Now for one of those rare things that is as advertised.
Since first-round pick Amarius Mims was pressed into the starting lineup during the Monday night game in the third week of the season at Paycor Stadium against Washington, he has been pretty much primetime at right tackle.
There have been some isolated rough snaps, but not many. How about not allowing a sack on a true drop-back pass? Overall the Bengals are more than delighted with a guy who turned 22 the day after his third NFL start and has already played almost as much ball this season than his entire career at Georgia. Mims and his team, as Sinatra sang, believe the best is yet to come.
The Conversation:
GH: This year you've gone against Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, three of the most feared pass rushers in the league, and you've lived to tell about it. I think the folks here believe you got out of that gauntlet without giving up a sack. Pro Football Focus has you giving up one Monday night, but I don't think you got charged with it in your building. Certainly, Parsons didn't get a sack.
AM: Everybody's stats are different. Pressures for sure. No sacks (against those three).
GH: How does that make you feel?
AM: It's a confidence boost for sure. But when I go back and watch those games, I did a lot wrong. Just technique-wise. I gave up a couple of pressures to T.J., I remember. Two pressures. There are some things I could have done better technique-wise and all that good stuff. Like I said when you interviewed me the last time before the (Steelers) game, I said that game was going to be about me. Nothing that (Watt) did.
GH: I wrote what you said and I saw some fake headline somewhere that said something like, "Bengals rookie disses Steelers star." Couldn't have been further from the truth.
AM: No dis at all. All I meant was it was a me game. I have to hone my craft.
GH: And you gave him his props.
AM: I gave him his props before the game and after.
GH: Did you see him after?
AM: I talked to him after. He said, 'See you Week 17.' We've got another game to play. It will be interesting.
GH: What did you say to him?
AM: I said, 'Good game, man.' I had never talked to him before until after that game. I've got much respect for that guy. One of the best in the league. One of the best to ever do it. It's great going against opponents like him.
GH: Did Garrett or Parsons say anything to you after those games?
AM: I didn't see them.
GH: You didn't say anything during the game. That's not your deal, right?
AM: I don't talk at all on the field.
GH: Parsons is a different guy than Watt, right, after getting them back-to-back the last two weeks?
AM: They're all great players in their own way. Micah is, I don't know how to say it, I don't know how to phrase it, honestly. I think he had four pressures. Dude is just relentless. All those guys are. With him, just being on the road, it was a real tough matchup. He'll have his share of wins and I'll have my share of wins. It's a matter of who has the most wins and who comes out on top at the end.
GH: There was one play where Parsons went unblocked and Joe still unloaded for a 13-yarder to tight end Mike Gesicki.
AM: We're hot. So we're off that linebacker, so we've got to squeeze. Just knowing the play call. Knowing back-side we're hot. We thought the linebacker was coming. Just squeeze down.
GH: I was talking to one of the scouts, and the thing they love about you is you don't play and act like a rookie.
AM: I try to carry myself well. I try to act older than my age. Just being in the situation where I had to come in. At first, Trent (Brown) was here. Once he got hurt, I ended up filling his role as the starter. You have to have the attitude of a starter, whether you're a rookie or whether you're not. I had a good guy to watch in Trent being a guy who won a Super Bowl, been All Pro. He knows what it takes. I had big shoes to fill. I'm trying to get better every day.
GH: I think what they meant, too, is you don't get down if something goes wrong. Have you always been like that?
AM: I feel like I learned that my sophomore year in college and I saw what happens when it sticks with you throughout the game. I don't remember the exact play. I just remember my coach talking about dropping it and going into the next play. Those things happen.
GH: Is there a play you'd like to have back in this two-game stretch?
AM: The holding call against Micah.
GH: Your first and only NFL holding penalty. You're in a long line of guys who have held Micah Parsons.
AM: Yeah, there's been a lot of us I'm sure.
GH: What could you have done on that?
AM: Really, just get off the ball. We were silent count, so just get off the ball on whatever we had going on. Just lock it up. Be better. We'll go off the clock. I notice the vets look at the game clock. They go off that most of the time. I didn't know that until Orlando (Brown Jr.) was telling me on the sideline. So it's just being more locked in. Situational aware.
GH: Classic live and learn
AM: A hundred percent.
GH: You talk about technique. Is it anything specific? Your upper body? The lower body?
AM: Staying rooted with the lower body and just punching, man … throwing punches. Whether it's independent or two-hand punches or clamps. Whatever you want to do. It's really both upper body and lower body. Just lock in on both.
GH: Has the inside move given you problems?
AM: I had a couple of snaps earlier in my debut when I got beat inside. My first sack was against the Commanders. I'll never forget it. I got beat inside. Terrible footwork, terrible punch. Guy got inside and got the sack.
GH: It seems like you never give up anything outside.
AM: It's rare. I feel like I'm athletic enough to at least catch up and wash past the quarterback if something bad happens.
GH: Anything you've learned from these last two games?
AM: Just be as consistent as possible. Know if everything doesn't go your way, it's just play the next play. That's what it is.
GH: You're basically telling me you don't do much after work and you're in bed sleeping by ten. What has this rookie year been like for you?
AM: I like the same. I don't like too many distractions with a lot of people. I'm more to myself. Watch some film, chill with the family.
GH: Are your folks up here from Georgia?
AM: My older brother is here. He's got a job in town. My parents come up on the weekends.
GH: Have you had any conversations with Bengals Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz?
AM: We had an O-line dinner a minute ago and he was there with a couple of other (former Bengals O-linemen) and I had a good convo with him. He was like, it's not always going to be perfect. But go out hard and get better every day and …. Boom .., My time will come. I feel like as long as I keep getting better every step, I'll be fine.
GH: You ever talk to the greatest right tackle in Bengals history? Willie Anderson?
AM: I talk to Willie all the time. Same thing as Munoz when I see him. Mainly with those guys I always talk about staying healthy. Especially because I had an ankle last year and I needed surgery. But after that, I've been pretty solid.
GH: You ever watch tape of this generation of right tackles?
AM: Before I got drafted, I watched all the Lane Johnsons and the Penei Sewells and the Laremy Tunsils and stuff. Now I'm doing whatever the coach tells me.
GH: After playing Garrett, Watt, Parsons, are you a different player?
AM: A hundred percent. Because it doesn't get any better than those guys. Those are top of the line guys. I feel like once you play those guys, it's just looking at the mistakes and correcting them.
