August 20, 2026 • 52 mins
For years, the AFC North belonged to the Ravens and Bengals. Not anymore. The Steelers sit atop the division after claiming the North, while Baltimore and Cincinnati are both trying to bounce back from disappointing campaigns. We dive into the league's toughest neighborhood, including Cleveland's path forward and the pressure facing every team in a division where nothing is guaranteed.
Cleveland Browns (00:50)
Pittsburgh Steelers (12:50)
Baltimore Ravens (25:16)
Cincinnati Bengals (39:26)
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Time to dive into some AFC North football game preview.
Guy here with a look at what all four of
their teams did ahead of twenty twenty six. I am
not related to Alexa or Max Headroom or Pinocchio. I'm
a real boy who is super appreciative that the NFL
chooses to rely on humans to narrate things like NFL
game previews or NFL throwback videos or season preview material
(00:22):
like this. AFC North ravens new head coach preseason division
favorites with an eleven and a half over under mark.
Only other team to get that high of a bar
the Rams. Bengals with Joe Burrow Jamar Higgins could give
them trouble if their d can just play at average levels.
Steelers get one more year of a Rod, hoping adding
(00:44):
Michael Pittman makes their offense more dangerous, and Cleveland all
eyes on the quarterback battle. Will it be to Shaun
or Shadoor? Time for another new era in Cleveland football.
The Kevin Stefanski Browns are no more. It's time to
see if Todd Munkin can get them going in the
right direction.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
They cut a check with my name on it. You
know what they expect a freaking kick ass football team.
That's what they expect. You know what they want. They
want to become a winning franchise. But our fan base
in our region.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Is proud of Monkin's first order of business, figure out
who should run his offense.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Hotel.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
He could go with Primetime Junior.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
Got a touchdown rounds or with it a score.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
See if he can make him look the part of
a bona fide NFL quarterback.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Well, we get poll Buck pas it bear your.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Tick, pall Shador Sanders had some moments.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
The entertainment, a jog Town touchdow some not a ton though.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Seven tds against ten iron t's a sub seventy eight
Sanders looking, So maybe it's Deshaun Watson didn't play at
all in twenty twenty five, but remember twenty two twenty.
While most of us would like to forget it all together,
Watson threw for thirty three tds only seven iron t's
over three hundred yards per game.
Speaker 6 (02:08):
Watts, He's gonna take a shot.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
A long time ago, though, right could decide. Dylan Gabriel
is the guy too. He has options, if nothing else
or any of them good enough to improve an offense,
even Oscar the Grouch didn't want to live next door
to Last year on a board bro come on a
go second fewest points per game at sixteen per contest,
(02:34):
a coming thirtieth in yards per game twenty ninth.
Speaker 7 (02:40):
On third down, receiver felled out.
Speaker 8 (02:42):
I just picked off of the far sideline.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
So no shock. They went heavy on offensive guys in
the draft. Took wide receiver Casey Concepcion in the first.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
You will see how dynamic an electric this guy is,
especially with the ball in his hands. He is someone
who had returnability and that shows up once he catches
the foot fall again, got to get better, more reliable
catching it. But once he does, you see this just
it's over. It is a boat race. That is a
speedboat with a bunch of canoes trying to catch up
to him. Here he is showing the ability to.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Flucking go added white out Denzel Boston in the second.
Speaker 6 (03:14):
El Boston power forward. This is a nice compliment to
what they have in Casey Concepts. You own Casey concepts.
Jon can work in the slot, can return kicks. Denzel
Boston is gonna play outside as a big, smooth, fluid
mover with a big catch radius.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
And with their first first rounder they took tackle Spencer Fan.
Speaker 6 (03:32):
Now, he's got excellent intelligence and awareness. You can see
it in this play. He also has some nastiness to
be able to drive and finish. When you get outside
in the run game and then out in space you
want to throw screens, you want to pull him. He's
more than capable of doing that.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
They hope he and others can help give whoever's behind
center more time he's in trouble. Heavy sacked Cleveland quarterbacks
took fifty one sacks, face the highest pressure rate in
the NFL.
Speaker 7 (04:03):
Paul cuts loose.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Only Joel Botonio played all last year. They lost to
Wan Jones after just three games. Right tackle Jack Conklin
allowed a fifteen percent pressure rate. That's not good.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Looking for the touchdown Gabriel.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Left tackle Cam Robinson twelve sacks allow Cambril kids dumped
Fano Joins. Three other new faces in the trenches guard
Zion Johnson with the Chargers last year red flag there.
They also gave up a ton of sacks right tackle
Titus Howard, former Texan. They did draft tackle Austin Barber
in the third round as well. Their lines play last
(04:47):
year made it hard for Quinn Shawn Judkins oh three
six a run, but he's building off a nice rookie year. Nonetheless,
Ah we the best rookie class.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Oh for sure, overally, Holy, overly for sure.
Speaker 8 (05:06):
He shot down.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Over eight hundred yards and seventy d's quin shot.
Speaker 8 (05:17):
Shut hit for forty six.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yards to the house.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Dylan Sampson also showed some promise thirty three catches a
couple of receiving touchdowns in his year one.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Now he's the rider thirty five.
Speaker 5 (05:29):
It took foot right, He's gone.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Step Harold Finn and Junior ended up leading the team
in targets receptions with seventy two.
Speaker 6 (05:37):
Her career touchdown catch from Harold fannin.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Yards seven and thirty one and receiving touchdowns with six.
He'll get even more looks this year with David and Joe,
who departing scored four times on his way out.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Good shit touchdown.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Jerry Judy returns on the outside fifty catches over six
hundred yards, and Isaiah Bond only eighteen catches but a
hefty eighteen yards per catch for over three hundred yards
and his first go of it at the pro level.
Speaker 8 (06:18):
It hit another home run ball, divy.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
If they can make up any kind of ground on
the offensive side, they make some noise because they feel
like their defense is playoff caliber.
Speaker 7 (06:30):
Step So why he's blasted.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Despite its own offense working against it at times they
held teams to twenty two points per game.
Speaker 9 (06:36):
Smit hit and he doesn't throw it. It's Devin Bush
who smothersome.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
The fourth fewest yards per game and we're seventh hardest
on third down.
Speaker 10 (06:47):
Is actually like a sack. That's a fumball almost because
I don't think he was throwing it. He just gets hit.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Strength. Of course, the pass rush top five in sacks.
Speaker 7 (06:55):
That was a party at the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Quarterback hits and sack percentage.
Speaker 8 (07:00):
Soy, and now he's sacked out at twenty five.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
They are no longer armed, of course, with Miles Garrett,
who racked twenty three of their fifty three sacks.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
He's going down at the ten, Miles Garrett.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Everybody, but they got a stud back in that blockbuster.
Jared Verse may have only dropped seven and a half quarterbacks,
but he was a force in La.
Speaker 10 (07:21):
Come on, hey, I mean right.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Well, twenty seven quarterback hits. He's a dude more than
capable of cracking double digits on the regular. He's only
entering his third year too.
Speaker 8 (07:34):
You're not going hard that run. You're not going harder.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Than that boy.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
I don't no Offensive end Isaiah McGuire made eight starts
a couple of sacks.
Speaker 8 (07:44):
McGuire and Hall.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Defensive end Alex Wright fourteen games, five and a half
QB takedowns.
Speaker 7 (07:50):
Alex Fright brings them down.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris, their depth guy in the middle,
filled in some from elite Collins, who racked six and
a half quarterbacks in just twelve games.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Rob breaks away.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
He's going down q samor skid row more youth gone wild.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham debuted with forty nine tackles, seven
for a loss, four passes knocked down us five FTEs
lit up behind him. The reigning defensive Rookie of the
Year linebacker Carson Swassinger, kicking off his career with one
hundred and fifty six tackles, two and a half sacks,
(08:23):
and two picks.
Speaker 10 (08:24):
You got.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Brother, he will have a new partner though. They let
Devin Bush and his one hundred and twenty five tackles
leave for Chicago pick Devin Bushi. Devin Bush, linebacker Jerome
Baker bounced as well, and so did linebacker Mohammed Diabodi.
Seventeen games, forty nine tackles. Swesssinger's new partner, former jack
(08:54):
Quincy Williams for one hundred plus tackle years on his
seven year resume. The team games last year eighty three tackles,
three and a half sacks.
Speaker 6 (09:04):
Fourth set of Gabriel and it's Quincy Williams.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Their front held runners to four to two per attempt,
which was top ten good. Both their safeties were in
on the action. Ronnie Hickman with over one hundred tackles
while holding quarterbacks to a nice low sixty three rating,
two interceptions. Grant Delpit almost ninety tackles while holding his
(09:34):
targets to an eighty five rate.
Speaker 5 (09:36):
Happy Happy Barday right now.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Dropped a second round pick on safety Emmanuel McNeil Warren.
Speaker 6 (09:49):
This is stealing in my opinion. You talk about a
physical presence of someone who could go he has a
hammer in the middle of the field, and then he's
a turnover machine. We've seen this on a few guys today.
The ability to punch the football out forced fumbles throughout
his career, and he can take the ball away as well.
Look at his ability to range over the sideline here,
you want to play him in the deep path, he
can do some of that.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Both their primary corners come off good seasons. Denzel Ward
sub ninety eight nine passes defense complain the p Tyson
Campbell played twelve games with the team after coming over
via trade. Twelve passes defensed, low eighties rate, looked good
in Orange corner. Miles Harden gave up a team high
(10:30):
five touchdowns in his year two a one ten plus rating.
Speaker 8 (10:34):
Jared Gold checks him into the right play.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Cleveland held quarterbacks to a respectable nineties rate, only gave
up one hundred and sixty seven passing yards per game,
third fewest.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Devin Bunch, he's had the twenty and he's at the
twenty five rock round.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
I've never to hear good.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Andre Schmidtz creak yet another rookie last year made eighty
eight percent of his field goal tries twenty five for
twenty six on extra points. So they're running it back
(11:12):
with most of the secondary they rocked with last year.
Added the rookie in the draft said bye bye to
safety Jenkins, but Ward, Campbell, Harden, Delpit, and Hickman all
return and should walk out Day one Front seven the
big change verse for Garrett. By all accounts, it was
the right move to make for Cleveland at linebacker Quincy Williams,
(11:34):
and for Bush. It's still a pretty stout looking group
with elite youth a key part of its makeup. The
offense is the same too, unless Watson takes over a
starting quarterback. That's the big question. Who will it be
and how well will they work under Monkin? Who's going
to be calling the offense. The O line is a
big X factor in all this. Fannin isn't really replacing
(11:55):
in Djokub, but he's the only semi key playmaker who
isn't returning. If you go buy their opponents expected win
totals in twenty twenty six, they have the fourth easiest
slate in the NFL. Now, their own over under is
just six point five, so it still projects as an
uphill climb. But let's apply the idea that they could
(12:16):
come away with wins against all the teams at seven
point five over unders or less. That gives them victories
over Carolina, the Jets, Tennessee New Orleans, Vegas, Atlanta, the
Giants and the Colts throw in a win versus Pittsburgh
for good measure, and you have a nine win ceiling.
That's a tough sell with their quarterback stitch being what
(12:37):
it is even for a dufus in a bag. The
game preview guy guess is fewer than seven wins. I
feel like a six pack is on its way, or
maybe the six pack I put down is fuzzied. What
little football sense I have.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Terrebral towels are out and a sold out crowd at
Actor Sure Stadium is ready.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
It was a time when the Pittsburgh dads of the
world had hope they could land Brittany available again.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Hands up, Hands up.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
The Pittsburgh debs were doing their workouts on Nintendo. Whee's
first ever tweet went out. Maybe it announced the hiring
of Mike Tomlin. Twenty years later they call it X
and it announced his departure. A Native Yinzer taking the
reins as we begin a very very new chapter in
the AFC North.
Speaker 8 (13:22):
What Bob happened?
Speaker 1 (13:24):
It was two thousand and six, You don't have to
look it up. And yes, saying Native Yinzer was redundant
like ATM Machine and theory regardless, Mike McCarthy steps in
for Mike Tomlin, hoping to rekindle a little cheesehead magic.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
Hey got a great quarterback.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Aaron Rodgers came away from his off season Magical Mystery
Tour with visions of playing a twenty second year.
Speaker 8 (13:47):
What a grab by Connor Haywark.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Rogers impact on Pittsburgh's passing attack wasn't monumental. Two hundred
and seven yards.
Speaker 8 (13:58):
Per game touchdown John u Spi.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Twenty one tds a mid nineties rate.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Fire is it for the score.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
They were middle of the pack on third down, twenty
fifth in yards per game.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Rodgers has time climbing the pocket. Here, cuts Khalil Neck
in the end zone, he drops up.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Those are the key areas they can fare better at
this year.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
With the ball, we know what kind of game is
going to be. We got score points, a lot of them.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
They didn't turn the ball over much.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
Throws slammed right, touchdown Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 8 (14:29):
It's dk metcap.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
We're solid in the red zone for a twenty three
point per game Average's former touchdown Pittsburgh Steeler points per
game average. Rogers also was pretty decisive. He was quick
draw McGraw after the snap.
Speaker 8 (14:43):
Here's a pass out to the left Flatford game Well gets.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
To the edge.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
That minimized the number of backwards plays they were top
ten and sacks taken.
Speaker 8 (14:52):
Wow, and he somehow caught it.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
The quick release approach made it harder to rack up
chunk plays. DK Metcalf finished with a career low eight
hundred and fifty yards.
Speaker 7 (15:09):
Boots it out for Metcalf, elevates and makes.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
The catch that still led the team.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
There's a casualty on full display.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
And it means he's been good for eight to fifty
plus all seven years in the NFL. Only one other
receiver with more than one hundred and seventy yards, which
is why nabbing Michael Pittman is such a big deal.
Pittman led the Colts in receptions with eighty and receiving
touchdowns with seven over seven hundred and fifty yards.
Speaker 6 (15:38):
He's in he stretched the ball across the goal line.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
They also picked up Jeremy Bernard in the second round
of the draft.
Speaker 6 (15:45):
He's instinctive and incredibly smart. When you talk to the
folks at Alabama and you talk to Ty Simpsons. I
had a chance to. He raved about the intelligence Jeremy Rnard,
all the different things they can do with him, and
the toughness that he brings. You see it as a blocker,
and you see it in his ability to win the
middle of the field. He's a real crisp route runner,
and when he gets the ball in his hands, he
looks like a running back. He's built powerfully that way.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Making room for him in the locker room. Calvin Austen,
who departed Pittsburgh off a three hundred and seventy plus
yard year.
Speaker 8 (16:14):
Touchdown Pittsburgh Steelers. It's Calvin Austin in the end zone.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Moves check this out. Five hundred plus yards year one,
then seven hundred plus, three hundred plus, then six hundred
plus last year, four hundred plus fires down, touchdown. So
a monster year of eight hundred plus coming or bust city, right,
(16:41):
I don't make up the Origami rules.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Towards the end zone touchdown, he finds Pat fryar.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Mooon fellow tight end Darnel Washington aka Mountain on legs.
Speaker 8 (16:52):
Oh, he's shut down a man, and then flowers.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
His shoulder, grumbling down the left.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Sideline career high three hundred and sixty four yards. He
could probably start at left tackle on a lot of teams.
Speaker 8 (17:03):
And fine Darnell Watchingston.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Who will they trot out as they're starting five on
that O line. Week one, though, Steelers drafted tackle Max
Ecanachor with their first round pick.
Speaker 11 (17:14):
Basketball player all the way through high school, did not
play any football doll until he got a junior college.
But one year of junior college, remember he and his
family game here when he was thirteen years old from Nigeria.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Then they took guard Jennings Dunker in the third. They
let guard Isaac Sayamalu walk still have left tackle Broderick Jones,
who was blamed for eight sacks and is recovering from
a neck injury and saw the team decline. Picking up
his fifth year option guard Mason McCormick gave up six
and a half sacks. So they could go a number
of directions with this group. At running back, Jalen warren
(17:47):
O touchdown steel career high in rush yards in twenty
twenty five, and he.
Speaker 8 (17:53):
Is in for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Touchdown nine hundred and fifty eight and a half dozen
tdss into the.
Speaker 8 (18:02):
End zone with the Pittsburgh Steelers touchdown.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Four to three plus yards per carry all four years
in the Bigs.
Speaker 8 (18:09):
Straight up the middle of the into the end zone.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Won't be sharing time with Kenneth Gainwell again. Four hundred
and eighty plus receiving yards, three tds, five hundred and
thirty plus rush yards five scores hitting at four to
seven per pop.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
Took pig Hole into the end zone. Touchdown Pittsburgh Steelers
in his place? Ankle mccringleberry. What first off that gave
Rico Dowdell game preview guy goat status?
Speaker 8 (18:38):
Steal keep pele can't peel sketched.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Second, that ref clearly doesn't know the.
Speaker 8 (18:43):
Rules and they're gonna get a personal foul.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Dowdell went for one thousand yards on the ground for
Carolina last year, back to back thousand plus yard seasons.
Half doesn't paint jobs In twenty twenty five on four
to six, a run.
Speaker 7 (18:56):
Gets out of the field for this crucial moment and
punches it all. But Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
His offense has ground to make up, and so does
its defense.
Speaker 8 (19:03):
Our father arn heavans.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
Fourth quarter stops be thy name twenty sixth the yards
per game allowed by Hicks.
Speaker 10 (19:12):
He's at the pit boot tap five.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Touchdown, twenty fifth on third down.
Speaker 7 (19:18):
Daln nailers perse touchdown.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
This year they held teams to twenty two a game
that's solid.
Speaker 8 (19:24):
Coming campward with the sack.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Oh wow, fourth most takeaways to keep things in check.
Speaker 8 (19:34):
His most hand, but it's pick up, but it's recovered
by his deelers.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Their pass rush didn't produce a super high pressure rate,
but forty eight sacks was good for sixth most Jalen
Ryans coming in and they still have a loaded front
that's recover Tja TJ Watt should still be a problem.
Sack total not as high as expected. Seven and fourteen games.
Speaker 12 (19:57):
The wat FA.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Old Tom Sat.
Speaker 10 (20:00):
I mean, if he's gonna pass my record, that's one.
Speaker 7 (20:03):
Hell of a way to do it.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
But three forced fumbles, two I iNTS, splash plays a plenty,
it's kind of his thing.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Ooh, did justin fields get walloped?
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Pittsburgh will test tackles like few others and it's non stop.
They have three top shelf types out there.
Speaker 8 (20:18):
Alex Heismith comes up with his sack.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Alex Highsmith comes off a career high nine and a
half bag shopping spree. And the guy who gives them
a rest, Nick Herbig, who sealed the deal seven and
a half times, which, oh, and it doesn't stop in
the middle. Defensive tackle Derek Harmon, looking to build off
a good rookie year three QB takedowns in twelve games.
Speaker 10 (20:41):
At maya sacked back of the forty one yard line.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Kean Ubenten with five and a half sacks from the
center of the storm, career high in year number three.
And the old man Cam Hayward three and a half
sacks along with over seventy five tackles.
Speaker 8 (20:58):
I bet let that go.
Speaker 10 (21:00):
Let that go. You can't run over here.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
That was year fifteen. That's ridiculous.
Speaker 8 (21:03):
Don't wait, go ahead, fast head and look at go.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Their secondary, though, needs to do a better job of
feeding off heat. They gave up a rating of ninety two.
Speaker 10 (21:12):
Pace going to the ground makes the catch.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Only three teams allowed more passing yards per game.
Speaker 10 (21:18):
It is.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
There wasn't much special about how they played the pass.
Speaker 8 (21:24):
Got us bad cutting up to the five to the.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Ends out Jalen Ramsey hoping to rebound after giving up
eight touchdowns and a rate in the one twenties. It's
they'd be happy with more of the same from several
other guys, though, Corner Joey Porter Junior held it down
to a low sixties rate knock down fourteen passes, and
that was just a year three junior. Third starting cornerback
(21:51):
will be new. James Pierre isn't coming back. Had a
career high eleven passes defense to a low fifties rate
ahead of his seventh year.
Speaker 8 (21:59):
It's picked up by yeah, racing down the left side line.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
His departure might have stung a little bit, but they
picked up Jamel Dean and he posted the lowest rate
of any cornerback while playing in Tampa Bay last year.
Corner Brandon Eckles a low eighties rate and a couple
of picks. Suck safety game no more. Chuck Clark gave
up a rating over one forty, so no harm, no foul,
(22:25):
and no Kyle Dugger, though he held quarterbacks to a
respectable ninety right two interceptions.
Speaker 8 (22:31):
It's Gucker Gucker to the forty yard.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Line, taking his spot. Safety Jakwan Brisker ninety three tackles
in Chicago, but also gave up a team high seven touchdown.
Speaker 8 (22:41):
What's in Whisker, It's Stafford got.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
It go safety to Sean Elliott hopes to play more passes,
only got in five games.
Speaker 8 (22:49):
The middle of the field knocked away.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Pittsburgh also needs to get stingier against the run, allowed
four to three a try. Not that they don't like
their line back, though. Peyton Wilson got more snaps in
his second year. Racked one hundred and twenty six ball
carriers was loose?
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Is this a fumble? Oh?
Speaker 8 (23:08):
My goodness?
Speaker 1 (23:09):
And Patrick Queen was who they thought he was? One
hundred and twenty tackles. He's been a ninety eight plus
tackle dude all six years in the NFL.
Speaker 4 (23:18):
HI by Patrick quid untouchdeat nails?
Speaker 1 (23:22):
What the last of the Killer Bees still booting it?
Chris Boswell good on eighty four percent of his tries
in the regular season, almost a lock on extra points.
Good thumbnail recap. Then front seven looks the same. They
did add defensive end Sebastian Joseph Day who was with
Tennessee last year. But it's Harmon Benton, Hayward, Watt, Queen
(23:45):
and Wilson as the starting seven. Secondary will utilize two
new starters Brisker for Dugger at safety, Dean for Pierre
at the one corner spot, order Elliott and Ramsey all
returning to fill out their starting five. So to speak.
On offense, Rogers is going to have three new playmakers
to work with Pittman and Bernard joining DK in the
(24:06):
wide out room. That should upgrade their passing attack by
a considerable margin. Dowdell takes gainwell spot in the backfield,
sharing carries with warren Mouth and Washington back at tight end.
Even without Tomlin, the prognosticators have Pittsburgh as a team
capable of finishing over five hundred. They're over under sits
at eight and a half. Their opponents win total projections
(24:28):
for twenty twenty six has them in the middle of
the pack when it comes to their strength as schedule.
How many games above five hundred could they finish? If
Rogers goes out bon Jovi's style in a blaze of glory,
start with a win over Atlanta, beat Cincinnati at home, Cleveland, Indianapolis,
Tampa Bay, defeat the Saints, sweep the Browns. That post
(24:50):
by run is going to be tough, though, at Cincinnati,
at Philadelphia, Denver, Houston, and then at Jacksonville, followed by
a home game versus Baltimore. But give them that win
plus Carolina and Tennessee, which would buy them ten dubs.
Nine of their games are against teams who are expecting
to be strong. Game preview Guy respect for Tomlin dictates
(25:12):
they fall below five hundred in their first year without him.
Speaker 7 (25:16):
Oh, we got it all.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
We need what la?
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Remember when Mimes was explaining why he was hot and
you were not.
Speaker 10 (25:26):
Everything what to do?
Speaker 1 (25:27):
Remember when we lost Anna Nicole. Remember when Brittany lost
her hair? When the Sopranos abruptly cut to black, that's
the world we were living in the last time the
Ravens started a season with someone other than John Harbaugh
as their head coach. But plenty of reasons for the
flock to keep on believing.
Speaker 8 (25:46):
As it were, They've gotta go, they gotta go.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Hey, they gonna go. It's time to launch the Jesse
Mintor era in Baltimore. Young dude, former Chargers DC had
their defense rocking.
Speaker 12 (26:00):
Plan on calling the defense great question.
Speaker 11 (26:02):
Uh.
Speaker 12 (26:02):
I think that's a strength of mine. I think that's
one of the reasons I'm sitting here. But I also
think it's it's my leadership qualities, and I really look forward.
I have a really good process. I feel to do
what I need to do to be ready to call
the game, but also have the ability to be the
head coach.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
He plucked Declan Doyle away from Chicago to run the offense.
He was Ben Johnson's o C. You know the questions
in those situations, was he really calling the offense.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Reels up Hey Rose and as.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
But we've seen it work plenty of other times with
other Cats, and he's not taking over your standard O.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
Face touchdown Mark Andrew.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
He's working with a one two punch like no other
in the Nflyandy Lamar Jackson is still a defender's nightmare.
Teen games last year he posted a one oh three rating.
Speaker 8 (27:03):
Second of ten.
Speaker 9 (27:03):
They're gonna throw it again for Hopkins, and Andre Hopkins.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Has got it and led the NFL in yards per
completion to the d He's got.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
A bad He's got up DeAndre Hopkins his first catch
as a Raven.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Now that six and seven record, the first sub five
hundred record of his career.
Speaker 10 (27:24):
YEP has intercepted him. Adrias Knight running it.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Back, didn't average a ton of yards passing per game.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Throws up in the middle, completes or Mark Andrews the
hell you are going and.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
His three hundred and forty nine rush yards.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
In touchdown Lamar Jackson.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
The first time he's finished under six ninety five for
a season, which only emphasizes how ridiculous he can be
when everything is right with him.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
First left side is in touchdown, LaVar.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
Doyle also has the king to play with the twenty
the cake of the tap, and he didn't get that
title from exploiting the workers, as Dennis might argue.
Speaker 10 (28:05):
Outstanding blocking to get Dereck Henry into the ends.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Derrick Henry one thousand plus yards seven of his last
eight years to fifteen hundred plus five of his last seven.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
And we've waited about the heir lebar.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
Ten plus tds, eight straight, sixteen paint jobs, fifteen hundred
and ninety five yards.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Touch down Derrick Henry.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
On five to two carry in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 8 (28:37):
Dude, touchdown right, and.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
At times it still felt like he wasn't being used enough.
No autonomous collectives around here, and even with Lamar's injuries,
we're talking about an offense that basically averaged twenty five
a game. Still Doyle company are looking for levels closer
(29:02):
to twenty eight a game Flower's work.
Speaker 7 (29:04):
He gets reader, runs endos on man.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
And he doubles has to clean up the red zone
play where they finished twenty seventh. That's glaring with Lamar
and Henry at your disposal, Darren. They were middle of
the pack in yards per game.
Speaker 8 (29:18):
For the football right side and it's going.
Speaker 1 (29:20):
To be and they gave the ball away way too often.
Also would like to cut back on sacks taken, which
comes with the territory with Jackson.
Speaker 7 (29:35):
Jackson looking stepping up. Now he's going to get hit.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
But the forty five they took last year also led
to many of those turnovers down out, They're going to
be sporting a brand new interior drafted Benga Yuana with
their first round pick, Tyler.
Speaker 6 (29:52):
Lenderbaum's gone. He's now a raider, so they replace him
with a guard who can do a lot of the
things lender Bomb does. It's a bigger, more powerful version,
providing me at brandis sure when he was coming out
of college, just big and powerful. He is a tone center.
If you want to watch guys get thrown to the ground,
you're gonna enjoy watching his tape. He does not stop
and once he gets his hands on you, it's not gonna
end well.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
They brought guard John Simpson back. He played for Baltimore
in twenty twenty three before spending the last two years
with the Jets. Those two replace Daniel Failele, who gave
up five sacks, and Andrew Vorhees. They also have a
new snapper after Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum bounced to Vegas.
Ravens have their wr one and Za Flowers.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
He's got a man them.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
Touchdown comes off a career year eight hundred and fifty
plus yards as a rook then one thy fifty nine.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
He's got him, say Flowers, watch down right then.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
And then over twelve hundred last year, eighty six catches.
They just spent too many games with him being a
one man show.
Speaker 6 (30:53):
Why don't say Blowers of at thirty Flowers in the
twenty ten five touch down.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
Rashad Bateman a guy whom many predict will bounce back
with the new approach. Bateman landed a big contract after
the twenty twenty four season that saw him go for
seven hundred and fifty plus yards in ninety d's two
hundred and twenty four and two last year.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
And they lost his golf Jackson.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
They let DeAndre Hopkins look for a job elsewhere. He
chipped in three hundred and thirty yards, turned around and
drafted Jakobe Lane in the third round.
Speaker 6 (31:25):
This is a basketball player on grass. When you watch
Dakobe Lane, if you want to talk about wow catches
the best highlight reel, you could make a strong case
that he has it in this draft class with unbelievable
one hand wow catches. How about this one just cupping
the ball with his left hand, And it was all
throughout his career at USC.
Speaker 10 (31:44):
You just keep watching it.
Speaker 6 (31:45):
You saw incredible plays where he'll go up, climb the ladder.
He takes big shots.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Isaiah likely also not a Raven anymore likely with just
over three hundred yards Sunday Fun Day, Mark Andrews is
back just over four hundred yards.
Speaker 7 (32:01):
Caught Andrew's in touchdown Ravens.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
Did at least score five times touch down.
Speaker 10 (32:08):
Fuck.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
None of this insinuates mentor himself doesn't have plenty of
work to do with their defense either. Giving up twenty
three a game and being twenty fourth in yards per
game touchdown isn't really the Baltimore way.
Speaker 7 (32:23):
Holding left side dumps it protect What the fuck?
Speaker 3 (32:26):
Touchdown?
Speaker 1 (32:27):
Might need to play some more Black Street in their
locker room ahead a kickoff. This year just thirty sacks
only a few teams with fewer only three had a
lower pressure rate. Fuck, no diggity, you gotta bag it
up more often than that.
Speaker 10 (32:42):
Anyway, He's got it.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
So say hello to mad Max. No, wait, say hello
to Trey Hendrickson only seven games last year, thirteen and
a half sacks four of the previous five seasons with
the Bengals.
Speaker 10 (32:55):
And he gets hit by Trey hendricks.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Despite getting little help from their front Baltimore Secondary isn't
coming off a bad campaign. They held quarterbacks to a
sub ninety rate.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
Quick accepted Marlon Humphrey.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Not to say they don't have issues to correct either.
Speaker 5 (33:11):
It's a nice baked by May to get onto the
boot and Hunter Henry's wide open.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
They gave up gobs of passing yards.
Speaker 10 (33:17):
Plans it down the middle of the field, Ufree bush.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
And while it's reflective of volume.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
He has it, he falls across the sideline.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
It also shows teams weren't afraid to throw on them.
Speaker 8 (33:28):
What a fire in the middle.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
He's got whats in ten of the fire to.
Speaker 1 (33:32):
The ends up they weren't especially stingy against the pass
and several key metrics either.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
All right, huge gain.
Speaker 4 (33:38):
All this talk about no air yard completions by Rogers
in the last month, they come right out with a
bomb down the right sideline.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
But look at the dudes they have back there. Vet
corner Marlin Humphrey knocked down thirteen passes, picked off four
sub eighty right.
Speaker 10 (33:53):
And it's intercepted by Humphrey.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
Young cornerback Nate Wiggins three I in T's fourteen passes
to fense a low eighties rate looks every bit the
part of the CB.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
One interception lad wigans with a pick.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
Kyle Hamilton heads into his year five off of first
team All Pro season, made his third Pro Bowl in
a row one hundred plus tackles back to back years.
Speaker 3 (34:16):
Think that Amilton makes his presence, got right away.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
Keep rocking the skid row. More youth gone wild. Safety
Malachi Starks kicked off his pro career with over eighty tackles,
a sub eighty rate, and two picks.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
I'll thought that Mabi Bouse water boy all up the
odd of him.
Speaker 1 (34:32):
He had. Vet safety Alohi Gilman next to him won't
this season. Nine passes knocked down, ninety raps, Hello Bill
pick up the added safety Jalen Hawkins comes off a
career year, held his targets to a fifty five rating,
and picked off four passes for the Patriots.
Speaker 3 (34:50):
Instead of diving next in.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
Interception, Ravens kept ballcarriers to four to two per attempt.
Not amazing but top ten good.
Speaker 7 (34:58):
At least ball comes down right and recover.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
The guy that can tilt things drastically both against the
run and the pass. Nom de Madubique.
Speaker 8 (35:06):
Steps up and he sucked.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
Josh Allen sacked for the first time tonight.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
They lost him after two games last year, and they
felt it he was a back to back pro bowler
the two previous years. Had neck surgery, so it's unclear
when he returns, so a little insurance in Kaleis Campbell
six and a half sacks as an eighteenth year guy
last year.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
He's sacked. That's Elias Camba.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
He'll be next to defensive tackle Travis Jones, who racked
five quarterbacks from the inside, a career high in sacks
and tackles.
Speaker 8 (35:36):
He is sucked back of the five yard line.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
DT Broderick Washington, another dude who lost twenty twenty five
to injury, only played three games. Outside linebacker Tavius Robinson
only played ten games, four and a half QB takedowns
in that window, career high in sacks in his third year.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
Pocket collapse at black of a hideous sack back up Blue.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
Baltimore needs its outside linebacker to make it home more
often this year, though Mike Green did so three and
a half times as a rookie, most of his snaps
coming off the bench.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
Mike Dream with his first NFL sack and it could
not have a better time.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
No more Kyle than noy though he only picked up
two sacks after going for twelve and a half bags
in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 8 (36:19):
What's the throw pocket collapsing?
Speaker 3 (36:20):
He is sucked back of the thirty two yard lot.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
And they didn't keep Draymont Jones either. They added him
via trade last year.
Speaker 3 (36:28):
Hold down, but behind Draymond Jones with the suck.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Drafted Zion Young in the second round, so he should
get plenty of chances to show out.
Speaker 6 (36:37):
Zion Young. He's gonna knock you back, especially when you
can give him a little bit of a runway. He
can get a little bit of a runway to get
built up and going. He can really knock you back
into the quarterback. Here's the power through the contact to
get your hands on him, and he's able to work
through it and tight ends. Again, you're not gonna lock him.
Just forget it. You better bring somebody else to help him,
because he destroys tight ends on a consistent basis.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Rope one is waiting at the second level as usual
Smith of Pro Bowler four straight years, one hundred plus
tackle guy, seven of eight years.
Speaker 6 (37:07):
Guy.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
He was joined by rookie linebacker Teddy Buchanan, who kicked
things off with ninety three tackles in fourteen games. The
Rabbit sack stafford on fourth a kuse five on the defense,
and they still have Trenton Simpson two and a half sacks,
sixty six tackles in his third season on the job.
Speaker 9 (37:27):
He'll lose a yard back to the nineteen yard line,
so that should be the first sack of the game
for the Rave.
Speaker 1 (37:33):
And finally, hopefully Tyler didn't put that last kick on
a loop. The rookie had a fine first year otherwise,
thirty for thirty four on field goal attempts forty four
for forty six on extra points, So this is what
it all looks like. They're front seven, adding Kalais and
Hendrickson and the rookie young losing Jones and van Noyt.
Nomdi probably misses some time before making it back. One
(37:56):
key change to their secondary Hawkins slides in for Gilman.
They have Chadobi a Woozia at corner two, so Hamilton
could simply slide back to safety. He plays everywhere anyway,
so they have flexibility, and their playmakers on offense are
pretty much the same as twenty twenty five. Devontes Walker
could see more snaps at wide out lane, the rookie
(38:17):
joining the crowd. Lamar King, Flowers and Andrews still at
the core of how they do their thing. Only the
Rams and Ravens have over unders of eleven and a
half this year, so the expectation meter is as high
as it always is for Lamar, and they have the
sixth easiest schedule when you rank teams by their opponents
(38:37):
twenty twenty six win total expectations. That means they have
as high as ceiling as you're gonna find, because right
now anyway, they'd be favored against every team they have
on their slate. It's unrealistic to say they'd go seventeen
to know, so let's give him a loss to Buffalo
on the road. The Bills the only ten and a
half team they even face, and Mark and Ell in
(38:58):
their road game versus Houston. I know, a fifteen wins
ceiling seems crazy after last year, but they have one
of the best rosters in the game. I wouldn't bank
on fifteen myself, but they are set up to grab twelve.
Plus a new voice on the sideline might be what
they needed. Jackson and Henry have to be as hungry
as they can be, maybe even desperate.
Speaker 8 (39:19):
Know what to do, you know how to do it?
Speaker 4 (39:21):
Expect greatness, Expect greatness, greatness all three one, two.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
Three, Cincinnati Bengals six and eleven and twenty twenty five.
It's what happens when you don't get a full cup
of Joe, so to speak.
Speaker 3 (39:33):
Hey, we got to remind everybody who we aret of it.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
So if they can get one of those broke girls
to top it off for twenty twenty six and their
new additions on defense pan out, they should be cooking
with gas again.
Speaker 3 (39:48):
Take the way, put out the way.
Speaker 1 (39:50):
It's not rocket science or the kind Walter and Jesse
performed in their RV. Give the Bengals a full year
of Joe, Shisty, Jamar and Higgs compaired with anything that
remotely resembles a defense, and they're a threat. Things just
crazy jets being their O face looks pretty much the
same as it did in twenty twenty five. Let's start
(40:13):
with the big question mark their defense. Any true Bengals
fan knows it will dictate how far they go. In
twenty twenty six, got a man touchdown. The big move
trading the tenth pick in the draft for DT Dexter
Lawrence for.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
Them to you know, you know, bring me in the
way they did and you know give up.
Speaker 11 (40:38):
What they did is I owe it to them to
go out there and you know, dominate on that field.
Speaker 1 (40:44):
The d law trade sparked lots of debate. Here are
the two ways to look at it. He's a dude
that was a pro bowler from twenty twenty two to
twenty twenty four, second team or two of those years.
Nine sacks in twenty twenty four, seven and a half
in twenty twenty two. Can be a beast in the trenches.
Speaker 6 (41:00):
Nexi Dexi, the leader of that defensive front.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
You'll get a special meal from.
Speaker 5 (41:04):
His wife, Donna, who's.
Speaker 12 (41:06):
A chef executive secutive chef, executive chef.
Speaker 10 (41:10):
He's oldest.
Speaker 1 (41:11):
And then there was his twenty twenty five half a
sack in seventeen starts and was the man in the
middle of the rush defense that gave up five point
three yards per carry, worst in the league.
Speaker 6 (41:23):
He wanted an upgrade on his contract, which owed him
twenty million dollars this season, despite the fact that he's
coming off statistically his worst year in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (41:31):
Take to the comments section with your takes on the matter.
Lawrence isn't the only new face added to their front.
They also added Vett defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, who made
close to seventy tackles as a Viking last year. Three
and a half backs.
Speaker 9 (41:45):
That goes hurts again, he steps up, heave, avoids a.
Speaker 8 (41:48):
Hit, and then he kept head again.
Speaker 1 (41:50):
And they snagged boy a laffe to come off the edge.
Only two trips home last year for Seattle, but had
nine in twenty twenty.
Speaker 7 (41:57):
Three walk down.
Speaker 10 (42:00):
By Maffey.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
Plus they used their second round pick on Cassius Howell,
also expected to help heat up the quarterback time fastball.
Speaker 6 (42:09):
This is one of the elite get off to look
about David Bailey having the best get off of anybody
in this draft. This might be number two right here,
looking at this ability to win early and get underneath
this year edge blockers, that's that same move, that little
dip and rip, and guys don't even get a hand.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
On a couple of other new faces we'll get to
in a second, but there isn't a new face guiding
it all. Al Golden is back as DC, and he
was the guy in charge of their defense last year.
Cutsdown has to fix all three facets of their defense.
Speaker 3 (42:44):
Touchdown Denver twenty eight.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
Points per game allowed in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 8 (42:48):
Under the metal part it is Josha.
Speaker 1 (42:51):
Only two gave up more. Only one team giving up
more yards per game.
Speaker 8 (42:55):
Touchdown John u Spit not.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
Good on third down or in the red zone into the.
Speaker 7 (43:00):
Ten till five yard line into the end float.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
Need to play the pass better ninety nine rating allowed
twenty sixth.
Speaker 8 (43:08):
Slows towards the end zone. Touchdown he fines pat.
Speaker 1 (43:11):
Fire twelve yards per catch allowed. To the end zone,
totty sudden and twenty ninth in yards per attempt allowed
would help to bother the quarterback some a touchdown, twenty
second in sacks and pressure rate, gets.
Speaker 9 (43:34):
Hit, gets the pass away left side into the end
zone and it is caught for a touchdown by Drey mcdriye.
Speaker 1 (43:40):
And how about we slow some runners down a bit, fellas.
Speaker 6 (43:43):
Right to the en zone.
Speaker 1 (43:45):
Five point two yards per carry allowed second most next to.
Speaker 3 (43:49):
The five next to the goal line touchdown denver.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
And most yards per game allowed at one.
Speaker 7 (43:55):
Thanks somebody I missed inside the plot.
Speaker 8 (43:57):
Get to the pilot.
Speaker 1 (43:59):
They had two one hundred plus tackle linebackers too, Just
need to make those tackles sooner. Demetrius Knight with one
oh six three sacks, two picks and a forced fumble,
not bad for a rookie.
Speaker 10 (44:11):
Ye have intercepted tom Adrias Knight running it back.
Speaker 1 (44:15):
His rookie partner Barrett Carter, with the same one hundred
and six tackle total kicked off the ball, throws a.
Speaker 7 (44:21):
Pass to thirty down picks.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
Barrett Carter wenebacker Orrin Burks seventeen games, nine starts, forty
eight tackles. They brought back most of the starters from
their front two. TJ Slayton fifty two tackles three sacks.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
He's in trouble. Sanders breaks away and he is nailed.
Speaker 8 (44:40):
TJ.
Speaker 3 (44:40):
Slayton was the first one there.
Speaker 1 (44:42):
That BJ Hill sixty six tackles four sacks.
Speaker 10 (44:46):
Here comes Miles Murphy. He couldn't get them, but BJ
Hill goes and they're hoping.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
Shamar Stewart steps up and plays at a first round level.
Eight games eleven tackles one sack in his rookie year.
Speaker 10 (44:58):
He'll be sacked. Schamar's Stewart the.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
Metas Miles Murphy ended up seeing more action than expected.
Third year guy finished with five and a half QB takedowns.
Speaker 3 (45:08):
Messy Pot did escaping again.
Speaker 1 (45:10):
Chase by Loy put down, but they won't have the
services of Trey Hendrickson left off a seven game four
sax season.
Speaker 10 (45:17):
And he gets hit by Trey hendricks Hit.
Speaker 1 (45:20):
No more Joseph Asai either, he gave him five bags.
Speaker 10 (45:24):
Pot hit hid down.
Speaker 1 (45:28):
The new faces that will roam the secondary. Kyle Duggar
comes over from Pittsburgh to interceptions.
Speaker 3 (45:34):
You've got the.
Speaker 4 (45:34):
Left sideline picks Jaspas Ted waltzes into the end zone.
Speaker 1 (45:38):
They hope safety Brian Cook can help. We'll have to
play the pass better than he did. For KC gave
up a rating close to one twenty. At least he
came up with eighty five tackles, knocked down six passes.
Speaker 7 (45:51):
And let's say complais chop breaking it up by Cook.
Speaker 1 (45:54):
They cut ties with safety Gino Stone, who gave up
a one oh five rate but two picks and over
a hundred tackles.
Speaker 10 (46:01):
Ten five touchdownn Jeno Stone.
Speaker 6 (46:05):
And no more.
Speaker 1 (46:06):
Cam Taylor Britt at corner had a rough twenty twenty
five when we played in eight games. Returning cornerback Dax
Hill held his targets to a sub ninety rate. Ten passes,
defense made eighty eight tackles, all.
Speaker 9 (46:18):
Started from the Pressler and Dax Hill danceIt.
Speaker 1 (46:21):
Cornerback DJ Turner held it down to an eighty two rating,
picked off two balls and knocked down a hefty eighteen passes.
Speaker 7 (46:29):
And almost picked off incomplete Dicks.
Speaker 1 (46:32):
Corners Jalen Davis Josh Newton fared well enough with their
limited reps, both sub ninety rates. Safety Jordan Battle four interceptions,
two forced fumbles, one hundred and twenty five tackles a
sub ninety rate.
Speaker 10 (46:46):
Go up here coming for rush. It passed over the
middle and it is intercepted off of ricochet by Jordan Battle.
Speaker 1 (46:53):
And they drafted to Carrio Davis in the third round as.
Speaker 6 (46:56):
A big old corner just under six foot four, one
hundred ninety four pounds. To see the cop right there
at the bottom, we can jump to that and Reek
Wollan here You see his recovery ability to go track,
get the football down the field. Reek Wolan had ball skills.
This dude does as well. It's just rare to find
this highweight speed combination when you're almost six foot four
and you're someone who runs a four to four one.
Speaker 1 (47:16):
Joe Burrow in company don't need that group to play
like the eighty five Bears. Just can't look like a
fifty year old dad playing Madden for the first time
against his twelve year old gamer son.
Speaker 10 (47:26):
Oh hey, what twenty one?
Speaker 1 (47:30):
Heck, even with Burrow out half the year, Bengals offense
still put up twenty four a game.
Speaker 10 (47:36):
Sit down the middle of the field feb.
Speaker 1 (47:38):
Fifth best on third down and second best in the
red zone.
Speaker 10 (47:42):
Chase Bridans camp.
Speaker 1 (47:47):
Half four burrow, proving Cougars and Bengals can get along.
Just find this offseason, by the way, truly, Joe still
has Chase out there.
Speaker 10 (48:00):
All right, Chase going to the ground, makes the catch.
Speaker 1 (48:03):
Jamar could probably put up one thousand yards in a
year with Daredevil at quarterback.
Speaker 2 (48:08):
Jamar Chase turning defenders into invisible.
Speaker 1 (48:13):
Men over fourteen hundred yards one and twenty five catches.
Speaker 10 (48:17):
He does a jungle jump.
Speaker 1 (48:20):
Eight tds between two Joes and two JB's last season,
this is caw.
Speaker 8 (48:26):
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 1 (48:28):
Matt Murdoch could track him and the defender's heart beats
and footsteps, so that's not really a stretch.
Speaker 10 (48:33):
Few what No.
Speaker 1 (48:34):
One eight T Higgins eight hundred and forty six yards
eleven scores.
Speaker 10 (48:38):
Hot by Higgins. He's in the ten five.
Speaker 1 (48:41):
Touchdown miss two games otherwise goes for a k again.
Speaker 8 (48:46):
Oh no, what to say? Good forday to be great.
Speaker 1 (48:49):
Andre Yoshibosh there for the scraps. Four hundred and thirty
five yards Zoe touchdown, Yo s boss, He's a good receiver.
There's just only so much pizza to go around.
Speaker 10 (49:01):
Fires caught over the metal.
Speaker 1 (49:03):
And Cincinnati's tight end has to eat too, though they
said goodbye to Noah Fant. Three tds close to three hundred.
Speaker 10 (49:09):
Yards of the field that is caught by Noah bat.
Speaker 1 (49:13):
That leaves Drew Sample and Mike Gasicki two scores and
over three hundred yards for him.
Speaker 3 (49:17):
Burrough slated one to the end zone.
Speaker 1 (49:20):
It's Kasicki not to mention Chase Brown, who caught sixty
nine passes out of the backfield, five receiving touchdowns.
Speaker 10 (49:31):
The up Chase down to fucking gone, he's touchdown.
Speaker 1 (49:37):
Brown quietly had a really nice year my practice Bay,
Let's go four hundred and thirty seven receiving yards.
Speaker 8 (49:44):
The song has run by Chase though, how song over one.
Speaker 1 (49:47):
Thousand rushing yards.
Speaker 10 (49:49):
And he scores on a twelve yard touchdown run.
Speaker 1 (49:52):
Six tds down low too, That's a big time Chase Brown.
Speaker 3 (49:56):
I was such a sick run base.
Speaker 1 (49:58):
Bengals even got improved past protection from its line. Double
on pressure eight faced middle of the pack, thirty six
sacks taken. Also mid at least right tackle Marius Mims
gave up six and a half sacks. Left tackle Orlando
Brown eight and a half pass pro plagued them in
(50:19):
past years, so even slight improvement makes a difference. All
five guys from last year return and they're happy with
Evan McPherson kicking made eighty nine percent of his field
goal tries forty one of forty four from the proverbial
free throw line.
Speaker 10 (50:34):
Here's yeah, yeah, God have the Bengals have knocked out
the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (50:41):
So not much different with their offense. They're running it
back with the same group that trotted out Week one,
and why not. It's as lethal a group as you're
gonna find. Burrow, though has missed significant time three times now,
this will be your seven for Joe to their defense.
That front is deep. Is it good? Mafey replaces Hendrickson,
though it's not a full year of Trey production. He's
(51:04):
replacing Howell, Infosi and check it out. Murphy, Allen, Lawrence, Mafey,
and Stuart are all former first rounders. Secondary a blend
of new and old. Cook, Dougger and Davis new to
the stripes. Rest of the guys expected to play plenty
of snaps played plenty for the Bengals last year. Now
(51:25):
to the schedule, they have the third easiest schedule in
the NFL. If you go by twenty twenty six expected
win totals. That's good news, being Cincinnati's been given a
nine and a half over under chip. They have a
pretty high ceiling because of that. They only hit it
if their defense isn't a train wreck. Again, but let's
say they win every game against teams under that mark.
(51:47):
They beat Tampa Bay, lose on the road to Houston
since they're on equal ground. Take Pittsburgh, beat Jacksonville since
that's a home game, Beat Miami Tennessee all four of
those seven and a half teams as well as Cleveland.
Take Carolina and Indianapolis and sweep Cleveland. That would be
a nice thirteen win year. Looking inside the game preview,
(52:10):
guy Bag, I don't know if I see thirteen wins
because I'm not sure I trust that defense to that level.
But Burrow, Higgs, Chase and Chase plus that schedule worth
more than nine dubs, right,
Time to dive into some AFC North football game preview.
Guy here with a look at what all four of
their teams did ahead of twenty twenty six. I am
not related to Alexa or Max Headroom or Pinocchio. I'm
a real boy who is super appreciative that the NFL
chooses to rely on humans to narrate things like NFL
game previews or NFL throwback videos or season preview material
(00:22):
like this. AFC North ravens new head coach preseason division
favorites with an eleven and a half over under mark.
Only other team to get that high of a bar
the Rams. Bengals with Joe Burrow Jamar Higgins could give
them trouble if their d can just play at average levels.
Steelers get one more year of a Rod, hoping adding
(00:44):
Michael Pittman makes their offense more dangerous, and Cleveland all
eyes on the quarterback battle. Will it be to Shaun
or Shadoor? Time for another new era in Cleveland football.
The Kevin Stefanski Browns are no more. It's time to
see if Todd Munkin can get them going in the
right direction.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
They cut a check with my name on it. You
know what they expect a freaking kick ass football team.
That's what they expect. You know what they want. They
want to become a winning franchise. But our fan base
in our region.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Is proud of Monkin's first order of business, figure out
who should run his offense.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Hotel.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
He could go with Primetime Junior.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
Got a touchdown rounds or with it a score.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
See if he can make him look the part of
a bona fide NFL quarterback.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Well, we get poll Buck pas it bear your.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Tick, pall Shador Sanders had some moments.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
The entertainment, a jog Town touchdow some not a ton though.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Seven tds against ten iron t's a sub seventy eight
Sanders looking, So maybe it's Deshaun Watson didn't play at
all in twenty twenty five, but remember twenty two twenty.
While most of us would like to forget it all together,
Watson threw for thirty three tds only seven iron t's
over three hundred yards per game.
Speaker 6 (02:08):
Watts, He's gonna take a shot.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
A long time ago, though, right could decide. Dylan Gabriel
is the guy too. He has options, if nothing else
or any of them good enough to improve an offense,
even Oscar the Grouch didn't want to live next door
to Last year on a board bro come on a
go second fewest points per game at sixteen per contest,
(02:34):
a coming thirtieth in yards per game twenty ninth.
Speaker 7 (02:40):
On third down, receiver felled out.
Speaker 8 (02:42):
I just picked off of the far sideline.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
So no shock. They went heavy on offensive guys in
the draft. Took wide receiver Casey Concepcion in the first.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
You will see how dynamic an electric this guy is,
especially with the ball in his hands. He is someone
who had returnability and that shows up once he catches
the foot fall again, got to get better, more reliable
catching it. But once he does, you see this just
it's over. It is a boat race. That is a
speedboat with a bunch of canoes trying to catch up
to him. Here he is showing the ability to.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Flucking go added white out Denzel Boston in the second.
Speaker 6 (03:14):
El Boston power forward. This is a nice compliment to
what they have in Casey Concepts. You own Casey concepts.
Jon can work in the slot, can return kicks. Denzel
Boston is gonna play outside as a big, smooth, fluid
mover with a big catch radius.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
And with their first first rounder they took tackle Spencer Fan.
Speaker 6 (03:32):
Now, he's got excellent intelligence and awareness. You can see
it in this play. He also has some nastiness to
be able to drive and finish. When you get outside
in the run game and then out in space you
want to throw screens, you want to pull him. He's
more than capable of doing that.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
They hope he and others can help give whoever's behind
center more time he's in trouble. Heavy sacked Cleveland quarterbacks
took fifty one sacks, face the highest pressure rate in
the NFL.
Speaker 7 (04:03):
Paul cuts loose.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Only Joel Botonio played all last year. They lost to
Wan Jones after just three games. Right tackle Jack Conklin
allowed a fifteen percent pressure rate. That's not good.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Looking for the touchdown Gabriel.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Left tackle Cam Robinson twelve sacks allow Cambril kids dumped
Fano Joins. Three other new faces in the trenches guard
Zion Johnson with the Chargers last year red flag there.
They also gave up a ton of sacks right tackle
Titus Howard, former Texan. They did draft tackle Austin Barber
in the third round as well. Their lines play last
(04:47):
year made it hard for Quinn Shawn Judkins oh three
six a run, but he's building off a nice rookie year. Nonetheless,
Ah we the best rookie class.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Oh for sure, overally, Holy, overly for sure.
Speaker 8 (05:06):
He shot down.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Over eight hundred yards and seventy d's quin shot.
Speaker 8 (05:17):
Shut hit for forty six.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yards to the house.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Dylan Sampson also showed some promise thirty three catches a
couple of receiving touchdowns in his year one.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Now he's the rider thirty five.
Speaker 5 (05:29):
It took foot right, He's gone.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Step Harold Finn and Junior ended up leading the team
in targets receptions with seventy two.
Speaker 6 (05:37):
Her career touchdown catch from Harold fannin.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Yards seven and thirty one and receiving touchdowns with six.
He'll get even more looks this year with David and Joe,
who departing scored four times on his way out.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Good shit touchdown.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Jerry Judy returns on the outside fifty catches over six
hundred yards, and Isaiah Bond only eighteen catches but a
hefty eighteen yards per catch for over three hundred yards
and his first go of it at the pro level.
Speaker 8 (06:18):
It hit another home run ball, divy.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
If they can make up any kind of ground on
the offensive side, they make some noise because they feel
like their defense is playoff caliber.
Speaker 7 (06:30):
Step So why he's blasted.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Despite its own offense working against it at times they
held teams to twenty two points per game.
Speaker 9 (06:36):
Smit hit and he doesn't throw it. It's Devin Bush
who smothersome.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
The fourth fewest yards per game and we're seventh hardest
on third down.
Speaker 10 (06:47):
Is actually like a sack. That's a fumball almost because
I don't think he was throwing it. He just gets hit.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Strength. Of course, the pass rush top five in sacks.
Speaker 7 (06:55):
That was a party at the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Quarterback hits and sack percentage.
Speaker 8 (07:00):
Soy, and now he's sacked out at twenty five.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
They are no longer armed, of course, with Miles Garrett,
who racked twenty three of their fifty three sacks.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
He's going down at the ten, Miles Garrett.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Everybody, but they got a stud back in that blockbuster.
Jared Verse may have only dropped seven and a half quarterbacks,
but he was a force in La.
Speaker 10 (07:21):
Come on, hey, I mean right.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Well, twenty seven quarterback hits. He's a dude more than
capable of cracking double digits on the regular. He's only
entering his third year too.
Speaker 8 (07:34):
You're not going hard that run. You're not going harder.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Than that boy.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
I don't no Offensive end Isaiah McGuire made eight starts
a couple of sacks.
Speaker 8 (07:44):
McGuire and Hall.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Defensive end Alex Wright fourteen games, five and a half
QB takedowns.
Speaker 7 (07:50):
Alex Fright brings them down.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris, their depth guy in the middle,
filled in some from elite Collins, who racked six and
a half quarterbacks in just twelve games.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Rob breaks away.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
He's going down q samor skid row more youth gone wild.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham debuted with forty nine tackles, seven
for a loss, four passes knocked down us five FTEs
lit up behind him. The reigning defensive Rookie of the
Year linebacker Carson Swassinger, kicking off his career with one
hundred and fifty six tackles, two and a half sacks,
(08:23):
and two picks.
Speaker 10 (08:24):
You got.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Brother, he will have a new partner though. They let
Devin Bush and his one hundred and twenty five tackles
leave for Chicago pick Devin Bushi. Devin Bush, linebacker Jerome
Baker bounced as well, and so did linebacker Mohammed Diabodi.
Seventeen games, forty nine tackles. Swesssinger's new partner, former jack
(08:54):
Quincy Williams for one hundred plus tackle years on his
seven year resume. The team games last year eighty three tackles,
three and a half sacks.
Speaker 6 (09:04):
Fourth set of Gabriel and it's Quincy Williams.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Their front held runners to four to two per attempt,
which was top ten good. Both their safeties were in
on the action. Ronnie Hickman with over one hundred tackles
while holding quarterbacks to a nice low sixty three rating,
two interceptions. Grant Delpit almost ninety tackles while holding his
(09:34):
targets to an eighty five rate.
Speaker 5 (09:36):
Happy Happy Barday right now.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Dropped a second round pick on safety Emmanuel McNeil Warren.
Speaker 6 (09:49):
This is stealing in my opinion. You talk about a
physical presence of someone who could go he has a
hammer in the middle of the field, and then he's
a turnover machine. We've seen this on a few guys today.
The ability to punch the football out forced fumbles throughout
his career, and he can take the ball away as well.
Look at his ability to range over the sideline here,
you want to play him in the deep path, he
can do some of that.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Both their primary corners come off good seasons. Denzel Ward
sub ninety eight nine passes defense complain the p Tyson
Campbell played twelve games with the team after coming over
via trade. Twelve passes defensed, low eighties rate, looked good
in Orange corner. Miles Harden gave up a team high
(10:30):
five touchdowns in his year two a one ten plus rating.
Speaker 8 (10:34):
Jared Gold checks him into the right play.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Cleveland held quarterbacks to a respectable nineties rate, only gave
up one hundred and sixty seven passing yards per game,
third fewest.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Devin Bunch, he's had the twenty and he's at the
twenty five rock round.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
I've never to hear good.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Andre Schmidtz creak yet another rookie last year made eighty
eight percent of his field goal tries twenty five for
twenty six on extra points. So they're running it back
(11:12):
with most of the secondary they rocked with last year.
Added the rookie in the draft said bye bye to
safety Jenkins, but Ward, Campbell, Harden, Delpit, and Hickman all
return and should walk out Day one Front seven the
big change verse for Garrett. By all accounts, it was
the right move to make for Cleveland at linebacker Quincy Williams,
(11:34):
and for Bush. It's still a pretty stout looking group
with elite youth a key part of its makeup. The
offense is the same too, unless Watson takes over a
starting quarterback. That's the big question. Who will it be
and how well will they work under Monkin? Who's going
to be calling the offense. The O line is a
big X factor in all this. Fannin isn't really replacing
(11:55):
in Djokub, but he's the only semi key playmaker who
isn't returning. If you go buy their opponents expected win
totals in twenty twenty six, they have the fourth easiest
slate in the NFL. Now, their own over under is
just six point five, so it still projects as an
uphill climb. But let's apply the idea that they could
(12:16):
come away with wins against all the teams at seven
point five over unders or less. That gives them victories
over Carolina, the Jets, Tennessee New Orleans, Vegas, Atlanta, the
Giants and the Colts throw in a win versus Pittsburgh
for good measure, and you have a nine win ceiling.
That's a tough sell with their quarterback stitch being what
(12:37):
it is even for a dufus in a bag. The
game preview guy guess is fewer than seven wins. I
feel like a six pack is on its way, or
maybe the six pack I put down is fuzzied. What
little football sense I have.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Terrebral towels are out and a sold out crowd at
Actor Sure Stadium is ready.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
It was a time when the Pittsburgh dads of the
world had hope they could land Brittany available again.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Hands up, Hands up.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
The Pittsburgh debs were doing their workouts on Nintendo. Whee's
first ever tweet went out. Maybe it announced the hiring
of Mike Tomlin. Twenty years later they call it X
and it announced his departure. A Native Yinzer taking the
reins as we begin a very very new chapter in
the AFC North.
Speaker 8 (13:22):
What Bob happened?
Speaker 1 (13:24):
It was two thousand and six, You don't have to
look it up. And yes, saying Native Yinzer was redundant
like ATM Machine and theory regardless, Mike McCarthy steps in
for Mike Tomlin, hoping to rekindle a little cheesehead magic.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
Hey got a great quarterback.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Aaron Rodgers came away from his off season Magical Mystery
Tour with visions of playing a twenty second year.
Speaker 8 (13:47):
What a grab by Connor Haywark.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Rogers impact on Pittsburgh's passing attack wasn't monumental. Two hundred
and seven yards.
Speaker 8 (13:58):
Per game touchdown John u Spi.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Twenty one tds a mid nineties rate.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Fire is it for the score.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
They were middle of the pack on third down, twenty
fifth in yards per game.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Rodgers has time climbing the pocket. Here, cuts Khalil Neck
in the end zone, he drops up.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Those are the key areas they can fare better at
this year.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
With the ball, we know what kind of game is
going to be. We got score points, a lot of them.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
They didn't turn the ball over much.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
Throws slammed right, touchdown Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 8 (14:29):
It's dk metcap.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
We're solid in the red zone for a twenty three
point per game Average's former touchdown Pittsburgh Steeler points per
game average. Rogers also was pretty decisive. He was quick
draw McGraw after the snap.
Speaker 8 (14:43):
Here's a pass out to the left Flatford game Well gets.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
To the edge.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
That minimized the number of backwards plays they were top
ten and sacks taken.
Speaker 8 (14:52):
Wow, and he somehow caught it.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
The quick release approach made it harder to rack up
chunk plays. DK Metcalf finished with a career low eight
hundred and fifty yards.
Speaker 7 (15:09):
Boots it out for Metcalf, elevates and makes.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
The catch that still led the team.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
There's a casualty on full display.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
And it means he's been good for eight to fifty
plus all seven years in the NFL. Only one other
receiver with more than one hundred and seventy yards, which
is why nabbing Michael Pittman is such a big deal.
Pittman led the Colts in receptions with eighty and receiving
touchdowns with seven over seven hundred and fifty yards.
Speaker 6 (15:38):
He's in he stretched the ball across the goal line.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
They also picked up Jeremy Bernard in the second round
of the draft.
Speaker 6 (15:45):
He's instinctive and incredibly smart. When you talk to the
folks at Alabama and you talk to Ty Simpsons. I
had a chance to. He raved about the intelligence Jeremy Rnard,
all the different things they can do with him, and
the toughness that he brings. You see it as a blocker,
and you see it in his ability to win the
middle of the field. He's a real crisp route runner,
and when he gets the ball in his hands, he
looks like a running back. He's built powerfully that way.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Making room for him in the locker room. Calvin Austen,
who departed Pittsburgh off a three hundred and seventy plus
yard year.
Speaker 8 (16:14):
Touchdown Pittsburgh Steelers. It's Calvin Austin in the end zone.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Moves check this out. Five hundred plus yards year one,
then seven hundred plus, three hundred plus, then six hundred
plus last year, four hundred plus fires down, touchdown. So
a monster year of eight hundred plus coming or bust city, right,
(16:41):
I don't make up the Origami rules.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Towards the end zone touchdown, he finds Pat fryar.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Mooon fellow tight end Darnel Washington aka Mountain on legs.
Speaker 8 (16:52):
Oh, he's shut down a man, and then flowers.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
His shoulder, grumbling down the left.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Sideline career high three hundred and sixty four yards. He
could probably start at left tackle on a lot of teams.
Speaker 8 (17:03):
And fine Darnell Watchingston.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Who will they trot out as they're starting five on
that O line. Week one, though, Steelers drafted tackle Max
Ecanachor with their first round pick.
Speaker 11 (17:14):
Basketball player all the way through high school, did not
play any football doll until he got a junior college.
But one year of junior college, remember he and his
family game here when he was thirteen years old from Nigeria.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Then they took guard Jennings Dunker in the third. They
let guard Isaac Sayamalu walk still have left tackle Broderick Jones,
who was blamed for eight sacks and is recovering from
a neck injury and saw the team decline. Picking up
his fifth year option guard Mason McCormick gave up six
and a half sacks. So they could go a number
of directions with this group. At running back, Jalen warren
(17:47):
O touchdown steel career high in rush yards in twenty
twenty five, and he.
Speaker 8 (17:53):
Is in for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Touchdown nine hundred and fifty eight and a half dozen
tdss into the.
Speaker 8 (18:02):
End zone with the Pittsburgh Steelers touchdown.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Four to three plus yards per carry all four years
in the Bigs.
Speaker 8 (18:09):
Straight up the middle of the into the end zone.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Won't be sharing time with Kenneth Gainwell again. Four hundred
and eighty plus receiving yards, three tds, five hundred and
thirty plus rush yards five scores hitting at four to
seven per pop.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
Took pig Hole into the end zone. Touchdown Pittsburgh Steelers
in his place? Ankle mccringleberry. What first off that gave
Rico Dowdell game preview guy goat status?
Speaker 8 (18:38):
Steal keep pele can't peel sketched.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Second, that ref clearly doesn't know the.
Speaker 8 (18:43):
Rules and they're gonna get a personal foul.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Dowdell went for one thousand yards on the ground for
Carolina last year, back to back thousand plus yard seasons.
Half doesn't paint jobs In twenty twenty five on four
to six, a run.
Speaker 7 (18:56):
Gets out of the field for this crucial moment and
punches it all. But Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
His offense has ground to make up, and so does
its defense.
Speaker 8 (19:03):
Our father arn heavans.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
Fourth quarter stops be thy name twenty sixth the yards
per game allowed by Hicks.
Speaker 10 (19:12):
He's at the pit boot tap five.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Touchdown, twenty fifth on third down.
Speaker 7 (19:18):
Daln nailers perse touchdown.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
This year they held teams to twenty two a game
that's solid.
Speaker 8 (19:24):
Coming campward with the sack.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Oh wow, fourth most takeaways to keep things in check.
Speaker 8 (19:34):
His most hand, but it's pick up, but it's recovered
by his deelers.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Their pass rush didn't produce a super high pressure rate,
but forty eight sacks was good for sixth most Jalen
Ryans coming in and they still have a loaded front
that's recover Tja TJ Watt should still be a problem.
Sack total not as high as expected. Seven and fourteen games.
Speaker 12 (19:57):
The wat FA.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Old Tom Sat.
Speaker 10 (20:00):
I mean, if he's gonna pass my record, that's one.
Speaker 7 (20:03):
Hell of a way to do it.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
But three forced fumbles, two I iNTS, splash plays a plenty,
it's kind of his thing.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Ooh, did justin fields get walloped?
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Pittsburgh will test tackles like few others and it's non stop.
They have three top shelf types out there.
Speaker 8 (20:18):
Alex Heismith comes up with his sack.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Alex Highsmith comes off a career high nine and a
half bag shopping spree. And the guy who gives them
a rest, Nick Herbig, who sealed the deal seven and
a half times, which, oh, and it doesn't stop in
the middle. Defensive tackle Derek Harmon, looking to build off
a good rookie year three QB takedowns in twelve games.
Speaker 10 (20:41):
At maya sacked back of the forty one yard line.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Kean Ubenten with five and a half sacks from the
center of the storm, career high in year number three.
And the old man Cam Hayward three and a half
sacks along with over seventy five tackles.
Speaker 8 (20:58):
I bet let that go.
Speaker 10 (21:00):
Let that go. You can't run over here.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
That was year fifteen. That's ridiculous.
Speaker 8 (21:03):
Don't wait, go ahead, fast head and look at go.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Their secondary, though, needs to do a better job of
feeding off heat. They gave up a rating of ninety two.
Speaker 10 (21:12):
Pace going to the ground makes the catch.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Only three teams allowed more passing yards per game.
Speaker 10 (21:18):
It is.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
There wasn't much special about how they played the pass.
Speaker 8 (21:24):
Got us bad cutting up to the five to the.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Ends out Jalen Ramsey hoping to rebound after giving up
eight touchdowns and a rate in the one twenties. It's
they'd be happy with more of the same from several
other guys, though, Corner Joey Porter Junior held it down
to a low sixties rate knock down fourteen passes, and
that was just a year three junior. Third starting cornerback
(21:51):
will be new. James Pierre isn't coming back. Had a
career high eleven passes defense to a low fifties rate
ahead of his seventh year.
Speaker 8 (21:59):
It's picked up by yeah, racing down the left side line.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
His departure might have stung a little bit, but they
picked up Jamel Dean and he posted the lowest rate
of any cornerback while playing in Tampa Bay last year.
Corner Brandon Eckles a low eighties rate and a couple
of picks. Suck safety game no more. Chuck Clark gave
up a rating over one forty, so no harm, no foul,
(22:25):
and no Kyle Dugger, though he held quarterbacks to a
respectable ninety right two interceptions.
Speaker 8 (22:31):
It's Gucker Gucker to the forty yard.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Line, taking his spot. Safety Jakwan Brisker ninety three tackles
in Chicago, but also gave up a team high seven touchdown.
Speaker 8 (22:41):
What's in Whisker, It's Stafford got.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
It go safety to Sean Elliott hopes to play more passes,
only got in five games.
Speaker 8 (22:49):
The middle of the field knocked away.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Pittsburgh also needs to get stingier against the run, allowed
four to three a try. Not that they don't like
their line back, though. Peyton Wilson got more snaps in
his second year. Racked one hundred and twenty six ball
carriers was loose?
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Is this a fumble? Oh?
Speaker 8 (23:08):
My goodness?
Speaker 1 (23:09):
And Patrick Queen was who they thought he was? One
hundred and twenty tackles. He's been a ninety eight plus
tackle dude all six years in the NFL.
Speaker 4 (23:18):
HI by Patrick quid untouchdeat nails?
Speaker 1 (23:22):
What the last of the Killer Bees still booting it?
Chris Boswell good on eighty four percent of his tries
in the regular season, almost a lock on extra points.
Good thumbnail recap. Then front seven looks the same. They
did add defensive end Sebastian Joseph Day who was with
Tennessee last year. But it's Harmon Benton, Hayward, Watt, Queen
(23:45):
and Wilson as the starting seven. Secondary will utilize two
new starters Brisker for Dugger at safety, Dean for Pierre
at the one corner spot, order Elliott and Ramsey all
returning to fill out their starting five. So to speak.
On offense, Rogers is going to have three new playmakers
to work with Pittman and Bernard joining DK in the
(24:06):
wide out room. That should upgrade their passing attack by
a considerable margin. Dowdell takes gainwell spot in the backfield,
sharing carries with warren Mouth and Washington back at tight end.
Even without Tomlin, the prognosticators have Pittsburgh as a team
capable of finishing over five hundred. They're over under sits
at eight and a half. Their opponents win total projections
(24:28):
for twenty twenty six has them in the middle of
the pack when it comes to their strength as schedule.
How many games above five hundred could they finish? If
Rogers goes out bon Jovi's style in a blaze of glory,
start with a win over Atlanta, beat Cincinnati at home, Cleveland, Indianapolis,
Tampa Bay, defeat the Saints, sweep the Browns. That post
(24:50):
by run is going to be tough, though, at Cincinnati,
at Philadelphia, Denver, Houston, and then at Jacksonville, followed by
a home game versus Baltimore. But give them that win
plus Carolina and Tennessee, which would buy them ten dubs.
Nine of their games are against teams who are expecting
to be strong. Game preview Guy respect for Tomlin dictates
(25:12):
they fall below five hundred in their first year without him.
Speaker 7 (25:16):
Oh, we got it all.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
We need what la?
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Remember when Mimes was explaining why he was hot and
you were not.
Speaker 10 (25:26):
Everything what to do?
Speaker 1 (25:27):
Remember when we lost Anna Nicole. Remember when Brittany lost
her hair? When the Sopranos abruptly cut to black, that's
the world we were living in the last time the
Ravens started a season with someone other than John Harbaugh
as their head coach. But plenty of reasons for the
flock to keep on believing.
Speaker 8 (25:46):
As it were, They've gotta go, they gotta go.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Hey, they gonna go. It's time to launch the Jesse
Mintor era in Baltimore. Young dude, former Chargers DC had
their defense rocking.
Speaker 12 (26:00):
Plan on calling the defense great question.
Speaker 11 (26:02):
Uh.
Speaker 12 (26:02):
I think that's a strength of mine. I think that's
one of the reasons I'm sitting here. But I also
think it's it's my leadership qualities, and I really look forward.
I have a really good process. I feel to do
what I need to do to be ready to call
the game, but also have the ability to be the
head coach.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
He plucked Declan Doyle away from Chicago to run the offense.
He was Ben Johnson's o C. You know the questions
in those situations, was he really calling the offense.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Reels up Hey Rose and as.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
But we've seen it work plenty of other times with
other Cats, and he's not taking over your standard O.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
Face touchdown Mark Andrew.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
He's working with a one two punch like no other
in the Nflyandy Lamar Jackson is still a defender's nightmare.
Teen games last year he posted a one oh three rating.
Speaker 8 (27:03):
Second of ten.
Speaker 9 (27:03):
They're gonna throw it again for Hopkins, and Andre Hopkins.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Has got it and led the NFL in yards per
completion to the d He's got.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
A bad He's got up DeAndre Hopkins his first catch
as a Raven.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Now that six and seven record, the first sub five
hundred record of his career.
Speaker 10 (27:24):
YEP has intercepted him. Adrias Knight running it.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Back, didn't average a ton of yards passing per game.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Throws up in the middle, completes or Mark Andrews the
hell you are going and.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
His three hundred and forty nine rush yards.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
In touchdown Lamar Jackson.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
The first time he's finished under six ninety five for
a season, which only emphasizes how ridiculous he can be
when everything is right with him.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
First left side is in touchdown, LaVar.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
Doyle also has the king to play with the twenty
the cake of the tap, and he didn't get that
title from exploiting the workers, as Dennis might argue.
Speaker 10 (28:05):
Outstanding blocking to get Dereck Henry into the ends.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Derrick Henry one thousand plus yards seven of his last
eight years to fifteen hundred plus five of his last seven.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
And we've waited about the heir lebar.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
Ten plus tds, eight straight, sixteen paint jobs, fifteen hundred
and ninety five yards.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Touch down Derrick Henry.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
On five to two carry in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 8 (28:37):
Dude, touchdown right, and.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
At times it still felt like he wasn't being used enough.
No autonomous collectives around here, and even with Lamar's injuries,
we're talking about an offense that basically averaged twenty five
a game. Still Doyle company are looking for levels closer
(29:02):
to twenty eight a game Flower's work.
Speaker 7 (29:04):
He gets reader, runs endos on man.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
And he doubles has to clean up the red zone
play where they finished twenty seventh. That's glaring with Lamar
and Henry at your disposal, Darren. They were middle of
the pack in yards per game.
Speaker 8 (29:18):
For the football right side and it's going.
Speaker 1 (29:20):
To be and they gave the ball away way too often.
Also would like to cut back on sacks taken, which
comes with the territory with Jackson.
Speaker 7 (29:35):
Jackson looking stepping up. Now he's going to get hit.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
But the forty five they took last year also led
to many of those turnovers down out, They're going to
be sporting a brand new interior drafted Benga Yuana with
their first round pick, Tyler.
Speaker 6 (29:52):
Lenderbaum's gone. He's now a raider, so they replace him
with a guard who can do a lot of the
things lender Bomb does. It's a bigger, more powerful version,
providing me at brandis sure when he was coming out
of college, just big and powerful. He is a tone center.
If you want to watch guys get thrown to the ground,
you're gonna enjoy watching his tape. He does not stop
and once he gets his hands on you, it's not gonna
end well.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
They brought guard John Simpson back. He played for Baltimore
in twenty twenty three before spending the last two years
with the Jets. Those two replace Daniel Failele, who gave
up five sacks, and Andrew Vorhees. They also have a
new snapper after Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum bounced to Vegas.
Ravens have their wr one and Za Flowers.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
He's got a man them.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
Touchdown comes off a career year eight hundred and fifty
plus yards as a rook then one thy fifty nine.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
He's got him, say Flowers, watch down right then.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
And then over twelve hundred last year, eighty six catches.
They just spent too many games with him being a
one man show.
Speaker 6 (30:53):
Why don't say Blowers of at thirty Flowers in the
twenty ten five touch down.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
Rashad Bateman a guy whom many predict will bounce back
with the new approach. Bateman landed a big contract after
the twenty twenty four season that saw him go for
seven hundred and fifty plus yards in ninety d's two
hundred and twenty four and two last year.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
And they lost his golf Jackson.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
They let DeAndre Hopkins look for a job elsewhere. He
chipped in three hundred and thirty yards, turned around and
drafted Jakobe Lane in the third round.
Speaker 6 (31:25):
This is a basketball player on grass. When you watch
Dakobe Lane, if you want to talk about wow catches
the best highlight reel, you could make a strong case
that he has it in this draft class with unbelievable
one hand wow catches. How about this one just cupping
the ball with his left hand, And it was all
throughout his career at USC.
Speaker 10 (31:44):
You just keep watching it.
Speaker 6 (31:45):
You saw incredible plays where he'll go up, climb the ladder.
He takes big shots.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Isaiah likely also not a Raven anymore likely with just
over three hundred yards Sunday Fun Day, Mark Andrews is
back just over four hundred yards.
Speaker 7 (32:01):
Caught Andrew's in touchdown Ravens.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
Did at least score five times touch down.
Speaker 10 (32:08):
Fuck.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
None of this insinuates mentor himself doesn't have plenty of
work to do with their defense either. Giving up twenty
three a game and being twenty fourth in yards per
game touchdown isn't really the Baltimore way.
Speaker 7 (32:23):
Holding left side dumps it protect What the fuck?
Speaker 3 (32:26):
Touchdown?
Speaker 1 (32:27):
Might need to play some more Black Street in their
locker room ahead a kickoff. This year just thirty sacks
only a few teams with fewer only three had a
lower pressure rate. Fuck, no diggity, you gotta bag it
up more often than that.
Speaker 10 (32:42):
Anyway, He's got it.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
So say hello to mad Max. No, wait, say hello
to Trey Hendrickson only seven games last year, thirteen and
a half sacks four of the previous five seasons with
the Bengals.
Speaker 10 (32:55):
And he gets hit by Trey hendricks.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Despite getting little help from their front Baltimore Secondary isn't
coming off a bad campaign. They held quarterbacks to a
sub ninety rate.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
Quick accepted Marlon Humphrey.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Not to say they don't have issues to correct either.
Speaker 5 (33:11):
It's a nice baked by May to get onto the
boot and Hunter Henry's wide open.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
They gave up gobs of passing yards.
Speaker 10 (33:17):
Plans it down the middle of the field, Ufree bush.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
And while it's reflective of volume.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
He has it, he falls across the sideline.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
It also shows teams weren't afraid to throw on them.
Speaker 8 (33:28):
What a fire in the middle.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
He's got whats in ten of the fire to.
Speaker 1 (33:32):
The ends up they weren't especially stingy against the pass
and several key metrics either.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
All right, huge gain.
Speaker 4 (33:38):
All this talk about no air yard completions by Rogers
in the last month, they come right out with a
bomb down the right sideline.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
But look at the dudes they have back there. Vet
corner Marlin Humphrey knocked down thirteen passes, picked off four
sub eighty right.
Speaker 10 (33:53):
And it's intercepted by Humphrey.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
Young cornerback Nate Wiggins three I in T's fourteen passes
to fense a low eighties rate looks every bit the
part of the CB.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
One interception lad wigans with a pick.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
Kyle Hamilton heads into his year five off of first
team All Pro season, made his third Pro Bowl in
a row one hundred plus tackles back to back years.
Speaker 3 (34:16):
Think that Amilton makes his presence, got right away.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
Keep rocking the skid row. More youth gone wild. Safety
Malachi Starks kicked off his pro career with over eighty tackles,
a sub eighty rate, and two picks.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
I'll thought that Mabi Bouse water boy all up the
odd of him.
Speaker 1 (34:32):
He had. Vet safety Alohi Gilman next to him won't
this season. Nine passes knocked down, ninety raps, Hello Bill
pick up the added safety Jalen Hawkins comes off a
career year, held his targets to a fifty five rating,
and picked off four passes for the Patriots.
Speaker 3 (34:50):
Instead of diving next in.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
Interception, Ravens kept ballcarriers to four to two per attempt.
Not amazing but top ten good.
Speaker 7 (34:58):
At least ball comes down right and recover.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
The guy that can tilt things drastically both against the
run and the pass. Nom de Madubique.
Speaker 8 (35:06):
Steps up and he sucked.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
Josh Allen sacked for the first time tonight.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
They lost him after two games last year, and they
felt it he was a back to back pro bowler
the two previous years. Had neck surgery, so it's unclear
when he returns, so a little insurance in Kaleis Campbell
six and a half sacks as an eighteenth year guy
last year.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
He's sacked. That's Elias Camba.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
He'll be next to defensive tackle Travis Jones, who racked
five quarterbacks from the inside, a career high in sacks
and tackles.
Speaker 8 (35:36):
He is sucked back of the five yard line.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
DT Broderick Washington, another dude who lost twenty twenty five
to injury, only played three games. Outside linebacker Tavius Robinson
only played ten games, four and a half QB takedowns
in that window, career high in sacks in his third year.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
Pocket collapse at black of a hideous sack back up Blue.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
Baltimore needs its outside linebacker to make it home more
often this year, though Mike Green did so three and
a half times as a rookie, most of his snaps
coming off the bench.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
Mike Dream with his first NFL sack and it could
not have a better time.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
No more Kyle than noy though he only picked up
two sacks after going for twelve and a half bags
in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 8 (36:19):
What's the throw pocket collapsing?
Speaker 3 (36:20):
He is sucked back of the thirty two yard lot.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
And they didn't keep Draymont Jones either. They added him
via trade last year.
Speaker 3 (36:28):
Hold down, but behind Draymond Jones with the suck.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Drafted Zion Young in the second round, so he should
get plenty of chances to show out.
Speaker 6 (36:37):
Zion Young. He's gonna knock you back, especially when you
can give him a little bit of a runway. He
can get a little bit of a runway to get
built up and going. He can really knock you back
into the quarterback. Here's the power through the contact to
get your hands on him, and he's able to work
through it and tight ends. Again, you're not gonna lock him.
Just forget it. You better bring somebody else to help him,
because he destroys tight ends on a consistent basis.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Rope one is waiting at the second level as usual
Smith of Pro Bowler four straight years, one hundred plus
tackle guy, seven of eight years.
Speaker 6 (37:07):
Guy.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
He was joined by rookie linebacker Teddy Buchanan, who kicked
things off with ninety three tackles in fourteen games. The
Rabbit sack stafford on fourth a kuse five on the defense,
and they still have Trenton Simpson two and a half sacks,
sixty six tackles in his third season on the job.
Speaker 9 (37:27):
He'll lose a yard back to the nineteen yard line,
so that should be the first sack of the game
for the Rave.
Speaker 1 (37:33):
And finally, hopefully Tyler didn't put that last kick on
a loop. The rookie had a fine first year otherwise,
thirty for thirty four on field goal attempts forty four
for forty six on extra points, So this is what
it all looks like. They're front seven, adding Kalais and
Hendrickson and the rookie young losing Jones and van Noyt.
Nomdi probably misses some time before making it back. One
(37:56):
key change to their secondary Hawkins slides in for Gilman.
They have Chadobi a Woozia at corner two, so Hamilton
could simply slide back to safety. He plays everywhere anyway,
so they have flexibility, and their playmakers on offense are
pretty much the same as twenty twenty five. Devontes Walker
could see more snaps at wide out lane, the rookie
(38:17):
joining the crowd. Lamar King, Flowers and Andrews still at
the core of how they do their thing. Only the
Rams and Ravens have over unders of eleven and a
half this year, so the expectation meter is as high
as it always is for Lamar, and they have the
sixth easiest schedule when you rank teams by their opponents
(38:37):
twenty twenty six win total expectations. That means they have
as high as ceiling as you're gonna find, because right
now anyway, they'd be favored against every team they have
on their slate. It's unrealistic to say they'd go seventeen
to know, so let's give him a loss to Buffalo
on the road. The Bills the only ten and a
half team they even face, and Mark and Ell in
(38:58):
their road game versus Houston. I know, a fifteen wins
ceiling seems crazy after last year, but they have one
of the best rosters in the game. I wouldn't bank
on fifteen myself, but they are set up to grab twelve.
Plus a new voice on the sideline might be what
they needed. Jackson and Henry have to be as hungry
as they can be, maybe even desperate.
Speaker 8 (39:19):
Know what to do, you know how to do it?
Speaker 4 (39:21):
Expect greatness, Expect greatness, greatness all three one, two.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
Three, Cincinnati Bengals six and eleven and twenty twenty five.
It's what happens when you don't get a full cup
of Joe, so to speak.
Speaker 3 (39:33):
Hey, we got to remind everybody who we aret of it.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
So if they can get one of those broke girls
to top it off for twenty twenty six and their
new additions on defense pan out, they should be cooking
with gas again.
Speaker 3 (39:48):
Take the way, put out the way.
Speaker 1 (39:50):
It's not rocket science or the kind Walter and Jesse
performed in their RV. Give the Bengals a full year
of Joe, Shisty, Jamar and Higgs compaired with anything that
remotely resembles a defense, and they're a threat. Things just
crazy jets being their O face looks pretty much the
same as it did in twenty twenty five. Let's start
(40:13):
with the big question mark their defense. Any true Bengals
fan knows it will dictate how far they go. In
twenty twenty six, got a man touchdown. The big move
trading the tenth pick in the draft for DT Dexter
Lawrence for.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
Them to you know, you know, bring me in the
way they did and you know give up.
Speaker 11 (40:38):
What they did is I owe it to them to
go out there and you know, dominate on that field.
Speaker 1 (40:44):
The d law trade sparked lots of debate. Here are
the two ways to look at it. He's a dude
that was a pro bowler from twenty twenty two to
twenty twenty four, second team or two of those years.
Nine sacks in twenty twenty four, seven and a half
in twenty twenty two. Can be a beast in the trenches.
Speaker 6 (41:00):
Nexi Dexi, the leader of that defensive front.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
You'll get a special meal from.
Speaker 5 (41:04):
His wife, Donna, who's.
Speaker 12 (41:06):
A chef executive secutive chef, executive chef.
Speaker 10 (41:10):
He's oldest.
Speaker 1 (41:11):
And then there was his twenty twenty five half a
sack in seventeen starts and was the man in the
middle of the rush defense that gave up five point
three yards per carry, worst in the league.
Speaker 6 (41:23):
He wanted an upgrade on his contract, which owed him
twenty million dollars this season, despite the fact that he's
coming off statistically his worst year in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (41:31):
Take to the comments section with your takes on the matter.
Lawrence isn't the only new face added to their front.
They also added Vett defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, who made
close to seventy tackles as a Viking last year. Three
and a half backs.
Speaker 9 (41:45):
That goes hurts again, he steps up, heave, avoids a.
Speaker 8 (41:48):
Hit, and then he kept head again.
Speaker 1 (41:50):
And they snagged boy a laffe to come off the edge.
Only two trips home last year for Seattle, but had
nine in twenty twenty.
Speaker 7 (41:57):
Three walk down.
Speaker 10 (42:00):
By Maffey.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
Plus they used their second round pick on Cassius Howell,
also expected to help heat up the quarterback time fastball.
Speaker 6 (42:09):
This is one of the elite get off to look
about David Bailey having the best get off of anybody
in this draft. This might be number two right here,
looking at this ability to win early and get underneath
this year edge blockers, that's that same move, that little
dip and rip, and guys don't even get a hand.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
On a couple of other new faces we'll get to
in a second, but there isn't a new face guiding
it all. Al Golden is back as DC, and he
was the guy in charge of their defense last year.
Cutsdown has to fix all three facets of their defense.
Speaker 3 (42:44):
Touchdown Denver twenty eight.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
Points per game allowed in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 8 (42:48):
Under the metal part it is Josha.
Speaker 1 (42:51):
Only two gave up more. Only one team giving up
more yards per game.
Speaker 8 (42:55):
Touchdown John u Spit not.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
Good on third down or in the red zone into the.
Speaker 7 (43:00):
Ten till five yard line into the end float.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
Need to play the pass better ninety nine rating allowed
twenty sixth.
Speaker 8 (43:08):
Slows towards the end zone. Touchdown he fines pat.
Speaker 1 (43:11):
Fire twelve yards per catch allowed. To the end zone,
totty sudden and twenty ninth in yards per attempt allowed
would help to bother the quarterback some a touchdown, twenty
second in sacks and pressure rate, gets.
Speaker 9 (43:34):
Hit, gets the pass away left side into the end
zone and it is caught for a touchdown by Drey mcdriye.
Speaker 1 (43:40):
And how about we slow some runners down a bit, fellas.
Speaker 6 (43:43):
Right to the en zone.
Speaker 1 (43:45):
Five point two yards per carry allowed second most next to.
Speaker 3 (43:49):
The five next to the goal line touchdown denver.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
And most yards per game allowed at one.
Speaker 7 (43:55):
Thanks somebody I missed inside the plot.
Speaker 8 (43:57):
Get to the pilot.
Speaker 1 (43:59):
They had two one hundred plus tackle linebackers too, Just
need to make those tackles sooner. Demetrius Knight with one
oh six three sacks, two picks and a forced fumble,
not bad for a rookie.
Speaker 10 (44:11):
Ye have intercepted tom Adrias Knight running it back.
Speaker 1 (44:15):
His rookie partner Barrett Carter, with the same one hundred
and six tackle total kicked off the ball, throws a.
Speaker 7 (44:21):
Pass to thirty down picks.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
Barrett Carter wenebacker Orrin Burks seventeen games, nine starts, forty
eight tackles. They brought back most of the starters from
their front two. TJ Slayton fifty two tackles three sacks.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
He's in trouble. Sanders breaks away and he is nailed.
Speaker 8 (44:40):
TJ.
Speaker 3 (44:40):
Slayton was the first one there.
Speaker 1 (44:42):
That BJ Hill sixty six tackles four sacks.
Speaker 10 (44:46):
Here comes Miles Murphy. He couldn't get them, but BJ
Hill goes and they're hoping.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
Shamar Stewart steps up and plays at a first round level.
Eight games eleven tackles one sack in his rookie year.
Speaker 10 (44:58):
He'll be sacked. Schamar's Stewart the.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
Metas Miles Murphy ended up seeing more action than expected.
Third year guy finished with five and a half QB takedowns.
Speaker 3 (45:08):
Messy Pot did escaping again.
Speaker 1 (45:10):
Chase by Loy put down, but they won't have the
services of Trey Hendrickson left off a seven game four
sax season.
Speaker 10 (45:17):
And he gets hit by Trey hendricks Hit.
Speaker 1 (45:20):
No more Joseph Asai either, he gave him five bags.
Speaker 10 (45:24):
Pot hit hid down.
Speaker 1 (45:28):
The new faces that will roam the secondary. Kyle Duggar
comes over from Pittsburgh to interceptions.
Speaker 3 (45:34):
You've got the.
Speaker 4 (45:34):
Left sideline picks Jaspas Ted waltzes into the end zone.
Speaker 1 (45:38):
They hope safety Brian Cook can help. We'll have to
play the pass better than he did. For KC gave
up a rating close to one twenty. At least he
came up with eighty five tackles, knocked down six passes.
Speaker 7 (45:51):
And let's say complais chop breaking it up by Cook.
Speaker 1 (45:54):
They cut ties with safety Gino Stone, who gave up
a one oh five rate but two picks and over
a hundred tackles.
Speaker 10 (46:01):
Ten five touchdownn Jeno Stone.
Speaker 6 (46:05):
And no more.
Speaker 1 (46:06):
Cam Taylor Britt at corner had a rough twenty twenty
five when we played in eight games. Returning cornerback Dax
Hill held his targets to a sub ninety rate. Ten passes,
defense made eighty eight tackles, all.
Speaker 9 (46:18):
Started from the Pressler and Dax Hill danceIt.
Speaker 1 (46:21):
Cornerback DJ Turner held it down to an eighty two rating,
picked off two balls and knocked down a hefty eighteen passes.
Speaker 7 (46:29):
And almost picked off incomplete Dicks.
Speaker 1 (46:32):
Corners Jalen Davis Josh Newton fared well enough with their
limited reps, both sub ninety rates. Safety Jordan Battle four interceptions,
two forced fumbles, one hundred and twenty five tackles a
sub ninety rate.
Speaker 10 (46:46):
Go up here coming for rush. It passed over the
middle and it is intercepted off of ricochet by Jordan Battle.
Speaker 1 (46:53):
And they drafted to Carrio Davis in the third round as.
Speaker 6 (46:56):
A big old corner just under six foot four, one
hundred ninety four pounds. To see the cop right there
at the bottom, we can jump to that and Reek
Wollan here You see his recovery ability to go track,
get the football down the field. Reek Wolan had ball skills.
This dude does as well. It's just rare to find
this highweight speed combination when you're almost six foot four
and you're someone who runs a four to four one.
Speaker 1 (47:16):
Joe Burrow in company don't need that group to play
like the eighty five Bears. Just can't look like a
fifty year old dad playing Madden for the first time
against his twelve year old gamer son.
Speaker 10 (47:26):
Oh hey, what twenty one?
Speaker 1 (47:30):
Heck, even with Burrow out half the year, Bengals offense
still put up twenty four a game.
Speaker 10 (47:36):
Sit down the middle of the field feb.
Speaker 1 (47:38):
Fifth best on third down and second best in the
red zone.
Speaker 10 (47:42):
Chase Bridans camp.
Speaker 1 (47:47):
Half four burrow, proving Cougars and Bengals can get along.
Just find this offseason, by the way, truly, Joe still
has Chase out there.
Speaker 10 (48:00):
All right, Chase going to the ground, makes the catch.
Speaker 1 (48:03):
Jamar could probably put up one thousand yards in a
year with Daredevil at quarterback.
Speaker 2 (48:08):
Jamar Chase turning defenders into invisible.
Speaker 1 (48:13):
Men over fourteen hundred yards one and twenty five catches.
Speaker 10 (48:17):
He does a jungle jump.
Speaker 1 (48:20):
Eight tds between two Joes and two JB's last season,
this is caw.
Speaker 8 (48:26):
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 1 (48:28):
Matt Murdoch could track him and the defender's heart beats
and footsteps, so that's not really a stretch.
Speaker 10 (48:33):
Few what No.
Speaker 1 (48:34):
One eight T Higgins eight hundred and forty six yards
eleven scores.
Speaker 10 (48:38):
Hot by Higgins. He's in the ten five.
Speaker 1 (48:41):
Touchdown miss two games otherwise goes for a k again.
Speaker 8 (48:46):
Oh no, what to say? Good forday to be great.
Speaker 1 (48:49):
Andre Yoshibosh there for the scraps. Four hundred and thirty
five yards Zoe touchdown, Yo s boss, He's a good receiver.
There's just only so much pizza to go around.
Speaker 10 (49:01):
Fires caught over the metal.
Speaker 1 (49:03):
And Cincinnati's tight end has to eat too, though they
said goodbye to Noah Fant. Three tds close to three hundred.
Speaker 10 (49:09):
Yards of the field that is caught by Noah bat.
Speaker 1 (49:13):
That leaves Drew Sample and Mike Gasicki two scores and
over three hundred yards for him.
Speaker 3 (49:17):
Burrough slated one to the end zone.
Speaker 1 (49:20):
It's Kasicki not to mention Chase Brown, who caught sixty
nine passes out of the backfield, five receiving touchdowns.
Speaker 10 (49:31):
The up Chase down to fucking gone, he's touchdown.
Speaker 1 (49:37):
Brown quietly had a really nice year my practice Bay,
Let's go four hundred and thirty seven receiving yards.
Speaker 8 (49:44):
The song has run by Chase though, how song over one.
Speaker 1 (49:47):
Thousand rushing yards.
Speaker 10 (49:49):
And he scores on a twelve yard touchdown run.
Speaker 1 (49:52):
Six tds down low too, That's a big time Chase Brown.
Speaker 3 (49:56):
I was such a sick run base.
Speaker 1 (49:58):
Bengals even got improved past protection from its line. Double
on pressure eight faced middle of the pack, thirty six
sacks taken. Also mid at least right tackle Marius Mims
gave up six and a half sacks. Left tackle Orlando
Brown eight and a half pass pro plagued them in
(50:19):
past years, so even slight improvement makes a difference. All
five guys from last year return and they're happy with
Evan McPherson kicking made eighty nine percent of his field
goal tries forty one of forty four from the proverbial
free throw line.
Speaker 10 (50:34):
Here's yeah, yeah, God have the Bengals have knocked out
the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (50:41):
So not much different with their offense. They're running it
back with the same group that trotted out Week one,
and why not. It's as lethal a group as you're
gonna find. Burrow, though has missed significant time three times now,
this will be your seven for Joe to their defense.
That front is deep. Is it good? Mafey replaces Hendrickson,
though it's not a full year of Trey production. He's
(51:04):
replacing Howell, Infosi and check it out. Murphy, Allen, Lawrence, Mafey,
and Stuart are all former first rounders. Secondary a blend
of new and old. Cook, Dougger and Davis new to
the stripes. Rest of the guys expected to play plenty
of snaps played plenty for the Bengals last year. Now
(51:25):
to the schedule, they have the third easiest schedule in
the NFL. If you go by twenty twenty six expected
win totals. That's good news, being Cincinnati's been given a
nine and a half over under chip. They have a
pretty high ceiling because of that. They only hit it
if their defense isn't a train wreck. Again, but let's
say they win every game against teams under that mark.
(51:47):
They beat Tampa Bay, lose on the road to Houston
since they're on equal ground. Take Pittsburgh, beat Jacksonville since
that's a home game, Beat Miami Tennessee all four of
those seven and a half teams as well as Cleveland.
Take Carolina and Indianapolis and sweep Cleveland. That would be
a nice thirteen win year. Looking inside the game preview,
(52:10):
guy Bag, I don't know if I see thirteen wins
because I'm not sure I trust that defense to that level.
But Burrow, Higgs, Chase and Chase plus that schedule worth
more than nine dubs, right,
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