Bengals Booth Podcast: Going Through Changes

The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by Prime Sport, the official fan, travel and hospitality partner of the Cincinnati Bengals. And here's a quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, or pod Bean. It's the greatest thing since having a calculator on your phone. I remember the first calculator I

ever saw. My stepfather bought it for his business and it was the size and weight of a brick and it was expensive. Now, anytime I need to do quick math, like figuring out a tip at a restaurant or my son's on base percentage and not hold baseball. All I have to do is use the calculator on my phone, A useful invention right in the palm of your hand. I guess that's why they call it handy. Now let's

get to football. There are many great things to watch on NFL Game Pass, currently available for free on NFL dot com until July thirty first, and one of the best shows is called Film Session. On it, co hosts Brian Baldinger and Kurt Warner sit down with one of the NFL's top players for an in depth film study session that gives viewers a look at what it takes to make a player one of the best at his position. Baldinger is a prominent analyst for NFL Network and joined

me recently to discuss the Bengals. Brian, let's start with the player who has energized this fan base. What do you think the Bengals are getting in Joe Burrow. They're getting a natural Robert Redford in the natural. I mean, I've never seen anybody play college football the way Joe Burrow did a year ago against the country's best team's

week in week out. He was sensational. And the big difference was when Joe Brady came from New Orleans last year, is he recognized how quickly he goes through his progressions and it was a strength. And from that he was basically able to get five wide receivers or five receivers out in the route and let him decide where to go with the ball and limited what teams could do in the pass rush in the blitz game, and he was just deadly accurate and his decision making was spot on.

They're getting one of the best college prospects to ever come out, and there's a lot to be excited about there. We're talking to NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger. How does his potential compare to what's been solid play over the last nine years from Andy Dalton. I don't know exactly. I mean Andy Dalton, you know, won the division, he went to the playoffs five years in a row. We know what his playoff record was. But they were a

very successful team for much of Andy Dalton's tenure. He was a great leader, he knew where to go with the ball. They had pretty good drafts back then, and there's a lot of stability, uh something Cincinnati hasn't had recently, so I don't want to compare him to anybody yet. I mean, Andy Dalton was a real pro and it has a chance to be continue to be a real prom He just knew how to conduct himself, how to handle himself, how to run a football team. And that's

what Joe, you know, that's that's his initial job. I mean, obviously he's got to go out and perform and play at a high level. We got to see how quickly he can do that right now. But I don't I don't really want to compare him to Anny Dalton. Look, Joe Burrow doesn't have the strongest arm. I did a football camp with Sam Darnold this year and they're training together in California, and he was around him and he said that the arm isn't it's not Patrick Mahome's arm,

but it is an accurate arm. He knows where to put the ball, and so accuracy is more important than arms strength, and that's that's going to be the key. Can you convert third downs? Put the ball where you got to be able to put it on third down to convert and stay on the field. When you could do that, you're gonna win games. We're talking to former NFL offensive leman Brian Baldinger. What do you think the lack of OTAs and mini camps are going to mean

too Joe into the other rookie quarterbacks this year. Well, it's it's a huge roadblock for everybody like that. New staffs, young players, teams that are rebuilding, not to be able to get on the field and spend time together, get to know one another, get to know you know as a person, and then the timing on each other side of the ball. It's it's going to hamstring teams. And so I've said for a number of years because of how little teams played their starters in preseason that September

was the new August. Well it may. We may not see the timing that is necessary to really play at the high level until October. With a lot of teams this year, teams are going to struggle. I believe now you might have to look deep to find it, and to find the timing errors might not show up on the TV screen right away, but I think it's going to be there because football is a summation of a lot of moving parts, and if they're not all moving together,

in the right way. Things usually don't click real well. We're talking to Brian Baldinger. You can follow them on Twitter at Baldy NFL. After Joe Burrow Brian. The Bengals took T Higgins in the second round, linebacker Logan Wilson in the third. Three of their seven picks or linebackers, The only offensive lineman they selected was a Team of Energy out of Kansas in the sixth round. What did you think of their draft overall? Well, mate, T Higgins, can you line up along with Tyler Boyd and AJ

Green and John Ross? And you know, we know that you know, Ross has been injured a lot, We know that AJ Green didn't play last year. I think they've got a young player that they can develop, that can learn from a lot of those players I just mentioned. And you know, he certainly had success at Clemson. And I mean it was a deep wide receiver draft. You had to take one of them, and they did. I

think that Logan Wilson is a good prospect. They certainly need linebackers in every phase right now, especially with what they lost over the last two seasons. So they're gonna get an opportunity to play right away. A Kaman Denege played at Kansas. Probably play his best football this year,

you know, with the new coaching staff. But he certainly is a guy that you know, played on a team that struggled and he had to be really good because they were always behind and throwing the football, and so he got a lot of work at pass protection there at Kansas. Brian, you do mister fixed articles during the season on NFL dot Com where you address how teams can fix their weaknesses. So here's my question for mister fix it. How can the Bengals improve that offensive line? Well,

I mean it starts with getting Jonah Williams back. He didn't play last year. He was a first round pick, you know, I mean people thought he was a first round pick and he's got to go play like it now at a key position. They haven't really fixed that position, you know, for you know, since they lost a really good player three years ago. So it starts there. Look, I mean, can Billy Price, can he play like the number one pick he got beat out last year? Can he get back to what he was at Ohio State?

Can he be a starting NFL center? We got to find that out. I think, you know, I would try to get as much competition at Bobby Hart right tackle position as you can, you know, and try to try to get the best five guys out there. That's where it starts. It always starts up front. You're gonna get, you know, the first pick in the draft. You want to try to build the best wall possible, you know, try to get the best five guys up front, and the best five guys playing together as one up front.

That's where it starts. We're talking to NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger. You were an offensive lineman for more than a decade in the NFL. Speaking about Jonah Williams after missing his rookie year with a shoulder injury, are you concerned at all about his ability to come back and take over at left apple right away? Well, I mean, I'm you know, I'm out a doctor obviously, and i haven't seen, you know, how he rehabbed. But I've seen plenty of guys come back from injuries that age and

just play fine. I mean, I would just go by his youth, the fact that he has not had many injuries that he should be ready to go. I mean, most players make the biggest jump between the first and second year. The fact that he didn't play, he probably kind of editors as a rookie. But provided he's healthy, I mean, I expected to go out there and be what he was at Alabama, you know, a dominant player,

especially in the run game, Brian. The Bengals even't historically been a big spender and free agency, but this year they signed eight unrestricted free agents. They spent more than one hundred and thirty million bucks. What did that say to you? You got to be able to line up with twenty two starters and so you know, I think that you know, getting a DJ Reader is a guy that I don't think Gino Atkins has had next to.

I mean, Dj Reader is a dominant, dominant defensive tackle and he asked him a good pass rush too, just ask Quinton Nelson. I mean, I think he gives Quintin Nelson more trouble than anybody else out there. I mean, I think that will make Geno Atkins better. I mean, that's that's one player you know that they signed and I think can make an immediate difference. Trey Waynes has been a starter in this league. It's been a first

round pick. They eat corners right now, I'm still waiting for William Jackson third to play at a high, high level. I think he's got the ability to do it. I thought Marvin Lewis thought that he could be as good as anybody that had come into the league. So, I mean, I just mentioned two guys, but look, you've got to line up with twenty two starters. You've got to be competitive,

and you've got to create competition. And I think Zach Taylor is creating a competitive atmosphere just within its own team right now, and that's where it kind of starts. Let's do a Baldies breakdown of the AFC North. What do you think of the Ravens, Steelers and Brown's going into twenty twenty. Well, I mean, I think the Ravens

are in a different level right now. They certainly have built done a great job of building around Lamar Jackson has only been in the one hundred year history of the NFL, there's only been two unanimous MVP players, Tom Brady in two ten of Lamar Jackson last year. We haven't see anybody run the ball like that and really commanded offense the way Lamar did last year. And you know he's working with Markus Brown the entire off season

down the South Floor. They both from that neighborhood. And you look, Hollywood Brown didn't have an off season, didn't have a training camp with a foot injury. If he gets timing down with Hollywood Brown, the way they run the ball, I mean, they might be off the charts, just really good. They restocked the defense. They're the class of the SEC. North Pittsburgh. We got to see what the health of Ben Roethlisberger is. We know when he's

healthy in the lineup, Pittsburgh's a different offense. Defensively, they led the league in takeaways in his sacks. Those are two pretty good, you know, statistical categories to you know, to lead in. And I think Keimnis Stefanski is going to be a good fit with what he wants to do offensively, and I think it's going to benefit Baker Mayfield. I think the division got better and tougher and more

competitive this offseason. Yeah, unfortunately, I agree, Brian. This is the third year of the Film Session series that you do with Kurt Warner. For those who have not seen it, described film Session. We sit in a film room with star players and coaches around the NFL and we let them analyze their play within their scheme to us, and you know, I've done forty five of them now, Dan

and I keep learning from everybody. This week, we sit down with Amari Cooper, the number one receiver of the Dallas Cowboys, and he takes us through route running and what he does to get open and how he fits into the scheme and what they do, and it's eye opening of what he sees and the way that he

plays the game. Ste Find Gilmore was in the film room with me last year, the Defensive Player of the Year, And when you sit down and listen to Stefind Gilmore, you realize why he was a Defensive Player of the Year. I mean, just smart, intuitive, and they take their film studies very seriously and they take everything they learn and they apply it to the game, film out to the games, and it makes their job a lot easier on Sundays

when they do the work during a week. The first five episodes will air in primetime on NFL Network, and you can see all the episodes online on NFL Game Pass, NFL dot com slash game Pass, and the NFL is offering complimentary access to that through July thirty first. Brian have one more question. From your playing days. You played in Indianapolis with a quarterback who has drafted number one overall, who had a long career but not a particularly great

career in Jeff George. Based on that experience, what advice would you give Joe Burrow, knowing the kind of pressure he's going to face is the number one overall pick. To take your job extremely serious. It's the most important thing there is. The preparation week in week out cannot be undermined just how important it is. You're the leader of the whole team. Everybody's looking at you to help turn things around. I would just tell Joe to be a complete pro from day one. There are no off

days during the season. You can enjoy your off season in February, go enjoy the Pro Bowl, Go make the Pro Bowl, enjoy Las Vegas since it's now in Las Vegas. But take their job extremely serious. Be the leader of the team and lead by example. That's what I would tell Joe Burrow. That's what I think Jeff George could have been better at as talented as he was, he could have been a better leader, and he could have

prepared harder. It's good advice. Sounds like the type of person that Joe Burrow is coming into the NFL, and ultimately we'll see if he makes some of those Pro Bowls going forward. Brian, I appreciate you time looking forward to watching film Session on Saturday night and throughout the season,

and I hope you have a great twenty twenty. The pleasures all mine Laporta joining again in a joy Film Sessions A great show appreciated This Saturday night at eight NFL Network will They're a film Session show with Packers wide receiver Davante Adams and you can see all previous editions on NFL Game Pass. If you don't already subscribe, you can sign up for free access through July thirty

first at NFL dot com. Before we get to our next conversation, here's a quick reminder that you can take your Bengals prior to the next level in twenty twenty with an afficial Shold Bengals fan package from Prime Sport. The Bengals have a linebacker on their roster this year who earned a seventy six point six grade last year from the film watching gurus at Pro Football Focus. So

just how good is seventy six point six. Well, it was better than the grades earned by Pro Bowlers Bobby Wagner and Jalen Smith, as well as Devin Bush and Joe Schobert, among others. That linebacker is Josh Bindes, who signed a one year deal with the Bengals as a free agent after spending his first nine years in the league with Baltimore, Detroit and Arizona. Josh. I had linebackers coach Al Golden on my podcast a few weeks ago,

and here's what he had to say about you. Experienced, proven winner leader, very bright, a vocal leader of the line Struman. So I think from that standpoint, he brings a lot to the room. He's been tagnal in the standard that he setting and what he demands of the younger guys. So here's my question for you, how are you doing that when you haven't even met these guys

face to face. It's just being vocal, just in the meetings and just like uh from the beginning, Uh, Like I asked a million and one questions and I'm just like that, And if I don't know anything, I want to ask as many questions as possible so I can get a clear understanding what it is. And what asked of us and um, and just trying to you know, set the standard for the our room and just you know,

trying to bring everybody along. We've got some young guys in the room, so you know that they get involved quickly and and you know, got to be ready to play and be ready to go. So and uh, it's just it's the way the lead goes. It's you know, and I'm just in a position enough to you know, have so much experience and uh and you know, just one the past, all that knowledge as much as possible down to the younger guys. Do you relish the opportunity to be the veteran leader of this group? Oh yeah,

Oh yeah, for sure. I'm I just feel like it's I guess it's one of the natural things about me are just you know, very uh you know, forward and just you know, uh, just dictator at the same time and just knowing how to lead and just put the people in the right direction. And at the same time, I'm always open to listening and you never know where

great ideas come from. I don't turn out rookies from bad ideas or anything like that, because everybody has a great idea and you never turn your nose up at anything. And I think that's just you know, it's just called growth and evolving, knowing you can get lessons from everybody, no matter where they are in life. How challenging is it to learn a new defense without OTAs in mini camp, I think it's it's childhood. Depending on the kind of guy you are, I think a lot of guys have

different you know traits. Some guys maybe like learn better with you physically going in and some guys can pick it up easily by just you know, talking about it and seeing in here and there or you know, and it all depends on your learning style. And I think, uh, just so happens to uh, you know, the zoom meetings and anything like that. It's just you know, pivotal from a just a mental standpoint and just trying to remember and play everything together without having to physically do it.

And that thing is gonna make you that much of a better player, because when physically do it, that's gonna all tie together and make it all whole. And soon enough we'll get to that point of doing that. We're chatting with Bengals linebacker Josh Bynes. The season that you had last year is remarkable to me. You weren't in an NFL training camp. One Sunday in late September, You're playing golf. The next Sunday, You're starting at linebacker for

the Ravens against the Pittsburgh Steelers. And at the end of the year, if you had enough snaps to qualify. Pro Football Focus graded you as the eleventh best linebacker in the NFL. How was that possible? Honestly, just waiting on an opportunity, just taking one game at a time and just and being ready. One name is called I think this just I could credit to my trainer, Lillian after Malick. She's just done a great job working with me for the last six years or so, and I've

just been amazing. Just make sure I'm staying and ready and in shape and just prepared to, you know, whenever I got the opportunity to play, and just so having obviously I got a call and I was had to start and play with fifty somethings snapped my first game back, and uh, and I just think it's just you know, just some just very resilient and just looking forward to just always proving people wrong and and proving myself that

I can still play this game. I mentioned that Pro Football Focus great from last year two years ago with Arizona, they had you as the fourteenth best linebacker in the NFL. Are you playing your best football ever? And if so, why, I don't know. I just think everything you just started

to click and make sense more. And and I'm just taking care of my body so much, a lot, whole lot better than I obviously, you know, a younger guy, and just and just trying to make football makes sense, and just you know, trying how to do anything you know that's not asked to me, and just trying to do the best of my ability and and and that's just really isn't pretty much not doing too much. I just occurred it to a lot of studying and just you know, and just be being in the right position

and uh and just going and just playing football. I love this game to the end of the the end of time, and I'm just trying to give it my hole as while as long as I can play it, because I love it and as long as I feel good. My body feels great and amazing, so I want to continue playing it at a high level as much as possible. We're talking to linebacker Josh Bines, you spent your first three years in Baltimore playing with guys like Ray Lewis and Ed Reid. What did you learn from each of

those guys? Oh Man, just read is just about far. It's it's just super amazing just learning the game and just learn learning little little details as far as alignments and what kinds are ad and everything like that. I just try to remember those things when I'm studying film to look to give me clues, to give me a little knowledge, okay, what may happen, and you know what is about to happen before it actually happens. And obviously Ray as well, being in room him for two years.

It's just you know, knowing how to see things and knowing different types of running backs, receivers, tight ends. It's just knowing that you know pretty much studying and understanding your opponents weekend and wink out week week in and week out. It's just you know, it just makes it you know that much better, so it's easier and faster our game day. And of course you'll get new things here and there, but for the most part, you're gonna

get what you know what teams like to do. Josh, you won a National championship at Auburn and the Super Bowl in Baltimore in your second NFL season, You're the only player on the current roster with the Bengals with a Super Bowl ring. Does that give you added credibility with the rest of the guys. I never knew that, but I don't necessarily I don't know. I just think I think that's that's a good guy. I've never thought

of that. But that's the thing is just coach Zack and uh just trying to bring in against a winter culture to the team and bartering all from all over winning organizations and guys knowing how to play play the game the right way. And I think he's just trying to set a new standard for what we're trying to do an accomplish in Cincinnati. And I think we got the guys now to do some do some damage in the league, and we're just look looking forward to it.

And I'm looking forward to actually being around the guys physically and being able to get a facility and and you know, finally put it all together to work, because I know for sure we'll wait way better team this year than we were last and just can't wait to get started. Josh, the Bengals made a big splash and free agency. You're one of eight unrestricted free agents they signed. They spent more than one hundred and thirty million bucks.

What appealed to you about joining this organization just the fact that they're ready, you know, to win. And obviously we got to a barrow the first pig and then some of some great pigs and great linebackers as well, and it's just trying to you know, bring a different dynamic than what we what they had in the past.

I think this coach's first full time all season stuff like that, he know what he wants and he know he wanted to break it in and and that's what he's just setting stay in it from now because you know, at the end of the day, it's all by winning in this league, and it starts when we when we get back in training camp and this end of July and in one game at a time going forward after that, and uh, coach Zacher just looking forward to just to you know, prove that he's done a great job this

all season and season's going forward. You've spent four of your nine seasons in Baltimore, so you've obviously faced the Bengals many times. What was your impression about Cincinnati from the opposite sideline, So I was in press just as far as just you know, the transition of course, what

the coach is trying to do. And and I'll just impressed obviously Joe mixing up being on the Devons side of to see the officers so much and Mixing I told him after the end of the two times, played like you hell of a running back because he's like by far one of the top backs in the league and especially up and coming and gonna be a start in this league for sure. Uh it's now already a start in this league. Again, he just doesn't get a

recognition he deserves. And and I just you know, and finally, you know, being obviously in the same mock of Roman and you know, being able to you know, show that experience and you know stuff like that related to you know, the guys and you know, offensive side and just trying to you know what I mean, just trying to bring in some knowledge and abilities so we can all get on that same page. Because of the day, we're all trying to win games and that's all that matters. Is

it exciting? To be with this franchise as Joe Burrow comes aboard after the year he had last year at LSU. Oh. Yes, it's really exciting. I think we're all excited, especially you know, on the defensive side of the ball. We have some guys and we all can't can't wait to get together. I think Joe is Joe Burrow is definitely it's a hell of a quarterback and I'm so glad we have

got him. And uh, I just can't wait to see what he you know, what he has in stores for us this year and bringing to the dynamic to the offense. And I think we're all looking forward to it and we do. We really can't wait. And uh, definitely a givest Joe Warrigle whenever I see him. Well, speaking of Auburn, the quarterback of your National championship team with the Tigers was Cam new and obviously he's been in the news in the past week. What was your reaction to him

signing on with the Bill Belichick and the Patriots. Yeah, I think it's just awesome. I think it's definitely a great opportunity for Cam and and he's just a hell of a quarterback. NFL MVP, and he's just you know, super talented, and I just know he can't wait to go out there Russ's opportunity and show the world that he's still capable of being started quarterback and a dynamic star in this league, because that's we all know what

he's capable of. And I just approved the doubters and everybody else wrong about him out there in the field. And of course I know he's hungry as all all get out and he can't wait to go out there because he's been at this point before, been at this point knowing that everybody doubted him and his abilities and what he can do. And for sure, when he's going, you know, going to New England, he's going to show that and and improve everybody wrong, one game at a time.

A couple more questions for Bengals linebacker Josh Bynes. You grew up in Fort Lauderdale, and I saw an old newspaper story about you that made it clear that you are from a family of linebackers. Correct. Yeah, Yeah, My grandfather played linebacker and my dad played linebacker. Hell my dad was my coach and pretty much lily for the most part in high school. For sure, all throughout and he should show you know how to play the game and how you know, well you know what it takes

to be a linebacker. He taught me my first like you know, like steps and just a little basics and like knowing it take your first initial step and how to get downhill and things like that. And I credited him a lot because we we've grown so close through that whole process throughout a high school. And even for he's you know, I love my dad of death, and and I just you know, just so half as unable to I was able to pass. He was all passed

on that knowledgeability had for me. And and I don't know, maybe one of my boys might play linebacker and I'll be having the same conversation with them later on. Well, you got three of them, including one that was born earlier this year. What had the last several months been like for you with those three young boys. Oh, it's been amazing. I'm not gonna wow. This is because both my other boys are born in January, so I had a little time, but then I had to go into

all season training. You know, OT's all this stuff. But this one, I mean, he's been pretty much spoiled by me for the most part being home this whole time, spending time with him and and just my other two boys. Just it's just it's just they love me being home and we work out together sometimes and you know, play video games. We just have so much fun and playing football in the house, you know, and make a lot of noise in the house and wife got to tell

us to calm down for the most part. But uh, but you know, it's just great because you know, there's the boys experienced this whole process. He molded so he's ten. So this is my tenth year, so it's experienced every year since I've been in the league, and you know, to go throughout this whole process with me, it's just been amazing. And not many kids can actually say that, and especially moved for a while from it just doesn't happen that often. And it's just a blessing to be

able to be in this position. And it's just to have my boys being able to watch, you know, me playing on Sundays and me playing football to long. That's special for you and for them, I'm sure. Last thing, from reading about you and talking to you today, you remind me a lot of a former Bengals linebacker named Vinnie Ray, who was undrafted, went on to have a great NFL career, and he often talked about how he never took anything for granted. He was always out to

prove himself every year. Is that your mindset? Oh for sure? If anywhere is my guy and trust me, and he has a right mindset this as well as me. I mean, you're on draft. You already have this little chip on your shoulder because you know everybody he didn't get drafted. So there the doubted you, whatever ability they thought you didn't have or one didn't have enough of to be

able to play in this league. And some way, somehow, you always got to find that way to separate yourself, to realize to show teams that, Okay, this is why you know he's been a league this moment, this is why we need him on a team, and showing you improving your worth. And I think that's what it comes with this league. Each and every year. You got to prove why you should stay, why you're worth it, and

that's what it's all about, each and every year. And I'm like, that's why I said, I'm like a kid still playing the game, because you know, I don't look at us like I'm a vid, but I got his young guys. It's just so they're gonna just, you know, be starters and know I'm looking at us like, hey man, you know I'm starter. I'm this guy. I'm the guy

you gotta you know what I mean. I'm trying to put myself to them and to our coaches and to everybody that you know, why I should be on the field, and this is what it's all about each and every year in this game. And you take that for granted. The NFL will show you really quick why it's not for long rather than just you know, the NFL as it says, you know what I mean. Absolutely, Hey, I

really appreciate your time today. Enjoy the next few weeks before camp begins, and I look forward to meeting you, I hopefully face to face when that's allowed. Yeah, I appreciate it. I'm looking forward to the opportunity seeing you as well. I thanks to Josh Bines and Brian Baldinger. And that's going to do it for this episode of the Bengals Booth podcast, brought to you by Prime Sport, the official fan travel and hospitality partner of the Sense

and Addie Bengals. If you haven't done so already, please subscribe and if you have a minute, give it a rating or share a comment that helps more Bengals fans find this podcast. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for listening to The Bengals Boot Podcast