WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: Can't Hold Us 0:00:03.760 --> 0:00:06.519 Hi, get everybody on Dan Horde and thanks for downloading 0:00:06.559 --> 0:00:13.640 The Bengals Booth Podcast. The like the ceiling can hold us. Addition, 0:00:14.040 --> 0:00:17.200 as the Bengals look to advance to the AFC Championship 0:00:17.239 --> 0:00:19.840 Game for the second straight year by knocking off the 0:00:19.880 --> 0:00:23.520 Buffalo Bills on the road, coming up, I'll talk to 0:00:23.560 --> 0:00:27.280 a fan favorite in Judai Nation, Kay Adams, who says 0:00:27.320 --> 0:00:29.520 that serving is the ruler of the jungle at pay 0:00:29.560 --> 0:00:33.600 Course Stadium was her favorite day since covering the NFL. 0:00:34.120 --> 0:00:36.520 We'll look at the state of the Bengals offensive line, 0:00:36.520 --> 0:00:41.960 and then we'll hear from the guy who yells in 0:00:42.080 --> 0:00:45.520 the locker room after wins, veteran coach Mark Duffner, who 0:00:45.560 --> 0:00:49.160 discusses that as well as why he calls Joe Burrow 0:00:49.640 --> 0:00:52.800 butt kiss. And finally, in this week's No The Faux Segment, 0:00:52.840 --> 0:00:57.200 Adam Benini from w g r ZTV and Buffalo explains 0:00:57.200 --> 0:00:59.880 why the Bill's most recent wins have been too close 0:01:00.240 --> 0:01:03.279 for comfort. The Bengals Booth Podcast has brought to you 0:01:03.320 --> 0:01:07.160 by Paycorps. More than twenty nine thousand customers trust Paycorps 0:01:07.360 --> 0:01:11.760 to help them recruit, pay, engage, and retain employees. Learn 0:01:11.800 --> 0:01:15.680 more at paycorp dot com. Now here's a quick reminder 0:01:15.880 --> 0:01:18.480 that you can have the latest edition of this podcast 0:01:18.560 --> 0:01:22.319 delivered right to your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing 0:01:22.560 --> 0:01:26.279 wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest thing since 0:01:27.560 --> 0:01:30.959 seventy four Things that blew Our Minds in twenty twenty two. 0:01:31.600 --> 0:01:34.640 Atlantic Magazine published a list with that title at the 0:01:34.720 --> 0:01:37.360 end of December, and it includes some really weird and 0:01:37.680 --> 0:01:42.839 interesting facts. For example, woodpeckers can smash their heads against 0:01:42.920 --> 0:01:47.160 trees and go unharmed because they have small brains. That 0:01:47.200 --> 0:01:50.320 makes sense. How about this? A two thousand and six 0:01:50.400 --> 0:01:55.280 effort to automatically take down Internet porn by detecting repetitive 0:01:55.320 --> 0:02:00.160 noises ended up snagging a lot of tennis videos. I'll 0:02:00.160 --> 0:02:03.800 give you one more. In twenty twenty one, ninety five 0:02:04.080 --> 0:02:08.040 of the top one hundred most watch telecasts in the US, 0:02:08.320 --> 0:02:12.320 we're sporting events. I'm guessing that one doesn't surprise anybody 0:02:12.639 --> 0:02:17.280 listening to this podcast. Again, it's Atlantic Magazine's list of 0:02:17.320 --> 0:02:20.280 the seventy four Things that blew Our minds in twenty 0:02:20.320 --> 0:02:23.720 twenty two. If you'll look forward online, it might be 0:02:23.720 --> 0:02:26.520 behind a paywall, but you can sign up for a 0:02:26.520 --> 0:02:30.720 free trial. Now, let's get to football. In the two 0:02:30.760 --> 0:02:32.960 year history of the Ruler of the Jungle Ceremony, the 0:02:33.000 --> 0:02:35.480 Bengals have had a great mix of people leading the 0:02:35.520 --> 0:02:40.280 Hooday chant, including a popular NFL TV host who I 0:02:40.320 --> 0:02:44.680 caught up with this week. She is the host of 0:02:44.800 --> 0:02:47.280 Up and Adams on fan Duel TV, and she is 0:02:47.480 --> 0:02:51.240 universally loved by Bengals fans, with my wife Peg at 0:02:51.240 --> 0:02:55.000 the top of the list. She is k Adams. K 0:02:55.200 --> 0:02:58.480 you have referred to the Bengals as my Bengals on 0:02:58.639 --> 0:03:02.760 your show. How is the stress Level? Last Sunday night? 0:03:02.760 --> 0:03:06.800 In the game against the Ravens? Very stressful, but also 0:03:07.080 --> 0:03:08.799 so fun. I think it was the best wild Card 0:03:08.840 --> 0:03:14.160 weekend ever. A play with Logan Wilson and Sam Hubbard 0:03:14.200 --> 0:03:16.080 that will live in infamy. And I don't mean that 0:03:16.120 --> 0:03:19.000 in Cincinnati, I cover all thirty two teams. It's one 0:03:19.040 --> 0:03:22.480 of those. It's the immaculate reception, elite tier of plays, 0:03:22.520 --> 0:03:24.840 and that something to be excited and proud of as well. 0:03:24.880 --> 0:03:26.880 So sure was I worried? Was I jumping up on 0:03:26.919 --> 0:03:28.680 my couch? And was I hiding behind the couch when 0:03:28.720 --> 0:03:31.480 things weren't going so well? Absolutely, but there's a lot 0:03:31.520 --> 0:03:33.119 to look forward to, and but a lot that needs 0:03:33.120 --> 0:03:34.560 to be worked on as well, Dan, and thank you 0:03:34.600 --> 0:03:36.480 for having me. Just hearing your voice say my name 0:03:36.560 --> 0:03:40.160 is really crazy. Do you have a preference between the 0:03:40.200 --> 0:03:43.560 fumble in the jungle or the Hubbard yard dash as 0:03:43.560 --> 0:03:46.440 a nickname for the play. Fumble in the Jungle rolls 0:03:46.480 --> 0:03:50.160 off the tongue. It's fun, it's easier. The Hubbard yard 0:03:50.240 --> 0:03:53.320 dash sounds a little harder to say, the immaculate rejection. 0:03:53.360 --> 0:03:55.920 I also don't like, Yeah, I'm with you. Fumble in 0:03:55.960 --> 0:03:58.360 the Jungle I think is the winner. So the win, 0:03:58.560 --> 0:04:01.000 unfortunately for the Bengals, came with the cost is Jonah 0:04:01.000 --> 0:04:04.280 Williams suffered a knee injury. You tried to help. You 0:04:04.400 --> 0:04:07.360 found a flight from LA to Cincinnati and offered to 0:04:07.400 --> 0:04:10.160 pay for it for Andrew Whitworth, where you had disappointed 0:04:10.160 --> 0:04:13.440 when he turned you down. I just don't quite understand 0:04:13.480 --> 0:04:17.000 why he turned me down. He had some riff raff 0:04:17.040 --> 0:04:19.680 about how he has giraffe legs and he's trying to 0:04:19.680 --> 0:04:21.839 say that he's not in shape like this is there's 0:04:21.880 --> 0:04:23.880 no so let's wait a week. Then let's get past 0:04:23.880 --> 0:04:26.200 the bills and when things get dirty in Kansas City, 0:04:26.240 --> 0:04:27.840 like you need to be there, then you'll be one, 0:04:28.240 --> 0:04:30.640 even if it's just for the Super Bowl. Stand there 0:04:30.760 --> 0:04:33.520 block of guys be a big velveta cheese block. I 0:04:33.560 --> 0:04:36.920 know you have it in you and I really but sincerely, 0:04:37.040 --> 0:04:39.440 it's not just a cute storyline. Dan. You think about 0:04:39.600 --> 0:04:42.479 Zach Taylor, he has familiarity with him. Zach Taylor comes 0:04:42.480 --> 0:04:45.200 from the Shaw McBay coaching tree, and there is connective 0:04:45.480 --> 0:04:47.560 tissue there. It wouldn't be the craziest thing for him 0:04:47.560 --> 0:04:50.799 to step in and have success. But luck, I mean hopefully, 0:04:50.800 --> 0:04:52.280 we don't need it. Right we don't know what's going 0:04:52.320 --> 0:04:55.120 on with the knee of Jonah Kappa. There's a chance 0:04:55.200 --> 0:04:57.160 they can be back, and I do want to say 0:04:57.360 --> 0:05:00.279 digging into the numbers, I surprised myself because I gave 0:05:00.320 --> 0:05:02.400 the Bills a lot of credit for how well they've 0:05:02.400 --> 0:05:05.600 played without there one hundred twenty six million dollars edition 0:05:05.920 --> 0:05:07.960 in von Miller. But if you'd scratch into the numbers 0:05:08.000 --> 0:05:09.800 a little further, and NFL research did a really good 0:05:09.880 --> 0:05:12.920 job at this, you know the pass rush is weakened 0:05:13.080 --> 0:05:14.920 without him. They haven't been able to generate a ton 0:05:14.960 --> 0:05:18.600 of pressure without the blitz, so it might equal itself 0:05:18.600 --> 0:05:22.800 out as we have this issue lingering against Buffalo. So 0:05:22.839 --> 0:05:25.960 with the starting three offensive lineman out for the Bengals, 0:05:26.160 --> 0:05:28.719 is there anything about the Bengals, whether it's Joe Burrow 0:05:28.800 --> 0:05:31.280 or something else about the team that makes you think 0:05:31.320 --> 0:05:33.480 that this is a group that might be able to 0:05:33.520 --> 0:05:37.520 overcome something like that. Of course, the passing game looked 0:05:37.520 --> 0:05:39.760 great in the first quarter between these two teams before 0:05:39.880 --> 0:05:44.039 the action got suspended in that regular season game. I 0:05:44.080 --> 0:05:46.279 think Bengals fans are going to travel and that's going 0:05:46.320 --> 0:05:49.440 to be meaningful. You heard Zach Taylor sort of asking 0:05:49.560 --> 0:05:52.960 willing for that. And you know, you can look at 0:05:52.960 --> 0:05:55.440 a weakness on the Bengal side and you can equal 0:05:55.480 --> 0:05:57.720 it out by looking at a weakness on the bill side, 0:05:57.839 --> 0:06:01.480 which is their turnovers two pick and a fumble return 0:06:01.880 --> 0:06:04.880 last week. And the issue with that is that the 0:06:05.000 --> 0:06:07.960 Dolphins weren't able to capitalize on that. You have to 0:06:08.040 --> 0:06:11.719 cash in. The Dolphins didn't Jesse Bates let's go. You know, 0:06:11.760 --> 0:06:14.080 we got to Sam Hubbard these opportunities into the end 0:06:14.160 --> 0:06:18.280 zone and with Josh Allen most interceptions now all year, 0:06:18.480 --> 0:06:22.040 most fumbles, I absolutely think they can get it done 0:06:22.120 --> 0:06:25.320 if they capitalize on those opportunities, which seem like we'll come. 0:06:25.839 --> 0:06:28.360 We are visiting with Kay Adams. You were the ruler 0:06:28.440 --> 0:06:30.719 of the jungle before the home game against the forty 0:06:30.800 --> 0:06:34.360 nine ers last year. You really seem to love the experience. 0:06:34.480 --> 0:06:37.640 Did that forge a connection for you with Bengals fans. 0:06:38.320 --> 0:06:41.800 It is my favorite day in my NFL career. And 0:06:41.839 --> 0:06:43.680 I know I wasn't even working and I was just 0:06:43.760 --> 0:06:46.400 having fun. But I've been to Super Bowls, I've been 0:06:46.400 --> 0:06:50.560 on the field after Super Bowls, I've been all over 0:06:50.600 --> 0:06:53.920 the place interviewing them. It was so fun. The energy 0:06:54.000 --> 0:06:58.599 was so welcoming, so full of gratitude for the moments 0:06:58.600 --> 0:07:00.520 and enjoying the moment, which is something that I think 0:07:00.600 --> 0:07:04.320 NFL fans struggled to do. And yeah, just from getting 0:07:04.320 --> 0:07:08.080 to the airport to the hotel, to walking around and 0:07:08.160 --> 0:07:12.040 trying everybody's different chili and snacks and playing cornhole and 0:07:12.680 --> 0:07:15.280 being in the studio in that stadium and hearing the 0:07:15.360 --> 0:07:17.679 music and feeling the energy like there's just nothing better. 0:07:17.800 --> 0:07:22.040 It was a day that I'll never forget. And when 0:07:22.080 --> 0:07:24.280 I saw even Hush on the broadcast on Sunday, night 0:07:24.320 --> 0:07:28.040 doing it, I was like, I wish it was great. Well, 0:07:28.080 --> 0:07:30.040 you know, there's an open invitation for you to come 0:07:30.040 --> 0:07:31.640 back in the future and be the ruler of the 0:07:31.720 --> 0:07:34.800 jungle again. We've got an interesting matchup coming up this 0:07:34.880 --> 0:07:37.440 Sunday in Buffalo with two teams that just went through 0:07:37.440 --> 0:07:40.880 a traumatic experience together. What did you think of how 0:07:41.000 --> 0:07:44.720 Zach Taylor, the Bengals players and the Bengals fans conducted 0:07:44.760 --> 0:07:49.840 themselves after the collapse of Damar Hamlin, Oh with complete class, 0:07:49.840 --> 0:07:52.080 in the perfect right way. It was. You know, in 0:07:52.120 --> 0:07:56.080 those moments when those things happen, you would expect there 0:07:56.080 --> 0:07:59.400 to be already guidelines of what's going to take place. 0:07:59.480 --> 0:08:02.000 No one can predict that that would happen or something 0:08:02.040 --> 0:08:03.880 like that would happen, but it has to be if 0:08:03.880 --> 0:08:06.120 you're you know, as an organization, the NFL has to 0:08:06.160 --> 0:08:09.920 anticipate things happening, bad things, disasters, good things. What do 0:08:09.960 --> 0:08:12.640 you do? What's the checklist that we go to? And 0:08:12.680 --> 0:08:15.440 it seemed a bit in disarray, and I think everyone 0:08:15.480 --> 0:08:18.080 can agree with that. In those moments, you look to leadership, 0:08:18.120 --> 0:08:19.960 You look to leadership from the NFL, and you look 0:08:20.000 --> 0:08:22.200 to who am I looking at on the field, and 0:08:22.280 --> 0:08:24.800 that was Zach Taylor and Sean McDermott, who I think 0:08:25.200 --> 0:08:28.520 deserves so much credit and are getting that credit for 0:08:28.640 --> 0:08:30.840 how they conducted themselves and knowing it was the right 0:08:30.880 --> 0:08:33.280 thing to not play the game or to at least 0:08:33.320 --> 0:08:35.280 take a while and go into the locker rooms. And 0:08:35.920 --> 0:08:39.480 you know, Zach Taylor, I sometimes not a gripe, but 0:08:39.559 --> 0:08:42.520 I sometimes think like, do you have that demonstrative like 0:08:42.840 --> 0:08:45.200 fight in you? And you know, everyone from t Higgins 0:08:45.240 --> 0:08:47.600 to Joe Burrow told me, of course he does. And 0:08:47.800 --> 0:08:50.160 you saw it in the weeks after. Once you know 0:08:50.200 --> 0:08:53.840 that everything settled and fans were so gracious, and you know, 0:08:53.920 --> 0:08:56.880 this Bengals team knew we're going to not play this 0:08:56.920 --> 0:08:59.200 game and it's probably going to take away, you know, 0:08:59.280 --> 0:09:02.040 some of our options as far as our seating with 0:09:02.040 --> 0:09:04.880 what the rule book said in the off season and 0:09:04.920 --> 0:09:07.240 those things that were decided upon, and then for that 0:09:07.280 --> 0:09:10.240 to get flipped. I loved seeing Zach Taylor come out 0:09:10.280 --> 0:09:12.800 and you know, really say his peace on it, because 0:09:12.840 --> 0:09:15.920 I think it's important and I think it's danger as precedent, 0:09:15.960 --> 0:09:17.280 which I talked about a lot on my show. But 0:09:17.360 --> 0:09:20.760 Bengals fans, you know, I Blackbourne said it best. You 0:09:20.800 --> 0:09:22.719 still got to play us. You still got to play us. 0:09:22.760 --> 0:09:24.640 We'll go over there and we'll whoop on you two. So, 0:09:25.160 --> 0:09:27.120 if anything, if there's any team that I think that 0:09:27.160 --> 0:09:30.199 could handle the adversity and the ups and downs, it 0:09:30.360 --> 0:09:32.199 is a team that needs to get it going and 0:09:32.240 --> 0:09:34.800 needs to get it going. Now, well, on that topic, 0:09:34.880 --> 0:09:37.120 you said on your show recently you thought the Bengals 0:09:37.120 --> 0:09:39.800 got a raw deal when the NFL tweaked its rules 0:09:39.800 --> 0:09:43.000 and Cincinnati really didn't have much of an opportunity to benefit. 0:09:43.320 --> 0:09:45.480 What do you think would have been fair? I think 0:09:45.480 --> 0:09:46.719 it would have been fair to adhere to what the 0:09:46.800 --> 0:09:49.120 rule book said and what I'm sure that everyone making 0:09:49.120 --> 0:09:52.920 those decisions in the moment, you know, wasn't thinking about 0:09:52.920 --> 0:09:55.240 because everyone was just thinking about DeMar Hamlin, and that's 0:09:55.240 --> 0:09:57.840 what it should have been. But the gripe I have 0:09:57.960 --> 0:10:00.559 with it is that there's all of the con sequences 0:10:00.600 --> 0:10:02.680 that everyone had. Everyone got knocked around by this, but 0:10:02.760 --> 0:10:06.400 then or something bad happened the Ravens, though, having inability 0:10:06.760 --> 0:10:09.480 to account for the what if? That's what the playoff. 0:10:09.480 --> 0:10:11.319 That's what Week eighteen is, That's what Week seven it's 0:10:11.440 --> 0:10:14.679 what if? What if? We can still possibly get this. 0:10:14.800 --> 0:10:16.960 Like you look at the Steelers, we can still get in. 0:10:17.360 --> 0:10:19.280 All we have to do is this we need. It's 0:10:19.320 --> 0:10:22.520 all about hope. That's what you account for in those games, 0:10:22.520 --> 0:10:24.800 and I felt like the league accounted for that with 0:10:24.840 --> 0:10:26.920 the decision to change the rules for pretty much all 0:10:26.960 --> 0:10:29.280 of the other teams in the AFC except for the Bengals. 0:10:29.280 --> 0:10:32.120 All of the consequences, none of the potential benefits. And 0:10:32.240 --> 0:10:34.920 I didn't find that to be particularly fair, And I 0:10:34.920 --> 0:10:37.000 think everybody has a bit to complain about with it. 0:10:37.040 --> 0:10:39.360 But the complaint by everyone should be there should never 0:10:39.440 --> 0:10:41.800 been the vote. There should never have been a change 0:10:41.880 --> 0:10:45.800 in this until the off season, because I do believe 0:10:45.840 --> 0:10:48.679 that it's the responsibility of the NFL to account for 0:10:48.720 --> 0:10:51.360 and anticipate these sort of things happening with all the 0:10:51.440 --> 0:10:54.280 stakes that could potentially happen, and they didn't for this one. 0:10:55.080 --> 0:10:57.560 So a trip to the AFC Championship Game will be 0:10:57.600 --> 0:10:59.719 on the line this Sunday in Buffalo. What are a 0:11:00.000 --> 0:11:02.640 couple of your keys to the matchup? Oh my gosh, 0:11:02.720 --> 0:11:04.760 I just want T Higgins to go off. Like I said, 0:11:04.800 --> 0:11:08.880 I think when you were watching the passing game in 0:11:08.920 --> 0:11:12.679 the first quarter before this horrible thing happened that stopped 0:11:12.679 --> 0:11:16.679 the play. Burrow was not missing. He looked really, really good. Now, 0:11:16.720 --> 0:11:19.200 I will say I'm a little worried about Tradabus White 0:11:19.200 --> 0:11:21.600 if I'm a Bengals fan, because he came back from injury. 0:11:21.640 --> 0:11:24.360 He was hurt towards acl week twelve. I think last 0:11:24.440 --> 0:11:27.480 year has come back and he wasn't, you know, jumping 0:11:27.480 --> 0:11:31.240 out the gates looking like shutdown corner like we expect 0:11:31.320 --> 0:11:33.800 him to look. But he's looked better every week. He 0:11:33.880 --> 0:11:36.040 looked really good last week as well. And when you 0:11:36.040 --> 0:11:38.600 do have what has been a pass rush that can't 0:11:38.640 --> 0:11:41.240 generate as much pressure, I'm looking at those corners in 0:11:41.280 --> 0:11:44.240 that secondary to really bring it and have that happened. 0:11:44.280 --> 0:11:46.640 So I would say capitalizing on the turnovers that are 0:11:46.640 --> 0:11:48.400 going to come your way from Josh Allen because for 0:11:48.400 --> 0:11:51.600 whatever reason, that's what's happening. And I also feel like 0:11:51.800 --> 0:11:55.840 this team, this Bill's team, when they play with a lead. 0:11:56.440 --> 0:11:59.600 I think Dable was very let's go get foot on 0:11:59.640 --> 0:12:01.439 the gas, and I don't know the Dorsey. I think 0:12:01.440 --> 0:12:03.840 he gets a little bit more conservative, and I just 0:12:03.880 --> 0:12:07.800 hope that Zach Taylor matches that conservative behavior with more 0:12:08.480 --> 0:12:11.160 aggressive behavior. That's what I'll say. Hey, you are an 0:12:11.160 --> 0:12:14.360 honorary member of Hu Day Nation. Like I said, Bengals 0:12:14.360 --> 0:12:16.400 fans love you and we love having you on the show. 0:12:16.400 --> 0:12:17.839 Thank you so much for your time, and I hope 0:12:17.840 --> 0:12:20.760 we crossed path soon. Dan. I want you to sit 0:12:20.800 --> 0:12:22.880 there and every night before you go to sleep, I 0:12:22.920 --> 0:12:25.440 want you to think about and manifest what calling that 0:12:25.559 --> 0:12:29.160 Super Bowl winning game for the Bengals for this twenty 0:12:29.200 --> 0:12:31.640 twenty two season will sound like and look like, and 0:12:31.679 --> 0:12:35.080 then we'll get there. Okay, that sounds like a great idea. 0:12:35.240 --> 0:12:37.720 And as I said before we started this interview, I 0:12:37.760 --> 0:12:41.000 cannot be helped responsible for my lack of professionalism. If 0:12:41.040 --> 0:12:44.800 that happens, I can't wait to hear it, and I'll 0:12:44.840 --> 0:12:46.480 probably be there in person, so I'll have to listen 0:12:46.520 --> 0:12:48.600 to it the next day. But we are looking forward 0:12:48.600 --> 0:12:51.360 to it, of course. Good luck, Bengals fans, go travel. 0:12:51.440 --> 0:12:54.080 I know Bengal Jim already boys tickets. He's headed up 0:12:54.080 --> 0:12:57.400 there to Orchard Park. So dress warm, but be loud, 0:12:57.520 --> 0:12:59.320 and I wish I could be there, of course, cheering 0:12:59.360 --> 0:13:03.160 these Bengals. As I mentioned at the beginning of that interview, 0:13:03.280 --> 0:13:07.599 Kay recently started hosting her own show, called Up and Adams, 0:13:07.640 --> 0:13:10.480 every day at eleven am Eastern on fan Duel TV. 0:13:11.360 --> 0:13:14.400 One of her regular guests his former Pro Bowl safety 0:13:14.559 --> 0:13:18.120 Eric Weddle, who I should point out spent three seasons 0:13:18.200 --> 0:13:22.120 late in his career playing for the Baltimore Ravens. He 0:13:22.200 --> 0:13:25.760 might have provided some bulletin board material on Thursday when 0:13:25.800 --> 0:13:30.400 he said this on K's show. Honestly, they should have 0:13:30.400 --> 0:13:33.959 lost the Ravens and they got outplayed by the Ravens. 0:13:34.080 --> 0:13:37.360 They snuck that through. They weren't scorn or sniffing another 0:13:37.400 --> 0:13:40.120 point once those linemen went out and everyone knew it, 0:13:40.480 --> 0:13:42.680 and then that play happened at the goal line, which 0:13:43.760 --> 0:13:49.800 is really unfortunate for the Ravens and everyone involved. Tyler 0:13:49.880 --> 0:13:52.960 Huntley played a great game, and you wonder why those 0:13:53.000 --> 0:13:55.320 things happen. That's the great game. That's why the sports 0:13:55.320 --> 0:13:57.200 are great. You never know what's going to happen or 0:13:57.240 --> 0:14:02.280 why guys make decisions like that. But they got I'm sorry, 0:14:02.280 --> 0:14:04.880 I say they got zero chance gets the bills here. 0:14:04.960 --> 0:14:09.600 This is a very distressing interview. We try to be nice. 0:14:09.679 --> 0:14:14.960 We made protect Joe, we made it. Okay, they can't 0:14:15.000 --> 0:14:18.600 they can't protect them. They're they're playing without any lineman. 0:14:18.840 --> 0:14:21.040 How are how do you expect that team to go 0:14:21.080 --> 0:14:25.400 in there get quick? Yeah, that's gonna last. This is 0:14:25.400 --> 0:14:29.120 a top five defense. This is this is listen. They 0:14:29.160 --> 0:14:35.960 have they've had the numbers, say, trouble generating pressure without 0:14:36.080 --> 0:14:38.280 von Miller so and but to day this white looks 0:14:38.280 --> 0:14:39.720 better than ever. So they might pick it up in 0:14:39.760 --> 0:14:42.280 the second are great and all, but when you're playing 0:14:42.280 --> 0:14:45.920 with second and third stringers, it doesn't matter. That's the 0:14:45.960 --> 0:14:49.400 reality that the Bengals are facing right now. How do 0:14:49.440 --> 0:14:52.200 you manufacture not turn the ball over? How to be 0:14:52.240 --> 0:14:54.240 able to give your defense and give your team the 0:14:54.240 --> 0:14:58.000 best shot of winning with that with playing with a 0:14:58.200 --> 0:15:00.960 mangled old line in the playoffs against one of the 0:15:00.960 --> 0:15:04.000 best teams in the league. Like, I don't know they 0:15:04.680 --> 0:15:08.080 got through it last year. I just don't see it happening. 0:15:09.240 --> 0:15:11.400 You're telling me, you're telling me, and I like the 0:15:11.400 --> 0:15:13.000 Bills a lot. You're telling me. You don't see a 0:15:13.000 --> 0:15:18.000 couple wonky turnovers by Josh Allen company who Josh Allen 0:15:18.040 --> 0:15:21.000 who now leads the league and fumbles turnovers all of 0:15:21.000 --> 0:15:23.760 the interceptions, leads the league. You don't see a couple 0:15:23.760 --> 0:15:26.760 of funny things happening with Jesse. Jesse Bates catches one 0:15:26.800 --> 0:15:28.320 and takes it to the house and they win the game. 0:15:28.360 --> 0:15:32.920 Come on, Okay, I know your hearts pulling for the Bengals. 0:15:32.960 --> 0:15:35.200 I know it deep down. I'm not saying any of 0:15:35.240 --> 0:15:38.040 that that could happen, may very well happen, Okay, and 0:15:38.480 --> 0:15:42.160 it will happen, and they're still not gonna win because 0:15:43.000 --> 0:15:47.120 of the fact that they're playing with them a deteriorated 0:15:47.240 --> 0:15:49.120 old line. I mean, they're not gonna be able to 0:15:49.160 --> 0:15:51.640 run the ball. How they're going to protect and take 0:15:51.680 --> 0:15:54.080 some shots up the field. It's gonna be a minimized 0:15:54.120 --> 0:15:57.960 game plan of quick game and shots go balls to 0:15:58.160 --> 0:16:01.120 Chase and Higgins Like, yeah, it's just not going to work. Well, 0:16:01.160 --> 0:16:03.880 It's true, It's true. I mean, mixing two point eight 0:16:03.920 --> 0:16:05.880 yards per Kerry couldn't get it done now with another 0:16:05.920 --> 0:16:11.760 offensive lineman I were defending, you know, AFC chance like 0:16:12.520 --> 0:16:17.360 they're battle tested. They got an amazing, incredible big game quarterback. Like, 0:16:17.960 --> 0:16:20.360 I'm not just craying any of that. I just looking 0:16:20.440 --> 0:16:22.520 at the facts. And if I was a betting man, 0:16:23.000 --> 0:16:25.280 I'm putting a lot of money on the bills because 0:16:25.480 --> 0:16:28.760 of those reasons. Do you know the only thing? Obviously 0:16:28.800 --> 0:16:32.640 I have like an unrealistic, you know, not very objective 0:16:32.680 --> 0:16:34.680 love for this team. But when I look at this 0:16:34.760 --> 0:16:38.040 offensive line, it's not that different than the one that 0:16:38.080 --> 0:16:40.440 took them to the super Bowl last year. So they 0:16:40.880 --> 0:16:42.600 have the same issues. They might not win it, but 0:16:42.680 --> 0:16:45.600 to you know, like, it's not that different. I'm worried, 0:16:46.160 --> 0:16:50.320 but saying there's no chances mean a lot of people 0:16:50.320 --> 0:16:53.720 don't like what I say. Not always right too, so 0:16:53.840 --> 0:16:56.880 I can admit when I'm wrong. How great would it 0:16:56.920 --> 0:16:59.520 be to see Wettle have to eat his words on 0:16:59.600 --> 0:17:02.840 her ship next week? And I would like to point 0:17:02.880 --> 0:17:06.840 this out. Eric Wettle said the Bengals weren't sniffing another 0:17:06.920 --> 0:17:10.879 point once the lineman went out, and everybody knew it well. 0:17:10.880 --> 0:17:13.200 On the Bengals first drive of the third quarter, with 0:17:13.320 --> 0:17:16.600 Jackson Carmen at left tackle, the Bengals went eighty three 0:17:16.680 --> 0:17:20.280 yards on twelve plays for a touchdown and added a 0:17:20.359 --> 0:17:23.760 two point conversion. The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to 0:17:23.760 --> 0:17:26.600 you by Bengals Picks and Ultimate Bengals. They're free to 0:17:26.680 --> 0:17:30.520 play with tickets inside merchandise up for grabs find both 0:17:30.680 --> 0:17:35.640 inside the Bengals app While Wettal's comments probably got under 0:17:35.640 --> 0:17:39.400 your skin, it's obviously fair to wonder if the Bengals 0:17:39.400 --> 0:17:43.359 can overcome losing three starting offensive linemen over the last 0:17:43.400 --> 0:17:46.879 four weeks. Hakimadenagy will be making his third start at 0:17:46.960 --> 0:17:50.120 right tackle, Max Sharping will be making his second start 0:17:50.160 --> 0:17:53.119 at right guard, and Jackson Carmen will be making his 0:17:53.200 --> 0:17:57.280 first start at left tackle. Joe Burrows says the team 0:17:57.320 --> 0:18:00.400 has no doubt that this group can do the job. 0:18:01.640 --> 0:18:03.479 It's really not. All the guys that are playing have 0:18:03.480 --> 0:18:05.040 played a lot of football for us. They're playing some 0:18:05.040 --> 0:18:08.120 different positions now, but you know, last year a Kim 0:18:08.240 --> 0:18:10.879 was a starter, Max was a starter, and Jackson was 0:18:10.920 --> 0:18:13.120 a starter at at some point in the year. So 0:18:13.520 --> 0:18:14.879 we have a lot of faith in all those guys. 0:18:15.760 --> 0:18:18.560 Harman six starts as a rookie last year all came 0:18:18.720 --> 0:18:22.280 at guard. Now he's back at his college position at 0:18:22.280 --> 0:18:27.960 Clemson left tackle. Here's Jackson, followed by Zach Taylor. You know, 0:18:27.960 --> 0:18:31.560 I'm a whole year more experience. I think my body's better. Yeah, 0:18:31.800 --> 0:18:33.200 you know, Sam, we got a great squat, so I'm 0:18:33.240 --> 0:18:34.719 decided to be able to go out there and compete. 0:18:34.840 --> 0:18:37.520 My budgess, his attitude has been great. He's continued to 0:18:37.520 --> 0:18:39.280 work knowing that his opportunity to can come at any 0:18:39.280 --> 0:18:41.880 moment at any position really happens to be a left 0:18:41.880 --> 0:18:44.960 tackle right now, and I think he's really taking hold 0:18:44.960 --> 0:18:46.800 of it and worked and listening to Frank and Derek 0:18:46.880 --> 0:18:49.320 and you know, proud of the progress that he's made. 0:18:49.359 --> 0:18:51.639 Anytime a player goes through their first second year in 0:18:51.640 --> 0:18:54.639 the league, you know, it can be different from college 0:18:54.720 --> 0:18:57.359 and and just playing offensive line. It's difficult. You know, 0:18:57.400 --> 0:19:00.359 your your pointing gets a whole different breed of player, 0:19:00.560 --> 0:19:01.680 you know, when you get up to this level. And 0:19:01.680 --> 0:19:04.480 I think Jacksons did a great job of taking everything 0:19:04.520 --> 0:19:06.359 he's learned from his first year and putting himself in 0:19:06.359 --> 0:19:09.439 a great position to be successful. The Bills are a 0:19:09.480 --> 0:19:12.399 middle of the pack pass rushing team. They're tied for 0:19:12.400 --> 0:19:16.760 fourteenth and sacks and ranked fourteenth in pressure percentage, and 0:19:16.840 --> 0:19:19.880 those numbers have dropped since they lost von Miller when 0:19:19.920 --> 0:19:23.960 he tore his ACL on Thanksgiving, but Buffalo has an 0:19:24.000 --> 0:19:27.439 excellent defense overall. The Bills were second in the NFL 0:19:27.800 --> 0:19:31.040 in points allowed. The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to 0:19:31.040 --> 0:19:35.399 you by Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet capable of 0:19:35.440 --> 0:19:39.000 delivering multi gigabit speeds designed to take your home, business, 0:19:39.000 --> 0:19:42.240 and community to a new level. Le h your connection 0:19:42.520 --> 0:19:46.160 with all to Fiber. Bengals fans are still buzzing about 0:19:46.200 --> 0:19:49.360 Sam Hubbard's game winning ninety eight yard fumble return last 0:19:49.400 --> 0:19:53.320 Sunday against the Ravens. For perspective on that play and 0:19:53.440 --> 0:19:56.199 more on this week's game, I caught up with the 0:19:56.240 --> 0:20:00.159 most experienced member of the Bengals coaching staff, sixteen nine 0:20:00.200 --> 0:20:03.120 year old Mark Duffner, who is now in his forty 0:20:03.240 --> 0:20:08.640 eighth year of college or pro coaching. Duff in your 0:20:08.680 --> 0:20:12.240 many years in football, have you seen anything comparable to 0:20:12.359 --> 0:20:16.560 Sam Hubbard's ninety eight yard fumble return game winning touchdown. No, Dan, 0:20:16.680 --> 0:20:19.880 I haven't, and thank god that it occurred as it did, 0:20:20.240 --> 0:20:22.520 and of course we were cheering for him to get 0:20:22.520 --> 0:20:24.320 it to the ends, on which he in fact did so. No, 0:20:24.359 --> 0:20:26.960 I've never seen anything like it. Was unbelievable. I know 0:20:27.000 --> 0:20:29.199 some football fans around the country might be saying, oh, 0:20:29.280 --> 0:20:31.520 the Bengals got a little bit lucky or something like that. 0:20:31.600 --> 0:20:34.399 But when you do that, game after game after game 0:20:34.400 --> 0:20:36.719 and come up with a takeaway when you absolutely have 0:20:36.800 --> 0:20:39.600 to have it defensively. At that point, can we safely 0:20:39.640 --> 0:20:42.640 say it's no longer luck? Oh yeah, absolutely. I mean, frankly, 0:20:43.520 --> 0:20:46.879 this team has bought into understanding the value of takeaways 0:20:46.880 --> 0:20:50.520 and winning the turnover battle, and they practice it, you know, 0:20:50.760 --> 0:20:52.880 in terms of so it's not by accident. You can't 0:20:52.960 --> 0:20:55.040 get turnovers unless you try to get them, and they 0:20:55.080 --> 0:20:57.920 practice that in the practice routine and it carries over 0:20:57.960 --> 0:21:01.000 to the games. And the thing that too is just 0:21:01.119 --> 0:21:03.960 the awareness. I mean the awareness that Logan Wilson had 0:21:04.040 --> 0:21:07.399 that and he's a very bright player and an aware player, 0:21:07.440 --> 0:21:09.960 but could get the ball off him as he did. 0:21:10.440 --> 0:21:12.480 And yes, we got a good bounce that came right 0:21:12.520 --> 0:21:16.920 to Sam, but we see that in our opponents oftentimes too, 0:21:16.920 --> 0:21:19.600 the lucky bounce. But then Sham who went to do 0:21:19.600 --> 0:21:21.200 with it as did the rust of him in terms 0:21:21.200 --> 0:21:23.119 of an escort to the end zone. So it was 0:21:23.200 --> 0:21:26.520 well done. We're visiting with defensive assistant Mark Dufner. I 0:21:26.560 --> 0:21:28.560 want to turn the clock back a little bit. Back 0:21:28.560 --> 0:21:31.280 in twenty fourteen, you took a job as the linebackers 0:21:31.280 --> 0:21:34.359 coach for the Miami Dolphins. And the quarterbacks coach was 0:21:34.400 --> 0:21:37.639 thirty one year old Zach Taylor. What were your early 0:21:37.640 --> 0:21:41.240 impressions of Zach and did you have any inkling that 0:21:41.520 --> 0:21:45.960 someday this guy could become an NFL head coach. Well, first, 0:21:46.000 --> 0:21:51.120 my early impressions and opinions were I saw a very 0:21:51.160 --> 0:21:54.720 bright guy, a very energetic guy, a very positive guy 0:21:54.960 --> 0:21:56.600 in the way that he taught, in the way he 0:21:56.720 --> 0:21:59.960 presented himself to his quarterbacks and also to the office 0:22:00.200 --> 0:22:02.639 of staff and our offensive team, and also to the 0:22:02.680 --> 0:22:05.199 team in general. So I was very impressed with him. 0:22:05.240 --> 0:22:07.840 He seemed to be to have an awareness that was 0:22:09.119 --> 0:22:11.600 well beyond his ears. If you will, you know, he 0:22:11.680 --> 0:22:15.919 was a pretty mature young man for coaching, and showed 0:22:15.960 --> 0:22:17.840 that in a way not only in the football in it, 0:22:17.960 --> 0:22:21.000 but just in the way he presented himself. And yeah, 0:22:21.000 --> 0:22:24.200 I could see that. He I thought, Okay, this guy's 0:22:24.240 --> 0:22:25.960 got a chance to be a coordinator, and of course 0:22:26.000 --> 0:22:28.800 if that goes well and he could have a chance 0:22:28.800 --> 0:22:30.720 of being a head coach. Did I know it would 0:22:30.720 --> 0:22:33.119 happen as fast as it did. I can't say. I 0:22:33.200 --> 0:22:36.159 can't say that, but certainly you had a you know, 0:22:36.200 --> 0:22:38.320 I had him circled if you will, as a guy 0:22:38.320 --> 0:22:39.880 that looked like he was going to move and move 0:22:39.920 --> 0:22:44.160 pretty quickly. What did you think people across the country 0:22:44.240 --> 0:22:47.080 learned about Zach with the way that he conducted himself 0:22:47.119 --> 0:22:50.639 after demorrow Hamlin's collapse. Well, I think they learned the 0:22:51.720 --> 0:22:55.720 genuineeness of him, the character of him. And that's what 0:22:55.840 --> 0:22:59.680 I'm so pleased for him, is that he's even though 0:22:59.720 --> 0:23:04.280 those he's had some really tough situations and occurring as 0:23:04.280 --> 0:23:06.880 coaching as a head coach, a couple of tough seasons 0:23:06.880 --> 0:23:09.840 early on in different all kinds of the COVID thing. 0:23:09.920 --> 0:23:12.480 Everything that could you could think of that's happened has happened. 0:23:12.840 --> 0:23:15.440 But I've said to him before, I said, look, these 0:23:15.480 --> 0:23:18.160 are going to pay back big time, big dividence for you, 0:23:18.200 --> 0:23:20.919 because if everything was peaches and cream, you wouldn't know 0:23:20.960 --> 0:23:24.919 how to react to tough situations. Well, you know, with 0:23:25.119 --> 0:23:29.000 a Mars situation, and there's no playbook manuel for that. 0:23:29.400 --> 0:23:34.520 But he acted on his own character, his own genuineness, 0:23:34.520 --> 0:23:38.280 as I said before, and obviously made a terrific and 0:23:38.440 --> 0:23:42.080 rightful decision. And I think that I couldn't be more 0:23:42.160 --> 0:23:45.880 proud of him for that, And and he's endeared himself 0:23:45.920 --> 0:23:48.840 to the country in the world with that, and that's 0:23:48.880 --> 0:23:51.320 what it's all about. And sometimes we forget those things, 0:23:51.320 --> 0:23:54.000 but that's the most important thing, and obviously that was 0:23:54.040 --> 0:23:56.879 first and foremost in Zach's mind. So here we are 0:23:57.000 --> 0:23:59.040 just a few weeks later, and the Bengals and Bills 0:23:59.040 --> 0:24:01.200 are going to meet and the play off game. Last 0:24:01.240 --> 0:24:04.560 week he faced a bitter division rival and those games 0:24:04.560 --> 0:24:07.840 are always nasty. The Bengals and Bills went through a 0:24:07.880 --> 0:24:11.880 traumatic experience together, they helped each other through it. Does 0:24:11.920 --> 0:24:16.280 it feel unusual going into this game, Maybe a little bit, 0:24:16.320 --> 0:24:18.760 But I think that what's the best thing is that 0:24:19.000 --> 0:24:23.760 it feels great because Damar Hamlin has recovered into a 0:24:23.800 --> 0:24:25.720 point where it looks like he's going to be in 0:24:25.800 --> 0:24:29.520 pretty good shape moving forward. And I think that's taken 0:24:29.560 --> 0:24:33.520 a lot of concern and feeling off of a lot 0:24:33.560 --> 0:24:37.640 of people, and so we're particularly excited about that. That's 0:24:37.680 --> 0:24:41.440 first and foremost. But we're also very respectful for the 0:24:41.480 --> 0:24:44.520 talent this team has we're going to face and excited 0:24:44.520 --> 0:24:47.280 about having that competition. We couldn't wait to have it 0:24:48.000 --> 0:24:51.320 on that Monday night, and we're pretty excited about having 0:24:51.320 --> 0:24:55.280 it on Sunday afternoon, we're chatting with Bengals coach Mark Duffner. 0:24:55.320 --> 0:24:58.200 I'm turning the clock back now even further to nineteen 0:24:58.280 --> 0:25:00.880 ninety seven, your first year and since and Addie, that 0:25:00.920 --> 0:25:03.600 was the year that Boomer assias and ended his career 0:25:03.680 --> 0:25:06.040 with a flourish. He famously took over with about a 0:25:06.040 --> 0:25:09.480 month to go and sparked to turn around with his leadership. 0:25:09.960 --> 0:25:13.360 How does Boomer's approach compared to what you've seen out 0:25:13.359 --> 0:25:16.280 of Joe Burrow in his first three years? Very similar 0:25:16.280 --> 0:25:17.680 in a lot of ways, and that they were both 0:25:17.760 --> 0:25:24.080 They're both very confident, very detailed people. I think Boomer 0:25:24.280 --> 0:25:27.080 at that time I saw quite a bit of strong 0:25:27.200 --> 0:25:30.280 leadership from him. You know, he he was not afraid 0:25:30.320 --> 0:25:34.200 to address a lot of situations, and I think Joe 0:25:34.320 --> 0:25:37.840 does that in his way too. But you know, there's 0:25:37.880 --> 0:25:39.880 a lot of similarity in them. Mind. I just know this. 0:25:40.040 --> 0:25:43.080 I think our team rallied around Boomer that year and 0:25:43.240 --> 0:25:46.440 they felt very confident with him and the driver's seat, 0:25:46.440 --> 0:25:48.440 if you will. And I know that our football team 0:25:48.440 --> 0:25:50.840 feels that way about Joe Burrow and how he conducts 0:25:51.000 --> 0:25:54.040 the team and himself on and off the field. Do 0:25:54.119 --> 0:25:58.360 you have a favorite Burrows story or memorable moment so 0:25:58.359 --> 0:26:00.800 far from being around him for three years, Well, I 0:26:01.920 --> 0:26:05.119 you know, I affectually call him buckas, you know, because 0:26:05.840 --> 0:26:08.159 he's as tough as nails, you know, and and he 0:26:08.200 --> 0:26:10.639 would be a great middle linebacker if, in fact he 0:26:11.200 --> 0:26:14.960 opted to play on defense. So I oftentimes after a 0:26:15.000 --> 0:26:17.359 game just because of his not I mean, I admire 0:26:17.440 --> 0:26:19.800 his playing and his decision making, he's throwing all the 0:26:19.840 --> 0:26:22.240 things that he does offensively, but I also have great 0:26:22.280 --> 0:26:25.919 respect for the toughness, both mental and physically that he 0:26:26.000 --> 0:26:28.560 hasn't demonstrates. So that's why I said, I call him Buckas, 0:26:28.560 --> 0:26:30.679 And I've talked to him a couple of times about here. 0:26:30.680 --> 0:26:32.720 He said, okayy course, coach, I love it, and you know, 0:26:32.800 --> 0:26:34.679 he loves the fact that I throw that out to 0:26:34.760 --> 0:26:38.080 him once in a while. But I'm so pleased that 0:26:39.040 --> 0:26:43.120 the ownership in this franchise and this city has a 0:26:43.119 --> 0:26:46.720 player and person of the depth of Joe Burrow where 0:26:46.840 --> 0:26:51.040 we're blessed. So Bucas is a very appropriate nickname for 0:26:51.080 --> 0:26:54.040 you to bestow on somebody. Since you coach linebackers for 0:26:54.119 --> 0:26:56.520 most of your NFL career and the Bengals have two 0:26:56.560 --> 0:26:59.800 starters right now that are playing at a very high level. 0:27:00.080 --> 0:27:03.440 Let's start with Logan Wilson. What makes him special? Well, 0:27:03.480 --> 0:27:07.480 I think, I think is an awareness and certainly his athleticism. 0:27:07.480 --> 0:27:10.320 I remember when we when I watched his film at 0:27:10.400 --> 0:27:13.639 YO mean, I watched two series of plays and stopped 0:27:13.640 --> 0:27:15.399 it and went upstairs and said, the Duke and the 0:27:15.520 --> 0:27:18.600 staff upstairs, boy, we got to get this guy, because 0:27:18.640 --> 0:27:21.119 you just he had everything you were looking for. He 0:27:21.160 --> 0:27:23.840 had the certainly the physical traits and the range and 0:27:23.840 --> 0:27:26.200 the quickness and change of direction. But he could play run, 0:27:26.240 --> 0:27:28.840 hand pass equally well. And his awareness was excellent. So 0:27:29.359 --> 0:27:33.000 I mean, I love him, and I love him as 0:27:33.040 --> 0:27:35.320 a person suit too, but I mean he's he is 0:27:35.359 --> 0:27:37.880 everything you want as a as a linebacker and as 0:27:37.880 --> 0:27:41.240 a defensive player, and then some and then there's Germain Pratt. 0:27:41.960 --> 0:27:45.080 Is he one of the most unsung linebackers in the NFL? 0:27:45.320 --> 0:27:48.520 I think he is. And I really want to compliment Jermaine. 0:27:48.680 --> 0:27:51.240 I thought I liked what we saw when we were 0:27:51.640 --> 0:27:54.200 looking at him prior to the draft, in his first 0:27:54.280 --> 0:27:57.280 year or prior to being here. And I liked his 0:27:57.359 --> 0:27:59.840 height in fact, that he'd been a safety early in 0:27:59.880 --> 0:28:02.240 his career at NC State. I like that part of it. 0:28:02.560 --> 0:28:04.679 He came in in his rookie year. You know, it 0:28:04.720 --> 0:28:07.480 was a little tough for him initially, as it is 0:28:07.520 --> 0:28:10.359 for most rookies, and uh, you know, I think that 0:28:10.440 --> 0:28:12.359 he was trying to trying too hard in a lot 0:28:12.400 --> 0:28:15.160 of ways to make plays. And thank god that he's 0:28:15.480 --> 0:28:17.800 you know, he's now kind of seen the bigger picture 0:28:18.160 --> 0:28:23.080 of playing this cat. Now he studies, his preparation is terrific. 0:28:23.119 --> 0:28:26.679 He's constantly communicating what the play is about to be 0:28:26.840 --> 0:28:29.040 and that happens through great study in the classroom and 0:28:29.160 --> 0:28:31.879 on the field. And then the fact that he's he's 0:28:31.920 --> 0:28:34.600 got big playability. I mean the interceptions that he's made, 0:28:34.600 --> 0:28:37.280 the one last year against Las Vegas, the ball, the 0:28:37.280 --> 0:28:40.400 ability to get the ball off of people in Kansas City, etc. 0:28:40.760 --> 0:28:43.880 I mean, so I can't be more pleased for a 0:28:44.000 --> 0:28:47.080 young man who has talent who's continuing to develop it. 0:28:47.320 --> 0:28:49.760 I think where you see where he started, where he 0:28:49.880 --> 0:28:53.760 is today again, that's due to one his efforts and 0:28:53.800 --> 0:28:57.120 certainly the coaching staff. So well done for Jermaine Pratt. 0:28:57.640 --> 0:29:01.000 We're chatting the defensive coach, Mark Duffner, Back in late November, 0:29:01.320 --> 0:29:04.320 the night before the Tennessee road game, Zach Taylor pointed 0:29:04.320 --> 0:29:06.600 out the team meeting that all the experts were saying 0:29:06.600 --> 0:29:09.520 how hard the Bengal schedule was, and he reminded the 0:29:09.560 --> 0:29:13.840 players that they got to play us. That's become the 0:29:13.840 --> 0:29:16.440 motto and you become the guy who yells it in 0:29:16.480 --> 0:29:19.560 the locker room after victories. Is it just a fun 0:29:19.680 --> 0:29:23.800 thing or has that rallying cry had a real impact. 0:29:24.160 --> 0:29:27.680 I think that I think perhaps the ladder, I think, 0:29:28.040 --> 0:29:32.200 and that's again attributed to the outstanding team meeting that 0:29:32.320 --> 0:29:35.240 Coach Taylor had, putting that in perspective with him and 0:29:36.000 --> 0:29:39.080 really bringing that to the forefront, that that's an important thing. 0:29:39.160 --> 0:29:41.760 I mean, we can hear about this and hear about that, 0:29:41.800 --> 0:29:45.840 but it's really all about us. And you see that 0:29:45.840 --> 0:29:48.720 that's that standard all around the building, all around the 0:29:48.720 --> 0:29:50.880 locker room. It's about us and it is and he 0:29:51.320 --> 0:29:53.600 you know, he kind of tied that into the scheduling 0:29:53.640 --> 0:29:56.440 part of the thing, and so I think that the 0:29:56.520 --> 0:30:00.160 players understand that it's helped to kind of bring to 0:30:00.200 --> 0:30:03.520 the forefront just that point it's about us and it's 0:30:03.560 --> 0:30:06.400 really what we do in the game for sixty minutes. 0:30:06.440 --> 0:30:08.800 It matters the most, and if we continue to do 0:30:08.840 --> 0:30:12.680 our best in terms of fundamentals and effort and playing together, 0:30:12.720 --> 0:30:14.480 that things will generally turn out the way we want. 0:30:15.400 --> 0:30:17.840 Do your friends and family get a kick out of 0:30:17.880 --> 0:30:20.920 hearing you yell that in the locker room in these 0:30:21.040 --> 0:30:24.680 celebration videos, they perhaps do? I hope that, you know, 0:30:24.720 --> 0:30:27.480 it's I kind of get a little emotional at times, 0:30:27.520 --> 0:30:29.400 and so that's kind of a blurting if you will. 0:30:29.440 --> 0:30:34.000 But ill anything that that that's happened from that certainly 0:30:34.200 --> 0:30:37.160 has attributed to coach Taylor and his message has been 0:30:37.240 --> 0:30:40.840 and if I somehow add to that in some way, 0:30:40.840 --> 0:30:43.960 then good, you know. But I mean, yeah, they'll occasionally 0:30:44.120 --> 0:30:47.240 laugh or something about that. So yeah, final thing for 0:30:47.560 --> 0:30:50.360 coach Mark Duffner. You've had a long and distinguished career 0:30:50.440 --> 0:30:52.960 in college football and in the NFL. You've worked with 0:30:53.000 --> 0:30:55.680 Hall of Fame coaches like Woody Hayes and Dick lebou. 0:30:55.760 --> 0:30:58.080 You've been around tremendous players. You were there when Archie 0:30:58.120 --> 0:31:01.160 Griffin won his second straight Heisman. You helped when Brett 0:31:01.200 --> 0:31:03.760 Farve was in Green Bay. What did it mean to 0:31:03.800 --> 0:31:06.400 you to be on a Super Bowl staff last year, 0:31:06.880 --> 0:31:09.600 and what would a super Bowl ring mean if you 0:31:09.600 --> 0:31:12.480 can win one. Well, first of all, to be on 0:31:12.520 --> 0:31:14.880 a Super Bowl staff last year and have that opportunity, 0:31:14.880 --> 0:31:17.560 that's after I think twenty six years in the NFL, 0:31:17.640 --> 0:31:21.200 and you know so many people work hard to get 0:31:21.240 --> 0:31:24.720 to that opportunity and to have that feeling and that experience, 0:31:24.800 --> 0:31:27.560 I'll be forever grateful. I mean, I just it was 0:31:27.840 --> 0:31:30.320 I didn't want I didn't want the days to end. 0:31:30.360 --> 0:31:32.960 I wanted them to try to milk every minute out 0:31:32.960 --> 0:31:36.040 of the each day we possibly could, and to you know, 0:31:36.240 --> 0:31:39.360 be in position to perhaps have another swing at it 0:31:39.400 --> 0:31:43.280 is just unbelievable. So it's it's something you're all everybody 0:31:43.280 --> 0:31:46.160 strives for. You're striving, you know, to do the best 0:31:46.200 --> 0:31:47.800 you can, to be the best you can, to have 0:31:47.840 --> 0:31:50.800 a chance to play in that which is kind of 0:31:50.160 --> 0:31:53.960 the symbol of the best. Uh. You know, we're very 0:31:54.000 --> 0:31:56.560 thankful and grateful for and we're hoping like crazy we 0:31:56.560 --> 0:31:59.120 can get there. Always great to visit with you. Thanks 0:31:59.120 --> 0:32:00.680 so much for your time and best of luck against 0:32:00.720 --> 0:32:04.480 the Bills. Thanks Dan, appreciate being with you. The Bengals 0:32:04.480 --> 0:32:07.040 Booth Podcast has brought to you by Kettering Health the 0:32:07.080 --> 0:32:10.520 official healthcare provider of the Bengals. With more than one 0:32:10.600 --> 0:32:14.280 hundred twenty care facilities and fifteen hundred care providers. Kettering 0:32:14.320 --> 0:32:17.240 Health is committed to guiding you to your best health. 0:32:17.680 --> 0:32:21.960 Visit ketteringhealth dot org to learn more. Now time for 0:32:22.040 --> 0:32:24.360 this week's Know the Faux segment and for the latest 0:32:24.440 --> 0:32:27.400 on the Buffalo Bills. I spoke to my longtime friend 0:32:27.560 --> 0:32:31.840 Adam Benini, the sports director at w g r ZTV 0:32:32.360 --> 0:32:35.840 in Buffalo. Adam, before we get to the nuts and 0:32:35.880 --> 0:32:38.280 bolts of the matchup on Sunday, let me ask you 0:32:38.320 --> 0:32:40.560 this question. Do you think there's a chance that DeMar 0:32:40.680 --> 0:32:43.800 Hamlin will be there on Sunday for the coin toss 0:32:43.960 --> 0:32:47.880 or in some sort of capacity. Well, it's interesting, Dan, 0:32:47.960 --> 0:32:50.480 because today we got kind of an update on that. 0:32:51.160 --> 0:32:53.880 Sean mcderman didn't indicate that he would be at the game, 0:32:53.960 --> 0:32:58.240 but thankfully, DeMar Hamlin continues to make a lot of progress, 0:32:58.520 --> 0:33:02.360 and McDermott revealed that he's in the building. He was 0:33:02.400 --> 0:33:06.360 here today at Bill's headquarters. Right now as we record this, 0:33:06.600 --> 0:33:10.720 he's in the building. Mcdermot's said almost daily players had 0:33:10.720 --> 0:33:12.880 seen him. Mitch Moore said he was a little bit tired. 0:33:12.920 --> 0:33:16.120 You know, you can tell he's recovering, but he's making 0:33:16.120 --> 0:33:18.400 a lot of progress. Wants to be He wanted to 0:33:18.400 --> 0:33:20.480 be at the game last weekend, and I think they 0:33:20.480 --> 0:33:22.520 convinced him out of it that they didn't want him 0:33:22.560 --> 0:33:25.600 to push himself too far, too fast. So I don't 0:33:25.600 --> 0:33:27.840 have a definitive answer for you, Dan, but it would 0:33:27.840 --> 0:33:31.160 not surprise me, given everything that transpired a couple of 0:33:31.200 --> 0:33:34.080 weeks ago Monday night and how quickly he's recovered. I 0:33:34.160 --> 0:33:36.040 know he wants to be there. It wouldn't surprise me 0:33:36.080 --> 0:33:38.800 to see him make some type of an appearance. Bring 0:33:38.880 --> 0:33:42.480 some Kleenex for me if that's the case. I tend 0:33:42.480 --> 0:33:44.360 to cry like a baby anyway, So that would be 0:33:44.480 --> 0:33:47.600 very emotional to see that the Bengals played a team 0:33:47.680 --> 0:33:50.440 last week that they despise and the Baltimore Ravens, and 0:33:50.480 --> 0:33:52.880 the Ravens feel the same way about them. I don't 0:33:52.920 --> 0:33:54.520 know if it's the same thing with the Bills and 0:33:54.560 --> 0:33:58.680 the Dolphins being division rivals, but this is unusual. These 0:33:58.680 --> 0:34:01.800 two teams went through a trem experience together. There's a 0:34:01.880 --> 0:34:07.520 sense of brotherhood camaraderie between these two teams. How do 0:34:07.600 --> 0:34:11.040 the Bills and Buffalo fans feel about the Bengals at 0:34:11.040 --> 0:34:14.400 this point. Oh, I think they hold them an extremely 0:34:14.480 --> 0:34:19.800 high regard. I mean that dates back to twenty seventeen 0:34:19.880 --> 0:34:23.880 and Andy Dalton and all of that history and donations 0:34:23.880 --> 0:34:26.880 to his charity and everything. But obviously the situation with 0:34:26.960 --> 0:34:30.000 the Mark Hamlin took things to a whole new level. 0:34:30.040 --> 0:34:35.000 Sean McDermott has talked repeatedly about how well he thought 0:34:35.120 --> 0:34:38.319 Zach Taylor handled himself in that whole situation came over 0:34:38.360 --> 0:34:43.480 the compassion that he showed. How Joe Burrow led the 0:34:43.480 --> 0:34:47.560 Bengals captains into the Saber excuse me, into the Bills 0:34:47.880 --> 0:34:50.480 locker room at that time that night, as they're all 0:34:50.560 --> 0:34:53.719 kind of absorbing everything and wanted to check on the 0:34:53.719 --> 0:34:57.760 Bills players to see how they were dealing with that situation, 0:34:57.840 --> 0:35:00.799 what their emotions were like, and to show them how 0:35:00.880 --> 0:35:02.719 much they care. So I think there's a level of 0:35:02.760 --> 0:35:07.960 respect that's unusually high between these two teams. I don't 0:35:07.960 --> 0:35:10.799 think it takes anything away from the intensity of what 0:35:10.800 --> 0:35:12.480 we're going to see on the field here at Orchard 0:35:12.480 --> 0:35:14.920 Park on Sunday. It may add to it, in fact, 0:35:15.120 --> 0:35:16.880 but I think it's very unique. I mean, it was 0:35:16.920 --> 0:35:20.080 an unprecedented set of circumstances, and I know it was 0:35:20.120 --> 0:35:24.040 greatly appreciated by the Bills. The degree to which and 0:35:24.120 --> 0:35:27.400 how the Bengals players and coaches handled that situation and 0:35:27.560 --> 0:35:30.120 kind of helped them through that night. All right, let's 0:35:30.120 --> 0:35:32.719 get to the matchup with Adam Bannini from w GRCTV 0:35:32.840 --> 0:35:35.440 and Buffalo. The Bills of one eighth straight. But the 0:35:35.480 --> 0:35:38.480 last two games have been too close for comfort, especially 0:35:38.520 --> 0:35:40.960 if you talk to my mom down in Lakewood, New York. 0:35:41.640 --> 0:35:45.360 Is anxiety running high in Buffalo? And should it be? 0:35:47.200 --> 0:35:50.399 I think the turnovers are the biggest you right, Dan, 0:35:50.480 --> 0:35:54.280 I mean three of them against the Dolphins here on Sunday. 0:35:55.239 --> 0:35:58.759 They've had nine in the last three games. So a 0:35:58.920 --> 0:36:01.240 ball security. A lot of times that players will brush 0:36:01.320 --> 0:36:03.279 that off. And Shuan McDermott even said today I asked 0:36:03.360 --> 0:36:05.960 him directly about it, and he said that it's a 0:36:06.080 --> 0:36:08.720 very valid question given away. This thing has been trending. 0:36:09.640 --> 0:36:12.000 He says he trusts his players at this point, and 0:36:12.040 --> 0:36:16.919 it really a lot of it comes down to Josh Allen. Look, 0:36:16.960 --> 0:36:22.640 this offense has not been as diverse, has not been 0:36:22.680 --> 0:36:25.640 as efficient as you know, you think back to that 0:36:25.760 --> 0:36:28.800 Kansas City game last year, the Divisional round, this same 0:36:28.800 --> 0:36:33.560 stage and the thirteen seconds and you know, gave Davis 0:36:33.560 --> 0:36:35.640 and the four touchdowns and that sort of a thing. 0:36:35.920 --> 0:36:39.520 You know, the explosiveness we saw from this Bill's team, 0:36:39.560 --> 0:36:43.320 it's not there right now. They're still very effective. Dawson 0:36:43.400 --> 0:36:45.840 Knox has begun to emerge. He has touchdowns now in 0:36:45.880 --> 0:36:49.600 five straight games. That's been important. Davis was solid. He's 0:36:49.640 --> 0:36:51.560 not the same player as he was last year, but 0:36:51.600 --> 0:36:54.920 he was solid against the Dolphins on Sunday. So it 0:36:55.080 --> 0:36:57.879 is a concern ball securities at the top of the list, 0:36:57.880 --> 0:37:01.520 but there are other factors as well. So I think 0:37:01.560 --> 0:37:04.600 everyone here has the sense, but the dynamic is different 0:37:04.640 --> 0:37:07.759 with this Bill's team. Yet they continue to win. And 0:37:07.800 --> 0:37:09.839 I think there's also a level of grit with all 0:37:09.880 --> 0:37:13.960 they've endured this year as a group, from the mass 0:37:14.040 --> 0:37:18.520 shooting this past summer, tragically, the way they kind of 0:37:18.560 --> 0:37:21.600 bonded with the community. Dawson Notch lost his brother, they 0:37:21.640 --> 0:37:26.759 helped him through that. Two historic snowstorms that sort of 0:37:26.760 --> 0:37:29.799 a thing, and then the Hamlin situation in Cincinnati a 0:37:29.840 --> 0:37:31.840 couple of weeks ago. Monday is at the top of 0:37:32.600 --> 0:37:35.319 that list as well. They've been able to battle through 0:37:35.360 --> 0:37:38.560 a lot and I think that counts for something. But 0:37:38.640 --> 0:37:40.920 in terms of xs and o's, they are not operating 0:37:40.920 --> 0:37:43.080 the same way they did at this stage last year. 0:37:43.760 --> 0:37:46.879 Let me dive further into the turnover specifically where Josh 0:37:46.920 --> 0:37:51.040 Allen is concerned. Sixteen interceptions if you include the playoff game, 0:37:51.160 --> 0:37:55.360 fourteen fumbles, six that have been recovered by the other team. 0:37:55.680 --> 0:38:00.160 Is he forcing things? Is he sloppy? What explains all 0:38:00.160 --> 0:38:02.200 of these turnovers for one of the best quarterbacks in 0:38:02.239 --> 0:38:04.279 the NFL? I think, and this is kind of a 0:38:04.320 --> 0:38:07.319 deep dived in in this take, but I think when 0:38:07.640 --> 0:38:10.399 you're talking about the season and the trend you just 0:38:10.480 --> 0:38:13.480 referred to, I think they had a lot of trouble 0:38:14.880 --> 0:38:17.800 coming up with an answer at the slot receiver position. 0:38:18.480 --> 0:38:23.319 Right when Cole Beasley moved on in March and they 0:38:23.320 --> 0:38:26.120 thought Isaiah McKenzie would be that player. Didn't work out 0:38:26.160 --> 0:38:28.719 that way. They went out and got Jamison Crowder. He 0:38:28.760 --> 0:38:33.399 broke his ankle against the Baltimore Ravens, so they really 0:38:33.400 --> 0:38:35.520 didn't have an answer, and I think that affected a 0:38:35.520 --> 0:38:38.040 lot of things. Suddenly they became a lot easier to 0:38:38.120 --> 0:38:41.600 defend you know, teams could just take away digs and 0:38:41.680 --> 0:38:44.080 suddenly Josh didn't have that option, like he was so 0:38:44.160 --> 0:38:46.799 effective with Beasley all that time. So they bring Cole 0:38:46.880 --> 0:38:51.120 Beasley back, right, he comes out of retirement after a 0:38:51.160 --> 0:38:54.680 brief stint with Tampa Bay and it's taken some time, 0:38:54.760 --> 0:38:57.160 but he hit him for a touchdown this past weekend 0:38:57.200 --> 0:39:00.360 against the Dolphins, and so he hasn't really put on numbers. 0:39:00.360 --> 0:39:02.200 He played in just like two or three games during 0:39:02.239 --> 0:39:05.120 the regular season, but he was effective, had a couple 0:39:05.160 --> 0:39:07.960 of big receptions, one for a touchdown. So I think 0:39:08.920 --> 0:39:12.200 the pendulum is starting to swing back in a positive 0:39:12.239 --> 0:39:15.279 way in terms of that relationship and its impact on 0:39:15.400 --> 0:39:21.480 the offense. But before that, absolutely forcing the football. What 0:39:21.640 --> 0:39:24.000 was the expression from the original top gun Son, your 0:39:24.040 --> 0:39:26.919 egos writing checks your body can't cash. I mean there's 0:39:26.960 --> 0:39:29.799 a lot of because we call him Wyoming Josh here 0:39:30.120 --> 0:39:33.000 in Buffalo when he reverts back to that kind of 0:39:33.000 --> 0:39:35.000 and they don't want to coach that completely out of 0:39:35.040 --> 0:39:37.160 him because it's part of what makes him great. But 0:39:37.360 --> 0:39:43.640 he walks right down that fine line of effectiveness and recklessness. 0:39:44.040 --> 0:39:47.000 He even talked about that today, So I feel like 0:39:47.080 --> 0:39:52.040 that's something that's really those two factors. I think that 0:39:52.160 --> 0:39:55.120 those are the biggest factors behind him, you know, forcing 0:39:55.160 --> 0:39:59.399 the football, turning the football over, and I'm sure that's 0:39:59.440 --> 0:40:01.440 something that the Bengals are well aware of from a 0:40:01.480 --> 0:40:04.560 defensive standpoint. We're talking to my friend Adam Benini, who 0:40:04.600 --> 0:40:07.360 covers the Bills. As you know, the Bengals have a 0:40:07.360 --> 0:40:11.040 battered offensive line. The Bills lost their best pass rusher, 0:40:11.320 --> 0:40:14.920 Von Miller. How good has the pass rush been since 0:40:15.000 --> 0:40:18.759 Von Miller went out? It's been pretty solid. I don't 0:40:18.760 --> 0:40:20.400 think it was as effective as it needed to be 0:40:20.440 --> 0:40:22.520 against the Dolphins this past week. You didn't really hear 0:40:22.520 --> 0:40:25.960 Greg Russo's name, for example, but they do have a 0:40:26.120 --> 0:40:31.040 strength in numbers approach there. You know, I think prior 0:40:31.080 --> 0:40:34.759 to the Von Miller signing, they had really invested for 0:40:34.800 --> 0:40:37.840 a number of years. You know, you go back to 0:40:38.200 --> 0:40:41.600 the loss of the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game 0:40:41.800 --> 0:40:45.480 a couple of years back. That was the real indicator 0:40:45.520 --> 0:40:48.120 where you know that they were not well equipped enough 0:40:48.160 --> 0:40:51.760 upfront from a pass rush perspective to deal with Mahomes. 0:40:52.360 --> 0:40:55.080 And so they went out and they invested in the 0:40:55.160 --> 0:40:58.480 draft a aj Epinessa who was their first pick a 0:40:58.520 --> 0:41:01.000 second round pick, as it happened, because they lost the 0:41:01.040 --> 0:41:05.040 first rounder in the trade for Stefan Diggs that particular year. 0:41:05.120 --> 0:41:07.279 But then they go out and they get Rousseau in 0:41:07.320 --> 0:41:10.960 the first round, Basham in the second round, you know. 0:41:11.000 --> 0:41:13.879 The following year, so they have and they bring back 0:41:13.880 --> 0:41:17.800 a shack Lawson. They got Jordan Phillips, the defensive tackle 0:41:17.880 --> 0:41:20.600 at Oliver has really kind of come on this year, 0:41:20.640 --> 0:41:24.000 a former first round pick, and so they'll rotate. It's 0:41:24.000 --> 0:41:27.279 a strength and numbers type approach. But I think that 0:41:27.560 --> 0:41:30.480 at understanding, the Bengals are dealing with injuries on the 0:41:30.480 --> 0:41:33.200 offensive line. We talked before the last game. I thought 0:41:33.200 --> 0:41:35.319 that was the key matchup how effective the Bills could 0:41:35.320 --> 0:41:39.120 be from a pass rush perspective against that Bengals offensive line. Now, 0:41:39.440 --> 0:41:41.400 the dynamic might change a little bit in terms of 0:41:41.440 --> 0:41:44.560 the injury situation, but they do have guys that can 0:41:44.600 --> 0:41:48.319 get home. The way in which Borrow gets that ball 0:41:48.360 --> 0:41:51.560 out so quickly and efficiently I think presents a problem 0:41:51.600 --> 0:41:56.440 for Buffalo. I think this is a game where they 0:41:56.520 --> 0:42:00.080 really begin to feel the absence of von Miller on 0:42:00.120 --> 0:42:02.919 the field. I think the Bengals, with that passing game, 0:42:02.960 --> 0:42:06.440 the timing, those receivers are in a position to really 0:42:06.480 --> 0:42:10.360 exploit that, and by extension, the youth and the secondary. 0:42:10.600 --> 0:42:13.239 You know, Dan Jackson limited to start the week with 0:42:13.280 --> 0:42:17.080 a knee injury. Kaira tire Eelam, their first round pick 0:42:17.120 --> 0:42:19.279 this year, has been very vulnerable at times, had an 0:42:19.320 --> 0:42:22.680 interception to his credit against the Dolphins. Trey White coming 0:42:22.719 --> 0:42:26.600 off the ACL injury last year. Not the same player 0:42:26.640 --> 0:42:29.200 he was in the past, but kind of rounding into form. 0:42:29.400 --> 0:42:32.680 He's looked pretty solid out there. But the Bills vulnerable 0:42:32.719 --> 0:42:35.200 in the secondary as well, so both in terms of 0:42:35.239 --> 0:42:38.279 the pass rush despite the injuries on the offensive line, 0:42:38.320 --> 0:42:40.399 in the way things shape up in the secondary. Dan, 0:42:41.160 --> 0:42:43.520 I think Buffalo, they're vulnerable. I think this is a 0:42:43.640 --> 0:42:46.400 nightmare matchup in terms of what the Bengals bring offensively 0:42:47.000 --> 0:42:50.919 for this Bill's defense. How about safety, because Micah Hyde 0:42:50.960 --> 0:42:54.239 isn't back yet and obviously Damar Hamlin is out. Where 0:42:54.239 --> 0:42:57.080 do they stand at that other safety spot? Well, you've 0:42:57.120 --> 0:43:01.040 got they brought Dean Marlow back, you know, so he's 0:43:01.040 --> 0:43:04.839 a veteran five six years experience in the league. Came 0:43:04.920 --> 0:43:07.879 up with an interception in this past weekend, but again 0:43:07.920 --> 0:43:11.400 you're dealing with Skyler Thompson. I mean a guy, look 0:43:11.640 --> 0:43:15.879 a rookie seventh round pick, talk about telegraphing the ball, 0:43:16.320 --> 0:43:19.280 talk about hanging on to it forever. I mean Vic Prucci, 0:43:19.360 --> 0:43:23.000 my Sports Talk Live counterpartyer and I are counting four 0:43:23.040 --> 0:43:25.080 plus seconds he's hanging onto the ball. You know, he's 0:43:25.120 --> 0:43:30.080 not obviously, he's probably a career backup type player. He's 0:43:30.120 --> 0:43:37.240 not an anticipatory quarterback. Right. So Burrow is the exact 0:43:37.320 --> 0:43:40.399 opposite of that. I mean, Joe is throwing that ball 0:43:40.440 --> 0:43:42.640 to a spot right and the receiver is going to 0:43:42.719 --> 0:43:44.640 be there, and it's all timing based. So it's the 0:43:44.640 --> 0:43:48.399 polar opposite of what they faced this weekend. So I 0:43:48.440 --> 0:43:52.600 do think that they're vulnerable in the safety spot as well. 0:43:52.920 --> 0:43:56.240 Also from the communications standpoint, they've really missed Micah Hyde, 0:43:56.280 --> 0:43:58.680 who went down with a neck injury after Week two, 0:43:58.880 --> 0:44:02.240 and he was so good that at making sure players 0:44:02.280 --> 0:44:04.919 are in the right position pre snap and that sort 0:44:04.960 --> 0:44:06.239 of a thing. I mean, I think if you look 0:44:06.239 --> 0:44:08.800 at some of the timeouts this past weekend where have 0:44:09.160 --> 0:44:12.240 been kind of controversial among the fan base, here, Hide's 0:44:12.280 --> 0:44:15.319 absence contributes to some of that, where they're just not 0:44:15.600 --> 0:44:17.960 mcdermot's not comfortable with what he sees how they're aligned 0:44:17.960 --> 0:44:20.960 defensively and they have to burn a time out. So 0:44:21.000 --> 0:44:24.240 I think it affects that that lack of a veteran 0:44:24.280 --> 0:44:26.520 safety in that spot. Of course, Hamlin had done a 0:44:26.600 --> 0:44:31.520 very good job of filling in extremely competent in that 0:44:31.600 --> 0:44:33.800 role prior to what happened with him and his collapse. 0:44:34.320 --> 0:44:37.120 So I think they're vulnerable. I guess what I'm saying 0:44:37.440 --> 0:44:41.200 at a number of levels, both from an execution standpoint 0:44:41.400 --> 0:44:45.160 and from a precep pre snap communication standpoint at that 0:44:45.239 --> 0:44:49.080 safety position. Last thing for Adam Benini, what do we 0:44:49.120 --> 0:44:54.640 know about that famous Buffalo weather on Sunday? Interesting We 0:44:54.680 --> 0:44:59.040 had our chief meteorologist, Patrick Hammer, who is very popular 0:44:59.080 --> 0:45:02.520 here in Buffalo, for our sports show Monday Night. I 0:45:02.560 --> 0:45:05.080 had him do it like a long range forecast, and 0:45:05.840 --> 0:45:08.040 he said, there's a system coming in here. You're not 0:45:08.080 --> 0:45:11.600 going to really know until Thursday or Friday, but we 0:45:11.640 --> 0:45:14.760 could be dealing with a mix of rain and snow 0:45:15.480 --> 0:45:17.919 for that game. It's still they're not sure on when 0:45:17.920 --> 0:45:23.040 it's going to arrive. It could arrive, they thought initially 0:45:23.080 --> 0:45:26.279 maybe like on late Sunday, night into Monday, and now 0:45:26.280 --> 0:45:28.440 it was trending earlier in the week that possibly it 0:45:28.480 --> 0:45:32.000 could be you know, typical Orchard Park, whether something you're 0:45:32.080 --> 0:45:35.920 very familiar with from your background here. I don't know 0:45:35.960 --> 0:45:39.440 that it necessarily affects. I mean, the Bills have been 0:45:39.520 --> 0:45:43.640 very effective dealing with severe weather situations, and they've had 0:45:43.640 --> 0:45:45.279 a number of them to deal with. They're pretty good, 0:45:45.480 --> 0:45:47.560 don't I don't have a sense. I don't think it's 0:45:47.560 --> 0:45:50.680 going to affect the Bengals all that much. I would 0:45:50.680 --> 0:45:52.520 ask you that question. I mean, how do you think 0:45:52.520 --> 0:45:55.040 that would affect the timing? Maybe that Bengal passing game. 0:45:55.640 --> 0:45:58.000 Wind is the only thing that bothers me. They can 0:45:58.040 --> 0:46:01.040 deal with cold, they can deal with precipitation. Wind is 0:46:01.120 --> 0:46:03.560 always the wild card because you never know how the 0:46:03.560 --> 0:46:05.800 wind is going to affect the ball from play to play, 0:46:06.040 --> 0:46:09.759 and they are such a passing dependent team that I 0:46:09.760 --> 0:46:13.239 would be more worried about wind than anything else. All Right, 0:46:13.280 --> 0:46:16.799 So we'll see. I mean that's that. Obviously, wind is 0:46:17.239 --> 0:46:20.200 a primary feature here. They can plan on some of it. 0:46:20.840 --> 0:46:22.560 We're not sure at this point how severe it's going 0:46:22.600 --> 0:46:25.560 to be. Hi. Thanks to Adam Benini, and here's a 0:46:25.640 --> 0:46:28.640 quick reminder to join Lapping Me on Friday for the 0:46:28.640 --> 0:46:31.760 Bengals pep Rally show at the Wings and Rings location 0:46:32.120 --> 0:46:35.560 in Fairfield. The show runs from three to six and 0:46:35.719 --> 0:46:39.160 the legendary Bob Trumpy will be our guest in the 0:46:39.200 --> 0:46:42.000 final hour. That's going to do it for this episode 0:46:42.040 --> 0:46:44.960 of the Bengals Booth Podcast. Brought to you by Kettering Health, 0:46:45.200 --> 0:46:48.880 the official healthcare provider of the Bengals, by Bengals Picks 0:46:49.160 --> 0:46:51.960 and Ultimate Bengals. They're free to play with tickets and 0:46:52.000 --> 0:46:56.000 signed merchandise up for grabs by pay Corps, the official 0:46:56.280 --> 0:47:00.680 HR software provider of the Bengals, and by Alta Fiber 0:47:01.080 --> 0:47:05.760 future Proof Fiber Internet elevate your connection with Alti Fiber. 0:47:06.200 --> 0:47:08.600 If you haven't done so already, please subscribe to this 0:47:08.680 --> 0:47:10.960 podcast and if you have a minute, give it a 0:47:11.080 --> 0:47:14.960 rating or share a comment that helps more Bengals fans 0:47:15.000 --> 0:47:18.600 find us. I'm Dan Horde. Thanks for listening to The 0:47:18.680 --> 0:47:20.319 Bengals Booth Podcast.