Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor in Win Over Eagles, Preseason Finale and Roster Decisions
Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor in Win Over Eagles, Preseason Finale and Roster Decisions
Video Transcript
Yeah, it matters.
You know, guys got a chance to, to see us close it out.
Though defense was awesome in the 4th quarter.
Those guys were dog tired.
We didn't have a lot of subs, um, especially the guys up front, you know, talk about McKinley Jackson, Howard, Landon, uh, Jordan Jefferson, Foski, Antoine.
I mean, those 6 guys took every snap and, and we're exhausted in the heat here and.
Um, held up for us and then offensively to be able to close it out with the ball.
I thought it was good stuff situationally.
So a lot of things we've been preaching, I think have really shown up over the last 3 preseason games and, uh, proud of the guys for going undefeated and finding ways to win.
And, and I thought this was a good win tonight.
What, uh, Zach, were you looking for the most of guys looking to make a final argument for why they just doing it the way we want to do it, you know, controlling the things that they control individually, playing together as a unit.
I thought our team really came together.
I thought the energy on the sideline was outstanding from a lot of guys that were playing or not playing.
Um, so those are all the teams that I think a, a good team has.
If, if you're on the path to a successful season, you got a good culture, you got a good locker room.
Guys are encouraging each other and I saw that this preseason from our guys after the first two preseason games that we talked a lot about the smooth operation in all three phases.
a lot of that I did.
I, I thought there was really good communication, um, all across the board.
I thought defensively, you know, we're playing a lot of different linebackers in there.
I thought they communicated well.
Um, I saw a lot of vocal guys in the back end, really getting guys aligned, making the adjustments we needed to make.
I thought offensively, the two quarterbacks were nails.
Um, Josh Johnson had a superb preseason.
Really don't know that he could have played much better.
Sean as well.
I, I thought Sean was awesome when he went in there.
And that, that's a credit to Brad Crathorp.
You know, he's, he's got 4 quarterbacks in the room.
Um, he's done an excellent job over the years getting all those guys ready.
And so I think that says a lot about them and the room we got, but I'm really proud of the way that those two guys operated.
I think offensive line.
Yeah, I, I, I didn't feel a lot of pressure back there, you know, I thought those guys did a good job, you know, mostly 4-man rushes, but they did a good job giving them a pocket.
Um, and we were able to run the ball, and that's, that's, that's what a, uh, what do we have, 200 yards something.
What was it?
What gave it to me?
What do you got, Treggs?
Come on, put you on the spot.
211 yards, OK. And where do they come?
They come in the 4th quarter when you got the lead like that and you're able to grind it out and then hit some big ones, um, like we did there with Jamal at the very end and Krell has some good ones and.
That's where, that's where 200 yards rushing comes from when you got a 2 score league and you're able to just start pounding it and guys break some big ones and so, um, but the linemen are a big part of that as well.
So I, I thought that was great to see the performance from those guys.
I was gonna say something about Foster who was playing both tackles.
I know he's a guy who's been under scrutiny.
You know, the numbers would say he, he did something like that.
I, I think individually upfront we'll have to evaluate the tape before I, I go too far out there, but I, I would say that overall offensive line played really well.
Zach, for a guy like Docte who's competing for a spot, Dante Myers competing for a spot to come out that first series.
With his hair on fire.
I feel like that kind of sets the tone.
He, he's just, I mean, you want those guys, there's a lot of guys that can come out to training camp.
Um, kind of in Dante's shoes , you know, where it's the first chance to make an impression in a camp and in the first week, 10 days, they make a splash and then they fizzle out.
He's been consistent throughout.
And, and so I think that says a lot about him.
He's trying to take advantage of the opportunity.
Um, he's done a great job of that.
How difficult did a lot of the guys make your job job.
Yeah, uh, this has been easily, this will easily be the hardest 48 hours we face, um, in terms of the, you know, letting guys go and, and figuring out the practice squad.
It's a, it's a big credit to Duke and his staff for the depth that we have overall.
It's a big credit to the coaching staff.
For how they've developed a lot of these guys that have gotten in these competitions and made things hard for us.
I think you're starting to see, you know, especially year two of the defensive scheme, a lot of guys make huge jumps, um, on offense.
We've been doing it, you know, for a long time now, and, and I think the coaches have gotten the most out of these guys and, and Darren with these specialists has been outstanding.
So, um, I think that's a credit to the whole building and, and we just got to keep it going.
How confident do you feel about the roster right now?
I feel very confident.
I, I think we got everything we need.
We got tough decisions , um.
But I think we've got a really good roster right now.
Thank you.
You've been very complimentary, uh.
Johnson Johnson Johnson.
Um, Do you worry that he may have played so well that.
He could play himself into another opportunity somewhere else, I, I would love that for Josh.
However it plays out here with Josh, um, he has been such a pro.
He's a, he's a twenty-year vet, um, comes to work every single day.
He, he's got a sense of urgency about him.
He's going to capitalize on every rep he gets or doesn't get.
And so really proud of him and, and, uh, happy to see those guys perform well, and, and we'll see how it all shakes out for us.
What happened on the play with Jack?
In the door, got up, went to the locker room, completed the.
I think Jack was cramping, if I'm not mistaken.
Yeah, yeah.
I think he's had like one I didn't, we didn't see him much in.
Good eye.
Yeah, he, uh, you're saying he had 1 carry tonight?
No, yeah , yeah, yeah, he had several, I think he had what, 7 or 8 tonight.
Um, guys just take advantage of the opportunities, you know, you never know when they're gonna come, and I thought he and control did a great job in the second half, taking advantage of the opportunities they got.
And that's sometimes that's just how it's going to shake out and and it was good to see those guys and and make things hard on us.
