1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,519 Speaker 1: I get everybody on Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 2 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth Podcast. Uh it's the final countdown addition 3 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: as we look ahead to Sunday season opener against the 4 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:20,759 Speaker 1: Los Angeles Chargers. By the way, I don't know about you, 5 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: but I can't hear that song or even without thinking 6 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 1: of Joe Blooth performing tricks make that illusions unarrested development 7 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: coming up, my one on one conversation with tight end 8 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: c j u Zamba, who compares the Bengals to a 9 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 1: peewee football team in a good way. Then Dave Lapham 10 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: joins me to look at three of Sunday's biggest storylines, 11 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 1: and finally it's our No the Faux segment as we 12 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,639 Speaker 1: get the scoop on the Chargers from Joe Ready, who 13 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: covers the team for the Associated Press in Los Angeles. 14 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by Sport, the official 15 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 1: hospitality partner of the Cincinnati Bengals. And here's a quick 16 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:07,119 Speaker 1: reminder that you can add the latest edition of this 17 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 1: podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, or computer by 18 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:16,039 Speaker 1: subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, or pod Bean. 19 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 1: It's the greatest thing since dark chocolate. I stumbled upon 20 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: a pack of dark chocolate Reese's Peanut buttercups for the 21 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: first time, and it confirmed by longstanding belief the dark 22 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: chocolate is vastly superior to milk chocolate. But that's not all. 23 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: According to healthline dot com, dark chocolate is loaded with 24 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 1: nutrients that can positively affect your health. Made from the 25 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 1: seed of the cocoa tree, it is one of the 26 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: best sources of antioxidants on the planet, and studies show 27 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: the dark chocolate can lower the risk of heart disease. 28 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: So I think I'll go ahead and eat a case 29 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: of those dark chocolate Reeses Peanut butter cups, you know, 30 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: for my health. Let's get to football. The Bengals opened 31 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: the season on Sunday at four oh five against the 32 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: LA Chargers. Cincinnati's a three point underdog. This week, I 33 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 1: had the opportunity to preview the game at a one 34 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: on one visit with tight end cj Uzama. CJ. Professional 35 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: athletes always sound optimistic heading into the season, but one 36 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,359 Speaker 1: specifically gives you confidence that this could be a good year. 37 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: I just think the chemistry that we have, you know, 38 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 1: I think in the locker room, hanging out with the 39 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,919 Speaker 1: defensive guys, and you know, this is a team chemistry 40 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: that I haven't seen in a really long time, you know, 41 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 1: getting back to maybe Pema years, if we're being completely honest. 42 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 1: So just just the team chemistry that we have and 43 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 1: the will for one another. You know, we're truly playing 44 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,079 Speaker 1: for the guid next to us, and we're a locker 45 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: room full of brothers right now. And yeah, we're excited. 46 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 1: We're excited to get out get out there and not 47 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: hit each other for the first time and really just 48 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: show you know, what we're about and what this new 49 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 1: year means to us. So the chemistry on this team 50 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: reminds you peewee football or minds of purie football and 51 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: just hanging out, messing with one another, like you know, 52 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: it's it's it's good vibes, you know, it's it's really um, 53 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: it's it's something that you know, we we come in 54 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: and we're competing, you know, I'm competing against Bond and um, 55 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: these these you know, secondary people and all this stuff, 56 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: and then we come inside and you know, we're we're brothers. 57 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 1: You know, we're hanging out, we're talking shop where um, 58 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: it's nice. It is. It is. Uh, it's something I 59 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:25,639 Speaker 1: haven't seen in a long time. We're chatting with tight 60 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: end C. J Uzama. When asked about Joe Burrow recently, 61 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: you said, quote, he's a beast, He's an absolute animal. 62 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: What has he done to earn your respect before you've 63 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: ever played a game? I think just the command that 64 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: he has, you know, I think, um, we're going over situations, 65 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 1: we're going over plays, and he's stopping the meeting sometimes 66 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: and saying, hey, and this situation, you know, you can 67 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: do it like this or in this situation, we can 68 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: check it to this or you know, we're gonna do this. 69 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 1: And and I think you know, as a rookie, as 70 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: a quarterback in journal, you want to see that, you know, 71 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: you want to see someone who takes control and takes 72 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: him in of a huddle and things like that. But 73 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: I think you know him coming in and you know, 74 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: showing the assertiveness that he has so early on and 75 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: in such a way that we're like, oh, nice, like 76 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: we can't do that, all right, nice Like, all right, 77 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: that's a that's a good check that we have. Oh 78 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: we can run this shout this way against this coverage 79 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: or against this leverage. I think things like that that 80 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 1: really sticks out to you and that resonates in your mind, 81 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: and that kind of gives you He's like, oh nice, 82 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 1: he knows what he's gonna do. He's gonna get us 83 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: in the best possible play and it's up to us 84 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 1: to make the plays. CJ and the most significant scrimmage 85 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: inside of Paul Brown Stadium, Joe's first two passes and 86 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: three of the first five we're thrown to you. Did 87 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: you take that as a good sign for how the 88 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: tight ends will be used this year? Thousand percent. No, 89 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 1: that's that's always. It's always. Uh. It means a lot 90 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 1: to me in particular, and then to the tight end 91 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: group knowing that you know, we're we're we're in his mind. 92 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 1: You know we're we're we're going to be involved in 93 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: the in the playbook. And um, I think I've mentioned 94 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: this before. I want the onus on us. I want 95 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 1: us to be stressed, whether it's um, you know, a 96 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 1: passing play or running play, protection, whatever the cause is. 97 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 1: I want I want that pressure. So uh yeah, having 98 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: having those passes thrown early in that scream and I 99 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 1: was like, all right, here we go. This is this 100 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,600 Speaker 1: is Um, something I can look forward to. Hopefully. There 101 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: were no preseason games this year and limited tackling in practice. 102 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 1: From your perspective heading into your sixth NFL season, is 103 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: that a good thing or a bad thing? I think 104 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: I think the coach has kind of prepared us in 105 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: a in a in a good way. UM, with you know, 106 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: having no preseason games. UM, I think it's gonna be 107 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:29,600 Speaker 1: more so for me. I'm I'm I mean, like I like, 108 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 1: like you said, this is my sixty year so I've 109 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: kind of, um, I'm used to speed of the game 110 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 1: and things like that. I think more so for the rookies. UM, 111 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 1: I think, you know, defensively, they've been doing some tackling 112 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 1: drills and things like that, and UM, we've been doing 113 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 1: we've been opening up kind of with like a tackling station, 114 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 1: um with most practices. So yeah, I think I think 115 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: we prepared ourselves, um, and in a really good way. 116 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: I think kind of the coaches, know you know this 117 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: with with not having as much live contact, with not 118 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: having these preseason games, that needs to be a mindset 119 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: in an m O. So, UM, I'm expecting us to 120 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: come out and not have you know, mistackles and um, 121 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:07,040 Speaker 1: you know, hopefully we get some turnovers and things of 122 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 1: that nigue as well. In addition to no preseason games, 123 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 1: there have been severe limitations and what the media can 124 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: report on a training camp. And I'm sure you're going 125 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: to try to surprise the Chargers with something. I would 126 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:23,280 Speaker 1: not expect you to divulge any secrets, But is that 127 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: an intriguing aspect to this opener? That's the biggest thing 128 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 1: I think. You know, we talk about um, you know, 129 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: Darren and special teams. We talked, He asked, you know, 130 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: what's the biggest takeaway from game one? How are you 131 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 1: gonna how are we gonna win Game one? And its 132 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 1: adjustments because you're right, we don't know and they don't 133 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: really know what we're gonna throw at them, what they're 134 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 1: gonna throw at us. I think having hard knocks was nice, 135 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: you know, being able to you know, kind of see 136 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: see their players, see just their mannerisms, how how they 137 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: go about their gay and things like that. But yeah, 138 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: it's gonna be, um, you know, it's gonna be one 139 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: of those things where who can adjust the best against 140 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: certain things that other team's gonna throw at them. So 141 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 1: I'm excited about that aspect. A couple more questions for 142 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: tight end c j Uzoma. Let's look at that Chargers defense. 143 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: No team in the NFL only rushed for more than 144 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 1: the Chargers did last year. That was eighty two percent 145 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: of the time on passing plays. Because they have great 146 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: edge rushers and Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. How much 147 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 1: of your success will simply depend on blocking those two guys. Yeah, 148 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 1: I mean, I think I think that kind of allows 149 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:30,239 Speaker 1: their secondary players and their their young linebacking linebacker courts 150 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 1: to kind of play a little more freely. You know, 151 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 1: you have two guys like that who are um you 152 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: know who I have a great deal of respect for 153 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 1: for how they play the game. Um, you know that 154 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: that dictates the flow of their defense. And I think 155 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 1: that kind of run, their defense of energy runs through 156 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: those two players. So UM yeah, I think, um, we're 157 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: gonna have to be on them early and often, and 158 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: um kind of a certain art dominance, UM kind of 159 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: unsettled them so that they can't, you know, dictate the 160 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: pace of the game and we're not you know, going 161 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 1: into their counter moves or um playing up to their 162 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 1: Samon cj I would describe he is a very positive, 163 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: upbeat guy. How thrilled are you just at the prospect 164 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 1: of playing football this year. I'm excited. I'm ecstatic. I 165 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: can't tell you how how happy I am that um, 166 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: you know, off off rip, you know, during like where 167 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 1: when OT should have happened. I'm sitting here like there 168 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: you got any Kennedy. Come on now, we have to 169 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: have football. We have to I have to get out 170 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: of this house and and and go back up to 171 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: Cincinnati and get ready for the season. So I can't 172 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: tell you I'll throw it. I am to be back 173 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 1: in the locker room, be with my guys. Um he 174 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: chatted up with TV every day and and and you know, 175 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: messing with him and Geo and all the guys, you know, 176 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 1: all the tight ends in the room. It's to me, 177 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 1: it's it's this is my family. So I was away 178 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: from my family for way too long during these during 179 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: these times. So I'm excited to get back on the 180 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: field with him and get after it. Appreciate your time. 181 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: Best of luck this year, Yes, sir, thank you. It 182 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: will be interesting to see how often Joe Burrow throws 183 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:55,679 Speaker 1: to his tight ends. Last year at the last you 184 00:08:56,320 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: Randy Moss's son Thaddius finished with forty seven for five 185 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 1: hundred and seventy yards, setting school records for receptions and 186 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 1: receiving yards by a tight end. Now time to look 187 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: at three of Sunday's biggest storylines with my broadcast partner 188 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:16,199 Speaker 1: Dave Lapham. The return of aj Green, the debut of 189 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 1: Jonah Williams, and obviously the debut of Joe Burrow. I've 190 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 1: been trying to think of a debut that compares to this. 191 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:27,079 Speaker 1: I mean, the first thing they'll come to mind is 192 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: a Bengals fan would be Carson Palmer. But for whatever reason, 193 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: that didn't seem quite this hyped to me. Maybe there's 194 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: the fact that he sat out his entire rookie year. 195 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: Ken Griffey Junior coming home kind of compares. But that's 196 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 1: baseball one hundred and sixty two games instead of sixteen. 197 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:48,719 Speaker 1: This is something special in this city's history. I think 198 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: you have to go back to Greg Cook Local. You 199 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: see product drafted by Paul Brown, big excitement, you know, 200 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: Greg Cook, oh local boy making good Chillcothee Ohio University, Cincinnati, 201 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 1: drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, and he had star written 202 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: all over him. Just you know, like Joe Burrow didn't 203 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: win a Heisman Trophy or a national championship obviously, like 204 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 1: Joe Burrow did, but just a physical specimen and then 205 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 1: tragic injury obviously ended his career very prematurely, and the 206 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 1: franchise recovered and brought Ken Anderson into the fold. But yeah, 207 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 1: I mean, this guy's you talk about buzz it's constant buzz. Well. 208 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: He is coming off what many have called the greatest 209 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 1: season by an individual in college football history. He completed 210 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: seventy six percent of his passes five thousand, six hundred 211 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 1: and seventy one yards, sixty touchdown passes, only six interceptions. 212 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 1: If he used the NFL Quarterback Rating system, his numbers 213 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 1: last year compute to one forty three point seven. Nuts 214 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: and ridiculous. It's nuts, it's nuts. What is it? One 215 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: fifty seven point ages pun fifty eight points say is 216 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:02,319 Speaker 1: a perfect So he was one forty three point seven. 217 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: That's that's that is nuts against that competition level. I mean, 218 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 1: you know, we're not talking about little sisters of the 219 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 1: poor year. We're talking about the SEC and then we're 220 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: talking about getting into the National championship tournament, you know, 221 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: and playing the best teams in the in the country, 222 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 1: and he shredded everything. So it's uh, that's the thing 223 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 1: is he did it week after week after week. It 224 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 1: wasn't any one hit wonder And the consistency of his 225 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 1: level of play to raise the bar to where he 226 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 1: raised it to and to reach it so many weeks 227 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: in a row against again, more than formidable competition most 228 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: weeks is truly remarkable. He had just a spectacular year. 229 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,559 Speaker 1: He's twenty three years old. He has already been named 230 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:50,600 Speaker 1: one of the Bengals captains going into the season, chosen 231 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 1: by his teammates as one of their captains. That was 232 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:57,120 Speaker 1: the first topic of conversation today when Joe Burrow met 233 00:11:57,160 --> 00:12:00,319 Speaker 1: with Cincinnati area reporters to look ahead to send Day's 234 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: game against the Chargers. You know, that was one of 235 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: my goals coming in. I really didn't expect to be 236 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 1: a captain. Um, but you know, I'm I couldn't be 237 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 1: happier to represent our team in our offense. Um. You know, 238 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: we have a lot of guys that that could have 239 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:18,680 Speaker 1: been up there, but UM, I'm happy that that that 240 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 1: my team decided that I should be the one to 241 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 1: get that honor. Oh, You're known for the grind and 242 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: preparing for games. By being your NFL debut, is this 243 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: unlike anything you prepared for before. I mean, obviously it is, 244 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 1: but I try not to, you know. I just just 245 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 1: come in and work like I always do. UM lots 246 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 1: the film, like I need to prepare, like I need 247 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 1: to UM. So I try not to focus on all 248 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:49,839 Speaker 1: the pressure stuff. UM. I feel like I'm going to 249 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:51,079 Speaker 1: be ready to play. I feel like I'm going to 250 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:53,679 Speaker 1: play well. And you know I'm not not ready to 251 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 1: play yet. I saw a few more days preparation that 252 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: that need to come in. But I'm feeling pretty good 253 00:12:57,920 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 1: right now. When you look at the tape of the Chargers, 254 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 1: what jumps out at you? Is there anything that they're doing? 255 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 1: It's like WHOA just all of a sudden, you know, 256 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 1: hit you hit you like a ton of Brooks. Obviously, 257 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 1: they have BOTHA and Ingram, two of the best pass 258 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 1: rushers in the league. So we're gonna have to um. 259 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: I'm gonna have to get the ball out of my 260 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,320 Speaker 1: hands quickly and know what I'm looking at. If I 261 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 1: don't know what I'm I'm looking at every snap, it's 262 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 1: gonna be a long day. Um, those guys will get 263 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: get to me quick. And you know, I know the 264 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: old line will be ready for it, and I don't 265 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:26,679 Speaker 1: know I'll be ready for it as well. You and 266 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:28,679 Speaker 1: Zach Tayler have both said the ultimate goal here is 267 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:30,679 Speaker 1: to win a championship. How long have you been a 268 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 1: person who's focused on championships? Did that start at LSU 269 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 1: in high school? When did that start? That's the goal 270 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 1: whenever you're playing anything. I started when I first started 271 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 1: competing in sports. M If you're not striving for a 272 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:49,680 Speaker 1: championship for perfection, what are you? What are you doing 273 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: it for? That's you know. I'm not. I'm not out 274 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 1: there to win Go five hundred and you know, squeak 275 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 1: into the playoffs. I'm here to win games and win championships. 276 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: Music to the ears of Bengals fans. Not here to 277 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: win games, He's here to win championships. Exactly what he 278 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:10,559 Speaker 1: did last year at LSU at Athens High School, good 279 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: enough to have the stadium renamed for him Joe Burrow Stadium. 280 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: He'll have a statue in front of the stadium at LSU. 281 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: After national championship and winning the Heisman Trophy, and now 282 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: he is trying to turn a franchise around that hasn't 283 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 1: been to the playoffs in the last four years, and 284 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: I think he's I think he's up to the task, 285 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 1: I really do. You know. The thing about him, Dan, 286 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 1: I think is he was raised right. I mean, his 287 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: parents did a remarkable job, and his dad obviously a 288 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 1: very successful football player, football coach, Jim Burrow. You know, 289 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 1: he has created almost the perfect combination of player person. 290 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 1: I mean, this kid understands people. His people skills are 291 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 1: off the charts, so that that would stand him instead 292 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: in any walk of life. And you know, to be 293 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: elected captain as a as a rookie quarterback is a 294 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: significant thing. But he's he's experienced beyond his years, There's 295 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: no two ways about it. But he just has a 296 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 1: great feel for how to respect people, treat people. His 297 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:18,400 Speaker 1: people skills are off the charts, and I think his 298 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: teammates are going to do everything they possibly can to 299 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: support him, and he is going to do the same 300 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: for them in every way feasible. Joe Burrow is going 301 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 1: to have a lot to say about how much improvement 302 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: the Bengals make, but so is Jonah Williams. The offensive 303 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 1: line has really struggled over the last four years, and 304 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 1: they are counting on him to solidify left tackle for 305 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: many years to come. No question, Dan. It was a 306 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: revolving door personnel wise at the left tackle position, as 307 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: we know last year, and a couple of guys that 308 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,400 Speaker 1: filled that spot aren't even in the NFL this year. 309 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: They did what they could. They gave everything they had 310 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: to coach Jim Turner, but it just wasn't good enough, 311 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 1: you know, and they had problems there. And Jonah Williams 312 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: is a guy they took with the eleventh pick in 313 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: the draft in twenty nineteen to anchor that position and 314 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: give continuity and just solidify that spot. And that's what 315 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 1: they're hoping that he does. When you're drafted eleventh in 316 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: the draft, you're drafted to shut down guys one on 317 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 1: one pass rush guys. Well, he's going to be facing 318 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: two great ones in his first you know, one hundred 319 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 1: hours of his professional career, Joey Bosa and Miles Garrett. 320 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: Joey Bosa, like Joe Burrow was saying earlier today in 321 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: his media press conference, he knows what Joey Bosa is 322 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: all about. In terms of a technician. It's going to 323 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: be technique against technique, technician against technician. Joey Bosa has 324 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: tremendous hands. He can get people's hands off of him. 325 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 1: Offensive lineman has to have good hands, a good hand 326 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: placement to try to jam and keep his shoulders back 327 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 1: and his shoulders and chest away from the defensive lineman. 328 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 1: Joey Bosa does a good job of rushing with tremendous 329 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: strength and the body lean and using his hands to 330 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: break down the offense of lineman's hands and get to 331 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:04,440 Speaker 1: the shoulder pads in the chest of the offensive lineman. 332 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 1: So it's going to be literally hand to hand combat 333 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 1: out there at that you know, left tackle right defensive 334 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 1: end position. And I do not believe that Jonah Williams 335 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 1: is going to be out there one on one all 336 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 1: day long. I think they'll slide the line his way. 337 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,400 Speaker 1: Some I think they'll have a tight end over there. 338 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 1: Some they're gonna chip with the running back. Some but 339 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: they're gonna be snaps where Jonah Williams and Joey Bosa, 340 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 1: the Jay Boys are going to be going one on one, 341 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:33,919 Speaker 1: head to head. And really the biggest thing Dan is 342 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 1: defensive players have to earn the opportunity to pass rush. 343 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 1: They have to get the offense in third and seven 344 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:43,640 Speaker 1: or more. The offense has to make sure the defense 345 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: doesn't earn those opportunities. So the best thing to do 346 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: is to be balanced and have a running game where 347 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:52,679 Speaker 1: you're gonna run at Joey Bosa, some anchor him some 348 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: you know, and make it where he's just not teeing 349 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:00,199 Speaker 1: off If he's teeing off on Jonah Williams on every 350 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,680 Speaker 1: third down. If every third down is third and long, 351 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 1: oh could be a long afternoon. If every third if 352 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: most of the third downs are third and short to medium, 353 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:11,200 Speaker 1: we've got a shot. And that's what it's going to 354 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,200 Speaker 1: be all about. It's going to be can they can 355 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: they run the football? A running game helps the offense, 356 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:21,199 Speaker 1: it helps the defense, keeps them off the field, a huge, 357 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:25,400 Speaker 1: huge ripple effect there. Jonah Williams and his fellow offensive 358 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: linemen are well aware of the fact that the world 359 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 1: doesn't think that highly of the Bengals offensive line, to 360 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,400 Speaker 1: put it nicely, and Jonah also knows that the old 361 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 1: linemen have the opportunity to try to start changing their 362 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 1: reputation this week. It's definitely something that motivates us. But 363 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 1: I think, as I've said before, it's not so much about, 364 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 1: you know, trying to prove everyone wrong. It's just trying to, 365 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 1: you know, give Joe confidence and help this offense execute 366 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,439 Speaker 1: and with that will gain respect as a unit um 367 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:54,360 Speaker 1: And I think that you know, that's that's a mindset 368 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: that everyone has, is we're excited about this offensecute and 369 00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 1: me us five to our job and trust that you know, 370 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 1: the six will do theirs. If the offensive line can 371 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 1: just be solid, they don't have to be the best 372 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: offensive line in the NFL. They just can't be among 373 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:10,920 Speaker 1: the worst. Absolutely, if they can climb to average. If 374 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: they can be an average offensive line, watch out because 375 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 1: they do have weapons. And if Joe Burrow in twenty 376 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 1: eighteen didn't have the year he had in twenty nineteen. 377 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:26,880 Speaker 1: And one of the biggest differences they put five out 378 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:30,560 Speaker 1: in routes. They had five offensive lineman and Joe Burrow. 379 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: If they rush five, they had five to pick it up. 380 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:35,440 Speaker 1: If it was the six guy coming, Joe Burrow knew 381 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 1: he had to get the ball out of his hand 382 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: before the guy got there, or make the guy miss 383 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 1: and create an extend to play So if the Bengals 384 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 1: offensive line can do that, if they at times can 385 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 1: put five out in routes and let Joe do his 386 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 1: thing where he so quickly quickly diagnoses defenses. He's a 387 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:57,439 Speaker 1: problem solver, an excellent problem solver, and knows where to 388 00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 1: go with the football right away if he can get 389 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 1: the football out of his hand pronto, which he's great at, 390 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,920 Speaker 1: and they can, you know, not have to have tight 391 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: ends and running backs and all that help and upfront 392 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:10,919 Speaker 1: and the offensive line. It's it's it's going to be 393 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 1: a dynamic offense, there's no question. But in order to 394 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,280 Speaker 1: do that, you're gonna have to be in favorable situations. 395 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:18,919 Speaker 1: Again with you have to have some sort of a 396 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:23,120 Speaker 1: running game. You can't be one dimensional and put five 397 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: out every single pass play in the National Football League, 398 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 1: defensive coordinators will be drooling. Aj Green is expected to 399 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: be in the starting lineup for the Bengals on Sunday. 400 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 1: The question is can he stay on the field this year. 401 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 1: There's a website lap called Sports Injury Predictor dot com. 402 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 1: I have no idea what their track record is, how 403 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:47,879 Speaker 1: legitimate it is, if there are doctors involved or whatever, 404 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 1: but the website Sports Injury Predictor dot com says there's 405 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: a ninety three percent chance that AJ Green will get 406 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: injured at some point this year, and they project him 407 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 1: to miss five games. He missed every game last year. 408 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:04,880 Speaker 1: He's missed twenty nine over the last four aj has 409 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: done everything humanly possible to put his body in position 410 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:12,160 Speaker 1: to try to answer the bell for all sixteen this year. 411 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 1: He certainly has dan. I mean, he had a remarkable 412 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: offseason of conditioning and I've said it a few times. 413 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 1: He came back and looked looking like an Olympic caliber athlete. 414 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: He looked like he was going to be part of 415 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:29,680 Speaker 1: the Olympic sprint team. Phenomenal, and his route running is extraordinary. 416 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 1: Joe Burrow made mention of it earlier today during the 417 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:36,560 Speaker 1: course of the press conference that AJ Green is such 418 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 1: an explosive route runner. He's such a precise route runner. 419 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 1: He knows exactly, you know where he's supposed to be 420 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: when he's supposed to be there, and I mean, he 421 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:46,399 Speaker 1: just makes such a huge difference. There's there's just no 422 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: two ways about it. He's upper crusted in the National 423 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 1: Football League and you have to you can't leave Aj 424 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 1: Green one on one. If you do, you're asking for 425 00:21:56,840 --> 00:21:59,360 Speaker 1: You're cruising for a bruising. There's no doubt about it. 426 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 1: So if if aj Green can stay healthy for sixteen 427 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 1: games like he did for a bunch of seasons early 428 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:10,119 Speaker 1: in his career, I mean he was he was about 429 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 1: you know, you just check him off every single week. 430 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 1: AJ Green's going to be in the starting lineup and 431 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 1: then he's had a spell here of some bad luck 432 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:20,399 Speaker 1: and hopefully the football gods reverse it and let him 433 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: go back to earlier in his career. If he's able 434 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 1: to play sixteen games, he's going to put up significant numbers. 435 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 1: He's gonna make Joe Burrow's life a lot easier, Joe 436 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:30,960 Speaker 1: Mixon is gonna like his life better. Tyler Boyd. It 437 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:34,640 Speaker 1: has a trickle effect, a ripple effect, and AJ Green 438 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:38,800 Speaker 1: is extremely important. You know three and twenty one in 439 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:42,399 Speaker 1: the last twenty four games that AJ Green missed. That 440 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:46,439 Speaker 1: tells you something. In his career, when he's played, the 441 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:50,680 Speaker 1: Bengals are sixty six forty four and one. That means 442 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 1: they've won sixty percent of the time when he's played. 443 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:57,200 Speaker 1: When he hasn't played a single snap, seven wins, twenty 444 00:22:57,240 --> 00:23:01,359 Speaker 1: five losses, one tie they've on twenty two percent of 445 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 1: the time when he hasn't played now at all. He 446 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 1: hasn't practiced that much after tweaking his hamstring early in 447 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 1: training camp this year, so head coach Zach Taylor was asked, 448 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,719 Speaker 1: how carefully do you have to watch his snaps this 449 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 1: Sunday against the Chargers. We're fortunate right now we have 450 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 1: you guys. We're deep at receiver, and we feel like 451 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 1: there's a lot of guys that can step in there 452 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:27,120 Speaker 1: and be a primary receiver. And obviously AJ Green's Aj Green. 453 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:30,159 Speaker 1: There's no replacing him. But our guys have had a 454 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 1: strong training camp and and Bob mcnell and Troy Walters 455 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:35,919 Speaker 1: have done a great job preparing those guys to where, um, 456 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:39,359 Speaker 1: you know guys can step up. And it's really a 457 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:41,320 Speaker 1: time where you call a play and you don't necessarily 458 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:42,719 Speaker 1: have to look to see who's out there to make 459 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 1: sure what player you're calling. It's you're fully confidence that 460 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: all those guys can execute their jobs. You've waited a 461 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:50,679 Speaker 1: very long time to coach Aj in a game. Have 462 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:52,199 Speaker 1: you thought about what that feeling is going to be 463 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: like on Sunday? And how excited are you to have 464 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: him as an asset. He's a tremendous weapon and you know, 465 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 1: he really attacks, you know, to attack defenses, and he's 466 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:04,160 Speaker 1: somebody they got to be concerned about. And not only that, 467 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 1: but is he a great weapon, but he takes the 468 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 1: pressure off all the other receivers, you know, to go 469 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:10,159 Speaker 1: and just make plays as they come to him. And 470 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:13,359 Speaker 1: so he's just a tremendous weapon. Half, it is a 471 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: deep group at the wide receiver position. However, AJ Green 472 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: is not the only guy who's had injury issues during 473 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 1: training camp. That's also been the case for John Ross 474 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:24,680 Speaker 1: and t Higgins. It has I mean they haven't been 475 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 1: in the huddle together at all, you know, so you know, 476 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:34,240 Speaker 1: it is a little bit of a concern. Obviously, when healthy, 477 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: that's the strongest position group in the offensive side of 478 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:40,679 Speaker 1: the football. I think the defensive line is arguably and 479 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 1: probably unquestioned the strength of the defense in terms of 480 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: position groups. So yeah, I mean, this this core, if 481 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:54,600 Speaker 1: if healthy, if intact, can put up some significant numbers. 482 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 1: There's no two ways about it. But with a rookie quarterback, 483 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: to to make him have to throw, if he has 484 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:04,640 Speaker 1: to throw the football, if Joe Burrows throwing the football 485 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:07,879 Speaker 1: to these guys because he wants to. It's gonna put 486 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 1: up big numbers if he's thrown to him because he 487 00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:13,119 Speaker 1: has to. It's gonna be a little bit different spin. 488 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 1: And that's uh, that's up to each and every one 489 00:25:16,359 --> 00:25:19,439 Speaker 1: of the receivers, uh, the offensive line, the running backs, 490 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:23,160 Speaker 1: everybody to execute the run game the pass game. They've 491 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 1: got plenty of weapons, but they have to be you 492 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:29,240 Speaker 1: have to do both. Dan at some point during the 493 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 1: season and a football game you have you're gonna have 494 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:36,119 Speaker 1: to run the football well against tough odds. I mean, 495 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:39,639 Speaker 1: it's like this is this is an incredible situation, but 496 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 1: you've got to go run the football now. And the 497 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: same thing throwing the football. You're gonna have tough situation 498 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 1: where you're you're you're gonna have to throw the football 499 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: to come back and and you know, get back into 500 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:52,320 Speaker 1: a football game. So those are the that's when the 501 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 1: rubber meets the road. That's when it separates the men 502 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:57,119 Speaker 1: from the boys. Can you run the football when you 503 00:25:57,200 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 1: have to? Can you throw the football when you have to? 504 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:02,960 Speaker 1: When you're doing both when you want to Easy Street 505 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 1: JJ told reporters on Thursday that his hamstring is one 506 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:10,880 Speaker 1: hundred percent and that he has been practicing full speed 507 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 1: this week. Geno Atkins, on the other hand, has not 508 00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 1: been practicing due to a shoulder injury, and his status 509 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 1: for Sunday's opener appears to be up in the air 510 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 1: now time for this week's no the Faux Segment. Joe 511 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: Ready used to cover the Bengals for the Cincinnati Enquirer. 512 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:30,399 Speaker 1: Now he covers the Chargers for the Associated Press. In 513 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,800 Speaker 1: Los Angeles, Joe joined Dave Lappam and me on the 514 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:37,200 Speaker 1: Bengals Game Plan Show and we started our conversation by 515 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: discussing the Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn. Acquitted himself quite 516 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:43,879 Speaker 1: well on Hard Knocks. What kind of a guy is 517 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: Anthony Lynn? Good guy, very very blunt at times, but 518 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 1: he gets it across in a way that is not 519 00:26:58,119 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 1: it all feel bad after after he does it. I 520 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 1: think he has many similarities to Marvin in terms of that. 521 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:09,640 Speaker 1: Anthony's one liners with the media, I will say, are 522 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:15,639 Speaker 1: better than Marvin. He's a little more joking with the media, 523 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:18,160 Speaker 1: which I think is good at times. But I think 524 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 1: much as Hard Knocks and two thus nine did a 525 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:26,199 Speaker 1: good job of acquitting Marvin to a national audience. I 526 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 1: think that, you know, especially with everything that was going 527 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 1: on in society and everything, Anthony came out very well 528 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:38,080 Speaker 1: on this edition of Hard Knocks. Yeah, I thought he 529 00:27:38,119 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: was the star of the show this time around. Or 530 00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:43,439 Speaker 1: talking to Joe Ready, Joe, the Chargers were five and 531 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:46,919 Speaker 1: eleven last year, after going twelve and four and winning 532 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 1: a playoff game the year before. Do you think this 533 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 1: year's team is closer to twelve wins or five wins? 534 00:27:54,359 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 1: I think closer to twelve wins, Dan. I think when 535 00:27:57,080 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: you look at last year, nine of the eleven losses 536 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:04,200 Speaker 1: were by eight points or fewer. And there there are 537 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:06,719 Speaker 1: a few factors that I that I will put on 538 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:11,080 Speaker 1: that their third down defense teams were converting at a 539 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,960 Speaker 1: fifty to fifty five percent clip, and if you can't 540 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 1: get off the field on third down, it's going to 541 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 1: be a very long day for you. And also eight 542 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 1: red zone turnovers that led the league as well, and 543 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 1: they didn't generate a enough. They gave it away more 544 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 1: than a few times with fumbles and Philip rivers in 545 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:33,960 Speaker 1: late game situations, but they didn't take it away enough either. 546 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 1: I think that it might be closer than the two 547 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,280 Speaker 1: thousand and eighteen team in terms of changes with the 548 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 1: offense and a quarterback that'll be a lot better. And 549 00:28:43,760 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 1: I think this defense is a lot better at linebacker 550 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:51,160 Speaker 1: in the secondary than last year. Boy eight red zone turnovers. 551 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 1: I know Rivers had eighteen in receptions and man, but 552 00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:58,960 Speaker 1: you're right the takeaways there. There were ten interceptions and 553 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:03,120 Speaker 1: three funebre recovers. Thirteen takeaways in a sixteen game season 554 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:08,120 Speaker 1: for a defense that statistically tied for six in the NFL, 555 00:29:08,560 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 1: fifth in the league defending the pass. But they just 556 00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:14,960 Speaker 1: couldn't take the football away with those pass rushers, two 557 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:19,040 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl pass rushers, two Pro Bowl cornerbacks. Well, I 558 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:21,040 Speaker 1: guess they just signed one of them, but it just 559 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:24,080 Speaker 1: didn't compute. You know, Derwin James was there the whole season. 560 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 1: Not going to have him this year, but they had 561 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:30,800 Speaker 1: plenty of players, didn't they. Well, Derwin missed. Derwin missed 562 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:34,239 Speaker 1: ten games last right due to the broken foot. Right. 563 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 1: I think that was a big loss for him. But 564 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 1: I think they really were thin a linebacker the last 565 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:46,520 Speaker 1: couple of years, and they've really phoned up in terms 566 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:50,720 Speaker 1: of that area. This year. They drafted Kenneth Murray that 567 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 1: traded up with New England to get him in the 568 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:57,400 Speaker 1: first round. Former Bengal Nick Vigil is here, who has 569 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 1: versatility at all three spots his life. What he what 570 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:05,480 Speaker 1: he's done, I think the secondary with that and Chris Harris, 571 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: he's gone back to covering the slot and playing his 572 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:14,360 Speaker 1: natural position, which will be good. Casey Hayward has always 573 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 1: been aggressive, and then you know you had that defensive 574 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:21,120 Speaker 1: line which is already good, but it has gotten a 575 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:25,960 Speaker 1: lot better with Lynvaal Joseph in the middle, which he 576 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:29,720 Speaker 1: held everything from a mack truck to a rolling coke 577 00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:32,680 Speaker 1: machine by a couple players there during training camp. So 578 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:34,960 Speaker 1: he'll he'll plug up the middle on the run and 579 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:38,120 Speaker 1: also give them some pressure on the pass rush up 580 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:41,000 Speaker 1: the middle, which they really haven't had. We're talking to 581 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:43,040 Speaker 1: our buddy Joe Ready, who covers the chargers for the 582 00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 1: Associated Press in LA. It is going to be strange, 583 00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:49,479 Speaker 1: Joe to see the charger Chargers trot out there with 584 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 1: somebody other than Philip Rivers as the starting quarterback. He'll 585 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:56,240 Speaker 1: be the first time in fifteen years. We're all familiar 586 00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:59,760 Speaker 1: with Tyrod Taylor who takes over. How much different is 587 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:04,480 Speaker 1: this offense going to be well. I think on third 588 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:08,320 Speaker 1: and less than a yard bill run quarterback sneaks for 589 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 1: the first time since at least two thousand and six, 590 00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:17,760 Speaker 1: and that you know Philip Philip, for as good of 591 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:21,640 Speaker 1: a quarterback he was, was a statue back. There your 592 00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:26,560 Speaker 1: traditional pocket passer, not a lot on scrambling. I think 593 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:32,240 Speaker 1: you're going to see a lot more RPOs. The Tyrodold 594 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 1: throw a lot more on the scramble. I think without 595 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:40,560 Speaker 1: having Melvin Gordon here, with Austin Ekeler with what he 596 00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:45,560 Speaker 1: can do and running back running back in terms of 597 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:49,400 Speaker 1: all purpose yards and touches, I think it's a I 598 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:53,040 Speaker 1: think it's a lot more dynamic offense. But I think 599 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:56,000 Speaker 1: much as you look at with the Bengals too, there's 600 00:31:56,080 --> 00:32:00,000 Speaker 1: questions with the offensive line, especially this Chargers offensive line. 601 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:03,960 Speaker 1: Mike Poundcy is questionable this week. He played in only 602 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 1: five games last year due to a neck injury. Sam 603 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:12,560 Speaker 1: Tevy is moving to left tackle, and he traditionally, especially 604 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:17,800 Speaker 1: in pass coverage, has rated not well among offensive tackles. 605 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:20,880 Speaker 1: And if you're bad at pass protection and right at 606 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:23,160 Speaker 1: right tackle, I don't know how you're going to do 607 00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 1: a left tackle. They the right side has gotten better 608 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:29,680 Speaker 1: with Brian Bulaga and Trey Turner, but that left side 609 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:34,360 Speaker 1: still concerns me a lot. Yeah, that's an interesting dynamic 610 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:37,840 Speaker 1: when you look at Tyrod Taylor, Like you mentioned, RPO 611 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:41,400 Speaker 1: zone reads those kind of things. Anthony Lynn was a 612 00:32:41,440 --> 00:32:44,840 Speaker 1: backup running back of the Denver Broncos when Trell Davis 613 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:47,760 Speaker 1: was there. Mike Shanahan, he knows about the running game. 614 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:50,920 Speaker 1: They Tyrod Taylor and Anthony Lynne were both with the 615 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 1: Buffalo Bills when the Buffalo Bills led the NFL in 616 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:58,040 Speaker 1: rushing in twenty sixteen. To me, it stands to reason 617 00:32:58,160 --> 00:33:01,120 Speaker 1: Anthony Lynn is going to want to pound Eckler and 618 00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:03,280 Speaker 1: uh and Tyrod Taylor I think is going to be 619 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:05,719 Speaker 1: a factor on the ground. It wouldn't surprise me if 620 00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:09,880 Speaker 1: Eckler's numbers he haf fifteen hundred all purpose numbers last year, 621 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 1: he's only seven yards short of a thousand receiving and 622 00:33:12,560 --> 00:33:14,960 Speaker 1: rush for like five fifty. I wouldn't be surprised to 623 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 1: the numbers reverse, what do you think? I think? I 624 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:22,800 Speaker 1: don't know if he'll get too close to a thousand 625 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:27,360 Speaker 1: yards running lab um. They do have, they do have depth. 626 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:32,280 Speaker 1: They're running back and I don't see Eckler as a 627 00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:35,560 Speaker 1: you know, twenty to twenty two carry carry guy game. 628 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:40,440 Speaker 1: Justin Jackson Dave they've really been impressed with, but he's 629 00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:44,240 Speaker 1: been injury prone. And uh, Josh Kelly, the fourth round 630 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:47,800 Speaker 1: pick out of Ucla they really liked too, in terms 631 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:52,760 Speaker 1: of a Melvin Gordon type back. Um. I know Dan 632 00:33:52,880 --> 00:33:56,600 Speaker 1: has seen seen Ucla against you see the past couple 633 00:33:56,600 --> 00:34:00,920 Speaker 1: of years, but ironic thing is Josh Kelly was injured 634 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:04,360 Speaker 1: in both of those games. So really UC fans have 635 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:07,120 Speaker 1: no knowledge, have no knowledge of them. I think the 636 00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:10,520 Speaker 1: one area that's inferred with Josh Kelly too is he's 637 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:12,920 Speaker 1: catching a ball out of the backfield, something that we 638 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:17,920 Speaker 1: haven't seen that I didn't see him do in Ucla. 639 00:34:18,120 --> 00:34:21,799 Speaker 1: So I think, well, they carry the ball more than 640 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:24,759 Speaker 1: twenty times a game, yes, but I think it'll be 641 00:34:24,840 --> 00:34:29,360 Speaker 1: almost a running back by committee set. Okay, yeah, you 642 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:32,200 Speaker 1: see didn't have to deal with Joshua Kelly when he 643 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:35,440 Speaker 1: was at UCLA, but USC did and he ran for 644 00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:38,320 Speaker 1: two hundred and eighty nine yards in one game. A 645 00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:40,879 Speaker 1: couple more questions for our pala Joe Ready, who covers 646 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:44,520 Speaker 1: the Chargers for the Associated Press, the Rams and Chargers 647 00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 1: Joe move into this five billion dollar palace So five 648 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:52,280 Speaker 1: Stadium this year. It's an obnoxious display of wealth. It's spectacular. 649 00:34:52,680 --> 00:34:55,520 Speaker 1: Here's my question for you, though, what's the interest level 650 00:34:55,960 --> 00:35:00,319 Speaker 1: in LA in the Chargers these days? I think it's 651 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:04,120 Speaker 1: I think it's growing. I think hard knocks definitely helps. 652 00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:12,480 Speaker 1: But I also think that Dave having guys that Philip 653 00:35:12,640 --> 00:35:15,839 Speaker 1: wasn't much of a promoter of the franchise in LA. 654 00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:19,799 Speaker 1: He was, he still lived in San Diego and everything. 655 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:23,680 Speaker 1: But I think with a young roster, with a Joey 656 00:35:23,719 --> 00:35:26,439 Speaker 1: Bosa who's coming out of his shell a lot more, 657 00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:30,080 Speaker 1: Derwin James was, you know, face of the franchise, and 658 00:35:30,120 --> 00:35:33,680 Speaker 1: I think despite injuries, they'll still let him around. Tyrod Taylor, 659 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:36,759 Speaker 1: you know, as far as a quarterback, what you want 660 00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:40,680 Speaker 1: them to promote and everything. Austin Ekeler, there's definitely the 661 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:45,880 Speaker 1: sense of promotion. And I think that you know, this franchise, 662 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:48,360 Speaker 1: let's face it has been waiting for twenty to twenty 663 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:51,960 Speaker 1: five years to move into a new facility that they 664 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:55,160 Speaker 1: couldn't get in San Diego, and they were finally able 665 00:35:55,160 --> 00:35:58,120 Speaker 1: to team up, you know, with the Rams here, I 666 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:00,640 Speaker 1: think there's a. I think there's a lot of excitement. 667 00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:04,879 Speaker 1: It's certainly the fans in San Diego still follow them, 668 00:36:04,880 --> 00:36:08,520 Speaker 1: and I think everybody's excited for a new football facility 669 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:12,719 Speaker 1: in LA whenever they get the chance to come in. 670 00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:15,640 Speaker 1: And I was in their last Friday for the media tour, 671 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:19,719 Speaker 1: and it really is a spectacular facility. Almost reminds me 672 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:23,319 Speaker 1: a little bit of the Meadowlands inside in terms of 673 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:26,400 Speaker 1: the dynamic that way, but with the video board and 674 00:36:27,640 --> 00:36:31,160 Speaker 1: you know, all the other amenities, I think it really 675 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:35,160 Speaker 1: changes the face of stadiums throughout the league. Joe, when 676 00:36:35,160 --> 00:36:38,800 Speaker 1: you talk about the charges receivers, and I'm putting Neckler 677 00:36:38,840 --> 00:36:41,800 Speaker 1: in that category, ninety two catches, nine and ninety three yards, 678 00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:45,880 Speaker 1: eight touchdown catches, pretty spectacular. Mike Williams led the NFL 679 00:36:45,960 --> 00:36:48,600 Speaker 1: averaging twenty point four yards reception. He had over a 680 00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:51,880 Speaker 1: thousand yards receiving. But the one that a lot of 681 00:36:51,880 --> 00:36:54,920 Speaker 1: players in the Bengals talk about is tremendous respect for 682 00:36:55,000 --> 00:36:57,480 Speaker 1: Keenan Allen. You know, one hundred and four catches, eleven 683 00:36:57,960 --> 00:37:01,319 Speaker 1: ninety nine yards last year, three street one thousand plus 684 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:04,879 Speaker 1: yard seasons with six touchdown catches in three straight years. 685 00:37:05,120 --> 00:37:09,160 Speaker 1: Very consistent. They say that this guy, he makes plays 686 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:12,759 Speaker 1: no matter what the circumstances. What the situations. Give us 687 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:18,360 Speaker 1: your appraisal of Keenan Allen gave to me He's always 688 00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:23,319 Speaker 1: been an underrated receiver, and I think among fans and 689 00:37:24,160 --> 00:37:28,000 Speaker 1: maybe broadcasters, but I think players consider him a top five, 690 00:37:28,080 --> 00:37:32,040 Speaker 1: top six receiver. On Saturday, sign an eighty point one 691 00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:34,880 Speaker 1: million dollar contract and make some second in terms of 692 00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:39,320 Speaker 1: average pay among receivers. So he isn't a top five list, 693 00:37:40,120 --> 00:37:43,279 Speaker 1: you know, maybe the top five list. You really fun 694 00:37:43,360 --> 00:37:48,040 Speaker 1: to be in. Very good route runner, very good possession receiver, 695 00:37:48,600 --> 00:37:53,040 Speaker 1: very good on rats and everything. We'll get the tough balls, 696 00:37:53,080 --> 00:37:58,399 Speaker 1: we'll win the matchups. Will you know will Burn will 697 00:37:58,440 --> 00:38:02,920 Speaker 1: Burn cornerbacks since acs Ill said to the receiver to 698 00:38:03,000 --> 00:38:05,320 Speaker 1: watch out for in this game, to us Hunter Henry 699 00:38:05,440 --> 00:38:10,440 Speaker 1: is he has excelled against the AFC North in the past. 700 00:38:10,640 --> 00:38:13,719 Speaker 1: And you know he's got a lot to prove in 701 00:38:13,760 --> 00:38:16,880 Speaker 1: a contract here too. And for the first time in 702 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:22,279 Speaker 1: three years, he is finally healthy. Knock on wood. Hi, 703 00:38:22,360 --> 00:38:25,279 Speaker 1: thanks the cj Uzama and Joe Ready, and that's going 704 00:38:25,360 --> 00:38:27,680 Speaker 1: to do it for this episode of the Bengals Booth 705 00:38:27,760 --> 00:38:31,839 Speaker 1: podcast brought to you by Prime Sport, the official hospitality 706 00:38:31,960 --> 00:38:35,800 Speaker 1: partner of the Cincinnati Bengals. If you haven't done so already, 707 00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:37,759 Speaker 1: please subscribe and if you have a minute, give it 708 00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:41,040 Speaker 1: a rating or share a comment that helps more Bengals 709 00:38:41,120 --> 00:38:45,040 Speaker 1: fans find this podcast. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for 710 00:38:45,120 --> 00:38:47,799 Speaker 1: listening to the Bengals Booth Podcast