Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - REDEFINED: Bengals TRENCHES Change Rivalry In Burrow Era—Chase & Higgins Still Challenge Steelers’ Defense
Episode Date: September 24, 2026The Cincinnati Bengals' rebuilt trenches face their toughest test yet against the Pittsburgh Steelers' pass rush. Amarius Mims and Dexter Lawrence anchor the offensive and defensive line transformatio...ns that finally gives Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins the upper hand in this fierce AFC North rivalry. Christopher Carter and Joe Goodberry break down key matchups, including the battle between Orlando Brown Jr. and T.J. Watt, Zach Frazier vs. Dexter Lawrence, and the impact of 12 personnel on both offenses. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesEverydayer ClubThe improved Everydayer Club brings you access to ad-free audio, the Subtext insider club where you can text Jake and Joe and get Bengals updates in your text messages, and Joe Goodberry's members-only Discord with over 1000 other Bengals fans—all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more: https://lockedonbengals.supercast.com/Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!OdooGreat organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. Butcher BoxIf you're looking for an easier way to get great meals on the table, give ButcherBox a try.Go to https://ButcherBox.com/LOCKEDONNFL to get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ribeye, new york strip, or filet mignon in every box for a year — with free shipping always.IndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.PrizePicksVisit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFL and use code LOCKEDONNFL and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!KALSHIToday's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.FanDuelGet three hundred fifty dollars in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMFANDUEL 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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It's crossover Thursday here on the Locked-on Podcast Network.
Steelers meet Bengals.
It's some AFC North Action.
Let's get into it.
The Locked-on NFL crossover.
Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network.
Your team every day.
Hello and welcome to crossover Thursday here on the Locked-on Podcast Network.
We are your host.
I'm Christopher Carter of Locked-on Steelers.
He's Joe Goodberry of Locked-on Bengals.
And it's crossover Thursday here on the Lockdown Podcast Network.
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We got a lot to get into today.
Key matchups in this game will go through down the line where Steelers and Bengals are going to be lining up against each other.
The Steelers defense while the offenses struggle, the defense has looked strong,
but how do they match up with the Bengals weapons?
We'll get to that.
But the big thing that I think both of us want to talk about in this game are the trenches,
because that's where the Bengals are the most different this year.
Bring in Dexter Lawrence, an offensive line that when I talked to Steelers defensive
lineman, Cam Hayward, he had a lot of praise for going into this game.
To me, this is where the Bengals are the most different.
They put the most development into Joe.
And that, I think, is where the Steelers have been able to even out some ground
while the Bengals have had this, you know, three-headed monster of Burrow,
Chase, and Higgins for years.
Yeah, it's crazy that we're starting with the trenches and talking about it because you're right.
Largely it's been as Bengals's perspective, hey, Joe, Jamar, T, you know, have a day, win this game through the air.
But you're right, the Bengals have made such an effort not only on the defensive line, which we'll talk to talk about a ton today.
They've done a lot there.
It is a completely different unit than it's been in past years.
And it's actually surprisingly controlling games, finishing games, winning games for the Bengals so far this season.
but yes, their offensive line isn't the weakest link on the team anymore.
They can actually rely on it.
It can do some things.
Marius Mims has blossomed into a potential all pro player at the right tackle spot.
So, yeah, it's a different game for the first time.
And I feel like the whole Joe Burrow era that the Bengals can actually go toe to toe in the trenches with the Steelers.
And that to me is going to be a big part of this matchup.
I was looking at this the past rush or the past protection numbers and you got a Marius Mims,
38 pass protection snaps, no pressures.
Same thing for Dalton Rizner, you know,
and across the board pretty strong there.
You know, I just, I look at that and that has been the thing
that has gotten in Joe Burroughs way so much in his career.
And when I was talking to Kim Hayward,
he had praise for Amerius Mims.
He said, like, hey, they've been developing him.
He's been playing a lot better.
Like he said, like, you know, he's playing at this really high level.
That is going to be a huge factor in this game because to me also,
So the things that have, like even last week against the Patriots,
you know, a much, at least a more formidable threat than the Falcons with Cooper Rush,
the thing that they were able to do was disrupt things up front with their outside linebackers,
you know, against a Patriots offensive line that they've tried to try to be there.
So like to me, if the Steelers are going to muck this game up,
they have to be able to cause that pressure.
But like to your point, this ain't the same Bengals offensive line that used to just have Joe Burrow running
for his life every day. Yeah, that's right.
Week one, it was a big talk for the Bengals Bucks games because you got Vita Vaya and Nose
tackle. You had defensive rookie of the year, number one candidate in Rubin Bain.
People are talking about, oh, Rubin Bain's going to have this monster season.
Even Yaya Diabbi is a fine player, Collagia Kansi, right?
Acheon Robinson, that's a solid unit up front.
The Bengals really didn't get pressured and Burwood really didn't get pressure too much.
Bengals ran the ball pretty well against them.
Vita Vaya, I don't think we called his name one time in film review, maybe one.
one impact play for him. Ruben Bain was completely blanked. There was not even a single play
where it felt like he was applying or getting close to Joe Burrow. And then week two, they go on
and play the Texans and you got to worry about DeNeal Hunter and Will Anderson, Jr. And they
had their moments for sure. But it all came against left tackle Orlando Brown Jr.
Who has been showing these signs of decline and he's tried to change his stance over the last
two years to stave off that decline. I don't think it's working. He looks as slow as ever.
His footwork looks bad. And they kept trying to attack.
him. That's where they got their sacks and pressure. Joe Burrow was sacked five times last week
against Texans. I think one was a zero yard gain. So let's say four or four and a half,
if you want to call it that. But the pressure did come against Burrow, came against the left tackle
there. I think this year with Watt moving around a little bit more, they may try to move him over there
and attack Orlando Brown on the left side and stay away from Amerius Mims a little bit because he is
pitching shutouts right now. No, I agree. I mean, and left side, that's where that's where, that's
Alex Highsmith likes to work on that side,
but they have been moving T.J.
Watt around a little bit this year.
Let's flip sides of the ball here because as much as the Bengals offensive line is better,
their defensive front is so much better with Dexter Lloyds,
Boy, A, Maffe, Jonathan Allen.
That was another group that was getting praised when we were talking about,
talking to the Steelers in the locker room there.
And meanwhile, the Steelers' offensive line been struggling last week.
They looked all over the place.
They looked uncoordinated in how they were handling pressures.
And one thing I saw, I think the Bengals have the best, like, run stopping rate without loading the box in the NFL right now because of this defensive front.
And the Steelers run offense ain't exactly doing anything right now.
This is another area where I think the Steelers could be in trouble for if they don't come correct against the stronger defensive line.
Yeah, 66% light boxes for the Bengals.
So they're really trusting this front to set the line of scrimmage and play all the gaps.
But that is some attributed to the Bucks.
And then the Texans played a lot of 11 personnel.
They wanted to keep the Bengals out of their base 3, 4 defense,
get some of these defensive tackles off the field because the Bengals are really deep there.
Now, typically when teams try to flip a position that they're not happy with,
Bengals brought in, obviously Jonathan Allen and Dexter Lawrence,
they usually get rid of the old veterans and, you know, go from there.
The Bengals didn't it.
They said, hey, T.J. Slayton, B.J. Hill, you're going to be the backups.
You're going to rotate in. We're going to have depth.
Chris Jenkins, who played 500 snaps last three years.
you're going to be depth.
So they have a deep detackle room.
And these teams wanted to go spread out, go three wide receivers.
And the Bengals were able to stop the run and play really well from their nickel.
And then here comes the Steelers who are playing a ton of three wide receiver sets as well.
So I expect more of the same.
You are going to get light boxes.
Can this Steelers offensive line?
That should be better.
Honestly, as a draft guy, and I consider myself an evaluator, it should be better than what
they've shown so far.
Is this the game they wake up and handle their business and stop having something?
this confusion. I think a lot of the confusion came on the blitzes.
El Golden and Spengel's defense blitz is very rarely about 12% of the time.
I think it was 14% last week. They're not going to do it.
When they do do it, it's very, very effective.
Well, they struggled to pick up blitzes last week.
Whenever the Patriots blitz, it looked like it was just a chore for them to do it.
But we are recording this Wednesday evening going into our Thursday for this week.
I was at, you know, at Steelers practice, we saw at least in the viewable period that
We're allowed to report what works, what we see in practice.
The Steelers, first round pick, Max Ihanachal, was working with the first team.
Brock Hoffman, the veteran who they brought in as a backup from his McCarthy days with the Cowboys.
They brought, he was working next to Ihanichore.
So the two of the spots that have been really rough for the Steelers, Spencer Anderson at right guard,
Dylan Cook at right tackle.
Those two guys, maybe they take a step back this week.
Maybe they put these guys in, but something that Mike McCarthy said on Monday is like,
hey, we need to work more on the continuity of this group.
But, I mean, this is part of what, you know, people were wondering,
they decided to flip Troy Falano and Mason McCormick from right to left.
It hasn't gone great so far.
You've seen some discombobulation from them to start the season.
Zach Frazier, you know, I said this on my grades episode on Tuesday.
I thought last week was maybe Zach Frazier's worst game I've seen from him in the pros,
gave up four pressures, was getting pushed back a lot.
This group has to be stronger.
To your point.
Omar Khan and Andy Widal, the front office guys, the GM and assistant GM,
this has been their babies, the offensive line.
If this group fails, it is going to have a huge ripple effect across the organization for the Steelers.
And to me right now, at one and one, I don't want to say that this,
I'm not saying this whole season comes down to this game,
but this is a game where if you're, if the guys that you've been invested to are going to step up,
It'd be nice to see it now to show that, hey, this, it's not going to be a downward slope from here because you get the Browns on Thursday night football.
They have never won in Cleveland on Thursday night.
You got other tough games coming up after that.
I just, I look at this as a key opportunity to say, hey, buck stops here.
You know, even if they don't win this game, if they could come out and show that they're stronger up front against a really good Bengals front, it would go a long way to show like, okay, there's been some hiccups with the new coaching.
staff and all this change, but there's still the strength here.
Yeah, I like that. And I think Zach Frazier is going to be one of our big
matchup things, Zach Frazier versus Dexter Lawrence, because I think that's clearly,
I think Frazier is a top three center in this league, right?
Everything he's done since he's been here.
He's very, very good.
This is the first real good center that Lawrence is going to face.
Now, he did have some, I think it was 2024.
You guys played less against the Giants, was it?
And Lawrence had a good day that day, but that's when Frazier was a lot younger.
still, Frazier hasn't, I mean, Lawrence hasn't seen a very good center.
He beat up on Graham Barton.
He beat up on Evan Brown.
This is a different test.
It is a different test.
We'll talk about the weapons that the Bengals had.
We talked all about the trenches, but of course, everyone knows Joe Burrow, Jamar, Chase, T. Higgins.
But they're going up against the Steelers defense that's looked tough these first two weeks.
We'll talk about the key elements of those matchups next here on crossover Thursday here on the Lockdown podcast network.
Chris Carter, Joe Goodberry.
Stick with us.
We'll be right back.
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We're back here on crossover Thursday here in the Lockdown Podcast Network.
I'm Chris Carter of Locked on Steelers.
He's Joe Goodberry of Locked on Bengals.
Let's talk about this high-flying matchup because,
The Bengals, we talked to all about offensive linemen,
defensive linemen. We think we'll think of the Bengals.
They don't think of those guys.
They think of Joe Brod, Mark Jason T. Higgins.
Like I said earlier, a three-headed monster that runs that side of the ball.
Now, they face the Steelers defense that's come out and at least looked competitive these first two weeks.
Well, the offense has been objectively terrible.
The Steelers defense has been solid.
They've forced turnovers.
They've been able to live with teams.
But the thing that I'm looking at here, Joe, they played Cooper Rush, week one,
third string quarterback for the Falcons at home.
and they did what they're supposed to do.
They didn't let Bejohn Robinson take over the game, and they held him 13 points.
This last week he gives Drake May, MVP quarterback candidate last year, held him to 13 points last week.
But to me, the thing that they have not faced is that deep threat passing attack ability that the Bengals have,
where they're going to target things downfield.
And for all the things that are going on in Pittsburgh, you know, questions about McCarthy,
questions about Rogers, all this.
Joey Porter Jr. has yet to play this season.
He's been out with a quote-unquote back injury.
He was limited in Wednesday's practice with a non-injury-related designation.
So his contract has obviously been lingering there.
I don't know that he's going to be back to play this week.
We'll see if he is.
But Patrick Graham, the Steelers, defensive coordinator,
said he does have two different plans set in place for if Porter plays versus if he doesn't.
And Joe, it's been a ton of.
zone coverage without Joey Porter these first two weeks.
And it's looked like a lot of single high too as well, meaning you're given one-on-one
opportunities on the outside, even if it is a cover three scenario.
I think that's going to change if you're playing the Bengals.
It's funny because even you go to Tomlin and last year and talk about that a little.
I know it's a completely new system, but the first time they played was the Flacco,
Unk Bull, and Jamar Chase had, what, 17 targets that game and that they realize that we
can't do that.
You know, next time we played, Jamar's not in that next one.
And, you know, because he, well, he had the spitting incident in that next one.
So it was a different type of game.
Right.
They went, they went head to head.
It was a tough matchup.
But the Steelers weren't letting that happen.
They weren't letting Jamar gritty down the field and T. Higgins dunk on their guys down the field.
They put, they put a shell over the top, said, we're not going to let that happen.
The hard part for us as Bengals fans right now going into week three is that we haven't seen this offense fully wake up yet.
And this is typical for Bengals is to start the year in the Joe Burrow era.
teams that start fast using that offense are using a lot of motion, a lot of play action,
misdirection.
The Steelers and the Bengals are at the bottom of the league in terms of motion.
So it makes sense why their offenses aren't as good right now.
It's hard to sit back there and be as stagnant as they are.
But once the Bengals get to like week three, four, five, they really start to perfect it
and it becomes very, very hard to stop.
They get very good at that style of offense.
We haven't seen it yet.
They've been good.
This has Ben Burroughs best start to a season, but it's not amazing.
yet, right? That 98 passer rating is more than his typical 82 in the first two weeks of the season.
And Jamar Chase was held to two catches for 12 yards in the first game. Not so much that the
Bucks were really holding them down. It's just that the Bengals didn't feel they had to force it.
They went to Mike Aseki instead with the Bucks left wide open. And then week two, it was like,
all right, the Texans are going to let their two outstanding corners play man to man on the
outside with a single high safety against T. Higgins and Jemar Chase. And the Bengals said,
we feel good about it. Actually, two big plays happened against Derek Stingley and man coverage,
back shoulder, 20-something yard throw to T. Higgins. And then the deep one, the crazy 360,
no-scope catch touchdown from Jamar Chase. It was one of the best two-handed catches,
I think we've ever seen because we've seen two crazy one-handers. But this is like,
how do you even adjust to a ball like that beautiful rainbow? When you see these flashes,
you go, okay, they're at the doorstep. It's coming. These plays are coming.
Everyone can relax because the defense can actually compliment this offense now.
I love that you called it a no scope.
Right.
That's what it's like.
How did you even see that ball?
But to your point, there's so much potential there, and we haven't even fully seen it activated
yet.
And I think it's going to be interesting because it's going to test this Steelers secondary
that we haven't really had seen, gotten to seen, get to get challenged in this way a lot.
Now, there were times last week where I thought like, oh, man, like, Jaquan Brisker and man
coverage, you know, was losing out on some reps.
Assante Samuel Jr.
really hasn't looked strong.
He looked great in training camp when he was going up against Metcalf and other guys.
And it was like maybe this guy can be a solid starter.
And he's been solid, but he hasn't been this lights out guy.
I am excited to see Jamel Dean.
I think he's played, you know, he's been formidable out there.
But without Joey Porter Jr., there's been, you know, an interest,
it's been a lacking of his presence.
And I mean, we know, you know, as Jamar Chase famously said, I think it was either
last year before he was like, you know, they like the raw dog, you in Pittsburgh.
and it's like him and him and joy Porter Jr.
They don't like each other.
And Jalen Ramsey adds to that.
You know, we with Jemar spitting to Jalen Ramsey last year, there's been, there is, there is a rivalry there between these groups.
But this is a different group without Joey Porter Jr.
And now Jalen Ramsey, you know, like he kind of did last year, he switched back to safety.
He's not fully there.
He's kind of their extra nickel back.
But when they go into those base sets, you'll see him kind of go back to that safety position,
staying on the field.
And then when they go nickel and dime, he'll come closer to the line of scrimmage,
let Ray Sean Jenkins and Jaquan Brisker play those deeper safety roles there.
But it's going to be interesting to me to see how the Steelers deploy them for this specific week
because the Bengals are a different challenge.
They know that.
And to me, this is why you go get Jamel Dean.
Now, hopefully, I would have paid Joey Porter Jr.
He'd be available with him.
But this is why you want two dogs outside corner to be able to run with two dogs like this or wide receiver.
No doubt. And that's where the auxiliary players have to help this Bengals offense. Right. In week one, it was Mike Aseki because the bucks weren't letting these other guys get open. Chase Brown has been very, very close to breaking off runs. It's just been a trip here or a block that didn't hold long enough there, but very close to breaking some off. And oh, I've heard 19 minutes into the show today. I forgot Bengals fans, Andre Yosci Vosch went on IRT today. He'll be out four to six weeks, ligament in his thumb. So who steps up there? Honestly, a lot of Bengals fans would like.
like to see more of a rotation and not see Andre with such a strangle hold on wide receiver three.
Could it be fourth round pick?
Kobe Young a little bit more.
Could it be Dante Myers from the CFL who is a preseason star?
He's made a few plays but had a rough week two game.
Could it be just more Mike Keseki, more 12 personnel?
The Bengals are using 12 personnel to tight ends at the third highest rate in the league right now.
They are second in EPA.
So yeah, you think of them as a spread shotgun team actually added it this year,
getting Eric all back at tight end.
He's their hammer.
He's pretty much our H-back, fullback.
He will run through your face to lead block for Chase Brown.
They found a lot of success in 12 personnel so far.
I want to talk about 12 personnel in the next segment here and key matchups here because
to me, I've been banging this drum for a while.
I think 12 personnel needs to be a bigger part of the Steelers offense.
It really hasn't been.
But Pat Friermouth, him and the Bengals, they have a history.
And I want to talk about how that matchups going to play out.
Next here on crossover.
Thursday here on the Lockdown Podcast Network, Chris Carter, Joe Goodberry. Stick with us. We'll be right back.
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We're back here on crossover Thursday here in the lockdown podcast.
Now we're Chris Carter of Lockdown Steelers, Joe Goodberry of Lockdown Bengals.
Joe, Pat Bramuth, if there's one thing he's going to do,
he's going to have his best game of the season against the Bengals.
If you look throughout his career, out of his five games where he's gained the most receiving yards,
four of them have been against the Bengals.
It's, I don't know what it is, whether it's Kenny Pickett or,
Aaron Rogers. He usually has a decent day against Cincinnati. Something that I'm going to talk about more of my Friday episode is the Steelers need to be using more tight-in heavy sets.
When I looked at, I dealt on true media and I saw combined 12 and 13 personnel sets. The Steelers ranked 18th in using these extra tight-end sets.
And that's so bizarre to me when you pay Pat Bramuth and you pay Darnell, Washington, and you don't exactly have killer wide receivers.
You have talent, but you don't have it.
I don't understand it.
And like you said, to your point,
the Bengals using 12 personnel are up there.
When I looked at teams that are using 12 and 13 personnel sets combined,
teams that are up there the most, the Bears, the Rams, the Chiefs, the Ravens, the Bills,
all those teams.
They're all offenses that everyone is terrified of.
And to me, that needs to be used more.
I think that has to be something that Mike McCarthy works more into the offense.
But who if the Steelers are going up against the Bengals,
who is going to be tasked?
with guarding Washington and Friermouth if those tight ends are getting worked in a bit more.
Yeah, and I was going to say, as you're talking on Friamuth, I'm going to be honest,
we're scared of darnow Washington.
That guy has stiff-armed some of our guys six feet under and just truck people.
And it just, he was, those plays were what sparked a lot of our, we got to do something
different on defense.
This is not working.
This guy is too physical.
He is too big.
And our guys are too soft, right?
And they changed a lot of that, that whole mindset, getting Brian Cook in, who
a much better tackler than Gino Stone at safety this off season was one of those big investments
in order to handle that and be a better tackling team.
But the Bengals typically will have, if you're going to go with two tight ends, they'll go base
defense.
They will bring down Jordan Battle or Brian Cook to help cover.
But also, Dax Hill has done a lot of this in the past.
If you want to split any of those guys out or put them in the slot, they'll put Daxhill on
there.
They also drafted Ticario Davis, who's a six-foot four corner in the third round.
they've been bringing him into the boundary as well, bringing decks in the slot.
They also like DJ Ivy, who is a taller 6 foot one long arm corner that they will bring
in in like a dime package that's meant to cover tight ends.
Now, it's a different mix with the Steelers, which is why I think they give a situation.
It's not like you have a straight up receiving type and then a blocker type.
I feel like both guys, Friermouth in Washington can do both and can beat you in both ways.
The Bengals gave up a lot of yards and catches to Dalton Shultz last week.
We don't feel very confident that this team can cover.
tight end. So that may be the route to go. But I agree when I saw how often the Steelers are in three
wide, I'm like, great. Go ahead. Because that's that works in our favor totally. I don't,
I don't get why they're doing it. Joe, what's another matchup that you're looking forward to seeing
in this game? Yeah, for me, it's going to be Orlando Brown Jr. I know I already talked about it,
but the, the waves of Herbig and Highsmith and Watt and maybe even if Jack Sawyer gets over there,
like there's, I feel like you, the Steelers can throw waves at him. And the Bengals are
trying to give him help. They're sliding things his way. They're putting tight ends over there.
They're putting Samajai P. Ryan over there to help Chip and funnel and force that rusher
directly through Orlando Brown Jr. because he's a big dude, right? He's not the fleet of foot.
But if you can have to go through him, that makes it a little bit more difficult. So that is our
number one thing. I think that all Bengals fans are watching. Like, all right, how bad is Orlando
Brown Jr. right now? And how much help can you give him? This Bengals team has survived bad
offensive line or bad offensive line men.
They've gotten to the Super Bowl.
They've gotten to the AFC championship.
Zach Taylor, Joe Burrow has schemed around it and Burrow gets the ball out so quickly.
You're only going to get about 15 snaps in true pass set situations where you can tee off
on them.
Can they protect him enough there to keep Joe Burrow clean?
And I think the other part is when they have so many quick passes, are they controlling
the line of scrimmage or is T.J. Y.
And hey, we're getting up and batting balls because that's always a tricky thing.
The Steelers are always very good at it.
because Burrow gets it out so fast, I think they're always ready for it.
I think it's going to be interesting to see for T.J. Watt, where he plays and how much he plays,
because they have not been making him play 80% of the snaps and then Herbing and Hismet coming after it.
It's been very kind of even almost with those with the trio, but also something that the Steelers have tried to do for years was to try to move T.J. Watt to play off the left tackle, you know, at the right outside line.
backer position. He prefers to play off the right tackle. That's what he's always done.
And he's even admitted. He's like, that's just where I'm most comfortable. But when he, but,
but the past two weeks, six, you know, six snaps in week one, six snaps in week two,
he has played over that left tackle spot. And to me, that's going to be interesting to see,
what do they try to do to get him, the matchups like you, like you're talking about,
with Orlando Brown, but also where they use her big is to me, her big, as much as he's not the guy that
gets the highlights and has the sacks.
I mean, T.J. Watt has three and a half.
I think Highsmith has three.
Herbie is such a weapon because they put him everywhere.
He's moving all the time.
And that is where I think if the Steelers, we talked about mucking things up,
it's going to be those outside linebackers against this Bengals offensive line and primarily
in communication and picking up what they're trying to do.
Yeah, no doubt.
And Burrow is very good typically against the Blitz and deciphering who's coming, where they're
coming from, and set in protection.
but they had some major issues last week against Texans.
There was at least three plays where it looks like they're sliding the wrong way
or picking the wrong Mike or picking the wrong blitzer and moving away from them.
And I think it's because they spent so much attention on trying to help Orlando Brown Jr.
Or protect from DeNeil Hunter and Will Anderson.
That took up all of their attention and they were unable to really see things clearly.
You shouldn't have the bus they had last week between Joe Burrow and veteran Ted Carras,
has been a league a long time as one of the smartest centers in the league.
I think you can get them, but typically you're not able to.
I just wonder if it was a unique situation last week or because the Steelers present so many problems, too,
they're going to have that same issue of like, all right, we are so focused on helping the left side here that we are missing some other things.
Joe, we got about a minute left here.
So give us one last matchup that you're focused on here.
Yeah, I think it's going to be the Bengals Blitz versus Aaron Rogers and this offense because, like I said,
Golden doesn't do it that often, but there is something they have found in the last couple of weeks they've come out this year with.
And it's they know the center is going to help on Dexter Lawrence's side.
So if Lawrence is shaded off, say, over the right guard, the center is going to go over there.
So what the bagels have been doing is also dropping that end out and sending Lawrence towards
that right tackle.
So now the center, right guard, right tackle are all blocking Lawrence, which they'll take
and they're sending free rushers from the left side.
Because they know what offenses are going to do in pass protection, because they have that one
guy, they're exploiting it.
So if they can get home a couple times, I think that could be huge on third down.
rounds. Aaron Rogers, not exactly lighting it up when he's not blitz with a pass
rating of 80.1, but when he is bliss, that pass rating drops to 59. We'll talk more about
these matchups here on the Lockdown Podcast Network. Joe, thanks for joining me here on
crossover Thursday. Let people know where they can find you, follow you and get more your work.
Yeah, that's right. Joe Goodbury on Twitter and the Lockdown Bengals podcast every day.
And I'm Chris Carter of the Lockdown Steelers podcast. You can read my work at the Pittsburgh
Post-Cazette.com. You can also find me on social media at Carter Crettecs, and you
could find me just like you find joe locked on steelers podcast locked on bangle podcast like this
video if you enjoy it subscribe to this channel to get either of our shows we're both back tomorrow
given our predictions and our final things to talk about heading to steelers bengals on sunday
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