Cincy 360 Hour 3 -- 9/24/25

Tony and Austin talk with John Sheeran, take your calls on the Bengals, check in with Mo from the Grail, and more on ESPN 1530!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Penn Station East Coat Subs since e three
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(00:21):
Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
All right, welcome back our number three, thanks to Penn Station.
Thank you for listening on the Home of the Bengals.
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. Move the schedule around
a little bit this week. Normally on Thursdays, we talked
to our guy John Scheron from ada Zy Sports because
Zach Taylor speaks on Wednesdays. That's getting flipped this week
because of the Monday night football game. So joining us
here to kick off the third hour is our good

(00:43):
friend John Sharon. John, what's going on?

Speaker 3 (00:46):
You know, Tony, I've had better weeks covering this team.
I'll play that much. From a lot of different angles,
both serious and non serious.

Speaker 4 (00:52):
It's been a yeah, we're better of a couple of days.

Speaker 2 (00:54):
I understand that completely. Let's start with one of the
more startling things about this team, and that is the
inability to run the ball at all. Is it something
in your opinion that is fixable and in your opinion,
what has gone into the lack of running ability right now?

Speaker 3 (01:13):
Yeah, we talked about it last week, Right, it was
my number one concern with this team going forward, and
I didn't think he would actually end up getting worse,
but somehow it did because again, like I mean, we've
all been watching football a long time. I don't think
we've ever seen a game in which the interior of
the offensive line gets moved backwards so consistently when you

(01:33):
first supposed to fire off.

Speaker 4 (01:34):
The ball and displaced guys.

Speaker 3 (01:35):
Right, that was somehow a common talking point with this
team over the past couple of days. And it's like,
how is this a problem for an NFL team? And
the reason why I'm skeptical about the fixes is because
they're not necessarily like Daldon Reisner and Ted Carris, they're
not young players, right, Like, they kind of are who
they are, and there's limitations athletically there, but even still,

(01:58):
like that is the scenario which they need to just
kind of execute the force.

Speaker 4 (02:03):
That they have as athletes.

Speaker 3 (02:05):
And if they can't do that even in obvious running situations.
It's very tough to see how that changes other than
them just buckling down and just locking in in that
phase of the offense. I think there are some ways
in which you can counter this. You can get guys
moving a little bit horizontally on some counters, on some
power plays, things of that nature, right, trying to catch
the defense off guard with some draws and whatnot.

Speaker 4 (02:26):
There's some schematic things you can do.

Speaker 3 (02:28):
But what we saw Sunday was so startling just from
an execution standpoint, where it's like, like, I don't know
if these guys just have what it takes to just
execute the simplest of concepts. So that was really startling
to see against again a pretty well defensive front and
well coach defensive front for the Vikings. But it was
even worse than what I would have thought, and that's
why I'm not feeling too great about it.

Speaker 2 (02:49):
It is the third offensive line coach under Zach Taylor.
They're now on their second offensive coordinator and the first
offensive coordinator. Brian Callahan, the head coach of the Tennessee Titans,
just gave up play calling duties in Tennessee to try
to get something going. We've exhausted. It feels like a
lot of different avenues. And I've had the conversation now
for a couple of years about Zach Taylor as the

(03:11):
play caller. Is this a conversation that needs to be
happening more as it pertains to the Bengals and how
they're operating offensively.

Speaker 3 (03:20):
Yeah, I mean it has been a conversation for a while,
and I think right now is the first time I
think it actually has a good amount of weight because
right at this moment, when you have a backup quarterback
in there, so much is relying on the coaching staff
and the play caller to put him in the best
possible snare because obviously you know Jake Browning who he
is right now. He's not a guy that you can

(03:41):
rely on to win you a game as a dropback pass. Necessarily,
he needs help. And I think what gave Zach a
lot of I think we gave Zach a lot of
credit for how he and Brian Callahan and Dan Pitcher
the brain showst that offense, how they evolved the offense
after Jake Browning's first start the last time in twenty
twenty three, we're at the same time point now where
he just came in for Burrow. He had a terrible

(04:03):
first start, but then things started to get better and
they started to have a more cohesive plan about what
to do moving forward in the second week. We are
at that point right now, and if we don't see
any progress in that regard in terms of them getting
on schedule, then finding a way to just get easy
yards for once in their life, just finding a way
to make it look easy with the with the skill
players that they have. If they can't do that now,

(04:24):
I think the clock really does start for them to
try to find something different in the form of a
different process. I don't know for a fact if it's
going to change significantly if they give it over to
damn Pitcher, but at some point you just can't keep
running into a brick wall, both figuratively and literally.

Speaker 5 (04:39):
Do you think it would change things significantly if they
gave it over to a different quarterback? Tony and I
have been kind of butting heads about this a little bit.
Like Russell Wilson or someone like that, would you go
after him?

Speaker 4 (04:52):
I think russ is interesting.

Speaker 3 (04:54):
Like the Giants, I think made an announcement saying that
he's officially quarterback too, whereas Jameis Winston, on the other hand,
is kind of up and up in limbo. I'm not
necessarily against Russ, considering that his arm is just notably
better than Browning. I think if you were to go
after a different quarterback like Russ, you would have to
make significant changes to the offense, and maybe that's probably
maybe a positive thing.

Speaker 4 (05:14):
Right Maybe everything that they're trying to do.

Speaker 3 (05:16):
Right now has been really stale and clearly it's just
not connecting with the rest of the players. So I'm
not totally against it, obviously. I kind of think in
the sandbox of who the Bengals are, and that's typically
a very anti thing for them to do, even though
they're in this position that right now where they don't
have a stable solution at quarterback, but they've always relied
on the guys in their house. And the only reason
why I would kind of support it is because it

(05:37):
would probably garner more significant changes from a schematic standpoint,
and they could use any sort of changes right now.

Speaker 2 (05:43):
Defensively, a lot was made after the game about the
limited amount of snaps Logan Wilson got, and originally I
just assumed John that it was a blowout. You're getting
a lot of guys in, but hearing from Logan Wilson,
this was something communicated him before the game that they
were going to rotate a lot of guys there. What
are your thoughts on how they're utilizing and rotating some

(06:03):
guys defensively.

Speaker 3 (06:05):
Yeah, I think like oron Burks for example, like he's
been pretty good in these first three few weeks, and
I'm not opposed necessarily beginning him on the field a
little bit more if that means that you're kind of
picking your spots as to when to play Logan Wilson,
who I think is still your best all around linebacker,
but if you're not trying to expose him maybe some
situations where he's maybe not as good as he was
a handful of years ago. I'm not necessarily opposed to that,

(06:27):
but I think that it needs to be you know,
make sure that he's on the same page and he's
comfortable and supportive of the plan.

Speaker 4 (06:33):
And if that is, if there's a disconnect.

Speaker 3 (06:34):
There, then there's probably an issue with this new coaching
staff and everything like that. But I think they really
value the depth that they have at linebacker. I think
they want to give Barry Carter Moore exposure as well.
But Aaron Burks definitely has value to this defense and
as a blitzer, and he's already shown some promise there.
So as long as that they're maximizing who they have,
I think it's fine. But you obviously don't want one
of your actual captains and leaders to be disgruntled about

(06:56):
the plan because obviously we saw that the last time
that there was a new defensive coordator of talent.

Speaker 4 (06:59):
Every that have to Carls delle Up.

Speaker 3 (07:00):
I'm not saying that's going to happen Logan Wilson, but
you don't want to end up going down that road
where you're not making sure that you're putting your guys
in positions where they're comfortable.

Speaker 2 (07:07):
I feel like it's so hard in a game that
gets away from like Sunday did, to evaluate specifically the
defensive side of the ball. But through three weeks, how
do you evaluate the defense as a hole under out golden.

Speaker 3 (07:19):
Yeah, I think that they were the like the only
semblance of a positive thing on Sunday because once after
the first couple of drives, they seem to kind of
settle in and then Obviously, like you said, the game
kind of went away from them and it was hard
to really evaluate that.

Speaker 4 (07:32):
But I think that they're.

Speaker 3 (07:33):
Finding out how they can stimulate some pressure and now
again has been my biggest concern with them in terms
of just gaining some consistency and confidence. You saw a
little bit of flashes from Chris Jenkins. I think Dax
Hill has been exactly who I hope that he was
going to be, and now that he's fully healthy and
in that natural position at slock cornerbacker' seing some flashes
from DJ Turner. Jordan battles always around the ball, so

(07:53):
that's that's good as well. So there's there's definitely positives
to take away from that unit. You just want them
to be in a position where again they're not having
to rely on turnovers, but also that the offense actually
helps him out because the zero help from them this
past week. So I think that there's slow but steady
progress being made a lot with individual guys, but I
think the more that you see that, the more that
they will continue to come together as in union, and

(08:14):
as long as that they're getting those flashes from pass
rushers outside of Treanrickson, there should be some more promise there.

Speaker 2 (08:20):
The term business decisions gets thrown around when games like
Sunday happen. And one of the concerns that I have
now John going forward is that culture in the locker room,
which has always been very strong under Zach Taylor. But
it's a little easier to get over a low production
game or not having the output if you're winning games.

(08:40):
If you're losing games and you're losing in the fashion
where the game isn't close, I feel like it's a
lot harder to keep a locker room and a culture together.
How much of that are you now paying attention to
going forward with where this team is at, because they
still are two to one, You're still leading the AFC North,
But it's just not a good taste in your mouth
after Sunday.

Speaker 4 (09:01):
Isn't that crazy?

Speaker 3 (09:02):
They were going through last year and we were still
having these same conversations.

Speaker 4 (09:05):
Now they're two and one, right, so you never really
know how this is going to go.

Speaker 3 (09:07):
But that's why this week is so freaking important, because
getting punched in every part of your body last Sunday,
like you need to respond in some way, shape or form.
You don't necessarily need to win against Denver because I
think there's some things that Denver just does well better
than the Bengals right now. But you need to respond
and showcase some competency and showcase some fight, right. I

(09:27):
don't blame some of the things that we saw when
the game was well out of reach by some of
the stars and everything like that. Like those weeks are rare,
but they do happen, and you just have to move on.
But you can't let it compound, because you're right. The
one thing that Zach has in his back pocket in
terms of why he should remain here is because he's
always cultivated a great culture of guys that just completely

(09:49):
buy in, and once you lose that, it's pretty much
impossible to get back, right, So beyond just him as
the play caller, him as the leader really needs to
exhibit the leadership and the management style that he's been
so accustomed of of really cultivating here. And if that,
if that starts to lose now, then then you're talking
about him really being on the clock. It's more than
just him just as a play call at the backup quarterback.
It's making sure that these guys don't completely lose sight

(10:10):
of what's important here when rolling in September.

Speaker 5 (10:13):
Looking ahead to the Broncos, I don't know that they've
necessarily been who most people have expected them to be
up unto this point. How do you think they match
up with Cincinnati on Monday Night?

Speaker 3 (10:25):
Yeah, this was such an intriguing matchup when Burrow was
healthy because last year you saw how they were able
to kind of pick on the other side of the ball,
the other side of the formation from where Patrick's certain
was when he was going up against Jamar Chase. But
now you're probably trying to feature Jamar Chase as much
as possible with Jake Browning because you're just trying to
utilize your playmakers. So how they move around Chase compared
to Certain, they obviously had more pieces in the second area.

Speaker 4 (10:47):
That defense is still really solid.

Speaker 3 (10:50):
Nick Potonio, the right edge rushery He was shut down
last year by Landa Brown Junion when Alona Brown June
was on one knee. So if they can replicate that,
if they can continue to limit their best pass rusher
and work around Certain, there's a chance that this offense
can can kind of fight back. But you know, giving
up to thirty something points for the Broncos, last year
was an anomaly. That's what the Bengals were able to do.

(11:11):
That's why they won that shootout late last year. So
you're probably not expecting that with where this offense is
right now. But fortunately bo Nicks, even without pressure, he's
not the best decision maker right now, but with pressure,
he's the worst quarterback in the NFL. So how this
defense continues to stimulate the pressure that they are with
the blizz packages, with the linebackers up the middle, that's
going to be important to get bo Nicks off schedule

(11:33):
because if you give him time though, like you saw
last year, he's capable of great throws that can definitely
pick apart the secondary.

Speaker 2 (11:40):
What's your biggest concern if things don't go well on
Monday Night and they don't keep it competitive, because that
to me, if you go in, like you said, you
compete your tail off, you're on the wrong side of
a tough game, maybe even find a way to win.
We're not having the conversation. But if things go sideways,
if you see something similar not to the extent of
what Sunday was, but more similar to that, where do

(12:03):
you turn after that? Because the Lions come in, then
you go to Green Bay and then it's the Pittsburgh Steelers.
How concerning does it become if it gets away from
you on Monday night.

Speaker 4 (12:12):
Yeah, I think you can underestimate it.

Speaker 3 (12:14):
I think at that point, you have two weeks of this.

Speaker 4 (12:19):
Team post Joe Burrow injury.

Speaker 3 (12:20):
He's not walking through that door for the next two
months of the absolute earliest, and you probably don't have
a lot of confidence that you can compete with pretty
much anyone, maybe like the absolute bottom of the league.
But at that point, it's harder to look at yourselves
as not being at the bottom of the league if
you continue to get to get your doors bulled off
of you. So it probably isn't good at that point.

(12:40):
And I think what compounds that is that you just
don't expect the decision makers of this team to make
an aggressive move in the middle of the season to
kind of spark anything like a Khalil Herbert trade is
not going to change this team, like like they tried
to think it changed last year, right, So something drastic
would need to change in terms of the philosophy to
try to spark things up. Think they would just try
to rely on the interest that they have in the

(13:02):
building and try and try to hope for the best,
to see if things could turn around. But yeah, it's
a scary scenario in which you just don't have confidence
in who is leading your team to that point and
things can downspoil really quickly. So which is why being
competitive at the very least some Monday night is so important.

Speaker 2 (13:17):
John, you're the best man. I can't thank you enough
for switching things up and joining us today instead of tomorrow.
I know there's a lot of things going on at
a to Z Sports, including I know they put together
their top twenty five is voted on by the stay
of how close were the Bearcats to receiving some top
twenty five votes this week for eight diz Sports.

Speaker 3 (13:36):
You know, I'm not really a part of that, so
my half vote actually didn't count. So I think there's
still I think it's still at a goose at twenty seven.

Speaker 6 (13:42):
I think they're twenty six, twenty seven.

Speaker 4 (13:45):
Thirty seven, forty seven. What's the difference?

Speaker 6 (13:47):
All right, yeah, all right, you're the best.

Speaker 2 (13:49):
What is the easiest way to follow along with your
coverage of the Bengals very important coverage of the Bengals
right now?

Speaker 3 (13:55):
Absolutely eight Diza Sports Dot com backs Lesson Snetti, I
ended up writing about, unfortunately, the passing of Ridy Johnson.
I just want to say, amazing player to watch, amazing
person to follow growing up, one of my heroes growing up.

Speaker 4 (14:07):
So rest in peace to Reedy Johnson.

Speaker 2 (14:09):
John Man, thank you so much and look forward to
talking again next week.

Speaker 4 (14:13):
Thank you guys.

Speaker 2 (14:14):
Yes, sir, that is John Sharon and is E Sports
covering the Cincinnati Bengals, kind enough with his time normally
on Thursdays. Moved it around because of Zach Taylor speaking tomorrow.
We have plenty more to go today, including uh, you
will open up the phone lines five, one, three, seven,
fifteen thirty. If we weren't able to get to your
call earlier, we can get it between now and when

(14:34):
we joined Melwager for quick hits on the Home of
the Bengals ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, thanks to
Penn Station.

Speaker 7 (14:42):
Going to get your business. Peke Browning and his Big
Bed Bengals put it all on the line when they
face Bull Nix and his Denver Devo Jays on Monday
Night Football.

Speaker 8 (14:53):
Kenny Orange and Black break the Broncos tho. Cincinnati's aerial
assault will leave the Stallions stunned. Find out when you
get the call from Dangerous Dan Lord and Mighty Dave
Laplan Coverage starts Monday at three pm. Let scream for
free on the new and improved iHeartRadio app for ESPN
fifteen thirty, the official home of US Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 2 (15:17):
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Speaker 1 (16:26):
Disease back On ESBN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, Welcome.

Speaker 2 (16:41):
Back since E three to sixty thanks to our friends
at Penn Station. On ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station.
Reds Pirates Tonight, Hunter Green, Paul Skins, must win, must win.
In my opinion for the Cincinnati Reds, I think at
minimum they need four to the next five. Five out
of five would be a great way to end the

(17:01):
year as well. More of the same from ELI Day
of the Cruz would go a long way. But how
about this statistic from Charlie Goldsmith earlier today Austin All
Star pitchers against the Cincinnati Reds this year boast an
era of two point six y nine. The good games
for the Cincinnati Reds, Charlie Goldsmith alluded to, they scored

(17:23):
five runs in a game versus Garrett Crochet, four four
runs in a game versus Boyd, five runs in a
game against Jacob Mizerowski, and four four runs in a
game against Peterson. Here's the bad news, Austin. In the
fifteen other games that the Reds played against All Star pitchers,
fifteen total runs one or zero runs versus All Star

(17:46):
pitchers in twelve of the nineteen opportunities we know, obviously
the offense has been an issue. I think that pushes
a little bit to the extent of how much of
an issue that it's been against all star pitching for
the Cincinnati Rids. Of course, not only are they facing
an All Star tonight, they are facing who is going
to be named the nl CY Young Award winner in

(18:07):
Paul Skins. Crazier things have happened. Maybe Skeans just has
an off day, Maybe some of it.

Speaker 5 (18:16):
Didn't he just use one of those up last time out.

Speaker 2 (18:18):
Yeah, maybe some of the hotel food doesn't sit right
with him. Maybe Livy dominated him in chess, and he's
just mentally not there.

Speaker 5 (18:25):
Glad you said chess. I was scared where you were
going with that.

Speaker 2 (18:28):
He's just mentally not there because he lost a chess
match against Livy this morning. Okay, maybe he just had
a little under the weather. Should I hesitate to say this?
Should we come up with some sort of chant for
Paul to maybe get in his head? You know how
the Pirates did to Johnny Quato?

Speaker 6 (18:49):
Should we I just tough ski tough scenes, Paul skins of.

Speaker 2 (18:53):
Scenes allud like a rock chalk jayhawk.

Speaker 5 (18:57):
But the skins may be, but it's got to be
like scenes. It's gotta be like ominous all. It's gonna
make it feel like something bad is happening. Yeah, well
then you probably want to get there early. Yeah, you're
gonna have to do it before he takes the mount
in the bottom of the first correct, because once, if
if he starts throwing pitches before that chant, we're done.

Speaker 2 (19:17):
You ain't got a chance anyway. Correct Tough scenes, poullly
that'd be cool in the in the in the ballpark.
What're about, Polly, Oh, yeah, I don't know. I don't
I don't want to bring up any memories of that
quato performance. So we've would try to get our lick
back for ten years.

Speaker 9 (19:35):
Yep.

Speaker 6 (19:36):
Maybe now's the time.

Speaker 5 (19:37):
More than that.

Speaker 2 (19:38):
Yeah, Pittsburgh just keeps punchingly. I like the tough scenes
Paul Skins reverberating through the walls of Great American Ballpark.

Speaker 5 (19:47):
Like the first base line says tough scenes, yeah, third
base yep, home plate, Paul's just shoving.

Speaker 9 (19:58):
Yep.

Speaker 2 (19:59):
Nine pitches, nine strikes, three strikeouts. Oh goodness, Uh.

Speaker 6 (20:03):
John, what do you got going on?

Speaker 10 (20:04):
Man?

Speaker 6 (20:04):
What's up?

Speaker 9 (20:06):
Well? I was planning on betting that Dua Leopo would
be the halftime show of the Super Bowl. But after
hearing you guys singing I gotta go to you guys.

Speaker 6 (20:14):
Thank you, thank you pretty good.

Speaker 7 (20:16):
I love that one.

Speaker 6 (20:17):
We didn't even talk about that either.

Speaker 9 (20:20):
Yeah, and you know how good my bets are. I mean,
I'm sure Leap would love to hear that. I'm betting
her to play super.

Speaker 6 (20:25):
Bowl of Death.

Speaker 9 (20:27):
John, Yeah, he'll end up with Laryen Dragas or something
you got three days before the Super Bowl. But pretty
interesting stuff. A quick story about trying to control these
great pitchers. So two thousand and seven American League Championship Series,
Josh Beckett pitching for the Red Sox. The Red Sox
are down three games to one, Game five in Cleveland,
and the Indians bring in his former girlfriend to sing
the national anthem, Well YadA the next three games, the

(20:50):
Red Sox winning the one and beat the Colorado Rockies
in the World Series. So be careful what you wish
for it. Don't get him too riled up. Incredible, Yeah,
be nice to him and maybe he'll be nice to you. Yes.
What I was gonna do today is I don't want
to mention the offensive line or the defensive line coach's
names because I do that too often. So we're gonna

(21:10):
stay away from that. But the thing is that I'm
kind of like the King of straw Man arguments, but
the national narrative of how much that look. We love
jamat Chase. He's one of the two best receivers in football,
but he obviously is not the same receiver without Joe Burrow.
Here's the statistics in seven games with Jake Jake Browning

(21:32):
as a starting quarterback thirty four receptions, four hundred and
thirty three yards twelve point seven yards per catch, one
touchdown in seven games. His average game with Jake Browning
is five receptions, sixty four yards and one touchdown in
seven games. So that narrative that the receiver makes the
quarterback I always find kind of lappable. I think it's
always the other way around. But here's my vote, guys,

(21:55):
Jameis Winston would be a blast. I mean it'd be
fun because, yeah, because you know what it is. He'll
give you three games you win, well, he'll connect with
Jamar Chase and see Higgins. He'll put thirty four on
the mord. He hopefully doesn't turn them all over, but
you know, and maybe he gives you some entertainment. But
he also his his height is greater than Russell Wilson,

(22:15):
so I would go with him more than Russell Wilson.
I think Russell Wilson is a shot. But again, the
hope is maintain as much as you can and maybe,
just maybe, maybe our quarterback comes back sooner rather than later,
which would be awesome.

Speaker 6 (22:28):
Yeah, it is.

Speaker 2 (22:30):
It's hard to expect that type of production from any
star wide receiver when their quarterback is gone, but there
has to be at least we've seen it consistently a
guy like Jamis or Russell Wilson. They're going to give
opportunities down the field. They're going to they're going to
to target Jamar Chase fifteen times a game if they

(22:52):
have to. It's just again, it's it's a tough situation
for the Bengals. They they seemingly are are set with Jake.
I just wonder if there's another performance on Monday like
there was on Sunday, how the culture and how the
locker room continues to feel going forward. That would be
my biggest worry.

Speaker 9 (23:12):
Yeah, without question, because I mean, if they could eke
out a win here, and look, the Broncos are one
and two, they're nothing great. But if you can eke
out a win, now you're head to head in an
advantager's position against Jacksonville. Yeah, deedninvergh Cleveland if they get
into the race. We know how Cleveland's defense is at
home at home, probably the best defense in football. On
the road, for some reason, they can't play as well.
So if you could kind of eat out one of those,

(23:33):
then obviously you got to play those two big bears
in the NFC North and then Pittsburgh comes down. But
just kind of like hold serve as much as you can, yep,
and just even if you're five hundred late in the year,
and again hope for a miracle that kill Burrow comes back,
which you know, I kind of hold out hope for
because from everything we hear, he's gonna work his butt
off and he's a quick healer, and you know, maybe

(23:53):
good things happen to good people. So that's that's what
you gotta maintained. But Jamis would be a blast to watch.
I mean, he's just talk about the elem a trick
or tree quarterback. It's Jameis Winston.

Speaker 2 (24:03):
Yeah, John, thank you for the call. Man, have a
great day you too. It would be interesting. I'll give
it that. Rodney is also calling it.

Speaker 11 (24:13):
What's up?

Speaker 6 (24:14):
Rodney?

Speaker 12 (24:17):
Hey, Tony, love the show.

Speaker 6 (24:19):
Thank you.

Speaker 12 (24:20):
So this is what I got. Either since you're a
quarterback or we're a quarterback. I find you being a
little I find you being a little bit unfair to
Jake just because I would give him a lease and
maybe you're just saying, hey, we need to get ready
in case he's not the man. But to me, I
just want to see some moxie. I don't know why

(24:42):
he doesn't.

Speaker 11 (24:42):
Run the ball.

Speaker 12 (24:43):
I mean, there were some times on early on on
Sunday where he had at least a ten yard running
get down. But I don't know me, I'm just is
he just kind of don't I don't know the word.
I want to see some fire, you know what I mean.

Speaker 2 (24:59):
I don't For for the record, I don't think that
you would sign a guy like a Russell Wilson and
then he starts right away. But the fear for me
is that there's another performance or two that are too
similar to Sunday and then you want to pull the trigger,
but it's too late because you don't have somebody up
to speed. I just think you're doing your due diligence
if you were to get somebody in and get them

(25:22):
ready if if the time.

Speaker 12 (25:25):
Came, so you just want to So you're just talking
about okay, let's give him another shot. Yeah, But I
just want to have us to have an insurance policy.

Speaker 2 (25:34):
I would rather if things go bad Monday, that you
had someone in for two weeks that you could bring
up the speed and then throw them in there, because
if you wait and things go bad Monday, then you're
on a short week. You can't get somebody up to speed,
and then you just lose another week. I just thought
it was something maybe to do your due diligence and
make sure you have a capable backup in case you
need to go that route.

Speaker 9 (25:56):
Okay, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 12 (25:57):
And then the last point is, so why don't we
run into quarterback draws, wide receiver screens motion. I mean,
if you looked at Detroit the other night, let's just
take I mean one or two of their plays. I'll
listen to you later.

Speaker 6 (26:10):
Thank you, Ronnie, appreciate that. I hope you listen right
now as well.

Speaker 2 (26:14):
Yeah, I don't think you're gonna run Jake Browning on
many quarterback draws just because they don't have the backup
that that's capable right now. But yes, I'm all for
piggybacking and copycating what some of the league is doing
on screens or run techniques or anything like that. Let's
get one more in and then we'll get a break.
At is calling in?

Speaker 6 (26:31):
What's up?

Speaker 10 (26:32):
Ed?

Speaker 9 (26:33):
Hey, how's it going, Tony?

Speaker 6 (26:34):
What's up?

Speaker 13 (26:36):
I just just wondering if you how you went about
going in.

Speaker 9 (26:41):
The film room and seeing your offensive line.

Speaker 13 (26:45):
I don't know if you ever had it like it
was on Sunday, but had your just look back and
see your offensive line just staring at you on the
ground every play, just looking backwards.

Speaker 4 (26:57):
It's just crazy to me.

Speaker 9 (26:58):
I've never seen nothing like it. Should get back to it.

Speaker 6 (27:01):
Thank you, thank you man.

Speaker 2 (27:02):
It's tough that That's the biggest I think unknown for
me Austin is like, how did the lineman watch the
film and then go about a normal day?

Speaker 6 (27:15):
You know what I mean?

Speaker 5 (27:16):
Like, there has to be an embarrassment to make you sick.

Speaker 2 (27:18):
There has to be an anger there, and I'm sure
there's an anger from other position groups that watch the
film as well.

Speaker 6 (27:25):
It is.

Speaker 2 (27:25):
Ah, it's fascinating. It's It's something I wish one of
those situations where you could be a fly on the
wall inside of the organization and and find out what
those conversations are.

Speaker 6 (27:37):
Like, Uh, let's take us a break. When we come back.

Speaker 2 (27:41):
There is a huge week Austin, huge week of college football,
one of the bigger college football weekends of the season ahead.
We'll look at some of those games when we come
back and We'll get to Mowiger soon as well. ESPN
fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station. Thanks to Penn Station, This
isn't just a.

Speaker 14 (27:56):
Game, Dan Horde, join Dave Lapham and me for Bengals
game plan tonight, starting at six on the official home
of the Bengals, Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 2 (28:14):
Welcome back since he three to sixty. ESPN fifteen thirty,
Cincinnati Sports Station. Did you know Austin, fifteen years ago
today a worldest Chapman through the fastest pitch in MLB history?

Speaker 5 (28:25):
Wow? In San Diego one oh.

Speaker 2 (28:27):
Five point eight. It was in Cincinnati at the time. Oh,
I thought that game was in sandieg They were playing
against the Pirates of all teams. It was a nine
to one game when he did it. Oh boy, of
course if you remember for oldest, Chapman just found out
how to locate his fastball and has been even better.

Speaker 5 (28:45):
But yes, fifteen years ago today that happened.

Speaker 2 (28:48):
Chapman's still going strong in Major League Baseball college football.
This is one of the weekends Austin that you circled
going into the season, not only because it's a an
NFL weekend, not only because playoff baseball, and the races
are are heating up for those last playoff spots. Not
only do you get the Ryder Cup, you get some

(29:09):
really good football over the weekend as well. There's a
top twenty five matchup early in the day USC Illinois
now Illinois trending in the wrong direction. I don't know
how they're still in the top twenty five after you
get beat by Kurt Signetty like that. You googled him.
He did pretty well. USC's four and h very quiet,

(29:30):
no real mark he wins. Ohio State doesn't have to
play a noon game Austin. They play at three thirty
in Washington. Yeah, and I saw the day.

Speaker 5 (29:36):
Also have a home night big ten game Wow coming up,
which is very rare when they play in Minnesota.

Speaker 2 (29:43):
How about the line only eight and a half in
that for Washington Ohio State.

Speaker 5 (29:48):
Yeah, I think that it's gonna be a tough game.
Ohio State coming off of bye week, traveling across the country,
tough place to play, Julian saying didn't look great. So
I love the I love the well, I'm not even
going to go there say it. Nope, say what you
were gonna say?

Speaker 2 (30:02):
Nope, LSU the fourth ranked team in the country travels
to uh Oxford to take on Old Miss thirteen verse
number four. That's how about this Old Miss is favored
in that game against the number four team in the country.

Speaker 5 (30:18):
I think people are all aboard the idea that the
LSU Tigers are fraud to them.

Speaker 2 (30:27):
Well, it's hard not to when you looked at what
I thought was an impressive win at the time over
Clemson and now Clemson's rock bottom. People are wondering a
little bit. I think that's fair. But a top four
team against the thirteenth ranked team in the country, that
is a good one. Auburn, Texas A and M is
a fun one. Indiana off a huge win, Number eleven
in the country travels to Iowa Tennessee versus undefeated Mississippi State.

(30:50):
Arizona is undefeated. They go to fourteenth ranked to Iowa State.
How about beaver Stadium seven thirty Oregon at Penn State
number six, verse number three. First time all year Penn
State will be at all tested and wins against Nevada,
Florida International, and Villanova. What do you make of this one?

(31:11):
Is this drew aller all day against the Oregon Ducks.

Speaker 5 (31:17):
I would think so, But I mean.

Speaker 2 (31:21):
Dante More is getting some Heisman consideration, Heisman buzz for Oregon,
They've not been tested at all. Yeah, so it's hard to.

Speaker 6 (31:28):
Say has Oregon been tested at all?

Speaker 5 (31:30):
That I don't know. I actually don't know anything.

Speaker 2 (31:32):
So they boat raced Oklahoma State sixty nine to three.
They beat Northwestern and then they just crushed Oregon State
as well.

Speaker 5 (31:40):
And this game's at Penn State, right, Yes, so even easier.

Speaker 6 (31:43):
For State Pen.

Speaker 2 (31:44):
Also, some people say, yeah, Alabama Georgia. Think of all
the games, this is the one I'm hearing the least
amount about Georgia, number five in the country. Where you
want to talk about Alabama trying to make a statement win.
I think Georgia's won thirty three straight at Sanford Stadium.
Klin Debor can do himself a favor if they beat Georgia.

(32:06):
I don't know that it happens, but a lot of
close spreads. The Penn State and the Georgia spread exactly
the same minus three and a half on both accounts.
And of course the Bearcats at Kansas, what's the spread there? Uh,
it's been all over the map. Honestly, I've seen some
books headed up to like seven and a half. I
saw some headed at three. Right now, ESPN has it

(32:29):
at four and a half in favor of the Jayhawks.

Speaker 5 (32:31):
Are we going to do our picks in the first
hour on Friday? We're gonna have half the bail. We're
gonna have Tokay. Yeah, heading to UH to Kansas now,
easy travel for the Bearcats. They're staying.

Speaker 2 (32:44):
We're staying at the exact same place we stayed when
they opened against Nebraska, same hotel and everything.

Speaker 5 (32:49):
Wow.

Speaker 2 (32:50):
Just heading to Lawrence, Kansas for the game on Saturday.
That is an eleven am local time start twelve noon
here for the Bearcats. I don't know who else, who
else goes. I don't know who the red Hawks have.
I know the RedHawks suffered a brutal, brutal loss. Miami
plays Lyndon Wood. Miami's gonna get their first win of

(33:10):
the season. They were outscored seventeen to nothing by UNLV
in the fourth quarter, not only to lose, but to
not cover the two and a half point spread as well.

Speaker 5 (33:20):
Tony's speaking of spreads.

Speaker 15 (33:22):
Oh and he unloads and hammers it. Yeah, very deep
and very gone out of here to right a two
run blast for Elie de la Cruz.

Speaker 6 (33:39):
Boy, that is some kind of big momentum.

Speaker 15 (33:42):
Lifter for the Reds, especially especially after the Pirates dropped
four in the top of the inning.

Speaker 9 (33:48):
How to get you back on your feet?

Speaker 6 (33:50):
Very gone? Was that one?

Speaker 5 (33:52):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (33:52):
And I thought the same thing that the Cowboys said. Okay,
they they weathered the punch for the four run inning,
they got half of it back. Now let's play some baseball.
Nothing else happened. That's our call of the day, brought
to you by wind Schulers. The four great flavors of
wind Schulers cheese spreads are perfect for any tailgate or
any get together that you have, so it's awesome. It's

(34:13):
hard to pick a favorite, almost like your favorite football team,
so what I would suggest is have plenty of each
on hand for your party or family get togethers. Thanks
to our friends at Winschulders.

Speaker 5 (34:22):
Would you like a Reds lineup for tonight before we
go to Moegar if we are able to reach Moeger please.
My sources are telling me that we're having a bunch
of problems, okay systems, so hopefully uh we're able to
hear from.

Speaker 2 (34:37):
Let's do this so we give Moe a little extra
time that he can get connected.

Speaker 5 (34:42):
Here's how the Reds will line them up tonight, up
against the big right hander and Cy Young favorite Paul
screen schemes. Oh, thinking about those screens to Chase Brown
leading off. The center fielder TJ. Friedel batting second, the
right fielder Noel v Marte. Third batter is the DH
Gavin Lux. The cleanup hitter is first baseman Spencer Steer.

(35:04):
The shortstop and fifth batter is Ellie de la Cruz.
The third baseman and sixth batter is Sal Stewart.

Speaker 6 (35:12):
Okay.

Speaker 5 (35:13):
The seventh batter is the catcher Tyler Stevenson. The eighth
batter is left fielder Will Benson batting ninth playing second base.
Matt McClain for Cincinnati on the mound. Once more, it's Freedo, Marte, Lux, Steer,
De la Cruz, Stewart, Stevenson, Benson, McLain with Green on

(35:34):
the mound.

Speaker 2 (35:36):
There we go, bang, let's go. I like that much
better than Ellie being protected by Matt McClain. Yeah, least
south Stuart got the ability to run into one. Yeah,
we'll talk to that. We'll talk about that with Mo
maybe when we get back for quick hits right here
on Sincy three to sixty thanks to Penn Station ESPN
fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 7 (35:58):
Going to get your business. Cheek Browning and his Big
Bed Bengos put it all on the line when they
face Bull Mix and his Denver devotees on Monday.

Speaker 8 (36:08):
Night Football and the Orange and Black Break the Froncos.
Will Cincinnati's aerial assault leave the Stallions stunned? Find out
when you get the call from Dangerous Dan Wood and
Mighty Dave lappin cover It starts Monday at three pm.

Speaker 7 (36:22):
Match Scream for free. Are the new and improved iHeartRadio
app or ESPN fifteen thirty, the official home of US
Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 2 (36:32):
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Speaker 16 (37:19):
From the Wyoming Air temp Star Webstey continues on ESBN
fifteen thirty, Cincinnati's sports station.

Speaker 1 (37:26):
It's time for since the three sixty quick Hits on
ESBN fifteen.

Speaker 6 (37:32):
Yeah, we got Mo.

Speaker 2 (37:32):
He's at the Holy Graild today getting ready to broadcast
right across the street from the ballpark a huge one tonight,
Hunter Green versus Paul Skins.

Speaker 6 (37:39):
It's quick hits. MO is with us? What's going on?

Speaker 16 (37:42):
MO?

Speaker 10 (37:44):
You know I'm gonna I'm gonna do something here that's
gonna sound maybe Hoki okay, corny?

Speaker 11 (37:50):
Yeah, last night to not go well?

Speaker 10 (37:53):
Three double plays in each of the last three innings,
or I guess one double play in each of the
last three innings. Brady Singer put the team behind the
eight ball. Last night, Reds lose, Cubs blow a six
to one lead to the Mets, Dodgers, trash can bullpen,
falters again, Diamondbacks come back. So it's put the Reds
in a position tonight. I think it's a must win
game because you cannot lose any ground. It's it's okay

(38:15):
if you don't gain ground tonight, but you can't lose
any more ground.

Speaker 11 (38:18):
The only way you lose ground is if you lose
the game.

Speaker 10 (38:21):
And yet, you know, whenever a Cincinnati sports team loses
since these Bots, if there's anything we've learned through one
hundred and fifty seven games, it's that this team has
bounced back ability.

Speaker 11 (38:32):
He would have thought last night, end of the season.
It was deflating. I'll grant you that.

Speaker 10 (38:37):
Like I walked out of the ballpark last night, that crowd,
which seemingly a lot of people really want to talk about, Yeah,
that crowd was ready to explode. And because of all
the double plays, all the missed offensive opportunities that never
got a chance to But I'm walking out of the
ballpark last night. I've walked out of there after losses
that ended the season. It felt like that if there's

(38:58):
one thing this team this season deserves, it's for us
to not behave that way. Now, lose tonight and then
the Mets win again, and maybe the Diamondbacks win, it
might start to feel that way. It should not feel
that way right now. So today at the Holy Grail,
we're gonna be festive. We're gonna get excited for this
pitching matchup. Yeah, we're gonna talk about how the Reds

(39:18):
have two opponents tonight.

Speaker 11 (39:19):
One is the Pirates, the other is the weather.

Speaker 10 (39:22):
We're gonna put our hopes on the shoulders of my
guy Hunter Green to outdo Paul Schemes.

Speaker 5 (39:28):
Could you consider it three opponents when you consider themselves
that they have to face?

Speaker 11 (39:32):
Very fair point.

Speaker 10 (39:34):
Although I was encouraged when I saw the starting lineup
because we put some guys in that can hit long ball.

Speaker 2 (39:39):
The only thing I'll ask you about the starting lineup,
seeing what we saw last night, would that have been
enough to warrant Ellie moving back?

Speaker 5 (39:45):
Are you good with where he's out in the lineup?

Speaker 10 (39:49):
I'm okay with where he is because I like who's
hitting behind them. Yeah, I think, dude, it's been a
big leaguer for you know, three and a half weeks.
I think he adds a level of protection that Matt
McClain last night it was.

Speaker 11 (40:00):
Not capable of.

Speaker 10 (40:01):
But Ellie de la Cruz was awesome last night, made
a couple of really nice plays in the field, great
at bad of the ninth inning, was patient, hits long ball,
gets on base every time. I would have no issue
with moving him up just because it increases the likelihood,
like Ellie has had an underwhelming season relative to what
the team has needed all year long. I think it's

(40:22):
fair to say that people get mad at me when
I say it. Still, if you're telling me I can
have him one more time per game as opposed to
almost anybody else, I'll take it. So Yeah, let's say
it's a situation like the eighth inning last night. I'd
rather have Ellie there then maybe have to wait to
the ninth inning. Your better guy should hit higher. I

(40:44):
wouldn't have an issue with it, But the bigger thing
for me is how do they protect him. I think
he's better protected tonight was Stuart hitting behind him instead
of Matt McLean.

Speaker 2 (40:52):
We often talk about sporting events throughout the calendar year,
those that come around every so often. Where do you
rank the Ryder Cup on sporting events for your.

Speaker 10 (41:00):
I like it, I just it's it sucks that it's
buried opposite a whole bunch of other stuff that I
love more. Right, Like, the fun thing about the Masters
is it's not a lot going on right and weekend
baseball games.

Speaker 11 (41:13):
Fun thing about the US Open. Fun thing about all.

Speaker 10 (41:15):
The majors is they're not competing for your attention with
all this other stuff this weekend, good college football, Slate,
NFL Playoff Baseball, playoff race baseball. So I like it,
but it just it it doesn't get as much of
my attention because there's this other stuff.

Speaker 11 (41:32):
I love more.

Speaker 2 (41:33):
I don't think once we spoke about it on Monday,
that we expected it to happen from the Bengals, but
should in your opinion, the Bengals have brought in another
quarterback by now, how do you not?

Speaker 9 (41:47):
Yeah?

Speaker 11 (41:47):
And I don't bet.

Speaker 2 (41:48):
And again, it's not a quarterback to start right now,
but it's a quarterback. You better make sure you have
up and ready if you need to go that route.

Speaker 10 (41:54):
I mean, the leash for Joe Burrow is the longest
in the NFL.

Speaker 11 (41:59):
The lea Jake Browning does not.

Speaker 10 (42:02):
He does not deserve for it to be very long,
but the least shortens if you have a viable alternative.

Speaker 11 (42:07):
And so the question for me is, is quarterback.

Speaker 10 (42:10):
X whoever that is a better option than Brett Rippon
or as I heard on Saturday morning, Brett Ripen.

Speaker 11 (42:19):
And so the answers is.

Speaker 5 (42:20):
Yes, is Mike White better than Brett Rippin?

Speaker 6 (42:22):
I don't know, but he had that one game. He
had that one game against the Bengals.

Speaker 11 (42:27):
I don't know.

Speaker 10 (42:27):
But like their biggest issue for me isn't who the
quarterback is right now, it's figuring out a way to
have an offense that's better for who the quarterback is,
if that makes sense, right, Like, the the actual human
being playing QB matters less to me than what Zach
Taylor in the offensive coaching staff does to enhance a
ground game, which because it's not Joe Burrow, they need

(42:50):
more than ever before. And I'm very skeptical that they're
gonna be able to come up with the answers. They
haven't been able to for quite a while. And you know,
we haven't talked that much about the d. The defense
has been okay, but if your offense, if you're acknowledging limitations,
because we're already starting at guys. You know Week one
it was bad matchup, sorry, bad matchup, and then you

(43:14):
know Sunday was you know, Brian Flores, bad matchup. And
I'm already hearing like with the Denver broncos Man that
defensive front, tough matchup. So we're acknowledging like the Bengals,
which they already have a way below league average offense,
we're making every defense they play seem like the eighty
five Bears. So the onus is on Al Golden's defense

(43:34):
to do more to win. And that's the unit that
we said, boy, you just got to be league average.
I wonder can they be better than league average? And
again you're being fair if you think the answer is no.
I think it's going to be really interesting. You know,
they lose the game in Minneapolis, Okay, they're still two
to one. How's this going to feel if they lay
another egg in Denver? And I'm talking about turning it

(43:56):
over a bunch of times away they did, just they
lose in Denver. Now you're staring at that gauntlet of
you know, Lions, Packers, Steelers, Uh oh, this three and one,
you feel like, all right, we survived. At least we're
coming home. You know, maybe there's something to build on
two and two. When they're really right now two plays
away from being zero to three, then I really fear

(44:16):
it could it could start to inspire a lot of control.

Speaker 2 (44:20):
For the next three hours, Mowager will have his Paul
squarely on the city of Cincinnati. You have of the
monumental clash between Paul Skeins and Hunter Green taking place
at Great American Ballpark. Make sure you listen to that.
Mo Thanks for joining us, have a great show.

Speaker 11 (44:32):
Thank you guys.

Speaker 2 (44:33):
That is Mulager. This has been since he three p sixty.
He's Austin Elmore. I'm Tony Pike. We'll do it again tomorrow.
Until then, have a great rest of your Wednesday. Thanks
for listening on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports.

Speaker 16 (44:43):
Station WCKY, Cincinnati.

Speaker 1 (45:10):
Make us the number one preset on your car radio
and on the free new and improved iHeartRadio app.

Speaker 16 (45:15):
Free never sounded so good. ESPN fifteen thirty