I think all three 378 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:07,640 Speaker 4: of those guys they would be interested in bringing back. 379 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 4: I think the Bengals fandom would like to see them 380 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 4: all back in stripes as well. Oh Si, you know 381 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 4: comes Comsa again. You know he has never lived up 382 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 4: to the billing. That what he was drafted and what 383 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 4: we thought we were getting. He's had moments and flashes. Unfortunately, 384 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 4: it does seem like he'll always be remembered for that 385 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:30,200 Speaker 4: one penalty against Patrick Mahomes in the AFC Championship game, 386 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 4: and it's it's a shame. 387 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 5: For the kid. 388 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 4: You feel bad for him, but he never really put 389 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,680 Speaker 4: that behind him in any way on the field. So again, 390 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 4: you know, a lot of that depends on what other 391 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 4: offers these guys will get. You know, we never thought 392 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 4: Jermaine Pratt, for example, would come back to Cincinnati, and 393 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:46,920 Speaker 4: he wound up coming back, so for better or worse. 394 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:50,160 Speaker 4: Uh So we'll see if some of these guys who 395 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 4: we think are headed out the door actually wind up 396 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:53,440 Speaker 4: getting offers elsewhere. 397 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:56,240 Speaker 1: Robert, the Bengals have won three in a row. You 398 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: were in attendance at Peyk Horse Stadium last week when 399 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:01,679 Speaker 1: they beat the Cleveland Browns. You've seen some positive signs 400 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:04,679 Speaker 1: on defense during this three game winning stream. 401 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:05,200 Speaker 5: Yeah. 402 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 4: I like to think the pregame pep talk I gave 403 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 4: to the guys beforehand was a key element to it. 404 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 4: I always wanted to jump in that circle and just 405 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 4: hype everybody up. You know who doesn't want to do that. 406 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 4: I don't want to get hit though, so it's a problem. Yeah, 407 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 4: I mean it, certainly they've played better. I think you'd 408 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 4: be inarguably, they say that they've played some pretty poor 409 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 4: quarterbacks and offenses as well. Cooper rushed the best of them, 410 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 4: and you know, while he's had some success, let's not 411 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:34,639 Speaker 4: put him in the Peyton Manning category just yet. And obviously, 412 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 4: you know dtr on this past Sunday was was pretty laughable, 413 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:41,439 Speaker 4: unfortunately for the kids. So you know that helps. But 414 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 4: I do think that they're playing much freer. Even lou 415 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 4: An or Rumos talked about simplifying matters, and the players 416 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 4: themselves have said it's a lot easier for us to 417 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 4: comprehend our assignments. At the moment, you could be safe 418 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 4: in asking why that wasn't the case maybe earlier in 419 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 4: the season, especially with so many young players. I think 420 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 4: there's a case to be made that lou An Arumo 421 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,199 Speaker 4: kind of brought in his very complicated style that he 422 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:11,920 Speaker 4: saw a lot of veteran players play very effectively over 423 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:15,919 Speaker 4: the last past couple of years and assumed or thought 424 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 4: that some of the young guys would just step right 425 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 4: in and learn it as well, and that proved not 426 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 4: to be the case. There was just so much hesitation, 427 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:26,919 Speaker 4: so many guys who were a step behind, bad angles, communications, breakdowns, 428 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 4: things like that that are you know, not a real 429 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 4: slight on a player's ability to play the position, but 430 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,880 Speaker 4: just you know, how you play as a team, and 431 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,480 Speaker 4: you know, so the Bengals never really had a bunch 432 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 4: of superstar defensive players outside of Trey Hendrickson even when 433 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:45,159 Speaker 4: they were at their best and Jesse Bates. But what 434 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:47,959 Speaker 4: they did was play together extremely well. Everybody knew their 435 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:51,400 Speaker 4: assignment and carried it out. And you really saw that 436 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:54,159 Speaker 4: fall off over the past you know, year and a 437 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 4: half and I think they've gotten back to playing much 438 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 4: more in that capacity over the past few weeks, and 439 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 4: the young kids have stepped forward and played well. Chris 440 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:04,680 Speaker 4: jenkinses we talked about, seems like he's getting his feet 441 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:08,200 Speaker 4: really underneath them. Jordan Battle, who you know, flashed a 442 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:10,159 Speaker 4: lot last year and then you know, was in the 443 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:11,919 Speaker 4: doghouse at the beginning of the year, but now is 444 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,719 Speaker 4: really showing again why they thought so highly of him. 445 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 4: And even a player like Josh Newton who has you know, 446 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 4: had to play because of injuries, and he's been you know, 447 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 4: he's had his ups and downs like all young players, 448 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 4: but he's played pretty well. Certainly the last couple of 449 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 4: weeks he's been much more sticky in coverage than he 450 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 4: was in his first few games. So you know, there 451 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 4: are some definite positives. It's just you think to yourself, 452 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 4: if only this could have happened a little earlier in 453 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:36,159 Speaker 4: the season, things might be so much. 454 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 1: Different going forward. What are some of the priorities for 455 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 1: being back in Super Bowl contention as soon as possible. 456 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:46,639 Speaker 4: Well, I mean some of the things that we talked 457 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 4: about obviously already is you know, prioritizing the money where 458 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:54,000 Speaker 4: you're going to spend next year's free agent dollars. They 459 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:56,359 Speaker 4: have to improve the pass rush to me first and 460 00:21:56,400 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 4: foremost so much we talk about what we said about 461 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 4: guys being you know, a step slow or out of 462 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 4: position or not communicating. Well, a lot of that stuff 463 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:07,960 Speaker 4: gets erased when you have a good pass rush, and 464 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:11,479 Speaker 4: we saw that just on Sunday against Cleveland. How you know, 465 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:13,639 Speaker 4: it didn't really even matter half the time who was 466 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:17,600 Speaker 4: breaking open deep down the field because Thompson Robinson just 467 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:19,640 Speaker 4: had no time to throw the ball half on half 468 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 4: of his dropbacks, and that that really is a magic 469 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:25,399 Speaker 4: eraser in so many ways, and so much of this 470 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 4: season has been lost because of the fact that other 471 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 4: than Hendrickson, they're just not getting any rush on the 472 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 4: quarterback consistently. So, you know, that would certainly be a 473 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:38,199 Speaker 4: priority one A for me. The guard play on the 474 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 4: offensive line obviously has to improve. They may want to 475 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 4: move around and see what else they can find, both 476 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:46,679 Speaker 4: in the draft and the free agent market, but I 477 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 4: think the interior of the offensive line and obviously the 478 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:52,920 Speaker 4: pass rush are you know, again on the line of scrimmage. 479 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 4: We talked about it last offseasons to the point where 480 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:57,199 Speaker 4: it just got to be a cliche. They had to 481 00:22:57,200 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 4: fix the trenches. They still got to fix the trenches, 482 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 4: and you know, until that gets sorted out, they're probably 483 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:04,920 Speaker 4: not going to be able to get back to that 484 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 4: championship level. 485 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,199 Speaker 1: The Bengals can keep their playoff hopes alive if they 486 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:12,679 Speaker 1: beat the Denver Broncos on Saturday. What are going to 487 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:15,159 Speaker 1: be some keys to coming away with a victory in 488 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:15,679 Speaker 1: that game. 489 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's an interesting case because you have a team 490 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:24,040 Speaker 4: in Denver that likes to play defense, likes to run 491 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:26,399 Speaker 4: the ball, and when they don't do those things well, 492 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 4: especially run the ball, they they've had some struggles. They're actually, 493 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 4: surprisingly enough, given the Bengals struggles in one score games, 494 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 4: Denver is only one in five in one score games, 495 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:37,399 Speaker 4: I believe, So you know, it's a situation where they 496 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 4: have a rookie quarterback they can only win in a 497 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 4: certain circumscribed way, and their defensive pressure upfront they lead 498 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 4: the NFL in sacks, and you know what they can 499 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 4: get in the back end. They have obviously an outstanding 500 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 4: number one cornerback, Patrick Setan, but surprisingly enough, they are 501 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 4: very low in terms of guarding the enemy number one 502 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 4: wide receiver, both in DVOA the efficiency stat that were 503 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:05,680 Speaker 4: known for at FTN, and also in yards per game. 504 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 4: So Jamar chase is the Ears are pricking up, no 505 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 4: doubt about that. It's not a case obviously, where the 506 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:15,439 Speaker 4: teams don't just put their number one corner on the 507 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:17,959 Speaker 4: other team's number one wide out. It's not quite that simple. 508 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 4: But they do have good success against tight ends and 509 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 4: the rest of the guys, but against wideouts and running 510 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 4: backs they struggle. So the two chases Jamar and Brown 511 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:31,959 Speaker 4: should be part of the focal part of the offense. 512 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:33,800 Speaker 4: But the game will come down in a lot of 513 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 4: ways to which team can establish themselves on the ground. 514 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:39,159 Speaker 4: I think the Broncos have come under a lot of 515 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 4: fire locally in Denver for not staying with the run 516 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 4: and blowing leads in that way. You saw that against 517 00:24:45,359 --> 00:24:50,200 Speaker 4: the Chargers especially, and obviously Cincinnati. You know they found 518 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 4: some success with Chase Brown. It's inconsistent. It's not a 519 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 4: dominant part of their game and never will be. But 520 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 4: against the top run defense, can they squeeze out enough 521 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 4: yards to not have a scenario where Denver's playing just 522 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 4: come totally against the pass and that you know, there's 523 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 4: a possible weather factor as well there in Cincinnati, with 524 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 4: rain and wind expected not necessarily known how severe it's 525 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 4: going to be, But you can't expect to be able 526 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:18,399 Speaker 4: to just throw for you know, the three hundred and 527 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:20,879 Speaker 4: fifty yards and three touchdowns like we come to expect 528 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 4: from Joe necessarily in this game. So as much of 529 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,600 Speaker 4: the ground attack can be worked out against Denver's tough 530 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:30,120 Speaker 4: run defense, that'll be an important part of the game. 531 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: Robert, I want to wrap things up by mentioning something 532 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 1: that I look forward to receiving in my email inbox 533 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:41,640 Speaker 1: on a regular basis. It's called the NYC one thousand. 534 00:25:42,119 --> 00:25:44,679 Speaker 1: For people who have no idea what I'm talking about, 535 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:47,440 Speaker 1: explain the NYC one thousand. 536 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:51,919 Speaker 4: Uh, it's my tilting at Windmills. I guess you'd probably 537 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 4: say it's a substack that I have which I am 538 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 4: counting down the top one thousand sporting events in NYC 539 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 4: New York City history. And that's the conceit of it is. 540 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:07,640 Speaker 4: It had to have happened in New York. And it's 541 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:12,080 Speaker 4: everything from football and basketball and baseball to tennis your favorite, 542 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 4: and boxing and track and field and even the bicycle 543 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:20,160 Speaker 4: race from the nineteenth century thrown in there as well. 544 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:22,119 Speaker 4: And it's just a way of, you know, kind of 545 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:26,359 Speaker 4: charting sports history which is so tied into New York 546 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 4: obviously the capital sports for many many moons, if not 547 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 4: necessarily at the present, and also just a way to 548 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 4: throw in the rise and fall and rise again of 549 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 4: so much of the city and so much of the 550 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:41,400 Speaker 4: country as well, and going to give a little history 551 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:44,919 Speaker 4: lesson alongside the sports stuff, which you know is certainly 552 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:46,479 Speaker 4: the way to get people in. But I try and 553 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 4: tuck in the occasional history lesson in other ways as well, 554 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 4: And it's really just a it's a fun little project 555 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 4: that's been going on for a while. 556 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:54,240 Speaker 1: Now. 557 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:57,200 Speaker 4: We're only up to about seven hundred and something. I think, 558 00:26:57,960 --> 00:26:59,520 Speaker 4: you know, about a quarter of the way through. Not 559 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:02,399 Speaker 4: quite there yet, but you know, it's been going on 560 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:04,240 Speaker 4: for a while. But it's easy thing to catch up on. 561 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:08,400 Speaker 4: So yeah, you can just google NYC one thousand or 562 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:12,119 Speaker 4: Robert Wantrum and it'll come up, and you know, subscribe 563 00:27:12,119 --> 00:27:14,000 Speaker 4: and you'll get it in your inbox. I try and 564 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:16,200 Speaker 4: make it once a week Christmas in Milli Year's Eve, 565 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 4: we may take a break, but otherwise it's a pretty 566 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 4: steady thing two a week and you find out what 567 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:27,119 Speaker 4: kind of interesting games and boxing matches and tennis matches 568 00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:30,120 Speaker 4: have been going on in NYC history, in which ones 569 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:31,679 Speaker 4: idem are the best? 570 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:34,720 Speaker 1: And I improved that you do not have to be 571 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 1: from New York City to enjoy the NYC one thousand. 572 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:40,960 Speaker 1: If you like great writing and great storytelling, check it 573 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:44,199 Speaker 1: out the NYC one thousand. Robert always great to catch up. 574 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 1: Appreciate your time and happy holidays. 575 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:49,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, Happy holladays to you, Dan, to everybody out there. 576 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:50,120 Speaker 4: Thanks so much. 577 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 1: You can check out the NYC one thousand for free. 578 00:27:54,960 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 1: Just search for NYC one thousand substack. The Bengals Booth 579 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:02,439 Speaker 1: podcast is brought to you by pay Corps, Proud to 580 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:06,919 Speaker 1: be the Bengals official HR software provider, by Alta Fiber 581 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 1: future proof Fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business, 582 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:13,800 Speaker 1: and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health 583 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 1: the best Care for the best Fans. Kettering Health is 584 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:20,560 Speaker 1: the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. The Denver Broncos 585 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:25,000 Speaker 1: were Super Bowl champs in twenty fifteen, Peyton Manning's final season. 586 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:27,720 Speaker 1: They haven't made it to the playoffs in the eight 587 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:31,920 Speaker 1: years since, but at nine and six, the Broncos are 588 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 1: on the verge of ending that drought, needing to win 589 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 1: just one of their final two games to get in 590 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 1: either at Cincinnati this week or at home against the 591 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:45,280 Speaker 1: Chiefs next week, and they've done it behind rookie quarterback 592 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:48,880 Speaker 1: Bo Nix, the twelfth pick in this year's draft. In 593 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:51,560 Speaker 1: this week's No The Faux Segment, I spoke to long 594 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 1: time Broncos reporter Mike Cliss. Mike, you've written this week 595 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:00,720 Speaker 1: about the Broncos making sure that they have proper prepared 596 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 1: footballs for this game and the event of rain. Explain 597 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 1: why that is newsworthy in Denver, Well. 598 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 6: Because they had a game in the rain against the 599 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:12,680 Speaker 6: Jets in the Meadowlands in Week four. It was the 600 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 6: remnants of Hurricane Helene, and bow Knicks. 601 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:19,040 Speaker 5: Could not grip the ball. It was so wet. It 602 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:22,480 Speaker 5: was it was It wasn't a rain. It was an 603 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:25,240 Speaker 5: in game rain. In other words, it wasn't before and 604 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:26,120 Speaker 5: left it soggy. 605 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 6: It drizzled and rained the whole game except for a 606 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:34,880 Speaker 6: period in the third quarter, and as it so happened, 607 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:37,000 Speaker 6: NICKX led the team out a touchdown drive and they 608 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:39,400 Speaker 6: won it ten to nine. 609 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 5: But otherwise he couldn't grip it. 610 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 6: He was minus seven yards passing in the first half. 611 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 6: And so they later determined that the ball, you know, 612 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:53,840 Speaker 6: the balls were so wet they had they didn't scuff 613 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 6: them up properly. They didn't think it was going to 614 00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:58,720 Speaker 6: rain during the game, so they didn't have the right 615 00:29:58,760 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 6: type of football in there. 616 00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:02,920 Speaker 5: They didn't have the right type of leather polish. So 617 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 5: they're preparing for rain during the game this time. 618 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 6: They I know, at least two practices they had wet 619 00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:16,760 Speaker 6: ball drills and so ball security is going to be 620 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 6: real big and bowl ability to play in bad weather. 621 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:23,560 Speaker 6: He came from Oregon, so you would think he knows 622 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:27,920 Speaker 6: how to play in the rain. But he didn't play 623 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:32,440 Speaker 6: well that game. That was probably his worst game. But 624 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:35,680 Speaker 6: they think they rectify that by giving them better footballs 625 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 6: this week. 626 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 1: Well, hopefully, now that they prepared for it, we won't 627 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:41,160 Speaker 1: get any rain. It'll turn out to be a nice 628 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 1: afternoon here in Cincinnati. Let me follow up on bow Knicks, Mike. 629 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:47,800 Speaker 1: He was the sixth quarterback taking in the draft, but 630 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:50,320 Speaker 1: he's right up there with Jayden Daniels as a candidate 631 00:30:50,360 --> 00:30:53,120 Speaker 1: for offensive Rookie of the year. What have you found 632 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:56,240 Speaker 1: most impressive about bow Knicks's play as a rookie? 633 00:30:57,040 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 6: Yeah, I would say Bowl the last few weeks has 634 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:02,240 Speaker 6: fallen behind Jayden Daniels got the big start there. 635 00:31:02,320 --> 00:31:04,200 Speaker 5: Jayden Daniels is going to be the rookie of the year. 636 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:08,440 Speaker 6: I think uh Bowers, the tight end from the Raiders, 637 00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:13,000 Speaker 6: probably finished second. Nicks will probably finish third. But what 638 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:16,600 Speaker 6: impresses you? Uh? Jeff Hopson wrote about it there for 639 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:19,800 Speaker 6: Bengals dot Com. He he talked to a coach that 640 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:23,720 Speaker 6: had him in Oregon last last year. Just so smart, 641 00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:27,760 Speaker 6: gets rid of the ball so quick reach defenses. I mean, 642 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:31,080 Speaker 6: he's like a veteran out there. He's got Peyton Manning's mind. 643 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:36,520 Speaker 6: Maybe not Peyton Manning's accuracy, but he's got his mind. 644 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:43,240 Speaker 6: And it doesn't have Peyton's ability to to anticipate to 645 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:46,640 Speaker 6: throw it open that Peyton did so well. But Bau 646 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:49,240 Speaker 6: has the mental, the cerebral part of the game down. 647 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:52,920 Speaker 6: You know, he's a coaches kid. He's very serious about it. 648 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:57,240 Speaker 6: He's uh, you know, he doesn't goo for around. He's 649 00:31:57,240 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 6: not a goof around guy. He's all in, uh on 650 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:06,720 Speaker 6: football and preparing and watching film and knowing tendencies and 651 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 6: attacking tendencies. Uh So that's that's the part. 652 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:11,120 Speaker 5: Of the game. 653 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:14,320 Speaker 6: And then on top of that, he's a lot faster 654 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:19,240 Speaker 6: than anyone thought coming out of college. Didn't hear that 655 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 6: and all from all the draft necks how fast he is. 656 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:25,280 Speaker 6: But he is fast, and so he runs the ball 657 00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:29,080 Speaker 6: well and some and and a lot of times his 658 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 6: arm strength will surprise you. There are some times where 659 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:34,840 Speaker 6: it looks like he lacks arm strength. I don't know 660 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:38,120 Speaker 6: if that's footwork or or you know, probably the fundamentals 661 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:41,920 Speaker 6: of setting up that affects that. But there are times 662 00:32:41,920 --> 00:32:46,360 Speaker 6: when he really rips it. So uh, he's been good overall. 663 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:51,640 Speaker 6: His rook hadn't been perfect, but he's been a little 664 00:32:51,760 --> 00:32:55,360 Speaker 6: I would he had. He had high expectations coming in 665 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:57,800 Speaker 6: because you knew he was going to start day one, 666 00:32:58,480 --> 00:33:01,360 Speaker 6: but he's been a little better in that well. 667 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:03,680 Speaker 1: Chatting with Mike Cliss, who covers the Broncos for nine 668 00:33:03,720 --> 00:33:07,160 Speaker 1: News in Denver, let's talk about a couple of defensive topics. 669 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:11,440 Speaker 1: Beginning with cornerback Riley Moss. Looks like he's back after 670 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:15,120 Speaker 1: missing three games. How significant would that be for the Broncos. 671 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:19,080 Speaker 5: I'd be pretty significant because he'll allow them to play 672 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:20,840 Speaker 5: more Manda Man. 673 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:22,760 Speaker 6: And if you trust your Manda Man coverage, you can 674 00:33:22,760 --> 00:33:23,360 Speaker 6: blitz more. 675 00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:25,520 Speaker 5: And against Joe Burrow. 676 00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:29,320 Speaker 6: Putting on pressure, putting on heat I think is paramount. 677 00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:33,320 Speaker 6: It seems like, you know, you give Joe all day 678 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:37,600 Speaker 6: to throw, I mean your toast. And if you put 679 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:40,120 Speaker 6: heat on him though, and he's not the most elusive 680 00:33:40,120 --> 00:33:43,920 Speaker 6: of quarterbacks in the pocket, if you put the heat 681 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:48,200 Speaker 6: on him, you know, he can Like any quarterback. He 682 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:51,480 Speaker 6: you know he's not an All Pro when there's someone 683 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:54,800 Speaker 6: in his face. And so that's what the Broncos, that's 684 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:56,600 Speaker 6: the key to the game is the Broncos have to 685 00:33:56,640 --> 00:34:02,160 Speaker 6: get pressure and having a second cornerback like Riley Moss 686 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:04,840 Speaker 6: who's not as good as Pat Sir Tam, but is 687 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:09,680 Speaker 6: more aggressive and plays with a fun, infectious. 688 00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:10,800 Speaker 5: Aggressive style of defense. 689 00:34:11,640 --> 00:34:15,200 Speaker 6: And so that's why I think one player can make 690 00:34:15,239 --> 00:34:17,759 Speaker 6: a big difference here because they have not played well 691 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:20,960 Speaker 6: in his absence, giving up over twenty six points a 692 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 6: game and ranking thirty first in the last in the 693 00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:30,960 Speaker 6: NFL in yards allowed the last three games. So they 694 00:34:31,600 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 6: put it this way, they better hope he's the difference. 695 00:34:34,239 --> 00:34:36,400 Speaker 1: Patrick Tartan is obviously well known, but there are a 696 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:39,120 Speaker 1: couple of guys having big years on the Denver defense 697 00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:41,799 Speaker 1: that are not household names. Tell us a little bit 698 00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:44,160 Speaker 1: about Nick Benito and Zach Allen. 699 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:48,040 Speaker 5: Yep, you picked the right too. Benito is a third 700 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 5: year guy from Oklahoma. The Broncos. By the way, George Payton, 701 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:53,200 Speaker 5: who got a lot. 702 00:34:53,160 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 6: Of guff from the general manager here, got a lot 703 00:34:55,600 --> 00:34:59,840 Speaker 6: of guff because of the Russell Wilson trade, and rightly, 704 00:35:00,080 --> 00:35:02,320 Speaker 6: oh you know, they gave up so many draft picks, 705 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:04,600 Speaker 6: first and second round draft picks for him and it 706 00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:08,720 Speaker 6: didn't work out. But while he was handicapped in the draft, 707 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:12,120 Speaker 6: in the last a last pick of the second round 708 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:17,000 Speaker 6: in twenty twenty two, he got Nick Benito out of Oklahoma, 709 00:35:17,560 --> 00:35:19,920 Speaker 6: and in twenty twenty three, the last pick in the 710 00:35:19,960 --> 00:35:24,040 Speaker 6: second round he got Marvin Bimms. They're a really good 711 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:27,960 Speaker 6: returner and a fine receiver who's now been playing some halfbacks. 712 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:30,720 Speaker 6: So those are two real good picks with the last 713 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:34,719 Speaker 6: pick in the second round twenty two and twenty three. 714 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:37,160 Speaker 5: And Benito's just just speed. 715 00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:41,960 Speaker 6: He's a speed guy with some bend, so he's you know, 716 00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:45,279 Speaker 6: it depends on the matchup. Last week, the Chargers had 717 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:47,399 Speaker 6: two fine offensive tackles and. 718 00:35:47,360 --> 00:35:48,239 Speaker 5: They locked them up. 719 00:35:49,040 --> 00:35:51,840 Speaker 6: Strengthwise, he can lock them up, but if he gets 720 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:54,880 Speaker 6: a little bit of a head start, watch out. And 721 00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:59,440 Speaker 6: Zach Gallen has been tremendous as a three four defensive 722 00:35:59,560 --> 00:35:59,920 Speaker 6: end time. 723 00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:04,000 Speaker 5: He plays a three technique a lot too. He's just 724 00:36:04,040 --> 00:36:04,880 Speaker 5: been real stout. 725 00:36:04,880 --> 00:36:08,440 Speaker 6: He's one of those relentless motor guys kind of like 726 00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:15,439 Speaker 6: Hendrickson on the inside as far as smarts and. 727 00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:15,879 Speaker 5: And can kind of read weaknesses. 728 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:17,920 Speaker 6: He watches a lot of film, he knows how to 729 00:36:17,960 --> 00:36:23,080 Speaker 6: attack certain blockers, and got a relentless motor and strong, 730 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:26,680 Speaker 6: and so he's been very good this year. 731 00:36:27,239 --> 00:36:29,279 Speaker 1: A couple more questions for Mike Cliss, who covers the 732 00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:32,120 Speaker 1: Broncos for nine News in Denver. The Chiefs one on 733 00:36:32,239 --> 00:36:35,760 Speaker 1: Christmas to clinch the number one seed. That gives Kansas 734 00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:39,120 Speaker 1: City the ability to rest starters next week as they 735 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:43,200 Speaker 1: played the Broncos. Is that what Denver expects? Do they 736 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:47,120 Speaker 1: expect Kansas City to rest guys based on Kansas City's history? 737 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:50,600 Speaker 1: And if so, does that lessen the pressure on Saturday 738 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:51,520 Speaker 1: against Cincinnati. 739 00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:55,759 Speaker 5: Well, I don't know what the mindset will be against Cincinnati. 740 00:36:56,920 --> 00:36:58,359 Speaker 5: I think first things first, you. 741 00:36:58,320 --> 00:37:01,520 Speaker 6: Gotta attack it like this is a winning in playoff 742 00:37:01,600 --> 00:37:04,000 Speaker 6: game against the Bengals and give it all you got. 743 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:09,480 Speaker 5: But yes, Andy Reid, I mean he's he's a. 744 00:37:09,440 --> 00:37:11,360 Speaker 6: Heck of a coach, and he's not gonna play Patrick 745 00:37:11,400 --> 00:37:14,600 Speaker 6: Mahomes or Travis Kelcey or Chris Jones who has a 746 00:37:14,680 --> 00:37:19,399 Speaker 6: calf strain anyway, probably wasn't gonna play anyway, those three 747 00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:22,920 Speaker 6: guys they're not at would not anticipate those guys playing 748 00:37:23,480 --> 00:37:26,160 Speaker 6: in the finals, so a little bit of breathing room 749 00:37:26,719 --> 00:37:28,799 Speaker 6: does He's a little bit of pressure, but you got 750 00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:30,600 Speaker 6: to be careful about that. 751 00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:32,080 Speaker 5: It's not like the. 752 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:35,799 Speaker 6: Preseason, the final preseason game where you rest your top 753 00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:38,920 Speaker 6: twenty five guys because you got a ninety man roster. 754 00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:42,680 Speaker 6: You know, you can only there's only fifty three guys 755 00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:48,480 Speaker 6: and you got to uh so, so you're still gonna 756 00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:51,040 Speaker 6: have fifteen of the twenty two starters play. 757 00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:54,719 Speaker 5: And Carson Wentz by the way, you know, I know. 758 00:37:56,239 --> 00:38:00,640 Speaker 6: His finer days were several several years ago, but the 759 00:38:00,719 --> 00:38:02,560 Speaker 6: last time I checked, he was still capable. 760 00:38:03,320 --> 00:38:05,160 Speaker 5: So first thing first, you got to give it. 761 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:07,239 Speaker 6: You got to sell out against the Bengals, and if 762 00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:10,200 Speaker 6: that doesn't work out, it should work out against the Chiefs. 763 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:15,759 Speaker 6: But sometimes that's a dangerous proposition. I tell you, Dan, 764 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:18,600 Speaker 6: I covered that two thousand and eight Bronco team. It's 765 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:20,719 Speaker 6: the only team in history that's had a three game 766 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:22,040 Speaker 6: lead with three to go and. 767 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:23,080 Speaker 5: Didn't make the playoffs. 768 00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:27,960 Speaker 6: And the Bronco at this current Bronco team had the 769 00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:30,480 Speaker 6: same position, the same situation. 770 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:33,239 Speaker 5: A week ago and one down, you know, the loss 771 00:38:33,280 --> 00:38:34,000 Speaker 5: of the Chargers. 772 00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:37,640 Speaker 6: Now, let's see what happens to the Bengals, so you 773 00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:39,919 Speaker 6: have to treat it like a must win. 774 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:43,760 Speaker 1: Last thing, Mike, you mentioned the need to put pressure 775 00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:46,840 Speaker 1: on Burrow. Are there any other big keys from Denver's 776 00:38:46,880 --> 00:38:48,320 Speaker 1: perspective in your opinion? 777 00:38:49,880 --> 00:38:55,200 Speaker 5: Well, with the weather and with the weather, I would say, you. 778 00:38:55,120 --> 00:39:01,760 Speaker 6: Know, turnovers, ball security, bow had he only had two. 779 00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:03,239 Speaker 5: Picks through ten games. 780 00:39:03,239 --> 00:39:07,399 Speaker 6: From from game three to game twelve, he threw only 781 00:39:07,440 --> 00:39:09,239 Speaker 6: two interceptions, ten touchdowns. 782 00:39:09,239 --> 00:39:10,040 Speaker 5: He was really good. 783 00:39:10,719 --> 00:39:13,440 Speaker 6: Then all of a sudden, there's there are two games 784 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:16,120 Speaker 6: there where he threw five through two and one game 785 00:39:16,160 --> 00:39:20,520 Speaker 6: three in another and then last week they had Sean 786 00:39:20,560 --> 00:39:24,680 Speaker 6: Payton really rained him in. As far as the it 787 00:39:24,719 --> 00:39:28,319 Speaker 6: was a very conservative passing game, so you've got to 788 00:39:28,480 --> 00:39:29,640 Speaker 6: open it up a little. 789 00:39:29,840 --> 00:39:32,319 Speaker 5: But you still can't turn the ball over. 790 00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:35,120 Speaker 6: It's kind of a fine line there. We'll see what 791 00:39:35,160 --> 00:39:38,759 Speaker 6: Sean Payton does. You can't be too cautious in this 792 00:39:38,840 --> 00:39:44,480 Speaker 6: game either, so you know the whole turnover, who can protect, 793 00:39:44,520 --> 00:39:47,279 Speaker 6: who can hang on to the wet ball estimate. The 794 00:39:47,360 --> 00:39:49,920 Speaker 6: rookie running backs had a little bit of fumble problems 795 00:39:49,920 --> 00:39:54,799 Speaker 6: early in the season. Courtland Sutton has fumble problems once 796 00:39:54,840 --> 00:39:56,200 Speaker 6: in a while, their top receiver. 797 00:39:57,040 --> 00:39:58,800 Speaker 5: Those guys got to hang on to the ball. 798 00:40:00,120 --> 00:40:02,759 Speaker 1: Week and a holiday week. I know you're busy. We 799 00:40:02,840 --> 00:40:04,919 Speaker 1: really appreciate your time. Thanks for joining us. 800 00:40:05,480 --> 00:40:05,920 Speaker 5: You got it. 801 00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:09,440 Speaker 1: The Bengals are a three and a half point favorite 802 00:40:09,480 --> 00:40:11,400 Speaker 1: as they try to even their record at eight and 803 00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:14,840 Speaker 1: eight and keep hope alive heading into the regular season 804 00:40:14,880 --> 00:40:17,960 Speaker 1: finale at Pittsburgh. That's going to do it for this 805 00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:20,520 Speaker 1: episode of the Bengals Booth Podcast, brought to you by 806 00:40:20,600 --> 00:40:25,000 Speaker 1: pay Core, Proud to be the Bengals official HR software provider, 807 00:40:25,360 --> 00:40:28,680 Speaker 1: by Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate 808 00:40:28,680 --> 00:40:31,960 Speaker 1: your home, business and community to a new level, and 809 00:40:32,160 --> 00:40:35,240 Speaker 1: by Kettering Health the best care for the best fans. 810 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:38,960 Speaker 1: Kettering Health is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. 811 00:40:39,280 --> 00:40:41,960 Speaker 1: If you haven't done so already, please subscribe to this 812 00:40:42,040 --> 00:40:43,880 Speaker 1: podcast and if you have a minute, give it a 813 00:40:43,960 --> 00:40:47,440 Speaker 1: rating or share a comment that helps more Bengals fans 814 00:40:47,680 --> 00:40:51,279 Speaker 1: find us. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for listening to 815 00:40:51,440 --> 00:40:53,359 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth Podcast