WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.080 --> 00:00:04.960 Is Marius Mims really the boom or bus prospect you've been led to believe he 2 00:00:05.080 --> 00:00:15.279 is? Let's break it down. You are Locked on Bengals, your daily 3 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:21.960 Cincinnati Bengals podcast, part of the Lockedawn podcast network, your team every day 4 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:26.559 what Not Bengals fans, and welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. 5 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:28.760 I'm your host, Jake, Let's go. He's your host, James 6 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:31.760 Rapem. We're part of the Lockdown podcast network. Here on Lockdown Bengals, 7 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:36.039 covering your team every day on YouTube everywhere you get your podcasts. You can 8 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:39.640 subscribe to the show if you're new. It supports us, which we appreciate, 9 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:42.159 but also it makes it easy for you to find our content when we 10 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:46.960 upload every day. Today's episode where we'll be talking about Marius MIM's potential and 11 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:51.079 where his floor really is, and take our first look at the Bengals undrafted 12 00:00:51.119 --> 00:00:55.960 free agent classes sponsored by Monopoly Go where you can join your friends on the 13 00:00:56.039 --> 00:01:00.320 mobile hit twist on Classic Monopoly. Download Monopoly Go Out for free on the 14 00:01:00.359 --> 00:01:07.640 App Store or on Google Play. James a lot have written about Amarus Mims, 15 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:12.239 even going back to before the draft obviously and his limited experience of Georgia 16 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:18.159 as a boomer bust type player. But now that he's with the Cincinnati Bengals 17 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:22.239 and we're giving him our undivided attention, now that we know that he's a 18 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:25.079 player we're going to be covering for at least four, probably at least five 19 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:30.280 years with the Bengals. We talked about this with Mike Potts. Is he 20 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:34.359 really this boomer bust player? Where is that floor? Is the inexperience really 21 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:40.519 an issue that gives him that bust potential as some seem to think it does. 22 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:44.439 Yeah, I think a couple of things. One, every player has 23 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:49.400 super high risk when it comes to health. And the good news with Mims 24 00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:53.599 is we're talking about an ankle and an ankle that he reaggravated. And it's 25 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:57.280 not like he didn't practice at Georgia for back to back seasons. It's not 26 00:01:57.319 --> 00:02:00.280 like he missed a bunch of time in practice and was leaving practice all of 27 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:01.719 those things. He did all of that. So I don't really think health 28 00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:06.200 is a big factor, even though you look at the eight starts and you 29 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:10.080 think that's why. And then the other element here when you're talking about a 30 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:15.360 six eight, three hundred and forty pound just freak athletes. Just does he 31 00:02:15.479 --> 00:02:19.199 have the attitude, the right attitude, the right mindset to go be great? 32 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:21.639 And who knows, maybe he doesn't end up being great, but if 33 00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:25.879 he has that mindset, given his physical gifts, assuming he can stay relatively 34 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:30.000 healthy, I think we quickly go from oh my god, his floor is 35 00:02:30.039 --> 00:02:36.000 really low to at least in the mid range. And we've talked about this, 36 00:02:36.120 --> 00:02:38.319 and that's why you mentioned it. We asked Mike Potts about that because 37 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:42.439 and if you missed it, make sure you check it out. The director 38 00:02:42.759 --> 00:02:46.719 of Bengals college scouting obviously a big, huge factor in all ten of their 39 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:51.719 draft picks. So this is part of our conversation with Mike Potts. I 40 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:55.800 asked him about Amarus Mims, the high ceiling and does he have a low 41 00:02:55.879 --> 00:03:00.360 floor. Yeah, I don't necessarily agree that he has a low floor. 42 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:05.039 Honestly when when watching his tape, because his tape's really really good. There 43 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:08.800 there's honestly not a whole lot that you can nitpick or poke holes in about 44 00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:12.919 his tape. And yeah, he only started eight games, but he played 45 00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:15.680 a lot more snaps than your average guy that only only started eight games. 46 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:21.000 He was in a rotation with some high end you know, draft picks there 47 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:23.840 that that came out last year in previous years on the offensive line in Georgia. 48 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:28.280 So he does have high quality tape. Obviously, you would like to 49 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:31.840 see it, you know, and more volume, uh you know, when 50 00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:37.439 when you're just have more overall tape to evaluate on him. But it's not. 51 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:39.840 It's not a guy that's really inconsistent, and you just see the flashes 52 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:44.759 and the highs and the lows on his tape. I think he's pretty even 53 00:03:44.840 --> 00:03:47.599 in his high level of production when you watch his tape, So I don't 54 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:53.319 necessarily think that he's a low floor, high ceiling prospect. We kind of 55 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:59.000 view him as a high floor high ceiling prospect. Big emphasis there on the 56 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:03.560 tape and the consistency on tape with a Marius Mims from Mike Potts and like 57 00:04:03.639 --> 00:04:09.199 James said, full conversation including like ten minutes or so on A Mariusmims is 58 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:14.240 our most recent episode before this one, if you missed it. But that 59 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:19.759 is a consistent point of emphasis from everyone who's watched a Mariusmims College shape, 60 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:25.639 myself included. They're in past protection in particular and we talked with pots about 61 00:04:25.639 --> 00:04:30.120 this is a consistent, in my opinion, refined player for a guy that 62 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:33.360 only played less than nine hundred snaps in college. And that's where all of 63 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:38.600 the risk, not all of the risk, most of the perceived risk I 64 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:41.680 think comes from. You go back to the bomb the Gag quotes with the 65 00:04:41.720 --> 00:04:45.959 anonymous scouts pre draft, and one scout told him again that Mims may be 66 00:04:46.040 --> 00:04:48.319 the biggest bust in the class because he's only started how many games? That 67 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:51.480 ain't very many, said the scout. That scares the f out of me, 68 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:58.519 And so there are some scouts that are worried about that inexperience. There 69 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:01.360 are scouts I'm sure that that look it is run blocking and Mike Santagata has 70 00:05:01.399 --> 00:05:05.720 a piece on this over on your SI Bengals coverage page as well. James 71 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:14.439 talking about the run game growth required for a Marius Mens and in certain stuff, 72 00:05:14.759 --> 00:05:17.360 but as a pass protector, which is generally the opposite of what you 73 00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:21.040 would expect, a Marius Mens is a pretty refined player, and that's what 74 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:26.279 Potts is talking about. I think the tape and pass from particular is consistent, 75 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:30.639 and so do you buy the motivation stuff that Nick Saban's talking about that 76 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:33.120 the football, toughness, willingness to stay on the field. I don't know. 77 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:36.279 You've talked to him, James. You have an idea of who the 78 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:41.519 person is. You've got a first impression after having that one on one conversation. 79 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:45.240 What do you think. I think he's ready to work. I think 80 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:47.680 he feels like this is an ideal landing spot. And that's part of why 81 00:05:48.839 --> 00:05:54.800 I've changed my team because I called him a risk before the draft, but 82 00:05:55.160 --> 00:06:00.800 you hit on it here. From a pass blocking standpoint, he's he's there, 83 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:05.560 he's good enough now to play. And what are the Bengals? You 84 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:09.279 just got to admit what you are when that's what you are. They're a 85 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:12.560 past first team. I think it's a perfect landing spot. If he landed 86 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:15.639 in an offense that wanted to run the ball half the time or more than 87 00:06:15.639 --> 00:06:20.319 half the time, and it was just a much different, not drop back 88 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:26.040 style offense, well then yeah, Like if he's in Tampa where you got 89 00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:30.680 to run it fifty three times because it's Baker as your quarterback or Deshaun Watson, 90 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:32.680 Oh I'm gonna get and you got to run it because he's not the 91 00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:35.879 guy he was eight years ago, but then yeah, it changes, or's 92 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:40.480 five years ago, whatever it is, I think it changes it. But 93 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:46.199 you have a arguably the best certainly an empty is the best quarterback in the 94 00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:50.000 NFL and Joe Burrow, and so you want guys that can allow you to 95 00:06:50.360 --> 00:06:54.399 go empty at times and you feel comfortable putting him on an island and all 96 00:06:54.439 --> 00:06:59.439 of those things against these elite edge rushers in the AFC North especially, and 97 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:02.439 that's where I think a lot of the frustration for fans. You got to 98 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:05.399 win when in the AFC North you gotta play like no, hell no, 99 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:08.879 you don't. You got to get guys that can win on an island, 100 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:13.319 and I think he can do that. And so, like floor wise, 101 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:17.920 it feels like his floor long term is Trent Brown his floor. And that's 102 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:20.839 a hell of a floor to me. And that's not me knocking Trent Brown 103 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:24.800 because I'm excited to see him play right tackle this year just because of the 104 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:30.879 physical gifts that he has, assuming that the Nick Saban motivation questions arebs And 105 00:07:30.920 --> 00:07:34.240 it does feel that way. Now, if I'm a Marius Mims and I 106 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:40.079 know I'm going to be a first round pick, am I has it tant 107 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:43.240 to get back out there with that ankle injury. Sure, but guess what, 108 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:46.720 he got back out there after six weeks after undergoing surgery. It's not 109 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:50.079 like he sat out the rest of the season and reaggravated it because he came 110 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:54.399 back a little soon. I think. I think that's in the initial cause 111 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:57.920 of that injury was he got landed on awkwardly from behind. It's not like 112 00:07:57.959 --> 00:08:01.680 it was something that was he something he could control. It was just kind 113 00:08:01.720 --> 00:08:05.600 of a freak thing. So no, I think his floor is a bit 114 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:11.759 higher when you take into consideration the offense will be in where he's playing this 115 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:13.759 destination where he doesn't have to go out there right away, may end up 116 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:18.439 playing by week four who knows, but doesn't have to go out there right 117 00:08:18.439 --> 00:08:22.000 away until he's ready. I think it makes a ton of sense and fits 118 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:24.040 really well. And you talk about the AFC North fit and the things you 119 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:26.000 have to do to win in the AFC North, one of the things you 120 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:30.560 have to do in the AFC North to win football games is block DJ Watt, 121 00:08:30.759 --> 00:08:33.639 block Miles Garrett. Block these freaky ed rushers that exist in the AFC 122 00:08:33.720 --> 00:08:39.679 North who will challenge I'm sure a Marius Mens the first time they see them. 123 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:41.399 The Cleveland Browns are gonna bock Miles Garrett over to that side of the 124 00:08:41.399 --> 00:08:46.200 field, even though he plays a lot of right defensive end in their defense. 125 00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:48.039 They're gonna bring him over the right tackle. When a Marius Men's is 126 00:08:48.039 --> 00:08:50.840 making his first start, they're going to test the kid. They're gonna see 127 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:54.639 how it goes. And Mens has the physical traits to be up to the 128 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:58.000 challenge. But not very many people can block those freaks in the AFC North. 129 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:01.279 There just happened to be a lot of really good edge rushers in the 130 00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:05.279 AFC North. He also has a size in the strength and the athleticism when 131 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:09.320 he puts it together. If he puts it together, I should say, 132 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:13.679 to be a really good run blocker. It's not like that's a physical limitation. 133 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:16.159 It's just he needs to catch up. I think on the mental aspect 134 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:18.440 of the game, get more experience, get used to playing with the guys 135 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:22.320 he's going to be playing with, and get used to the scheme that he's 136 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:24.759 going to be a part of for a long time, most likely in Cincinnati. 137 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:28.080 So from that perspective, I think you have to discuss it as a 138 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:31.759 fit as well. Is there a risk? Of course there's risk. Is 139 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:35.679 there more risk than other prospects in the NFL draft? Maybe marginally because of 140 00:09:35.720 --> 00:09:39.000 the inexperience, because there are some questions about his ability to stay on the 141 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:43.639 field long term because he's never had the opportunity between stacked play a stacked offensive 142 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:50.200 tackle depth chart in Georgia to the ankle injury. But it's possible that the 143 00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:54.600 risk is a little bit overblown and we need to be scaling that discussion back 144 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:56.679 a little bit and then instead focus on the player, and we'll be able 145 00:09:56.679 --> 00:10:01.840 to do that starting in rookie mini camp coming up later this a week. 146 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:05.759 We also have some undrafted free agents to talk about James. We'll get through 147 00:10:05.799 --> 00:10:09.200 that list and whether any of them have a chance to make the team coming 148 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:15.519 up next. 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Shultz Jewelers does too, because when 179 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:20.360 it has to be perfect, it has to be Shultz Jewelers. Let's talk 180 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:24.840 undrafted free agents. James. We've been waiting for this list to kind of 181 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:28.279 crystallize, and these signings are not official. They probably will be before rookie 182 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:35.679 Mini camp later this week Thursday Friday. Hard to say what day exactly these 183 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:39.679 guys will put pen to paper, or even which of these guys might be 184 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:43.720 camp tryouts. We're not exactly sure. I don't think about those yet. 185 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:46.159 A lot of times there are guys that are reported as signings and then they 186 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:50.480 later turn out to be tryouts. But I want to talk about these in 187 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:54.320 terms of their ability to make the roster or even practice squad in some cases 188 00:12:54.320 --> 00:13:00.480 where the Bengals are pretty deep, and let's start with quarterback. Start with 189 00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:03.320 a position that that's very clear as to whether or not they're going to make 190 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:07.840 the roster. Rocky Lombardi, one of the greatest quarterback names you could imagine, 191 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:15.000 is the Bengals college free agent signing at quarterback. Played his football at 192 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:22.159 Northern Illinois. He joins Logan Woodside as the practice squad candidates on the Bengals 193 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:26.639 roster behind Joe Burrow and Jake Browning. No real stop to make the roster 194 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:28.600 here, but man, when you're looking for a practice squad quarterback, is 195 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:33.879 he on the roster right now? I'm not so sure that the Bengals have 196 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:37.039 their practice squad quarterback for the year yet. But maybe it is just going 197 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:39.320 to be Logan Woodside, a guy who has spent time in Cincinnati before. 198 00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:45.639 Maybe, or maybe it's going to be Rocky Lombardi, who, man looking 199 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:48.039 at this, has got a little athleticism to him. Runs a four to 200 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:52.320 seven. All right, all right, runs a four to seven according to 201 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:56.639 the Beast. And yeah, you never never say never. Now he's older. 202 00:13:56.840 --> 00:13:58.840 He's older. Now he's Jake Jake Liskoz. He's pushing twenty six years 203 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:03.320 old, so he might be Logan Woodsides age. How old is Logan wood 204 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:05.879 Side. He was in the market ras so he's got to be thirty. 205 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:07.480 He's got to be thirty, right, Yeah, he's been around for a 206 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:13.039 while now, twenty nine, so there's like a three and a half year 207 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:16.960 gap. It's just funny with this, with the COVID stuff. But no, 208 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:20.399 to your point, these two will battle. They will have a quarterback 209 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:24.200 on the practice squad, and maybe it isn't one of these guys. Maybe 210 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:26.639 it is. I thought the Logan Woodside signing was weird. Not gonna lie 211 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:31.720 to you threw me off. Wasn't ready for it, and they did it. 212 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:37.399 It was buried with the extension for what's his name? Why am I 213 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:41.519 forgetting him? I don't even remember when it was announced exactly. I don't 214 00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:46.080 think we covered Logan Woodside's return, so I'm not sure who it was because 215 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:48.840 I don't remember what we didn't. Yeah, the bank, are you serious? 216 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:52.679 Joe Burrow and Jake Browning? I forgot his name for a second. 217 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:56.799 Your contagious on their name. You don't know when they buried it with that, 218 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:01.840 that's when they signed it. So he's battling for a practice squad spot. 219 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:07.840 We'll see if he's if he's going to push for that. But not 220 00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:11.159 shocked that the Bengals added a quarterback as an undrafted free agent. We knew 221 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:15.799 they probably weren't drafting one, though when they signed Logan Woodside. I think 222 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:20.879 that kind of directed them down that path. I think they could have still 223 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:24.639 drafted one, but they didn't, and that's okay. He'll have a chance, 224 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:28.799 not after Browning signed a two year deal, because if you drafted one, 225 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:31.120 Browning's under contract for next year too, so he's your backup for the 226 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:33.399 next two years. So I don't think that they were going to draft one 227 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:37.559 at that point, not necessarily because of Woodside, but because of Brown. 228 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:41.159 Yeah. I mean every now and then you see teams take those Day three 229 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:45.799 swings a quarterback. But I guess in that sense, you're correct that it's 230 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:48.759 not a huge surprise. He'll have a chance to make the practice squad. 231 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:52.600 I think it will be challenging. I'm not sure the practice squad quarterback is 232 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:56.679 on the roster right now. Like I said, these are very different styles 233 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:02.519 of quarterback than Jake Brownning and Joe Burrow. I think that's interesting and they 234 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:07.600 will round out the Bengals quarterback room for the foreseeable future. Let's talk running 235 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:11.200 backs. This is a spot where we thought they would use a draft pick 236 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:15.279 James. We thought they maybe could go a little bit more high profile with 237 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:19.600 some of the undrafted free agents out there. I in particular was watching the 238 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:23.080 Georgia running back Kendall Milton to see where he would land. He does not 239 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:26.039 land with the Bengals. I think he ends up in Philly. They instead 240 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:30.720 sign Noah Kane and Elijah Collins. Kane five eleven, two twenty listed from 241 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:36.679 LSU, a five year player transferred from Penn State. To LSU in twenty 242 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:41.799 twenty two and Elijah Collins listed six foot to twenty Michigan State for five years 243 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:45.720 in Oklahoma State most recently. Neither of these guys played a lot in their 244 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:51.159 most recent year. Both of them are a little bit bigger, and out 245 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:53.879 of all the positions on the roster, this is one where if they wanted 246 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:56.360 to keep a fourth running back and one of these guys really impressed them, 247 00:16:56.360 --> 00:17:03.279 you could see one of them sticking for sure. This is a prime spot 248 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:07.079 when you paint the picture for an undrafted free agent to come in, impress 249 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:11.880 throughout rookie camp, throughout the offseason program, into training camp, and then 250 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:14.039 if you have a good preseason, you might look up and be on the 251 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:18.079 roster. This is the one area. Obviously, Punnter and we've mentioned him, 252 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:22.000 he's the one that we have mentioned. But outside of that, running 253 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:25.920 back is the most likely and I'm not saying it's likely, but it's never 254 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:29.480 likely when you're an undrafted free agent, and so Canaan Collins they have a 255 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:33.200 shot, and I agree with you. Dylan Johnson was another one, another 256 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:37.480 undrafted someone I thought the Bengals would consider round six, round seven because of 257 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:41.720 his production, his size, all of those things well hit the undrafted market, 258 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:45.559 and in that that's another guy where it's like, man, that would 259 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:49.200 have been nice to have because because it's easy to see the path for a 260 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:55.119 player like that who did produce at that level make the team in that running 261 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:59.480 back room. Yeah, and so we'll see if either of those guys are 262 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:03.279 impressed of players they along with Chris Evans vying for a potential third running back 263 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:07.119 spot. You could probably throw Travion Billions into that mix, but it seems 264 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:10.799 like there's a little bit more trust there with Travion Billiams. We'll talk more 265 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:15.640 about these roster battles. Of course, as training camp approaches at tight end, 266 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:18.119 they draft two guys and sign a college free agent. Anyway, Cam 267 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:26.319 Grandy Illinois State, I think probably the hardest path to the roster. What 268 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:30.119 of the hardest paths to the roster here unless there are a litany of injuries, 269 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:34.960 but he is currently sixth on the tight end depth chart behind the drafted 270 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:40.240 rookies. I think an uphill battle there, Yeah, but has to be 271 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:45.960 a practice squader, which if you're Cam Grandy, that's probably it because of 272 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:49.319 the depth tight end wise, you're like, all right, well, who 273 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:52.240 am I battling for a practice squad spot? The rest of the NFL? 274 00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:56.519 Of course, but you want to show the Bengals that you deserve to stick. 275 00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:00.039 And so if I'm him, I'm feeling pretty good about it because the 276 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:03.880 other five are probably making the team, so you might you might be able 277 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:07.039 to sneak you away on to the practice squad. And at I think six 278 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:11.240 ' five two sixty if I'm seeing this right. I'm trying to check on 279 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:15.039 NFL dot com. Sixty four two fifty five are the official measurements. He 280 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:19.079 has sixty three catches for six hundred and seventeen yards for Illinois State in his 281 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:22.440 most recent college year. Again, I think a little bit of an older 282 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:27.559 prospect, but a path of the practice squad for sure, I think no 283 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:33.160 question there. And James, we have quite a few more college free agents 284 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:34.079 to talk about. We're gonna have to speed up a little bit here. 285 00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:38.240 We'll finish the show with some more of these college free agents and their paths 286 00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:45.240 forward coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by Monopoly Go. 287 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:48.759 We got to pause and tell you more about Monopoly Go. I know what 288 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:52.319 you're saying slag on the play. 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With constantly changing tournaments and challenges, There's 297 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:26.039 always something new, whether it's time to events that help you win big massive 298 00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:30.160 multipliers for everything that you win, or rent frenzies. There's always something fun 299 00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:33.640 to discover in Monopoly Go. So get off the bench and go download it 300 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:38.000 for free in Google Play or the app Store today. Game on with Monopoly 301 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:44.119 Go. More college free agents, James. Let's keep going with Eric Miller 302 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:49.039 most recently A Louisville also played four years or per Due, a very experienced 303 00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:56.920 offensive tackle with questionable grading maybe a little bit light at three h five listed 304 00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:00.880 at six seven, probably about six six, around three hundred pound. There's 305 00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:03.000 a practice squad chance here. He's six seven and a half. You got 306 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:06.480 to get your beast out man, six seven and a half three eleven. 307 00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:11.359 Yeah, that's great. I'm looking at another resource to find experience and where 308 00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:17.880 they've played because a lot of these guys are transfers and older. But I'll 309 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:19.599 let you do the measurements. That's great. Good to know you've got the 310 00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:26.680 beast available. The search function is beautiful. Oh yeah, it's perfect college 311 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:33.000 free agent offensive tackle. Almost certainly destined for the practice squad. He'll be 312 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:37.359 competing with the Devin Cochranes of the world for practice squad spots. But it's 313 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:41.519 not like they have a ton of tackle depth competing for practice squad spots on 314 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:45.680 this roster right now. So a pretty good chance for him to land there 315 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:48.960 if he shows up and works hard and does things the way they want him 316 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:52.519 to do things in camp. Yep, no doubt about it, and has 317 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:56.359 the height. Certainly fits the Cincinnati skyline nickname you're looking for. That could 318 00:21:56.400 --> 00:22:00.519 add a few more pounds, I'm sure. Frank Pollack is already thinking about 319 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:04.039 that in this Bengals coaching staff, even though the sounding isn't official, But 320 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:07.960 no, it's the measurables. You could certainly say that. And you look 321 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:12.000 the arm length not super long or anything, and that's probably why he's in 322 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:17.839 that undrafted range. But still thirty three and five eighths is solid for an 323 00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:21.359 offensive tackle. So you get to three, twenty three, twenty five, 324 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:26.839 and you know, you feel pretty good about Eric's chances of being a practice 325 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:30.079 squad And I'm not saying he'll get to that between now and camp, but 326 00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:33.759 he might have a few you cheese cony a few three ways, it's easy 327 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:37.400 to get there. The practice squad for the offensive line right now is like 328 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:41.720 if you had to project it, Nate Gilliam into your offensive line. Jackson 329 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:45.319 Kirkland could stick around again, Devin Conchran could stick around again, and Eric 330 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:51.440 Miller and outside of that, they're former draft picks that are maybe Trey Hill 331 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:56.039 would go to the practice squad, maybe maybe Deontae Smith, but hard to 332 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:59.920 see many of those former draft picks landing on the practice squad. They might 333 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:03.839 end up just being released. Some of them might get claimed by Reclamation Project 334 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:08.640 kind of waiver claims, but some interesting battles there in the offensive line room 335 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:11.119 that we'll be watching in camp, and a wide receiver. One of the 336 00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:15.960 more interesting college free agents is one more challenging paths to the roster where there 337 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:21.519 are five guys behind the six that you would assume are ahead and leading the 338 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:26.400 pack for roster spots. Cole Burgess from Sunny Cortland and Trey Moseley the Bengals 339 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:32.119 undrafted for free agents and wide receiver. Yeah, two guys that You're right, 340 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:37.319 it's a tough, tough shot. Cole Burgess is interesting, you just 341 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:42.079 measurable as why certainly looks at looks the part Sunny Cortland. So you're talking 342 00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:48.000 really really small school. But man, I've seen some clips. Have you 343 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:51.960 seen clips of him on social I saw a few clips of him and I'm 344 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:53.640 like, oh, caught my eye a little bit, So got to do 345 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:57.359 a little more homework. But that's the one that I certainly have my eye 346 00:23:57.359 --> 00:24:00.960 on because he's so under the radar. Give him where he went and and 347 00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:04.559 great athletic testing, same school, by the way, his dam pitcher. 348 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:08.640 Maybe a little bit of Sunny Courtland connection there, giving him a chance. 349 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:14.039 I mean four four five, that's that's uh Jermaine Burton just to give you 350 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:19.440 an idea six foot tall one have the ras because no, I just have 351 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:23.279 his forty forty. It was a very high number. I've got it here. 352 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:29.359 It's loading. It was a nine and a lot of that is because 353 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:33.359 he was a little bit undersized. But the forty was good. The jumps 354 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:37.759 were ninety nine percentile jumps with a nearly forty two inch foot and eleven eleven 355 00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:45.359 plus foot broad So some explosion in cole Burgess. Just under six foot at 356 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:48.599 one ninety two and twenty one reps on the bench press at one ninety two 357 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:52.160 six foot. That's that's pretty impressive as well. That is that is good. 358 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:56.079 Yeah, he's listed at six foot in the beast. Okay, so 359 00:24:56.240 --> 00:25:03.319 just just a hair under with whatever measurables uh key has for for either way, 360 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:07.960 Maybe he grew between his you know, pro day whatever. You never 361 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:11.160 know. At early twenty year olds, they're out there growing, you know, 362 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:21.400 mid twenties, twenty year olds, Oh watch out, I'm gonna catch 363 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:26.160 a Marius Mensen height soon. Yeah, growth spurt early thirties. You didn't 364 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:30.200 know. Maybe you'll need a step stool instead of whatever you were standing out. 365 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:33.839 That's what it was. It was a stool, well you know, 366 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:37.039 the little step stool instead of the full full stool. You know. Yeah, 367 00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:40.160 because I had to like bend down a little bit. But yeah, 368 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:42.039 a lot of people probably won't my one on one with the Marius Mims I 369 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:48.000 tweeted it out anyways, go ahead, Yeah, good context there. So 370 00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:52.960 Cole Burgess I think the more interesting to me of the wide receivers trade mostly 371 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:56.480 did play at a D one school, finishing at Michigan State. Playing playing 372 00:25:56.480 --> 00:26:00.759 five years of Michigan State, he had four teen hundred career receiving yards ten 373 00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:04.759 career touchdowns in the Big Ten, so probably should be getting a little bit 374 00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:08.400 more attention to is a guy who played at a big school. But a 375 00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:15.519 bigger school certainly, but the athletic traits for Cole Burgess are interesting. On 376 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:21.559 the defensive side of the ball, James Justin Blazek on the defensive edge from 377 00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:26.119 Wisconsin Platteville, another high end athlete that went under the radar to small school. 378 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:32.240 Another Wisconsin player on the defense, not Wisconsin Plattville, but Wisconsin Badgers 379 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:38.160 Muma Jung meta linebacker a bigger body linebacker, a guy that could be a 380 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:42.240 type of linebacker they don't really have on the team, and I actually think 381 00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:47.039 there's a decent chance for him there if he shows up and is really impressive 382 00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:49.319 in a goal line package, for example, because he would be the bigger 383 00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:55.680 body downhill thumper. And the Bengals a little bit undersized with their first four 384 00:26:55.720 --> 00:27:00.400 guys at linebacker between Pratt Wilson, Davis Gaither, and Joe Bachi, so 385 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:03.200 I think there is a chance there Aaron Casey, the other undrafted free agent 386 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:07.400 linebacker. Any thoughts on these guys in the front seven before we get to 387 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:10.559 the DB's no, keep going. I do think that they have a shot, 388 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:12.799 though there's an opening because they didn't draft any so there's a shot. 389 00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:17.480 And Justin Blazic, I think a very clear path of the practice squad a 390 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:21.160 guy that could develop, and I think from whatever calin correct me if I'm 391 00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:26.559 wrong here did have a pretty impressive athletic profile for a smaller school guy. 392 00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:30.279 And it's always interesting when you have that kind of athletic trait profile with an 393 00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:36.880 undrafted free agent. In the defensive backfield, a bunch of guys that have 394 00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:42.079 mixed experience between safety, between slot corner, between playing in the box and 395 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:48.160 PJ. Jewels and Michael Dowell Dowell from the University or Miami University up the 396 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:53.000 road from Cincinnati and PJ. Jewels Southern Illinois. Both guys have that Dax 397 00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:57.519 Hill versatility and that Dijon Anthony versatility. Where they've played corner, they've played 398 00:27:57.519 --> 00:28:02.440 in the slot, they've played some safety. Interesting that the Bengals continue to 399 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:06.440 add that type of player even as college free agents. Look at you, 400 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:08.680 you're saying Jules has a chance to beat out Dax Hill. Don't do that. 401 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:11.960 Don't do that now, I hear it. Oh, they got the 402 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:15.119 same style. No, I'm just kidding. All right, I'm just kidding. 403 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:18.880 It is. It is interesting, And what I think it is is 404 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:25.880 it's pretty simple. Let's take as many stabs at finding the next Nickel future 405 00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:29.680 Nickel as we can. You know, whether it's de John Anthony, whether 406 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:32.880 it's one of these guys. Maybe it is Dax Hill. I think in 407 00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:34.279 a perfect world, the Bengals are like, oh, Dax Hill can play 408 00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:38.039 outside, and Dax is going to be an outside corner. I think in 409 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:44.319 their head that's the hope at least, and who knows. If let's say 410 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:45.880 he has a good camp and they feel good about him at outside corner, 411 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:51.400 do they extend Mike Kilton for a year. Would Mike Kilton want to do 412 00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:53.200 that? I don't know, but I just throw that out there as well. 413 00:28:53.799 --> 00:29:00.400 Yeah, I'm not sure if I'm missing anyone besides Lance Robinson here the 414 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:03.799 two lane corner, the outside corner that they signed as a college free agent 415 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:08.200 have four picks and five pass breakups. Most recently. He was a six 416 00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:12.799 year player starting his career at Kansas State, finishing his career at Twulane. 417 00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:18.640 An interesting outside corner prospect and a guy that, honestly, when they found 418 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:22.480 dj Ivy late last year, gave me some confidence in their ability to find 419 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:27.839 intriguing outside corner prospects late and as undrafted free agents. And so because of 420 00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:32.319 that, and primarily because of that, interested in seeing him at camp as 421 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:36.279 well, no doubt, no doubt about it. I thought that they last 422 00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:38.440 year they nailed it in round seven. Can they do it again? We'll 423 00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:42.599 see. I will say this. We haven't mentioned Austin McNamara obviously, we 424 00:29:42.640 --> 00:29:47.680 talked about him on an earlier pod, but he does have the best odds 425 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:49.119 just for those one. I'm sure people are like, oh my goodness, 426 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:52.680 best odds of any of these guys of winning the starting job because it's him 427 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:57.039 versus Brad Robbins. I think we'll on a later show discuss that battle a 428 00:29:57.039 --> 00:30:00.759 little bit of preview it because it's as weird as it is. I know 429 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:03.279 it's punter as weird as it is. Though. That's a really big topic 430 00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:07.440 I think, and one will be having to cover because there will be interest 431 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:11.440 there throughout the offseason and certainly in training camp. We're at the point where 432 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:15.960 there's punter thirst with Cincinnati Bengals fans. They're they're zick of seeing forty yard 433 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:22.079 punts and they would like, i think, to have a good puncher and 434 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:27.039 Austin McNamara, according to the punt runs the Punt analytics guys on Twitter, 435 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:32.480 would have been the number one punter in last year's class was the number two 436 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:34.680 punter for them this year. They said the top four punters of the class 437 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:37.920 this year would have been the top punter last year, and so that means 438 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:41.319 they'd like the top four punters this year, including McNamara, more than they 439 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:45.519 like Brad Robbins. Coming out of school. I think there's a real chance 440 00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:48.200 there that will be an interesting battle. But you're right, maybe should have 441 00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:52.039 started there as the most likely to make the team is Austin McNamara. Well, 442 00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:55.960 I think that's a whole statement. We wanted that there were some shine 443 00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:57.960 out all these other guys that haven't gotten a lot of attention. We'll get 444 00:30:57.960 --> 00:31:03.759 to McNamara, we pro we will talk McNamara in the future and break that 445 00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:07.240 battle down. There's two shows now for McNamara where he's been kind of the 446 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:11.279 last thing we talked about. For everyone who gets through the entire episode, 447 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:14.920 you've heard us talk about McNamara twice. For everyone who doesn't always make it 448 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:17.960 to this part of the show, we'll talk about it in greater depth on 449 00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:21.599 a future show. Until then, that's going to do it for this episode 450 00:31:21.640 --> 00:31:26.039 of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Thanks for listening, Who day, and have 451 00:31:26.119 --> 00:31:26.319 a good one.