WEBVTT - Bengals Booth Podcast: Run This Town 0:00:03.560 --> 0:00:06.440 Hi, everybody on Dan Horde and thanks for downloading The 0:00:06.559 --> 0:00:10.760 Bengals Booth podcast. The Who's Gonna Run This Town to 0:00:11.000 --> 0:00:15.239 Night addition, as the Bengals wrap up their first week 0:00:15.240 --> 0:00:18.200 of training camp by drawing nearly twenty nine thousand fans 0:00:18.200 --> 0:00:22.840 to Paul Brown Stadium for a practice on Back Together Saturday. 0:00:23.000 --> 0:00:26.720 Around the NFL coming up, you'll hear from Money mac 0:00:26.800 --> 0:00:31.840 Evan McPherson, whose sixty five yard field goal ended that practice. 0:00:32.280 --> 0:00:36.120 NFL insider Ian Rappaport was among the spectators, and I'll 0:00:36.159 --> 0:00:39.040 get his thoughts on the defending AFC champs. And then 0:00:39.360 --> 0:00:42.040 a broadcast partner, Dave Lapham, joins me as we share 0:00:42.080 --> 0:00:45.520 some observations on the first few days of training camp. 0:00:45.960 --> 0:00:50.279 The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by Ultimate Bengals. Download 0:00:50.360 --> 0:00:53.400 Ultimate Bengals ahead of the upcoming season. It's free to 0:00:53.520 --> 0:00:58.440 play next level fantasy football with fantastic Bengals prizes. Get 0:00:58.480 --> 0:01:01.080 it now on the App Store and Google Play. And 0:01:01.200 --> 0:01:03.480 here's a quick reminder that you can have the latest 0:01:03.600 --> 0:01:06.720 edition of this podcast delivered right to your phone, tablet, 0:01:06.840 --> 0:01:11.360 or computer by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's 0:01:11.400 --> 0:01:17.640 the greatest thing since the Bengals AFC Championship rings. It's 0:01:17.640 --> 0:01:21.880 obviously not the ultimate prize, but the Bengals distributed spectacular 0:01:22.000 --> 0:01:25.800 rings last week to celebrate the organization's third trip to 0:01:25.880 --> 0:01:28.880 the Super Bowl. The top of the ring features the 0:01:28.920 --> 0:01:32.919 Bengals orange and black b logo, with a diamond cut 0:01:32.959 --> 0:01:37.119 black stone behind it to make that logo pop. Above 0:01:37.160 --> 0:01:41.319 and below it are ten orange sapphires, symbolic of the 0:01:41.400 --> 0:01:46.160 franchisees ten division titles. Eighty diamonds sparkle on top of 0:01:46.200 --> 0:01:49.120 the ring, including a series in the shape of a football, 0:01:49.560 --> 0:01:53.040 and seventeen more diamonds around the top edge in an 0:01:53.080 --> 0:01:58.200 alternating pattern with seventeen orange sapphires. The Lamar Hunt AFC 0:01:58.400 --> 0:02:01.840 Championship Trophy is on the side of the ring, surrounded 0:02:01.880 --> 0:02:07.680 by three more or in sapphires, signifying Cincinnati's three conference titles, 0:02:07.920 --> 0:02:10.080 and on the inside of the ring you'll find the 0:02:10.120 --> 0:02:14.200 scores of the bengals three postseason wins. For the players 0:02:14.200 --> 0:02:17.520 and coaches, it's a richly deserved reward for all they 0:02:17.560 --> 0:02:22.000 accomplished last season, and also a reminder that a bigger 0:02:22.040 --> 0:02:27.240 prize is within their grasp. Last year, on back together. Saturday, 0:02:27.280 --> 0:02:29.519 the Big Open practice that the Bengals hold at Paul 0:02:29.560 --> 0:02:33.840 Brown Stadium. Evan McPherson ended the day by attempting a 0:02:34.000 --> 0:02:37.720 sixty yard field goal. He had the distance but missed 0:02:37.760 --> 0:02:41.840 it wide left. This year, he ended the event with 0:02:41.960 --> 0:02:45.799 a sixty five yard attempt and drilled it with plenty 0:02:45.800 --> 0:02:49.080 of room to spare. It was the latest impressive feat 0:02:49.400 --> 0:02:53.120 by the kid with a bionic foot. Including the postseason. 0:02:53.200 --> 0:02:56.920 Last year, McPherson made twelve field goals of fifty or 0:02:57.000 --> 0:03:00.160 more yards. Dave lappom and I caught up with him 0:03:00.200 --> 0:03:05.920 Saturday immediately after that sixty five yard blast. Did you 0:03:05.960 --> 0:03:09.080 know that sixty five yard opportunity was coming? Yeah? No, 0:03:09.160 --> 0:03:11.160 I definitely did. We've talked about it and just kind 0:03:11.200 --> 0:03:12.919 of It's kind of what we did last year too, 0:03:13.040 --> 0:03:14.800 was just kind of putting foot on a show for 0:03:14.840 --> 0:03:17.160 the for the fans and everybody that showed up. So 0:03:17.560 --> 0:03:19.120 I didn't know it was coming. We didn't know how 0:03:19.160 --> 0:03:20.800 far we were gonna go. We're just gonna kind of 0:03:21.960 --> 0:03:23.560 judge it off of how we were feeling on the 0:03:23.560 --> 0:03:26.679 wind and everything. How did that feel felt good? No? 0:03:26.760 --> 0:03:29.880 I hit it really well. Um probably hit it as 0:03:29.880 --> 0:03:32.280 about as good as I could have um and the 0:03:32.320 --> 0:03:34.680 guy stating under the upright said it was it had 0:03:34.720 --> 0:03:38.720 a couple more yards on its all felt good. Anything 0:03:39.480 --> 0:03:44.640 if I hit that that same ball maybe like seventy 0:03:44.800 --> 0:03:48.360 he said it had been good from seventy. But who knows. 0:03:47.960 --> 0:03:51.040 Sweet nice way to cap this practice. I mean, obviously 0:03:51.080 --> 0:03:53.560 everybody out here is still buzzing from the Super Bowl trip, 0:03:53.600 --> 0:03:56.680 and to see you do that sends everybody home happy. Yeah, definitely, 0:03:56.720 --> 0:03:59.040 and I think it I think everybody should be excited 0:03:59.160 --> 0:04:02.320 for the season. I say, well, you know, they saw 0:04:02.360 --> 0:04:04.400 a good team out there practicing the day, and they're 0:04:04.440 --> 0:04:06.840 going to see a good team play here in as 0:04:06.880 --> 0:04:08.840 a next week or a couple of weeks against Arizona 0:04:08.920 --> 0:04:11.160 thirteen days, thirteen days, there we go. What'd you think 0:04:11.160 --> 0:04:13.720 of the reception when you walked out? People went nuts? Yeah. 0:04:13.720 --> 0:04:15.720 I mean, it's just awesome just to have that support 0:04:16.279 --> 0:04:19.960 from the fans, and it gives me confidence going into it. 0:04:20.040 --> 0:04:23.440 You know that everybody's behind me if no matter what happens. 0:04:23.600 --> 0:04:26.240 So all right, you've got a sixty five yarder in practice. 0:04:26.240 --> 0:04:27.640 If it comes up in a game, you know you 0:04:27.640 --> 0:04:30.240 can do it. Exactly, No We're prepared for it, so 0:04:30.400 --> 0:04:34.000 it's gonna be the right situation for sure. Last year 0:04:34.040 --> 0:04:37.200 I saw McPherson make a sixty two yarder during pregame 0:04:37.200 --> 0:04:40.279 warmups in Denver, and later that day he set the 0:04:40.279 --> 0:04:43.440 franchise record with a fifty eight yarder in the game. 0:04:44.040 --> 0:04:47.480 The Bengals Booth podcast is presented by Ultimate Bengals. They're 0:04:47.480 --> 0:04:51.159 free to play fantasy football game. This past season, Ultimate 0:04:51.160 --> 0:04:53.440 Bengals awarded a weekly winner during the course of the 0:04:53.560 --> 0:04:58.080 year with tickets, autograph merchandise, and money can't buy experiences 0:04:58.279 --> 0:05:01.560 all up for grabs five Ultimate Bengals in the app 0:05:01.600 --> 0:05:06.600 Store and Google Play. NFL Network insider Ian Rappaport was 0:05:06.640 --> 0:05:09.640 in attendance at Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, and I 0:05:09.680 --> 0:05:12.800 caught up with him for about ten minutes just before 0:05:12.880 --> 0:05:17.560 practice got under way. Ian, what are your biggest questions 0:05:17.839 --> 0:05:21.400 about the Bengals coming off the Super Bowl appearance. I 0:05:21.400 --> 0:05:24.000 don't have nearly as many questions as I did last year. 0:05:24.000 --> 0:05:26.239 I mean, if you think about it, like the defense, 0:05:26.279 --> 0:05:29.640 assuming Jesse Bates shows up before Week one, defense is 0:05:29.680 --> 0:05:32.200 basically the same, right, I mean, you lose Ogan Joby, 0:05:32.279 --> 0:05:35.080 but like you can make up for those seven sacks 0:05:35.120 --> 0:05:38.800 somewhere else, probably like some talent in the back end. Otherwise, 0:05:38.839 --> 0:05:42.680 like everyone's basically the same offensive line will be better. 0:05:42.960 --> 0:05:44.640 So it's not like I have a ton of questions, 0:05:44.680 --> 0:05:46.640 like his Ted Carriss can be able to be like 0:05:46.640 --> 0:05:49.919 a starting center or whatever. Like Le Collins is what 0:05:49.960 --> 0:05:53.320 he is, like a really really really solid tackle. Like 0:05:54.920 --> 0:05:57.240 I don't even have any questions there. Joe Burrow sounds like, 0:05:57.320 --> 0:06:00.599 get a great offseason and I health one, which is 0:06:00.640 --> 0:06:03.000 most important. He'll probably be a little bit better too, 0:06:03.560 --> 0:06:06.560 So questions like I don't know, I really don't have 0:06:06.640 --> 0:06:10.279 very many. Honestly, that's pretty telling. I mean in most 0:06:10.279 --> 0:06:14.240 camps there's usual at least something that you wonder, Okay, 0:06:14.240 --> 0:06:17.880 did they solve that problem or whatever. It doesn't sound 0:06:17.960 --> 0:06:21.080 like this particular team has a bunch of those. Yeah, 0:06:21.320 --> 0:06:23.600 I mean, you know, the offensive line would be sort 0:06:23.640 --> 0:06:26.840 of the target. But like it's not like they drafted 0:06:26.880 --> 0:06:29.120 guys and then we'll see like the guys they signed, 0:06:29.720 --> 0:06:31.800 you know, like I know what Lyle Collins is. I've 0:06:31.839 --> 0:06:34.280 seen him start for seven years or whatever. It is 0:06:34.279 --> 0:06:39.479 like Ted Kerres, same thing, Kappas, same thing. Like I 0:06:39.480 --> 0:06:43.159 don't know, like I'm not. I don't. I guess maybe 0:06:43.160 --> 0:06:45.560 you worry about the wonder about the fit a little bit, 0:06:45.600 --> 0:06:48.440 but like I'm really not, Like I think they should 0:06:48.480 --> 0:06:51.320 be fine. Like last you know, the only sort of 0:06:51.360 --> 0:06:55.440 thing would be everyone's gunning for him, but like that's 0:06:55.480 --> 0:06:57.520 not really a tangible thing, and like I feel like 0:06:57.560 --> 0:07:00.359 everyone's gunning for everyone in the NFL anyway. So I 0:07:00.400 --> 0:07:05.680 don't know. Do you think the Jesse Bates contract impass 0:07:05.800 --> 0:07:09.680 could be a problem. No, I don't think it'll be 0:07:09.720 --> 0:07:12.840 a problem. I don't think it'll be a problem this year. 0:07:13.280 --> 0:07:15.520 You know, you'd like to get it done. He is 0:07:15.560 --> 0:07:20.560 a homegrown, great guy, great player. Those are the guys 0:07:20.600 --> 0:07:23.680 you'd like to pay. They just didn't get it to 0:07:23.760 --> 0:07:27.040 a point where it got done. And you know, I 0:07:27.160 --> 0:07:30.760 know there are several other teams that didn't get deals 0:07:30.760 --> 0:07:33.320 done for their franchise guy either. Some did, some didn't. 0:07:33.720 --> 0:07:36.760 It's too bad because you'd always like to you'd always 0:07:36.800 --> 0:07:38.320 like to handle it. But as far as like on 0:07:38.360 --> 0:07:42.160 the football field, you know, assuming he shows up for 0:07:42.160 --> 0:07:45.760 a week one, which historically almost everybody has, you might 0:07:45.840 --> 0:07:47.440 take a couple of weeks to get into the flow, 0:07:47.520 --> 0:07:50.320 like okay, maybe, but you got a first rounder who's 0:07:50.320 --> 0:07:52.720 been taking all those reps might end up being a 0:07:52.760 --> 0:07:55.360 positive because that's a lot more steps for Dax than 0:07:55.400 --> 0:07:59.000 you're expecting. Ian rap report is our guest. Burrows many 0:07:59.080 --> 0:08:01.880 great pat tribute. What stands out to you the most. 0:08:03.160 --> 0:08:08.840 He's a great dresser. He's pregame pre game outfits are tremendous. 0:08:10.080 --> 0:08:14.400 He gives you know he doesn't care, we'll just dress 0:08:14.800 --> 0:08:16.560 to the nine thing, go out and perfore him. I 0:08:16.560 --> 0:08:21.360 always respected that. No, But I think the thing about 0:08:21.400 --> 0:08:24.520 Burrow is really the same thing that it's been before 0:08:25.040 --> 0:08:27.320 he became a pro, is that he's always been a pro. 0:08:28.120 --> 0:08:30.720 Like It's not like, how's he going to react to 0:08:30.880 --> 0:08:33.200 the NFL Like he's been an NFL quarterback. He just 0:08:33.240 --> 0:08:35.640 did it in college, like he ran the show at LSU. 0:08:36.040 --> 0:08:38.560 He does the same here. He's got total understanding of 0:08:38.960 --> 0:08:42.800 the offense. He's got really good accuracy. He is able 0:08:42.840 --> 0:08:46.040 to get what he wants in like a sort of 0:08:47.800 --> 0:08:50.920 not offensive way, which I think if you're a leader, 0:08:51.320 --> 0:08:54.319 half the thing is getting what you want without everybody 0:08:54.360 --> 0:08:57.000 hating you. Nobody hates Joe Burrow. Everybody loves Joe Burrow. 0:08:57.559 --> 0:08:59.280 Um there's a lot to like. I mean, there's a 0:08:59.280 --> 0:09:01.920 lot to like. You know, it's interesting because when you 0:09:02.000 --> 0:09:05.439 joke about his wardrobe choices, it does kind of reinforce 0:09:05.520 --> 0:09:08.680 how comfortable he is in his own skid. That's part 0:09:08.720 --> 0:09:11.080 of his leadership, I think. Yeah. I mean, I don't 0:09:11.080 --> 0:09:15.079 know about the parental level of this podcast, but I 0:09:15.120 --> 0:09:18.440 would say he gives no face, like he really doesn't, 0:09:18.520 --> 0:09:21.440 and he addresses how he wants to. And he's bold, 0:09:21.480 --> 0:09:24.760 and he's a little brash, and he'll wear a big 0:09:24.840 --> 0:09:27.040 chain and I'll wear stupid glasses at a press conference, 0:09:27.040 --> 0:09:28.800 and I'll throw over three and fifty yards and like, 0:09:29.800 --> 0:09:33.160 there's a lot of things that he does. They really 0:09:33.200 --> 0:09:36.720 have to be great to do, which is great because 0:09:36.720 --> 0:09:40.440 he is great and so like he could literally do 0:09:40.520 --> 0:09:43.240 anything you want. Everyone's like he's earned it. You know, 0:09:44.559 --> 0:09:46.839 there's a lot of star par on this team right 0:09:46.880 --> 0:09:50.360 now with Burrow, Chase Higgins, mix and etc. How about 0:09:50.920 --> 0:09:53.480 under the radar guys or under rated guys? Is there 0:09:53.480 --> 0:09:55.200 anybody on this team that you think, you know what, 0:09:55.280 --> 0:09:57.480 that guy's a big difference maker for the Bengals and 0:09:57.600 --> 0:10:03.160 nobody really talks about him. I would say, you know, 0:10:03.400 --> 0:10:06.160 I'll be curious if Hayden Hurst fills that this year. 0:10:06.640 --> 0:10:09.480 You know, CJ was so good and so perfect for 0:10:09.640 --> 0:10:13.439 the Bengals, got more money somewhere else, which is awesome, 0:10:13.559 --> 0:10:17.280 Like that's that's what you want. And I'll be really 0:10:17.320 --> 0:10:20.160 curious to see where Hayden Hurst fits in. You know, 0:10:20.240 --> 0:10:22.440 It's not like people were like beating down his door 0:10:22.440 --> 0:10:24.839 in free agency. He's been really productive a couple of 0:10:24.840 --> 0:10:28.720 different times, but has never really really commanded top dollar. 0:10:28.800 --> 0:10:31.040 And I'm not I don't really know why. He just 0:10:31.280 --> 0:10:34.960 hasn't freeting. He doesn't work for everyone. Sounds like the 0:10:34.960 --> 0:10:37.960 early returns are really positive. He is a great athlete. 0:10:38.080 --> 0:10:40.760 He is a great athlete, so might give you a 0:10:40.760 --> 0:10:43.800 little more than CJ gave you, maybe just as far 0:10:43.840 --> 0:10:47.160 as like stretching it a little bit. So I'm really 0:10:47.160 --> 0:10:50.200 fascinated to see what that edition was. What stands out 0:10:50.200 --> 0:10:52.680 to you about how Duke Tobin built this roster over 0:10:52.679 --> 0:10:54.760 the last couple of years and turning a team that 0:10:54.800 --> 0:10:56.800 had the number one pick in the draft to a 0:10:56.840 --> 0:10:58.559 team that was some minute and a half away from 0:10:58.559 --> 0:11:01.560 winning a Super Bowl. Yeah, I mean it's hard to 0:11:01.559 --> 0:11:03.520 get any better than what they've done, you know, and 0:11:03.559 --> 0:11:05.080 like Duke as a guy, I've always had a lot 0:11:05.080 --> 0:11:08.240 of respect for everyone around the league. Does um, you know, 0:11:08.280 --> 0:11:11.640 there was a string of years where it kind of 0:11:11.640 --> 0:11:14.080 all came apart and I don't even know that it 0:11:14.120 --> 0:11:18.600 was really like, you know, was it player evaluation, Like 0:11:18.640 --> 0:11:20.800 I didn't maybe some missues, but like not even really 0:11:20.840 --> 0:11:23.560 that many honestly, just it was a good run that 0:11:23.640 --> 0:11:25.679 sort of went the wrong way, you know. I think 0:11:25.679 --> 0:11:28.400 the coaching change helped and they had to start back 0:11:28.480 --> 0:11:31.760 up from the bottom. And he is patient, He is 0:11:31.880 --> 0:11:36.880 very savvy. Picks picks have been really good and when 0:11:37.120 --> 0:11:40.439 the Vangals never spending free agency, but when they've done, 0:11:41.400 --> 0:11:45.000 you know, with the with one exception Trey Wayne's which 0:11:45.080 --> 0:11:47.800 he just wasn't healthy, Like that's what what are you 0:11:47.840 --> 0:11:51.280 gonna do? It wasn't healthy. Um, every guy they've chosen 0:11:51.360 --> 0:11:54.600 has fit and has been an instant impact guy, Like 0:11:55.000 --> 0:11:57.839 it's hard to have that good of a hot streak, 0:11:57.840 --> 0:11:59.880 but he think about it, that's really what they've done. 0:12:00.240 --> 0:12:04.480 Great drafting, well timed free agents and like a year 0:12:04.679 --> 0:12:09.000 before they were good, he and the coaching staff kind 0:12:09.000 --> 0:12:11.840 of helped establish the Bengals is like a place players 0:12:11.840 --> 0:12:14.839 would want to be. Obviously, it wasn't always like that, 0:12:15.160 --> 0:12:17.560 so that kind of stands out. I think there's a 0:12:17.600 --> 0:12:20.240 bit of a national narrative out there that the Bengals 0:12:20.440 --> 0:12:23.240 might have been a little bit lucky or flukey last year, 0:12:23.280 --> 0:12:24.959 whatever term you want to use. Do you think there's 0:12:25.000 --> 0:12:28.360 any validity to that. I haven't really heard that, because 0:12:29.240 --> 0:12:31.160 everyone has respect for where they are. Like, if you 0:12:31.240 --> 0:12:34.160 look at it, this roster, this is a good roster, 0:12:34.400 --> 0:12:38.240 Like it is a like find the weak spot, you know, 0:12:38.320 --> 0:12:40.760 like the offensive line was it, and then spent a 0:12:40.760 --> 0:12:43.920 lot of money to share it up, like find the weakness. 0:12:44.480 --> 0:12:48.760 So it didn't feel fluky. And I think maybe because like, 0:12:49.440 --> 0:12:52.160 you know, there are quarterbacks who are productive a good 0:12:52.400 --> 0:12:56.480 obviously Joe's good, but everybody likes him and it feels 0:12:56.559 --> 0:12:59.960 like nationally thinks he's cool and wants him to succeed. 0:13:00.559 --> 0:13:02.640 So like, I didn't get the sense everybody thought it 0:13:02.679 --> 0:13:04.440 was a fluke. I think everybody got the sense of, like, 0:13:04.960 --> 0:13:07.080 these guys deserve to be here because like, are they 0:13:07.120 --> 0:13:09.440 a little too young? Maybe, but like they didn't know 0:13:09.480 --> 0:13:12.360 anything last year, so they just kept winning. You know. 0:13:12.800 --> 0:13:14.839 The whole thing was really cool. To watch. How do 0:13:14.880 --> 0:13:17.760 you assess the AFC North the weekend of training camps? 0:13:20.559 --> 0:13:22.760 You know, I would say Steelers, I'd like to know 0:13:22.760 --> 0:13:27.080 a little more about, to know who their quarterback is. Otherwise, 0:13:27.160 --> 0:13:29.560 I mean, the Browns are gonna be interesting, depending on 0:13:29.600 --> 0:13:33.240 how long Deshaun Watson suspended. Otherwise it's going to be 0:13:33.360 --> 0:13:34.760 kind of the same. And when Ravens will be good, 0:13:34.760 --> 0:13:37.960 Bengals will be good. You know, like it might be 0:13:38.000 --> 0:13:40.440 a little different early the Steelers take a while to 0:13:40.480 --> 0:13:44.320 find their footing and the Browns don't have DeShawn, But 0:13:44.480 --> 0:13:47.679 like by the end, my guess is that everyone's kind 0:13:47.679 --> 0:13:50.959 of around in that playoff mix. In December, final question 0:13:51.000 --> 0:13:53.440 for Ian Rapp Report. How valuable is this time of 0:13:53.440 --> 0:13:57.360 the year for you going from camp to camp, developing contacts, 0:13:58.320 --> 0:14:02.800 reconnecting with contacts. I mean, it's amazing. It's it's you know, 0:14:03.000 --> 0:14:05.959 hard on the body, it's hard on the life because 0:14:05.960 --> 0:14:08.720 you say, I'm going away for twenty days. It is 0:14:08.800 --> 0:14:12.800 so essential and besides just being important for work, Like 0:14:12.800 --> 0:14:15.240 you know, I'll come and I'll meet young coaches that 0:14:15.240 --> 0:14:17.120 I've never met, Like I sat with Dan Pitcher for 0:14:17.160 --> 0:14:21.000 fifteen minutes because I heard great things, and it's one 0:14:21.000 --> 0:14:23.080 of the reasons I'm here. I heard great things people 0:14:23.120 --> 0:14:25.280 like you should meet this guy. So I came here 0:14:25.320 --> 0:14:28.840 to talk with Zach and Duke and whoever, but also 0:14:28.880 --> 0:14:31.360 meet Dan Pitcher because as far as someone who's going 0:14:31.400 --> 0:14:33.440 to be an offensive coordinator maybe head coach, like he's 0:14:33.480 --> 0:14:37.840 on the list, you know. So that's why this is 0:14:37.880 --> 0:14:41.840 important for me. So it's hard, like logistically, it's hard. 0:14:42.560 --> 0:14:44.920 Body wise, it's hard. It is a lot of fun, 0:14:45.000 --> 0:14:49.240 and it's insanely valuable. You probably got four critical texts 0:14:49.520 --> 0:14:52.400 during this ten minute conversation, so I really appreciate your time. 0:14:52.920 --> 0:14:55.760 I will check in one second and pray, thank you man, 0:14:55.800 --> 0:14:59.440 thanks for having me. Dan Pitcher is the Bengals thirty 0:14:59.480 --> 0:15:02.440 five year old quarterbacks coach, and I'm not surprised to 0:15:02.480 --> 0:15:05.240 hear that his name is getting around as a future 0:15:05.320 --> 0:15:10.320 offensive coordinator or even head coach. Finally, time to check 0:15:10.400 --> 0:15:12.960 in with Dave Lapham as we share some thoughts on 0:15:13.040 --> 0:15:17.360 the first week of training camp. Lap or four practices in, 0:15:17.720 --> 0:15:20.160 none of them in full pads. So it's very early 0:15:20.240 --> 0:15:22.840 to make any definitive sort of statements at this point. 0:15:22.880 --> 0:15:25.960 But have there been any standouts in the early going. 0:15:25.960 --> 0:15:28.480 In your opinion, I think a lot of guys have 0:15:29.920 --> 0:15:33.480 started camp off pretty well. Dan, I have been impressed. 0:15:33.960 --> 0:15:37.400 I was impressed at OTAs with Kwamie Laster, his you know, 0:15:38.040 --> 0:15:40.840 precise and smooth out running of ballio ability. I don't 0:15:40.840 --> 0:15:43.360 think he's going to run away from anybody, but I 0:15:43.400 --> 0:15:46.840 do think that he gets separation, you know, he lowers 0:15:46.840 --> 0:15:48.800 his hips and gets in and out of cuts well. 0:15:48.840 --> 0:15:52.400 And a guy I gotta like him caught my eye 0:15:52.400 --> 0:15:54.280 and I think he's done a pretty good job in 0:15:54.280 --> 0:15:56.920 the early stage as a training camp. I will say 0:15:57.040 --> 0:16:01.160 that all three of the the rookie defensive acts, we 0:16:01.560 --> 0:16:04.800 heard about their speed and it's transplated on the football 0:16:04.880 --> 0:16:08.680 feed field. Sometimes guys that run fast forwardies and you 0:16:08.680 --> 0:16:11.680 don't see it on functional football speed. But these guys 0:16:11.680 --> 0:16:13.960 you do, you know, and and they're they're covering a 0:16:14.000 --> 0:16:16.600 lot of ground out there, and I think they've all 0:16:16.640 --> 0:16:19.880 got all got bright futures. There's uh, there's no doubt 0:16:19.920 --> 0:16:24.800 about that. Dax Hill, Cam Taylor Britt. You know, they 0:16:24.920 --> 0:16:29.000 these guys have have really have really shown shown me 0:16:29.080 --> 0:16:33.000 that that they've they've got football speed. Tyson Amerson as 0:16:33.000 --> 0:16:37.280 well on the Toledo um speed and football speed, both 0:16:37.320 --> 0:16:40.480 which is good trade On Williams, I thought it's had 0:16:40.520 --> 0:16:42.920 a very good start to his training camp. Another guy 0:16:42.920 --> 0:16:46.320 in the secondary that I liked in is is DeVante Hood. 0:16:47.120 --> 0:16:49.400 This this guy's long, you know, and he's got he's 0:16:49.400 --> 0:16:52.200 got some ability. I think, you know, he's got I'm 0:16:52.200 --> 0:16:54.840 not talking about all these guys making the team necessarily, 0:16:55.280 --> 0:16:58.480 but definitely on the practice squad with an opportunity to 0:16:58.520 --> 0:17:02.760 develop them for you know, for their NFL careers. At 0:17:02.760 --> 0:17:05.560 the linebacker level. Got Clarence Hicks to me, looks like 0:17:05.600 --> 0:17:09.440 he's got a little bit of suddenness and twitched to him. Um, 0:17:09.520 --> 0:17:12.000 I want to see see more of him. It's been 0:17:12.040 --> 0:17:14.600 good to see a keen Davis Gaither working his way 0:17:14.600 --> 0:17:18.440 back to I think a pretty you know, pretty effective 0:17:18.760 --> 0:17:21.680 linebacker for the for the Bengals. From a physical standpoint, 0:17:21.640 --> 0:17:25.640 he can really run offensive lineman. It's it's very hard 0:17:25.680 --> 0:17:27.720 to judge, like you said, without pads on Dan, but 0:17:29.119 --> 0:17:30.959 I think I think that group is going to be 0:17:31.920 --> 0:17:36.040 noticeably better when when things get underway, and in fact, 0:17:36.119 --> 0:17:38.639 in my opinion, this football team roster wise from a 0:17:38.800 --> 0:17:41.359 year ago, is much better now than it was a 0:17:41.440 --> 0:17:44.040 year ago, and the biggest reason in my mind is 0:17:44.080 --> 0:17:47.200 because of the improvements they've made in the offensive line 0:17:47.760 --> 0:17:51.080 um that that has taken a you know, well over 0:17:51.119 --> 0:17:54.840 the top. I think, so those are those are a 0:17:54.840 --> 0:17:58.119 few guys. I think Zach Carter has has shown that 0:17:59.119 --> 0:18:03.880 he's got the ability to to be that three technique 0:18:03.920 --> 0:18:06.360 that Ogan Joeby provided. I'm not saying to the level 0:18:06.400 --> 0:18:09.520 of Logan Joeby provided right away, but I think he's 0:18:09.760 --> 0:18:12.120 He's got a good sized body on him, he's got 0:18:12.200 --> 0:18:14.680 very good first step quickness, he's got you know, give 0:18:14.720 --> 0:18:18.120 off to him. I think I think he's another one 0:18:18.160 --> 0:18:21.200 that has had a fairly good, fairly good start to 0:18:21.280 --> 0:18:24.280 training camp. But now that the ramp up stage is over, 0:18:24.720 --> 0:18:27.360 practice without pads, now we'll find out a little bit 0:18:27.359 --> 0:18:33.600 more about the interior or the upfront guys, the offensive 0:18:33.600 --> 0:18:37.080 and defensive line, and linebackers and tight ends and people 0:18:37.080 --> 0:18:40.439 of that. ILK. I'm glad you mentioned rookie Zach Carter 0:18:40.560 --> 0:18:45.920 and Larry Ogan Jobie because I think Larry Ogunjobi's absence, departure, 0:18:46.000 --> 0:18:48.280 whatever term you want to use, is maybe the kind 0:18:48.280 --> 0:18:51.280 of least talked about story on this team this year. 0:18:51.359 --> 0:18:54.920 He played sixty four percent of the defensive snaps during 0:18:54.920 --> 0:18:58.119 the regular season. Last year it was forty five percent 0:18:58.200 --> 0:19:00.680 for b J. Hills. He added up again one o nine, 0:19:00.720 --> 0:19:04.359 so sometimes they played together, but Ogan Joby got the 0:19:04.400 --> 0:19:07.679 bulk of the snaps next to DJ Reader. That's an 0:19:07.720 --> 0:19:10.760 important job. Those guys have to have somebody that goes 0:19:10.800 --> 0:19:12.720 in there and gives them, you know, a blow from 0:19:12.720 --> 0:19:15.400 time to time. Josh Tupa can do that and does 0:19:15.400 --> 0:19:19.440 it pretty well, particularly in run stopping situations. But it'd 0:19:19.480 --> 0:19:20.760 be nice to have a guy that can go in 0:19:20.800 --> 0:19:23.480 there and provide a little pass rush and hopefully Zach 0:19:23.520 --> 0:19:26.480 Carter can be that guy. I agree, Dan, and um, 0:19:27.080 --> 0:19:30.440 you know the thing You've got DJ Reader and Tupaul 0:19:30.440 --> 0:19:33.000 and those guys are you know, they're big space eater guys. 0:19:33.520 --> 0:19:37.560 And what Ogan Joby did, and I think what what 0:19:37.960 --> 0:19:40.600 Carter is going to be able to do is invert 0:19:40.640 --> 0:19:44.720 the line of scrimmage, you know, with that explosive penetration 0:19:44.800 --> 0:19:47.760 kind of thing. You know, they give these type of guys, 0:19:47.800 --> 0:19:53.560 give them that scenario. And that's that's tough when when 0:19:53.560 --> 0:19:56.920 you get the the line inverted against you and you're 0:19:56.960 --> 0:19:59.600 trying to you know, establish the line of scrimmage. It's 0:20:00.240 --> 0:20:03.639 it can be a definite challenge, so that that role 0:20:03.960 --> 0:20:07.280 is an important one and I think they might have 0:20:07.320 --> 0:20:10.960 a candidate that could, you know, can feel that. Overall, Dana, 0:20:11.000 --> 0:20:14.440 I've been extremely impressed with the Bengals defense. The low 0:20:14.480 --> 0:20:19.400 red zone defense yesterday was suffocating. You know. The offense 0:20:19.520 --> 0:20:21.879 never scored a testdown on a snap from inside the 0:20:21.920 --> 0:20:26.280 ten yard line on a single snap. And like I 0:20:26.359 --> 0:20:30.760 said earlier, the team speed has increased with these young 0:20:30.880 --> 0:20:34.560 guys on the back end. They're fast. This defensive football 0:20:34.600 --> 0:20:37.919 team is fast, period, and they cover a lot of 0:20:37.920 --> 0:20:41.120 ground out there. I think defensively they're going to pick 0:20:41.160 --> 0:20:43.680 up where they left off. And you look at it 0:20:43.720 --> 0:20:47.880 in the playoffs, seven different guys combined for eight interceptions, 0:20:48.320 --> 0:20:51.879 So Louiana Rum was getting contributions everywhere, you know, in 0:20:52.000 --> 0:20:54.600 terms of making players on the football. And that's what 0:20:54.640 --> 0:20:56.840 it's all about. It's all about the ball, man, It's 0:20:56.840 --> 0:20:59.120 all about protecting the ball. It's all about taking it away. 0:20:59.119 --> 0:21:02.560 On the other side, of those nine takeaways and only 0:21:02.560 --> 0:21:06.480 two giveaways plus seven in the class was the single 0:21:06.520 --> 0:21:09.600 most important reason they got to Super Bowl fifty six. 0:21:10.440 --> 0:21:13.600 Let's talk about hayden Hurst. He's not quite as big 0:21:13.800 --> 0:21:17.400 as c J Uzama. I don't necessarily think that he's 0:21:17.480 --> 0:21:20.720 faster running in a straight line than CJ. They're probably 0:21:20.720 --> 0:21:24.919 pretty comparable, but he's more fluid. CJ was more robotic 0:21:25.000 --> 0:21:27.320 in his cuts. You could kind of see when the 0:21:27.359 --> 0:21:31.120 cut was coming in advance. Hayden Hurst is very fluid. 0:21:31.440 --> 0:21:33.959 I think he's off to an excellent start. And I 0:21:34.000 --> 0:21:36.760 think CJ was twentieth in the NFL last year in 0:21:36.880 --> 0:21:39.800 receiving yards among tight ends a little bit under five 0:21:39.880 --> 0:21:43.040 hundred yards. I think hayden Hurst could could add one 0:21:43.080 --> 0:21:45.320 hundred or two hundred yards to that in this offense. 0:21:46.040 --> 0:21:48.760 I totally agree with your assessment about, you know, the 0:21:48.880 --> 0:21:51.920 route running aspect of it, the fluidity of it getting 0:21:51.960 --> 0:21:56.120 in and out of cuts. You know, Fredikof wasn't gonna 0:21:56.160 --> 0:22:00.439 run by anybody, but Fred Blitnikoff would get separation and 0:22:00.560 --> 0:22:03.560 against really good defensive backs, they had great quickness and 0:22:03.600 --> 0:22:06.600 speed because he would get in and out of his 0:22:06.680 --> 0:22:10.439