10-31-25 - Bengals Pep Rally

10-31-25 - Bengals Pep Rally

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Love.

Speaker 2 (00:00):
This is Bengals PEMP Robby presented by Just Bear Chicken
on the Bengals Radio Network. Paycore Pincor is proud to
be the official HR software provider of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Kettering Health Best Care for the Best Fans. Kettering Health,
Official healthcare provider of the Cincinnati Bengals. This is ESPN

(00:23):
fifteen to thirty, the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 1 (00:29):
Good afternoon, Welcome to the Bengals PEMP Probaby So presented
by Just Bear Chicken Live on ESPN and presented by
the Bengals Radio Network and Just Bear Chicken, Wayne Box
Miller Dave Lapboy live at the on the Ryan Eatery,
one hundred East Court Street, Downtown. It is the Halloween edition.
No tricks, right treets, just good to football talk. Getting

(00:51):
ready for another big game, a must win game, Dave Lapham,
I tell you this is one I told you earlier
before we come on there. Like these kind of games
because you get to see who wants it and who
really wants it.

Speaker 3 (01:05):
Yeah, you're right, Box. I mean I think I think, uh,
you know, that's one thing that the coaching staff that
I've talked to Vegans head coach Zach Taylor, coordinator, offensive
coordinator Dan Pitcher, defensive coordinator Al Gold, and all the
other position coaches. The players are all in still. I mean,
they they want it. They they don't. They don't want

(01:26):
to be known as you know somebody that cast their
chips in you know, yeah and said, no, Moss, I'm
not interested. You know, let's just get this season over
with and want to get into the offseason as quickly
as possible and get this. Uh in the back of
my mind, you know, in the rearview mirror, none of
that is going on. I mean, they want to win
football games, and with a three and five record, you know,

(01:49):
they're still in the hunt. I mean, they they still
got possibilities. It's the league's not running away from them.

Speaker 1 (01:54):
There's not.

Speaker 3 (01:55):
Every single football team has lost at least one game,
you know, and you're only eight games into it, so
that you know it's competitive and there's probably not gonna
be a team that pulls away and has a dominant
season like DA Bears, the eighty five Chicago Bears. I
don't think there's gonna be a team like that this year.

(02:17):
So if the Bengals can you know, hang in there,
get everybody healthy. They need to get healthy, and you know,
win some football games and stay in the hunt. They
should be fine.

Speaker 1 (02:27):
Yeah, I mean because Pittsburgh hasn't helped themselves. They lose
on Sunday night at home to the Packers. Yeah, they're
four and three, the Bengals three and five. It's only
two games separating you right there, and you know Pittsburgh
got a tough game coming up this week. I want
to digress just for a second from football. We're going
to dive into all this and and kind of ask
you about the Ring of Honor. I mean, we I

(02:49):
from my vantaged point. So I get to sit up
in the booth and I'm looking down and seeing everything happening,
and obviously like everybody to see that that unfurling of
that banner and there's that name. Man, it just for
you when it all became a reality in that moment,
talk about.

Speaker 3 (03:07):
That, man, it was surreal. You know, it was something
I never ever dreamed would happen. You know, back when
I was a little rugrat running around trying to play
the game of football and learn as much as I
could about football, and you know, just fell in love
with the game totally. Everything about football.

Speaker 1 (03:25):
Was made sense to me.

Speaker 3 (03:28):
You know, the team concept of it was big, twenty
two moving parts, twenty two moving pieces that you don't
have to all be in concert, you know, to achieve
and have success. I was intrigued by that. I like
that a lot. I liked that concept. I like that idea.
Nobody's too big for the game. For the team. Everybody

(03:51):
needs everybody. I mean, you might have an unbelievable quarterback
or phenomenal player, he still needs people around him to
show what he can do. You know, he can't do
it all by He's got to have you know, ten
other people on whose side of the football working in concert,
getting getting things done for him. So that's what I
really liked about the game of football early on, and

(04:11):
you know, wanted to be as good as I could
possibly be and have great coaches along the way, great
teammates and great coaches along the way to help me
get there.

Speaker 1 (04:22):
You Know what was most fitting for me was at
the event on Saturday and Kenny Anderson and Max Montoya
and Anthony Munio talked about the things that people don't
know about Dave Lapham and I'm gonna talk about Anthony
specifically saying his first two years here, you were his
north star. You know, you guided him through that playbook
and all those kinds of things, and there's room for

(04:43):
people to be selfish. Number one pick comes in, gets
all the pubs heralded. No, no, you're coming over here
to me. I'm not helping you. But the selflessness and
the nature that you have that we know now you
were about team and about getting better. And then Kenny
Anderson talked about just the reliability and just knowing he
could count on you in Max. I mean, for me,

(05:05):
that's what made us even more special is that those
guys stars in their own right, were quick to say
Dave Lapplam was an integral part of this team.

Speaker 3 (05:14):
And that was very much appreciated. I mean, those guys
went above me on the call of duty. I think,
you know, to be as complimentary as kind and kind
as they could be. But I have such a great
relationship with all of them. And that's the thing about sports.
You know, box you played sports, the bond that you
make yes with your teammates is so unique. I mean,

(05:35):
it's it's like nothing else in life. You know, it's
it's almost impossible to break it. Those guys are going
to have my back to the rest of my life.
I'm going to have their back the rest of their
lives that there's nothing they can do to change that.
And I feel the same way about them. And when
you achieve a high level of success together, the feeling
of that, the unity, the unifying force of all of

(05:56):
that is rare. It's so special. So, I mean, I
just everything about the game of football intrigued me, the physical,
the mental part of it. You know, it just became
the love of my life.

Speaker 1 (06:13):
Yeah, And I tell you what, when we were setting
up here, people were coming by. Everybody came by literally
knew what happened last weekend. They were saying, right, congratulates
that they happy for you. It's just one after another
after another, which to me spoke about why we thought
you deserved to be in there for football for broadcasts,
but because of how you are for the team and
and the other thing that I kind of laughed about.

(06:35):
I said, well, your grandkids could have got a nice
geography lesson because you had people coming in from California,
Maine and I think Vermont and other places.

Speaker 3 (06:43):
Yeah, yeah, you're right, Box, I mean, it was uh
you know, national geographic from my family coming in with
this football game, California, Arizona, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut,
Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York. I mean, friends and family
from from all over and it's it just it's humbling,

(07:05):
you know, when everybody's coming in because they want to
be there for you. And generations of family, you know,
not just my siblings, but their kids and their kids, grandkids,
their grandkids.

Speaker 1 (07:20):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (07:20):
So uh, you know, it's it's such a you know,
a family affair something like that. And the best part
of it was when they did unveil the plaque out
there in the middle of you know, the middle of
the of the stadium or on the sideline, the middle
of the sideline in the stadium up there and on
the higher portion of of the stadium. And man, I

(07:41):
mean when when sixty two and that that number show
name it showed up with that number, I was like, wow, man,
it really is Look pinch me, man, it's not a dream,
you know. I'm I'm awake. I'm awake, and I'm kicking.
That was a It was was totally humbling, mind blowing experience.

Speaker 1 (08:01):
Yeah. Man, you deserved every piece of it, for sure,
A little bit of it. Man, I couldn't be happier.
Dave laphams ring of honor and Dan Horror from many
that don't know broke out the sixty two jersey, which
was great as well. We're gonna get into some football
on the field now. We talked about football off the field.
We'll be talking to members of the Bears media when
we come back on the other side as far as

(08:24):
what the Bears are looking at this week. But let's
do that, we'll take a break, we'll come back and more.
You're listening to the Bengals pep Rally Show, broadcasting live
from on the rhyan Etery right here on ESPN. Welcome
back to the Bengals pep Rally Show, presented by Just
Bear Chicking on the Bengals Radio Network, Wayne Box, Miller,
Dave Blap I'm glad to have your board and a

(08:44):
big game coming up this weekend, the four and three
Bears against the three and five Cincinnati Bengals. Don't forget
shop the Bengals Pro Shop find the best selection on
Bengal merchandise anywhere. Yes, visit the pro Shops seven days
a week, located on the north side of pay Course
Stadium or shop online. He was a people talking about
my flannel shirt. This is a Bengal shirt. It's got
the little Bengal logo right there in the pocket. There

(09:05):
you go. It's good to go there. And I think
to te tell me we're ready to go. Team all right,
we're good. Let's jump on the hot line man and
the man who's down on the sideline when the games
are going on for the Chicago Bears, giving that eyewitness
report our pleasure to welcome to the Bengals peparalley. So,
Jason McKee, Jason, how are you, brother?

Speaker 4 (09:25):
Good?

Speaker 1 (09:25):
How you guys doing good? We're doing fantastic.

Speaker 5 (09:29):
Man.

Speaker 1 (09:29):
This is obviously a big game for both teams. Not
a good outcome in Baltimore for you, certainly not good
for us here. What do you look at as the
number one focus for the Bears coming into this game?

Speaker 5 (09:43):
Yeah?

Speaker 6 (09:43):
I think for the Bears, I think the message all
week has been cleaning up self inflicted mistakes pre snat
penalties that really plagued the Bears offense, which has, you know,
hindered them for putting up touchdowns. They've relied on stield
goals the past few weeks, and I know that's been
a a real point of emphasis throughout this week of practice,

(10:03):
trying to get that cleaned up so that way they
can put touchdowns on the board. And defensively, it's the
same thing though they've been trying to stop the pass.
The Bears have been down some corners. Jalen Johnson has
been out all year, Kyler Gordon just went an IR
so they're down some corners. Have just signed Chauncey Garner
Johnson to come help alleviate some of that void that

(10:25):
was left by those guys. So defensively, they've been trying
to shore up that defense on the back end and
they're gonna need it with what you guys have over there.

Speaker 3 (10:35):
Yeah, there's definitely some quality receivers over here on this
side of At this end of it, Joe Flackall can
can rally and get himself ready to go and play
in this football game, and I think he will start.
I think he will play, and I think he'll be
delivering the football pretty well. The injury factor, like we're
talking about with on bollootball teams, both teams have been

(10:55):
nicked up and have have had their share of injury
struggles when healthy. How good are the Chicago Bears.

Speaker 6 (11:05):
Yeah, then they can be really good. It's it's you know,
they have talent at the receiver positions. Obviously, Caleb's the
young quarterback with a lot of ability that's still you know,
growing and developing. You've got a guy that's in his
second year, his second system on another head coach. So, uh,
there's been growing pains, but there also has been you
know development as well. And when you look at the

(11:27):
defensive side of the running backs, I'm sorry, I'll stay there.
At the running backs, you have a young guy and
Kym an young guy who had drafted in the seventh
round out of Rutgers Deandres that had some really good games. Uh,
they got They're good at the tight end position with
Cole Comet Coast and Lovelin, and you know, we flip
flipped the script going to the defensive.

Speaker 1 (11:45):
Side of the ball.

Speaker 6 (11:46):
They've got a ton of guys on a defensive line
that can make plays. Obviously Montese sweating the focal point
of that group, but Javon Dexter has played well. Dale
with dingbo Is a guy they brought over in fregency
from the Indianapolis coach who they been you know, relying
on h They've also they also signed Grady Jarrett. So
that linebacker position, you've got good linebackers veterans and t. J.

(12:08):
Everards and Tremaine Edmonds, and like I said, in the
back end has been you know, we thought of it
was going to be a position of strength, but due
to injuries, it's been, you know, a position of weakness
that they've been trying to bolster. So the Bears can
be as good as they want to be, but they've
got to you know, correct some of the things I
talked about in terms of offensively self inflicting mistakes. Defensively,

(12:29):
they got to be you know, get to the quarterback
and be more adept at stopping the run and being
able to limit the amount of yard giving up in
the past.

Speaker 1 (12:38):
Right. You know, it's interesting to excuse me, certain teams
just have an identity. They draft that identity. Uh, they're
known by that identity. And the Bears defense is one
of those examples. I mean there are the takeaway machine
right now with a plus ten differential. Uh, what makes
these guys so good at ball hawking?

Speaker 7 (12:58):
Yeah?

Speaker 6 (12:58):
And coach Al Hare, who runs that secondary, he talked
about this a few weeks ago, in which, you know,
taking away the football, he said, as a mindset. So
he said, if you don't have that mindset and mentality
every single day that you're out there on the practice field,
then you're not going to get those takeaways in the game.
And he says his secondary teaches those guys that, hey,
when that ball is in the air, you're the receiver,

(13:21):
you're going to attack that ball like the quarterbacks throwing
it to you. So they had that type of mentality
and that ball hawking mindset, and that's what's led to
a lot of takeaways for this Bears defense.

Speaker 3 (13:33):
The Bears defense, you know, looking at the Chicago Bears
defensively and as an organization, as a football team, historically,
things they've done well played, but kicking defense, you know,
they destroy you. Defensively, They basically take your soul away
from you. Offensively and say, okay, well maybe better luck

(13:56):
another day. It's not happening today. And then offensively, you know,
they want to run the football, they can throw it.

Speaker 1 (14:04):
They got Caleb.

Speaker 3 (14:04):
Williams, a very talented young quarterback, but I think he
would be the first to tell you that once the
running game is going his play action pass game and
things of that nature are much easier to execute. What
is it about the Chicago Bears. They've had a history
for a long time, uh successful history of playing great defense,

(14:28):
shutting down the running game, making it difficult to pass,
and then shutting down your running game on when you're
on offense and making it difficult for.

Speaker 1 (14:36):
You to throw the football. Is that still their mindset?

Speaker 4 (14:40):
Youhw that a doubt.

Speaker 6 (14:41):
It's It's been a formula that has worked with this
organization for years. Despite what type of personnel that you
have on your roster, that formula has been proven. I
was a part of that formula for seven years. And
you know with the Bears, they want they want to
get off the bus running obviously, they want to play
great defense and get takeaways, put the offense on short

(15:04):
fields and advantageous field position, and then play solid special team.
So it's something when you look at the Bears wins
this year. They did those things. They ran the ball well,
defense was sound, and you know we had not necessarily
you know, returning kicks back in the day like Devin
Hester did. But your special teams did not do anything
to make you lose a game, and when you have

(15:27):
that formula here in Chicago that usually generates wins.

Speaker 1 (15:33):
You know, one of the things I've always felt for
and had some compassion for Caleb Williams because he's gone
through a series of coordinators, but it seems like he's
finally kind of settling then and then with Rome aduze
I hope I'm saying his name correctly. Thirty one catches
already this year that they're they're maybe developing some chemistry.

(15:54):
Is it fair to say that now he's probably finally
getting comfortable.

Speaker 4 (15:59):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (15:59):
I think with Caleb, I think it's I think it's
a continual process. And he says that, you know, each
and every game he's still learning, you know, still learning
the offense. And I think that's something that's going to
be you know, weak to week, Like like I talked
about earlier, Uh, you know on radio, you're gonna see
there's gonna be growth in which you're gonna see Caleb

(16:20):
makes some big plays, make splash plays look great at times,
but the growing pains are going to come with what
we saw last week. We saw a turnover at interception
uh that led to you know, in a critical situation
that led to a Ravens you know, scoring uh, a
scoring drive, And those are the things that's going to
happen with a young quarterback that's in the second system
with with the new head coach. So yeah, he's he's

(16:42):
done a lot of great things. You talked about the
chemistry has with a run with Dunes that you talked about,
the weapons he has at his disposal. But there's gonna
be a lot of growing pains with Caleb just because
he is a young, talented quarterback. And we see a
lot of quarterbacks in this league who who actually mature
and develop at different times. We see Sam aren Or
finally starting to get it. We see Baker Mayfield on

(17:03):
another team finally starting to play the way that they
envision and playing. So these quarterbacks their careers to take
off at different times, and these quarterbacks pick up the
game at different times, and they see the game differently
at different times in their career.

Speaker 3 (17:17):
So the Chicago Bears have been around the National Football
League for a long time, There's no question about it.
They're a historic organization and their DNA is physicality and
they have a mental toughness as well. And when you
go to Chicago to play the Chicago Bears, you better
bring it because they are and they're gonna It's gonna

(17:40):
be a long day for you if you're not playing
at a high level of intensity. And the same thing
when they're on the road, and really they're not traveling
very far coming down to Cincinnati, and I'm wondering how
many fans from Chicago be traveling down with the Chicago
Bears trying to come to Cincinnati to go to this
football game. I wonder what kind of tickets are available,

(18:00):
what kind of prices they're they're charging for those tickets.
But I hope the Bengals fans show up in full
throw because the Bengals are gonna need it. They're gonna
need it at home. They're gonna need that support from
the fan base. They're gonna need that uh uh, those
vocal cords, you know, to be to be challenged and
stressed a little bit, because, man, I'm telling you this

(18:22):
Bears football team. You know, the record doesn't show it
right now, but this team can run it. Their offensive
line gets after it. Their offensive line can come off
the football and knock you back. They can double team
and rub to the next level. They're athletically that at gifted,
you know that kind of thing. Defensively, they're aggressive and

(18:42):
they get after you. Uh, they're physical and mentally, physically
and mentally tough as well. I'm telling you, playing the
Chicago Bears, Uh, you might win the football game, but
you might might lose the physical battle. And so doing,
you're gonna be in the in the training room the
next the next day or the next week with a
lot of icebags, you know, and and uh and and

(19:03):
take the care of some bumps and bruises.

Speaker 1 (19:05):
It's not the way I'm sorry about. Is that what
the Bears were?

Speaker 6 (19:11):
Yeah, the way you just described it. You know, you
gave me flashbacks in which I almost ran and try
to try to find a helmet, you know, to get
out there and get a mouth piece, and you described
it so well. It's but that's exactly I mean, that's
exactly what you know. This organization is built upon it.

Speaker 4 (19:27):
Right.

Speaker 6 (19:28):
You look at the Monsters of the Midway, and it's
not just a name, it's not cliche when you look
at the players that I warrant you know, the Bears uniform,
they've been that type of player, right, And and the
Bears draft players based upon traits they draft players based
upon personality, and they draft players in which they feel
like you can perform well, you know in this type

(19:48):
of climate that they're going to be in half of
the year, and they got to have that physical trait
and that's just pretty much being a bear. And you
describe it to a tee.

Speaker 1 (19:57):
Well, you know, last question before we let you go
on the thank you again man for making time for
its Kevin byern Man. I remember when he was at
Tennessee and you know he moved from there and I
think went on the Philadelphia Knights there. But man, he's
having a really really pro Bowl type year.

Speaker 4 (20:13):
Yeah, he is.

Speaker 6 (20:14):
He's just been a guy who just finds the football,
or it seems like football finds him. He's like a
magnet the football stut there because I mean every time
you look up, he's either getting his hands on a
football or he's intercepting the football, and those are really
good things. You know. He just has a knack for
being able to disguise coverages. He has an understanding through

(20:35):
his film study and in terms of what type of
route concepts that offense is trying to present to the defense,
and through that study, he puts himself a position to
get those takeaways. So he's he's been, you know, one
of the captains on this team, but not only just
a captain. He's actually going out there and playing like
one of the elite leaders on this team, especially when

(20:55):
they need him. When you're when you're down a jail
and Johnson, when you're down a College Gordon, you need
the guy like Kevin Byr to step up and get
these takeaways. So that's what he's been doing and it's
been pretty good. It's been awesome to see.

Speaker 1 (21:08):
Hey, brother, Thank you so much for joining us.

Speaker 4 (21:10):
Man.

Speaker 1 (21:10):
We look forward to seeing you this weekend and all
the best to you.

Speaker 6 (21:14):
That sounds good, you guys, take care and thanks for
having me.

Speaker 1 (21:18):
Thanks Rich trout Right. Jason McKee from the Chicago Bears.
He's a sideline reporter former fall back as well. We'll
take a break. We'll be back with Tom Thayre on
the offensive line former offensive lineman. As the Bengals Pet
Rowley Show continues, presented by Just Bear Chicken on the
Bengals Radio Network. Welcome back to the Bengals Pep Rollley
Show presented by Just Bear Chicken on the Bengals Radio Network.

(21:40):
Wayne Box filler Dave Lapping with you. Glad to have
you board. Don't forget the Ulti Fiber, the official Wi
Fi and Internet provider of the Bengals and Greater Cincinnati's
fastest internet with up to two gigs of symmetrical speed.
I don't know what symmetrical it is or asymmetrical across symmetrical,
but I do know how to go to the hot
line and get one of your colleagues, the former offensive

(22:00):
lineman now analyst for the Chicago Bears, our pleasures. Welcome
to the show, Tom theyer. Tom. How you doing, brother,
I'm doing well.

Speaker 8 (22:08):
I appreciate you guys having me on.

Speaker 1 (22:12):
Well, we appreciate it. I'll turn it over to my
colleague and offensive lineman Dave Lapham.

Speaker 3 (22:17):
Much appreciated box. Tom, you were a hell of a player.
Congratulations on a magnificent a career with the Chicago Bears,
and it was full of successes and awards for your team.

Speaker 1 (22:30):
Individually.

Speaker 3 (22:32):
You probably had a probably dreamed as a youngster about
playing in the National Football League, and your dream couldn't
have come sure any better, could it?

Speaker 8 (22:43):
Yeah, you know, Dave, I grew up a Chicago Bears
sam My whole life being from Joey at Illinois and
before they were in all the channels and the different
satellites where you could go and gravitate or watch any
team that you like the players from you had to
grow up born in nineteen sixty one. You had to
grow up and stay a Bears fan. So I've been
a Bear fan my whole life, and now it's a

(23:04):
little different because I'm an alumni as season ticket holder,
I'm an a Bears fan and the broadcaster. So it
seems like every time you ask me a question, you
got to tell me what guy are you asking that
question too?

Speaker 4 (23:16):
And I'll give you that answer.

Speaker 1 (23:21):
You know, Tom, one of the things I wanted to
ask you about is, you know, the Bears probably would
like to be better than they are on third down conversion,
but that defense is really holding their end. I mean
probably under thirty percent or so. I'm looking at that.
What do you think they need to do to get
better on third down? As far as the Bears offense concern, you.

Speaker 8 (23:42):
Know, I still think it's a process of Caleb Williams
learning the Ben Johnson's system so perfectly. He knows where
all the openings and opportunities are. Going to be when
he looks across the line of scrimmage and see what
defense they're offering him. And then if he does have
to go to the alternate place called in the huddle,
exactly what that meant to the other ten guys in

(24:04):
the huddle? And I'm not I think I'm more realistic
about the difficulty of a quarterback mastering the terminology. And
I think the longer that Caleb is fortunate to be
in the system, the better he gets. And we may
not see the best of Caleb Williams until next year. However,
he is making those incremental improvements. But when you look

(24:26):
at a specific down in distance and you know third down,
or even look at the red zone, that's where the
Bears are having the most difficulty. And last week the
two field goals came back to haunt them. And you know,
like you said, the third down is needs to definitely
get better.

Speaker 3 (24:45):
You mentioned red zone, third down, couple of areas of
concern and very important obviously to have success, you have
to you have to be able to execute well in
those those two areas.

Speaker 1 (24:56):
For sure.

Speaker 3 (24:57):
Where else? What is where is the the biggest problem?
In your mind? Why are the Chicago Bears kind of
middle of the road, I guess as such, in terms
of how it's gone so far this season, is there
any one area or are there multiple areas where they're
need draft to improvement.

Speaker 8 (25:16):
Well, there's two areas to me. Number one is the
fact that they're not getting sacks and getting pressure on
the quarterback that results and you know, just the pressure
that a good defensive line can put on a quarterback
and change the whole process and the thinking process of
his game. And you know, they have Montesewen, they brought

(25:36):
in Grady Jared, and they have dio O Dangbo, and
they have Javon Deck. So they drafted high. So they
do have guys that should be able to win battles.
And that was one of the challenges that Ben Johnson
put to the defensive line this week is that if
you have a one on one, you better do something
with it. And so I think that's a sense of urgency.

(25:56):
And then number two, maybe two A is the fact
that they tried to develop and bring along an offensive
line that was bought through free agency, but still glaring
uncertainty at the offensive tackle position. And I think when
you're trying to put in a new system. You need
that same offensive line to be intact. You need to

(26:18):
have them listen to the cadence of the quarterback a
thousand times or fifteen hundred times, so they can, you know,
be able to anticipate the rhythm of account, which they
haven't been able to do yet. And they're having some
fallse start penalties or just some issues on the offensive
line that keeps them from you know, just rely. I

(26:41):
mean they're not capitalizing on good field position. And what
I mean by that is last week in the red zone,
it was a third and one and rather than understanding
the rhythm of the cadence, the tight end jumped off
sides put them in a third and six and then
that which led to ultimately having this battle for the
field goal. So offensive line and defensive line are one

(27:05):
in one. A.

Speaker 1 (27:07):
You know, when you talk about the kicking game and
neither team has had anybody take it to the house,
do you feel like their special teams is on the
verge or cusp of a big play.

Speaker 8 (27:20):
You know, that's a great quing. You know, I spent
every single game in my professional career on kickoff return
and I was frustrated when they were just kicking into
the end zone and taking them out from that point.
So I was excited to see what this new kickoff
kickoff return was going to offer the NFL.

Speaker 1 (27:36):
And I've been a.

Speaker 8 (27:37):
Little disappointed about the you know, big yard returns or
even touchdowns for that matter. So you know, coach Hoigh
Tower still waiting to see. They had their longest return
last week by Devin Duberne, which was a fifty yard return.
But I think the Bears are really waiting on a
punter that they drafted last year out of University of

(28:00):
Iowa in the fourth round, who you know, has the
reputation of being a big banger in the Midwest outdoor football,
perfect for the Chicago Bears. And even though he had
a great punt last week that was brought back because
of a penalty, They're still waiting for him to be
the Ray Guy Er whatever, the greatest punter in the

(28:23):
NFL history. They're still waiting for Tory Taylor to become
that big footed punter.

Speaker 1 (28:30):
You know, you know football, you know good football. You
know football players.

Speaker 3 (28:35):
You know good football players, guys to execute and play
at the highest level. To your eye, as a broadcaster
who's watched the Chicago Bears for many years. This year's
version of the Bears, who are the better players?

Speaker 8 (28:51):
You know, TG Edwards has been a heck of a player.
Kevin Byern at the safety position has been a really
good player. If Jaqwanton Brisker at the other safety, if
he can stay healthy he missed almost the whole year
last year with a concussion, he can be he can
be a good player. You know, Joe Tooney who they
brought here as a free agent, Fundamentally, he's still playing

(29:14):
some of the best offensive guard that there is in
the league. After all this time, we're still waiting for
guys like Cole Comett and Darnell Wright to be those
players that they were drafted to be. Cole Comett has
showed signs that he has the ability to be one
of the top tight ends in the league. But you know,
just because of the installation of this new offense, he

(29:36):
hasn't been getting targeted like he has in the past.
And then Darnell Wright, with the eleven pick in the
draft a couple of years ago at the offensive tackle
position out of Tennessee. We're waiting for him to turn
into that physical, dominant presence at right tackle that when
you need that third and one or you got to
go for it on fourth and one, or you need

(29:58):
a bread and butter play. He's got to be that guy.
I think they still have, excuse me, a high upside,
but we're waiting for them to get there. In the
ultimate prize is Caleb Williams.

Speaker 9 (30:10):
If he.

Speaker 8 (30:12):
Really grows inside this Ben Johnson offense. And you know day,
which is kind of crazy. You know that a couple
of weeks ago, after the game is over, Jeff Joniack
and I get to interview him first, and I asked
him because the often talks about pressing the repeat button
at halftime or the reset button at halftime, and I said, well,

(30:34):
if you press the reset button, how often do you
press the repeat button during a game? He says he
never calls the same play twice. And to me, when
you're talking about mastering terminology, every single play changes, you
don't repeat one that back in our day, probably forty

(30:55):
percent of our game plan.

Speaker 1 (30:57):
You could.

Speaker 8 (30:57):
It's installed week to week and you just something you
girl accustomed to. And so I think that does present
the more difficult learning curve. Or Caleb that if you
had an offense that was consistent week to week.

Speaker 1 (31:12):
Hey, Tom, I tell you, man, that's great information. And
we appreciate you so much. Look forward to seeing you
this weekend at Cincinnati, and and thank you for making
some time for us today.

Speaker 8 (31:22):
You know, Dave laughing, he's still the king of all
radio broadcasters nearly forty years. We only strive to be
in the booth that long.

Speaker 1 (31:32):
Yeah, you got that right. And I'm so far away
of probably California to Maine in terms of distance. Thanks
to appreciate. I appreciate you, guys. Steve Travels, Tom, all right, man,
we'll take a break. We'll be back with more of
the Bengals. Pep Rowley so presented by just Bear Chicken
on the Bengals Radio Network. It was pep Rowley Sow

(31:56):
broadcasting live right here and on the Ryan eatery one
hundred score Street. You got to get out here. So
many nice restaurants, so much good food, burgers, wing, solid drinks, patio.
And thank you to all our fans and Bengal fans
that come out, Big Dan, all of you guys coming out.

Speaker 5 (32:15):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (32:15):
Just great to see people continue to follow this team
and loyalty matters and Friday Night stripes there's anybody, Ohiokatz
celebrating high school football across the region with games, giveaways
and who they speed catch the Bengals in your community
of Bengal. When you say catch, its synonymous with Jamar
Chase it due catches anything. Everything comes his way and

(32:37):
he continues to pile up the numbers and puts in
the work that you start to say, why am I
even surprised or amazed or anything? Seventy catches seven hundred
and twenty yards five touchdowns, averaging ten point twenty nine
yards per Carrie met with the media this week, preparing
for both Jake and John and frod or are you

(32:59):
getting right pretty much both?

Speaker 5 (33:01):
Whoever?

Speaker 10 (33:03):
Does it make the week any more challenging when there
is a little bit of mystery surrounding who will be
throwing past the Sunday?

Speaker 11 (33:08):
No, we still got to attack it the same way
and just do us at the end of the day,
we can't really worry about that situation.

Speaker 12 (33:16):
Does it change the way that you prepared throughout the
course of the week. No, was how did Flaka look today?

Speaker 5 (33:22):
Regularly?

Speaker 11 (33:23):
Look pretty same? Didn't look I didn't know it was injured?

Speaker 5 (33:25):
For her?

Speaker 13 (33:27):
What was it like when you saw him coming back
out of the tunnel on Sunday. Do you think that
they're being shy to come back, but just like come back.

Speaker 12 (33:33):
In that moment.

Speaker 11 (33:35):
Uh, If I'm being honest, I didn't. I didn't even
see flack of runs on the field. I just was
in a huddle and I heard a play being caught
and I looked up. It was Flacco, So I didn't.
I didn't know what was going on.

Speaker 13 (33:46):
Jack talked to yesterday about, you know, about how much
Flaka wants to play, given that he's only been here
for a little bit. What's it like to see guys
when you're for like a month and really wants to
play through an injury like that.

Speaker 11 (33:58):
Mean still wants it. I'm saying he loves this game. Obviously.
You could tell the way he plays and just the
performance he gives off, the energy he gives off. But
he still attackses the same way I practice. Throughout the week.

Speaker 12 (34:12):
You said he would find a practice you didn't.

Speaker 10 (34:13):
You didn't see anything different about the way the ball
was coming out or anything like that. How does it
feel to be here at home in your own vent
for such a long stretch after playing.

Speaker 12 (34:24):
So many road games? Over the course of the first
several weeks the season. Now you've been at home the
last couple of weeks, then you get the bye week.
How does that feel.

Speaker 11 (34:34):
It's good that we get a chance to play in
front the crowd, front the home stamp, the home field,
give us a better advantage just as the crowd, and
just getting points on the board.

Speaker 14 (34:45):
After a difficult after the difficult loss on Sunday, Actually,
you're a captain now this year, it's a lot of
young guys who I'm sure were not thrilled with the
way the game went.

Speaker 5 (34:55):
How do you now?

Speaker 15 (34:56):
You know?

Speaker 14 (34:56):
And a captain drill sort of calmed him down and
get ready for the next week.

Speaker 11 (35:04):
I wouldn't really say I calming them down anything. Uh,
defense did their own thing with the meeting, had they
you know, their stuff going on. The offense does too,
so we really can I'm really just controlling them the
things that I can control and the stuff that I
can just give advice to the younger guys and just
push them to be better and just getting a pup
going for the week after.

Speaker 1 (35:25):
A game like that.

Speaker 16 (35:26):
Tomorrow you obviously we're upset. You're professional or competitives. What
are the last couple of days of life as you
try to process.

Speaker 12 (35:33):
Just move off.

Speaker 15 (35:35):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (35:36):
After the game, I was that that was my last
day thinking about the game. If I'm being honest, Once
the next day happened, I got a transposition with all
my focus going into the next game.

Speaker 12 (35:47):
How high we said for you to talk to.

Speaker 11 (35:53):
It wasn't hard for me to talk to y'all. It's
just hard for me to give y'all a full answer.
That's the hard part for me that because I don't
want to talk. Yeah, it does.

Speaker 12 (36:05):
Do you think if you weren't happen, you think you
would it's.

Speaker 11 (36:07):
T Yeah, I'm pretty sure.

Speaker 12 (36:11):
Probably the full answer.

Speaker 11 (36:14):
Now, maybe it depends.

Speaker 12 (36:18):
Said a Golden said that with the players meeting the
defensive players meeting that he doesn't know what was discussed,
nor should he. Do you take the same approach or
were you asking those.

Speaker 4 (36:27):
Guys what they were talking about?

Speaker 11 (36:28):
I would take the same approach. I mean, I talked
to Gino Stone about it a little bit. Me and
him had all our words about it, but I told
him at the end of the day, like they can
only control the things they control and don't over don't
over don't overdo it. With each other at end of
the day, I'll still gotta have each other's backs and
be a union. But that's all I can say to him.

Speaker 12 (36:47):
Do you think something like it can make a difference
a meeting like that?

Speaker 8 (36:51):
Yeah?

Speaker 11 (36:51):
I can't.

Speaker 13 (36:52):
Yeah, what do you feel like the offense probably need
to do better at the end of games in order
to make sure that something.

Speaker 11 (36:58):
We tell uh just probably closing out the game better.

Speaker 17 (37:03):
I don't know.

Speaker 5 (37:03):
It's hard to say.

Speaker 11 (37:04):
We wasn't in those positions like we were a lot
this year, so I mean we learned from the opportunity.
Maybe we could have sold the possession down when we
score too fast.

Speaker 13 (37:12):
Who knows, what what's your report like with Zack after
a game like that? What's the rapport? What's what's the
dialogue like with Zach after a game like that? Do
you guys sit down and go over things and how
was that kind of a wall?

Speaker 11 (37:23):
Over the years, everything still feels the same, pretty much normal.
I mean, we still talk about the players that we're
putting in or will put in, and you know, we
go from that, but we don't really talk about stuff
like that. I would assume that's a Joe Burrow thing.

Speaker 18 (37:39):
I know, you want to win every game, and you
have to win every game and or all of those things.
That's your mind set, your mindset each and every week.
Does it feel like your backs are against the wall
a bit after what happens Sunday going?

Speaker 11 (37:52):
I wouldn't say that, No, you know, I just feel
like I would say we fell off a cliff of
what we wanted to be at. You know what I'm
saying now, we gotta climb back up?

Speaker 1 (38:03):
Is that possible?

Speaker 5 (38:04):
Yes?

Speaker 17 (38:05):
What's it gonna tell me?

Speaker 1 (38:06):
Now?

Speaker 13 (38:06):
At three and five? Knowing where y'all want to go?
What's gonna take to make sure that y'all don't let
that slip any further?

Speaker 11 (38:12):
You gotta close out the game a lot better. Defense,
gotta adjust today the stuff that they talk about offense,
Gotta close out the game better and just start a
fast in the game. You know, it sounds like a lot,
but it's something that we can do.

Speaker 12 (38:27):
Thanks, Thanks, Thanks you.

Speaker 1 (38:29):
That was pretty dope, does Jamar Chase? I thought somebody
was coming with another question. Yo, this is a guy
you don't have to worry about Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Tuesday, Friday.
He's bringing it.

Speaker 3 (38:47):
He is Jamar Chase is a competitor and he referenced
that and uh, it's a good thing. I mean it's
Jamar Chase wants to win football games. He wants to
be at his best at all times. He wants to
be a big reason why the football team is winning
football games. He is a football player. I mean that

(39:11):
is the definition of that. Jamar Chase. That's who he is,
That's who he wants to be, and that's what he
wants to be known for. Is somebody that went out
and gave it his all for his team, for his teammates,
for the city of Cincinnati, for whatever the organization that
he went out and emptied the bucket every single game,
every single day, every single practice. Jamar Chase was doing

(39:35):
everything he possibly could do to help his team, his
organization win football games.

Speaker 1 (39:41):
No question out. We'll take a break and get back
back and wrap up this first hour. You're listening to
the Bengals pep Rowley SOHO broadcasting live on the Ride
and one hundred score Street on the Bengals Radio Network,
presented by Just Barticken. Welcome back to the Bengals pep
Rowley so broadcasting live from on the Rune Ethery one hundred,
scot Street Bear, Chicken, Wayne Box Millow, Dave lab I'm

(40:02):
at now is time boy? The Kethering Health Injury Report, La, Yeah, Box.

Speaker 3 (40:07):
I think the Chicago Bears, as far as they're concerned,
I don't think they have any debilitating injuries where a
player is going to miss the game because of an
injury that took place during the course of the football game.
I think they're probably still tired beating up all that.
And whenever you play an NFL game, no matter who
the opponent is, uh, you're going to have those kind

(40:28):
of those kind of feelings when the football game is
over because you put so much into it mentally, physically,
you exhausted yourself. You emptied the empty the bucket, as
they say. Yeah, And I think the Chicago Bears did that.
So they're recovering. They're in recovery mode. The Bengals, I think,
came out of it pretty darn well too. I don't

(40:49):
think that there's any injuries that is gonna are gonna
cost the Cincinnati Bengals. Oh, he can't go, he can't
start because he got nicked up, he got dinged in
the football game, and it's gonna cost him some time.
There may be a guy or two that missed a practice,
but I don't think anything more significant than that. So
I think both of these football teams are ready to roll.

(41:10):
I think that it's an important game for both teams.
Both teams want to turn the war mess. I still
want to get their seasons turned around. And the big
question is who's gonna get it done, No.

Speaker 1 (41:20):
Question about it. We just got a recent update. DeAndre
Swift has been ruled out for this game. Really, so
that's a big yeah. Yeah, that just came in. And
so what's his injury? They said, growing, He's got the groin,
so it's gonna be tough on him.

Speaker 3 (41:35):
Yeah, that's loose. Groun's are happy, growing and this isn't
very happy right now.

Speaker 1 (41:38):
No a question about that. We got a happy group
and we back with more. Is the Halloween edition of
the Bengals pep Rowleys, So broadcasting live. I'm on the
Rye Eatery right here, presented by Just Bear Chicken on
the Bengals Radio Network.

Speaker 2 (41:50):
This is Bengals pep Probably presented by Just bearn Chicken
on the Bengals Radio Network.

Speaker 1 (41:56):
Paycor.

Speaker 2 (41:57):
Paycor is proud to be the official hr so tware
provider of the Cincinnati Bengals. Kettering Health best Care for
the best fans. Kettering Health, official healthcare provider of the
Cincinnati Bengals. This is ESPN fifteen thirty, the official home
of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 1 (42:18):
Welcome back to our number two of the Bengals Rally Show,
presented by Just Bear Chicking on the Bengals Radio Network.
We're broadcasting live and on the Rhine one hundred East
Court Street. If you haven't been here, you got to
check it out. They have some of the best food,
the best locations, a stock bar. The bartender knows how
to make the drinks perfectly. Yes, so I heard. I
don't drink while I'm working the outdoor terrace out there.

(42:42):
Of the smoked wings here are from on top shelter
burgers or top shelter salads. I've had salads wing. I
didn't get the sushi. I'm not a sushi guy, but
I had someone sushi's good. Everything's good on the second floor.
You got the grocery store down on the first floor,
and then we're up on the second floor every week

(43:02):
three to six and uh we were gonna be joined
by Christenkins in the third hour. Some complications, he's gonna
call in. He's gonna spend time with us that way,
but apologize for that. But he was confirmed, double confirmed.
As a guy who we used to do training, we say,
don't confirm, double confirm. He was double confirmed, and things
happened that way. Zach Taylor talks to the media this week,

(43:24):
and we'll hear from him and Joe Flacco. Uh, but
let's start with Zach Taylor as he gets ready for
this game against dub AARs.

Speaker 17 (43:33):
Does he need I mean, you've seen, you've seen what
he's done. Came in played on a Thursday, you know,
after three days of practice. So I think if anybody,
if anybody in this league can get by with minimal
reps right now, it's it's Tim.

Speaker 18 (43:46):
So if he if he didn't practice rightly at all,
if physically he could go Sunday, you would.

Speaker 17 (43:50):
Still be Yeah, And we've got a plan in place
to see what we can do physically during the week.
So he won't be today, he won't be out there
during the open portion of things will come out after that,
but we got to plan is to see where he's
at as the week goes.

Speaker 12 (44:05):
Joint up trying.

Speaker 17 (44:05):
To Yeah, I mean, here's the deal with him. I
don't know because I've never done it. He wants to
play in the game, and so kudos to him. Man,
he's been here three weeks. He wants to play. I
hete speaking for him, but that's what he's told me.
We'll have to work through the week to see if
that's that's able to do that. It's a throwing shoulder,
it's painful, but I mean, cally a guy who wants

(44:28):
to do that, wants to get out there and play
with something like that. Credit to him. So we'll go
through the week and see what it ends up and
have Jake ready to go to and and just see
how it plays out. Responded, Yeah, I've been happy to
Jake's response, He's still working hard. If he's in there
and he gets the opportunity, I have confidence in Jake
that Jake and wins the game. So Howbvert shakes out,

(44:48):
will have great play in place to help those guys.

Speaker 7 (44:51):
Can you library kind of what you mean? Kind of
the whole kudos to him. Point about Flacco just getting
here and wanted to.

Speaker 17 (44:55):
Play, Yeah, I mean he's been he wasn't hearing the
off season, he wasn't invested in our training camp, you know,
and so for him to come in and it would
be easy to make a decision that there's no way
I'm playing, you know. I just I've got an ac joint.
We got bye week next week. Let's just let this think.
Heel up, and that has not been the communication he's
given to me at all. Now, ultimately he may not
be able to play. We may make that decision, but
for him just to want to put it out there

(45:17):
for our team himself, like he said before, he's just
a football player. That's what he does. That certainly goes
along with me.

Speaker 12 (45:24):
Understandably, he doesn't need the reps what he's done. But
how comfortable do you need to feel on Sunday given.

Speaker 8 (45:32):
Somewhat?

Speaker 17 (45:33):
No, I really don't. I mean again, I've I've seen
him show up three days with no knowledge of our
offense whatsoever. Jamar got minimal work that week. The next week,
we got no physical reps whatsoever. And so I think
that the proofs out there that you know, we we
could do it if we needed to. I'm not That's
not my terminology. We'll just work through the week and

(45:57):
see rains up. He will not practice the same thing
with words pain Taler.

Speaker 18 (46:01):
It's almost and I'm just seeing if he gets basically
good enough for Sunday.

Speaker 19 (46:06):
There's probably better question for Jacob and being away for
a couple of weeks, kind that stretches playing not playing
that just kind of seeing how much you can that
helps them a little bit to clear his head.

Speaker 17 (46:17):
Yeah, that probably a better question for him. You know,
he's had that experience before where he's played for us,
and so again I've got confident in him. I've seen
him do it. We'll put together a great plan that
that enhances everything we can do.

Speaker 20 (46:33):
Defense is eleven receptions, a ton of turnovers, yeah, their
first in the league and turnover margin, you know, and
they've had a ton of takeaways, picks, fumbles, guy guys
that have a real knack for the ball.

Speaker 4 (46:46):
You know.

Speaker 17 (46:46):
I know that the guys that are healthy right now,
the backers and the safeties have done an excellent job
taking the ball away from people anticipating throws, doing a
great job with their covered structures of being in a
position to be aggressive. You know, the unknown who their
corners are. Yet no with Tyreek to see how he
plays out, but those guys in the in the dB room,
I've had some turnovers as well, so really good job. Again,

(47:09):
when you're number one in the league and turnover margin,
that says a lot about how you're playing. And so
it's a real challenge for our guys to protect the ball,
protect the quarterback. They've got to get you in and
over there. As the world coach, what.

Speaker 7 (47:20):
Do you appreciate about what pe Ryan brings to the offense.

Speaker 17 (47:24):
I mean, he's just the same guy every day. You know,
for years now. He always used to watch his tape
when he was in Kansas City and Denver. I'd go
through every week and watch his protections and just consistent
throughout his entire career. Very reliable, hard to bring down,
durable back understands where you're fitting the ball, does a
great job of protection, has a great knack for the checkdowns.

(47:46):
So again, just just the combination of him and Chase
back there gives you a lot of confidence in your backfield.
And Tas has really come along too, So it's a
really good room. Justin's done a great job with those guys. Sama.
Just again, he's the he's the the vet in the room.
Just does it exactly how you expect him to do.
Not not that the other guys don't. They do a
great job as well, but Somas, he's just done it
for a long time.

Speaker 18 (48:06):
You said you wouldn't classify it as a must winner,
you wouldn't use those terms. What is your message to
ye to.

Speaker 17 (48:12):
Win again.

Speaker 12 (48:15):
With Flaco's situation? Do you have to do any differently
with Sean Clifford just in case?

Speaker 17 (48:21):
Well, he'll get scout team reps, you know, more so
than he would have in the past when when Jake's
got most of those. So again, Brad always is a
great job during the special teams period. That that's just
any any quarterback room you're in, that's where you get
the work for the guys that don't get a lot
of reps. So certainly he'll get more with Joe being
out and u of practice today, he'll get he'll get
more opportunity to scout team reps and normally Jake takes

(48:43):
pretty much all of them. So again that's where his
work will come in.

Speaker 19 (48:47):
Zach, what did you learn over the three weeks that
Jake was through and a half weeks that Jake was
quarterback in terms of the way you guys run things
the way he played, and then how quickly it kind
of got better when Joe got your River lessons up
from that time period.

Speaker 17 (49:01):
I mean, it's that was a wholesale offense. We got
to play better and at times there were tough circumstances
that the Minnesota game got out of control fast with
just turnovers that that we've done an excellent job of preventing,
you know, in terms of the fumbles and things like that.
Next week we went on the road in a tough environment.
I think Denver speaks for himself right now, how they're
playing on defense. That's that's been a tough challenge for everybody.

(49:24):
And then Detroit obviously has been a great team as well.
They've been getting after everybody. So it was a challenge
for any quarterback that's playing those units. Obviously we didn't.
We didn't hold up to the challenge in any way,
shape or form. That was on all of us, and
we put that behind us. And now our offense is
doing a great job these last couple of weeks and
we've got to keep doing that. And so if it's
Jake that steps in, I got full confidence that that
will continue to operate at a high level and b

(49:46):
all score some points with that.

Speaker 16 (49:49):
Zach, you think that the offense could pick up Jake's
level play given the fact that they've been playing at
a certain level.

Speaker 17 (49:57):
I think that's everybody. I think everybody picks everybody up,
and it's the quarterback lifting up others, others lifting up
the quarterback. It's it's that's part of what a great
unit does is find different ways for different guys to
step up whatever position they play, maybe and find a
way to get the most out of everybody.

Speaker 4 (50:12):
Can you put your.

Speaker 10 (50:13):
Finger on the let's revived the running game in the
last two weeks big numbers.

Speaker 17 (50:18):
I mean, I think we've we've had better control is
not a great word of the game, but just opportunity
with with drives. I think you guys have heard of
me myself a million times. Getting that first first down
really gives us a chance to get into a flow.
And we've done a much better job of that these
last couple of weeks. And so you've got a chance

(50:39):
to give the run game some opportunity there. And you know,
sometimes people are so helping on taking taking away our receivers,
you know, so it opens up the great opportunity, and
our guys have done a good job maximizing that, and
we have to keep that up.

Speaker 19 (50:53):
There's something that switched to a point that you look
at with the offensive line and you're just saying, how
well he's not like they have played theat couple of weeks.
Is there something you feel like has been a turning
point for them over the course of this year.

Speaker 17 (51:03):
They've worked really hard at it, you know, and even
when we weren't really statistically you want the tape having
a great deal of success, we still believe that we
were right there. It was just we got to fine
tune some things to continue to improve. You know, we've
had two young guards that are playing in there, and
they're only going to get better with every rent they take.

(51:24):
And so again we've been mixing in people in that room,
and whoever it is, whether it's the two rookies, whether
it's been Dalton or Lucas, I got confidence in that
room continue to rise up. And again they have a
lot of confidence right now. So sometimes you just get
into a rhythm and things start to click, and you
find a little bit of your identity in the run game.
You start to maximize that and then you have some

(51:45):
success and then the guys see, all right, we're working.
We've got a great cohesive unit here, we're finding success
in this. That confidence gives you momentum, and then you
continue to build off that momentum. I think that's just
what these last couple weeks have been for us.

Speaker 19 (51:57):
There are a couple of plays where it would be
a big run and you see Orlando kind.

Speaker 12 (52:03):
Of big reaction pointing to the silin of you guys.

Speaker 19 (52:06):
Is that something when you see stuff like that that
convinces you to keep going back to it more?

Speaker 5 (52:11):
Does that? Is that?

Speaker 12 (52:12):
Can that impacting a play called?

Speaker 17 (52:13):
I think the success of the run is what impacts
me as much as anything. It's great to have that emotion.
It's great to have guys. Scott does a great job
getting those guys to go cover down the field and
pick people up, and Dalton has some great examples of
that in Pittsburgh that stood out to me. Those guys
all play with great energy. And when you're finding success
in the run or the pad, when they say protect
and they see Drew sample block two guys and I
throw a stutter go to t Higgins for touchdown, they

(52:35):
get as fired up about that as they do for
their run game. So I think everything gets them excited.
When you're having success on offense and you're being efficient,
you're being explosive and both run in pass and will
continue to try to attack defenses as best we see
fit for that week. Go ahead, Go ahead.

Speaker 12 (52:53):
Jeff Ted gets a lot of pub for me, just Ed.
But as a player the last you know, because he's
getting older, it seems like he is getting almost better.
I think he's wondering you a few of it.

Speaker 17 (53:04):
As a head coach, yeah, I mean he's he's does
a great job. He is certainly a leader on the field,
certainly a leader in the old line room.

Speaker 1 (53:12):
Uh.

Speaker 17 (53:13):
Probably my favorite time of David Ted is the walkthroughs.
Just the commitment to excellency he's gotten the walkthroughs, and
the energy he plays with and the detail trying to
get it right and asking the right questions to get
us going. So those are things that people wouldn't even see,
you know, they see the emotion on the field and
the effort he plays with. But he's consistent with that
throughout the day, throughout the preparation, and it's great when
you have a captain that's like that and continues to

(53:35):
lead others the right way. That's he's pulling people up.
He's trying to make everybody better. He's demanding of other people,
and he's very demanding of the rookies next to him,
and I think that's that's a big part of it.

Speaker 12 (53:47):
Bye week is coming up.

Speaker 13 (53:48):
How much do you guys weigh that into the decision
of you know, whether you guys playing or not.

Speaker 17 (53:52):
We'll weigh everything in there, but we'll see how he
feels as the week progresses and we'll make a decision
from that. And again there's certainly an element of protectingim
from him. So certain now I'm you gotta trust him
how he feels and how he communicates, and I trust
eighteen years in he's probably played with injuries before I
can do this or I can't do this, And so
I think we'll get good information as the next couple
days go bye and make our decision what we need

(54:14):
to do given.

Speaker 12 (54:14):
The importance of his position. Could it go up to
a pregame work at like what you wanted to it?

Speaker 4 (54:19):
Might?

Speaker 17 (54:19):
You know, I've never been in this exact situation, So
I hate to sit here on a Wednesday and to
find exactly how the week's gonna look. We have an
idea in our own heads and Joe's on that same page,
and we'll just see how it shakes out.

Speaker 12 (54:30):
Zacha.

Speaker 17 (54:33):
Yeah, Yeah, he's been good. I don't have any updates
on the It's gone as we had hoped. He's had
a great attitude, great energy about him. You know, he's
in the meetings, met with in one on one. He's
been great to be around and optimistic and things have
been going well. But I don't have any update on.

Speaker 15 (54:51):
The timeline back when when the defense needs a lift,
you've talked about leaders stepping up, you spend more time
during the practice week leaning that way, watching the def
It's around the defense or is that.

Speaker 17 (55:02):
It's the same as as I always do, you know,
communicating with the defensive staff, interacting with the players.

Speaker 5 (55:09):
I do.

Speaker 17 (55:10):
I do spend time with the offense as well as
you're getting ready to call the game. That's important as well.
So it's a head coach, you got to you gotta
manage a lot of different things. And I do everything
I can to be there for the defense and help
them with my feedback. And that's that's what I do.

Speaker 15 (55:23):
Are you seeing what you need to see out of
a guy or a couple of guys in that room.

Speaker 12 (55:27):
I know it's still kind of early in the week.

Speaker 17 (55:29):
Yeah, yeah, everything's been positive. Everything's the response has been
what we have. We haven't had opportunity to do a
lot yet. You know, we just had the meetings this
morning and walkthrough that part is easy. It's easy to
pass that test. And so again we'll just we'll see
how the practices go.

Speaker 7 (55:42):
Knowing Ben Johnson for as long as you have, what
do you thought of his first year's at coach and
the job he's doing.

Speaker 17 (55:47):
I think he's doing an excellent job. I think he's
put together a really good staff. He's done a great
job getting his team to where they're at right now.
It's it's obviously it's challenging for every team. Everyone's trying
to find a way to win, and everyone's got close games.
But Ben's a very smart guy. I think he's been
thorough and detailed and demanding, and I know that he's
gonna be very successful during this time.

Speaker 21 (56:04):
There's the medical staff feels like Joe Flacco is unable
to go. What do you do as a backup? I mean,
do you have Joe on the side. I mean, it's
just to start against nicked up God forbid.

Speaker 17 (56:16):
Yeah, we'll see. We'll see as we get through the
weekend and exactly what our quarternight plan will be.

Speaker 1 (56:21):
All right? Does Zach Taylor talking with the media getting
ready for Chicago Bears. He knows Ben Jonson Well is
gonna be very interesting. We'll come back and break it
all down. You're listening to the Bengals Pep Brownie Show,
broadcasting life from on the Ryan Eatery one hundred Court Street,
presigned by just Bear Chicking on the Bengals Radio Network.
Welcome back to the Bengals Pep Rowdie Sooe Broadcasting Live

(56:42):
from on the Ryan Eatery, one hundred eas Court Street,
presented by just Bear Chicking on the Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network.
We heard from the coach. Now let's hear from the quarterback,
the spinner. Not Joe cool, but Joe calm, Joe Flacco.

Speaker 5 (56:57):
I feel good? Yeah, you feel good enough to Yeah,
I mean, I listen.

Speaker 22 (57:03):
I've never really talked about injuries before. I don't know
what to say, but yeah, I feel I feel good.
Yesterday it went while I was happy with that one, so.

Speaker 13 (57:11):
What's the biggest obstacle point with that type of shoulder spring?
How how does that make it's more difficult than maybe
other injuries.

Speaker 5 (57:19):
Yeah, well, I think it's I don't know, I've.

Speaker 22 (57:22):
Never really dealt with it before, but I guess there's
a point where it's not really up to you. It's
just kind of how it's reacting and and and how
you feel. So that's why I wanted to make sure,
you know, I was able to test it out a
little bit.

Speaker 19 (57:37):
So it was Wednesday, just today, We're just give it
one more day and then give it the shot on Thursday.

Speaker 22 (57:42):
I didn't want to do anything to you know, I
think the I think the idea was just treatment and
and get as much as that, get as much of
that as possible, get it feeling as good as possible,
and then go from there, needing to.

Speaker 12 (57:59):
See how it reacts.

Speaker 21 (58:00):
Is that why even though you say you feel good about.

Speaker 16 (58:02):
Like you really needed a couple more nations to make
sure on Sunday everything's good or at this point is
it good?

Speaker 22 (58:09):
Well, I feel pretty good. I just think, yeah, I
you don't want to just assume you're gonna be able
to throw or not really know so I think I
wanted I definitely wanted to be able to go out
there at some point this week and and feel good
about what was going on.

Speaker 5 (58:24):
I think that's all I was trying to say, kind
of said.

Speaker 19 (58:27):
Earlier, kudos to you on wanting to try to play
through this. Why isn't so important to try to play
through where you could have easily said, with the Bible
on the other side, to just this heel and come
back your side.

Speaker 5 (58:40):
I don't know, I didn't really give it much thought.

Speaker 22 (58:43):
I just always it's like, if you can, you know,
just just you try to play. You're the quarterback, you know,
and and then you take it from there. So I
think my initial instinct is always just, you know, whatever
we can do to get there and and then adjust.

Speaker 7 (58:59):
Do you anticipate doing is your normal pregame workout and
all that kind of stuff on Sunday?

Speaker 22 (59:03):
Yeah, yeah, I don't do much, you know, going into
the game anyway. And I mean, yeah, I don't necessarily
anticipate trying to do anymore, just to just to just
to go feel it out.

Speaker 12 (59:14):
Once the game starts.

Speaker 18 (59:15):
Do you expect any limitations or do you are just
the same.

Speaker 5 (59:19):
It's gonna treat it the same.

Speaker 22 (59:20):
You know, if I'm out there and you know, then
I'm treating it the same, just like any other.

Speaker 12 (59:24):
Games go off. I mean, as it has.

Speaker 22 (59:27):
Kind of been the same amount of I think it's
gotten better, Like there's certain things about it that that
have gotten better. I feel like I just not having
dealt with it before. But I feel like it's something
that definitely you can feel improvement on day to day.

Speaker 5 (59:38):
But at the same time, it's one of those things.

Speaker 22 (59:40):
That you know, you can aggravate it and piss it
off and all those things.

Speaker 16 (59:44):
So the offense responded in the Steeler game and can
suggests for the most part last week. Do you feel
a sense of obligation way the offense really produced with
you there?

Speaker 12 (59:58):
You want to?

Speaker 22 (59:58):
I think when you're the guys out there playing, you
always there's always a sense of obligation to to go
out there and and and be there for your team.
I mean I missed, you know, and sent in in
kind of terms of that showing up for your team,
Like I missed my second son's birth because I wanted.

Speaker 5 (01:00:15):
I thought it was important for the quarterback.

Speaker 22 (01:00:16):
To be out there, and you know, I didn't know
I was gonna miss it, like it just so happened
that he came on that day.

Speaker 5 (01:00:22):
But like, yeah, I do. I do feel a.

Speaker 22 (01:00:25):
Sense of obligation being out there for your for the
guys that you play with.

Speaker 5 (01:00:28):
For sure.

Speaker 22 (01:00:30):
I think it's just natural to, you know, when you're
when you play this game, to kind of want to
be out there with everybody.

Speaker 18 (01:00:36):
Did you allow yourself to bang out maybe I won't
be able to go this week or as a bit
from the jump, I mean textat on Wednesday you want
to play. I mean it's it's been pretty clear.

Speaker 1 (01:00:46):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (01:00:47):
Uh.

Speaker 22 (01:00:47):
I think that was just always the mindset is getting
to the point where I can and like working towards that,
and then you know, I think with this specifically, it
was always going to come down to like you just can't.
But I think mine's a wise It was just I
am until you know, I just know I can't.

Speaker 7 (01:01:07):
I was curious, would you be willing to share what
the worst injury you've ever played through is?

Speaker 15 (01:01:13):
Uh?

Speaker 22 (01:01:15):
There was one. We ended up playing New England in
the playoffs and we won. I only completed I only
threw like eleven passes that game, but like it was
something I was dealing with all year, Like I wear
I make sure I've had my hips up and stuff
these days ever since then, because I had something on
my hip that just kept blowing up, and by the
end of the year, my whole left leg was just

(01:01:37):
like destroyed, Like I was not moving well at all.

Speaker 5 (01:01:40):
And that was that was an issue.

Speaker 22 (01:01:43):
It was just because it was it was something that
you felt like was gonna get was getting better, and
then all of a sudden you land on it again
and playing on turf or whatever, and it's just it
was just the length that I had to deal with that,
like the length of the year that I had to
deal with that, and the fact that it was annoying
because you've kind of felt like it was getting better
and then it would be get worse again.

Speaker 7 (01:02:00):
So you mentioned you didn't complete many pases in that game,
but any good memories from maybe something you did were
you kind of pushed through in that game against the Patriots.

Speaker 5 (01:02:07):
I don't know.

Speaker 22 (01:02:09):
We won the game and we didn't have to we
didn't have to throw the ball that much. So anytime
you go win a playoff game up in New England,
it's a good memory. First the first first hand, first
play of the game right took for a touchdown.

Speaker 5 (01:02:21):
So, yeah, do you weigh the real percussions of maybe
playing now what that would mean down.

Speaker 12 (01:02:31):
The road the rest of the season. You look at
it as this week, I.

Speaker 22 (01:02:34):
Think there's time to do that, and I don't. I
don't think i've I don't think I've necessarily thought about
that in this case.

Speaker 13 (01:02:41):
How much of this is about just maximizing you, like
what you got here said, maximizing all the opportunities we
get care how.

Speaker 5 (01:02:46):
Much of that is, Listen, I don't know.

Speaker 22 (01:02:48):
I think you can try to like frame it in
in that context, but I just feel like.

Speaker 5 (01:02:55):
I just feel like it's always kind of in my
mindset and I'm not changing it now.

Speaker 13 (01:02:59):
So what's what's a mood been like after a loss
like you'll have last week as you'll get ready for
this one.

Speaker 1 (01:03:06):
What's the team?

Speaker 22 (01:03:07):
Yeah, listen, it's tough. I honestly feel like in spite
of that, we've had we've had a good week mentally
and physically. I think guys have been you know, I
think guys have been chopping at the bit to get
back out there, and I think it's shown in a
positive way. I think there's been a lot of energy
and practices have had some good tempo to them, and

(01:03:30):
I think that's a good sign.

Speaker 18 (01:03:32):
Crucial is this game, especially going into the buy.

Speaker 22 (01:03:35):
So you guys haven't I've talked about it before. I mean,
they're all so crucial, every single one that you know.
We only play seventeen of them, and yeah, it's more
than we used to, but they're still all so important.
And I've also talked about the fact that you can't
really think about those things because that's just putting more
pressure on you and it's making you make decision.

Speaker 5 (01:03:55):
It'll make you make decisions that you know are bad.

Speaker 22 (01:03:59):
You know they're not they're not They're not how you
should be playing the game. So you know, that's always
the case, that's always there looming how important the game is.
But we got to keep our blinders on and just go.

Speaker 5 (01:04:11):
Do what we do.

Speaker 12 (01:04:12):
What was the defense.

Speaker 7 (01:04:16):
Week?

Speaker 5 (01:04:17):
Yeah, listen. I hopefully those guys got something out.

Speaker 22 (01:04:19):
Of it, you know, And and I I feel like
sometimes it's players. You feel like you have to do
those things when you're not maybe playing the way you
want to.

Speaker 5 (01:04:29):
And I don't know if they if they end up being.

Speaker 22 (01:04:32):
Positive or not, but but just from like I said
a couple of minutes ago, talking about the energy that
we had a practice and the tempo that we were
playing with, it feels as those it feels as though
those guys came together a little bit, and you could
tell by the way they practice this week.

Speaker 12 (01:04:47):
A little You've been a part of how many players.

Speaker 22 (01:04:49):
On teams, not many, I mean a few throughout the years,
and they're usually a little awkward and uncomfortable and usually
takes a little bit of time to kind of get
to the point. But then you eventually do get there
and find and find the reason for having it, and
they usually end up being positive because of that. But

(01:05:13):
as you can imagine, like when you when you call
those there's probably a little bit of awkwardness and there's
a little bit of a tension just because it's usually
it's usually happening because of stuff that you don't want
is going on on the field.

Speaker 5 (01:05:24):
So but yeah, in.

Speaker 22 (01:05:26):
My experience, you probably sit in there and it's tough
to kind of get going, and then as you get going,
you find some reason that you that you find the
reason that you did it, and hopefully you have a
good reaction to it.

Speaker 16 (01:05:36):
Is that kind of what you touched on after the
game on Sunday that everybody has to kind of focus
on doing their own job to the best of their
ability and not have blinders on.

Speaker 5 (01:05:45):
Yeah, you can't.

Speaker 22 (01:05:48):
You can't worry about what you've done in the past,
and you can't worry about what's about to happen three
hours after the kickoff. You have to just go play
the game, and you can't worry about you know, what
people are thinking when things happen throughout the course of
a game.

Speaker 5 (01:06:02):
You just got to you gotta just go.

Speaker 22 (01:06:04):
Play and and and you look up when it's all
said and done and you're cheering with your teammates, and
it's it's such a hard thing to do. I think
that's it's it's kind of like corny and cliche to
talk about, but it is such a hard thing to do.
Is you know, just be in the moment. Being in

(01:06:24):
the moment is I mean in my experience, I mean,
it's just you find a way to do it. But
maybe it's like, how can you just take this secret
formula and be in the moment at all times? There's
always things trying to distract you. And I think that's
the biggest cause of just making decisions and playing, you know,

(01:06:49):
not up to your standards because you're worried about things
other than the task at hand. And it's that's why
when you talk about routines and everything like that, it's
it's it's giving yourself the best percentage to be in
the moment when you need to be in the moment.
And I don't think it's like a full fool proof
method that you have, Like you have your routine and

(01:07:10):
he has his routine and it works hopefully, you know,
ninety five percent of the time, and you can be
in the moment. But there's all these outside distractions that
are that they are they're just distracting you from being
in the moment when you need to be in the moment.
And one of those things is, you know, how did
we play last week?

Speaker 1 (01:07:28):
Man?

Speaker 22 (01:07:28):
We really need to win? Well, really needing to win
isn't a real thing. It's it's worrying about stuff that
you can't control in the moment, and you got to
get out of that mindset.

Speaker 1 (01:07:40):
All right, Just Joe Flacco, We'll take a break. I
want to come back and break that down with you.
Lab A lot of things I heard there that come
from an eighteen year veteran about how to handle a
bump in a rod or a speed bump. I heard
a lot about it in the moment. Yeah, I mean
there was a lot of that. All right, we'll be
right back. You're listening to the Bengals Rally Show right
here on the Sin Sidey Bengals Radio Network, presented by
just A Chicken. Welcome back to the Bengals Primp Rally

(01:08:07):
So presented by just Bare Chicken right here on the
Bengals Radio Network at on the Ryan Eatery one of
my favorite spots. Now, I'm hoo yeah sure, but but
I want to get back to Joe Flacco. You bo.
We both heard in the moment, but what also heard
was wisdom from an eighteen year veteran.

Speaker 3 (01:08:26):
No doubt he is something special. I think he's got
the right mindset, the right approach, the right attitude. He's
got it all. And you know he's physically gifted as well.
I mean, the guy he's a big man six or
four plus two and twenty five and thirty pounds and
can rip the football, and he throws the ball with

(01:08:49):
power and accuracy, and he can put it to any
quadronto the football field with accuracy and with power. The
players love him. Everybody I've talked to in the locker
room in a short period of time, he has impacted them.
He's made a tremendous impact on them in terms of
being a leader, in terms of stepping up, in terms

(01:09:09):
of saying, you know, put it on me. I got
broad shoulders, I can handle it. I've been in the
league fifteen years. I can get this done. Let's let's
go play some football. Let's go win some football games.
And players respond to that. Players love playing with Joe Flackhaw.

Speaker 1 (01:09:23):
Yeah. I think the other thing that I heard the
press conference after the game last week, and I was
just banging my fist on the table because he you know,
the media was trying to bait him, you know, they
were trying to bait him, you know, to blame the defense,
to blame somebody. And he knew, because again he's a veteran,
I see where you guys are going with this. And
he's like, no, sure, we are one. He said, we

(01:09:44):
are one. You know, we win as a team, we
lose as a team. And when you got your guy
out front basically taking that head on, saying I'm not
going to let this get out of hand. I'm not
even giving you one minuscule of a quote that you
can spend to make some salacious headlines. And he's just
a aware of everything around him. Salacious, good word box,
I like it. Yeah he is.

Speaker 3 (01:10:04):
I mean, he gets it. You know, he's a football lifer.
He understands that it's a team game. It's team game
in every sense in the world. There's nobody that's more important,
more special than any other. And you know, when the
media does try to try to bait you and set
you up and throw a hook in the water to

(01:10:25):
see if you'll bite about your importance, you know how
great you are. Team can't win without you. That kind
of thing, that that that causes problems, that that divides
the locker room. You don't need any of that. You
don't need any of that happen whatsoever. So you know,
hopefully Cincinnati Bengals can turn the worm turned around. There's

(01:10:47):
certainly not out of it. You know, eight games in
there's not an undefeated game team in the National Football League,
not one. So you know, everybody's got their struggles, everybody's
had their problems. The Bengals are far from out of it.

Speaker 1 (01:11:02):
Man far from out the other thing. I was going
to ask you a lab about what I think Joe
Flacco gives this team that is not written, it's not statistic,
but he gives Zach Taylor some comfort to say, I know,
I got a guy, a veteran guy that's gonna help
me make sure that this team stays cohesive doing this
this turbulent time.

Speaker 3 (01:11:22):
Right here, I agree Box, I think he knows he's
got a guy that can deliver his message. You know,
he knows he's got a veteran presence in the locker
room that understands exactly what he's trying to do, how
he's trying to do it, why he's trying to do it,
and can convey that to the entire locker room. So
I do think in a very short period of time,

(01:11:43):
Joe Flacco has garnered respect from the entire locker room
both sides of the football. They look at him as
the unquestioned leader. They look at him as you know,
this guy is somebody didn't come come in and normally
save our season, but put together a hell of a
run for us and we could have a great season.
So you know, we'll see it's it's you know, talk

(01:12:03):
is cheap. You can talk about it all you want.
Going out and doing it quite another thing, no question
about it.

Speaker 1 (01:12:08):
What's take a break, come back and talk. Looking at
this matchup and some key matchups. It's the Bengals and
Bears coming up to this lady. But right now it's
the Bengals pep Rally Show broadcasting live from on the
Ryan Eatery presented by Just Bear Chicken on the Bengals
Radio Network. Welcome back to the Bengals pep Rally So
broadcasting live from on the Ryan Eatery on the Sinsini

(01:12:30):
Bengals Radio Network, presented by Just Bear Chicken. Don't get
stopped by the banks happening pregame happening before all regular
season home games with live music, outdoor games plenty to
do for all ages. The perfect pregame stop visit Bengals
dot com. Slash jungles on more information, Bundle up, wrap up,
arrest those vocal cores. Time to get loud before this game.

(01:12:52):
There you go, because lap we know that this defense
is number one in the NFL and turnover differential plus ten.
We talked to a key uh he talked about it.
They are talked about it. It is the identity, it
has long been, uh, the identity of the monsters of
the midway.

Speaker 3 (01:13:10):
You're right, Box, And I think turnovers are the biggest
key to success or failure in any foot in any
football game at any level, I think high school, college
or National Football League. We do keys to the game,
you know, every single week, and it's almost like it's
a given turnovers are going to be the biggest key.

(01:13:30):
The first and foremost the thing that you want to
do is give extra possessions for yourself and take possessions
away from the opponent if possible, and that that's a
that's a big, big factor in winning and losing football games. Uh,
there's no question. So the fact that there are plus ten,
I mean says a lot. Uh eight games in they've

(01:13:50):
had ten more possessions than the opponent. That's significant. That's
better than one per game extra.

Speaker 1 (01:13:56):
Yeah, and I think they're averaging seven point one point
per turnover, which means they're converted in the scores. It
reminds me of the player for them, Peena Tillman. Yeah.
I mean that guy just had a punches them out.

Speaker 21 (01:14:09):
Man.

Speaker 1 (01:14:10):
He was a professional puncher, not in the boxing says,
but I mean just incredible. But they're also a lot
like the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sense of they want
to get a lead and then they just want to
hand the ball off. They just want to pound you out.
Like you said earlier when you were talking to him.

Speaker 3 (01:14:25):
Yeah, I mean, the turnover is the reason I'm probably
scoring at that rate seven points per turnover, differential short fields.
I mean, they're they're they're turning the ball over and
short fields for their offense, giving them like, you know,
twenty five thirty yards they have to go to pay
dirt and they're putting them in the end zone. Credit
them too. They're finishing, they're not having red zone difficulties

(01:14:47):
where they have to settle for field.

Speaker 1 (01:14:48):
Goals and all that. All that sort of thing.

Speaker 3 (01:14:50):
But it is a typical Chicago Bear football team sound.
They basic fundamentals are very important to the Chicago Bears
success that they're going to have during the course of
the season.

Speaker 1 (01:15:05):
They know it.

Speaker 3 (01:15:06):
The players know it, coaches know it, organization knows it.
That's their DNA that that's what it's all about. Taking
care of the football, running the football, stopping the run.
You know, a balanced offense with a capable passing attack.
Don't let the opponent hurt you with their passing attack. Simple,
simple football, fundamental stuff.

Speaker 1 (01:15:27):
Well, you know the other fundamental stuff is you got
to play sound football. But the non football stuff. Kevin
is a Buyered. There are guys in this league that
have always seemed to just be where the ball is.
You can't explain it, there's no you can't chalkboard it
or whatever. It's just one of those weird things that
they have. One of those guys they do.

Speaker 3 (01:15:48):
And you know, whenever we would play against a great
offensi or defensive player, the coaches would put that name
up on the chalkboard early in the week and say,
don't let this guy control and dictate the temple of
the game. Can't let it happen if he does, if
we allow him to have his way, we're gonna have trouble.

Speaker 1 (01:16:06):
We're gona have trouble winning the football game.

Speaker 3 (01:16:08):
So, you know, some guys, you would you would have
to try to work to neutralize their ability. They would
line up like Buyers. He's gonna line up on best
receiver Jamar probably and try to minimize him. Try to
neutralize them, try to you know, take him out of
the game as such, So others are gonna have to

(01:16:29):
step up, you know. T Higgins's gonna have to, you know,
make plays. Mike is sick, He's gonna have to make plays.
Guys are gonna have to do things above and beyond
probably what they've done so far this season. Because I'm
sure they're gonna put two on Jamar Chase, They're gonna
put corner in safety on Jamar. I'd be shocked if
they don't.

Speaker 1 (01:16:47):
Well, you know. The other thing is, you know, lap
One of the things about these defenses when you go
into Bengals that I think is advantage for us is
Joe Flacko knows if you're gonna put two of my
guy over here, yeah, I'll expect one of my other
guys to beat their guy one on one. Absolutely. I
mean it's like we've got talent.

Speaker 3 (01:17:05):
We have receivers in this room that are gonna win
one on one battles. I have all the confidence in
the world, I have all the faith in the world.
My guy's gonna beat their guy one on one, and
if they don't, it's not gonna go well, you know,
I mean, if if they don't win, their share of
one on one's it's you know, the coaching staff with
the opponent obviously has comfort in the fact that we

(01:17:29):
feel like, Okay, the rest of our guys can cover
who they need to cover and take it away. We'll
mix it up and run some zone, run some man,
but we're gonna have the eraser, our best defensive back
on your best weapon, and that's going to be a
big matchup to watch and keep an eye on. But
we're going to try to minimize the impact and the
effect that the others have on the game.

Speaker 1 (01:17:49):
No question about it. We come back. I want to
talk about special teams because it could be the turning
point of this game. Both of them will overdue. It's
the Bengals Pep Probley So broadcasting live and on the
Ryan Eatery One presented by Just Bear Chicken on the
Bengals Radio Network. Welcome back to the Bengals Rally. Joe
Brook Yes he live from on the Ryan Eedery One.

(01:18:10):
Under These Spots Street presented by Just Bear Chicken on
the Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network. Wayne Box Biller and Ring
of Honor, Honor Reed Name up in the rafters, Dave
lapham Man I smile when I say that, Yes, I
appreciate that I smiled. The blazer was looking good. Speaking
of looking good, it would be nice to see our
return team looking good. Yeah, uh, it just nobody's had

(01:18:33):
a big run and they, you know, McKee talked about
that they got a couple of guys averaging over twenty
five yards per return. But man, you talk about changing
the field. Special teams can just make or break a day.

Speaker 3 (01:18:47):
Really can. And Darren Simmons understands that better than anybody.
He's been around coaching special teams in the National Football League,
more than any special teams coach in the league right now.
I think he understands the impact that special teams have
on the game in terms of field position.

Speaker 1 (01:19:06):
Long field.

Speaker 3 (01:19:06):
Short field is what it's all about. I mean, that's
their biggest goal. Their biggest objective in the football game
is to give short fields to their offense by great returns,
averaging a good number of yards per return and minimizing
the number of plays that the offense has to run.
And then on the flip side of it, long fields

(01:19:29):
for the opponent, you know, and make them have to
chew up a lot of plays and the more snaps
you run, the higher the percentage of making a mistake.

Speaker 1 (01:19:38):
During one of those snaps occurs. It's just you know,
basic math.

Speaker 3 (01:19:43):
And Darren Simmons is as good as there is in
the National Football League. He has been for a while,
and he will be for a while longer, no.

Speaker 1 (01:19:53):
Question about it. You know, I'm growing to like the
new kickoff. I wasn't a fan of it in the beginning.
I think I'm used to it now. I don't. I
still like the other way better, but yeah, I think that,
you know, teams and players just have to figure out
how to make it work to their advantage.

Speaker 3 (01:20:10):
I agree, And I think you know, there's a great
returner for the Cincinnati Bengals in their history that's going
in the Ring of honor or has gone in the
Ring of Lamar Parris.

Speaker 1 (01:20:20):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:20:20):
I mean, that guy was was lightning in a bottle
waiting to happen, waiting to be opened. He was spectacular,
I mean.

Speaker 1 (01:20:29):
Just incredible as a return guy.

Speaker 3 (01:20:32):
And what he did for his football team thirteen non
offensive touchdowns.

Speaker 1 (01:20:37):
That that number still just blows my mind.

Speaker 3 (01:20:39):
It's sick, it really is. I mean, in terms of okay,
interception returns, those are those are spectacular. They you know,
they catch the fans fancy. There's no doubt about that
fumble returns for touchdowns. But man, he made his mark
also on special teams, returning kickoffs and returning punts for touchdowns.

Speaker 1 (01:20:59):
He he had an unbelievable, an uncanny.

Speaker 3 (01:21:04):
Ability to make people miss in the short space I
mean tight quarters.

Speaker 1 (01:21:07):
Man, he would.

Speaker 3 (01:21:09):
His lateral quickness was amazing, his explosion put the foot
in the ground and go go sideways faster than anybody
in the National Football League. God gave him a gift
and he capitalized on it big time.

Speaker 1 (01:21:22):
Yeah, he's he's pretty predecessor to Barry Sanders, who we
all saw. Yeah, you know, Eric Thomas was talking to Lamar.
He played running back in college. But to me, it
speaks again to the genius of Paul Brown. You take
Ken Riley a quarterback and Lamar Paris running back, and

(01:21:42):
you turn them into these two defensive backs that are
basically both Hall of famers and.

Speaker 3 (01:21:46):
My yeah, amazing, I mean rattler. Ken Riley quarterback at
Florida A and m was gifted as a quarterback. He
threw the ball pretty damn well as well, but his
feet were the big factor. I mean he was a
he was an option quarterback in high school and at
the collegiate level at Florida, and him very talented, very

(01:22:07):
gifted player, and just a smart football player, just an
unbelievably high football IQ. Understood uh principles and fundamentals in
the game and techniques in the.

Speaker 1 (01:22:18):
Game of football.

Speaker 3 (01:22:19):
And then he goes and pairs him up with Lamar Parris.
You have a quarterback and a running back that he
converts to the other side of the football and all
they do is reward him by making big play after
big play.

Speaker 1 (01:22:32):
It's amazing. It just blows my mind. And again, Paul Brown.
You know people will use the word genius. Yeah, people
throw the word genius around too much. Stop it. Paul
Brown was.

Speaker 3 (01:22:42):
A genius, total menza. His IQ was as high as
has ever been recorded.

Speaker 1 (01:22:48):
Yeah, if you can't get up there with Paul Brown
and just say that you're very good, and you're pretty
damn good, but you're not a genius. It's like I
heard the word great throwing around all the time, and
it's just over you so much as diluted the word.
We got another hour. We're scheduled to talk to Chris Jenkins,
In this last hour we'll hear fantastic fun facts as well.
It's our number three coming up of the Bengals pet
Rally Show, presented by Just Bear Chicken on the Bengals

(01:23:11):
Radio Network.

Speaker 2 (01:23:12):
This is Bengals pep Rally, presented by Just Bear Chicken
on the Bengals Radio Network. Paycre Paycore is proud to
be the official hr software provider of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Kettering Health Best Care for the best Fans. Kettering Health,
Official healthcare provider of the Cincinnati Bengals. This is ESPN

(01:23:35):
fifteen thirty, the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 1 (01:23:41):
Welcome back to the Bengals pep Rally Show, broadcasting live
from OTR. I'll tell you this on the rhine. I
love this place. I'm thinking about the wings right now
because I'm looking at laps and I said. Presented by
Just Bear Chicken, Wayne Box, Miller Ringham, honored nominee Dave
Lapham and the numbers up there, sixty two us up there.

(01:24:01):
The name was up there, and I couldn't be happier. I,
like so many other people, been lobbying for that to
see it. The dream come true for you man. But
trust me. For us it was just as well and
another dream come true to see my Michigan Wolverines winning
a national championship years ago and a young man that
was a vital part of that. Drafted in the second

(01:24:23):
round by the Bengals in twenty twenty four. Father Chris
Jenkins played as uncle played in the NFL. He's got
a lot of pedigree. But pleasure to welcome to the
show on the phone, ladies and delm with Chris Jinkin.
That's giving up for Chris. Brother. Chris, how are you man?

Speaker 4 (01:24:39):
Appreciate all having me man, Thank you so much and
congratulations to you.

Speaker 3 (01:24:43):
Dain appreciate that, Chris, thank you very much. Coming from
a member of royalty football family, Royalty Chris Jenkins, that
means it means a ton you You obviously, your foot,
your family understands the game of football.

Speaker 1 (01:24:59):
What's all about my man?

Speaker 4 (01:25:02):
Oh? Absolutely, unfortunately a little bit too much.

Speaker 1 (01:25:08):
You know, Chris, we were talking earlier this year and
you talked about your off season just working out with
your uncle, just because it's new to so many. Talk
to talk about that again and what that experience was
like for you this summer.

Speaker 4 (01:25:23):
Absolutely, it's a very surreal experience. It's a very humbling
one too. You know, you get to the point you're
learning from some of the best of the best talent,
learning mentally, physically, technique wise, and you know, he just
told me so much, so many aspects of the game
that I still didn't know about. And he still he

(01:25:44):
still says, you got much more to teach me. So
it's been a very amazing experience working with him, and
he's been a vital part on my work so far
in the lead.

Speaker 3 (01:25:54):
You know, people that don't play haven't played football at
a very high level, don't understand, you know, the techniques
and fundamentals and a lineman, you know, I'll they do
is knock each other around. There's no there's nothing going
on there. There's just it's survival of the fittest. It's
just who's the biggest, strongest, toughest. You know, all all
of those kinds of things is going to win the

(01:26:16):
battle of the trenches. There's all kinds of techniques and
fundamentals that you know that can take you to another
level in the game of football. Your uncle, your dad,
those guys playing at such a high level. What if
they taught you over the years.

Speaker 4 (01:26:32):
Uh, they taught me the beauty of learning technique, the
proper way of technique, and then learning technique and the
aspect of how it ticks you best. Hey, No, talking
to my uncle and my father, you know, they taught
me so much about myself that I didn't know about
my technique loot and it's those little things that can
give you a head on your name.

Speaker 1 (01:26:55):
You know, Chris, I was thinking as you were saying
that when people know a craft, whether it's you know, carpentry,
whether it's football, whether it's whatever, you know, even a chef,
it's just things that they can see and right away
they know it. Was there one thing that your uncle
pointed out to you quickly that you never even thought of.
That he just said, right away, one thing I noticed

(01:27:15):
you're doing is this, and you're like, wow, I didn't
even recognize that.

Speaker 4 (01:27:19):
Absolutely. One thing we talked about a lot is me
reading on the field because I'm a person I like
to dispect the play as it's happening before I start
to launch. And you know, my huncle's been starting to
teach me that you can go, you can launch and
take yourself to them, get into play without having it

(01:27:41):
while seeing the play development.

Speaker 5 (01:27:42):
That makes sense.

Speaker 4 (01:27:43):
So being able to think on the fly and being
able to as you're going you already know what type
of block or what type of technique you need to
use while you're launching into your hot and you know
that type of high level technique is some of the
stuff you've been trying to build.

Speaker 3 (01:28:03):
Yeah, that uh, that is high level. That is high
level technique. Man, that's awesome to have to have that. Uh,
that kind of support system in your in your back pocket.
You know, your your uncle and your dad, Now you
learned a lot from them. What about coaches? What coaches
when you were a young player? Uh, in elementary school, junior,

(01:28:27):
high school, even at the collegiate level, what coach took
you to another level in terms of how you played
the game of football from a fundamental and technique standpoint.

Speaker 4 (01:28:37):
Oh, my high school coach is one hundred percent. Uh
my D line, my D line coach, Kevin mcdadd and
in my high school coach, I called.

Speaker 5 (01:28:46):
Them to go.

Speaker 4 (01:28:48):
They they helped me a lot while I was in
high school because I used to be a small kid,
so they started teaching me my powers.

Speaker 1 (01:28:57):
You know you were talking about when you get out
to Michigan. It was an eye opening thing for you
as well, because you were you're pretty tagon good in
high school and had a lot of hardware and a
lot of credentials, and you got up there and realized
so did everybody else. And you, I'm really proud of
how you were very candid about recognizing that and then putting,
you know, nose to the grindstone and figuring out how

(01:29:19):
to get better than everybody else.

Speaker 4 (01:29:22):
Absolutely, I mean it's a humbling experience. I mean, you know,
like I'm going into Michigan with cats like Aiden Hutchinson,
Quitty pay or there, you know, all these soon all
pro athletes at Michigan, and you know, I'm trying to
make a name for myself. They're one or two ways
you could take it. You know, you can't feel sorry

(01:29:44):
for yourself, you know, you trying to learn this stuff.
Or you can build on that, you know, learn from
some of the you know, high level computing guys. And
I was fortunate enough to have that support system from
them to learn and build and have so much more
with the game that it just became a blast.

Speaker 3 (01:30:02):
You know, Yeah, I mean support system from from a
high high caliber teammates that played the game at such
a high level is an amazing thing to have in
your back pocket as well. But we talked about the coaches.
What about players. Is there a player that you said,
I'm going to play the game of football just like

(01:30:23):
this guy. Man watching him on tape, watching him on
the football field, be it a practice or beat during
the course of games.

Speaker 1 (01:30:30):
He does everything right. I mean, you know, everything is
so sound he is. He's a football protege. Was there
anybody like that that affected you or impacted you as
a young player.

Speaker 4 (01:30:43):
David o'jabo, I got that he was that guy.

Speaker 1 (01:30:52):
Let me do yeah, oh yeah.

Speaker 4 (01:30:54):
Watching him work, you know, he's one of those guys.
He constantly competes at a high level, and you know
at Michigan somehow every practice, you know, every game he
was going at one hundred and ten miles an hour,
and before he had the season that he had in Michigan,
you know, it was just being his work at seeing

(01:31:14):
how intentional he was with his training, with his practice, wept,
you know, with everything lifting his mindset. So you know,
as young guys were trying to absorb as much from
him and Aiden Hutchinson as we could.

Speaker 1 (01:31:31):
Well, let me ask you if I'm gonna tell you
to put on an imaginary general general manager had if
somebody came there and said, give me, give me a
Scollary report on Aiden Hutchinson and Mason Graham, what would
you what would be your Scoleary report on those two guys.

Speaker 4 (01:31:45):
On those food?

Speaker 1 (01:31:47):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (01:31:48):
Oh man, that one. Two high levels, high working athletes
that just have a love for the game. That's rare
to see in a lot of people. The amount of
time they taken the game is inspiring. And you know
they had the on watching film, study their opponent, and

(01:32:10):
you know they just they just really intends when it
comes to the problem solving. So if they do a
reprong or they see something wrong with their technique, they're
going to make sure they take me.

Speaker 3 (01:32:23):
So seasons eight games old, three and five record right now,
seasons far from over. I mean there's a lot of
football to be played. The Cincinnati Bengals, there's not a
football team in the NFL it's undefeated right now. I mean,
it's very balanced. It's a tough league. Man, on a
week for week basis, It's the opponents are are high caliber.

(01:32:47):
There's a lot of good football players on every team
in the National Football League, a lot of good coaches
coaching them. There's no cakewalking, there's no week off, there's
no bye week where you're actually, you know, playing a
football game and not your actual buy.

Speaker 1 (01:33:01):
So what do you have to do to make sure
that it turns around?

Speaker 11 (01:33:06):
What?

Speaker 3 (01:33:06):
What are maybe a couple of three things that the
Bengals have to do have a much higher level and
much better level at this stage.

Speaker 4 (01:33:15):
One is observing what went wrong and problem solving. You know,
we can't you can't afford to feel sorry for yourself
after a loss. You have to be able to problem
solved and take the situation going into the next game.
And you know, the second thing is just looking forwards.
Like y'all said, there's a lot of football games left,

(01:33:35):
there are a lot of opportunities left, and you know
this isn't so you know, we have the opportunity to
really do something special and looking forward has really been
our biggest methods this week and making the both of
our opportunity we have to sunder.

Speaker 1 (01:33:54):
Hey, Chris, we got to take a break. Can we
get one more segment with you?

Speaker 4 (01:33:59):
Absolute?

Speaker 1 (01:34:01):
All right, thank you, brother, We'll take a break We'll
come back well with Chris from the Sin Sint Bengals.
It is the Bengals pep Rally Show broadcasting live and
on the RHYE one hundred. These Court three presented by
Just Barret Chicken on the Bengals Radio Network. Welcome back
to the Bengals pep Rallley Show Broadcasting Live. I'm on
the Rhyine one hundred. These Courts three presented by just
Bear Chicken on the Bengals Radio Network. Wayne box Miller,

(01:34:24):
Ring of Honor, The Ring of Honor, Man of the Hour,
Dave lappam Our, Special guests on the line joining us
from Michigan. Now he's down in the trenches for the
Cincinnati Bengals. Christiinkers and Chris I'm gonna hit the something real,
real quick man. That just blew me away. They've got
stats on everything, and I was looking at percentage of
mistackles and I looked at Chris Jenkins and said zero.

(01:34:46):
How about it? How about that making man that that's
gotta be something that you hang your hat on. Of course,
if you did miss tackles, I'm sure your uncle and
Dan mad something to say about.

Speaker 4 (01:35:00):
You know, every every football Sunday they making sure they
watched and so you know, I'm gonna get that feedback
the second game comes fro.

Speaker 3 (01:35:10):
Yeah, you know, uh what what what player or players
at the high school, collegi at or NFL level were
the biggest challenge for you physically, for you to match
up with, I mean everybody's I mean I got guys
that I was.

Speaker 1 (01:35:25):
Man, that guy he was a beast.

Speaker 4 (01:35:28):
Man.

Speaker 1 (01:35:28):
I couldn't.

Speaker 3 (01:35:29):
I couldn't solve all the problems that he was giving me. Man,
this guy was too much. Is there anybody like that
that you played against?

Speaker 13 (01:35:36):
Uh?

Speaker 4 (01:35:37):
You know what funny story? High school we used to
play school called Gonbaga and guess who their quarterback was?

Speaker 1 (01:35:50):
What's his name?

Speaker 3 (01:35:54):
Oh cal Williams Cale go kidding, all right, so give
us give us more this morn man.

Speaker 4 (01:36:02):
We used to be high school rivals, so you know,
going into that game every single week, there was a
lot of preparation. Uh. Sometimes you get back there and
his ability to scramble it really passed your ability to tackle. Yeah, honestly,
now to attribute him to uh really really staying on
top of myself with my backling ability.

Speaker 1 (01:36:26):
Wow, I'm sure that you were able to share what
information you have with your teammates, like, hey, he's been
doing this for a while. He's not new to this.
This is just a character trait that's followed him from
there Gonzaga to sc to the NFL and another Michigan
guy up there coast and Loveland.

Speaker 4 (01:36:44):
Man.

Speaker 1 (01:36:44):
I mean he's doing well in that tight end position.

Speaker 4 (01:36:48):
Absolutely. Yeah, you know, he's the hang of a player.
He played card and you know we're going against each
other now, so always good to see my boy. But
you know what time it is, right right.

Speaker 1 (01:37:02):
Well, we'll talk about that after the game is over,
you know. Yeah, Chris. One of the things I think
you've come to appreciate being in Cincinnati is that the
fan base here is legit, man. I mean, they really
want to see you guys do well. I mean the
way they are a paid course stadium even here at
our PEP rally shows and and things of that nature.
You come from a place where they were packing them in.

(01:37:23):
I mean, you know, I got a chance to go
watch a football game of Michigan. But uh, the fans here, man,
they really get after that pay corps.

Speaker 4 (01:37:32):
Absolutely, you know, and that just goes to show the
love and the past that they have for the team
and for the game. Man. You know, we love and
appreciate that, and that encourages us, the players to play harder,
you know, be more successful for them, because if they're
giving their hard hearing for us, you know, we can't
do everything in our power give them something, you know
what I'm saying.

Speaker 1 (01:37:53):
Yeah, yeah, Let me let me ask you this as
a guy that's got, you know, a second year under
his belt, but that first year, talk about players, how
veterans help you guys get acclimated to the game of
football at this level because it's totally different from college, right.

Speaker 4 (01:38:09):
Absolutely, And that's huge. You know, you've got to be
able to adapt quickly and it is a big difference
in college. So having those veterans around and that'll helps
you to lead business techn wwise. That's huge. And you know,
we're blessed and fortunate enough to have a lot of
great better to Rome that has done that ru and

(01:38:29):
you know, it makes that transition easier.

Speaker 5 (01:38:31):
It makes.

Speaker 3 (01:38:36):
So Chris, you've got a new defensive line coach by
the name of Jerry Montgomery. Uh played the game of
football at a high level himself, very good football coach.
But with every change that you have in the coaching staff. Uh,
with your defensive line, there's going to be new techniques,
new fundamentals, new expectations.

Speaker 1 (01:38:55):
What's been like with Jerry.

Speaker 4 (01:38:59):
Is, you know what, it's been awesome. And it's been
a process learning new technique you know, uh, stuff that
we haven't been used to since last year. But you
know it's really we've really been improving upon it since
the beginning of the year, learning how to do more playing
with one hand as opposed to do at time, sending
the edge and posing our wills and being physical and

(01:39:22):
you know, he's a very passionate coach and a great
coach when it comes to that. You know, he's really
hype on the details and we try to master those details.
And that's the biggest thing.

Speaker 1 (01:39:34):
Yeah, he seems like a guy that gets a very
hyped out. I watched a couple of you know, just
sessions with him, man, and he really wants the best
for you guys. And I one thing I appreciate about
what he said is, you know, it doesn't matter what
I want, It matters what they want. And if they
want to be great, I want to help them become great.
And that's really if you're a player in any sport,

(01:39:55):
you want your coach to want for you, but you
also want him to give you room and help to
be the best version of yourself on the field exactly.

Speaker 5 (01:40:06):
And that's that's you.

Speaker 1 (01:40:12):
So I'm gonna switch gears here because you know, it's
it's tough being in the trenches, but there's a great
group of guys that are are in the interior of
the Sinai Bengals. And uh, the chemistry you guys have, man,
is really I I love watching it. But if I
had to ask you, you know, without you know, naming
names per se unless you want you who's the funny

(01:40:33):
guy in the group? Man, who's the guy that keeps
everybody loose? And and and so.

Speaker 4 (01:40:40):
You already got to answer that I question.

Speaker 1 (01:40:45):
I'm gonna, yeah, it could be you.

Speaker 4 (01:40:50):
Huh No, I'm kidding. I gotta I gotta give it
to my band.

Speaker 5 (01:40:55):
Uh.

Speaker 4 (01:40:55):
DJ Slayton he's one of the fun.

Speaker 1 (01:40:59):
I guess he was on this show a couple of
weeks ago, and uh, yeah, he's a funny guy. He's
got a sense of humor.

Speaker 9 (01:41:07):
Now he has a.

Speaker 1 (01:41:08):
Sense of human But I think as a veteran man,
it helps keep you young guys loose, you would I
be right in assuming that.

Speaker 4 (01:41:15):
Oh absolutely. You know, to see a guy you what
he does at a high level, you know, have that
laid back, funny personality that he does. You know, it's
definitely it's definitely bringing a huge life to the room.

Speaker 3 (01:41:28):
Add to that, talking about veteran players that bring something
to the room, what about Trey Hendrickson.

Speaker 1 (01:41:38):
Uh, he is.

Speaker 3 (01:41:39):
I know he's not an interior defensive lineman, but he's uh,
he's part of the brotherhood. You guys are all a
big brotherhood. They're up front in the Bengals defensive line.
The way he approaches football in the National Football League,
it's the same way he approached in high school and
college when he went to Florida. Just I mean, take

(01:42:00):
no prisoners man. It's it's he's gung hole. He's bringing
it every single snap. He's uh, he's gonna test the
opponent and try to, uh try to bring out uh
the best.

Speaker 1 (01:42:12):
He's he's unique. What have you learned from him?

Speaker 5 (01:42:17):
Oh?

Speaker 4 (01:42:17):
Yeah, Like you said, his mentality to take no prisoners mentalities,
and you know that's infected like from every snap, every
weapon practice, every rep with your technique, listing regardless. He's
using that mentality and you can see how it shows
on the field. But he plays.

Speaker 1 (01:42:37):
Yeah, he gets after it, man. I think he gets
stronger in the fourth quarter. And that's what causes problem
for teams because this dude, man, he just wants it.
You know, sometimes people just want it. And I told
lap Chris, you know, in this in this league, everybody
has skill, but then it becomes a matter of will,
man and that dude's will to get to the quarterback.

(01:42:58):
It's a rarity.

Speaker 4 (01:43:00):
Oh yeah, like his mentality. He will get to the
quarterback and you're standing in my way. I take no
present mentality here you go.

Speaker 1 (01:43:10):
Yeah, he's like that guy.

Speaker 5 (01:43:12):
Well what is it?

Speaker 1 (01:43:13):
I will hunt you down and I will find you.
What is that movie I can't missing Liam?

Speaker 4 (01:43:20):
Yeah?

Speaker 1 (01:43:21):
Yeah, yeah, that's Trey Henderson. You guys should start calling
him Liam Deeson.

Speaker 4 (01:43:30):
For Halloween.

Speaker 21 (01:43:32):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:43:36):
Thank Chris Man, thank you so much for making time
for us.

Speaker 4 (01:43:39):
Man.

Speaker 1 (01:43:40):
I know you wanted to be here, and we appreciate
you getting on the phone with his brother.

Speaker 4 (01:43:45):
No, my absolute pleasure. Man. I appreciate y'all for having
me and Dave again. Congratulations, man, you deserve it.

Speaker 3 (01:43:52):
Thank you very much, Chris, Chris, coming from you, uh
in the football family that you're a part of that
means a ton I appreciate you.

Speaker 1 (01:43:59):
All right, lad Chris Jacobs from the University of Michigan
defensive tackle and man, glad to have your board. We'll
be back with more of the Bengals pep rally Soho
broadcasting live and on the Ryan Eatery one hundred East
Court Street, presented about just bare Chickening on the Bengals
Radio Network. Welcome back to the Bengals pep Rallley Show,
broadcasting live from on the Ryan Eery, one hundred East
Court Street, right here in downtown Cincinnati. Absolutely perfect place.

(01:44:23):
If you look at more place to go your downtown
or you're just coming downtown, stop by here. It's on
the second floor. They got the eighteen eighty three kitchen,
and they've got Queen City Burger, they've got sushi, they've
got all kinds of nice places. They got the outdoor terrace,
a fully stocked bar with bourbon and just everything you need.

(01:44:43):
And Wayne Boxpellow Ring of Honor inductee, Dave Lapham, Mike
Mills on all things technical, Mike Patrick, Mike yeah, Mike
Magic Man. Let's dude, I think I'm gonna start calling
it Mike mcgiver Magic. Here you go Mills either like
four elms and then Mike mcgiver.

Speaker 4 (01:45:02):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:45:04):
Uh, you know. As always, we love to share some
of the Sunday programming and fantastic fun facts with Demetrius
Knight was a great win. Here's Dan horwid Fantastic fun
facts presented by Skyline Chile.

Speaker 23 (01:45:16):
Tip for some fun facts with linebacker Demetrius Knight from
Locust Grove, Georgia, less than an hour away from Atlanta.
Your jersey was retired last week. Describe getting that news
and going home for the ceremony.

Speaker 9 (01:45:29):
Yeah, it was a true blessing, just to just to
be in that moment. It's not every day you get
to retire in an old high school high school jersey number.
You kind of think you're for you're forgotten sometimes when
you when yeah, you're you're often doing other things. But
just having that to be recognized as is nothing but God,

(01:45:49):
you know, nothing, nothing but Jesus. And that's what we
stand on over there as strong our Christian schools. So uh,
glad to see that they're still doing their thing in
all the sports categories, but also good to see that
you know, they'll they'll leave a bit, a little bit
of my legacy to see around. So as my kids
continue to grow, uh, that would be something I can
you know, rubbing rubbing their faces every once in a

(01:46:09):
while as there as they're growing up.

Speaker 23 (01:46:12):
You're a linebacker now, but you were a four year
starting quarterback in high school. Give me a comp what
college or NFL quarterback were you most like.

Speaker 9 (01:46:22):
I was definitely most like Cam Newton. I was trying
to emulate him and everything he did, and then started
to watch more college guys, started to watch Jalen Hurts,
just knowing that I was a bigger type of quarterback
and knowing that those are bigger quarterbacks, knowing that they
they can run, but also you know, not just being
the run of also being able to you know, be

(01:46:42):
legal in the past game. So as I continued to
grow in my high school career, would you know, put
the run first mentality behind it and you know, pass
first and then run second.

Speaker 23 (01:46:52):
We're chatting with Demetrius Knight. Were you heavily recruited out
of high school?

Speaker 1 (01:46:57):
No, sir, not not very much.

Speaker 9 (01:46:59):
Uh, at Tech was pretty much the only offer I
had going into my junior year and whatnot. And I
would go to a camp where Paul Johnson was still
the head coach at Georgia Tech, and he's like, I
don't I don't understand how you don't have more offers.
I'm going to give you a first one, and that
they pretty much sold it for us.

Speaker 23 (01:47:18):
So he made the offer, you chose Georgia Tech, and
then he left before you got there. How difficult was
that for you?

Speaker 9 (01:47:25):
It was pretty pretty difficult, just because I didn't know
what I was going to get. I was already getting
comfortable with the former coaching staff and him. Of course,
that's that's just line. That's a business decision that he
and his family had to make. And I didn't hate
him or anything for that. That's just just just the
way life goes. So of course I still wanted to
be close to my mom and sister, uh not wanted

(01:47:48):
to be too far away from them and the due
places we were sharing. So I was like, of course,
I don't know what the situation will be. I know
there's there might be a possibility and I probably won't
be quarterback just because I know it's a new new
group coming in, but I at least figured it's it'd
still be something on the offense.

Speaker 1 (01:48:05):
Uh.

Speaker 9 (01:48:06):
That was the complete opposite of the spectrum. But uh,
and ended up working out for the best.

Speaker 23 (01:48:11):
What was your reaction when they said, Demetrius, you're a linebacker?

Speaker 21 (01:48:16):
Uh?

Speaker 9 (01:48:17):
Pretty much? Uh world went upside down. Uh.

Speaker 1 (01:48:20):
I didn't know what to think.

Speaker 9 (01:48:21):
It was kind of unreal, and I just kind of
went with it for a couple of weeks, thinking, oh,
they're just they'll see I'm no good at this linebacker thing,
and moved me back to to the offense side of
the ball in that quarterback And Uh, now, how now,
how God hasn't played? God has it playing all the time.
Of course, you had to go through trials and tribulation
and perseverance and you end up here in the in

(01:48:44):
the NFL as a linebacker.

Speaker 23 (01:48:46):
While you were in college, you got married and became
a dad. What's your wife's name and how did you
two meet.

Speaker 9 (01:48:52):
My wife's name is gen C, gen C Knights. She
is She's also from Luggas Grove and we met. We
went on a mission trip together my junior year, her
sophomore year. But the whole funny thing is even though
we spent a week out in Haiti doing the law's work,
we did not say a word to each other the
entire trip. I remember sitting at her table with her

(01:49:15):
and her friends, and I didn't say a word. And
then covid it would happen and send send me home
from campus and she's finishing up her senior year and
you know, two boy people at home that happened to
remember each other and the rest of the history.

Speaker 23 (01:49:31):
After four years at Georgia Tech, you transferred to Charlotte
and had a breakout season, earning first team All Conference honors.
How important was that season and getting you to where
you are now?

Speaker 9 (01:49:42):
Yeah, it was a lot. It was very good for
me just because it showed that I could play the
lineback position. Of course, at Georgia Tech it was ups
and down, HIGs and lows, and that made me the
player who I was going into that situation, not knowing
who was gonna be the coach because they're getting they

(01:50:02):
ever getting a new coach, ended up getting coach a
coach Posy coach Biff and him coming in was was
a great start, just because everybody got to start from
ground zero. There were no politics involved. It was come
in and you know, earn a spot, and that's that's
all I wanted.

Speaker 1 (01:50:17):
I didn't.

Speaker 9 (01:50:18):
I wanted everybody to be on on ground zero and
if someone out out, you know, out plays me for
the spot, then they just outplayed me.

Speaker 1 (01:50:24):
But I wanted to have a.

Speaker 9 (01:50:25):
Fair shot and made sure that I made every red count. There.

Speaker 23 (01:50:29):
After great season of Charlotte, you still had one year
of eligibility left. This is the nil era. You had
a wife and a baby at home. Did you look
for the best financial offer you could find?

Speaker 1 (01:50:41):
I did?

Speaker 9 (01:50:42):
Uh, of course that was there. There were other schools
that I was gonna take visits to, but you know,
when you when you have a wife, it ends up
being you know, happy wife, happy life. And we're already
in North Carolina. South Carolina was you know, an hour
and some chains away, and you know, we've got to
pack up a third floor apartment and take it somewhere.

(01:51:03):
And she's like, yeah, I don't I don't plan on
going anywhere far. So, uh, South Carolina might be as
far as I'm willing to go because that's not bad
of a drive. But it's also close to family, so
you know, you know, that's that's perfect to me.

Speaker 1 (01:51:16):
Why not?

Speaker 9 (01:51:17):
So the ended up bringing out very well for us.

Speaker 23 (01:51:20):
We learned after the draft that you were a door
dash driver in college to bring in a few extra
bucks for your family even after games that you played
in correct.

Speaker 9 (01:51:30):
Absolutely, yeah, that's uh not what you hear every every day.
That not pretty much heard of. I'm sure there are.
There are probably players at other smaller schools that do
the same thing. But being out of school like Charlotte, Uh,
there were opportunities where got to make them count. And
DoorDash delivered that opportunity to make account where you know,

(01:51:53):
we didn't have to scrounge and I didn't have to
go apply for different jobs at a Chick Flair or so,
which I was definitely trying. I'm applying left and right
to you know, deliver for Amazon. I couldn't get through
with them, but it ended up working out for the best.
DoorDash was it was quick and easy and you just
get on there and right away you start making deliveries.

(01:52:15):
And luckily for me where you know, you live on
a college campus. You know college kids love to eat,
so that makes makes it pretty quick and easy to
bring in.

Speaker 23 (01:52:23):
A quick But yeah, I've got a student in college,
and I see those door dash bills, so you're absolutely
right about that. We're visiting the Demetrius Night. I'm a
sucker for an emotional call from a team to a
player during the NFL Draft, and you got choked up
when the Bengals called you. Can you articulate the emotions
that you were feeling?

Speaker 9 (01:52:42):
Yeah, just just everything that my family and I had
been through, wife and I had been through and kids.
Just knowing where we were and I'm unsure we were
going from from Tech to Charlotte and it's like, okay,
well you don't really hear about people coming out of
Charlotte unless you you know, you're Alex high Smith, who's

(01:53:04):
you know, doing his thing over in Pittsburgh, and you know,
I'm I can, I can make my mark here and
ended up doing that and uh, situations changing, you know,
like when life gets going and it gets going, but uh,
that's when again you learn how to persevere, lean on
the fade, lean on the Lord, lean on Jesus and
uh and and here we are. It's uh, it's never

(01:53:26):
it's never the end. It's only just one chapter finishing
and and and onto the next all.

Speaker 23 (01:53:32):
Right, a few wild card topics. Now for Demetrius Knight.
Who is your all time favorite athlete in any sport?

Speaker 1 (01:53:39):
Right?

Speaker 9 (01:53:39):
Christiano Ronaldo? Uh, soccer fan because of my wife and
my kids. But that's my wife's favorite watching his game.
He's pretty good. It's between him and you know, line
on MESSI. Those guys they can get you up on
your feet, and of course it's always righty at those games.
So uh, definitely definitely those guys who you know make
make a lot of money doing this. Definitely those guys.

Speaker 23 (01:54:01):
Have you checked out an FC Cincinnati match yet?

Speaker 9 (01:54:04):
We get them on TV, so we're on TV. We
always tune in. We haven't got to go to one
yet just because of the busy schedule, but if we
can get around to them, we definitely plan on being there.

Speaker 23 (01:54:15):
You shared with me that you hope to be a
movie producer someday. How long have you been interested in
the making of movies.

Speaker 9 (01:54:23):
I've been interested in that since I was at Georgia Tech.
That's that kind of supports is why I got the
degree that I got there. Just so once football is done,
you know, I won't be one of those guys just
lingering around, not knowing what I want to do. I
know once football is done, that's that's exactly what I
want to do. And no matter what that has to
start from, I have to put together movie sets first

(01:54:45):
and work my way up to that road. I'll do
it just because I believe all that's fun. It all
works together, just like football all works together. All guys
doing there, they're one eleven. It's the same thing with
movie producing, to make you know, a masterpiece essentially.

Speaker 23 (01:54:59):
All right, final fun fact for Demetrius Knight, And this
one's kind of deep. If you could meet anybody in history,
living or deceased, who would that person be?

Speaker 9 (01:55:10):
Pro I had to be Jesus himself. I'd love to
be a fly on the wall just to hear him speak,
and you know, just to be in the room and
be in the areas washing them do what he does,
you know, washing them do the the miracles that only
he can do.

Speaker 1 (01:55:27):
That that would that would have to be number one.

Speaker 9 (01:55:29):
And then if I, if I had you, number two
had to be Noah when you know he told him
told them to build the arc, because I can't imagine
He's all right, I'll build a big old boat and
you know, just to ask me about how did he persevere,
you know, making making a big old boat going through
adversity being laughed at by people around saying oh, it's
never run to rain and then it until it happens,

(01:55:50):
so uh they definitely have to be Jesus and then
good old Noah.

Speaker 23 (01:55:55):
Excellent answers. I appreciate your time, best of luck the
rest of the year.

Speaker 9 (01:55:58):
Yes, I appreciate you all right.

Speaker 1 (01:56:01):
That was a Demetrius night with our Dan who will
take a break and come back and get into the
meat of the Keys to the Game Coming up Sunday,
it is the Bengals pep Rally Show, broadcasting live from
on the rhin Eatery, presented by Bear Ticking on the
Bengals Radio Network. Welcome back to the Bengals pep Rally Show,

(01:56:22):
broadcasting live from ot R on the Rhine. I love
this place, one hundred these Court Street and Wayne box
Smeller with Ring of Honor inductee Dave Lapham lap Let's
dive into it in these last few minutes we got.
If we look at your keys to the Game, I
would say number one, I'm just gonna take a guest
ball security when you have a ball Hawking team like this, you.

Speaker 3 (01:56:44):
Know how you write box. I mean they're plus ten
in the turnover margin, the turnover ratio. So when you
have a team that can take the ball away like
like this Chicago Bear team can do you know, you
got to you gotta ball security is probably the biggest
key to the game.

Speaker 1 (01:57:02):
And I think it is.

Speaker 3 (01:57:03):
I think it is on a weekly basis, high school football,
National Football League, even even pee wee football. I mean
it's like if you turn the football over and give
your opponent extra possessions, you know they're gonna take advantage.
I mean, in eight games, they've got ten more possessions.
That's better than one game. Yeah, where you know, and

(01:57:24):
the Bengals don't want to be in that category. They
don't want to be a team that's given the Chicago Bears,
you know, extra possessions to do something to them. So
I think that's the biggest key. I also think third
down is going to be a factor in this football game.
And I think who runs the football? Chicago is all
about Historically running the football well, Walter Payton, you know,

(01:57:47):
I mean they've had a lot of great running backs
and a lot of great offensive linemen, a lot of
great offensive lines. They want to control the game by
running the football, do a little play action pass off
of that. They have a quarterback that's got a big,
powerful throwing arm. They want to you know, stretch the
field when available, catch you in coverages that are not
favorable for the defense, and and take advantage of that.

(01:58:10):
So I think I think those are those are two
big things. And then also on the on the flip
side of it, stop the run. You know, the Bengals
defense has to stop the run for for you know,
the Chicago Bears to struggle hopefully a little bit offensively,
and then the Bengals need to run the football. They
started to run the football a little bit better since
Joe Flacco has been the starting quarterback. And he'll be

(01:58:32):
the first to tell you, but that's that's the key
that unlocks everything. You know, if you can get that
running game going and then Joe Flacco can play action
pass off of that, uh, then you're in high cotton
and you got something believable.

Speaker 1 (01:58:45):
I'll tell you some JP run man. I think, oh yeah,
so much to that running game. And you know, people
forget he was a prolific running back at Oklahoma. When
Joe Mixon was there. He was ahead of Joe Mixon
on the depth chart a few times when they're out there.
The other thing for me, I think, uh, this game
to me from the Bengals standpoint, is going to be
one about mentality. After what happened last week, You come

(01:59:06):
out this week, you can afford to get to a
place where you go woe is me? Or damn? You
know this is not looking good and you start thinking
about last week. So mentally strong, get your rest, you know,
be focused, come out there. Understand if there's a hiccup
here and there, it don't matter. Long game, yep, we
got to play sixty minutes of football, and if there's
something that doesn't go our way early, shake it off

(01:59:28):
and keep going. Absolutely. Box.

Speaker 3 (01:59:29):
I think that's a it's a wide statement, you know
the game. I mean, I think I think they need
to put last week's game in a box, you know,
close it up, put a ribbon on it, and put
it in the closet and forget about it.

Speaker 1 (01:59:40):
Yeah, and move on.

Speaker 3 (01:59:41):
That's that's gonna be. That's gonna be the biggest key.
Coaches were talking about it. Zach Taylor was talking about it,
Joe Flacco, it seems to be a pervasive mindset throughout
the whole football team.

Speaker 1 (01:59:53):
No question about it. We'll take our last break and
come back and wrap up. You're listening to the Bengals
pet Rally Show broadcast he Liven on the Rhine under
Ease Court Street presented by Just Bear Ticket on the
Bengals Radio Network. Welcome back to the Bengals pep Rowley Show,
broadcasting live on the Rhine the one hundred These Courts
Street presented by Just Bear Ticket on the Bengals Radio Network.

(02:00:14):
Wayne Box Miller Ring of Honor inductee Dave Lapper. We're
wrapping up, and as we wrap up, so thank you
everybody that came out. Thanks Chris Jenkins, Thank you to
Tom Thayer and Aaron McKee just helping us out with
this show.

Speaker 5 (02:00:28):
Day.

Speaker 1 (02:00:28):
I look at this game and I think special teams
set the tone. Yep. If they kick the ball to us,
make a big play, if we kick it to them,
knock somebody on there, but make a statement right out
of the gate that hey, we have some unfinished business
this week and we want to go into this bye
week with a win. And Darren Simmons is here here

(02:00:50):
a box he's all for it.

Speaker 3 (02:00:52):
He he's been talking about the importance of special teams obviously,
as offense and defensive had their problems, had their struggles.
You know, he wanted to be the stabilizing force of
stabilizing influence in the in the three phases offense, defense,
and special teams. Special teams we talked about earlier in
the Keys of the game. You know, they'll help dictate

(02:01:14):
field position. The Bengals want to dominate field position against
the Chicago Bears and just own that real estate man
and uh and and make them score them a little bit.
Long field, short field. That's what it's all about. I
think in this football game. I think it's two things.
Turnovers and they contribute and help longfield short field. Bengals

(02:01:36):
have multiple short fields where they are in the red zone,
a low red zone and scoring points frequently and easily,
and the Chicago Bears are backed up and have to
go long field and struggle to score.

Speaker 1 (02:01:47):
Yeah. I think this game could gun down to grasshopper
and mensa. I think that Caleb Williams, you know he
as every now and there's still learning this offense. You
heard it out there say they don't run the same
play twice. I mean, they're calling he could have some
struggles there, and it could be opportunistic for the Bengal
Bengals defense. On the other hand, because Joe Flacco is

(02:02:09):
a veteran, Hey, I'm only going to take what you
give me. I'm not going to try to force something
to Chase Forrest, to the Higgins, if Josie vosh or
if Tanner Hudson, or if Chris Chase Brown is doing
a wheel route, whatever is there, I'm going to take
it in that minsa of just I know football. It
very well could come down to that for me. And
that's what I'm going to be looking for potentially, is

(02:02:30):
if Caleb Williams makes a mistake, can the Bengal defense
make him pay for it?

Speaker 3 (02:02:35):
That's going to be a big key, maybe the biggest.
And you know, I like the fact that the Bengals
have the quarterback that's got the experience, he's got fifteen
years in the NFL.

Speaker 1 (02:02:45):
I mean, that's that's that's a big, big deal.

Speaker 3 (02:02:49):
And the Chicago Bears have a quarterback that's in new
second year and still learning what it takes to be
an efficient, effective quarterback in the National Football League. That alone,
in my mind, is a big enough advantage for the
Cincinnati Bengals to pull this one out at home.

Speaker 1 (02:03:03):
Yeah. And as much as we talk about the running game,
Chase Brown and Smajip Run have been running the ball,
this offensive line has been blocking, and the Bears have
been given up five yards per carry on the ground.
This could be a game where, again, if keep the ball,
keep them on the sideline, eat up the clock, get
a lead, and just build on that lead and make

(02:03:25):
them have to play from behind, which means Caleb Williams
may have to throw more than he wants to, or
the coach may have to throw more. And that's when
you put yourself in a position to potentially come up
with a couple of big plays. Absolutely. I mean, it's
the Abcson football.

Speaker 3 (02:03:37):
You know, we're talking about, you know, the things you
learn about the game of football in order to win
games at a very young age. Peewee football, high school
collegiate football, National Football League. It's not rocket science now
we're talking about. Here are the things, the staples that
winning teams accomplish on a week two week basis and

(02:03:59):
win more foot ball games and they lose. And you know,
if you do this you're going to win your share
of football games as well.

Speaker 1 (02:04:07):
And the last thing I'll say is penalties. Yeah, but
the Bengals have done better than their opponent's penalty wise,
they've had less penalties than their opponents. Sometime they come
at the wrong time. But if the Bengals can keep
the penalties to a minimum again and they've last three games,
they've had less penalties than their opponents. Keep playing smart,
sound football. Don't beat yourself, don't shoot yourself in the foot.

Speaker 3 (02:04:28):
And I think that's that's the mantra for this week's
game against Chicago Bears. No self destruction, take care of
the football, do not shoot yourself in the foot. You know,
make sure that the Chicago Bears beat you. Make them
beat you. Don't contribute to their cause. Don't make it

(02:04:50):
easier for the Chicago Bears to beat you by giving
them extra possessions, better field position, all the things we
talked about. Take care of the ABC's and hopefully the
Bengals will have a victory.

Speaker 1 (02:05:01):
Yes they will. Ladies and Delman, thank you so much
for joining us live at on the Ryan Etherery one
hundred these Court Street. Let's get one big HOODI before
we get out of here world. Two three, hooday waitby
smelling Dave Lap I'm glad to have you bored and
spend The Bengals Rally So presented by Just Bear Chicken
on the Bengals Radio Network.

Speaker 2 (02:05:20):
Presented by Just Beaird Chicken on the Bengals Radio Network.

Speaker 1 (02:05:23):
Pay Corp.

Speaker 2 (02:05:24):
Pay Corp is proud to be the official HR software
provider of the Cincinnati Bengals. Ulti Fiber Ulti Fiber the
official WiFi and Ternet provider of the Cincinnati Bengals. This
is ESPN fifteen thirty, the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals,