WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.399 --> 00:00:12.279 It's the Lockdown Podcast Network, Your team every day. Introducing locked On Sports 2 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:16.640 Today, the first ever twenty four to seven live sports channel on YouTube. 3 00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:20.960 Go beyond the headlines with the local insiders and league experts of the Locked On 4 00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:26.399 Podcast Network, covering today's biggest stories from the court, to the field, 5 00:00:26.519 --> 00:00:30.760 to the rink and to the diamond. Are winning roster of hosts deliver all 6 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:35.719 the big game coverage, in depth analysis, and expert insights that sports fans 7 00:00:35.799 --> 00:00:41.399 prave. It's NonStop sports for the non stop fan watch Locked On Sports Today, 8 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:47.920 live on YouTube, local experts, biggest stories every day. Let's break 9 00:00:47.960 --> 00:00:52.719 down the major changes the Cincinnati Bengals have put into their offense with Jake Browning 10 00:00:52.759 --> 00:00:57.200 at quarterback and the great results they've gotten the last two weeks. You are 11 00:00:57.280 --> 00:01:02.840 Locked On Bengals, your daily since Nattie Bengals podcast, part of the Locked 12 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:23.799 On Podcast Network, Your team every day, Bengals fans and welcome to another 13 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:27.599 episode of the Lockdown Bengals Podcast. I'm your host, Jake lets Go. 14 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:32.959 He's your host, James Rapine. We're part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. 15 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:37.239 You can find us on YouTube or anywhere you get your podcasts. Every day. 16 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:40.879 If you want to stay up to date, is Bengals make this playoff 17 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:46.120 push playoffs. That's right. We're going to talk about the playoffs later in 18 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:49.480 this episode and get into some of the scenarios. We're also going to talk 19 00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:55.400 a lot about what's changed with this offense and reset the conversation around the coaching 20 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:59.719 staff a little bit where it was in recent weeks, where it is todays 21 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:02.719 talk about with this team right now. Today's episode brought to you by the 22 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:07.400 game Time app. You can use promo code lockdown NFL for twenty dollars off 23 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:10.960 your first purchase of tickets and next time you need them last minute tickets, 24 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:16.080 lowest price guaranteed. And James, let's start with the evolution of this offense 25 00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:20.360 with Jake running at quarterback, because I think we all can agree at this 26 00:02:20.439 --> 00:02:27.479 point there are significant differences we've seen the last two weeks. There are significant 27 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:32.840 changes, changes that have certainly helped him and made this offense it's fun to 28 00:02:32.919 --> 00:02:38.560 watch as it's been or put it like this, because I actually, come 29 00:02:38.599 --> 00:02:39.639 on, let's be honest here, it's been really fun. And people are 30 00:02:39.639 --> 00:02:44.800 comparing Joe Burrow and Jake Browning and the offenses and all of those things. 31 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:47.039 They were really, really good before Burrow went down. They had a lead 32 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:53.120 on arguably the top team in the league, and they beat the top They 33 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:54.639 either beat the top team in the league or had a lead against the top 34 00:02:54.639 --> 00:03:00.520 team in the league when Burrow was in. So whatever they were doing was 35 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:02.479 working. And I'm referring to San Francisco forty nine Ers and then the Baltimore 36 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:07.759 Ravens. But Jake Browning isn't Joe Burrow. And we said that going into 37 00:03:07.800 --> 00:03:12.800 the Steelers game, and it took the coaching staff a week. It took 38 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:19.199 Jake Browning a week. It took this franchise a week to adjust, to 39 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:23.319 make the changes necessary or to go to the part of the playbook that fit 40 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:29.000 Browning best and fit this offense best. And it's clearly working. Thirty four 41 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:31.560 points two straight games. The offense won them the game in Jacksonville. The 42 00:03:31.639 --> 00:03:36.919 defense was great on Sunday against the Colts, but the offense held up their 43 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:40.520 end of the bargain as well and gave them an early lead, which obviously 44 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:45.439 helps the defense a ton, helps this team a ton, So this offensive 45 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:47.159 staff deserves a lot of credit. We can get into that, but I 46 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:53.560 know you pulled some stats. So how different is this offense right now compared 47 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:58.879 to what we saw with Joe Burrow From a numbers perspective, you can pick 48 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:04.360 a staff a split and it significantly changed the last three weeks and compared to 49 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:08.199 what they were doing with Joe Burrow. The most obvious thing, and we've 50 00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:13.919 talked about this is the dismissal of empty stuff that they love doing with Joe 51 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:16.399 Burrow. The purpose of that, of course, is to flood the coverage 52 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:19.720 with concepts, and Joe Burrow does what he does. He's very good at 53 00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:24.639 identifying this is the concept that I need to read out on this play because 54 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:26.920 this is a coverage I'm getting and this is a guy that's going to be 55 00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:30.040 open. That's what Joe Burrow's very good at. That's why he likes empty 56 00:04:30.120 --> 00:04:32.759 so much. It lets him distribute the ball quickly, accurately, get the 57 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:36.720 ball to his playmakers on time, sometimes in space, give them yard after 58 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:43.560 catch opportunities with his elite ball placement. Jake Browning doesn't really do all of 59 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:46.560 that at the level Joe Burrow does, and you wouldn't expect him to write 60 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:53.040 he's a backup quarterback, and he certainly has his strengths, but that type 61 00:04:53.079 --> 00:04:58.720 of quick processing of full field reads and concepts where he has to pick aside 62 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:02.120 based on a look. He can go through full progression, but you don't 63 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:04.279 want him to do it the whole game. You don't want him to live 64 00:05:04.279 --> 00:05:08.120 in it. You don't want to live in it out of empty in particular. 65 00:05:08.199 --> 00:05:11.439 So that's one big difference that we can just eyeball test. But you 66 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:15.439 look at play action. For example, the last three weeks against the Steelers, 67 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:19.839 eighteen point eight percent of the Bengals dropbacks for play action. In week 68 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:26.000 thirteen against the Jaguars, noticeable uptick right we saw those boots. We noticed 69 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:30.480 it up to twenty seven and a half percent in week fourteen. Fewer pass 70 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:35.720 attempts overall, but play action comprising forty two point three percent of the Bengals 71 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:41.600 passing attempts this week against the Colts in week fourteen. Similar you look at 72 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:45.839 screens from six point three percent to seventeen and a half percent, big jump 73 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:51.079 right from twelve to thirteen, another jump up to twenty three percent in week 74 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:58.360 fourteen. Again, fewer overall snaps, but play action and screens two numbers 75 00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:00.480 to start, and I have two more that you can look at and see 76 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:05.680 from a stat perspective in addition to those eye test things. Significant shifts in 77 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:12.519 a clear direction the last three weeks. And it's interesting because there's a lot 78 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:15.839 of people that have said, all right, well, this offense is completely 79 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:20.839 like rebuilt itself looks completely different, and it looks different, and those stats 80 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:25.800 back that up. But these are topics, not necessarily the screen game, 81 00:06:26.600 --> 00:06:29.839 but the play action stuff. We talked about it this offseason. We've have 82 00:06:29.959 --> 00:06:35.040 multiple shows going back to OTA's watching Burrow work under center. Like I think 83 00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:42.639 that it was a goal of theirs to be more diverse and maybe less empty 84 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:45.759 all the time. And part of it, a big part of why they 85 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:47.759 weren't especially early in the season, I think had to do with that calf 86 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:51.920 injury for Burrow. So to do it now and implement it, I think 87 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:57.040 it makes a ton of sense. Clearly, Browning is comfortable and you just 88 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:01.759 want to make life easier, and you go way back if you want to 89 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:06.480 go to the Mark Sanchez versus the Bengals two thousand and nine playoff game at 90 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:12.279 pay Corps where awful, awful game. I hated it right, broke my 91 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:16.079 heart at the time, but they made life easier Mark Sanchez. That's why 92 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:19.600 he made it to back to back AFC title games. Really good defense, 93 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:24.680 running the ball, play action, easy decisions, make a couple big throws 94 00:07:24.680 --> 00:07:30.439 each game. And this Bengals coaching staff they've shown that they can do that 95 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:35.120 with Browning, and Browning as show that he's capable of making some big throws, 96 00:07:35.160 --> 00:07:41.319 throws that are necessary plays in important moments and key spots, and so 97 00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:46.240 thus far it feels pretty sustainable. I don't know if the numbers will stay 98 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:49.000 there right, Like the screen passes, I don't think they're going to average, 99 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:54.639 you know, one screen per game that goes for thirty nine or more 100 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:57.399 yards, which is the case over the past three games going back to the 101 00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:03.480 Pittsburgh game. I think that's unrealistic. But they've found ways to get the 102 00:08:03.800 --> 00:08:07.160 ball of their playmakers in space and to make Browning's life easier, and he 103 00:08:07.160 --> 00:08:11.480 should only get more and more comfortable, not less comfortable. So it's it's 104 00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:13.120 great that they've had that to lean on. Yeah, the screen game in 105 00:08:13.160 --> 00:08:18.120 particular is something that I think is very matchup specific. They have these defenses 106 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:22.240 the last couple of weeks that are sending guys up field. They're very aggressive 107 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:26.120 on the defensive line. The defenses will be different going forward. For example, 108 00:08:26.279 --> 00:08:31.480 Gus Bradley blitz maybe like two times the entire game. He doesn't blitz 109 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:39.840 Flores defense coming up Minnesota gonna blitz the heck out of Jake Browning next week, 110 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:43.080 So there will be some differences in that way and blitzaying, hey, 111 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:46.799 you can catch the blitz with the screen at the right time, you're going 112 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:50.039 to have a big gain off it. Just for a reference, the last 113 00:08:50.120 --> 00:08:54.960 couple of weeks, the play action rates twenty seven and a half percent forty 114 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:58.600 two. This week screen rate seventeen and a half percent, twenty three percent. 115 00:08:58.679 --> 00:09:03.720 With Joe Burrow. Play action rate this season was twenty point six percent, 116 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:07.320 So we're a little bit higher the last couple of weeks with Jake Brining 117 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:09.519 to a lot higher. This week with Jake Brining's screen rate with Burrow at 118 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:16.120 quarterback was twelve and a half percent. And I think the biggest thing in 119 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:18.840 the screen game is they've been much more effective with the screens. They're not 120 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:24.399 necessarily running them a ton more, although this week they did. There's a 121 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:30.399 little bit of an uptick in usage of screens and a big uptick and effectiveness 122 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:33.720 of the screen game the last two weeks, and I said, I have 123 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:37.600 two more numbers, and some of this is going to lead to a conversation 124 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:41.159 about where we are on this coaching staff and their ability to adapt, as 125 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:48.000 I think they've proven that yet again they do in fact have that capability, 126 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:54.720 they have that flexibility in their toolkit. 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But we're also gonna have 162 00:12:35.559 --> 00:12:39.519 to talk about this coaching stuff, right the flexibility they've shown, the major 163 00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:43.279 philosophical changes we've seen from them the last two weeks. What do you think? 164 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:50.399 First things first, the same people that came with the energy of what 165 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:56.399 is Zach Taylor's record without Joe Burrow, and I get it because it was 166 00:12:56.519 --> 00:13:00.799 ugly without Joe Burrow. But this team is that as they were in twenty 167 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:03.039 nineteen. Look at that roster. It would have been ugly with any coach 168 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:07.600 in twenty twenty. I had my doubts, but Zach Taylor's done a lot 169 00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:13.080 since then, and some people anytime there's a struggle, morph back into that 170 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:18.399 mindset of twenty twenty. It's time to evolve. It's time to evolve Zach 171 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:24.759 Taylor conversation and admit that, Hey, winning season in twenty one and oh 172 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:28.600 wait, not only did they get to or win the AFC North, but 173 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:31.840 they get to a Super Bowl that builds up equity. Then they get to 174 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:35.799 the AFC Title Game after winning the AFC North again. Okay, they're not 175 00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:37.320 going to win the division this year. No team has won it three straight 176 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:41.840 years. But despite that, they're seven and six and we're talking about playoffs, 177 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:46.799 even though Joe Burrow has been out for three games now and was limited 178 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:52.639 to start the season. So Zach Taylor deserves credit for evolving, for figuring 179 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:58.919 this out and putting a more than competent effective offense out there and explosive all 180 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:03.720 out there, and Brian Callahan took a lot of heat too, and he 181 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:07.200 deserves credit, and so does Frank Pollack. Because Frank Pollack was it felt 182 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:13.759 like, from a fan base standpoint, Scapegoat was what everyone was pointing at 183 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:18.039 and looking at. Well, if you want to point out how he's the 184 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:22.080 run game coordinator when the run game stinks and they really struggle to run the 185 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:26.519 ball eight times for sixteen yards against the Steelers, let's point it out now, 186 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:30.799 because the past two weeks, the offenses ran through the running backs and 187 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:33.519 a lot of it and has produced a bunch of explosive plays and is a 188 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:37.480 big reason why the offense has scored thirty plus points in each of the past 189 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:41.840 two games. So I'm not saying it's perfect. I'm not saying they're going 190 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:45.000 to be great on Saturday against the Vikings. Hell, I'm no fortune teller. 191 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:50.120 What I can tell you is that there are people that just jump off 192 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:52.840 the moment it gets ugly for a second, and then I don't think they 193 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:56.399 give proper credit. And that's fine if you want to jump off and be 194 00:14:56.480 --> 00:15:01.399 critical. I'm not even debating that. That's not really the point. The 195 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:05.399 point is now they're coaching their asses off and they deserve credit, and this 196 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:09.039 offensive staff should mention Dan Pitcher too, because they're doing a great job. 197 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:13.960 It's been effective. Jake seems comfortable, this offense is working, Joe Mixon 198 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:18.159 has been as effective as he's been all season. Like wherever you look, 199 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:22.240 it makes a ton of sense and it's working. So the coaching staff top 200 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:26.039 to bottom deserves a ton of credit on the offensive side for figuring this out 201 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:28.759 without Joe Burrow. Yeah, you take it where you can get it in 202 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:33.080 the last couple of weeks against some defenses that aren't necessarily world beaters, and 203 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:37.360 it will be a little bit harder down the stretch. They play three very 204 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:41.320 very good defenses in their last few games of the season, finishing with Steelers, 205 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:45.039 Chiefs, Browns. Those are three of the better defenses in the AFC, 206 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:46.960 if not the best defense in the league of the Browns, which they 207 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:50.519 have been really for the entire year. So they have their work cut out 208 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:54.279 for them, and we might be revisiting this again in a few weeks if 209 00:15:54.279 --> 00:16:00.480 they can't figure out some answers against those good defenses as well. But they 210 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:03.799 do deserve credit, I think for being adaptable and This is what I was 211 00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:08.360 talking about earlier this year when I said they figured it out, and they 212 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:12.840 have. They have a track record, a consistent track record at this point 213 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:18.360 of figuring it out. Sometimes it's frustrating because they've had these slow starts and 214 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.879 it's like, why is it taking so long? Why can't they figure this 215 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:22.480 out at the start of the season. Why are they getting off to these 216 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:26.080 slow starts and digging themselves these holes? This year, I think a lot 217 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:30.279 of it was to do with Joe Burrow's calf, and I think that we 218 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:33.879 would have seen way more of this play action game earlier this year, and 219 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:37.440 probably more of the boot game as well as Joe Burrow specifically worked on his 220 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:42.879 athleticism and being on the move and throwing on the run this offseason to prepare 221 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:45.960 for this NFL season. I think we would have seen a lot of this 222 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:52.080 stuff if not for that calf injury. So the early season grade is around 223 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:56.799 them not adapting properly. Maybe they should have played Jake Browning. I don't 224 00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:59.759 know, we'll never know that. That's like hindsight analysis that I don't really 225 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:06.640 think think is worth the time. But they should get consistent credit for their 226 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:11.400 track record of figuring things out over the course of the season, making changes, 227 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:15.599 being adaptable, and finding the right buttons to push, whether that's taking 228 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:18.440 the stress off the offensive line, going from a team that was about league 229 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:22.799 average and true pass sets to the last three weeks being thirty five and a 230 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:26.680 half twenty six percent and twenty nine percent in true pass sets, meaning those 231 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:33.559 are the ones that aren't quick game play action boot RPO where they have to 232 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:37.200 sit there and just block a straight drop back. They're not doing that as 233 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.960 much anymore with Jake Browning as they did with Joe Burrow. They're taking the 234 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:42.000 stress off the offensive line. They found ways to do that. They've shown 235 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:47.759 that they have that kind of offense in their repertoire, and maybe overall it's 236 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:52.039 like a twenty five percent different offense. I don't think it's like this night 237 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:56.200 and day entirely different offense or running with Jake Browning, but that change is 238 00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:59.960 enough for it to be very effective, and I think to give them something 239 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:03.200 to consider when Joe Burrow returns in the future too. No doubt, I 240 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:07.519 think that there are certainly pieces that will translate that they'll use with Burrow. 241 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:12.880 I do I'm going to go down the hindsight path because I know people will. 242 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:15.519 I just want to address this and be very very clear of how I 243 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:22.279 stand. There is not a world where anybody would have played Jake Brown and 244 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:25.920 going into that Cleveland game because everyone thought Burrow was close to one hundred percent, 245 00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:30.400 everybody including Joe all right. Then in the Baltimore game, still good 246 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:36.279 to go. He played really well in the second half before re injuring it 247 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:41.880 season on the line eight days later, played pretty well against the Rams and 248 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:45.519 they won. And then you had the awful outing against Tennessee, no doubt 249 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:49.160 about it. But are you benching him after the Rams win? Probably not. 250 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:52.880 You didn't know it was going to look like that against Tennessee, and 251 00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:56.240 then that's when the wind streak got rolling, and they got rolling as a 252 00:18:56.279 --> 00:19:00.720 team that's starting in Arizona. So there was never really unless you would have 253 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:03.680 said it he wasn't healthy going into the season, which no one thought. 254 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:07.240 No one thought he was at sixty percent or whatever you want to say going 255 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:11.440 into the year. Then I think that the hindsight is what it is, 256 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:15.200 and people will go back and say, oh, what you should have They 257 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:17.960 shouldn't have because it would have taken. The other part is they it would 258 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:21.759 have taken Browning a few weeks to get comfortable, would have taken this offense 259 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:26.279 a few weeks to adjust and then what So I think they made the right 260 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:30.920 call there, even though people might go back and say otherwise, that said, 261 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:37.720 yeah, it's clearly working. The credit deserves to be there, and 262 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:41.400 I think people should be able to I certainly did. I just did, 263 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:45.440 and you probably feel the same way, even if you don't want to go 264 00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:49.960 down the hindsight path. Is they clearly deserve credit for in the moment after 265 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:53.319 the devastating injury, after an ugly loss to Pittsburgh, where it felt like 266 00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:56.839 things were collapsing and it was just going to be over and we were going 267 00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:03.319 to do mock draft Mondays within a week, flipping the script. And now 268 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:06.680 they're seven and six after being five and six, and in a twelve day 269 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:08.599 span, Jake, if they can handle business against Minnesota, which isn't gonna 270 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:15.039 be easy, But if they can handle business against Minnesota, you win three 271 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:18.720 games in twelve days. That's insane. And yet it's what the Bengals have 272 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:22.599 a chance to do with Jake Browning on Saturday. That's right, we'll finish 273 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:26.880 up the conversation including a look at that playoff picture for today's episode coming up 274 00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:33.400 next. Today's show is brought to you by door Dash. Door Dash, 275 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:37.640 Well, it's my go to. The weather is really really cold out right 276 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:41.440 now. It's like mid thirties in the afternoon. That's the high. I 277 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.920 hate it. I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm a Cincinnati native, 278 00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:48.480 lived here for essentially my entire life. 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Does Lockdown Podcast Network have 295 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:56.599 a show for you? It's Renner Ranked NFL expert. Mike Renner brings you 296 00:21:56.640 --> 00:22:02.599 a smart, insightful and fun aplats to the biggest NFL stories every day, 297 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:07.480 ranking anything from NFL position units to college draft prospects to the best foods to 298 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:11.799 serve at a tailgate. Mike Renner has all the rankings for the true football 299 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:17.680 fan who loves everything about the sport. Available on YouTube or wherever you get 300 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:25.000 your podcasts. Part of the Lockdown Podcast networks your team every day. Last 301 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:27.680 thoughts here on the coaching staff and then we'll talk about those playoff scenarios. 302 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:34.079 Defense also defensive staff at least for one week. Lou An Rumo's guys and 303 00:22:34.119 --> 00:22:37.799 lou Anna Rumo deserve credit for the performance against Indianapolis Colts, and they will 304 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:41.759 need more of that down the stretch at least, is my belief. Maybe 305 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:48.759 not against the Minnesota Vikings, who looked dysfunctional. I actually didn't see how 306 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:52.680 that game ended, but hey, one, three enough and they won three 307 00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:55.839 nothing. Are you kidding me? Against the raid I mean, I know 308 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:59.599 the Vaders can rush a passer, but come on, hey, hey, 309 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:03.440 I'm not taking them lightly though. No, I'm just not. But the 310 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:07.160 last few games against the Bears they scored ten. Against the Raiders they scored 311 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:11.039 three. The defense all is a job to do, but Minnesota needs to 312 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:15.839 find some answers too. We'll talk with Luke about that game coming up in 313 00:23:15.880 --> 00:23:18.400 the near future. But Steelers, Chiefs, Browns teams with fierce defenses of 314 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:22.960 their own. The defense for the Bengals will need to answer in kind for 315 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:27.440 the Bengals to necessarily have their best shot at winning those games. Barring the 316 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:34.559 offense, I think exceeding expectations against good defenses. The last thing I'll say 317 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:41.079 about this on the offensive coaches is I don't think that this change I kind 318 00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:45.200 of hinted at it is necessarily super radical what they're doing with Jake Browning. 319 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:51.400 They're incorporating more concepts as Zach Taylor came from in the Sean McVay offensive, 320 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:57.079 Brian Callahan came from with his Gruden influence coaching tree. More of these boots, 321 00:23:57.079 --> 00:24:03.160 more play action, this is stuff, and more diverse personnel groupings too. 322 00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:07.319 They're using two tight ends more, I think in the last couple of 323 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:11.680 weeks with Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson and Mitchell Wilcox getting the majority of the 324 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:17.000 playing time. Actually this week Irv Smith getting the least naps for any tight 325 00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:21.559 end, So that's an interesting note. But this is just modernizing the offense. 326 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:26.880 Evolving the offense probably the next step for the offense, and it's something 327 00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:30.920 that I think should be easy to incorporate with Joe Burrow in the future as 328 00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:33.400 well, taking a little bit off his plate, taking more of those easy 329 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:38.039 buttons. And I don't think it's a wholesale change. This is why, 330 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:41.039 if you've talked to me about this on Twitter, I've resisted the idea that 331 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:45.839 they can just quote unquote run this offense for Joe Burrow, but you do 332 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:48.759 need to take a lot of elements from it. It's a balance they need 333 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:57.400 to strike of letting Burrow play to his strengths and also using offensive design to 334 00:24:57.559 --> 00:25:00.160 their benefit, which is something that we I've clearly seen in the last three 335 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:04.000 weeks. They know how to do and it's just finding the right buttons to 336 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:08.359 push at the right time and getting into that rhythm in the future when it's 337 00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:12.920 Joe Burrow who can do way more for you than Jake Broden Camp. And 338 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:18.079 I think that if there is a blessing in the Burrow injury, it might 339 00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:23.240 be that that this offense long term can hit a gear and evolve into something 340 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:26.400 that we haven't seen yet. And there'll be plenty of time to discuss that. 341 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:33.519 But this coaching staff, they've been forced to evolve at least a bit 342 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:37.880 or adjust, and we've seen them adjust over the years, and so I 343 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:41.440 think you can only grow from that. And by the way, last thing, 344 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:45.240 Jake Browning, he is restricted next year and will be a Bengal. 345 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:48.079 So if anyone says, oh my god, he's gonna get paid elsewhere, 346 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:51.480 I've gotten that a lot. I think a lot of people have. Jake, 347 00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:55.119 you probably have to. So Jake Browning will be in Cincinnati next year. 348 00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:59.920 That's what he's essentially guaranteed. I think with these past couple of games, 349 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:03.039 there's no doubt about that. Not only as he restricted, he's an 350 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:07.880 exclusive rights free agent, which means that unless the Bengals go out and decide 351 00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:11.519 to reward him with a multi year contract and pay him, which will be 352 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:17.279 a little bit surprising considering their control, that's a less than one million dollar 353 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:21.640 salary for Jake Crowding next year. Just in case you're curious about the cap 354 00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:25.920 implications, restricted free agents will get paid a little bit more. Let's shift 355 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:29.640 gears. Let's take a quick look at this playoff picture yesterday when we were 356 00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:34.720 recording the Bengals for the seventh seed, and then the Broncos game finished and 357 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:40.319 the tiebreakers got all weird. There are six teams at seven and six currently 358 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:45.920 and all from the sixth seed in the playoffs, all the way down to 359 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:51.640 the Buffalo Bills, who, after beating the Kansas City Chiefs, are rewarded 360 00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:57.160 with the eleventh spot in the playoff rankings, which is actually just one behind 361 00:26:57.160 --> 00:27:03.319 the Bengals. The Bengals dropped for seven to ten after the Broncos win, 362 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:07.359 because what ended up happening was you jumped into a four way tiebreaker for that 363 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:12.279 seven seed, and instead of it being a head to head Colts Bengals tiebreaker, 364 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:17.680 it turned into a four way tiebreaker using conference win percentage, where the 365 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:25.480 Bengals are three and six and pretty far behind in that tiebreaker with those teams. 366 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:30.440 Yeah, it's it's a giant cluster. Let's call it what it is. 367 00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:34.720 If you had to rank the Bengals games from like most important to least 368 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:40.319 important, Saturday is the least important, which on the surface you could say 369 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:44.519 because of the AFC, but just where the Steelers are, where the Browns 370 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:49.559 are winning those two games is just so huge for their playoff chances in having 371 00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:53.720 a shot. But you got to get three, They have to get three 372 00:27:53.839 --> 00:28:00.000 somewhere. If you get four, well then you better book those playoff tickets 373 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:03.240 go because they're going to the playoffs. It's like ninety nine percent that they're 374 00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:08.480 in if they went out, and I think three or four is realistic. 375 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:14.519 But they are going to have to evolve a bit in how they I don't 376 00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:17.160 think they're going to score thirty in Pittsburgh. I think that's tough to do, 377 00:28:18.119 --> 00:28:22.000 or thirty against the Browns in Week eighteen, or thirty in Arrowhead with 378 00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:23.440 Jick Brnnan. I think all three of those it's really really tough. So 379 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:30.319 this defense you mentioned the defense, I think the defense and lou probably knew 380 00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:33.640 it going into that game, and that's probably why they only gave up eight 381 00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:37.960 points And they could have given up twelve if the kicker showed up for the 382 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:40.920 cult. So even so, that's why they played the way they did. 383 00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:42.279 I bet, oh, are you counting the two point conversion? I was 384 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:45.160 like, how do we get to eight? And it's the two point conversion? 385 00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:48.400 I got it. Yeah, the defense will need to need to step 386 00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:52.079 up down the stretch, and it's it just speaks to the muddle middle of 387 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:55.279 the AFC this year that there's six teams at seven and six. They are 388 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:59.079 three more teams at eight and five, including the Jacksonville Jaguars who have lost 389 00:28:59.079 --> 00:29:02.160 to in a row, the Cleveland Browns who just named Joe Flacco their quarterback 390 00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:03.000 for the rest of the season. I mean, we were really gonna have 391 00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:10.799 Joe Flacco and defense again, I mean, that's the story we've seen before. 392 00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:15.559 But these are the teams ahead of the Bengals, where the AFC just 393 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:21.119 looks fallible. Baltimore Ravens needed a punt return touchdown in overtime to beat the 394 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:25.319 Rams at home yesterday. Not taking anything away from the Rams, but they're 395 00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:32.759 currently six and seven, so it's you understand why their mentality in the building 396 00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:37.000 is like get to the playoffs. Anything could happen if they catch a heater 397 00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:40.839 at the right time, if they can play well in these games any given 398 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:45.440 Sunday. I think that's very true in the NFL right now, But the 399 00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:48.960 rest of the games are all important. Like you said, I think they 400 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:52.039 need at least three. There is a scenario technically where I think nine and 401 00:29:52.119 --> 00:29:56.440 eight gets in, but it's not a scenario you want to live in. 402 00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:00.960 If you're the Bengals, three give you a pretty good shot. You still 403 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:04.519 need a little bit of help, but it's not like you're you have crazy 404 00:30:04.599 --> 00:30:08.759 asks. The one other thing that's not in their favor is I think their 405 00:30:08.839 --> 00:30:15.079 schedule is just harder than some of the other teams in the mix here, 406 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:18.000 not all of them, I think. I think some of them have tough 407 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:22.480 schedules too, But you're looking at a team that already has played the hardest 408 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:27.519 schedule in the AFC this year, has the second highest now strength of victory 409 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:33.720 in the AFC, third highest my apologies, third highest strength of victory in 410 00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:37.079 the AFC. And that schedule doesn't get easier down the stretch for the Bengals, 411 00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:40.759 and so it will be tough, but the path is there, and 412 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:44.480 in a sense, they really do still control their own destiny if they can 413 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:48.000 win out. Oh for sure, no, they do. That phrase still 414 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:52.200 works. The two most important games are the division games, yes, and 415 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:56.319 just looking at the way the percentages swing, we don't know what's going to 416 00:30:56.359 --> 00:31:00.599 happen. Things change really really quick. But getting that game in Pittsburgh is 417 00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:06.559 such a huge, huge, huge opportunity. And at the same time, 418 00:31:06.599 --> 00:31:08.359 it's like you look back, You're like, man, if they had just 419 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:11.720 played a little bit better against Pittsburgh a few weeks ago, it wouldn't feel 420 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:15.440 like this. They would feel they would be in the playoffs as of now, 421 00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:22.759 and there wouldn't be really zero from margin for error because they have roughly 422 00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:26.559 if they go two and two down the stretch, and those two wins are 423 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:32.000 against the Steelers and Browns, the two most important games. You only have 424 00:31:32.039 --> 00:31:34.680 a thirteen percent chance of getting in, So it's you need a lot to 425 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:37.039 break your way. If you only go two and two down the stretch here, 426 00:31:37.640 --> 00:31:41.880 it's gonna be tough. But they're interesting and they're fun, and that's 427 00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:47.599 good news for everybody who likes to follow this team. I think that's what 428 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:52.680 you would hope for with Jake Jake Browning at quarterback, and so I'm still 429 00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:55.319 excited to watch the rest of the year. Tomorrow, we'll dive into the 430 00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:59.920 tape, then we'll get into the vikings with the first look with Luke come 431 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:04.759 up on Thursday. In a couple episodes from now tomorrow, Mike Santaggon will 432 00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:07.400 be with us to take a look at some of the film takeaways from the 433 00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:12.960 Bengals Week fourteen game. Until then, thanks for listening to this episode of 434 00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:17.920 the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Who Day and Having Them. James Allen dot Com 435 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:23.240 is the online destination to easily design a customized engagement ring and save up to 436 00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:28.279 fifty percent compared to traditional stores. You pick a diamond, whether it's lab 437 00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:32.319 created or Earth created. 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No national fluff, You get 445 00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:07.519 the real story from the Lockdown experts who are with the team every day. 446 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:15.359 Put it on your calendar every Monday on Lockdown NFL Lockdown Podcast Network, your 447 00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:22.680 team every day the Lockdown NFL Podcast. The NFL Playoffs are coming and there's 448 00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:27.359 so much left to be decided. Can the Dolphins, Ravens or Jags unseat 449 00:33:27.400 --> 00:33:30.200 the Chiefs in the AFC? Well, the Lions are cowboys getting the Eagles 450 00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:35.200 way in the NFC. Locked On NFL will keep you up to date and 451 00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:39.680 informed on all the big stories across the NFL. Listen to Locked On NFL 452 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:45.640 available on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. 453 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:47.640 Your team every day