1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: Hike and everybody. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 2 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 1: the Bengals Booth podcast. The Let's give them something to 3 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:17,439 Speaker 1: talk about. Addition, as we discuss the verbal diarrhea being 4 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 1: spewed from coast to coast about the Bengals in the 5 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: possible number one pick in April's draft Joe Burrow And yes, 6 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: I said verbal diarrhea. A Dan Horde rant is coming up, 7 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 1: and with the NFL Scouting Combine a little more than 8 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: a week away, I'll pick the brain of the Bengals 9 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,840 Speaker 1: Director of College Scouting Mike Potts. The Combined, by the way, 10 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: will be the bengals first opportunity to sit in a 11 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: room and have an extended conversation with Joe Burrow and 12 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: many of the top prospects in this year's draft. All 13 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: of that is straight ahead, but first, here's a quick 14 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: reminder that you can have the latest edition of this 15 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, or compute by 16 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:06,399 Speaker 1: subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, or pod Bean. 17 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 1: It's the greatest thing since blowpops. So I got home 18 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: from work last night and sitting at my desk was 19 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:19,479 Speaker 1: a grape blowpop courtesy of my thirteen year old son. 20 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: You remember the Blowpop. It's two treats in one, a 21 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: hard candy shell with a chewy bubble gum center. It's 22 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: the Charms Candy Company's best selling product of all time, 23 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: and I can see why they've been making kids and 24 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 1: dentists very happy for more than half a century. Now, 25 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: let's get to football. By now, I'm guessing you've heard 26 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: or read story suggesting that Joe Burrow does not want 27 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: to play for the Bengals, or that the Heisman Trophy 28 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: winner shouldn't want to play for the Bengals. Let's start 29 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: with the first part, the notion that the LSU quarterback 30 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: does not want to play in Cincinnati. I've listened to 31 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: three recent interviews featuring Joe Burrow. He was on the 32 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: part in My Take podcast in December, the day after 33 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: winning the Heisman, and he did two national radio shows 34 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: during Super Bowl week, the Dan Patrick Show and The 35 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 1: Rich Eisen Show. I recommend listening to all three interviews, 36 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: especially the part of My Take interview from December sixteenth, 37 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 1: where Joe shares some great stories about his two years 38 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: at LSU. It's at the very end of a long 39 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: podcast In all three interviews, Burrow speaks enthusiastically about potentially 40 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: being the number one overall pick in this year's draft. 41 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: The only possible thing that could raise any doubts about 42 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: his desire to play for the Bengals happened on The 43 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: Dan Patrick Show on January thirty first, when Patrick asked 44 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: if being the number one pick or going to the 45 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: right team is most porton. Burrow answered as follows a 46 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 1: combination of both. You want to go number one, but 47 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,399 Speaker 1: you also want to go to a great organization that's 48 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 1: committed to winning, committed to winning Super Bowls. Because he 49 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: didn't specifically say I want to go number one and 50 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 1: be the guy that turns things around in Cincinnati, members 51 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 1: of the media have their story and they are running 52 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: wild with it, and their logic usually goes as follows. 53 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: Carson Palmer quit the Bengals and since retiring, has questioned 54 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: their commitment to winning. Joe Burrow is training for the 55 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 1: draft under Carson's brother, Jordan Palmer. A plus B equals clickbait. 56 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: Never Mind that a few weeks ago, Burrow said the 57 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: following to Bloomberg News quote, whoever wants to pay me 58 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: the money to play the game of football. I'll play 59 00:03:55,640 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: for him. It doesn't matter to me or that. In Midjauary, 60 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: his dad, Jimmy Burrow said in a radio interview quote, 61 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: if the Bengals do draft him, he's going to be happy. 62 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: He'll look at it as a challenge, but he'll be 63 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: confident that eventually they can win a lot of games 64 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 1: there in Cincinnati. Now, I don't know about you, but 65 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: I trust Joe's dad more than I trust Mike Florio 66 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 1: from Pro Football Talk. Still, that didn't stop PFT from 67 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: using the following headline on February eighth. Does Joe Burrow 68 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: hope the Bengals don't draft him? They follow that headline 69 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 1: with six hundred and thirty four words on the subject 70 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 1: when they could have gone with four. We have no idea. 71 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: Media outlets have a lot of time and space to 72 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 1: fill between now and the draft, and they're always looking 73 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: for stories with sizzle. Thankfully, there's a chance that this 74 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 1: one will die soon. It's standard operating procedure for the 75 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: top draft prospects to hold a news conference at the 76 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: NFL Scouting Combine, which gets under way a week from Sunday. 77 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 1: Here's hoping Joe Burrow buries this story much like he 78 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: buried Oklahoma in the National semifinal game when he threw 79 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: seven touchdown passes in the first half. Now, let's get 80 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 1: to the second notion that media outlets are hammering that 81 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 1: Joe Burrow shouldn't want to play for the Bengals. Listen, 82 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: I get it. The team hasn't won a playoff game 83 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: since January of nineteen ninety one, and they've certainly made 84 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 1: their share of mistakes since their five year playoff streak 85 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: ended in two fifteen. But it wasn't that long ago 86 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 1: that the Bengals were being widely praised for their astute 87 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: roster building. It took me all of about a five 88 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 1: minute Google search to find the following four stories. NFL 89 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: dot Com August of two twelve. Cincinnati Bengals suddenly resemble 90 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 1: a model franchise since an Eddie Enquirer October of two 91 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: thousand and fifteen, the Bengals became the beacon of consistency 92 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: and a role model for roster construction. CBS Sports, also 93 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: October of two thousand and fifteen. Agents take how the 94 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: Bengals turned into one of the NFL's model franchises. Yahoo 95 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: Sports June of two thousand and sixteen, Bengals might have 96 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: the deepest roster in the NFL. I'm sure I could 97 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: have found a dozen more stories from that time period 98 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: that basically say the same thing. So what's happened since? Well, 99 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 1: the Bengals had a bad draft in two thousand and fifteen. 100 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 1: Cedric o'boyhey and Jake Fisher didn't work out, making the 101 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: departure of Andrew Whitworth especially damaging. Then in the next 102 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:55,119 Speaker 1: four drafts they had brutal luck were their first round 103 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 1: picks as will Jackson, John Ross, Billy Price, and Jonah 104 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 1: William missed much or all of their rookie seasons. And 105 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: while the Bengals historically have not gone after high priced 106 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: free agents, they basically did that two years ago when 107 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 1: they picked up Cordy Glenn. Technically it was a trade, 108 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: but Cordy had three years left on one of the 109 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: priciest offensive line deals in the NFL. When the Bengals 110 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: acquired him. This year, he spent nearly two months in 111 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 1: concussion protocol. Now, I've been broadcasting the games for nine years. 112 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: In that timeframe, the Bengals are one of only ten 113 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: teams to make the playoffs. Five times their winning percentage, 114 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: despite going two and fourteen this year, still ranks thirteenth 115 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: best in the NFL. None of that is good enough. 116 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: The goal is to win the Super Bowl, and with 117 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: the first pick in this year's draft, the Bengals are 118 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 1: in a position to acquire the type of player that 119 00:07:55,880 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: can ultimately help them get there. All right, let's get 120 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: to this week's guest. Mike Potts is the Bengals director 121 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: of college scouting. He joined the team in twenty fifteen 122 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: after spending four years working in the scouting department for 123 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 1: the Atlanta Falcons. With the combine coming up shortly followed 124 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 1: by on Caps Pro Days, I thought it would be 125 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: a great time to pick his brain about the process 126 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 1: of putting together this year's draft class. Mike, the NFL 127 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: Scouting Combine begins in a little more than a week. 128 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: Because halving the number one overall pick raise the stakes 129 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 1: or change anything about the combine from your perspective, I mean, 130 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:37,559 Speaker 1: I think it makes it a lot more important obviously 131 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:39,719 Speaker 1: for us, because you don't want to be picking at 132 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: that spot every year. Hopefully we're never picking there again. 133 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:45,079 Speaker 1: It's obviously a rough season that you have to go through. 134 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: To get to that point. But that's the spot that 135 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: we're in, and to answer your question, it is important. 136 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: You know, you can obviously narrow it down to fewer 137 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,959 Speaker 1: guys as opposed to if you're picking, you know, at 138 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 1: the latter half of the first round, there's a lot 139 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 1: more guys that you have to have rank and see 140 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: how the board falls, So it is easier to narrow 141 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: it down to a smaller number of guys. But it's 142 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:11,199 Speaker 1: it's obviously a pick where you're gonna want a difference 143 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: making guy that can that can change the franchise for you. 144 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: So so it's obviously a very important selection for us, 145 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: and we're gonna do all the homework that we need 146 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: to do to make sure we make the right choice. 147 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: You mentioned having guy's ranked last year. For example, when 148 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: you're taking the eleventh choice, you can list guys one 149 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: through eleven, and then when it's your pick, maybe number 150 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 1: four is still there, maybe number six is still there, 151 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 1: whatever that helps you make your choice at number eleven. 152 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: You've got number one this year, but you've also got 153 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 1: number thirty three, So will you do a one through 154 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: thirty three in preparation for that second pick? We will, 155 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: and even further. You know, well, we're as of right now, 156 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: we're picking at sixty five at the top of the 157 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 1: third round, and then we'll see exactly what our number 158 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 1: is going to be at the top of the fourth round, 159 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 1: because there'll be some compensatory selections there that end end 160 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 1: up getting released here over the next several weeks as 161 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 1: far as um you know, at the end of the 162 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:02,959 Speaker 1: third round, so that'll push us back a little bit 163 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: from that traditional it would be the ninety seventh spot. 164 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 1: We may be at one hundred or something like that, 165 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 1: but we'll probably stack the board up to at least 166 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: our our fourth round pick, and then there's there's a 167 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 1: lot of moving parts from there, you know, depending on 168 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: what you take at one or thirty three, or if 169 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 1: you move around, if you trade up, if you trade back, 170 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: you may address certain positions and then we'll readdress or 171 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, we'll reorder the board there from there as 172 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 1: far as by position, and you know, we may value 173 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: a certain position over another one according to what we 174 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 1: did on day one of the draft. We're speaking to 175 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 1: the Bengals director of college Scouting, Mike Potts. From your perspective, 176 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 1: what is the most valuable part of the combine. I 177 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: think it's the medicals for sure, you know, to get 178 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 1: that many three hundred and some players all in the 179 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: same spot, and Indianapolis is a phenomenal location for it. 180 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: The logistics and you know, everything that they have ironed 181 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 1: out from for doing it there for a long time 182 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: is uh, you know, they really do a great job 183 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:06,679 Speaker 1: with it. And that's that's the majority of the information 184 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: we get is the medical. That's the that's the most 185 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: important thing, I would say. And then and then from 186 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: there the interviews, dialing in on on who these players 187 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 1: are as people. You know, we talked through their coaches, 188 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 1: we talk to their support staff when we go through 189 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 1: these schools as scouts on visits. But it's uh, you know, 190 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: it means a lot more looking at the player in 191 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:30,000 Speaker 1: the eye and hearing it from them, so that that 192 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: part of it is is big. And then all obviously 193 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 1: the athletic testing is a huge part of it. But 194 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 1: if I had to, if I had to say, one 195 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: was the you know, the most beneficial thing that we 196 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:40,960 Speaker 1: get out of it will be the medical. It's a 197 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: good follow up to my next question because the staff 198 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: got to coach some of the top prospects at the 199 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:50,200 Speaker 1: Senior Bowl, including quarterback Justin Herbert, but Joe Burrow to 200 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: a tone of Violela, Chase Young, and some of the 201 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: other top candidates for the draft. We're not in mobile. 202 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 1: Will this be your first opportunity or the team's first opportunity. 203 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: It's in a room and visit with those guys. It 204 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: will be. Yeah. You know, sometimes as a scout, when 205 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 1: you go through to a smaller school, they'll bring that player, 206 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 1: they may only have one prospect, and they'll bring that 207 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 1: player in to talk to you face to face during 208 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:13,959 Speaker 1: the fall. But it's not that way. You know, when 209 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:16,719 Speaker 1: when you're at a big SEC, a SEC big ten 210 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: type of school, you know they have you know, sometimes 211 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 1: fifteen to twenty prospects that that could end up having 212 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: a chance of getting drafted. So you know, that's that's 213 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 1: not the way it works. So so yeah, this combine 214 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: is the first time we will get a chance to 215 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 1: talk to the guys that we haven't already interviewed at 216 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 1: the at the All Star Games in January. The interview 217 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: process at the combine is intriguing to be because it's 218 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: like fifteen minutes of speed dating. Explain how that works, yeah, 219 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:45,439 Speaker 1: and it's it's actually it was changed this year to 220 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 1: we used to get sixty interviews. Now we only get 221 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: forty five, and they lengthen them from fifteen minutes to 222 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:55,199 Speaker 1: eighteen minutes now. Um, So that that was part of 223 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: the logistical adjustments they had to make with moving the 224 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 1: workouts from during the day to now at nighttime and 225 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: prime time on TV. UM. So that uh, you know 226 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: that that throws those a little bit of a wrench 227 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: in our schedule, but um, but you know, we'll adjust, 228 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:13,079 Speaker 1: and it is it is nice to have an additional 229 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 1: three minutes with these guys, you know, maybe some extra 230 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: tape that we can throw on to ask them a 231 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 1: specific question about, you know, whatever the play may have 232 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: been on such and such game. Um. You know, in 233 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: the third quarter, you know, you can really dial in 234 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: on some of those details. You can get a good 235 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 1: feel for their personality, their intelligence. Um, you know, even 236 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 1: even some of their leaderships, leadership and charisma will shine 237 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: through in that setting. So it's really beneficial. I know 238 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: it's only in this case eighteen minutes fifteen minutes in 239 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 1: the past, but you do with with interviewing those guys 240 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 1: back to back to back, you can make comparisons and 241 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 1: and it's uh, it's really beneficial for us. I think 242 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:50,680 Speaker 1: I think you get more out of it than you 243 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: would think, you know, just just thinking about it going 244 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: in with um, you know, having never been in one 245 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: of those, uh, one of those interviews, I think you 246 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 1: do get a good out of it. But then there'll 247 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 1: be other guys that we want to bring into the 248 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:07,839 Speaker 1: facility on a on a visit into into Cincinnati to 249 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 1: our facility to do more work on in those interviews. 250 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 1: Do you have a standard list of questions that you 251 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:17,840 Speaker 1: basically ask everybody or is it highly tailored to each player? 252 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 1: A little bit of both. There there's some basic questions 253 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: that we like to get out of the way in 254 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 1: the beginning, you know, get the guy talk and get 255 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 1: them comfortable, UM, and then we'll we'll dive into um 256 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 1: you know, like I said, the early portion of the 257 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 1: interview will be more so their personality intelligence, just basic 258 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 1: questions like that. UM. Some of them are repeats and 259 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: some of them are are a little more tailored to 260 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 1: the guy. And then when we when we have him go, 261 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: you know, look at the tape with the position coach, 262 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 1: it'll be more specifically tailored to that guy, and and uh, 263 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 1: you know how he learns. You know, they'll they'll tell 264 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 1: us about their offense or defense and just talking through 265 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:57,440 Speaker 1: x's nose. And a lot of times the players are 266 00:14:57,440 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 1: a lot more they're a lot more comfortable in that 267 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: setting talking about football. Then they then they maybe are 268 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: things off the field. So it's a it's a good process. 269 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: We're talking to the Bengals Director of college Scouting Mike Potts. 270 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: After the Combine, the scouts and the coaches will go 271 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: to pro days from coast to coast. You'll get to 272 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 1: see players that were not invited to the Combine. But 273 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 1: is there anything else about the pro days specifically that 274 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 1: you find valuable? I think, um so. So I'll sit 275 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 1: down with with all of our position coaches and all 276 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 1: of our scouts at the Combine. A lot of what 277 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 1: we do is based on guys that maybe didn't work 278 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: out of the Combine for a medical reason or whatever 279 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:37,400 Speaker 1: the case may be. And so that would be a 280 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: guy that you know, some of our coaches or scouts 281 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 1: haven't seen in person, so we'll schedule it that way. 282 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 1: Um So, it may be a guy that we're seeing 283 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 1: work out. You know up close and personal for the 284 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:50,520 Speaker 1: first time. So that's that's one big benefit we get. 285 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: And then you know, if it's a you know, I 286 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: didn't I didn't go in every school in the country 287 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 1: this year as a scout. So if it's a school 288 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: that maybe I didn't hit during the fall, and you know, 289 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: likewise with with some of our other scouts and coaches, 290 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 1: they may have a connection on the coaching staff or 291 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 1: support staff at one of those schools, so you can 292 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 1: follow up and do more homework on the prospect's personality 293 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 1: and things like that, and you know, it's just it's 294 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 1: just more of you know, to further further the amount 295 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: of amount of information we get on the guys as 296 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 1: both players and people. Your territory during the season includes 297 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 1: the SEC. So roughly, how many times do you think 298 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 1: you saw Joe Burrow into a Tundavilela over the last 299 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: couple of years, Oh, I'd have to, I'd have to 300 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: count it up. I've seen them both multiple times at 301 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: in both a game setting and in practice. I would 302 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: say over the past two years, I probably had five 303 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: or six live exposures at least to both of those guys. 304 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: Like I said, in multiple different settings. So that's I mean, 305 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 1: I'm I'm big on that as as a scout. I 306 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 1: think in order to have conviction and really really feel like, hey, 307 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 1: this is the guy that we need to take, you 308 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: need to see him in person. You need to seem 309 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 1: at a game, especially the quarterback position that you mentioned. 310 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 1: With those two guys, you want to see how their 311 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,879 Speaker 1: teammates respond to them on the sideline, you know, you 312 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:09,920 Speaker 1: want to see how they interact with everybody. You want 313 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 1: to see how they respond to adversity, you know, taking 314 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 1: a big hit or throwing an interception, whatever it may be. 315 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 1: And those are things that you can't pick up as 316 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 1: far as as far as just just watching the film. 317 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 1: You were a college quarterback and went to training camp 318 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 1: with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Zach Taylor was a highly successful 319 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: college quarterback. Duke Tobin was a college quarterback. Mike Brown 320 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: was a college quarterback years ago. In a draft where 321 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 1: you are in a position to take the first choice 322 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: of any quarterback in this draft, if that's the way 323 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 1: you elect to go, is it advantageous to have so 324 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 1: many quarterbacks in the building. Absolutely, you know, different guys 325 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:49,159 Speaker 1: have different experiences and being in the huddle and you know, 326 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: changing protections at the line of scrimmage, reading coverages, having 327 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:57,719 Speaker 1: been in that position is invaluable in my opinion. And 328 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: to have guys that have done it at different levels, 329 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 1: you know, at different levels of college football, at different 330 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 1: levels of professional football. Um, you know, the more, the 331 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: more perspectives, the better in my opinion. Um, you know, 332 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,639 Speaker 1: and we'll get together, you know, scouts, coaches, you know, 333 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:15,719 Speaker 1: whether you play the position or not, everybody you'll get 334 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:18,479 Speaker 1: together and and have opinions on this thing. And and 335 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: you know, we'll work our way through it, and we'll 336 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 1: and we'll make the best selection for the Bengals. Where 337 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: do you think this draft is deep? Oh? Man, it's 338 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:29,640 Speaker 1: it's a good draft. I would say off the top 339 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 1: of my head. Both lines of scrimmage are very strong. 340 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:34,920 Speaker 1: The receiver class has been as has been widely publicized, 341 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:38,000 Speaker 1: is UH is a very strong group. So those are 342 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:39,879 Speaker 1: the two that that stand out off the top of 343 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:42,919 Speaker 1: my head. Um. You know you mentioned some of these quarterbacks. 344 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: There's there's UH there's some good quarterbacks. And then you know, 345 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 1: at the top of the draft end and you know 346 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 1: that you could potentially get in the second, third, fourth 347 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:51,919 Speaker 1: round as well. Um, so, I think we're really excited 348 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 1: about about a lot of different positions. I couldn't just 349 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: sit here and say, you know, there's one position that 350 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: it's really deep at um you know, glaring way way 351 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: above the rest. We are meeting at two in the afternoon. 352 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 1: You had a meeting with the staff earlier today. What 353 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: are the types of things that you guys are meeting 354 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: and discussing right now? So this week we've been meeting 355 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 1: about the unrestrictive free agents, as far as our game plan, putting, 356 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 1: putting together target lists, as far as who we want 357 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 1: to attack in the in the free agent market on 358 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 1: the pro personnel side of things. So we've been doing 359 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:29,439 Speaker 1: that this week, organizing everything, you know, getting the ownership, 360 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,679 Speaker 1: the scouts and the coaches altogether and everybody on the 361 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 1: same page as far as as far as getting the 362 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:37,919 Speaker 1: plan together. And I think that's went really smoothly. Everybody's 363 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:41,639 Speaker 1: everybody's had some you know, really really good discussions and 364 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:44,239 Speaker 1: it's been really productive. So we've been meeting on that 365 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 1: this week, and then next week what we're gonna do 366 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 1: is go through all the underclassmen. I think there was 367 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: one hundred and twenty one of them that came out 368 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: early for the draft this year. So we'll be meeting 369 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,200 Speaker 1: on all those guys next week. We already have grades 370 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:57,399 Speaker 1: on all those guys, and we've been watching them all fall. 371 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 1: It's just we like to wait and and wait till 372 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:04,399 Speaker 1: they officially declare for the draft before we before we 373 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:06,879 Speaker 1: actually study and talk about their character and their medical 374 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 1: and what, you know, how we see them as a 375 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,919 Speaker 1: player and and everything. We'd like to wait until they 376 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,439 Speaker 1: actually come out for the draft and or officially in 377 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 1: the twenty and twenty draft before you know, we you know, 378 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 1: we meet on the seniors in December. We couldn't meet 379 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:21,639 Speaker 1: on some of the juniors that we think are going 380 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 1: to come out, but they then you end up it 381 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:25,919 Speaker 1: ends up being inefficient if you if you end up 382 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,600 Speaker 1: talking and using time on guys that don't actually end 383 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: up declaring early for the draft. So that's what we'll 384 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 1: be working on over the over the next couple weeks, 385 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 1: and that'll take us right into the combine. We're talking 386 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:37,919 Speaker 1: to the Bengals director of college scouting, Mike Potts. The 387 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 1: first day of the draft is April twenty third. When 388 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 1: will your draft board take shape? Well, well, we'll have 389 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:46,040 Speaker 1: these Like I said, we'll have these meetings next week. 390 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 1: That'll that'll put the juniors and the seniors altogether for 391 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: our initial draft board going into the Combine. We'll go 392 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 1: through the Combine in the pro day process, make some 393 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 1: tweaks here and there, and then we have our final meetings. 394 00:20:57,400 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: It's uh, you know, the first two or three weeks 395 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 1: roughly of of April is when we'll do that. So 396 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: it'll be it'll be pretty much set the I would 397 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: say a week or so before the draft, it'll be 398 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:10,679 Speaker 1: pretty much set. And then we're always, you know, all 399 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:12,479 Speaker 1: the way up until the day before the draft, we're 400 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:15,639 Speaker 1: making last minute tweaks, um. But you know, it'll be 401 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 1: set position by position, how we see those guys ranked. 402 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 1: And then we have to combine all those positions together 403 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:23,479 Speaker 1: and like you said, rank them one to thirty three, 404 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:27,199 Speaker 1: rank them one to sixty five, you know, and so forth. Uh. 405 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 1: You know, because if if so and so goes, then 406 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 1: you know, this is our plan. If if this guy goes, 407 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 1: who's who is uh, you know, our our top ranked 408 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 1: guy three selections before our our pick, then you know 409 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:40,959 Speaker 1: we move on to this guy. You know, so, um, 410 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: we just have to be ready for for every scenario. 411 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:45,960 Speaker 1: And um, like I mentioned earlier, we have to be 412 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:48,080 Speaker 1: ready for trades. If there's a guy that we have 413 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:50,399 Speaker 1: ranked in our top ten and you know we're at 414 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 1: pick twenty five and he's still there, we have to 415 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 1: be prepared to have a plan of attack to to uh, 416 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 1: you know, see what it would take to acquire a 417 00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 1: player like that. It's almost like you have two top 418 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:02,920 Speaker 1: ten picks this year because you get Jonah Williams back, 419 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:05,479 Speaker 1: the first offensive lineman taking in last year's draft, who 420 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:09,239 Speaker 1: unfortunately did not play. How does Jonah compare to the 421 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: top offensive tackles in this draft? Oh, he's He's right 422 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 1: up there. Jonah was a guy I think we uh, 423 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 1: we all were very high on. Um. You know that 424 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 1: I'd have to go through player by player to compare 425 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:24,199 Speaker 1: him one by one, but you know he would he 426 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 1: would be right at the at the top. You know, 427 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:28,919 Speaker 1: equal two are better than the majority of the of 428 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: the guys in this draft. Um, in my opinion, UM, 429 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 1: you know, everybody you know that that's my opinion. You know, 430 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 1: every scouter coach may have a slightly different opinion, but 431 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 1: I don't I don't think too many people would say 432 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:42,200 Speaker 1: he'd be, he'd be far off from from what's available 433 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 1: in this draft. So obviously it was really unfortunate that 434 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:46,640 Speaker 1: he couldn't play at all his rookie year. But like 435 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 1: you said, it is a it is gonna be nice 436 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:53,119 Speaker 1: having him back for the twenty twenty season. People have 437 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:56,439 Speaker 1: stories to write and talk shows to fill. It's a 438 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 1: lot of chatter between now in April twenty third and 439 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:02,120 Speaker 1: Joe Burrow name has come up in a wide variety 440 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 1: of places. Are you listening to all of this Joe 441 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 1: Burrow talk? No, I don't think you can. You can 442 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 1: listen to it. There's got to be, you know, headlines, 443 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 1: and there's gonna be headlines regardless of what the situation is. 444 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:19,640 Speaker 1: I think. I think from our perspective, we're just worried 445 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:21,680 Speaker 1: about what's going on in this building. You know, We're 446 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:25,119 Speaker 1: we're watching the watching the film. We're calling these players 447 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:27,879 Speaker 1: coaches on the phone, and and getting gathering more and 448 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: more information as we go throughout the process. And like 449 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,160 Speaker 1: you said, for for the first time in a week 450 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: and a half or so, at the combine, we'll have 451 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 1: the first time to sit down and look look these 452 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:39,160 Speaker 1: guys in the eye and talk to on face to face, 453 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 1: so you know that that stuff is out our control. 454 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 1: Who's gonna who's gonna make the headlines and who's gonna 455 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 1: create stories, whether they have credibility or they don't have credibility. Um, 456 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 1: so I think we would be you know, it would 457 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: be taking us away from what's really the most important 458 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 1: thing at hand for us. It would be taking us 459 00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:58,920 Speaker 1: away from that if we were spending too much time 460 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:01,840 Speaker 1: worrying about what's what's in the news. So you get 461 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:04,399 Speaker 1: to talk to forty five guys at the combine for 462 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: eighteen minutes apiece? Do you have that list of forty five? 463 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 1: We do. We actually had to submit that on Tuesday 464 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 1: of this week, so we have we submit that to 465 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:15,680 Speaker 1: the Combine and through the league and we have those 466 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 1: forty five guys set and we will, like I said, 467 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 1: will be a lot of them will be will end 468 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:22,359 Speaker 1: up being an underclassman just because we we coach a 469 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 1: lot of these guys at the Senior Bowl. So we 470 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: do have that leg up advantage on on some teams. 471 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: As far as the exposure that we got to a 472 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: lot of the seniors at the at the down down 473 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:34,119 Speaker 1: in Mobile. So that is uh, that is something that 474 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 1: we're going to use to our advantage and use the 475 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: information that we gathered for that week down at the 476 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:40,719 Speaker 1: Senior Bowl. And there still will be seniors that we 477 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:42,960 Speaker 1: that we do formal interviews with the combine, but I 478 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:45,680 Speaker 1: think this gives us a chance to to really focus 479 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 1: on on some of the underclassmen that we don't you know, 480 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:51,119 Speaker 1: have as much face to face exposure with At this 481 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,679 Speaker 1: point in the process. It's a really busy time for 482 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 1: you and the other guys on the staff. I know 483 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:56,960 Speaker 1: you're gonna be spending a lot of time on the 484 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:59,880 Speaker 1: road coming up sell best of Lockin. We look forward 485 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:03,440 Speaker 1: to April twenty third, twenty fourth, and twenty fifth. Absolutely, Dann, 486 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 1: thanks for having me. That's going to do it for 487 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:09,160 Speaker 1: this episode of the podcast. If you haven't done so already, 488 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:12,359 Speaker 1: don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and 489 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 1: if you have a minute, please give it a rating 490 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:18,040 Speaker 1: or share a comment. Five star ratings help more Bengals 491 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 1: fans find this podcast. I'm Dan Horde, and thanks for 492 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:25,400 Speaker 1: listening to The Bengals Booth podcast.