Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor Ahead of Monday vs Cowboys
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00:00Put Evan on IR.
00:02Logan, there's a good chance it goes that way as well
00:05with his knee.
00:07Those are the two that would come up.
00:09When did Evan get hurt?
00:10What did he do?
00:11You know, he just felt sore during the game.
00:13But again, nothing that a lot of guys don't feel.
00:15So it just felt like, keep it warm, keep going.
00:17And then the next morning, it turned out
00:20to be more significant.
00:23So I assume he came impressed in his workout.
00:26Yeah, he did a good job.
00:27Yeah, powerful.
00:28He did a good job, so we signed him up.
00:30Is there any conversation about Rolando
00:32potentially going on IR?
00:34I don't know about that yet.
00:36We'll just continue to work through the week
00:37with Rolando.
00:38Is there a chance he takes on Monday?
00:40We'll see.
00:41We'll see.
00:41He'd be doubtful right now.
00:46What is the fine lines, Zach, between protecting
00:49a player for the short term and the bigger picture
00:52going forward?
00:53Well, these are certainly all obvious ones
00:56with Logan and Evan.
00:59So there's not really much of a decision to be made there
01:02once you get the information, what they need to do.
01:05So really, that's all there is to it.
01:07But more with players like Rolando,
01:10nursing things that have been kind of nagging them all year,
01:13have the chance of getting worse, or maybe they don't.
01:16How do you consider that factor?
01:17Well, with Rolando last week, he got back into full practice,
01:22felt good about it.
01:22And then obviously, you get towards the end of the game,
01:25and it was really bothering him, limiting him.
01:27And so he tried to give us everything he could.
01:29And so now, we'll just go back to this week
01:32and see where it ends up.
01:33With Khaleed, he's back on the attack.
01:35How would you do it?
01:36Yeah, there's a chance there.
01:37Yep.
01:38What happened with Logan and his knee?
01:42Just had to have it looked at.
01:44So it was feeling sore.
01:47And so again, just we got to the point
01:48where this is where we're at.
01:50So is it something that followed up during the bye week
01:52because he played for his fraternity?
01:53He came out of the bye week and thought it would feel better,
01:56and it didn't.
01:57So I think with a week of rest, was really hopeful
02:00that I'll be much better.
02:02And then came back that Monday, really that weekend,
02:06and just it wasn't feeling like it should.
02:08And then got to the week and didn't get any better
02:10last week, even with giving him time off.
02:12And so we sat him out, and then this is where we're at.
02:16What have you learned from Jenkins and Jackson
02:18so far, stepping into the rankings?
02:20Yeah, I think the experience has served them really well.
02:23Just getting to play in this league
02:24against different linemen, different schemes.
02:28Obviously, they've got a lot of reps.
02:30So you see those guys grow, and so that's been beneficial.
02:33And I like what they're about.
02:35They've got the right mentality, the right approach.
02:39Played a lot this year, and so that's encouraging.
02:42With Hayward coming up and having to move on from Irwin,
02:46how is that conversation trend?
02:48Hard.
02:49Yeah, hard.
02:49I mean, that guy has been here every year I've been here.
02:52Six years.
02:53And man, is about all the right stuff, everything
02:56that we want from our guys in the locker room.
02:58I mean, he basically lived in this facility for six years.
03:03There'd be times there'd be nobody here
03:04except for Trenton.
03:06In the weight room, we're doing his receiver stuff.
03:08And the turf, I'd come back here in the summer,
03:10and he'd be out there on the field by himself.
03:12And so just a guy that got every ounce out of his body
03:17and helped this team make a lot of plays in his time here.
03:21Really proud for him to have been a Bengal
03:23and associated with us, and certainly wish him the best.
03:25That's one of the harder conversations
03:28you'll ever have with a player is a guy who's
03:30meant that much to you, and everybody in the staff,
03:32everybody in the building.
03:34So that's not a fun one.
03:36What have you seen from Isaiah Williams in practice?
03:39Yeah, great quickness.
03:42So we just continue to feed him reps on punt return,
03:46and so just find different roles for him.
03:49But like what he's about, like his intelligence,
03:51he's been able to come in and pick it up pretty quickly.
03:54And so you can just keep working with him.
03:56Do you think he has the potential to contribute on offense?
03:58We'll see.
03:59I definitely would take that off the table.
04:01I liked what I've seen so far in practice,
04:04limited practice stuff he gets.
04:05When he steps in there to give a guy a break,
04:08he's got good quickness.
04:09And again, he knows how to do it all.
04:11He's got a good foundation offensively,
04:14so he's able to kind of hit the ground running here.
04:16I mean, it's kind of a younger version of Merlin.
04:20I remember that guy getting a second shot with another team.
04:22I mean, this is how things, I guess, recycle.
04:26Yeah, yeah, you just never know
04:27when your opportunity is going to come.
04:28You've got to take advantage of it,
04:30and that's really the situation he's in right now.
04:34Dallas Monday night, what do you see?
04:37How are they improving?
04:38Yeah, good team.
04:40Feel like they're getting healthier.
04:41You know, I think that's really what bit them
04:42at the midway point of the year.
04:44Missing some key guys, Michael Parsons being one.
04:47The corners have both missed a lot of time.
04:50You know, and so I see a team that's really well coached.
04:54They play with great energy.
04:56They're on a two-game win streak,
04:57so you've got that confidence, that speeding Indian.
04:59You get a home Monday night game,
05:00and again, a lot of respect for Mike McCarthy,
05:05Mike Zimmer, Bones, Shottie.
05:08All those guys have done a great job
05:09coordinating over their career,
05:10and you can see that in their scheme
05:12and the guys and how they play.
05:15So again, it's a tough test for our guys
05:17and exciting to be on Monday night football,
05:20and you know, I think that's what this team needs right now.
05:23Put us back in the spotlight,
05:24have an opportunity to overcome and find a win
05:26and get on the right stretch here.
05:29Melando Brown was recognized as the Bengals nominee.
05:32Yeah.
05:34What stands out to you about his personality and character?
05:37Serves others, really.
05:39You know, he just genuinely cares about those around him
05:42and those in the community
05:43and gives up a lot of his time
05:45to make sure, particularly in association with diabetes
05:50and just players' families, coaches' families,
05:54setting up experiences for them as well
05:56and just all the stuff that he does
05:58that's known or not known in the community,
06:01it's been substantial.
06:02And so he understands he's been given a lot in his life
06:04and earned it all
06:06and takes the opportunity to give it back as well.
06:08And just a genuinely great human being
06:12that is deserving of everything that comes his way.
06:15How do those traits play over into a locker room,
06:18into football?
06:19He's got such a positive mindset.
06:21You know, even when we have tough stretches like this,
06:23when you're around him, he raises your energy level.
06:26He raises your confidence level.
06:28And the more guys you got on a team like Orlando,
06:32the better because he's just, he's got a winner's mindset.
06:35He's got a champion's mindset.
06:36He works.
06:38The details are important to him.
06:39Making people around him better is important to him.
06:42And so I'm thankful he's on our team.
06:46Speaking of him serving others,
06:47it's pretty clear since the day you guys drafted Amaris,
06:50how much he's taken that relationship to the next level
06:54and really feels like he cares
06:55about wanting to help develop him.
06:57We never ask you about Mims
06:59and obviously when we do that, it's probably a good thing.
07:02Is he having as good of a rookie season
07:05as a starter on the offensive line
07:07as you've ever seen in your career?
07:08And he didn't have training camp.
07:10You know, he missed all the substantial portions
07:12of training camp, really.
07:13So you're talking about run game,
07:16things that he's really seeing for the first time with us
07:19that's happening as you scheme up a plan
07:21during the course of the week
07:22and all the adjustments off of that
07:24and facing different rushers.
07:26I mean, he really just faced our guys.
07:28He didn't get the chance to go against Chicago or Indy
07:30or any of the preseason games.
07:31And so again, he's handled it really well.
07:36Again, another guy that brings great energy
07:38and confidence to the group.
07:40Same guy every day, which is huge for a rookie
07:44who's coming in and the role he's having.
07:46Used to being on a team that plays a lot of games.
07:49This probably serves him well
07:50because he's used to practicing at this point in the year.
07:52And I know he had an injury last year,
07:53but really proud of the job he's done.
07:56But it's not over.
07:58Keep building on it.
07:59He's going to keep getting on Mike Parsons this week.
08:01You know, it doesn't let up.
08:02You know, you're going to see TJ Watt again.
08:03You're going to see Miles again.
08:05So you're going to see all these guys
08:07and they keep coming at you.
08:08And so he's got to continue to be consistent.
08:10And that's what he's done so far.
08:11And we'll continue to build off of that.
08:14After the Steelers game, Zach Joe was at the podium there.
08:16He said the cornerstones in the franchise
08:18will be remembered how they handle this.
08:20How important do you think the final five weeks
08:22are for that message?
08:23I think this one's a huge scam for us.
08:25You know, just trying to find that win
08:28that can get us going a little bit
08:29and get that feeling out of our system
08:31of not having a win for a while.
08:33And so I think that's important.
08:34Like I said, it's a great opportunity
08:36to be in the spotlight again this week
08:37and show what we're about, you know,
08:39because we know in the locker room, we see it every day.
08:41And now it's just an opportunity
08:42to present ourselves the right way.
08:44You've always praised ownership in the front office
08:46and your communication with them.
08:48Yeah.
08:50Does that dialogue change at all,
08:52that tone change at all,
08:54given the three-game losing streak where you guys are at?
08:56I think that's the beauty of when you have
08:58constant communication is you're always on the same page.
09:01It's just when you speak with anybody,
09:03there's no need for a tone change
09:04because you're right there with each other lockstep.
09:08Everybody takes a lot of responsibility
09:09for what's going on right now.
09:10This is on me primarily.
09:14So it's just great when you've got confidence
09:17and everybody you work around and the communication is there.
09:20And that's all you can ask for in this league.
09:22Are you ever not in the same lockstep with them,
09:25same thinking, whether it's coaches
09:27and new coaches, ownership?
09:30Does that ever happen?
09:31I think if you ever work somewhere
09:34and everyone thinks the same way every single day,
09:35that's not a good thing.
09:37But what is critical is the way
09:39that you can communicate through it
09:41and see all sides of it
09:42and come to a joint conclusion on what's best.
09:44And that is the best way to do it,
09:46and that's exactly how we do it.
09:48And been a part of a lot of places, played, coached,
09:52and this is the best way to do it.
09:55100% confident in that, wouldn't have it any other way.
09:58And so, again, that's the way we operate.
10:01Have a bunch of guys with three or more sacks.
10:04How much is that Zim and his ability to create toughness?
10:06Yeah, he does a good job putting his guys in good spots
10:09to create those one-on-ones
10:10and making sure you can't hone in on one guy or one look.
10:13And so he does a really good job.
10:15And, you know, so, again, I've always had a lot of respect
10:20for Mike Zimmer and the job he's done.
10:23Never enjoyed going against him or his scheme.
10:26And you can see the players operate with a lot of confidence.
10:29And, again, now they're getting healthier.
10:30They potentially have both the corners back, Mike back.
10:34So, again, now you're seeing the fruits of their labor
10:36this season and how they believe in him and that scheme,
10:39and it shows up on the tape.
10:41Did you see any clips of hard knocks from this past week?
10:44No, no.
10:46What is it like to know, though, that that type of access,
10:49that people are seeing your team from that standpoint?
10:53That's just, you know,
10:54you assume everything's out there now.
10:55You know, just the way it is, and it's great for the fans,
10:59it's great for the NFL community to have access.
11:01And, you know, one of the reasons
11:03when we first got selected to do this,
11:06we have tremendous personalities
11:08and great players on this team
11:09that I think should be showcased
11:10and put at the forefront of the league
11:12so people can see the person better,
11:13what we experience every single day.
11:15These are tremendous players that work the right way,
11:18and now it's all on video and the evidence is there.
11:21And that's just the way it is, and we'll embrace it.
11:24Saxon, does the access ever make you uncomfortable
11:28as you go through the week?
11:28No, it's just part of it.
11:30You know, we're not saying or doing anything
11:32that we're ashamed of, so film it, put it out there.
11:36Yeah, there's things, obviously, for schematic reasons
11:38that you're always a little hesitant about,
11:41and I've voiced my concerns on that.
11:42But they're great.
11:44They want what's best for the teams.
11:45They want what's best for the NFL.
11:47They want to put a good product out there
11:50that shows what's going on
11:52and is enjoyable for everybody to watch.
11:56And you form relationships with all the people
11:59that are part of the Hard Knocks crew,
12:00and they do an outstanding job,
12:01and they put together a great product,
12:03and it's a lot of fun for the fans to watch,
12:05and we're just a part of it.
12:07Is there any eager to see Joe's Batmobile when it's delivered?
12:10I mean, that's like the only comic book movie
12:15I've ever really watched or enjoyed, quite frankly.
12:19And so, yeah, maybe I'll take a peek
12:20if he wants to pull it up,
12:22and we all go out there
12:24and take a team picture in front of it or something.
12:27It's going to be a year, apparently.
12:29I have no idea. Yeah.
12:30This is third-hand information for me.
12:32I haven't asked him about it.
12:34Is there anything about Jermiah?
12:36When you guys drafted Jermiah, it seemed like it was yesterday,
12:39and it's not. It's suddenly four years.
12:41Is there anything that he's done that has surprised you,
12:44that has said, you know, that has taken,
12:46you said, jeez, this is, you know,
12:47even more than we thought?
12:49I think his consistency of how he performs every week
12:52and who he is when he comes in here for the week
12:55and his overall football intelligence.
13:00That is an impossible thing to predict when you get a player,
13:05and that has just shown up countless times,
13:08and how much he's able to handle,
13:10how much he's able to help other people.
13:12He's making corrections sometimes in a walk-through
13:13across, across to the other side,
13:16you know, to a younger player,
13:20and just that's the stuff you don't take for granted
13:23when a guy's able to operate at a level like that,
13:26and I certainly don't take that for granted.
13:30You got a recent example from any game
13:33about that intelligence?
13:35Well, you can just, I mean, the adjustments you can make
13:37on the fly in the game, and you just,
13:39hey, here's the concept, here's what we want you to line up,
13:41and here's why, and he's going to go execute it,
13:43and so that's, to me,
13:45to give you the perfect example of play 19 from whatever game,
13:48I can't do that to you off the top of my head,
13:50but you just, you're never concerned
13:53about making an adjustment on the fly
13:56and him not being able to sort it out.
13:58You know, Lauren played his last 49 yards this week.
14:01That looked like that was kind of a little bit of him
14:04and kind of reading the defense a little bit.
14:08On the last drive? Yeah.
14:09Yeah. Yeah.
14:10Just getting on the same page in a scramble drill.
14:12You know, his route brought him over there,
14:14and then Joe just found him on the scramble.
14:17You hear all the times that when guys win awards
14:19or break records that it's the whole team
14:22helping them accomplish that.
14:24Is Jamar going from triple crown meaningful to the group
14:28that he gets those kind of numbers
14:29and pushes off the historic season?
14:31Well, we want the wins to come with that.
14:33There's no doubt about it, but at the same time,
14:35when a player works like Jamar does,
14:39it sets a great example for the team,
14:41all the things that come with that,
14:42and so here's a guy who didn't take any shortcuts.
14:45He shows up every single day.
14:46He worked hard in the offseason on his own,
14:49with the team, whatever it looks like,
14:51and when the season presents itself,
14:54he's consistent every single week.
14:56He shows up on every single game day.
14:58He plays with great energy and detail.
15:00He tries to lift up everybody around him,
15:02and then when you're rewarded for that personally
15:05with whatever awards come that way,
15:07that shows a great example to the team
15:10and to young players that when you see Trey Hendrickson
15:14and Jamar Chase and Joe Burrow get awards
15:18and all the things that come with that,
15:19those are three of the hardest-working players
15:21on planet Earth, and they deserve it,
15:23and so it's no shock that great things come
15:26to those who approach things the right way
15:29and put in the necessary work.