Bengals Booth Podcast: Jessie's Back In Town

La Rams. The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by Ultimate Bengals. Download Ultimate Bengals ahead of the twenty twenty two season. It's free to play next level fantasy football with fantastic Bengals prizes. Get it now on the App Store and Google Play. 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 where you get your podcasts. It's the greatest thing since getting new glasses.

For the first time in six years, I visited the optometrist, shout out to doctor Jim Ellis and got the prescription updated on my eyeglasses. Note to self, don't wait six years next time. I feel like a new man, one who can read a license plate on a moving car a mile away. Okay, a slight exaggeration, perhaps, but uniform numbers from the broadcast booth should be a breeze. Now,

let's get to my guests. In last Sunday's game against the New York Giants, Bengals tight end Thaddius Moss attempted to make a legal cut block on rookie defensive end Cavon Thibodeaux. It resulted in an awkward collision in Thibodeau suffered a knee injury that initially looked severe, but thankfully turned out to be an mcl sprain. However, the low block also resulted in a Twitter firestorm, with some people calling Moss dirty or even cowardly, before players around the

league came to his defense. I talked to Thaddius about it on Wednesday. Were you kind of caught off guard by the national reaction to that block the other night? No? I wasn't really caught off guard. I don't I don't have social media on my phone. I'm not really into all of that stuff. So did it catch me off guard. I mean, it didn't really catch me any type of way. I mean, as soon as I got to the locker room, my teammates were already talking, you know, telling me about it.

But you know, I don't I don't look into that stuff. I don't put any value into that stuff. So was I caught off guard by it? No? Watching the play, it just looked like there was kind of an awkward point where he didn't know whether you're going to go high or low. You didn't quite know whether he was going to go high and low? Is that just one of those things that happens? I mean yeah, I mean so first, first off, you know, I'm glad he's okay,

and there was nothing you know, major major um. You know, I tried to reach out to him. Um, Like I said, I don't have social media, so it's kind of hard to reach out to people, you know nowadays without social media. Um. So I'm glad he's okay. First. Um. But with the play, yeah, it was it was an awkward play. Yeah, it was this awkward play. You know, the way the way that he m kind of played it and turned into it, you know, didn't didn't fully turn into it. It It just

turned into an awkward play with a bad result. You know that play happens all the time. Was this a bad a bad result? For visiting the Thaddius Moss? We already know you're receiving ability that was well established before you got here. I think you're trying to show everybody that you can be a good blocker as well in

the NFL. So a play like that is very important for you, I would think to make this team showing the ability to do what you have to do in the blocking game, right, Um, I mean essentially, you know, I'm fighting for my life out here. That's the reality of the situation. You know, I'm fighting for a roster spot. I'm fighting for my life out here. So anytime I step on that field in the preseason game, every play

is important. You know, every play is important. You know, it doesn't matter if I'm backside of the play from front side, if it's a special team's rep, if it's you know, whatever it is. Um, you know, every play's vital. Every play is important. Um. You know, I'm I'm I'm I'm coached and told I'm coached and told to do you know, to to I'm coached and and told my job to do it. I need to go execute it, you know. So at the end of the day, that's just you know, I was coached and told to do

something I wouldn't execute the play. We see that block in every NFL game. The Giants did the same block in that game the other night. But there is a little bit of a debate as to whether that block should be part of the game. Do you have any thoughts on I'm cutting guys and whether that's something that should not be part of football. No, I don't really have any thoughts of it. I mean, I know they out ruled the you know, they took out the rule

of cutting on the you know, cutting on the perimeter. Um. You know, if they start up that, if if I started that debate up, you know, in regards to cutting inside the tackle box, and so be it. Um. You know, I don't really I don't really care for you know, the rules are the rules. If they change them, they change them. If they keep them, they keep them. You know, It's just a part of a game. It's a part of the game. And like you said, that play happens

every single drive, you know, every single drive. Every single team does it. You know, so if they change the rules, they change the rules. But as of right now, the rules are the rules, and that happens every single drive. Your position coach, James Casey had a long NFL career primarily as a blocking tight end. That was the strength of his game. As he talked to you and said, hey, you were doing what you were supposed to do. Keep your head out. Yeah, I mean Zach, so you know,

Zach Taylor. He talked to me probably a few plays after that, and he was like, you know, if it makes you feel any better, He was like, there, you know, they just ran the same exact play and they and they just did the same exact thing to our defensive and if that makes you feel any better, and then yeah, you know, yeah, James as well, position coach. He told me, he was like, you know, there's nothing egregious about it.

There was nothing dirty about it. You know, you were you know, it was just what do your coach would do, is what you were told to do. There's nothing dirty about it, nothing crazy about it. You know, Football's football. Change of subject. You're practicing and then playing against the

team you just competed against in a Super Bowl. How unusual is this week for you guys, I mean for the guys that played in the Super Bowl, you know, I bet it's a little weird for him and they probably feel some type of way, you know, for the guys that didn't play in a super Bowl, I mean, this is a big you know, with it being a last week anyways, a preseason you know, roster cuts, it's

a big week anyways. And then on top of it, if you played in that game, you know, this is essentially four games and six days, you know, whatever whatever it adds up to be, but essentially for four games, and you know, in a week counting these two joint practices is pretty much a game. So it's gonna be fun week. You've added Hayden Hurst to your group this year. I think he's been impressive with just how fluid he

is for a big athlete at your position. What have been your impressions of him from practicing with him and watching that tape on a daily basis. Well, I mean, I think that's what stands out the most is just you know how good he is moving, you know how good he is in and out of his cuts. You know how fast he is, how quick he is. I think that's you know, that's the most obvious thing, the most glaring thing. You know, not everybody can move like that. You know, he was just giving those. You know, he

was kind of blessed. He was blessed with you know, how fast and how quick he is, you know, so I think that's what stands out most. But Hayden's gonna have a really, really good year, you know, really looking forward to seeing that, and you know, happy for him cause I know he's gonna have a good year in this offense. Appreciate your time, Appreciate your candor best to

pluck this one flew. I appreciate it. Thank you. Patti has has four catches for forty yards in the first two preseason games, and that is the most of any Bengals tight end. Von Bell famously arrives at the stadium at the crack of dawn to work out, so imagine his surprise on Tuesday when he finished his workout, got to his locker, looked over his shoulder and saw a teammate and close friend, Jesse Bates. What was Bell's reaction. He's alive. It's following him, not seeing a ghost. But

it's just love. At the end of the day, he hugging everybody, checking away. He Gladdy and makes sure everybody's okay, and everybody makes sure he's all right. So it's always just like I said, it's like a brotherhood's a family, and it's a tight knit group. So it was great to say. Bates finally signed the twelve point nine million dollar franchise tag on Tuesday and reported a training camp.

Here are Chittabaya, Woo Jay and Joe Burrow on having the twenty five year old safety back in the building. It's always good to have one of your leaders, guys who went to World with especially after the season we had last year. You know God that we all trust and believe in, so this is a great feeling to happen back. Yeah, everyone loves Jesse, So when you have a guy like that, it's great in the locker room, great on the field, and is in the situation that

he is. You're back as much as you can because now everyone loves Jesse. So like I said, his business is his business. I know he would have would like to get a deal done, but it didn't happen. He's here now ready to play. As you would expect, Jesse won't do much at practice for a few days, but when asked if he'll be ready for the season opener against the Steelers, he said absolutely. Bates is obviously disappointed that he wasn't able to reach an agreement on a

contract extension, but he's betting out himself this year. It's a great opportunity for me to continue to present what I'm about who I am to this franchise and other teams as well. So, like I said, I'm looking at this as an opportunity to prove that I'm one of the best safeties in this league. And I'm not sure why I'm not there yet, but this is, like I said, this is a great opportunity for me to create some wealth for my family. You know, it's not a bad

number at all. This franchise tag number isn't bad, So I'm not gonna be naive to that. So, like I said, I'm blessed. I'm happy to be here. While he's been gone, first round draft picked Dax Hill has gained valuable experience practicing with the first team defense, and he had an interception on Sunday night against the Giants. Then there's fifth round draft hick Tyson Anderson, who ranked second on the

team and tackles in the first two preseason games. Bates says he understands why the Bengals used two of their six draft picks unsafeties. I think in any business, uh, in any negotiations, leverage is the biggest part of that. And I understand that me and Bonn are on our last year of our deals, So I mean it made sense for them to draft two safeties. M that's the uncomfortable conversations. But honestly, I don't care about the uncomfortable

conversations at this point. So yeah, I expected that. UM. I had a call with coach Taylor UM I think a couple of days before the draft, and I told him I wouldn't be there at OTAs until I got a contract. So I expected them to draft safety. And like I said, I don't take it personally. UM. I look at it as an opportunity for Dax and uh Tie as well to come in and contribute to this team. It's a cycle. UM. I got drafted here second round and they cut George Iloka and I became a starter.

UM I'm not sure if that was a decision from h my guy Ta, who was the defensive coordinator with the Stillers now. But he told me that we were gonna compete. He told me Sean, Sean Williams and George that we were going to compete for the starting job. And I know George was supposed to make whatever, eight million or whatever, and I was supposed to make five

hundred thousand, So it made it made sense. Um. It's something that, like I said, I've paid attention to um throughout my years in this league, and I think that's what other players, young players should do as well. Jesse did not have a great regular season last year, but he was exceptional in the playoffs with a pair of interceptions and six pass deflections. If he plays like he did in those four games, he will become one of the highest paid seat in the league, whether it's in

Cincinnati or elsewhere. The Bengals Booth podcast is presented by Ultimate Bengals, the free to play fantasy football game. This past season, Ultimate Bengals awarded a weekly winner during the course of the year, with tickets, autographed merchandise, and money can't buy experiences all up for grabs. Find Ultimate Bengals in the App Store and Google Play. For the most part, the Bengals starters have not seen action in the first two preseason games, but nearly all of them, including Joe Burrow.

We're on the field Wednesday for the first of two joint practices against the Rams, and that's also expected to be the case on Thursday. After the Bengals and Rams walked off the field on Wednesday, I discussed that first joint practice with my broadcast partner Dave lapham Lap. The first of two joint practices against the Super Bowl champion La Rams is in the books. Give me a couple of things that stood out to you. It was good

work for the office. It's because the Rams running unique style of defense dan where they play like a soft umbrella coverage and they break downhill on the football and they can do that because the pass rush is so extreme you gotta get the ball out of your hand quickly. So they're jumping routes and they're jumping routes left right. They don't worry about double moves. They don't think, you know, quarterbacks are gonna have time to execute that. So they've

got a secondary of personnel that fits that scheme. They have a pass rush led by ninety nine that is uh you know, going to get to the quarterback quickly, particularly in the middle of the pocket, getting to the quarterback quickly, making them get rid of it, can't see the field as well. I mean, it's a hell of a hell of a good work to work against. And they had had some good moments, had some tough moments,

and that's that's what it's all about. On the other side of it, I thought that the Bengals defense, from what I saw working against number one RAMS unit, is the Rams couldn't really run the ball that well. There was no tackling, but there wasn't much room to run the football. And two minute drills in that sequence of situational football defense got two interceptions to end both of the two minute drills. Very positive sign obviously, So I

felt like, okay, working number one. They haven't really played in preseason games. The Bengals offensive line hadn't really worked together hardly at all. They took about fifty percent of the snaps. Maybe, so it stands to reason that a defense like that would be ahead of the offense, even though if both units hadn't really done all that much in terms of full speed, that the defense might be ahead of the offense, and I think that was the

case on both sides of the line of scrimmage. I thought the Bengals defense won to one on one pass rills, rush drills overall. I thought the same for the Rams defensively winning against the Bengals offensive line one on one pass rush drill overall. So I do think the defense is probably a little bit ahead of the offense. And it doesn't stun me because, like I said, it's almost like the beginning stage is a training camp almost in

terms of getting exposed. You're a high temple practice. But overall, I thought they got a lot of work done. I thought the temple was really good. They stayed on their feet, there was no chippiness, but they get after each other pretty well. I thought it was real good work, and let's see how they build on it, build on that tomorrow. You stood next to Aaron Donald on the sideline, up close and personal. You watched him on a lot of

these snaps at practice. Today. You played against me and Joe Green, you played against Curly Coulp and other greats of your era. Is he among the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history? Yeah, when you look at him, you're not over the intimidated by his size, but then you watch his first his explosiveness is unbelievable. And honestly, I was talking to a couple of RAMS coaches after practice and they said, he wasn't giving you the full speed.

He's got another gear. I said, get out of here, and they're like, no, no, he was going but not like going. And I'm like, oh, man, he's just he's got it all. He's got that first step, He's into you before you can move. He gets off the ball so quickly. His hands were a blur. I mean, he does martial arts stuff to work on his hands, and it's like you're going against the jiu jitsu king. It's like, like,

you know, we're ar his hands. What's he doing? And it's all I was thinking, Okay, if I'm playing against him, would I try to jam them and get that arm extension? Nah? Not my hand down, and now he'll be at my shoulder like that. Do I keep my hands low and try to absorb them and he bulls you to death. He's a problem, man. I don't know. I think maybe the best thing is to get your hands and be patient.

But then a six inch jab you know, as hard as you can and not overextend, because that's all he's looking for you to do, is overextend any way, shape or forhim. But man, this this guy is the real deal. I mean to say, so and so is going to single up on Aaron Donald. I don't care who the guy is. That's asking a lot. He is special. And that's one of the things that stood out to me today. It wasn't like cord of Olson or Alex Kappa spent

the day blocking Aaron Donald. They moved him up and down the line, so at some point, every single guy on that offensive line had his crack at trying to block Aaron Donald. Aaron Donald is an equal opportunity butt whooper he wants to he doesn't want it. He wants every offensive lineman when the game is over to say, oh, not just the one poor guy that maybe won against him every snap. He wants to get a taste in the piece of everyone plus what he does. And I've

seen this, you know, with other great pass rushers. This is the fish, this is the one I can utilize most of my moves against. So he goes, he explores. I mean, I'm talking about when we're in the regular season game time, he'll study tape and he'll have an idea, but then they'll get out there and move around to make sure that his idea is proper, and he'll whoever you are that gets chosen. When you're the chosen one,

you don't want to be the chosen one. And then offensively, you have to make adjustments, you know, and you have to put more than one guy on him. And the one thing you do with Aaron Donald, and it's that way with every great player. You break the huddle, come to the line of scrimmage and you're looking a lot of times it might be you know, where's that safety. He's such a great plitz where you look for where's that linebacker? He can blitz from anywhere. You're going to

locate him and set our past protection accordingly. You got to find ninety nine. Like you said, he's here there everywhere, so we'll be aware. You got to locate him and adjust your protections accordingly, because that is beast mode. Just follow the yellow gloves. That's how you can tell where he is on the defensive line. Let's move from Aaron Donald to Jalen Ramsey. When the two teams came out to stretch and warm up. Jesse Bates walked over to

dap up Jalen Ramsey. They are both listed at six one. Jalen Ramsey's got two inches on Jesse Bates. I don't know why he's listed at six one. I'm six one. Jalen Ramsey I think is six three at least. He's huge, long wing span, obviously incredibly athletic. It's easy to understand when you see him in person why he's Jalen Ramsey. You hear all the time coaches talk about a tight end or a wide receiver of the big catch radius. Jalen Ramsey has a big catch radius. I mean, that's

why he'll make plays on football. Is like, how did he do that? You know, not only closing on it, but to actually it almost looked like specter gadget. You know, it just keeps going and going, and he makes plays on the football. He's a big man, and you know, and he loves the physicality of the game. And with all of that said, to think he can't be a great one on one coverage. He's sticky man. He beats you up and rewrot you. But he had his plays. A guy named Jamar Chase had his. I mean it

was a good battle, good match. There are two great players and that's what I really liked about this practice as well. Those guys getting reps against each other. That's at the highest level. I mean, you can't find a better matchup to get ready for the regular season. They have it a full practice, whether it be individual drills, teamwork against a guy like that for the offensive line and Volson and who however, against a guy like Aaron Donald.

I mean, you just you can't manufacture anything better. So it is going to make it. It's good work for the regular season. And basically you look at it as not games, but back to back, high tempo you know, good football workouts against really good competition. On the other side of it, Cooper Cup amazes me, this guy. And you know when you have a quarterback like Stafford who's on the same page. They run so many option routes that they are on the exact same page at the

exact same moment. He can't coach that stuff. Some guys either have it or they don't. And both of these guys have that, like esp anticipation. They are on the same page so many times when they're not. It's like, oh my god, how did that happen? You know? But man and the thing watching Cooper Cup come off the line of scrimmage. If I'm in defensive back, he's eight yards into his route and he has given no indicator as to what he's gonna do. That's a bad feeling,

you know. He hasn't dipped his shoulder, he hasn't changed his game. He had no tip on if he's gonna break in, I'll go. It's like, oh my gosh, what do you do? And that's what makes him so great. He's not necessarily the fastest guy, but he is. He is so unbelievably talented route runner with just giving you the same look every single Roddy runs, starts off looking the exact same man he is, and won the Triple crown one hundred and forty five catches, almost two thousand yards,

sixteen touchdowns, ridiculous stuff. And at some point he had so many more catches than anybody they're doubling in their triple. He's still those guys, I mean Stafford and Cupp. Watching those two work together, that's as high level as it gets too. So there was a lot of good work out there for sure. He also in Super Bowl MVP. Unfortunately, as we remember, I didn't keep detailed stats today. I was kind of looking at the offense for a few plays. Then I turned my head and looked at the defense

on the other field for a few plays. But while I was watching the offense, I think Caden Hurst had the most receptions of anybody. Joe Burrows timing and confidence in chemistry with him is growing pretty quickly. I think, yeah, And I think like everybody's thinking, even against this defense where they were playing that soft coverage and breaking, then he can hurt that. He can find spaces in there

where he can hurt that. Uh, and he made some players and I think you know, in the press pressor today Joe Burrow said, yeah, when we've got three really good ones real three good wide receivers and Hayden Hurst, we expect him to get favorable matchups in him for taking to take advantage of those. And I think he's going to. I think he's gonna have a big year. He's got size speed ratio that's very good. He's got

long arms, he does have a good catch radius. And I do think now that Jesse Bates is back, we talk about the three wiles, how about the three safeties. I mean that that three safety package that lou and Um was going to be messing with and messing with the minds of offensive coordinators and quarterbacks all year. That's as good as recent as there is in a league as well. So the Bengals are have got some pretty good personnel at key places that they need to have it.

It's been a little bit more than a week since Joe Burrow returned. Does he look like he's close to normal to you? I think he's getting close. I think I asked him in the pressure today if Sunday were if it were a Sunday game against the Rims instead of a Saturday preseason game, could you play? He said, I could play, but I don't think I'd be playing as well as I could without the rest of training camp. There's a process in training camp that I want to continue,

and and that's that's a fair answer. But for him to get up there and say I could play, I think is a huge indicator that he feels good. He's ramping up. I think he lost fifteen pounds. I bet he's got ten of it back, So I think he's getting close and he's still fearless. I mean, the guy he feels nothing. I thought it was interesting they ran a quarterback draw against the The Rams side line defenders

were not happy with that call. When's that called that quarterback draw in the in the to generate a first out and try to get fifteen yards for after that another fifteen yards. Chunk played a kick a field goal, but the fact that he doesn't hesitate to do it because sometimes contact is not intentional, and you know, you start to try a quarterback drawn you're sifting through traffic.

I mean, obviously they feel really good about where he is, and Joe Burrow feels really good about where he is too. In our pregame show on Sunday night, you said I'd like to see the coaches play court elvols and at left guard for the entire game, evaluate him, he needs the work, etc. That's exactly what they did. Now that you've had a chance to review it. How did he do? You know? I think he did pretty well. I thought

he was pretty consistent. Um. You know, he's catching a lot of heat for this um corner nickel corner blitz that you came off the slot. He was a full scan but that was not his primary scan position. His primary scan was inside, and he wanted him make sure that you take care of that inside. Now, could he have gotten out there potentially and given a bonus pick up. Yeah, But as a rookie, it's like, what if I start out there and then a guy to label it's his

inside and that's why I was supposed to block. So he's kind of like between a rock and a hard place. You know. That really wasn't his assignment, but in a perfect world, it could have been his assignment. If his guy doesn't come, you get out there and okay, so now you live and learn. But do I give him a minus for that play? Not really, because he wants to make sure that that inside blitzer doesn't blitz. He wants to take care of that assignment. The more snaps

he takes in the NFL, it'll be all right. Well if he's not coming, now he's not coming, I can get out there, you know. So you can't lock on too long against a guy and live and learn. So I think I think that if that was the most egregious mistake he had, And in my mind it's not an error, it's just he didn't give you the bonus to value of the bonus points. So I think men only. He didn't have any brain farts, which is a plus, and he's still when he gets his hands on people

he can finish. Was it perfect now? Far from perfect? But um, I think he showed that you can work with it. That's for darn't you. You can definitely work with it. Zach Taylor said today that the starting left guard spot has not been determined yet. Jackson Carmen is still in the running. He came back from his positive COVID diagnosis today. Uh do you buy that? Is it still up for grabs? Is Cordell Wolson significantly ahead? Where

do you think that stands? Yeah? It's to me. Um, I think I think this tape of the ramps week or practice is going to be big because the one thing Wolson can do is anchor and we've seen Jackson Carmen have anchor ability issues. He gets his paddlele high. Volson doesn't really get his paddlele high that if he does, it's a it's a rarity, it's not a regular occurrence. So you know, just fundamental things like playing with that good pad level, being in a good football position to

power and finish people. I mean when when Jackson Carman does it right, oh my gosh, man, it's good, but it doesn't always do it right, and it's I think it's more of a focus thing. So now it boils down to maybe, you know, cheez. While they're both they've both done some good things. Like I said before, I think Jackson's bar may be higher, but as low bar is so much lower, and Wilson's bar as high bar is not quite as high, but as low bar is

nowhere near as low. So if I'm picking a guy, might trust the guy whose highs and lows are closer together than Big Peak, Big Valley. You know. So what Jackson's going to do in a hurry here is improve that consistency on a snap by snap basis. And and don't you know be at the top and Mountain versus and then the lower Death Valley. You know, you can't can't be doing those things. Jesse Bates came back a

little bit sooner than I anticipated. I thought it was going to be after the final preseason game instead of the week leading up to the final preseason game. Why do you think he chose to come back when he did? I think he missed it. I think he missed his teammates. I think he probably it was conveyed to him. Look, you know, we're going to ramp you up, so we're going to give you a few days where he'd like today,

all he did was a few individual things. He didn't have his helmet or anything, pads on or anything like that. He's on the commissioners example list, so there's only things that he's allowed to do, and that's for a two week timeframe, so by collective bargain agreement. As we know, when they start training camp for four days, they're not

even in pads or helmets. So I don't think Zach wants to hurry him in, but for him to be on the sideline of his teammates listening to the coaches talking about what's going on with the rams and seeing what took place and the adjustments and all that. I think when he was in that suite looking at that game from that that advantage point at at pay Course Stadium, he thought, I missed this, you know, and I want to get back with my guys. I really think that's

kind of what it boiled down to. And then when he was thinking, you know, he keeps himself in such great shape, he feels like he can play, and he probably could. But man, when he woke up money morning, it was just like a few days before the Steelers game, he would feel like, you know, football rigamort to set in. So now he can there's conditioning and then there's football shape.

He can get himself in a little bit better football shape, anchor's pads a little bit doing some things that you know, it takes a few days to get done, and you go through the okay, what's you feel like, get through the storeness and all that, and you start to get in football shape. So I think he made a good decision, you know, to give himself a little bit of time to ramp up to it instead of like, boy and three days I got game and I'm gonna be going

against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Well that's a physical football team, that's a division rival. That's going to be a banger, you know. And at least now he's got a few days to get ready for that. Were you as hot out there as I was today, dude? I was moist the whole day. I broke a lather and it never went away. I mean, you know, they study. The humidity wasn't going to be that bad, but I thought there were humans hanging from everywhere out there, Pegan Lynn, we're

on our way home. We better get those showers going. No doubt I see cold shower time. Saturday's game at pay Courts Stadium starts at six our Pregame coverage on the Bengals Radio Network will begin at four thirty. That's going to do it for this episode of The Bengals Booth Podcast, presented by Ultimate Bengals. Download Ultimate Bengals ahead of the twenty twenty two season. It's free to play next level fantasy football with fantastic Bengals prizes. Get it

now on the App Store and Google Play. And if you haven't done so already, please subscribe to this podcast and if you have a minute, give it a rating or share a comment that helps more Bengals fans find us. I'm Dan Horde, and thanks for listening to The Bengals Booth Podcast