December 11, 2025 • 29 mins
Ravens CB Nate Wiggins joins team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing to talk about boxing up receivers, getting more turnovers, who instilled his confidence, playing against Ja'Marr Chase, where he still wants to improve, and more. Plus, we get you ready for a crucial Week 15 game in Cincinnati.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome into the Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan in
here with Garrett Downing and we're thrilled to sit down
with cornerback Nate Wiggins. And Nate. You joined us in
the summer for an episode of the Lounge, and we
started out talking about your your box celebration, right, and
how we are so pumped for that and it's our
favorite celebration on the team.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Ten minutes talking about this.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
A little while, and I'm not gonna lie to you, Nate,
you haven't done even though you've been boxing people up,
you haven't been doing the box celebration as much as
I would have liked. Why Why haven't you been boxing?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
I've been catching more picks this year, so I ain't
been giing enough path to flesh. So it's only I
only do it only. You gotta be a big, big play,
big passive flesh. I don't do it out there everyone.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
So, but what about it?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
You don't do it after a pick? Na, it's only
the PBu.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Yeah, because the pick I don't really bought you up.
I caught the ball like PBu sure, so you can't
catch it. So it gotta gotta makes sense.
Speaker 5 (01:02):
I did notice during intros you do the thumbs down.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Though, what about the thumbs down? I don't feel like
you're doing that as much this year either.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
I I don't even I just mean I think this year,
I mean, like, I mean, my whole voages or whatever
whatever comes to my head, I do it. So uh
but people know, like everybody know, that's still the thumbs down. Yeah,
I still still the box man.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
We see teammates do it sometimes. I feel like I've
seen Kyle do it. I've seen different guys do it.
So it's spreading.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
Yea.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
So I remember you also talked about you you kind
of predicted that you you wanted more takeaways this year.
You're getting more takeaways this year. I mean that just
has to be really gratifying for you. And why do
you think that's been the case?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Probably just study habits, study, working hard practice, just really
focusing on the ball more. I felt like last year
it was just fast moving, fast paced. I'm just trying
to get to the zone. This year, I'm just trying
to worry about catching the ball.
Speaker 5 (01:59):
And yeah, what has changed with your study habits?
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Is that, like, take me through your process.
Speaker 5 (02:05):
Is it the work that you're doing, either in the
classroom here and the time you're spending with the coaches,
is your teammates, is it at home? Like how has
that changed and evolved?
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I ain't gonna lie one person. Shout out to my
boy Cheeto. He really like helped me like take notes,
h look at film differently. So Cheeto he had a
big part in my study habits.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Oh that's interesting. So so like what did he kind
of recommend, Like how how did he suggest that you
should take notes differently than what you were doing?
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Just separate, separating my notes so like quick game, drop back,
play adds and just in separate order. So, uh, everything
I bunched up on top of each other and I
know what's going on.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
So I can go to one.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Section everything there on drop back and go to one
session everything then play accent.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
And so when you're out there on the field, how
often are you referencing? Do you reference that stuff? You're like, Okay,
I'm expecting this is going to be drop back for them.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yeah, certain formations and certain tendencies the quarterback dude.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Yeah, so you're referencing the notes mentally. That's interesting. And
can you talk about just kind of outside of the notes,
the veteran kind of leadership that Cheeto has brought because
a lot of fans aren't familiar with him since his
first year. Here tell fans about Cheeto.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Oh yeah, Cheeto.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Uh, that's another another man in the dB DV room.
Just uh, I mean I DV room, Like we got
many personalities, but I feel like, uh, he stick out.
He just wanted the vet vetan president room. He stick out,
very outspoken. You gonna know he in the room.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
He always wanted to be He always want to play.
So I feel like he definitely being a spark to
the room. Uh, you gonna know he's in the room.
He very smart, Yeah, very high. So he brings, he brings.
He brings a lot to the table to the room.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
You mentioned his intelligence. That's something that stands out to me,
Like he's a guy that's seen it. He's been in
the league for a while, so he's seen a lot.
I had him miked up on Ravens Wired recently and
in that game, you could see him calling stuff out
before the play, watch the slant, watch the deep ball.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
That type of stuff.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
Has that also translated and is what's the impact of
that actually within the game.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Oh yeah, So like in the game, like you said,
calling he telling us the formations.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
He's just very like.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
How could I say, like very into it, like information wise,
the concept wise of the game. So like you said,
he's seen it all, like ninth season and the least,
so he's seen it all.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Yeah, helped us a lot.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Right, It feels like for you this season, like you
become that dude you know like that. I think we
all anticipated when the Ravens drafted you last year, you know,
and and as rookie, we saw that growth at rapid growth,
and once you got more time and all that stuff,
and coming into your second year, we're like, you know,
coaches even said it, like we think they can be
one of the top corners in this game. Do you
feel that? How do you feel differently in year two
(04:57):
versus when you're a rookie.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
I feel like I'm I ain't even at my best
yet right now. I feel like I'm still like growing.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
I know, I know a lot of people might think
like I haven't it. I feel like my season is
decent right now. I feel like I could be better
at some some places. So that's really when I'm describing
to be better for I know, I can be way better,
but I know I'm definitely confident in myself though I
feel like a lot of people know I'm confident in me,
(05:27):
and I feel like I can I could beat anybody
on the field.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
So yeah, that where does your confidence come from?
Speaker 5 (05:33):
Because it's a parent, it's a parent on the practice field,
it's a parent when we have conversations like you you
you want the challenge of going up against top guys, Like,
where does that confidence within you come from?
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Probably my mom. She's just always been on me, uh
twenty four seven. I sein't never let me back down
for no challenge. So I feel like probably that's probably
her and my dad just been on me since I
was a kid and just me. I always used to
play up in sports. I ain't never played with my
age group, so I'm always playing with older folks. So
(06:04):
that's probably where it comes from.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Which gives you your mom.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
I'm curious about your mom is as challenging you, Like,
is there an example of either as you were a
kid or in high school where she was really challenging me.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
I ain't want to play football at first, and she
lent me to the on the football field and told
my coat like he not leaving.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Anyway.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
She just felt like you.
Speaker 5 (06:24):
She just felt like you would you were gonna like it,
or she she felt like you were a good fit.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Like what was it that made her want to do she?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I mean because I told her I wanted to play football.
Like when once I told her I do something, she
would never let me quit. So once I was out there,
it was like, this is what you said you want
to do, so you got to stick to it.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
So so did you get hit or something, You're like, nah,
I'm done and she was like.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
No, yeah, I think I played running back my first year.
I got hit and I tried to walk out the
field and she went going for it.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
She was going for it.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
So I feel like from that day before, I always
took the proach like I ain't backing around from nothing.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
I gotta finish well.
Speaker 5 (07:00):
Have you ever curious about I'm curious about that because
like you, you're a smaller, leaner guy. You're a leaner guy,
and when you talk about not backing down, like I
remember when the Ravens drafted you and that was part
of the draft summary and we've talked about that before.
But one thing that stood out to me from the
very first time that you've been here is on the field,
like you don't play scared, Like you're not afraid to
(07:21):
go in there and throw your shoulder in there, and
bigger running back or bigger tight end, like you don't
back down from throwing your nose in the pile. Is
that part of what your mom has instilled in you?
And is that just the way that you approach the game?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Oh yeah, I just feel like, uh, I mean, we
all put our clothes on together, so I don't feel
like nothing to be scared of the human. I'm human,
he brasedly too, like I bresed my twoth. So ain't
no superhero. Ain't no superhero.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
So have you ever seen these videos where like the
kid has to tackle the mom or the mom? I
feel I'm like imagining that with you and your mom.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Now, yeah, I don't know what I'll do right in
that moment. I know what I do. My mama competit hers,
so she probably gonna bring it to me too.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
So she's got a load of the shoulder.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
She's gonna load the shoulder. So I can't let my mom.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Shena take it eat.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
So going against the Bengals this week, obviously there's gonna
be a lot of talk about Jamar Chase and whatnot.
And you've gone up against him now you know multiple
times how tough of a cover is he? And I know,
like you just got done saying, you know, these guys
aren't superheroes whatever. He puts his pants on one leg
at the time, just like you. But take us inside
his game? What makes him tough to cover?
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Yeah, he just uh physical? I mean he got auto trade.
He can catch her, he can catch the ball, catching traffic,
he can get open. So he just got audit trade
that receive him want for real? So does what makes him?
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Very specifically, and as Garrett was saying, you know, you've
gone up to coaches this year even and said I
want I want the guy right, And how does take
us inside? How that works? Like is that you just
a knock on the door in their office and like
take us inside that conversation.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Oh it's probably uh like say it's Monday, I see
who we got on uh on the board, and it
just I tipped uh, but going on like, uh, what's
what's the plan for this week? Like you know, I
don't really think I gotta say too much. I just
asked him, what's the planned for this week? He tells me,
like you want him? Or uh, they moved it. The
(09:26):
number one guy moved too much, So we're just gonna
have you play side.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
So interesting, got you got? So if the number one
guy doesn't move that much, then it's like an opportunity
basically for you to be like, yeah, that's that's what
I want.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
Interesting And the first correct me if I'm wrong here,
but I think was the first time where you got
where you ended up doing that? Was that against the
Rams going up against Avant?
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Yeah, that was the first time.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Yeah. And so if Wanta.
Speaker 5 (09:48):
Adams, I mean, this guy's probably gonna have a cold
jacket one day. What was your mentality going into that
game knowing like, hey, this is the assignment that I want.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Oh, yeah, that probably my Uh. I always focused that
we just I was locked in just knowing, like you said,
you Hall of Fame receiver, one of the best to
ever do it. So yeah, I was. I was up
for the challenge that week.
Speaker 5 (10:11):
And this you did this at Clemson too. Did you
tell Dabbo like I want the number one guy there too?
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (10:16):
And and and what what is it about that challenge
of going up against the clear number one receiver on
the other side, That like really gets you excited going
into a game.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Just because I feel like people say I'm the I'm
the guy. So if I mean, people always say, if
you want to be the guy, you got to go
against the guy.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
So I mean, yeah, so you.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Said you know you were really up for the challenge
that week. Does that What does that look like like
when you have one of these elite receivers coming into town.
Is it just more time in your playbook? What what
does that look like for you to get up to
that challenge.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
I studying just studying what he do, what he don't like,
studying what I can take advantage of in the game.
It's a lot of stuff going this, uh just receiver,
like because he does so much stuff he can release,
he can separate.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Yeah, it's interesting and you said that, you know there
you look at your season this year and you're like,
you know it could be better. Where do you look
at it and say, hey, this is still where I
want to grow.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Just I mean just full game, just just locking in
the full game. I feel like some some game I'll
probably get relaxed a little bit. So just offender is
not the game.
Speaker 5 (11:33):
I something you said many times since you've been here,
is like they drafted me in the first round for
a reason. How much does that a first being the
first round pick follows you for the rest of your career.
And so how much does that, like badge, carry weight
with you of knowing like they took me in the
first round. I need to play to this level. I
need to live up to this expectation. Like how much
(11:54):
do you carry that with you?
Speaker 4 (11:56):
I carried a lot.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
It's just like you said at me to do something.
So that's why I gotta live up to I mean,
they ain't draft me just to not just not delivered
to a chale. So when they called me, they said
they expect me to guard the best receiver.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
So that's what that's what I'm living up to.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
How much when you get the ball in your hands
taking it back to the house, like, how much.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Is that.
Speaker 5 (12:22):
You shaking your head? You had a couple of them.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
Yeah, man, I cherished that, Like so.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
I'm so mad I could take too h too bad
that I had, but uh yeah, I'm like that's what
that's what I cherished, Like just getting the bottle of
my hands and going to the getting it is on,
Like I cherish.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
That running back in you still in there.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Still in there, still in there. I've been trying to
tell for they getting over it right now because I got.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Caught by alignment. But once I get it, I'm gonna
redeem myself.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
That was what the Browns one, right, I mean had angle.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
Yeah, that's why I'll be trying to down It's all good.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
They don't want to hear.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Excuse.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Yeah, that's what I'm gonna say.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
It's it's funny because you come up with a pick
in that game, for example, and then you come up
with this big play and you get down there inside
the red zone. But if you don't get in the
end zone, then you come off the bench. You're all
hyped up, you're excited for the pick, but then everyone
just like clowns you for not getting into the end zone.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
That was a crazy moment.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Right when did Cheeto? Who was it? Didn't somebody like
jump on your back?
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Man?
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Almost Cheeto told a lot of energy. He got a
lot of energy.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
He's he seems like like an alpha and he is
having fun. But different vibes from Marlin.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Like totally different people.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
But I feel like they totally different people, but they
at the same in some ways.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Right right, I'm kind of curious. All right, So we
were talking about all the first round picks on this
demon in this secondary so kind of break it down
for listeners quickly, Like, if you were going to describe
these guys, let's go with the first rounders. How would
you do it? Briefly?
Speaker 6 (13:59):
Marlin, I start with the toughest one, crazy Kyle, laid back,
laid back, laid back. Okay, Malachi, what word I can use?
Speaker 4 (14:14):
Passionate? I say, passionate, passionate.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Okay, We'll end with yourself.
Speaker 5 (14:20):
Me.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
Uh, I'm just one on one man, just one on one.
You're just I'm just, I'm just I don't even know.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
I'm well.
Speaker 5 (14:33):
So you have four games left here in the regular season,
and obviously there's an understanding of where you guys are,
not where you want to be, but you still have
an opportunity here with a month left in the regular season.
How would you describe the conversations and the mindset going
into this stretcher?
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Just uh, we know we control our own destiny for real,
we know what we gotta do. I don't think everybody
I don't think nobody don't know.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
So we gotta go win. That's the plan, just whin.
I mean, whatever we can do, just get a win.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
And how do you keep like all the noise and
the like. It's easy to look towards the end and say, okay,
well we need we need to win all four of
these games, and we need to do this and here's
what the standings say, Like it's easy to get caught
up and all that stuff. How do you, while understanding
all that, how do you prevent that from like overtaking
your thought process going into a game where you know,
just take care of one play at a time and
and win that specific game.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
I like, if you said just one day at a time,
one player at a time. We know we can't fast
forward life, so I just take it one day at
a time, or we can get better each day. That's
what we're gonna do. So get better each day. And
on Sunday's came lay it out on the line.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Can't wait.
Speaker 5 (15:42):
And lastly, one thing I did want to mention or
ask you about is your community work. That's something that
seems like it's really been a passionate UH area for
you you had you know, you were my cause my
cleats this year and you have your your Wigans Worldwide Foundation.
Tell us a little bit about the work you do
in the community.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Oh yeah, I do a lot of work in the
community in Atlanta and Baltimore. Uh it's just my pride
just coming coming from I come from. I know, I
ain't I ain't have a lot growing up, so I
know how I feel just to come from uh over
there in Atlanta. So I just love to get back
from the people who come from I'll come from, and
I know Baltimore hard city, so it reminds me of
(16:20):
I can't came from in Atlanta, So I just try
to get back because I already know, Like how hard
are that?
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Great? Do you do? You and Kyle bond is Atlanta guys? Yeah,
there's connection, all right? Yeah, awesome? All right man. Well,
we look forward to a lot of.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
More more more of the celebrations because the pick.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Just because I just said I'm I'm gonna get We.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
You're listening to the last podcast We're coming to you
from the Sea Keek Studio. We want to mention our
partners are drafting sports book. They are an official sports
betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft Kings sportsbook. The
Crown is yours thanks to Nate. I I always enjoy
talking with him. He's a fun guy who's playing really well.
And it's kind of cool that, like we had the
conversation with him back in the spring, and a lot
(17:09):
of the things that we talked about have come to fruition,
Like he's he's taken a big.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Step this year.
Speaker 5 (17:14):
He's somebody that I think really deserves Pro Bowl consideration.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Pro Bowl voting is open now.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
You can vote for that on Twitter, you can vote
for that at NFL dot com slash Pro Bowl. But
I definitely think he's somebody on this team that deserves
your Pro Bowl votes. To go ahead and get those
votes cast.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Yeah, And like he said, I think that there's such
a high ceiling for Nate Wigans. You know, he's an
extremely talented guy. And you know, even he kind of
said like sometimes he just kind of has like these
lapses is probably the right word. And so when he
gets that ironed out, you know, look out also. And
(17:55):
I think it's really interesting that he's learning how to
kind of study the game better from Cheeto and that
was an interesting insight. So I look forward to what's
to come the rest of the season and also what's
to come in the years following. For Nate Wiggins.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Look, the Ravens need him to play really good football.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
This week.
Speaker 5 (18:12):
They're going up against a great offense in the Cincinnati Bengals,
with Joe Burrow back to himself playing at such a
high level in Jamar Chase, who's proping the best receiver
in football, and when they matched up earlier this season,
it wasn't like it was Wiggins was not just following
him and trailing him the entire game.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
But as he moves all over the place, he moves
all over the place.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
However, there's also plenty of snaps where he is matched
up against Jamar Chase for State Wiggins like, we see
that match up plenty of times, and the Chase won
some of them last time. Nate won some of them
last time, and the Ravens need him to really play
at a high level in this game or the rest
of the way. If they're going to be a team
that can can beat the Bengals and then go on
(18:54):
a run here to get into the postseason, well, I.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Think it remains to be seen. How much of the
Bengals kind of have the same strategy that the Pittsburgh
Steelers use against the Ravens, which is to take these
shots outside of the numbers, down the sideline, throw some
of these bombs. I thought the Ravens did a good job,
especially early on in that first game against the Bengals,
of really playing kind of top down defense and forcing
Joe Burrow to get the ball out and go on shorter,
(19:18):
you know, with shorter passes. The Steelers said, We're not
even gonna mess with Kyle Hamilton and all that stuff
over the middle of field. We're just taking shots. Yeah,
we all have seen that from Joe Burrow in this
Bengals offense all too much over the years. The Ravens
surely know they what the Bengals are capable of. So
I think it's gonna be kind of a good on
(19:39):
good matchup here. The Ravens are going to be prepared
for it, but that's what the Bengals like to do.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
So we'll see if you go to the Steelers game
with DK Metcalf especially, I mean that whatever right on
that first series was that was DK against Marlon Humpt,
those big shots didn't come against Nate, that's correct.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
One. It was against.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
Cheetoh out of Keith down and then there was the
big play to dk metcalf on that first drive came
against Marlin. Nate's got the speed to run with anybody,
and so like, that's a tough matchup for a quarterback
and a receiver to beat him on the deep shots,
because that's one of the things that he's best at.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Yep.
Speaker 5 (20:11):
And so I wonder if they'll try Nate on that
or if they will look and try at the other
corners and try Cheeto and try Marlin and see how
they hold up against some of those deep shots.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Yeah, yeah, that'll be part of this game plan. And
you know, it remains to be seen whether this is
going to turn into a shootout. That was all the
talk heading into the first matchup here just two weeks
ago against the Bengals. Will it be that this week
in Cincinnati? This is obviously a Bengals defense that is
still struggling. They ranked thirty second in the league and
(20:41):
yards allowed per game thirty second, in rush defense thirty first,
and pass defense thirty second, in points allowed per game
thirty one point eight, So they're at the bottom of
the league and really every major defensive category. Once again,
the Bills just carved him up last week in the
snow and Josh Allen had a huge day. So the
Ravens offense, really, this is when you got to put
(21:02):
it together. You have have to and because you have
a tough time, you can contain, but you're gonna have
a tough time holding Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense
completely a bit.
Speaker 5 (21:14):
I think that this is definitely a situation where we
want the offense to get rolling and against them. Two
weeks ago, there were two touchdowns that were one was
taking off the board. It was a long touchdown to
say Flowers, he got called for a push off opr.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
A whole lot like the DK metcalf.
Speaker 5 (21:28):
Honestly, that is by sidright, Like when I look at
that play, like Nate or Nate u Zay did extend
his arm but like and probably didn't need to. But
I see that play happen like eight times a game,
it feels like and not necessarily called.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
But whatever. So there was that was that was taken
off the board.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
And then there was the fuball fumball fumble by Isaiah
likely at the goal line, and so you have two
touchdowns basically come off the board, which really skewed the
result of that game and the final score. With all
that said, like, I don't think a shootout is what
the Ravens want to get into against the Bengals. Like
the Bengals offense, for all the criticism of their defense
and how low they rank, like, their offense can still
put up points in a big way. And the Ravens
(22:06):
had two shootouts with them last season. The Ravens came
out winning.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Both of those.
Speaker 5 (22:10):
But I just don't think that's the type of game
you want to get into, especially with the ray of
the offense has struggled for the Ravens and putting up
points in the red zone. Like, I just don't think
you want to get into a shootout matchup. That's I
don't think the way that the Ravens are built.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
This year, I don't think they want to either for sure. Yeah,
but it could be, but it could be. Yeah, score
is going to say, like you have to be prepared
to put up some points against the Bengals, so you
probably have to take a pretty aggressive stance offensively, And
I think to your earlier point, a lot of this
is going to come down to the red zone. That's
been the Ravens bugaboo. Certainly high up on the list
(22:43):
for this offense. And if they can be efficient and
score touchdowns against the Bengals, they can the Ravens offense
can put up numbers too. They can put up points,
but that's a big if because that's been a struggle
really all year. It's been difficult to pinpoint why, you know.
But if they can get over that hump in the
red zone, I think things can change pretty quickly for
this offense because I do believe that the past couple
(23:05):
weeks and you know, really in the second half against Pittsburgh,
this team is starting to move the ball more efficiently.
I think the ground game, you know, certainly was very
good against the Steelers. If you can continue that this
week against the Bengals, that'll be a big deal. And
so I think that this offense, as much as we've
all been surprised that it hasn't clicked like it did
(23:27):
last year, for sure, I think that there are some
signs that is starting to kind of put some things together.
It feels like there's some positive momentum there. They're not
finishing plays. They're not finishing in the red zone. You know,
the Isaiah likely you know touchdown that wasn't the push
off by you know Byaiy, the fumble at the goal,
like all this stuff. They're not finishing some of these plays,
(23:47):
but like they're there.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
They're literally as close as you can get.
Speaker 5 (23:51):
Yes, Like those are as close as you can get moments,
and you need to finish those plays. I'm not like
discounting that, but you're as close as you can get.
A note for the for the Bengals too, is that
it looks like t Higgens is unlikely to play in
this game and concussion protocol. He missed the Thanksgiving game.
That's a significant blow to that offense. Because he's such
a dynamic player. It allows you to shade a little
(24:12):
bit more over the top to Jamar he missed the
first game also, Yeah, exactly. He hasn't played against the
Ravens this year, so you can put even more attention
on Jamar Chase and trying to slow him down, which
I would expect the Ravens to do, so that would
be a pretty big blow for them if he is
not able to play right.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Ravens health wise Lamar Jackson did not practice on Wednesday,
and that's the fifth straight week where he did not
have a full week of practice. How much that's affecting
his performances, who knows. You can't really say, you know.
John Harball did say it was not injury related as
his rest day for Lamar Jackson. So this is kind
of like the approach that they've been taking to get
(24:48):
him as healthy as he can be for preparing for
games and playing games. So there's that. There's also Tvius
Robinson did say in the locker room Wednesday that he
anticipates playing against Bengals and making his return from his
foot injury, which he suffered way back in that Rams
game before the winning stream that was back Ravens felt
one in five and that lost in the Rams game
(25:10):
storm back, and now Tavis is here to kind of
stem the tide into two game losing streak and turn
things around going on winning streak here in in December.
So that's big for this defensive front, especially a big,
physical guy like Tavius. And he was getting after the
quarterback a little bit too when he went down. He
was leading the team in sacks and so that if
that comes to fruition, as he said he anticipates playing
(25:32):
that would be a big deal.
Speaker 5 (25:33):
Yeah, Tavis Robinson is a starter on this defense. He's
like one of the team's best outside linebackers. Rugged player
to good against the run because set the.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
I and Draymont now together the partner those guys up.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Yeah, yeah, that you have some power, yes on that
defensive front.
Speaker 5 (25:46):
And I like him as a player, and he indicated
he said that it was really tough to He said
it was even tough to watch the games just as
a observer. When he first went down with that injury,
it was kind of painful. But at this point he's
really not even thinking about the foot, So it seems
like he's fully bounced back from that and hopefully he
is able to make his return. The other guy is
our Darius Washington, yep, And he went down with a
(26:10):
torn achilles the spring and a lot of people felt
like that was going to be it for him. But
he came back to practice last week, practice fully on Friday,
and John Harboll said even last week there was a
chance that he was going to be available for the
Steelers game. Did not play in that game, but now
there's even a better chance that he's going to be
able to play in this game against the Bengals. The
question on him is like, what's the role look like?
(26:30):
Because the Ravens have a lot of pieces in the secondary.
They have a nice setup right now with Marlin Humphrey
playing a lot of snaps in the slot, with Kyle
Hamilton moving all over the place.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Well, Marlin's playing a lot outside too.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
So he's Marlin plays inside and outside, but he plays
a lot of nickel. I think you have Nate Wagas
who obviously we just talked about Cheeto as well, and
then Lohi Gilman and Alexi Starks on the back end.
So like, where does our Darius fit into that? I
don't know exactly, but he's a another good player to
add to the quay.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Yeah, I think he could play some in the slot.
And I don't think I wouldn't anticipate a guy coming
back from Achilles in his first game back to sit
there and play eighty percent of snaps or something, you know,
especially in this in this defense with as many players
as you're talking about, and so you know, I think
that they could find him some snap's final role for
him that could be playing safety it could be playing
(27:21):
nickel wherever.
Speaker 5 (27:22):
It is. The Other thing that's interesting, and this is
maybe think about it when you talk about this game
specifically for some of these guys coming back from injury,
It's going to be frigid in Cincinnati. I mean frigid,
single single digits wind chill high of like fourteen degrees.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
For this game. It is going to be.
Speaker 5 (27:41):
Brutally cold, and I think that that's going to have
a factor in this game, like once it gets The
Ravens haven't played in a really cool game like that
this year, like Sunday against the Steelers. Yeah it was
it was cold, but it was like sunny and it
was pretty nice, to be honest. Even Thanksgiving night it
was cold but not that bad. And this is going
to be the coldest game they played in all season.
And I think that like when you reach those type
(28:02):
of temperatures it reached, that's the point where it's like, okay,
now it's having an effect on the game. And what
that effect is, I think we'll see. I don't think
defenders like to tackle Derreck Henry in that type of weather.
That's one one out.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
The first thing that flashes into my head is the
clips from Dereck Henry versus the Steelers in the playoffs
last year, where he's running through the defense and then
he gets the end zone and he's like, looks like
a charging bull with the steam coming out of his nose.
You know, that's what I want to see. Yeah, the
big doll rampant.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Yeah, I thought you're gonna keep going, yeah, the big
dog run. But no, I'm with you.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
But I think that like that weather is going to
have an effect on this game, especially if it ends
up being as cold as everybodys saying it's going to be.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
Yep, I agree.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
So we're excited about this matchup. The Ravens need it.
This is as close to a must win game as
you can get.
Speaker 5 (28:54):
The Ravens are looking at it with four games left
in the regular season and the playoffs have begun for
this team, they need to keep they need to win.
They control their own destiny. But as John Harbwald made
the point this week, yes we control our own destiny,
but that only matters if you win.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
If you don't win, you don't control anything.
Speaker 5 (29:07):
So the Ravens are focused on putting those wins together
starting Sunday at Cincinnati. As always, We love to hear
from you, so email us at the lounge at ravenst
NFL dot net. Thank you so much for watching and listening,
and we'll talk with you again after that game against
the Bengals
Welcome into the Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan in
here with Garrett Downing and we're thrilled to sit down
with cornerback Nate Wiggins. And Nate. You joined us in
the summer for an episode of the Lounge, and we
started out talking about your your box celebration, right, and
how we are so pumped for that and it's our
favorite celebration on the team.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Ten minutes talking about this.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
A little while, and I'm not gonna lie to you, Nate,
you haven't done even though you've been boxing people up,
you haven't been doing the box celebration as much as
I would have liked. Why Why haven't you been boxing?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
I've been catching more picks this year, so I ain't
been giing enough path to flesh. So it's only I
only do it only. You gotta be a big, big play,
big passive flesh. I don't do it out there everyone.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
So, but what about it?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
You don't do it after a pick? Na, it's only
the PBu.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Yeah, because the pick I don't really bought you up.
I caught the ball like PBu sure, so you can't
catch it. So it gotta gotta makes sense.
Speaker 5 (01:02):
I did notice during intros you do the thumbs down.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Though, what about the thumbs down? I don't feel like
you're doing that as much this year either.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
I I don't even I just mean I think this year,
I mean, like, I mean, my whole voages or whatever
whatever comes to my head, I do it. So uh
but people know, like everybody know, that's still the thumbs down. Yeah,
I still still the box man.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
We see teammates do it sometimes. I feel like I've
seen Kyle do it. I've seen different guys do it.
So it's spreading.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
Yea.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
So I remember you also talked about you you kind
of predicted that you you wanted more takeaways this year.
You're getting more takeaways this year. I mean that just
has to be really gratifying for you. And why do
you think that's been the case?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Probably just study habits, study, working hard practice, just really
focusing on the ball more. I felt like last year
it was just fast moving, fast paced. I'm just trying
to get to the zone. This year, I'm just trying
to worry about catching the ball.
Speaker 5 (01:59):
And yeah, what has changed with your study habits?
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Is that, like, take me through your process.
Speaker 5 (02:05):
Is it the work that you're doing, either in the
classroom here and the time you're spending with the coaches,
is your teammates, is it at home? Like how has
that changed and evolved?
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I ain't gonna lie one person. Shout out to my
boy Cheeto. He really like helped me like take notes,
h look at film differently. So Cheeto he had a
big part in my study habits.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Oh that's interesting. So so like what did he kind
of recommend, Like how how did he suggest that you
should take notes differently than what you were doing?
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Just separate, separating my notes so like quick game, drop back,
play adds and just in separate order. So, uh, everything
I bunched up on top of each other and I
know what's going on.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
So I can go to one.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Section everything there on drop back and go to one
session everything then play accent.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
And so when you're out there on the field, how
often are you referencing? Do you reference that stuff? You're like, Okay,
I'm expecting this is going to be drop back for them.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yeah, certain formations and certain tendencies the quarterback dude.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Yeah, so you're referencing the notes mentally. That's interesting. And
can you talk about just kind of outside of the notes,
the veteran kind of leadership that Cheeto has brought because
a lot of fans aren't familiar with him since his
first year. Here tell fans about Cheeto.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Oh yeah, Cheeto.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Uh, that's another another man in the dB DV room.
Just uh, I mean I DV room, Like we got
many personalities, but I feel like, uh, he stick out.
He just wanted the vet vetan president room. He stick out,
very outspoken. You gonna know he in the room.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
He always wanted to be He always want to play.
So I feel like he definitely being a spark to
the room. Uh, you gonna know he's in the room.
He very smart, Yeah, very high. So he brings, he brings.
He brings a lot to the table to the room.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
You mentioned his intelligence. That's something that stands out to me,
Like he's a guy that's seen it. He's been in
the league for a while, so he's seen a lot.
I had him miked up on Ravens Wired recently and
in that game, you could see him calling stuff out
before the play, watch the slant, watch the deep ball.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
That type of stuff.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
Has that also translated and is what's the impact of
that actually within the game.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Oh yeah, So like in the game, like you said,
calling he telling us the formations.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
He's just very like.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
How could I say, like very into it, like information wise,
the concept wise of the game. So like you said,
he's seen it all, like ninth season and the least,
so he's seen it all.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Yeah, helped us a lot.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Right, It feels like for you this season, like you
become that dude you know like that. I think we
all anticipated when the Ravens drafted you last year, you know,
and and as rookie, we saw that growth at rapid growth,
and once you got more time and all that stuff,
and coming into your second year, we're like, you know,
coaches even said it, like we think they can be
one of the top corners in this game. Do you
feel that? How do you feel differently in year two
(04:57):
versus when you're a rookie.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
I feel like I'm I ain't even at my best
yet right now. I feel like I'm still like growing.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
I know, I know a lot of people might think
like I haven't it. I feel like my season is
decent right now. I feel like I could be better
at some some places. So that's really when I'm describing
to be better for I know, I can be way better,
but I know I'm definitely confident in myself though I
feel like a lot of people know I'm confident in me,
(05:27):
and I feel like I can I could beat anybody
on the field.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
So yeah, that where does your confidence come from?
Speaker 5 (05:33):
Because it's a parent, it's a parent on the practice field,
it's a parent when we have conversations like you you
you want the challenge of going up against top guys, Like,
where does that confidence within you come from?
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Probably my mom. She's just always been on me, uh
twenty four seven. I sein't never let me back down
for no challenge. So I feel like probably that's probably
her and my dad just been on me since I
was a kid and just me. I always used to
play up in sports. I ain't never played with my
age group, so I'm always playing with older folks. So
(06:04):
that's probably where it comes from.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Which gives you your mom.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
I'm curious about your mom is as challenging you, Like,
is there an example of either as you were a
kid or in high school where she was really challenging me.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
I ain't want to play football at first, and she
lent me to the on the football field and told
my coat like he not leaving.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Anyway.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
She just felt like you.
Speaker 5 (06:24):
She just felt like you would you were gonna like it,
or she she felt like you were a good fit.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Like what was it that made her want to do she?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I mean because I told her I wanted to play football.
Like when once I told her I do something, she
would never let me quit. So once I was out there,
it was like, this is what you said you want
to do, so you got to stick to it.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
So so did you get hit or something, You're like, nah,
I'm done and she was like.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
No, yeah, I think I played running back my first year.
I got hit and I tried to walk out the
field and she went going for it.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
She was going for it.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
So I feel like from that day before, I always
took the proach like I ain't backing around from nothing.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
I gotta finish well.
Speaker 5 (07:00):
Have you ever curious about I'm curious about that because
like you, you're a smaller, leaner guy. You're a leaner guy,
and when you talk about not backing down, like I
remember when the Ravens drafted you and that was part
of the draft summary and we've talked about that before.
But one thing that stood out to me from the
very first time that you've been here is on the field,
like you don't play scared, Like you're not afraid to
(07:21):
go in there and throw your shoulder in there, and
bigger running back or bigger tight end, like you don't
back down from throwing your nose in the pile. Is
that part of what your mom has instilled in you?
And is that just the way that you approach the game?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Oh yeah, I just feel like, uh, I mean, we
all put our clothes on together, so I don't feel
like nothing to be scared of the human. I'm human,
he brasedly too, like I bresed my twoth. So ain't
no superhero. Ain't no superhero.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
So have you ever seen these videos where like the
kid has to tackle the mom or the mom? I
feel I'm like imagining that with you and your mom.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Now, yeah, I don't know what I'll do right in
that moment. I know what I do. My mama competit hers,
so she probably gonna bring it to me too.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
So she's got a load of the shoulder.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
She's gonna load the shoulder. So I can't let my mom.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Shena take it eat.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
So going against the Bengals this week, obviously there's gonna
be a lot of talk about Jamar Chase and whatnot.
And you've gone up against him now you know multiple
times how tough of a cover is he? And I know,
like you just got done saying, you know, these guys
aren't superheroes whatever. He puts his pants on one leg
at the time, just like you. But take us inside
his game? What makes him tough to cover?
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Yeah, he just uh physical? I mean he got auto trade.
He can catch her, he can catch the ball, catching traffic,
he can get open. So he just got audit trade
that receive him want for real? So does what makes him?
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Very specifically, and as Garrett was saying, you know, you've
gone up to coaches this year even and said I
want I want the guy right, And how does take
us inside? How that works? Like is that you just
a knock on the door in their office and like
take us inside that conversation.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Oh it's probably uh like say it's Monday, I see
who we got on uh on the board, and it
just I tipped uh, but going on like, uh, what's
what's the plan for this week? Like you know, I
don't really think I gotta say too much. I just
asked him, what's the planned for this week? He tells me,
like you want him? Or uh, they moved it. The
(09:26):
number one guy moved too much, So we're just gonna
have you play side.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
So interesting, got you got? So if the number one
guy doesn't move that much, then it's like an opportunity
basically for you to be like, yeah, that's that's what
I want.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
Interesting And the first correct me if I'm wrong here,
but I think was the first time where you got
where you ended up doing that? Was that against the
Rams going up against Avant?
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Yeah, that was the first time.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Yeah. And so if Wanta.
Speaker 5 (09:48):
Adams, I mean, this guy's probably gonna have a cold
jacket one day. What was your mentality going into that
game knowing like, hey, this is the assignment that I want.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Oh, yeah, that probably my Uh. I always focused that
we just I was locked in just knowing, like you said,
you Hall of Fame receiver, one of the best to
ever do it. So yeah, I was. I was up
for the challenge that week.
Speaker 5 (10:11):
And this you did this at Clemson too. Did you
tell Dabbo like I want the number one guy there too?
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (10:16):
And and and what what is it about that challenge
of going up against the clear number one receiver on
the other side, That like really gets you excited going
into a game.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Just because I feel like people say I'm the I'm
the guy. So if I mean, people always say, if
you want to be the guy, you got to go
against the guy.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
So I mean, yeah, so you.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Said you know you were really up for the challenge
that week. Does that What does that look like like
when you have one of these elite receivers coming into town.
Is it just more time in your playbook? What what
does that look like for you to get up to
that challenge.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
I studying just studying what he do, what he don't like,
studying what I can take advantage of in the game.
It's a lot of stuff going this, uh just receiver,
like because he does so much stuff he can release,
he can separate.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Yeah, it's interesting and you said that, you know there
you look at your season this year and you're like,
you know it could be better. Where do you look
at it and say, hey, this is still where I
want to grow.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Just I mean just full game, just just locking in
the full game. I feel like some some game I'll
probably get relaxed a little bit. So just offender is
not the game.
Speaker 5 (11:33):
I something you said many times since you've been here,
is like they drafted me in the first round for
a reason. How much does that a first being the
first round pick follows you for the rest of your career.
And so how much does that, like badge, carry weight
with you of knowing like they took me in the
first round. I need to play to this level. I
need to live up to this expectation. Like how much
(11:54):
do you carry that with you?
Speaker 4 (11:56):
I carried a lot.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
It's just like you said at me to do something.
So that's why I gotta live up to I mean,
they ain't draft me just to not just not delivered
to a chale. So when they called me, they said
they expect me to guard the best receiver.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
So that's what that's what I'm living up to.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
How much when you get the ball in your hands
taking it back to the house, like, how much.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Is that.
Speaker 5 (12:22):
You shaking your head? You had a couple of them.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
Yeah, man, I cherished that, Like so.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
I'm so mad I could take too h too bad
that I had, but uh yeah, I'm like that's what
that's what I cherished, Like just getting the bottle of
my hands and going to the getting it is on,
Like I cherish.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
That running back in you still in there.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Still in there, still in there. I've been trying to
tell for they getting over it right now because I got.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Caught by alignment. But once I get it, I'm gonna
redeem myself.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
That was what the Browns one, right, I mean had angle.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
Yeah, that's why I'll be trying to down It's all good.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
They don't want to hear.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Excuse.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Yeah, that's what I'm gonna say.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
It's it's funny because you come up with a pick
in that game, for example, and then you come up
with this big play and you get down there inside
the red zone. But if you don't get in the
end zone, then you come off the bench. You're all
hyped up, you're excited for the pick, but then everyone
just like clowns you for not getting into the end zone.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
That was a crazy moment.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
Right when did Cheeto? Who was it? Didn't somebody like
jump on your back?
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Man?
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Almost Cheeto told a lot of energy. He got a
lot of energy.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
He's he seems like like an alpha and he is
having fun. But different vibes from Marlin.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Like totally different people.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
But I feel like they totally different people, but they
at the same in some ways.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Right right, I'm kind of curious. All right, So we
were talking about all the first round picks on this
demon in this secondary so kind of break it down
for listeners quickly, Like, if you were going to describe
these guys, let's go with the first rounders. How would
you do it? Briefly?
Speaker 6 (13:59):
Marlin, I start with the toughest one, crazy Kyle, laid back,
laid back, laid back. Okay, Malachi, what word I can use?
Speaker 4 (14:14):
Passionate? I say, passionate, passionate.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Okay, We'll end with yourself.
Speaker 5 (14:20):
Me.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
Uh, I'm just one on one man, just one on one.
You're just I'm just, I'm just I don't even know.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
I'm well.
Speaker 5 (14:33):
So you have four games left here in the regular season,
and obviously there's an understanding of where you guys are,
not where you want to be, but you still have
an opportunity here with a month left in the regular season.
How would you describe the conversations and the mindset going
into this stretcher?
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Just uh, we know we control our own destiny for real,
we know what we gotta do. I don't think everybody
I don't think nobody don't know.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
So we gotta go win. That's the plan, just whin.
I mean, whatever we can do, just get a win.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
And how do you keep like all the noise and
the like. It's easy to look towards the end and say, okay,
well we need we need to win all four of
these games, and we need to do this and here's
what the standings say, Like it's easy to get caught
up and all that stuff. How do you, while understanding
all that, how do you prevent that from like overtaking
your thought process going into a game where you know,
just take care of one play at a time and
and win that specific game.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
I like, if you said just one day at a time,
one player at a time. We know we can't fast
forward life, so I just take it one day at
a time, or we can get better each day. That's
what we're gonna do. So get better each day. And
on Sunday's came lay it out on the line.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Can't wait.
Speaker 5 (15:42):
And lastly, one thing I did want to mention or
ask you about is your community work. That's something that
seems like it's really been a passionate UH area for
you you had you know, you were my cause my
cleats this year and you have your your Wigans Worldwide Foundation.
Tell us a little bit about the work you do
in the community.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Oh yeah, I do a lot of work in the
community in Atlanta and Baltimore. Uh it's just my pride
just coming coming from I come from. I know, I
ain't I ain't have a lot growing up, so I
know how I feel just to come from uh over
there in Atlanta. So I just love to get back
from the people who come from I'll come from, and
I know Baltimore hard city, so it reminds me of
(16:20):
I can't came from in Atlanta, So I just try
to get back because I already know, Like how hard
are that?
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Great? Do you do? You and Kyle bond is Atlanta guys? Yeah,
there's connection, all right? Yeah, awesome? All right man. Well,
we look forward to a lot of.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
More more more of the celebrations because the pick.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Just because I just said I'm I'm gonna get We.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
You're listening to the last podcast We're coming to you
from the Sea Keek Studio. We want to mention our
partners are drafting sports book. They are an official sports
betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft Kings sportsbook. The
Crown is yours thanks to Nate. I I always enjoy
talking with him. He's a fun guy who's playing really well.
And it's kind of cool that, like we had the
conversation with him back in the spring, and a lot
(17:09):
of the things that we talked about have come to fruition,
Like he's he's taken a big.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Step this year.
Speaker 5 (17:14):
He's somebody that I think really deserves Pro Bowl consideration.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Pro Bowl voting is open now.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
You can vote for that on Twitter, you can vote
for that at NFL dot com slash Pro Bowl. But
I definitely think he's somebody on this team that deserves
your Pro Bowl votes. To go ahead and get those
votes cast.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Yeah, And like he said, I think that there's such
a high ceiling for Nate Wigans. You know, he's an
extremely talented guy. And you know, even he kind of
said like sometimes he just kind of has like these
lapses is probably the right word. And so when he
gets that ironed out, you know, look out also. And
(17:55):
I think it's really interesting that he's learning how to
kind of study the game better from Cheeto and that
was an interesting insight. So I look forward to what's
to come the rest of the season and also what's
to come in the years following. For Nate Wiggins.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Look, the Ravens need him to play really good football.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
This week.
Speaker 5 (18:12):
They're going up against a great offense in the Cincinnati Bengals,
with Joe Burrow back to himself playing at such a
high level in Jamar Chase, who's proping the best receiver
in football, and when they matched up earlier this season,
it wasn't like it was Wiggins was not just following
him and trailing him the entire game.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
But as he moves all over the place, he moves
all over the place.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
However, there's also plenty of snaps where he is matched
up against Jamar Chase for State Wiggins like, we see
that match up plenty of times, and the Chase won
some of them last time. Nate won some of them
last time, and the Ravens need him to really play
at a high level in this game or the rest
of the way. If they're going to be a team
that can can beat the Bengals and then go on
(18:54):
a run here to get into the postseason, well, I.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Think it remains to be seen. How much of the
Bengals kind of have the same strategy that the Pittsburgh
Steelers use against the Ravens, which is to take these
shots outside of the numbers, down the sideline, throw some
of these bombs. I thought the Ravens did a good job,
especially early on in that first game against the Bengals,
of really playing kind of top down defense and forcing
Joe Burrow to get the ball out and go on shorter,
(19:18):
you know, with shorter passes. The Steelers said, We're not
even gonna mess with Kyle Hamilton and all that stuff
over the middle of field. We're just taking shots. Yeah,
we all have seen that from Joe Burrow in this
Bengals offense all too much over the years. The Ravens
surely know they what the Bengals are capable of. So
I think it's gonna be kind of a good on
(19:39):
good matchup here. The Ravens are going to be prepared
for it, but that's what the Bengals like to do.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
So we'll see if you go to the Steelers game
with DK Metcalf especially, I mean that whatever right on
that first series was that was DK against Marlon Humpt,
those big shots didn't come against Nate, that's correct.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
One. It was against.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
Cheetoh out of Keith down and then there was the
big play to dk metcalf on that first drive came
against Marlin. Nate's got the speed to run with anybody,
and so like, that's a tough matchup for a quarterback
and a receiver to beat him on the deep shots,
because that's one of the things that he's best at.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
Yep.
Speaker 5 (20:11):
And so I wonder if they'll try Nate on that
or if they will look and try at the other
corners and try Cheeto and try Marlin and see how
they hold up against some of those deep shots.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Yeah, yeah, that'll be part of this game plan. And
you know, it remains to be seen whether this is
going to turn into a shootout. That was all the
talk heading into the first matchup here just two weeks
ago against the Bengals. Will it be that this week
in Cincinnati? This is obviously a Bengals defense that is
still struggling. They ranked thirty second in the league and
(20:41):
yards allowed per game thirty second, in rush defense thirty first,
and pass defense thirty second, in points allowed per game
thirty one point eight, So they're at the bottom of
the league and really every major defensive category. Once again,
the Bills just carved him up last week in the
snow and Josh Allen had a huge day. So the
Ravens offense, really, this is when you got to put
(21:02):
it together. You have have to and because you have
a tough time, you can contain, but you're gonna have
a tough time holding Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense
completely a bit.
Speaker 5 (21:14):
I think that this is definitely a situation where we
want the offense to get rolling and against them. Two
weeks ago, there were two touchdowns that were one was
taking off the board. It was a long touchdown to
say Flowers, he got called for a push off opr.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
A whole lot like the DK metcalf.
Speaker 5 (21:28):
Honestly, that is by sidright, Like when I look at
that play, like Nate or Nate u Zay did extend
his arm but like and probably didn't need to. But
I see that play happen like eight times a game,
it feels like and not necessarily called.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
But whatever. So there was that was that was taken
off the board.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
And then there was the fuball fumball fumble by Isaiah
likely at the goal line, and so you have two
touchdowns basically come off the board, which really skewed the
result of that game and the final score. With all
that said, like, I don't think a shootout is what
the Ravens want to get into against the Bengals. Like
the Bengals offense, for all the criticism of their defense
and how low they rank, like, their offense can still
put up points in a big way. And the Ravens
(22:06):
had two shootouts with them last season. The Ravens came
out winning.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Both of those.
Speaker 5 (22:10):
But I just don't think that's the type of game
you want to get into, especially with the ray of
the offense has struggled for the Ravens and putting up
points in the red zone. Like, I just don't think
you want to get into a shootout matchup. That's I
don't think the way that the Ravens are built.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
This year, I don't think they want to either for sure. Yeah,
but it could be, but it could be. Yeah, score
is going to say, like you have to be prepared
to put up some points against the Bengals, so you
probably have to take a pretty aggressive stance offensively, And
I think to your earlier point, a lot of this
is going to come down to the red zone. That's
been the Ravens bugaboo. Certainly high up on the list
(22:43):
for this offense. And if they can be efficient and
score touchdowns against the Bengals, they can the Ravens offense
can put up numbers too. They can put up points,
but that's a big if because that's been a struggle
really all year. It's been difficult to pinpoint why, you know.
But if they can get over that hump in the
red zone, I think things can change pretty quickly for
this offense because I do believe that the past couple
(23:05):
weeks and you know, really in the second half against Pittsburgh,
this team is starting to move the ball more efficiently.
I think the ground game, you know, certainly was very
good against the Steelers. If you can continue that this
week against the Bengals, that'll be a big deal. And
so I think that this offense, as much as we've
all been surprised that it hasn't clicked like it did
(23:27):
last year, for sure, I think that there are some
signs that is starting to kind of put some things together.
It feels like there's some positive momentum there. They're not
finishing plays. They're not finishing in the red zone. You know,
the Isaiah likely you know touchdown that wasn't the push
off by you know Byaiy, the fumble at the goal,
like all this stuff. They're not finishing some of these plays,
(23:47):
but like they're there.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
They're literally as close as you can get.
Speaker 5 (23:51):
Yes, Like those are as close as you can get moments,
and you need to finish those plays. I'm not like
discounting that, but you're as close as you can get.
A note for the for the Bengals too, is that
it looks like t Higgens is unlikely to play in
this game and concussion protocol. He missed the Thanksgiving game.
That's a significant blow to that offense. Because he's such
a dynamic player. It allows you to shade a little
(24:12):
bit more over the top to Jamar he missed the
first game also, Yeah, exactly. He hasn't played against the
Ravens this year, so you can put even more attention
on Jamar Chase and trying to slow him down, which
I would expect the Ravens to do, so that would
be a pretty big blow for them if he is
not able to play right.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Ravens health wise Lamar Jackson did not practice on Wednesday,
and that's the fifth straight week where he did not
have a full week of practice. How much that's affecting
his performances, who knows. You can't really say, you know.
John Harball did say it was not injury related as
his rest day for Lamar Jackson. So this is kind
of like the approach that they've been taking to get
(24:48):
him as healthy as he can be for preparing for
games and playing games. So there's that. There's also Tvius
Robinson did say in the locker room Wednesday that he
anticipates playing against Bengals and making his return from his
foot injury, which he suffered way back in that Rams
game before the winning stream that was back Ravens felt
one in five and that lost in the Rams game
(25:10):
storm back, and now Tavis is here to kind of
stem the tide into two game losing streak and turn
things around going on winning streak here in in December.
So that's big for this defensive front, especially a big,
physical guy like Tavius. And he was getting after the
quarterback a little bit too when he went down. He
was leading the team in sacks and so that if
that comes to fruition, as he said he anticipates playing
(25:32):
that would be a big deal.
Speaker 5 (25:33):
Yeah, Tavis Robinson is a starter on this defense. He's
like one of the team's best outside linebackers. Rugged player
to good against the run because set the.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
I and Draymont now together the partner those guys up.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Yeah, yeah, that you have some power, yes on that
defensive front.
Speaker 5 (25:46):
And I like him as a player, and he indicated
he said that it was really tough to He said
it was even tough to watch the games just as
a observer. When he first went down with that injury,
it was kind of painful. But at this point he's
really not even thinking about the foot, So it seems
like he's fully bounced back from that and hopefully he
is able to make his return. The other guy is
our Darius Washington, yep, And he went down with a
(26:10):
torn achilles the spring and a lot of people felt
like that was going to be it for him. But
he came back to practice last week, practice fully on Friday,
and John Harboll said even last week there was a
chance that he was going to be available for the
Steelers game. Did not play in that game, but now
there's even a better chance that he's going to be
able to play in this game against the Bengals. The
question on him is like, what's the role look like?
(26:30):
Because the Ravens have a lot of pieces in the secondary.
They have a nice setup right now with Marlin Humphrey
playing a lot of snaps in the slot, with Kyle
Hamilton moving all over the place.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Well, Marlin's playing a lot outside too.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
So he's Marlin plays inside and outside, but he plays
a lot of nickel. I think you have Nate Wagas
who obviously we just talked about Cheeto as well, and
then Lohi Gilman and Alexi Starks on the back end.
So like, where does our Darius fit into that? I
don't know exactly, but he's a another good player to
add to the quay.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Yeah, I think he could play some in the slot.
And I don't think I wouldn't anticipate a guy coming
back from Achilles in his first game back to sit
there and play eighty percent of snaps or something, you know,
especially in this in this defense with as many players
as you're talking about, and so you know, I think
that they could find him some snap's final role for
him that could be playing safety it could be playing
(27:21):
nickel wherever.
Speaker 5 (27:22):
It is. The Other thing that's interesting, and this is
maybe think about it when you talk about this game
specifically for some of these guys coming back from injury,
It's going to be frigid in Cincinnati. I mean frigid,
single single digits wind chill high of like fourteen degrees.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
For this game. It is going to be.
Speaker 5 (27:41):
Brutally cold, and I think that that's going to have
a factor in this game, like once it gets The
Ravens haven't played in a really cool game like that
this year, like Sunday against the Steelers. Yeah it was
it was cold, but it was like sunny and it
was pretty nice, to be honest. Even Thanksgiving night it
was cold but not that bad. And this is going
to be the coldest game they played in all season.
And I think that like when you reach those type
(28:02):
of temperatures it reached, that's the point where it's like, okay,
now it's having an effect on the game. And what
that effect is, I think we'll see. I don't think
defenders like to tackle Derreck Henry in that type of weather.
That's one one out.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
The first thing that flashes into my head is the
clips from Dereck Henry versus the Steelers in the playoffs
last year, where he's running through the defense and then
he gets the end zone and he's like, looks like
a charging bull with the steam coming out of his nose.
You know, that's what I want to see. Yeah, the
big doll rampant.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Yeah, I thought you're gonna keep going, yeah, the big
dog run. But no, I'm with you.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
But I think that like that weather is going to
have an effect on this game, especially if it ends
up being as cold as everybodys saying it's going to be.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
Yep, I agree.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
So we're excited about this matchup. The Ravens need it.
This is as close to a must win game as
you can get.
Speaker 5 (28:54):
The Ravens are looking at it with four games left
in the regular season and the playoffs have begun for
this team, they need to keep they need to win.
They control their own destiny. But as John Harbwald made
the point this week, yes we control our own destiny,
but that only matters if you win.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
If you don't win, you don't control anything.
Speaker 5 (29:07):
So the Ravens are focused on putting those wins together
starting Sunday at Cincinnati. As always, We love to hear
from you, so email us at the lounge at ravenst
NFL dot net. Thank you so much for watching and listening,
and we'll talk with you again after that game against
the Bengals
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