SCARLET ORANGE BROWN

Buckeyes, Bengals, Browns — Who’s Built for the Stretch Run?

• Ken Carpenter and Chris Huesman • Season 1 • Episode 8

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A defense that strangles the run, a quarterback who doesn’t flinch, and a head coach leaning into “win by one” over style points—our latest breakdown follows Ohio State from a controlled Illinois win to a focused march toward Wisconsin. We talk through the Silver Bullets’ resurgence, the secondary’s resilience under fire, and why red-zone sequencing and a true WR3 could turn tidy wins into comfortable ones. Special teams gets a hard look too, because in November football, hidden yards decide reputations.

We then shift to Cincinnati, where a veteran quarterback changed the mood, the timing, and the stakes. The second half looked like real Bengals football: receivers finishing contested catches, the line holding up, and the offense playing on schedule. But we don’t gloss over the issues—run fits, missed tackles, penalties, and a defense that has to get off the field on third down. With a favorable slate ahead, the path to stacking wins is clear if the details tighten and the kicking game keeps its edge.

Cleveland’s story is tougher. We unpack the receiver inconsistency, midweek patchwork in the secondary, and the uncomfortable truth in player-graded reports about facilities, travel, and support. Those things matter in free agency and in the locker room. The roster still flashes high-end talent on defense, but culture and infrastructure have to match ambition if the Browns want more than near-misses. Along the way, we get candid on NIL’s impact across the Big Ten, why depth is destiny, and how coaching decisions ripple through a long season.

Tap play for midseason grades, bold predictions, and score picks for Buckeyes-Wisconsin and Bengals-Steelers. If you’re riding with Ohio football, subscribe, share with a friend, and drop your predictions—we’ll read our favorite takes on the next show.

Welcome to Scarlet, Orange & Brown — the ultimate Ohio football podcast for fans who live and breathe the Buckeyes, Bengals, and Browns. Each week, we break down the biggest storylines across college and pro football in the Buckeye State — from Ohio State’s championship grind and Cincinnati’s push for AFC dominance to Cleveland’s quest to finally get it right. Hosted by Ken Carpenter and Chris Huesman, this show blends real coaching insight, passionate fan energy, and sharp analysis you won’t find on national shows. If you love tough defense, smart football talk, and honest takes from someone who’s been in the trenches, hit subscribe and join the Ohio football conversation.


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SPEAKER_03:

You're locked in to the SOB scarlet, orange and brown podcast.

SPEAKER_01:

Welcome to the Scarlet, Orange and Brown Podcast, the show that brings you the best of Ohio football every single week. From the Ohio State Buckeyees to the Cincinnati Bengals to the Cleveland Browns, we've got every inch of the Buckeye State covered. Insight, action, and plenty of bold opinion. Because here it's all football, all Ohio, all the time. Here's your hosts coming to you live from the Dublin bubble, Chris Husman and Ken Carpenter.

SPEAKER_03:

Hello, and welcome to the SOV Scarlet Orange and Brown Podcast. I'm one of your hosts, Ken Carpenter.

SPEAKER_02:

I'm Chris Husman.

SPEAKER_03:

And we go into almost the midpoint season for NFL, but the Buckeyes basically are at their midpoint in the season. They played Illinois this past weekend, and uh pretty simple. The game was never in doubt. The closest they came was uh 17-10. The final score was uh 34-16. And uh up next, they get the Wisconsin Badgers and former uh Buckeye led by former Buckeye uh Luke. What do you think about the Buckeyes this past week?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, obviously the first thing I think in my mind that stands out is the defense is dominant. Turnovers, uh, I think we forced three Saturday, um, led to 21 points. Uh the secondary depth, I think, in my opinion, is being tested a little bit. Um Illinois's game plan was to test um Iggy out there in the secondary um a lot. They they went his way a lot, trying to draw a lot of pass interference calls, and I thought he stood up pretty well. Um with Lorenzo Styles Jr. being out, um, kind of forced uh Matthews Jr. Um into that um into that nickel, shifted him into that nickel situation. And um so what that means is we had a corner um open and uh that thrust uh that true freshman, or maybe he's a red shirt freshman at this point, but Devin Sanchez um into that starting role, and I thought he did pretty well, to be honest with you. Um but downs, Reese, um, all elite, and then you have the next step to elite, which is exceptional. You know, Curry, Styles, Jackson, um, pretty much everybody on that defensive side. Um just couldn't say enough about the defense in this situation. Offensively, Kenny, um, the running game I feel is like a priority now. Um, let's get that running game up to stuff. Uh a lot of rookies in there. Um Bo Jackson, we got some new uh, you know, Donaldson peoples. They're new guys, so kind of rookies uh to a fault. Um obviously Julian Saiyan. Um but you know, I think that I think they're um earning that you know they're earning their keep, so to speak. Um the line needs fine-tuned, I think, just a little bit. Um get some continuity going. I think that'll happen more than where we start to run the ball. We don't rely on the pass so much. And then special teams to me, I was looking, I was listening to Eleven Warriors today, and um to me, special teams is uh uh and to them as well. It that's the glaring um thing that we need to concentrate on, we need to work on. I mean, the kicking game is stable, don't get me wrong, but fielding isn't going to kick a 55-58 yarder to win the game for you. You know, I don't believe he is, he's quite capable, but Crimsons, uh, the punter, he's doing okay. Um, but there is concerns. Um and and you know, I think we'll get it right. We have enough athletes at Ohio State to get that right. Um, but we I think we just need to win by one here on out. We win by one here on out. I mean, we'll find ourselves in the national championship game again, you know. So I guess my point is focus on winning. You know, don't worry about the style points, don't worry about killing Wisconsin and Penn State and all these teams. Um, you know, let's just focus on winning by one point every single time, let the athletes take over. One thing I do like, Kenny, is I've heard um that we did get uh Landry Bradee or Bredi, um, the mentor, uh three-star guy, transferred from NC State. Um, but I hear he's very underrated. He's um you know this kid's gonna be pretty good. Um, so that's another positive we got coming in too, as well.

SPEAKER_03:

Yes, definitely. You know, the thing I think about with the buckeyes, I I watched Julian saying, and I I think the numbers he put up were were solid, 19 of 27, 166. But you know, I haven't really checked, but that might have been his worst throwing game so far. Which, you know, he you know, he he's making all the right reads. He's uh doing everything that you you would hope your quarterback would do. Uh CJ Donaldson, I think he had a couple scores. And uh you know, like you said, uh everybody I think is you know thinking, all right, they got the best team and the most talent and everything like that. And everybody's wanting these 55 to 12, 55-10 scores, whatever it may be. And I I really think Ryan Day's approach is like you said, let's just win the game. Doesn't matter what the score is, let's just win. And he's one of two teams that made it all the way to the championship, so he knows what it takes to pace yourself and get there to the end. And uh like you said, the defense they have yet to give up a running touchdown in the first half this season. So um defense is doing everything you could possibly want. Probably the best linebacking group in the country. Uh defensive backwise, you know, they they ran Devin Sanchez out there, and I believe he's a true freshman. And you know, that only bodes well not only for this year, but next year. So they're they're they're gonna be fine there. And up next they get Wisconsin. And Wisconsin's not very good, and I sometimes wonder did Luke Fickle make the right decision to leave Cincinnati to go to Wisconsin?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, that's a good question. I mean, I um I don't think Wisconsin's gonna be a big NIL powerhouse uh when it comes to offering up money. Um, you know, those are things um, you know, I have heard, I don't I don't quote me on this, Kenny, but I had heard that, you know, if you are on the football team at Ohio State, uh, you get fifty thousand dollars in NIL money. Now, over four years, I mean, you're talking$200,000.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

So, you know, there's a reason why people come to Ohio State. Um, you know, and here's the thing that really kills me about this is we didn't make the rules. We didn't come up with this paying players. That's been done a long time ago by a conference down south.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

You know what we're talking about. But, you know, our thing is, okay, if this is the rules of the game, then we're gonna play the game. And so we had a group of people that um you know got behind it and um, you know, very successful people here in Columbus. And you know, lo and behold, I mean, we're you know, we got a really good, strong NIDEL, uh NIL um um, you know, stream coming in here uh as well. And I think that's what's really hurting Wisconsin and Luke Fickle is I I just don't I don't think they have that.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah. A perfect example is look at Indiana. You got a guy like Mark Cuban as an alumni, and you got a coach that came in, he's got an attitude a lot of people probably hating, you know, but the guy has won everywhere he's been, and uh they look like the real deal. And if things go the way it look it's looking, it could be a matchup in the Big Ten championship between Ohio State and Indiana, and Signetti, you know, there's talk of him possibly getting the Penn State job. So I mean, I I don't know if I'd want to leave Indiana, and that's hard to believe. Well saying something like that.

SPEAKER_02:

They're gonna they're gonna promise Kurt Signetti the moon uh at Indiana, you know, probably a new stadium at you know, everything else, new weight room, new indoor facility, you know, whatever. But um, you know, I just can't. Uh yeah, he's won every single place he's been, and yeah, he's pretty brash and pretty cocky. Um, but you know, you gotta win to be able to do that, and he's won. So, you know, people are talking about Indiana being number one now, and I'm like, yeah, that's fine. So I'm not their number one. I could care less because at the end of the day, I saw Indiana's schedule, and Kenny, they're gonna go undefeated.

SPEAKER_03:

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

I mean, they don't play I don't they don't play at Ohio State. Um, I think the the biggest game they got left on their schedule is Penn State, and we know what's going on at Penn State.

SPEAKER_03:

Right.

SPEAKER_02:

So um Iowa's in there. You gotta give Iowa some credit. Um, but yeah, I mean I think they're at least like 70% favorites in every game that they play from here on out.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

They're gonna be in the Big Ten championship. Um, you know, I hope it's with us. You know, um, we still have some tough games left. Um, but you know, um it's just sad. To me, it's just really sad what's going on at Penn State. You know, all those recruits are leaving. Um you know, uh there's even players that are leaving, uh current players that are leaving. So um you gotta ask yourself, you know, that 49 million that they owed him, you know, was that worth it? You know, could they have ridden that out?

SPEAKER_03:

Um you've heard about the the talk of Adidas, right?

SPEAKER_02:

No.

SPEAKER_03:

Adidas they are gonna be in Adidas school next season.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay.

SPEAKER_03:

And the rumor that's going around is Adidas paid that contract for him. Wow. And Franklin, I believe, had something in his contract and said if he were to be fired, he has to go and find another job in football, scouting, uh, or uh television. Basically, Penn State probably isn't gonna have to pay him a dime. So you know, it's just uh you lose your quarterback, you lose uh three games that you had no business losing, and you know, it's just it's it's falling apart up here and it just blows my mind, you know.

SPEAKER_02:

But it's not one of the things I look at too is you know, I mean, this they went from Jerry Sandusky and the j old Joe Paterno fiasco. Um you know, and then they had him come in. Uh and you know, he kind of turned he he didn't kinda, he did, he turned that program around. Yeah, old Ryan was there for a couple years and then he Ryan was there for a cup of coffee, yeah. And um, you know, he he he turned that program around. He really did. And I, you know, you gotta give him credit for that. Um, but um records speak for themselves, Kenny. You know, like you always said, I think you said it last week, he was like three and twenty.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Against those top ranked teams. And um, or it might have been bowl games, I don't know what it was, but um 10 teams, yeah. Okay, and um, I mean that you know, that just speaks for itself. I mean, my God, can you imagine if Ryan Day Ryan Day wouldn't even get the chance to do that um because he would have got fired after the second or the third loss, you know. So um they're ready to go. Here's the thing I want to throw out to you. I wanted to throw this out to you, Kenny. Um how would you like to be a head football coach in college right now? I mean, these guys get fired. And Kenny, they don't have to work anymore.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, I mean it's amazing. They're paying guys a ton of money to not work, go away. And if you can get that job, it's great, but there's a lot of pressure comes with it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, there's a ton of pressure.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah. Well, let's give uh a midseason grade to the Buckeyes, and what I'd like to do just uh we'll hit it uh by position group, but let's start with uh the the offense. How the passing game, I guess.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, so passing game and the offense. I'm gonna give an A-You know I think um you got two very good receivers and Kate and Smith. Um you can even throw um Claire in there. Um I think a third wide receiver has to emerge, whether that's Ennis or someone else that we have. Um you know, we have to get that third wide receiver involved. Um, not ready to give him an excellent totally, but you know, an A minus, in my opinion, uh would suffice.

SPEAKER_03:

And what about Julian Sabin?

SPEAKER_02:

Julian Saiyan, I would give him uh at this point in time, I'd give him an you know, I don't want to get I don't want him to get too cocky, so I'd give him an A- as well. Um, you know, just for the simple fact that, you know, I mean this kid, I mean his face, he was at Alabama getting ready to play for Nick Saban, and then, you know, for all intent and purposes, if Saban was still there, he'd be at you know the quarterback at Alabama. But I mean, this kid, man, he he's just like his composure and um his uh he looks like um uh a very mature uh quarterback that's been in there, you know, for 40, 50, 60 games, you know, that recognizes coverages and makes good, you know, there's a couple balls, like there was a ball he threw uh last week from the short side of the field all the way across the other side of the field on an out route and put it like in that window, you know, so the receiver had like one foot down. Um, and I'm like uh people don't realize how hard that throw was.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

I mean, yeah, it was a seven-yard out, but he literally threw it 40 yards almost, you know, across the whole entire field uh into a tight window. And I mean, you just don't get that out of uh an everyday Joe Schmoe quarterback. I mean, this kid's special, so yeah, I'll give him an A minus.

SPEAKER_03:

Yes, I I'll go A with I'm gonna give V, I'm gonna give him an A just because of his passing efficiency. And one thing I like about him probably more than anything, I'm I'm kind of old school in his thing. There's no show voting. He he comes out on the field, he just jobs out in the middle of the pack, he throws a touchdown, he goes over, he you know, hits the guy on the helmet and threw the touchdown too. He and he he there's no show voting. He's not shooting pistols or showboating. I it drives me crazy when I see that sometimes.

SPEAKER_02:

Smack talker, yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_03:

Um, you know, the the the receivers are are good and doing everything you could possibly ask. Um I'm sure everybody would like to see a little bit more out of them. Uh just because everybody likes to see high scoring offense, is probably the biggest uh thing that I think they need to work on is improving at the offensive line, run blocking, and you know, when they get down inside the the red zone to 20 yard inside the 20, they they've got to I don't know what their their plan is, but I'm sure they're working on it. Let me ask you this now. Let's switch to the defensive side of the ball.

SPEAKER_02:

Defense to me, um, I think is that old adage, Kenny. And we, you know, you grew up a Browns fan, you know, the dogs, defense always wins games. You know, um that's where we got that jungle mentality down in Cincinnati. You know, it all started at Riverfront, and you know, uh just that cold jungle, you know, welcome to it, here we go. We're not gonna give up, we're gonna be stingy and stingy. And, you know, to me, that's I'm we're getting back to the old silver bullets. I mean, I'm seeing these guys fly around. And Kenny, I complained to anybody that would listen for years that our linebackers were not as good as they've been in the past. And this goes back, you know, eight, ten years. You know, I mean, tough boring, I mean, some of these guys, I'm just like sitting in there, you know, thinking, you know, where where are all these 6'3, 245 pound feed the cows in the morning, pull out of bail, you know, bale and hay, just slobber knocking guys that we have around Ohio, where did they all go? And um, you know, you remember Katzen Moyer and AJ Hawk and you know, all the and and Laura Knightis. I mean, you know, all these guys that would just Spielman, you know, to me, that that's what we're now. I think we have a really good one right now in Styles.

SPEAKER_03:

And I think a ton of credit has to go to the guy you mentioned, James Larry Knitus, linebacker coach. He's been in that position the past two years, and look at the difference.

SPEAKER_02:

Yep, 100%.

SPEAKER_03:

Excuse me, but the uh, you know, I give the defense you know an A across the board. Um everything you can do, and uh they just as long as they stay healthy, it's uh good things will continue to happen. Finish up with the buckeyes. All the special teams, what would you give it?

SPEAKER_02:

Um special teams, you know, everybody hates special teams. The special teams are what wins you the game. You know, everybody hates the kicker. You know, nobody knows the uh the kick uh the um placeholder's name. You know, nobody knows the uh the the snapper's name. You know, all those things come into play and and and they're so crucial it's not even funny. Yeah. And so I give our special teams a solid B, above average, because they are, they're above average. Um, but we don't have that, you know, that big time leg that's gonna consistently kick you a 50 yarder. You know, we don't have that uh that punter that's gonna bury it down inside the um 10-yard line every single time, you know. Um but with those guys are quite capable. I mean, you know, don't count them out. I mean, fielding's quite capable of kicking kicking a 54-yard field goal, but you know, it's just that consistency on it, you know, and I think we have enough athletes that our special teams should be, you know, A-rated. So, yeah, we're getting there.

SPEAKER_03:

Yes, I I would say, yeah, it's it's gotta be a B for me also because kickoff coverage, punt coverage, um, and return, everything's going well there. Kicking I like the fact that Ryan Day uh done a couple uh you know kicks there instead of trying to go for the touchdown just because that gets him experienced because you know that's gonna be needed down the road. And the you know, probably the one spot that I think they need to do more at is they need to be better at punting. I mean, it's they got a couple Australian guys there, and I just thought that they would be booming them a lot further than they are. But uh hey, overall, uh you can't complain when you're undefeated. Well, let's uh let's make that switch over to two professional teams here in Ohio, the Cincinnati Bengals. Let's start with them.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, you know, I mean I I looked online yesterday for a Joe Flacco jersey. Um, you know. Um it showed it flashed up on the screen how many teams he's played for and you know whatnot, which is quite amazing. So I just I just love Joe Flacco's demeanor. I mean it's almost like he's really bored back there behind the he could just yawn in any moment, you know. And um to me, that's just like you know, here's a guy who's pretty much seen it all. And he has really given Jamar Chase and T. Higgins kind of a renewed vigor, you know, back there with uh basically, oh my god, now we got somebody we can seize this and throw. And some of the catches that they made um Sunday were some of the and I've watched every Bengals game for the last um teen years, you know, um, those were some of the best catches I've seen out of those guys. And um his potential, Joe Flacco's potential. I mean, I actually saw people smiling and laughing on the sideline and people having a good time because the offense was moving. Now, it wasn't that way in the first half, but you know, in the second half, man, they got moving and they totally outplayed Green Bay. But, you know, uh the offensive line only gave up one sack. That helps. Um, you know, to me, Joe Flacco was mobile. I mean, he moved when he had to move, um, and it was encouraging. Now, some of the bad things that I saw, you know, Trey Hendrickson is hurt again, he hurt his hip. Um, so he's injured. Um you know, they demoted uh Wilson. You know, I was on here three, four weeks ago, Kenny, and I said, you know, um uh Wilson, the linebacker, should be in an all-pro. And he is just he's gone downhill from last year, and he's gone downhill uh this year too as well. So maybe he's just not, you know, maybe uh, but I will tell you the guy that they put in there for him, all kind of missed tackles, wrong angles, everything. So that just tells me that Al Golden is experimenting right now. Um and it's also telling me that, you know, uh Zach Wilson, it's just you know, he's not getting it done. Um Shamar um is back um and ready to go, so he'll he'll probably replace Trey Hendrickson. Um but that D could not stop the run, running game of Green Bay at all. Um missed tackleties, penalties. They couldn't get off the field on third down. It was the same old Bengals. Um last thing I'll have, Kenning, and turn it over to you. The schedule coming up favors us. You know, um we got the Jets at home, which are Ofer. We get the Bears at home, uh, which are beatable. Um we're at uh the Steelers, which we beat them there last year. You never know what's gonna happen there. Uh we got the Patriots at home. That's a winnable game. Um we're at the Ratbirds, or I'm sorry, the Ravens. Um, and you know, hopefully they'll all still be heard at that point in time. Um we got to go to Buffalo. Uh, but then we got the Rap Bird, I'm sorry, the Ravens at home. We're at Miami. We got the Cardinals and the Browns at home. So if we can somehow pick up six or seven of those games remaining, uh that'd put us at nine wins, and that'd be, you know, in this conference right now, the way it is, it looks like nine wins might get in.

SPEAKER_03:

Yes, definitely. And uh, you know, the thing that Bengals fans got to think about is Flacco come in basically on a short week and took him a half, but the second half, he was 21 of 30.

SPEAKER_02:

100%, you know.

SPEAKER_03:

But they uh like you said, their defense is gonna have to get some stops. And I think Flacco realizes with the two receivers that he has, they just throw the ball in the area and those guys are gonna make plays. Don't don't think you gotta be perfect. Um but they do uh play the team that is uh, you know, for whatever reason the Steelers just every year they they they win. And you know, Aaron Rodgers is averaging 204 a game, and after seeing what he did with the Browns, he just dumps it off as quick as he can because he he doesn't want to be touched. Yeah, he ain't gonna sit back here and throw deep balls, but but when you got uh Metcalf to throw it to, I mean, good things are gonna happen. So it's gonna be a fun game to watch them play play the Steelers this week. What do you think will happen in that Steeler game?

SPEAKER_02:

Um fights. Um two teams that hate one another. Um, you know, um, you mentioned the receiver um that they got from Seattle. What was his name?

SPEAKER_03:

Uh Metcalf.

SPEAKER_02:

Yep. So Metcalf um and Cam Taylor Britt got in a big scrap last year when we played Seattle. Um, you know, it was pulling face masks and pulling helmets off. Um TJ Watt's gonna cheap shot somebody. Um Cam Hayward's gonna come in and you know try to assert his you know 50-year-old dominance. And, you know, it's just gonna rub people the wrong way. You're gonna have a safety that comes out of nowhere that takes tries to take somebody's knee out, um, you know, which is typical Steeler football, in my opinion. Um, it's just gonna be, I mean, it's just it's just nothing nothing nasty. It's not other players helping other players up in a Steeler Bingle game. It's there is not one person from Cincinnati that loves anything about Pittsburgh, and there's not one person from Pittsburgh that loves anything about Cincinnati. So it's that type of game. And, you know, I mean, you heard it this week. I mean, um, Pittsburgh's coach, uh, what's his name, Kenny?

SPEAKER_03:

Oh, Tolman.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, Mike, yeah, Mike comes out and he's like, uh, what are the Browns doing trading the number one, you know, they had a at one point he was their number one quarterback and they trade him, you know, an indivision in the division. It's what we were saying, you know, last week, Kenny. And um, he was just befuddled, and you could tell that I mean, he's really worried about this. I mean, he's worried about you know the momentum that they were gaining at Green Bay. And um, yeah, he's kind of worried. I think he's kind of worried about this game, to be honest.

SPEAKER_03:

Yes, I I agree with you. It's gonna be a fun game. And you know, I I just love when when the the Browns and the Steelers, Browns, Bengals, Steelers, Bengals, all that happens because it's just so much fun because it's it just reminds me of the old days when I was a kid growing up and how they just would just flat out just go after each other and didn't matter. Um let's get a prediction on this uh Steelers Cincinnati game. What do you got?

SPEAKER_02:

So um I'm I'm one of those guys that's like, you know what? Um I think it's gonna be like a 1917 game. Um, unfortunately, I think Pittsburgh might, you know, uh they just got that kicker. You know, between the Baltimore kicker that got fired for being in an um Asian massage parlor all the time, you know, uh, and this kicker that uh is on Pittsburgh, I mean, these guys are like automatic from 55. I mean, it's not even it's just a foregone conclusion. You know, and um these guys are just I mean, they're so solid, Kenny. So I think that the kicking game and is going to be huge in this. And incidentally, and I just wanted to bring this up. So Evan McPherson kicks a 67-yarder outdoor field goal, bounces off the crossbar into the field goal, making it good, but Green Bay called a timeout. I don't know if you remember that. Okay. But it was an NFL record, 67 yarder outdoor, um, and it didn't count because at the last possible second, Green Bay called a timeout. And of course, he kicked it again, it wasn't even close, you know. Uh didn't even hardly make the end zone. So, you know, that's kind of to me, that's kind of how the Bengals are right there. You know, they have that one show, it's like, yeah, see, we can do all there was a penalty. Yeah, you can do it. Oh shoot, somebody called a timeout. We can do it. Oh, we got flagged for, you know, he didn't line up online, you know, uh, illegal formation. You know, something stupid that just pisses you off, right? Um, that just happens. And and the Browns are the same way, aren't they, Kenny?

SPEAKER_03:

Yes. It's always like that. I I was sitting there thinking about what what can we say? First off, I'll throw a score. I'll say 21-17 Steelers. Um, but but moving on to Cleveland, I there there was a part of me said, just blow the whole thing up this week. I I don't know what to do. They they lost to Pittsburgh 23-9. They they just have zero uh options at wide receiver. I mean, Jerry Judy, they pay all that money too, and drops, drops, drops, and you know, it's you got a rookie quarterback, you got uh a defensive back that they pick up in a trade midweek. And of course, what's the other opposing team gonna do? They're gonna go at him because you know he's trying to you know, he's a great one-on-one guy, but it it just didn't work. And I wanted to throw this out. It may have been you that uh sent it to me, but uh NFL Players Association gives grades on their teams, and this is the grades uh from the NFL players on treatment of families. The Browns are 28th, locker room 31st, head coach 30th, training staff 32nd, team travel 28th, and ownership which I'm kind of shocked by is 22nd, and I thought it would be worse. Um you just it's it's tough to get teens to show up, or I'm not teens, but players to show up when they know that's how it's gonna be because those players all talk. They all know what it's like. And it's you know, I know they're you're probably waiting, well, 2029, we got a new stadium, but my god, it's only 2025.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I'm I'm sure, and I know you've seen it, but you you saw the movie Major League. Yes. The Cleveland Indy at the time, you know. I mean, they had to pay for they had to pay for pop and a vending machine, you know. Uh they would travel to like Chicago or Cincinnati or Pittsburgh on in that old bus. You know. Um they didn't know if the airplane that they were on would be making it, you know, to the next city. Um that's to me, that's what it kind of reminds me of a little bit. And you know, the Bengals are the same.

SPEAKER_04:

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

You know, I mean, they um there were stories out there that Mike Brown has spirit airline points, and that's what he uh sent to pick up Joe Flacco and his wife. And it was just a trip from Cleveland to Cincinnati, but it it had stops in Denver and San Francisco. So, you know, I mean, there's store just stories out cheap, you know, the organizations are, but yeah, I I you just want to take care of your players. You really do. Um, you know, I remember I'm a big hockey fan too, and I remember, you know, watching the Florida Panthers, you know, always being in the Stanley Cup finals, and you know, they were interviewing the coach like mid-game, game seven or six or whatever it was. And he's like, hey, we take care of our players. I mean, we uh, you know, our players and their families are taken care of. Um, our our indoor facilities are second to none, our weight room is second to none, our training room second to none, our locker room second to none. And he's just going on and on, and it's just describing you know a culture of you know, hey, we breed winners here and we're gonna give you everything to be a winner. And, you know, I mean, it's kind of opposite, you know, with Ohio football right now.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, and it's uh it's a challenge. We're in the we're basically in the Rust belt. So I mean, a lot of people, you know, have negative thoughts about coming to the Midwest. But, you know, they they Cleveland gets uh the Miami Dolphins this week. And uh it could be a battle of which coach gets fired before the end of the game.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, that's a good point.

SPEAKER_03:

And I the the coach for the dolphins there, he you're wearing capri pants.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, he's um he's a little strange. Um he's you know, and and not only that, Kenny, they're getting they're getting higher. So they're almost to the point of instead of capris, they're almost to the point of knickers.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

So I'm not quite sure. Maybe there's some mental illness going on there, you know, unfortunately, but uh, you know, I I agree with you. Both those coaches are on the hot seat. Um, you know, there are wide receiver struggles. Um Joku got hurt last game. Who knows if he'll be playing? Um, you know, I'd heard Deshaun Watson apparently had his second Achilles tear at some point. I don't know how fresh this news is or if it's even true, but you know, he will not play this season, which you know uh leaves Shadur uh on there. Um but if you remember uh last year they had Mike Vrabel just running around, you know, just being a special assistant to the coach. Yes. And uh now look what Mike Vrabel's done to New U to the New England Patriots. You know, and it's it's sad. I mean, you know, you have Baker Mayfield, who's for all intent and purposes going to be the N VP of the NFL this year. Uh you had Vrabel. Uh you had, you know, you get debate will be the best defensive end out there, one of the best defensive ends that's ever donned a uniform. Um, you know, it's and you get a secondary, I think, that's very, very good. Get some good young linebackers. Um yeah, you're right, Kenny. I'm I'm just not quite sure. I do know one thing though, they're still paying, currently paying eight quarterbacks in the NFL right now.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah. And you know, what I think about every time I think of the 41 quarterbacks that have played since 2000, whatever, 2000, I think, I look at the Green Bay Packers. They had Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love. Yeah. I mean, that's the draft isn't it.

SPEAKER_02:

And look how long uh look how long Rogers had to wait.

unknown:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

You know, he's a Hall of Famer now. Yeah, you know, he's gonna have a Hall of Fame, you know, he'll get it, he'll get his name in Cavan. But you know, I I for some reason I don't know why, but I think Cleveland's gonna win this week and it's gonna be a a barn burner. You know, I got him winning probably 21-20.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay. Well, I you know, like I I got the Bengals playing a close one with uh Pittsburgh. I mean, if if uh Ozivac can actually catch a ball this week, he dropped three that killed us, absolutely killed us. Um, you know, I mean, if that's the case and you put the tensley in because Tensley's a just a special receiver, not getting any time. But if you get Tensley in there, you know, I think the Bengals will uh uh compete this week. Should be a good game.

SPEAKER_03:

Yes. Well, give me your your lock and your upset for the week.

SPEAKER_02:

So uh my lock um this week is to take uh Cincinnati plus the points, um, just like we won last week, Kenny. Um you said 34 to 13. You thought you said 3713 for Ohio State. I said 34 17 and or 34-13. And we were, I mean, we were close on this thing, right? So uh we're getting there. Um I picked you uh picked, I think, Cleveland uh over Pittsburgh, or no, you picked you're the one that picked Cincinnati.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, and Cincinnati is my upset special.

SPEAKER_02:

So that um I I took them as well with the 14 and a half points. We won that. Um my I picked um Cleveland five and a half with the points uh over Pittsburgh, and that did not happen. So this week, Kenny, I'm gonna run it back. I am running it back. All right, I'm taking Cleveland with points, and I'm taking Cincinnati with points. And one of these times, we're both gonna hit this uh here in Ohio.

SPEAKER_03:

Well, my lot this week. I got uh New England Patriots over Tennessee, because Tennessee's not as bad as what happened in Cleveland upset special. I think the Jets are gonna beat Carolina, and that's only because Carolina's not playing at home. When they play at home, take over um and then as far as the Buckeye score, we really we we skipped over this. Um just I through one of my sources that I have everybody was worried about Jeremiah Smith. I was told that he's very sore, but it doesn't look like there's gonna be any serious problems with him, but uh he'll be back. But I got the Buckeyes winning this week over Wisconsin, and that score is going to be 48 to 10.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, once again, Kenny, we're on the same page. I've got Ohio State over whiskey 43 to 10 um this week. Um, I debatably had 50 written down, and I scribbled it out and put 43 down because I think it's Luke Fickle, and I don't think Ryan Day is gonna rub it in his face, so to speak, uh just because he's an Ohio State alum. But um I got 43-10 and um continue to roll into this Big Ten season.

SPEAKER_03:

Well, let's hope for a three-game sweep this uh this weekend for the Buckeyes, Browns, and Bengals. Um as always, until next Thursday, I'm your host, one of your hosts, Ken Carpenter.

SPEAKER_02:

I'm Chris Huseman.

SPEAKER_03:

And thanks for listening to the SOB Scarward Orange and Brown.

SPEAKER_02:

SOB.