Zac Taylor on Bengals Guard Battle Ahead of Week 8 vs Jets

Transcript

00:00No, I'd like to settle in, but again, I think we've got guys that are capable.

00:03So I like where we're at because I think we've got young guys that are ascending.

00:08I think we've got veterans that absolutely can get in there and get the job done.

00:12So I feel really comfortable with where we're at there.

00:15How tough is it to balance young guys developing those two guards versus we need to win something?

00:21It hasn't been, well, you're just asking the question for this week,

00:24but it's kind of taken care of itself in terms of the injuries so far.

00:27So, and again, you get scout team reps as well.

00:30So it's not our reps necessarily that we're calling for the Jets,

00:35but whoever's not starting is still in there as a guard getting work, getting physical work.

00:40Whenever we've got a scout team card, we're trying our best to call it as we would in our terminology

00:44and so they can work the techniques.

00:46And so you still get to assess a player, and whether it's a young guy taking the scout team work,

00:52he's still getting reps and you're investing in getting better.

00:54And if it's a veteran player, focus on staying sharp for when your number's called.

00:58So there's, even though they're not the starter and getting the starter reps,

01:01they're still getting plenty of work on the scout team.

01:03Just following up on that, is it hard to fight the urge, whether it be you see the sample size

01:09of what you got from maybe your non-starter on opening day, like last week,

01:13compared to what you've seen over a course of five weeks?

01:16I think those are just always decisions we have to make.

01:18I mean, so you can talk about any position and how we're going to handle it differently.

01:23I think we're in a good spot.

01:24So, again, it's not something I'm stressed about.

01:27I think we have really good options, and it'll take shape as the week goes.

01:30Do you take the long-term view, or is it just simple as whoever gives you the best chance?

01:34You guys try to find the answer on who's starting.

01:37We're just, again, whatever gives us the best chance to win.