Jonah Williams on Bengals' O-Line, Matchup With Vikings
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00:00 fall in plays in a way that's really beneficial to us up front.
00:02 And it's working obviously with Jake and we've been able to put up some
00:07 significant points and win two in a row.
00:09 So we gotta keep that rolling and just keep getting better each week.
00:13 >> You talked about the offensive that Zach has done.
00:15 Has that really been a catalyst for the offensive line as well?
00:19 Changing the style a little bit, I guess more under center with Jake,
00:22 does that help the offensive line?
00:24 >> It has.
00:25 I think that there's just different styles of offense that are all good, but
00:29 some are easier on the lines than others.
00:31 So this has been great.
00:33 We've had a lot of variety and we've also had good success running the ball,
00:38 good success in the screen game.
00:40 Our running backs are playing great right now.
00:42 And we're gonna need that going forward.
00:45 >> What's the mindset of this team?
00:46 You guys have been here before, you know what it takes to win a basketball game.
00:49 You know what it takes to win a season.
00:50 Now Jake's the leader, but what's the mindset of you guys going forward?
00:54 >> We're confident as a group and we're confident as a unit.
00:58 I know we have really high expectations coming into this year and
01:00 we still have those same beliefs in ourselves.
01:02 And we still have the same goals.
01:04 So we got four games down the stretch where we have to really
01:08 elevate it up a notch.
01:10 We're playing some great teams and
01:12 to get to where we wanna go we really have to be on our game.
01:15 >> Sounds like the Vikings throw as much at an offense,
01:19 defensively as any team in the NFL.
01:21 What stands out to you?
01:22 >> Good defensive coordinator.
01:26 He's known for his blitz zero stuff.
01:29 He runs some pretty exotic things.
01:31 So there's a big onus on us up front to be communicating with each other and
01:37 make sure we're all on the same page.
01:39 And fortunately we're at home so we're gonna be talking a lot,
01:43 getting everyone in the right positions to lock it up.
01:46 >> When going against a team that just shut out in the game before,
01:48 is that more beneficial or
01:50 is that more difficult when you're watching that tape?
01:54 >> Well, we watch a lot of tape.
01:55 So it's like there's that game and then we'll do cut ups of the whole season.
02:00 So they're obviously a great defense and they shut someone out last week.
02:04 So we know what they're capable of and as an offense,
02:11 we can't get shut out, man.
02:12 You can't win a lot of games getting shut out.
02:14 We gotta score some points.
02:15 So that's what we gotta do Sunday.
02:17 >> What's Jake like in the huddle?
02:19 >> Calm, cool, collected.
02:21 That's one of the things I was saying about him when he first ended up starting,
02:25 was just the lights and the scene isn't gonna be too big for him.
02:29 He's really level headed and kind of exudes confidence in the huddle.
02:33 Similar to Joe, they have different personalities, but
02:36 they both carry themselves with a lot of confidence and
02:38 we all buy into that in the huddle.
02:40 >> What do you notice that's different about him from a month ago before he was
02:43 a starter?
02:43 >> He's a little bit more battle tested now.
02:46 There's definitely a different speed of the game in regular season versus
02:51 preseason.
02:52 There's a different heightened sense of urgency.
02:54 And he's got a couple of starts under his belt now.
02:57 So I don't think that's eye opening for him anymore.
03:01 I think that he's used to it and he's just playing football now,
03:04 which has been good for us.
03:06 >> What's the biggest difference in their personalities that you just mentioned?
03:11 >> Well, Joe's a little bit more flashy.
03:13 You guys see it with the sunglasses and all that stuff.
03:15 I don't see Jake doing that.
03:17 But they're both personally confident but not arrogant guys.
03:23 Both great locker room guys.
03:25 And I joke that quarterbacks always have the sort of same demeanor where they're
03:28 just kind of like really cool, too cool for school sort of deal.
03:31 And it ends up playing out in a success.
03:35 And I think to be an NFL quarterback with all the pressure on you,
03:38 all the eyes on you, you have to have that.
03:40 And that's something that Jake has too, obviously Joe as well.
03:43 So it's beneficial for him.
03:46 >> How cool has it been to see Jake doing what he's done for
03:49 you personally?
03:50 How is your history?
03:51 >> It's awesome.
03:52 It's hard not to think back a little bit, reminisce a little bit.
03:56 Ten years ago playing together in high school,
03:58 and kind of crazy to go out and play NFL games with him now.
04:02 Shout out Folsom High, just won state again.
04:05 So a little dynasty over there we're part of building.
04:08 So yeah, it's been awesome to play with him and
04:12 kind of live out the high school dream together.
04:15 >> The way the Vikings play, the way the glitz and drop and
04:20 everything is a lot of premium place on decision making by the old line and
04:23 the quarterback.
04:24 How suited do you think Jake is for that, to see that type of a scheme?
04:29 >> I think that's one of the things that Jake's great at.
04:33 Really smart guy, really cerebral, sees the field for all it is.
04:36 I think he's gonna be a great coach in the future whenever he's done football.
04:40 He's got that sort of football intellect.
04:43 So we all have to be on the same page though.
04:45 He's gotta know where we can protect and
04:49 make sure we can't, where he has to have other outs.
04:52 So we all have to be on the same page and I think we had a good practice today.
04:55 And we're in a good position for Saturday.