August 19, 2025 • 25 mins
Tony and Austin talk with Joe Danneman from FOX19 about the Bengals preseason game and about the Reds, on ESPN 1530!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Cincy three to sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati, sponsored in
part by Cinci Shirts. Cincy Shirts, All Cinci all Day.
This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati sports station.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
We're back. It's our number two thanks to Cinci Shirts.
We've got talkbacks coming up in just a bit, our
best talkback of the week. We'll vote on at the
end of the week and give away a Cincy Shirts
gift card. But let's not waste any more time. Let's
get right to it. Their coverage of the Cincinnati Bengals
absolutely unbelievable all over the map. They also cover high
(00:36):
school football better than anyone you're gonna find, coverage of
the Reds and so much more. Our guy, Joe Daniman
is a part of it all, and he's nice enough
to join us here on Tuesdays as he does right now.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Hi, Joe, So Tony. If Reddy wasn't one of our
choices for Game of the week, unreal, which it wasn't,
I know, did you vote? Who'd you vote for?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Lakota westn Stax.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Yeah, that's going to run away with it yet.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
A lot of star power, a lot of star power.
But I assumed I assumed you know Cash Horny, My
got cash at cub cath he comes in at at
the what I believe number five for you.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Guys, number five in the top nineteen, one of three
quarterback in our top five of the top nineteen seniors.
You'll see the other two. But I'm guessing you can
figure out at least one of those players who's going
to be in our top five of our nineteen seniors,
no doubt.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
So how many how many from your guys team will
be out reading on Friday night?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
At least one? Okay, at least one, Yes, we will.
We will be their tone to make sure you see
the highlights when you're bellied up at the bar at.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Augie making sure.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
I can't remember who I voted for. I didn't vote
for the Big Game and I didn't vote for reading.
What were the other options? I know I voted for something.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
How about Cooper Anderson, which is two teams who finished
state runner up last year? Or Baden and Hamilton?
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Yeah, Hamilton, there is Yeah, I voted for Hamilton and Baden.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Yeah. Out of Baby Audie.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I gotta ask Joe. We're going to try to start
with the positives. What what is your biggest positive takeaway
from last night's Bengals win over the Commanders.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Evan McPherson made a year let's go. Let's not least listen,
haven't We sat here and talked all off season about
the importance of him being a weapon for this team
and him consistently making fifty plus yarders. When he's doing
that to Bengalis, they're a different team. Yes, there's no
doubt that's a positive. Certainly, Jake Browning had not looked
(02:43):
good in the preseason, had not had a training camp,
that was something you would want to write home about.
But I thought he performed much better last night. Again
doing Fairchild take steps to prove once again that it's
his spot and there's no questioning it, and I think
the Bengals made the right pick with him. I like
the usage of Chase brown over the two preseason games
(03:05):
and the amount of touches. The way he punched the
ball in at the one yard line showed some toughness,
showed some strength, showed some grit to punch that ball
in at the goal line. Because we know short yardage
running hasn't been a strength of this team in recent years,
so there are things to walk away from the game.
Most importantly, Joe Burrow is alive in one piece after
(03:29):
I still don't know what that was. He came back
for that last drive and I was just sitting here
saying to myself, I don't know what they're trying to accomplish.
You know, after the fact, Joe comes in and says
he wants to get work in with some of the
younger guys on the at the skill position area that
they couldn't get open. And it almost cost the Bengals
(03:52):
the season with Joe running around, everybody yelling Joe, just
just throw the ball anywhere, going it at a defender,
Just hand him the I wanted Joe Burrow when he
was running back when he took the seventeen yard sack,
just went out of the back of the end zone.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Just take the safety, give it to give the ball
to one of the linemen that we're standing around.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
To give it to him. Do it whatever you gotta do.
Just get to week one healthy, and I think the
Bengals have accomplished that. At least.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Charlie Jones has had a really good camp. Did Mitchell
Tinsley make this roster last night?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Well, A lot of the people who do the roster
gymnastics say that, yes, Mitchell Tinsley has made the roster,
and I found it funny that Joe was talking about
some of the younger guys and he referenced to Mitchell Tinsley.
Mitchell Tinsley's twenty five. He's got an amazing story of
where where he's come from. He started out of the
community college and then he went to Western Kentucky, then
(04:47):
finally got a shot at the big time at Penn State.
Was an undracted free agent who went to Washington and
now shows up on Monday Nights Football and goes full
Megatron on his former team, catching two touchdowns that required
a lot of athletic ability, high pointing the football, getting
his feet down making plays. That was exciting and fun
(05:08):
to see a guy get a chance like that on
a night. He was also a captain going out to
midfield to represent the Bengals on Monday Night Football. But
the people who do the roster gymnastics closer than I do,
believe that he will be the number six wide receiver.
I still think it's probably going to come down to
a decision on one extra wide receiver or one extra
(05:30):
tight end, and the Bengals are going to have to
make a hard decision with that going forward. But certainly
Charlie Jones, with what he does in special teams and
then him showing up last night and making some plays
has solidified his spot. And then Mitchell Tinsley making plays
is now going to make it hard for the Bengals
to cut him because if he does get cut, he's
gonna end up somewhere making plays.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
You know, you mentioned Joe Burrow wanting to get work
in with some of the younger guys. Zach Taylor kind
of alluded to practice when asked about the defense and
talked about how good the defense has been at times
at practice. It would feel a little easier to me
if Joe Burrow took practice reps to work with those
guys in a controlled setting, because like you, when Chase
(06:14):
Brown and Jamar Chase and t Higgins are out of
the game and then you, okay, run it back for
a series, but you could tell during that series that
the guys just weren't getting the separation that Joe needed,
and then you run it back out there again. I
don't know, Joe, that I've ever been more nervous in
watching a preseason football game than I was with how
we watched that last night, because, as Ted Carras said,
(06:36):
Joe Burrow is the hopes and dreams of this team,
and if those go out the window in a meaningless
preseason game with none of the other skill guys around him,
that would have been a disaster.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
It was an unforgivable and it would have followed Zach
Taylor the rest of this season in a season that
his seed is already a bit warm here in Cincinnati.
And so I was joking that it would have been
hilarious if about two plays into that drive where where
Joe was out there with the backup skill players, if
if Zach Cambrill just went out like Terry Francona and
(07:08):
was just you know, pointing to his right arm as
he was walking to the huddle for Jake Brown to
come out of the bullpens and just take the football
from Joe Burrow and say you're done. That's that's it,
it's over. And we've all said this before, right with
professional athletes, sometimes you have to protect him against themselves.
And and we we've been around Joe Burrow long enough
(07:30):
now here, and we listened to him long enough to
understand the kind of competitor he is and the kind
of work he wants, and he likes to be hit,
and he wants to play football, and he wanted it
for himself. But at some point a coach has to
step in and say, now, wait a minute, it's the
risk versus the reward here. It is not worth it
(07:51):
because the entire season is relying upon Joe Burrow's health.
And that's just we could talk about Jake Browning had
a nice game and play better, but if Joe Burrow
goes down, the season's over. I mean, the Bengals can
still play competitive football with Jake Browning considering the weapons
they have, but we all get it. If Burrow's not
(08:12):
out there, this team cannot accomplish what they want to accomplish.
He's the most important person in the building. He's the
most important athlete in this city. And what we were
watching on that last drive last night just felt to
me like it was unnecessary. I think that's the word
I was landing on. It just kind of felt unnecessary.
Joe got everything he needed from this preseason in the
(08:36):
first couple of drives against the Eagles and against the Commanders.
They were playing with fire. They got away with it
even if Joe wanted it. Somebody had to step in
and protect Joe from himself. The good thing is it's
over now, and I cannot imagine a scenario where he
plays on Saturday against the Colts.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
I can't imagine a scenario as well where you can
let Dalton Riisen or leave Cincinnati today. I mean, with
what we've seen from an offensive line point of view,
can you let him leave Cincinnati without a deal in place?
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Well, I mean it's August nineteen, so you're not going
to go out and find someone you're not. Every NFL
team needs help on the offensive line. We get that
at this point. So if a guy's still available on
August nineteenth, he's probably not the perfect fix to come
in here and be the final infinity stone to make
the Bengals hole on offense and the best offense in
(09:30):
the NFL. But but can he be better? Is he
a better option? Does his profile at least as his
strengths and weaknesses help this team. I mean, his profile
says that Dalton Reisner is a great pass blocking guard,
not a great run blocking guard, and one of the
Bengals need more than anything. They need people that can
keep Joe Burrow healthy. So he's probably a better option
(09:53):
right now than what the Bengals have. Certainly, Lucaspatrick has
not shown well in games. I sure hope that that
Lucas Patrick's lasting image in Cincinnati isn't him putting his
arms up as Joe Burrow's running around for his life
in Washington on Monday Night Football. But to your point,
(10:14):
Dalton Reisner, if he's interested in signing here and the
money is right, he has to be a better option
than what they have right now. Even if he's not
the perfect option, I think anybody would tell you that
they need something better than what they're getting from right
guard right now, because right now Lucas Patrick is not
giving them what they need. And it's pretty glaric. You
(10:37):
don't even have to throw on the All twenty two.
You can just watch the game on television and see
the moments where Lucas Patrick is causing chaos in the
backfield for the quarterback. So Joe Burrow needs to go
out what take them them precincts, or get the cheese
and crackers ready, whatever it takes to keep Dalton Reisner
in Cincinnati and signing a deal, because I do think
(10:59):
even though he's not the per candidate, because it's August
nineteenth and he hasn't been signed by anybody, so he's
obviously someone who comes with some wartz, but he has
to be better than what we've seen so far from
right guard.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
During the preseason games, we often talk about complimentary football
in the National Football League. When the Bengals defense is
as porous as it appears to be. Do you think
Zach Taylor will adjust the way he calls games and
not necessarily to get entirely away from the identity of
his team, but do you think that he should change
(11:33):
the way he approaches the offense just to keep his
defense off the field a little bit.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
I think it's an interesting thought and certainly one that
people like us would discuss. I just don't think so
once you get into a game, when you have such
explosive players that you can dial it back and take
your foot off the gas of what makes you successful.
This is always going to be a pad heavy team
(12:01):
from what they've invested in, and while I think it's
a good thought, I just don't think you can change
the identity of who you are to protect yourself from
what's on the other side of the football. Sure, certainly
there there can be ideas and discussion points on just that.
(12:22):
But I just don't think they're built to do that,
not with the personnel. And we we've we've criticized that before,
right of taking the ball out of Joe's hands, right,
and uh, it hasn't gone well when when they've done that.
And I think you have to maintain the identity of
(12:45):
who you are offensively. But but it's certainly there are
situational moments in the NFL is so much about situational
football and the ideas of fourth quarter and and playing
keep away and holding onto the ball and formative offense
and two man offense and all these important things that
kind of situational football. Austin, I think that might be
(13:07):
an area where you start looking at this team maybe
deciding that, listen, we have to do things a little
bit different to protect our defense, because you've seen it before.
I mean, team teams are able to do that. I
just don't know if the Bengals are equipped to do
that offensively with their personnel in their style of run game.
(13:29):
So yeah, I think the the easy answer is it's
hard to do for this team, considering their identity and
the way they're built on offense. But I also think situationally,
it has to be a discussion point for this team
to be successful and to win games, because that's what
it comes down to. You know, the Bengals can talk
about having the best passing offense in the world, and
(13:49):
they take a lot of pride in that they've said
that openly before without even being asked about it, that
that's what they want to be, that's what they want
their identity to be. But also at the same time,
it's about winning games, and if winning games is getting
first downs and chewing clock in the fourth quarter, that
that certainly has to be a situational football conversation that
the coaches need to have.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
You know, I watched last night and they get bludgeoned
on the ground by the Washington Commanders, much like they
did against Philly. Demetrius Knight looked out of position. I
thought Logan Wilson had a rough night. You can make
the case that Jordan Battle wanted no part of trying
to tackle Jayden Daniels as he ran into the end
zone and did so standing up. What do you make
(14:33):
at this point Joe of where this defense is because
I don't even know at this point. And we'll talk
about Trey Hendrickson in a moment. I don't know how
much Trey Hendrickson changes who this defense is. We've seen
two opportunities, they have failed both in all likelihood. The
next chance we get is going to be in Cleveland.
I don't know how you can build any confidence around
(14:55):
what we've seen in this defense up to this point.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
So here here's my take on this. And I think
it's easy to hop on the phone here and talk
to you guys and shred the defense because look, the
optics are what they are. What we saw in Philadelphia
and Washington simply isn't good enough, and there's a lot
to unpack with it. But let me say this, let
me spend it just a little bit different for a
(15:20):
different discussion. Point. If we weren't going to judge the
Bengals defense until week one, and we've said that many
times that we've heard about the attitude and the energy
of the Bengals defensive training camp, Right, if we weren't
going to judge the Bengals defense until week one, then
we can't overact to what we're watching right now. I
know how it looks. We all watch the games. But
(15:43):
if the two extremes are okay, Number one, this is
too much like last year, it'll be the reason they
don't make the playoffs. Or number two, they aren't showing
the playbook and they remain confident that when they're hold
they'll use the whole playbook and they'll be improved. Okay,
I'm maintaining that I'm skeptic until the regular season starts,
and nothing that happens at training camp or in the
(16:05):
preseason will change my mind whether that's good, whether that's bad.
And it's not been good so far. But again, I'm
not going to judge this defense on what they're doing
at training camp or what they're doing in the preseason.
We could talk about poor angles, and there were a
lot of them from Jordan Battle and Demetrious Knight. I
think you to go back and watch the game again closer.
I watch it again this morning. The chemistry between Logan
(16:27):
Wilson and Demetrious Knight just seems a little bit off
right now that that they that both of them seem
slow to go to where they want to go because
maybe they're not sure what the other is going to
do at this point, chemistry matters at that position. It's
been off. Jordan Battle really jumped out to me last
night with his angles and and I think overall that
(16:48):
the defense, and Marvin Lewis used to always use the
word about being sudden on defense. There there's there's no suddenness,
there's no there's no bursts, there's there there's a lack
of speed that that you're seeing for this from this defense.
And then to me, those are all concerning. But again,
I'm not going to judge this team and their defense
until I see them week one against Cleveland, and maybe
(17:12):
even that might be skewed because of what Cleveland's gonna
put on the football field at cornerback and at their
skill positions. They're not a big challenge in week one,
But we're going to see what this team really is
in Week one. And to your point with Trey Hendrickson,
you know, Trey Hendrickson is elite at one thing, right
He's an elite pass rusher, and that's a very important
(17:33):
value in the NFL. But if right now the biggest
concern is run defense and a run defense that was
giving up just an astronomical number per carry last night.
Trey isn't the answer for that. That answer, to me
is what's most concerning. So even if you put Trey
back out there and listen, we all get it. The
(17:54):
Bengals need him, but I'm not sure he's the answer
to help this team with run defense. And to me
in the preseason, that just seems like such a fundamental
thing to be competitive at the line of scrimmage angles speed, violence,
not pulling up at the two yard line when Jade
Daniels is running the ball in the Commanders didn't pull up.
(18:16):
They grabbed Joe Burrow by the horse collar and threw
it to the ground. So yeah, there's a lot with
the defense there, and the optics I get it aren't good.
But again, I'm going to judge this team what they
do in the regular season.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Where do you stand now? We've talked so much in
the offseason about Trey Hendrickson and all along. I think
Austin and I have been in agreement that it feels
like once the Week one gets here, they'll get something done.
He'll be on the trip to Cleveland and he'll be playing.
I don't know that I feel as confident in that
today as opposed to what we did last week. Where
(18:50):
do you stand right now as it pertains to Trey
Hendrickson and the likelihood or unlikelihood that he's playing against Cleveland.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
I understand where where the trefagation would be right now
with Trey and how the confidence would start to wear
just a little bit. I'm not there. I'm still confident
that the Bangles and Trey Hendrickson will get something done.
As the deadline starts to get closer and closer. Deadlines
(19:21):
make deals, and the deadline is very soon for the
Bengals to get something done with Trey Hendrickson. I maintained
that Trey Hendrickson will not leave money on the table,
will not skip game checks, and will play football Week
one in Cleveland. I'm okay saying that year. I'm okay
that if I'm wrong, you can replay this back and
(19:42):
say I was wrong. That that happens quite often. But
I do maintain but by the feel of this situation,
In watching the situation from the way Trey has discussed it,
the way Mike Brown has discussed it, the way Duke
Tobin has discussed it, Trey being there last night, it
all adds up to me that it's a guy in
(20:05):
an organization that understand the value of each other to
each other, and for that reason, I do believe they're
going to get something done. We believe that he'll get
a very high per year average. We all believe both
sides when they say that they believe Trey Hendrickson deserves
a raise and deserves more years. If it is coming
(20:26):
down to guaranteed money, I think at some point it'll
likely be Tray that says, Okay, fine, I'll just go
ahead and accept this, sign this and go play football.
But I do maintain confidence that Trey Hendrickson will get
a deal done that will have him on the field
Week one in Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
We would be remiss, Joe if we did not at
least touch base on the Reds right now, because as
this summer has gone on and now we get into
later August, this team is still in the thick of
a wild card hunt, the one game behind the Mets.
Their pitching is so good that it's hard to believe
that the pitching is going to falter and they're going
to just leave this race completely. How much of a
(21:07):
chance do you give them down the stretch knowing where
the rotation is and some of the deficiencies they have
on offense as a whole, but they've helped their defense
with key Brian Hayes. Where do you kind of stake
the Reds chances right now to continue making a run
at this wild card spot.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
I like their chances better than the Mets, And I'm
being honest about that. And that's not me being a
Homer as a guy from Cincinnati. That's me being critical
of what's happening right now in New York and the
way the Reds look. I just like I like the
energy about the Reds, and I like the fact that
the Mets have a lot of pressure on them. It
(21:46):
feels like the Mets this final month, month plus is
going to start to weigh on them. And I like
the fact that the Reds have the Mets one more
time in a home series of Great American Ballpark. But mostly, guys,
what I like most about the Reds right now is
is that their lineup seems to be lengthening. We've talked
often about the Reds needs someone else to go with
(22:09):
Ellie and go with TJ. Friedel and perform like a star.
And I thought for the longest time that was gonna
be Spencer Steer, and Spencer Steers had a much better
summer than he did spring. But it's been Newelvie Marte
and what Newelvie mart Is brought to this team the
last few weeks. If that's sustainable over the rest of
(22:29):
August and in the September and a push towards the playoffs,
that's another reliable bat for this team. They've been looking
for that right handed gas pick, gap over the wall,
right handed bat, and it feels like to me, Noelvie
Marte has provided that. It's been a huge difference maker.
T Brian Hayes. Can you play defense for the Bengals.
(22:51):
His defense has been unbelievable, but he's also hitting enough
for him to be a quality guy at the bottom
of the lineup. You've got six hits in his last
five year and including a little bit of power. But
the last thing I'll say about the Reds and Terry
Francona did it last night, was that they'd have to
find places where they don't run Tony Santion and Emilio
(23:12):
Pagot out every single night. He has to try to
trust some of these guys and he trusted Barlow last night,
and Scott Barlow delivered with four strikeouts to end the game,
and maybe that could be a Chase Burns when he
gets back. Can he trust Grant Ashcraft and higher leverage
because the one thing that will get this team beat
(23:33):
in September, when every game's going to matter for this
team is if they get to the age or ninth
inning and Tony Santian and Emilio Pagan are just out
of gas from being overused all year long. Those late
inning losses can feel like two losses. They feel like
gut punches, and they can linger and they can build,
and they can derail a team trying to go on
(23:54):
a run. So Terry Francona has to find a way
to trust some of these other guys at the bottom
of the rotation, excuse me, at the bottom of the bullpen,
for these high leverage innings. And he did so last
night and the Reds got a win, and I like
their position. It's going to be those first ten days
in September. Look at the schedule, you're gonna see it.
You're gonna see three hard series, Blue Jays, Mets, and Padres.
(24:18):
That's to me that ten day stretch at the start
of September. On September first, is going to be the
most important ten day stretch of this season.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
That is Joe Daneman from Fox nineteen High School Football
getting underway. College football is here, NFL read so much
that you guys are covering two parts to end it.
Have you given any more thought to making the trip
to Kansas City next Thursday? And what else you got
coming up on Fox nineteen.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
I wish man, we have to tape a Bengal show
on Thursday. That week, we have a big Bengals preseason
excuse me, regular season preview that I'm co hosting with
Marisa Contapelli of Okay. We're taping it that day. And
then this weekend, big weekend, Friday Night, we debut our
(25:04):
thirty minutes final quarter show High School Football. It's going
to be a big one. I can't wait for It's
my favorite show of the week. And then Saturday noon
one hour pregame show one o'clock the Desmond Ritter game.
You're gonna see it on Fox nineteen now Bengals and
Colts one o'clock at pay Course Stadium on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Let's go, Joe you're the best man. Thank you so
much for your time.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
All right, boys, Yea?
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Joe Daniman, Fox nineteen The Best UH Talkbacks Next on
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Yeah, your chance at a
Cincy three to sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati, sponsored in
part by Cinci Shirts. Cincy Shirts, All Cinci all Day.
This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati sports station.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
We're back. It's our number two thanks to Cinci Shirts.
We've got talkbacks coming up in just a bit, our
best talkback of the week. We'll vote on at the
end of the week and give away a Cincy Shirts
gift card. But let's not waste any more time. Let's
get right to it. Their coverage of the Cincinnati Bengals
absolutely unbelievable all over the map. They also cover high
(00:36):
school football better than anyone you're gonna find, coverage of
the Reds and so much more. Our guy, Joe Daniman
is a part of it all, and he's nice enough
to join us here on Tuesdays as he does right now.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Hi, Joe, So Tony. If Reddy wasn't one of our
choices for Game of the week, unreal, which it wasn't,
I know, did you vote? Who'd you vote for?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Lakota westn Stax.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Yeah, that's going to run away with it yet.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
A lot of star power, a lot of star power.
But I assumed I assumed you know Cash Horny, My
got cash at cub cath he comes in at at
the what I believe number five for you.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Guys, number five in the top nineteen, one of three
quarterback in our top five of the top nineteen seniors.
You'll see the other two. But I'm guessing you can
figure out at least one of those players who's going
to be in our top five of our nineteen seniors,
no doubt.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
So how many how many from your guys team will
be out reading on Friday night?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
At least one? Okay, at least one, Yes, we will.
We will be their tone to make sure you see
the highlights when you're bellied up at the bar at.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Augie making sure.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
I can't remember who I voted for. I didn't vote
for the Big Game and I didn't vote for reading.
What were the other options? I know I voted for something.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
How about Cooper Anderson, which is two teams who finished
state runner up last year? Or Baden and Hamilton?
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Yeah, Hamilton, there is Yeah, I voted for Hamilton and Baden.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Yeah. Out of Baby Audie.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I gotta ask Joe. We're going to try to start
with the positives. What what is your biggest positive takeaway
from last night's Bengals win over the Commanders.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Evan McPherson made a year let's go. Let's not least listen,
haven't We sat here and talked all off season about
the importance of him being a weapon for this team
and him consistently making fifty plus yarders. When he's doing
that to Bengalis, they're a different team. Yes, there's no
doubt that's a positive. Certainly, Jake Browning had not looked
(02:43):
good in the preseason, had not had a training camp,
that was something you would want to write home about.
But I thought he performed much better last night. Again
doing Fairchild take steps to prove once again that it's
his spot and there's no questioning it, and I think
the Bengals made the right pick with him. I like
the usage of Chase brown over the two preseason games
(03:05):
and the amount of touches. The way he punched the
ball in at the one yard line showed some toughness,
showed some strength, showed some grit to punch that ball
in at the goal line. Because we know short yardage
running hasn't been a strength of this team in recent years,
so there are things to walk away from the game.
Most importantly, Joe Burrow is alive in one piece after
(03:29):
I still don't know what that was. He came back
for that last drive and I was just sitting here
saying to myself, I don't know what they're trying to accomplish.
You know, after the fact, Joe comes in and says
he wants to get work in with some of the
younger guys on the at the skill position area that
they couldn't get open. And it almost cost the Bengals
(03:52):
the season with Joe running around, everybody yelling Joe, just
just throw the ball anywhere, going it at a defender,
Just hand him the I wanted Joe Burrow when he
was running back when he took the seventeen yard sack,
just went out of the back of the end zone.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Just take the safety, give it to give the ball
to one of the linemen that we're standing around.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
To give it to him. Do it whatever you gotta do.
Just get to week one healthy, and I think the
Bengals have accomplished that. At least.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Charlie Jones has had a really good camp. Did Mitchell
Tinsley make this roster last night?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Well, A lot of the people who do the roster
gymnastics say that, yes, Mitchell Tinsley has made the roster,
and I found it funny that Joe was talking about
some of the younger guys and he referenced to Mitchell Tinsley.
Mitchell Tinsley's twenty five. He's got an amazing story of
where where he's come from. He started out of the
community college and then he went to Western Kentucky, then
(04:47):
finally got a shot at the big time at Penn State.
Was an undracted free agent who went to Washington and
now shows up on Monday Nights Football and goes full
Megatron on his former team, catching two touchdowns that required
a lot of athletic ability, high pointing the football, getting
his feet down making plays. That was exciting and fun
(05:08):
to see a guy get a chance like that on
a night. He was also a captain going out to
midfield to represent the Bengals on Monday Night Football. But
the people who do the roster gymnastics closer than I do,
believe that he will be the number six wide receiver.
I still think it's probably going to come down to
a decision on one extra wide receiver or one extra
(05:30):
tight end, and the Bengals are going to have to
make a hard decision with that going forward. But certainly
Charlie Jones, with what he does in special teams and
then him showing up last night and making some plays
has solidified his spot. And then Mitchell Tinsley making plays
is now going to make it hard for the Bengals
to cut him because if he does get cut, he's
gonna end up somewhere making plays.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
You know, you mentioned Joe Burrow wanting to get work
in with some of the younger guys. Zach Taylor kind
of alluded to practice when asked about the defense and
talked about how good the defense has been at times
at practice. It would feel a little easier to me
if Joe Burrow took practice reps to work with those
guys in a controlled setting, because like you, when Chase
(06:14):
Brown and Jamar Chase and t Higgins are out of
the game and then you, okay, run it back for
a series, but you could tell during that series that
the guys just weren't getting the separation that Joe needed,
and then you run it back out there again. I
don't know, Joe, that I've ever been more nervous in
watching a preseason football game than I was with how
we watched that last night, because, as Ted Carras said,
(06:36):
Joe Burrow is the hopes and dreams of this team,
and if those go out the window in a meaningless
preseason game with none of the other skill guys around him,
that would have been a disaster.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
It was an unforgivable and it would have followed Zach
Taylor the rest of this season in a season that
his seed is already a bit warm here in Cincinnati.
And so I was joking that it would have been
hilarious if about two plays into that drive where where
Joe was out there with the backup skill players, if
if Zach Cambrill just went out like Terry Francona and
(07:08):
was just you know, pointing to his right arm as
he was walking to the huddle for Jake Brown to
come out of the bullpens and just take the football
from Joe Burrow and say you're done. That's that's it,
it's over. And we've all said this before, right with
professional athletes, sometimes you have to protect him against themselves.
And and we we've been around Joe Burrow long enough
(07:30):
now here, and we listened to him long enough to
understand the kind of competitor he is and the kind
of work he wants, and he likes to be hit,
and he wants to play football, and he wanted it
for himself. But at some point a coach has to
step in and say, now, wait a minute, it's the
risk versus the reward here. It is not worth it
(07:51):
because the entire season is relying upon Joe Burrow's health.
And that's just we could talk about Jake Browning had
a nice game and play better, but if Joe Burrow
goes down, the season's over. I mean, the Bengals can
still play competitive football with Jake Browning considering the weapons
they have, but we all get it. If Burrow's not
(08:12):
out there, this team cannot accomplish what they want to accomplish.
He's the most important person in the building. He's the
most important athlete in this city. And what we were
watching on that last drive last night just felt to
me like it was unnecessary. I think that's the word
I was landing on. It just kind of felt unnecessary.
Joe got everything he needed from this preseason in the
(08:36):
first couple of drives against the Eagles and against the Commanders.
They were playing with fire. They got away with it
even if Joe wanted it. Somebody had to step in
and protect Joe from himself. The good thing is it's
over now, and I cannot imagine a scenario where he
plays on Saturday against the Colts.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
I can't imagine a scenario as well where you can
let Dalton Riisen or leave Cincinnati today. I mean, with
what we've seen from an offensive line point of view,
can you let him leave Cincinnati without a deal in place?
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Well, I mean it's August nineteen, so you're not going
to go out and find someone you're not. Every NFL
team needs help on the offensive line. We get that
at this point. So if a guy's still available on
August nineteenth, he's probably not the perfect fix to come
in here and be the final infinity stone to make
the Bengals hole on offense and the best offense in
(09:30):
the NFL. But but can he be better? Is he
a better option? Does his profile at least as his
strengths and weaknesses help this team. I mean, his profile
says that Dalton Reisner is a great pass blocking guard,
not a great run blocking guard, and one of the
Bengals need more than anything. They need people that can
keep Joe Burrow healthy. So he's probably a better option
(09:53):
right now than what the Bengals have. Certainly, Lucaspatrick has
not shown well in games. I sure hope that that
Lucas Patrick's lasting image in Cincinnati isn't him putting his
arms up as Joe Burrow's running around for his life
in Washington on Monday Night Football. But to your point,
(10:14):
Dalton Reisner, if he's interested in signing here and the
money is right, he has to be a better option
than what they have right now. Even if he's not
the perfect option, I think anybody would tell you that
they need something better than what they're getting from right
guard right now, because right now Lucas Patrick is not
giving them what they need. And it's pretty glaric. You
(10:37):
don't even have to throw on the All twenty two.
You can just watch the game on television and see
the moments where Lucas Patrick is causing chaos in the
backfield for the quarterback. So Joe Burrow needs to go
out what take them them precincts, or get the cheese
and crackers ready, whatever it takes to keep Dalton Reisner
in Cincinnati and signing a deal, because I do think
(10:59):
even though he's not the per candidate, because it's August
nineteenth and he hasn't been signed by anybody, so he's
obviously someone who comes with some wartz, but he has
to be better than what we've seen so far from
right guard.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
During the preseason games, we often talk about complimentary football
in the National Football League. When the Bengals defense is
as porous as it appears to be. Do you think
Zach Taylor will adjust the way he calls games and
not necessarily to get entirely away from the identity of
his team, but do you think that he should change
(11:33):
the way he approaches the offense just to keep his
defense off the field a little bit.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
I think it's an interesting thought and certainly one that
people like us would discuss. I just don't think so
once you get into a game, when you have such
explosive players that you can dial it back and take
your foot off the gas of what makes you successful.
This is always going to be a pad heavy team
(12:01):
from what they've invested in, and while I think it's
a good thought, I just don't think you can change
the identity of who you are to protect yourself from
what's on the other side of the football. Sure, certainly
there there can be ideas and discussion points on just that.
(12:22):
But I just don't think they're built to do that,
not with the personnel. And we we've we've criticized that before,
right of taking the ball out of Joe's hands, right,
and uh, it hasn't gone well when when they've done that.
And I think you have to maintain the identity of
(12:45):
who you are offensively. But but it's certainly there are
situational moments in the NFL is so much about situational
football and the ideas of fourth quarter and and playing
keep away and holding onto the ball and formative offense
and two man offense and all these important things that
kind of situational football. Austin, I think that might be
(13:07):
an area where you start looking at this team maybe
deciding that, listen, we have to do things a little
bit different to protect our defense, because you've seen it before.
I mean, team teams are able to do that. I
just don't know if the Bengals are equipped to do
that offensively with their personnel in their style of run game.
(13:29):
So yeah, I think the the easy answer is it's
hard to do for this team, considering their identity and
the way they're built on offense. But I also think situationally,
it has to be a discussion point for this team
to be successful and to win games, because that's what
it comes down to. You know, the Bengals can talk
about having the best passing offense in the world, and
(13:49):
they take a lot of pride in that they've said
that openly before without even being asked about it, that
that's what they want to be, that's what they want
their identity to be. But also at the same time,
it's about winning games, and if winning games is getting
first downs and chewing clock in the fourth quarter, that
that certainly has to be a situational football conversation that
the coaches need to have.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
You know, I watched last night and they get bludgeoned
on the ground by the Washington Commanders, much like they
did against Philly. Demetrius Knight looked out of position. I
thought Logan Wilson had a rough night. You can make
the case that Jordan Battle wanted no part of trying
to tackle Jayden Daniels as he ran into the end
zone and did so standing up. What do you make
(14:33):
at this point Joe of where this defense is because
I don't even know at this point. And we'll talk
about Trey Hendrickson in a moment. I don't know how
much Trey Hendrickson changes who this defense is. We've seen
two opportunities, they have failed both in all likelihood. The
next chance we get is going to be in Cleveland.
I don't know how you can build any confidence around
(14:55):
what we've seen in this defense up to this point.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
So here here's my take on this. And I think
it's easy to hop on the phone here and talk
to you guys and shred the defense because look, the
optics are what they are. What we saw in Philadelphia
and Washington simply isn't good enough, and there's a lot
to unpack with it. But let me say this, let
me spend it just a little bit different for a
(15:20):
different discussion. Point. If we weren't going to judge the
Bengals defense until week one, and we've said that many
times that we've heard about the attitude and the energy
of the Bengals defensive training camp, Right, if we weren't
going to judge the Bengals defense until week one, then
we can't overact to what we're watching right now. I
know how it looks. We all watch the games. But
(15:43):
if the two extremes are okay, Number one, this is
too much like last year, it'll be the reason they
don't make the playoffs. Or number two, they aren't showing
the playbook and they remain confident that when they're hold
they'll use the whole playbook and they'll be improved. Okay,
I'm maintaining that I'm skeptic until the regular season starts,
and nothing that happens at training camp or in the
(16:05):
preseason will change my mind whether that's good, whether that's bad.
And it's not been good so far. But again, I'm
not going to judge this defense on what they're doing
at training camp or what they're doing in the preseason.
We could talk about poor angles, and there were a
lot of them from Jordan Battle and Demetrious Knight. I
think you to go back and watch the game again closer.
I watch it again this morning. The chemistry between Logan
(16:27):
Wilson and Demetrious Knight just seems a little bit off
right now that that they that both of them seem
slow to go to where they want to go because
maybe they're not sure what the other is going to
do at this point, chemistry matters at that position. It's
been off. Jordan Battle really jumped out to me last
night with his angles and and I think overall that
(16:48):
the defense, and Marvin Lewis used to always use the
word about being sudden on defense. There there's there's no suddenness,
there's no there's no bursts, there's there there's a lack
of speed that that you're seeing for this from this defense.
And then to me, those are all concerning. But again,
I'm not going to judge this team and their defense
until I see them week one against Cleveland, and maybe
(17:12):
even that might be skewed because of what Cleveland's gonna
put on the football field at cornerback and at their
skill positions. They're not a big challenge in week one,
But we're going to see what this team really is
in Week one. And to your point with Trey Hendrickson,
you know, Trey Hendrickson is elite at one thing, right
He's an elite pass rusher, and that's a very important
(17:33):
value in the NFL. But if right now the biggest
concern is run defense and a run defense that was
giving up just an astronomical number per carry last night.
Trey isn't the answer for that. That answer, to me
is what's most concerning. So even if you put Trey
back out there and listen, we all get it. The
(17:54):
Bengals need him, but I'm not sure he's the answer
to help this team with run defense. And to me
in the preseason, that just seems like such a fundamental
thing to be competitive at the line of scrimmage angles speed, violence,
not pulling up at the two yard line when Jade
Daniels is running the ball in the Commanders didn't pull up.
(18:16):
They grabbed Joe Burrow by the horse collar and threw
it to the ground. So yeah, there's a lot with
the defense there, and the optics I get it aren't good.
But again, I'm going to judge this team what they
do in the regular season.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Where do you stand now? We've talked so much in
the offseason about Trey Hendrickson and all along. I think
Austin and I have been in agreement that it feels
like once the Week one gets here, they'll get something done.
He'll be on the trip to Cleveland and he'll be playing.
I don't know that I feel as confident in that
today as opposed to what we did last week. Where
(18:50):
do you stand right now as it pertains to Trey
Hendrickson and the likelihood or unlikelihood that he's playing against Cleveland.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
I understand where where the trefagation would be right now
with Trey and how the confidence would start to wear
just a little bit. I'm not there. I'm still confident
that the Bangles and Trey Hendrickson will get something done.
As the deadline starts to get closer and closer. Deadlines
(19:21):
make deals, and the deadline is very soon for the
Bengals to get something done with Trey Hendrickson. I maintained
that Trey Hendrickson will not leave money on the table,
will not skip game checks, and will play football Week
one in Cleveland. I'm okay saying that year. I'm okay
that if I'm wrong, you can replay this back and
(19:42):
say I was wrong. That that happens quite often. But
I do maintain but by the feel of this situation,
In watching the situation from the way Trey has discussed it,
the way Mike Brown has discussed it, the way Duke
Tobin has discussed it, Trey being there last night, it
all adds up to me that it's a guy in
(20:05):
an organization that understand the value of each other to
each other, and for that reason, I do believe they're
going to get something done. We believe that he'll get
a very high per year average. We all believe both
sides when they say that they believe Trey Hendrickson deserves
a raise and deserves more years. If it is coming
(20:26):
down to guaranteed money, I think at some point it'll
likely be Tray that says, Okay, fine, I'll just go
ahead and accept this, sign this and go play football.
But I do maintain confidence that Trey Hendrickson will get
a deal done that will have him on the field
Week one in Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
We would be remiss, Joe if we did not at
least touch base on the Reds right now, because as
this summer has gone on and now we get into
later August, this team is still in the thick of
a wild card hunt, the one game behind the Mets.
Their pitching is so good that it's hard to believe
that the pitching is going to falter and they're going
to just leave this race completely. How much of a
(21:07):
chance do you give them down the stretch knowing where
the rotation is and some of the deficiencies they have
on offense as a whole, but they've helped their defense
with key Brian Hayes. Where do you kind of stake
the Reds chances right now to continue making a run
at this wild card spot.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
I like their chances better than the Mets, And I'm
being honest about that. And that's not me being a
Homer as a guy from Cincinnati. That's me being critical
of what's happening right now in New York and the
way the Reds look. I just like I like the
energy about the Reds, and I like the fact that
the Mets have a lot of pressure on them. It
(21:46):
feels like the Mets this final month, month plus is
going to start to weigh on them. And I like
the fact that the Reds have the Mets one more
time in a home series of Great American Ballpark. But mostly, guys,
what I like most about the Reds right now is
is that their lineup seems to be lengthening. We've talked
often about the Reds needs someone else to go with
(22:09):
Ellie and go with TJ. Friedel and perform like a star.
And I thought for the longest time that was gonna
be Spencer Steer, and Spencer Steers had a much better
summer than he did spring. But it's been Newelvie Marte
and what Newelvie mart Is brought to this team the
last few weeks. If that's sustainable over the rest of
(22:29):
August and in the September and a push towards the playoffs,
that's another reliable bat for this team. They've been looking
for that right handed gas pick, gap over the wall,
right handed bat, and it feels like to me, Noelvie
Marte has provided that. It's been a huge difference maker.
T Brian Hayes. Can you play defense for the Bengals.
(22:51):
His defense has been unbelievable, but he's also hitting enough
for him to be a quality guy at the bottom
of the lineup. You've got six hits in his last
five year and including a little bit of power. But
the last thing I'll say about the Reds and Terry
Francona did it last night, was that they'd have to
find places where they don't run Tony Santion and Emilio
(23:12):
Pagot out every single night. He has to try to
trust some of these guys and he trusted Barlow last night,
and Scott Barlow delivered with four strikeouts to end the game,
and maybe that could be a Chase Burns when he
gets back. Can he trust Grant Ashcraft and higher leverage
because the one thing that will get this team beat
(23:33):
in September, when every game's going to matter for this
team is if they get to the age or ninth
inning and Tony Santian and Emilio Pagan are just out
of gas from being overused all year long. Those late
inning losses can feel like two losses. They feel like
gut punches, and they can linger and they can build,
and they can derail a team trying to go on
(23:54):
a run. So Terry Francona has to find a way
to trust some of these other guys at the bottom
of the rotation, excuse me, at the bottom of the bullpen,
for these high leverage innings. And he did so last
night and the Reds got a win, and I like
their position. It's going to be those first ten days
in September. Look at the schedule, you're gonna see it.
You're gonna see three hard series, Blue Jays, Mets, and Padres.
(24:18):
That's to me that ten day stretch at the start
of September. On September first, is going to be the
most important ten day stretch of this season.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
That is Joe Daneman from Fox nineteen High School Football
getting underway. College football is here, NFL read so much
that you guys are covering two parts to end it.
Have you given any more thought to making the trip
to Kansas City next Thursday? And what else you got
coming up on Fox nineteen.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
I wish man, we have to tape a Bengal show
on Thursday. That week, we have a big Bengals preseason
excuse me, regular season preview that I'm co hosting with
Marisa Contapelli of Okay. We're taping it that day. And
then this weekend, big weekend, Friday Night, we debut our
(25:04):
thirty minutes final quarter show High School Football. It's going
to be a big one. I can't wait for It's
my favorite show of the week. And then Saturday noon
one hour pregame show one o'clock the Desmond Ritter game.
You're gonna see it on Fox nineteen now Bengals and
Colts one o'clock at pay Course Stadium on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Let's go, Joe you're the best man. Thank you so
much for your time.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
All right, boys, Yea?
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Joe Daniman, Fox nineteen The Best UH Talkbacks Next on
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Yeah, your chance at a
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