Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
She's football in Thennetti run to you in part by
blood Light and by Skyline Shilly on the official home
of the Bengals, Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
You know, we normally talked with Sean Sayed on Tuesdays,
but with the game on Monday, everything got slid So,
for example, you know, normally we're at Buffalo Wild Wings
on Tuesdays, but you know, today we're here on a Wednesday,
and we're having a good time at the Cole Rain location.
We just gave away another Nike hoodie, another Bengals Nike
hoodie thanks to bud Light. We also just you know,
(00:33):
chatted with Paul Danner Junior in the first hour of
the show typically on Tuesdays, but today Wednesday, and now
we're going to spend a few minutes with our guy,
Sean Sayed from the Stats and Scheme podcast from sumer
sports dot com as well, and he's typically with us
on Tuesdays, but we're having him on on Wednesdays and
he's with us. Now, Sean, how you.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Doing No, I'm doing well.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
You know, I'm really excited to be able to talk
to each other after a win.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
It's been a little bit since we've had that play.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
So I'm excited to talk a little bit about that
Bengals Cowboys game.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
My equilibrium is thrown off talking about a victory. I'm
not sure what to do.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
I get it, I definitely get it.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
I think it's hard at this point of the season,
with how things have gone to be excited about a win.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
But you get a little bit of excitement.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
I know bengalsman is excited about what Joe Burrow had
to say in the post game press conference.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
You see a little bit about T Higgins that gets
me excited.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Not sure how that's gonna end up, of course, but
still some good things on the field too.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
So let's go there. First, put yourself in the shoes
of de facto Bengals general manager Duke Tobin. What would
you do with T Higgins?
Speaker 3 (01:38):
And you got to find a way, I think to
make it work.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
I think that it's really incumbent on the general manager
to find exactly.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
How to do that, and you, of course have to
go through ownership.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
When we think about the Eagles, the way the Eagles
are able to do a lot of the things that
they do as you're manipulating the cab with how much
cash you're spending. And I don't think that you should
look at Joe Burrow and say, hey, you has to
take a pay cut or he doesn't want to win
if he doesn't take a take cut. It's on the
general manager to try and find a way. I think
you want to see where t Higgins numbers at. Unfortunately,
you also have to figure out a way to negotiate
(02:09):
with Jamar Case. I think that when you look at
teams that have been able to have multiple high end
players on their roster. Of course it's because I keep
mentioning it as well to look at you try and
find a way to look at that model, whether it's
you get maybe a little bit more cash up front,
which I know isn't always the Bengals way, you try
and bill holes in the draft or as opposed to
in free agency, because so much of this offense goes
(02:31):
through having two stud wide receivers, and there's certainly a
reality where Higgins isn't on the team next year, which I.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Think would make me sad.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
I think can make you said, I think it can make
a lot of people said, but it's I think it's
probably number.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
One to just find a way you really really have
to find a way.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Whether it's you're going over at certain spots, going under
at other spots, and taking away from one place and
moving it to another, just finding a way to get
all those guys in.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
This field, because this offense is so fun to watch.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
When everyone is there and you worried about you get
a little bit of the falloff.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
At the same time, though Higgins isn't there.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
You still have you still have Chase, You still have
so much there that can make you a good team.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
I agree with everything you said. I think the counter
to that is, well, they are fun to watch, and
they have Chase and they have Higgins, and they're five
to eight, and so look, obviously the mo for this
team is going to pay offense draft defense. But they've
tried that and it hasn't worked, and so I think
the argument against it is like, all right, yeah, T
(03:33):
Higgins is terrific, but on a team that has so
many holes on defense and that has to start thinking
about making its offensive line better, that maybe on this team,
for what he's going to cost is he's a little
bit of a luxury item, and a luxury item that
that maybe it doesn't make sense to splurge on I think.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
I could see that argument again, Like I'm I have
the most fun watching both of them together. I think
you can see so many things working where Higgins is
not there. Of course it changes defenses are gonna fully
prioritize Chase. They can't just kind of single them up
in different ways. And I hear you on that they
need so much on defense that it feels like you're
not gonna have, you.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Know, hopefully a top end kick again like you have
this year. So you draft in the trenches, you find
a way.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
And I think it's also like every kind of part
of the front office has a real responsibility here where
the player personnel part of it, the drafting part of
it is so important where yes, you're not hitting at
the rate that.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
You should, but you're hoping that, you know, you find
some randomness. Mile Murphy looks just feel a little bit,
you know, improved at times on the field.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
And then you draft maybe a guy like basically ran
from Michigan where he can come in right away and
it feels like maybe he doesn't have the highest feeling,
but he's got a heck.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Of a high floor.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
He can kind of be a plugger against a run
in a few different ways. So you're I mean, it's
hard to put the faith, I guess in for people
who are drafting when they're maybe not having the best results.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
But the draft is a lot of times it is random,
like much as things go where, whether it's where a
player lands.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Or kind of what system it's in, and it'll be
interesting to see just no, are they keeping the same
defensive coordinator, is it another person they bring in. Is
it a whole entire different style, a different attitude, a
different teaching process that maybe gets a.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Little bit more out of players, or you know, you're just.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
Filling in just a few kind of one year rental
kind of type contracts from either veterans or guys in
new places that you get a little bit of overachievement.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
That just got to be a baseline, middle of the
road defense.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
You're gonna have the offensive clicking, and all of a
sudden you're back in the mix for the AFC North.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
I have been told Sean that I am too harsh
in my criticisms of the Bengals offensive line. Is this
a really bad offensive line, below average offensive line, or
a league average offensive line in a league where offensive
line plays a problem.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
I think that I do agree with you that there is,
you know, a problem overall in the NFL, just with
offensive line play. I think that it comes up a
little bit more often than you would like when there
are issues on the offensive line. I do think that
there are times that the offense is I mean, it's
meant for Joe Burrow to kind of hold the ball
a little bit and kind of extend plays. Obviously, you
(06:11):
get some injuries on that offensive line as well. I
would personally would probably put them like a round blow average.
I think that they have a full waste to go.
I think that Burrow has a lot on his play
in terms of stack avoidance, which you don't always want
to have.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Like eventually, as we see like.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
Bro really gets hit, Like the dude really takes a
lot of hits and probably more than you would want.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
So I can certainly see you know.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
You want to find different ways to improve that offensive line,
and especially with offensive line.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
I think you should think about it as like a.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
Weakling system where it's like your worst offensive lineman that
kind of defines your whole part unit because that's where
a team is going to put Michel Parsons over that
is where a team is going to constantly attack.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
So it does.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
I think you do make a good point that the
offensive line is not this like gold Star. Everything is
figured out. The offense is fully plug and play. But
when you have a quarterback that he is able to
make up for it, that is able to step up
in the pocket get vertical attack. You see a ton
against the Cowboys the way that he's able to do that.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
So I think that it's unfortunate where they're at.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
I think you hope that there's a little bit of
combination between development. Is drafting another guy high in the
in the first round. I'm not one hundred cent sure
if that's gonna fully kind of do it, but you know,
maybe you get a little free agent work there as well.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
The plugs and spots.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Sean said, is with US Stats and Scheme podcast, give
me your thoughts on how they've carved out a really
nice role with Chase Brown.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
We Chase Brown. Look, I'm very glad that we've done
this all year. I always love talking to you. Chase
is probably like the most exciting thing that I just
get to watch for the Bengals every week where he
in the run game. I think he can run from done,
he can run from pistol, he can run from under center,
And we've talked a few times about will do the
Bengals mix Miss Joe Mixon. I think going forward, you
(08:00):
feel really comfortable about Chase Brown as a pass blocker.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
On some of those gotta have it the situations. Also
just as a receiver split out wide.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
I think that's a real luxury to have as a
running back and a player that just has so much verse,
he can kind of just eat up space very very
quickly in a way that is impressive for just any
player in the NFL. So I think as a Bengals fan,
you should be really happy for that. I think he's
going to be able to be a player that is
an actual threat in the offense, that can be involved
(08:30):
in the passing game. Of course, we see that little
kind of swing screen to him against the Cowboys, so
I really like watching him every week.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
I think he has a lot to his game.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
I think it will continue to improve and be a
mainstay for the Sangles offense.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Did they do anything defensively against Dallas that I should
actually cling to.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
I do think we saw a bunch of examples of
them using different defensive fronts where it's not just like
what they got pushed around in the run game.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
I don't want to pretend that they didn't, but they're
trying things. Whether it's to start with.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Four down linemen, you send a linebacker to kind of
muddy it up for the offensive line. You're getting like
a guy into the box extra.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Kind of in a unique way.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
I do think that lewis cooking a little bit on
some of those third downs where you're sending a ton
of fresher.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Obviously, there was one example where you get.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
That touchdown kind of in the red zone area unfortunately
when you're not able to cover.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
But at the same time finding ways to have like
a linebacker lined up over the center.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
We're sending a safety through the kind of interior gaps
as well. So they got funky in some of the pressures.
I think that there was some things too. Like overall there,
it's just so much, you know, staff after snat just
kind of how they're getting pushed around to the run
game is It's something I think I know in those meeting,
and it's so frustrating for them to keep seeing.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
They're playing the Tennessee Titans and you know, obviously they
have Brian Callahan, who was here and a big part
of the coaching staff and a big part of the
success the Bengals had earlier this decade, and then players
like Tyler Boyd and Shouldobi a Woozier. It hasn't gone
great for Brian Callahan year one. Will Levis is obviously
Kentucky guy. Are you Will Levis guy?
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Uh? You know it's I think I try and evaluate
the player by the play and on the field, and
I think that Will Levis's play this year has not
been the best.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
I think that I root for everyone, though, so I've
want to see him succeed. I'm just not sure in
disideration of the offense.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
I think that the way that Callahan has things just
set up overall, I think this year was really to
get an evaluation of Will LEVI. Then I think, you know,
when you look at the list of quarterbacks, it feels
like next year it's gonna be interesting to see just
where they land there.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
You know, you're kinder in your assessment than me, because
I would just say I think Will Levis stinks. You're
You're a lot more semantically responsible, and I admire and
appreciate that.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
Well, No, you're invested in the game here, you know,
I have to earn the ability to get to that point.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
I do think you know the.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Titans overall, they have some interesting parts where you have
Tony Pollard. I think the left side of their offensive
line is a strong unit, and then their defensive interior
is a been fun to watch kind of back.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
And forth this season. So I think in a game
where the Titans are just not a great keep right now,
I think it might be a little bit closer than
Bengals fans would hope.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Yeah, I think you're right about that. All right, man,
we'll talk in our normal time a day next week.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Thanks so much. I'm always looking forward to you.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Got it, Sean Sean sayed at sayaed Schemes on X
our friend Scott Springer from The Inquirer on the Bearcats
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Speaker 1 (11:25):
You've been listening to football in Thenetti on the official
home of the Bengals, Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty