Bengals Booth Podcast: Tonight, Tonight, Tonight

and share some keys to beating the Jags. I'll catch up with NFL Network host Colleen Wolf, who is in town tonight to host the NFL Game Day kickoff show. And finally, it's our No the Faux segment as we discussed the oh and three Jags with Jacksonville sports columnist Gene Frenette. The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by Bud Light.

Seltzer refreshed the game and here's a quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of this podcast delivered write to your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing on iTunes, Stitch, your Google Play, Spotify, or pod Bean. It's the greatest thing since the Ring of Honor tribute video. At halftime of tonight's game, the Bengals will induct their inaugural Ring of Honor class, made up of Paul Brown, Anthony Munio's,

Ken Anderson, and Ken Riley. If you haven't watched it already, you have to check out the seventeen minute and thirty second video called Best in Class that can be found on Bengals dot com and YouTube. It was written and narrated by Bengals dot Com editor Jeff Hobson, and it's a tremendous history lesson on this year's Ring of Honor class. Don't take my word for it, watch it as soon

as you finish this podcast. Now, let's get to my guests, beginning with Jamar Chase, who last week became the ninth player in history to catch a touchdown pass and each of his first three NFL games. Jamar, here's my first hard hitting question, how the heck did you hold on

to that long touchdown pass last week? Because it looked like you caught the back third of the football, just all the ball hand out coordination and concentrating on the ball and it was following it all the way through the catch, so ended up holding on to a thing. Got out of here it. That touchdown pass came with thirty seven seconds left in the half. And here's how Joe Burrow described it after the game quote, Jamar came up to me before that play and said, just throw

it up to me, just throw it. Did that really happen? And if so, why did you tell him that? Uh? Yeah, that did happen. I told him if I had forty two him and just throw it up. I only told him that because I've seen the first time of previous play. We ran the same play, and I told him what I've seen from the exact same last place. I was like about through it again. I just throw it this time and I know if it's surely don't work. So capitalized on it. Great call, great catch. We're visiting with

Jamar Chase. So that touchdown pass stung the fans in Pittsburgh because the Steelers had tied the game and then twenty seven seconds later you score the touchdown. Can you describe what it's like to shut up a road crowd? Well, it was quiet, and that feel like the home game. Almost when we had the ball, they started making a little noise on the offense on defensive side when the defense got out there, So that just means some of our fans got out got Pistoburgh's fans going along with us,

so it was good. Let's get to your second touchdown catch. We heard after the game that you were Joe Burrows fifth read. How unusual is it to see the ball when you're the fifth read on a play, right, as usually we have something for it. Of course, that's why I'm the fifth read. I'm just worked trying to work my way across the fields and make sure I'll stay in the play, make sure if the players keeps going that I'm in Joe's view. Um, I actually didn't see

Joe at all. I've just seen the ball come out of his hands and that's all I seen was the ball flying in the air and had to be at me. That was a tribute to the offensive line right for hit them to give that kind of protection. Shout out I said. I definitely get him a shout out doing my interview at the last game, though, those buzz held it down for chatting with Jamar Chase. You beat a three time Pro Bowl around that play. Joe Hayden. Is it a big deal for you to compete against guys

you grew up watching on TV? Oh? Yeah, definitely, just because of you know, just experience I'm in right now. Um. You know, I can't wait to grold and tell my kids, you know, grandkids and stuff like that. But um, it's just a blessing, you know what I'm saying, just to watch those guys m be Hall of Fame famous talk about and and you know, have the opportunity to go against them and work my craft. So h it's just something you gotta be tick part of and love battling

growing old. It's not all it's cracked up to be. Trusting. Let's go back to the preseason when you were uncharacteristically dropping some passes. Every receiver drops balls. But have you ever had a stretch like that? Uh No, Nah, not really. Um, I've always caught my pass when they were here to me. Um, majority of time. If I'm wide open, I did want in a CHAMPI been shipped. I let the ball come to track to me too close and messed up my

fingers on that play. But no, not too often. When people ask me about you during the preseason, I said I'm not worried for two reasons. Number One, there's no history of it. Number Two, I've never seen a guy catch more passes after practice than you do, whether it's out the jugs machine or from quarterbacks. It's crazy. Did you do that even more than usual this training camp? Or is that the norm for you? That's actually pretty normal.

When I was at LSU, I was always doing it after practice too, sometimes before practice, just to get my hands going. I know on Mondays in college, I used to do no glove Monday just to get my hands prepare for the rest of the day. So it's Thursday night football this week, your first NFL prime time game. What's this mean to you? Just means another game on the list, you know, just a different day, earlier day.

Just gotta get in my film, get on the plays, Michelle, I execute the right way and just concentrateing have ton of vision into this game. In high school and college, you don't play two games in five days. How challenging is that? That's pretty exciting to be honest, just to have this transition change that fast. I woke up today like what is today really? When I walked in the building, because I realized it was so fast, but you gotta

like it, you know what I'm saying. I'm pretty excited about this game, just because it's a Thursday game, and you know, it's just happening so fast for me, so I'm excited for it. You look like you're having a blast, are you. Yeah. I am having fun. Joe even told me this is fun. So as long as Joe having fun, I'm having fun. The offense having fun. Defense is flying around having fun. It's gonna be a great football team. We're having fun watching. Congratulations on a great start. I

appreciate your time. Thank you. If Jamar catches a touchdown pass tonight, he'll join Martavis Bryant, Dante Stalworth, and Charlie Brown as the only players in history with touchdown catches and each of their first four NFL games. Not that Charlie Brown, this one was a two time Pro bowler for Washington. The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by Bud Light Seltzer. It's light and refreshing with a hint of

fruit flavor. Now time to discuss some of the key storylines heading into tonight's game with my broadcast partner Dave Lapham. Lap Your first NFL coach and three of your former teammates make up the first Ring of Honored class that will be inducted at halftime on Thursday. Do I need to have some cleanex available in the broadcast booth? It is going to be a very special night, for sure, you know. I think it's it's long overdue celebration of

their greatness. And the first class is just no brainer, unbelievable accomplishments. And the common denominator is, as we said many times for as great coach, player, et cetera, that they were top notch, you know, quality human being that has done not things for their fashion, but things for humanity, you know, things for society, things for the world. And Paul Brown was always one that was very interested in what are you gonna do when you're done with football?

He'd tell us all the time, men, football, this is just a short phase of your life. When you're done playing football, you're gonna be young people. You'll still be in your early thirties for the most part, maybe even younger than that. What are you going to do with yourself? What are you going to do? How are you going to be successful? And he always monitored and track guys, and he'd be extremely proud of these three guys going

into the Ring of Honors man. They accomplished even more probably or at least as much when they were done playing, as they did when they played. And it's not just about Paul Brown and those three players. This week, nearly forty members of the nineteen eighty one Super Bowl team will also be celebrated. The fortieth anniversary of that season is obviously this year. I know, coming up short in the Super Bowl still stings, But twelve teams have never

won one. Four teams have never been to one forty years later. Is there a different bond between a team that made it to a Super Bowl and the other ones that you played on? Yeah? I think I think that even though getting over the bitterness of losing the biggest game in your life and not playing well, that's the thing that bothers you. I mean, if you had, if you had played lights out and you lost, because you know, they were just so that team was on that day and they were great, you know, I think

I think it might be easier to accept. But we outgained them, you know, we thought we were the better football team. That the self destruction part of it just man just stays with you. It's like we just had taken care of business on our end of things and not put ourselves on our schedule, probably be walking around with super Bowl rings rather than just AFC Championship rings.

But I do think that that that AFC Championship the first one enfranchise history that this team, to me, the eighty one Super Bowl sixteen is just like a part of it and it's not a successful part of it memory wise, but this team was the first team to win a playoff game, the first team to win an NFC championship, And that's the thing that I think I am very proud of, and I know a lot of other guys that I'm friends with on the team are extremely proud of, and that the eighty one Super Bowl

to have the freezea Bowl connotation. You know, it's a unique special game. It's a very historic NFL game because of the weather conditions and everything. To be part of that is you know, something telling my grandkids about, for example today. So I can't believe it's forty years but Father Time's undefeated. Man, there's no doubt except for Tom Brady, Tom Brady one, and oh versus father time so far. All right, let's get to this year's team two and

one after last week's big win in Pittsburgh. I want to talk about the defense. Sixth in points allowed, fifth in yards per run aloud, fourth in yards per pass attempt allowed, which speaks to how good they've been in every phase. When did you start to think that this group it's going to be pretty darn good? Yeah, I mean when we were watching training camp, Damn, We're like, is the defense that good? Or is the offense that bad?

You know, and you're going again, They're going against each other every day, and so it's hard to it's hard to draw any conclusions until they start playing other other opponents. But come to find out on defensive line and is very good. I mean, and I think it's going to be a very interesting challenge for them in this football game on Thursday night because I think the Jacksonville Jaguars interior their centers good man, that's a salty dude. He's a hell of a player. And the guards are adequate.

They're they're very solid NFL players. I think the Bengals advantage is at tackling tight end, you know, on the edge. So the big defensive tackles, which that's that's the thing that impressed us is watch them. It's so big. I mean, nobody Bengals aren't moving them or other people are going to be able to move them. Nobody's really been able

to move them all that much. As you mentioned the numbers in the in the running game, no running back is gotten over sixty one yards against them, and they're going to be challenged this week. You know, Robinson is a is a hell of a back and you know, uh Hides a great one as well, and they're really good between the tackles, running their their duo's inside zone and you know, draw plays and things that nature. So

it's going to be interesting. But I think I think what they did in free agency with the defensive line and making the commitment to the young linebackers is really starting to pay off. I mean that the young linebacker corps, of course, led by Logan Wilson Um he's six in the NFL and tackles with thirty and you know, he's got three interceptions as leaves all linebackers tied for the

lead in the National Football League overall playmaker. And I think that combination of you know, getting these upper crusted defensive linemen and free agency and supplementing it in the draft for for depth. Uh, and then and then getting those young linebackers in the draft and committing to them, and um, you know, coach Al Golden has done a hell of a job with that line linebacker group. He's

really brought them along big time. So yeah, I mean, I think the defensive front seven is playing really well, and with the injuries that they've got on the back end for this football game, that front seven is going to be big and uh. And then offensively, it's their responsibility. I remember, you know, we talk about it. Guys. Look, our defense is beaten up. You know, we got to stay on the field. We got to control the clock, the line of scrimmage, the game. You know, they they've

played eighty seven snaps. We played forty two. Come on, let's we gotta we gotta step up. It's time for the offense to get something done. And the best offense is a best defense is a real good offense is keeping the defense off the field. So let's talk about the offense currently middle of the pack and points scored per game, partly because they played it safe with a big lead in the second half last week. What's the next step that you would like to see out of

this offense. I'd still like to see, you know, even more consistency, and I think on both sides of the football third down aggressiveness, you know, I think I think that there can be they're leaving some things on the

table on third down. Defensively, the posture has been more of soft zones, let him make a catch, rally up on the football, you know, and you see guys catch football on a third and seven, five or six yards down the field and you have to make a perfect tackle, you know, to stay out, you know, to get off the football field. So it's going to be interesting to see. With injuries in the in the secondary, it's going to be interesting to see what Luna UMA's mindset is going

to be. Do I even play it more soft because of these guys? Or am I more aggressive and make the quarterback make quicker decisions to help you know, some guys that haven't had as many snaps in the back end as guys that have been back there. So it's going to be interest to see which way the pendulum

swings a little bit. But again, a big help could be offensively, sustain drives, stay on the field, you know, make stay in third and four or less and be aggressive when it's third and four or less and rack up the plays, keep the defense off the field. Now that you've seen some tape, how did Jackson Carmen do in his first NFL start? Jackson Carmen belonged, I think, is the best way to put it. And I remember that's exactly what I was thinking going into my first

NFL game. I just want my teammates and coaches to think, this guy he should be there. He belongs, you know, and not be a fish in the offensive line where you're getting taking advantage of him. People are picking on you, and everybody can't wait to line up against you and pass rush against your kind of thing. And now was it perfect? Now? I mean, Jackson had a communication issue that led to a sack in the early stages of the game, and there were some other things that weren't,

you know, necessarily exactly the way you want him. But overall, he definitely showed like he belonged. And you know, I remember after my first NFL start, Paul Brown came up to me in my locker and just shocked the heck out of me when I looked up and it was Paul Brown and he was a young man. I'm proud of you. The game wasn't too big for you. That's good. We thought that might be the case, and you proved us right. So I was like, Wow, that was like a million bucks. So I think he should feel like

the game wasn't too big for him. He belongs. He's right where we should be playing in the National Football League. He has all the physical abilities to do it, but just button up all of his assignments. Button everything up mentally. You know, no laps is mentally that lead to physical problems. So here we go Thursday night football in Week four of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars. They're owing three this year. They've lost eighteen in a row since winning

their season opener last year over the Colts. You mentioned the offensive line is good, They've got a good running game. Where are they week? What are the weak spots for Jacksonville? Yeah, I mean I think they don't really have a tight end threat. You know that, and they're trying to solve it. They traded for Arnold you know this week now with two days how much of a package can they put together, will even be active for the game? You know, it

makes you wonder a bunch of things there. But you know, I think obviously the turnover issue is what's killing him. I had a rookie quarterback that's got nine giveaways, seven interceptions and lost two fumbles, and their minus eight in the turnover department dead less than the National Football League after three games. So it's it's kind of like the Trevor Lawrence Bakery is open and you can get three for one every week. The turnovers. He's selling turnovers three

for one. But you know, you think I think at some point they're going to simplify. You know, I talked about this before. I remember doing college football Michael Bishop when he's in Kansas State, and Bill Snyder said, you know, Dave, I've got a guy that is going to be a good quarterback, but right now he's an athlete more than a quarterback. So I give him one read and I say, Michael, if that's not there, tuck it and run. That's your

next best option. And then toward the end of the season, the middle of the season, I should say I had him again and I said, is there's still one reading? Go for Michael goes. It's too David, you know, you go one second, read, tuck it, and go. I don't think you have to go to the backside of the field the entire season. I wonder if they're going to

do something like that, you know, with Trevor Lawrence. And I'm not saying that to make it elementary, but I'm saying to take some of the some of the load off of them and uh and and see what they do. But uh yeah, I don't think they're really a real good outside running team. Their strength of their running game is between the tackles. They do a good job with inside zone, not really outside zone or stretch inside zone duos. They will run counter, they will run a draw, you know.

So I think their center and guards or solid, solid players, you know. Defensively, a linebacker, I think is the is the strength of their football team. I think the defensive line, the offensive line just has to I think, impose their will in this football game. With that defensive line, I think it's good, but I don't think it's like upper crust, you know, in the National Football League. So I think the Bengals need to establish their ground game and be

more consistent, you know, established in that ground game. The Bengals right now are one of only five teams. Let me make sure that I get this right. I did some homework on this, Dan, and I want to make sure I get it right. The Bengals run the ball five more times than they've thrown it. They're one of four teams that have done that. Denver is even. They've run the ball exactly the same as they've thrown it, and they're three and ozer. So I put them in

that pack. So there's four teams more and then Denver's even. Baltimore is plus ten, they're two and one. New Orleans is plus thirty. They're two and one. Cleveland's plus twenty two. They're two and one. The Bengals are plus five. They're two and one. Three AFC North teams are of the five that have at least even steven or run the ball more. So I think stay in that identity. Don't make Joe Burrow throw at thirty five forty times in a game. Pound pound the football, you know, establish yourself

in that regard. Be physical. I thought their physicality in the offensive and defensive line in their two wins was superior and in their loss. It wasn't so how they going to come out in this football game Thursday night? I think it's going to be how did the big boys up front? Are they going to be more physical? Last thing? How big of an advantage is a Thursday night home game, big short week and you have to travel is very tough. Thursday night game is It's tough.

That to turnaround is very tough, particularly if you were thirty or more. I remember, you know, but in my twenties day, I wouldn't even bother me to have to play a Thursday night game. I felt like I could play Tuesday after a Sunday game when I was you know, in early stages. You get up in the thirties door it's like oil can and I need all the way to that Saturday, start to feel real good physically, you know, and then start with these Thursday night things. So and

then you have to travel to boot. If you're feeling kind of funky, you're gonna get on a plane and fly and get staff, you know, and off the plane. And I just think that it's, uh, you know, it's it's it's a much bigger advantage to sleep in your own bed and not have to travel and all that good stuff for that that Thursday night game. But I do think that there are injuries that that the Bengals and probably the Jaguars are experiencing. Then if we're a Sunday game, wouldn't be as big an issue for a

Thursday night game. So that's that's the thing. I mean. Obviously, the league is getting a ton more money and the players are benefiting by that, But I know the players Association has their problems with Thursday night football for those reasons. You know, the player safety is their big thing, and guys playing Sunday Thursday isn't a big player of safety plus.

It's a player safety minus. There's no doubt about it. Um. But you know, it's it's the next game on the schedule, and then you get the benefit of the mini bye week the week after a longer week to rust and recover. But it is definitely a challenge. But like you say, Dan, I mean, traveling makes it exponentially more of a challenge in my mind than having to play at home. I'll have those Kleenex ready in the booth for halftime on Thursday.

I may need two boxes tonight's game. Whilaire nationally on the NFL Network with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman on the call. Kickoff is at eight twenty and two hours and twenty minutes before that, Michael Irvin, Joe Thomas, and Steve Smith Senior will be on the scene for the NFL Game Day Kickoff Show, and I spoke to the host of that show this week. NFL Game Day Kickoff coverage on NFL Network starts at six o'clock on Thursday night, and we are joined by the outstanding host of that show,

Colleen Wolf. Colleen, what are you looking forward to on Thursday? I'm obviously really excited to see these young quarterbacks. Joe Burrow. I love what he's been able to do with Jamar Chase. The connection just really seems to have carried over from college and we're seeing that now. The returns are very,

very promising early on here. And you know, it was all and during draft season whether or not the Bengals should get an offensive lineman, and oh my god, they got a wide receiver and is that the right move? And maybe that still isn't the case, but it seems like everything is really working out in terms of the passing game for Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase, and I just I really love these three wide receivers that the Bengals have there. I just think that they have so

much talent. Even though Tehiggins he didn't play last week, but Tyler Boyd I love his SaaS. I love that he came out and he was like, yeah, the Steelers they just quit last week, like you could just see on that final drive. And that to me is so interesting because it just feels like the entire division there's a little bit of a change happening. NFL Network Coast katleean Wolf is our guests. So the Bengals are two and one after that win in Pittsburgh, their first win

there in six years. Aside from Burrow to Chase and the wide receivers, what else about the team has impressed you? Well? I think this defense. For sure, their defense has really improved. I think that they're playing really well. They're allowing only eighteen points per game, four point five yards per play this season. And just the fact that they were able to stack Ben Roethlisberger four times seventeen quarter pressures. We

haven't quarterback pressures. We haven't seen a game like that in years and I love what linebacker Logan Wilson is doing. I think that he's done a really great job. He was a star against the Steelers, picked off Ben twice, led the team in tackles with fourteen, so he's really been fantastic. Larry Ogunjobi, who they brought in in the offseason the Bengals, he's really made a difference inside too,

two of those run stuffs, three total tackles. But I think really that this defense has playmakers at all three levels. When you take a look at Ogunjobi with Trey Trey Hendrickson upfront, DJ Reader, he doesn't get enough love. He's really good, and I just feel like he really flies under the radar. And then like Wilson I just mentioned, he leads the league right now in interceptions with three and once Trey Wayans can get back. And I know that that's a little bit of a sore subject for

a lot of Bengals fans. It seems like they've been waiting forever what he's missed, like nineteen games, but three games this season because of that hammy. I don't know if because of the short week, if that will play any type of role in his return, but once they get him back, then they really will have solid players at all three levels. So it's only three games in, but the Bengals, Ravens, and Browns are tied for first place in the AFC North. The Steelers are one and two.

What's your take on the division and how soon can the Bengals compete. I think that this is a division that really could change, especially once you bring in Joe Burrow and you have all of these things working together. Joe Mixon, he's been able to run the ball really well, and I think he's to be able to get going against this Jaguars defense too, because we saw the Texans

take advantage of them week one. I think that there are still some growing paints that they need to work out here, and I've been I've been impressed with what I've seen so far. But I think Joe Burrow, he's definitely he's had some growing paints here and there, but he's played well this season. It's it's tough to shake the Bears game with the three picks and the three passes.

That was just a rough stretch for Joe Burrow. But I think he should have time in the pocket this week, and I think that this early success, as long as they can maybe start to build on this, if I mean think about it, back to back wins. If they can get the win over the Jags this week, that's something for sure to hang your hat on. And the Browns, they are so good at this point. It's a really tough division with a lot of competition, but I think

that you can't count the Bengals out completely. We're talking to Colleen Wolf. You can follow her on Twitter at Colleen Wolf with an E on the end. Let's focus in on the matchup on Thursday night. The Jags come in oh and three. They've lost eighteen in a row, but they've got Urban Meyer in Ohio. We know what he's capable of as a coach. They've got Trevor Lawrence, the number one pick in the draft. What are some

keys in your opinion on Thursday night? I think the Jags will have a tough time running the ball for sure because of this Bengals defense, as I kind of just outlined, and that's really been the bright spot for this Jaguars defenor offense. The fact that James Robinson and Carlos Hide have have been really effective five point one yards per carry six bess in the league, but Cincinnati's

run defense has really improved this year. I'm really looking forward to seeing Trevor Lawrence because I think he's in a really unique situation right now, considering he had so much success early on in his career, basically at every stop until he got to Jacksonville. So he's kind of just now becoming acquainted with losing for the first time in his career. And he's had a tough schedule in

terms of defenses that he's had to face. Even Week one, Lovey Smith and the Texans were able to scheme up pressure for him, and then the Broncos one of the best in the league. But we saw what the Jaguars were able to do last week with the Cardinals, and they were up on them pretty well at one point in that game. So there's been a lot of growing

pains for Trevor Lawrence. I think that the mistakes have been glaring because the expectations have been so high with him the Fleet the pick six on the flee flicker last week late in the game, has two fumbles that really shut the door on the entire comeback effort. But now he's thrown seven interceptions and he's only completing fifty four percent of his passes. And this week it really does not get a lot better against this Bengals defense that has done a really great job of creating pressure.

And I think when you have a rookie quarterback on the other side that has made some mistakes, you can force him into doing some more. Probably this week, we are looking forward to at you and the NFL Game Day kickoff crew will be here at Paul Brown Stadium on Thursday night. Travel safe and thanks so much for

the time. All right, thank you so much. It's on the Cincinnati last but not least, time to take a closer look at a team that's just two losses away from potentially becoming just the third team in NFL history to lose twenty in a row. Gene Frenette is a long time Jacksonville sports columnist, and he joined Lapping Me this week on the Bengals Game Plan Show. Our first topic number one overall draft pick Trevor Lawrence, who has seven interceptions and two lost fumbles in his first three

NFL games. Obviously the last game he played. He played much better in this last game against the Arizona Cardinals. Than he did against Houston or Denver. But the fleet flicker interception, picks six, that's skewed a lot of things, But he was much more accurate, a little bit much

more on point. I would say that except for the fleet flicker, which was the past which you got some pressure up in the middle from JJ Watt, I should have just thrown it into the stands right that it was a horrible decision, and Ben Trevor would be the first one to tell you that. But if you look at the rest of the game, I mean, the Jaguars

were We're beating the Cardinals nineteen to ten. You know, keep in mind, the Cardinals were more than a touchdown favorite in this game, and a lot of people had picked the Cardinals to cover in this game. And now all of a sudden, they're down by nine in the third quarter. And what happened was the defense gave up a seventy five yard touchdown drive that got them within two. And then on the very next series was when the pick six happened. So it totally flipped the momentum of

the game. But up until that point, the Jaguars had played a pretty solid game, particularly on defense. But you know, but as we know, you know, the NFL is a league where there's a lot of close games and they're decided by two or three plays. You're there, and the Jaguars have not been able to make those plays in those game deciding moments. Interesting in that Robinson and Hide have combined for fifty rushes for two hundred and fifty

five yards over five yards to carry. They've been pretty efficient and effective, and Trevor Lawrence, they've thrown the football fifty two more times than they've run it. Is it just they fell behind so early in football games? I mean, they seem to have a pretty good running attack and an offensive line in the interior that can handle the

inside zone and duos and things of that nature. Is it just because the circumstances of the game where you have a rookie quarterback thrown at fifty more times than they've then they've run it in the first three Some of it is that there was a drive at the end of the first half in Week two at which they threw it eleven consecutive times, because you know, they were in a two minute so that's a little bit understandable. But overall, I would say, yes, there has been too

much of a reliance on the passing game. Some of it is dictated by the score, some of it is dictated by penalties early on in downs that you know, put them away behind the chains. But overall, I would say, yes, they are not. They needed to run the ball more, and they did that finally in last week's game, and that's what got them to lead. They had an eight play seventy five yard drives in which in which they

never threw the ball. They went seventy five yards on eight consecutive runs, and so you know, that was that was kind of like the highlight of the game last

week for them. And then of course that was all followed by what I had mentioned earlier, the Cardinals turning around driving seventy five yards themselves and the six six and but yeah, they It's rarely a recipe for a winning formula when your quarterback is averaging, you know, forty two throws, a rookie quarterback is averaging like the game, right, which was the case more or less for Joe Burrow last year. We're visiting with Jacksonville sports columnist Jane Frenette

JAG zero and three. They've dropped eighteen straight going back to last year's season opener when they beat the Colts. But it's the NFL. Every team's got players who are great college players. Where is Jacksonville strong And how do they potentially pose a threat to knock off the Bengals

on Thursday Night Football tomorrow? Well, I mean, for one thing, I mean, I mean, the Bengals got all kinds of injuries in their secondary, so I will be surprised if the Jaguars don't try to exploit some of that with Trevor and the receivers. I mean, Cincinnati's a nice team. They're they're better than they have been, but you know, they're not exactly a juggernaut. I mean, let's you know, they beat what I felt was a very average to

below average Steeler team. While that's a great win for Cincinnati because of the history of the Steelers, it's way too early in the season right now to just kind of really get a feel for how really good or

how really bad a team is. Yeah, we can make those conclusions about the Jets, we can make some of those conclusions about the LA Rams, But for the most part, I would say seventy five percent of this league right now, you don't have you know a one certainty about what kind of team they're gonna be, whether they're going to be a playoff team, whether they're going to be a last place Also, Ran, I mean, it's just we're only three weeks into a seventeen game season, and to be

quite honest with you, I like the Bengals Tomorrow night for one reason, only one reason only, and that is it's a short week and they're playing at home and the Jaguars are not. And as we know, Thursday night games for road teams have not been very kind over the years, and the Jaguars are no exception to that. They're they're in their history. They're two and eight in prime time games that includes Sunday Night, Monday Night, and

Thursday Night. And but given with the jet with the Bengal secondary looks like right now or could look like Tomorrow night, uh, I give the Jaguars much more than a puncher's chance of winning this game over fifty percent. Probably not, but I would say I would certainly give them a forty percent chance of winning this game. Do

you anticipate the uh? The coaches simplifying things for Trevor Lawrence, do you do you anticipate, you know, it's it's a deal where Daryl Bevill says, Okay, we're not gonna We're not gonna burden you with a bunch of reads. You can run the football, you can do their zone read, you can do a lot of things even when you're throwing the football, maybe a couple of options. And then your third best option is to try to run the football a little bit. Now, you know, I don't want

to get guys hurt, obviously, particularly at that position. But do you think there'll be a simplification in the offense and they'll use more of a quarterback design run package. And then also if he breaks, you know, if he if he can make the passwash, breakdown scramble and pick up yards together. The guy is a very talented runner as well, isn't he. Yeah, but they had about I think they had four designed zone read runs last week. Okay, there were other instances where he ran because it was

a scramble situation. But if I'm the Jaguars, I'm not you know, I'm having zone reads as a very small part of Trevor Lawrence's package because the last thing you want to do is getting him hurt. That. You know, you get him hurt and you can you can the Jaguars can just kiss whatever. I hope they have to be respectable this season. Goodbye you. You will feel the energy drain out of that franchise. If Trevor Lawrence got hurt. He needs the reps, he needs the experience, and that's

what this season should be about the Jaguars. Yet Trevor Lawrence to the point where he's gonna be as good as a lot of people projecting to be. I think he's gonna be. I think he's going to be a very good to great quarterback in this league for a long time. But to get there, he's gonna have to

probably go through some growing things. You know, we might be looking up at his statue a month from now and seeing, you know, fifty seven, fifty eight percent completion percentage, passer ratings in you know, seventy five, eighty three, maybe maybe a ninety eight mixed in there every once in a while. Because he's gonna he's gonna have a breakout game somewhere. Uh. You know, I feel pretty pretty sure about that, because there's just too many games in the NFL.

The question is how much pain are you going to have to go through to get this franchise, you know, back to where it's at least you know, being competitive weekend and week out, because uh, you know, I I do have to give you this one reminder. Not only do the Jaguars have an eighteen game losing streak, they've

lost their last seven by double digits. So you know, I'm sure you know some of them might be a game where you know, somebody scorers in the last two minutes to get it to double digits, but there hasn't been really been too many of those, so the Jaguars are gone. I've got to get to the point where it's five minutes to go in the game and the games a toss up. Either somebody's got to make a drive to go win the game or somebody's gonna make a stop to win the game. That's the point they've

got to get to. They're not there yet. Here's my last question for Jackson Gold sports columnist Gene for Net. In seven years at Ohio State, Urban Meyer never lost more than two games. He's got three after three weeks in the NFL. How is Urban coping? Well, I mean, you know, if you're if you're asking me to interpret body language, and you know, postgame press conference moments, his go to his go to line is basically after a loss or you know, midweek press conferences, go to the

line is the locker room is great. These guys are supporting each other. That's the one thing that gives me a lot of them. And you know, hope is how is how much this team is together? You know, I mean, there are only so many positive places you can go to right when you're getting beat by double digits. Right, So, uh, you know, you don't want to necessarily single out anybody, right because if you lose a game by eleven points, twenty points or whatever, you know that that's not really

a time to be singling anybody out. And everybody knows that Trevor has been struggling. But I'm also I also should point this out. He's made about five or six throws in these first three weeks that a lot of the NFL quarterbacks just can't make. He's had two touchdown passes to DJ Chart that we're just exploisit. Uh. You know, if you look at the last week's game film, the twelve yard touchdown passed the DJ charka throwing the ball way across the field was his third read on the play.

And you look at that and you go, oh, that's why the Jaguars, that's why he's the number one pick. That's why everybody's calling him a generational quarterback. So he has those moments in him, but he also has the flip size, you know, the mistakes. I mean seven of his interceptions by Trevor's own the mission, you know, four of them were just really bad decisions. But no, that's

that's life in the NFL. Peyton Manning twenty NFL record twenty eight interceptions for a rookie when when he was with the Indianapolis Colts Troy eight been going one in fifteen his first year. You know, these are Hall of fame guys, So long way to go before. This is just the start of Trevor Lawrence's journey. I think he's going to be really good. It's just a question of how when is he actually going to get to that point? Final question? Really shit, your carving, the time you have

for us special teams have been pretty special. I mean there's there's no two ways about it. Cook is number one in the NFL net punting third. I think in average. I mean, he's he's been dynamic. Then agnew one hundred and nine field goal return that was missed tis an NFL record never to be broken. You can't you can't go one hundred and ten you'd be out of bounds and one of three guys to do it. And he took a kickoff back one hundred and two yards. So

how good have overall of special team has been? Has he kept them in games? And their three phases offense, defense? Special teams? How have they done well? Obviously the two the two kick returns are are you know, really a huge? The first one, unfortunately came with five minutes to go in the game and a game that was you know, pretty well already in hand, so that didn't really help

them all the all that much. But the kick returned off the miss field goal last week on the last play of the first half when there was no time left of the clock, that was huge. Gave the Jaguars a thirteen seven half time lead. Now here's the other here's the flip side of that. Special Teams And you're right, Logan Cook, I think is got a chance to be a pro bowler this year with his I mean, he's just got an incredible leg and a nice touch for putting balls inside the ten yard line. But here's the

flip side of it. Josh Lambo, the most accurate kicker in the NFL from twenty seventeen to two two twenty over three in his first three games, miss back to back extra points last week and is out for tomorrow night's game for what the Jaguars have termed personal reasons. So Matthew Wright, a kicker I've never heard of, is

going to be kicking for the Jaguars tomorrow night. And and this, you know, it'll be interesting to see if this goes along the line from last year when Josh Lambeau had a hip issue and was out of the lineup for about four straight games, came back and then without the rest of the season. They tried four different kickers to replace Lambeau, and uh and they just couldn't they you know, they just couldn't really settle on one

that they really liked. So but very huge concern about Josh Lambeau between the missing kicks that he doesn't normally miss and now he's and now he's missing this game for personal reasons. I mean that you know, it makes you, it makes you wonder if his confidence is shot. Uh, you know that's the pure speculations on my part. But that is a flip side of the other two Special

Teams contributors in Logan Cook and Jamal Agnew. So it's it runs hot or cold for the Jaguars, and Agnew has not been really been given an opportunity to return up punt yet. I think he had one return for like one yard and that was it. So but you know, we'll see. But uh, certainly, I mean you get listen. I don't know how many NFL teams in history. I've had back to back week of a kick return touchdown

and lost both games by double digits. Our thanks to Jean for Neette And here's a quick reminder to join lapping me for the Bengals pep Rally show this Friday from three to six on ESPN fifteen thirty. That's going to do it. For this episode of the Bengals Booth podcast, brought to you by bud Light, Seltzer refreshed the game. 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 Booth podcast.