1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: Hike and everybody on Dan Horde and this is the 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: Bengals Booth podcast. The Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back addition, 3 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 1: as the Bengals return from their bye weekend to host 4 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: the first Place Baltimore Ravens. In case you didn't recognize 5 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 1: the tune, it was part of the theme song from 6 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: the nineteen seventies TV show Welcome Back, Cotter, Good Lord, 7 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: I'm Old Coming Up. I'll be joined by my broadcast 8 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: partner Dave Lapham as well discussed the challenge Ryan Finley 9 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: will face in his first NFL start. A Ravens quarterback 10 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: Lamar Jackson is changing the NFL, and Lapp will share 11 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 1: some great stories about his friend and former teammate Jim Leclair, 12 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: who passed away this week at the age of sixty nine. 13 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: A locker room conversation is with wide receiver Alex Ericson. 14 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: He'll share his impressions of his new starting quarterback, what 15 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: aj Green's return will mean to the team whenever that happens, 16 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,039 Speaker 1: and I'll ask Alex if he should be the guy 17 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 1: pretending to be Lamar Jackson at practice this week. And 18 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: in this week's Know the Faux segment, we'll get the 19 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:15,400 Speaker 1: lowdown on the Ravens from Baltimore reporter Luke Jones. All 20 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,479 Speaker 1: of that is straight ahead, but first, here's a quick 21 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: reminder that you can have the latest edition of this 22 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 1: podcast delivered write to your phone, tablet, or computer by 23 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 1: subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, or pod Bean. 24 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 1: It's the greatest thing since The Office. I did not 25 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: regularly watch The Office when it was on TV, but 26 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:40,839 Speaker 1: I've been catching up on flights and in hotel rooms 27 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: on Netflix, and well you already know this, but it's awesome. 28 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: I just wish I had enough time to watch every episode, 29 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: but with my current schedule, it's really hard. That's what 30 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: she said. Now, let's get to football time for this 31 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: week's conversation with Dave Lapham, and we kept it a 32 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 1: little bit shorter this week because, as you will hear, 33 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: Lapp has been battling a pretty significant cold. One quick note, 34 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: we recorded this on Wednesday before practice, when all signs 35 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: pointed to the return of AJ Green. Then he reportedly 36 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: experienced swelling in his ankle after a morning walkthrough and 37 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: did not participate in practice. So as of now, aj 38 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: status for Sunday's game is TBD. The Bengals could obviously 39 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 1: use him as they looked for their first win of 40 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: the season after an O and eighth start, a scenario 41 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: that Dave Lapham can identify with. As we mentioned before, 42 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: you are on a team back in nineteen seventy eight 43 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,119 Speaker 1: that started O and eight. You beat Houston in week nine, 44 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,679 Speaker 1: twenty eight to thirteen. That Houston team went ten and 45 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: six and made it to the AFC Championship Game that year. 46 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: Do you remember how that win felt. I do remember that. 47 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: It almost felt like a playoff win, you know. I 48 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 1: mean it had that kind of that kind of a 49 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: relief moment to it. You know, it's finally like all 50 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: this work finally paid off. You know, you can liken 51 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: it to uh, you're a salesperson and you go two 52 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: months without a sale and you're a straight commission salesman 53 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: and the covers are getting there. You know, it's like 54 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,519 Speaker 1: you're not getting any you're not getting any any buzz 55 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: for your work. There's no payback, and so it just 56 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 1: it just felt like that. I remember how euphoric the 57 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: locker room was, you know, it was. It was a huge, 58 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: huge relief that was a good football team that Houston 59 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 1: Moor football team was a daring good football team, so 60 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: you know, we knew just like this team. I mean 61 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: there's a lot of similarities. I mean, we played Houston 62 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: a lot, they played Baltimore a lot. There's a lot 63 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 1: of similarities there. So I mean, if they could, if 64 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: the Bengals could knock off the Baltimore Ravens after they 65 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: knocked off the undefeated New England Patriots, you got to 66 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: think there's gonna be a little bit of Baltimore looking 67 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: past the Cincinnati Bengals in this football game after what 68 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: they did against New England's human nature, And if the 69 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: Bengals can trap them, you know, load the trap and 70 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: spring the trap on them, that would beat That would 71 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: be a big, big win, a division win, because Dan 72 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: they're won in seven in the last eight division games. 73 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: I mean, that's they got to start competing a little 74 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: bit better than that in the division lap. We don't 75 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 1: know if Andy Dalton will play quarterback again for the Bengals. 76 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 1: If the Dalton era is over after eight and a 77 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,719 Speaker 1: half years, how should it be remembered? You know, I 78 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:29,239 Speaker 1: think the fans are going to have some mixed memories 79 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: of it because of the lack of a playoff win, 80 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: but boy, to go to the playoffs five straight times, 81 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: that's a franchise record. And you know, the average like 82 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: ten wins a season during that time frame is as 83 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: long a period of success as the franchise has ever enjoyed. So, 84 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:52,600 Speaker 1: I mean, Andy Dalton is responsible, a big should take 85 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: a big shoulder a big part of that responsibility for 86 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: that success. There's no question about it, Andy Dalton and 87 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: AJ Green, that era was was prolific, you know, in 88 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: the regular season from by club standards in terms of record. 89 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 1: But again, unfortunately, you know, not having a playoff here. 90 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: If they just could have come up with, you know, 91 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,280 Speaker 1: with a playoff wins somewhere along that that five year stretch, 92 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 1: it would be remembered, I think, a lot differently than 93 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: it'll probably be remembered now, no question about it. It's 94 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: been a trying first year for Zach Taylor, to say 95 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 1: the least. Are there any really obvious lessons that you 96 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: think he can take from this year? You know, I 97 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 1: know today's NFL and there's only so many things you 98 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: can do by collective bargain agreement and protecting players and 99 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 1: all that sort of thing. But I just think that. 100 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: You know, I never saw nine on seven. You know, 101 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 1: I never saw anything really really physical, you know, in 102 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,679 Speaker 1: training camp or practices, and I know once the season starts, 103 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: you can't really do anything in practice. You can only 104 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 1: have I think it's what seventeen padded practices for the season, 105 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: maybe one a week if you're lucky. But I think 106 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: in training camp, and I'm not saying beat them to death. 107 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 1: I'm not saying, old man, get off my long kind 108 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: of stuff. You know, beat these guys up and go 109 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: back to the old school way of doing it. But 110 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 1: I think I think maybe just a little bit more physicality, 111 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 1: because it seems like in the beginning, especially, they were 112 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: almost surprised by the tempo and speed of the game 113 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: and the physicality of the game in the early stages 114 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,159 Speaker 1: of the season. Now you're just to it as the 115 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 1: season wears on, and it's hard to practice harder as 116 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: the season wears on. But maybe in the earlier stages 117 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: of it, as you're getting ready for the regular season, 118 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 1: because I mean I experienced it preseasons one. Speed, regular 119 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: season ratcheted up, playoffs ratcheted up big time. And there's 120 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: no question I think everybody would agree with that. So 121 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 1: while you're in that infancy stage of you know, the 122 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 1: tempo and the physicality of it in the preseason, I 123 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 1: think maybe a little bit more physicality in the practice 124 00:06:57,680 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: to get them ready for the early stages of the 125 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,039 Speaker 1: regular seas and might be something to think about. But 126 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: in today's football, you know, I understand how everybody's going. 127 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 1: And I know even in the back in the day, 128 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: Bill Walts when he had those great teams with the 129 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: forty nine or forty nine er players, told me they 130 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: never wore shoulder pads once training camp broke. They never 131 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: had a padded practice and they went out there and 132 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 1: kick some tail. So you know, you can you can 133 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: find cases. You can be Perry Mason and find precedent 134 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: cases for just about anything you want to make. But 135 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: I do think that you know, not tackling. I'm not 136 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 1: saying tackle guys have one on one nutcracker drills. I'm 137 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 1: not saying that kind of stuff. But I'm saying maybe 138 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 1: just a little bit more thumb lap. We've got our 139 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: fingers crossed that d aj Green will make his twenty 140 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 1: nineteen debut this week. Aj missed seven of the last 141 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 1: eight games last year, and the first eight this year, 142 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: so he's basically missed a full season. The Bengals are 143 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: one in fifteen in those games before he got hurt. 144 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 1: Last year, they were five in three. Can he make 145 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: that much of a difference when he returns this year. 146 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: I think he can. I mean, I think he's the 147 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 1: king Domino. When AJ Green's out in the football field, 148 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 1: it reconfigures coverage, Chilt's coverage differently. It's going to make 149 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: life easier for Tyler Boyd. It's going to make life 150 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: easier for everybody else. He's gonna draw double teams. There's 151 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: going to be space for others to take advantage of. 152 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: He's going to empty the box out. There'll be one 153 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: less guy in the box for the offensive line to 154 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: worry about, Joe Mixon to worry about. Running lanes will improve. 155 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: The ripple effect of AJ Green is huge, both up 156 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: and down ripple effect. It's big big. I want to 157 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: bring up something that your former teammate Chris Collinsworth said 158 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 1: on Sunday Night Football last week. He said, quote, this 159 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: is one of those moments in time where we're going 160 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 1: to think back in a few years and go remember 161 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: the night that Lamar Jackson and the Ravens style of 162 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 1: offense took apart the Patriots. We're going to be able 163 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: to point to quarterbacks in the National Football League that 164 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:59,559 Speaker 1: got a chance because of this night. That was the 165 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: end of the Collin's Worth quote. Is Lamar Jackson opening 166 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: the door for a different style of quarterback. It's not 167 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 1: a real big door because not many people can run 168 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 1: like Lamar Jackson. I mean, you know, if you can 169 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 1: find guys they run a four, three five, they can play, 170 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: you know, a quarterback well enough in the National Football League. 171 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: That doesn't take long to call that role, you know. 172 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: I mean, he is so unique. The dude, in my 173 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 1: mind is a running back because he can make you 174 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: miss in a short space and he can run away 175 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: from you. Who can throw a little bit. It's not 176 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 1: a quarterback, you know, they can throw a real well, 177 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 1: they can run a little bit. He's the reverse of 178 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: the norm. And that guy is so rare. And the 179 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:40,440 Speaker 1: thing about him is is, you know, people are like, 180 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: you know, do you think it'll last? I mean, how 181 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 1: how long can he can he go? Because of his elusiveness, 182 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 1: he doesn't take flush hits, you know, he makes he 183 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 1: makes them glancing blows and he's smart enough. He'll go 184 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,479 Speaker 1: to the ground, he'll go out of bounce. He doesn't 185 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 1: lower his shoulder and try to run people over. He 186 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 1: will run between the tackles. But he's clever enough to 187 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: make it, you know, instead of just a direct hit 188 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: right down the middle. I mentioned this a few times. 189 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 1: Reminds me of James Brooks when I talk to him. 190 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 1: You know, everybody's like JB. Everybody's like, how long are 191 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 1: you gonna last? Running the way you run the football? 192 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 1: He said, because man, I make it a glancing blow. 193 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 1: If they take a direct hit at me, it's all 194 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: on me. It's my bad. God bless me with these 195 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 1: abilities to make them glancing blows. And I'm gonna make 196 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: every one of them. I can a glancing blow. And 197 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:28,959 Speaker 1: you know, Frank Or even with his running style, he 198 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,559 Speaker 1: has a way of right at the very end, just 199 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 1: moving a little bit where it's not a direct smoke hit. 200 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: It's more of a glancing blow. That's why he's last 201 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 1: as long as he has. Plus, there's a lot of 202 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: luck involved. The Bengals face the most blitz happy defensive 203 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:47,599 Speaker 1: coordinator in the NFL on Sunday in Baltimore's Don Wink Martindale, 204 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:50,559 Speaker 1: a former UC assistant coach back in the Rick minter days. 205 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 1: What is the formula for success for a rookie quarterback 206 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 1: Ryan Finlay in his debut against that defense? Well, you know, 207 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: all up the blitzpeeders, you know, I mean, because Wink 208 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 1: Martindale is going to bring it. He's going to bring 209 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,199 Speaker 1: one more than you can block. I mean he's brought 210 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: it a little over fifty percent of the time on 211 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 1: the season, he blitz the heck out of Brady. So 212 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:14,199 Speaker 1: if he blitzs the heck out of Brady, what is 213 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: he going to do it? Or a rookie with his 214 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 1: first NFL start, Gosh, it might be you know, sixty 215 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: five percent of the time, and a lot of times 216 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: he just has only two defensive linemen and two point stance. 217 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 1: Everybody is up into three point stance. Excuse me, everybody 218 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: else is into two point stance, milling around and I'll 219 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 1: have seven, eight, nine, ten, even eleven guys with the 220 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: line of scrimmage and trying to identify who's coming and 221 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: who's not. And you know they wait at the very 222 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,559 Speaker 1: last second until you call your final protection, and then 223 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: they try to bring one more than you can block 224 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: on the opposite side. It's it's very, very difficult. So 225 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: communication is going to be real big. When he changed 226 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: his protections, which he's gonna have to do, Trey Hopkins 227 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 1: is going to call a protection. He's gonna have to 228 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,640 Speaker 1: change it to have to be able to communicate that 229 00:11:58,240 --> 00:11:59,839 Speaker 1: and his receivers is gonna have to be on the 230 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 1: same page of him. Was side just blitzpeaters with routes 231 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 1: And that's what A. J. Green and Andy Dalton did 232 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: so well Thursday nine, a year ago when they made 233 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 1: Don Wink Martin deal Blink and he stopped blitzen for 234 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: about thirty thirty five plays. They were killing him on 235 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: side of just slants and quick slants and just blitzpeaters 236 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 1: and beat him to death. Last thing, you lost a 237 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,440 Speaker 1: friend and a former teammate this week with the passing 238 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 1: of former Pro Bowl linebacker Jim Leclair. When the Bengals 239 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 1: named their top fifty retired players a couple of years 240 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 1: ago in their fiftieth season, he checked in at number 241 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,599 Speaker 1: thirty three. Jim went back to North Dakota after his 242 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:38,559 Speaker 1: playing days. He became a mayor. What do you remember 243 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 1: most vividly about Jim Leclair. We were just talking about thumb. 244 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:45,960 Speaker 1: That's what I remember about Jim Mclair thump. I had 245 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,959 Speaker 1: my first quote episode, you know. Was it a concussion. 246 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 1: I don't know if it was a concussion, but I 247 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: know I saw a big flash of lights and I 248 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 1: couldn't walk a straight line. And I remember and that 249 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 1: was my very first practice at training camp. I was 250 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 1: working with Stan Walters, the SS Walters Stanley Steamer out 251 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: of Syracuse. I was playing guard, he was playing tackle. 252 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,679 Speaker 1: We were running a little live drill against defensive linemen 253 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:11,559 Speaker 1: and linebacker are like a nine on seven type thing. 254 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: And I came off a double team on the down 255 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,840 Speaker 1: linement and I tried to kind of like checking peekaboo 256 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 1: a little bit where Jim Leclair was. That dude had 257 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: the most fierce forearm I've ever felt. Man. He hit 258 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:26,439 Speaker 1: me square right in the forehead and shortened my neck, 259 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 1: and I was, oh, I was buzzing long distance phone 260 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 1: call nobody on the other end. Man. And I come 261 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:34,319 Speaker 1: walking back to the staggering back to the hud a 262 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: little bit and Stan LOOKSIMI goes, hey, one thing I 263 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 1: gotta tell you, rook. He says, that guy fifty five, 264 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:44,559 Speaker 1: Jacques Leclair, don't be peeking for him. You gotta bring it. 265 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: You can't come out that double team unless you bring it. 266 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 1: Us I already I just figured that out. That dude 267 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: would hit you. And I remember. The big thing is 268 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:57,079 Speaker 1: they had Victor, the wrestling bear that traveled around to 269 00:13:57,120 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: all the cities, and Jim Leclair was a heavyweight wrestling 270 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,080 Speaker 1: and Jim Leclair Russell's Victor and was shooting his leg 271 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:05,079 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, taking him down. I mean it 272 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: was an unbelievable performance. And the handler or Victor called 273 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: it off because Victor was undefeated and he was a 274 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: little worried about Leclair and Victor. He got Victor down 275 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 1: on his back and uh and Victor had this big, 276 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: long tongue. They muzzled him and they declawed him, but 277 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: his tongue came out of there and wrapped around Jimmy's head. 278 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 1: And it's like, oh, so, I said, what was the 279 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: worst part of Victor goes? Man, that tongue stunk. That 280 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: tongue stunk like a garbage truck man, he goes and 281 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 1: I couldn't get that thing off my head. But I'm 282 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 1: telling you, man, Jimmy Jimy Leclair would he would hit 283 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: you in the running game, and played with him with 284 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: the Generals too. We both went to the Generals and 285 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: what Michael's you know, named him captain to his defense, 286 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: he was captain here. He was definitely a leader of men, 287 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 1: big broad coat, hanger shoulders man and just a physical, 288 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: physical football player who you know, brought it every single snap. 289 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 1: And he and his wife Betty were pretty good friends 290 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: of Lennon. Are Lennon mine and we're both we're both 291 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: grieving that one because I remember Betty telling us that 292 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 1: this was a while back, that she kept having to 293 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: reintroduce herself to Jim, which you know, it's heartbreaking when 294 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: somebody'd been with your whole life, you know, the partner 295 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 1: doesn't recognize you anymore. That has to be a tough 296 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: thing to deal with. So I hope Jim's in a 297 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: better place now. I know he is, and he's probably 298 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: organizing a game of nine on seven up there as 299 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 1: we speak. Fourth round draft pick Ryan Finley will make 300 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 1: his first NFL started quarterback this Sunday, and here's hoping 301 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: he is as impressive as he was in the preseason. 302 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: In the opener of Kansas City, Finley completed his first 303 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 1: ten passes. The following week at Washington, he completed his 304 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: first nine. Overall. In three preseason games, Ryan completed seventy 305 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: three percent of his throws, with three touchdown passes, one 306 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 1: I NT and a passer rating of ninety nine Think three. 307 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 1: Alex Riksson was on the receiving end of several of 308 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 1: those preseason throws, and I spoke to the Bengals wide 309 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 1: receiver this week. We are in the locker room with 310 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: Bengals wide receiver Alex ericson how did you spend your 311 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: bye weekend? Well, I went back to Sonny, Wisconsin and 312 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 1: hung out with the family and spent some time to 313 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 1: just being a dad and being a husband. I assume 314 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 1: you're refreshed more physically or mentally. I'd say both pretty equal, 315 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: you know what. I think the mental size just as 316 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 1: important as the physical side, and I'll be able to 317 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: refresh and get away from it and come back just 318 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: refocused and finished the season and the way we want to. 319 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: For visiting with Alex Rikson's who You're back at it? 320 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 1: This week? With Ryan Finley getting set to make his 321 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: first NFL started quarterback, what stood out to you when 322 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: he played in the preseason. Yeah, Ryan's a competitor. He 323 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 1: just got something about him that, you know, he makes 324 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 1: plays when that doesn't look like there's gonna to play there. 325 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 1: He's got good pocket presents and he does a good boss. 326 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: We're excited for it. Um, you know, he's preparing hard. 327 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 1: This is our you know, this is our first week 328 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: with really a new quarterback a long time, so it's 329 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 1: a lot of it's different, and um, we just got 330 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:14,360 Speaker 1: to do our part to help him out with communicating 331 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: and being in the right spots and just make sure 332 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 1: he feels comfortable with us as receivers. He's twenty four, 333 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 1: he was in college for six years. Do you think 334 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 1: that makes a difference. Yeah, I think so another year 335 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 1: the mature and figure figure yourself out and U So yeah, 336 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 1: I think that definitely definitely makes a difference. We don't 337 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:35,680 Speaker 1: know at this point if aj Green will be back, 338 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,879 Speaker 1: but it certainly looks promising for the other wide receivers. 339 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: Describe what it means when he's out there. You know, 340 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: he's our leader, he's our captain. Uh, He's a guy 341 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 1: we've all leaned on since the first day we got here, 342 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 1: and a guy that we've all watched and admired and 343 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,359 Speaker 1: really just so when he's out there, it's just, you know, 344 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: it's exciting. It's another obviously Hall of fame receiver out there, 345 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:00,680 Speaker 1: you know. So it's not like you're just getting a 346 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 1: guy back. You know, you're getting You're getting the guy 347 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 1: and a guy that's had a lot of success in 348 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:07,959 Speaker 1: this league over a long time. And so yeah, it's 349 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 1: I think it's he's a vital part of this team 350 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: and when he's out there definitely makes a difference. The 351 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: record obviously isn't good. He's coming back from an injury, 352 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 1: gets a contract here, and I can imagine some wide 353 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: receivers around the NFL or players in general that would 354 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: shut it down. He has no intention of doing that. 355 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:26,359 Speaker 1: What does that mean to the other guys on the team. 356 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 1: It means everything. It means he's here to fight with 357 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: us through through the tough times and through the uncertain times, 358 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: and knowing that he's putting all his his own agendas 359 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 1: stuff away and just being a great teammate. And um, 360 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 1: this is the way he is. The type of guy 361 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:44,439 Speaker 1: he is. He he hates missing time, he hates missing practice, 362 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: he hates missing one rep, you know, and you can 363 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 1: tell by the way practice he'll be flying around, he'll 364 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: be running more than anybody. And so we know what 365 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 1: type of guy is and it just kills him not 366 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 1: to be out there. So I'm not surprised that he 367 00:18:57,840 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 1: wants to be out there and help us, help us 368 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:01,520 Speaker 1: get our first one. A few more questions for alex 369 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: ericson you faced the Ravens. You played them three games ago. 370 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 1: This team blitzes as much as any team in the NFL. 371 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:11,159 Speaker 1: Does that impact your route running? Do you have to 372 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:13,680 Speaker 1: be more aware of a hot route or things like that? 373 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: You know, I think it's just like you said, just 374 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,639 Speaker 1: being aware of the positions there and the leverages are 375 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: in and you know idea and that you know when 376 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 1: they're bringing the zero pressures that they're obviously gonna have 377 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 1: one more than we can block, so you know the 378 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: ball is gonna come out quicker and gotta be ready 379 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 1: for a fifty fifty play sometimes. And yeah, I think, 380 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 1: as you know, throughout the game, you just you get 381 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 1: a feel for what they're trying to do, and we 382 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 1: know their aggressive defense, so we'll be aware of it 383 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 1: and be ready to you know, make them pay. When 384 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:44,399 Speaker 1: we catch them in a blitz. The defense has to 385 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 1: contend with Lamar Jackson, who is likely to shatter the 386 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 1: NFL record for rushing yards back quarterback this year. He's 387 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: on a pace for nearly thirteen hundred. I was trying 388 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 1: to think of how the defense could possibly prepare for 389 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,719 Speaker 1: the Lamar Jackson threat, and then it hit me, alex 390 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:02,160 Speaker 1: Erics great running quarterback in high school. Do you think 391 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:04,960 Speaker 1: the coaches would ever consider having you do some of 392 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 1: Lamar Jackson stuff at practice? Can you do that when 393 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: you're working on what you need to work on? Yeah, 394 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 1: it's tough, obviously the amount of reps and the volume 395 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 1: you're getting practice, so you know it's it's probably not likely, 396 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 1: but yeah, he's definitely. He's definitely a guy that is 397 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,240 Speaker 1: unique to prepare for. And his ability to run the 398 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:25,200 Speaker 1: football and his ability to make plays with the ball 399 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 1: in his hands, and um, he's anique talent and you know, 400 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: there's not been a ton of guys like him throughout 401 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 1: the years of the NFL. And he's definitely put on 402 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 1: a show. Last thing. Ravens quarterback Sam Cook claims to 403 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:44,360 Speaker 1: have thirteen versions of punts, a hook, a slice, a knuckler, 404 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:49,160 Speaker 1: a high one line drive. Whatever. Are his punts more 405 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 1: difficult to catch than other guys, Well, he just got 406 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:55,200 Speaker 1: a variation of punts and he hides, he hides his 407 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:58,400 Speaker 1: direction and where he's punding it by doing different variations. 408 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,920 Speaker 1: So it's it's always he's always hard to read. You 409 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 1: can't just go back. There are always punting left. Just 410 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:06,879 Speaker 1: line up left and be ready to catch it. You know. 411 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:08,919 Speaker 1: You know, like I said, it might come end over end, 412 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:10,879 Speaker 1: it might come a liner, he might hang it up, 413 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,879 Speaker 1: he might um. Yeah, So he definitely has a you know, 414 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 1: he's one of the guys that has been doing this 415 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 1: a long time and a guy that's really I probably 416 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: changed a lot of punting in the NFL, the way 417 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: guys are doing a whole bunch of different things with 418 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: the ball now, and his control on the plus fifties 419 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 1: short punts and his ability to pin us back there. 420 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 1: So yeah, he's definitely a unique talent. It's always a 421 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 1: challenge preparing for him, and you know, game day, you 422 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 1: never know what you're gonna get. Do you know? He 423 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:39,440 Speaker 1: was Zach Taylor's college teammate. He's that old. I think 424 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 1: I remember reading that last thing we played him a 425 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 1: few weeks ago. Uh yeah, that's that's pretty crazy. Appreciate 426 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 1: your time, best luck this week, thank you, not time 427 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 1: for this week's no. The faux interview is we do 428 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,080 Speaker 1: a deep dive into the Bengals upcoming opponent. The storyline 429 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 1: in Baltimore is that this might be the biggest trap 430 00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 1: game in NFL history, since the Ravens are coming off 431 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 1: a win over the eight no Patriots before facing the 432 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 1: O and eight Bengals. Baltimore is favored by ten and 433 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:13,360 Speaker 1: the Ravens have never lost when favored by double digits. 434 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 1: They're thirty three and oh. Luke Jones covers the Baltimore 435 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:20,119 Speaker 1: Ravens and joined Lap and Wayne box Miller on the 436 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 1: Bengals Game Plan Show. The first topic of conversation the 437 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 1: possibility of Baltimore taking the Bengals lightly. Yeah. I mean 438 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 1: they said all the right things this week. I know, 439 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:33,879 Speaker 1: Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smiths, who is one of the elder 440 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 1: statesmen on this team, basically said, look, we just were 441 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 1: coming off two really good wins. But if we go 442 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 1: and lay an egg on Sunday, what does it really mean? 443 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 1: And I think recent history you guys know very well, 444 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: save four a couple years ago that season opener in Cincinnati, 445 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 1: the Ravens haven't won there very often. I mean, it's 446 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 1: been quite a while where the Bengals have really taken 447 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: care of business at home against the Ravens. And I 448 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:03,159 Speaker 1: think the thing that helps them is also just a 449 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: few weeks ago. Even though you look at the stat 450 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:09,160 Speaker 1: sheet from a yarded standpoint and look at the numbers, 451 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:12,920 Speaker 1: it was pretty heavy in favor of the Ravens, but 452 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 1: it was a six point game, and certainly that that 453 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,880 Speaker 1: opening kickoff return for the touchdown. You'd like to think 454 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 1: from the Ravens perspective that the Bengals coming in and 455 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:26,920 Speaker 1: playing the Ravens tough on the scoreboard anyway, that should 456 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:29,119 Speaker 1: be a big enough reminder. But you guys know this 457 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 1: is a crazy league and Cincinnati, despite its record, you 458 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:34,280 Speaker 1: guys have been in a lot of close games. So 459 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 1: I think a John Harball team, you know, a well 460 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 1: coached football team like John Harball has year in and 461 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 1: year out, the message is gonna be hit home many 462 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: times over the course of this week, not to be 463 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:49,360 Speaker 1: taken anyone lightly, because you know this league can turn 464 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: very quickly to your point on the yards Luke Florida 465 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:57,879 Speaker 1: ninety seven yards for the Ravens Jordan fifty. That's the 466 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 1: season low for the Ravens defense holding an offense to 467 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 1: joining fifty yards the time of possession thirty nine minutes 468 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 1: and forty two seconds to twenty minutes and eighteen seconds. 469 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 1: They basically doubled them up in yards and double them 470 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 1: up in time of possession. I mean it is basically 471 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 1: double them up in yards and double them up in 472 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 1: time of possession. I mean it is remarkable. The reason 473 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 1: it was a one score game is because of the 474 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 1: unconventional score the kickoff return. It really wasn't. And the 475 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:29,200 Speaker 1: other thing I'll point out in that game, which I 476 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 1: think you know, Bengals fans can maybe take a little 477 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:35,160 Speaker 1: bit of optimism with, is if you were calling that game, 478 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,280 Speaker 1: they did a nice job against mark Ingram and the 479 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 1: Ravens between the tackles, running game for the first three quarters. 480 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 1: It wasn't until that final quarter with the Ravens just 481 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 1: kind of do what they did. They had I believe 482 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: a nine minute drive in that fourth quarter ended in 483 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:53,199 Speaker 1: a Justin Tucker field goal. But as I say, weekend 484 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: and week out with this Ravens offense, whatever you try 485 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 1: to do, whether you try to take away the between 486 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:01,280 Speaker 1: the tackle stuff, whether you try to take Lamar Jackson 487 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:03,040 Speaker 1: away on the edge, although people can try to do 488 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:05,720 Speaker 1: that and I haven't seen too many teams be successful there, 489 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:08,320 Speaker 1: or if you just try to load up the box 490 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:11,520 Speaker 1: and make Lamar's throw. There's a hidden cost to any 491 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 1: possible way you try to defend this offense. So as 492 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 1: much as the Bengals did well between the tackles through 493 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 1: the first three quarters, of course you see what Lamar 494 00:25:21,119 --> 00:25:23,560 Speaker 1: Jackson did getting to the edge, and that's what just 495 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 1: makes this offense so difficult to defend. But I'll say this, 496 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 1: and this was a talking point with John Harball today, 497 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:32,920 Speaker 1: the Bengals have seen Lamar Jackson a couple times down. 498 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 1: I think that's kind of the great question around the 499 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:37,639 Speaker 1: league in the big picture, as you see him in 500 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:41,360 Speaker 1: this offense more and more, I equated to baseball, where 501 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:43,840 Speaker 1: you have that one hundred mile per hour pitcher who 502 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:46,440 Speaker 1: also has a nasty slider. First couple times to get 503 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 1: up to the plate, you're not gonna have a chance. 504 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: Maybe a couple more times through the order, maybe you 505 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:54,679 Speaker 1: get a little better idea. But I think that's going 506 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: to be a tall challenge for the Bengals. Well, let's 507 00:25:57,320 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 1: hope you've done an approach to light coal from the 508 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 1: Astrols did on and run he had this year in baseball? 509 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:07,040 Speaker 1: What about the Baltimore Faithful? Do they believe in Lamar Jackson? Now? 510 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 1: Obviously there was a mixed emotion when he was drafted, 511 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:13,480 Speaker 1: and then last year, well he had some good games, 512 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:16,399 Speaker 1: it was just an aberration. Now he's playing at an 513 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:18,640 Speaker 1: MVP level for the most part. He had a couple 514 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:21,840 Speaker 1: of bad games against Cleveland and Pittsburgh, but the total 515 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 1: body of work this year has been impressive. Do people 516 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:27,879 Speaker 1: really think now that he can deliver the goods at 517 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:31,960 Speaker 1: that position? I really think. I think you're seeing more 518 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:35,360 Speaker 1: and more and more believers every single week. I think 519 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 1: there's still concern about his style of play as far 520 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:43,240 Speaker 1: as sustainability, and more so probably from a health standpoint. 521 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:46,200 Speaker 1: Although as you guys know, we've seen somebody quarterbacks get 522 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 1: injured from the pocket. I think it's just the balls 523 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:50,639 Speaker 1: in your hand. There's a risk to be injured on 524 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 1: any single play. I mean, we just know that about 525 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 1: this game. But I think in terms of what he's doing. 526 00:26:56,720 --> 00:27:00,159 Speaker 1: I think the intangibles. I think the fact that one 527 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:01,879 Speaker 1: of the big knocks on him last year was his 528 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 1: ball security. He had at least one fumble in every 529 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 1: single start. This year, he's been credited with four fumbles, 530 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 1: but a couple of those are actually bad snaps. The 531 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:13,680 Speaker 1: quarterback just got credit for the fumble. He has not 532 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:17,400 Speaker 1: lost the fumble. He's only thrown five interceptions, so he's 533 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:21,399 Speaker 1: making plays while also valuing the football in terms of 534 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 1: ball security, and that's really rare for young quarterbacks. Even 535 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 1: Baker Mayfield last year he was a toast to the 536 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 1: league as a rookie quarterback. He still threw a lot 537 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 1: of interceptions. So I think people are believing more and more. 538 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:36,440 Speaker 1: And I'll just say this from an intangible standpoint, from 539 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:41,640 Speaker 1: an energy standpoint, this is as energetic and excited as 540 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:43,920 Speaker 1: this Stan base has been since the days of Ray 541 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 1: Lewis and and Edgared. No disrespect to Joe Flacco or 542 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 1: some other veterans boot one in recent years, but just 543 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:54,399 Speaker 1: the smart at the face of the franchise that Lamar 544 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 1: is rapidly becoming. I just haven't seen that really with 545 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:01,479 Speaker 1: the Ravens with any offensive player they've ever had. I mean, 546 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 1: this has been a defense first down and it just 547 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,399 Speaker 1: he just got that vibe to him that remind you 548 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:09,439 Speaker 1: a little bit. I'm saying he's gonna be a Hall 549 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:10,960 Speaker 1: of Famer, but remind you a little bit of the 550 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 1: way Ray Lewis and Ed Reid to oomanize the city 551 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 1: way back when Luke, I agree with you that I think. 552 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 1: I think when you look at Jackson, there was a 553 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 1: running back the Bengals had years ago, James Brooks under 554 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 1: size running back, but he would make people miss in 555 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 1: space and then you know, run away from He had 556 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:32,439 Speaker 1: that short space quickness. Jackson, even if you have him contained, 557 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 1: he'll make you miss. And I said to James Brooks 558 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:38,760 Speaker 1: that said, you know your size, JB. Everybody's saying, man, 559 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:41,160 Speaker 1: you're gonna get destroyed. You're not gonna be able to last. 560 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:44,160 Speaker 1: It's not a sustainable thing. He goes, look, the good Lord, 561 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 1: bless me with this physical talent. If I take a 562 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: flush hit, that's on me. And he would make every 563 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 1: blow a glancing blow. He never got drill. He never 564 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 1: get hit right down the middle, and you know it 565 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:58,360 Speaker 1: would always be like a partial shot. And that's what 566 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 1: this kid can do and then he'll slide, he'll get 567 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:02,880 Speaker 1: out of bounds. He's smart. I agree with you. I 568 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:06,360 Speaker 1: think his biggest danger, like any quarterback, you know, look 569 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 1: what happened to Jacobi Wasset, you know, in the pocket, 570 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:12,320 Speaker 1: gets stepped on and you know, get knee injuries, ankle injuries, 571 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:14,000 Speaker 1: all that kind of thing. I think if he gets 572 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:16,040 Speaker 1: caught in a pile in the running game, or he 573 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 1: gets caught in a pile, you know, in the pocket. 574 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 1: But that's that's the same for any quarterback. I think 575 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 1: the sustainability thing, he's so athletic, I don't. I don't 576 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 1: think that's gonna be a big, big part of the problem. 577 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:30,719 Speaker 1: I really don't. Yeah, I'm believing that more and more 578 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 1: to the more I watch him play, and I've watched 579 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:36,720 Speaker 1: every single start, every single play going back to last November. 580 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:40,760 Speaker 1: The number of hard hits he's taken where you're holding 581 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:43,880 Speaker 1: your breath, you could probably count on a couple of hands. 582 00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: I mean a few in back that Cincinnati game a 583 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 1: few weeks ago. I thought a couple of those hits 584 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:50,800 Speaker 1: were some of the bigger hits he's taken all year. 585 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:54,080 Speaker 1: But the difference this year, he's sliding a little bit more. 586 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:56,800 Speaker 1: He's definitely showing more of a willingness to go out 587 00:29:56,840 --> 00:29:58,800 Speaker 1: of bound. Last year there were times where he would 588 00:29:58,840 --> 00:30:01,160 Speaker 1: lower his shoulder like Jim Round. It's just like, that's 589 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 1: not what we want and unless you're playing in January. 590 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:07,440 Speaker 1: But I think he just has that ability and he 591 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:10,920 Speaker 1: just he has this I don't know, his agility almost 592 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:13,400 Speaker 1: reminds you of a great point guard in basketball, where 593 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 1: he just he can find the little seaman. He's really 594 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 1: slippery in addition to just being fast, and I mean, 595 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:20,920 Speaker 1: I guess you know, the critics could say it only 596 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,960 Speaker 1: takes one hit, and that's true, but I don't know, 597 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:26,160 Speaker 1: you think about it in terms of would you rather 598 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:29,240 Speaker 1: a quarterback standing in the pocket like a statue and 599 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 1: someone crashes into his knee like happened to Joe Flacco 600 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:35,000 Speaker 1: four years ago and towards acl or you have this 601 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:37,640 Speaker 1: guy who's so quick, so tough to catch him, he's 602 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 1: so agile and change the direction where he can kind 603 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 1: of dictate what kind of contact he's going to take, 604 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,800 Speaker 1: and to this point it's worked out really well for him. 605 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 1: You know, you want to switch to defense before we 606 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:52,200 Speaker 1: let you go and talk about one guy I think 607 00:30:52,280 --> 00:30:55,080 Speaker 1: has just really served you guys well as a first 608 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:58,480 Speaker 1: round pick is Humphrey the defensive back. He just seems 609 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:02,120 Speaker 1: to be a playmaker. Obviously, Ed Reid is the ultimate 610 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:05,080 Speaker 1: playrker Rud. I mean, this guy holds his own at 611 00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:08,400 Speaker 1: the defensive back position and just continues to play well. 612 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:11,240 Speaker 1: He Marlin Humphrey has played extremely well. I mean, if 613 00:31:11,280 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 1: he's not in the Pro Bowl this year, and I 614 00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:15,800 Speaker 1: think by Merritt, he probably could have made it last year, 615 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:19,120 Speaker 1: but wasn't a household name around the league. But I 616 00:31:19,280 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 1: think with some of the big splash players you've seen 617 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 1: him make this year, that's changing. But I think what's 618 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:27,360 Speaker 1: been impressive with him is the Ravens lost Tavon Young, 619 00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:30,400 Speaker 1: their slot cornerback, in August to a neck issue that 620 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 1: required kurt that they've lost him for the year. They 621 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:36,160 Speaker 1: have Jimmy Smith back from the injury. Marcus Peters, who 622 00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:38,440 Speaker 1: they picked up two weeks before the trade Deadvine is 623 00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:41,960 Speaker 1: their other outside corner. Humphreys actually been playing in the slot, 624 00:31:42,040 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 1: which he had been an outside guy, and a big 625 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:48,320 Speaker 1: part of that has been him traveling with some of 626 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:51,080 Speaker 1: these number one receivers, which as you guys know, number 627 00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:53,920 Speaker 1: one receivers playing the slot more and more it seems 628 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:57,360 Speaker 1: in recent years. But he's really kind of become their 629 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:00,400 Speaker 1: inside corner. I mean he starts and he's only outside 630 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:02,640 Speaker 1: of her own base, which is very rare, but in 631 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 1: that nickel and dime and quarter defense, he's kind of 632 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:07,800 Speaker 1: been playing that flot and he is just the playmaker 633 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:11,160 Speaker 1: and not just as a coverage guy, but he plays 634 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 1: the run really well too. He's kind of like a 635 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:17,360 Speaker 1: he's almost like a hybrid safety, linebacker, corner, and he's 636 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:20,320 Speaker 1: definitely been their best defensive player. You know, I really 637 00:32:20,360 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 1: respect what they did. They've done offensively. You know, they 638 00:32:23,800 --> 00:32:26,880 Speaker 1: had Greg Roman, who's worked with Kaeperner and Tyrod Taylor, 639 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:30,120 Speaker 1: you know, to institute an offense for Lamar Jackson to 640 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:32,720 Speaker 1: take advantage of. I mean, they supported him not only 641 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 1: with personnel, but with the coach that knew how to 642 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:38,520 Speaker 1: utilize this kid's talents, not try to put a square 643 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:41,840 Speaker 1: peg in a round hole. And then defensively, what they've done. 644 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:45,440 Speaker 1: They got Brandon car Now, another defensive back who they 645 00:32:45,560 --> 00:32:47,600 Speaker 1: moved from corner to safety. They have him locking down 646 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:51,000 Speaker 1: tight ends in their sub packages. They now they just 647 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:54,320 Speaker 1: they'll blitch you like crazy. I mean when they played 648 00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:56,680 Speaker 1: the Bengals the first time, they rushed five or more 649 00:32:56,960 --> 00:33:00,080 Speaker 1: seventy five percent of the time on the sea and 650 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:02,320 Speaker 1: there in the high forty still rush five or more 651 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:05,160 Speaker 1: like forty six to forty eight percent. Against the Bengas 652 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:08,600 Speaker 1: was seventy five percent. And then they'll play man. They'll 653 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:10,760 Speaker 1: lock you down in man coverage with that blitz. It 654 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:13,600 Speaker 1: used to be they had sugs and these pass rushers 655 00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:15,920 Speaker 1: they've rushed for and play coverage on the back end. 656 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:18,960 Speaker 1: Now it's just the opposite now, I mean, Martindale's just 657 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:21,800 Speaker 1: blitz in his tail off for pressuring because he knows 658 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:23,840 Speaker 1: he has these guys in the back end they can 659 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:27,040 Speaker 1: lock down in coverage. Yeah, it really allows them to 660 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:30,000 Speaker 1: dictate to the offense what they want to do, because 661 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:33,800 Speaker 1: really they're two weaknesses and you just mentioned one. Whenever 662 00:33:33,840 --> 00:33:35,720 Speaker 1: there's the four man rush, they don't get home. And 663 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:37,680 Speaker 1: it's difficult to get home in the day and age 664 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:39,840 Speaker 1: because quarterbacks just get the ball out so quick. Andy 665 00:33:39,920 --> 00:33:42,800 Speaker 1: Dalton did that for years against them. So their four 666 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:44,720 Speaker 1: man rush isn't what you'd like it to be. You 667 00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:47,120 Speaker 1: don't have that sugs, you don't have Zadarius Smith like 668 00:33:47,160 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 1: they did last year. And there are other weakness which 669 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:53,720 Speaker 1: they've certainly improved because they've brought in Josh Bines and LJ. Ford, 670 00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:56,680 Speaker 1: you know, someone very familiar to the AFC North, and 671 00:33:56,800 --> 00:34:00,200 Speaker 1: those guys have stabilized things that inside linebacker, but they're 672 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:03,040 Speaker 1: not great coverage linebackers. So you're just mentioned it. With 673 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:05,800 Speaker 1: Brandon Carr, they put him in a safety Chuck Clark 674 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:07,840 Speaker 1: use of their strong safety they dropped down to play 675 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:11,719 Speaker 1: the mic. And they've played plenty of plays over the 676 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:15,040 Speaker 1: last few weeks where they don't have a single traditional linebacker. 677 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:17,919 Speaker 1: With having Brandon Williams and Michael Pierce up front, they've 678 00:34:17,960 --> 00:34:19,800 Speaker 1: they've been fined in the run game when they do that. 679 00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:22,960 Speaker 1: So they're just they're multiple, they're very different, and the 680 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:26,279 Speaker 1: weaknesses that they do have, they seem to scheme as 681 00:34:26,320 --> 00:34:30,440 Speaker 1: well as you can. Tom maybe not eliminate those weaknesses, 682 00:34:30,520 --> 00:34:34,640 Speaker 1: but certainly alleviate them. I think as an organization, Ozzie 683 00:34:34,680 --> 00:34:42,200 Speaker 1: Knewsom and now DaCosta and Harbaugh, they they've basically make 684 00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:45,560 Speaker 1: their schemes fit their personnel, not the other way around. 685 00:34:45,680 --> 00:34:48,600 Speaker 1: You know what it's like, you can't You can't just say, look, 686 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:51,160 Speaker 1: i'm gonna take this guy and I'm gonna play make 687 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:53,280 Speaker 1: him do this even if it doesn't fit his talents. 688 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:56,960 Speaker 1: That's crazy. They always will adjust and shift. Like the 689 00:34:57,080 --> 00:35:00,320 Speaker 1: great bum Philip said about Don Shula, he take his 690 00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:01,920 Speaker 1: and and beat your arn. He could take a urin 691 00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:04,920 Speaker 1: and beat his n because he would have adjust and adapt. 692 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:08,440 Speaker 1: I mean when he had Zonkin kick, you know, formation, 693 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 1: you would big people run the heck out of it. 694 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:12,200 Speaker 1: Dan Marino spread you out to throw the heck out 695 00:35:12,239 --> 00:35:14,600 Speaker 1: of it. I mean, you have to be adaptable and 696 00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:18,600 Speaker 1: adjust to things. And the Ravens organization offensively and defensively 697 00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:21,279 Speaker 1: has done it as well as anybody. Yeah, they really have. 698 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:24,200 Speaker 1: And I think with John Harball specifically as much as 699 00:35:24,440 --> 00:35:27,759 Speaker 1: what was the big criticism about him when he was hired, Well, 700 00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:31,200 Speaker 1: he wasn't an offensive or defensive coordinator. Well right, that 701 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:33,799 Speaker 1: doesn't that lend itself to being more flexible. I mean 702 00:35:33,880 --> 00:35:36,120 Speaker 1: he doesn't have and he even talked about this recently, 703 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:39,160 Speaker 1: talked about this after they drafted Lamar Jackson. He didn't 704 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:41,279 Speaker 1: have an offensive he was married too, And yeah, they 705 00:35:41,360 --> 00:35:44,239 Speaker 1: ran the West Coast offense for a number of years. Here. 706 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:46,040 Speaker 1: You know, from the time Gary Kubiak came in and 707 00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:49,960 Speaker 1: that was Flacco's best regular season performance in twenty fourteen. 708 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:53,040 Speaker 1: But it just kind of said, look, we can try 709 00:35:53,080 --> 00:35:55,080 Speaker 1: to find the next Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, or 710 00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:58,719 Speaker 1: here's this kid who has some really special traits and 711 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:01,000 Speaker 1: we love them at an athlete, we love him as 712 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:03,080 Speaker 1: a person. We think he's a winner. He's been successful 713 00:36:03,080 --> 00:36:06,120 Speaker 1: at the collegiate level. Let's design something new, let's do 714 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:10,520 Speaker 1: something different and play into his strengths. And hey, there's 715 00:36:10,520 --> 00:36:12,680 Speaker 1: still a long way to go and time will tell 716 00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:15,520 Speaker 1: whether Lamar Jackson leads the Ravens to a super Bowl, 717 00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:18,080 Speaker 1: but being an MVP candidate in his first four year 718 00:36:18,120 --> 00:36:21,080 Speaker 1: as a starter, there's certainly a lot a lot of 719 00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:23,839 Speaker 1: growing confidence that he'll be able to do that. Maybe 720 00:36:23,880 --> 00:36:25,880 Speaker 1: not this year, but at some point here in the 721 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:29,439 Speaker 1: near future. Thanks to Luke Jones. And here's a quick 722 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:33,440 Speaker 1: reminder that if you listen to this podcast before Friday afternoon, 723 00:36:34,040 --> 00:36:35,759 Speaker 1: we invite you to join us for the Bengals PEP 724 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:39,600 Speaker 1: Rally Show and Buffalo Wings and Rings the Beechmont location. 725 00:36:40,239 --> 00:36:42,920 Speaker 1: This week's show is from two thirty to five thirty. 726 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:46,120 Speaker 1: That's a half hour earlier than usual, and our special 727 00:36:46,239 --> 00:36:49,680 Speaker 1: guest in the final hour will be Bengals offensive lineman 728 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:52,800 Speaker 1: John Jerry. That's going to do it for this episode 729 00:36:52,840 --> 00:36:55,640 Speaker 1: of the podcast. If you haven't done so already, don't 730 00:36:55,719 --> 00:36:58,680 Speaker 1: forget to subscribe, and if you have a minute, please 731 00:36:58,760 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 1: give it a rating for share a comment. Those five 732 00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:06,160 Speaker 1: star ratings help more Bengals fans find this podcast. I'm 733 00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:10,080 Speaker 1: Dan Horde and thanks for listening to the Bengals Booth Podcast.