Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - How good (or bad) are the Cincinnati Bengals? Big picture discussion about Joe Burrow, the offense, and Zac Taylor

Episode Date: October 22, 2024

An 0-3 start followed by a 3-1 stretch with losses to teams at the top of the standings and wins against teams at the bottom make this Cincinnati Bengals team a bit of an enigma. They're right there w...ith good teams in one-score losses, but haven't beaten one. The eye test says they've been a flawed rollercoaster that hasn't come all the way together, and the burden continues to feel like it's on the offense overall. So the guys break down what to make of the variables around the Bengals' start, and where they could go from here.Join the Locked On Bengals Insider Community! https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonbengalsFind and follow Locked On Bengals on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-bengals-daily-podcast-on-the-cincinnati-bengals/id1159723162Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AObc0lh0WmQl5fJVgtajsThe guys break down why Zac Taylor's offense appeared to get outcoached, why the Cincinnati Bengals' run game struggled, how they held up in protection, and how Joe Burrow against Cleveland in Week 7. Plus, we discuss what's going right on the defensive side of the ball and look for signs of sustainability.Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vbG9ja2Vkb25iZW5nYWxz?sa=X&ved=0CAYQrrcFahcKEwio_sXtj8nuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAgStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-bengalsFor your next listen, check out the Locked On Fantasy Football podcast. Get daily insight to the best Fantasy draft strategies so you can win your league this season. Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Pre-Alcohol by ZbioticsGo to zbiotics.com/LOCKEDONNFLto learn more and get 15% off your first order when you use LOCKEDONNFL at checkout.BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON today to get 10% off your first month.LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNFL. Terms and conditions apply.Hillsdale CollegeAll of Hillsdale’s courses are self-paced so that you can start whenever, and tune in wherever. Plus, you can go deeper with readings, quizzes, discussions - or just enjoy the lectures. Go right now to hillsdale.edu/lockedon to enroll. There’s no cost, and it’s easy to get started.PrizePicksDownload the app and use code lockedonnfl to win $50 instantly when you play $5. You don't even need to win to receive your $50 bonus, it's guaranteed! Prizepicks. Run Your Game.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms Apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelPlace your first FIVE DOLLAR bet and you’ll get started with TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS - guaranteed ! Visit FANDUEL.COM to get started.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 After a three and four start, what do we make of the Cincinnati Bengals from a big picture perspective so far in the 2024 season? Let's break it down. You are locked on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Well, up Bengals fans and welcome to another episode of the Locked on Bengals podcast. I'm your host, Jake Liskow. He's your host, James Rapine. We are part of the Lockdown Podcast.
Starting point is 00:00:30 network here on lockdown Bengals covering your team every day on YouTube and everywhere you get your podcast. Welcome back to the everydayers. Welcome back to those of you who make us your first listen. We appreciate the regulars. And shout out to those of you who are new. You can subscribe to the show on YouTube or wherever you get your podcast to stay up to date on all things Bengals throughout this season and off season, of course, because that your team every day does not stop as the NFL offseason does its thing. Today's episode is sponsored by Fand, You can place your first $5 bet and get started with $200 in bonus bets guaranteed at bandw.com where you can get started. And James, let's take a step back today.
Starting point is 00:01:11 Let's take a step back and think about this Bengals season from a big picture perspective. We are a long way from where we thought they would be from our preseason expectations, from their preseason expectations. It was a disastrous start to the season. Since then, they've recovered it. are on a three and one stretch, but that 0 and 3 start has them at 3 and 4 overall with wins against the likes of the worst teams in the NFL, the Cleveland Browns, the Carolina Panthers, two of those wins and two of the unambiguously worst teams in the NFL. The New York Giants not too far off in that conversation either.
Starting point is 00:01:52 You add into that narrow losses to some of the teams considered the better teams in the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens, the Kansas City Chiefs, and I think you can start to put the Washington commanders into that conversation. It becomes difficult to parse what exactly this Bengals team is with all of those confounding variables and injuries and individual stories from week to week that you try to decipher and figure out where this team is going forward. They're a talented but flawed group that is trying to find its, self while rebounding and climbing out of a big hole.
Starting point is 00:02:31 And that's really tough to do. And they've done it in the past. And I think that's what is interesting is they had never started 0 and 3 before. They were looking at one and four and back-to-back road games. And I don't care who it's against. I don't care if it's against ITT tech. That's tough. And so they've shown some resilience.
Starting point is 00:02:51 And yet there are still questions, right? after these past two wins, Jake Liscoe has gotten on and been like, yeah, but. And why? Why have you done that? Because there's still questions. They're still like, all right, is how good are they really? And the good news is, is you can give yourself some leeway if you're winning games. How good are they really?
Starting point is 00:03:15 And they didn't win enough of them in September. And so you look up now and it's like, all right, well, three and one in their last four, but still very much in a hole compared to where I had them. I thought they'd probably be five and two right now. I think that's a fair assessment where they lose potentially to Baltimore, potentially to the Chiefs. But even with that, and even with Washington being better than expected, at minimum four and three, right?
Starting point is 00:03:42 And that's where that Patriots game really costs you. So, yeah, this team, there's questions. And I think let's start with the offense, because this offense, you time back three weeks ago, and we're like, drop 40, drop 40. We said it as recent as two weeks ago, I think. You've got to drop 40. And they've done the opposite of that the past couple of weeks, scoring a combined 31 points over the past two games, winning both of those games. And, yeah, their playmakers are still making plays.
Starting point is 00:04:18 The offensive line looks solid. Joe hasn't been bad, and yet they're not putting up the points at the same clip that they were through really weeks two through five, but certainly weeks three through five when they were scoring 30 plus per game. Where are you at on this offense big picture wise right now? It's a bit confusing, right? They had these really good performances and we thought the Baltimore Ravens were going to be at least a decent defense. I don't think that I had any illusion that Washington was a good defense, at least that week. We went into that week,
Starting point is 00:04:52 and I was saying that they should get going against this Washington defense. They did, and it just wasn't enough because the defense was worse. The Carolina team has one of the worst teams in the NFL period, and Baltimore apparently you can throw on this year, and the Bengals did that to great effect. So when I think about this offense right now, from a big picture perspective, I think Joe Burroughs still a really good player. I am a bit concerned about protection if Orlando Brown has to miss time, which isn't a very big picture of thought.
Starting point is 00:05:21 But overall, protection has been better for Burrow and this passing offense than we've seen it. They've been more diverse in their concepts. They're going to more 12 personnel. They're doing more formational things. They're using more motion than we've seen in the past. They're getting some results from that. But the last couple of weeks against real pass rushes, real defensive lines, some flaws have shown up on the offensive side of the ball that we didn't necessarily anticipate. and we have to see how long that's going to last
Starting point is 00:05:45 with a couple more good pass rushes in Philly and Vegas in the next couple of weeks in Baltimore, who has now hit their stride at 5 and 2 to follow. So overall, you feel like, yeah, Joe Burroughs still a really good quarterback. At least there are flashes of it in the games where he's
Starting point is 00:06:01 not executing at a high level for the entire game. There are at least a couple of players where you're like, yep, he's still really good. We don't really have concerns about the risk affecting his performance significantly. At this point, we've seen enough to that he can still execute at one of the highest levels of quarterback in the NFL. That's great.
Starting point is 00:06:18 You also have Jamar Chase, who maybe is the best receiver in the NFL this year. Certainly leads a league in several statistics has been incredibly productive. His receiving DVOA or DR is a DVOA staff for individual players is the highest in the NFL as well. So you got Jamar Chase who's really effective. You got T. Higgins who's really effective. And then you have questions beyond that. Chase Brown has been a bit of a dynamic addition at running back. night and day difference there between him and Zach Moss that we've talked about, right?
Starting point is 00:06:46 Where when he gets a ball, he's a big play waiting to happen. You've seen him do that a little bit. But the running game in general has too many negative plays. The run blocking isn't where it needs to be for that to be a consistently effective weapon. And sometimes they can break something off, but that isn't really where it needs to be. So you have four players that you feel really good about at the skill positions. You feel good about Orlando Brown. Feel pretty good about Ted Harris.
Starting point is 00:07:11 I like what Amari Swims has done. is a rookie, but he's still a rookie. And I want to see that complete game performance against a better team than we've seen. Like the best defense that they've been effective against, more or less, it's probably Kansas City back in week two. And they had the benefit of a lot of takeaways in that game from their own defense to help set them up. So you can still see the ceiling, but you need that third piece to step up right now, I think, in the receiving game in particular, that they don't.
Starting point is 00:07:43 don't really have a consistent third option right now the last few weeks where it's really been going through T and Jammar, which is great. But there are times where you're like, well, if they take away T and Jemar in this way, where's Joe going for that third option and it hasn't always been there. And I think that's shown up a little bit in the last couple of weeks. Sure. It has. And part of that is these matchups, you know, it's, we, we knew it was going to be ugly in New York, at least to a degree. And certainly ugly in Cleveland. It always is. I think if you would have told me, and this is a big picture conversation, but that Joe Burrow was second in completion percentage through seven games. Like, oh, interesting. Sixth and
Starting point is 00:08:26 yards, 17-509 yards. The completion percentage, by the way, 70.4. Third in touchdown passes, 14. Only two interceptions. Third in quarterback rating, 110. Like, all right, this dude is, is playing at an extremely high level, considering the circumstances, considering where we were at, let's just go back to the Colts joint practice where it was checked down central. And there were a lot of completions, but it's like, why is he not pushing the ball down field and questions about that? I do think for this offense to take the next step, though, because you're getting high level quarterback play.
Starting point is 00:09:01 You're getting the best offensive line play, and we'll see on Orlando Brown Jr., but the best offensive line play that we've seen, I would say, from a past protection standpoint of the Joe Burrow era. You have T playing at the best he's played. Jamar playing at probably as good as he's ever played. And so even if the numbers aren't as identical and as explosive as they were as a rookie, just everything that he's doing. But you do need another piece. And I think that's where we can continue the conversation. Who could that be? Who should that be? I think people have thoughts on that. We will obviously discuss the defense as well. That and more coming up next. This episode of Lockdown Bengals is sponsored by GameTime, where it is easier than ever to get tickets.
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Starting point is 00:12:13 People do have thoughts. Big thoughts. And I'm inclined to agree that it's time for a bit of a mix-up at wide receiver three. I'm also curious about whether they can get Eric Hall a little bit more involved. If they can find that role that there was at the beginning of the season for Mike Kaseki, that's mostly gone away since T. Higgins has returned. And that's fine to see more volume go to T. Higgins and Jemar Chase. Don't get me wrong.
Starting point is 00:12:38 but I do think that that consistent third option that the Bengals have been so accustomed to with Tyler Boyd lately or for the last few years for Joe Burroughs tenure in Cincinnati anyway is not so constant this year. Sure, it's not. And I don't know if they're necessarily missing Tyler Boyd. Like I don't think that he would necessarily be that guy right now either. I think that they're searching a bit. But this is why Jermaine Burton was drafted. this is why for our everydayers we talked so much about wide receiver in March and April going into the draft because wide receiver is always going to be something you discuss it's it's what they it's their bread and butter and in needing not high end necessarily receiver but guys that are going to win around T. Higgins and Jemar Chase or Jemar Chase and T. Higgins you need a go-to third option and Andre
Starting point is 00:13:38 Yosevash. I thought it might be a big Yosevash game against the Browns. I really did. And he had one target. These receivers didn't catch a pass, not named T. Higgins and Jemar Chase. They had nine receptions. No other receiver had a catch. And that's just, that's wild. Mike Gassicki was the only tight end with the catch. Two yards outside of Mike Gassicki, T. Higgins and Jemar Chase, it was Chase Brown and Zach Moss. I just named everyone that caught a pass in that game. And you're going to need someone to emerge. Maybe it is Eric Al. Maybe it is Mike Gisicki, finding a way for him to get more, more ups because you know what he is as a past catcher.
Starting point is 00:14:21 You know what he can bring in key moments, certainly, with his size and his speed and agility. But I think a lot of people are thinking Jermaine Burton. and so this is this is why if you're germane and i hope he's been handling everything the right way he was active after being inactive against the giants but uh three uh run blocking snaps i don't think he ran a route keep plugging away at some point the bengals are going to want to turn to him need to turn to him and maybe that sooner rather than later and so hopefully he's doing the right things and getting more and more comfortable on offense because they're going to need him at some point. And maybe that point is sooner rather than later.
Starting point is 00:15:05 I think part of what you said is a great segue into a conversation around Zach Taylor, too, because you said they don't necessarily need to be high-end receivers, but they need guys that can win. And part of this offense, part of the Joe Burrow, Zach Taylor offense in Cincinnati really does need those guys to win and might need high-end wide receivers. I think we've seen Joe Burrow be productive when he's been missing his receivers. So obviously, the offense can still go. They have to do things a little bit differently than I think they would prefer to at times, which is often a topic of criticism from fans.
Starting point is 00:15:40 Why aren't they scheming guys open? Why is it so hard sometimes for them to get guys open? And sometimes that is because they're calling the wrong place and they're getting clamped and the defensive coordinator had their number on that play. And we talked about that this week where we think they got thoroughly out coached, at least I do, on offense too often by Jim Schwartz on the defensive. aside for the Browns this week. But sometimes it's, all right, we're going to ask our superstar wide receivers to go win
Starting point is 00:16:07 on a play. And then when they do win, you get the Jamar Chase T. Higgins touchdowns against the Browns. And in a game where the Browns are a great example to talk about this in the past, we talked about this with Mike. When a team's corners just have that swagger, which the Browns have had in years past and play up to the challenge of defending T. Higgins and Jemar Chase and at the time, Tyler Boyd, well, then things can be really hard. And so then it's how does the coaching staff find the counterpunches at the right time
Starting point is 00:16:35 and get there a little bit more quickly than they have at times where it's taking them a little bit too long to adjust, a little bit too long to find the answers to defensive coordinators that have their number? And then there's a whole conservatism issue around Zach Taylor at the end of games lately that we could talk about as well before we get to the defense, just because I think the conversation about wide receiver, one, it does go all the way back to the front office and roster construction as well at some point. But then it's in season, especially with this team that doesn't make their front office available to the coaches to find the ways to make the pieces fit, which to their credit they have lately.
Starting point is 00:17:15 But given the style of offense they have, they need those pieces to do things sometimes or they need to find adaptations, right? that don't say, Jamar go win against two guys in a bracket and beat that bracket because we really need you to win on this play. You know what I mean? Not that they're asking that all the time, but they ask a lot of those skill players.
Starting point is 00:17:37 Yeah, I do wonder too, because a lot of people are going to say Jermaine Burton. Who had the biggest play for this? I mean, I guess you could say T. Higgins or Jamar Chase, but Charlie Jones had like huge play on Sunday. Are we sure he can't get 10 slot snaps? Like, are we sure he can't? be a chain mover somewhat i i don't know maybe not maybe he can't but i do think that that's interesting
Starting point is 00:18:00 i mean it's not it's not like i'm asking them to go back to the trent and erwin well here but like wouldn't that be good instead of just strictly relying on andre for that role and by the way i think andre can contribute i'm not saying that but and he has in clutch moments too no doubt but maybe that's it is is like he's going to have his role and you know what he likes, what he doesn't like, but he doesn't need to play 85% of the snaps, or whatever, whatever it is.
Starting point is 00:18:30 I'm not looking at the snap count in front. Maybe that's, that's the answer. And again, going back to camp, there was a point where it was like, yeah, we think Andre,
Starting point is 00:18:40 Trenton at the time, Charlie, Desickey, all of these guys, Germain, obviously, but we're going to contribute. Well,
Starting point is 00:18:49 maybe it needs to be more of a, a committee approach. there instead of a three-headed monster approach because they've given Andre chances and he's made big plays there's no doubt but he we still haven't seen like the eight catch seven catch performance and I think and maybe it's Sunday against the Eagles by the way I think he's capable of it but I just we haven't seen it and so now with the past couple of weeks it's like all right well what can they do outside of T and Jammar because you're right teams are going to I mean what I would have done is is just doubled both of those guys and said all right someone else beat
Starting point is 00:19:24 And I think that's what teams are going to do. Because sometimes those other guys aren't winning enough to beat you. And that's the challenge for this Bengals offensive staff, I think, and Zach Taylor to find those answers of the reverse wishbone, as Dan pitcher alluded to one of those answers that got them some favorable matchups in that game. But they're going to continue to need to build and evolve the offense. And that's where I think we can get to some of the Zach Taylor criticism as well. Because I think there's a lot of it out there right now, James. We can do that. discuss the defense and we have to make sure we discuss those injury updates we have to finish
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Starting point is 00:21:05 the defense and those injuries because it is a hot topic again. There are some people, and I'm not speaking at all to whether or not I agree with it yet, but who thinks Zach Taylor is essentially the same coach he's always been, that they have these conservatism issues at the end of games, that his teams too often come out flat, that his teams too often. and don't have the killer instinct. And we have seen them have it at times. This year, we haven't seen them play that complete game.
Starting point is 00:21:33 It's something that I've asked them to do several weeks, something that I talked about after the game. That was my big, yeah, but can they just do it for a whole game? We haven't seen that. And in addition to that, you have stuff like play calling, which at times I've agreed with this year, I think more than years past where they're getting got by defensive coordinators a little bit more often.
Starting point is 00:21:55 Where are you on some of the Zach Taylor criticism right now? Yeah, I think game on the line and I default to this or knockout below, I'm okay dropping back. I'm okay going empty. I'm okay. Like just here and there. You don't have to be so conservative. And I think we've seen that now a couple of times.
Starting point is 00:22:18 And Evan misses that 50-yarder. And by the way, you could argue that. Like, all right, well, the misses. or why or the botched hold against Baltimore. At the same time, we know that Joe has that killer instinct. We know that Jamar Chase has that killer instinct and T. That's not up for debate.
Starting point is 00:22:36 And so if that's what you want, put the ball in those guys' hands. And this team is always going to be this past first. So I think that's where my criticism is, honestly, is at the end of these games, the Baltimore game, which we talked a ton about, the three straight runs in overtime,
Starting point is 00:22:55 or when you have a real chance to just end the game. And they've ended the game throwing the ball in the past. It's okay to end it that way. Like this idea, and a lot of people think, oh, well, you have to be able to run the ball. Run the ball, run the ball, run the ball, run the ball, on the AFC North. The Bengals won back-to-back division titles
Starting point is 00:23:13 without having a high-end running game. And I'm okay with them putting the ball in Joe Bro's hands for the knockout blow essentially every time. Unless there's like four guys in the box, which is pretty darn rare, or it's just so obvious that you should run it. I'm okay with Joe making the call,
Starting point is 00:23:37 especially because he's been so good at taking care of the ball. I rattled off those stats. He has two picks this year, two. So he's taking care of the ball. And it's not like the fumbling thing early in the season has continued to be a thing. I don't think that's a thing. And so why not do that?
Starting point is 00:23:53 That's where my criticism mainly lies. Yeah, I think it is a little bit confounded because our most recent example of this against Cleveland that ends in a miss field goal, the 50-yard field goal that it's very easy to argue you settle for is Cody Ford at left tackle. And you're kind of getting by with him. You scored a couple touchdowns with him at left tackle. But in a third and whatever situation, and maybe that means you just pass on an earlier down. And I think that's part of it, too. That's it right there. Yep.
Starting point is 00:24:20 that isn't a palatable approach once you get to that third and eight or whatever it was. I think it was third and 12, but pass on first down. Yeah, you know, you take a sack trying to throw it on first down. At least you tried. And there will probably be people out there that say, ah, you should have just run the ball, just run the clock. And part of it is that Taylor is reacting to the way games are going. And you can't fault him too much for that, I guess. Or maybe that's not the right way to put it.
Starting point is 00:24:49 That's a mitigating factor, let's say. The defense has been playing well against Cleveland. And so, okay, we're going to do it this way. We're going to rely on them. And there's not much time left. But it would be nice to see the team embody that killer instinct a little bit more. And my other big criticism, like I said, is it just feels like they've been outcoached a couple of times this year. More than I've felt that way in the past with some of the play calling just into the teeth of defenses at times.
Starting point is 00:25:17 Not even talking about like being too cute or calling a rum, and they should call a pass. like past concepts that are getting got. That's happening a little bit too often for me. Sure. Yeah. Let's real quick before we get to the defense, we'll get to some injury updates. Orlando Brown Jr., obviously this is a big one. Zach Taylor called him day to day on Monday.
Starting point is 00:25:36 All right. So what he's dealing with is like this upper calf issue that's in the back of his knee. And so you're going to see reporting on both sides of it. It is technically a calf issue. But you can feel it up there. It's high enough to where he'll hopefully. feel it in the back of his knee. We'll see if he plays this week. I think that there's a shot, certainly as we record this on Tuesday, that he does play. But there's also a chance that he doesn't.
Starting point is 00:26:01 And what do they do there? I'll get to that in just a second potentially. And we've got to get to the defense too. So man, we should have recorded multiple shows today, Jake. Gino Stone dodged a complete bullet. It sounds like he's going to play this week. And much like he said in the locker room after the game to me where he said, I'm good. Sometimes that doesn't necessarily mean that, but he is good. X-rays came back negative, putting weight on that ankle, on that foot. So dealing with a shin issue is, I think, how they'll describe it. So he might be limited earlier in the week, but wouldn't be shocked it off. He plays on Sunday.
Starting point is 00:26:35 It feels like it's trending in that direction. Do you want the Bengals to sign a veteran offensive tackle, Jake, with Orlando Brown Jr. hobbled a bit. I wanted them to do it before, and I want them to do it even more now. Yes, 100%. Like, there's no question. And there are guys out there that we discussed before the show that I think are better than the depth they have. We don't need to go practice squad poaching right now.
Starting point is 00:26:56 They can get actual players with regular season experience to help them. And this goes back to the Klyas Campbell issue that we've talked about too. You need to get over the age thing for stopgat solutions. And that's where I will be looking right now if I were the Bengals. But I do not feel very confident that they feel that way, which goes to. like I said earlier, some of these issues go back to the front office that are harder to talk about in the middle of the season because we never talk to the front office in the middle of the season.
Starting point is 00:27:26 Yeah, I think, go get one. Go get yourself one. I'm trying to will it. I wrote something for Bengals Talk. I'm trying to will it out there, Jake. I'll go get one. Most of the time they don't listen, but you never know. Defensively, they went and signed someone older than me, so why not, right?
Starting point is 00:27:44 The Lawrence guy's still on the roster. defensively, though, it's been better the past couple of weeks. Big picture-wise, I think that they're going to settle in and kind of be a round league average. Like, I still think that this offense, and part of why we spent so much time on this offense, I think they need their offense to be elite most weeks. And that doesn't mean every week. I think Lou will have the right elixir at some points, and you'll see them forced turnovers like they did against the Browns. But we're probably talking about the 16th best defense in the air.
Starting point is 00:28:16 NFL or the 18th best defense in the NFL. I'm not sure they get much higher than that, which is fine with me because I have pretty high expectations for this offense. They're currently 20th in DVOA. The offense is six. The offense has dipped a little bit after a couple of lower scoring, lower output performances against better defenses. The defense has obviously bumped up in DVOA rankings after a couple of more limiting
Starting point is 00:28:43 performances, albeit against bad offenses. the thing I keep going back to with this defense is they've mostly played kind of to the level of the competition. The Washington commanders apparently have a great offense. The Baltimore Ravens have a great offense. The Kansas City Chiefs, despite all the issues Patrick Mahomes has had this year, still have a good offense, according to DVOA that ranks higher than the Bengals offense by DVOA. So while it hasn't been pretty in Kansas City, that's still a good offense, despite some of the injuries they've sustained since playing the Bengals back in week two.
Starting point is 00:29:19 So against some of these teams that have good offenses, they've given up a lot of points, and they've looked really bad, and they were really injured in those games as well, getting a little bit healthier against worse offenses. We've seen them play as you would expect them to play. So you're right. I think they're somewhere in the middle,
Starting point is 00:29:37 and the hope would have to be, and the reason that this show kind of is structured the way it was and the conversation flowed the way it did today, is that if they are going to be, a contender this year. It involves the offense doing its thing and Lou Annamumo being able to game plan up games when he needs them as we've seen them do in the past where the defense has had really look at Lou's history one top ranking year where they've been a consistently good defense and outside of that like the defensive rankings haven't been great but they've gotten those
Starting point is 00:30:08 performances in games they've needed them because Lou has been and has this reputation of being a game plan scheme, specific game oriented coach where they can get the performances in those games. And honestly, in years past, the defense has been the team that has won them a lot of games where they've been close. And this year they need the offense. And this is why we're talking about killer instinct
Starting point is 00:30:31 and finishing games this year. The offense needs to take a little bit more of that burden. And if the offense is able to do that, just a little bit more, think about all the plays we talked about against Kansas City, against Washington against Baltimore, where if they make one more play, the Bengals can win those games, they will need to do that this year because the defense, I think, is not going to necessarily be consistently making those plays. We've seen them make in the past and clutch situations that we've gotten so accustomed. Yeah, yeah, I agree. I think that that's a good way to put it. I do hope that
Starting point is 00:31:05 Ageno Stone continues to settle in and dodges that bullet after having his best game as a Bengal for sure. And so hopefully he could continue to make plays and they can be opportunistic. They're due for a Logan Wilson. Jermaine Pratt forced turnover. It's been a little bit for Pratt. Logan Wilson interception-wise, you know, maybe. I do think that the Sheldon Rankin's Express hopefully has taken off to. So I do think that there are guys that can make those impact plays.
Starting point is 00:31:34 And they just didn't have that early on in the year. And so if you're talking about the 16th to 20th DVOA defense by DVOA, you take that, especially if they're forcing some of those big plays, which is exactly what they need starting on Sunday in Philly, or well, against Philly, rather, not in Philly. Thank goodness, we don't have to travel, Jake. I will be here in the Queen City where I love to be. Overall, just while we're on the topic of DVOA, last point here, the Bengals down to 12 overall in DVOA despite winning a couple of games. So I think their overall ranking, they're slipping a little bit. Back when they were one and four, they were the best one and four DVOA team, or one of the best one
Starting point is 00:32:12 for DVOA teams ever. They were still in the top 10 of DVOA. They were still in the top 10 of all the aggregate, you know, analytical power rankings at the time. But they need to beat a good team, or at least an average team, and they have an opportunity to do so this week. Just so everyone knows, it's defense adjusted value over average is DVOA. So it's team success based on down and distance of each play and all of those things. So it's a good way to evaluate outside of the basic numbers, how teams are performing on offense. defense, etc.
Starting point is 00:32:43 It tries to put into context, yards. It's like a predecessor to EPA per play and all these things. It's great for a
Starting point is 00:32:50 big picture conversation because that's what it tells you about is really big picture kind of numbers and kind of give some context to. Yeah,
Starting point is 00:32:58 offensive output, defensive output over the course of a season. Something that we'll continue to refer to. So nice that we defined it here at the very end of the show.
Starting point is 00:33:06 Maybe we'll define it earlier for the people next time I bring it up. And I'll try to do a better job that. But that is going to do it for this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Next one coming up with Locked on Eagles. Until then, thanks for listening. Hoodeh. And have a good one.

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