December 4, 2025 • 16 mins
Tony and Austin talk Bengals with John Sheeran from A to Z Sports on ESPN 1530!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Tony Pike Sincy three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati,
sponsoredmen Park by Cincy Shirts. Cincy Shirts, all Cincy, all Day.
This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome back. It is our two Cincy three sixty thanks
to Cincy Shirts. Thank you for listening on ESPN fifteen
thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. Let's dive right in our Thursday
tradition now hour two to get things underway. From A
to Z Sports covering the Cincinnati Bengals is John Sheeran.
What's up, John?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
How are you? I'm doing well, man.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
I'm a little nervous that I'm bad luck because it
wasn't on last week, and of course the Bengals won
by a lot, but I'm happy to be.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Bet Not being on last week, you obviously had a
chance to sit down on the holiday and watch what unfolded.
What were your biggest takeaways Being able to watch Joe
Burrow on Thanksgiving night?
Speaker 4 (00:55):
My biggest takeaway It really began on that horrendous low
red zone sequence of events in which he was in
empty and I'm like, oh, even when Burrow is back
and the rest isn't fully shaken off yet he's still
required to be Superman out there, which is a little
bit annoying from a from a viewer standpoint. But once
his feet were you know, firmly under him and he
stopped really like forcing a lot of those throws in
(01:18):
the first half, he looked like himself, and that was
very reminiscent, I believe of like a couple of years
ago when he faced the Ravens again in Week two,
when he was dealing with a calf and his first
half was also a little bit rusty, and then he
just started to come alive again. And fortunately this time
the Bengals ended up winning because he got a lot
of help from the defense with five turnovers. But I mean,
this is pretty normal for him against the Ravens defense,
(01:39):
posts Mike McDonald when he left for the Seahawks job
a couple of years ago. He's always been able to
carve them up, and the offensive line gave him a
ton of time to just, you know, survey the field
and just make the throws that were always accustomed to
seeing him when he's at his best, and right now
it's you know, it's December.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
This is when Burrow plays his best.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
And it was really promising to see that accuracy not
go away despite all the rust of taking two months
off with his.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Injury, the help that he was able to get around him,
he finds nine different receivers. The running game got going.
The offensive line. I feel like we haven't talked as
much about the offensive line. How much of an improvement
have you seen from that group.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
It's been nine and day.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
I think along the interior, you have Dylan Fairchild playing
I think above what you would expect a rookie third
round pick to play. At the power of his game
in pass protection is so notable. Dalon Riser has been
doing this for a long time, and that was the
expectation when when he signed. Yeah, it makes sense why
he wasn't necessarily at his best when he was first
year and he only had like a couple weeks of
(02:38):
actual practice experience for the entire offseason. But now that
you know he's in full game shape and everything like that,
he does look like the better option compared to Jalen
Rivers who was out there for the majority of the season.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
And Rivers, again, this is the rookie.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
You don't expect that much of him, but this is
definitely their best interior trio that they've had in quite
some time, and the fact that Mariusmims continues to be
a solid player right tackle Lynda Brown Junior. He does
have his mishaps every now and then with speed on
the outside, but when he's playing well, the entire unit
looks like the best offensive line that Burrow has ever had,
really going back to I would say even a college days.
(03:11):
I think even at LSU, like his offensive line was
never as good as people tauted to that. So he
now has the opportunity to do all the special things
that Burrow can do in terms of extending plays and
creating out of structure. But when he does have to
just stay in the pocket and survey the field, I
think this offense line gives him the chance.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
To do that.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
You mentioned the defense, John, I'm curious if you look
back to the Pittsburgh game, the Steelers scored two defensive touchdowns.
I thought the defense played better. I certainly think they
had a winning performance against the Patriots, and they did
well again against the Baltimore Ravens. Are we are we
ready to turn the page that the defense is improving
or do you still want to see more? And if so,
what do you want to see?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
It is improving just because what have we talked about
for twelve weeks now? It's all relying on the pass
for us, it's all relying on guys who have been
dependent on this year when they didn't go out and
make other moves to through the Union, they relied on
the development of Miles Murphy, just to Oosai, Chris Jenkins specifically,
those three guys in the early parts of their careers,
they played the most pass rushing snaps against the Ravens
(04:11):
and they all had high level performances. Yes, they didn't
always finish at Lamar Jackson, but they disrupted plays and
they forced bad mistakes out of him unfortunately, Like sometimes.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
They're gonna be wacky games like that, right.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
The Bengals just experience went against the Vikings back in September,
which they turned the ball over five times. You know,
not always expecting to force five turnovers, but when you
can create disruption, muddy the pocket a little bit, force
Aaron Paron decisions, forced bumbles, whatever the case may be. Jenkins, Osai,
and Murphy all did that, and Murphy's kind of been
on this track for the last handful of weeks I
think his ability to push the pocket as a power
(04:43):
rusher and to disengage at the right time that has
definitely improved. Osai is probably their best overall pass rusher
with Autree Hendrickson out there, but the jump from Chris
Jenkins specifically in this game was maybe the most promising
because they haven't really had that boost from an interior
rusher in quite some time, and I'm still not sure
Jenkins is quite that player just yet. I think he
had a really good week, but you do need to
(05:04):
see more of that. But with again, have multiple pass
rushers who can contribute with like a fifteen to twenty
percent when as a pass rusher, that just does so
much for the rest of your defense and it makes
everything else go and sync. So this is what they've
been missing for for the first eight nine weeks of
the season and they're finally getting some of that now.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Do you think there's a value with Trey Hendrickson and
Shamar Stewart not playing that Miles Murphy and Josephosai have
taken this jump more practice reps. We know how important
those are that they're not rotating through in the course
of a game. Do you find a correlation between the
other two defensive ends not playing and the production we're
seeing for Miles Murphy and Josephosai.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
It's certainly possible. You know, like Murphy, this is this
is his third year and he's never really been thrust
it into this important of a role before. Like we
kind of wanted it to happen last year when Sam however,
was experiencing his decline and he got some more opportunities
along with Joseph a saie. So I think obviously them
being in the spotlight, them getting all the all the
(06:00):
starter reps, that definitely helps, but you still have to
go out there and perform, right, and that just wasn't
happening in the early parts of the season, even with
Stewart was healthy, Right, I think Murphy and s I
were still you know, at at the very least equals along.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
With him in the rotation.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
So they're just running with the opportunity now, and sometimes
it just takes a little bit longer for some of
these guys to click.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
And even if.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Murphy is not necessarily gonna be a ten sac of
year type of guy for a first round thick, I
think he's still showing the value that you would have
expected for who the player that he was coming.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Out of college.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Do we need to have a Trey Hendrickson conversation? Do
you do you find it just at all odd? We've
talked about on this show in Austin. I think has
made the point if if the injury was as serious
at the outset for Trey Hendrickson, would the Bengals have
just put him on IR at that point? Do you
find how this situation is being handled and how blunt
Zach Taylor is each and every Monday that he's doubtful? Again,
(06:50):
do you find this situation odd?
Speaker 4 (06:53):
It's definitely odd compared to how you know, these situations
normally go about, and when the wording is like that,
when the messaging is like that, and considering the history there,
it all raises, you know, very, at the very least
minor red flags. I think this could be a situation
in which he aggravated the injury. It made it a
little bit worse obviously than now. There's the pelvis classification
(07:13):
along with the hip. It's a core muscle injury, probably
gonna require surgery in the offseason, right, So there's all
this new information that's come out about it. And it's
possible that the Bengals didn't think it was as serious
as it is, and that's why he hasn't been on IR.
He's still on the active roster and they haven't cleared
that roster spot up for him. Obviously, with a guy
like Rander, if he's healthy, you want him out there
(07:34):
as soon as possible, and I think they've always kept
that door open just in case he's able to come back.
I think there's probably some frustration with it not healing
the way that they.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Expected it to, and it could just be they miscalculated
in that regard.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Again, we don't know nearly enough details to make any
conclusions about this. It's all unfortunately speculation, and considering who
the subject is, he's been in the spotlight all year
and not for the best reasons. So I think it's
rather unfortunate that it's got to this point. But I
don't know if we can go as far as to
say that there's anything the Fairies here. It's just a
lot of speculation and unfortunately a lot of unknowns because
(08:08):
unfortunately for them that they just didn't expect it to
get worse and unfortunately just not at the point where
he can play John.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
The Buffalo Bills have the best rushing offense in the NFL.
Why are they so good? And how do you expect
them to attack the Bengals with that rushing game on Sunday?
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Yeah, I mean it was so dominant against the Steelers
that TJ. Watt joke that they ran the same play
of thirty times, and it kind of wasn't really joking, right,
It was just inside zone after inside zone after inside zone.
That offensive line has always been comprised of pretty good
athletes who can display guys, and when they're all in sync,
even without their two starting tackles like that, they're able to,
you know, clear the edges for James Cook to bounce outside.
(08:47):
And I think part of that is also not just
with the offensive line. They're getting a lot of help
from their tight ends. To rookie Jackson Hawes has been phenomenal,
not not for beyond just receiving reasons right, Like he's
getting his nose dirty and he's clearing out the edge,
and James Cook has phenomenal vision for these cutback lanes
and he's an explosive runner as well. So when you
combine an offensive line that's always in sync, It's always
(09:07):
that it can always really out athlete the opposing defensive
line clear space for a running back that just knows
where to go with the ball.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
It has really good vision and explosion to his game.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
That's how you get not only a successful run game,
but an explosive run game that can really open a
game for you.
Speaker 5 (09:21):
They also use their tight ends very well. Have you
seen any differences in the way the Bengals have kind
of been defending tight ends because for years they haven't
been able to cover them. They did give up a
big one to Isaiah likely that they had a good
hustle play on on Thursday night. How do you expect
the Bengals to try to prevent the Bill's tight ends
from beating them?
Speaker 4 (09:41):
Yeah, I mean that's something that I expect is not
necessarily going to be of strength of the Bengals in
this week. I was expecting Mark Gamers to have a
little bit better at the game last week, and of
course he got an extension this week. Dalon kin Kat
is their second leading receiver, but he's not just he's
just a tight end name only right, He's basically in
the slide like Mike Esecki out there and the middle
of the field has been mostly compromised for this Bengals defense,
(10:03):
and it's not something I expect Bark Carter, Demitrius Night
to be, you know, on top of necessarily this week.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
It's gonna have to be continue to be a work
in progress.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
But you know, Alan Josh Allen is always on the
same page with those guys, and they find the vacancies
in the soft spots in the zones, and that's gonna
be something again, where like you have to be able
to disrupt these guys at the line of scrimmage. He
had to force them off of their timing. He had
to force Allan into making some bad decisions. But you know,
Kincage's been reliable for them. I think he's on the
injury report, but he should be able to play this
week and that'll be a very important figure for the
(10:32):
Bengals to stop.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
I thought it was interesting John the split between Chase
Brown and samaj p Ryan in Baltimore. Do you think
that's just short week give Chase Brown a little bit
of rest in the run game, or do you think
we'll see that continue over the course of the end
of the season.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
I think there's gonna be always opportunities for p Ryan
to give him a little bit of a break, but
also for his valume pass protection as well, and we
saw that definitely on the touchdown andre yosavajh And doesn't
pick up that block on the opposite side of Burrow,
that play does not happen, right, And I think as
long as Piterran is healthy, he's the trusted guy to
be on the.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Field in those situations. And I think with the way
the game.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
Script played out, or at least for how much Burrow
checked into those pass plays and how much they rely
on his arm to outscore Baltimore, that's why p Ryan
was on the field for as much as he was.
But there's always going to be opportunities for him to
run the ball as well and to not overload Chase Brown.
Despite how productive Chase Brown has been, He's going to
get his opportunities. But Piterran definitely still has value there
and they definitely.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Recognize that if t Higgins is able to continue on
his progression and getting back to this team. How do
you view, you know, Joe Burrow's ability to spread the
ball around. It's always something I've been in all of
Joe Burrow. He found nine different targets. How much more
difficult does life become for the Buffalo Bills if you
can get T. Higgins healthy and playing on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
Yeah, I think the Bills their cornerbacks are an area
in which the Bengals have a definite ave enage of
this one. Like their safety has always been good with
player and a second year player Cole Bishop I believe
is his name back there. So their safeties are good
and they can cost some confusion in the pre stat phase,
but you will.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Always take Jamar Chase and T.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Higgins over you know, Tradavius White, Brent Frip, I'm blanking
on his first name, but you know, like the Bengals
did do have the advantage there, and I think in
games like this, like you never really know if Chase
or Higgins is gonna go off, if that is, if
Higgins plays. I remember back in twenty twenty three it
was Tea's big game which he had one hundred and
ten receiving yards against the Bills. He got the spotlight,
(12:31):
and then Chase obviously you know, dominating games after that
as well. So like it could just be a picker
poison such situation. That's the beauty of the Bengals offense,
and that's how they're at their peak.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
When all three guys are out there playing.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
At their best, Burrow knows where to go with the ball,
and when he sees one on one opportunity with either
of them, it's not gonna be about all this guy's
getting paid.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
More money than this guy.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
No, if the opportunity is there and the matchup is right,
he's going to whichever guy is the best, and that's
how you get the ball being spread around as much
as the as it does with Burrow at the.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Quarterback, John, how do you view the season up to
this point? I feel like it's the most optimistic I've
seen a team for being four and eight on the year,
and rightfully so with Joe Burrow coming back. But there
are a lot of issues that we have discussed with
this team throughout the course of the season, and yes,
a one game sample size against Baltimore helps to kind
(13:18):
of move past what those issues were. But how important
now does the final stretch become? Everyone wants to say,
Okay went out and get into the playoffs. What is
your realistic vision for how this season plays out?
Speaker 4 (13:31):
I think this is still at the end of the day,
it's still a very flawed team that has major issues
to work out in the offseason. But I think as
the season has unfolded, you've seen just everywhere in the
league there are cracks with some of the best teams,
and there's going to be flawed teams in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
And I think that's.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Somewhat of a source of optimism right now, in which
the Bengals definitely have taken their bumps and bruises along
the way. The fact that they've been in the situation
before and were able to do what they could to
win out and give themselves a chance in the playoffs,
I think it does give them a little bit of
confidence as well, which is why again, like you don't
want to be in the situation, but the Bengals, unfortunately
(14:10):
do find themselves in this situation more than most of
the teams, and that's why like, oh, we've been here before,
we can control we control the old you know.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
The cliches and whatnot.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
But no, I think right now you have confidence in
this offense producing with Burrough playing the way that he does,
and if the defense can continue continue to be opportunistic
with the pass.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Rust that it is now found.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
There isn't a game that you feel like they're going
to be completely outmatched and give you hope that you
can just win out and find a way to do
this and if you get some help along the way
from the Steelers and Ravens losing out. So confidence I
think is definitely higher than it was a week or
two ago. But this is still a flawed team that
just needs to be in the same company as other
flawed teams when January comes around.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Before I let you go, John, we didn't get to
talked last week. So you speak of confidence in winding
down the season. Not a great end of the season
for our U see football Bearcats who lose four in
a row after getting to seven and one. How do
you how do you view as a as a fan
of the Bearcats? How do you view this year's football season?
Speaker 4 (15:10):
You know, Penn State still looking for a head coach
and one Cincinnati I think that would be you know,
I'm just kidding. Yeah, it sucks not being both a
second half of the season team and not being a
second half of the game team. That's unfortunately the the
UC Bearcuts football program. At the moment, I'm pretty much
over the season. I'm still I'm just on myll eyes
on tomorrow on the harvoid.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Are you excited about it?
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Or are you? Are you?
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Are you cautiously?
Speaker 5 (15:33):
Do you?
Speaker 3 (15:33):
I give you this game? Just give me this game.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
I have no confidence in the season of other than this.
This is like my O High State Michigan moment, right.
I don't care about the rest of the season.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Just give me. Just give me a win oversaver and
I'll be content.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Or it is that is John Shearon a to c
Sports covering the Bengals. John, what's easiest way to follow
along with everything you got going on with the Bengals
as they look to continue this run.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
Absolutely, it's December football.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
It's when the Bengals somehow play their best, and it's
when we're on firing all cylinders as well.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Adsea Sports dot Com, Backslash.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Cincinnati YouTube, Instagram, TikTok where you get your short form
video content. We're on their AES Sports Cincinnati follow us
along with the final five weeks.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Much much appreciated, John, We'll talk again next week.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Thanks fellas.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
There he is, John Sharon a is ease Sports, love
it some Bengals optimism, signs of life, Your talkbacks come
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on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports station, Hey Alexa,
This is Tony Pike Sincy three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati,
sponsoredmen Park by Cincy Shirts. Cincy Shirts, all Cincy, all Day.
This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome back. It is our two Cincy three sixty thanks
to Cincy Shirts. Thank you for listening on ESPN fifteen
thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. Let's dive right in our Thursday
tradition now hour two to get things underway. From A
to Z Sports covering the Cincinnati Bengals is John Sheeran.
What's up, John?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
How are you? I'm doing well, man.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
I'm a little nervous that I'm bad luck because it
wasn't on last week, and of course the Bengals won
by a lot, but I'm happy to be.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Bet Not being on last week, you obviously had a
chance to sit down on the holiday and watch what unfolded.
What were your biggest takeaways Being able to watch Joe
Burrow on Thanksgiving night?
Speaker 4 (00:55):
My biggest takeaway It really began on that horrendous low
red zone sequence of events in which he was in
empty and I'm like, oh, even when Burrow is back
and the rest isn't fully shaken off yet he's still
required to be Superman out there, which is a little
bit annoying from a from a viewer standpoint. But once
his feet were you know, firmly under him and he
stopped really like forcing a lot of those throws in
(01:18):
the first half, he looked like himself, and that was
very reminiscent, I believe of like a couple of years
ago when he faced the Ravens again in Week two,
when he was dealing with a calf and his first
half was also a little bit rusty, and then he
just started to come alive again. And fortunately this time
the Bengals ended up winning because he got a lot
of help from the defense with five turnovers. But I mean,
this is pretty normal for him against the Ravens defense,
(01:39):
posts Mike McDonald when he left for the Seahawks job
a couple of years ago. He's always been able to
carve them up, and the offensive line gave him a
ton of time to just, you know, survey the field
and just make the throws that were always accustomed to
seeing him when he's at his best, and right now
it's you know, it's December.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
This is when Burrow plays his best.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
And it was really promising to see that accuracy not
go away despite all the rust of taking two months
off with his.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Injury, the help that he was able to get around him,
he finds nine different receivers. The running game got going.
The offensive line. I feel like we haven't talked as
much about the offensive line. How much of an improvement
have you seen from that group.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
It's been nine and day.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
I think along the interior, you have Dylan Fairchild playing
I think above what you would expect a rookie third
round pick to play. At the power of his game
in pass protection is so notable. Dalon Riser has been
doing this for a long time, and that was the
expectation when when he signed. Yeah, it makes sense why
he wasn't necessarily at his best when he was first
year and he only had like a couple weeks of
(02:38):
actual practice experience for the entire offseason. But now that
you know he's in full game shape and everything like that,
he does look like the better option compared to Jalen
Rivers who was out there for the majority of the season.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
And Rivers, again, this is the rookie.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
You don't expect that much of him, but this is
definitely their best interior trio that they've had in quite
some time, and the fact that Mariusmims continues to be
a solid player right tackle Lynda Brown Junior. He does
have his mishaps every now and then with speed on
the outside, but when he's playing well, the entire unit
looks like the best offensive line that Burrow has ever had,
really going back to I would say even a college days.
(03:11):
I think even at LSU, like his offensive line was
never as good as people tauted to that. So he
now has the opportunity to do all the special things
that Burrow can do in terms of extending plays and
creating out of structure. But when he does have to
just stay in the pocket and survey the field, I
think this offense line gives him the chance.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
To do that.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
You mentioned the defense, John, I'm curious if you look
back to the Pittsburgh game, the Steelers scored two defensive touchdowns.
I thought the defense played better. I certainly think they
had a winning performance against the Patriots, and they did
well again against the Baltimore Ravens. Are we are we
ready to turn the page that the defense is improving
or do you still want to see more? And if so,
what do you want to see?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
It is improving just because what have we talked about
for twelve weeks now? It's all relying on the pass
for us, it's all relying on guys who have been
dependent on this year when they didn't go out and
make other moves to through the Union, they relied on
the development of Miles Murphy, just to Oosai, Chris Jenkins specifically,
those three guys in the early parts of their careers,
they played the most pass rushing snaps against the Ravens
(04:11):
and they all had high level performances. Yes, they didn't
always finish at Lamar Jackson, but they disrupted plays and
they forced bad mistakes out of him unfortunately, Like sometimes.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
They're gonna be wacky games like that, right.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
The Bengals just experience went against the Vikings back in September,
which they turned the ball over five times. You know,
not always expecting to force five turnovers, but when you
can create disruption, muddy the pocket a little bit, force
Aaron Paron decisions, forced bumbles, whatever the case may be. Jenkins, Osai,
and Murphy all did that, and Murphy's kind of been
on this track for the last handful of weeks I
think his ability to push the pocket as a power
(04:43):
rusher and to disengage at the right time that has
definitely improved. Osai is probably their best overall pass rusher
with Autree Hendrickson out there, but the jump from Chris
Jenkins specifically in this game was maybe the most promising
because they haven't really had that boost from an interior
rusher in quite some time, and I'm still not sure
Jenkins is quite that player just yet. I think he
had a really good week, but you do need to
(05:04):
see more of that. But with again, have multiple pass
rushers who can contribute with like a fifteen to twenty
percent when as a pass rusher, that just does so
much for the rest of your defense and it makes
everything else go and sync. So this is what they've
been missing for for the first eight nine weeks of
the season and they're finally getting some of that now.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Do you think there's a value with Trey Hendrickson and
Shamar Stewart not playing that Miles Murphy and Josephosai have
taken this jump more practice reps. We know how important
those are that they're not rotating through in the course
of a game. Do you find a correlation between the
other two defensive ends not playing and the production we're
seeing for Miles Murphy and Josephosai.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
It's certainly possible. You know, like Murphy, this is this
is his third year and he's never really been thrust
it into this important of a role before. Like we
kind of wanted it to happen last year when Sam however,
was experiencing his decline and he got some more opportunities
along with Joseph a saie. So I think obviously them
being in the spotlight, them getting all the all the
(06:00):
starter reps, that definitely helps, but you still have to
go out there and perform, right, and that just wasn't
happening in the early parts of the season, even with
Stewart was healthy, Right, I think Murphy and s I
were still you know, at at the very least equals along.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
With him in the rotation.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
So they're just running with the opportunity now, and sometimes
it just takes a little bit longer for some of
these guys to click.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
And even if.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Murphy is not necessarily gonna be a ten sac of
year type of guy for a first round thick, I
think he's still showing the value that you would have
expected for who the player that he was coming.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Out of college.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Do we need to have a Trey Hendrickson conversation? Do
you do you find it just at all odd? We've
talked about on this show in Austin. I think has
made the point if if the injury was as serious
at the outset for Trey Hendrickson, would the Bengals have
just put him on IR at that point? Do you
find how this situation is being handled and how blunt
Zach Taylor is each and every Monday that he's doubtful? Again,
(06:50):
do you find this situation odd?
Speaker 4 (06:53):
It's definitely odd compared to how you know, these situations
normally go about, and when the wording is like that,
when the messaging is like that, and considering the history there,
it all raises, you know, very, at the very least
minor red flags. I think this could be a situation
in which he aggravated the injury. It made it a
little bit worse obviously than now. There's the pelvis classification
(07:13):
along with the hip. It's a core muscle injury, probably
gonna require surgery in the offseason, right, So there's all
this new information that's come out about it. And it's
possible that the Bengals didn't think it was as serious
as it is, and that's why he hasn't been on IR.
He's still on the active roster and they haven't cleared
that roster spot up for him. Obviously, with a guy
like Rander, if he's healthy, you want him out there
(07:34):
as soon as possible, and I think they've always kept
that door open just in case he's able to come back.
I think there's probably some frustration with it not healing
the way that they.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Expected it to, and it could just be they miscalculated
in that regard.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Again, we don't know nearly enough details to make any
conclusions about this. It's all unfortunately speculation, and considering who
the subject is, he's been in the spotlight all year
and not for the best reasons. So I think it's
rather unfortunate that it's got to this point. But I
don't know if we can go as far as to
say that there's anything the Fairies here. It's just a
lot of speculation and unfortunately a lot of unknowns because
(08:08):
unfortunately for them that they just didn't expect it to
get worse and unfortunately just not at the point where
he can play John.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
The Buffalo Bills have the best rushing offense in the NFL.
Why are they so good? And how do you expect
them to attack the Bengals with that rushing game on Sunday?
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Yeah, I mean it was so dominant against the Steelers
that TJ. Watt joke that they ran the same play
of thirty times, and it kind of wasn't really joking, right,
It was just inside zone after inside zone after inside zone.
That offensive line has always been comprised of pretty good
athletes who can display guys, and when they're all in sync,
even without their two starting tackles like that, they're able to,
you know, clear the edges for James Cook to bounce outside.
(08:47):
And I think part of that is also not just
with the offensive line. They're getting a lot of help
from their tight ends. To rookie Jackson Hawes has been phenomenal,
not not for beyond just receiving reasons right, Like he's
getting his nose dirty and he's clearing out the edge,
and James Cook has phenomenal vision for these cutback lanes
and he's an explosive runner as well. So when you
combine an offensive line that's always in sync, It's always
(09:07):
that it can always really out athlete the opposing defensive
line clear space for a running back that just knows
where to go with the ball.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
It has really good vision and explosion to his game.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
That's how you get not only a successful run game,
but an explosive run game that can really open a
game for you.
Speaker 5 (09:21):
They also use their tight ends very well. Have you
seen any differences in the way the Bengals have kind
of been defending tight ends because for years they haven't
been able to cover them. They did give up a
big one to Isaiah likely that they had a good
hustle play on on Thursday night. How do you expect
the Bengals to try to prevent the Bill's tight ends
from beating them?
Speaker 4 (09:41):
Yeah, I mean that's something that I expect is not
necessarily going to be of strength of the Bengals in
this week. I was expecting Mark Gamers to have a
little bit better at the game last week, and of
course he got an extension this week. Dalon kin Kat
is their second leading receiver, but he's not just he's
just a tight end name only right, He's basically in
the slide like Mike Esecki out there and the middle
of the field has been mostly compromised for this Bengals defense,
(10:03):
and it's not something I expect Bark Carter, Demitrius Night
to be, you know, on top of necessarily this week.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
It's gonna have to be continue to be a work
in progress.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
But you know, Alan Josh Allen is always on the
same page with those guys, and they find the vacancies
in the soft spots in the zones, and that's gonna
be something again, where like you have to be able
to disrupt these guys at the line of scrimmage. He
had to force them off of their timing. He had
to force Allan into making some bad decisions. But you know,
Kincage's been reliable for them. I think he's on the
injury report, but he should be able to play this
week and that'll be a very important figure for the
(10:32):
Bengals to stop.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
I thought it was interesting John the split between Chase
Brown and samaj p Ryan in Baltimore. Do you think
that's just short week give Chase Brown a little bit
of rest in the run game, or do you think
we'll see that continue over the course of the end
of the season.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
I think there's gonna be always opportunities for p Ryan
to give him a little bit of a break, but
also for his valume pass protection as well, and we
saw that definitely on the touchdown andre yosavajh And doesn't
pick up that block on the opposite side of Burrow,
that play does not happen, right, And I think as
long as Piterran is healthy, he's the trusted guy to
be on the.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Field in those situations. And I think with the way
the game.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
Script played out, or at least for how much Burrow
checked into those pass plays and how much they rely
on his arm to outscore Baltimore, that's why p Ryan
was on the field for as much as he was.
But there's always going to be opportunities for him to
run the ball as well and to not overload Chase Brown.
Despite how productive Chase Brown has been, He's going to
get his opportunities. But Piterran definitely still has value there
and they definitely.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Recognize that if t Higgins is able to continue on
his progression and getting back to this team. How do
you view, you know, Joe Burrow's ability to spread the
ball around. It's always something I've been in all of
Joe Burrow. He found nine different targets. How much more
difficult does life become for the Buffalo Bills if you
can get T. Higgins healthy and playing on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
Yeah, I think the Bills their cornerbacks are an area
in which the Bengals have a definite ave enage of
this one. Like their safety has always been good with
player and a second year player Cole Bishop I believe
is his name back there. So their safeties are good
and they can cost some confusion in the pre stat phase,
but you will.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Always take Jamar Chase and T.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Higgins over you know, Tradavius White, Brent Frip, I'm blanking
on his first name, but you know, like the Bengals
did do have the advantage there, and I think in
games like this, like you never really know if Chase
or Higgins is gonna go off, if that is, if
Higgins plays. I remember back in twenty twenty three it
was Tea's big game which he had one hundred and
ten receiving yards against the Bills. He got the spotlight,
(12:31):
and then Chase obviously you know, dominating games after that
as well. So like it could just be a picker
poison such situation. That's the beauty of the Bengals offense,
and that's how they're at their peak.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
When all three guys are out there playing.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
At their best, Burrow knows where to go with the ball,
and when he sees one on one opportunity with either
of them, it's not gonna be about all this guy's
getting paid.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
More money than this guy.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
No, if the opportunity is there and the matchup is right,
he's going to whichever guy is the best, and that's
how you get the ball being spread around as much
as the as it does with Burrow at the.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Quarterback, John, how do you view the season up to
this point? I feel like it's the most optimistic I've
seen a team for being four and eight on the year,
and rightfully so with Joe Burrow coming back. But there
are a lot of issues that we have discussed with
this team throughout the course of the season, and yes,
a one game sample size against Baltimore helps to kind
(13:18):
of move past what those issues were. But how important
now does the final stretch become? Everyone wants to say,
Okay went out and get into the playoffs. What is
your realistic vision for how this season plays out?
Speaker 4 (13:31):
I think this is still at the end of the day,
it's still a very flawed team that has major issues
to work out in the offseason. But I think as
the season has unfolded, you've seen just everywhere in the
league there are cracks with some of the best teams,
and there's going to be flawed teams in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
And I think that's.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Somewhat of a source of optimism right now, in which
the Bengals definitely have taken their bumps and bruises along
the way. The fact that they've been in the situation
before and were able to do what they could to
win out and give themselves a chance in the playoffs,
I think it does give them a little bit of
confidence as well, which is why again, like you don't
want to be in the situation, but the Bengals, unfortunately
(14:10):
do find themselves in this situation more than most of
the teams, and that's why like, oh, we've been here before,
we can control we control the old you know.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
The cliches and whatnot.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
But no, I think right now you have confidence in
this offense producing with Burrough playing the way that he does,
and if the defense can continue continue to be opportunistic
with the pass.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Rust that it is now found.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
There isn't a game that you feel like they're going
to be completely outmatched and give you hope that you
can just win out and find a way to do
this and if you get some help along the way
from the Steelers and Ravens losing out. So confidence I
think is definitely higher than it was a week or
two ago. But this is still a flawed team that
just needs to be in the same company as other
flawed teams when January comes around.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Before I let you go, John, we didn't get to
talked last week. So you speak of confidence in winding
down the season. Not a great end of the season
for our U see football Bearcats who lose four in
a row after getting to seven and one. How do
you how do you view as a as a fan
of the Bearcats? How do you view this year's football season?
Speaker 4 (15:10):
You know, Penn State still looking for a head coach
and one Cincinnati I think that would be you know,
I'm just kidding. Yeah, it sucks not being both a
second half of the season team and not being a
second half of the game team. That's unfortunately the the
UC Bearcuts football program. At the moment, I'm pretty much
over the season. I'm still I'm just on myll eyes
on tomorrow on the harvoid.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Are you excited about it?
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Or are you? Are you?
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Are you cautiously?
Speaker 5 (15:33):
Do you?
Speaker 3 (15:33):
I give you this game? Just give me this game.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
I have no confidence in the season of other than this.
This is like my O High State Michigan moment, right.
I don't care about the rest of the season.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Just give me. Just give me a win oversaver and
I'll be content.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Or it is that is John Shearon a to c
Sports covering the Bengals. John, what's easiest way to follow
along with everything you got going on with the Bengals
as they look to continue this run.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
Absolutely, it's December football.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
It's when the Bengals somehow play their best, and it's
when we're on firing all cylinders as well.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Adsea Sports dot Com, Backslash.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Cincinnati YouTube, Instagram, TikTok where you get your short form
video content. We're on their AES Sports Cincinnati follow us
along with the final five weeks.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Much much appreciated, John, We'll talk again next week.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Thanks fellas.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
There he is, John Sharon a is ease Sports, love
it some Bengals optimism, signs of life, Your talkbacks come
up next thanks to Cinci shirts. It's our number two
on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports station, Hey Alexa,
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