June 3, 2025 • 50 mins
Dan Hoard introduces us to the two newest members of the Bengals scouting staff – Josh Hinch and Tyler Ramsey. Then, it’s “Five Questions” with fifth round draft pick Jalen Rivers, followed by Dan’s five observations after watching practice.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hi again everybody. I'm Dan Ward and thanks for downloading
the Bengals Boot Podcast. Nah, welcome to the family edition
as we meet the two newest members of the Bengals
Scouting Department, Josh Hinch and Tyler Ramsey. Then it's the
latest edition of five Questions with one of this year's
(00:24):
draft picks, followed by five observations after watching practice. The
Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Corp,
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
(00:44):
Health the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health
is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now here's
a quick reminder that you can have the latest edition
of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, or
computer by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the
greatest thing since Johnny's Lunch. I was back in my
(01:07):
hometown of Lakewood, New York recently to celebrate my stepfather's
ninetieth birthday. It was awesome to see him, my mom,
my four siblings, and to eat at Johnny's Lunch. Johnny's
is like the Skyline Chili of my hometown, a local
delicacy that you miss if you move away. There are
(01:30):
a wide variety of things on the menu, but you
really go there for one reason, the Texas hots. They're
hot dogs or hamburgers. If you prefer covered with Johnny's
famous sauce. You can add mustard and onions as well.
The sauce is more like a gravy. They list the
ingredients as ground beef, tomatoes, onions, and spices, but the
(01:54):
spices are a secret recipe that gives the sauce its kick.
I wof down three of the hot dogs and bought
a container of the sauce to go, And yes, if
you're interested, they do ship the sauce. If you want
to try it, go to Johnny's Lunch dot com and
(02:15):
send me a picture on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook if
you do. Now let's get to my first guest. The
Bengals recently lost one of their scouts, as Christian Sarkesian
left to become the football gm at Northwestern, his alma mater.
But the Bengals weren't short staffed for long, as they
announced the addition of two scouts on Monday, Josh Hinch,
(02:39):
who spent the last four years with the Patriots after
previously working for Tampa Bay, and Tyler Ramsey, whose NFL
experience includes twelve years in Seattle and three in Carolina.
We get to know them on this edition of the Pod,
beginning alphabetically with Josh Hinch. Josh, let's start with your
(02:59):
path to the NFL. You were running back at Nazarene
University and then South Carolina. Was the goal then to
have a career in football in some way, shape or form.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Absolutely, I just my whole life.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I grew up playing, playing the sport, loving the sport,
and after I found out, you know that my dreams
of being an NFL player were going to come to
an end, had to find another avenue to at least
stay in the game. So initially it was coaching. That's
really all I knew. But the longer I was in
the business, the more options and opportunities came about as
(03:37):
far as scouting in front office opportunities.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
How did you transition from coaching to a front office
type career?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Right?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
So with coaching, that's how I had to start. Right
after my college career. That experience was great, but once
I wanted to you know, elevate myself and push myself
and just try to move up in the rank, so
to say, from divisions to this competition, more opportunities came about.
So when I was at South Carolina, when I went
(04:08):
back the intern, I had opportunity to meet some coaches,
particularly at Northwestern, developed some relationships and ended up finding
a recruiting avenue at Northwestern.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
So that's how I kind of transitioned.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Your resume is interesting. It includes stints in the XFL
and the AAF as a director of player personnel. You're young, now,
how old were you then and what was that experience like?
Speaker 3 (04:36):
So around twenty nine and thirty years old? That was
obviously a blessing in disguise. I didn't know what I
was getting myself into, necessarily because the the you know,
they didn't exist, you know, and so way back when
you know, the USFL a long time ago before I
was born, you know. But when the XFL and the
(04:56):
AAF there were just a blessing for me for my
professonal development and just everything that I've learned, the people
that I worked with, just my expanding my knowledge on
just the full aspect of running and constructing a team.
I mean that those opportunities and those experiences were great.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Most recently, you've been with the New England Patriots, where
your job title was the Southeast Area scout. What leagues
and teams did you cover?
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Yeah, so mostly from say the state of South Carolina
down through Florida, and then you pushed west through Mississippi,
so you got Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida, some
parts of Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
So just mainly the Southeast area.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
It sounds like there must have been a lot of
current Bengals that you've scouted extensively. What guys were you
really high on that you're going to be around now?
Speaker 3 (05:56):
You know, Dan, you know four out of the six
you know that I spent a lot of time on evaluated,
getting to know the person and the player. I'm excited
for all four, I mean I really am. From this
year's draft, Yeah, absolutely, just particularly you know, Demetrius Knight,
Dylan Fairchild, Barry Carter and Jalen Rivers. All four of
(06:18):
those guys I was high on throughout my process with
the Patriots, not only as a player, but as a person.
One thing that stuck out to me about these four
guys were just the character on these guys. With the
type of guys that they are, they're going to be
ready to rock and roll pretty early.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
And these guys love football.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Speaking of Demetrius Knights specifically, as soon as you meet
the guy, you think, all right, he's going to be
a captain someday. What about the on the field player?
What jumped out to you there?
Speaker 3 (06:53):
For me, it was just the physicality, the unique size,
play strength. He played around on two forty is you know,
I had two thirties and he can run. He can run,
he can close, He's explosive, he's a grown man you
know already, you know, so he's gonna come in right
ready to roll. And also the instincts and just the
(07:13):
overall football intellect you can see on the field. He
knows what he sees, He triggers and he goes.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
You mentioned Dylan Fairchild as well, the third round offensive
lineman out of Georgia. What caught your eye when you
watched him?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah, so Dylan, he really caught my last spring as
far as doing the spring scouting process, just the size,
the athleticism, the play strength, just all those components put together.
He just he's gonna make a for a really good
guard for a long time in the league.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Like all these guys, and like all the draft.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Picks, and just like us, you and I, we have
stuff to develop and clean up and you know, critique,
but the natural traits, you know, the stuff that you
have to project. I think there's a high seiling for Dylan.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
We are visiting the Bengal scout, Josh Hinch. Who are
some of your biggest mentors in football?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
I mean I would just have to say so.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
On my journey, in my path, one guy that sticks
out is Clayton Kendrick Holmes. He's the chief of Staff
and Army right now. But he gave me opportunity for
my first job out of college, taking a chance on me.
It was in the Bronx, New York. It was a
Division III school and kind of like a regiment in
(08:36):
military based school. And he threw me in the fire
right away, you know, and let me do everything, you know,
from handling the position to run intramural intramurials for the college,
to uh doing the laundry, to game plan into everything.
So I was exposed to a lot, and I have
nothing but gratitude for Clayton for a year and me
(09:00):
started so early, and then after that just goes on
to coach Sperrier even as a player at South Carolina
to being able to work with him hand in hand.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
As his DPP for the AAF.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
A really good mentor just uh showing me the way
of just having fun with it and join the process
by also getting the work done at the same time.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
And Tim Ruskll who's a former NFL GM. Uh, he was,
he was with me in the AAF and he kind
of uh he springboarded me and he was there for me.
But he allowed me to just you know, get the
full experience and take matters into my own hands. And
he really trusted me and my evaluation process and he
(09:44):
really helped me out a lot. And Mark Treustman, he
taught me a lot to showed me a lot of
attention to detail. And this is all from then, you know,
the a F and XFL. Now you know, this is
before I got to the Patriots. It was just more
trustmen just the way he went about his everyday uh,
(10:05):
just process, you know, a very detailed guy man. So
it was those those guys managed stick out to me.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
What attracted you to the possibility of working with the Bengals.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
I would just say, warned, the opportunity, the continuity, uh
that the Bengals have in the front office, the type
of people that they have in the front office.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
The way they respect who.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
You are, and the value that they saw in me
that I could bring to the table and vice versa.
Is just an exciting situation and opportunity for both parties,
for me and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Did you have any pre existing friendships or relationships on
the staff?
Speaker 3 (10:49):
So I knew Trey Brown through the Spring League, So
the aa F and the XFL gained a lot of
respect for trade throughout that those those are those opportunities,
and we just kept in touch, you know, since then,
and since we've both been in the league, we just
you know, gather a true friendship and relationship.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
It's no secret that the Bengals have a smaller staff
than other NFL teams. Because of that, every voice is
important and heard. Did that stand out to you about
the opportunity of working for Cincinnati?
Speaker 4 (11:27):
It did, it did.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
It's just the like I said, the opportunity and so
my voice could be heard and I can really prove
my value and show my worth and also just helped
the team as a whole. That was really an intriguing
part of the process.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Joshua, Evaluating a player, what are some of the most
important traits that you look for?
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Every player is his own guy, you know, But I
love you know, instincts. You know, instincts number one, because
instincts happen at every position, you know, no matter how
big you are, how small you are, how well do
you see the game. It's something that I really look
forward to evaluating them, looking at and just the you know,
overall movement skills.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
I love speed sort of play.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Speed, and just just the fluidity and just just the
overall movement skills of the guy, you know, at any position.
That's that's the beauty of the sport in this game.
There's so many different positions that you can evaluate in
so many different ways that guys move around and have
to move around to get the point at the point B.
(12:36):
And then just obvious you know, per position, what do
they for their position?
Speaker 2 (12:40):
What do they do? Well, that's what I look at
look for.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
How about character? How does a scout try to get
to the bottom of somebody's character.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
You know, you're dealing with you know, human error, right,
So it's a lot of ways. You just gotta dig
deep and really trust the process and trust your resources,
and you know, gather a bunch of information whether it
be one year or two years or even longer, and
you you just got to trust your process and come
(13:12):
to your own opinion with all the information collected. And
then also, you know, we do a good job the
league itself as far as checking every box throughout the
pre draft process to make sure you get what you
need so from from you know, visiting schools and talking
to your resources. But then after the season you get
to actually sit down with these guys and whether whether
(13:34):
it be the All Star process or the combine process
or the Pro day process, so all that information you
should be able to you know, make an accurate decision
at the end of the day.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Are any of those events especially valuable to you, whether
it is the combine, an All Star Game, a Pro Day, whatever.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Yeah, I think every event throughout the process it's special
in his own way. You and you can get valuable information. Uh.
But if I had to pick one to answer your question, Uh,
the pro days, you know, the pro days because you
get the you get to really interact, uh with the
(14:16):
with the player and the coach. You get to see
obviously you know they're in shorts and they're running around,
but it's just the process of sitting and being able
to sit down with these players in the meetings with
the coaches and really uh you can hash out you
know what you what you think may be concerns or
if they don't have any concerns at all, just really
getting to know the guy again. And then also the
(14:38):
thirty visits are fun too as well, uh, bringing these
bringing these guys in and being able to uh get
to know the full aspect of the guy, you know,
the character, the mental uh and everything that you If
you do have concerns, at the end of the day,
those thirty visions selves should answer answer those questions.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Chatting with Bengals scout Josh Hench, how has ni L
and the transfer portal impacted the job of a scout?
Speaker 3 (15:06):
So with ni L, with these guys getting you know,
getting more more money, I think it for me, I
think it's just you can kind of see a little
bit more of the character, how they handle their money,
you know, what they do with it, how they react
to it. And then the transfer portal, I would say,
you know, it happens so much. I think nowadays the
(15:27):
transfer portal is kind of risen above you know, just
the average high schools, high school scouting, you know, evaluating, recruiting,
because it's because the portal for me, uh, these guys
can ah can absolutely come in one year and get
(15:49):
a lot of money, come into a new environment, not
know anything.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
And then and also with the schools.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
You know, the schools may not know these guys until
towards the end of the year because they're they're just
insfering in right. So that's the impact that our jobs
from a standpoint of we like to get character early,
you know, and within the process let the film play
itself out from an evaluation standpoint, but we want to
try to get to know these guys family situation and
just who they are early on. And I think all
(16:16):
the transfer, all the transfer situations, you have to rely
on where they've been in the past, and if you have,
if you don't have that same school or cover the
same area, then you you know, the information that you're gathering,
you're kind of relying on someone else's If that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
The life of a scout is not the easiest. There's
lots of travel, they're obviously long hours. What do you
love about the job?
Speaker 3 (16:42):
I think, at the end of the day, it's just football.
I mean, if you love football, you love everything about it,
from being as a player to being as a coach,
now being as a scout. Understanding that all those things
tie together, and for me, scouting really fit my personality
(17:02):
more at the end of the day, if that makes sense.
From being able to experience being as a player and
the coach, I just loved the aspect of constructing the
roster and evaluating players and seeing things come to fruition
and just working with like minded people into seeing the
goals be achieved and come come to life. So that's
(17:25):
what I love about scouting.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
How were your teams in the XFL and the AAF.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
So.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
In the AAF we we went seventy one before the
league kind of unfolded, so we were on the role there.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
It was.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
It was, it was good, it was it was a
good team. The XFLUH, we weren't as good record wise,
but I think overall, I think we had a good
team as well. We had we had a good offense
and defense, just more or less coming together is going
to make us a little bit more time to come together,
as I felt like we were down a stretch and
(18:04):
then Covid struck.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Everybody that does this is trying to win a ring.
What do you think of the Bengals roster as you
join the organization.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
I think it's a win now roster. I think there's
they're ready to go.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Obviously, it's a high octane offense as far as you know,
skill players and the quarterback. Obviously, the offensive line I
think is will be very improved this year. Defensively too.
With everything that's going on with the you know, from
the draft picks to the veterans to the coaches.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
It's early for.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Me right, so I really couldn't speak too much on it,
but I do feel like everything is going to be
improved and ready to compete at a high level.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
You're in your mid thirties. What's your ultimate goal professionally?
Speaker 3 (18:58):
To win the Super Bowl? I haven't won a Super
Bowl yet, so that's my ultimate goal. To win Super
Bowl by any means. I don't really care about what
title I have. I just want to do that. But
I also would like to, you know, be a contributor
and show my value on a Super Bowl, on a
(19:18):
Super Bowl roster in the Super Bowl team, which I
think this, you know, knock on wood, guy Will and
I think this is the opportunity, you know. So I'm
just gonna work my butt off and do my best
and do my part and see where it goes.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
We're excited to have you with the organization. I look
forward to meeting you in person, and I appreciate your
time today.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Thank you, Josh, thank you, Dan. Appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Up next Tyler Ramsey, who will look to add a
Bengal Super Bowl ring to the one he earned while
scouting for Seattle. Tyler, did you grow up dreaming of
a career in football?
Speaker 5 (19:55):
I dreamt. I had a lot of dreams.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
But when I I realized I wasn't going to be
in the NBA, you know, I started evaluating other athletes
around me and realized that I had a pretty good
eye for it, so kind of fell into it. Got
pretty lucky to graduating in the recession in two thousand
and eight. I thought that was, you know, going to
(20:18):
go into banking or be a financial analyst or something
like that, and the fact that nobody was hiring anybody
at the time kind of did me well because I
was able to pivot and you know, chase chase a
dream and I've always been a competitor, always been an athlete, so.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
You know, working in professional sports was a goal for sure.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Well, let's talk a little bit about your athletic days.
Because you're from the state of Washington. You went to
a high school that's got a storied football history and traditions,
a tradition rather eleven state titles in a thirteen year period,
and you are part of three of those state championships.
How did that impact your love of this sport?
Speaker 6 (20:52):
It was a well oiled machine. Out of those the
two years we did not win after I had already
graduate weight it was against Kellen Moore, who's who's now
an NFL head coach, and Jake Locker, who was a
four first round pick.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
So we had some pretty steep competition.
Speaker 6 (21:08):
But it really set the foundation, you know, for work
ethic and discipline and you know, toughness, Like there would
be one hundred and ten guys in that program that
would be in the weight room the Monday morning after
the state championship and it was just like all the
work you put in the off season, all the work
you put in is gonna you know, pay off a
year from now and and not just steamrolled for you know,
well over a decade of just kind of a blue
(21:30):
collar work ethic and the toughness about us.
Speaker 5 (21:32):
We ran the wing t so you know, just run
the heck.
Speaker 6 (21:35):
Out of the ball and play good defense. It was
a winning recipe in the state of Washington when I
was there.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
You went to the University of Washington, but did not
play football correct.
Speaker 6 (21:45):
Correct, Like I said, it was a wing te quarterback.
So my highlight tape was very, very small. Graduating high school,
so I had some opportunities to to you know, go
to Division three schools and.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
You know, potentially compete for first spot there.
Speaker 6 (22:01):
But you know, kind of did someself scouting there as
a as a you know, teenager, and figured that my
future wasn't on the on the field, so you might
as well get my life started and go through the
business school at the University of Washington.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
We are visiting the Bengal scout Tyler Ramsey. Let's talk
about your professional career. You spent a dozen years with
the Seahawks. You were on the staff when they won
the Super Bowl in the twenty thirteen season of forty
three to eight win in the Super Bowl over the
Denver Broncos. Can you describe the emotion of when the
confetti is falling in a game like that.
Speaker 5 (22:35):
Yeah, it was totally surreal.
Speaker 6 (22:37):
I mean, I think it was a safety on the
first play of the game that went over Payton Manning's head,
so at halftime, I think it was twenty two to zero.
Percy Harvin returned to kick at the beginning of the
second half of his twenty nine to zero and it's
just such a weird, you know, excitement sitting there for
almost two more quarters, being like, I think we just
won the Super Bowl, but you know, you still got
to finish the game, and the team did a great job,
(22:57):
you know, finishing it out.
Speaker 5 (22:59):
So it was all it was.
Speaker 6 (23:00):
It was It was a very elongated emotion because you
were sitting there just on the edge of your seat, like,
when can we get down to the field and get
with the team.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
How does winning one ring affect your desire to win another?
Speaker 4 (23:12):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (23:12):
I mean that's that's why we're all doing this, is
to you know, hoys to the trophy at the end
if you're if you're a competitor, obviously there's a lot
of stuff around the game, but it made me hungrier.
I was trying to you know, we were fortunate enough
to get back that next year and and didn't turn
out so well, but it really motivated me. I actually,
(23:34):
uh signed up for grad school immediately after that second
Super Bowl, just being like, how can I challenge myself?
Speaker 5 (23:40):
How can I do something better?
Speaker 6 (23:42):
And got my master's in business administration while I was
scouting for the Seahawks.
Speaker 5 (23:47):
So it really you know, kind of stoked a fire.
Like you know, being the best in the world takes
takes a lot.
Speaker 6 (23:52):
So we we need to continue to kind of you know,
grow and and and push the limits. And personally, that's
going back to school felt like the right choice the time.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
Tyler, who are your biggest football mentors?
Speaker 6 (24:04):
Yeah, I'd probably go a little bit back to high
school as well as with the Seahawks. In high school,
my head coach, Butch Gonchrof, who was there for all
those championship runs, really you know, instilled kind of the
work ethic and blue collar, you know style. He was
a really demanding coach, but he was always your friend.
(24:26):
He he made you want to play for him and
just his kind of genuine style just being an authentic
butch my defensive coordinator. There was James Hasty, the former
dB for the Chiefs Jets, and ironically he was the
original bump and run, you know, prototype corner for Pete
Carroll when he was with the Jets. And then I
was fortunate enough to work with Pete in twenty ten,
(24:48):
my second year in the league, and and you know,
eleven years after that. But Pete, Pete is always going
to be a huge influence. He's He's got a rare
quality about him in terms of, you know, just the charisma,
that energy, the passion, the competitiveness.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
He he makes football fun again. And you could talk
to any of the.
Speaker 6 (25:05):
Players that have ever played for him of how much
you know, they refell in love with the game, uh
under under his leadership.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
How does somebody learn how to become a scout? Are
you taught? Is it trial and error? How did you
develop the skills for this profession?
Speaker 6 (25:22):
Yeah, you know it can be a little bit top
but there there's definitely some some instinct involved. A lot
of scouting is obviously gathering information, and you know, just
being detail oriented and and and and having you know,
the personality to walk into a you know, a Division
one coaches office and ask for information when he doesn't
have a reason to or or trust you or.
Speaker 5 (25:42):
Know you at all.
Speaker 6 (25:43):
So you've got to have a little savvy there. And
then the instincts when it comes to just evaluating the
way a guy moves, what what a team's going to
be asking him to do, and does he have the
physical capability in his body to do that. That's just
something that I've kind of always possessed. I've always you know,
looked around on any athletic field and I'm mad like
that guy moves different than everybody else, or you know,
watching the NBA growing up every Sunday on NBC with
(26:06):
just being like having an appreciation for God given talent
that I never had.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
This is something that I've always possessed.
Speaker 6 (26:13):
But you can definitely work on all the ins and
outs of details, but at the end of the day,
if you're working hard and watching film and writing the
wrong grades and putting the wrong projections on players, You're
not gonna be in the business that long.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
What traits do you prioritize as a scout.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
I think there's, you know, a minimum threshold of athleticism
and speed and all that stuff, and if you don't
meet those, you're just gonna really struggle no matter how
you know, smart and tough and competitive you are. But
once you get over that minimum threshold, depending on the position,
you know, it's really the competitiveness and the passion and
the toughness. You know, there's always gonna be hard days,
there's gonna be bad plays, there's.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
Gonna be.
Speaker 6 (26:52):
You know, things that don't go your way, and to
have the competitive confidence in yourself to continue to just
come back and next play mentality. I think that really
carries a lot of players in the league because it's
it's not smooth sale. They've always been the best player
they get to the league and everybody's the best player
from everywhere. So just having somewhat of an irrational confidence
that that you can succeed despite you know, everything that's
(27:15):
going on around you.
Speaker 5 (27:18):
You like to see that.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
We're chatting with Bengals scout Tyler Ramsey. What attract did
you to working for Cincinnati?
Speaker 6 (27:24):
Yeah, obviously I had some connections in the front office
with with Steve and and Trey and guys that I
have developed relationships over the years, crossing you know a
lot of pass scouting out west back back in their
early days in the League of Mine as well, and.
Speaker 5 (27:39):
We developed a good relationship.
Speaker 6 (27:40):
So and and I've always had a ton of respect
for for you know, getting out on the road and
seeing Bengals coaches out there and doing workouts and really
doing the work and collaborating with the staff. And then
as well as the setup. You know, everybody talks about,
you know, a small front office, but I think it's great.
I think you have in your hands in pro and
college scouting and really being being part of the decision
(28:00):
making process and being a part of the team puts
a lot on your plate and it forces you to
you know, to grow, to learn, to to you know,
get outside your comfort zone a little bit. And then
obviously you know coach Taylor, I've heard nothing but awesome
things about and then having you know, Joe Burrow, Jamar
Chase t Higgins and an offense that's high flying is exciting.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
With the smaller staff, every voice matters and every voice
is heard. Is that something that's appealing to you about
coming to Cincinnati.
Speaker 5 (28:30):
Yeah, of course you you I mean you do the work.
If you do the work, and you you know, put
spending the amount of hours that we do, you know,
away from our families, on the road, digging guys up
at small schools, doing all that stuff. Feeling like that
matters when you say something is really important.
Speaker 6 (28:49):
I've gone years, I've been around a lot of good people,
but I've gone years where we haven't acquired a single player.
Speaker 5 (28:54):
That I evaluated in my area.
Speaker 6 (28:56):
Or after the draft, and you just kind of, you know,
like I just spent nine months doing and we didn't
ad a single guy, uh that I scouted, which you
know happens. So just being able to put the work
in have your voice heard, whether it's you know, they
truly believe and I want to go with your opinion
or not that that happens, but you know it gives you,
(29:19):
you know, ownership and agency over your own your own
job and really makes you hold yourself to a higher standard.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
After your time in Seattle, you spent a few years
in Carolina and then last year working with the Senior
Bowl staff. In those roles are their current Bengals that
you scouted extensively, that you are high on and kind
of looking forward to now being part of the same team.
Speaker 6 (29:43):
Yeah, I mean Demitrius Knight would be one of them.
The second round pick. I followed him pretty closely this
past year living in Charlotte. I went to a couple
of South Carolina games and learned quite a bit about
him and his whole story from Georgia Tech to you
Charlotte to South Carolina. Is a pretty cool one, really
mature kid. I think he's got a ton of upside too,
So I'm excited to see him really step in and compete.
(30:07):
You know, Schmart Stewarts is likewise like he was a
guy that you couldn't help. But notice on tape how big,
how athletic, how disruptive, how hard he plays like he
is a competitor. So I'm excited to see him actually
get on the field and all that. But those two
guys this year definitely jumped off the tape.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
How is nil in the transfer portal impacted the life
of a scout.
Speaker 6 (30:33):
It definitely adds another layer that you're gonna have to,
you know, follow up on relationships from a guy that
could potentially be at three schools like Demetrius was.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
So you got to.
Speaker 6 (30:43):
Really dig, You got to really find a way to
sift through a lot of different information. You know, a
school where a guy has some success for a couple
of years, then jumps in the portal and and ends
up somewhere else for for a higher dollar amount. Naturally
the school he left might be a little bit bitter,
So the information you're getting out of that school might
not be as you know, uh as as uh loving
(31:07):
loving a kid up as his current school that he's
playing at. So, you know, just having the maturity and
and you know, nuance to to sift your way through
all the information that that's coming your way definitely takes
some skill. But it also, you know, guys are getting
paid already, so you don't have to worry about what
how they're going to react to money in the NFL,
(31:28):
so it's somewhat makes it a little bit easier that
they show who they are sooner to us versus you know,
you draft a guy and you have no idea how
he's going to react to moving and money and all
that stuff and and fame, and then they've been exposed
to it for the most part, So it's somewhat you know,
makes it a little bit easier to see who the
real guys are. You know, the running back that that
gets a big an aisle check and he and he
(31:50):
shares it with all of his offensive lines. Stuff stuff
like that, where you can just see the true nature
of of guys. Then that stuff that translates to the
NFL pretty easily.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
A life of a scout isn't necessarily an easy one.
You travel a lot, you work very long hours. As
you noted, you have three young kids. What is it
about the job that you love?
Speaker 5 (32:10):
It's it's really the people.
Speaker 6 (32:11):
It's it's Football is you know, obviously in my opinion,
the best game in the world, just because of the
ability to to bring so many people from so many
different walks of life together for for a common cause.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
It's easy to to relate with, you know.
Speaker 6 (32:27):
It's it's something that the game day still gets me
fired up.
Speaker 5 (32:30):
The athlete of me never went away.
Speaker 6 (32:31):
So, you know, being able to impact a team and
a roster and a culture for guys that I genuinely
believe in and and I feel like play the game
the right way and and and carry themselves the right way.
Speaker 5 (32:42):
It's it's just fun trying to trying to build a
team like that.
Speaker 6 (32:45):
So yeah, it's it's it's just you know, always going
back to the little kid that fell in love with it,
like tap into that passion.
Speaker 5 (32:55):
Even though it's a it's a tedious job.
Speaker 6 (32:57):
You got to remember it's you're You're pretty lucky to
and blessed to be in this situation.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
You've got a super Bowl ring. You know what a
championship team looks like. How close are the Bengals to
being a team that can contend for a Lombardi.
Speaker 5 (33:11):
I think really close.
Speaker 6 (33:13):
I'm actually watching our guys right now, so I'm trying
to get up caught up to speed before mini camp
next week because you obviously know the the main players,
but some of the guys that on the depth chart
that I'm not too familiar with just want to get
a field. But I think when you have you know,
number nine behind center and the offensive weapons that he has,
(33:33):
it gives you a chance in any game. So I
think if a couple of areas, you know, can improve,
like it's it's not too far away. It's it's really cool.
The NFL is really cool in the sense that every
every year is a different year. It's it's not what
happened last year is now what's going to happen next year?
It's like if you capture this you know, six month
run and you start gelling like the Bengals did back
(33:54):
in twenty one, it can be a special year. So
I don't think it's too far away at all, obviously
to continue to add.
Speaker 5 (34:00):
And grow and get better on both sides of the ball.
But yeah, it's gonna be fun to watch.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Firstand well, we are happy to have you in the
Bengals family. I appreciate your time today and look forward
to meeting you in person. Thanks so much, Tyler.
Speaker 5 (34:13):
All right, Dan, thank thank you.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Josh and Tyler aren't the only additions to the player
personnel department is The Bengals also hired Trey Labounty to
join Sam Francis in their football analytics department. Trey earned
a master's degree in sports analytics at Miami University. Before
getting to my next guest, here's a quick reminder that
the Bengals Booth podcast is brought to you by pay Core,
(34:38):
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 fans. Kettering Health is
the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now time to
move on to another edition Five Questions with a Bengals rookie.
(35:03):
Time for five Questions with Bengals rookie offensive lineman Jalen River.
Is question number one. You shared with us on draft
night that your mom, your dad, and your stepfather all
spent more than thirty years in the Navy, So naturally
we assume that you had a disciplined childhood. Tell me
something that you weren't allowed to do that your buddies were.
Speaker 4 (35:26):
That's tough because it was so many things.
Speaker 7 (35:28):
But one thing I will say is I couldn't go
out at all during the week, and no matter if
I finished my homework or anything like that during the week,
didn't matter what age I was in high school, middle school,
during the week, no, no school night, No you gotta
wake up, you gotta, you gotta. I went to practice,
(35:49):
came back, finished my homework, do whatever. And there was
a curfew I had sometimes because I'm not a morning
person all the time, sayisly when I was in high school.
So it was like, oh, you're gonna put you phone
downstairs after ten o'clock or something or nine thirty.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
So yeah, so there are probably times you didn't like that,
but it clearly is paid off. Will you do that
with your children someday?
Speaker 7 (36:13):
It's yes, but if they got to show me that
the trustworthy did is discipline and they're disciplined enough to
put their phone down at certain time. But you know, teenagers,
you're probably not.
Speaker 4 (36:22):
So got one. Probably yeah, so I'll probably do the same.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
All right.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
Question number two for Jalen Rivers. We all know that
the perfect GPA is four point zero. From what I've read,
your GPA in high school was four point three. Did
you ever have a B?
Speaker 4 (36:39):
Yes?
Speaker 7 (36:39):
I did, yeah, but it was in the high b's
you know, anything anything a bee or less. I was
mad at myself, so I strived for all a's honor,
all a honor roll. But yeah, I did good bees.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
Well my many obviously of the four to three gpa.
Did school come relative flee easily to you? Or was
that gpa the the product of a lot of grinding
and hard work?
Speaker 7 (37:07):
A product of a lot of grind and hard work.
I mean, I credit to my parents, is me staying
on top of my school work. So it was tough
because some things I weren't good at, like math, word
problems and stuff like that. When I was young, I
overthought the question a lot, like it might be, this
might be, But you know, ever overcome that over years
and you start getting better at it, and it's like,
(37:28):
you know, it's kind of getting easy because I put
so much work into being a great student.
Speaker 1 (37:32):
So yeah, Question three for Jalen Rivers. You're a big
man six six by three hundred and twenty pounds. Where
does your size come from?
Speaker 4 (37:39):
My family?
Speaker 7 (37:40):
Both sides, my mom's side, well, both sides of my parents.
My granddad's were above six foot, like six two six three.
Speaker 4 (37:52):
Yeah, both sides, both sides my family.
Speaker 1 (37:54):
Is your mom six feet.
Speaker 4 (37:55):
Tall, she's six foot my dad six two sixty three.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
Yeah, it was meant to be Question number four. In
addition to having a great high school football career, you
are a state champion in the shotput. That's one of
those events that obviously doesn't attract a bunch of fans.
But did you enjoy competing in track and field?
Speaker 4 (38:17):
I loved it.
Speaker 7 (38:17):
I enjoyed it every because I started my seventh grade
year when I started middle school up until obviously not
up to my senior because I end up leaving early
to coming up go to Miami.
Speaker 4 (38:26):
But yep, I enjoyed it. Every single year. I look
forward to the spring to be honest, to a thorough
shot put all right.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
Fifth and final question for rookie Jalen Rivers. Tell us
something about you. But not many people know.
Speaker 7 (38:39):
That I'm a great cook. One of my biggest hobbies
right now that I've just gotten into, like the past
three years, it was cooking so I can cook some
chicken pumbers on with some rigatoni, pasta, jerk.
Speaker 4 (38:55):
Chicken.
Speaker 7 (38:57):
Stuff, salmon stuff, chicken, home mac and cheese, all that stuff.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
Yeah, I'm looking for an invite to your house. Are
you good at following a recipe or do you have
a natural ability to think, Okay, these spices will work
well with this dish, et cetera.
Speaker 7 (39:13):
No, First I do follow recipe. And then also my
dad he's a he's a chef, he's a he caters,
so I can get some ideas from him.
Speaker 4 (39:19):
He teaches me stuff.
Speaker 7 (39:20):
So but when I fight figure out a recipe, I
start putting my own spin on it. When I started
learning some new things and tips.
Speaker 1 (39:26):
Offensive lineman four to three GPA state champion in the
shot put in chef Jalen Rivers, We've learned a lot, sir.
Speaker 4 (39:35):
Nice Meetia.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
Great to have you here in Cincinnati and thank you,
appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (39:40):
Now let's go.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
From five questions to five observations after watching the Bengals
practice and talking to players and coaches on Tuesday. Topic
number one is Cam Taylor Brett. After a disappointing third
NFL season that saw him get benched at times, Cam
is embracing a fresh start under new defensive coordinator Al Golden.
(40:02):
Taylor Brett intercepted Joe Burrow on Tuesday when he lined
up as a slot corner and picked off a pass
intended for Mike Gasicki on a quick out route. Here's
cornerbacks coach Chuck Burks, followed by Taylor Brett. What are
you emphasizing with him as you try to get him
back to you know the level of play he's capable.
Speaker 8 (40:22):
Of, just discipline and consistency, and we always talked about
tnc doing the things that takes no takes no talent,
and you know that's my main focus with him to
spring taking care of those things you know stands alignment,
assignment and having your eyes in the right place and
when mistakes are made, no excuses, no explanations, goes to
an explode.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
Anything stand out on that play that kind of fits
what you were talking about.
Speaker 8 (40:46):
Well, what stands out is he was in his correct
leverage and you know that that's where it starts, and
he was in position. The ball showed up and once
cam gets himself in position, he has better ball skills
than you know, a lot of guys I've coached in
my career.
Speaker 6 (41:01):
So now I'm not surprised he.
Speaker 4 (41:03):
Made that play.
Speaker 8 (41:04):
So he just has to be consistent in putting himself
in position to make that play.
Speaker 1 (41:09):
Is there anything about that play that illustrates what you're
working on to try to have the type of year
that you know you're capable of having.
Speaker 9 (41:17):
Honestly, just put me in different positions on the field
to guard different people. I believe on that one, I
was just on the tight end at the moment to
just held my leverage. Then, regardless of what he did
at the top of the road, is just you know,
use my guy given ability to go get the ball in.
Speaker 1 (41:31):
So you're moving around a lot outside slot wherever matter. Yeah,
be all over with Mike Hilton gone. Is that what
the secondary is going to have to do by a
bunch of people moving around to try to make up
for his loss?
Speaker 9 (41:46):
Yeah, I think it's a there's a win at the
end of the day, honestly still man, just in the
sense of I believe everybody can guard anybody within our
back end. It doesn't matter you know, body type or anything.
We can all be interchangeable.
Speaker 4 (41:57):
So yeah, they'll be here there.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
You just never know at your confidence level at this
stage of the ots.
Speaker 4 (42:05):
That feel great. Yeah, I'm lit right now, man.
Speaker 9 (42:08):
I know everybody has come in in the right way man,
and not even thinking about you know, last year. You know,
it's a new mindset for me, for my teammates, and
it just at end and they will come.
Speaker 4 (42:20):
To work every day.
Speaker 1 (42:21):
By the way, on the very next snap after Cam's interception,
Joe Burrow floated a long pass for Jamar Chase, who
beat DJ Turner and caught it in stride for a
seventy yard touchdown. Topic number two is Dax Hill. I
watched Dax working out on a rehab field and it
was great to see him running and cutting under the
(42:42):
watchful eye of the Bengals outstanding rehab coordinator Nick Cosgray.
Dax is coming back from a torn acl that he
suffered in early October, and he's hoping to be fully
cleared in time for training camp. Once he's back, it
will be interesting to see where he lines up up.
Hill was the bengals best outside corner in the first
(43:04):
five weeks of the season last year, but with Mike
Hilton gone, there's an opening at slot corner, where Dak's
often lined up in college at Michigan. Once again, here's
cornerbacks coach Chuck Burks.
Speaker 8 (43:17):
Well, with Dax, I'm gonna put him in position to
cover in blitz wherever that's at, so corner whatever. You know,
he's a guy that has an elite skill set to
cover and it has an elite skill set to blitz
and I plan to utilize that. And however that really manifests.
Speaker 1 (43:36):
What is the mix of guys that will compete Tree
placed Mike Hilton in the slot all of them.
Speaker 8 (43:42):
You know, today, we've had or this past week, we've
had Cam at Nickel, We've had Josh Newton at Nickel,
We've had j d at Nickel. You know, Dax have
placed some nickels, So to me, it's really more about matchups,
not necessarily positions. We have multiple guys who made up
and side, but it's about the matchup of that week
(44:03):
and how we plan to approach defending that team that week.
Speaker 1 (44:06):
Jay D, by the way, is Jalen Davis, who has
been a valuable reserve in his five seasons in Cincinnati.
Topic three is wide receiver three. The Bengals have the
best one to two punch at that position in the
league in Jamar Chase and T Higgins. And while there's
growing optimism that Jermaine Burton can be a more dependable
(44:26):
pro in his second season, we should not forget that
the Bengals already have a number three receiver on the
rise in Andre Yosi Vash. The third year wide out
out of Princeton had thirty six sketches for four hundred
and seventy nine yards and six touchdowns last year, then
spent another portion of his off season working with renowned
(44:47):
receivers coach Drew Lieberman. I discussed Yosi Vash with T.
Higgins at this time last year. I remember a lot
of guys were talking about Yosi Vash and how much
improvement he had made. See seen another step in Andre
this year.
Speaker 10 (45:02):
Oh man, hell yeah, you know, Yoshi, I don't he
teaching me, thinks. And it's night and day from from
this from last year to this year. And y'all gonna see,
y'all gonna see this year, Yoshi's gonna really gonna come
on this ship.
Speaker 1 (45:15):
He's teaching you things.
Speaker 4 (45:17):
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 10 (45:18):
I can always learn from the other receivers, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 4 (45:20):
I learned from.
Speaker 10 (45:21):
Chase, I learned from Charlie, I learned from Jamain. I
learned from everybody. And I just do anything to put,
you know, put in my bag.
Speaker 1 (45:27):
So so if he's taking those kinds of strides knowing
that the Bengals have the best one two punch in
the league with you and Jamar, I mean, is this
three headed monster.
Speaker 10 (45:38):
Definitely could be? You know, that's what we're looking forward
to doing. Obviously, y'all see him. He's got bigger, and
he got stronger.
Speaker 5 (45:45):
He didn't got.
Speaker 10 (45:46):
Faster, he's twitcher and he's just he know everything right now.
And man, it's just it's been great.
Speaker 1 (45:52):
To see Andre has ten touchdown catches in his first
two seasons and for what it's worth. That's more than
Zay Flowers or Puka Nakua, who are also taken in
the twenty twenty three draft topic number four. You get
what you emphasize. Al Golden uses an acronym to sum
(46:13):
up his defensive philosophy. Its best B E, S, T.
The B is for ball disruption, E is for effort,
S is for situational masters, and T is for tackling.
That first letter B for ball disruption really stands out
at practice because the defense begins the day by going
(46:35):
through four stations where they work at punching, stripping, and
ripping the ball away. Here's Logan Wilson on how Golden
has everybody focusing on forcing turnovers.
Speaker 11 (46:49):
Just always finding ways to affect the ball. I mean
even in our daily unit defensive meeting tests, like where
he'll he'll bring certain situations up based on how the
ball carrier is holding the ball, how we're going to
attack it, where our profile is, are we behind him,
are were in front of him, around the side of him,
like all those different things. So that becomes second nature.
We're not thinking about it in the game, and when
(47:09):
you're always harping on it and you're always working it
just like I said, it just becomes second nature and
it's just and then that translates the turnovers in the.
Speaker 1 (47:15):
Games, those four little stations. There's something a little bit
different about each thing.
Speaker 11 (47:20):
Right, Yes, Yeah, it's about how you're attacking the ball.
Are you ripping it or you punt? Are you Rodeo
upper cutting it, or we're near in the hand of
the quarterback trying to make plays on the wall. Not
necessarily just turnovers, but even batting a ball down sorry,
because it could be like a third down play and
you bat the ball on a complete pass and we're
off the field. So those are also good ways to
get quote unquote turnovers, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (47:41):
So is it the classic case of you get what
you emphasize?
Speaker 11 (47:45):
Yeah, you get out what you put in. And like
that's I mean, that's technically before practice. So like guys
are choosing to come out and get those reps and
we're not. He's not asking to get you fifteen reps
of each one, like you're just getting one rep of
each And so when you're just constantly adding layers to
your to your game, like I said, it becomes second
eh strong game days and even in practice when we
hit training camp, so that we're because when we're always
(48:07):
punching at the ball, it's gonna it's not only gonna
help us defensive, but it's gonna help our office too.
Speaker 1 (48:11):
Al Golden's Notre Dame defense had thirty three takeaways last year.
That was two more than any other team in the country.
My fifth and final observation involves tight end Mike Gasicki.
There's always a period early in practice where the quarterbacks
go through a series of drills where they work on
moving around in the pocket before making off platform throws,
(48:35):
and more often than not, the person on the receiving
end of those throws is Gasicki. It made me wonder
why he's the guy that gets to do that.
Speaker 12 (48:45):
It's because I don't run down on kickoff, for one.
So they're they're they're doing special teams drills, and you know,
rather than just get over there and stretching or getting
ready for practice or things like that, I just follow
the quarterbacks and just get over there.
Speaker 4 (49:00):
I like to get over there.
Speaker 12 (49:01):
And you know, they're they're talking about some of the
player when we're running practice, some of the looks that
they're expecting just things like that and then just warming
up and just getting a couple of extra catches before practice.
So it's just something I've always done and something I
enjoy doing.
Speaker 1 (49:13):
I know, you catch a ton of balls off you know,
your gut jugs at them and everything, but is it
different just to get in extra catches from a ball from.
Speaker 12 (49:21):
Yeah, yeah, just because it's it's the jugs machine is
such a you know, specific point and you know where
it's going to be every time, and you know our
quarterbacks are extremely accurate. But it's just always different catching
it from from a.
Speaker 5 (49:35):
Human than a drugs machine.
Speaker 12 (49:36):
So so it's like, I like doing that before practice.
Speaker 5 (49:39):
Feel like it.
Speaker 12 (49:40):
You know, it gets me ready mentally and physically, and
then you go out there and make plays.
Speaker 1 (49:43):
So it certainly worked last year when Mike had sixty
five catches and earned a three year contract extension. That's
going to do it for this episode of the Bengals
Booth Podcast, brought to you by pay Corps, proud to
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future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business
(50:05):
and community to a new level and by kettering 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
(50:25):
Dan Horde and thanks for listening to the Bengals Booth
podcast
Hi again everybody. I'm Dan Ward and thanks for downloading
the Bengals Boot Podcast. Nah, welcome to the family edition
as we meet the two newest members of the Bengals
Scouting Department, Josh Hinch and Tyler Ramsey. Then it's the
latest edition of five Questions with one of this year's
(00:24):
draft picks, followed by five observations after watching practice. The
Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Corp,
Proud to be the Bengals official HR software provider, by
Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet design to elevate your home,
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(00:44):
Health the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health
is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now here's
a quick reminder that you can have the latest edition
of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, or
computer by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the
greatest thing since Johnny's Lunch. I was back in my
(01:07):
hometown of Lakewood, New York recently to celebrate my stepfather's
ninetieth birthday. It was awesome to see him, my mom,
my four siblings, and to eat at Johnny's Lunch. Johnny's
is like the Skyline Chili of my hometown, a local
delicacy that you miss if you move away. There are
(01:30):
a wide variety of things on the menu, but you
really go there for one reason, the Texas hots. They're
hot dogs or hamburgers. If you prefer covered with Johnny's
famous sauce. You can add mustard and onions as well.
The sauce is more like a gravy. They list the
ingredients as ground beef, tomatoes, onions, and spices, but the
(01:54):
spices are a secret recipe that gives the sauce its kick.
I wof down three of the hot dogs and bought
a container of the sauce to go, And yes, if
you're interested, they do ship the sauce. If you want
to try it, go to Johnny's Lunch dot com and
(02:15):
send me a picture on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook if
you do. Now let's get to my first guest. The
Bengals recently lost one of their scouts, as Christian Sarkesian
left to become the football gm at Northwestern, his alma mater.
But the Bengals weren't short staffed for long, as they
announced the addition of two scouts on Monday, Josh Hinch,
(02:39):
who spent the last four years with the Patriots after
previously working for Tampa Bay, and Tyler Ramsey, whose NFL
experience includes twelve years in Seattle and three in Carolina.
We get to know them on this edition of the Pod,
beginning alphabetically with Josh Hinch. Josh, let's start with your
(02:59):
path to the NFL. You were running back at Nazarene
University and then South Carolina. Was the goal then to
have a career in football in some way, shape or form.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Absolutely, I just my whole life.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I grew up playing, playing the sport, loving the sport,
and after I found out, you know that my dreams
of being an NFL player were going to come to
an end, had to find another avenue to at least
stay in the game. So initially it was coaching. That's
really all I knew. But the longer I was in
the business, the more options and opportunities came about as
(03:37):
far as scouting in front office opportunities.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
How did you transition from coaching to a front office
type career?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Right?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
So with coaching, that's how I had to start. Right
after my college career. That experience was great, but once
I wanted to you know, elevate myself and push myself
and just try to move up in the rank, so
to say, from divisions to this competition, more opportunities came about.
So when I was at South Carolina, when I went
(04:08):
back the intern, I had opportunity to meet some coaches,
particularly at Northwestern, developed some relationships and ended up finding
a recruiting avenue at Northwestern.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
So that's how I kind of transitioned.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Your resume is interesting. It includes stints in the XFL
and the AAF as a director of player personnel. You're young, now,
how old were you then and what was that experience like?
Speaker 3 (04:36):
So around twenty nine and thirty years old? That was
obviously a blessing in disguise. I didn't know what I
was getting myself into, necessarily because the the you know,
they didn't exist, you know, and so way back when
you know, the USFL a long time ago before I
was born, you know. But when the XFL and the
(04:56):
AAF there were just a blessing for me for my
professonal development and just everything that I've learned, the people
that I worked with, just my expanding my knowledge on
just the full aspect of running and constructing a team.
I mean that those opportunities and those experiences were great.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Most recently, you've been with the New England Patriots, where
your job title was the Southeast Area scout. What leagues
and teams did you cover?
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Yeah, so mostly from say the state of South Carolina
down through Florida, and then you pushed west through Mississippi,
so you got Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida, some
parts of Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
So just mainly the Southeast area.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
It sounds like there must have been a lot of
current Bengals that you've scouted extensively. What guys were you
really high on that you're going to be around now?
Speaker 3 (05:56):
You know, Dan, you know four out of the six
you know that I spent a lot of time on evaluated,
getting to know the person and the player. I'm excited
for all four, I mean I really am. From this
year's draft, Yeah, absolutely, just particularly you know, Demetrius Knight,
Dylan Fairchild, Barry Carter and Jalen Rivers. All four of
(06:18):
those guys I was high on throughout my process with
the Patriots, not only as a player, but as a person.
One thing that stuck out to me about these four
guys were just the character on these guys. With the
type of guys that they are, they're going to be
ready to rock and roll pretty early.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
And these guys love football.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Speaking of Demetrius Knights specifically, as soon as you meet
the guy, you think, all right, he's going to be
a captain someday. What about the on the field player?
What jumped out to you there?
Speaker 3 (06:53):
For me, it was just the physicality, the unique size,
play strength. He played around on two forty is you know,
I had two thirties and he can run. He can run,
he can close, He's explosive, he's a grown man you
know already, you know, so he's gonna come in right
ready to roll. And also the instincts and just the
(07:13):
overall football intellect you can see on the field. He
knows what he sees, He triggers and he goes.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
You mentioned Dylan Fairchild as well, the third round offensive
lineman out of Georgia. What caught your eye when you
watched him?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah, so Dylan, he really caught my last spring as
far as doing the spring scouting process, just the size,
the athleticism, the play strength, just all those components put together.
He just he's gonna make a for a really good
guard for a long time in the league.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Like all these guys, and like all the draft.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Picks, and just like us, you and I, we have
stuff to develop and clean up and you know, critique,
but the natural traits, you know, the stuff that you
have to project. I think there's a high seiling for Dylan.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
We are visiting the Bengal scout, Josh Hinch. Who are
some of your biggest mentors in football?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
I mean I would just have to say so.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
On my journey, in my path, one guy that sticks
out is Clayton Kendrick Holmes. He's the chief of Staff
and Army right now. But he gave me opportunity for
my first job out of college, taking a chance on me.
It was in the Bronx, New York. It was a
Division III school and kind of like a regiment in
(08:36):
military based school. And he threw me in the fire
right away, you know, and let me do everything, you know,
from handling the position to run intramural intramurials for the college,
to uh doing the laundry, to game plan into everything.
So I was exposed to a lot, and I have
nothing but gratitude for Clayton for a year and me
(09:00):
started so early, and then after that just goes on
to coach Sperrier even as a player at South Carolina
to being able to work with him hand in hand.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
As his DPP for the AAF.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
A really good mentor just uh showing me the way
of just having fun with it and join the process
by also getting the work done at the same time.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
And Tim Ruskll who's a former NFL GM. Uh, he was,
he was with me in the AAF and he kind
of uh he springboarded me and he was there for me.
But he allowed me to just you know, get the
full experience and take matters into my own hands. And
he really trusted me and my evaluation process and he
(09:44):
really helped me out a lot. And Mark Treustman, he
taught me a lot to showed me a lot of
attention to detail. And this is all from then, you know,
the a F and XFL. Now you know, this is
before I got to the Patriots. It was just more
trustmen just the way he went about his everyday uh,
(10:05):
just process, you know, a very detailed guy man. So
it was those those guys managed stick out to me.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
What attracted you to the possibility of working with the Bengals.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
I would just say, warned, the opportunity, the continuity, uh
that the Bengals have in the front office, the type
of people that they have in the front office.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
The way they respect who.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
You are, and the value that they saw in me
that I could bring to the table and vice versa.
Is just an exciting situation and opportunity for both parties,
for me and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Did you have any pre existing friendships or relationships on
the staff?
Speaker 3 (10:49):
So I knew Trey Brown through the Spring League, So
the aa F and the XFL gained a lot of
respect for trade throughout that those those are those opportunities,
and we just kept in touch, you know, since then,
and since we've both been in the league, we just
you know, gather a true friendship and relationship.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
It's no secret that the Bengals have a smaller staff
than other NFL teams. Because of that, every voice is
important and heard. Did that stand out to you about
the opportunity of working for Cincinnati?
Speaker 4 (11:27):
It did, it did.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
It's just the like I said, the opportunity and so
my voice could be heard and I can really prove
my value and show my worth and also just helped
the team as a whole. That was really an intriguing
part of the process.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Joshua, Evaluating a player, what are some of the most
important traits that you look for?
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Every player is his own guy, you know, But I
love you know, instincts. You know, instincts number one, because
instincts happen at every position, you know, no matter how
big you are, how small you are, how well do
you see the game. It's something that I really look
forward to evaluating them, looking at and just the you know,
overall movement skills.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
I love speed sort of play.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Speed, and just just the fluidity and just just the
overall movement skills of the guy, you know, at any position.
That's that's the beauty of the sport in this game.
There's so many different positions that you can evaluate in
so many different ways that guys move around and have
to move around to get the point at the point B.
(12:36):
And then just obvious you know, per position, what do
they for their position?
Speaker 2 (12:40):
What do they do? Well, that's what I look at
look for.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
How about character? How does a scout try to get
to the bottom of somebody's character.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
You know, you're dealing with you know, human error, right,
So it's a lot of ways. You just gotta dig
deep and really trust the process and trust your resources,
and you know, gather a bunch of information whether it
be one year or two years or even longer, and
you you just got to trust your process and come
(13:12):
to your own opinion with all the information collected. And
then also, you know, we do a good job the
league itself as far as checking every box throughout the
pre draft process to make sure you get what you
need so from from you know, visiting schools and talking
to your resources. But then after the season you get
to actually sit down with these guys and whether whether
(13:34):
it be the All Star process or the combine process
or the Pro day process, so all that information you
should be able to you know, make an accurate decision
at the end of the day.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Are any of those events especially valuable to you, whether
it is the combine, an All Star Game, a Pro Day, whatever.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Yeah, I think every event throughout the process it's special
in his own way. You and you can get valuable information. Uh.
But if I had to pick one to answer your question, Uh,
the pro days, you know, the pro days because you
get the you get to really interact, uh with the
(14:16):
with the player and the coach. You get to see
obviously you know they're in shorts and they're running around,
but it's just the process of sitting and being able
to sit down with these players in the meetings with
the coaches and really uh you can hash out you
know what you what you think may be concerns or
if they don't have any concerns at all, just really
getting to know the guy again. And then also the
(14:38):
thirty visits are fun too as well, uh, bringing these
bringing these guys in and being able to uh get
to know the full aspect of the guy, you know,
the character, the mental uh and everything that you If
you do have concerns, at the end of the day,
those thirty visions selves should answer answer those questions.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Chatting with Bengals scout Josh Hench, how has ni L
and the transfer portal impacted the job of a scout?
Speaker 3 (15:06):
So with ni L, with these guys getting you know,
getting more more money, I think it for me, I
think it's just you can kind of see a little
bit more of the character, how they handle their money,
you know, what they do with it, how they react
to it. And then the transfer portal, I would say,
you know, it happens so much. I think nowadays the
(15:27):
transfer portal is kind of risen above you know, just
the average high schools, high school scouting, you know, evaluating, recruiting,
because it's because the portal for me, uh, these guys
can ah can absolutely come in one year and get
(15:49):
a lot of money, come into a new environment, not
know anything.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
And then and also with the schools.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
You know, the schools may not know these guys until
towards the end of the year because they're they're just
insfering in right. So that's the impact that our jobs
from a standpoint of we like to get character early,
you know, and within the process let the film play
itself out from an evaluation standpoint, but we want to
try to get to know these guys family situation and
just who they are early on. And I think all
(16:16):
the transfer, all the transfer situations, you have to rely
on where they've been in the past, and if you have,
if you don't have that same school or cover the
same area, then you you know, the information that you're gathering,
you're kind of relying on someone else's If that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
The life of a scout is not the easiest. There's
lots of travel, they're obviously long hours. What do you
love about the job?
Speaker 3 (16:42):
I think, at the end of the day, it's just football.
I mean, if you love football, you love everything about it,
from being as a player to being as a coach,
now being as a scout. Understanding that all those things
tie together, and for me, scouting really fit my personality
(17:02):
more at the end of the day, if that makes sense.
From being able to experience being as a player and
the coach, I just loved the aspect of constructing the
roster and evaluating players and seeing things come to fruition
and just working with like minded people into seeing the
goals be achieved and come come to life. So that's
(17:25):
what I love about scouting.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
How were your teams in the XFL and the AAF.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
So.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
In the AAF we we went seventy one before the
league kind of unfolded, so we were on the role there.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
It was.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
It was, it was good, it was it was a
good team. The XFLUH, we weren't as good record wise,
but I think overall, I think we had a good
team as well. We had we had a good offense
and defense, just more or less coming together is going
to make us a little bit more time to come together,
as I felt like we were down a stretch and
(18:04):
then Covid struck.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Everybody that does this is trying to win a ring.
What do you think of the Bengals roster as you
join the organization.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
I think it's a win now roster. I think there's
they're ready to go.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Obviously, it's a high octane offense as far as you know,
skill players and the quarterback. Obviously, the offensive line I
think is will be very improved this year. Defensively too.
With everything that's going on with the you know, from
the draft picks to the veterans to the coaches.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
It's early for.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Me right, so I really couldn't speak too much on it,
but I do feel like everything is going to be
improved and ready to compete at a high level.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
You're in your mid thirties. What's your ultimate goal professionally?
Speaker 3 (18:58):
To win the Super Bowl? I haven't won a Super
Bowl yet, so that's my ultimate goal. To win Super
Bowl by any means. I don't really care about what
title I have. I just want to do that. But
I also would like to, you know, be a contributor
and show my value on a Super Bowl, on a
(19:18):
Super Bowl roster in the Super Bowl team, which I
think this, you know, knock on wood, guy Will and
I think this is the opportunity, you know. So I'm
just gonna work my butt off and do my best
and do my part and see where it goes.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
We're excited to have you with the organization. I look
forward to meeting you in person, and I appreciate your
time today.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Thank you, Josh, thank you, Dan. Appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Up next Tyler Ramsey, who will look to add a
Bengal Super Bowl ring to the one he earned while
scouting for Seattle. Tyler, did you grow up dreaming of
a career in football?
Speaker 5 (19:55):
I dreamt. I had a lot of dreams.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
But when I I realized I wasn't going to be
in the NBA, you know, I started evaluating other athletes
around me and realized that I had a pretty good
eye for it, so kind of fell into it. Got
pretty lucky to graduating in the recession in two thousand
and eight. I thought that was, you know, going to
(20:18):
go into banking or be a financial analyst or something
like that, and the fact that nobody was hiring anybody
at the time kind of did me well because I
was able to pivot and you know, chase chase a
dream and I've always been a competitor, always been an athlete, so.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
You know, working in professional sports was a goal for sure.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Well, let's talk a little bit about your athletic days.
Because you're from the state of Washington. You went to
a high school that's got a storied football history and traditions,
a tradition rather eleven state titles in a thirteen year period,
and you are part of three of those state championships.
How did that impact your love of this sport?
Speaker 6 (20:52):
It was a well oiled machine. Out of those the
two years we did not win after I had already
graduate weight it was against Kellen Moore, who's who's now
an NFL head coach, and Jake Locker, who was a
four first round pick.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
So we had some pretty steep competition.
Speaker 6 (21:08):
But it really set the foundation, you know, for work
ethic and discipline and you know, toughness, Like there would
be one hundred and ten guys in that program that
would be in the weight room the Monday morning after
the state championship and it was just like all the
work you put in the off season, all the work
you put in is gonna you know, pay off a
year from now and and not just steamrolled for you know,
well over a decade of just kind of a blue
(21:30):
collar work ethic and the toughness about us.
Speaker 5 (21:32):
We ran the wing t so you know, just run
the heck.
Speaker 6 (21:35):
Out of the ball and play good defense. It was
a winning recipe in the state of Washington when I
was there.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
You went to the University of Washington, but did not
play football correct.
Speaker 6 (21:45):
Correct, Like I said, it was a wing te quarterback.
So my highlight tape was very, very small. Graduating high school,
so I had some opportunities to to you know, go
to Division three schools and.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
You know, potentially compete for first spot there.
Speaker 6 (22:01):
But you know, kind of did someself scouting there as
a as a you know, teenager, and figured that my
future wasn't on the on the field, so you might
as well get my life started and go through the
business school at the University of Washington.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
We are visiting the Bengal scout Tyler Ramsey. Let's talk
about your professional career. You spent a dozen years with
the Seahawks. You were on the staff when they won
the Super Bowl in the twenty thirteen season of forty
three to eight win in the Super Bowl over the
Denver Broncos. Can you describe the emotion of when the
confetti is falling in a game like that.
Speaker 5 (22:35):
Yeah, it was totally surreal.
Speaker 6 (22:37):
I mean, I think it was a safety on the
first play of the game that went over Payton Manning's head,
so at halftime, I think it was twenty two to zero.
Percy Harvin returned to kick at the beginning of the
second half of his twenty nine to zero and it's
just such a weird, you know, excitement sitting there for
almost two more quarters, being like, I think we just
won the Super Bowl, but you know, you still got
to finish the game, and the team did a great job,
(22:57):
you know, finishing it out.
Speaker 5 (22:59):
So it was all it was.
Speaker 6 (23:00):
It was It was a very elongated emotion because you
were sitting there just on the edge of your seat, like,
when can we get down to the field and get
with the team.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
How does winning one ring affect your desire to win another?
Speaker 4 (23:12):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (23:12):
I mean that's that's why we're all doing this, is
to you know, hoys to the trophy at the end
if you're if you're a competitor, obviously there's a lot
of stuff around the game, but it made me hungrier.
I was trying to you know, we were fortunate enough
to get back that next year and and didn't turn
out so well, but it really motivated me. I actually,
(23:34):
uh signed up for grad school immediately after that second
Super Bowl, just being like, how can I challenge myself?
Speaker 5 (23:40):
How can I do something better?
Speaker 6 (23:42):
And got my master's in business administration while I was
scouting for the Seahawks.
Speaker 5 (23:47):
So it really you know, kind of stoked a fire.
Like you know, being the best in the world takes
takes a lot.
Speaker 6 (23:52):
So we we need to continue to kind of you know,
grow and and and push the limits. And personally, that's
going back to school felt like the right choice the time.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
Tyler, who are your biggest football mentors?
Speaker 6 (24:04):
Yeah, I'd probably go a little bit back to high
school as well as with the Seahawks. In high school,
my head coach, Butch Gonchrof, who was there for all
those championship runs, really you know, instilled kind of the
work ethic and blue collar, you know style. He was
a really demanding coach, but he was always your friend.
(24:26):
He he made you want to play for him and
just his kind of genuine style just being an authentic
butch my defensive coordinator. There was James Hasty, the former
dB for the Chiefs Jets, and ironically he was the
original bump and run, you know, prototype corner for Pete
Carroll when he was with the Jets. And then I
was fortunate enough to work with Pete in twenty ten,
(24:48):
my second year in the league, and and you know,
eleven years after that. But Pete, Pete is always going
to be a huge influence. He's He's got a rare
quality about him in terms of, you know, just the charisma,
that energy, the passion, the competitiveness.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
He he makes football fun again. And you could talk
to any of the.
Speaker 6 (25:05):
Players that have ever played for him of how much
you know, they refell in love with the game, uh
under under his leadership.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
How does somebody learn how to become a scout? Are
you taught? Is it trial and error? How did you
develop the skills for this profession?
Speaker 6 (25:22):
Yeah, you know it can be a little bit top
but there there's definitely some some instinct involved. A lot
of scouting is obviously gathering information, and you know, just
being detail oriented and and and and having you know,
the personality to walk into a you know, a Division
one coaches office and ask for information when he doesn't
have a reason to or or trust you or.
Speaker 5 (25:42):
Know you at all.
Speaker 6 (25:43):
So you've got to have a little savvy there. And
then the instincts when it comes to just evaluating the
way a guy moves, what what a team's going to
be asking him to do, and does he have the
physical capability in his body to do that. That's just
something that I've kind of always possessed. I've always you know,
looked around on any athletic field and I'm mad like
that guy moves different than everybody else, or you know,
watching the NBA growing up every Sunday on NBC with
(26:06):
just being like having an appreciation for God given talent
that I never had.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
This is something that I've always possessed.
Speaker 6 (26:13):
But you can definitely work on all the ins and
outs of details, but at the end of the day,
if you're working hard and watching film and writing the
wrong grades and putting the wrong projections on players, You're
not gonna be in the business that long.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
What traits do you prioritize as a scout.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
I think there's, you know, a minimum threshold of athleticism
and speed and all that stuff, and if you don't
meet those, you're just gonna really struggle no matter how
you know, smart and tough and competitive you are. But
once you get over that minimum threshold, depending on the position,
you know, it's really the competitiveness and the passion and
the toughness. You know, there's always gonna be hard days,
there's gonna be bad plays, there's.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
Gonna be.
Speaker 6 (26:52):
You know, things that don't go your way, and to
have the competitive confidence in yourself to continue to just
come back and next play mentality. I think that really
carries a lot of players in the league because it's
it's not smooth sale. They've always been the best player
they get to the league and everybody's the best player
from everywhere. So just having somewhat of an irrational confidence
that that you can succeed despite you know, everything that's
(27:15):
going on around you.
Speaker 5 (27:18):
You like to see that.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
We're chatting with Bengals scout Tyler Ramsey. What attract did
you to working for Cincinnati?
Speaker 6 (27:24):
Yeah, obviously I had some connections in the front office
with with Steve and and Trey and guys that I
have developed relationships over the years, crossing you know a
lot of pass scouting out west back back in their
early days in the League of Mine as well, and.
Speaker 5 (27:39):
We developed a good relationship.
Speaker 6 (27:40):
So and and I've always had a ton of respect
for for you know, getting out on the road and
seeing Bengals coaches out there and doing workouts and really
doing the work and collaborating with the staff. And then
as well as the setup. You know, everybody talks about,
you know, a small front office, but I think it's great.
I think you have in your hands in pro and
college scouting and really being being part of the decision
(28:00):
making process and being a part of the team puts
a lot on your plate and it forces you to
you know, to grow, to learn, to to you know,
get outside your comfort zone a little bit. And then
obviously you know coach Taylor, I've heard nothing but awesome
things about and then having you know, Joe Burrow, Jamar
Chase t Higgins and an offense that's high flying is exciting.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
With the smaller staff, every voice matters and every voice
is heard. Is that something that's appealing to you about
coming to Cincinnati.
Speaker 5 (28:30):
Yeah, of course you you I mean you do the work.
If you do the work, and you you know, put
spending the amount of hours that we do, you know,
away from our families, on the road, digging guys up
at small schools, doing all that stuff. Feeling like that
matters when you say something is really important.
Speaker 6 (28:49):
I've gone years, I've been around a lot of good people,
but I've gone years where we haven't acquired a single player.
Speaker 5 (28:54):
That I evaluated in my area.
Speaker 6 (28:56):
Or after the draft, and you just kind of, you know,
like I just spent nine months doing and we didn't
ad a single guy, uh that I scouted, which you
know happens. So just being able to put the work
in have your voice heard, whether it's you know, they
truly believe and I want to go with your opinion
or not that that happens, but you know it gives you,
(29:19):
you know, ownership and agency over your own your own
job and really makes you hold yourself to a higher standard.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
After your time in Seattle, you spent a few years
in Carolina and then last year working with the Senior
Bowl staff. In those roles are their current Bengals that
you scouted extensively, that you are high on and kind
of looking forward to now being part of the same team.
Speaker 6 (29:43):
Yeah, I mean Demitrius Knight would be one of them.
The second round pick. I followed him pretty closely this
past year living in Charlotte. I went to a couple
of South Carolina games and learned quite a bit about
him and his whole story from Georgia Tech to you
Charlotte to South Carolina. Is a pretty cool one, really
mature kid. I think he's got a ton of upside too,
So I'm excited to see him really step in and compete.
(30:07):
You know, Schmart Stewarts is likewise like he was a
guy that you couldn't help. But notice on tape how big,
how athletic, how disruptive, how hard he plays like he
is a competitor. So I'm excited to see him actually
get on the field and all that. But those two
guys this year definitely jumped off the tape.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
How is nil in the transfer portal impacted the life
of a scout.
Speaker 6 (30:33):
It definitely adds another layer that you're gonna have to,
you know, follow up on relationships from a guy that
could potentially be at three schools like Demetrius was.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
So you got to.
Speaker 6 (30:43):
Really dig, You got to really find a way to
sift through a lot of different information. You know, a
school where a guy has some success for a couple
of years, then jumps in the portal and and ends
up somewhere else for for a higher dollar amount. Naturally
the school he left might be a little bit bitter,
So the information you're getting out of that school might
not be as you know, uh as as uh loving
(31:07):
loving a kid up as his current school that he's
playing at. So, you know, just having the maturity and
and you know, nuance to to sift your way through
all the information that that's coming your way definitely takes
some skill. But it also, you know, guys are getting
paid already, so you don't have to worry about what
how they're going to react to money in the NFL,
(31:28):
so it's somewhat makes it a little bit easier that
they show who they are sooner to us versus you know,
you draft a guy and you have no idea how
he's going to react to moving and money and all
that stuff and and fame, and then they've been exposed
to it for the most part, So it's somewhat you know,
makes it a little bit easier to see who the
real guys are. You know, the running back that that
gets a big an aisle check and he and he
(31:50):
shares it with all of his offensive lines. Stuff stuff
like that, where you can just see the true nature
of of guys. Then that stuff that translates to the
NFL pretty easily.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
A life of a scout isn't necessarily an easy one.
You travel a lot, you work very long hours. As
you noted, you have three young kids. What is it
about the job that you love?
Speaker 5 (32:10):
It's it's really the people.
Speaker 6 (32:11):
It's it's Football is you know, obviously in my opinion,
the best game in the world, just because of the
ability to to bring so many people from so many
different walks of life together for for a common cause.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
It's easy to to relate with, you know.
Speaker 6 (32:27):
It's it's something that the game day still gets me
fired up.
Speaker 5 (32:30):
The athlete of me never went away.
Speaker 6 (32:31):
So, you know, being able to impact a team and
a roster and a culture for guys that I genuinely
believe in and and I feel like play the game
the right way and and and carry themselves the right way.
Speaker 5 (32:42):
It's it's just fun trying to trying to build a
team like that.
Speaker 6 (32:45):
So yeah, it's it's it's just you know, always going
back to the little kid that fell in love with it,
like tap into that passion.
Speaker 5 (32:55):
Even though it's a it's a tedious job.
Speaker 6 (32:57):
You got to remember it's you're You're pretty lucky to
and blessed to be in this situation.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
You've got a super Bowl ring. You know what a
championship team looks like. How close are the Bengals to
being a team that can contend for a Lombardi.
Speaker 5 (33:11):
I think really close.
Speaker 6 (33:13):
I'm actually watching our guys right now, so I'm trying
to get up caught up to speed before mini camp
next week because you obviously know the the main players,
but some of the guys that on the depth chart
that I'm not too familiar with just want to get
a field. But I think when you have you know,
number nine behind center and the offensive weapons that he has,
(33:33):
it gives you a chance in any game. So I
think if a couple of areas, you know, can improve,
like it's it's not too far away. It's it's really cool.
The NFL is really cool in the sense that every
every year is a different year. It's it's not what
happened last year is now what's going to happen next year?
It's like if you capture this you know, six month
run and you start gelling like the Bengals did back
(33:54):
in twenty one, it can be a special year. So
I don't think it's too far away at all, obviously
to continue to add.
Speaker 5 (34:00):
And grow and get better on both sides of the ball.
But yeah, it's gonna be fun to watch.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Firstand well, we are happy to have you in the
Bengals family. I appreciate your time today and look forward
to meeting you in person. Thanks so much, Tyler.
Speaker 5 (34:13):
All right, Dan, thank thank you.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Josh and Tyler aren't the only additions to the player
personnel department is The Bengals also hired Trey Labounty to
join Sam Francis in their football analytics department. Trey earned
a master's degree in sports analytics at Miami University. Before
getting to my next guest, here's a quick reminder that
the Bengals Booth podcast is brought to you by pay Core,
(34:38):
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 fans. Kettering Health is
the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now time to
move on to another edition Five Questions with a Bengals rookie.
(35:03):
Time for five Questions with Bengals rookie offensive lineman Jalen River.
Is question number one. You shared with us on draft
night that your mom, your dad, and your stepfather all
spent more than thirty years in the Navy, So naturally
we assume that you had a disciplined childhood. Tell me
something that you weren't allowed to do that your buddies were.
Speaker 4 (35:26):
That's tough because it was so many things.
Speaker 7 (35:28):
But one thing I will say is I couldn't go
out at all during the week, and no matter if
I finished my homework or anything like that during the week,
didn't matter what age I was in high school, middle school,
during the week, no, no school night, No you gotta
wake up, you gotta, you gotta. I went to practice,
(35:49):
came back, finished my homework, do whatever. And there was
a curfew I had sometimes because I'm not a morning
person all the time, sayisly when I was in high school.
So it was like, oh, you're gonna put you phone
downstairs after ten o'clock or something or nine thirty.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
So yeah, so there are probably times you didn't like that,
but it clearly is paid off. Will you do that
with your children someday?
Speaker 7 (36:13):
It's yes, but if they got to show me that
the trustworthy did is discipline and they're disciplined enough to
put their phone down at certain time. But you know, teenagers,
you're probably not.
Speaker 4 (36:22):
So got one. Probably yeah, so I'll probably do the same.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
All right.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
Question number two for Jalen Rivers. We all know that
the perfect GPA is four point zero. From what I've read,
your GPA in high school was four point three. Did
you ever have a B?
Speaker 4 (36:39):
Yes?
Speaker 7 (36:39):
I did, yeah, but it was in the high b's
you know, anything anything a bee or less. I was
mad at myself, so I strived for all a's honor,
all a honor roll. But yeah, I did good bees.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
Well my many obviously of the four to three gpa.
Did school come relative flee easily to you? Or was
that gpa the the product of a lot of grinding
and hard work?
Speaker 7 (37:07):
A product of a lot of grind and hard work.
I mean, I credit to my parents, is me staying
on top of my school work. So it was tough
because some things I weren't good at, like math, word
problems and stuff like that. When I was young, I
overthought the question a lot, like it might be, this
might be, But you know, ever overcome that over years
and you start getting better at it, and it's like,
(37:28):
you know, it's kind of getting easy because I put
so much work into being a great student.
Speaker 1 (37:32):
So yeah, Question three for Jalen Rivers. You're a big
man six six by three hundred and twenty pounds. Where
does your size come from?
Speaker 4 (37:39):
My family?
Speaker 7 (37:40):
Both sides, my mom's side, well, both sides of my parents.
My granddad's were above six foot, like six two six three.
Speaker 4 (37:52):
Yeah, both sides, both sides my family.
Speaker 1 (37:54):
Is your mom six feet.
Speaker 4 (37:55):
Tall, she's six foot my dad six two sixty three.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
Yeah, it was meant to be Question number four. In
addition to having a great high school football career, you
are a state champion in the shotput. That's one of
those events that obviously doesn't attract a bunch of fans.
But did you enjoy competing in track and field?
Speaker 4 (38:17):
I loved it.
Speaker 7 (38:17):
I enjoyed it every because I started my seventh grade
year when I started middle school up until obviously not
up to my senior because I end up leaving early
to coming up go to Miami.
Speaker 4 (38:26):
But yep, I enjoyed it. Every single year. I look
forward to the spring to be honest, to a thorough
shot put all right.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
Fifth and final question for rookie Jalen Rivers. Tell us
something about you. But not many people know.
Speaker 7 (38:39):
That I'm a great cook. One of my biggest hobbies
right now that I've just gotten into, like the past
three years, it was cooking so I can cook some
chicken pumbers on with some rigatoni, pasta, jerk.
Speaker 4 (38:55):
Chicken.
Speaker 7 (38:57):
Stuff, salmon stuff, chicken, home mac and cheese, all that stuff.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
Yeah, I'm looking for an invite to your house. Are
you good at following a recipe or do you have
a natural ability to think, Okay, these spices will work
well with this dish, et cetera.
Speaker 7 (39:13):
No, First I do follow recipe. And then also my
dad he's a he's a chef, he's a he caters,
so I can get some ideas from him.
Speaker 4 (39:19):
He teaches me stuff.
Speaker 7 (39:20):
So but when I fight figure out a recipe, I
start putting my own spin on it. When I started
learning some new things and tips.
Speaker 1 (39:26):
Offensive lineman four to three GPA state champion in the
shot put in chef Jalen Rivers, We've learned a lot, sir.
Speaker 4 (39:35):
Nice Meetia.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
Great to have you here in Cincinnati and thank you,
appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (39:40):
Now let's go.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
From five questions to five observations after watching the Bengals
practice and talking to players and coaches on Tuesday. Topic
number one is Cam Taylor Brett. After a disappointing third
NFL season that saw him get benched at times, Cam
is embracing a fresh start under new defensive coordinator Al Golden.
(40:02):
Taylor Brett intercepted Joe Burrow on Tuesday when he lined
up as a slot corner and picked off a pass
intended for Mike Gasicki on a quick out route. Here's
cornerbacks coach Chuck Burks, followed by Taylor Brett. What are
you emphasizing with him as you try to get him
back to you know the level of play he's capable.
Speaker 8 (40:22):
Of, just discipline and consistency, and we always talked about
tnc doing the things that takes no takes no talent,
and you know that's my main focus with him to
spring taking care of those things you know stands alignment,
assignment and having your eyes in the right place and
when mistakes are made, no excuses, no explanations, goes to
an explode.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
Anything stand out on that play that kind of fits
what you were talking about.
Speaker 8 (40:46):
Well, what stands out is he was in his correct
leverage and you know that that's where it starts, and
he was in position. The ball showed up and once
cam gets himself in position, he has better ball skills
than you know, a lot of guys I've coached in
my career.
Speaker 6 (41:01):
So now I'm not surprised he.
Speaker 4 (41:03):
Made that play.
Speaker 8 (41:04):
So he just has to be consistent in putting himself
in position to make that play.
Speaker 1 (41:09):
Is there anything about that play that illustrates what you're
working on to try to have the type of year
that you know you're capable of having.
Speaker 9 (41:17):
Honestly, just put me in different positions on the field
to guard different people. I believe on that one, I
was just on the tight end at the moment to
just held my leverage. Then, regardless of what he did
at the top of the road, is just you know,
use my guy given ability to go get the ball in.
Speaker 1 (41:31):
So you're moving around a lot outside slot wherever matter. Yeah,
be all over with Mike Hilton gone. Is that what
the secondary is going to have to do by a
bunch of people moving around to try to make up
for his loss?
Speaker 9 (41:46):
Yeah, I think it's a there's a win at the
end of the day, honestly still man, just in the
sense of I believe everybody can guard anybody within our
back end. It doesn't matter you know, body type or anything.
We can all be interchangeable.
Speaker 4 (41:57):
So yeah, they'll be here there.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
You just never know at your confidence level at this
stage of the ots.
Speaker 4 (42:05):
That feel great. Yeah, I'm lit right now, man.
Speaker 9 (42:08):
I know everybody has come in in the right way man,
and not even thinking about you know, last year. You know,
it's a new mindset for me, for my teammates, and
it just at end and they will come.
Speaker 4 (42:20):
To work every day.
Speaker 1 (42:21):
By the way, on the very next snap after Cam's interception,
Joe Burrow floated a long pass for Jamar Chase, who
beat DJ Turner and caught it in stride for a
seventy yard touchdown. Topic number two is Dax Hill. I
watched Dax working out on a rehab field and it
was great to see him running and cutting under the
(42:42):
watchful eye of the Bengals outstanding rehab coordinator Nick Cosgray.
Dax is coming back from a torn acl that he
suffered in early October, and he's hoping to be fully
cleared in time for training camp. Once he's back, it
will be interesting to see where he lines up up.
Hill was the bengals best outside corner in the first
(43:04):
five weeks of the season last year, but with Mike
Hilton gone, there's an opening at slot corner, where Dak's
often lined up in college at Michigan. Once again, here's
cornerbacks coach Chuck Burks.
Speaker 8 (43:17):
Well, with Dax, I'm gonna put him in position to
cover in blitz wherever that's at, so corner whatever. You know,
he's a guy that has an elite skill set to
cover and it has an elite skill set to blitz
and I plan to utilize that. And however that really manifests.
Speaker 1 (43:36):
What is the mix of guys that will compete Tree
placed Mike Hilton in the slot all of them.
Speaker 8 (43:42):
You know, today, we've had or this past week, we've
had Cam at Nickel, We've had Josh Newton at Nickel,
We've had j d at Nickel. You know, Dax have
placed some nickels, So to me, it's really more about matchups,
not necessarily positions. We have multiple guys who made up
and side, but it's about the matchup of that week
(44:03):
and how we plan to approach defending that team that week.
Speaker 1 (44:06):
Jay D, by the way, is Jalen Davis, who has
been a valuable reserve in his five seasons in Cincinnati.
Topic three is wide receiver three. The Bengals have the
best one to two punch at that position in the
league in Jamar Chase and T Higgins. And while there's
growing optimism that Jermaine Burton can be a more dependable
(44:26):
pro in his second season, we should not forget that
the Bengals already have a number three receiver on the
rise in Andre Yosi Vash. The third year wide out
out of Princeton had thirty six sketches for four hundred
and seventy nine yards and six touchdowns last year, then
spent another portion of his off season working with renowned
(44:47):
receivers coach Drew Lieberman. I discussed Yosi Vash with T.
Higgins at this time last year. I remember a lot
of guys were talking about Yosi Vash and how much
improvement he had made. See seen another step in Andre
this year.
Speaker 10 (45:02):
Oh man, hell yeah, you know, Yoshi, I don't he
teaching me, thinks. And it's night and day from from
this from last year to this year. And y'all gonna see,
y'all gonna see this year, Yoshi's gonna really gonna come
on this ship.
Speaker 1 (45:15):
He's teaching you things.
Speaker 4 (45:17):
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 10 (45:18):
I can always learn from the other receivers, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 4 (45:20):
I learned from.
Speaker 10 (45:21):
Chase, I learned from Charlie, I learned from Jamain. I
learned from everybody. And I just do anything to put,
you know, put in my bag.
Speaker 1 (45:27):
So so if he's taking those kinds of strides knowing
that the Bengals have the best one two punch in
the league with you and Jamar, I mean, is this
three headed monster.
Speaker 10 (45:38):
Definitely could be? You know, that's what we're looking forward
to doing. Obviously, y'all see him. He's got bigger, and
he got stronger.
Speaker 5 (45:45):
He didn't got.
Speaker 10 (45:46):
Faster, he's twitcher and he's just he know everything right now.
And man, it's just it's been great.
Speaker 1 (45:52):
To see Andre has ten touchdown catches in his first
two seasons and for what it's worth. That's more than
Zay Flowers or Puka Nakua, who are also taken in
the twenty twenty three draft topic number four. You get
what you emphasize. Al Golden uses an acronym to sum
(46:13):
up his defensive philosophy. Its best B E, S, T.
The B is for ball disruption, E is for effort,
S is for situational masters, and T is for tackling.
That first letter B for ball disruption really stands out
at practice because the defense begins the day by going
(46:35):
through four stations where they work at punching, stripping, and
ripping the ball away. Here's Logan Wilson on how Golden
has everybody focusing on forcing turnovers.
Speaker 11 (46:49):
Just always finding ways to affect the ball. I mean
even in our daily unit defensive meeting tests, like where
he'll he'll bring certain situations up based on how the
ball carrier is holding the ball, how we're going to
attack it, where our profile is, are we behind him,
are were in front of him, around the side of him,
like all those different things. So that becomes second nature.
We're not thinking about it in the game, and when
(47:09):
you're always harping on it and you're always working it
just like I said, it just becomes second nature and
it's just and then that translates the turnovers in the.
Speaker 1 (47:15):
Games, those four little stations. There's something a little bit
different about each thing.
Speaker 11 (47:20):
Right, Yes, Yeah, it's about how you're attacking the ball.
Are you ripping it or you punt? Are you Rodeo
upper cutting it, or we're near in the hand of
the quarterback trying to make plays on the wall. Not
necessarily just turnovers, but even batting a ball down sorry,
because it could be like a third down play and
you bat the ball on a complete pass and we're
off the field. So those are also good ways to
get quote unquote turnovers, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (47:41):
So is it the classic case of you get what
you emphasize?
Speaker 11 (47:45):
Yeah, you get out what you put in. And like
that's I mean, that's technically before practice. So like guys
are choosing to come out and get those reps and
we're not. He's not asking to get you fifteen reps
of each one, like you're just getting one rep of
each And so when you're just constantly adding layers to
your to your game, like I said, it becomes second
eh strong game days and even in practice when we
hit training camp, so that we're because when we're always
(48:07):
punching at the ball, it's gonna it's not only gonna
help us defensive, but it's gonna help our office too.
Speaker 1 (48:11):
Al Golden's Notre Dame defense had thirty three takeaways last year.
That was two more than any other team in the country.
My fifth and final observation involves tight end Mike Gasicki.
There's always a period early in practice where the quarterbacks
go through a series of drills where they work on
moving around in the pocket before making off platform throws,
(48:35):
and more often than not, the person on the receiving
end of those throws is Gasicki. It made me wonder
why he's the guy that gets to do that.
Speaker 12 (48:45):
It's because I don't run down on kickoff, for one.
So they're they're they're doing special teams drills, and you know,
rather than just get over there and stretching or getting
ready for practice or things like that, I just follow
the quarterbacks and just get over there.
Speaker 4 (49:00):
I like to get over there.
Speaker 12 (49:01):
And you know, they're they're talking about some of the
player when we're running practice, some of the looks that
they're expecting just things like that and then just warming
up and just getting a couple of extra catches before practice.
So it's just something I've always done and something I
enjoy doing.
Speaker 1 (49:13):
I know, you catch a ton of balls off you know,
your gut jugs at them and everything, but is it
different just to get in extra catches from a ball from.
Speaker 12 (49:21):
Yeah, yeah, just because it's it's the jugs machine is
such a you know, specific point and you know where
it's going to be every time, and you know our
quarterbacks are extremely accurate. But it's just always different catching
it from from a.
Speaker 5 (49:35):
Human than a drugs machine.
Speaker 12 (49:36):
So so it's like, I like doing that before practice.
Speaker 5 (49:39):
Feel like it.
Speaker 12 (49:40):
You know, it gets me ready mentally and physically, and
then you go out there and make plays.
Speaker 1 (49:43):
So it certainly worked last year when Mike had sixty
five catches and earned a three year contract extension. That's
going to do it for this episode of the Bengals
Booth Podcast, brought to you by pay Corps, proud to
be the Bengals official HR software provider by Alta Fiber
future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business
(50:05):
and community to a new level and by kettering 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
(50:25):
Dan Horde and thanks for listening to the Bengals Booth
podcast
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