Bengals Season Preview: Latest on Ja'Marr Chase, 53-Man Roster, Listener Mailbag, and More!

welcome back to the pfn Bengals podcast I am Dallas Robinson he is Jay Morrison Fresh Off injured reserve PP I don't know what we want to call it but returned from illness we were supposed to record yesterday we are now recording today to to go over all these transactions and moves The Bangles made these past couple days but Jay I think most important thing everyone wants to know is how are you feeling as as you recover from this couple day illness back from the dead I think would be the most accurate way to put it it was it was a rough couple days but uh I am I'm feeling you know you know when you're sick and you get back to like 80% it feels like like a 100 it just I mean I can't imagine what the next few days are going to feel like when I get all the way back but it it just feels awesome to be out of bed and uh able to do this podcast I know we were supposed to do it yesterday but I literally couldn't talk we had a we had a meeting a staff meeting yesterday and I'm just typing in stuff in the chat because I couldn't talk but everything's good now uh appreciate all the well wishes on Twitter and uh looking forward to diving back in we got a lot of Bengal stuff to get to today yes we do we're we're all glad to hear you're feeling better and you're right there's a lot of stuff going on it's obviously roster cutdown week practice squads transactions going on all over the NFL and but I think that the main thing that we've got to talk about from Bengals land is Jamar Chase's contract right yeah we he returned to practice for one day one exact day two two days two days suay Z Zack Taylor says he expects chamar Chase to practice and that everything is fine and we've got a plan for week one and then yesterday Jamar Chase does not practice so now it feels like we're maybe not quite back to square one but it it feels odd we don't know exactly where things stand yet Bengals will practice later this afternoon we'll see if Jamar participates in that or if he doesn't we're a you know a week plus away from regular season Jay where do things stand with Jamar like what are what are your thoughts on if he's going to be available for week one how this makes Zack Taylor look everything involved with Jamar where where do you stand on this yeah there's so many thoughts um just I I thought it was a really bad look that I mean not just not practicing a day after Zach said he would but the way he sauntered in you know late after the practice already started he just like he was trying to make a point um kind of just threw Zach under the bus either they're not talking as much as people believe they are and this this plan is in Zach's head it's not something they've actually worked out or they are talking and and Jamar just totally went back on on what he had told Zach he would do and that's what it feels like is what happened we don't know that for sure but it's just it's not a great look as far as him being ready for a week one I you know Joe burrow said it I think Zach knows it too they practice at one today or 1:30 today whether he's out there or not it is open to the media we will find out if he's practicing or not but I don't think that matters he he could come he he could even miss Monday he could come back Wednesday I think practice Wednesday Thursday Friday be good to go for Monday Zach did say he's fully healthy he's in great condition he's kept himself in shape he's got the rapport with with Joe burrow he knows the scheme I just I don't think it's that big of a deal U which is why I never thought he was gonna miss games all along and I I just I don't I don't understand this tact because we talked about it a lot Mike Brown just doesn't lose the staring contests and Jamar is running the risk of you know kind of I don't want to say angering but the Bengals they have all the leverage here and if if he wants to play this game and if he does want to sit out games which again I don't think was GNA happen because he's gonna lose more leverage because the Bengals are gonna go three and one without him and you you sit out and they keep winning that doesn't look good for you but if he does do something like that I mean the Bengals don't just own him for two more I don't want to say own him that's a bad way to say talk another human being they control his rights for two more years they can just say fine we're not negotiating next year either and we'll put the franchise tag on you in 2026 and so he really they can stick to their guns whatever dollar amount they're at right now they they don't have to budge off of that and it's kind of like a take it or leave it thing I don't think that's the way it's going to play out I think this is going to get smoothed over we've seen too many other instances of this where guys have been disgruntled and they fig GE Higgins Jonah Williams I mean Trey Hendrickson it goes on and on they figure out a way to smooth it out and points are made and then feelings are hurt and then men did and so I don't think it's GNA get to that but I I think Jamar has to be careful because it could get to that where he's you know if he's gonna threaten to sit out games the Bengals could really play hard ball here and there's not a lot Jamar could do and I'm not sure what he would get by sitting out games besides just send a message I mean at a certain point if he misses too many games he's eventually delaying his free agency I mean if he misses a certain amount of games and doesn't pick up that AC crude season I don't think it's ever gonna come to anything close to that I mean I I can't imagine that it would but it does make you wonder where negotiation stand if something specific happened that made Jamar angry that led him to not go to this practice like did the CD lamb contract play a part in this hey lamb is now at $34 million a year just under Jamar Jefferson at 35 million a year did did that figure play some role in where Jamar is with the Bengals that's pure speculation we really don't know but it just felt so odd it felt like okay Jamar made his statement over the summer now we're gonna get back to business so to have this kind of Hiccup here it makes you wonder did something behind the scenes that we don't know I I'd like to say that this will all be resolved and that Jamar will be back at practice next week and that's kind of how I thought things were going to go but after yesterday I I really don't know it feels like things are more up in the air and you're right he if he doesn't practice today it's not the end of the world as long as he's back next week and he he's ready for week one things will be fine but this is just getting more it's getting to the level of distraction that I didn't think it would be and I think when you heard Zack Taylor talk yesterday you're right that it was absolutely a bad look for Jamar to put Zach in that situation you know Zach is having to answer all these questions all the time because the Bengals don't really have any they don't put anybody else out there they don't have a GM who's answering questions about this type of thing Zach has to take the brunt of it so the fact that he has to spend two minutes talking about this and I know he said it wasn't a distraction but it's going it's going to be there's no way it's not going to be if Jamar isn't practicing next Wednesday isn't practicing next Thursday it's going to become a distraction at some point if it keeps going on this direction yeah and I because I think everybody in the building knows that they have a real Super Bowl opportunity here and the last thing you want is something like this I I don't think that you know Jamar has lost the locker room over this all understand the business part of it but you start sitting out games um you know with two years remaining then maybe people start looking at him differently I do think one of the more subtle underrated everything's gonna be okay moments in this whole thing and it it that's where we see all this stuff anymore is on social media and the Bengals account tweeted something yesterday and I I don't know the hierarchy there I don't know if if the social media team has I would think for something like this they would have to get approval up the chain but I don't know if you guys saw it or if you saw it Dallas but they tweeted out a picture of two guys practicing with the caption we talking about practice and it kind of making lie to the whole situation and going with the Allen Iverson thing this is practice we're not talking about games we're talking about practice it's not a big deal and I I thought that was really kind of telling because I I do I think that had to get approved by upstairs you would think so for for them to tweet something like this so I don't think there's a lot of concern that he's I still I never did think he was gonna miss games and I know this kind of reopens the debate but I still if I'm betting I I'm more than willing to put down a sizeable amount that he's out there week one against the Patriots I agree all right let's talk about the practice squad we had a few more moves made today uh the Bengals signed 12 guys to their practice squad yesterday so they had four open spots uh they signed four guys that we'll get into a minute one one move they made on the 53 trayon Williams is back he tweeted out that it was roster gymnastics the reason he was cut and it ended up being just what he said McKinley Jackson the rookie defensive tackle goes to injured reserve Tron Williams is back on the 53 as the third running back then the practice squad the Bengals added four more guys to fulfill their 16-man squad we've got running back Kendall Milton defensive tackle Justin Rogers defensive end Isaiah Thomas and guard taan Manning we've talked about Justin Rogers before I believe Jay the the Bengals met with him during the pre-draft process he was waved by the Cowboys now he's going to be another big body I think that the Bengals will have a chance give a chance to get some playing time maybe eventually as a as a nose tackle body that they've been looking for the guy I want to talk about though was Kendall Milton I mean we we know the Bengals love their Georgia connection so we've got that box checked 6'1 230 lbs so he's a a Bruiser I think from from that perspective I look this up before we started the show among power five running backs with at least 100 carries last year Milton was fifth in yards after contact per attempt I that is like an incredibly important metric to me when I look at running backs like who can generate their own yardage after contact they're not just relying on the scheme I think running back is a position where we've all been kind of wondering are the Bengals going to make another move we saw samaj perine today on a on a deal so that that option's kind of out the window but we've all been wondering if there was going to be another move trayon is obviously the third running back for now but I think Kendall Milton he's an interesting option on the pra yeah he is um there's a couple things about him one he went to Georgia so you know he's he's good the other thing the Eagles drafted him the Eagles have been one of the best drafting teams and so there's there's a lot of upside there just based on that alone he just he yeah the Eagles also cut him but it it's a it's a numbers thing it's a crowded room thing so I think it is it's a really interesting pickup um I thought the trayon thing was interesting I thought maybe they were just gonna bring it because with the way Zack talked about McKinley Jackson he said he's further along than those other two guys that's why he didn't go on IR um so I I assumed that that he was gonna be good to go and I thought maybe they would just bring trayon back on the practice squad and then you get three ele three game day elevations so they just first three weeks they elevate him on game day and then figure at some point somebody's gonna get hurt they can bring him to the 53 but you know with mckenley Jackson yeah maybe he is going to be healthy sooner than four weeks but he's still a rookie who missed a lot of training camp he needs more time in meetings he needs more time watching game film of his teammates once they get in and start playing real games so I think this is GNA help by just putting him on the shelf for four games and that allows you to to do that to to get trayon on the 53 and they had to I mean if they had brought trayon back on the practice squad they still would have needed to sign Milton or some another running back you can't I mean still think about it 69 players and only four running backs I mean that is that is very light at that position but I do I think Milton has a lot of injur and you know at some point we could see him up it's injuries are are an issue and you know if trayon is is up and doing his thing as a kick returner it it wouldn't surprise me at some point to see milting up on this 53 man roster last thing before we dive into our listener mailbag today jacobe brassette is going to be the Bengals the quarterback the Bengals are facing in week one the Patriots decided to roll with him over rookie Drake may I don't think it's necessarily surprising I mean I was expecting brasset to start all summer you know Dakota Randle who covers the Patriots for us has written about that training camp battle all summer and brassette I think did not look great in the preseason whereas Drake May showed a lot of impressive flashes so I guess there was some question about who would be the starter but I brassette is going to be the guy does this change anything for week one I I think you know there's just such a talent gap between where the Patriots and Bengals are right now on both sides of the ball especially on offensive line I I I am expecting the Bengals defensive line to be all over this Patriots offensive line in week one jacobe Brett has a lot of good qualities navigating the pocket and avoiding pressure is not one of them so I would say from that perspective that this is a good thing for the Bengals that they're not going to have to face a more mobile guy in Drake May yeah and I think it's it's a known commodity where you you know what you're I mean week want such a wild card anyhow you throw a rookie in there and who knows maybe has the game of his life coming out of the gate um I I didn't watch a lot of the Patriots in the preseason so I don't know how big that Chasm was between the two but you're right I mean jacobe pret does some things well but he's he's been in the league since 2016 here here's a quiz for you who has more NFL starts Jobe brassette or Joe burrow but because you're asking the question I'm assuming it's burrow but I I would I I I know brette like he's only started really what two years is that is that right the Browns the one year and then he had the year with the Colts maybe I'm forgetting another year yeah it's close but B 52 for burrow 48 for brassette okay but this is interesting and it kind of goes hand inand with you what you said um where he does take a lot of sacks doesn't avoid pressure the reason he takes sacks is he's he doesn't put the ball in danger yes since he since he was drafted in 2016 his interception percentage is 1.4 that's the fourth lowest in the league in that time among quarterbacks with at least 300 attempts the only ones that are better are CJ Stout Aaron Rogers and Sam Bradford Tom Brady's behind him Drew Brees is behind him I mean Joe Burrow's behind him Joe burrow does not throw interceptions Burrow's 23rd on the rist at two on that list at 2.0 so Brett's going to take care of might eat the ball but he's not going to give it away so again I I think the pass rush is going to be key and then obviously the the the Patriots have a really good defense and the Bengals are gonna have to put up points um but I I do I think it's it's just the the known commodity part of it I think is better for the Bengals than just having this wild card coming in with a with a first round pick making his first career start which has not gone well for the Bengals in the past yeah with with quarterbacks I feel like it's always a slight scale between you either take a lot of sacks or you put the ball at risk and and throw interceptions and and brassett is definitely at the extreme end of taking the sacks in lie of throwing the ball into Harm's Way so it's a great point there should we dive into these questions we got a lot of questions from our listeners thank you to everyone who sent in questions we we really appreciate it I mean it's getting engagement with all of you guys and listening to this we we seriously really appreciate all all the effort you you put in with these great questions we got a lot of good ones we're going to get through here um let's start with some on this 53 man roster and and our takeaways from this we got a couple questions here that are that are in the similar vein um about quarterback steo asked is there a team willing to trade for Jake Browning and M guts asked do you think the Bengals look at other QBs he doesn't see much upside with the current group of backups Jay what what do you think about this your thoughts on Jake Browning and the other backup options behind Joe burrow okay no offense to the people that submitted questions because I we appreciate all of them I don't understand these two I mean yes every team I think would have interest in trading for Jake Browning he's he proved himself to be one of the best backups in the League last year kept this team afloat I I I just I think he's firmly entrenched and and they've got him under control for for another year after this I it's just I I don't think there's any interest in moving on from him as they're backup yeah I don't know what they could get for him but you look look what's behind him that's the the big question here is does Logan Woodside stay on this roster you know beyond a few weeks they did bring him back on the practice squad they had to you can't go into a well some teams don't have two they have two on the on the 53 and don't have a man on the on the practice squad that's playing with fire the thing is there's nothing out there I mean you look at it and Ryan tanah Hill is available but a guy like that's not gonna come and sign on a practice Squad he's to be a backup somewhere um you know Warren sharp made a list of the best remaining free agents available after Ryan tanah Hill Trevor Simeon you want to go back to that and then Brett rippen was on that list but the Vikings just signed him this morning I mean they're other than that it's Kell M Nathan Peterman Nate sudfeld so right now stick with Logan Wilson he knows the system he he he's did struggle I mean he he looked good in that preseason opener but then he really struggled in the in the two starts after that but I just I don't understand wanting or even questioning whether whether Browning could be on the move I I they've got a gy in him and they've got him for cheap and they've got him for multiple years that is an ideal scenario in my mind especially given Bros injury history you never know yeah when he's gonna miss games again or how many so yeah I just I think they're really well positioned with Browning as the backup and no need to move off at that they signed him to an extension when they didn't have to I mean they gave him they gave him a deal because they want him to be here Jake Browning was seventh in epoa plus CPO e composite last season yeah with that is incredibly impressive for a backup quarterback to be to have that good of advaned metrics I think even even in a good offense like the Bengals had last year he I I think bronny would makes sense for any number of teams I I think he's one of the best backups in the NFL but there's no reason for the Bengals to give him away I I I do Wonder like my my thing is for next offseason what if you know Brian Callahan's in tenness now what if will live live I Lev I I can never say his last name what what if he struggles this year was Brian cahan interested in someone like Jake Browning as an option next year maybe but I but that's I don't think that's anything that's gonna happen this year and you're right you know looking at those list of free agent quarterbacks it's not great tanah Hill I can't I can't believe he's not a number two somewhere right now I I can't imagine he's gonna sign a practice squad yeah Nate SFI CJ bethard Trevor Simon I mean you could sign AJ McCarron he's still out there I think is he still playing football I I don't even know I mean he's coaching his kids baseball and football and he's he's happy doing that but I could see them bringing him back I I really could on the other hand you know if that is in the cards why hasn't it happened yet so you know maybe they're they're waiting to see maybe he he needs to get through something else he talked about what a thrill it was last year coming back to Cincinnati actually getting into a game and playing and his kids being able to see him play um but you know know at some point I wonder when when he just sees the writing on the wall that it's it's probably not going to happen and sticks with the UFL or just sticks with coaching his kids which he seems to love and they're getting that age where they they they they they play these Sports all sports and he can be around them all the time so um I I think it's an option but I don't know how realistic of an option it is let's talk running back uh this one is from Fletch this Bengals running back room is not very deep what moves d anticipate with the lack of depth I kind of think this is it you know they brought trayon back today I I don't expect them to make another move I think if they were going to do that they would have done it right they try they would have claimed somebody yesterday they would have tried to add somebody yesterday I I've talked about it plenty on this show I really did think samaj peren was going to be an option for for this team but he's in Kansas City now so that that is no longer on the table I think the Bengals have big plans for Zach moss and Chase Brown and I I don't necessarily think at this point that they need to go sign somebody I mean Kareem hunt Jerick McKennon are still out there maybe as pass catchers but I think they like what they've gotten Brown and Moss and trayon will play his role so at this point we talked about Milton on the practice squad as an intriguing option I'd be surprised if they do anything beyond that Jay yeah barring injury I think you're right the P Ryan I'm interested to see what that contract is going to look like with the Chiefs same because it you know the Bengals called him you know they tried to get him back I I I I just keep going back to two years or last year when you know that they gave him they they offered the same amount that Denver did and he didn't even give him a call he just took off and went to Denver and kind of left him wondering what happened I just I don't know that you know was it was there something about ping a mixtion shadow was there something just didn't Jive well with with the coaching staff here it just it seems like it's a it's a one-way courtship here and I was surprised I I really did think there was a good chance he was coming back and the fact that it they happen two years in a row it might be time to shut the shut the book on that ever happening again yeah I was just trying to see if if those contract details have come out yet I don't think they have but I'm very interested to see too what what did what did the Chiefs give him I'm sure it's a one-year deal at this point but what what does that money look like what does that guarantee look like you know where where the Bengals in that mix at all I would love to see if we get some reports that that come out on that another question here on the running back room from Derek what is the expectation for the running back room in terms of percentage of carries early on do we expect moss and brown to be in a mix and Perron relationship or will it be more similar to last year where Mixon wasn't sharing the carries as much Jay you happen to write about this exact subject the Bengals running black running back splits and how they just uh divvy up carries and targets and everything like that you read about that last week how how do you see this playing out between Zach Moss or Zack Brown and uh God I I confuse these running back names every single week I I say I swear I say Z Brown every single show uh Zack moss and Chase Brown how do you see these carries being split up at least early in the season it's because Zack Brown is an awesome artist and it just rolls off the tongue um you know they haven't said what their plan is you kind of get a gauged by watching in practice I I think you kind of have to just follow the logic too where yeah they love Chase Brown and his potential and he's looked great in Camp but but he is still a rookie with or a second-year guy who as a rookie didn't do a whole lot whereas Zach Moss is is this veteran and he's been in this league for a while and I just I don't think it's gonna be Moss's Mixon and Chase Brown as perine like last year and that kind of crazy split but I don't know that it's going to be super close to 5050 either I mean I I think they're going to lean on Moss early the say the first four weeks they're just GNA lean on him a little more and now maybe maybe Chase Brown gets as many snaps and he's used more in a receiving role and that type of thing but it's far as far as carries yeah I just you know Chase Brown looked a little indecisive in in that preseason game when he played against the Buccaneers and and Zach Moss was sick that day didn't play at all we haven't seen Zach Moss play in the preseason but we have seen him play the last several years in buffo and Indianapolis they know what he can do and I think short yardage goal line they lean on Moss more and just overall first and second Downs I just I I think he's going to be kind of the guy they lean on early and kind of test the waters with Chase Brown in the Run game but it's not like Chase Brown's just going to be on the sideline doing nothing like he was last year for the first half of the Season until he got hurt um he's gonna be involved but as far as carries think you gonna see a decent amount more for Moss at least through the first four games of the season I would agree I guess my my question is do we see it more like like a true split where Moss is handling the early down work and Moss is handling more of the passing down work and and subs in on third Downs or do we see it what some teams like to do where it's rotating based on Series right like one running back will get a drive then the next running back will get a drive I I think either one of those could be in play right I think both of these guys have skills and talents that they offer and you're right I think Zach Moss is brought here to be that grinder who can break tackles and just play in the middle of the field the kind of the kind of running back that you need in the modern NFL Chase Brown is going to be the guy who plays in space and I I really do like how those two running backs complement each other but I think it's very much up in the air exactly how they're deployed I think you're right Jay that Moss as the veteran as the guy they went out and targeted this off season I would expect him to see the most carries at least early on but there is nothing stopping Chase Brown from just grabbing that that role by the horns and by the end of the season maybe he is the RB one he averaged what 25 carries or something in college at Illinois he was a true Workhorse back in college we know he can handle that role if asked it's just kind of a question of can he hold up in the NFL in in that kind of role and I think that's the ideal scenario is he does take that over because I'd have to look at the numbers but I'm I think Zach Moss has been a much better pass protecting back and now Chase Brown again didn't do it very often I think that would be the I ideal scenario where Chase Brown is in there on first and second down then Zach Moss is the guy the perine that you can trust that you know is going to be in there on third down can run it if it's third and short get you the explosive run if at times can catch the ball out of the back field and then Chase Brown is in there is just this more Dynamic explosive guy on first and second down where you're not quite sure what the team's gonna do interesting so I I think that's what they would like to see happen but it again I think we a lot of people are so enamored with with Chase Brown's potential and the the proving just isn't quite there yet and I think it's just going to take a little more time to to earn that what uh I don't know I lost the word I was gonna say that vaulted role I guess yeah that increased role uh it's just it's gonna take a month or so and then I think we'll see that kind of settle in and Ju Just to Derek who asked that question we know that was a fantasy question kind of cloaked as a as a football question so don't don't think you put that past us we know that was a fantasy football question I wonder how many people are going to be able to get both those guys on their team the guys love the Handcuff rule um but there's so much potential for both of them that I I wonder once one goes somebody's gonna jump in and grab the other so yeah if if you if you guys are listening to this and you actually get both those guys on your team I'd love to see a screen cap see what the rest of your team looks like because I think it's going to be hard to do I think it's ideal to do I think it's G to be hard to do these next couple are also could be kind of fantasy related questions this is from Mike he asks Andre oshas Jermaine Burton Mike giki Chase Brown who ends up as the number three receiving option for Joe burrow this season this is assuming Jamar Chase plays which I think we all think he'll be the number one option T Higgins number two I think for me I'm still going with Andre yosias I I was so impressed by what he did last season as a sixth round pick out of a smaller School very athletic guy who I think showed a lot in his rookie year now he's going to get the opportunity to be that number three receiver at least to start the season play in the slot play on the outside if Jamar moves into the slot I really do think he's going to be out there a lot I also expect the Bengals to to run different formations and alignments than they have in the past though so I think that means we'll see more 12 Personnel than we have in the past I think we'll see giki in the slot you know is is a big slot option so I do think there are a lot of options I think for that number three pass catching role but I I would say in my mind yosias is still the guy that I'm still pegging for that role and probably to end up third on the team and targets when we look at the end of the season yeah I think I'm going to lean giki there I just and because of what you said I do think that this running game is GNA be better and I think we've kind of seen it the last few weeks they're they're leaning into 12 person now a little bit more and and you can get Eric all on the field and and he's so such a threat as a blocker and a receiver and I just I think that's going to cut into Yoshi snap somewhat and and we know what you're going to get from giki you know Joe burrow makes tight ends he he he leans on those guys big time and especially you know you get out the Red Zone I think giki can be a real weapon and and they've they've really developed a really cool chemistry just watching those guys that the the when they work on the back shoulder stuff um in practice you it's not perfect but no matter where that ball is giki is really athletic at leaping and twisting and and making those grabs and that goes a long way in establishing trust and um I just I think I think giki is going to be the guy that if we're targets catches yards whatever it is he's gonna end up being the number three because if they are running a lot more 12 then it's it's Yoshi coming off it's gonna be Chase and it's gonna and it's gonna be Higgins that are the two receivers out there so um I think Yoshi's going to have a great year but I think Kiki is gonna have a monster year for what a Bengals tight endend can be he's never going to be you know a Kelsey that kind of just a high volume guy but I do I I really think giki is gonna be the number three guy when it comes to all those targets yards receptions touchdowns couple more on the receiver room we got a couple here that are similar this one's from Payton obviously Germaine Burton is someone that has lots of talent and can help the Bengals win now with that being said when does his production on the field outweigh his issues off the field similarly from Malone Jr does Jermaine Burton take over at midseason at least in front of Trenton Irwin we know what he is Burton can be a Difference Maker uh defenses would have to worry about him a lot more Jay what are your thoughts I know we've seen Germaine Burton get involved on special teams I think is a good way to get the ball in his hands we've you know we've heard him talk about that maybe he could have done a better job over the summer of taking everything related to football a little more seriously and we knew that he entered the draft with some of those off field red flag questions how how do you see his role kind of emerging or evolving as his rookie year progresses do you think we'll get to November and December and maybe he is that wide receiver three behind T and and Jamar yeah I mean I think it's going to grow throughout the year um you know to the the first part of the question I his production on the field already outweighs anything off the field it's not like there's crazy stuff off the field but he went the third round he's still here he's he's on the 53 I mean that's that's out the good's outweighing the bad right now and the question is is the bad ever going to outweigh the good that's what you have to worry about I I don't I don't know I don't think anybody knows that but it doesn't look like it's on track for that to be the case and it it just it feels like this is a kind of a growth issue and and a grasping of the scheme and I think you're GNA see them package him give him a small package early and then expand it as the season goes the question is is is what can he do on special teams between besides possibly returning kicks because if he's going to be that back of the receiver room guy he's gonna have to play on special teams in order to be dressed on game day and that's how you get in and get to take that small package and increase it and make it bigger um but I I'm I think a lot of people were hoping that you know all the talk about him being first- round Talent they stole him in the third round that this was gonna be hit the ground running and just great and it's just it doesn't worked like that all the time with rookies and it it hasn't worked like that with Jermaine Burton but I don't think there's any reason to sour on his potential it's just going to take a little longer than expected and like you said maybe it's November maybe it's next September so we'll see but um I I do think that the the the off the field whatever it is whether it's you know what they said on the broadcast about him sleeping in meetings or that that type of stuff I don't know that that's a that big of an issue yet um to to worry but he came in with some red flags there's still some existing questions he needs to get it straightened out and and and do that part of it in a hurry and then start getting in the Playbook and I do think you're gonna see things open up and he's gonna be a much bigger part of this office offense in December than he is in September this one's from Chris now this this one is kind of a little obsolete now that we've already seen all the roster moves but I did think it was an interesting question about the tight end room he said neither you or Jay kept tan llin on the 53 man roster that that's true he did make the roster though so this question was more so saying what what is the 2025 room tight end room gonna look like giki and Hudson are on one-year deals and Chris is saying that's why he thought mclin made the roster is more of a future outlook I would agree you know you're thinking about that even if we think aiki has a solid year he is on a one-year deal if he has a solid year he's gonna go sign with somebody else I would think you know we've seen that in the past with CJ AMA with Hayden Hurst that you mentioned it before Jay Joe burrow makes tight ends he makes tight end contracts you know Tanner Hudson depending on what he does he could come back next year but I I think you you're looking at a a tight end a future tight end room of Eric all and Tanner mclin together that could work really well and if the Bengals were worried about him T clock on that is getting getting claimed off waivers then it does make sense that that they kept five tight ends and ended up keeping all 10 draft picks and we saw the roster machinations they were able to do with trivan Williams who was someone that they were confident wasn't going to get scooped up so I I think that the way that the Bengals ultimately kind of made their hierarchy of importance with those last few roster spots and ultimately kept Tanner mclin I think it's a really good point that that that is a move towards next year not necessarily saying that taner mclin is gonna have a huge role this season yeah 100 per agree it's a great Point Chris you said we had that question um because we hav't in in practice we haven't it's not like Tanner mclin's look great and they're just like oh we just don't have room for another guy I mean he he didn't get a lot of reps he he was running with the threes a lot and every now and then with the twos and um I I think it is it's keeping him was based on potential you know what he can develop into and for roster management for next year because you mentioned you Hudson and giki on one-year deals Drew samples basically on a one-year deal yep he signed for three years and 10 A5 million dollar but the Bengals have an out after this year they can cut him and it no dead cat money no penalty for cutting him after this so very I mean realistically they've got three of their five receivers on oneye deals and and then the two that aren't are rookies so I I agree it was it was a great Point great question by Chris I do think this was all about 2025 I I agree and we we'll talk about Eric all here in a little bit we've got another question about some some uh players that I'll get into Eric call in a little bit but I am very excited about this Bengals tight end room going in the next season last question here kind of on the on the 53 man roster takeaways this one's from David what is the sentiment on Hunter Rea do you think the Bengals see him as a good investment or will they do a swap with Brad Robbins when he is healthy so Brad Robbins punter six round pick last year out of Michigan it was placed on IR with a designation to return so he could return after a four-game absence Hunter riko for now I mean he's got the job and I would say that this is kind of an extended audition I I don't think the Bengals are planning to bring in competition I don't think that they would do that in this four game sample that Reiko is going to get if he's good then the Bengals can kind of just kind of extend robins's window after that four weeks is up they they might have to make a decision on when to activate Robbins but they they'll get a long Runway where they can let him ramp back up into action as long as hunterco is punting good or punting well I I think he'll keep that job if he's not punting well I think they'll probably speed things up with Brad Robbins and try to get him back on the field as soon as possible but th this will be a four game audition I think for REO to make his case to stay on this roster even once Robbins gets healthy yeah I think it's an ideal scenario because like you said he's he's gonna get thrown into the fire he he was inconsistent in the preseason now you see what can he do when the games are real is is that going to continue if if he punts in these first four games like he did in the preseason with with some great some so so and some bad he's he's not going to be long for this team and you you bring Brad Robbins back after four weeks and and you move on you're you're basically just extending the competition I think they know what they have Brad Robbins um so letting Rico get out there and and do his thing and it's it's it's not ideal to have kind of an experimental role when you get into the regular season but we've talked about it the three of these first four games are just so winnable and you don't feel like even bad punting is going to be the difference now I know hopefully hopefully you're just not punting that much hopefully the volume is just low and I know the margins raised are thin in NFL games and every little thing can can turn them but and there could be some flashbacks when they go to Kansas City in week two because Rico's had some of those he's had some of those down the-middle low punts that that the one that killed him in that AFC Championship game in Kansas City in 2022 so um but I do I think this is a really good chance you when you're doing a punting competition you split those reps obviously give Rico the full load for four weeks see where he's at and then you make the decision you know even if they if he's punting well I still think they keep Robbins on the practice squad I don't know that if even if a team is has a pun or injury that Robbins would be the one they would come for and pluck him off of the practice squad so um I I do I think this is a a real really good way to to further evaluate a competition that didn't have a clear winner I don't even know if they'd have to put him on the practice squad like you could probably just delay his return so long you know with those designated to return rules unless he's fully healthy and and Brad Robbins is like willing to file the grievance and say I want to be on the field because I'm healthy I think you could probably be like uh well we'll keep you on the IR designation to return list for this a little bit longer and see how things go and maybe not even have to risk placing him on waivers to get him through to the practice squad yeah and that that probably would be the way they would go is just keep him on on IR because you don't have to designate you designate them to return basically by opening their 21 day window to practice and then they have to return after that so they would but if he's on if if he's on IR another team can't poach him but if he if they do activate him and then end up swapping those guys around or you know maybe he goes up for a game and Rico goes down the practice squad and they flip him yeah U that would that's what I mean is where somebody would come poach him but sure and maybe they maybe they do carry one on the practice squad all year because it's it's a position that they've just not been able to figure out since Kevin Huber left and um it is an important one even though it's not the most important obviously um it's cost him games it's cost him a shot at a championship before they got to get this right all right let's go into some questions about the 2024 season I'm I'm gonna throw this one to you Jay the these kind of are are similar so we'll group these together as well this one's from Luke what is stopping the Bengals from winning the Super Bowl that's a pretty basic question from Brett what are the biggest concerns leading into the season so what what is if you're going to identify one or maybe a couple of things J that you're still concerned about this Bengals roster going into the season where where would you put those issues I mean I think it starts with run defense and you know especially with mck Jackson now on IR missing four weeks you don't have a true nose they couldn't stop the run we talk about all the the uh explosive pass plays they gave up last year they got gashed in the Run game to and by the teams in this division it's a big reason they were one and five in the division really 0 and five I don't even count that that week 18 game against Cleveland as a win um so they they've got to get that right Nick chub's gonna be coming back at some point now Derrick Henry and Baltimore Pittsburgh's gonna be a running team even yeah with with Russell Wilson at quarterback it's you gotta get it's a passing league but the run defense is still a big part of this and they've got to figure that part out I think think the secondary is gonna be all right uh and we know the offense is gonna be all right so you know either special teams the punting side of it I have no worries about about Evan mcferson um so special teams punting specifically or run defense those are those are the two big question marks going in the season and and even if they're if they don't fix them completely I I think they're good enough to to overcome them but they could be fatal flaws and so that's where the questions lie for me it was the similar similar type of thing it's it's the interior trenches actually on both sides of the ball I I think on offense like I I think that you know Ted Carris CTO vson Alex Kappa is okay and it's not it's it's you know what Joe burrow knows it's not any different it's not there's no changes there but I think any objective person would have to say that interior is a bottom half of the NFL interior maybe bottom third and that that's okay that's okay because Joe B is really good at manipulating the pocket gets the ball out quick when he needs to I think they can work around that but I I do think you know it's worth asking a question of if that interior pocket is ever going to become a problem but but I I'm agree with you I think the real question is on the interior of the defensive side of the ball can they stop the run BJ Hill sheld rankins Chris Jenkins the these guys are more pass rushers than they are run Stoppers they don't really have that big bodied guy after losing DJ reader it's hard to replace a guy like DJ reader there's simply aren't that many guys with that size who have that skill set so it was never realistic for the Bengals to replace that and I think they'll try and do it more in the aggregate but it's a realistic concern that you don't have that body and even if BJ Hill and rankins and Jenkins are are pass rushers more than run Defenders neither of those guys none of those guys are really that true number one interior pass rushing threat that a lot of teams have now they're they're they're complimentary guys Sheldon rankins can absolutely get after the passer but throughout his career he's been more of like a number two pass rusher not not a quinnon Williams not Dexter Lawrence a guy who's really an Elite pass rusher and again that's okay you can't have Elite guys at every spot but if we're going to point out the weaknesses I I think that's where it's at and I think it's okay to also mention the edge given the injuries that they've seen at Edge rusher how is that going to affect Sam hub's ability to slide inside you know as a pass rusher How's that gonna affect Joseph oi's ability to slide inside as a pass rusher how how does that lack of depth with Miles Murphy being injured and cam sample being injured how does that kind of affect things so I'm right there with you I I think it's trenches on both sides of the ball but the the defensive interior I think if you're pointing to one area that's where it's at yeah it's going to be interesting to see I mean they we could see them go to that fiveman front if this defense is really settled down on the back end and and the the the DBS are playing well and Von Bell's got everybody on the same page I could see him going to the fiveman front obvious run downs and and kind of leaning on quality there or quantity there over quality and the other thing is you know I wrote about it earlier in Camp and BJ Hill just taking such exception to the fact that he's a passer he he really believes he is a a very good run Defender and he's proved it in practice and these joint practices he's looked great against the run and it' be interesting to see if he kind of steps into that that role even a little bit more um and kind of makes you forget about the fact that that DJ reader's gone and mckenley Jackson's on ir and um I think he could be a real secret weapon for this team this year no I think that makes a lot of sense uh this one's from Johnny it's a very long question so I'm going to abbreviate a little bit is he says am I overthinking that this Bengals offense is going to be even better than people think he mentions you're M merging the two styles of offense from last year Dan pitcher's ideas the Bangals aren't going to have as much tape to study on what they're going to be doing or their Bengals opponents won't have as much tape to study on what their the new wrinkles might be for the Bengals he says with a Joe burrow with Joe burrow is this a top three offense I I think top three is hard to to call it that at this point there's a lot of good offenses in the NFL we we at pfn did our offense rankings we all voted a couple weeks ago we had the Bengals at 11th I I think that's a little low I I think in my rankings I had them a little higher but I mean you look at teams like the 49ers the Dolphins the Chiefs the Lions I I do think there are offenses around the league that are set up to succeed a little better than the Bengals that's not saying I have any doubts about how good this Bengals offense can be though I I really do think that this offense is going to have a lot of success this year I'm so excited to see what things actually look like and Johnny mentioned in his question how they merge the two different styles of this Bengals offense of what Joe burrow wants to do versus the play action and the boot stuff and and what it actually looks like but top three I think it's hard to say because they're just so many good offenses but top 10 absolutely and I do think they could be higher than that maybe top five top three it's a little hard for me to predict that yeah I'm trying to Rack my brain and remember I think I put him at five when we did did those rankings which means some people on the staff put them way lower for the for the composite to be down at 11 but I agree with you it's I I really do think that this is pro has a real chance to to be their best year offensively yet and under burough and just as he makes tight ends he masks offensive lines we saw that by getting to the Super Bowl in 2021 so even though you like you said there might be some questions on the interior of this offensive line he he can make that work and you just look at the weapons around the Run game I think is gonna be so much better this year you know they were gonna go to more under Center stuff last year till the CF thing happened I just I think you're gonna see you know kind of a development an evolution of Joe burrow as a quarterback this year and just the fact that he's been healthy and had an entire training camp I think is huge um really do I I think this is going to be a special year for this offense um especially if it's complimentary football it's it's cliche but if this defense which looks a lot better can start taking balls away and giving this offense short fields and and um and I wonder too when you you talk about top three are you talking about yards are you talking about points points per Drive um it depends on what metric you use they a lot of them go hand in hand but sometimes they don't um but I do I I think this is is going to be an upper echelon offense this year as long as number nine stays healthy I think we're we're talking dvoa and EP EPA per play we've got a smart audience here we're not going by yards we're not we're not going by yards we're going by the advaned metrics I looked up our rankings I you had them at five you're right Jay you're the Bengals offense atth you were the high man I had them at seventh I was the number actually no we had d uh let's see yeah I had them at seven that was the number two everybody else had them at nine or lower so that's who brought those rankings down don't blame jri for for where we had the Bengals in those offensive rankings you just you go ahead I was say Zack Taylor and Brian Colin have been on record many times we've asked them about this the N not D dvoa or any of the those other stats points per Drive is what they look at as the most important telling Factor so that's a that's one to kind of keep an eye on you kind of have to look for it it's not an easy stat to find um but that's one to really keep an eye on this year because that that's what they put the most value on and that's where they want to be top five it's in the Pro Football referenced Advanced offensive stats page if you're looking for that I know for a fact it's there uh this one is kind of similar to what you just said a couple minutes ago uh Jay this one's from Brady after watching the team all offseason are you more confident in the offense or the defense uh he's got another question here that we'll get to in a minute but what's what's your thought are you more confident in the offense or defense going the next year yeah I'm way more confident in the offense but um not down on the defense I I thought they looked really good in training camp in the joint practices in the preseason game games when when the twos are out there playing against the Bears won and the Colts ones and um I do I I I think this is going to be a much improved defense but there's still questions there's more questions on that side than there are on the offensive side so I would say I've got way more confidence in the offense it's you basically have to I mean there's no way you could say you have more confidence in a defense that was bottom five in like every metric last year but but I but I am very optimistic I think the one thing you can point to is the defense actually has more continuity on the coaching side than the offense does this year I mean they've maintained most of those coaches in place Lou is still here whereas the offense is seeing a little bit of of of change with with the coordinator so I think that's interesting and then that's how Gino Gino and Von Bell play on the back end is to me what's gonna end up determining this I mean there was so many issues with communication that I think getting those two guys back there it's not going to be what maybe Jessie Bates and Von Bell were but it's going to be such a step up from what Dax and Nick Scott were offering at safety last year that that's where I'm most excited about what this defense is going to look like uh Brady's second question was what unit on either side of the ball are you most confident in you cannot pick quarterback I am gonna stick with what I just said actually I think safety I I'm so excited to see how those guys play I know Von Bell had a down year last year he was playing with a terrible Carolina Panthers defense you know it's it's very hard to to thrive when everybody around you is playing poorly when you're coaching St your coach is getting fired at midseason there's tons of upheaval I I kind of write off last year for for V I'm just very excited to get him back here and to pay him a million dollars or whatever the league minimum is amazing deal Gino stone is just a playmaker I mean we saw that last year against the Bengals obviously but he was second I think second the NFL interceptions I him playing that deep safety role I am so excited about so for me I think that's the position group that I'm most confident in and to say that safety is the most confident position group I'm in and from where they were last season is it's kind of shocking but I think what and not we haven't even mentioned Jordan battle to have him as a third safety and dejon Anthony and Tyson you're deep there you've got the high-end talent but you've got the Deep options too so I think safety is where I feel good about going next year what about you Jay do you have a position group that you feel really strongly about going in the next year yeah when I saw this question my answer was just going to be DBS in general because you throw the quarterbacks in there with that but I'm with you I mean Jordan battle how many teams would love to have that guy as their number three safety and dejon Anthony looks like the rising star in this league um and it's funny because you talked about the continuity that's like that's the one position they lost was their safey SC Rob Livingston is now gonna be making his debut tonight uh he's Deion Sanders defensive coordinator at Colorado um but you you've got the continuity with Lou and V is essentially a coach on the field and um I do I I I I have the most confident in in confidence in that position group um which is weird to say after last year but it's a totally different room than last year I mean it's j it's Jordan battle is the only hold over um you know even Tyson Anderson was here last year but he never played on defense yeah I don't think he played a single snap on defense he was all special team yeah so you know you got three guys three new guys if you want to count Von Bell he is new if you're just looking at last year and this year um so I I really do think we're GNA see a major difference in that past defense this year because you just extended and like I said with Jordan battle that competition between Dax Hill and DJ Turner Dax won it DJ Turner didn't lose it DJ Turner played really well this preseason so how many teams would like to have that as their third outside corner the one question I have is you know Mike Hilton's getting up there in age and he does look like he's lost his step he's incredibly smart and Instinct driven and and I think that can make up for a little bit of of losing some speed but um especially especially in the slot too I mean instincts and everything yeah exactly and and if it does if it if it does happen where he's struggling you know DJ Turner can go in there and play and then Josh Newton the rookie they've been working him at at slot the last couple weeks I think for that possible um scenario so um I do I just think they're loaded at both of those corner and safety and it's G to be a strength of this defense last year where this year whereas last year it's what killed him yeah absolutely both you and I had Jaylen Davis on our 53 man projections Bengals cut him and I think that that exud it shows a lot of confidence right in Josh Newton and his ability to play the slot and DJ Turner as well but I don't think that they would have cut Jaylen Davis unless they felt good about Newton at least having the capability to slide inside if needed um from Chris who will be the most surprising player good or bad this year for the Bengals JL let you take this one first yeah I kind of spoiled it earlier but I think BJ Hill is in for a big year um and you don't get noticed a lot I mean look how DJ reer was still kind of anonymous throughout the league you know not among players not among coaches not among front for offices but fans um it's a dirty grunt job in there with not just doesn't get a lot of attention but I I think BJ Hill can take a huge step in that regard and you know last year he had a couple interceptions uh been a long time since the defensive tackle had interceptions in back-to-back games he made plays that way he can get in and affect the passer if if you've got rankings next to you and you've got you know Hendrick and hubard Murphy when he gets back osai looks better you got that pressure coming off the edge I think I think BJ Hill can just have a really big year overall and it's contract year it's time I mean I do think it's a he's the guy that can really surprise people this year no I I love that pick I I think for me among starters it's C Taylor Brit I think he is going to have a really good season now that he's got the better protection behind him at safety I think we could see him Ascend and maybe we're looking at him as like a top 15 Corner League wide after this season we we'll see maybe that's optimistic but but I do think that he has that within his range of outcomes I think if we look maybe at more tertiary players I'll go with one on each side of the ball your Fairfield fellow Fairfield highum Eric all I would not be surprised if he is seeing a lot of revs by the end of the year he he's kind of the one tight end they have maybe mclock down the line but right now the one tight end they have that can kind of be a two-way player in terms of blocking and receiving playing in the line playing in the SL he can kind of do it all and maybe we're not expecting that to really come to fruition until 2025 but man from what I've seen during the preseason and just clips from training camp I think that there's a chance by November December that maybe Eric all is just the tight end one on this team and I I don't think that's completely out of the possib out of the Ral possibilities on defense I'm still holding up hope for Joseph osai man I think this is you know talk about a contract Year talk about a guy who has a lot on the line he's got the opportunity at least early with Miles Murphy being injured with Cam sample no longer around in the depth chart if this is if it's gonna happen I think this is it this is gonna be his chance he's not going to be a starter but he's gonna be playing a lot of snaps a lot of snaps in these first four games and I think this is really his opportunity to get his career back on track and really set himself up for a nice payday we remember Carl much Carl Lawson got after he was a kind of a complimentary rusher here in for a while he got was a 345 from the Jets I I wouldn't put that out of the realm of possibilities for Joseph osai if he can really step up this year yeah and now Lawson's on a practice squad um it's surprising how I mean they they they made the right move there with with the Hendrickson over Lawson thing um if I'm gonna throw in a tertiary one I don't know if you can call a first round pick a surprise but I think Amari smims has a chance to be a real dude in this league and he's just he's looked so good in Camp and you know if that petoro injury he it's still on the table for him to start week one um and even if he doesn't you know he gets back by week two week three I mean when he's healthy I do think they're gonna go to him instead of Trent Brown and I think he's got a shot to to really be something special this year this one's from Jimmy uh he says the window for the Bengals is open now his question is how long can this ownership keep the gang together and remain competitive we just can't be Joe and Jamar forever and succeed I I I think there's something to that but I also think that Joe burrow was right when he said the Bengals competitive window is his entire career I mean that that's if you've got the quarterback you are going to be good pretty much regardless of of how else the rest of the roster looks having said that I think the Bengals will eventually have to make some tough decisions you know they don't they don't do things like the eagles and Browns where they're pushing money into the future and using these salary cap tactics to create space they like their General kind of old school contracts and when you do that you're not going to be able to keep everybody together you're not going to be able to overextend yourself and I think for the most part that's okay we're not going to ever see the Bengals do a roster Purge or a reset year where they have to get their salary cap in order I I think it kind of can be Joe and Jamar and everybody else on this team I I really do I think that people often underestimate how much NFL rosters turn over right I mean this roster in two years is going to look incredibly different than it does now and it you think that guys who are Cornerstone pieces they're just not n NFL careers just don't last that long turnover is so high I think if the Bengals you've kind of already seen their plan is we got to get cheap on defense they've invested so many picks on defense knowing they're going to be spending so much on offense you keep hitting on those picks and obviously that's a crap shoot but you stay cheap on defense you make targeted free agent signings like they did this year I don't see any reason that that plan can't sustain the Bengals going forward and I just don't ever see a spot where they're going to get into a position like the saint to the even the bills where oh my God we're overextended we've got to take a season and kind of get back on track that's just not going to happen for for this team so I think the way they run their cap the way that they've approached the draft and approach free agency I think they're in a good spot and even if it is Joe Jamar and everybody else I think that's okay in the modern NFL yeah I totally agree and I I I know there's another question coming I don't want to get into this too much but you you do what you did this year you draft 10 guys and all 10 of them make the 53 you go out free agency and and you get smart affordable guys that really fit your scheme they stole Mike giki Trent Brown cost him next nothing even Zach Moss is gonna be a huge part of this team this year they didn't pay that much for him they might have paid overpaid for rankings maybe those kind of buys and free agency are going to have to go away a little bit as these contracts start accelerating but you that's how you keep it going is you have off Seasons like they did this year um so yeah the gang all your favorite players you're they're not they're not going to keep them together it's just it's not possible to do in this league the way they want to do it um so but everything you said is spot on that's how you do it you have a dud at quarterback in Joe burrow you keep Jamar here long term you keep the most important ones here and then you just keep filtering guys in draft well let them play four years and then wish him well on the next step and you just keep turning the page keep turning things over and but you have to hit on your first round pick so I think this year we'll be big on that let's see if Dax Hill can finally offer something right as a starting Corner miles Murphy is not going to get the opportunity right off the bat but let's see what he is by the end of the year I you've got to hit on those early round picks I think to maintain the sort of plan that Bengals have so this this year from that perspective I think is huge this one is from W or UK wi cinnati fan he says I've Loved some of the play action and varied Run game we've seen the preseason do you think the days of Joe burough throwing the ball 50 plus times a game are gone outside of situational football what do you think about that Jay what what are your takeaways or how do you think this offensive scheme is going to look different now that know Brian Callahan isn't here we've got Justin riscotti and Dan pitcher and some other new voices do you think things will look different do you think this is all just speculation that's not going to come to fruition how do you see this scheme looking in week one yeah it's I I don't I I think there's a good chance that we're not going to see as many 50 attempt games but you got to remember too that with the rpos they they view that as the Run game and even though it's technically a pass on the sheet I mean it's something that burrow excels at and I don't think that's going away I do think they are gonna try to run the ball more um you know especially knowing that they've got that explosive element now with Chase Brown and Zack Moss whereas Mixon you just kind of knew what you were gonna get you're running the ball to run the ball get get four yards and and make the next down more manageable so um I think that's the plan but it's still and Joe burrow obviously has the right to check any play there could be a run call and he sees the defense and he's like nope we're passing so I don't I don't know that those kind of day days or games are going to go completely away but I do think you're gonna start seeing less of them yeah I mean I I would like to see more play action and more under Center I I think those things League wide have shown to be very effective for offenses but I I just don't know that Joe burrow wants to do that stuff and this offense is going to run through Joe Bur and I think whatever he's willing to do is is probably going to be what the end game is they're always going to be a pass happy team I I don't see they're never going to go away from that with Joe burrow last year they were second in pass raate OV expectation even with Joe burrow missing a lot of the season so you that even in situations where maybe other teams would have run the ball they were still throwing even with Jake Browning and I just don't think that's going to change any anytime soon so even if there's little changes and we see a little ticks up and play action under cender and some of the other stuff that we saw under Jake Browning Joe burrow still controls the show and what he wants I think if he says I want to spread attack I want to do quick decision making I want to see everything I think that's what they'll probably do to make him happy why wouldn't you why wouldn't you these last couple I think are more J Centric so I'm I'm gonna toss most of these to you if you're if you're ready Jay this one's from Dizzle rules are the Bengals making any improvements to The Scouting process or anything similar I feel like the draft has way more misses than hits anymore the only thing I'll add to that before I let you say something Jay on this is the draft for the most part is kind of a crapshoot I mean it if you're targeting the right positions the right premium positions early on for the most part I do think that is kind of the best NFL teams can do but I I do I do think that the Bengals are probably a little farther behind in terms of scouting STS than most NFL teams you know it's it they say it it might sound cliche but it's absolutely true and it's quantity over quality sorry opposite quality over quantity they they've got it such a small staff they do a great job and you know today in in the athletic there's a there's a a um an article on an anonymous article where scouts or I'm sorry agents talk about things in the league and one of the questions was who's the next GM in this league and Steven radovich and Trey Brown both got votes in that Trey Brown was one of the leading vote Getters in that you've got really quality guys here and they've been able to keep them the guys have had opportunities to go elsewhere um like pots on on in that on that list as well to to be assistant GMS and take that next step up and they they have so much more input here and and working with the coaches and and really shaping this roster and and just the the family atmosphere and they they want to be here and and I think that's a big part of it scouting is such a grind it's such a hard life such a hard job and you want to be happy doing it and and I I think that that's a big part of it the the other part of this is I disagree with the premise of the question um you you go back to these recent drafts not just this year with the the 10 26 of the last 28 players they've drafted going all the way back to EV and mcferson in the fifth round in 2021 are still on this team in some capacity and the only two that aren't retired the Jeff Gunter and Wyatt Hubert I mean you you've got okay DJ Ivy a seventh round pick he's on he's on pup uh you got McKinley jackon got on IR you've got guys like that that are on injury list right now but these sixth round picks these seventh round picks are contributing to this team the fifth round picks I I think they've done a fantastic job in the draft the last few years now 2021 was awful the kmen deont Smith didn't work out there were so many misses in that draft but you offset it with the Chase and with the MC like you said it's a crapshoot but I think they've done a really really good job these last few years when they've had to do it now that you you've got burrow and the and the contract you really have to hit on these draft picks and not just the early ones and make sure they play right away but build the depth with those late round guys and and they've done it I mean you know last year not just Ivy Brad Robbins okay he's on IR maybe but Yoshi BOS looks like he's a great pick Chase Brown is a fifth rounder 2022 Tyson Anderson in the fifth round he's one of the best special Team guys in the league get Volson in the fourth round and he's been a three-year starter you're not getting all Pros but you're getting the kind of picks you need to do to keep a roster sustained when you've got these guys at the top of the market like Jamar Chase is gonna be like Joe burrow already is and I think the Bengals historically they stick pretty close to like the industry consensus boards too which I think always makes them look good and like post-draft evaluations but I also think it's like a good strategy like why there are so many people out there evaluating prospects I think going for reaches or going off the board typically doesn't really work out they they stick pretty close to where the value is and I think that works out for them and I'm curious to see like what NFL scouting looks like 10 years from now just in general you know with all the advances in technology and and tracking and databases like what what's a scout life going to look like in 10 years I I my vision of The Scouting future is that you know guys grinding film and all that is kind of going to go away that that Scouts will be more like private investigators and that their their main goal was to find out about players personal life and his drive and his you know football intelligence and stuff like that and leave all the other kind of onfield stuff to more tracking and and data analysis and things like that I'm I'm curious to see what scouting even looks like 10 years from now and and how that affects the Bengals small staff and the Bengals do I mean when they go on the road and watch games they don't just show up Saturday morning go to games they they meet with these guys on Friday night talk to them and they vet they talk to everybody around the program and that's why it's such a hard job it's not just flying City to City on Saturdays and going to the games it's the it's a couple days leading up to the games and really diving into the background on all these guys this one is from Marvel hacks coincidence or Trend that the Bengals record against firsttime starters that they that they struggle against first-time starters it seems like these struggles have covered several coaching staffs Bengals are not going to be playing a first-time starter on Drake May in week one they will be facing Jaden Daniels in week three who will be making his third NFL start what do you think Jay is this something that is true they is if you looked into the numbers do you do from your history with the Bengals is this something that you think that they often struggle with and why is that it's absolutely true that they struggle with first round or with uh quarterbacks in their rookie year or their first start I don't I would I would lean more toward the fact that it is coincidence just because as as you mentioned in the question it's it's spanned several coaching staffs um I would I maybe I'll do this I'll look and see what I don't know if I can have the bandwidth to do what every team is against those kind of quarterbacks but maybe in the division or or you maybe teams that are have sustained success what their record has been I think it goes back a lot to the Wild Card element where you just don't know what you're going to get with one of those young guys yeah it would seem like it's easy to beat them but sometimes they just come out with that Gunslinger ality like let it just rip and and it works out and and you get behind to a guy like that and then all of a sudden the confidence Soares and he can start making some smarter plays as the game goes on and I just it's harder to confuse guys I think guys are coming out of quarterbacks are coming out of college now so much more prepared and ready to go and expected to step in and play right away instead of sitting and and learning for a couple years or even a year um so I would I'd have to look deeper into it to see how other teams are but it's clear and I should have had this pulled it I know I tweeted it um not long ago but their record against quarterbacks making their first career start is is surprisingly bad so thankfully jacobe brasset was starting so they won't have to deal with that in week one so good good for the Bengals on that one uh a couple more here this one is from Vienna Jeff he he actually has two questions do we get Joe burrow every Wednesday from now on in terms of media and then he also asked how do waivers Works um I actually had this question too for Jason Jay Jay informed me on this he VI Jeff was wondering do the Bears get the first crack at every free agent on the waiver wire or is it like fantasy football where you know where if you make a waiver claim you go to the end of the order and then it resets after you make a claim Jay you you filled me in on how this works would you like to to fill in the listeners as well on how waivers work yeah well first Joe burrow yes every Wednesday we'll get him or if it's a Thursday game we'll get him on Tuesday but yes he has a weekly press conference from here on out and he is also Rec to a postgame press conference um after every game as long as there's no injury uh as for the waivers um it's not Chicago Chicago had the first round pick but it's Carolina when you get Chicago traded for that pick so now it reverts to the actual finishing order so Carolina is number one on the waiver wire and no you do not go to the back of the line after you claim somebody that's why they were able to grab three quarterbacks um on on off of waivers on Wednesday um because you you they own that that number one spot and there's no shuffling of it not only today yesterday whatever when they make picks that lasts through week three they do not use the current standings to establish the waiver wire until after week three so Carolina could continue to have the number one pick if they start 0 and one 0 and2 0 and three um but they they're D they're guaranteed to be the number one pick on the waiver wire until at least week three um and it's the reason they they they got the three quarterbacks and I don't I'm sorry I can't remember their names but they could have if they only like say they were 10th in the order and they only wanted to get one cornerback they didn't want to have to cut three guys they could have put in claims for three of them and prioritize those claims and say hey once we get one then just pull the other ones back we we only want one so there's there's ways there's contingencies that you can use with the waiver wire but yeah the the Bengals are going to be 18th on that on that list until week three and then it'll come down to what the current standings are we didn't really get any questions about the KJ Henry waver claim because we we mostly asked for questions before that happened but I did think that that KJ Henry claim was kind of interesting I looked up some of his numbers on PFF among Edge rushers this preseason with at least 50 pass rushing snaps number three in pass rush win rate fourth most pressures number nine in PFF pass rush grade number 11 in overall defensive grade 46340 yard dash big School 64 255 I'm not surprised like having seen it that the Bengals wanted this guy I he seems like he fits everything they look for in in pass rushers last season he didn't get a ton of opportunities with the commanders just a 6.2% win rate as a pass rusher even after the commanders traded Montes SWAT and Chase young he still didn't get a lot of runs so it still to be seen like how he plays once he gets into regular season action and if he even has a role on this team but but I did think it was a pretty interesting claim yesterday yeah I mean you knew they had to get a defensive end they were just so light there and that it I was wondering the same thing where why did Washington cut him after yeah getting rid of sweat and young you would think that would be an it you've gotta get younger there you've gota you got to start building the depth up there so I I don't know but it is it's an interesting it's an interesting uh pickup um he's a guy he's a coach's son his his his father is a head coach North Carolina &t I love the connection where he's born in Southeast Ohio so he comes from the the same part of the country as Joe burrow Joe bur wasn't born there he was born in Iowa but he grew up in in Athens obviously Joe Burrow's dad coached for Ohio University the best university in the land and uh and KJ Henry's dad coached at at Ohio University as well so before becoming a head coach so uh I do I think he's got a shot to to possibly work his way onto this 53 at some point you know if there's injuries but even though they're thin now they're going to get miles Murphy back after four weeks so it could be just a year of development on the practice squad and then maybe targeting 2025 where he can really step in and make an impact yeah I would say from the commander perspective I mean they signed three free agent defensive end this off season including two guys who played with Dan Quinn in Dallas they drafted a guy in the seventh round got a new owner got a new GM got a new head coach I mean that just happens guys fall through the cracks when new regimes come in and they had their own guys so it's it just happens I think even though he Henry did really play well throughout the preseason it coaches like their own guys and Dan Quinn brought his own guys in and KJ Henry wasn't one of his guys and I think it's it could just be as simple as that last question here from who day re this one is for you Jay if the psan Bengals podcast Fought The Growler podcast with Paul deer Jr which side would Jay Morrison be on Jay that's all you I'm a lover not a fighter um I i' seriously I've been in one fight in my life and that was first grade on the school bus or some kid clunk me in the head with his metal lunch boox and I took him to the ground and was making him lick the floor till the bus driver broke it up and I've you know I it I was I was a very late bloomer like I was still a shrimp in in my junior year in high school and then between Junior and senior I I shot up I'm 63 now and but so I was I was not someone to go around starting fights and I'm a pretty likable guy I I'm not going to ruffle feathers I'm not going to piss people off and so I I am not a fighter and there's no reason to fight anyhow this is one big family you know we and I say that sincerly like I I I think that the the people that cover the Bengals get along as well if not better than than any other beat crew in the league you know just this past Saturday all the beat Riders got together at Mike petr's new house we you normally do this in the summer but uh he he was moving um so he he got he finally got his new house it's like a housewarming party slash the Bengals beat reporters get together and and we all got together and and just you know kind of a kicking off the season kind of gathering and then we're GNA do it again a week from today next Thursday um all the beat Riders are gonna come down we're going to do one podcast where we go through our predictions and and picks for the season so we all get along great there's no reason for anybody to fight yes you want to get Scoops first and and there's competition in that regards but there's a genuine like for for and respect uh for all the people on this beat and all the people doing these podcasts and it's a great question it's a funny question but there's no reason for anybody to fight no it's it is a great beat someone who reads just a ton of NFL coverage from all over the NFL Bengals fans are so lucky for to have Jay and Paul and Kelsey and James and fret everybody who covers the Le and not just that but Bengals Twitter too people you know amateurs who aren't writing for a publication or maybe doing this out of the For the Love of the Game amazing content being produced everywhere on the Bengals I think Bengals fans are are very lucky from that regard and you know yeah there's there's no fights going on between these two podcasts I mean not not to be sappy but like if if not for Jay and Paul who I read you know religiously throughout high school and college I would not even be doing this job so so thank you to both Jay and Paul for even for me even being here so there there is no uh there's no fight or animosity between any any of our podcasts here he just made me feel really old hey you've been doing this a long time you um I think that is all we've got Jay this has been a very maybe the longest episode of all time of the pfn Bengals podcast I think we're going on hour hour 20 here thank you again for all the questions um we are so excited for the season you know we're doing this season two of Jay and I together we are so excited about going into this season and and have high hopes for the Bengals I think going into into next week so football is finally back I think we're all ready for it Jay anything else before we sign off for today's episode no no just really excited to get this season going it all kicks off a week from tonight the the Ravens and ra Ravens and Chiefs I think a lot of Bengals fans that might be one of the most watched games by Bengal fans that don't involve the Bengals so I'm just ready to get this going I'm I'm I'm happy that the regular season's finally here the training camp is has its moments but it's It's a Grind and just really excited to kick this off and and see where the season goes we'll be back next week we'll drill down into that week one game against the Patriots get into all the details on that so make sure you tune in next week to the pfn Bengals podcast [Music]