1 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Happy Thanksgiving everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 2 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth Podcast. The I'm on My Way, I'm 3 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 1: on My Way Home Suite Home addition. As the Bengals 4 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:22,920 Speaker 1: begin a stretch of three straight home games on Sunday 5 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 1: against the Pittsburgh Steelers, coming up, my midweek conversation with 6 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: Dave Lapo as we discuss if there's really such a 7 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:33,479 Speaker 1: thing as bulletin board material for a professional athlete and 8 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: what it's going to take for the Bengals to beat 9 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: the Steelers for the third time in a row. My 10 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: one on one player interview is with a guy who 11 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:45,599 Speaker 1: knows all about this rivalry, tight end cju Zama, who 12 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: has played in ten games against the Steelers, including the 13 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 1: only playoff game of his NFL career, And finally, NFL 14 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: Network reporter add King Kabwalla has great insight on this 15 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 1: matchup since she is frequently assigned to the AFC North. 16 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: She talks to my Bengals dot Com colleague Marissa Contapelli. 17 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by Ultimate Bengals, the 18 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,479 Speaker 1: free to play Next Level Fantasy Football game downloaded now 19 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: from the app store and Google Play. And here's a 20 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of 21 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, or computer 22 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest 23 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: thing since gravy. During my conversation you're about to hear 24 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: with Dave Lapham, he asks me about my Thanksgiving meal preferences, 25 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 1: and among other things, I mentioned that I like my 26 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: stuffing smothered with gravy. That kept me thinking about how 27 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: much I like gravy in general. In fact, one of 28 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 1: the staples of my diet a is a Syracuse University 29 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: student many years ago, was gravy on French fries, similar 30 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: to poutine, the Canadian delicacy, but without the cheese kords. 31 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 1: So years to gravy in all of its glory. Now 32 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 1: let's get to football. After eleven straight losses to the dreaded, hated, 33 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: but grudgingly respected Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals have won the 34 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: last two meetings, twenty seven to seventeen last December with 35 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: Ryan Finlay at quarterback and twenty four to ten back 36 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:25,679 Speaker 1: in September with Joe Burrow throwing three touchdown passes, two 37 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: to Jamar Chase and one to Pittsburgh native Tyler Boyd. 38 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:34,240 Speaker 1: Boyd made a comment after that game that is undoubtedly 39 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: being mentioned in Pittsburgh this week, and that's where I 40 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: begin my conversation with Dave Lapham Lap. The Bengals beat 41 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 1: the Steelers by two touchdowns at Hinz Field back in 42 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 1: Week three, and the day after the game, Tyler Boyd 43 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: made headlines by saying the Steelers gave up at the end. 44 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: Here's my question for you. You played pro football for 45 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:59,239 Speaker 1: a dozen years. Is bulletin board material a real thing 46 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 1: you're a professional athlete. It can be as you're getting ready. 47 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: I think it kind of helps you maybe focus, laser 48 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: focus a little bit more. But once the game starts, 49 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 1: if they're taking it to you, it doesn't matter what 50 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:17,359 Speaker 1: you're running the bulletin board during the week. If you're 51 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 1: taking it to them, it kind of, you know, gives 52 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 1: you a little more juice, a little a little added 53 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 1: fire as such. So I think the most important thing 54 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: is who gets off to the to the better start, 55 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: because the last time these two teams played, neither team 56 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 1: had scored a point in the first quarter and they're 57 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: still struggling. I mean, the Bengals have always scored thirty 58 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 1: four points in the first quarter of Pittsburgh has always 59 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 1: scored thirty one. So they're you know, they're averaging three 60 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: points a game in the first quarter. They're getting off 61 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: the slow starts. So I think the team that jumps 62 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: out on top of the other one early in this 63 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: one does get that early edge and you forget about 64 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: you know, the bulletin board material a little bit, but 65 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: it can, Honestly, it can juice practices a little bit. 66 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: You know, not that when you're playing a rival, all 67 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: of it is maybe just you know, little a little 68 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: smidgeon of this or that in terms of getting yourself 69 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: in the right mindset for the football game. This game 70 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 1: is so important to both teams, this team, this is 71 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:18,840 Speaker 1: such a big rivalry. I think I think bulletin board material, 72 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: I'm not sure how necessary it is, you know, I 73 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: think they're all both teams are going to be playing 74 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: at an extremely high level physically. The Steelers had a 75 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,919 Speaker 1: bunch of key injuries in that first meeting, most notably T. J. Watt, 76 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 1: and they didn't look very good. But after a one 77 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 1: in three start, they've gone four one and one since. 78 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 1: The only loss was last week when they rallied from 79 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:42,159 Speaker 1: seventeen down in the fourth quarter, took the lead against 80 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: the Chargers, and then gave up a long touchdown pass 81 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: with about two minutes to go. Where do the Steelers 82 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 1: present the biggest problems on Sunday? And t J. Watt 83 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: didn't play in that game on Sunday, and he didn't 84 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: play against the Bengals, they're owing four When t J. 85 00:04:56,480 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 1: Watt doesn't play own four. That's how important he to 86 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: the mix. So I think I think that in my 87 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: mind he presents about as big a problem as anybody 88 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 1: does because of his ability to just put constant pressure 89 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,119 Speaker 1: on the quarterback. And you know, it makes it makes 90 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: the opposite defensive end pressuring makes him more effective, makes 91 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: Hayward more effective inside. I mean it just it takes 92 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: everybody to another level. I think we saw last week 93 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 1: that a significant adequate PASSWAH or better than an adequate 94 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: passwash out of four and dropping seven into coverage can 95 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: be a problem. And the Steelers have they're starting to blit. 96 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: They're blitzing less percentagewise, they're blitzing less and less, And 97 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: when t J. Watt plays, I think that makes sense 98 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: when he doesn't, they're probably not blitzing all that much less. 99 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: But when he's playing and they're getting a significant pass 100 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: rush pressure out of the four of them, they're thinking 101 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: rush board drops seven looks pretty good against most most 102 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 1: offense is in the league. And I can see why, 103 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,679 Speaker 1: uh and I wouldn't be surprised if T. J. Watt 104 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 1: starts the game and shows that he still has that 105 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:13,359 Speaker 1: explosiveness and and I think I think initially they're going 106 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: to say, Okay, you know, let's let's rush for drop seven. 107 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: See what happens here a little bit. Now, just because 108 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: he starts the game with the injuries that he's got, 109 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: he's got multiple injuries that he's dealing with, doesn't necessarily 110 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 1: mean he finishes that. It doesn't necessarily mean he stays 111 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,159 Speaker 1: as effective as he does maybe at the beginning of 112 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 1: the game. But tour it all and a bunch of 113 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: other stuff in today's pharmacies are very effective. I think 114 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: that is the biggest key in this football game. When 115 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: they do rush for drop seven, play a couple of 116 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: safeties deep play a little bit, you know, deep in coverage. 117 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: You got to run him out of it. And can 118 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: they run the football? Can they anchor those guys by 119 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 1: running the football and you know, take advantage of the 120 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 1: soft box and all that sort of thing and make 121 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: them change strategy. I think that's going to be a big, 122 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: big factor, you know, in the football game. And then 123 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: on the flip side of it, if the Bengals can 124 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: control the running game like they did, I mean they 125 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: basically made Nagi Harris a little checkdown receiver out of 126 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: the backfield. That was their running game, and the Bengals 127 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 1: tackled well. I mean, if you can, if you can 128 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 1: leverage it properly and tackle it's it's just like a 129 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 1: toss pitch, you know. I mean it's it's it's nothing 130 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: more dangerous than that. So, but it is interesting the philosophy. 131 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 1: And I've mentioned this before. I mean Bill Walsh, he 132 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: always said, yeah, you know, guys, we throw the ball 133 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: for four yards, they think that they're kicking our butt. 134 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 1: When we run it for four yards, they think that 135 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 1: we're kicking their butt. I don't care how we get 136 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: four yards. Second and six. My playsheets wide open to me. 137 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: I want to be at second and six. I don't 138 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 1: care how it happens. I'll take those four yard passes. 139 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: Three of them. We moved the chains, you know. I 140 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: mean that was his that was Bill Walsh's whole mindset. 141 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 1: And that's kind of the approach that the Steelers took 142 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 1: with Nagi Harris a little bit in that first game. 143 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: And I wouldn't be surprised they do it again, all right, 144 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: Sticking with trying to run on the Steelers defense. Two 145 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: weeks ago, the winless Lions ran for two hundred and 146 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 1: forty two yards on thirty carries. I read that they 147 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 1: had twenty four carries with six offensive linemen on the field, 148 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: whether they lined up on the line or is a fullback. 149 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: Is that something the Bengals are likely to try this week? 150 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: I've read the same thing, Dan, and uh, I wouldn't 151 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: be surprised. I mean, they've they've done it. I mean 152 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 1: they've they've mixed their you know, their big package in there. 153 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:33,079 Speaker 1: Um you know, I know a big part of their 154 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: game plan going into the Steelers game last time was 155 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: you know, that stretch and then and then the inside 156 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:41,319 Speaker 1: zone to compliment it and go along with it. And 157 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 1: I could see them using Isaiah Prince like we've seen 158 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 1: in the past, but maybe a heavy heavier dose of it. 159 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:50,439 Speaker 1: Like the Detroit Lions, did you know, they may they 160 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: may have cracked the coat a little bit with with 161 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 1: that concept. But I do think, honestly, if it's a 162 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: big offensive lineman or if it's Drew Sample and Cjzama, 163 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: I mean, I think, I think, you know, twelve and 164 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: thirteen packages are gonna have to be favorable for the 165 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:09,199 Speaker 1: cincinnaive Bengags. They're gonna have to get some mileage out 166 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: of those those multiple tight end packages. And I think 167 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: Drew Sample is as good at you know, blocking tight 168 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: end at the line of spermade you know, with his 169 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 1: hand down at the end of the line of spermmage, 170 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 1: or lined up as a wingback or a fullback or 171 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 1: wherever they want to line them up and motion them 172 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: and do some things with them. I think he's going 173 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: to be a big factor in the running game this week, 174 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: just like he was last week when they had a 175 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: successful running game. And then the wide receivers are going 176 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 1: to have to block like they blocked last week in 177 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 1: the running game against the Pittsburgh's deals. Everybody's gonna have 178 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 1: to put their big boy pads on, not just the 179 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: offensive and defensive linemen. If the Bengals win, that would 180 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: be three straight over Pittsburgh. As Paul Dayner Junior from 181 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: The Athletic has pointed out, it would be the first 182 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: time since nineteen ninety If this happens, can we officially 183 00:09:56,840 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 1: say the tide has turned in this right? Well? I mean, 184 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 1: I get three in a row, I guess you could 185 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:06,679 Speaker 1: say is starting to be a little bit of a trend. 186 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:09,680 Speaker 1: You know, But you do play each other twice twice 187 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: a year, so it's it's it's only a year, year 188 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:16,439 Speaker 1: and a half's work of worth work, worth of work, 189 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: I should say. Um, but to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 190 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,679 Speaker 1: three times in a row would be significant looking at 191 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:27,560 Speaker 1: the way they've dominated, I mean, seventeen straight non losing seasons. 192 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:29,719 Speaker 1: Mike Tomlins never had a losing season. I mean, the 193 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,839 Speaker 1: history and the tradition and success of that franchise is 194 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: you know, a second and none in the last couple 195 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 1: of decades. I mean, it's it's been. It's been unbelievable. 196 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: And usually teams have their their they cycle ups and 197 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 1: downs in a shorter time frame than that. That's that's 198 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: a good that's a good, lengthy time frame. You can 199 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: you can say I mean, the Bengals had the best 200 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: of the of the Steelers in the eighties by far, 201 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 1: you know, but but we're talking nineties, two thousands, thousands 202 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:02,719 Speaker 1: talking a while here. You know, it's like that's that's 203 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: a pretty good stretch. So it'd be good to get that, 204 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: get that w to get three in a row against them, 205 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:11,560 Speaker 1: that would that would definitely it would signal that that 206 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:13,560 Speaker 1: they're on the right track. You know. They they've they've 207 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: got away. They've got a formula that they feel good 208 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 1: about that's working for sure. And Um, like Zach always says, 209 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 1: you know, the first thing you have to do is 210 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: take care of your division. And the division is so 211 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:26,320 Speaker 1: diverse with what they do offensively, you know. I mean 212 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:29,680 Speaker 1: Baltimore with their their running game in their quarterback run 213 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: game packages is unbelievable. Cleveland's got the best running game 214 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 1: in the NFL that's more of a tradition to traditional 215 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:37,679 Speaker 1: running game. It is still ranks number one in the 216 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: NFL and yards and yards per Russi attempt. So um, Pittsburgh, 217 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 1: you know, has always been a team. That's the biggest 218 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 1: thing that shocks me about Pittsburgh, Dan as you look 219 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 1: at you look at their numbers running the football. The 220 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:53,680 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Steelers are are not very very good in stopping 221 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 1: the run either, and they're the last given a four 222 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: point eight yards a run, you know, I mean they're 223 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:01,959 Speaker 1: they're minus one point one yards per carry average and 224 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 1: yards generated running the football and stopping the opponent negative 225 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 1: one point one is tied for second worst in the NFL. 226 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 1: That is so non Pittsburgh like. Teams about rushed them 227 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 1: by thirty five point nine yards a game, thirty six 228 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 1: yards of football game. That's so non Pittsburgh like. So 229 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:23,559 Speaker 1: I think Pittsburgh is the biggest, the biggest kind of 230 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 1: puzzle to me right now. It's like they're they're teetering, 231 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: you know, where are they going? They are they're on 232 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:31,559 Speaker 1: the decline? Are they avoiding the decline? And just they 233 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,079 Speaker 1: just seem to be sputtering at the at the Mendoza line, 234 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: you know, whereas you kind of have a handle on 235 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: what Baltimore and Cleveland are trying to do from an 236 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:42,199 Speaker 1: identity standpoint and all that sort of thing. It's very 237 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 1: interesting how the how the division's kind of evolved a 238 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: little bit. Tom Brady seemingly has discovered the fountain of 239 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 1: youth he leads the NFL and touchdown passes. He seems 240 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 1: to be as good as ever in his mid forties. 241 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:57,000 Speaker 1: Ben Roethlisberger, on the other hand, in his late thirties 242 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 1: looks like quarterbacks used to look when they got into 243 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 1: the late thirties. He's not terrible. He still has great moments, 244 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 1: but he's not the player he once was. What is 245 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 1: he now are? What are Ben Roethlisberger's strength at this 246 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:15,959 Speaker 1: stage of his career. A savvy kg you know, just 247 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: very experienced veteran quarterback. You know, he just he just 248 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: has ah. He has such a knowledge that he can 249 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 1: draw upon and and you're right, he's nowhere near the 250 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 1: athlete that he was. Nowhere near his athletic He was 251 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 1: never a guy that could, you know, like run like 252 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 1: well boy Blazons. But Ben Ben could. Ben had power. 253 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:37,319 Speaker 1: Ben Ben could run the football and hurt you a 254 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 1: little bit, There's no question about it. And the thing, 255 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 1: the thing that I found so amazing about him is 256 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: how big and strong it was in the pocket. You'd 257 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 1: have defensive vents, not just linebackers, defensive events. Put a 258 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: big lick on him, you know, I brown his shoulds 259 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: and slide down his body like a barber pole and 260 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 1: he just you know, he just stepped up and invade 261 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:55,959 Speaker 1: him get out of pocket. And the other thing about him, 262 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: when he was in his prime, he would throw from 263 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 1: the right hashmark to the left sideline and get it there. Now, 264 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 1: usually when quarterbacks try to do that defensive back slick 265 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 1: their chops and like ball's going to be in the 266 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: air a while, it's turn over time. He just he 267 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:12,560 Speaker 1: ripped it in there. And you know, he had that 268 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 1: that arm talent that could get it to all quardons 269 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: of the field, you know, And he doesn't quite have 270 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 1: that anymore, you know, and he's turned into a you know, 271 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: more of a mid range you know, short range passing 272 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 1: attack kind of guy. But but he still has that 273 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: guy all that savvy that, you know, all all that 274 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: experience and all those snaps under his belt. And the 275 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 1: one thing that he does do well, he gets the 276 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: ball out of his hand. I mean, you know, two 277 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: point three, two point four seconds. That frustrates the heck 278 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 1: out of a defensive lineman. You know, you beat your 279 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: guy with the first move and still you're within you know, 280 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: usually you're gonna get a sack. You're not even there 281 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 1: before he gets the ball out of his hand, and 282 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 1: that that drives guy's crazy. I mean that can that 283 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: can be a something that wears on you. That could 284 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 1: happen to Trey hendricks And if the ball has gone 285 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: before he can get to Big Ben. This he's trying 286 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: to come up with a sack for the seventh consecutive game. 287 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: He's already tied the team record at six. It's the 288 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 1: longest active sack streak in the NFL. Is Trey Hendrickson 289 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 1: what you expected? Or even better? You know? I think 290 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: I think he's even a little bit better than what 291 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: I expected. You know, you're not quite sure what you're 292 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 1: going to get because he was with other talented defensive 293 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: lineman down there in New Orleans, and it's always like 294 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: is it him? Is he? Is he? You know, benefiting 295 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: from the performance of others and he's with another good 296 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: group of defensive lineman. You know, it's like Hubbard. He 297 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 1: and Hubbard have what's what's uh the perfect arrangement because 298 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 1: they're competitive, they don't want to be outdone. But it's friendly, 299 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: you know, it's not like, oh, you know what you have? 300 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 1: Nine and a half said, oh man, you know, I'm 301 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: jealous of that, I'm gonna have to I'm gonna freelance. 302 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 1: I'm gonna try to do my thing. They stay within 303 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: the scheme, and it was it was unbelievable. Talk to 304 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: Hendrickson in the locker room out of the game when 305 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 1: Sam got his sack, Hendrickson was like, I gotta get 306 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: mine now. And the next play he does and he 307 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 1: strips the thing and Sam hubbly recovers it. They're they're 308 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: like Ying and Yang. They are feeding off each other. 309 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 1: But I'm impressed with how well he's set the edge 310 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 1: in the run too. He's not a one trick pony. 311 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 1: I mean he's playing He's playing every down very very 312 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 1: you know, hard tough, being where he's supposed to be 313 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 1: when he's supposed to be there. Um, it's it's turned 314 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: into a nice dynamic between the two of them, and 315 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: you know, the entire defensive line. I mean, everybody's doing 316 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 1: what they're supposed to do, when they're supposed to do it, 317 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: how they're supposed to do it, all those good things. 318 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 1: So I'm I'm probably about as happy as every Bengals 319 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: fan and everybody in the organization that Hendrickson is is 320 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 1: the real deal. I mean that was that was money 321 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: that was well spent. Back in the first meeting, Jackson 322 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 1: Carmen made his first career start at right guard. Now 323 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 1: Hakimadenagy is in that spot. He'll make his third start 324 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: in a row on Sunday. How's he look? He looks 325 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:04,399 Speaker 1: pretty good. Um, but but but he's gonna be you 326 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: gonna You're gonna imagine hay was gonna line up right 327 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 1: over him, just like he did over Jackson Carmen. I mean, 328 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,719 Speaker 1: Jackson Carmen had to had to get ready for Cameron 329 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: Hayward and uh, and Identogy's going to be no different 330 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 1: than that. He's gonna be tested. He's gonna be tested 331 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: by Cameron Hayward early often in the football game. But 332 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: I do think Identagy is uh, he's legit. I mean 333 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:28,200 Speaker 1: he his pass protection I thought was really good last week. 334 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 1: I think his run blocking, his sound. I think he's still, 335 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: you know, evolving in that regard a little bit. But 336 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 1: when he's not. He's not the big behemoth that a 337 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:38,879 Speaker 1: lot of these interior you know, guards are at three 338 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 1: hundred and thirty pounds plus. He's not that kind of guy. 339 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:44,679 Speaker 1: But he has got explosiveness in hip snap and when 340 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 1: he when he rolls his hips, he brings a little bit. 341 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:48,919 Speaker 1: You know, he's got he's got something to him. So 342 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: you know, his footwork is him in position, his hip snap, 343 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 1: you know, gets you know, gets the movement that he's 344 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,119 Speaker 1: gonna get, and then he finishes well with his hands. 345 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: I think he's got a very bright future. I thought 346 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: that from game one the game too, he improved and 347 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 1: I expect that graft to go up now depending on 348 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: you know, a great player like Cameron Heyward can can 349 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: humble you, there's no question about it. But he seems 350 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 1: very poisoned mature to Dan. I think if something does 351 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: go wrong, he's not going to lose his mind, you know, 352 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: I think he'll he'll go back to the All right, well, 353 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:23,399 Speaker 1: you know I lost that one, but you know, I 354 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 1: got to get back to my basics. I got to 355 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: make sure my foot works right, all my fundamentals right, 356 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: my hand placement's right. Just get back to what you 357 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: need to do to block the guy, uh and not, 358 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 1: you know, just start panicking and lose all all concept 359 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:39,200 Speaker 1: of technique and everything else, and then you're dead. You're 360 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 1: dead meat. I don't see that happening with the key 361 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:44,959 Speaker 1: of de energy at all. All right, Thanksgivings coming up. 362 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 1: You're from the Boston area. Boston is famous for Thanksgiving 363 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: high school football games. Was that the case when you 364 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 1: were young? Absolutely? Smell Rose it was. It was Melrose 365 00:18:57,040 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 1: High School, but they were smell Rose when we when 366 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 1: we played them. We played them every single Thanksgiving. And 367 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:07,920 Speaker 1: uh I remember they had they had a great athlete 368 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 1: by the name of rich Como, Richie Como, and that 369 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: son of a gun man he was. He was the 370 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 1: first real speed store. I mean this guy ran, you know, 371 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 1: like a sub ten flat hundred and the track team 372 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: and stuff, and um he was if he hit it 373 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,640 Speaker 1: and he hit the scene was like see you later. 374 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:26,439 Speaker 1: You're looking at come a across the back of his jersey. 375 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 1: That's all you're gonna see. And uh I remember we 376 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: We ended up beating them one year in an upset 377 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,159 Speaker 1: and and that was that was a big deal to 378 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 1: go and beat Melrose in Melrose. But yeah, the Wakefield 379 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:43,719 Speaker 1: Melrose Thanksgiving Day Turkey game was was always that was 380 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:46,400 Speaker 1: that was the biggest football game I'd ever played in 381 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:48,880 Speaker 1: my life as a you know, as a high school 382 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 1: football player. That was everybody always look forward to that 383 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 1: that big Thanksgiving Day rival retail. No question. Now you'll 384 00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 1: be watching football, you'll be eating too much like we 385 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: all do, and then it's going to be the perfect 386 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:05,639 Speaker 1: Thanksgiving weekend When the Bengals win on Sunday by doing 387 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 1: what it's remarkable Dan. I was looking back at the 388 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: first match out of twenty four ten. The Bengals have 389 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 1: forty penalties on the year, first in the National Football 390 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 1: League unless much less than four hundred yards and penalty yards, 391 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 1: I think like three forty something. I think it is 392 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:24,360 Speaker 1: first in the league as well. They had ten penalties 393 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:26,880 Speaker 1: for almost eighty yards in that game. They had a court. 394 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 1: They had twenty five percent of their penalties and over 395 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:31,639 Speaker 1: twenty five percent of their penalty yards in that game. 396 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: So what you have to do is like we always 397 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,720 Speaker 1: always talk about that, you know, controlled rage kind of thing. 398 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:42,439 Speaker 1: You know, you want to play aggressively and physically, but 399 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: you don't want to be out of control. You know, 400 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:45,919 Speaker 1: you don't want to have penalties, you don't want to 401 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 1: have mistakes. You don't want to But they won the 402 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 1: turnover battle they had. They had two takeaways, two interceptions, 403 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: gave them two short fields on Ben Roethlisberger. They scored 404 00:20:56,359 --> 00:21:00,120 Speaker 1: two touchdowns on those short fields. That's the formula is 405 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 1: is getting that kind of thing done. Um so they 406 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 1: had four Pittsburgh had four kicks. That four possessions that 407 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: ended without a kick. The Bengals only had one. That 408 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:13,159 Speaker 1: was huge in that football game. I think the Bengals 409 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,880 Speaker 1: won the field position battle, but I mean they Pittsburgh 410 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:21,200 Speaker 1: ran seventy seven snaps. Bengals ran like forty three and 411 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 1: scored twenty four points. The efficiency was there because of 412 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 1: the turnovers, the takeaways. So m but the time of possession. 413 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:31,240 Speaker 1: If people looked at, you know, the number of snaps, 414 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: time of possession, how did the Bengals end up winning 415 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:35,479 Speaker 1: by two scores? And you have to you have to 416 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: dive a little deeper, you know. Um but I think 417 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: I think, uh, they have to take care of things 418 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:44,640 Speaker 1: at the line of scrimmage. I think it starts there, 419 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:47,920 Speaker 1: as always in these rivalry games and just about every 420 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 1: game in the National Football League, you have to be 421 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 1: able to hold your own, you know, at the line 422 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:54,000 Speaker 1: of scrimmage. There's there's no question about that. I've already 423 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 1: written down about eighteen things here that you know they're 424 00:21:57,720 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 1: going to be a factor in the football game. Yeah, 425 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: but had ten penalties for eighty nine yards. Pittsburgh had 426 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 1: ten for seventy three Pittsburgh six in the NFL, and 427 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:08,199 Speaker 1: penalty yards against them Bengals in number one at three 428 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 1: hundred and forty three yards, so that both teams uncharacteristically 429 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:15,159 Speaker 1: had had a very rough day from a penalty standpoint. 430 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:20,480 Speaker 1: But I've got chemodenergy. Jump Cameron Hayward. You know, I 431 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:22,240 Speaker 1: thought that was going to be a big deal in 432 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:25,360 Speaker 1: the football game. Don't let Cameron Hayward get started. And 433 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:28,480 Speaker 1: I thought that, I thought that that was handled pretty 434 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: well by Jackson Carmen, and I think chemodenergy, I'd recommend 435 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: the same thing, jump him. But yeah, coach and play aggressively, 436 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:41,080 Speaker 1: but not carelessly or recklessly. And that's that's what has 437 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:44,119 Speaker 1: to happen. I think in these big football games and 438 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:47,919 Speaker 1: rivalry games, you never know. And like we talked about earlier, 439 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 1: getting off to that fast start is I think going 440 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:53,719 Speaker 1: to be a pivotal thing. But the Bengals showed how 441 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,439 Speaker 1: important it is to finish games last week too. A 442 00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 1: quick start and a good finish and Dan good Turkey Day. 443 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:06,320 Speaker 1: Post Turkey Day weekend celebration could happen. Then enjoy your feast. 444 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: Happy Thanksgiving? You do the same, sir. Do you like 445 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:12,639 Speaker 1: white or dark meat? Turkey both? But I prefer white? 446 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 1: Do you only every piece of dark meat there is? Man? 447 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 1: What's your favorite side dish? I like stuffing, but it 448 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:25,360 Speaker 1: must have gravy on it to moisten it up. Lynn 449 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 1: makes his green bean casserole. That's like, really really good stuff. 450 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:32,879 Speaker 1: I'm a stuffing guy. Over over mashed potatoes too. I 451 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 1: definitely am. What kind of pie? What's your pumpkin? That's 452 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:41,359 Speaker 1: a lap bengo Bengal bongo. What it's worth? I don't 453 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:45,639 Speaker 1: really like sweet potatoes, except for the Thanksgiving casserole version 454 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: that's loaded up with so much butter and nuts that 455 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,920 Speaker 1: it's hard to tell there was ever a vegetable involved. 456 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:55,040 Speaker 1: Up next, my one on one visit with tight end 457 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 1: c j Uzama. The first nine times he played in 458 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 1: a Bengal Steelers game, the Bengals lost. That streak ended 459 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 1: in week three, and I talked to CJ about the rivalry. 460 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:11,440 Speaker 1: This week, CJ, it is Steelers week. You are a 461 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:14,600 Speaker 1: rookie back in twenty fifteen for the infamous playoff game. 462 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:17,080 Speaker 1: Sorry to bring it up. What do you remember most 463 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: about that night? Nothing? No, Um, Yeah, I just remember 464 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 1: just distraught, I think in the locker room and amongst 465 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:30,800 Speaker 1: amongst the guys in the locker room, and and just 466 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:35,600 Speaker 1: you know, UM, we felt like we we let it, 467 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,640 Speaker 1: we let it slip away, and we did. UM. So 468 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,960 Speaker 1: that's that's the That's the biggest takeaway that I had 469 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:44,679 Speaker 1: was just you know, when an opportunity like this comes, 470 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: we as player as we can't. We can't let something 471 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:51,199 Speaker 1: like that slip up and have there be any disconnect UM. 472 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 1: And that was kind of the biggest thing that I 473 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:58,360 Speaker 1: think I saw UM throughout, throughout the night and after 474 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: the game. The nast ess in this rivalry I think 475 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:04,359 Speaker 1: peaked right around then. Some of those games I almost 476 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: felt like they were out of control. Has it gotten better? 477 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 1: You know? I think with the rules, I think football 478 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:13,359 Speaker 1: in general has changed a lot. Um, I don't know 479 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 1: necessarily if it's gotten better. I think, you know, UM, 480 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 1: you know, there's still that passion, that rivalry, that that 481 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 1: UM controlled hatred, you know, towards towards someone in your division. 482 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:26,680 Speaker 1: But UM, I don't, I don't. I wouldn't say it's 483 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:29,480 Speaker 1: gotten better and lighter. You know, I think the rules 484 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:33,199 Speaker 1: have changed to kind of prevent some of those, like 485 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:35,240 Speaker 1: some of the things that have happened, you know, to 486 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: happen again. But now I think, I think that that 487 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 1: passion is still there. I'm going to quote you on 488 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 1: controlled hatred during the course of the game. We're chatting 489 00:25:43,119 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 1: with c. J Uzama. You won the first meeting against 490 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 1: the Steelers this year by a couple of touchdowns in Pittsburgh. 491 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:50,199 Speaker 1: That means two wins in a row for Cincinnati in 492 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 1: the rivalry. What do you view as a key or 493 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:55,120 Speaker 1: a couple of keys to making it three in a row? Yeah, 494 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:58,200 Speaker 1: I think, you know, just just playing our game. Um. 495 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: I think you know, when it comes to a rivalry 496 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:02,160 Speaker 1: game like this, you know that you know a play 497 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 1: is going to be made by the other side, and 498 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 1: it's how you respond to that. And obviously we want, 499 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 1: we want to play a perfect game and we want 500 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 1: to come out hot and and you know that's that's 501 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 1: our plan. Um. But you know, things change throughout the 502 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 1: throughout the course of the game, and it's just it's 503 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:17,440 Speaker 1: staying the course. It's staying you know, with with within 504 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:19,640 Speaker 1: the parameters of our game plan and and and how 505 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: we play enough on Pittsburgh, the team in general and 506 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:28,479 Speaker 1: you in particular seem to be having a ball this year. 507 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 1: Are you having as much fun as it looks? I'm 508 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 1: having more fun than it looks for sure. Um, it 509 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: really is. It's it, man, It is so fun. Just 510 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 1: I mean, even in the walkthrough that you know, we 511 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,320 Speaker 1: just had to walk through and we're having fun out there. 512 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: And you know, it's not saying that we're not focused 513 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 1: and because we're executing, you know, even in walk through 514 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,719 Speaker 1: in practice where we're um, we're executing, you know, at 515 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 1: a high level. But it's just, man, football is supposed 516 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 1: to be fun, and I think some of that gets taken, 517 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: you know, taken away with um, certain guys wanting contracts 518 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:06,919 Speaker 1: and certain guys wanting you know, their numbers and this 519 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,080 Speaker 1: and that. But when you watch this team and when 520 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:12,159 Speaker 1: I mean, you can't one hundred percent fully grasp it. 521 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:15,239 Speaker 1: But man, we're happy when everyone scores. Everyone's like, man, 522 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 1: all right, let's let's get in the en zone. Let's 523 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:18,919 Speaker 1: do something like what are we doing? Like I'm excited 524 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 1: to see what Jamar is gonna do and the enzone 525 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:23,639 Speaker 1: or Joe or you know, I don't know what they do. 526 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 1: I run over and I'm just like, I don't know 527 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:27,840 Speaker 1: this dance. I don't know this move. I can't help 528 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:29,560 Speaker 1: in any way. But I'm like, man, this is cool. 529 00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 1: Like it's cool to see that and celebrate your teammates. 530 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:34,199 Speaker 1: And you know, if we know, if as long as 531 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: we're putting points on the board, we're we're gonna win. 532 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:40,640 Speaker 1: And where we have that confidence in our defense, and 533 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:43,879 Speaker 1: so yeah, it's it's it's just different, man, it really is. 534 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 1: And you can tell, not only myself, but just everyone's 535 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:50,920 Speaker 1: having a really really fun time. Are you having fun 536 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:53,239 Speaker 1: because you're in the playoff hunt or are you in 537 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:56,199 Speaker 1: the playoff hunt because you're having fun. We're in the 538 00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:58,639 Speaker 1: playoff hunt because we're having fun. I think, you know, 539 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 1: the culture and of this locker room, the culture of 540 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:05,760 Speaker 1: this organization and um things that we've been instilling and 541 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 1: the younger guys, you know, the older guys have been 542 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:10,280 Speaker 1: you know kind of you know, bringing them along, and 543 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:12,600 Speaker 1: the and the free agents that we had signed, and 544 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:15,600 Speaker 1: you know, it's just it's a complete buying and we're 545 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 1: we're just we're loving on each other. This is a 546 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:20,080 Speaker 1: family I spend I mean Thanksgivings coming up, but I'm 547 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:21,919 Speaker 1: spending more time with these guys and I'll be spending 548 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:23,959 Speaker 1: with my family. And so these are my brothers and 549 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 1: we're really treating each other as such. And so I 550 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:29,199 Speaker 1: think that's that's kind of why we're having this success 551 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 1: that we're having. You have dubbed your quarterback Joey franchise, 552 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:35,440 Speaker 1: and you often refer to Joe Burrow as the smartest 553 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:38,680 Speaker 1: player on the field at all times. Of his many 554 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: great attributes, is that the thing that stands out the 555 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 1: most one hundred percent, you know, I think you know, 556 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 1: if you can I mean there's that infamous line of 557 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 1: him in Jacksonville you can't zero me and things like that, 558 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:52,920 Speaker 1: because he's gonna he's gonna get us on the best 559 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:57,120 Speaker 1: possible play and make you pay for it. So, um, yeah, 560 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 1: I think that's you know, he's I think a close 561 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 1: second would be his tough toughness because he's he's an 562 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 1: incredibly tough kid. And I say kid, he's not actually 563 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 1: that young, but um, he's extremely tough and he's a competitor. 564 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 1: But his mind and the way he can analyze the 565 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 1: defense and you know, get us in the best possible play. Um, 566 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 1: that's that's very unique. You're having an excellent year. Do 567 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:27,000 Speaker 1: you have any lingering issues left from the torn achilles? Now? 568 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:30,640 Speaker 1: I'm very blessed with you know, kind of how I 569 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 1: was able to approach it, and mentality was of mannaright, 570 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:37,280 Speaker 1: I tore my achilles. I can't expedite anything. I can't 571 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:39,000 Speaker 1: do anything right now. And then once the doctor said 572 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 1: I was cleared, I was like, Okay, I'm one hundred percent. 573 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 1: There's no excuse of anything. I'm not gonna, you know, 574 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:47,160 Speaker 1: let anything weigh in my mind. It's just go out 575 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:49,080 Speaker 1: there and have fun. And it took a little bit 576 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:50,800 Speaker 1: just to get back into the swing of things with 577 00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 1: with not you know, being in pads and things like that. 578 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:56,960 Speaker 1: But other than that, I feel I feel great. A 579 00:29:57,000 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 1: couple more questions for c j Uzama. The Bengals are 580 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,600 Speaker 1: having a great year. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are having 581 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 1: a great year. Have you stayed in frequent contact with 582 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:09,120 Speaker 1: your buddy Giovanni Bernard? I have. Actually I texted on 583 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 1: Elis's birthday, um so, so I ended up texting him 584 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 1: and wishing him a happy birthday, and um checking around 585 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:18,800 Speaker 1: him and Chloe and you know the baby that they're 586 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:21,520 Speaker 1: gonna have, and um, that's my brother for life, for share. 587 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: So um, yeah, we stay in touch and I always, 588 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:27,960 Speaker 1: you know, make sure he's doing well and vice versa. 589 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:31,160 Speaker 1: All right, final thing, the Bengal Steelers is not the 590 00:30:31,160 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 1: only rivalry this weekend. The Iron Bowl is coming up 591 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:37,320 Speaker 1: on Saturday, your beloved Auburn Tigers trying to upset the 592 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:41,400 Speaker 1: Alabama Crimson Tide. Is there a friendly wager or any 593 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:44,880 Speaker 1: trash talk with Jonah Williams, the only Alabama player right 594 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:48,120 Speaker 1: now in the roster. Um, he's got it easy on 595 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:51,560 Speaker 1: me right now. I think, I think, I think what's 596 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:54,480 Speaker 1: gonna happen is Friday and Saturday roll along and he's 597 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 1: just gonna stare at me. You know, John is a 598 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:58,320 Speaker 1: man of few words, so he's not gonna he's not 599 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:00,920 Speaker 1: gonna he's not gonna say too much. He's just gonna 600 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:04,320 Speaker 1: look at me. Um. So I'm really hoping that we 601 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:06,920 Speaker 1: pull this one out because he will just stare at 602 00:31:06,920 --> 00:31:08,680 Speaker 1: me and smile, and I'll be like johna, please just 603 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:12,200 Speaker 1: stop with me, please feel love. So um, but that's 604 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 1: a rivalry, so maybe I'll be I'll trash talk him 605 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:16,920 Speaker 1: a little bit if I need to, um and hope 606 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:19,240 Speaker 1: we hope we pull that one out. If Auburn pulls 607 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 1: off the upset, you will not limit it to just 608 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:23,520 Speaker 1: staring on your part. Oh no, no, no no, no, I'm 609 00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 1: gonna there's gonna be a look. His locker is gonna 610 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:29,680 Speaker 1: be decked out orange and blue, and oh yeah, I'm gonna. 611 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:32,280 Speaker 1: I'm gonna. I'm gonna get after him pretty good. So 612 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:34,920 Speaker 1: um yeah, let's let's get that win. Where you go, 613 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:39,360 Speaker 1: continued success, Thanks for the time, best of luck against 614 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:44,080 Speaker 1: the dreaded, hated, despised, but grudgingly respected Pittsburghs Daily Thank you. 615 00:31:44,080 --> 00:31:48,440 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. As an Auburn junior, in twenty thirteen, 616 00:31:48,760 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 1: c J played and perhaps the most memorable Iron Bowl 617 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:55,280 Speaker 1: of them all, as Auburn beat Alabama on a one 618 00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:58,560 Speaker 1: hundred nine yard return of a missfield goal on the 619 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 1: final play of the game, the so called kick six. 620 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:06,320 Speaker 1: The Bengals Booth podcast is presented by Ultimate Bengals, the 621 00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 1: free to play fantasy football game. Ultimate Bengals will be 622 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:12,280 Speaker 1: awarding a weekly winner during the course of the season 623 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:17,240 Speaker 1: with tickets, autograph merchandise, and money can't buy experiences all 624 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:20,520 Speaker 1: up for grabs. Find Ultimate Bengals in the app stores. 625 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:24,480 Speaker 1: Now finally it's time for our no the faux segment. 626 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:28,480 Speaker 1: Add King Kabwala from the NFL Network is frequently assigned 627 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:31,719 Speaker 1: to matchups in the AFC North, and she spoke this 628 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:36,720 Speaker 1: week to my Bengals dot Com colleague Marissa Contapelli. The 629 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 1: Bengals return to Paul Brown Stadium this Sunday, where they'll 630 00:32:40,080 --> 00:32:42,840 Speaker 1: be for the next three games, and as we get 631 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:45,680 Speaker 1: set for Round two against the Steelers, we welcome in 632 00:32:45,840 --> 00:32:49,200 Speaker 1: NFL Networks, add King Kabwala, who covers the AFC North 633 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 1: extensively for the network, add this is the only division 634 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:56,720 Speaker 1: where each team is currently above five hundred. What does 635 00:32:56,720 --> 00:32:59,560 Speaker 1: that say just about the caliber of competition that's currently 636 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:03,880 Speaker 1: the AS North. Well, it sort of creates a sense 637 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:07,280 Speaker 1: of anxiety for me, Marisa, because I feel like everybody's 638 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:11,560 Speaker 1: beating each other up. But again, this hasn't happened since 639 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:14,960 Speaker 1: I mean, this hasn't happened in ten years. And when 640 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:17,760 Speaker 1: it happened ten years ago, three of the AFC North 641 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:19,840 Speaker 1: teams went to the playoffs, and I feel like we're 642 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:23,360 Speaker 1: in position for the exact same thing. To happen. How 643 00:33:23,360 --> 00:33:25,320 Speaker 1: do you see this division playing out? I know there's 644 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:27,680 Speaker 1: still a long way to go, but with the Bengals 645 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:30,280 Speaker 1: at six and four, is that put them in a 646 00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:32,360 Speaker 1: good spot to possibly make a run for it late 647 00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:36,080 Speaker 1: in the season. You know what's so interesting about this 648 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:40,120 Speaker 1: mrsays that nobody has really put together a run in 649 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:42,520 Speaker 1: any sort of way that you feel like, Okay, this 650 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:45,560 Speaker 1: is a team that has established exactly who it is 651 00:33:45,760 --> 00:33:49,480 Speaker 1: and they're about to go off in some particular way. 652 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:54,280 Speaker 1: So I still feel really, really really good about the 653 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:56,760 Speaker 1: Ravens simply because they have one of the three most 654 00:33:56,840 --> 00:33:59,920 Speaker 1: dynamic players in the NFL and Lamar Jackson, and I'm very, 655 00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:03,080 Speaker 1: very eager to see what everybody else can put together. 656 00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:07,040 Speaker 1: Right now, when you take a look at the Bengals offense, 657 00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:10,200 Speaker 1: they put up thirty points on the scoreboard, fourth time 658 00:34:10,200 --> 00:34:12,720 Speaker 1: in the last five games they've done that. What catches 659 00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:15,960 Speaker 1: your eye when it comes to the offense? Mersa, I 660 00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:20,759 Speaker 1: am this is almost embarrassing how much I pound the 661 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:24,720 Speaker 1: table for Joe Mixon. I am such an old school 662 00:34:24,840 --> 00:34:29,080 Speaker 1: football person where I believe every single thing starts with 663 00:34:29,160 --> 00:34:32,239 Speaker 1: the run game, and so to me, when you look 664 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:35,000 Speaker 1: at that Raiders game. What's the best way to keep 665 00:34:35,360 --> 00:34:38,640 Speaker 1: Max Crosby and Yannick and Gakway off of Joe Barrow 666 00:34:38,880 --> 00:34:42,959 Speaker 1: by running the ball? And so I loved the way 667 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:45,440 Speaker 1: that the Bengal said, we don't care that you know 668 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:47,560 Speaker 1: we're running the ball. We are going to keep running 669 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:51,359 Speaker 1: the ball. And those one and three and five yard 670 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:53,919 Speaker 1: games in the first and second year, in the first 671 00:34:53,920 --> 00:34:56,560 Speaker 1: and second chord quarter in the first and second quarter 672 00:34:56,920 --> 00:35:00,200 Speaker 1: are going to turn into eleven and eighteen yards in 673 00:35:00,239 --> 00:35:04,239 Speaker 1: the third quarter. And I just you know, one of 674 00:35:04,239 --> 00:35:08,360 Speaker 1: my greatest frustrations with the Steelers is that they're not 675 00:35:08,440 --> 00:35:12,279 Speaker 1: running the ball. You know, they had twelve possessions within 676 00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:14,880 Speaker 1: five yards of the goal line on Sunday night, and 677 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:17,799 Speaker 1: eight of those twelve possessions they threw the ball, like 678 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:20,680 Speaker 1: just say, I'm going to beat you up, Like that's it. 679 00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:22,480 Speaker 1: I don't care that you know I'm going to run 680 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:24,239 Speaker 1: the ball. I'm still going to run it all over you. 681 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:27,360 Speaker 1: One of my greatest frustrations with the Browns is that 682 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:30,840 Speaker 1: two weeks ago, when they fell behind to the Patriots 683 00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:33,520 Speaker 1: and they were still within a running climate, they got 684 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:36,560 Speaker 1: all nervous and scared and worried and started throwing the ball. 685 00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:39,160 Speaker 1: That's not where the Browns are at their best. That's 686 00:35:39,160 --> 00:35:41,759 Speaker 1: not where their Steelers are at their best, and it's 687 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:44,880 Speaker 1: not where the Bengals are at their best. Everything should 688 00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:48,480 Speaker 1: start with the run game, especially when you have one 689 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:52,000 Speaker 1: of the most exceptional running backs in the NFL. You know, 690 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:54,560 Speaker 1: I was following along on Twitter with you over the 691 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:56,840 Speaker 1: weekend and I loved the I told you so tweet 692 00:35:56,880 --> 00:36:00,760 Speaker 1: when it came to running the ball and feeding Joe Mixon. Awful, Messa, 693 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:03,400 Speaker 1: Is that terrible that? I just was like, I told 694 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:06,560 Speaker 1: you so? Or is that okay? It's absolutely okay? It does? 695 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:09,600 Speaker 1: It all starts with the run game? Well, it does 696 00:36:09,760 --> 00:36:12,319 Speaker 1: in general. And it feels like when you're right and 697 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:15,120 Speaker 1: you're sitting here and you're saying, look, this is somebody 698 00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:18,880 Speaker 1: that's had an immense amount of success against this particular 699 00:36:18,960 --> 00:36:22,960 Speaker 1: team and this has bode well for your team in general, 700 00:36:23,560 --> 00:36:26,280 Speaker 1: Go ahead and do it, and then when it actually happened, 701 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:31,799 Speaker 1: shouldn't you be allowed to get some credit for that? Exactly? Exactly? Well, 702 00:36:31,840 --> 00:36:33,960 Speaker 1: add I'm glad you also brought up the fact that 703 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:36,640 Speaker 1: the Steelers have struggled in the run game as well, 704 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:38,840 Speaker 1: when you look at each of their losses a season, 705 00:36:39,200 --> 00:36:41,400 Speaker 1: they failed to get over sixty two run yards as 706 00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:43,719 Speaker 1: a team in each of those games, including Week three 707 00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:45,880 Speaker 1: when they did play the Bengals the first time around. 708 00:36:46,560 --> 00:36:49,000 Speaker 1: What's been going on in Pittsburgh and is that an 709 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:51,680 Speaker 1: area that the Bengals defense should focus on again, is 710 00:36:51,719 --> 00:36:55,440 Speaker 1: really trying to limit that run game? Well one, but 711 00:36:55,480 --> 00:36:58,239 Speaker 1: I also feel that part of the run game is 712 00:36:58,280 --> 00:37:01,120 Speaker 1: whether you are committed to the or not. And let's 713 00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:03,640 Speaker 1: go back to the Bengals for just a minute, Marissa. 714 00:37:03,680 --> 00:37:06,760 Speaker 1: In the first half against the Raiders, the runs weren't 715 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:10,800 Speaker 1: particularly pretty, you weren't netting that much, but then those 716 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:14,799 Speaker 1: same exact runs broke for more in the third and 717 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:17,840 Speaker 1: fourth quarters. And that's the way that a run game works. 718 00:37:17,840 --> 00:37:19,680 Speaker 1: And it just feels like over the course of the 719 00:37:19,760 --> 00:37:24,200 Speaker 1: last four years, the Steelers haven't been particularly committed to 720 00:37:24,239 --> 00:37:27,160 Speaker 1: the run, even as they sit here and say, we 721 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:29,399 Speaker 1: want to run the ball, we want our run game 722 00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:32,200 Speaker 1: to be better, we are focused on this. Well, they 723 00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:34,399 Speaker 1: haven't spent any money on their offensive line, and they've 724 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:39,480 Speaker 1: hired an offensive coordinator who, you know, wonderful person, wonderful human, 725 00:37:40,120 --> 00:37:44,920 Speaker 1: but in certain moments, it's do you want to outthink 726 00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:47,880 Speaker 1: somebody or do you want to just run all over them? 727 00:37:48,480 --> 00:37:51,440 Speaker 1: And when we go back to Sunday night against the Chargers, 728 00:37:51,440 --> 00:37:54,800 Speaker 1: with the Steelers again, they're down by the goal line, 729 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:58,480 Speaker 1: they're throwing extensively, they're not necessarily connecting, and then at 730 00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:01,719 Speaker 1: some point the Steelers just throw in their fullback. There. 731 00:38:02,040 --> 00:38:04,120 Speaker 1: They threw in their first round running back and they 732 00:38:04,200 --> 00:38:06,960 Speaker 1: ran up the gut and they scored a touchdown finally, 733 00:38:07,440 --> 00:38:12,240 Speaker 1: and it felt like, Okay, that's maybe not so sexy, 734 00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:17,560 Speaker 1: that's maybe not what you know is generating attention at 735 00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:20,799 Speaker 1: this moment, but that's what works. So why can't you 736 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:24,960 Speaker 1: just stick with what works? Easier said than done sometimes 737 00:38:25,040 --> 00:38:29,759 Speaker 1: but absolutely well. Add the Steelers have been without t J. 738 00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:33,160 Speaker 1: Watt for a handful of games this season, most notably 739 00:38:33,200 --> 00:38:35,600 Speaker 1: when they did play in Week three. He was out 740 00:38:35,680 --> 00:38:39,120 Speaker 1: last week against the Chargers. Is he someone that has 741 00:38:39,160 --> 00:38:40,920 Speaker 1: a good chance of going on Sunday? What are the 742 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:43,920 Speaker 1: odds that he suits up against the Bengals, Marissa, We 743 00:38:44,080 --> 00:38:47,120 Speaker 1: totally expect him back. In fact, mcdomlin today said that 744 00:38:47,160 --> 00:38:49,920 Speaker 1: he anticipates him being back and he of course changes 745 00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:52,840 Speaker 1: the entire defense and it's not just the attention he 746 00:38:52,920 --> 00:38:55,840 Speaker 1: draws at the position that he's at, but it's what 747 00:38:56,080 --> 00:38:58,719 Speaker 1: is infectious about the way that he plays and how 748 00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:02,839 Speaker 1: that affects everybody else. So obviously the Steelers defense is 749 00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:06,399 Speaker 1: significantly different if t J. Watt is back, and as 750 00:39:06,400 --> 00:39:09,319 Speaker 1: I said, Mike Tomlin said, the expectation is that he 751 00:39:09,400 --> 00:39:12,719 Speaker 1: will indeed be back against the Bengals. Seems like there's 752 00:39:12,760 --> 00:39:15,279 Speaker 1: a lot on the line Sunday between the Bengals and 753 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:18,399 Speaker 1: the Steelers for the Bengals to come out victorious. What 754 00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:22,840 Speaker 1: do they need to do right against Pittsburgh? Run the ball, 755 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:29,080 Speaker 1: run the ball, control the clock, keep possession, and it 756 00:39:29,239 --> 00:39:33,200 Speaker 1: just feels like that'll do it. You know, sometimes, Marissa, 757 00:39:33,280 --> 00:39:36,760 Speaker 1: the best offense or the best defense is a really 758 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:40,080 Speaker 1: really good offense that prevents the other offense from getting 759 00:39:40,120 --> 00:39:43,839 Speaker 1: the ball. And we know that the Bengals can be 760 00:39:43,880 --> 00:39:47,239 Speaker 1: a very quick strike offense. We saw that the last 761 00:39:47,239 --> 00:39:49,680 Speaker 1: time the Bengals and the Steelers played with Jamar Chase 762 00:39:49,719 --> 00:39:52,920 Speaker 1: and Joe Burrow. But if you control the clock, if 763 00:39:52,920 --> 00:39:55,359 Speaker 1: you keep possession, if you keep the ball away from 764 00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:58,520 Speaker 1: the Steelers, then you're in great shape. Well, Aditi, the 765 00:39:58,600 --> 00:40:01,160 Speaker 1: last one I have for you today. I've seen an 766 00:40:01,160 --> 00:40:03,920 Speaker 1: adorable photo of your daughter posted from over the weekend 767 00:40:04,400 --> 00:40:06,799 Speaker 1: watching the Browns game. And I know your kids have 768 00:40:06,920 --> 00:40:10,400 Speaker 1: roots in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, but I really think they 769 00:40:10,400 --> 00:40:12,800 Speaker 1: would look pretty cute and some maybe tiger stripes we 770 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:14,880 Speaker 1: can get some. Maybe we could throw some orange of 771 00:40:14,880 --> 00:40:17,399 Speaker 1: black apparel into the mix here every now and then, 772 00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:22,080 Speaker 1: if you want to send me that, I have no 773 00:40:22,160 --> 00:40:25,600 Speaker 1: problem throwing that on my children. In fact, what's really 774 00:40:25,600 --> 00:40:27,600 Speaker 1: funny is you used to have a running back coach 775 00:40:27,640 --> 00:40:30,640 Speaker 1: who sent us a lot of Bengals gear, and we 776 00:40:30,719 --> 00:40:33,439 Speaker 1: still do wear a lot of those hats, a lot 777 00:40:33,480 --> 00:40:36,520 Speaker 1: of those I don't even know what to call them, 778 00:40:36,560 --> 00:40:40,640 Speaker 1: but our mormers in cold weather, so we will wear 779 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:43,840 Speaker 1: whenever is sent to us. But my poor daughter was 780 00:40:43,920 --> 00:40:47,000 Speaker 1: born in Cleveland and the Browns treated her tremendously well, 781 00:40:47,040 --> 00:40:51,360 Speaker 1: and she is just buying into that, and I can't 782 00:40:51,960 --> 00:40:54,840 Speaker 1: you know, isn't part of parenting letting your kids be 783 00:40:55,840 --> 00:40:58,480 Speaker 1: exactly And it's just this an asc North family, it 784 00:40:58,520 --> 00:41:02,440 Speaker 1: seems maybe. I mean, I didn't growl up here, so 785 00:41:02,520 --> 00:41:06,520 Speaker 1: it's easy for me to let everybody go there one way. Well, 786 00:41:06,600 --> 00:41:09,560 Speaker 1: add thank you so much for joining us. Love your 787 00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:13,680 Speaker 1: coverage at NFL Network. Thanks for spending time with us today, Marissa. 788 00:41:13,719 --> 00:41:16,120 Speaker 1: It's been an absolute pleasure. And thank you so so 789 00:41:16,120 --> 00:41:20,200 Speaker 1: so much for having me and run the ball. That's 790 00:41:20,239 --> 00:41:23,520 Speaker 1: all I'm gonna say. Run the ball. Hi. Thanks to 791 00:41:23,600 --> 00:41:25,920 Speaker 1: Marissa and add and that's going to do it for 792 00:41:25,960 --> 00:41:28,359 Speaker 1: this episode of The Bengals Booth Podcast, brought to you 793 00:41:28,400 --> 00:41:32,120 Speaker 1: by Ultimate Bengals, the free to play Next Level Fantasy 794 00:41:32,160 --> 00:41:36,400 Speaker 1: Football game, downloaded now from the App Store and Google Play. 795 00:41:36,680 --> 00:41:38,920 Speaker 1: If you haven't done so already, please subscribe to this 796 00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:40,640 Speaker 1: podcast and if you have a minute, give it a 797 00:41:40,760 --> 00:41:44,160 Speaker 1: rating or share a comment that helps more Bengals fans 798 00:41:44,520 --> 00:41:48,160 Speaker 1: find us. I'm Dan Horde, Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for 799 00:41:48,200 --> 00:41:50,640 Speaker 1: listening to The Bengals Booth Podcast