October 2, 2025 • 30 mins
Cincinnati looks for a big win at home against the Detroit Lions. Dan Hoard’s guests include the NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger, team captain Orlando Brown Jr. and Matt Dery, who hosts the Locked on Lions podcast.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hig and everybody. I'm Dan Hord and thanks for downloading
The Bengals Booth Podcast. The Up, Up, Up, where the
Cloud's going a clear audition as the Bengals look to
bounce back from two straight road losses and knock off
the high scoring Detroit Lions at pay Core Stadium. Coming
Up Team captain Orlando Brown Junior shares his message to
(00:25):
teammates after two tough losses. Brian Baldinger from the NFL
Network describes what the Bengals will need to do on
Sunday to knock off Detroit, and in this week's Know
the Faux segment, we'll head two Detroit and check in
with the host of the Lockdown Lions podcast, Matt Derry.
The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Corp,
(00:46):
proud to be the Bengals official HR software provider, by
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(01:07):
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(01:49):
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let's get to my first guest, team cap and four
time pro bowler Orlando Brown Junior. Orlando, let's start with
your role as a captain and a veteran leader on
this team. What's the message to your teammates after two
(02:11):
tough weeks?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah, you know, it's always hard in this league, man,
losing games no matter when they happen, how they happen,
back to back. But the message is simple, man, we
got to keep fighting. We got a lot to play for.
I've been in a much worser spots than this, believe
it or not, man, But being in this position, being
able to have a chance to go out here and
win in front of these fans is what's important.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
So that's what we'll be starving for.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
We scored thirty one points in the Jacksonville win, but
over the last couple of weeks, it's been hard getting
the ball into the end zone. Where does fixing the
offense start?
Speaker 3 (02:42):
I think it always starts in the trenches.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
Man.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
You know, it's on us to create those opportunities for
our offense, man, no matter what it is. And that's
just my opinion, you know, I think it really comes
down to us handling businessman, and being able to create
bigger holes in the run game, hold on to our
blocks longer in the pass game, whatever it takes.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
You've got the highest grade among the offensive lineman according
to Pro Football Focus on the team, your one spot
behind Tristan Wurfs for what that's worth as a left tackle.
But how do you feel about your play? I know
you have very high standards for yourself.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Yeah, no, man, I mean, you know, the Minnesota game
was one of my rougher games I think I've had
as a bangle. But other than that, other than that,
you know, I feel like I've done a pretty good job,
you know, making sure that you know, guys like you know,
the Josh Allen Hines when we played him, he doesn't
have a big impact on the game, Nick Benito when
he's on my side, making sure he doesn't have a
big impact on the game.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
You know.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
But there are so many other areas that I'm continuing
to improve, like my run game, finishing more, being more violent,
and helping us create those explosive plays. But you know, overall, man,
the wait that I see it hasn't been enough for
us to win. And you know, that's what it comes
down to me, you know, just me playing playing as
good as I need to for us to win as
many games and score as many points as possible.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
We're chatting with Orlando brown Junior. If you take away
a couple of Jake Browning scrambles last week, iveraged four
yards of carry on twelve runs. It's improvement. Did you
see positive steps?
Speaker 3 (04:06):
I did?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
I did, Man, I've seen guys finishing, I've seen guys
getting to the second level and you know, staying connected
to their blocks. I saw Chase being able to not
get touched about three or four yards into his run.
So we got to continue to create more of those
opportunities when they call our number up front.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Two rookies started on the offensive line last week. That'll
be the case again this week against Detroit. Last week
was a primetime game in Denver against the top ranked
pass rush in the NFL. How challenging is that for
a couple of rookies.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Extremely challenging, man, But I think they answered the bill man.
You know, we've got two great guys, two great young men,
and Jalen Rivers and Dylan Fairchild. They've come in from
day one and done all the right things and earn
this opportunity to be the guys at those positions in
my opinion, so man, we hold them to a high standard,
they hold themselves to a higher standard, and in my opinion,
they're doing great jobs.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
You didn't just say good players, you said two great
young men. Does that stand out to you about Dylan
and Jalen?
Speaker 3 (05:01):
It does? It does?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Manager Sarah upbringing. So I think show in their everyday
consistency of character, their attention to detail, their work ethic,
all the all of the right things.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
You have a new offensive line coach this year in
Scott Peters. His system is different from his predecessor, Frank Pollack.
Are there some growing pains when the change is that significant?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Definitely, man.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
I think there's new techniques that have to be learned,
you know, even some new run concepts we've been running
this year that we're still I think getting a little
bit of a better feel for.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
But yeah, there definitely are.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
You've been a mentor to the other tackle a Marius
Mims from day one. He's still only twenty two years old.
What are you saying in a Marius at this stage
of his second season.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Yeah, no, man, I think he's doing a really good job.
Man's he's only gotten better from last year in my opinion,
and he's going to continue to get better. You know,
he's got a great mindset, man, coming to work every
day being the same person, working, working his tail off
to get better, you know, working to get his full
work right, his timing right off the snap, all the
right things.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Man.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
So I'm excited. I believe it's a season goes on,
He's only going to get better.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Orlando, you face the highest scoring team in the league
this week in Detroit. It's hard for me to picture
thirteen to ten win. It probably has to be something
more like Week two when you beat Jacksonville thirty one
to twenty seven. Because of that, do you feel imperative
to score on almost every possession when you're out there?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (06:18):
You know, I don't ever want to put, you know,
crazy pressure on us, but I do believe that's our
mentality offensively, no matter who we're playing, is we got it.
We're gonna go score evers're off you know, because we
want to and because we can. So it doesn't really
matter who we're playing. I believe we approach it all
the same.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
You've won your only home game so far this year
against Jacksonville. Is it going to help the offense overall
and the offensive line in particular to not have to
deal with crazy crowd noise by opposing fans? Obviously you'll
have it on your side this week, but in this game.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yeah, no, man, it helps up front.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I mean just being able to be on a verbal cadence,
you know, it helps with getting your os, your defender,
all those different things.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
At the beginning of the interview, you said I've been
through worse.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
What was worse, man?
Speaker 2 (07:04):
I mean I've been in some tough spots, man, where
you know, we get off to a good, good run
to start the season and you know we're I think
by week five, I mean we're pretty much one in four.
So I've been in those positions before. Man, I've been
alling for I believe before, you know. So, like I said,
it's it's all about perspective. It's all about just continuing
to strive, knowing, understanding the expectation and standard that we
(07:27):
set in our building and being able to strive for
that and continue to grow.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Always appreciate your time, best of luck this week.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Subpower performances in Minnesota and Denver turned the Bengals into
a significant home underdog this week, and Zach Taylor says
that's fine with him.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
I love personally playing playing these types of games. These
are my favorite games to play. This is why we
do it again. Our backs against the wall a little
bit going in this game off of two losses.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
That's perfect.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
You know, I'd like to see Howard By responds. Who
lives in fear, who thrives in the university. It's it's
a great opportunity for a coach to really assess what
you guys are made of, myself included, and so again
it's a tremendous opportunity that we are not running from
where we are running directly into.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
It's certainly good to be back at home, where the
Bengals have won seven of their last eight, including this
year's only home game so far, the Week two victory
over Jacksonville. Sunday's game will be televised on Fox, and
there will also be on national radio broadcast. One of
our favorites, we'll call the game on national radio this week.
(08:32):
I'm speaking of the NFL networks. Brian Baaldinger, Baldy, what's
job won for the Bengals this week as they try
to get back on track.
Speaker 6 (08:40):
Yeah, I gotta start with protection. I mean, Jay Detroit
is a good offense, really good offense. They're back on track,
and so you're going to have to get on track
offensively too, which you couldn't do Monday night in Denver.
Speaker 7 (08:51):
A lot of circumstances there about the protection of Jay.
Speaker 6 (08:55):
So it can at least get to his third step,
get to his fifth step, be able to set and
be able to get the ball to you know, to
to those wideouts, to Jamar and to Tea and you
know Yosi whoever. But I mean, I think protection is
going to be paramount. I mean there is Aiden Hutchinson
over there. You got to have a game plan for him.
He can wreck your offense. He has done that two
(09:15):
weeks in a row now to other teams. And so
you know, you got to know where ninety seven is
out at old times.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
You played in the NFL for more than a decade.
It's an emotional roller coaster. If you're a captain or
a Bengals team leader this week, what's your message after
the last couple of games.
Speaker 7 (09:30):
Well, you got to put you got to put money
night behind you. It's a short week. You got to travel.
Speaker 6 (09:34):
I mean all that stuff you know doesn't sit with
people that like, you know, a nice schedule, you know,
a weekly schedule that that's gone.
Speaker 7 (09:44):
So you got to flush that. I mean, if you Trey,
you Jamar, you know you're zeus.
Speaker 6 (09:48):
I mean you got to get focused because this is
a good football team come to town and they got things.
They got the ship right, and they've got great playmakers.
You've got to lock in you got to play the
home crowd. You're in the jungle. You know, you've got
to win your home games, and so you've got to
flush that thing and get it out of your system
and recharge here for this week, because honestly, Dan, it's
(10:09):
a week to weekly you know, I mean, nobody thought
Cleveland could beat Green Bay and you know nobody saw that,
you know, the Giants beating the charge. I mean, this
is week to week, and so why can't it be
week to week and put that disaster of.
Speaker 7 (10:23):
Money night behind you?
Speaker 6 (10:24):
And really, because you know, honestly, Detroit, you could beat Detroit.
And if you do, now you're three and two and
you're saying, hey, you know what, we just beat a
good team, and so then you start to get that
confident feeling back.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Let's talk about the offensive line in a little more detail.
Since the Super Bowl in twenty twenty one, they've devoted
a lot of resources to try to improve it. They've
signed free agents like Orlando Brown Junior and Ted Carris.
They used their first round pick last year on a
Marius Mims. They have not been able to turn it
into a strength. That was your position? What do you
think how should they approach it going forward.
Speaker 6 (10:59):
Look, Joe's had injuries before, and I don't know if
you could put that on the offensive line, you know,
he's that that's a horrible injury what he suffered. And
when you got to have surgery, Uh, that's unfortunate. But
I mean, I I think you just keep you keep
trying to develop players, Dan, You keep trying to find
guys that are rejecting from other teams.
Speaker 7 (11:21):
You gotta you gotta, you gotta draft in, you gotta develop.
Speaker 6 (11:24):
You got to hit free agency, all right, Ted, you know,
zeus whatever, and then you've got to develop. You know,
your draft picks, and they drafted a lot of guys, Dan,
there aren't on that team anymore, you know, over the
last three or four years, and so draft to develop
and then you know, give those guys a chance to grow,
you know, and we haven't really seen much of that
so far.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
When Jake filled in for Joe two years ago, he
played extremely well. He obviously led the Bengals to a
great comeback in Week two and they beat the Jags
at pay Corpse Stadium. Last couple of weeks have not
gone well. But what do you think of Jake Browning
as a backup QB.
Speaker 6 (11:59):
Well, I mean he's got the advantage that he's been
there for I don't know, four years, whatever it is now, Dan,
you know, so he knows the system, he knows what
Zach wants, he knows what the plays are, he knows
where to go with the ball. You know, he's just
you know, the turnovers are never going to be a
good thing for any quarterback. But you can't play with fear.
You can't play out of fear. You still have to
(12:21):
be aggressive. You've got receivers that you got to trust
that can go get it, and they've got two of
the best.
Speaker 7 (12:27):
They're being paid to be the best. So I think
there's other ways.
Speaker 6 (12:30):
I mean, if you just watch Denvers offense the other day,
like they score two touchdowns as easy as you can.
Speaker 7 (12:36):
Score, Dan, I mean a fly sweep and you pick
up a block on.
Speaker 6 (12:39):
The outside, you hit him against a blitzero and you
got the right play on you know. Some of it
is just a play call too, and the timing of
the play call against certain looks.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
You have called Jamar Chase the best wide receiver in
the NFL. What separates Jamar from the pack.
Speaker 6 (12:55):
I think if you put Jamar at tailback. He'd be
a great tailback, you know, I really do. I mean,
be an elite tailback. Like he's so strong. He catches
everything with his hands. Fundamentally, he comes back to the football.
He doesn't give the defenders a chance.
Speaker 7 (13:09):
He is great with contested catches.
Speaker 6 (13:12):
He's going to see you know, uh, he just saw
Sertane a little bit last week. I don't know what
Detroit's plan is. They've struggled at the corner position. But
you know, against the great corners he can win. He
can win in the deep ball, he can win on
the old you know, West Coast style of offense DN
where he short passes long runs. We've seen him do everything. Uh,
(13:34):
and so you know, his game against you know, Jacksonville
was you know, you know, it's it's what, it's what.
Speaker 7 (13:42):
Only a couple of guys in this league. We saw
Puka Duhl last week.
Speaker 6 (13:44):
There's only a couple guys in Lincoln do what he
did against Jacksonville in winning that game.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
The Bengals defense bald features nine top one hundred draft
picks that were taken in the last four years. These
young guys are getting a lot of playing time now
have any of these young defenders caught your eye, Well.
Speaker 6 (14:01):
I mean Osim made a couple of plays the other day.
I mean we keep waiting for him. I mean he
was a high pick out of Texas. Keep waiting on
him to come around right now. You know, the number
one pick missed all a training camp and so like
he's learning this. It's it's tough for any rookie just
you know the stats as well as anybody Dan, but
most rookies struggle their first year. Look at what Nick
(14:23):
Benito is doing now versus what he did his first
year come out of Oklahoma. It's literally on the job
training every day, and you can't spend enough time around
Trey or other veterans that understand what that's all about
right now, So we got to give you know, the
rookie linebacker chance here, you know, to kind of you know,
see these formations and the motions and you know, get
(14:45):
his eyes in the right place. You know, he's got
a good veter next to him that can help them.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Let's talk about the Lions. They come to town leading
the NFL and scoring at thirty four points a game.
That's despite losing their offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who is
now the head coach of the Bears. What can a
defense do to try to slow down Detroit.
Speaker 6 (15:03):
Well, the first thing you got to do, Dan, honestly
is you've got to stop the explosives, you know, and
the run in pass because Jamiir Gibbs can score from anywhere.
But you know, I say that, and then you see
David Montgomery go for seventy a couple of weeks ago.
You know, I've never seen David Montgomery on seventy yards
in a game. And I go back to his high
school in Ohio, you know, but I've never seen him
(15:24):
at Iowa State ever do that.
Speaker 7 (15:26):
So you got to stop the explosive.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
And then you know Jameson Williams can score from anywhere,
so those and they're going to try and hit those.
Johnny Morton will call those plays up. So you've got
to limit the explosives number one. And then you've got
to find ways to get GoF off the spot. If
you let Jared Goff, he is a he's a surgeon
back there. If you let him stay on that spot
(15:48):
and read defenses and find his outlets, he's going to
have a good day.
Speaker 7 (15:54):
So you got to get quick pressure to Jared Goff.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Detroit is thirty two and ten playoff game since the
start of twenty twenty three. Dan Campbell's built a heck
of a team in Detroit. You're going to be in
the radio booth on Sunday. Give us a formula for
how the Bengals come away with a victory at home.
Speaker 7 (16:11):
Well, I think they got to hit their explosives.
Speaker 6 (16:14):
I mean, look, you just paid two wide receivers a
boatload of money to go win games. And honestly, Dan,
your stars win games, and those are your stars, So
you got to find ways to get you know, Jamar,
because you know, I think they're going to bench Terry
and Arnold this week. I mean, he was their first
round pick. He has not played well. He's had a
lot of penalties and a lot of penalties last year.
(16:34):
So their's secondary while they have had a lot of takeaways,
especially you know at the safety position, they're vulnerable out there,
and so take your shots, take your go balls, you know,
against with t and Jamar and hit them.
Speaker 7 (16:48):
I mean that's that's the start. And then I think,
you know, anytime you got.
Speaker 6 (16:52):
A guy like Aiden Hutchinson on the other side, like
you've got to make them play the run as much
as you can. Now they've they've added a lot of beef,
you know, Tyler Williams, They've had a lot of beef
in the middle. But you know, I'd like to see
the run game get going. Well, you have a little
bit of balance, a little bit of play action there
on offense right now, and play some keep away you
know from Jared Goff in that offense right now.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Paul, do you appreciate your time and your expertise as always,
enjoy your trip to Cincinnati this weekend.
Speaker 6 (17:21):
I will look forward to seeing you and my trip
to the John. If you remember, Dan, last year, Week five,
Baltimore came to town and I mean you were up ten
in the fourth quarter. He lost the game, but it
was the Jungle was rocking that day, and there's a
lot of good things that happened that day. Joe played fantastic,
Jamar was fantastic. They lost to you know, Lamar to shootout,
(17:44):
but that was that was one of the more fun
games I announced all year last year.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Well, hope for a similar atmosphere with a different outcome
this Sunday.
Speaker 7 (17:53):
That's it, Dan.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Corps,
Proud to be the Bengals Official HR software provider, by
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the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. So here come
(18:16):
the Detroit Lions, a team that went fifteen and two
last year, earned the number one seed in the playoffs
in the NFC, but lost at home to Washington in
that first playoff game forty five thirty one due to
a defense that was decimated by injuries. The Lions opened
this season with a fourteen point loss in Green Bay,
(18:37):
but they've won three in a row since and averaged
forty one points in those wins. Matt Derry is the
host of the Lockdown Lions podcast, and he discussed the
team with Dave Lapham and me on the Bengals Game
Plan Show.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
They're really on a roll, right and how they look
good opening week? You know, you take a lot, you
take nothing out of the tason and really training camp
because a lot of the regulars weren't out there and
they looked rusty and they looked unprepared for Week one
in Green Bay, and they got exposed and played really poorly,
really at all three phases since then, the last three games,
(19:14):
the Bears at home Baltimore for a big Monday Night,
went on the road, and then last weekend taking care
of the Browns at home. The Lions looked like the Lions.
They looked like a team that is destined to get
back to the NFC Championship. It's fundamentals with them, Dave.
You know this blocking and tackling. They've won up front
with their O line, their D lines the last three
weeks dominated the Ravens in that department, and then did
(19:37):
the same with the Browns this week, kept Jared Goff clean,
no sacks from Miles Garrett and at Brown's front, and
then they feel very good about themselves at three and one.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Right now, you mentioned the offensive line, let me ask
you about the right tackle. Back in twenty twenty one,
there was something of a civil war here in Cincinnati
leading to the draft. Should the Bengals take Jamar Chase
or Piney Sewell, Bengals are obviously happy with the guy
they took. Jamar has been tremendous but the Lions are
happy with the guy they took as well. Do you
(20:06):
think panay Sewell is the best offensive lineman in the NFL?
Speaker 4 (20:12):
You know, Dan, I think he's the best right tackle
in the game. I mean that I can say. I
mean there's some very good old linemen out there, and
obviously a Tristan Wurfs is out there. And you know
there's a guy with the Chargers right now that I
would love. But if he's not he's not healthy. Right now,
there's plenty of good ones. You know, Creed Humphrey in
Kansas City is so good. But Piney Soul, to me
(20:32):
is the best right tackle in the game.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
PFF had him two weeks ago against the Ravens grated
out near in one hundred, which is almost unheard of.
Uh he's been dominating. Uh he can move. He's throwing
guys around and and and then getting back up and
blocking down the field. And he's just been so good.
Like I said, helping helping to neutralized Miles gear At
last week was a big win and keeping golf clean.
(20:56):
And look, it's a great debate. You can still debate
it to this day with jamar versus pine Sui get
two of the best guys in the entire league. But
Lions love with it what they have in their right tackle.
He signed long term and and he's helping the guys
in the interior of that offensive line. You know, he's
got a rookie next him at right guard and Tate
rat Legend can only make him better, and that makes
Graham Glasgow better, and that makes Taylor Decker better and
(21:18):
Christian Mahiney the left guard. Soule's you know, he's a
tone setter man, and love watching him against Trey Hendrickson
this week. That'll be a lot of fun.
Speaker 8 (21:28):
That leads me to your head coach, Dan Campbell. That
dude is a tone setter in terms of I think
a leader of men. How important has Dan Campbell been.
I mean a losing record year one, but none ever since.
I mean, you know, five hundred or better, that's what
you get with Dan Campbell. How important has he been
(21:49):
to the success of Alliance?
Speaker 4 (21:51):
He's changed the culture with the Lions. He and Brad
Holmes a general manager. But really, the Detroit Sports needed
Dan Campbell. They really did in a time where I
mean now that they said the Tigers in the playoffs
Pistons made the playoffs last year. Red Winnings have struggled
now for a decade. But the Lions, it was this
time for them to finally turn the corner and turn
the page. And this guy has come in and just
(22:12):
he's the face of this city. And this offseason he
heard Dave all those whispers about uh oh, Ben Johnson's gone,
Aaron Glenn has gone. You lose your two coordinators, you're
all pro center retires and Frank Ragnow what are they
gonna do? How are they gonna work around? This is
Green Bay gonna catch him, This is Minnesota gonna catch him. Hey,
the Bears are on fire in the offseason. They win
(22:33):
the off season every year. There the Bears of the
offseason champs every year. So what are they gonna do?
And what Dan Campbell did was just he told the guys,
let's just do what we do, and that is you're right,
hit people in the mouth and be physical and utilize
the weapons that they have. And all of a sudden,
now John Morton looks like a pretty darn good OC
four games in replacing Ben Johnson and Kelvin Shepard's defense
(22:56):
has two of the top ten edge rushers. According to PFF,
in the league right now in Hutchinson and Alcade, Mohammad
so Dan Kimpbell's has kept the ship steady. It's next
man up when guys get hurt. DJ Reid's gonna be
off this week their best corner. So you gotta figure
guys like Meek Robertson and Khalil Dorsey step up and
they get the confidence of their coach that they'll do okay.
(23:18):
And so far as three wins out of four is
not ben No.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Matt Dary is the host of the Lockdown Lyons podcast. Matt,
we were talking a little bit earlier in the show
about Jared Goff. Seems like he is rarely mentioned among
the best five or six quarterbacks in the NFL. I'm
not sure why that's the case. Lions led the NFL
in scoring last year when he was the Rams quarterback.
They led the NFL in scoring in one of his seasons.
(23:44):
Should he be mentioned at the very top of the pedestal?
I don't mean number one, but among the top four
or five in your opinion.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
I mean he's right up there. I mean I understand
why guys like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson and what
do you have in Cincinnati with Joe Burr, So get
more play just because they move around. They're a little
bit younger than Jared is now in his thirties, and
there's a little bit more sex appeal with some of
these other guys in terms of what they can do
outside of the pocket. And I get it. Jared Goff
(24:15):
was basically, you know, sent packing by Sean McVeigh and
an offensive guru and told you're not good enough. And
then they go get Matthew Stafford in that trade with
the Lions and they win the Super Bowl right away.
So that's a tough narrative to have to kind of bust.
And yet Gough has done it. I mean, he's won
more playoff games here than any Lion's quarterback probably since
(24:35):
Bobby Lane. And he's so steady. Like you said, the
guys love him. It helps him. They got a good
run game and a good offensive line, but he's got
to be throwing at a precision type rate and he does,
and his receivers love him. And yes, I think when
you talk in top five, top seven, eight, Yeah, there's
any lists you see that's have a top ten in it.
(24:56):
And Goff's not in there. That's not there. I mean
he's been he's helped right the ship here and he's
been so solid and rarely makes a mistake. Now you
get some pressure on him, especially up the middle, sure
he'll he'll he'll throw it to the other team. But
that's with every quarterback. But so far, like I said,
edn't Ben sacked the last three weeks. That's been real key.
Speaker 8 (25:15):
So Matt Dan Campbell, how has he evolved?
Speaker 4 (25:22):
I mean, the guys have the utmost confidence in him,
and like I said, he's a lot more creative, especially
on the offensive side, in helping game plan with John Morton.
He did it with Ben Johnson the last couple of years.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (25:33):
And he's making good decisions because he's putting the right
he's putting the guys. It's all us that right right person,
right seat mentality. He knows you know when to go
for it on fourth downs. And everybody just thinks that
the lines automatically always go for on fourth downs. It's
not the case. But it's it's smart, it's calculated. He
puts the players in the right positions. This offseason, he
made a move with Hank Fraley the offensive line coach
(25:56):
was interviewing for other jobs to become offensive coordinator other
places and and Campbell told him go talk to other teams,
do it, see if you can better your situation, but
allowed Hain't Frailey to stay, made him an assistant head
coach and has a lot of faith that maybe he
can lean on a guy like that this is the
old line coach, but also on some game planning during
the week. So the assistants love him, the players love him,
(26:19):
and as far as evolving goes, I think he just
puts the guys in the right positions and lets them
do their thing. He lets Tared Goff change playing that
plays the line of scrimmage he's got. He handed the
green dot on the defensive side this week, not this
week this season to Jack Campbell, who's just a second
year linebacker. But he put him in that spot and
said told Alexanderloni he's more of a veteran. Hey, I'm
(26:39):
giving Jack this opportunity, and everybody bought in. It's not
like that in every locker room. Dave, you know that.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
Matt dari is the host of the Locked On Lions podcast.
My final question Matt has to do with Week one,
the only time the Lions have lost so far this year.
Green Bay held him to thirteen points, which seems almost
impossible against this offense. What did the Packers do defensively
that helped them slow down this great attack?
Speaker 4 (27:07):
Yeah, I'll say this. I just thought that in Week
one the Lions interior of their offensive line looked like
guys that hadn't played together, and quite honestly, they hadn't.
You're talking about a brand new left guard in Christian Mahogany,
you only started two games last year. Graham Glasgow takes
over at center, hadn't played center in the league in
a couple of years when he was in Denver, and
did so in Detroit, but that was of a whole
(27:27):
different team outside of Taylor Decker, and then the right
guards are rookie and Tate Ratlage. I think the Packers
loaded the box a little bit and showed a lot
of things on the interior and the Lions communication in
terms of picking up blitzers or sliding protections over to
a left or right side just weren't there, and so
the Lions never got in sync, and a lot of
it was what the looks of that Jeff Hathley defense
(27:49):
were I don't know if Cincinnati can emulate that. Baltimore tried,
it didn't work. They couldn't get to golf. The Browns
tried this week with Jim Schwartz, who's a heck of
a defensive coordinator. You guys saw him week one, and
it just didn't work. So I just think the Lions
has played poorly, that special teams are bad. That day,
everything was bad. And since they've just they've turned it
(28:09):
around and you know, they're just playing clean football. And
I know you guys, uh, you know had to sit
through what you sat through Monday night with all the penalties.
That's the other Lions have have been clean in terms
of the penalties, and it helps you.
Speaker 8 (28:23):
Win there the fans and the fans are a big
part of it. The fans support is as good in
Detroit as it is anywhere any city in the National
Football League, and the Detroit Lion fans take great pride
in that. Does the organization in the community. Do they
feel like this is a Super Bowl contender?
Speaker 4 (28:41):
Not after Week one? They but but I think the
last three weeks people are back. Not that they jumped
off the bandwagon. It was one game. But I think
people look and see this team now and see the
depth that's there, see what's there in the NFC, and
go absolutely lap they can win this thing and get
to the and get to the super Bowl. There. They
are good enough. They got to stay healthy, certainly, and
(29:01):
you gotta have Aiden Hutchinson out there healthy. That's a
guy this weekend that should rereak some havoc. And you
mentioned the fans, Dan and Dave. Get ready, there's going
to be a ton of Honolulu blue you in your stadium.
It's not a knock on Bengals. It's not a knock
on Bengals fans or people not showing up. The Lion
fans of the last couple of years have traveled like
no other. And they were in Indie last year and
(29:22):
invaded Lucas Oil. And that's a dry from Detroit to
Indian Detroit to Cinci. No, No, it's not too hard.
You're going to see a lot of Lion fans this weekend.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
All right, Thanks to mad Darien, here's a quick invitation
to join lapp in me for the Bengals pep rally
show this week. We'll be at the on the Rhine
Eatery on the second floor above the downtown Kroger on
Friday from three to six, and our special guest in
the final hour will be cornerback Josh fig Newton. If
you can't make it, you can listen on ESPN fifteen
(29:54):
thirty or by searching for ESPN fifteen thirty on the
iHeartMedia app. That's going to do it for this episode
of the Bengals Booth Podcast brought to you by Pai Core,
Proud to be the Bengals Official HR software provider, by
Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet design to elevate your home,
business and community to a new level, and by Kettering
(30:14):
Health the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health
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if you have a minute, give it a rating or
share a comment that helps more Bengals fans find us.
I'm Dan Hord and thanks for listening to The Bengals
(30:35):
Booth Podcast.
Hig and everybody. I'm Dan Hord and thanks for downloading
The Bengals Booth Podcast. The Up, Up, Up, where the
Cloud's going a clear audition as the Bengals look to
bounce back from two straight road losses and knock off
the high scoring Detroit Lions at pay Core Stadium. Coming
Up Team captain Orlando Brown Junior shares his message to
(00:25):
teammates after two tough losses. Brian Baldinger from the NFL
Network describes what the Bengals will need to do on
Sunday to knock off Detroit, and in this week's Know
the Faux segment, we'll head two Detroit and check in
with the host of the Lockdown Lions podcast, Matt Derry.
The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Corp,
(00:46):
proud to be the Bengals official HR software provider, by
Alta Fiber future proof Fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business,
and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health
the best care for the best fan. Kettering Health is
the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now here's a
quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of
(01:07):
this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, or computer
by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest
thing since Bengals Weekly. If you're not already watching the
team's long running weekly TV show, you should because it's
better than ever. Host Marissa Contapelli and the Bengals Emmy
(01:27):
Award winning content team are doing a fantastic job of
blending game highlights, player features, and exclusive behind the scenes
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happening with the team. You can see the show on
TV stations in Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Lexington, and Louisville, or
(01:49):
watch it on Bengals dot Com or YouTube. Regardless of
the score, each week, Bengals Weekly is a winner. Now
let's get to my first guest, team cap and four
time pro bowler Orlando Brown Junior. Orlando, let's start with
your role as a captain and a veteran leader on
this team. What's the message to your teammates after two
(02:11):
tough weeks?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah, you know, it's always hard in this league, man,
losing games no matter when they happen, how they happen,
back to back. But the message is simple, man, we
got to keep fighting. We got a lot to play for.
I've been in a much worser spots than this, believe
it or not, man, But being in this position, being
able to have a chance to go out here and
win in front of these fans is what's important.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
So that's what we'll be starving for.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
We scored thirty one points in the Jacksonville win, but
over the last couple of weeks, it's been hard getting
the ball into the end zone. Where does fixing the
offense start?
Speaker 3 (02:42):
I think it always starts in the trenches.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
Man.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
You know, it's on us to create those opportunities for
our offense, man, no matter what it is. And that's
just my opinion, you know, I think it really comes
down to us handling businessman, and being able to create
bigger holes in the run game, hold on to our
blocks longer in the pass game, whatever it takes.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
You've got the highest grade among the offensive lineman according
to Pro Football Focus on the team, your one spot
behind Tristan Wurfs for what that's worth as a left tackle.
But how do you feel about your play? I know
you have very high standards for yourself.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Yeah, no, man, I mean, you know, the Minnesota game
was one of my rougher games I think I've had
as a bangle. But other than that, other than that,
you know, I feel like I've done a pretty good job,
you know, making sure that you know, guys like you know,
the Josh Allen Hines when we played him, he doesn't
have a big impact on the game, Nick Benito when
he's on my side, making sure he doesn't have a
big impact on the game.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
You know.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
But there are so many other areas that I'm continuing
to improve, like my run game, finishing more, being more violent,
and helping us create those explosive plays. But you know, overall, man,
the wait that I see it hasn't been enough for
us to win. And you know, that's what it comes
down to me, you know, just me playing playing as
good as I need to for us to win as
many games and score as many points as possible.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
We're chatting with Orlando brown Junior. If you take away
a couple of Jake Browning scrambles last week, iveraged four
yards of carry on twelve runs. It's improvement. Did you
see positive steps?
Speaker 3 (04:06):
I did?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
I did, Man, I've seen guys finishing, I've seen guys
getting to the second level and you know, staying connected
to their blocks. I saw Chase being able to not
get touched about three or four yards into his run.
So we got to continue to create more of those
opportunities when they call our number up front.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Two rookies started on the offensive line last week. That'll
be the case again this week against Detroit. Last week
was a primetime game in Denver against the top ranked
pass rush in the NFL. How challenging is that for
a couple of rookies.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Extremely challenging, man, But I think they answered the bill man.
You know, we've got two great guys, two great young men,
and Jalen Rivers and Dylan Fairchild. They've come in from
day one and done all the right things and earn
this opportunity to be the guys at those positions in
my opinion, so man, we hold them to a high standard,
they hold themselves to a higher standard, and in my opinion,
they're doing great jobs.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
You didn't just say good players, you said two great
young men. Does that stand out to you about Dylan
and Jalen?
Speaker 3 (05:01):
It does? It does?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Manager Sarah upbringing. So I think show in their everyday
consistency of character, their attention to detail, their work ethic,
all the all of the right things.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
You have a new offensive line coach this year in
Scott Peters. His system is different from his predecessor, Frank Pollack.
Are there some growing pains when the change is that significant?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Definitely, man.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
I think there's new techniques that have to be learned,
you know, even some new run concepts we've been running
this year that we're still I think getting a little
bit of a better feel for.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
But yeah, there definitely are.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
You've been a mentor to the other tackle a Marius
Mims from day one. He's still only twenty two years old.
What are you saying in a Marius at this stage
of his second season.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Yeah, no, man, I think he's doing a really good job.
Man's he's only gotten better from last year in my opinion,
and he's going to continue to get better. You know,
he's got a great mindset, man, coming to work every
day being the same person, working, working his tail off
to get better, you know, working to get his full
work right, his timing right off the snap, all the
right things.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Man.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
So I'm excited. I believe it's a season goes on,
He's only going to get better.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Orlando, you face the highest scoring team in the league
this week in Detroit. It's hard for me to picture
thirteen to ten win. It probably has to be something
more like Week two when you beat Jacksonville thirty one
to twenty seven. Because of that, do you feel imperative
to score on almost every possession when you're out there?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (06:18):
You know, I don't ever want to put, you know,
crazy pressure on us, but I do believe that's our
mentality offensively, no matter who we're playing, is we got it.
We're gonna go score evers're off you know, because we
want to and because we can. So it doesn't really
matter who we're playing. I believe we approach it all
the same.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
You've won your only home game so far this year
against Jacksonville. Is it going to help the offense overall
and the offensive line in particular to not have to
deal with crazy crowd noise by opposing fans? Obviously you'll
have it on your side this week, but in this game.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yeah, no, man, it helps up front.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I mean just being able to be on a verbal cadence,
you know, it helps with getting your os, your defender,
all those different things.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
At the beginning of the interview, you said I've been
through worse.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
What was worse, man?
Speaker 2 (07:04):
I mean I've been in some tough spots, man, where
you know, we get off to a good, good run
to start the season and you know we're I think
by week five, I mean we're pretty much one in four.
So I've been in those positions before. Man, I've been
alling for I believe before, you know. So, like I said,
it's it's all about perspective. It's all about just continuing
to strive, knowing, understanding the expectation and standard that we
(07:27):
set in our building and being able to strive for
that and continue to grow.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Always appreciate your time, best of luck this week.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Subpower performances in Minnesota and Denver turned the Bengals into
a significant home underdog this week, and Zach Taylor says
that's fine with him.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
I love personally playing playing these types of games. These
are my favorite games to play. This is why we
do it again. Our backs against the wall a little
bit going in this game off of two losses.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
That's perfect.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
You know, I'd like to see Howard By responds. Who
lives in fear, who thrives in the university. It's it's
a great opportunity for a coach to really assess what
you guys are made of, myself included, and so again
it's a tremendous opportunity that we are not running from
where we are running directly into.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
It's certainly good to be back at home, where the
Bengals have won seven of their last eight, including this
year's only home game so far, the Week two victory
over Jacksonville. Sunday's game will be televised on Fox, and
there will also be on national radio broadcast. One of
our favorites, we'll call the game on national radio this week.
(08:32):
I'm speaking of the NFL networks. Brian Baaldinger, Baldy, what's
job won for the Bengals this week as they try
to get back on track.
Speaker 6 (08:40):
Yeah, I gotta start with protection. I mean, Jay Detroit
is a good offense, really good offense. They're back on track,
and so you're going to have to get on track
offensively too, which you couldn't do Monday night in Denver.
Speaker 7 (08:51):
A lot of circumstances there about the protection of Jay.
Speaker 6 (08:55):
So it can at least get to his third step,
get to his fifth step, be able to set and
be able to get the ball to you know, to
to those wideouts, to Jamar and to Tea and you
know Yosi whoever. But I mean, I think protection is
going to be paramount. I mean there is Aiden Hutchinson
over there. You got to have a game plan for him.
He can wreck your offense. He has done that two
(09:15):
weeks in a row now to other teams. And so
you know, you got to know where ninety seven is
out at old times.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
You played in the NFL for more than a decade.
It's an emotional roller coaster. If you're a captain or
a Bengals team leader this week, what's your message after
the last couple of games.
Speaker 7 (09:30):
Well, you got to put you got to put money
night behind you. It's a short week. You got to travel.
Speaker 6 (09:34):
I mean all that stuff you know doesn't sit with
people that like, you know, a nice schedule, you know,
a weekly schedule that that's gone.
Speaker 7 (09:44):
So you got to flush that. I mean, if you Trey,
you Jamar, you know you're zeus.
Speaker 6 (09:48):
I mean you got to get focused because this is
a good football team come to town and they got things.
They got the ship right, and they've got great playmakers.
You've got to lock in you got to play the
home crowd. You're in the jungle. You know, you've got
to win your home games, and so you've got to
flush that thing and get it out of your system
and recharge here for this week, because honestly, Dan, it's
(10:09):
a week to weekly you know, I mean, nobody thought
Cleveland could beat Green Bay and you know nobody saw that,
you know, the Giants beating the charge. I mean, this
is week to week, and so why can't it be
week to week and put that disaster of.
Speaker 7 (10:23):
Money night behind you?
Speaker 6 (10:24):
And really, because you know, honestly, Detroit, you could beat Detroit.
And if you do, now you're three and two and
you're saying, hey, you know what, we just beat a
good team, and so then you start to get that
confident feeling back.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Let's talk about the offensive line in a little more detail.
Since the Super Bowl in twenty twenty one, they've devoted
a lot of resources to try to improve it. They've
signed free agents like Orlando Brown Junior and Ted Carris.
They used their first round pick last year on a
Marius Mims. They have not been able to turn it
into a strength. That was your position? What do you
think how should they approach it going forward.
Speaker 6 (10:59):
Look, Joe's had injuries before, and I don't know if
you could put that on the offensive line, you know,
he's that that's a horrible injury what he suffered. And
when you got to have surgery, Uh, that's unfortunate. But
I mean, I I think you just keep you keep
trying to develop players, Dan, You keep trying to find
guys that are rejecting from other teams.
Speaker 7 (11:21):
You gotta you gotta, you gotta draft in, you gotta develop.
Speaker 6 (11:24):
You got to hit free agency, all right, Ted, you know,
zeus whatever, and then you've got to develop. You know,
your draft picks, and they drafted a lot of guys, Dan,
there aren't on that team anymore, you know, over the
last three or four years, and so draft to develop
and then you know, give those guys a chance to grow,
you know, and we haven't really seen much of that
so far.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
When Jake filled in for Joe two years ago, he
played extremely well. He obviously led the Bengals to a
great comeback in Week two and they beat the Jags
at pay Corpse Stadium. Last couple of weeks have not
gone well. But what do you think of Jake Browning
as a backup QB.
Speaker 6 (11:59):
Well, I mean he's got the advantage that he's been
there for I don't know, four years, whatever it is now, Dan,
you know, so he knows the system, he knows what
Zach wants, he knows what the plays are, he knows
where to go with the ball. You know, he's just
you know, the turnovers are never going to be a
good thing for any quarterback. But you can't play with fear.
You can't play out of fear. You still have to
(12:21):
be aggressive. You've got receivers that you got to trust
that can go get it, and they've got two of
the best.
Speaker 7 (12:27):
They're being paid to be the best. So I think
there's other ways.
Speaker 6 (12:30):
I mean, if you just watch Denvers offense the other day,
like they score two touchdowns as easy as you can.
Speaker 7 (12:36):
Score, Dan, I mean a fly sweep and you pick
up a block on.
Speaker 6 (12:39):
The outside, you hit him against a blitzero and you
got the right play on you know. Some of it
is just a play call too, and the timing of
the play call against certain looks.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
You have called Jamar Chase the best wide receiver in
the NFL. What separates Jamar from the pack.
Speaker 6 (12:55):
I think if you put Jamar at tailback. He'd be
a great tailback, you know, I really do. I mean,
be an elite tailback. Like he's so strong. He catches
everything with his hands. Fundamentally, he comes back to the football.
He doesn't give the defenders a chance.
Speaker 7 (13:09):
He is great with contested catches.
Speaker 6 (13:12):
He's going to see you know, uh, he just saw
Sertane a little bit last week. I don't know what
Detroit's plan is. They've struggled at the corner position. But
you know, against the great corners he can win. He
can win in the deep ball, he can win on
the old you know, West Coast style of offense DN
where he short passes long runs. We've seen him do everything. Uh,
(13:34):
and so you know, his game against you know, Jacksonville
was you know, you know, it's it's what, it's what.
Speaker 7 (13:42):
Only a couple of guys in this league. We saw
Puka Duhl last week.
Speaker 6 (13:44):
There's only a couple guys in Lincoln do what he
did against Jacksonville in winning that game.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
The Bengals defense bald features nine top one hundred draft
picks that were taken in the last four years. These
young guys are getting a lot of playing time now
have any of these young defenders caught your eye, Well.
Speaker 6 (14:01):
I mean Osim made a couple of plays the other day.
I mean we keep waiting for him. I mean he
was a high pick out of Texas. Keep waiting on
him to come around right now. You know, the number
one pick missed all a training camp and so like
he's learning this. It's it's tough for any rookie just
you know the stats as well as anybody Dan, but
most rookies struggle their first year. Look at what Nick
(14:23):
Benito is doing now versus what he did his first
year come out of Oklahoma. It's literally on the job
training every day, and you can't spend enough time around
Trey or other veterans that understand what that's all about
right now, So we got to give you know, the
rookie linebacker chance here, you know, to kind of you know,
see these formations and the motions and you know, get
(14:45):
his eyes in the right place. You know, he's got
a good veter next to him that can help them.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Let's talk about the Lions. They come to town leading
the NFL and scoring at thirty four points a game.
That's despite losing their offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who is
now the head coach of the Bears. What can a
defense do to try to slow down Detroit.
Speaker 6 (15:03):
Well, the first thing you got to do, Dan, honestly
is you've got to stop the explosives, you know, and
the run in pass because Jamiir Gibbs can score from anywhere.
But you know, I say that, and then you see
David Montgomery go for seventy a couple of weeks ago.
You know, I've never seen David Montgomery on seventy yards
in a game. And I go back to his high
school in Ohio, you know, but I've never seen him
(15:24):
at Iowa State ever do that.
Speaker 7 (15:26):
So you got to stop the explosive.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
And then you know Jameson Williams can score from anywhere,
so those and they're going to try and hit those.
Johnny Morton will call those plays up. So you've got
to limit the explosives number one. And then you've got
to find ways to get GoF off the spot. If
you let Jared Goff, he is a he's a surgeon
back there. If you let him stay on that spot
(15:48):
and read defenses and find his outlets, he's going to
have a good day.
Speaker 7 (15:54):
So you got to get quick pressure to Jared Goff.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Detroit is thirty two and ten playoff game since the
start of twenty twenty three. Dan Campbell's built a heck
of a team in Detroit. You're going to be in
the radio booth on Sunday. Give us a formula for
how the Bengals come away with a victory at home.
Speaker 7 (16:11):
Well, I think they got to hit their explosives.
Speaker 6 (16:14):
I mean, look, you just paid two wide receivers a
boatload of money to go win games. And honestly, Dan,
your stars win games, and those are your stars, So
you got to find ways to get you know, Jamar,
because you know, I think they're going to bench Terry
and Arnold this week. I mean, he was their first
round pick. He has not played well. He's had a
lot of penalties and a lot of penalties last year.
(16:34):
So their's secondary while they have had a lot of takeaways,
especially you know at the safety position, they're vulnerable out there,
and so take your shots, take your go balls, you know,
against with t and Jamar and hit them.
Speaker 7 (16:48):
I mean that's that's the start. And then I think,
you know, anytime you got.
Speaker 6 (16:52):
A guy like Aiden Hutchinson on the other side, like
you've got to make them play the run as much
as you can. Now they've they've added a lot of beef,
you know, Tyler Williams, They've had a lot of beef
in the middle. But you know, I'd like to see
the run game get going. Well, you have a little
bit of balance, a little bit of play action there
on offense right now, and play some keep away you
know from Jared Goff in that offense right now.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Paul, do you appreciate your time and your expertise as always,
enjoy your trip to Cincinnati this weekend.
Speaker 6 (17:21):
I will look forward to seeing you and my trip
to the John. If you remember, Dan, last year, Week five,
Baltimore came to town and I mean you were up ten
in the fourth quarter. He lost the game, but it
was the Jungle was rocking that day, and there's a
lot of good things that happened that day. Joe played fantastic,
Jamar was fantastic. They lost to you know, Lamar to shootout,
(17:44):
but that was that was one of the more fun
games I announced all year last year.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Well, hope for a similar atmosphere with a different outcome
this Sunday.
Speaker 7 (17:53):
That's it, Dan.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Corps,
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(18:16):
the Detroit Lions, a team that went fifteen and two
last year, earned the number one seed in the playoffs
in the NFC, but lost at home to Washington in
that first playoff game forty five thirty one due to
a defense that was decimated by injuries. The Lions opened
this season with a fourteen point loss in Green Bay,
(18:37):
but they've won three in a row since and averaged
forty one points in those wins. Matt Derry is the
host of the Lockdown Lions podcast, and he discussed the
team with Dave Lapham and me on the Bengals Game
Plan Show.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
They're really on a roll, right and how they look
good opening week? You know, you take a lot, you
take nothing out of the tason and really training camp
because a lot of the regulars weren't out there and
they looked rusty and they looked unprepared for Week one
in Green Bay, and they got exposed and played really poorly,
really at all three phases since then, the last three games,
(19:14):
the Bears at home Baltimore for a big Monday Night,
went on the road, and then last weekend taking care
of the Browns at home. The Lions looked like the Lions.
They looked like a team that is destined to get
back to the NFC Championship. It's fundamentals with them, Dave.
You know this blocking and tackling. They've won up front
with their O line, their D lines the last three
weeks dominated the Ravens in that department, and then did
(19:37):
the same with the Browns this week, kept Jared Goff clean,
no sacks from Miles Garrett and at Brown's front, and
then they feel very good about themselves at three and one.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Right now, you mentioned the offensive line, let me ask
you about the right tackle. Back in twenty twenty one,
there was something of a civil war here in Cincinnati
leading to the draft. Should the Bengals take Jamar Chase
or Piney Sewell, Bengals are obviously happy with the guy
they took. Jamar has been tremendous but the Lions are
happy with the guy they took as well. Do you
(20:06):
think panay Sewell is the best offensive lineman in the NFL?
Speaker 4 (20:12):
You know, Dan, I think he's the best right tackle
in the game. I mean that I can say. I
mean there's some very good old linemen out there, and
obviously a Tristan Wurfs is out there. And you know
there's a guy with the Chargers right now that I
would love. But if he's not he's not healthy. Right now,
there's plenty of good ones. You know, Creed Humphrey in
Kansas City is so good. But Piney Soul, to me
(20:32):
is the best right tackle in the game.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
PFF had him two weeks ago against the Ravens grated
out near in one hundred, which is almost unheard of.
Uh he's been dominating. Uh he can move. He's throwing
guys around and and and then getting back up and
blocking down the field. And he's just been so good.
Like I said, helping helping to neutralized Miles gear At
last week was a big win and keeping golf clean.
(20:56):
And look, it's a great debate. You can still debate
it to this day with jamar versus pine Sui get
two of the best guys in the entire league. But
Lions love with it what they have in their right tackle.
He signed long term and and he's helping the guys
in the interior of that offensive line. You know, he's
got a rookie next him at right guard and Tate
rat Legend can only make him better, and that makes
Graham Glasgow better, and that makes Taylor Decker better and
(21:18):
Christian Mahiney the left guard. Soule's you know, he's a
tone setter man, and love watching him against Trey Hendrickson
this week. That'll be a lot of fun.
Speaker 8 (21:28):
That leads me to your head coach, Dan Campbell. That
dude is a tone setter in terms of I think
a leader of men. How important has Dan Campbell been.
I mean a losing record year one, but none ever since.
I mean, you know, five hundred or better, that's what
you get with Dan Campbell. How important has he been
(21:49):
to the success of Alliance?
Speaker 4 (21:51):
He's changed the culture with the Lions. He and Brad
Holmes a general manager. But really, the Detroit Sports needed
Dan Campbell. They really did in a time where I
mean now that they said the Tigers in the playoffs
Pistons made the playoffs last year. Red Winnings have struggled
now for a decade. But the Lions, it was this
time for them to finally turn the corner and turn
the page. And this guy has come in and just
(22:12):
he's the face of this city. And this offseason he
heard Dave all those whispers about uh oh, Ben Johnson's gone,
Aaron Glenn has gone. You lose your two coordinators, you're
all pro center retires and Frank Ragnow what are they
gonna do? How are they gonna work around? This is
Green Bay gonna catch him, This is Minnesota gonna catch him. Hey,
the Bears are on fire in the offseason. They win
(22:33):
the off season every year. There the Bears of the
offseason champs every year. So what are they gonna do?
And what Dan Campbell did was just he told the guys,
let's just do what we do, and that is you're right,
hit people in the mouth and be physical and utilize
the weapons that they have. And all of a sudden,
now John Morton looks like a pretty darn good OC
four games in replacing Ben Johnson and Kelvin Shepard's defense
(22:56):
has two of the top ten edge rushers. According to PFF,
in the league right now in Hutchinson and Alcade, Mohammad
so Dan Kimpbell's has kept the ship steady. It's next
man up when guys get hurt. DJ Reid's gonna be
off this week their best corner. So you gotta figure
guys like Meek Robertson and Khalil Dorsey step up and
they get the confidence of their coach that they'll do okay.
(23:18):
And so far as three wins out of four is
not ben No.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Matt Dary is the host of the Lockdown Lyons podcast. Matt,
we were talking a little bit earlier in the show
about Jared Goff. Seems like he is rarely mentioned among
the best five or six quarterbacks in the NFL. I'm
not sure why that's the case. Lions led the NFL
in scoring last year when he was the Rams quarterback.
They led the NFL in scoring in one of his seasons.
(23:44):
Should he be mentioned at the very top of the pedestal?
I don't mean number one, but among the top four
or five in your opinion.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
I mean he's right up there. I mean I understand
why guys like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson and what
do you have in Cincinnati with Joe Burr, So get
more play just because they move around. They're a little
bit younger than Jared is now in his thirties, and
there's a little bit more sex appeal with some of
these other guys in terms of what they can do
outside of the pocket. And I get it. Jared Goff
(24:15):
was basically, you know, sent packing by Sean McVeigh and
an offensive guru and told you're not good enough. And
then they go get Matthew Stafford in that trade with
the Lions and they win the Super Bowl right away.
So that's a tough narrative to have to kind of bust.
And yet Gough has done it. I mean, he's won
more playoff games here than any Lion's quarterback probably since
(24:35):
Bobby Lane. And he's so steady. Like you said, the
guys love him. It helps him. They got a good
run game and a good offensive line, but he's got
to be throwing at a precision type rate and he does,
and his receivers love him. And yes, I think when
you talk in top five, top seven, eight, Yeah, there's
any lists you see that's have a top ten in it.
(24:56):
And Goff's not in there. That's not there. I mean
he's been he's helped right the ship here and he's
been so solid and rarely makes a mistake. Now you
get some pressure on him, especially up the middle, sure
he'll he'll he'll throw it to the other team. But
that's with every quarterback. But so far, like I said,
edn't Ben sacked the last three weeks. That's been real key.
Speaker 8 (25:15):
So Matt Dan Campbell, how has he evolved?
Speaker 4 (25:22):
I mean, the guys have the utmost confidence in him,
and like I said, he's a lot more creative, especially
on the offensive side, in helping game plan with John Morton.
He did it with Ben Johnson the last couple of years.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (25:33):
And he's making good decisions because he's putting the right
he's putting the guys. It's all us that right right person,
right seat mentality. He knows you know when to go
for it on fourth downs. And everybody just thinks that
the lines automatically always go for on fourth downs. It's
not the case. But it's it's smart, it's calculated. He
puts the players in the right positions. This offseason, he
made a move with Hank Fraley the offensive line coach
(25:56):
was interviewing for other jobs to become offensive coordinator other
places and and Campbell told him go talk to other teams,
do it, see if you can better your situation, but
allowed Hain't Frailey to stay, made him an assistant head
coach and has a lot of faith that maybe he
can lean on a guy like that this is the
old line coach, but also on some game planning during
the week. So the assistants love him, the players love him,
(26:19):
and as far as evolving goes, I think he just
puts the guys in the right positions and lets them
do their thing. He lets Tared Goff change playing that
plays the line of scrimmage he's got. He handed the
green dot on the defensive side this week, not this
week this season to Jack Campbell, who's just a second
year linebacker. But he put him in that spot and
said told Alexanderloni he's more of a veteran. Hey, I'm
(26:39):
giving Jack this opportunity, and everybody bought in. It's not
like that in every locker room. Dave, you know that.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
Matt dari is the host of the Locked On Lions podcast.
My final question Matt has to do with Week one,
the only time the Lions have lost so far this year.
Green Bay held him to thirteen points, which seems almost
impossible against this offense. What did the Packers do defensively
that helped them slow down this great attack?
Speaker 4 (27:07):
Yeah, I'll say this. I just thought that in Week
one the Lions interior of their offensive line looked like
guys that hadn't played together, and quite honestly, they hadn't.
You're talking about a brand new left guard in Christian Mahogany,
you only started two games last year. Graham Glasgow takes
over at center, hadn't played center in the league in
a couple of years when he was in Denver, and
did so in Detroit, but that was of a whole
(27:27):
different team outside of Taylor Decker, and then the right
guards are rookie and Tate Ratlage. I think the Packers
loaded the box a little bit and showed a lot
of things on the interior and the Lions communication in
terms of picking up blitzers or sliding protections over to
a left or right side just weren't there, and so
the Lions never got in sync, and a lot of
it was what the looks of that Jeff Hathley defense
(27:49):
were I don't know if Cincinnati can emulate that. Baltimore tried,
it didn't work. They couldn't get to golf. The Browns
tried this week with Jim Schwartz, who's a heck of
a defensive coordinator. You guys saw him week one, and
it just didn't work. So I just think the Lions
has played poorly, that special teams are bad. That day,
everything was bad. And since they've just they've turned it
(28:09):
around and you know, they're just playing clean football. And
I know you guys, uh, you know had to sit
through what you sat through Monday night with all the penalties.
That's the other Lions have have been clean in terms
of the penalties, and it helps you.
Speaker 8 (28:23):
Win there the fans and the fans are a big
part of it. The fans support is as good in
Detroit as it is anywhere any city in the National
Football League, and the Detroit Lion fans take great pride
in that. Does the organization in the community. Do they
feel like this is a Super Bowl contender?
Speaker 4 (28:41):
Not after Week one? They but but I think the
last three weeks people are back. Not that they jumped
off the bandwagon. It was one game. But I think
people look and see this team now and see the
depth that's there, see what's there in the NFC, and
go absolutely lap they can win this thing and get
to the and get to the super Bowl. There. They
are good enough. They got to stay healthy, certainly, and
(29:01):
you gotta have Aiden Hutchinson out there healthy. That's a
guy this weekend that should rereak some havoc. And you
mentioned the fans, Dan and Dave. Get ready, there's going
to be a ton of Honolulu blue you in your stadium.
It's not a knock on Bengals. It's not a knock
on Bengals fans or people not showing up. The Lion
fans of the last couple of years have traveled like
no other. And they were in Indie last year and
(29:22):
invaded Lucas Oil. And that's a dry from Detroit to
Indian Detroit to Cinci. No, No, it's not too hard.
You're going to see a lot of Lion fans this weekend.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
All right, Thanks to mad Darien, here's a quick invitation
to join lapp in me for the Bengals pep rally
show this week. We'll be at the on the Rhine
Eatery on the second floor above the downtown Kroger on
Friday from three to six, and our special guest in
the final hour will be cornerback Josh fig Newton. If
you can't make it, you can listen on ESPN fifteen
(29:54):
thirty or by searching for ESPN fifteen thirty on the
iHeartMedia app. That's going to do it for this episode
of the Bengals Booth Podcast brought to you by Pai Core,
Proud to be the Bengals Official HR software provider, by
Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet design to elevate your home,
business and community to a new level, and by Kettering
(30:14):
Health the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health
is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. If you
haven't done so already, please subscribe to this podcast and
if you have a minute, give it a rating or
share a comment that helps more Bengals fans find us.
I'm Dan Hord and thanks for listening to The Bengals
(30:35):
Booth Podcast.
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