Justin Rascati on Joining Bengals, Joe Burrow, Producing Explosive Plays & MORE
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00:00 >> I know Dan really well and Dan and I have stayed in touch over the last
00:04 couple years.
00:06 So just really look forward to this opportunity and
00:09 we're really happy to be here.
00:12 And it's been a fun time so far at the combine and going through free agency and
00:18 the draft and look forward to getting started when we get back.
00:23 >> Here comes the dumbest question, what does a passing game coordinator do?
00:26 I mean, what offensive coordinators do?
00:28 >> Yeah, we're still- >> Is it game plan specific?
00:30 Is it schematics?
00:31 Is it a little bit of everything?
00:32 >> Yeah, we're still working through all that.
00:34 We have, it's a great staff here.
00:36 So just again, just really look forward to getting back to Cincinnati next week and
00:42 moving forward and getting ready for the off season as we get through the draft.
00:45 But yeah, we're still kind of working through all that.
00:48 Just know it's a great staff, really excited to be here and
00:52 really be a part of something special.
00:54 >> When they pitch you the vision of the job and when you were looking at it,
00:57 what was the sketch of kind of what they wanted you to bring to the offense?
01:01 >> Yeah, just another set of ideas.
01:04 And again, just they've had a lot of success here and
01:07 just I'm really excited to be a part of that and try to add value.
01:10 And again, we haven't spent a lot of time discussing the plan moving forward.
01:18 But again, I know it's a great opportunity for me and my family to be here and
01:23 be a part of something special.
01:26 >> How similar is, I mean, Zach was talking about you yesterday and
01:31 there's a lot of similarities in the language of the Vikings offense and
01:35 the Bengals is all coming from the Rams.
01:37 But I mean, how different and
01:38 how similar is it from your perspective having now dove in a little bit on Bengals?
01:42 >> Yeah, it's very similar.
01:44 The core philosophies are the same.
01:46 But what all the guys have done a great job of that have branched out from LA is
01:51 kind of making it their own, building it around.
01:53 Obviously, you wanna start with the quarterback and
01:55 then the pieces around the quarterback, the offensive line, tight ends,
02:00 receivers, running backs.
02:01 So I think all these guys have done a really good job of that.
02:06 Coming from Minnesota, with CJ Hamm, we had a fullback, we had multiple tight ends.
02:12 So you saw the last couple years, we played in a lot of 12, 21, 22 personnel.
02:18 So again, credit to all the guys that have branched out and
02:22 made it their own and it's credit to them to fit
02:26 the offense to their skill set of what they have.
02:31 And so again, excited to be here and really look forward to this opportunity.
02:37 >> What makes an offensive passing attack really effective in your mind?
02:40 What are the biggest things aside from just having the right personnel
02:43 that enables an offense to really pass at a high level?
02:46 >> Yeah, it takes all 11 to do their job consistently.
02:49 And obviously, it starts with the quarterback and
02:53 doing what he's comfortable with.
02:54 But obviously, Zach has done a great job of that with Joe and
02:59 the receivers and tight ends and running backs that we have here.
03:03 So again, really look forward to diving into that and
03:08 moving forward to the offseason program as we get ready for training camp.
03:11 >> One thing I believe in here is everybody has a voice, but
03:15 you also wanna have an informed voice, a strong voice.
03:18 What's the fine line for you of wanting to have a voice in that offensive room?
03:22 >> Yeah, again, it's a great staff with a lot of experience.
03:26 We've had a lot of success here.
03:28 And again, just excited to be a part of that and to see where I fit in.
03:33 And again, we haven't really dove into that much yet, it's still early on.
03:38 But again, I know it's just a great opportunity for me to grow as a coach and
03:44 to be a part of something special and to join this coaching staff and
03:48 this team and this organization, just really excited about it.
03:52 >> Have you talked with Joe at all yet, Joe Burrow?
03:54 >> Briefly, saw him in the office last week.
03:58 He was in working out, just introduced myself, talked to him for a few minutes.
04:02 So really excited to get to know him and work with him.
04:06 And I know he's having a good offseason.
04:09 >> What have you spent your time doing?
04:10 Have you been studying Bengals tape or already preparing for the draft?
04:13 >> Right, a lot of the first week I kind of dove into our current roster and
04:18 probably watched 10 or 11 games.
04:21 And then quickly from there, moved on to free agency and
04:25 started diving into watching free agents and then now working on the draft.
04:29 So it's been a busy few weeks.
04:31 It's been a lot of fun trying to balance everything out and
04:34 at the same time try to get my family moved to Cincinnati.
04:39 So it's been fun.
04:40 >> From your first initial impression or evaluation of the offense,
04:43 just what's the biggest thing that stands out when you look at the playmakers that
04:46 we have?
04:47 >> Yeah, we have a lot of them.
04:49 And I know Zach and Dan have done a great job building this system around
04:52 the quarterback.
04:53 And obviously Joe does a great job of getting the ball to those playmakers.
04:58 And so it's gonna be a lot of fun.
05:02 This roster is extremely talented with a good group of guys,
05:06 so I'm really excited to be a part of it.
05:08 >> What did you guys that as you were coming up and really learn how to coach,
05:11 that really made a big impact on you?
05:13 And made you kind of said,
05:14 these are the kind of coaches I want to aspire to be when I end up.
05:18 >> Yeah, I was extremely blessed as a player and
05:21 as a young coach to be around some phenomenal coaches.
05:24 As a player playing for John L Smith and Bobby Petrino at University of Louisville.
05:29 Then going on to James Madison playing for Coach Matthews and Jeff Durden.
05:33 So I was very blessed as a player to be around some really talented offensive
05:38 minds.
05:39 And then getting the coaching, a lot of friends in this business I've worked with
05:44 and really leaned on through the years.
05:46 Dave Ragone is a really good friend of mine.
05:50 We were teammates at Louisville and actually coached high school football
05:53 together.
05:53 So he's been a huge mentor for me.
05:56 And then three years in Denver with Mike Munchak was awesome.
06:01 Learned a ton of football from him.
06:03 The way he prepares, the way he interacts with his players.
06:07 There's so much to learn from a guy like that.
06:10 He's a Hall of Fame player, he's been a NFL head coach and
06:14 one of the most well respected offensive line coaches in this league.
06:17 So, and then my time in Minnesota, those guys were great.
06:21 Working with Kevin was phenomenal.
06:23 Learned a ton from him and
06:25 really appreciate the opportunity he gave me the last two years.
06:29 >> Prior to this year, there hadn't been a lot of change on the Bengals coaching
06:32 staff.
06:33 Did you get the impression talking to Zach that he was eager to see what new,
06:37 fresh ideas you might be able to bring to the mix?
06:39 >> Yeah, it was great going through the interview process with Zach and Dan.
06:44 And really enjoyed to get to know those guys and
06:47 kinda what their plan is moving forward.
06:48 And again, my wife and I are really excited to be a part of such a special
06:54 place and a group of coaches and a team full of talented players.
07:00 So excited to get started once we get through the draft and
07:05 get ready for the offseason program.
07:06 >> Do you, following up on what you were talking about with your offensive line
07:10 background, I know as the passing games coordinator,
07:13 you're gonna be focused a lot on passing game.
07:15 But do you get the sense that you'll be involved in working with Frank Pollock in
07:19 the run game and putting the protection plan together?
07:23 >> Yeah, again, we haven't went through all of that.
07:25 But I do know my background with the offensive line has been huge for
07:31 me and my career, my development.
07:33 I always tell people I wish I did this ten years ago before I called plays
07:38 in college football.
07:39 It's just so much goes into it up front.
07:42 You like to think that the games are won at the line of scrimmage.
07:46 And so yeah, diving into the run game and the protection plan the last five years of
07:52 my career has been huge for me.
07:54 And I look forward to using that knowledge and that experience here.
08:00 >> One theme has been explosive plays over the past couple of years.
08:03 Dan just mentioned it a bunch of times.
08:05 What's the best way to create more explosive plays?
08:09 I know there's a bunch of different ways, but how do you view it?
08:13 >> Yeah, for us in Minnesota, I think we were top five in the league in explosives,
08:18 if I remember right.
08:19 But I think a big part of that is, again, all 11 being involved, doing their job.
08:24 Having weapons on the outside,
08:26 having a quarterback that can distribute the ball on time.
08:30 And but I really think it stems from the marriage of the run and pass.
08:35 If you can get your run game going and then have the play action pass off of that
08:41 to create the coverages and the one on one matchups you want on the outside.
08:47 And so I thought we did a really good job with that in Minnesota.
08:50 >> How much did you hear from Justin Jefferson about what Jamar Chase was like?
08:53 Did that ever come up?
08:54 >> It hasn't.
08:55 When I took this job, I haven't actually seen JJ since I got here.
09:01 But JJ was great to work with, such a competitor, works really hard.
09:06 A lot of fun to coach.
09:09 And I'm just, again, excited to be around the weapons we have here,
09:13 cuz I know we have a lot of them.
09:14 >> It's interesting cuz Justin had such a great start to his career,
09:17 one of the most unprecedented runs early in his career.
09:19 When did you get the sense that he was really that good and
09:22 that he had a chance to be really one of the top receivers in the league?
09:25 >> Yeah, he's a dominant player because to me,
09:29 it's the way he works and prepares every single day.
09:32 And I think he came into a great opportunity in Minnesota.
09:36 And with Kevin coming on board and the system and the ways we moved him around
09:42 and took advantage of matchups, I think really was a perfect fit for JJ.
09:48 But yeah, JJ's obviously extremely talented, but he works really hard and
09:53 football is really important to him.
09:55 >> What position groups will you be looking at for a free agency in the draft?
10:00 >> I'm looking at all of them.
10:02 So it's just trying to find the guys that fit what our needs are.
10:06 And again, that's a long process, it's just now starting.
10:10 So we'll just continue those conversations these next few weeks and
10:15 see what happens.
10:16 >> There's a lot of good receivers in this draft and
10:19 sometimes we don't always see great college receivers translate to being great
10:22 NFL receivers being around the game as long as you have.
10:24 What is that difference that makes guys who are really good college players really
10:27 great NFL receivers?
10:29 >> Yeah, it is a great draft class, but really guys that can come in and
10:33 have the ability to learn the system and to be able to play fast like you see
10:39 on their college state, go out there and play with confidence.
10:42 And so yeah, it's again a talented group.
10:46 It seems like every year there's a good group of receivers that can come in and
10:49 have a major impact early.
10:51 >> When you were in Minnesota, you guys added TJ Hawkinson at tight end.
10:56 When you add a dynamic tight end like that, how does it change things?
10:59 Cuz obviously you have weapons on the outside.
11:01 >> Right, it really helps.
11:02 It's a huge stress for
11:04 the defense to have to defend multiple guys in the pass game.
11:08 So in Minnesota, having two or three receivers coupled with
11:13 a tight end like TJ was huge for us, especially on the weighty downs.
11:17 Whether it was third down or in the red zone,
11:20 it just forced the defense hand a little bit.
11:25 We just knew we could find a matchup between one of the three guys on
11:28 the perimeter.
11:29 >> What's your lasting memory from the December game at Paycourt Stadium against
11:34 the Bengals?
11:35 >> Yeah, it was a tough loss for us that day, but it was just two great teams.
11:40 It was an awesome game, went back and forth.
11:43 And obviously the turnovers were a big issue for us in Minnesota.
11:49 But yeah, it was a great game.
11:51 I'm sure the fans really enjoyed it.
11:54 And but yeah, we're excited to be here and
11:59 ready for the offseason program to start.