Al Golden on How Bengals Defense Has Been a Dominant Force in Training Camp
Al Golden on How Bengals Defense Has Been a Dominant Force in Training Camp
Video Transcript
Did you like about Brian Cook's prep?
It was nice.
Again, he was atoning for a drop earlier in the red zone.
He knew it.
We got a good break on the ball.
We had some pressure and made Joe move in the pocket, and obviously that combination is going to be powerful.
We can make a guy move and get that kind of break .
It's going to be great.
Why wasn't out there?
Again, anytime we're watching somebody, I'll just leave that question for the head coach, but we were just watching him from a health standpoint.
OK, he's fine though.
Jann Davis was rotating in with the ones that you see.
Is that just y'all want to get a look at just here?
Yeah, we're going to get a look at a lot of guys.
Luck's got a lot with the ones today as well, so.
And, uh, we're doing the same on the perimeter with Bobo.
So we're, we're gonna keep rotating guys in.
Uh, I think Figa stepped up both inside and outside, which is great to see.
He's having a really good camp and, uh, DJ Ivy is as consistent as ever.
How would you describe the pass rush so far at camp now?
Yeah, good.
I think the middle push is, is making the, the tight turn a little bit easier on the edge.
Um, and, uh, that's really helped us, you know, move the quarterback back.
Um, and he can't step into throws as much.
So got to keep working it.
We'll get BJ back, uh, pretty soon.
Uh, TJ, uh, Slayton came back in great shape and he, he's been a really, really big improvement for us inside as well.
What have you seen from Boyer on the edge specifically, Al, that gives you a different?
Yeah, I just saw one there, right?
He's dynamic.
In terms of that, he's versatile.
Um, he could play defensive end, he could play in the apex.
He can give you a couple of drops, um, and he can win with speed and he has enough power, uh, to go speed to power if he has to.
How's that looked so far?
Battle.
Uh, Jordan's having a great camp.
Yeah, I, I just love where he's at mentally.
He's prepared.
He's in great condition.
And again, I think we're, you know, starting to eliminate the things that are representative of bad defense, right?
I mean, we're, we're communicating, we're not miscommunicating.
We're playing our fundamentals.
Everybody's doing their job and, uh, and we're improving, and we have consistency, and Jordan's a big part of that.
How important was it?
I mean, if you have a bad first week of camp, it doesn't mean it's all downhill from there, but to come out and it seems like you guys have had a really good first week.
Yeah, I think so.
Uh, Obviously, we're getting challenged at the highest level, uh, every day.
Um, saw a great run attack today by our offense.
The play action has, was impactful today and, and obviously, the perimeter is what it is, uh, when Joe wants to go deep for those guys.
So it's a good challenge, but a good start for us and.
Again, we're just trying to get good at, at practice 6 and we did that.
Now we have to hit this install and be good tonight in our walkthrough.
Now, in the offseason, you talked a lot about having wave after wave, and that's something you would really like to shoot for.
What have you seen in the first week or so that indicates you'll be able to do that?
How important is that?
Yeah, I just, uh, you know, uh, uh, Miles, he continues to grow.
Um, Cedric continues to grow.
You know, I mentioned TJ earlier, Chris Jenkins, so.
You know, we got some young guys that are, that are getting a look, so there's a lot of opportunity there.
We're going to keep mixing the formulas, keep changing guys up, keep guys fresh, and everybody's going to get a good look.
We're, we're 6 days into this thing, so we've got a long way to go.
What's it been like seeing Dexter Lawrence and Matt?
Just the end of it.
This is like working at temple with this noise in the background right here.
What's it like seeing Dexter Lawrence and Pats these last couple of days?
Yeah, good.
I mean, Dex is everything you would imagine.
That he, that he is, um, come back, he came back in great shape, you know, and I think that's a testament to him and His work ethic and his energy, renewed energy and his focus.
So he's powerful.
We're going to continue to work, get him to beat box.
His middle push is significant, so he's doing a great job of buying in and being a leader for us.
Is this kind of what you were hoping for when y'all looked at this defensive line on paper in the offseason?
Yes, we're excited.
Again, upstairs did a tremendous job giving us depth and versatility and And, and I think I said, after the first day or before the first day, we're trying to find out what we do best too.
And, and, uh, they're, you know, our guys are putting it on film every day, what we do best, and we're making little adaptations daily to make sure that we, uh, you know, we are, you know, using them the way they should be.
Specifically linebackers so far just their command.
Command is night and day, um, uh, controlling the line of scrimmage, uh, getting us in the right checks.
Uh, getting us in the right fronts, um, you know, we call it empowerment, you know, just, you know, having the freedom to, if you see it, you know, get us aligned the way you want or get us in a stunt the way you want.
So I think that, that's been significant.
I think they're playing downhill.
I think they're playing a lot faster.
Um, and, uh, both of them are in great shape and, and came back ready to go.
I think they got something to prove.
I think they got an edge.
What allows a linebacker to play downhill out?
Uh, again, just from my experience, just, uh, Experience, comfort level with the scheme, uh, the ability to play fast because your mind is quiet from a technique, assignment, alignment standpoint, and right now, they, they are demonstrating every day that that is the case for them.
So we got to keep, we've got to keep it that way.
It's too big for Ticario Davis.
What have you thought of him?
No, I mean, he's up for the challenge, you know, he's long.
Uh, sometimes you can pigeonhole guys, you know, because they're long or, or they're a long strider, um , but he's got lateral quickness.
Uh, he's got tremendous reach, so he can play big at the line of scrimmage.
He's got catch-up speed, uh, vertically, um, and he's got ball skills.
So, uh, excited about him.
We're going to continue to give him opportunities and especially to go against T. And Jamar here before too long and, and, uh, and keep it rolling, but I'm very excited about him and he's a smart kid.
It looks like the offense has had a lot of different wrinkles.
How encouraging has it been seeing the communication and kind of picking up all that stuff on the fly?
It's tough.
It's Star Wars before the snap.
I mean, uh, when you have a veteran quarterback, veteran O-line.
I mean, the, the running backs are veteran, the tight ends, the wide receivers are veteran.
You can do a lot of things pre-snap.
So, that has probably been the biggest challenge is just pre-snap, you know, alignment, communication, uh, getting your assignment right, and then ultimately playing with technique.
And so that's our challenge every day.
They do, they do it as good as anybody.
And, um, you know, just, we're just going to work every day.
Whatever mistakes we made today, we want to get them cleaned up tonight, get the install, come back tomorrow and, and continue to grow.
So what do you think the biggest difference is?
Uh, what do you think the biggest difference is between day 5 this year and camp day 5?
Oh, I mean, we got a lot of veterans.
I mean, we're significantly older.
Uh, we got a lot of veterans.
We have a lot of guys that are, are going into year 2 in the system.
The guys that came in.
We're able to learn quickly.
They're pros.
I mentioned all their names.
I don't have to go over it again.
Um, you know, uh, so I think, um, and I said this to the team yesterday, their preparation, their work ethic, um, their attention to the details is allowing us to move forward every day, uh, as planned.
So there is no, there is no pullback.
There is no step back because we put too many bricks on there or we couldn't get today right.
There will be some things to clean up today, but it won't be, you know, assignments and, uh, and, you know, coverage responsibilities and things like that.
So we're going to be able to move forward with tomorrow's install.
We'll get tested on tackling out here Thursday.
We'll have a little space.
You'll see it Friday night.
We'll get tested again and then Sunday, and then we'll get ready for Detroit.
Having, as you mentioned, having, as you mentioned, like you said, the mistakes, snappy stuff that puts you back.
How much of that is maybe a relief for you as a coach being able to bring new things on with, with each and every practice and not have to keep repping the same things over.
Yeah, I think that's a great point because I, I see Jerry and Mike Hodges, Jerry Montgomery and Mike Hodges just talking about their personnel , not necessarily, uh, this is how we do it.
You know what I mean?
And I think that's really good.
Um, we're saying, hey, why don't we put deck here?
Why don't we see if Bo can do this?
Let's, let's use this front instead because that's what we do best.
So, um, that is, um, That has been born out of this unit's preparation, their attention to detail, and their work ethic.
Al, you said the Packers have a little bit of an edge.
Do you feel that across the entire defense?
Yes, it starts with me.
It starts with the staff, and again, I think you guys know how I feel about the backers.
I love them.
I stood on the table for them.
Um, they consistently got better last year.
Uh, we are going to be the bene, you know, uh, beneficiaries of what they went through last year.
And, uh, I think as a defense, uh, we have an edge and, and we got to continue to have that edge.
We haven't done anything, you know, uh, we got to fix some things here in day six.
Put in whatever we're putting in tonight.
I can't tell you guys, but, uh, get it right tomorrow.
That's really what our goal is.
