May 22, 2023 • 33 mins
Projecting the 53-man roster in May falls into the way too early category, but Jake and James take a look at the most interesting roster battles that will make for difficult decisions as we try to predict a 53-man roster for the 2023 Bengals. Find and follow Locked On Bengals on your favorite podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-bengals-daily-podcast-on-the-cincinnati-bengals/id1159723162 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AObc0lh0WmQl5fJVgtajs Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-bengals Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vbG9ja2Vkb25iZW5nYWxz?sa=X&ved=0CAYQrrcFahcKEwio_sXtj8nuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAg James Rapien and Jake Liscow take you inside the Bengals with the latest news, unique analysis, and insight on your favorite team, every day on Locked On Bengals. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team. Every Day. And follow Jake and James on Twitter, where they'll be sharing the latest news about the Cincinnati Bengals and talking with fans. Jake Liscow: https://twitter.com/JakeLiscow James Rapien: https://twitter.com/JamesRapien Podcast: https://twitter.com/lockedonbengals Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
It's the Lockdown Podcast Network, yourteam every day. The Cincinnati Bengals rookies
and veterans have hardly practiced together atthis point, training camp months away,
but we know who's on the teamright now, we know what the roster
looked like. Let's make a waytoo early fifty three man roster projection.
(00:25):
You are Locked on Bengals, yourdaily Cincinnati Bengals podcast, part of the
Lockdown Podcast Network, Your team everyDay? What Up Bengals? Hand Sam?
(00:46):
Welcome to another episode of the LockdownBengals podcast. I'm your host,
Jake. Let's go. He's yourhost, James Roupee. We're part of
the Lockdown Podcast Network on Lockdown Bengals, covering your team every day. You
can subscribe to this podcast on YouTubeor anywhere you get your podcast ass and
join the first List and club,making us your first list and every day
becoming every day or like I saidon yesterday's show, we've got some good
(01:07):
film review episodes for some of theBengals draft picks coming later this week with
Mike's Antagona. Today, we're goingto dive into the most interesting bubble conversations
on this Bengals roster. The mostinteresting where do they keep the extra guy
conversations As we try to make afifty three man roster projection way too early
(01:30):
before training camp, like this isalmost certainly going to be wrong. There's
going to be guys that come outof nowhere when we get to training camp
and we start to learn a littlebit more about the shape of this roster.
But we're going to start with themost important position on the roster,
James, and that's punter. No, it's quarterback, where Joe Burrow will
be the starter. And I thinkthere may be a little bit of a
(01:53):
competition here, but I'm leaning towardthe veteran that they went out and signed.
I think if they were comfortable withJake Browning, there's no reason to
get somebody's experiences. Trevor Simeon.So I think Trevor Simeon isn't back up
here. This one isn't terribly interesting. I think they keep two quarterbacks this
year either way. I don't thinkthey have the roster space to keep three
on the fifty three man So that'swhere I'm at at the quarterback position.
(02:15):
Yeah, I agree with you.I think Trevor simmeions the guy and we'll
see Jake Browning has a shot,but I think it's an uphill climb now
that they brought Simmei in in Yeah, tight end, another one that as
of today I think is straightforward,just because they don't, in my opinion,
have a guy that threatens enough tokeep the fourth spot, a guy
(02:37):
they'd be worried about losing if theyhad to waive him to get him to
the practice squad. Those guys beingTanner Hudson, Nick Bowers, and Christian
trehan or trehan this year's college freeagent who has some work to do to
make the roster. But I thinkEr Smith, Devin Asi Drew sample right
now is the three guys, andwe'll see if they add somebody else.
But for now that makes it reallyeasy. And until that other guys around,
(03:00):
it's hard to say otherwise. Andso for now I'd say it's those
three at tight end, and they'rea little bit lighter at tight end,
I think, but three guys.I think the nicest thing you've ever said
about any human is that Christian trehanIs has a little work to do to
make the roster, a little likethat's the nice just a little, just
a little work and I'm not tryingto take a shot out him. Good
(03:22):
luck to him. I hopefully heimpresses. I hope all of these guys,
you know, shocked, these undraftedguys, you know, shocked the
coaching staff and make a push forthe roster. But agree with you.
It's it's a really similar room tolast year. You're just kind of missing
Mitch Wilcox, which I think isone of those guys that might sneak his
way back onto the roster at somepoint. But yeah, Assi, Assi
(03:42):
and Sample behind Smith make a tonof sense. And if the season started
today, I think they would onlykeep three tight ends and they kept four
last year, which is why Imentioned it's a little bit late. I
mean in the initial cutdown, andI think it was for most of the
year. Also last year the initialcutdown, they only have one quarterback because
they cut Brandon Allen initially, thenthey brought him back, and they also
cut treyvy On Williams before they broughthim back. So there's going to be
(04:03):
some weird stuff in the initial cutdown. But then it gets a little bit
interesting, James with the rest ofthe offensive positions, because I think there's
some direct cross position competition in widereceiver and running back for a roster spot
that I think is going to beinteresting, and we can talk about that.
(04:24):
But the offensive line is also fairlyfascinating to me this year. Last
year, they kept eleven guys inthe initial cutdown and they then immediately sent
Isaiah Prince to the ir so itended up being ten. Could see ten
again this year and I have themkeeping ten guys on the offensive line.
(04:45):
That's pretty heavy for the position,but that's what this team has done more
often than not. They tend tobe a little bit heavy on the offensive
line. I look at it obviously, if you're starting five, which includes
Jenna Williams for the was wondering,so those are the five, I don't
need to go through him, plusCarmen six, Sharping seven, Hill eight,
(05:08):
and then that's where it gets interesting. Is it id energy? Is
it a guy like Jackson Kirkland whoI think could make a push? An
undrafted guy? You know, Ithink that's one of the undrafted spots that
could make sense. Does Deonte Smithshow his worth and prove his worth?
The other one is Cody Ford.I think he probably makes the team.
(05:28):
And then you have the question mark, So there's ten potentially, but then
you have the question mark involving LellCollins and where he's at. So I
think ten is fair. But youget to ten very quickly and then there's
like, oh, well, there'sno more empty chairs. But there's a
couple of guys standing that felt likethey were going to make the team.
So someone's going to be on theoutside looking in. And that's why it's
going to be hard for the Kirklandsof the world, the Ben Browns of
(05:51):
the world to make a true pushhere because there's just not many obvious spots
that could be had. But neveror say never, And obviously the Lell
Collins injury is certainly a factor.Yeah, I have him on the physically
unable to perform list. I thinkhe's on the pup list to start the
season if he's still on the Bengalspayroll. But you're right, there's five
(06:13):
guys that are starting. I thinkSharping and Carmen are on the team,
and I get to seven before Istart to have some competitions because I think
Hill Ben Brown, if Brown ishealthy, could be a competition. I
think tilting Hill at this point inthe season makes sense I landed on Hill,
but I do think that's a competition. And then if they keep ten,
and I think they keep ten,there's kind of four guys for those
(06:36):
last two spots, because that's eightguys with the starting five Hill Sharping Carmen,
so that's eight. Then you gettwo more spots, and I think
it's Idenergy, Deonte Smith, CodyFord, you know, and then and
throwing your last guy Jackson Kirkland orwhoever else out of all the depth pieces
of Bengals have currently competing. Youknow that we're on the practice called last
(07:00):
year, Devin Cochrane, Desmond Noel, etc. Do any of those guys
make a push Nate Gilliam, Idefault to Cody Ford and Hikimad Energy here.
It gives them some guys that haveplayed a multiple spots in Jackson,
Carmen and Cody Ford, even HikimadEnergy. But I do think that's a
competition for the last two spots.And also this is where they could end
(07:25):
up surprising and going you know,maybe they only keep nine offensive lineman instead
of ten, which wouldn't be shocking. I don't think that should be shocking.
They only keep eight guys active onthe offensive line on game days anyway,
seven or eight guys active, sothat could give them the flexibility to
avoid one of these competitions in anotherspot. And I think there is a
(07:46):
direct competition, like I mentioned,between half back and wide receiver. You're
ready to dive into that conversation,James or anything else on the offensive line,
Yeah, just offensive line wise,I do. I think there's there's
a couple of battles to pay attentionto. But I think the starters are
set. I think the top sevenessentially set, and that's a good spot
(08:07):
to be in because that hasn't beenthe case right from a here's your starting
five. We haven't had that inrecent years going into camp talking about it,
we've had to cover this position matteror that position battle. So certainly,
but yeah, without further two,let's get to the skill guys,
Baby, you know where my heartlies. We'll do that because I do
think there is a direct competition atthe back of the wide receiver and half
(08:31):
back room running back room. Sowe'll do that. We'll get into that
conversation before we dive into the defensecoming up next. Today's show is brought
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Potential savings will vary the skill positions. James are probably your favorite part
of the roster at least not namedJoe Burrow. I know you're a wide
receiver at heart, and I thinkthere's a difficult choice for the Bengals to
(10:45):
make between four running backs seven widereceivers because I don't really see any other
positions on the defensive side of theball or on the accept offensive line on
the offensive side of the ball wherethey can from a player to try to
go four and seven. They're sodeep a wide receiver going into camp.
(11:05):
I think that's where it's really challenging. There's so many guys. I mean,
you know, they have twelve guyscurrently on the roster a wide receiver,
and a lot of them you couldsay, oh, well, that
guy's making the team. Let's juststart. Obviously have the big three Chase
Higgins, Boyd, Trent and Irwinwas a huge contributor last year. Obviously
you have Stanley Morgan who's been onthe team for a few years now and
as a big special teams contributor,really good blocker, has certain packages dedicated
(11:30):
to him. Well that's five rightthere. And I didn't mention Charlie Jones,
who we all think is going tomake the team and potentially start at
punt returner, and they also draftedAndre Yosevash, who they clearly like a
lot a lad athlete. Do youwant to expose him to waivers to the
rest of the league if you movedon from him? And that doesn't include
(11:50):
Trent Taylor, who's obviously on theteam last year, Kwami Lasseter the second,
and then you have some undrafted guysMac Hippenhammer, Malachai car or Shedrick
Jackson. So it's I think they'reabout nine guys competing for maybe seven spots,
but you're right, it could besix, and that is tough.
That gets really really tough for me. The locks would be the Big three
(12:16):
and Charlie Jones the absolute locks,and I think Trent Irwin's close to a
lock as well. But I thinkthat those four to five would be absolute
locks for me based on last year. You have the hierarchy, I think
correct. Trent Irwin, outside ofthe Big Three, played the most snaps
for them, and that includes abunch of games when Mike Thomas was on
(12:37):
the team getting snaps, and thenTrent Irwin really started playing more post Mike
Thomas. Trent Taylor also played asolid amount and like almost doubled almost double.
Stanley Morgan snaps, and I haveMorgan in my two early fifty three,
and I only have six wide receivershere, So maybe I should have
(13:00):
cut one of the offensive lineman offof my fifty three. Maybe you know,
adenergy doesn't make it and they onlykeep nine guys on the offensive line,
and this is how they get JosiVash onto the team. Maybe Trent
Taylor surprises and sticks around two,right, but you got the three starters
for sure. I think Fred Norwinmakes a team. I think Charlie Jones
(13:20):
makes a team. And then isit three guys fighting for one spot?
Because if that's the case, youhave to feel really good. I think
about replacing what Stanley Morgan does onall those special teams units because he plays
on so many of them. Yeah, to feel good about replacing him,
to feel good about not putting himon the fifty three. It could be
(13:43):
a guy that they feel comfortable aboutdoing what they did last year where they
cut him in bring him back.Maybe they feel like if they expose Morgan
to waivers, he's not going toget scooped up. That could be the
case. That's scary to me becauseI think he would. He's valuable,
he could do something for you.I feel like we often overestimate the chance
of some of these guys, especiallylike who've been in the league for a
(14:05):
long time. I don't know,maybe not. I mean, some team
could look at him and say,we have a roster spot for a special
teams guy who's going to come inhere and play all of our special teams
units really well, and that's theend of the story. But I think
it's tough. My six right nowinclude Morgan, but that doesn't include Josi
Vash, who would be something ofa surprise to not make the team.
(14:26):
So is jose Vash in direct competitionwith the guy like Chris Sevants, This
is my question. Yeah, thatcould be it. I think so.
I think you're right. It's howmany running backs do they keep? Three
or four? And that could impactthe number of receivers and vice versa.
And jos Vash. I think hiskey is showing that he can contribute on
(14:46):
special teams, showing that maybe he'snot the starting kickoff returner because Trevion Williams,
to me, will be that ifhe's If they keep three running backs
specifically, but they need a backup, and so Evans, while potentially inactive
on game day, would be thebackup if you needed him to slide in
(15:07):
if Trevian Williams got hurt, thatwould make sense right. Well, if
Yosi Vash shows that he can dothat and be a gunner and do different
things, then he's going to beall right. And I think he has
a chance to make the team.So as weird as it sounds, I
think running back receiver. I thinkthey could be competing and it might come
down to that special team's unit andwhat both guys do for Darren Simmons's units.
Yeah, offense obviously will play arole as well. The long term
(15:31):
potential with Yosi Vash I think willplay a role as well, Like do
they feel comfortable exposing him to waivers? That question will need to be answered.
But that could be less unless saytrim on the offensive line, which
the more we talked about this more, I'm kind of talking myself into one
less offensive lineman this year. Wow, less beef, more skill. Look
(15:54):
at you, Look at you,man. I just don't know if there's
like when you're talking about on themargins, like what's the marginal benefit of
keeping the tenth offensive lineman versus theseventh wide receiver. Those are difficult decisions,
or fourth running back whatever it isrunning back though, outside of that
(16:15):
last spot, I think the firstthree guys, at least right now today,
Mix and Brown Williams are going tobe the three guys. And we'll
see if anything changes between now andthen, if we get if we see
any dramatic changes in this room.You've talked a lot about them adding your
guy here to get into the mix. But if they don't make any changes,
those are the three. Yep,I totally agree with that, and
(16:37):
yeah, ready or not, thoseare the three. I think the splits
between them could be interesting. Plentyof time to discuss that. But yeah,
can Chris Evans make a push forthat fourth spot? Will it be
andre Yosevash? Could Trent Taylor finda way to outperform Charlie Jones on punt
returns? Obviously that would be aletdown for Jones if that happened, but
certainly wouldn't want to rule that out. That said, Jake, let's switch
(16:57):
gears, let's flip it, let'slook at special teams. Yeah, right,
unless you do, I mean,we can't, we can get a
special teams. We couldn't get tothe defense to finish up because special teams.
There's one position to talk about,and it's Brad Robbins is going to
be the punter and the other twoare going to be the guys that they
were last year. A Calad Invitussome Evan McPherson. What's the bigger competition
(17:19):
Trent Taylor versus Charlie Jones or BradRobbins versus Drew Chrismin, Like which one
is more of a true competition?Do you think? I don't know?
Gotcha? That's hard got That's reallyI gotcha. I don't really think either
is a competition. He said.The rookies got it. I think so
(17:41):
do you? What do you think? I think Jones versus Taylor's more of
a competition. I think Robbins isgoing to outperform Drew Chrisman unless Chrismin just
takes a huge leap in both ourcompetitions. Because the Bengals are going to
base it on what they see.It's not like Jones's roster spot is only
dependent on him being the punt returner. Trent Taylor's is sure. Trent Taylor's
(18:03):
is that's how he makes the team, and so that that part of it's
interesting. So if I had tosay, I'd say Jones Taylor, but
it's it's close both. Robins hasto perform to win the job, but
I think expectations are he will.Jones has to perform to win the job,
but I think expectations are he will. Maybe it's not fair of me,
but I have I have very highexpectations for for Brad Robbins. It's
(18:26):
fair. It is fair. Areyou seriously he's a draft pick, it's
a partner. Yeah, absolutely fair. How many kicks did Charlie Jones return?
Are we overestimating Charlie Jones return acumenand experience? He had eighteen punt
returns last year and he's done itbefore that, right, wasn't one year
thing twenty one? Last year hewas their star. So he only did
(18:51):
it when they needed a little juice, Like he was kind of used sparingly
the year prior. They couldn't gethim the ball, so they were like,
hey, go back there in partreturns because we can't get you the
ball. Otherwise at Iowa offense,he put the ball in the ground once
on seventy six punt returns in hiscollege career. Yeah, I feel like
that's a pretty good track record.I think you and Taylor was a little
(19:15):
shaky at the end of last season. Taylor Taylor put one on the ground
in terms of a muffed punt onthirty eight punt returns last year, Darius
Philips had two muff punts. Thatthat's very memorable. That's why Trent Taylor
got the job in twenty twenty one. Yeah, I mean, I think
that's a pretty solid rate of muffpunts. You obviously want to see zero,
(19:37):
but he had a really good productivecareer as a college part returner,
so it's not like he's ever doneit. I think he hits the ground
running there. Yep, totally agree. Up next, let's talk about the
defense, where there's plenty of competition, plenty of depth, and not many
spots available, So we'll dive intothat coming up next. There's no offseason
(19:59):
for True and fell fans. Listenevery day to the Locked on NFL podcast.
Our expert hosts keep you up todate daily in thirty minutes or less
on the latest breaking news, trainingcamp battles, and player moves that will
affect your favorite NFL team available nowon YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts
part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. Where on
(20:25):
the offensive side of the ball,the primary competitions are at the end of
the wide receiver room, the endof the offensive line room, maybe the
end of the running back room.On defense, there are conversations at every
position I think where they are bubbleguys to talk about, and let's start
on the defensive line. This isgoing to be another one of those very
(20:48):
heavy in terms of number of playersroster spots for the Cincinnati Bengals and how
many edge guys can they keep becauseright now there are six guys, seven
guys including Jeff Gunter, who they'veinvested to some degree in and I really
(21:11):
wonder, you know, you lookat last year they kept five guys on
the edge, five guys on theinterior, and if they do that again,
they don't have that depth on theinterior this year to really push the
guys that I'm going to have makingit on the inside. But whether they
keep an extra guy on the edgeis going to depend on how comfortable they
are with those guys kicking inside becauseof where the balance of defensive ends versus
(21:36):
defensive interior players are so for TerylBasham with the draft pick of Miles Murphy,
things get pretty interesting there because Ithink can Sample has got to have
a leg up there. I wouldagree with you. I think just interior,
let's knock them out Reader, Hill, Tupo, Carter two fella.
I think that's those are your fiveHubbard, Murphy, Hendrickson, Osi lock
(22:03):
clock lock lock, All right,so we're already at nine. Yep,
you get one more right, right, And so I would give the edge
to Sample. And so Sample,there's ten. Terrell Basham's on the outside,
Jeff gunter Raymond Johnson, Owned Carneyall on the outside. You obviously
have some of the interior guys tonot making it, Dominique Davis Noteworthy,
Maxwell Noteworthy, the undrafted, undraftedfree agents. So we'll see, but
(22:29):
there's not much There's not many muchroom. And Terrell Basham came here to
help him win a title. AndI think that that's part of it is
you look at it and they're goingto have to move on from one of
these guys or if they have anyinjuries, they're going to have a pretty
solid player. Solid veteran potentially slidingin the other thing with Osai just a
(22:52):
monitor how healthy he is. Iknow he's going through rehab again, and
I know everything's rosy when you're goingthrough it. But will he be That's
certainly something to pay attention to inthis room. But if he is,
Basham could be on the outside lookingin and is certainly competing with Sample,
I would say, and man,Sample played well last year. I thought
I thought he took a step,So we'll see that that could be.
(23:14):
Where and why Basham is on theteam is the OSI rehab. If OSI
needs to start the year on theunable to the poplist or whatever it is,
then that's where having Basham is sucha luxury because you don't often make
it through training camp entirely healthy.Obviously, knock on wood, you hope
(23:37):
that they get out of there ashealthy as they can, but you tend
to have some guys that are dealingwith some injuries and so having this depth,
you know, on the offensive line, where they have a lot of
guys, even if you you knowyou want them to go sign Dalton Risner
to really bolster their interior offensive linedepth and the floor on their interior offensive
(24:00):
line. Same can be said onthe defensive line here on the edge.
So that'll that'll be interesting. That'sone of the big battles to watch.
And then at corner, it's anotherspot where they've they've added a draft picked,
added two draft picks in fact,to a spot where you felt pretty
good about their depth before the draft. And then you add DJ Turner,
(24:22):
you add DJ Ivy Cheeto on trackby all accounts, and we'll see,
but by all accounts, he's ontrack to be ready for the start of
the season. Cam Taylor, Britt, Mike Hilton, DJ Turner. Those
are your locks. I think JayalenDavis is nearly a lock unless they think
DJ Turner is going to be thebackup slot. So then you know,
(24:45):
say Davis has to compete. Ithink he does. It's Sidney Jones,
Jalen Davis, dj Ivey, AllenGeorge, four guys for two spots.
And then there's a couple other guys, you know, Marvel Tell, Chris
Lammon's also on the team competing,but probably mostly those four guys for those
two spots. It's tough. It'stough because you look at it. I
(25:07):
like Alan George I think he's agood player. Sidney Jones. When they
signed him, I was like,that's a great value signing get a guy
like that, who mentioned, bythe way, that there was some interest
on the Bengals end when he clearedwaivers last year, but he had already
committed going to the Raiders. Sothat part is interesting too. It's not
like they just randomly did that.They just didn't want that contract. That's
why they didn't claim him. Noone did in the league. But I
(25:29):
think there was some interest there.But yeah, I think Davis makes it.
I think obviously, so you haveHilton and Davis in the slot,
Taylor Britt and then I'll leave Jonesout for now a Woozier turner. I'm
already at five. I think Jonesmakes it, and so if there's no
injuries, Like Alan George, Ithink he's a good player. I think
(25:49):
dj Ivy there's a reason that theythey signed there, didn't let him get
to undrafted free agency and use thatseventh round pick on him. So gonna
be a battle here. And theydo have depth. I mean, this
is as deep as they've been ina while, and you feel really good
about it. I would say becauseeven if Cheeto isn't ready, and I
(26:10):
guess that's the other question, maybehe's not. Maybe they're like, huh,
let's give you four weeks and soyou have depth there where you can
do that and you don't have torush him back, which I do think.
I think he's going to be ready. But if he's not, you
don't have to rush him. Ifhe's at eighty eight percent, you don't
have to say, all right,let's start the season. Obviously, don't
rush him, but you really hopehe's ready. No, No, I
(26:32):
mean he's the best of the room. He's the best of the room for
sure. Yeah, I mean,and you hope for Taylor Britton Turner to
hit that point in the near futureso they get to Cheetoh's level. But
I have so much respect for Cheetoh'sgame at corner. I think he's fantastic.
Linebacker James I think is pretty cutand dry. I only have them
keeping five here. I don't seehow they can keep six given the other
(26:55):
positions we're talking about. And thatis actually the guys we've talked about at
the position in the past. LoganWilson's remained pratt a Keen Davis Gaither and
Marcus Bailey and Joe Bacci and KwaiJohnston not on the team anymore. Actually,
lad the Bengals and special teams snapslast year. But if they were
keeping six, then KeAndre Jones andthese guys will compete. Marcus Bailey,
(27:18):
Joe Bacci, KeAndre Jones, ShockaHayward, Jalen Moody, these guys will
compete for some of those French spots. But I think those five guys are
pretty well set. Yep Pratt,Wilson, Bacci, Davis, Gaither,
Bailey, that's it. You're right, and maybe someone emerges, maybe something
happens, but those feel like thefive, and I feel like they have
a good linebacker unit. It's wildjust doing this exercise. You're like,
(27:41):
man, this is a good team. There are not many areas where I
point to and say, I'm reallyreally worried right there. They might have
some questions, they're not perfect,but man, are they deep at a
lot of the key areas that youneed to be deep at. And we've
seen it. Attrition happens happen,and I think this team is as deep
(28:03):
as they've been during this three yearrun. Last position to talk about and
then we can talk about some ofthose question marks if we have time.
But last position is safety, andI again the way that I've got ten
guys on the defensive line, tenguys on the offensive line, four running
back, six receivers because I haveEvans sneaking on instead of yose Vash.
And the more we talked about it, the more I kind of want to
(28:25):
change that and take Evans off,put yos vosh on, take an offensive
lineman out to keep yose Vash,just because I think they're going to see
that athleticism want to keep him.But back at safety, I got four
guys, and that means I can'tfind a spot for Mike Thomas. Yeah.
Right, it's tough. He's sucha leader in that locker room.
(28:47):
But you look at it Scott Hill, battle Lock Lock Lock Anderson, you
feel pretty good about him. There'sa reason that they traded up for him
and kept him on the roster lastyear even though he was nicked up and
all of those things. Thomas BrandonWilson, by the way, I don't
know why people he's still listed onsome depth charts. He's not on the
roster. No one really else Youuse of Corker and Larry Brooks. I
(29:10):
don't think either one of those guysis in the running. So, yeah,
Thomas, it's a matter of doyou keep five health, all of
those things, But yeah, thiscould be that could be one. But
he is valuable on special teams thatmatters, and so one of those question
marks can they make it work rostergymnastics wise, and this part of it,
(29:33):
I think with a guy like MikeThomas is so dependent on health,
who can start the season on time? All of those things. And it's
not just the safety room as ateam, because depending on who gets nicked
up, someone in the running backroom couldn't get nicked up, and then
Thomas becomes that much more valuable onspecial teams. Or a corner gets nicked
up and now Thomas is more valuableon special teams. So we'll see what
(29:56):
happens there. But I agree withyou. I think that that the back
end of that safety room quite interesting. Tyson Anderson and Jordan Battle should be
playing special teams unless Jordan Battle islike a full on starter really early,
and if he is, then NickScott is playing a special team. Stacks,
He'll played a lot of special teamslast year this year, I mean
Tyson Anderson was largely not only draftedobviously, but he played a ton of
(30:18):
special teams in college. So that'sthat's where I get to fifty three James
four safeties. Maybe I'm heavy onthe offensive line. Then more we talk
about it and said it a fewtimes more, I talked myself into nine
guys there. But that's also oneof the question marks on the team,
right, Like you talk about themnot really having many questions, interior defensive
(30:40):
line pass rushing depth and interior offensiveline depth, or the two spots where
it's like they could get a littlebit better there tight end depth for receiving
tight end after Smith, after IRVSmith. That's where they could get a
little bit better. But outside ofthose questions, maybe we should have done
this before we did the schedule game, James, Maybe you would have I
(31:03):
mean, you're you're not going tochange your convictions. Maybe you would have
felt better about the team. Andat four and three start, you had
him off too, thirteen and four, so you could say four, four
and three all you want, thirteenand four, I'm done with slow starts,
James. This is where I hadthem. They didn't start slow in
twenty one. People think they did. They started five and two. I
have them starting four and one.By the way, well yeah, because
(31:27):
they lost two games. I getit. They were inconsistent, but they
didn't start slow. Yeah, butlet's not do slow starts or inconsistent anymore.
How about you just do seventeen andOz and jacko woo every week.
Let's go well every week. Nope, that's gonna do it. For this
episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcasts andBengals have a New Year, Jake Listo
(31:49):
still lame, I mean, that'srude. But James will be with you
to cover the Bengals open practice thisweek. Then we've got Mike's antagon adjoining
James to talk about some of theBengals rookies, some of the film takeaways
as Mike has grinded the tape onall those guys. That's coming your way
(32:12):
later this week on Lockdown Bengals.Until next time, Huday and have a
good ONEK eight Prime members. Youcan listen to this Lockdown podcast add free
on Amazon Music download the Amazon Musicapp. Today, Reds Fans, I'm
Jeff Carr and I'm Stephen Offenbaker.We are the hosts of your daily Reds
(32:34):
podcast, Locked On Reds, partof the Lockdown podcast network, your team
every day. Locked on Reds bringsyou the latest Reds news and analysis,
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Locked On Reds. Wherever you getyour podcasts, search Lockdown Reds and get
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(32:57):
on podcast network, your team everyday
It's the Lockdown Podcast Network, yourteam every day. The Cincinnati Bengals rookies
and veterans have hardly practiced together atthis point, training camp months away,
but we know who's on the teamright now, we know what the roster
looked like. Let's make a waytoo early fifty three man roster projection.
(00:25):
You are Locked on Bengals, yourdaily Cincinnati Bengals podcast, part of the
Lockdown Podcast Network, Your team everyDay? What Up Bengals? Hand Sam?
(00:46):
Welcome to another episode of the LockdownBengals podcast. I'm your host,
Jake. Let's go. He's yourhost, James Roupee. We're part of
the Lockdown Podcast Network on Lockdown Bengals, covering your team every day. You
can subscribe to this podcast on YouTubeor anywhere you get your podcast ass and
join the first List and club,making us your first list and every day
becoming every day or like I saidon yesterday's show, we've got some good
(01:07):
film review episodes for some of theBengals draft picks coming later this week with
Mike's Antagona. Today, we're goingto dive into the most interesting bubble conversations
on this Bengals roster. The mostinteresting where do they keep the extra guy
conversations As we try to make afifty three man roster projection way too early
(01:30):
before training camp, like this isalmost certainly going to be wrong. There's
going to be guys that come outof nowhere when we get to training camp
and we start to learn a littlebit more about the shape of this roster.
But we're going to start with themost important position on the roster,
James, and that's punter. No, it's quarterback, where Joe Burrow will
be the starter. And I thinkthere may be a little bit of a
(01:53):
competition here, but I'm leaning towardthe veteran that they went out and signed.
I think if they were comfortable withJake Browning, there's no reason to
get somebody's experiences. Trevor Simeon.So I think Trevor Simeon isn't back up
here. This one isn't terribly interesting. I think they keep two quarterbacks this
year either way. I don't thinkthey have the roster space to keep three
on the fifty three man So that'swhere I'm at at the quarterback position.
(02:15):
Yeah, I agree with you.I think Trevor simmeions the guy and we'll
see Jake Browning has a shot,but I think it's an uphill climb now
that they brought Simmei in in Yeah, tight end, another one that as
of today I think is straightforward,just because they don't, in my opinion,
have a guy that threatens enough tokeep the fourth spot, a guy
(02:37):
they'd be worried about losing if theyhad to waive him to get him to
the practice squad. Those guys beingTanner Hudson, Nick Bowers, and Christian
trehan or trehan this year's college freeagent who has some work to do to
make the roster. But I thinkEr Smith, Devin Asi Drew sample right
now is the three guys, andwe'll see if they add somebody else.
But for now that makes it reallyeasy. And until that other guys around,
(03:00):
it's hard to say otherwise. Andso for now I'd say it's those
three at tight end, and they'rea little bit lighter at tight end,
I think, but three guys.I think the nicest thing you've ever said
about any human is that Christian trehanIs has a little work to do to
make the roster, a little likethat's the nice just a little, just
a little work and I'm not tryingto take a shot out him. Good
(03:22):
luck to him. I hopefully heimpresses. I hope all of these guys,
you know, shocked, these undraftedguys, you know, shocked the
coaching staff and make a push forthe roster. But agree with you.
It's it's a really similar room tolast year. You're just kind of missing
Mitch Wilcox, which I think isone of those guys that might sneak his
way back onto the roster at somepoint. But yeah, Assi, Assi
(03:42):
and Sample behind Smith make a tonof sense. And if the season started
today, I think they would onlykeep three tight ends and they kept four
last year, which is why Imentioned it's a little bit late. I
mean in the initial cutdown, andI think it was for most of the
year. Also last year the initialcutdown, they only have one quarterback because
they cut Brandon Allen initially, thenthey brought him back, and they also
cut treyvy On Williams before they broughthim back. So there's going to be
(04:03):
some weird stuff in the initial cutdown. But then it gets a little bit
interesting, James with the rest ofthe offensive positions, because I think there's
some direct cross position competition in widereceiver and running back for a roster spot
that I think is going to beinteresting, and we can talk about that.
(04:24):
But the offensive line is also fairlyfascinating to me this year. Last
year, they kept eleven guys inthe initial cutdown and they then immediately sent
Isaiah Prince to the ir so itended up being ten. Could see ten
again this year and I have themkeeping ten guys on the offensive line.
(04:45):
That's pretty heavy for the position,but that's what this team has done more
often than not. They tend tobe a little bit heavy on the offensive
line. I look at it obviously, if you're starting five, which includes
Jenna Williams for the was wondering,so those are the five, I don't
need to go through him, plusCarmen six, Sharping seven, Hill eight,
(05:08):
and then that's where it gets interesting. Is it id energy? Is
it a guy like Jackson Kirkland whoI think could make a push? An
undrafted guy? You know, Ithink that's one of the undrafted spots that
could make sense. Does Deonte Smithshow his worth and prove his worth?
The other one is Cody Ford.I think he probably makes the team.
(05:28):
And then you have the question mark, So there's ten potentially, but then
you have the question mark involving LellCollins and where he's at. So I
think ten is fair. But youget to ten very quickly and then there's
like, oh, well, there'sno more empty chairs. But there's a
couple of guys standing that felt likethey were going to make the team.
So someone's going to be on theoutside looking in. And that's why it's
going to be hard for the Kirklandsof the world, the Ben Browns of
(05:51):
the world to make a true pushhere because there's just not many obvious spots
that could be had. But neveror say never, And obviously the Lell
Collins injury is certainly a factor.Yeah, I have him on the physically
unable to perform list. I thinkhe's on the pup list to start the
season if he's still on the Bengalspayroll. But you're right, there's five
(06:13):
guys that are starting. I thinkSharping and Carmen are on the team,
and I get to seven before Istart to have some competitions because I think
Hill Ben Brown, if Brown ishealthy, could be a competition. I
think tilting Hill at this point inthe season makes sense I landed on Hill,
but I do think that's a competition. And then if they keep ten,
and I think they keep ten,there's kind of four guys for those
(06:36):
last two spots, because that's eightguys with the starting five Hill Sharping Carmen,
so that's eight. Then you gettwo more spots, and I think
it's Idenergy, Deonte Smith, CodyFord, you know, and then and
throwing your last guy Jackson Kirkland orwhoever else out of all the depth pieces
of Bengals have currently competing. Youknow that we're on the practice called last
(07:00):
year, Devin Cochrane, Desmond Noel, etc. Do any of those guys
make a push Nate Gilliam, Idefault to Cody Ford and Hikimad Energy here.
It gives them some guys that haveplayed a multiple spots in Jackson,
Carmen and Cody Ford, even HikimadEnergy. But I do think that's a
competition for the last two spots.And also this is where they could end
(07:25):
up surprising and going you know,maybe they only keep nine offensive lineman instead
of ten, which wouldn't be shocking. I don't think that should be shocking.
They only keep eight guys active onthe offensive line on game days anyway,
seven or eight guys active, sothat could give them the flexibility to
avoid one of these competitions in anotherspot. And I think there is a
(07:46):
direct competition, like I mentioned,between half back and wide receiver. You're
ready to dive into that conversation,James or anything else on the offensive line,
Yeah, just offensive line wise,I do. I think there's there's
a couple of battles to pay attentionto. But I think the starters are
set. I think the top sevenessentially set, and that's a good spot
(08:07):
to be in because that hasn't beenthe case right from a here's your starting
five. We haven't had that inrecent years going into camp talking about it,
we've had to cover this position matteror that position battle. So certainly,
but yeah, without further two,let's get to the skill guys,
Baby, you know where my heartlies. We'll do that because I do
think there is a direct competition atthe back of the wide receiver and half
(08:31):
back room running back room. Sowe'll do that. We'll get into that
conversation before we dive into the defensecoming up next. Today's show is brought
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Potential savings will vary the skill positions. James are probably your favorite part
of the roster at least not namedJoe Burrow. I know you're a wide
receiver at heart, and I thinkthere's a difficult choice for the Bengals to
(10:45):
make between four running backs seven widereceivers because I don't really see any other
positions on the defensive side of theball or on the accept offensive line on
the offensive side of the ball wherethey can from a player to try to
go four and seven. They're sodeep a wide receiver going into camp.
(11:05):
I think that's where it's really challenging. There's so many guys. I mean,
you know, they have twelve guyscurrently on the roster a wide receiver,
and a lot of them you couldsay, oh, well, that
guy's making the team. Let's juststart. Obviously have the big three Chase
Higgins, Boyd, Trent and Irwinwas a huge contributor last year. Obviously
you have Stanley Morgan who's been onthe team for a few years now and
as a big special teams contributor,really good blocker, has certain packages dedicated
(11:30):
to him. Well that's five rightthere. And I didn't mention Charlie Jones,
who we all think is going tomake the team and potentially start at
punt returner, and they also draftedAndre Yosevash, who they clearly like a
lot a lad athlete. Do youwant to expose him to waivers to the
rest of the league if you movedon from him? And that doesn't include
(11:50):
Trent Taylor, who's obviously on theteam last year, Kwami Lasseter the second,
and then you have some undrafted guysMac Hippenhammer, Malachai car or Shedrick
Jackson. So it's I think they'reabout nine guys competing for maybe seven spots,
but you're right, it could besix, and that is tough.
That gets really really tough for me. The locks would be the Big three
(12:16):
and Charlie Jones the absolute locks,and I think Trent Irwin's close to a
lock as well. But I thinkthat those four to five would be absolute
locks for me based on last year. You have the hierarchy, I think
correct. Trent Irwin, outside ofthe Big Three, played the most snaps
for them, and that includes abunch of games when Mike Thomas was on
(12:37):
the team getting snaps, and thenTrent Irwin really started playing more post Mike
Thomas. Trent Taylor also played asolid amount and like almost doubled almost double.
Stanley Morgan snaps, and I haveMorgan in my two early fifty three,
and I only have six wide receivershere, So maybe I should have
(13:00):
cut one of the offensive lineman offof my fifty three. Maybe you know,
adenergy doesn't make it and they onlykeep nine guys on the offensive line,
and this is how they get JosiVash onto the team. Maybe Trent
Taylor surprises and sticks around two,right, but you got the three starters
for sure. I think Fred Norwinmakes a team. I think Charlie Jones
(13:20):
makes a team. And then isit three guys fighting for one spot?
Because if that's the case, youhave to feel really good. I think
about replacing what Stanley Morgan does onall those special teams units because he plays
on so many of them. Yeah, to feel good about replacing him,
to feel good about not putting himon the fifty three. It could be
(13:43):
a guy that they feel comfortable aboutdoing what they did last year where they
cut him in bring him back.Maybe they feel like if they expose Morgan
to waivers, he's not going toget scooped up. That could be the
case. That's scary to me becauseI think he would. He's valuable,
he could do something for you.I feel like we often overestimate the chance
of some of these guys, especiallylike who've been in the league for a
(14:05):
long time. I don't know,maybe not. I mean, some team
could look at him and say,we have a roster spot for a special
teams guy who's going to come inhere and play all of our special teams
units really well, and that's theend of the story. But I think
it's tough. My six right nowinclude Morgan, but that doesn't include Josi
Vash, who would be something ofa surprise to not make the team.
(14:26):
So is jose Vash in direct competitionwith the guy like Chris Sevants, This
is my question. Yeah, thatcould be it. I think so.
I think you're right. It's howmany running backs do they keep? Three
or four? And that could impactthe number of receivers and vice versa.
And jos Vash. I think hiskey is showing that he can contribute on
(14:46):
special teams, showing that maybe he'snot the starting kickoff returner because Trevion Williams,
to me, will be that ifhe's If they keep three running backs
specifically, but they need a backup, and so Evans, while potentially inactive
on game day, would be thebackup if you needed him to slide in
(15:07):
if Trevian Williams got hurt, thatwould make sense right. Well, if
Yosi Vash shows that he can dothat and be a gunner and do different
things, then he's going to beall right. And I think he has
a chance to make the team.So as weird as it sounds, I
think running back receiver. I thinkthey could be competing and it might come
down to that special team's unit andwhat both guys do for Darren Simmons's units.
Yeah, offense obviously will play arole as well. The long term
(15:31):
potential with Yosi Vash I think willplay a role as well, Like do
they feel comfortable exposing him to waivers? That question will need to be answered.
But that could be less unless saytrim on the offensive line, which
the more we talked about this more, I'm kind of talking myself into one
less offensive lineman this year. Wow, less beef, more skill. Look
(15:54):
at you, Look at you,man. I just don't know if there's
like when you're talking about on themargins, like what's the marginal benefit of
keeping the tenth offensive lineman versus theseventh wide receiver. Those are difficult decisions,
or fourth running back whatever it isrunning back though, outside of that
(16:15):
last spot, I think the firstthree guys, at least right now today,
Mix and Brown Williams are going tobe the three guys. And we'll
see if anything changes between now andthen, if we get if we see
any dramatic changes in this room.You've talked a lot about them adding your
guy here to get into the mix. But if they don't make any changes,
those are the three. Yep,I totally agree with that, and
(16:37):
yeah, ready or not, thoseare the three. I think the splits
between them could be interesting. Plentyof time to discuss that. But yeah,
can Chris Evans make a push forthat fourth spot? Will it be
andre Yosevash? Could Trent Taylor finda way to outperform Charlie Jones on punt
returns? Obviously that would be aletdown for Jones if that happened, but
certainly wouldn't want to rule that out. That said, Jake, let's switch
(16:57):
gears, let's flip it, let'slook at special teams. Yeah, right,
unless you do, I mean,we can't, we can get a
special teams. We couldn't get tothe defense to finish up because special teams.
There's one position to talk about,and it's Brad Robbins is going to
be the punter and the other twoare going to be the guys that they
were last year. A Calad Invitussome Evan McPherson. What's the bigger competition
(17:19):
Trent Taylor versus Charlie Jones or BradRobbins versus Drew Chrismin, Like which one
is more of a true competition?Do you think? I don't know?
Gotcha? That's hard got That's reallyI gotcha. I don't really think either
is a competition. He said.The rookies got it. I think so
(17:41):
do you? What do you think? I think Jones versus Taylor's more of
a competition. I think Robbins isgoing to outperform Drew Chrisman unless Chrismin just
takes a huge leap in both ourcompetitions. Because the Bengals are going to
base it on what they see.It's not like Jones's roster spot is only
dependent on him being the punt returner. Trent Taylor's is sure. Trent Taylor's
(18:03):
is that's how he makes the team, and so that that part of it's
interesting. So if I had tosay, I'd say Jones Taylor, but
it's it's close both. Robins hasto perform to win the job, but
I think expectations are he will.Jones has to perform to win the job,
but I think expectations are he will. Maybe it's not fair of me,
but I have I have very highexpectations for for Brad Robbins. It's
(18:26):
fair. It is fair. Areyou seriously he's a draft pick, it's
a partner. Yeah, absolutely fair. How many kicks did Charlie Jones return?
Are we overestimating Charlie Jones return acumenand experience? He had eighteen punt
returns last year and he's done itbefore that, right, wasn't one year
thing twenty one? Last year hewas their star. So he only did
(18:51):
it when they needed a little juice, Like he was kind of used sparingly
the year prior. They couldn't gethim the ball, so they were like,
hey, go back there in partreturns because we can't get you the
ball. Otherwise at Iowa offense,he put the ball in the ground once
on seventy six punt returns in hiscollege career. Yeah, I feel like
that's a pretty good track record.I think you and Taylor was a little
(19:15):
shaky at the end of last season. Taylor Taylor put one on the ground
in terms of a muffed punt onthirty eight punt returns last year, Darius
Philips had two muff punts. Thatthat's very memorable. That's why Trent Taylor
got the job in twenty twenty one. Yeah, I mean, I think
that's a pretty solid rate of muffpunts. You obviously want to see zero,
(19:37):
but he had a really good productivecareer as a college part returner,
so it's not like he's ever doneit. I think he hits the ground
running there. Yep, totally agree. Up next, let's talk about the
defense, where there's plenty of competition, plenty of depth, and not many
spots available, So we'll dive intothat coming up next. There's no offseason
(19:59):
for True and fell fans. Listenevery day to the Locked on NFL podcast.
Our expert hosts keep you up todate daily in thirty minutes or less
on the latest breaking news, trainingcamp battles, and player moves that will
affect your favorite NFL team available nowon YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts
part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. Where on
(20:25):
the offensive side of the ball,the primary competitions are at the end of
the wide receiver room, the endof the offensive line room, maybe the
end of the running back room.On defense, there are conversations at every
position I think where they are bubbleguys to talk about, and let's start
on the defensive line. This isgoing to be another one of those very
(20:48):
heavy in terms of number of playersroster spots for the Cincinnati Bengals and how
many edge guys can they keep becauseright now there are six guys, seven
guys including Jeff Gunter, who they'veinvested to some degree in and I really
(21:11):
wonder, you know, you lookat last year they kept five guys on
the edge, five guys on theinterior, and if they do that again,
they don't have that depth on theinterior this year to really push the
guys that I'm going to have makingit on the inside. But whether they
keep an extra guy on the edgeis going to depend on how comfortable they
are with those guys kicking inside becauseof where the balance of defensive ends versus
(21:36):
defensive interior players are so for TerylBasham with the draft pick of Miles Murphy,
things get pretty interesting there because Ithink can Sample has got to have
a leg up there. I wouldagree with you. I think just interior,
let's knock them out Reader, Hill, Tupo, Carter two fella.
I think that's those are your fiveHubbard, Murphy, Hendrickson, Osi lock
(22:03):
clock lock lock, All right,so we're already at nine. Yep,
you get one more right, right, And so I would give the edge
to Sample. And so Sample,there's ten. Terrell Basham's on the outside,
Jeff gunter Raymond Johnson, Owned Carneyall on the outside. You obviously
have some of the interior guys tonot making it, Dominique Davis Noteworthy,
Maxwell Noteworthy, the undrafted, undraftedfree agents. So we'll see, but
(22:29):
there's not much There's not many muchroom. And Terrell Basham came here to
help him win a title. AndI think that that's part of it is
you look at it and they're goingto have to move on from one of
these guys or if they have anyinjuries, they're going to have a pretty
solid player. Solid veteran potentially slidingin the other thing with Osai just a
(22:52):
monitor how healthy he is. Iknow he's going through rehab again, and
I know everything's rosy when you're goingthrough it. But will he be That's
certainly something to pay attention to inthis room. But if he is,
Basham could be on the outside lookingin and is certainly competing with Sample,
I would say, and man,Sample played well last year. I thought
I thought he took a step,So we'll see that that could be.
(23:14):
Where and why Basham is on theteam is the OSI rehab. If OSI
needs to start the year on theunable to the poplist or whatever it is,
then that's where having Basham is sucha luxury because you don't often make
it through training camp entirely healthy.Obviously, knock on wood, you hope
(23:37):
that they get out of there ashealthy as they can, but you tend
to have some guys that are dealingwith some injuries and so having this depth,
you know, on the offensive line, where they have a lot of
guys, even if you you knowyou want them to go sign Dalton Risner
to really bolster their interior offensive linedepth and the floor on their interior offensive
(24:00):
line. Same can be said onthe defensive line here on the edge.
So that'll that'll be interesting. That'sone of the big battles to watch.
And then at corner, it's anotherspot where they've they've added a draft picked,
added two draft picks in fact,to a spot where you felt pretty
good about their depth before the draft. And then you add DJ Turner,
(24:22):
you add DJ Ivy Cheeto on trackby all accounts, and we'll see,
but by all accounts, he's ontrack to be ready for the start of
the season. Cam Taylor, Britt, Mike Hilton, DJ Turner. Those
are your locks. I think JayalenDavis is nearly a lock unless they think
DJ Turner is going to be thebackup slot. So then you know,
(24:45):
say Davis has to compete. Ithink he does. It's Sidney Jones,
Jalen Davis, dj Ivey, AllenGeorge, four guys for two spots.
And then there's a couple other guys, you know, Marvel Tell, Chris
Lammon's also on the team competing,but probably mostly those four guys for those
two spots. It's tough. It'stough because you look at it. I
(25:07):
like Alan George I think he's agood player. Sidney Jones. When they
signed him, I was like,that's a great value signing get a guy
like that, who mentioned, bythe way, that there was some interest
on the Bengals end when he clearedwaivers last year, but he had already
committed going to the Raiders. Sothat part is interesting too. It's not
like they just randomly did that.They just didn't want that contract. That's
why they didn't claim him. Noone did in the league. But I
(25:29):
think there was some interest there.But yeah, I think Davis makes it.
I think obviously, so you haveHilton and Davis in the slot,
Taylor Britt and then I'll leave Jonesout for now a Woozier turner. I'm
already at five. I think Jonesmakes it, and so if there's no
injuries, Like Alan George, Ithink he's a good player. I think
(25:49):
dj Ivy there's a reason that theythey signed there, didn't let him get
to undrafted free agency and use thatseventh round pick on him. So gonna
be a battle here. And theydo have depth. I mean, this
is as deep as they've been ina while, and you feel really good
about it. I would say becauseeven if Cheeto isn't ready, and I
(26:10):
guess that's the other question, maybehe's not. Maybe they're like, huh,
let's give you four weeks and soyou have depth there where you can
do that and you don't have torush him back, which I do think.
I think he's going to be ready. But if he's not, you
don't have to rush him. Ifhe's at eighty eight percent, you don't
have to say, all right,let's start the season. Obviously, don't
rush him, but you really hopehe's ready. No, No, I
(26:32):
mean he's the best of the room. He's the best of the room for
sure. Yeah, I mean,and you hope for Taylor Britton Turner to
hit that point in the near futureso they get to Cheetoh's level. But
I have so much respect for Cheetoh'sgame at corner. I think he's fantastic.
Linebacker James I think is pretty cutand dry. I only have them
keeping five here. I don't seehow they can keep six given the other
(26:55):
positions we're talking about. And thatis actually the guys we've talked about at
the position in the past. LoganWilson's remained pratt a Keen Davis Gaither and
Marcus Bailey and Joe Bacci and KwaiJohnston not on the team anymore. Actually,
lad the Bengals and special teams snapslast year. But if they were
keeping six, then KeAndre Jones andthese guys will compete. Marcus Bailey,
(27:18):
Joe Bacci, KeAndre Jones, ShockaHayward, Jalen Moody, these guys will
compete for some of those French spots. But I think those five guys are
pretty well set. Yep Pratt,Wilson, Bacci, Davis, Gaither,
Bailey, that's it. You're right, and maybe someone emerges, maybe something
happens, but those feel like thefive, and I feel like they have
a good linebacker unit. It's wildjust doing this exercise. You're like,
(27:41):
man, this is a good team. There are not many areas where I
point to and say, I'm reallyreally worried right there. They might have
some questions, they're not perfect,but man, are they deep at a
lot of the key areas that youneed to be deep at. And we've
seen it. Attrition happens happen,and I think this team is as deep
(28:03):
as they've been during this three yearrun. Last position to talk about and
then we can talk about some ofthose question marks if we have time.
But last position is safety, andI again the way that I've got ten
guys on the defensive line, tenguys on the offensive line, four running
back, six receivers because I haveEvans sneaking on instead of yose Vash.
And the more we talked about it, the more I kind of want to
(28:25):
change that and take Evans off,put yos vosh on, take an offensive
lineman out to keep yose Vash,just because I think they're going to see
that athleticism want to keep him.But back at safety, I got four
guys, and that means I can'tfind a spot for Mike Thomas. Yeah.
Right, it's tough. He's sucha leader in that locker room.
(28:47):
But you look at it Scott Hill, battle Lock Lock Lock Anderson, you
feel pretty good about him. There'sa reason that they traded up for him
and kept him on the roster lastyear even though he was nicked up and
all of those things. Thomas BrandonWilson, by the way, I don't
know why people he's still listed onsome depth charts. He's not on the
roster. No one really else Youuse of Corker and Larry Brooks. I
(29:10):
don't think either one of those guysis in the running. So, yeah,
Thomas, it's a matter of doyou keep five health, all of
those things, But yeah, thiscould be that could be one. But
he is valuable on special teams thatmatters, and so one of those question
marks can they make it work rostergymnastics wise, and this part of it,
(29:33):
I think with a guy like MikeThomas is so dependent on health,
who can start the season on time? All of those things. And it's
not just the safety room as ateam, because depending on who gets nicked
up, someone in the running backroom couldn't get nicked up, and then
Thomas becomes that much more valuable onspecial teams. Or a corner gets nicked
up and now Thomas is more valuableon special teams. So we'll see what
(29:56):
happens there. But I agree withyou. I think that that the back
end of that safety room quite interesting. Tyson Anderson and Jordan Battle should be
playing special teams unless Jordan Battle islike a full on starter really early,
and if he is, then NickScott is playing a special team. Stacks,
He'll played a lot of special teamslast year this year, I mean
Tyson Anderson was largely not only draftedobviously, but he played a ton of
(30:18):
special teams in college. So that'sthat's where I get to fifty three James
four safeties. Maybe I'm heavy onthe offensive line. Then more we talk
about it and said it a fewtimes more, I talked myself into nine
guys there. But that's also oneof the question marks on the team,
right, Like you talk about themnot really having many questions, interior defensive
(30:40):
line pass rushing depth and interior offensiveline depth, or the two spots where
it's like they could get a littlebit better there tight end depth for receiving
tight end after Smith, after IRVSmith. That's where they could get a
little bit better. But outside ofthose questions, maybe we should have done
this before we did the schedule game, James, Maybe you would have I
(31:03):
mean, you're you're not going tochange your convictions. Maybe you would have
felt better about the team. Andat four and three start, you had
him off too, thirteen and four, so you could say four, four
and three all you want, thirteenand four, I'm done with slow starts,
James. This is where I hadthem. They didn't start slow in
twenty one. People think they did. They started five and two. I
have them starting four and one.By the way, well yeah, because
(31:27):
they lost two games. I getit. They were inconsistent, but they
didn't start slow. Yeah, butlet's not do slow starts or inconsistent anymore.
How about you just do seventeen andOz and jacko woo every week.
Let's go well every week. Nope, that's gonna do it. For this
episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcasts andBengals have a New Year, Jake Listo
(31:49):
still lame, I mean, that'srude. But James will be with you
to cover the Bengals open practice thisweek. Then we've got Mike's antagon adjoining
James to talk about some of theBengals rookies, some of the film takeaways
as Mike has grinded the tape onall those guys. That's coming your way
(32:12):
later this week on Lockdown Bengals.Until next time, Huday and have a
good ONEK eight Prime members. Youcan listen to this Lockdown podcast add free
on Amazon Music download the Amazon Musicapp. Today, Reds Fans, I'm
Jeff Carr and I'm Stephen Offenbaker.We are the hosts of your daily Reds
(32:34):
podcast, Locked On Reds, partof the Lockdown podcast network, your team
every day. Locked on Reds bringsyou the latest Reds news and analysis,
and breaks down all of the action. Locked On Reds is everything a Reds
fan could want, all in athirty minute daily podcast. Subscribe now to
Locked On Reds. Wherever you getyour podcasts, search Lockdown Reds and get
your daily dose of Reds analysis andoptimism. We are part of the Locked
(32:57):
on podcast network, your team everyday
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