Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we're gonna 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 doing.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
No, I'm doing well. You know.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
I'm really excited to be able to talk to each
other after a win. It's been a little bit since
we've had that pleasure, So I'm excited to talk a
little bit about that Bengals Cowboys game.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
My equilibrium is thrown off talking about a victory. I'm
not sure what to do.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
I get it, I definitely get it.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
I think it's hard at this point of the season,
with how things have gone to be excited about a win.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
But you get a little bit of excitement.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
I know bengalsman is excited about what Joe Burrow had
to say in the post game press conference.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
You see a little bit about t Higgins that gets
me excited.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Not sure how that's gonna end up, of course, but
still some good things on the field too.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
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 2 (00:59):
And you gotta find a way, I think to make
it work.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I think that it's really incumbent on the general manager
to find exactly.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
How to do that, and you of course have to
go through ownership.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
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 cap with how much
cash you're spending.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
And I don't think that you should look at Joe Burrow.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
And say, hey, he has to take a pay cut
or he doesn't want to win if he doesn't take
a pay cut.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
It's on the.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
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
with Jamar Chase. I think that when you look at
teams that have been able to have multiple high end
players on their roster, of course the Eagles, I keep
mentioning it as one 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,
(01:43):
which I know isn't always the Bengals way you try
and pill holes in the draft or as opposed to
in free agency, because so much of this offense goes
through having two stud wide receivers, and there's certainly a
reality where Higgins isn't on the team next year.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Which I think would make me out. I think can
make use that I think can make a lot of
people sad. But it's I think it's probably number one
to just find a way. You really really have to
find a way.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Whether it's you're going over at certain spots, going under
an other spot and taking away from one place and
moving it to another, just finding a way to get
all those guys in that field, because this offense is
so fun to watch when everyone is there, and you know,
I worry about you get a little bit of the
fall off. At the same time, though Higgins isn't there,
you still have Burrow, you still have Chase, You still
have so much there that can make you a good team.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
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
and 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
(02:54):
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.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
I think I could see that argument again, Like I'm
I have the most fun watching both of them together.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
I think you can see so many things working where
Higgins is not there. Of course, it changes defenses.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
They 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 going to have, you know,
hopefully a top end kick again like you have this year.
So you draft in the trenches, you find a way.
And I think it's also like every kind of part
of the front office has a real responsibility here, where
(03:45):
the player personnel part of it, the drafting part of
it is so important, where yes, you're you're not hitting
at the raid that you should, but you're hoping that,
you know, you find some randomness. Mile Murphy looks just
a little bit you know, improved at times on the field.
And then you maybe a guy like Mason 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.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Got a heck of a high floor.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
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.
But the draft is a lot of times it is random,
like as much as as things.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Go where whether it's where a player lands.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Or kind of what system it's in, and they'll be
interesting to see just no, are they keeping the same
defensive coordinator, is it another person they bring in.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Is it a whole entire different style, a.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Different attitude, a different teaching process that maybe gets a
little bit more out of players, or you know, you're
just 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.
That just got to be a baseline, middle of the
road defense. You're gonna have the offenses clicking, and all
of a sudden you're back in the mix for the
(04:53):
AFC North.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
I have been told Sean that I am too harsh
in my criticism to the Bengals offense 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 3 (05:11):
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
(05:32):
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, like eventually as we see like Bro really
gets hit, Like the dude really takes a lot of
hits and probably more than you would want.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
So I can certainly see.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
You know, you want to find different ways to improve
that offensive.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Line, and especially with offense the line, I think you
should think about it as like.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
A 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 Michael Parsons over.
That is where a team is going to constantly attack.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
So it does.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
I think you do make a good point that the
offensive line is not just like gold Star.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Everything is figured out. The offense is fully plug and play.
But when you have a.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
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. So I think
that it's unfortunate where they're at. I think you hope
that there's a little bit of combination between development. It's
drafting another guy high in the in the first round.
I'm not one hundred cent sure if that's gonna fully
(06:44):
kind of do it, but Yeah, maybe you get a
little free agent work there as well.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
The plugs and spots.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
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 3 (07:00):
Chase Brown, Look, I'm very glad that we've done this
all year.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
I always love talking to you.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Chase is probably like the most exciting thing that I
just get to watch for the Bengals every week.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
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.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
We've talked a few times about we'll do the Bengals
miss Joe Mixon. I think going forward, you feel really
comfortable about Chase Brown as a pass blocker on some
of those gotta have it the situations. Also just as
a receiver split out wide. 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
(07:38):
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 gonna be able
to be a player that is an actual threat in
the offense that can be involved in the pass game.
Of course, we see that little kind of swing screen
to him against the Cowboys.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
So I really like watching him every week. I think
he has a lot to his game.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
I think it will can continue to improve and be
a mainstay for the Spangles offense.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Did they do anything defensively against Dallas that I should
actually cling to.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
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 to the run game.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
I don't want to pretend that they didn't, but they're
trying things.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Whether it's you start with 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 2 (08:27):
Kind of in a unique way.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
I do think that lewis cooking a little bit on
some of those third downs where you're sending a ton
of preshure. Obviously, there was one example where you get
that touchdown kind of in the red zone area, unfortunately,
when you're not able to cover, but at the same
time finding ways to have like a linebacker lined up
over the center, we're sending a safety through the kind
of interior gaps as well, So they.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Got funky in some of the pressures. I think that
there was some things too.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Like overall there it's just so much, you know, staff
after snat just kind of how they're getting.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Pushed around to the run game is.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
It's something I think, I know in those meeting rooms,
sitting for them to keep seeing.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
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 should Obi a Woozier. It hasn't
gone great for Brian Callahan year one. Will Levis is
obviously a Kentucky guy. Are you Will Levis guy? Uh?
Speaker 3 (09:26):
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 2 (09:34):
I think that I root for everyone, though, so I've
went to see him succeed.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
I'm just not sure in this sideration of the offense,
I think that the way that Callahan has things just
set up.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Overall, I think this year was really to get an
evaluation of Will Levit. Ben.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
I think you know, when you look at the list
of quarterback that feels like next year, it's gonna be
interesting to see.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Is the where they land there?
Speaker 1 (09:55):
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 more semantically responsible and I admire and appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Well, No, you're invested in the game here. You know,
I have to earn the ability to get to that point.
I do think you know, the.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Titans overall, they have some interesting parts where you have
Tony Pollard.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
I think the left side of their offensive line is
a strong.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Unit, and then their defensive interior is a been fun
to watch kind of back and forth this season.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
So I think in a game where the Titans are just.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Not a great keep right now, I think it might
be a little bit closer than Bangals fans would hope.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Yeah, I think you're right about that. All right, man,
we'll talk in our normal time a day next week.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Thanks so much. I'm always looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
You got it, Sean Sean Sayed At Sayed schemes on
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