WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:04.120 At the bye week, Let's take a look at every position group on the 2 00:00:04.120 --> 00:00:07.919 Cincinnati Bengals and give out some grades. How are they doing so far? 3 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:13.880 Let's get into it. You are Locked On Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals 4 00:00:13.880 --> 00:00:34.280 podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast network, your team, every day 5 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:39.960 Bengals fans, and welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. I'm 6 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:43.679 your host, Jake Lisco. He's your host, James Rapine. We are 7 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:47.479 the Lockdown Bengals Podcast. Today we're going to look at a team that had 8 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:53.679 very high expectations going into this season still does to be honest, and they 9 00:00:53.799 --> 00:00:58.159 fallen short of those expectations before the bye week. And now, as we 10 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:02.119 knew before the season, things appear to get harder with their schedule. But 11 00:01:02.119 --> 00:01:06.000 we're gonna go position by position and look at where those grades come in, 12 00:01:06.359 --> 00:01:10.000 and for me, that's going to be based on expectation. We'll get into 13 00:01:10.040 --> 00:01:12.280 that. This episode of Lockdown Bengals brought to you by Fandel Sportsbook, the 14 00:01:12.280 --> 00:01:17.040 official sportsbook of Locked On. Right now, new customers can bet five dollars 15 00:01:17.079 --> 00:01:21.879 and get two hundred dollars in bonus bets guaranteed at Fandel dot com slash locked 16 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:26.480 on. We appreciate everybody who's new to the show. If you're new to 17 00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:30.439 the show and this is the first episode you've ever listened to on Lockdown Bengals 18 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:32.879 because it's after the bye week and you're ready to go for the rest of 19 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:36.799 the season, make sure you look back into the recent history. When we 20 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:41.760 talked with Luanna Roumo and Brian Callahan during the bye week, got their perspective 21 00:01:41.799 --> 00:01:44.200 on what's going on with the offense, what's going on with the defense, 22 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:47.879 talked about some individual players, talked about some scheme with both of them. 23 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:53.359 Some really cool insight from both of the Bengals lieutenants to Zach Taylor on the 24 00:01:53.400 --> 00:01:57.519 defense and offensive side of the football, and Louanna Romo and Brian Callahan. 25 00:01:57.599 --> 00:01:59.920 So you don't want to miss those. If you did miss him, take 26 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:02.200 time go back and listen to him. I thought they were both really great 27 00:02:02.200 --> 00:02:07.439 and insightful. But today, James, it's time to give out some grades. 28 00:02:08.039 --> 00:02:14.280 It's kind of that cheesy mid season evaluation even though it's not really mid 29 00:02:14.280 --> 00:02:19.360 season, but it's a good way to think about what our expectations were for 30 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:23.800 this Bengals team. Versus where they are so far, And it starts with 31 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:30.639 the quarterback, who were high MVP level expectations for Joe Burrow. Fair to 32 00:02:30.680 --> 00:02:34.520 say, he's not at that level right now, and there are reasons for 33 00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:38.159 that, right he missed all of training camp again and he's been dealing with 34 00:02:38.199 --> 00:02:44.680 this calf injury. Yeah, I think it's stinks. It stinks that we 35 00:02:45.080 --> 00:02:52.360 entered this season and pre July twenty seventh and we were talking about MVP and 36 00:02:52.439 --> 00:02:55.159 I thought he was dialed in in the best shape of his career, and 37 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:59.960 I test wise that pass the test. I saw a practice in a half 38 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:04.960 where he was just balling, and we've seen flashes of that, especially in 39 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:07.599 Arizona at the beginning of Seattle, but it hasn't been to that level. 40 00:03:07.719 --> 00:03:14.759 So no one deserves, needs, desires, whatever you want to say. 41 00:03:14.759 --> 00:03:19.080 Probably craved the buy more than Joe Burrow mentally and physically, and so I 42 00:03:19.080 --> 00:03:23.120 think he benefits from it as much as anyone. And so that said, 43 00:03:23.319 --> 00:03:29.080 if we're giving him a grade, I think the fair grade is incomplete. 44 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:34.199 But the fact that he was able to battle through and play when no one 45 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:37.599 thought he was playing against the Rams, like the Wednesday before that Monday night 46 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:40.159 game, no one thought he was suiting up. Thursday it was the same, 47 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:45.719 and it slowly trended in the right direction. You had the Mike Brown 48 00:03:45.879 --> 00:03:50.319 cart rde at practice where people are saying he is shut down and like it's 49 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:54.039 been a wild six weeks. It has and in really three months when you 50 00:03:54.080 --> 00:04:00.000 go back to the original calf injury. But the fact that he hasn't played 51 00:04:00.360 --> 00:04:04.280 or hasn't not played and has been on the field, he deserves some credit 52 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:08.520 for that, a lot of credit for that. And so his play hasn't 53 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:13.400 been that MVP level and that's where expectations are when he's healthy. That's where 54 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:17.360 this coaching staff puts him and then puts on him the responsibilities he has on 55 00:04:17.399 --> 00:04:21.800 this offense. So it's weird because he's a big reason why the offense has 56 00:04:21.800 --> 00:04:27.360 struggled and not been what we expected. And at the same time, I 57 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:30.519 think he deserves credit for being out there even though he's one of those reasons 58 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:33.319 why. So this is a tricky grade. I think he's certainly not only 59 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:40.879 passing, but maybe slightly above average despite you know everything, and so I 60 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:44.800 would say C plus, but that doesn't take into account A ton of the 61 00:04:45.240 --> 00:04:46.720 injury stuff. Like if you just looked at the numbers, I would say, 62 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:49.399 like it's probably C minus, and then with the injury, I'm bumping 63 00:04:49.399 --> 00:04:54.160 it up to a C plus and it's probably even higher than that considering what 64 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:56.920 he had to play through. In the fact that we didn't see any of 65 00:04:57.040 --> 00:05:00.120 Jake Browning in the first six games of the season, or at least any 66 00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:03.920 significant snaps for Jake Browning early on, I think he certainly deserves some credit 67 00:05:03.959 --> 00:05:08.240 for the injury. Like you said, I'm gonna be a little bit less 68 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:11.040 generous. I know that he's been dealing with a lot, and so I 69 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:13.600 don't think that's generous. I don't think there's a player in the league that 70 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:15.480 has gone through more than than Joe Burrow has gone through. And that's not 71 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:18.480 just because it's locked on Bengals. I think it's that's a fact. Yeah, 72 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:23.399 that's fine. I think that just for me, it just is more 73 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:27.759 of how he's played, and he hasn't played well. He's had flashes of 74 00:05:27.800 --> 00:05:30.920 playing well, and he does, like like you said, like you've made 75 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:34.839 abundantly clear he's gone through a significant amount of pain to just stay on the 76 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:39.560 field and be there with his guys. But the level of play for Joe 77 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:45.519 Burrow compared to what we expect for Joe Burrow is like D plus C minus 78 00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:48.040 Like you said, the C minus for the numbers or whatever, but just 79 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:51.600 like the way he's playing, just missing throws, not on the same page 80 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:56.040 with his guys, which isn't always his fault. The way the offense has 81 00:05:56.040 --> 00:06:00.279 struggled as a pass versus offense that relies on Joe burrow ability. Some of 82 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:04.600 that is on coaching, as we've discussed and we talked with Bran Callahan about. 83 00:06:04.680 --> 00:06:10.920 But for like an average quarterback, if you're just saying, like where's 84 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:15.600 Joe Burrow compared to other NFL quarterbacks, it's near the bottom statistically and a 85 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:18.160 lot of meaningful numbers right now. He can't figure out the deep ball right 86 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:24.360 now and it needs to be a lot better. So C minus D plus 87 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:29.480 like that's still where I am. I think that outside of you know, 88 00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:34.879 the grade itself, which is harsh if you say D plus, he does 89 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:41.560 deserve a lot of, you know, moral victory credit for what he's been 90 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:45.720 through, and I think that he'll bounce back. It's just for what he's 91 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:49.959 done so far from you know, interceptions that haven't come at good times, 92 00:06:50.040 --> 00:06:58.639 to erratic accuracy, to processing that that hasn't been great. They've been limited 93 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:00.720 on offense. A lot of that is a quarterback. I think that will 94 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:03.439 be much better the rest of the way. I think that he will bounce 95 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:08.800 back. I think you will see more of the Cincinnati Bengals offense that we're 96 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:13.360 used to seeing. But it's not just Burrow. It is part of the 97 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:17.000 thing, right, It's it's Burrow's not playing well and and maybe that's a 98 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:20.360 reason that it should be a little bit higher. And maybe that's the reason 99 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:27.279 that your grade might be more accurate than mine. Is Tee Higgins is not 100 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:30.680 having the year that he's He's having maybe his worst year in the NFL so 101 00:07:30.839 --> 00:07:34.319 far. Earth Smith Junior in the tight end position has not been productive. 102 00:07:35.480 --> 00:07:41.959 So it's not just Burrow. But I do think that C plus feels to 103 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.079 me. It feels generous to you. You know, if you're accounting for 104 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:47.759 all the injury stuff, I think that's fine. I'm just not accounting for 105 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:51.240 it. I guess when I give the grade up that's a pff jake. 106 00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:58.279 Well, it's just there where it's it's like report cards used to have comments 107 00:07:58.279 --> 00:08:01.560 on him, like you should. I'm giving him the comment of like I 108 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:09.360 understand, but let's be better kind of thing. Sure, it's to me, 109 00:08:09.480 --> 00:08:13.879 they would be like one in five with Jake Browning and so as bad 110 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:20.240 as he's been at times, Burrow, yeah he deserves like there's there's letter 111 00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:22.720 grades built in like instantly, it's like, all right, well, it's 112 00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:26.399 still average because he lifts everybody up, but he lifts everybody up like I 113 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:31.519 promise you the defense would have been worse with Browning at quarterback. I promise 114 00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:33.320 you. T would have been worse. Jamar would have been worse. It's 115 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:37.279 just and that's not even Jake's fault. It's just, you know, it's 116 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:39.360 not me going after the Jakes of the world. It's just what it is 117 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:43.639 when you see nine out there versus not. It's just part of it. 118 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:48.799 And that's why him playing on that Monday night game is still wild to me, 119 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:52.600 and I think kind of gets overshadowed. So I do get it. 120 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:56.639 He does have to be better. I'll tell you that. He may say 121 00:08:56.919 --> 00:09:00.120 that I'm being generous with his play. I think that's part of why it's 122 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:03.799 been so frustrating is because he can't and hasn't been able to physically do what 123 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:09.639 he normally does. But we can both agree that they need him to play 124 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:15.000 a level in the final eleven games of the season as many of those as 125 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:18.919 possible. Like, if we revisit this in eleven weeks, we need to 126 00:09:18.919 --> 00:09:22.159 be saying, oh, well, since the bye Burrow is at a B 127 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:26.120 plus minimum, hopefully A minus are better. And so that's that's going to 128 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:31.080 be the interesting part as well as we move forward, because if it is 129 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:33.559 in that A range, we're talking about a team that's going to be a 130 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:39.120 contender. Again. Yeah, if it's not, then who knows. That's 131 00:09:39.159 --> 00:09:41.840 exactly what happened last year once they hit their stride, he was playing at 132 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:46.279 a top level as well as we've seen him play. The other thing is, 133 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:50.279 if you're comparing Burrow this year to previous year Burrow, it's really really 134 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:54.159 hard to get an a right because average Burrough the last two years has been 135 00:09:54.720 --> 00:10:00.639 a level quarterbacking for the rest of the league well short of that expectations. 136 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:03.639 So I'd say compared to where we were preseason at three and three with the 137 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:07.519 offense one of the bottom units in the league, that's part of it. 138 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:13.360 Let's continue on the offensive side of the ball coming up next today's show. 139 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:18.440 It's brought to you by eBay Motors. Our partners at eBay Motors have teamed 140 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:22.440 up with Lockdown Fantasy Football host Vinnie Eyer to bring you some of the best 141 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:26.840 fantasy picks each week all season long. 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I mentioned that it's not just Burrow, and there are some 168 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:31.320 extenuating circumstances as to why the Bengals offensive numbers are what they are. We've 169 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:33.399 talked about this a lot. There are a lot of things that need to 170 00:12:33.399 --> 00:12:37.039 be correct, and we talked about this, so Brian Callahan, I think 171 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:43.559 the next unit we can talk about is wide receiver. And this one's hard 172 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:48.240 because you know, you take the averages right, like Chase gets an A 173 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:54.600 for me, Tyler Boy's probably like a CNUS. He's not been quite as 174 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:58.799 productive as you would expect from Tyler Boyd, but the flashes are there. 175 00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:01.279 He had a touchdown that that would have bumped it up. There was a 176 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:07.200 race, and Nte Higgins is probably like d Right. He's had one game. 177 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:13.840 He's been hurt, which doesn't help things, but not clearly what you 178 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:16.200 would expect to Higgins to be. You take the average of that, where 179 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:20.159 are you on wide receiver like B minus with Jamar Chase carrying a heavy part 180 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:24.200 of that low Jamar has been the best player on offense by far, so 181 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:28.600 if you're doing a unit, he deserves a lot of credit for this offense. 182 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:35.360 Overall, Yeah, it's it's rough, and obviously Jamar has been dominant 183 00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:41.480 at times, but the offense is just so inconsistent that you look at it. 184 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:48.720 I think a C might be generous for these pass catchers because where we 185 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:52.759 are wide receivers. If we're just looking at wide receivers for comparative to what 186 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:58.039 we expected, best trio in the league, right, Charlie Jones flashes some 187 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:03.320 gets hurt Yo Savasha's flashed. Love that, So you got something out of 188 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:05.519 your rookie receivers. I think you would have taken that to start the year 189 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:09.679 outside of the injury, which you can't help the fact that the guy had 190 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:15.000 a broken thumb and needed surgery. But Jamar has been dominant. He is 191 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:16.879 off to the worst start of his career. Now. The reason it's not 192 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:22.879 an F is because of the rib injury. I think that's certainly impacted him 193 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:24.919 the other day. I hope he gets healthy. I hope he dominates over 194 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:28.679 the final eleven and finishes with twelve hundred plus yards. But who would have 195 00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:35.159 thought that t Higgins would have fourteen catches over the first six games for one 196 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:37.200 hundred and forty nine yards. And I know he missed a game. So 197 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:39.600 in five games, okay, that's less than three receptions a game, with 198 00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:43.440 just eight of them in one game. Yeah, yeah, in the two 199 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:48.480 touchdowns against the Ravens too. I mean it's it's been Outside of that game, 200 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:54.759 it's been really really rough for Tea Boyd. It's everything looks good except 201 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:58.759 the yards. And that's the part. Thirty receptions on forty one targets you 202 00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:01.080 would take. I think that that's about right. You know, you have 203 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:05.120 five receptions a game. The problem is two hundred and four yards six point 204 00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:09.759 eight a reception. We're not talking about rushing yards six point I mean that's 205 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:13.840 closer to rushing yards. And that's not just him. That's a product of 206 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:20.080 what the offense has been. Jamar is averaging eleven yards a catch. That's 207 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:22.159 where Boyd should be. Jamar needs to be at fourteen yards a catch, 208 00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:26.000 and that goes in line with the deep ball stuff, the downfield stuff, 209 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:31.639 and so it's an offensive thing overall. But right now, the guy that 210 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:39.559 leads them in yards per catch, it's Tanner Hudson with twelve. That's unbelievable 211 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:41.879 and I know he's not a receiver. But we can segue into a tight 212 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:46.159 end in a second, it's just it's crazy. So I would actually put 213 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:52.240 it C minus D plus because it's just it's really ugly right now, and 214 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:54.200 I think it could change, and a lot of it is tied to burrow 215 00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:58.960 in Jamar is what's really helping. I would say C minus. Let's go, 216 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:03.559 it's like a seventy eight percent something like that. If you're talking about 217 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:07.799 like a math test or seventy eight percent or so, seventy eight percent is 218 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:11.279 the C plus in the grading scale. I think it's ten percent per grade, 219 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:15.759 right so nine when I was coming up, man A b ended at 220 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:19.240 I think eighty forty five. Yeah, yeah, eighty four eighty five. 221 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:23.000 So that's I'm using the old grading scale. I don't know about this new 222 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:26.519 school new school grader scale. Seventy eight was not good. I was very 223 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:30.159 mad if I ever got a seventy eight. And so that's that's where I'm 224 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:33.120 at with these receivers. They changed it on me going into high school. 225 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:37.480 When I was in junior high, it was still the seven percent or whatever 226 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.960 it was per grade, it was ninety three to one hundred was an A, 227 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:42.799 and then they changed it in high school. And now I hear that, 228 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:47.840 it's like even bigger some places, like the grade rangers for an A 229 00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:51.879 can be like fifteen percent. Anyway, we're not grade eighty and eighty five 230 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:55.559 is an A. Oh my god, it might even be a bigger range 231 00:16:55.559 --> 00:16:59.600 than that I've heard about. You better be right, otherwise the teachers that 232 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:02.720 listen this are going to crush you. I'm not saying in Cincinnati. I'm 233 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:04.759 saying up here, I don't know what I don't know what's going on since 234 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:07.599 So if I had to go back to school, we go. We go 235 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:12.000 to Canada, maybe shot that Vancouver Island. Yeah, that's right, taking 236 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:15.960 the ferry, going to college. Let's talk. Let's talk about the tight 237 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:22.160 ends. This has been probably the least productive unit on the offense compared to 238 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:26.920 the rest of the NFL. Yeah, they're not at the level they were 239 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:32.039 last year, which wasn't wildly productive to be fair in the first place. 240 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:37.920 But er Smith Junior hasn't gotten going. Did miss some time with a hamstring 241 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:42.680 injury. Thought he would at least be as productive as Hayden Hurst. It's 242 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:47.200 not like that was asking a ton. Hayden Hurst, like we talked about, 243 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:51.000 has had some clutch plays to this point in twenty twenty three, twenty 244 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:55.920 twenty two. But earth Smith in this tight end group, you know, 245 00:17:56.759 --> 00:18:02.519 the best of them has probably been Drew Sample's attributions as a blocker. And 246 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:06.720 when that's what you're talking about is the highlight of the unit, which you 247 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:11.039 mentioned, Tanner Hudson seems to need Tanner Hudson, yep, oh man, 248 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:15.880 you're scraping. You're looking for something. Yeah, it's been This isn't it, 249 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:21.400 and it's not to me it is and it's not a player thing because 250 00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:26.480 I actually Ersmith Junior has taking a ton of heat. I think there's a 251 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.440 spot for him. I think it fits. I don't think he's had a 252 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:32.000 ton of opportunities. Now why it could be partially on him, But I 253 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:34.400 think Mitch Willcox and Drew Sample have done their job, Tanner Hudson has done 254 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:40.240 his. And I still haven't totally waved the white flag on Earthsmith Junior being 255 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:44.200 productive this year, Like I still see the vision. You just need the 256 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:47.799 production to start. Now, you need something because we just went over the 257 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:52.680 receivers. It's Jamar Chase and nothing. And while t Higgins should figure it 258 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:56.440 out and Tyler Boyd should average more than six yards of catch. You can't 259 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:59.920 just bank on that. I want to see something from the tight ends as 260 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:03.640 well, and so it's it needs to happen, and it needs to happen 261 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:07.720 soon. And so maybe it's a D minus if you don't want to go 262 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:11.599 failing. But it's just it's been a struggle from a production standpoint. And 263 00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:14.480 that doesn't mean there aren't good players in that room that have done what they've 264 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:17.799 been asked, but you need more out of that position group as a whole. 265 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:19.799 I think the reason that for me wouldn't be an f is that they 266 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:23.160 have like for example, actually has been quite good as a blocker. There 267 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:29.279 is some value there, but it's not the value that we're looking for. 268 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:36.440 You need more than one guy who's blocking well well with Tea hurt in Burrow 269 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:37.799 strugg Like it would be nice if a tight end was like, hey, 270 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:41.279 I can be a target for you, a reliable guy over the middle, 271 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:44.880 and we just we have not seen that. For whatever reason we have not 272 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:48.519 seen. It's a position that they haven't invested in. They've wanted to in 273 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:51.440 the draft, it didn't work out, and it's a position that we talked 274 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:56.440 about quite a lot this offseason, and that's what it is. Yeah, 275 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:59.279 let's do some some a little more rapid fire. Will have to speed it 276 00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:02.079 up a bit, but we are going to get to the rest of the 277 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:04.799 grades. Spending a lot of time on the offense. Why because they've struggled. 278 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:07.279 We'll get to the rest of the team and finish up the offense coming 279 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:15.559 up next. This episode of Lockdown Bengals is sponsored by FanDuel, America's number 280 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:18.319 one sports book, and if you're looking to get into the action, there's 281 00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:22.359 no better place to check out than FanDuel where new customers right now, you'll 282 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:29.759 get a two hundred dollars bonus bet allowance guaranteed when you place a five dollar 283 00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:33.079 bet, two hundred dollars in bonus bets whether you win or lose that five 284 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:37.599 dollar bet. 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Today's show also brought to you by 294 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:18.839 street Side Brewery. Beer is all they make, family owned and operated since 295 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:23.559 twenty sixteen. We love all of our local sponsors and street Side is no 296 00:21:23.799 --> 00:21:30.480 different. They are known for their New England IPAs and with the weather turning 297 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:33.480 a bit, it's getting a little cooler. There's nothing more comforting to me 298 00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:38.599 than a nice ipa. It'll warm you up. And it's not just IPAs. 299 00:21:38.599 --> 00:21:42.599 They have fruited sours, laggers, plenty of different beers. In fact, 300 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:47.960 twenty four different taps, from food pints to four ouncers. They have 301 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:52.799 something for you. They're located in Columbia, Tusclumner Lunkin Airport and you can 302 00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:57.440 ask about street Side and different bottle shops, bars and restaurants all across Cincinnati, 303 00:21:57.519 --> 00:22:02.599 Dayton and Columbus. If you're coming to town in a few weeks for 304 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:06.519 Bengals Bills. Guess what you should get to street Side. It's a short 305 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:11.200 drive from downtown maybe or ubering because you stand at a hotel. Check out 306 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:15.720 street Side. They're also going to have pregame tailgates each in every home game, 307 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:18.519 before each and every home game, so check them out. And as 308 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:21.319 I always say, it's not the East side or the west side, the 309 00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:26.359 best side is street Side. Got a couple more position groups here on offense. 310 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:30.960 To finish up, we haven't talked about the defense at all, as 311 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:34.519 this tradition on Lockdown Bengals an offense driven podcast for an offense driven team, 312 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:37.480 although maybe this year is defense driven. We'll talk about that in just a 313 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:41.599 second. But let's wrap up on offense. Let's finish up the skill positions 314 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:45.079 here with running back, where it's another position we talked about a lot and 315 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:49.880 Mixon I thought started the year really well. I think in weeks five, 316 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:53.839 let's see five and six, right, those are, yeah, they've played 317 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:59.279 six hams some weeks five and six. The finishing power that we saw from 318 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:03.039 Joe Mixon and the first four games we didn't see as much. I don't 319 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:06.279 think you played poorly at any point. I think he's been pretty good this 320 00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:12.079 year, but the running game has really lacked explosion, which is something we 321 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:15.960 talked about. The running games. Efficiency in the passing game, Sorry, 322 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:22.039 the running backs. Efficiency in the passing game is significantly worse this year than 323 00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:26.559 last year in terms of it being a good answer for the Bengals last year. 324 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:30.559 That's not all on the players, of course, but what are we 325 00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:34.960 thinking here? Like see again, like there's nothing that's blowing your socks off 326 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:41.519 at the running back position for the Bengals. Yeah, I think mixing certainly 327 00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:44.519 helps this grade. I think Trayveon's been solid and what they've asked him to 328 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:48.279 do, and it's an incomplete after that, we haven't seen Chase Brown enough 329 00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:51.440 to give him a grade. I don't feel comfortable doing that. Chris Evans 330 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:55.160 is waiting on his first carry since Cleveland, I believe, unless I'm not 331 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:59.680 looking at this properly, it's crazy. So one thing, Joe Mixon averaging 332 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:04.799 six the half yards per past reception that close to Tyler Boyd six point eight, 333 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:08.039 which puts Boyd's number in perspective to me more than anything. But you're 334 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:11.960 right, not as efficient in the passing game. I agree with you. 335 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:15.799 I think Mixon hasn't been able to run as hard as powerful the past couple 336 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:18.599 of weeks, and I just think he's going to wear down if they don't 337 00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:23.200 find someone else in this backfield. Hopefully it's Chase Brown, or maybe they 338 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:26.759 look outside the organization, maybe it's Trevion Williams or Chris Sevenths. I don't 339 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:32.000 care who it is. You just need someone to touch the ball, not 340 00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:36.240 name Joe Mixon in this backfield and be productive. I don't expect them to 341 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:38.759 be explosive over the final eleven games. I would say C minus or so. 342 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:45.400 It's just it's a flawed running back room and so like their best case 343 00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:48.200 would have been Mixin just being amazing. And I thought he was really good 344 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:53.279 to start the year, tapering off a little bit that can get fixed with 345 00:24:53.400 --> 00:24:57.279 the offensive line. Let's transition to the offensive line. I think that's part 346 00:24:57.319 --> 00:25:02.119 of it too, is run blocking. Why they've left something to be desired 347 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:06.279 pass blocking wise, I think they've been pretty good overall. They were tested 348 00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:08.279 early with a lot of tough matchups. They'll get tested again with the forty 349 00:25:08.359 --> 00:25:12.039 nine ers. Of course, I think this offensive line has been all right, 350 00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:17.279 I would probably say, especially considering Burrow hasn't been able to move in 351 00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:22.079 some of these games. B minus is probably where I'm at B where the 352 00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:26.000 pass blocking is going to continue to get better. Kappa has certainly been much 353 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:30.920 better. The past couple of weeks been awesome, and I think Orlando Brown 354 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:33.839 Junior and company they're going to continue to play better and better. So I 355 00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:37.200 would give them a BB minus. I think of its C for the offensive 356 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:42.799 line, which again maybe is harsh, but I just think that you look 357 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:45.680 at some of the great offensive lines, some of the good offensive lines, 358 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:48.519 and then the Bengals offensive line, and they're not quite there. They're missing 359 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:52.680 some juice, they're missing some athleticism, they're missing a little bit of consistency. 360 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:59.119 There are some flaws really across the board. Besides Alice, Kappa in 361 00:25:59.160 --> 00:26:02.799 his last two games has been much better, Like you said, playing the 362 00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:06.000 best couple of games of the season. If they continue to trend in the 363 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:10.920 right direction, I could see bumping this up. But I haven't seen much 364 00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:15.079 that would suggest to me that they're above average. Maybe compared to recent Bengals 365 00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:18.640 offensive lines, they're certainly a little bit better, but some room to improve 366 00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:23.119 for that offensive line, for sure, and I think they're capable of doing 367 00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:26.759 it. We'll see if they can. Let's go from one trench position to 368 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:30.200 the other and switch to the defense. What do you think of this defensive 369 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:33.640 front and what they've done. Obviously, they've been better the past couple of 370 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:38.160 weeks, been able to heat up opposing quarterbacks. Trey hendrickson Ballin. We 371 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:41.920 know about the core four. We talked with Lou about that. Make sure 372 00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:48.200 you check out that interview. I think they're pretty good. They're not perfect, 373 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:53.119 but I think there are solid b The tackling I think goes hand in 374 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:56.599 hand with the defensive front as much as anything. In the tackling issues, 375 00:26:56.640 --> 00:27:00.480 they've been better in recent weeks, so I'd give them a solid BE so 376 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:03.359 far. For me, I'm actually a little bit higher on the defensive line, 377 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:07.440 but that's because I'm weighing the starter so heavily because they've played so much. 378 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:12.559 I'm like, maybe B plus A minus Trey Henderson has been great. 379 00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:18.519 DJ Reader hasn't been like DJ Reader in every single game this year, but 380 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:19.680 we've seen it in the last couple of weeks. I have a lot of 381 00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:25.119 optimism that he's rounded into form. Sam Hubbard is again playing at a high 382 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:30.119 level. BJ Hill has been splashy here and there. You know, it's 383 00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:33.200 another year where you want BJ to be a little bit more consistent early, 384 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:36.599 but he seems to be finding his stride a little bit as well. So 385 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:40.599 the starters have been great and where it will come down a little bit for 386 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:45.440 me as a backup interior, they've not gotten good play out of that position 387 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:48.839 when DJ and BJ come off the field. Cam's Hample, though talked about 388 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:53.559 him coming into the season. He has been pretty good and recently had a 389 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:59.200 great game playing at you know, three tech the interior pass rusher. But 390 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:03.359 also he's just a solid player, so he helps. But the backups and 391 00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:07.839 the depth there is something that we're going to continue to scrutinize where you're not 392 00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:12.400 talking about backups and depth so much at least so far, and hopefully continues 393 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:18.599 that way. Knock On Wood is linebacker where Jermaine Pratt, Logan Wilson. 394 00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:21.960 There have been some tackling issues for this entire defense, you could say, 395 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:26.960 but I personally feel pretty good about the way those guys are playing, regardless 396 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:30.599 of what you might see if you look at the PFF grades, which are 397 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:33.680 relatively low on those guys, I'm at a solid B plus. Again for 398 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:37.400 the linebackers, I think they've been pretty good. Yeah, I agree. 399 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:42.640 I think they've been good, and the tackling part probably is the thing that 400 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:45.279 stands out. I just think they're part of that, and so i'd probably 401 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:52.920 say be but still really really good. Let's go to the cornerbacks, where 402 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:56.160 they may have a couple of young studs, young stars Cam Taylor Brett, 403 00:28:56.240 --> 00:29:02.480 DJ Turner the second both playing really really well. I think Cam Taylor Britt 404 00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:07.160 has two interceptions the past couple of games. Juan Drego just doesn't give up 405 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:10.559 receptions at all, so no one's going to catch it when he's in coverage, 406 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:14.119 and Mike Hilton his normal solid self. I think he's been better over 407 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:18.480 the past couple of weeks. Obviously, Chittabayo Wuzia in and out with coming 408 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:22.759 back from that ACL snap count and now dealing with a back issue. I 409 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:27.039 think the corners have been really good and so I would give them a minus 410 00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:33.519 probably, Like I'm pretty confident in them, especially if Cheeto gets healthier. 411 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:36.759 So yeah, I'm pretty bullish on what they've done. Yeah. I like 412 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:38.480 what they've done too. I'm probably not there. I think I'm going to 413 00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:42.000 be that. They've had some issues where they've gotten beat and the ball hasn't 414 00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:45.160 been accurate. They've been bailed out by some bad quarterback play at times. 415 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:49.039 But I would say this is trending in the right direction. I really think 416 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:56.519 that Cam Taylor Britt's confidence has grown and the team's confidence in him has grown 417 00:29:56.759 --> 00:30:00.720 this year. He's seen some of the most matchups against opposing team's number ones 418 00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:06.119 this year, and of course that matchup with DK Metcalf in Week six was 419 00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:08.640 under the microscope in a big way. Love what we've seen from DJ Turner 420 00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:11.640 so far. I think Cheetoh when he's been on the field, when he's 421 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:17.119 been healthy, has been fine for the most part. Needs to get healthy 422 00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:21.359 again to be so you feel good about the depth because they have been rotating 423 00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:29.440 him with DJ Turner and then the other one being Mike Hilton had honestly a 424 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:33.440 rocky start to the year. Was very good in Week six. I was 425 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:37.759 very impressed with that interception. The tackling started to come into form a little 426 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:41.160 bit. But there were tackling issues for Mike Hilton where some of that wasn't 427 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:45.240 his fault. There's like a block in the back that wasn't called that led 428 00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:48.240 to a big play where he's crashed down on a screen, So that's part 429 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:52.240 of it too. But again bullish all these guys going forward, just don't 430 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:56.960 think they've been quite at that level so far. Happy to disagree there. 431 00:30:57.000 --> 00:31:03.680 Let's finish up with safety where it's tough because there's two guys and I'm at 432 00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:07.400 an A minus for Dax. I've been very impressed with dax Or having some 433 00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:11.839 flaws that bring it off with a solid A, and then Nick Scott is 434 00:31:11.880 --> 00:31:15.920 probably or like other safety position which also includes some Jordan battles, probably like 435 00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:21.039 a C minus where it just could be a little bit better. There's flashes 436 00:31:21.079 --> 00:31:26.160 and it's just really inconsistent. Yeah, Dak's Spider Man just came out, 437 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:27.200 so I mean he's the Spider Man in the defense. I feel like they 438 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:30.759 move him all over and he makes hits and plays. He's been a good 439 00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:34.680 tackler and I'm excited to watch him grow because I think he could be really 440 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:38.359 Like I was high on him just in general, like when they picked him, 441 00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:41.839 and now I wonder if I was low like I should have been higher, 442 00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:47.039 like on his ceiling and not where it could be because I've been impressed 443 00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:51.160 with him. Nick Scott is working through it. I think he's adjusted into 444 00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:56.160 his role in Luanna Rumo's defense Jordan battle as well. I think they'll figure 445 00:31:56.200 --> 00:32:02.160 it out. Overall, it's probably a B minus C plus C range something 446 00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:06.920 like that. Probably see to be minus and and Dax helps elevate that. 447 00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:10.359 Overall, though, I think you're pretty excited to see what you've seen from 448 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:15.319 Dax, even if Nick Scott hasn't been what people had hoped. And uh, 449 00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:21.279 last but not least special teams Evan mc Evan McPherson, A Coladamitas, 450 00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:29.559 A Brad Robbins D D Yeah, I think D. I'm maybe maybe D 451 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:32.680 plus because he's been a really good holder. I just know. I think 452 00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:37.920 I think I think you've wanted more from him what you know you wanted more 453 00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:39.759 from him, and hopefully he figures it out because I really like him and 454 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:45.039 I think he's talented, and it's just about consistency. I think for Brad 455 00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:47.279 right now, he's shown flashes, but it's been inconsistent. I think I'm 456 00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:55.720 got to B for for one, having McPherson. He missed. He missed 457 00:32:55.720 --> 00:33:00.359 two of those fifty plus yard field goals three for five. See, that'd 458 00:33:00.359 --> 00:33:04.519 be five four for five at least. I want him to be perfect. 459 00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:08.839 I want his fifty yard field Yeah. His like average, his career average 460 00:33:08.839 --> 00:33:14.000 for fifty plus yard field goals is he was five for five last year. 461 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:16.160 He was twelve or fourteen his rookie year, and this yeraries three for five. 462 00:33:17.640 --> 00:33:22.799 Small would like it to be four for five together. Name all right, 463 00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:25.920 you're really mad about that missing Cleveland. No, it's the La miss 464 00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:29.960 you know, it gets real dramatic. He won them the game against the 465 00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:32.759 Rams. He was the best player on the field. He also missed one, 466 00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:37.960 just saying, unbelievable. Your card grades suck. You want an A. 467 00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:42.559 The f F has blinders on certain grades. You are awful with kicker 468 00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:46.519 grades. It's okay, all right. He has been much better. Hasn't 469 00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:52.119 missed a kick from forty to forty nine, which was where he uh worries 470 00:33:52.160 --> 00:33:59.000 about tonight for his entire career. So he's getting better credit credit there like 471 00:33:59.039 --> 00:34:00.880 that. They're taking more three plus our field goals this year, though they 472 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:05.920 should well, especially if the offense is struggled. They're not going for it 473 00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:09.480 kind of too. Yeah, we didn't get coaching grades in. We talked 474 00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:14.159 to the coaches recently. The biggest thing for me is some of the fourth 475 00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:19.079 down decisions. Well, we'll see if that improves or not. I think 476 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:22.480 that they're very like gained the game with that and like how things are going 477 00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:29.000 in the game in addition to the analytics. But just and just their struggles. 478 00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:31.880 Yeah, just their struggle. I mean, if Burro's feeling it's really 479 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:37.079 tough with the six games, we probably should add a disclaimer. I expect 480 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:39.559 this team to feel much much different moving forward. Doesn't mean they will beat 481 00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:44.719 San fran but I expected to feel different in Santa Clara when we're there. 482 00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:47.440 Yeah, I feel like I'm bullish on pretty much all these guys. So 483 00:34:47.480 --> 00:34:51.400 we just talked about we just talked through all these units, like, well, 484 00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:57.400 so far this but I feel like this and it's been mostly bullish And 485 00:34:57.559 --> 00:35:00.400 there's some spots we'll maybe talk about where they could be better, or maybe 486 00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:04.960 they bring in some guys at the trade deadline, maybe they don't, but 487 00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:09.320 certainly something that we can talk about here this week that's gonna do it for 488 00:35:09.400 --> 00:35:14.440 this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. The Bengals back in the building on 489 00:35:14.840 --> 00:35:19.480 Monday. Until then, thanks for listening, who Day and have a good one.