Zac Taylor Press Conference – September 15

Zac Taylor Press Conference – September 15

All right, go ahead. Fire away. What’s the latest on Joe Burrow? Um, it looks like he’s going to need surgery. We’re still working through all the details of that, what that timeline’s going to look like. Um, so that’s really all the information I have today. You anticipate I I I don’t want to make any determination right now. We’ll we’ll get through the week, get all the information we can, and then we’ll go from there. Is the hope right now gathering second opinions? Is that is that what you’re Yeah, I think that’s that’s all the process they’re going through right now. Um, timeline and all that kind of stuff. So, not information I have today. What’s your message to the team? That we’re 2 and 0 and and we’ve got a lot of good energy right now. Um there’s a lot of things that we can clean up with our football team to be better going forward. We have not put our best foot forward yet. And so that that’s what’s exciting is that we found a way to be two two and 0 right now. Um and we still haven’t even played our best best football collectively. So, um the goal this week is find a way to go on the road and be 3 and 0. And I know our guys are chomping at the bit for that opportunity. If Joe does miss extended time, can you, Jake, and a lot of the the same faces draw from 2023? Does that help? Yeah, we we have a ton of confidence in Jake. And so, he proved that yesterday um against what I think everyone’s going to see is a really good football team. He’s done in the past. Um he’s played against this team we’re about to play, so he’s got experience there. And so, so again, the the the point that you turn to now is excited for Jake to to go out there and play and and um he’s earned the right to be in the spotlight. And so, uh, guys will rally behind him and and we’ll get Jake’s best. Obviously, you’re trying to prepare for Minnesota and do everything you do in the normal course load of a Monday after a game. When you have something significant like this and there’s so much to consider, what kind of a challenge is it for you and your staff? It’s just part of the process for us. You know, there’s always some form of adversity you’re going to you’re going to face and it’s how do you respond to it? And so again, it’s um there’s not a lot we can do right now for Joe, you know, other than I I feel terrible for him because he’s put in all the work. And so for him to have to go through this is is the worst part of it. But um as a football team, we just got to continue to move forward and that’s what these guys are going to do. And um so again, it’s there’s not a lot that takes up my time if that’s what you’re asking in terms of today. We’re we’re ready to move on to Minnesota and find a way to get after these guys. In your conversations with Joe, how is he? What type of spirits is he in? Well, it’s hard for me to answer. You know, it’s always disappointing when you have to go through this, but my experience with Joe is he’s always been um you know, upbeat and and handle it the best that he can given the circumstances. I think that’s always how he looks at it, but again, he can probably at some point answer that better than I can. Is there any possibility of bringing in somebody else to that room designed to maybe eventually challenge Jake? Or is it this is you guys are riding with Jake all year. That’s that’s the plan. I I feel very confident in Jake. I think um Jake has proven his caliber in this league and that he can help us win football games and contend for all the things that we want to contend for. Um but that being said, we’re always open to bringing in other people at this point. We got two quarterbacks sitting in this room and so I’m sure we we’ll turn over a lot of rocks trying to find another guy. I didn’t timeline or anything like that, but is there still at least hope in the building that Joe could be back at some point? Yeah, I I don’t want to say anything that um I can’t fully answer right now. English department Shamore doubtful for this week. He’s got an ankle sprain. Again, we’ll we’ll accumulate more information today, tomorrow as it goes, but um doubtful for this week. Any other injuries that you picked up on the course? Um not as of right now. Yep. Just just confirm for us that it it definitely is a turf to Yes. Okay. Yes. Do you all have an idea of when that occurred? Was it all on the play that his last offensive snap? Um, I just assumed that without getting into the details, I I just assumed it was on that play. Z, do you feel like when you think about this injury happening to Joe and another injury you guys are dealing with that you have to organizationally start to rethink how you protect Joe and and the way that you guys have gone about that? It’s unfortunate that this happened. Um, but again, that’s just that’s part of football and that’s what’s going to happen. Guys are in the pocket, guys are moving around. Um, I don’t know how a turf toe injury fully happens, what how you got to get hit or stepped on. Um, I know that potentially he could have been clean for 99% of the game and the one play is where this happens. And so I I get it. I understand where people are going to come from. It’s going to be very attacking of us and our style of play. Um, that’s got us to a Super Bowl and an AFC championship and two division titles and won a lot of games for us. So, um, we’re we’re always evaluating how we can protect our players and put them in the best position possible. Um, so I take accountability for that and if if people want to blame me for for putting him in a position, I’m fine taking that. But, um, we’ll we’ll continue to put the best plan forward to put Jake in a great position to go help us beat Minnesota. What would you say to those people that look at the offensive line? I don’t really worry about the outside noise. We are always working to be the best version of this inside Bengals and trying to put ourselves in the best position. The players have bought in, the coaches have bought in. Um we feel like we’ve put ourselves in a great position here at 2 and 0. Um by beating two teams that are are difficult teams to beat. And so that that’s all I can say. I I can’t answer everybody. Um you’re never going to please 100% of the people. Whatever I say will please some, not the others. And so I I’ve I’m very accepting of that. And and uh embrace the role that we’re in. You know, it’s it’s challenging and we’ll continue to find ways to be successful. Where’s your confidence level? Very high. If people are looking at the offensive line as the number one reason in that thing, that was an all 11 people on the same page in that last game. Um, so especially early on, there’s some things that we got to correct at every position to be able to all be on the same page. Um, it’s it is simple as that. And that that’s that’s coaching, that’s the receivers, that’s the tight ends, that’s the running backs, and that’s the offensive line and the quarterback all working in unison with each other. So again, it’s the line always takes all the all the blame for it. Um, I’ve got confidence in those guys, and we’re going to continue to get their best going forward. So you don’t think it was really when you went back, it’s like a lot of people are looking at the line. Yeah, I I can’t I can’t control what a lot of people think. I don’t know who a lot of people are. Um, I think that we got to be do a better job as an offense protecting each other and all getting on the same page with the protections. Um, so again, it’s it’s that’s just part of the challenge playing football in this league and you’re going to get tough looks and um, we got a lot of tough looks in that game. I I give a lot of credit to Jacksonville. They had a great plan. It was very challenging. I thought as the game went on um, our guys did a great job. I think if you look at the last drive of the game, I think we went 10 for 10 for 92 yards and Jake was not touched by a player we couldn’t account for. And so when it mattered the most, those guys came together and gave gave Jake great protection. Um the two times he got hit, one was on scout protection. We can’t block that guy. One was on a Abby safety off the edge. We can’t block him. It’s a running clock. Two-minute completes it to Jamar. Beats the extra hitter with a throw. The line did a great job and the backs did a great job. So, um, at the end of the game, those guys really stepped up and gave us what we needed to be able to go 92 yards in 3 and 1/2 minutes and eat up all but 18 seconds on the clock and score a touchdown to win the game. Outside of the final drive that you just talked about, did you notice a difference in the performance of the offensive line when Jake was in the game at Joe? No, I mean, there’s corrections we make as the game goes with the running backs and the tight ends and the receivers and the linemen as a whole. So, I think as the game goes, there’s always those, okay, here’s how they’re going to play us. That was a challenging coordinator. He’d spent one year in Green Bay, so is that his identity? He’s played one game against Carolina. They were up 20 to3 at halftime after lightning delay. So, they had control of that game. So, what are we really going to get from these guys? That was extremely challenging plan to put together that as the game evolved, you had to see, okay, this is this is maybe more of his identity and how he’s going to attack us. And so, I really felt like as we continued to adapt to all the different pressure looks we were seeing, it was okay, this is this is their plan. Here’s how we can counteract that. I thought our guys handled it really well. I thought our coaches really did a good job in the second half. Um so that that’s a lot of it and that’s that’s credit to Jacksonville. Um I thought they they coordinators did a great job and were very prepared and put us in tough spots and I thought that we countered um the right way and and gave our guys a chance. I know that you said Joe is usually upbeat in situations like this, but just given how many of these injuries have happened to him and and what we know about just how much time he spent in the offseason and how important his practice, do you have to be extra aware of how this could potentially take a toll on him mentally this time around? I haven’t thought of it that way. So, I’m sure as time will pass, I’ll have a better answer for you. I think one of the things that you mentioned in 23 that you appreciated about Jake is you could still game plan for the opponent coming up and Jake could step in there and execute the game plan regardless of who the quarterback is. Is it the same way this time around where Yeah, it’s not going to Joe could have been playing or Jake’s playing. You’re still going to attack the team. Sure. Very very similar. And and again, it’s always as the week goes and I’m I’m one-on-one with Joe or sitting in the quarterback meeting, I’m looking at Joe as I’m asking the questions. Hey, what do you like here? Do you like this? Do you like that? I’m looking at Joe and I’m asking Joe the questions. Now, I’m looking at Jake. Jake, what do you like this? Do you not like this? And so, that’s the difference in kind of the the last 10% of the game plan as we’re making decisions as coaches. Do we like this? Do we not? A lot of times I I go to Joe and and I want his feedback on that stuff because if he loves to play then I gotta call it. If he doesn’t like a play then then I’m not going to put him in that situation. So now now that just transfers to to Jake and sometimes with Jake that may lean a little bit in a different direction for that 10% but that’s usually how our process goes and and I’m very comfortable with communication with Jake. Jake’s always been very honest, done a great job telling us and being transparent with what he likes and doesn’t like and um so we’ll fit that into whatever plan we have for Minnesota. you kind of alluded to this a little bit, but the style of play does that maybe is there a certain level of risk that comes with it knowing how explosive y’all want to be as an offense? I mean, is how much of that kind of is? Yeah, there there’s always a risk. I I think if you watch a lot of the top offenses in this league, especially in this conference, you’re going to see a lot of quarterbacks running around in the pocket making big plays. And so, um, that’s just part of part of it. You know, you have a great quarterback who can who can extend plays and the receivers we got that you’re going to hit big plays. Um, you’re not going to tell say don’t do that. we’ve all sat here and watched all the gamebreaking plays we’ve made when when we’ve extended plays and made plays. So, I think just to overall say, “Hey, we’re not going to be aggressive and we’re just going to run the ball 40 times a game.” Um, that doesn’t play to a lot of our strengths because our strengths are throwing the football to our receivers and our tight ends and backs and our linemen protecting and our quarterbacks being able to make plays in the game. So, um, that’s just that’s what we lean into. Sure. Sure. We we go into every game, what’s the best plan for us to have. Ideally, we can get a 21 to nothing lead on a team and just hammer them with the run game and the play. That would be great. Um, that’s just not how it’s really played out for us yet. And so, maybe someday we’ll get to that point and and we can really lean on that and and have a different identity for that week. But, we’re going to do whatever it takes to to win the game. Did you notice a difference in Jacksonville’s defense when you went back and watched from what they did when Joe was in versus after the fact when when Jake was in at quarterback? Um, no differences. No, I’d say a lot of the same thing. I mean, the correction tape we made today was a lot of the same things that showed up. I mean, they had a lot they gave us. Um, it was there were a lot of difficult looks, a lot of challenging looks. I I think that they’ve done a great job. I think they’re going to challenge a lot of teams with that kind of stuff this year. Um, so again, we just had to problem solve it as we went and and but no, we both guys got got similar looks over the course of the game. Does Jake have the same green light to audible as Joe does? Yeah. Yes. Yes. What gives you the most confidence? Obviously 2 and0 trying to stretch out to three and0 this week against in a in a tough environment. We are two and it doesn’t feel like two and0 right now, man. Two and0. Um, yeah, I mean, yeah, I I think that’s our like all we control is is winning this next game. And so the energy and the confidence in our locker room right now is skyhigh. It’s it’s found a way to win two games by guys stepping up and making plays at the end of games. And and so again, just sitting at home yesterday afternoon, yesterday, watching all these other teams play and watching the highlights like every every game, every team’s got a couple flaws right now that they’re trying to work through and you’re hopeful that you’re finding a way to win early in the year like we’ve done two weeks in a row now. Um but but I I can’t tell you enough like the positivity we got in this room and the confidence we have in this room because we saw the mistakes we made and a lot of them are so correctable that we’re going to continue to improve as we evolve as the season goes on. And so the guys see like we didn’t even um and Jack probably feels the same way, but there there are so many things that we could have done better that we’ll be cleaner on as every week passes and to still find a way to win and be two and 0 um is exciting for these guys and and we’re going to continue to capitalize on that. Why do you think that hasn’t really dropped off? Normally when your starting quarterback moves out, especially a guy like Joe, there’s a bit of a drop off. Why do you think there’s Yeah, we’re finding a way to win. I mean, make no mistake, but losing Joe is is a big piece of what we do. Um but but we have to cook. We still play a game in six days. that doesn’t change. And so, um, continue to capitalize on the great things that we’re doing as a team and the feeling that we got and the work that the guys have put in. And so, um, again, Jake’s the next man up and and we got a lot of confidence in him. And, um, guys are going to continue to step up and make the carry the load. And, and I’m just excited to to watch this team continue to compete because when you’re in the locker room postgame, you’re in the meeting we’re in just now, you would have a lot of confidence in this team to go on the road and find a way to get a win and be three and 0 and then we’ll focus on whatever the next opponent is. We’ve had announced that JJ McCarthy is going to be out this week. So, I assume Carson Wentz would start. Just your reaction to I mean, Carson’s had a lot of success in this league. Um, you know, watched my brother was in Philly when when they drafted Carson and played him a couple times, so he’s always challenging. He’s dynamic with his legs. Um, he’s got a big arm. He’s played in some big moments. He’s seen a lot of different looks. So, there’s a reason they acquire him as the backup. Um, he’s done a lot of really good things over the course of his career. Have you got a surgery date yet? I have no I don’t. When do you So I guess how you say you don’t have a definitive timeline yet on what that would be. Yeah. Would y’all get a sense of when you get a timeline on what you could potentially? I I think in the next couple days. I I think we’re always going to be slow to give a timeline because I’ve that’s that’s uh years of experience sitting up here talking. You know, I just good or bad, you learn your lessons there. So um I’ll always be protective of that whatever direction it were to go. Um but again, one thing I know about Joe is like he’s going to do everything he can to attack a rehab process. um if he gets to that point and and so um again I I don’t know what a total rehab looks like. But um I know that Joe’s gonna give everything he’s got. He’s gonna do everything he can to get on the field for I got full confidence in that. So again I’m I’m not trying to just be vague with the timeline that I’m unsure of. Um I also know I’ve stuck my foot in my mouth in years past by giving that. But we’ll get the surgery date nailed down if he’s going to do that and and move forward with all the information we can have. Is there a urgency to do it quickly to figure out that to make sure? I’m not a doctor. I’m not a trainer. I think there’s reasons why it wouldn’t be done at this moment. You know, it’s it’s there’s a couple day process there of how they’d have to sort that out. So, I think that’s why Yeah, of course. I’m sure Joe would love to do at the earliest point, but um we’ll continue to work through that. Uh sorry, I don’t need to talk about the defense. I’m ready for anything you got for me, Jeff. Give it to me. The fans were awesome. Is that what you’re about to ask me? Yeah, they set the standard day one. No, but you can make the argument you’re two and0 because of Is there any uh and is there anybody who you think’s leading that charge? And is there anything that surprised you that you know in the last couple games with them? No, I I I think the defense um these turnovers they keep getting for us are huge because they’re momentum killers for the other team, especially when you get a red zone pick like Dax. Um that just changes the whole momentum of the game because it’s it’s really takes seven off the board potentially for them. Worst case scenario three or best case scenario three. um takes that off the board for him is a momentum crusher. Gives us a lot of energy on the sidelines. Gives our fans, especially at home, a lot of energy. Um so I think that those have been turning points in the last two games just getting these turnovers that they’re getting. Um which aren’t easy ones. You know, they’re they’re tips and guys are going to get them. Dax made a great play on the corner out the end zone. So, um love the momentum that they give in the offense and some of those key moments. And again, we’ll continue to fine-tune what we’re doing best and and evolve as a defensive unit. But um I I knew going into this game watching Jacksonville and knowing their staff and knowing their talent and having watched them years past, it’s a really dangerous offense. They give you a lot of stuff that stresses you um with your eye discipline pre- snap. They put you in a lot of compromising situations post snap. Um I really feel that Liam does a great job with those guys and you’re going to look up 10 weeks from now and and they’re going to find a way to be one of the top offenses in the league. So, um, proud of the way that our defense just buckled down, solved the problems, got us off the field, especially the the sudden change on the 12 yardd line at the end of the game. I mean, that’s that’s a game. That’s four plays right there that probably don’t get talked about enough that they found a way to stop them and get the offense the ball back. You’re not that far from preseason games in training camp. Do you think that’s helpful for Jake that he hasn’t been, you know, sitting around getting minimal work during the week? I think it’s probably more helpful than than hurtful that it’s closer to that time because he’s he’s gotten that live action um you know fairly recently in the last last month or so. So um takes a lot of our scout team reps. Brad Cricthor does a great job at different times special teams postpractice Fridays making sure he gets the reps that he’s not getting those live reps that are on the script that Joe’s getting. Um Jake gets some of that opportunity. So, um, I think Brad’s done an excellent job preparing him for the moment and Jake has done everything he can to control what he can control and excited to watch him play. He won big at Washington. He was four and three when he filled in two years ago. Are there intangible qualities there that, you know, people gravitate to for him? Well, yeah, he’s he connects with everybody in the locker room. You know, he’s he’s done a great job. That’s just natural for him to spend time with with everybody in different environments. And so I think guys really respond well to that. But but most of all just his his time in the building and how he works. Guys really appreciate and respect that. And um so again it’s you have a lot of confidence when he goes out there that okay Jake’s Jake’s more than capable to be able to lead us to a win. You threw me off with Washington. Yeah. I was commanders in my head for a long time and I put it together at the end there. Yeah. But it took me a second. Zach, I was just thinking about uh Chase Brown’s role in the offense and just wondering from you, how do you feel like it’s gone for him? So, I think there’s a couple runs that we got bigger potential on. Yeah. That we’re just we’re we’re one block away. And so, again, those are things we’re focusing on right now is we we can’t be one block away. We got to get everybody on the same page, everyone finishing um so that Chase can get in those situations where we get the explosives and instead of 3.1, you’re up in the fours. And so again, th those moments showed up on the tape for us where the potential was there and we just didn’t get it done and there’s no excuse for that. And so again, that’s that’s something moving forward we got to do a great job of is getting more out of our run game. Um the explosiveness that can be there and and we’ll continue to try to find ways to do that. Would you say second half yesterday probably wasn’t conducive to just felt like it demanded more of a passing. There’s moments and and this has happened to us over the years where it’s it becomes a you’re down seven and um time becomes your enemy and we spend a little more time throwing it. Thanks. Okay. Thank you all. [Music]

Zac Taylor speaks to the media.

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