Duke and Zac Combine Press Conference 2025

[*pally*]

1) No hedging, no caveats, no buts...he wants a deal done with the big 3 before free agency
2) He agrees with his QB
3) Ja'Marr Chase WILL be the highest paid non-QB in the NFL
4) The hedging came with the other free agents include Mike G. Love to have them back but we'll have to see
5) Mims will be an All-pro
6) hemming and hawing a bit on the guard situation.

Tobin on guards: our offensive line gets beat on. We had a ton of injuries.

We score points like nobody’s business. The line is half of that group.

We can be a little better here or there. Our offensive is pretty good.

Can we improve some of those spots? Maybe. We’ll see.

— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) February 25, 2025

7) Golden is very hands on and will be very involved. He knows what he want
8) love Chase Brown
9) Dax Hill recovery on schedule
10) Jermain Burton gotta get his life together and show us he wants to play
11) best players will play rookier or vet

Zac
1) also love the emergence of Chase Brown..looking forward to utilizing him even more next season
2) Al Golden-looking for his evaluations...it is a place he excells at
3) dbs-young and getting better
4) would love to have Mike G back
5) Yoshi has a strong trajectory
6) improve the start of the season and do better finishing games
7) OL it is a work in progress..lots of evaluating going on
8) Zach Moss still working through neck injury
9) lots of coach speak..we're in alignment, great front office, etc

[BengalsLUFC]

Best presser we’ve ever heard from Duke but until the ink is dry in those deals they are hollow words.

If he pulls off 75% of what he was talking about today we win multiple rings so forgive me for being skeptical.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

"Tobin on guards: our offensive line gets beat on. We had a ton of injuries."

Last 3 Years...
Cappa: 0 games missed
Volson: 0 games missed
Karras: 0 games missed

We have had THE healthiest IOL in the entire NFL over the last 3 years. 

[*pally*]

In a separate interview with Judy Battista, Zac said they were changing their entire offseason and training camp plans aiming for a faster start to the season

[NUGDUKWE]

(02-25-2025, 07:08 PM)pally Wrote: In a separate interview with Judy Battista, Zac said they were changing their entire offseason and training camp plans aiming for a faster start to the season

Gotta try and figure out the early starts. But to me it's really as simple as letting Burrow get a little more work in preseason games. Then coming up with some game plans the for the first couple of weeks to take a little pressure off of Burrow so he doesn't have to be superman out of the gate.

[jfkbengals]

(02-25-2025, 06:19 PM)pally Wrote: 1) No hedging, no caveats, no buts...he wants a deal done with the big 3 before free agency
2) He agrees with his QB
3) Ja'Marr Chase WILL be the highest paid non-QB in the NFL
4) The hedging came with the other free agents include Mike G. Love to have them back but we'll have to see
5) Mims will be an All-pro
6) hemming and hawing a bit on the guard situation.

Tobin on guards: our offensive line gets beat on. We had a ton of injuries.

We score points like nobody’s business. The line is half of that group.

We can be a little better here or there. Our offensive is pretty good.

Can we improve some of those spots? Maybe. We’ll see.

— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) February 25, 2025

7) Golden is very hands on and will be very involved. He knows what he want
8) love Chase Brown
9) Dax Hill recovery on schedule
10) Jermain Burton gotta get his life together and show us he wants to play
11) best players will play rookier or vet

Zac
1) also love the emergence of Chase Brown..looking forward to utilizing him even more next season
2) Al Golden-looking for his evaluations...it is a place he excells at
3) dbs-young and getting better
4) would love to have Mike G back
5) Yoshi has a strong trajectory
6) improve the start of the season and do better finishing games
7) OL it is a work in progress..lots of evaluating going on
8) Zach Moss still working through neck injury
9) lots of coach speak..we're in alignment, great front office, etc

Love everything they said.

On a different level, this was an amazing recap Pally! Rep for your hard work!

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(02-25-2025, 06:19 PM)pally Wrote: 1) No hedging, no caveats, no buts...he wants a deal done with the big 3 before free agency
2)  He agrees with his QB
3) Ja'Marr Chase WILL be the highest paid non-QB in the NFL
4) The hedging came with the other free agents include Mike G.  Love to have them back but we'll have to see
5) Mims will be an All-pro
6) hemming and hawing a bit on the guard situation.  

Tobin on guards: our offensive line gets beat on. We had a ton of injuries.

We score points like nobody’s business. The line is half of that group.

We can be a little better here or there. Our offensive is pretty good.

Can we improve some of those spots? Maybe. We’ll see.

— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) February 25, 2025

7) Golden is very hands on and will be very involved.  He knows what he want
8) love Chase Brown
9) Dax Hill recovery on schedule
10) Jermain Burton gotta get his life together and show us he wants to play
11) best players will play rookier or vet

Zac
1) also love the emergence of Chase Brown..looking forward to utilizing him even more next season
2) Al Golden-looking for his evaluations...it is a place he excells at
3) dbs-young and getting better
4) would love to have Mike G back
5) Yoshi has a strong trajectory
6) improve the start of the season and do better finishing games
7) OL it is a work in progress..lots of evaluating going on
8) Zach Moss still working through neck injury
9) lots of coach speak..we're in alignment, great front office, etc

Thanks Pally, great job on breaking down everything, makes me feel much better about our approach this Offseason.

We need to upgrade Guard though, don't like Duke downplaying that at all, we were banged up at Tackle with Orlando and Mims a bit
as TLL notes. Volson got benched for poor play as far as I know.

[*michaelsean*]

Thank you

[TecmoBengals]

(02-25-2025, 06:38 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: "Tobin on guards: our offensive line gets beat on. We had a ton of injuries."

Last 3 Years...
Cappa: 0 games missed
Volson: 0 games missed
Karras: 0 games missed

We have had THE healthiest IOL in the entire NFL over the last 3 years. 

Maybe he means they played hurt and that's his excuse for them sucking? 

[*pally*]

Many in the media have commented on how unusually optimistic Duke's tone was today

[Luvnit2]

Great recap Pally. i know it is obvious to us, but nice to see ZT change his routine so team is ready week 1. On the OL issues, let's see how they proceed in FA, if they don't bring it an experienced guard, I will be surpirsed. My top choices based on performance and afforability.

Becton
Daniels
Fries

I think Smith will break the bank

[BFritz21]

(02-25-2025, 06:19 PM)pally Wrote: 1) No hedging, no caveats, no buts...he wants a deal done with the big 3 before free agency
2)  He agrees with his QB
3) Ja'Marr Chase WILL be the highest paid non-QB in the NFL
4) The hedging came with the other free agents include Mike G.  Love to have them back but we'll have to see
5) Mims will be an All-pro
6) hemming and hawing a bit on the guard situation.  

Tobin on guards: our offensive line gets beat on. We had a ton of injuries.

We score points like nobody’s business. The line is half of that group.

We can be a little better here or there. Our offensive is pretty good.

Can we improve some of those spots? Maybe. We’ll see.

— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) February 25, 2025

7) Golden is very hands on and will be very involved.  He knows what he want
8) love Chase Brown
9) Dax Hill recovery on schedule
10) Jermain Burton gotta get his life together and show us he wants to play
11) best players will play rookier or vet

Zac
1) also love the emergence of Chase Brown..looking forward to utilizing him even more next season
2) Al Golden-looking for his evaluations...it is a place he excells at
3) dbs-young and getting better
4) would love to have Mike G back
5) Yoshi has a strong trajectory
6) improve the start of the season and do better finishing games
7) OL it is a work in progress..lots of evaluating going on
8) Zach Moss still working through neck injury
9) lots of coach speak..we're in alignment, great front office, etc

I was watching the replay on Facebook at the crippled gym while I was riding the exercise bike and was liking what I was hearing, even though I realize that a lot of it was just coach/fo speak.

Making Chase the highest paid non-QB is amazing and I love that we're not effing around or trying to play hardball. Duke knows that Burrow and Chase win us multiple Super Bowls if we treat them right and give them a bit of help.

Tobin's comments on the offensive line did worry me a bit but I'm glad Zac was a bit more realistic. 

I'm glad that Zac wants to use Brown more because I think he's perfect for our offense because he hits the hole so fast, even from shotgun, and is so explosive that teams have to cram the line to stop him, which they can't do when we have Burrow, especially if we can improve his protection.

I think our front office is going to go all-in because they know we just need to give our main guys some support and we'll be a dynasty!

[Nicomo Cosca]

Absolutely hate those comments about the guards.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(02-25-2025, 09:43 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Absolutely hate those comments about the guards.

And the offense. We are good on O. But not elite. Sounds like Duke is too dumb to tell the difference.  Or figure out why (IOL/lack of running game). 

Everything else was good. Though the Mike G stuff was meh.

[*pally*]

(02-25-2025, 07:19 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: Gotta try and figure out the early starts. But to me it's really as simple as letting Burrow get a little more work in preseason games. Then coming up with some game plans the for the first couple of weeks to take a little pressure off of Burrow so he doesn't have to be superman out of the gate.

I think by now most players have figured out what they need in preseason but Joe is the exception

Season 1-  COVID
Season 2-  knee rehab
Season 3-  normal camp...nope burst appendix
Season 4-  tweaked calf
Season 5-  wrist rehab

[Nicomo Cosca]

(02-25-2025, 10:51 PM)pally Wrote: I think by now most players have figured out what they need in preseason but Joe is the exception

Season 1-  COVID
Season 2-  knee rehab
Season 3-  normal camp...nope burst appendix
Season 4-  tweaked calf
Season 5-  wrist rehab

We had 14 missed tackles against the Patriots in week one. It’s more than just a rusty Joe Burrow.

[NUGDUKWE]

(02-25-2025, 11:10 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: We had 14 missed tackles against the Patriots in week one. It’s more than just a rusty Joe Burrow.

I'm sure there is more to it. But that's got to be the biggest factor. He's not seeing the field like he normally does and pulling the trigger feeling the pressure and dropping his eyes. Injuries or illnesses have played a factor. But we refuse to adjust our gameplan even if he's hobbled with a calf injury. Getting Burrow more preseason work would most likely solve alot of the issues as I'd assume alot of the team would be playing more as well. But plan on being a bit more run heavy and design some plays to give Butrow easy reads that's not just throwing to Chase behind the line or just checkdowns with guys standing still.

[*bfine32*]

(02-25-2025, 11:19 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: I'm sure there is more to it. But that's got to be the biggest factor. He's not seeing the field like he normally does and pulling the trigger feeling the pressure and dropping his eyes. Injuries or illnesses have played a factor. But we refuse to adjust our gameplan even if he's hobbled with a calf injury. Getting Burrow more preseason work would most likely solve alot of the issues as I'd assume alot of the team would be playing more as well. But plan on being a bit more run heavy and design some plays to give Butrow easy reads that's not just throwing to Chase behind the line or just checkdowns with guys standing still.

We scored 10 points against the New England Patriots; only 2 other teams scored less than 20 against them all year. Of course, it was the 14 missed tackles. 

[BengalsBong]

(02-25-2025, 06:38 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: "Tobin on guards: our offensive line gets beat on. We had a ton of injuries."

Last 3 Years...
Cappa: 0 games missed
Volson: 0 games missed
Karras: 0 games missed

We have had THE healthiest IOL in the entire NFL over the last 3 years. 

Tobin got the O-line and D-line confused give the guy a break he only pays attention to Football 3 months out of the year.

[Nicomo Cosca]

(02-25-2025, 11:54 PM)bfine32 Wrote: We scored 10 points against the New England Patriots; only 2 other teams scored less than 20 against them all year. Of course, it was the 14 missed tackles. 

Here’s another stat;

Rhamondre Stevenson cracked 100 yards exactly once last season. Against the Cincinnati Bengals in week one.

But I do agree the offense sucked as well. Especially Hudson’s fumble on the goal line. And ofc special teams played their part in the loss (Chuck Fizzle’s fumble).

It’s almost like the entire team was unprepared.