Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - The Cincinnati Bengals have halfway solved their explosive play issue (so far)

Episode Date: September 17, 2024

The guys break down how the reformed Cincinnati Bengals secondary has helped to transform their explosive play problem on defense, but they haven't gotten Ja'Marr Chase or the offense where we hoped i...t would be yet. We get into explosive play stats and reasons to hope it could improve as the season wears on.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/7AObc0lh0WmQl5fJVgtajsGoogle 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!Arena ClubRight now, you can get 10% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to Arenaclub.com/lockedonnfl and use code lockedonnfl.RobinhoodThe new gold standard is here with Robinhood Gold.  Sign up at robinhood.com/gold Terms apply, for product specific disclosures visit robinhood.com/gold. Investing involves risk. Rate may change. Gold membership is offered by Robinhood Gold, LLC. DoorDashUse promo code LOCKEDFALL24 for 50% off up to $10 value, when you spend $15+ on your first order. Limited time offer. Terms apply. Promo is not valid for orders containing alcohol.PrizePicksGo to https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFL and use code lockedonmlb 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.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.GametimeDownload 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.FanDuelNow through September 22nd, ALL FanDuel customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get a THREE WEEK free trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV. 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.

Transcript
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Starting point is 00:00:00 We talk a lot about explosive plays on the Locked-on Bengals podcast. And through two games, the Cincinnati Bengals have sort of fixed the issue halfway. 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, on, Bengals fans, and welcome to another episode of the Locked-on Bengals podcast. I'm your host, Jake Liskow. He's your host, James Rupin.
Starting point is 00:00:34 We are part of the Locked-on. Lockdown Podcast Network here on Lockdown Bengals covering your team every day for all the new folks. Welcome to the Lockdown Bengals podcast. You can hit the subscribe button to make sure you don't miss an episode and join all the everydayers. Welcome back every dayers and all of you out there who make us your first listen. Appreciate those regular listening habits. Today we're going to get into the explosive play trends and what's behind them in this young
Starting point is 00:01:00 season for the Cincinnati Bengals as they start in an 0-and-2 hole. and there may be some defensive tackle help on the way. The Bengals working out some tackles on Tuesday as of the time of recording. No move made. We'll go there later in the show. This episode brought to you by Fandall where you can get three weeks free of NFL Sunday ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV with any $5 bet. You can check it out at fandle.com to get started from now through September 22nd. And James, we talk a lot about explosive plays, right?
Starting point is 00:01:32 how much time do we spend on this theme it has been a point of emphasis it feels like for two three years for this football team since the super bowl run i mean that's that's when because they really before every half almost it felt like during the super bowl run they would find a way to generate an explosive play and it would get their offense into a rhythm and yeah we we haven't seen that nearly to that level but really approached that level and outside of i'm trying to think so they have three plays of 28 yards or more in two games the the 47 yard under jermaine burton the 37 yarder to mike kaseki on fourth down both huge plays by the way that led to points and then the jemar chase 28 yarder guess what all three of those did
Starting point is 00:02:20 jake they led to points 13 points scored uh on those so explosive plays equal points meanwhile on the defensive side of the ball especially last year when they They overhauled their safety room with the departures of Jesse Bates and von Bell. They had significant issues every single week giving up explosive plays. And that was the biggest Achilles heel of that Bengals defense last year before run defense became a major issue down the stretch, especially after DJ Reader sustained his injury. This year, well, at least one of those is flipped. But let's start on the offensive side of the ball, where I think there's a lot more to talk about
Starting point is 00:02:58 with this high priced and on paper high-powered offense. And sure, they've been missing T. Higgins. But as of today, the Cincinnati Bengals have the fourth lowest offensive explosive play rate in the NFL. And that stat comes from Sam Hoppin on Twitter, just to credit, who is tallying these stats up, these EPA-based stats and whatnot. But explosive plays are explosive plays. and the Cincinnati Bengals' explosive play rate of 4.3% is fourth worst in the NFL. Behind the Bengals are the Bears who have been a non-functional team,
Starting point is 00:03:37 especially on offense through a couple of weeks, the Carolina Panthers who just bench their quarterback, and the Pittsburgh Steelers who are a defensive football team, to put it mildly. The Cincinnati Bengals' passing play, explosive play rate, also ranks 29th. Fourth last in the NFL, 3.5% The most explosive teams in the NFL are closer to 10% for explosive play rates. And it's only two weeks, so small sample size caveats apply.
Starting point is 00:04:05 But when you think about where the ball has gone for the Cincinnati Bengals, and last week we talked about yards after catch is an emphasis, that explains a lot of their passing game explosive play issues. The other thing that we can point to, and we'll get there, I think, after we talk about the passing game and the receiving weapons and Jamar Chase's role in this is there. running back splits right now and the way they're using their running backs in the running game do not lend themselves to a to a high explosive play rate in the run game either.
Starting point is 00:04:37 But we expected this team to rediscover some of their explosiveness in the past game specifically this year, James. We haven't seen that through two games. We haven't. And there's a bunch of reasons for it. But a big one is these weapons. they haven't been good enough. They haven't been consistent enough.
Starting point is 00:05:01 And you can say, all right, well, Joe, and Joe wasn't trying to push it down field and in all of those things. That's fine. But finding ways to, and I'll give you an example, Andre Yosevash, big third down. We've talked a lot about that, or second down, rather,
Starting point is 00:05:19 where there's 3.30 left. If he catches that ball, it gives them a new set of downs. if him and Joe are on the same page and he sits down, then it's the first down. Andre was clearly running through that. And those little things, and that one's obvious because we're paying attention to it and it becomes an incompletion. But there are so many times where that's completed or there are balls like that, possessions like that, where you have a completion, but it could result in a bigger gain or a mistackle or, insert whatever and it's you got to be on the same page you've got to understand the the yak element
Starting point is 00:06:02 and and i think that's it is they're still trying to get on the same page in some instances we saw that in new england specifically against the patriots not in new england but against the patriots thought they were much better this week had a couple of explosive plays but jama chase as longest catches 28 yards that's tough that's a tough one to overcome especially when you're really relying on your tight ends and as good as they are, I don't think you can bank on them leading you in explosive plays every week. It's nice to have Mike Kaseki for the explosive play element in the tight end room. That is something they haven't had.
Starting point is 00:06:39 If they can continue to get something like that out of him once every two weeks, that's awesome if you can get that level of production. Ideally, they clean up some of their drop issues. They have four drops in two games. And in this most recent game, I keep going back to them because they were really harmful drops for the offense in terms of getting them behind the chains and leading directly to some fail drives for the offense and different levels of magnitude, right? But both of them leading to the Chiefs having their fourth quarter plays,
Starting point is 00:07:09 defensive plays, the fumble recovery of the sack on third down, to put them in position to win the game. So those drops do matter. That is something to clean up. Whether or not Yoseva should have sat down on that play or just been ready for the ball. It seems like he's late reacting to a ball that gets on him a little bit quicker than he's expecting. Either way, he should catch that ball.
Starting point is 00:07:29 And so that is something to clean up for Yoseva. Getting more production out of him between the 20s is something that the Bengals will need to do if he's going to be the second or third when T. Higgins returns receiver on the football team because that is a big role on this team. They went away from 11 personnel last week. You credit the coaching staff for that. and they found some explosive plays, one of those out of a heavy set on the play action play to Jermaine Burton out of pistol, that's awesome. But to your point,
Starting point is 00:08:00 not only do they need more from these weapons on the whole, who, by the way, the Bengals on aggregate, have PFF's fifth lowest receiving grade in the NFL so far this year after they were 11th in 2023, 6 in 2022, and 4th in 2021. That includes all players who have receiving opportunities, running back, side ends, wide receivers. They all need to be better.
Starting point is 00:08:19 And to your point, James, the Bengals need to have a better plan for Jamar Chase. And Jamar Chase needs to be a more impactful football player for this team. When you're talking about him being the highest paid receiver in the NFL, which is an offer the Bengals made, you need him to produce at that level. And whether there's frustration that boils over it in a really bad penalty or they're just not getting enough in terms of producing those opportunities for him within the structure of the offense, that is something that needs to change. Well, he wanted to be the highest paid. He wouldn't have been the highest paid, just to be clear.
Starting point is 00:08:56 But I get your point is the point. But yeah, it would have been close. It's one of those things like Trevor Lawrence didn't surpass. Anyways, the point is he's a hell of a football player. You got to maximize him. And that's what's weird about the week one thing. And it's so clunky because of all the things that went into that and they lose. And so, yeah, they have to generate more explosive.
Starting point is 00:09:18 plays. It starts with Jamar Chase. He's their best player not named Joe Burrell. And that includes Trey Hendrickson. And people will debate that and be mad at me and annoyed about it. Jamar is awesome. And so you know what you have to do? When teams are doubling him or playing him with Trent McDuffie in a really good corner, you stop to find ways to get him the ball. And for the offense to get him involved because he is your top playmaker, your top weapon. And good things happen when Jamar has the ball on his hands. So that's got to be a point of action. I know it will be. Let's continue with the big play conversation and we will start to talk defense coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by DoorDash. DoorDash is the app you got to get right now.
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Starting point is 00:12:04 I think it was seven and a half points. Last time I looked, well, you can get that NFL Sunday ticket three-week trial. Visit fandle.com to get started and download America's number one sportsbook. All right, Jake. Let's dive into defensive explosives. there haven't been many outside of the one where cam taylor britt got lowed to sleep a little bit and didn't think the ball was going to rishi rice we haven't seen many explosive plays part of that i think has to do with facing new england but part of that is the the bengal's back end has been much better part of that is having to do with facing new england sure but part of that also has to be a credit to the bengals for keeping the chiefs out of the explosive play column for the most part there was the one which is a Cam Taylor writ mistake, and okay, it happens. He thought he, it looked like he was playing like he was covered two.
Starting point is 00:13:00 He peeks into the backfield, doesn't think the ball is going that way, it ends up being quarters, he doesn't have help over the top. It happens from time to time, right? He still almost makes a play. Patrick Holmes throwing deep verticals in structure. It doesn't happen very often, but it doesn't mean it's something that you should assume doesn't happen. Okay, whatever.
Starting point is 00:13:17 The Bengals explosive play rate allowed right now is third in the NFL at 6.3%. behind only the Broncos and Saints who appear to be the best team in football there are two weeks, apparently. The Bengals, though, have excelled in preventing passing explosive plays. Fourth best in the NFL, 16th best at preventing rushing explosive plays, which is any plays, this is counting plays that are 15 plus yards, so not the 20-plus yard definition that you see in some other places. and our friend Joe Goodberry points out as well that to two games,
Starting point is 00:13:54 the Bengals have only given up 272 passing yards. And two games, that's crazy. 136 passing yards allowed per game. You would think you were winning games. But maybe that's just not the way the NFL works anymore, where no one in the league seems to be passing for big numbers. Everybody seems to be leaning on the run game a little bit more. Either way, despite some issues they've had in run defense,
Starting point is 00:14:17 well, the pass D has been good, and they're preventing those explosive plays that were such an issue for them last year. And a big part of it is obviously the safeties. And obviously enough, the safeties have been discussed this week. Right?
Starting point is 00:14:31 The Jordan Battle part of this has been discussed this week. Why are we so quick? If the Bengals are so good against the pass right now, it's not like Travis Kelsey had a huge game. It's not like Von Bell's getting dunked on. Are we worried about Von Bell being out there? Just throwing that out there. because if he's doing well against the pass,
Starting point is 00:14:53 I think people trust him to make tackles anyway. It's just a random thought. The other thing here, outside of, because I think we expected Von Bell and Gino Stone to bring some continuity on the back end to help on the back end, some stability would be the word that I'm looking for,
Starting point is 00:15:06 not continuity, but all of those things to the back end of the Bengal secondary. But Daxhill and Cam Taylor Britt have been awesome. I mean, awesome. And Dax Hill, say what you want about the, tackles week one, whatever. The thing that you're wondering is can he make the full transition from safety to
Starting point is 00:15:27 cornerback and look like a starting cornerback? And so far, not only has he done that, but you're going up against the chiefs and you give about two catches for 17 yards, I think it was, according to next gen stats. I mean, what more, what more could you ask for from Dax? So obviously had the big pass deflection as well on the two point conversion. I just think you've seen him grow a lot over the past five weeks or so as a corner. And I'm excited to see that continue because it was one thing to do it against the Patriots, right? When you're talking about young receivers, a weird mix on offense.
Starting point is 00:16:04 But to do it against the chief, see, that's a heck of a day for Daxil. And I will say that the tackling isn't a whatever thing, you know, it does need to be better. but it is whatever because he was one of like eight guys that couldn't tackle against the Patriots. Yeah, but it was like a key player on several plays that anyway, I think that it is something that improved in week two. I think that it will continue to improve. I think a fair amount of it is him getting used to the angles from playing the run game as an outside corner instead of as a safety or instead of as a slot corner or an overhang defender like he did in college. He is learning a new position. He didn't get as many preseason reps as I think the team wanted to give him for various reasons,
Starting point is 00:16:50 field conditions in Chicago, one of those reasons. So I do expect that to continue to improve. He did have some angle issues as a safety, but it wasn't really ever a physical issue. It was a being in the right place issue. Again, something I think will improve with reps with experience there. But what you should be very encouraged by is the way that these young corners for the Cincinnati Bengals are playing in coverage. I think Cam Taylor Britt is showing that he has taken that step. Outside of that deep pass, we've mentioned this a few times now,
Starting point is 00:17:21 gave up one other catch in that game, had the awesome, all-pro worthy pick or whatever you want to call it, the as good of a pick as you can make kind of play that gives the Bengals an opportunity to ice that game that they don't capitalize on, unfortunately. But the arrow pointing up for the secondary through two games, a long way to go, obviously, but heck, even DJ Turner on the place he gets in the game. rotating with Mike Hilton for obvious past situations in the slot.
Starting point is 00:17:48 He has an interception erased by a penalty. The three young corners on this team, and I think that I still expect Mike Hilton to do his thing and make his impact in the ways that he's really good at making an impact in the run game and the screen game as a very high-quality cerebral slot defender. They're pretty good at corner right now. You feel good about that depth. We haven't even talked about Josh Newton, who's a fifth guy right now,
Starting point is 00:18:13 but they haven't needed him yet, and they're very bullish on his future as well. So compared to last year, the feelings about the secondary are just flipped, right? We have our concerns about this defense. We have concerns about the rush defense. They need help at defensive tackle. We'll talk about that in just a second.
Starting point is 00:18:32 But the secondary, and heck, the linebackers will play better too, but the secondary has, their two games, long way to go, been much, much better in the early returns for the Bengals this year. Yep. And they'll get tested. on Monday night. One of those things is Jane Daniels scrambling
Starting point is 00:18:47 and trying to push the ball down field, get into a rhythm with Terry McLaren. I mean, they're going to get tested. It's every week, it seems like, except maybe the Carolina week, you're going up against one of these higher end receivers or higher end playmakers or a quarterback that's going to extend the play.
Starting point is 00:19:03 Or did I just take a shot at Andy Dalton indirectly, unintentionally? I might have. Andy Dalton with the winning record against this former team. Yeah, two and one. Don't remind me. What a joke. What a joke that is.
Starting point is 00:19:16 Anyways, it's not Carolina Week, so I won't dive into that. But I think the Daxo and Cam Taylor Britt have done everything that you would hope that they would be able to do to this point. And that's how I would kind of phrase it. Now, you're right. The tackling thing is the tackling thing. But I know he knows how to tackle. We weren't sure if he knew how to, if he could cover at this level so far. And so far he's been able to do that.
Starting point is 00:19:39 We'll see if that will continue. The big worry, the big concern is defensive. tackle. The Bengals have some defensive tackles in town. We will discuss who they're working out coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by Game Time. Game Time is the app you need right now because it's going to make your life so much easier when you try to get tickets for Bengals, commanders, Paycourt Stadium, Monday night football. And Game Time, the app has a feature called Game Time Picks. It makes getting tickets for your favorite events so much easier because it filters out all of the stuff, all of the seats that you're not going to want. So instead of scrolling
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Starting point is 00:21:09 Your game preview won't be coming until Sunday this week instead of your normal Thursday game preview. But the Washington commanders on offense are producing explosive plays in the run game at the sixth highest rate in the NFL, which is only 3.9%. They're producing right in the middle of the pack, the 16th highest rate of explosive plays in the passing game. Both of those numbers significantly higher than that. than the Bengals, 3% more often creating explosive plays in the past game and almost 4% more often, 3% more often, sorry, as well in the run game. So the commanders on offense are 11th, an explosive play rate, something the Bengals will have to contend with, especially that running game.
Starting point is 00:21:49 However, on the defensive side of the ball, they are allowing explosive plays, specifically in the past game at the 28th highest rate in the NFL, 9.4% of passing play. against the Washington commanders explosive plays. We're also giving up the 24th most or 24th least some of the worst rate of explosive plays allowed in the run game as well.
Starting point is 00:22:13 27th an explosive play rate defense overall. So an opportunity for the Bengals to find some explosive plays on both sides of the ball here, I think. Yeah. This week. And part of that is, and we can have a conversation about this,
Starting point is 00:22:29 there will be time. 30 needs the ball 30 needs more reps more snaps more more chances I'm fine if they run it 14 times a game I am I don't care like people are good to be like I'll write it more no but can he get seven of them
Starting point is 00:22:44 can you get on the field just a bit more the 80 20 snap count percent or snap count percentages yeah I just that that is a key to being more explosive as well by the way it means Zach Moss might get an explosive run I'm not saying he can't or won't I just think Chase
Starting point is 00:22:59 Brown brings an added dynamic. So just wanted to throw that out there while we're talking about explosive plays. But the Bengals, they're trying to prevent explosive plays on the ground. And that's why they have multiple veteran defensive tackles in town on Tuesday, working out among them, Lawrence Guy, a veteran 100 plus games, 34 years old. Jake, I want nothing more. And I know you're ageist. I want nothing more than the Bengals to sign someone older than me.
Starting point is 00:23:27 So I'm on Team Lawrence Guy. Albert Huggins also in town. I think there are a few other veterans working out as well. Tom Pelliserra with this report. But Lauren's guy, you're 34, my friend, join the Bengals. So I'm not the oldest man in that locker room. I would like the Bengals to sign someone older than me too, but I don't think there are any players that qualify.
Starting point is 00:23:47 Oh, there are. How are you, 36? Yeah, I mean, there aren't very many 36-year-old defensive line. There's some. You're right. There are some. There are some. They would never go for it.
Starting point is 00:23:58 I'm shocked. I'm a bit surprised they're going, like not going after, but looking at Lawrence guy, honestly. I mean, they need something. This is reminiscent of a few years ago where they're signing defensive tackles out the street because they just had nothing left. And unfortunately, it's weak too. Fortunately, we don't know the extent of the injuries yet for BJ Hill
Starting point is 00:24:20 and for Sheldon Rankins, but there's time for these guys to get healthy. There's time for Chris Jenkins to get healthy, get back to the field. hopefully we are seeing the return for McKinley Jackson in a couple of weeks as well, but they need to survive those couple of weeks while these guys might need to heal. And we don't know the severity of those injuries again for the veterans, B.J. Hill, Sheldon Rankins. So they need to add bodies there.
Starting point is 00:24:42 And I think it is plural because right now they're on DT5 and 6 as far as the debt chart would have looked if everybody was healthy. I mean, they got guys already playing that probably wouldn't be on the team if they had all. of their defensive tackles healthy. And it's a position where they've had their depth tested year after year. It's a position where we ask them to make another move in the off season that they did not make. And unfortunately, and somewhat predictably, they're in a position now where they're desperate for help here.
Starting point is 00:25:14 The other thing that kind of gives me some hesitation here, yeah, they need to make a move. Great, they're making a move. They have to. They have no choice. I wish there was something else they could do. I wish there were something that would be more impactful that they could do to actually improve the position and not just try to get through the next couple of weeks. And I know that's really hard to do in the NFL, but boy, would that be nice in a year where it's probably the last year you have T. Higgins? And they framed it as this year where they're trying to keep things together to go for it with the same core one more time to actually improve a unit in the middle of the season and do something uncharacteristic.
Starting point is 00:25:50 I know that I'm wishcasting here, but that would be nice. Sure. Hard to get anyone to trade right now. Absolutely. No one's tanking. Even the Panthers think that they can win games. You know, I mean, so it's tough. But yeah, to your point, an impactful trade, I'm sure we'll have discussions about that in the coming weeks. Another name, Mike Purcell, he's 33. That would be kind of the guy I would go.
Starting point is 00:26:18 He's played at least 13 games the past three years. And if you're looking for someone that can just be an innings eater, essentially, and just give you snaps and that's what you need right now like maybe Chris Jenkins is back this week McKinley Jackson is at least a few weeks away I would imagine that this workout means that Rankin's and Hill
Starting point is 00:26:38 could miss some time never know maybe one's back but couldn't miss some time hamstrings are weird so yeah it's it's tough I also think it's worth mentioning Justin Rogers on the practice squad I think
Starting point is 00:26:51 and Dominique Davis is on the practice squad too But I think Justin Rogers is the one. You'll look up, and you've been on this too, but similar prospect of McKinley Jackson, not that far off. And so he was a seventh rounder. McKinley Jackson was a third rounder. The Bengals obviously preferred Jackson during the pre-draft process. But maybe Rogers is ready.
Starting point is 00:27:11 He's been in town for a few weeks on the Bengals practice squad. Dallas cut him. A drafted nose tackle has the size you're looking for. Maybe he's up this week and elevated. It would probably be him and a potential veteran, right? They might need the multiple bodies, and you could be asking, why was he up last week? I mean, I guess they had two defensive tackles get injured in the game.
Starting point is 00:27:36 That's tough, and it's the Kansas City Chief, so do you really want to use an extra roster spot on a nose tackle? But then they had Tanner Hudson active to be the emergency long snapper instead of using that spot on a player that could have played, maybe, in that game. I don't know. You don't want to be without a long snapper, obviously. but that is a question that's easy to second guess in 2020 hindsight. Point is they need some help in that room.
Starting point is 00:28:00 They need to get healthy in that room. Hopefully this is a week for Chris Jenkins. That would be a shot in the arm because right now is just Zach Carter and J. Tufelli, as far as we know. And that is not going to cut it against one of the more explosive running teams in the NFL that the Bengals are hosting on Monday night football this week. Yeah, it's so thin, man. I hope, honestly, what do you think?
Starting point is 00:28:27 I think it would probably be Lawrence Guy. I know Huggins is younger. He's bounced around. I bet guy can show a little bit more. Maybe I'm dead wrong. Maybe he's just washed. But I think you had a veteran and you're probably looking at five, like you promote one or you elevate one from the practice squad,
Starting point is 00:28:50 even if Chris Jenkins is healthy or healthy enough to play, you probably have five defensive tackles. I mean, Washington wants to run the ball. That's something they want to do. You can't just go out there and get dominated in the trenches. So, yeah, I would not be shocked if they have five defensive tackles potentially active on Monday. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:29:09 It's a bad spot to have the quantity of injuries they've had with the quality of that unit in the first place where we already had questions even when it was a healthy group. and we'll see if they can start to write the ship here with a pretty good running game led by an athletic quarterback. They'll get at least a warm up for Lamar Jackson a couple weeks later in that game that looks like it's going to matter a whole lot in week five with both of these teams. Ravens Bengals starting 0 and two and both of these teams presumed to be at the top of the AFC North and set of the bottom. But I will say, at least for the Bengals, they're maybe one game worse. It's 0 and 2.
Starting point is 00:29:54 That's bad. People talk about the Owen Tombstone. I heard that this week, kind of like that. O and two teams have a tough time making it into the playoffs. But really, the Bengals are one game worse than we thought they would be at this point. And that's bad. Don't get me wrong, but it's only one game. So plenty of time to get things right.
Starting point is 00:30:09 And that's just a little tangent that has nothing to do with the DTs. We expect them to sign one and hopefully it helps. Hopefully it makes a difference. But it's tough in season when you're signing defensive tackles out the street. And we've unfortunately lived through this before with this team. Callias Campbell, why didn't you just go get him? So many options. So many options.
Starting point is 00:30:32 Why didn't you just keep DJ Reader is something a lot of people are saying right now. And I get it. That's fair. It is fair, especially because it's like where did that money go? Like, wait at that. We don't talk. Oh, man. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:30:47 It's not like they put it towards a Jamar extension. It went to Evan McPherson, I guess. Anyway, that's going to do it for this. Evan's not catching straight. They should have extended that. That's not astray. It's just that's where it went. That's the only money they spent.
Starting point is 00:31:03 I'm not taking a shot at Evan McPherson. I know you're not. I know you're not. It's just. Anyway. We got a crossover for you. you coming up tomorrow. We'll be talking.
Starting point is 00:31:14 DJ Reader and Callias Campbell. Oh, man. We'll be chatting with David from Lockdown Commanders to get the latest on what's going on with the Washington football team. That'll be your next show here on Lockdown Bengals. Until then, thanks for listening to this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast, Hootay.
Starting point is 00:31:33 And have a good one.

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