John Cashman: Uh, what’s going on Niners Nation? It’s a therapy Tuesday
Tim Cashman: What a way to start the, what a way to start the podcast. Just a huge sigh,
John Cashman: Well, did you watch the game last night? It’s not Victory Tuesday. It’s therapy Tuesday.
Tim Cashman: Of course
John Cashman: Uh, so, um, we’re gonna talk about our feelings today ’cause we’ve got a lot of feelings. So I, I’m, I’m pissed off and I’m fucking annoyed. Tim, how are you feeling?
Tim Cashman: Well, let’s see. Um, I went to bed angry. I didn’t sleep well. I woke up angry. I am, you know, it’s not often that at 7:02 in the AM that I’m driving in the darkened streets of Reston, Virginia, and you’re blasting Nirvana Nevermind at the highest possible decibel that your car can go and maybe, you know, you see a biker that, uh, you don’t feel is really operating in a safe manner or following the societal norms and rules of the road. And maybe you lean on your horn for 20 or 30 seconds because you’re just angry the way he’s kind of cutting you off and going against the light, and then your daughter looks at you and goes, dad, you okay? So maybe all that happened this morning, and if one, if that bikers are a listener, you know, I, I apologize sir, but you were in the wrong, you did go against the red light and I had to lean on my horn for a little while because I knew that I was going to eventually have to get to my desk and get the game on and rewatch it again because we have this podcast we have to talk about.
That’s how I’m feeling, John
John Cashman: You know, I actually feel a little bit better after hearing that because I didn’t lean on anybody’s horn scare a biker .
Brian, how are you feeling? Did you scare anybody this morning?
Brian Caynan: Tim, you hold onto these things like uh,
Tim Cashman: a little too. I’m holding on too tight, John. I’ve lost the edge.
John Cashman: Quite a while ago actually.
Brian Caynan: Oh, man. How do I feel? I had a dream last night that I got into a car crash. So,
Tim Cashman: God. Okay. I knew this was going to be a therapy session, but Wow.
Brian Caynan: well, I felt like I was driving and then my car wouldn’t stop. And then, , maybe that’s, uh, I don’t know, maybe that’s symbolic of something, but I, I was thinking about this today. Well, like, what, what am I gonna say tonight? And do you guys ever watch, uh, welcome to Rexam?
John Cashman: No, but I’ve
Brian Caynan: So basically the premise is, is that Ryan Reynolds bought a English football team. Um, soccer team and they’re trying to turn it from like a perennial loser into, you know, moving up in, in the, the stages of, of English football. Well,
Tim Cashman: So, so real life
Brian Caynan: real life Ted Lasso. Exactly. But
they’re, um,
Tim Cashman: okay.
Brian Caynan: The thing is they’ve bought so many good players that they now have expectations that they need to perform. And then, so I was just thinking about the day. That’s like thinking about the Warriors of 20 16, 20 17, that’s thinking about every Super Bowl team that we’ve had, like now that you’re this good, you have expectations on yourself. And I just feel like the last two games have been just total, total letdowns
where, you know, we’re not living up like all players, they’re just not living up to these expectations that they’ve set for themselves. And um, yeah, that’s how I feel and that’s how my day is.
I’ve been trying to process it all day. So, , that’s how, that’s how I’ve been thinking about it.
Tim Cashman: yeah.
John Cashman: So for those of you who are turning in for the first time, this is Niners talk. I’m John, joined by my brother Tim. My brother from another mother Brian. We’re three obsessed Niners fans who get together weekly to talk about what happened, during the game and to preview the game before. So this week we are reviewing the debacle that was the Vikings game, hopefully the. Get back on track game against the Bengals. if you have a moment, give us a, a, like a subscribe. Write us a review. for all of those you tuned in. Last week was our best podcast, uh, ever. Thank you so much. Uh, we love doing this. We do it each week. We do it for free. and like I said, the start, it’s, it’s also a bit of therapy for us when we’ve had a game like we did last night.
So, yeah. Um.
Tim Cashman: I’d go further and say, we don’t do it for free, Tom, because we, I, I think we emotionally, the emotional currency we offer week in and week out, I think that’s good payment,
John Cashman: Yeah. Um, yeah, this game, I, I’m trying to think of it like keep some silver linings, but I don’t really want any silver linings because I’m just mad.
Like they just, like from the CMC fumble on it just looked. Looked off like a comedy of errors. Now there are some silver linings. We could have won the game at the end. Brock Purdy looked way better than he did against the Browns. Um, but the defense, uh, uh,
Tim Cashman: Well, well,
John Cashman: How many three third downs did Kirk Cousins convert? Like 408.
Tim Cashman: I mean, he had about a 67% completion, or excuse me, conversion on third down. But I think, let’s take a step back here, John. ’cause I wanna go to something you said two weeks ago. , two weeks ago we had come off the, not 40 Niners have come off, uh, 42 10 clobbering of the Cowboys.
Three of us are sitting here patting ourselves on the, patting each other on the back, talking about, is this the best team in the NFL? And John brings up a point and says, have the 49 ERs peaked? Are they peaking too soon? And I, I said, no, I don’t think the 40 Niners are peaking too soon. I think they’re playing, you know, great football.
And again, in the Cowboys game, this was a defense that had allowed only eight first downs and the Cowboys never gotten into the red zone. Two weeks later. It’s a complete, it feels like a completely different team.
John Cashman: Yeah.
Tim Cashman: And so I, I, so I’ll put it out there are the 49 ERs, and I’ll throw this out for discussion.
Are the 49 ERs seven games into the season? They’re sitting at five and two. Are we at a crossroads? are your thoughts?
Brian Caynan: Crossroads.
John Cashman: here’s how I look at it. Even if we lose to the Bengals next week or Sunday, whatever we’re talking about now, um, I. I don’t think the Niners are gonna go much further down. Um, and we’ve seen this team in years past, get off to slow starts and then rally towards the later part of the season. I think we’re gonna see some adjustments coming, mostly after the buy. Uh, I just think we have to get to the by and kind of like get everybody reassessed, figure out what we can do. Maybe not have so much vanilla offense, figure out the defense and maybe not blitz as much. but I don’t think it’s time to panic.
Um, and I don’t think, I don’t think the Niners are, are going, there’s too much good leadership on that team to keep them from, you know. going down. So that’s my thoughts.
I
Brian Caynan: So
Tim Cashman: right, Brian.
Brian Caynan: I kind of, think of, uh, football games. I, if I compare it to a baseball season, like one football game is like equivalent to 10 baseball games ’cause it’s, you know, 160 versus 17. So 162 versus 17. So, E, each loss is really magnified. So in the fact that two weeks ago, John, you posed that question to us and I was kind of thinking that they were kind of peaking too soon because we’re used to seeing the Niners have slow starts. And I think last year at this time they were, what, three and four? So now they’re five and
two. If we were just to compare that, I think we’d be happy. Like if we were take, you know, during the summer, we would say, oh, if they’re five and two now, would you be happy? And I would say probably, yeah, I would be happy. But
I think . Just the way that they started and then the way that they’ve come across
it, it you would,
you would’ve expected them to be seven to Oh, like at this moment in time. And maybe that’s just looking at it as
from this lens.
Tim Cashman: and . Aside from a couple of plays, you know, it’s possible that this team could be seven and oh. , but I think, you know, Brian, you talk about expectations and we look at the talent that this team has. Uh, you know, you look at the defensive line, Bosa, Harre, Armstead, uh, you look at the linebackers, you look at, you know, people in the secondary, you, you know, and, and I’m not gonna go through the entire roster, but.
We’re sitting here last night and we’re wondering, okay, one of these guys going to emerge. When is the defensive line going to emerge? These are games that you don’t wanna look back on in . Late December, early January and say, wow, if we’d beaten the Vikings, we could’ve had a number one seed. These are the games that bother me the most because they’re games that, frankly, on paper, the Niners, I, I mean, I, I’m, I all credit to Minnesota, but the Niners on paper were a much more talented football team, and that’s the, the one that just, those, these are the games that eat at you because you figure, like, you know, you let one get away in Cleveland and then you came out flat against the Vikings and now you’ve got two losses in a row.
Brian Caynan: Yeah.
John Cashman: Well, do you think they’re at a crossroads?
Tim Cashman: I think they are at a crossroads right now. I think right now it’s like what is the identity of this team? , and the two things that I’ll say is yes, the 40 Niners started out five and oh, um, they were clobbering their competition. But when it’s come down to, , winning a game, uh, in tough circumstances when you have to move the ball and you have to score points.
In two weeks in a row, the foreign ERs have failed to do that, and right now the knock on Purdy is that he can’t win a game under those circumstances. Uh, so now those are the pundits, socking. I, I, you know, we have seen what Purdy can do, , in the past right now, but I think right now, the, this, uh, this Bengal game is turning into a little bit more of a must win for the 49 ERs heading into the buy, particularly because we’ve got folks like Deebo Samuel, who we don’t know.
I mean, it . It’s been called two to three weeks, but I’m not gonna say hairline fracture heals that fast. , but the, the 49 ERs need to get a win, I think number one, to gain confidence and they need to get some momentum going into that bi-week. So yeah, I would say the four Niners that are better crossroads throughout this point, we’re seven games into the season.
Brian Caynan: I have a question for you guys. Let me ask you which one is more disappointing
’cause I was thinking about this. What’s more disappointing? The offense not coming around or the defense giving up almost five, 400 yards last night or over 400 yards. Which, which is more disappointing in your eyes.
John Cashman: the defense.
Tim Cashman: I agree.
John Cashman: yeah, I mean, I’ve run two and a half miles for Nick Bosa.
Brian Caynan: That needs to be more.
John Cashman: um,
it needs to be more. Um, yeah, I just, I thought, I, I thought Kirk Cousins had one of his best games ever as a pro. He looked really good last night. Um.
Tim Cashman: You did.
John Cashman: The Niners just couldn’t close it down. I think there’s, you know, maybe part of it’s, ’cause Boso wasn’t in camp or, or things like that, they just, they don’t really seem the, the front force should be, should be getting home a lot more and not having to blitz as much as they are.
, so that’s, I think kind of the big, the big disappointment, um, at least for me. So Tim, anything to add?
Tim Cashman: Yeah, I’m gonna be the same way because if you look at the money, they paid both. So you look at the money they paid, Hargrave. We’ve seen what Armstead can do. Um, they bring in Randy Gregory. We had expected some development out of, , Drake Jackson, uh, but as you said, John, the front four, they were not getting home last night.
Uh, at and when they did get pressure on him. Uh, John, you’re absolutely right. Uh, Kirk Cousins was magnificent. , and I think it started early in the, um, in the first quarter, , the 49 ERs . You know, had fumbled, CMC had fumbled the ball, uh, but they had backed the Vikings up on their own nine yard line and it was third and 12 and you thought, well, this is where the Niners are gonna pin their ears back and rush the passer.
But the Niners were, seemed to be playing kind of a soft zone. The middle can . Consistently, uh, seemed to be open. , but cousins goes back. Um, and, you know, he hits his tight end hawkinson who just seemed to be everywhere last night. But that soft middle was con was, seemed to be open the entire game. Uh, so when you get, you know, when when you convert a third and 12 on your own nine, that gets your offense rolling.
And as you said, John, it seemed like every third down. Cousins found a way to get the ball to the receiver, or they’d have a big play. So, , right now I think the 49 ERs have 12 sacks. I think they’re tied for, you know, I don’t remember the exact, um, the, the exact, uh, order in which they are, but they’ve got one of the lowest sacks in the league right now.
, I know Sacks don’t always tell the whole story. It’s about pressures, uh, and it’s about making the court out uncomfortable. But, , this is a question mark that they have to address with that front four right now, because we’re not seeing, um, in the last, I’d say not only this game, but to an extent in Cleveland, even PJ Walker seem to be doing well against an IRS defense.
John Cashman: Yeah. we had another question before we get into some of the other stuff for the game is, you know, has B Brock hit a plateau? You know, is, is this, is this how we’re gonna see the most out of, out of Brock going forward? Tim, your thoughts?
Tim Cashman: Right now, he did play better than he did against Cleveland, but he had two interceptions. Uh, one of which to end the game. Now, the first interception, he and Jennings were not on the same page. , he threw it where he felt Jennings was going to be. Uh, I know he was rushed on that throw. The last, the last one I, I think he’s gotta throw, and I don’t know if he’s gotta throw a better ball in that, , circumstance, but, you know, there were still 30 seconds left there on the 40.
Um, it was, it was, I think it was second down ’cause they had clocked it. Um, I’m just gonna verify that. But he, he tried to float one to Ray Ray. And Ray. Ray had three Viking defenders ride around him. So I think broadcast to have better game awareness in that regard, because if it wasn’t there, throw it away.
You know, you still have, you still have opportunities on third and potentially fourth down. So that’s why I didn’t like how he threw the ball. He, how he threw the ball there. So has he hit a plateau? I’d say over the last two games, yeah. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t break out of it. Um, he’s just had two rough games right now.
, and I think we’re seeing this because teams have figured out that the way to beat the four nine er offense is you put eight men in the box. You take away the edges. You, you blitz aggressively on, first down, you put ’em in a second and eight, you put ’em in a second and 12, and then on third down, you gotta win those battles.
And that’s been working against the Fortine ERs these last two weeks.
John Cashman: Yeah.
Brian Caynan: Yeah, that run game is definitely not, not helping. You know, CMCI know he got hurt, um, but they’ve, you’re right. I think they’ve really been containing the, . Eight men in the box. So it’s stopping the run game, which is definitely not helping Brock kind of, , just, just keep him going. And, um, has he hit a plateau? Probably at this moment in time, yes. , but he should break out of it. I mean, he’s got a, he’s got some really strong people around him are guiding him, so, yeah, I mean, every, every player is gonna. Hit a rough spot. Um, you know, regardless if it’s pitching or shooting or, uh, running rushing. Like he, it just happens to be his, his downtime. And, um, you know, hopefully, uh, Cincinnati, the run game will open up, which will open up his passing lanes. So I’m kind of hoping that that’s gonna happen next Sunday. So what about you, John?
John Cashman: Hmm. . Yeah, and I don’t think he’s hit a plateau. I actually was, was pretty impressed with some of the throws he made last night, especially to,
to kittle.
Um, there were some really nice, uh, dimes in there where I’m really actually starting to shake my head at. And we’ve seen this happen before. , is Kyle Shanahan sometimes just gets, like, he just fixates on a, a certain thing or a certain idea and just won’t get off of it.
, he did that with Garoppolo. Um, he’s, he’s doing it right now with, with CMC. And it’s like, dude, they’re gonna, every team in the NFL is gonna blitz the hell outta you until, unless you make ’em pay. And how have other teams done it against the, another? Well, they’ve done screens, they’ve done underneath routes. You know, last night, Brock’s yards per attempt were 9.1, which is bigger than cousins like. , there’s nothing wrong with Dinkin and Duncan, especially when you have some of these guys who can run after the catch. And I don’t buy this argument like, well, if Deebo was there, we’d run the bubble screen. I’m like, Chris Caffrey could hit a scream, went all the way to the house.
Like it’s just, this is where he drives me a little bit nuts. He’s supposed to be the world’s most creative play color, and it’s like. Show us how you get around the
Brit blitz. Like it doesn’t just have to be established to run. I have to do it my way and impose it will like, like you can actually hit some slants.
You can hit some five yard tosses. You know, you can do, you know, McCaffrey on a screen? You can do use check on a screen. Kiddo would do a screen. That’s the thing. I think that that’s going to end up plateauing Brock Purdy is how Kyle calls the game.
Brian Caynan: Yeah,
good one.
Tim Cashman: Hmm. Now. Yeah, and I’m not, I’m not disputing you. , John, like, like you said, you know, we, we saw that, as you said, with Garla. We saw it in 2021 where it seemed like Deebo Samuel was. The entire offense, uh, going through at least, you know, through the latter part of the year, uh, through, through the playoffs.
So I agree. I think that Deebo, losing Deebo obviously hurts because of what he brings to the, to the offense. , as I mentioned the last podcast, his speed, his strength and power to get those extra yards is something the Niners obviously miss. Uh, but I, I do think you can compensate for that, as you said.
Spreading the field a little bit more, , hitting iuk on quick slants, you know, moving the chains, keeping the defense guessing, um, because we haven’t seen it. He seems like I’m gonna run CMC on first down, and I dare you to stop me. Well, the last two weeks we’ve dared two defenses and they’ve said. , well, we’ll, we’ll, triple dog, dare you.
Back to keep doing it. So it hasn’t, it hasn’t been working out. So I think that has also impacted just the tempo of the offense that we saw for the first five weeks. Uh, the last two games, the nirs haven’t gotten any sort of rhythm and you talked about John with their timing. So I agree with you. I think Kyle needs to shake things up, uh, a bit.
, so we’ll see if another candidate merges, we’ll see what . The injury report will be, , later this week. Um, and we’ll see if he can, if, if he can explore some other options with Ray, Ray or Ronnie Bell, uh, we’ll have to see.
John Cashman: All right, well, let’s talk a little bit about the game. , review our, our keys to victory. Uh, the number one was get healthy. Well, we got one guy back, uh, and I gotta give, you know, at least. Gold Star. I mean, CMC played 59 snaps. He played every single offensive snap. Um, I think about one, , total Warrior, uh, but no Deebo, no Trent. but you know, obviously he accounted for two touchdowns, so we were able to get, to get that one. , the offense, I mean, in my opinion, um, I thought they were more back in rhythm than Cleveland. What did you guys think?
Brian Caynan: Uh, I.
would say, well, the McCaffrey fumbled didn’t help and the Jake Moody Field go miss,
obviously didn’t help.
John Cashman: No,
that’s 10 points right there.
Brian Caynan: Um, but I, I do think, I think one of you were saying that he did, look, Brock did look a little better in his throws. So, , he did connect, um, a few times with like Kittle and Jennings, but, um, some for the two that got away.
But I think he, I think, I think he played much better. Um,
yeah.
John Cashman: yards of throwing. So
Tim, what’d
Tim Cashman: would say, I’d say it was an improvement, but the, the pace of the game was dictated by the Minnesota offense.
, I, I think, I don’t remember what exact, but how many, how many drives of more than 10 plays did, did Minnesota have? That’s, that’s keeping the Niners offense off the field. So when you’re on the sidelines that long, it’s hard to get in into any sort of tempo.
So, so I’ll say, yeah, it was an improvement. , but you know, at the end of the day, you look up at the scoreboard and you still lose by five, and you had two chances in the fourth quarter to, uh, potentially take the lead. So, , improvement, yes. But still, uh, a loss.
John Cashman: So you’re saying it’s like when you’re 20 pounds overweight and you lose a pound, you feel a little bit better about yourself.
Tim Cashman: No, I think I, I, if that’s an analogy, I’ve said I would’ve lost five, but gained six. So that’s kind of how I’m
looking at it.
John Cashman: Well, another key to victory was press. Your cousins
Tim Cashman: Uh,
John Cashman: just didn’t have I, I mean. Hats off to Kurt Cousins. I,
I, I’ve really started to like him after watching the quarterback documentary on Netflix. super humble guy. see why, you know, way back when, why Kyle wanted him as a quarterback.
Um, but yeah, he, he just, he played
lights out. , and the Niners never, never got there. There was one play. Last night where he literally was surrounded by like
the entire defensive
front of the Niners
and somehow escaped and threw further down. I’m like, it’s not our night .
It’s just not.
Um, that didn’t happen.
And then the keep turnovers positive.
Brian Caynan: Oh,
John Cashman: Yeah, that didn’t happen either.
Um, you know, CMC fumbled
Brock had two interceptions. Veri should add to, but
Tim Cashman: Yeah. Well, I think we, and I think we gotta talk about that played because that, that turned out to be such a critical part of the game when, you know, the, the Vikings had the ball. It was, it was, it was 16 seconds left. Uh, it was third and sixth for the Vikings. They had one time out left and Steve Wilkes Springs.
Our defensive coordinator brings a blitz and, you know, looking at the play, I mean, immediately I thought Char various ward had interception only to see, unfortunately, Addison raced 60 yards, um, you know, to, to the house. But, uh, so yeah, was it, it was a little bit of a fluke. I’ll, I’ll grant, I’ll grant that.
Um, but at the same time, why was 16 seconds left in the half you’re down . You’re down three. All you need is to stop, to go into the locker room and you’re getting the ball in the second half. Why is Wilkes bringing in that blitz and that situation? I didn’t agree with the call. I would’ve rushed for, uh, and dropped seven.
I. , yes, I know cousins was having a good night, but I’ll take my chances as my secondary keep everything in front of you. Uh, ’cause Ward had no safety help, obviously, because he, you know, the guy raced to the end zone. So what, what were your thoughts on, on the blitz? ’cause it obviously it didn’t get the cousins.
He threw a great ball. , but I, I did not like, I did not like listening in that situation.
John Cashman: Well, when I was watching, I didn’t actually really know it was a blitz .
I mean, I was like, oh, they’re about to sack him. Oh, he throws it. Oh, Tarus is there. Oh, he’s got. Wait, wait. Isn’t there something behind him?
What
Tim Cashman: Yeah.
John Cashman: That was basically my reaction to it. So, , it, it was because we had the momentum.
Tim Cashman: Yeah.
John Cashman: Um, it was just, it was just really disappointing.
I mean, there’s a million things that could have happened. Trevor could have just knocked it down.
Tim Cashman: Yep.
John Cashman: but I just, I just chalk it up with like, if I was Steve Wilkes, I was just trying to send a message to Kirk Cousins and plan ’em. Like I get her, understand the logic, but at the end of the day, I think he just made a bad call. So.
Brian Caynan: And I don’t, I don’t know if, if, , cousins actually made a really good play, a really good pass. I think Addison just made a really good grab and steal away from Varus Ward.
So,
Tim Cashman: I, I can’t take that
Brian Caynan: he, he, oh, he, he, killed us. And, um,
John Cashman: Yeah.
Brian Caynan: so yeah, I mean, I didn’t, I, I’m like John, I think I was probably focusing on, on just kind of watching the play at hand and I didn’t know they sent the house in , on cousins.
But yeah, I did expect someone to be behind, um, ward and, and definitely surprised to not see anyone there to pick him up.
John Cashman: Yeah,
GIP is usually back there, just like hanging out.
Tim Cashman: Yeah.
John Cashman: But yeah, it is. It is what it is. . And so, yeah, CMCs Fumble was another one that was, that was odd. Um. And then, you know, the, the two purdy interceptions, the one I the one with to Jawan, like I said, it just looks like he was done on the other page. And then the last one, I think he just forced it.
And, and that’s just one of those things, like, that’ll come through maturity, um, you know, hopefully sooner rather than later. , but yeah, I, I just, you know, he still had 30 seconds, but I get those turnovers turned up, so, . So we’ll move on to our, our stars of the game on the 49 ERs. I got nobody. Would you go with the agree,
Brian Caynan: Wow. Wow.
John Cashman: do any
Niners get
stars
Tim Cashman: I, uh, you know what I’ll give, I’ll give, I’ll give one to CMC. The, the, the guy? Yes. He had a fumble, but he also scored two touchdowns, so,
John Cashman: a any played hurt? And he played
all
Tim Cashman: he played her, so I’ll, I’ll give it to
Brian Caynan: I will give him that one too. That was the
only one I was gonna say
Tim Cashman: Yeah.
Brian Caynan: So
Tim Cashman: Yeah.
John Cashman: All right, I’ll, I’ll give one to CMC. Um, I’ll give an honorable mention to Jake Moody who came in and banged a 55 yard field goal after missing now two in a row. So he gets
an
Brian Caynan: I will, I will, say I was gonna planning to give one to Varus Ward after he had that pick, you know, and then he just gave up that
so that one’s, that one’s gone.
John Cashman: Yeah, well,
Tim Cashman: Yeah.
John Cashman: your star was erased. It’s
a decal. We’re just taking it back. , but, uh, very, we have not done it this year, but occasionally you have to take your hats off to someone. Um, two Vikings get stars of the game. Uh,
Tim Cashman: Yeah.
John Cashman: Kirk Cousins, and Jordan Addison, Kirk Cousins was. Electric last night. So what was it, what was the STAs like?
378
yards passing,
Brian Caynan: was it.
John Cashman: uh,
Tim Cashman: looking at it up right now, but, uh, yeah, it was, it was, uh. Oh, that’s actually only in the fir, sorry, I was gonna say two 12. That was only in the first
Brian Caynan: Yeah, he had 3 78.
Tim Cashman: yeah, so 378 yards. 3 78. Yeah. And, but John, I think you also, I know Addison had, you know, two big, uh, two big, uh, two big, uh, touchdown receptions.
I think Hawkinson there tied in, played phenomenal. He’s, he’s an Iowa grad, like George Kittle, , 11 receptions, 86 yards. He was constantly o open over the middle. So I think we have to give stars, uh, to that, that,
Brian Caynan: And I, and I didn’t, and I didn’t,
realize the, the, uh, Vikings, they traded for Cam Acres from the Rams. So yeah, I. Surprised to see he got a couple grabs
over there,
Tim Cashman: Yeah.
John Cashman: And on
on just another note, for the NFL. George Kittle should actually play on national tight ends day, not on the Monday after national tight ends day. I’m like, I don’t know. I just, I thought that was a little, that was a little weird. So
Tim Cashman: Yeah,
John Cashman: where can we improve ? Where do we
wanna see? Where do
we, wanna start?
Tim Cashman: well, we don’t have to listen to that damn horn. That was kept blowing every time the Vikings made a play. I mean, that thing was driving me up the wall, but, , all right. Well, yeah, I think we start with the run defense. , and this was a surprise to me, you know, given the talent we have, uh, on, on the, on the de defensive line.
But teams are basically setting the Niners up, , by exploiting their wide nine, uh, they’re running, uh, between, uh, the, uh, the defensive end and the defensive tackle, and they’re picking up, you know, three, four yards. And Minnesota’s one of the worst rushing teams in the NFL. , but as Troy Aikman put it better, it’s like they didn’t have to
Dominate the run. They just had to establish it because that kept the Niners off balance all night. And I think that’s one of the reasons that, uh, the Niners were not able to get consistent pressure on cousins. If you’re putting cousins in a second and long, I think it’s a much different ball ball game, obviously.
, but right now Steve Wilkes has got, he, he’s got some leaks to fill right now. So we’ll, we’ll have to see what he does against, uh, the Bengals, but that’s been, we saw that, uh, again, you know, the, the Cleveland, , was able to run the ball effectively against the Niners and the Vikings were able to run the ball effectively against the Niners.
So, um, I don’t know if it’s stacking the box a little bit more like other teams have, uh, against, uh, the San Francisco offense, but, , they’re gonna have to make some adjustments.
John Cashman: Brian, other places
Brian Caynan: Oh, the offensive line. Um, I think one, it’s not . Not giving Purdy enough time, , to make his progressions, to make his throws. So a lot of those two picks, I mean, he’s, he’s, uh, easily, I think he could’ve, um, it would be nice if he had some, um, uh, what am I trying to say? Uh, if he had less pressure on him. And then I think too, it, it’s, they’re not really opening up running lanes for Christian McCaffrey. So, I mean, I know he’s getting his
yards or he’s getting some of his yards, but they’re just not like the same that you’ve been used to seeing. Like the a hundred plus that he’s been, he had been getting,
um, up to there. So I think, um, you know, and then hopefully getting Trent Williams back, , yeah, that
would be a big thing too.
John Cashman: Yeah. For me, and this has been a, a theme with, with Kyle Cheyenne for a while, finishing football games, last week, Cleveland couldn’t get it done. Jake, Jake misses it this week. We still had a chance to win at the game, and, you know, we had two real good chances with that drive, you know, where we had, you know, Juwan Jennings.
Falls down, and then the last one where there’s the interception, so that, that’s places
I want to, you know, see improved. , one last question on the places to improve for both you guys. Trade bloodlines coming up, you know, this time last year, now there’s, you know, we’re. Kind of stuck. You know, we ended up getting CMC, Tim, you see anybody coming in that will put a little more vigor into the Niners
Tim Cashman: , the only thing I could potentially see is maybe another d lineman, uh, be here’s why. I know they brought in Randy Gregory. I know they’re expecting more from Drake Jackson, but, uh, I don’t think we’ve seen the compliment to Bosa, , emerge yet, and that could be a possibility. Uh, Niners do have a number of draft picks that, uh, they can, uh, leverage, uh, in a potential trade.
, but I, I don’t, I think, I think, you know, even though he, he didn’t put up a lot of stats, I thought Ebu comm last year was a great compliment to Bosa in which he could at least, uh, help collapse the pocket. And that greatly, I think, helped Bosa. , not only get off some double teams, but obviously helped his, uh, hi his sac, uh, numbers.
So that’s a possibility, uh, right now, um, because the defensive line right now has been, let’s just call it what it is. It’s been a disappointment considering, , the two, um, you know, between, uh, the acquisition of Hargrave and, and Bo’s, uh, contract.
John Cashman: Brian.
Brian Caynan: know, I was thinking they probably needed to look up maybe another safety or corner. Um, and maybe that’s just looking at the game through jaded eyes because I expected, you know, them to be playing better. But, um, probably giving some thought to what Tim said. I think you definitely need to get someone who’s gonna get more pressure, , upfront, because I think if you do that, then it makes life easier for your, your DBS and your corners and your safeties, , all around.
So, yeah. I’m gonna second that, Tim. And go with, uh, another lineman who can compliment both on the other side. Um, stack it up.
John Cashman: Yeah, I have, I have two. . One I is, I, I agree. The, the defensive lineman, the, the big name that sticks out as Brian Byrne from Carolina. , because Carolina’s not won any games. You’re in full rebuild mode. Uh, he’s gonna be a free agent at the end of the year. So it’s like, you know, I mean, get something for him ’cause you’re gonna get nothing.
Now. , the other would be Another offensive weapon. , probably another wide receiver, uh, Deebo. As much as I, you know, think he’s, he’s awesome. He is. , he hasn’t been super healthy in the last, uh. Two seasons. So, uh, I think another wide receiver to compliment iu.
Um, you know, I don’t see Devonte Adams getting traded, but I just remember
You know, when Emanuel Sanders came over,
when CMC has come over, the offense just finds
another gear.
So I think, uh, another offensive weapon, you know, somebody who might be a little bit older, uh, more established, um, would, would be, would be helpful. I mean, Ike’s been awesome. Uh, but yeah, the only wide receiver that comes to mind right now is Devonte Adams, but I don’t know.
Tim, can you think of anybody else?
Tim Cashman: Uh, off the top of my head, no, but I, I, I agree with you that, you know, uh, in 9, 20 19 when they did bring in Sanders, that spread the offense around so much that, um, you know, it was, it was gonna be such a challenge to cover the 49 ERs. And, you know, we, when we were watching ’em earlier this year, particularly, I know I brought it against the Cowboys, but they would spread out the cowboy defense.
Like, all right, well you’re gonna cover Deebo, you’re gonna cover iu, you’re gonna cover Kittle, or you’re gonna cover CMC. You can’t cover all of ’em. You’re gonna have to commit to some, so. . , you know, I’ve said before, I think that’s why the Deebo injury has hurt the Niners, um, from the inability to stretch the field to run those jet sweeps, , to make the defense get on their heels a little bit more.
But, um, it’s possible. Uh, I just don’t know of any receivers that teams like, you know, the Raiders would be willing to give up on somebody like Devonte Adams, and if they did, they’d want a pretty, pretty high, uh, price tag and let’s, we’d have to have, take into account what’s the four nine . Salary cap right now.
Could they actually, you know, afford to bring in someone that, that high profile?
John Cashman: We got 40 mil babe
Tim Cashman: Is that enough?
John Cashman: I don’t know. Um, well, let’s, let’s go into more disappointing news, which is my betting. So the third week in a row, I laid
yet another goose egg. I
was over oh and four. . 1323 and one. Oh boy. So, um, yeah, so the Dolphins plus two over the Eagles. This was actually pretty decently close until, uh, Tua decided to turn it over. Um. La Rams minus three over the Steelers. TJ Watt basically decided to just ruin my ruin my day.
Um, Cleveland minus two over the col as much as my fellow referees tried to help me out, at the very end of the game, instead of kicking a field goal, they went for two, which would’ve covered it and they didn’t get it. Um, and then Detroit Apparently just forgot how to play football on their way to Baltimore. So,
Tim Cashman: they left the game plan on the plane.
John Cashman: they left the game playing on the plane and it’s such a week-to-Week League. So, but apparently, um, every, every public bet that was like 80, over 80% lost
this week. So, you know, like the Niners . So, um, so the sports books have cleaned up, so, um. So, yeah, so, but we’re going, we’re, we’re soldiering on. Um, so for, for those of you who wanna bet against me and continue your winning ways, um, this week’s we’re gonna go.
Um, so my strategy before has been to go and look at, uh, DVOA and try to see on spreads. It is worked for me in the past, which is why I’ve, I’ve been doing it. I look at like teams that are in the top tier and teams that are like three or four tiers low, and they look for a smaller spread. Um, but that hasn’t been working.
So we’re, we’re shifting gears a little bit. I’m going with home teams and bigger spreads because the home teams have won a decent amount. This. This year and the bigger spreads ’cause the, the, they’ve been really close. Uh, a lot of these, so I only have three this week. Um, the commanders plus six and a half over the Eagles.
Uh, so I’m saying, I’m betting on, on the, the Washington Commanders.
Um.
Tim Cashman: that’s okay. Daniel Snyder is no longer here.
John Cashman: that’s right. Um, and then Jets and Giants, I’m going over 36. Uh, I don’t think this is gonna be a complete defensive game, and it’s basically a home team for both teams or home game. And then, um, Cleveland and Seattle, I’m just betting under 40 because. both defenses are playing pretty well right now, and neither offenses, I mean, PJ Walker and I don’t know what Deshaun Watson’s deal is. So, so, yeah. So that, that’s, that’s where I’m going. I’m, you know, hopefully turning around. I got, I got a lot more weeks to go, like 10. So, but as always, this brings us to Niners trivia time with Brian, which, um.
Tim Cashman: I,
John Cashman: I
believe might be
stripes, cut
stripes, right? With
the
Tim Cashman: I’m thi I’m sensing A-W-K-R-P theme here.
Brian Caynan: Well, I decided
I, I was making it a little more, uh, difficult. Agile late. So I’m gonna throw you some softballs this week and see if you guys can get ’em.
Tim Cashman: Oh, thank, thank you. Thank you. Okay. ’cause we’re down. We’re, we’re not, we’re not feeling good. We don’t wanna be kicked, kicked around
Brian Caynan: you know,
John Cashman: well, I’ll just say when Brian gives us softballs, a Niners
win, so.
Brian Caynan: you go.
John Cashman: What we’ll start, which, which city do the Niners
Brian Caynan: are playing Cincinnati this week at home. Okay.
John Cashman: Okay.
Brian Caynan: all. right.
So the great Bill Walsh was an assistant for the Cincinnati Bengals organization from 68 to 75. What is the
most successful quarterback he had in that system when he was their, uh, offensive assistant?
John Cashman: I’m going Ken Anderson.
Tim Cashman: I was gonna say Ken Anderson, but I don’t know if that’s it. I want to say there was another quarterback whose name escapes me, but I’ll go Ken Anderson, like John.
Brian Caynan: All right.
Tim Cashman: Um, actually, I’ll tell you what I’ll say Greg
Brian Caynan: Greg Cook.
I’ve never even heard that name before.
Okay.
Tim Cashman: Cook. So obviously it’s not the answer.
John Cashman: yeah.
Brian Caynan: All right. Number two. Uh, in the 19 81, 82 Super Bowl 16, what caused, where were the Niners, where the Niners were playing the Cincinnati Bengals? What caused the 49 ERs to arrive 90 minutes before kickoff of that game?
Tim Cashman: Vice President Bush’s motorcade.
John Cashman: I was gonna say Jack Hacksaw Reynolds was already dressed and said, get on the bus.
Brian Caynan: All right. Final answer, Tim.
Tim Cashman: That’s my final answer.
Brian Caynan: Hacksaw Reynolds. I got that for you, John. All right. Number three in the 19 88 89 Super Bowl, 23, where Tim Crem from the Cincinnati, uh, Bengal’s lineman broke his leg,
which 49 ERs
tackle also broke his leg in the game, or
Tim Cashman: Steve Wallace
John Cashman: Whatever Tim says,
Tim Cashman: Steve.
Brian Caynan: Final answer, Tim. Okay.
All right.
Tim Cashman: Bubba Paris replaced
Brian Caynan: Number.
Tim Cashman: Harris
John Cashman: team at
Tim Cashman: was on the Harris Parton was on the other side. On the other tackle
John Cashman: He didn’t shave that day.
Brian Caynan: I even still remember the commercials that were on TV that for that Super Bowl, um.
Tim Cashman: It also had the wor worst halftime show ever and whenever they ranked the worst Super Bowl halftime show. Super Bowl 23 is always number one. I.
John Cashman: what was the halftime show?
Tim Cashman: was this Elvis impersonator and you’re supposed to buy these
Brian Caynan: Oh yeah.
Tim Cashman: like a seven 11. It’s supposed to be three D, and it was absolutely horrible.
Brian Caynan: Did you guys get him
Tim Cashman: I did not,
John Cashman: N no.
Tim Cashman: in regular two D. I was more concerned about the fact that it was tied three three, and I was gonna have a heart attack at age 13.
John Cashman: Yeah. Tim. Tim was. Tim was alone in a room watching it by himself.
Tim Cashman: And not much has changed in over 40 years.
Brian Caynan: John, you, your mom, your dad were in the what? Living room? Watching the game while Tim stuck in his room.
John Cashman: yeah.
Brian Caynan: I.
John Cashman: Yeah,
Tim Cashman: Yep. Yep.
John Cashman: was a little bit happier. let’s just say the intensity was at 11.2 billion.
Brian Caynan: All right. Num number
four,
Tim Cashman: question,
Brian Caynan: All right. This is a two-parter. Um, what was the stadium where the Bengals played previously before Paul Brown Stadium slash Paycor Stadium today? What was that name and who did they share that with?
Tim Cashman: Okay.
Brian Caynan: part one and number
two,
Tim Cashman: All right.
Brian Caynan: when did the Niners
first play at their new stadium?
John Cashman: Uh, I’m gonna go with, they played at Bingle Stadium and they first played at the new stadium in 2008.
Tim Cashman: Uh, they shared Riverfront Stadium with the Cincinnati Reds, and I believe they played their first game at Paul Brown Stadium. I’m going to say. 2001.
Brian Caynan: Okay. Did it.
Tim Cashman: Beg pardon? I’ll say 2003.
Brian Caynan: Did they win or lose? Lemme, I’ve just,
Tim Cashman: They lost. They lost.
Brian Caynan: That’s it. All right. That’s it. Final
answer. I, that is Tim’s final answer because I know the way he, uh, his mind works. So
John Cashman: Hmm.
Brian Caynan: All right. Moving on.
John Cashman: All right. Well, this week we’re trying something new. Pleased to welcome to Niners Talk. Uh, our very first guest, uh, from Cincinnati, Brian Oppenheim, who goes by vol. , Brian’s weird little claim to fame is his grandfather invented ra. , he also won Olympic gold medal, but I thought the Illustra stuff was. interesting to our listeners. So anyway,
volt man. Welcome to the show.
Bryan Volpenheim: It’s good to see you.
John Cashman: Cool. So Cincinnati Bengals. So tell us a little bit about how you became a fan, some memories, and if you like clear Collingsworth
worth.
Bryan Volpenheim: I, I did, I grew up in that era, so I grew up in Cincinnati and, , we grew up a Bengals fan, but I was like, um, I kind, I guess when I really got into it was, you know, the Boomer Asan era. The later, like going into the, um, 89 Super Bowl, uh, like with Icky Woods and James Woods and, um. That, that crowd. And, uh, so that, that was a fun time to be a Bengals fan.
You know, like, welcome to the Jungle. That was like a big one. Then who day? All that. , so that was a fun time to be AS fan. But we always, but we still, you know, we never really won the Super Bowl shark choked
John Cashman: close,
Bryan Volpenheim: Yeah. You know, and. So it’s like it, I have memories of the Niners and Bengals games. I have. The funny, the, the strangest memories I have of the Bengals are, they’re all injuries, like our very, uh, strong memory of Cru Rise ankle. And when they, and, and
squadcaster-5bj2_2_10-24-2023_201128: Yeah.
Ooh. Yeah, let’s,
Bryan Volpenheim: it’s, it’s not one awful,
that one’s like seared in my memory. And then when they, they,
Brian Caynan: Oh yeah. Yeah.
Bryan Volpenheim: hurt Bo Jackson.
John Cashman: Oh, that’s right.
squadcaster-5bj2_2_10-24-2023_201128: Hmm. Yeah, that is true. Yeah, the 90, the 90 AFC playoffs, uh, Bengals at the
Raiders.
Bryan Volpenheim: that. So, and then there was, it was a lot of down period,
John Cashman: So how are you feeling about the Bengals this year
Bryan Volpenheim: uh.
John Cashman: and the golden calf
of Joe Burrow?
Bryan Volpenheim: I, I think they’re pretty good still. And, , I was surprised at how much his injury actually affected them, that I was surprised by that. Um, it shows you how, uh, how important a guy like that is. Uh, but I think they’re gonna be just fine. I,
I think he came back too soon. You know, I feel like a nagging injury like that you worry about.
You think he came back too soon?
Bryan Volpenheim: Yeah. Like I would I think sit you sit ’em out because,
I was saying you, um.
When you come back like a nagging injury like that, like there’s always a risk of it, like affecting how you do things. And so I hope that doesn’t like turn into bad habits or like make ’em worse later in the season. You never quite heal, right? If you don’t like recover the right way,
John Cashman: yeah.
No, I know. I mean, there’s been more talk about his golden calf than when Moses was holding the 10 Commandments.
squadcaster-5bj2_2_10-24-2023_201128: So the Bengals had a, had a run in the eighties, and then there was a pretty big dry spell between, uh, their last playoff victory, which I think was in 91 until I, I think just a couple of years ago where they finally broke through, , and made it to the Super Bowl. how do you sort of maintain that fandom? I just from, you know, from a Cincinnati perspective, I mean, what, what, what, what kind of keeps you going, I guess?
Is it just eternal hope? Like, uh, like you’re a Cubs or a Red Sox fan? Or is just curious how, how, how you maintain loyalty
Bryan Volpenheim: it becomes like a lovable thing. Like you just love them, even though sometimes they’re just terrible and they break your heart and you just want to still, like, it becomes part of the identity and you just have, you know, I have no choice. I have to,
squadcaster-5bj2_2_10-24-2023_201128: uh, yeah. Yeah.
John Cashman: Did you see Volt, the YouTube video someone put together, like Bingos Win, everyone goes nuts, and there’s like nuns crying in it. people are just like running around the snow and hugging children and it’s just like, it’s what it’s like to be a fan.
Bryan Volpenheim: No, I have not seen that.
John Cashman: So how are you feeling about the Bengals coming off the Bye?
Playing the Niners.
Bryan Volpenheim: think, I think, I actually feel pretty good about it. I think it’ll be good for Burrow. They’re not, they haven’t been like firing on all cylinders and like the time he’s been off has been a little bit inconsistent, so. I think that’ll give him some more time to sort of get some of that and heal his calf a little bit more.
But, I do think the Niners are gonna be pissed off, and gonna come out pretty hot, and you guys are a pretty talented team. So, it makes me nervous.
John Cashman: Yeah, I think it’s gonna be, I think it’s gonna be a pretty good game. Um, you know, it’s, I think the Bengals have a pretty good, , defense. They have two really good young corners,
Brian Caynan: Let’s see.
John Cashman: and Burrow is one of those guys who knows how to find a way to win.
squadcaster-5bj2_2_10-24-2023_201128: Yeah, I mean the, the, the Bengals, despite their record, there’s a reason why they went to the Super Bowl two years ago. There’s a reason why they’re in the NAC championship a year ago. , they’ve gotten off to a slow start, but, uh, like, you know, I think like, like Volpi said, , the injury to borough, uh, has Been, , an obstacle that they, you know, had, haven’t had to work through, but they’re coming off two wins, , you know, against both Arizona, uh, and, uh, Seattle. And they’re coming off a, a bi-week, uh, as well. So, you know, I know Boroughs has, has started off, uh, strong, but, you know, this is a, , this is a town of football team that still believes, that knows how to win. , and when I look across at that, uh, defense, uh, the one guy that. I think it really stands out to me is, , Trey Hendrickson, uh, he’s, he’s got seven sacks, uh, on the year. Um, and that’s almost half of what 40 Niners have, uh, uh, thus far. So I think it’s gonna be a close game. You’ve got two talented football teams, I think both kind of at a crossroads right now.
Brian Caynan: The Run Defense hasn’t really been there this year. I know they’re averaging, they’re giving up about a almost 140 over 140 yards per game. , so I know the Niners are really gonna be sticking it to them, I’m guessing with like, you know, heavy dose of McCaffrey and, and, and Jordan Mason on our side.
But how do you think the, the Bengals can, can counteract some of, you know, giving up these heavy yards? Like what do you think they can, they can do to probably stop the Niners run game? , on Sunday Yeah. Yeah.
Bryan Volpenheim: that’s a good question, I don’t know. If it were me, I would just blitz all the time. I would blitz all the time.
squadcaster-5bj2_2_10-24-2023_201128: Well that that worked last night with the Vikings
Bryan Volpenheim: Yeah, I would just blitz and like expect that you’re going to give up a couple big ones and just hope that, uh, you can stop them if they get into the red zone
John Cashman: vol. Is there a way people in Cincinnati sing say Bingos like they do here in Philly? Like Eagles?
Bryan Volpenheim: uh, no, I don’t think so. I think we, uh, bangles. No, it is, it’s a hard A. Bangle.
squadcaster-5bj2_2_10-24-2023_201128: All right. Um, I, I have, I have a purse. I, I have, I have a personal question for, for, for vol. Have you ever tried to do the icky shuffle personally, and how did it turn out?
Bryan Volpenheim: I have, yes. , I’m not very good at it. It was when I was much younger, though. So, even, I had even less rhythm than I do now
Brian Caynan: well. Well, icky was on just a commercial recently, right? Where he was at a, at a grocery store, and then he, he, uh, did I, yeah. And he did the
icky shuffle and then he,
he threw that, that, deli meat on the ground, so, who are your, like favorite players? Achilles Smith and, , Chad. Chad Johnson. Right. So he was there at that time, but yeah. What, what
was your, like, what was your memories of them in the, in the two thousands and, uh, you know, coming up to the 2010s? Like what
was that your favorite uh, who are, who were your, some of your favorite players back then?
Bryan Volpenheim: Yeah. From that era, I think Ochocinco is probably the top, the guy, you know, and the guy that everybody liked. Everybody else, it was always just, it was kind of a dark period back then. It was like, uh, you just never got, you never got the sense that you were going to, you were going to win with that, with those teams.
But they were somehow still somewhat fun to watch
squadcaster-5bj2_2_10-24-2023_201128: Well, how about this? What is your favorite bingle memory of all time? Would would it be making the Super Bowl and when you, as you said in uh, the 89 AFC Championship, would it be. beating the, beating the chiefs,
uh, in overtime two years ago.
Bryan Volpenheim: I think it’s one of the older ones. I think it’s actually, uh, just, I mean, getting beat by Montana on a, on a game winning drive. That like, yeah. And that kind of sums up being a Bengals fan, I think. It’s like, you know what? At least we got to witness that.
squadcaster-5bj2_2_10-24-2023_201128: That’s your best memory, Wow. I admire your ability to withstand pain. I think that what makes a championship rower,
I don’t know if I can share in that sentiment where I would look at somebody like a Kansas City chief and say, man, I loved it when Patrick Mahomes broke my heart. But kudos to you, my
friend
John Cashman: well that’s something we all share in common now. Is it ? Uh, . Um, so would it be possible for the Bengals to make Taylor Swift cry this year?
Bryan Volpenheim: Oh, I would love it. I would love it. I hope we get to that point,
John Cashman: Um, so last but not least, so when, when you watch these games now that
we’re of an advanced age, um, so what do you do? You just. You just watch ’em in a darkened room by yourself? Is there family? Have you, have you made your children become Bengals fans?
Bryan Volpenheim: Yeah, no, no, I watch them alone. And, uh, my family’s not that into football. And so I have to like, , either watch them on my iPad in the bedroom, or I like, if I’m lucky, I get to watch them on the TV. And the hard part too, is I don’t, I don’t get a lot of Bengals games where I’ve been living. So it’s hard to find them on TV.
John Cashman: Well, you’ll be able to hopefully watch this one.
So I mean. Thankfully yesterday, uh, the Niners lost, so I don’t have to keep eating chicken wings to make sure they keep winning. But is there any football food? I know you’ve got the chef background. Any football food you guys like to to have? I mean, there’s obviously the chili on the noodles.
Bryan Volpenheim: We do, yeah, we do a chili dip. It’s basically a skyline chili on top of cream cheese, uh, and then covered in cheddar, and then you eat it with corn chips and you like bake it and eat it with corn chips.
John Cashman: We may have to get the recipe on that one.
squadcaster-5bj2_2_10-24-2023_201128: I’m, kind, I’m kind of hungry right now.
John Cashman: Well, volt, uh, thanks for being on Niners talk. This is awesome catching up and hearing, hearing that we all share the, the great fandom that is football and good luck to your team.
Bryan Volpenheim: Yeah, man. Thanks for having
John Cashman: Yeah. No, this is great.
squadcaster-5bj2_2_10-24-2023_201128: I just, I think it just goes to show that in a polarized nation, Bengals and 49 ERs fans can come together and talk about football. There’s hope for a soul
Bryan Volpenheim: there is.
John Cashman: Exactly. Cool. All right.
Bryan Volpenheim: All right. Thanks guys. Yeah.
John Cashman: Cool. All right. Well wanna thank vol for, uh, for joining us on this Niners talk. So let’s, let’s sweep that Vikings game under the rug and move on to. Bengals weak. So, uh, as we were talking earlier with vol, uh, Bengals are coming off of victory in a bi week. Now that we don’t have a Cincinnati Bengals fan in the room, how are we feeling?
Well, I.
Tim Cashman: Uh, I feel the Niners frankly just need to come out and reestablish themselves. Um, as the team we saw through the first, uh, five weeks, uh, sound defense, um, offense that frankly can hit you from multiple different, from multiple different ways. Um. , their own defense, keeping the the opposing team’s defense, uh, off balance and guessing.
We haven’t seen that in the last two weeks. So, um, for all intents and purposes, you’re going into, uh, a bye week and you want to get momentum. So I’m circling this game as, um, okay, you’re seven games in this one’s. This is a must win.
John Cashman: Brian.
Brian Caynan: think the, I think the Niners can exploit the, uh, the Bengals defense. The, the defense of the Bengals is like, they’re pretty close to the bottom. Um, giving up almost 355 yards per game. Um, I think if, if the Niners can reestablish their run game, um, get some solid, uh, protection around, uh, Purdy and if, and if Purdy can connect, uh, you know, with Kittle and, and Iuk and Jennings, um, I think he’s gonna make, they’re gonna make it a long day for the Bengals.
So, um, you know, there, there’s some exploitable Um, items here on the defense, which the Niners can do and as we mentioned before, the Bengals are giving up 142 rushing yards a a game, so definitely want to take advantage of that.
John Cashman: Yeah, I think one of the things that’s nice about this
week is that we’re back at home. Um, you know, I think the Niners should have stayed east, uh, week. even though they had an extra day. I think they get a lot out of that. I. Um, but it’s, I think it’s gonna be nice to get back to Levi’s, back to home field.
Cincinnati’s gonna come all the way west. Um, but yeah, I’m, I’m looking forward to, um, you know, the Cincinnati D’S been hit or miss. They played well against Seattle. They didn’t play well against, um, some of the other teams. Joe Burrow is
a mystery right now. Um, he’s played really, really well and he is played really, really badly. Uh, but Jamar Chase is, is still an elite receiver. Um, you know, he’s got, he is wearing a seven 11 chain, you know, ’cause he is always open. Uh, so, uh, I think it’ll be a test, but I think it’s a, a test that the Niners can pass. And I think, I think getting home is gonna really help. Uh, so let’s look at our keys to victory.
Uh, first is, uh, getting the defense right. Second is getting back to Levi’s. Third is turnovers. Let’s get ’em back to positive. And, uh, fourth is, don’t let Joe Burrow beat you. It’s same as against the Vikings. Just gotta put him on the ground. Uh, ’cause we’ve seen him when he played a, uh, against him the last time in Cincinnati, Niners were fully in control of that game and Joe Burrow brought him back.
So, he, final thoughts on the Bengals, or we’ll hear, uh, Brian
Tim Cashman: let’s see the trivia results and then we’ll do final re, final thoughts.
John Cashman: okay.
Brian Caynan: right. Question number one. Uh, who was the quarterback? Um, when Bill Walsh was an offensive assistant over on the Bengals. Uh, Tim and John, both of you? No. Tim, you said Greg Cook,
Tim Cashman: I, I say Greg Cook and I regret my
Brian Caynan: Uh, John had it right at Ken Anderson. So Ken Anderson was the guy.
John Cashman: John
gets one. That’s when they had those really dumb, humble helmets that just said
Bingos on em.
Tim Cashman: It is pretty intimidating.
John Cashman: Yeah.
Brian Caynan: Uh, number two, what is the, um, what caused the delay, uh, for the Niners getting to the Pontiac Silverdome for Super Bowl 16? Tim, you are right, that George HW Bush motorcade, that’s what, uh, caused it.
John Cashman: But Jack hacksaw Reynolds was dressed.
Tim Cashman: he
was dressed like the night before
John Cashman: Yeah, exactly.
Brian Caynan: All right, number three. Um, Which, uh, which San Francisco, uh, tackle, uh, broke their, um, broke their ankle. Uh, yes, it was Steve Wallace. So Tim, you got that right there. I dunno how you remember that. I didn’t even remember that. So.
Tim Cashman: I, I, I read and watch way too much, uh, on the Niners history. Or is there such a thing as too much watching and reading nighter’s history? Apparently not because I don’t seem to ever really stop doing it.
Brian Caynan: Nope. Uh, number four, what stadium did the Bengals play at before, uh, before they started playing at their current stadium. And then when did the Niners first play at their new stadium. So Tim, you said what again? What’s they do?
Tim Cashman: Riverfront Stadium.
Brian Caynan: is correct. They did share that with the, uh, Cincinnati Reds up until, was it 2000? Um, and the Niners first played there in what year? Tim?
Tim Cashman: I think I said 2003.
Brian Caynan: You are absolutely right. It was 2003 and the Niners did lose 41 to 38, um, against the, uh, Bengals that day.
Dennis Erickson’s first year as our head
coach.
John Cashman: Ugh.
Tim Cashman: And we know how well that
worked
John Cashman: exactly.
Brian Caynan: So
Tim Cashman: about, as well as the Vikings game last night.
John Cashman: Well, I feel a little bit better
Tim Cashman: it’s been therapeutic.
John Cashman: I’ve, we’ve talked out our feelings. I avoided most of the morning shows today, like get up and,
Brian Caynan: Oh yeah.
Tim Cashman: Yeah,
John Cashman: it is just, um, we just got a soldier on, you know, we were fortunate. I mean, they won 15 in a row and okay, they’ve lost two. Let’s just, let’s just take a deep breath. I feel like the, the Stewart, the guy was a Stewart Smalley, like, because I’m good enough, I’m smart enough,
Tim Cashman: enough and gosh
John Cashman: gosh darn it, people like me,
Tim Cashman: like me,
John Cashman: like what he did with Jordan. He’s like, baby, you’re just not good at dribbling the ball or putting it in the basket. You just say to yourself, Brock, I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and people like me, Anybody else wanna top that?
Tim Cashman: I just want. Next Monday morning, not to come down with the house pitch black. Have my first cup of coffee and just be like, I’m so angry right now. I’m so angry right now. I don’t wanna feel that feeling again. I want the Cowboys feeling where it’s just like, good morning. My neighbors And that’s my final thought.
Brian Caynan: uh, I just
wanna feel a, I don’t, I wanna have a restful sleep on that Sunday night, so you know.
Tim Cashman: We all just want to sleep
Brian Caynan: Man, I, I, I mean, I’m sure you guys do this, but like I woke up at like two in the morning thinking about what we lost that game and then I went back to sleep.
John Cashman: Yeah, Um.
Tim Cashman: Yeah.
John Cashman: I, you know, if, if I have to go goose egg for, for a month of betting and the nighters win, I’m okay with that. I would rather have that than, than a third loss in a row. But
let’s, let’s, let’s, see what happens. I mean, the, it’s a long season, but I, I would rather be six and two going into the buy than five and three.
Brian Caynan: Absolutely.
You’re here.
John Cashman: So, ’cause I don’t want to hear for two weeks about this, that, and the other thing. So,
Brian Caynan: Yeah. That’s like,
John Cashman: and I wanna see,
Brian Caynan: yeah. Two weeks of, of sitting on a loss
is is painful.
John Cashman: yeah. So, alright, on that note, Niners Nation, I hope you enjoyed this therapy session with the three of us. It will get better, we
Tim Cashman: Promise,
John Cashman: I’ll, I’ll make a, I mean, I had my kid believing in Santa Claus for a while. I’ll make that promise. Sure.
Santa Claus is coming. So ERs Nation, we’re out. Keep the faith.
Just keep the faith. We are the faithful after all.
