Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - DEJA VU: Joe Burrow & Bengals Offense DOMINATES, BUT Defense STRUGGLES in Preseason Opener

Episode Date: August 8, 2025

Joe Burrow dazzled in his preseason debut against the Eagles, completing 9 of 10 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Dive into why Burrow looked better than 2024's Week 1, and standout performances from Ja'Marr Chase and Chase Brown. But concerns linger on defense - can the pass rush improve before the regular season? Jake Liscow and James Rapien break down individual player evaluations, analyze the offensive line's performance, and discuss potential roster implications.Join the Locked On Bengals Insider Community! https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonbengalsFind and follow Locked On Bengals on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-bengals-daily-podcast-on-the-cincinnati-bengals/id1159723162Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7AObc0lh0WmQl5fJVgtajsGoogle Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vbG9ja2Vkb25iZW5nYWxz?sa=X&ved=0CAYQrrcFahcKEwio_sXtj8nuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAgStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-bengalsSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!5-Hour ENERGYGo to 5hourenergy.com today and use promo code LOCKEDONGOLF to receive 20% off your order. This offer is only valid until September 30th on one order and cannot be used with other promotions. The code is not good on subscription orders. Yahoo FantasyPresented by YahooFantasy #YahooPartner. Play Now at https://yahoofantasy.com/lockedonnfl.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get $150 in BONUS BETS when your first $5 BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A feeling of deja vu for the Cincinnati Bengals in their preseason debut, as Joe Burrow on the offense ballout and the defense has work to do. You are locked on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. What up Bengals fans and welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. I'm Jake Liskow. He's Jane Serpene.

and we've been covering Cincinnati Bengals here on Lockdown Bengals since 2016, and we finally have a game to talk about here in 2025. The preseason debut is down. Welcome back to the everydayers. Welcome back to those of you who make Lockdown Bengals your first listen. And if you're new to the show and you need a daily Bengals fix, you're in the right place. Just hit that subscribe button wherever you get your podcast or on YouTube,

and you'll make sure you catch every episode. approaching 30,000 subscribers on YouTube. Shout out to all of you who subscribe there. James today we cover what went well, the offense, what went poorly, pretty much everything else, and what the individual performances looked like outside of the number ones on offense. But we start, of course, with Joe Burrow as the Bengals dropped their preseason opener to Philadelphia 27 to 34.

It didn't take long for Joe Burrow to realize or to remind everyone at least. least that he's arguably the best quarterback on the planet. And he was, he was awesome. And he said it was average afterwards, whatever, average smaverage. If, by the way, if that was an average performance from Joe, then the Bengals are going to be just fine, even with all the defensive stuff that we're going to get into coming up a couple of minutes. But nine of 10, 123, it was at 122 yards,

and now it's at 123. So NFL must have adjusted it midgame or toward the end of the game. a 1507.5 passer rating that adjusted by 0.04 as well. And so just awesome. Two touchdowns. The first touchdown, Tanner Hudson, just awesome, awesome effort. The second touchdown, just, well, real easy. A Jamar jog, a Jamar jog to the end zone. He makes that look so easy.

But Joe was dialed in was, he was what you would expect him to look like. against some backups. Yep. Right. And I, maybe that's why he said, oh, I was average. It's because he was awesome,

but he was going up against backups. And guess what? When you're playing in your first, most, most meaningful preseason action of your career, because of all this stuff about a fast start, you better go out there and kick the crap out of some backups,

and that's what he did. They actually did some stuff. PFF had them down for four play action dropbacks for Joe Burrow. Out of his many dropbacks in this game, He had a touchdown pass to Jamar Chase that was erased by a penalty. Lucas Patrick tripped. He then ended up tripping a lineman who was engaged with Amarious Mims. So it was called for a high, low, illegal block there.

So we had three touchdown passes in this game. One of them, after they were backed up to first and goal from what, the 21 yard line? I think it was after that personal foul. And Tanner Hudson, opposite to last year's week one regular season action, fights over the goal line with the ball on his hand. Tanner Hudson had a great game, by the way, as a receiver. We'll talk about him in a little bit more depth throughout the show. I thought Joe was really good.

I thought Joe was better in this game than he was in week one last year. And I don't think it's particularly close. And that's really what you're looking for. You're looking for him to against backups especially have command of the offense, be on time, be accurate. And he lamented his miss to T. Higgins on the first door of the game. You could tell he patted himself on the chest after that. throw PFF put it down as a drop. I disagree. It was a not terribly accurate, but catchable

ball for T. Higgins. Maybe he could have caught it, but I think Joe rightly took the blame for that one. He said after the game that he wanted that one back. But outside of that, again, in command, knowing where the ball needed to go, protections were set well, and generally looking very comfortable playing on time. That's what you're looking for from Joe Burrow to start the season. When Joe Burrow is playing on time, that's when he's a special quarterback. When he's processing the way we know he can process, when the ball's coming out at the perfect time with the anticipation, with the accuracy that we're used to from Joe Burrow, that's what makes him a special quarterback.

In addition to all the playmaking, I know some of you are probably thinking about that too, but we saw that from him, and I know it was against a lower level of competition, but to see that in preseason week one is auspicious to me. If he's not closer to midseason form in week one this year, then we, seen him to start an NFL season, then I don't know what would get him to that point, given what we've seen from him so far in training camp and in this game. For sure. And this is something that I'll highlight, it's been the most consistent training camp of

his career, where there just haven't been many lows. And yeah, there's an interception here, but there haven't been just awful days. I remember Joe as a rookie, there were full-on days where you're like, yeah, it just wasn't his death. And since then, I feel like there's been times where that was the case, including last year, certainly coming off of the wrist. But he's been really steady. And tonight is another example of that. And honestly, after one drive, Jake, I was like, that's it.

That's all I need. That's all I need. Like, I don't need him to go back out there. And thank goodness, who was it that was bearing down on him? Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. that's who it was jeremiah or chowder junior thank goodness he held up a little bit i mean he still got popped a little bit there but he could have like popped them yeah like and in in imagine being the ruckus yeah man imagine being the guy who just blows up joe burrow in a meaningless preseason game though

but like imagine not being that guy if you you know if you don't want to like and so yeah like you want to be aggressive but you also want to be safe i'm not saying that like anyone would But I just thank you, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. For not, one, not doing the whole penalty thing. But two, it would have probably caused a huge fight. And it should have if he did do that. But he didn't. And so there is risk in playing in these preseason games.

One down when it comes to Joe Burroughs health. That's great because it paid off. And it is going to help him. Like the rep with T, like that is going to match. matter. He might just be one throw, but that, that throw matters. And Joe's going to have, I've thought about it. You could tell you, thought about it multiple times and, and had ran that play through his mind. It's just like, I've got to make a better throw. All right. And as long as it leads to him being ready to go where he does make that throw in Cleveland,

then it is worth it. But boy, oh boy, is there a risk involved. And so thank goodness, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. held up. And it would have been most likely. okay. We did see Anthony Richardson dislocated spanky. But that's Anthony Richardson not throwing hot when he needs to throw hot. Joe Burrow, a better player knows when the ball has to be out, got the ball out on time on that play. So Jeremiah Trotter knows he can't run through him because you're inviting a penalty if you harm one of the protected assets in the NFL, that being a quarterback, especially star quarterbacks, who sometimes, not often in Joe Burroughs case, but sometimes get preferential treatment.

In addition to Joe Burrow, though, Jamar Chase, obviously fantastic, did everything you would want from Jamar Chase, looks much better than he did in week one last year as well. The toe tap on the sideline, on the back shoulder throw, not fair reprising his Dallas late game touchdown on the out route where he sticks his foot in the ground, breaks back in the middle of the field.

Kili Ringo overruns, it has no shot. Kili Ringo against Jemar Chase just, Something Joe Burrow went out a few times in this game to great effect. Barbecue chicken. I also thought that Joe was on time in the checkdown game. I've mentioned his timing, though. Enough here. Let's continue on the topic of the offensive running game for the few carries at Chase Brown

Haddy of five carries. And the protection, I thought with the first team, we're encouraging. There's, of course, one ugly Lucas Patrick rep to talk about, but that right guard battle will continue a little bit here. We'll get our thoughts out there and then shift to the defense coming up next. Ever wish managing your money felt easier? Well, it can and it will with Monarch money. Whether you're growing your savings or planning a big purchase,

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I was like, man, oh man, he's, it, Chase is on the case. He had Jamar Chase and he was making place, finished with 70 plus yards. And then Chase Brown finishes with what, nearly 50 yards from scrimmage. Five carries, 23 yards, had multiple nice holes to run through. And then the Chase Brown dump off, good luck. Because that is, can you imagine doing everything right and Joe Burrow calmly just finds us running back in the flat and Chase Brown gets you eight yards? get you six yards, get your 17 yards. Like, that's going to be a weapon for the Bengals to use.

Chase Brown looked like he did late in the season. He was on pace for, he played a quarter, right? So on pace for nearly 200 yards. I guess by that logic, Jamar Chase was on pace for 320 yards or so. So those guys had nice first quarters. Obviously, they finished with two possessions in the first quarter, and that's not exactly how pace for yards works. but both guys had really good first quarter.

I thought Chase Brown looked very, very good in his role. And notably, Somaget P-Ryme was the third downback. And that looks to be his role, where Taj Brooks may be the direct backup to Chase Brown. Although I did think Taj Brooks had at least one nice play in pass pro that I'd noticed. I'm sure he had more than one opportunity, but there was maybe actually two. There's one where he was directly picking a guy up and one really nice chip that I believe was Taj Brooks. I thought Taj looked like an NFL running back as well. Well, not as good of a stat line for him.

10 carries for 26 yards for Taj Brooks. He didn't have a catch. Oh, no, he did have a catch. Sorry, one catch for three yards. But it did look like a professional running back to me and excited to see that development. On the topic of the offensive line, did you have anything else on the running backs before I jumped? Yeah. If you had swapped out Taj Brooks for Chase Brown, I think the first team offense would have to operate it at a high level.

You get a little bit less burst, but I agree. I think you get in the run game, especially. They're different backs, but it would have worked. And that's what you want to see. That's what you want to see. I think I would like to see more from Todd Brooks in the receiving game. And that's an area of Chase Brown's game that's really developed over his time in the NFL, and he puts a lot of work in there.

And I don't think we've seen a ton of Taj Brooks in that role. But I think that as a runner, Todd Brooks could slide in and do that job. On the topic of the offensive line, what did you think of the first team, James? Dylan Fairchild, notably, was not notable for bad reasons and may have even stood out for good reasons in the run game, held up well with his assignment against the twos for the Eagles,

and the only real blemish, as far as I could tell, was one bad rep for Lucas Patrick and one unlucky rep for Lucas Patrick. Yeah, I didn't notice the offensive line much, and when that happens, it means they're doing their job. And obviously, Joe, the reason why I pointed out him getting hit when he did is because, well, that moment stands out. And so that means they did, they held up their end of the bargain. Look, for Dylan Fairchild, whether it's fair or not, and it's fair if you're going to start

in this league, you're going up against backups. You're not going up against your former Georgia teammates that you will see if you play the Eagles again. And so you needed to do that. You needed to play well and get acclimated well. And the standard was high, whether it's fair or not. And I do think it's fair because they need to get them there week one. And that's it.

That's what these games are about. How do you develop and get there? So week one, you're firing on all cylinders. Keep that at mind when we talk about the defense coming up. And I'm not trying to be optimistic. I'm just trying to be real here. But no, it was good to see Dylan get out there and have a success. full debut. I think he's made of the right stuff. I love his attitude. I just, I keep coming back to,

man, it's just a lot to ask a third rounder to come in and be this starting left guard and this offense that's going to throw the ball all over the field. But test number one, it was a minor test. It was a pop quiz. Not pop quiz, but it was a quiz, but he handled business with the quiz, no doubt. Looking forward to seeing the film there as well to see how the technique held up or if it was just good results. It was a limited sample size. He had 11 pass blocking staffs and five rum blocking snaps. So obviously not a huge sample size there for Dylan Fairchild. That is the downside to him working primarily with the ones is that he went out when Joe Burrow went out. And so where normally for a third round rookie in their first preseason game, they might play a little bit longer.

Fairchild only played for those snaps with the first team. And I think that that was generally something that held up with a lot of guys, like where certain players were using this game, I thought was weird, James, as we transitioned to talk about some things that weren't the first team offense. Not that I think Bill and Fairtall going out is strictly weird per se, but I also, part of me thinks, he could have benefited from a little bit more

experience as well, but I understand trying to work that chemistry with the guys he's going to be playing with. I don't really understand it as much for Shamar Stewart, and I'm curious to get your thoughts here as well. He got in a little bit with the ones at three technique, but only played 18 snaps tonight, and

I don't know why it was only 18 snaps. I mean, maybe we should talk about the first team defense before we get into snap counts, but I would have liked to have seen more from Stramar Stewart in this game. Sure, because he should be a first teamer.

There, I'll say it. I don't, I, we can talk about the first team, Mark Stewart should be part of the first team. We notice him, and I don't think he's perfect. But how much did you notice

those first team defense events tonight? that should be winning. In the past rush, not at all. And that's one of my biggest concerns coming out of this game is that against the backup Eagles offensive line, those guys should have been winning one-on-ones and they weren't. And by the way, there's a lot of Trey stuff,

and I'm sure we'll talk about it at some point. I don't need Trey tonight. I'm totally fine that. You don't have Trey. But guess what you're going to have to need? Tonight was just a reminder that Trey does matter. We don't necessarily need that reminder. but we're less than a month away from the regular season opener,

if you're listening to this on Friday morning, which odds are you are because there were 20 minutes away from midnight, Jake, as we record this. So, yeah, I think Shamar Stewart is one of their best four defensive linemen. You know, within reason, or one of their best two defensive ends, if you want to put it that way. Like, I just, I think he's going to start sooner rather than later, even with the flaws and the because he's he's physically gifted enough even if his pass rush

move set isn't elite that he can still win and in these other guys even if they do win a lot of times it isn't impactful and i think shamar so gifted that he can be impactful kind of like a marius last year where he was just so physically imposing he could win even if he wasn't techniques out i think it'll be a main a major part of the package and yeah i mean it might take a little bit of time but he's going to force his way onto the field at some point this season, in a more significant way than he was out there tonight. Now, the starters didn't play a ton. Joseph Osai had 14 snaps.

Chris Jenkins had 14 snaps. Miles Murphy had 14 snaps. You're getting the idea here. They're about 14 snaps for the starters, DJ Turner included. The only one of the defensive starters that didn't make it to that number was Gino Stone. So keeping an eye on him, he may have injured himself sometime early in this game, maybe trying to chase down that explosive run early in the game, but let's get the rest of our thoughts out here on the defensive side of the ball

as we continue our conversation regarding the Bengals' first preseason game that leaves something to be desired for that defense coming up next. Time to fuel up and turn it up with five-hour energy transfusion. It brings the bold grape, ginger, and lime flavor to your favorite golf drink, minus the alcohol, into a quick energizing shot. Whether you're sinking birdies are making memories with friends, this whole, this one's a hole in one for your energy game. And let's be honest, it's August. It is time.

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The code is not good on subscription orders. Whether you're meeting up with friends or playing some awesome golf, get the energizing boost you need to power through order transfusion. Levered five-hour energy shots today. So if we're ranking or determining alarm level, one of the two, the concerns on the defensive side of the wall. Actually, that's two different questions. If you were ranking your concerns within what we saw from the defense today, the first

team defense, whether it's linebacker, secondary, defensive front, pass rush, whatever, what's your hierarchy after today? And then let's talk about where the alarm level is, because it is just, a preseason game, but again, this is against the Eagles backups. And the Bengals were missing some guys on defense too, but let's tackle those two questions here. Pass rush. You know, I think that's it. And you could say, oh, we'll trail come back and that's fine, but you need someone in multiple of these other guys to win.

And they weren't going up against starters. Like, that's what I, that's what sucks. That's what you're really talking about. It's like, I didn't notice you today. And it's not just the pass rush. I have a question for you about the Will Shipley run, so don't let me forget. But it is, that's the frustrating thing because you could say, oh, well, Cam and Daxburn weren't out there.

Those are your two best corners. Yep. And, okay, so that may help some. And then you could say, oh, well, Trey wasn't out there. Fine. But he was out there last year. And so you mentioned that deja vu. He was out there last year and they still couldn't get pressure.

Miles couldn't get pressure, and these other guys weren't getting pressure. And so you've got to find someone else. That's why I just think Shamar is just going to be going to matter. Not that those other guys won't. You know, we've seen Osamaic plays at times. I think Miles is talented and a really good kid and this could matter. But man, this should have been one of those games or one of those guys we're talking about. And we are, but not because we notice them on the field.

Jeff Stoutland is a great coach. Philadelphia is a deep roster. They draft well. The Bengal starters should still be beating up on their second teamers. At least a little bit. Like there was maybe one clean, pass rushing win. They had a nice twist. Tave and Brian gets a sack.

They had some very slow developing stunts as well that I think need to be cleaned up or maybe the deployment thereof needs to be adjusted. But when you look at the one-on-ones, these guys have. there just weren't enough one-on-one wins. When I look at the box score for pressures, the numbers are just not where you want them to be. And they end up with two sacks on their day. Tave and Brian gets one.

Barrett Carter gets one in a blitz, and that was a really nice blitz for Barrett Carter. So credit to him. But when we're talking about the starting defensive line, I thought Osai Murphy were fine against the run. They played some assignment sound football, but just didn't create those. So splash plays as pass rushers against backup tackles.

And you would like to see that. Miles did compress the pocket at one point, but couldn't get off the block to actually threaten the quarterback. And that's that finishing that you need to see him do at a higher level. And I didn't see a whole lot from the defensive tackles either. But you wanted to talk about the explosive Shepley run as well. Well, yeah, I wanted to talk about it. And I want to ask you,

this has been kind of like a viral thing that on some podcast with NFL players or like social media teams will do with their players. You know, could an average person get a yard in an NFL game? How many yards are you getting on that? Like four. Dude. Yeah, I mean, it's such a big. Are you sure you're not getting a first down? I mean, I'm looking at it right now.

Like, I don't know who tackles you. Yeah, I mean, I'm pretty sure. Because the angles are all so different. Like the pursuit angles are different. The blocks have to hold on longer. I'm much slower than Will Shepley. No, I know, but this is... I think I'm getting to the 50.

I think I'm getting to the 50. I'll say that. So what happens on this play, in my opinion, is T.J. Slate just goes the wrong way. He and Chris Jenkins end up at the same gap. I think Demetriusite is a little bit slow to react and ends up getting walled off a little bit more easily than he should. Logan Wilson maybe attacks the wrong shoulder, but maybe doesn't because maybe that's just where T.J. Slayton's supposed to be. And then Logan did his job, assuming that T.J. Slayton did his job right, but T.J. Slayton didn't do his job right, I think. I'm speculating. I don't know what exactly the call was in the room there.

But him slanting against the grain and leaving a massive chasm exactly where the point of attack of the run is probably not the design there. I assume. I assume. I'm making an assumption. but I think it's that simple. I think you put that on film, and T.J. Slayton says, yeah, I went the wrong way. And the linebackers, I think, need to be a little bit better there, too. Outside of that, the run-dee was okay. I think a lot of people are very concerned about the secondary. I'm concerned about the safety depth after this game.

Dejan Anthony in the game early. And this is, you know, we've been talking about safeties all offseason, almost as much as we've been talking about guard. So you got the persistent need for a guard, you've got a need for a swing tackle, you've got a need for a safety potentially that feel like moves that you would like to see the Bengals make after this game. But the way I can cope on the defensive side of the ball with the secondary is that while they're missing guys. And I think it does look different when Cam's out there and when Dax is out there. But they've also had to go to their depth at corner every single year. and so I'm not sure if there's a move to be made there that makes them better but there there's not

really a level of this defense that I felt great about in this game for for the starters anyway no and that's what you just all I really wanted it's like oh well he flashed yeah give us some standout performances yeah even even if you give up the 10 points points. Okay, fine. But, oh, man, that guy was really good. And instead, we're going to be talking about, at least as of now, who knows what happens in practice on Saturday, Sunday, but like, you're right? Like, what free agent should they sign at safety is going to be a topic? They need, if Gino Stone is hurt and misses any time, they need another safety. Like, they just, they just do. I mean, who are you going to? Yeah. So,

So, it's, we're going to be talking about offensive guard, offensive tackle, depth, and the defense. Time is a flat circle, Jake. Yeah. And we have reached that. Joe's awesome. Jamar's green. Yeah. Oh, my God.

T. The one ripple could be Dylan Fairchild. Maybe that's what. The ripple in the circle, you know. Sounds great. At least there's some progress there. Barrett Carter, stock out to me after this game. Orrin Berks looked good at the second team as well.

McKinley Jackson, I don't understand why he's not in the game until the fourth quarter. This is one of my snap count things and like when these guys were being used. Like Howard Cross on the field earlier in the game, McKinley Jackson, the fifth defensive tackle to get into the game. And it was Howard Cross with Tavon Brian and with the twos. And I thought McKinley Jackson finished game real strong. Now, given he's going against the threes, and when the Eagles did drop down another tier on their death chart, that's when you started to see some pressures actually getting home

and some of the Bengals backups winning. But McKinley Jackson played well. He had, what, three TFLs and was at the point of attack and disruptive in the run game. So weird to me that McKinley Jackson is playing in the fourth quarter. Weird to me that multiple tight ends played with all three quarters. quarterbacks like Tanner Hudson's still on the field with the third quarterback and then scores a touchdown with Desmond Ritter.

I said we come back to him and we're really late to come back to him, but Tanner Hudson, two touchdowns in a preseason game as his roster spot is obviously threatened here by Noah Phamp, but he has some fans, obviously, in the quarterback room in Cincinnati. So that'll be interesting as that plays out as well. I don't really know how you part ways with. I mean, he's just bites hard for that. that touchdown then he goes out there with ridder and makes nice toe tap touchdown i had the the fourth down conversion on that drive as well like it's that's tough to cut but maybe they will but man maybe they

can trade him jo would be mad joe wants him that's that's what's interesting you know so so maybe cam grand he's not not as safe as we think but he's probably the best walking tight end on the team and i think i'm including true sample in that despite what they would say just because Drew Sample's solid at it doesn't mean he's great at it. That's what I'll say. Like I think he's been sold as this like elite blocker. He's fine. They trust him. He does his job.

Like they can trust him is going to do what they want him to do. But doesn't mean he's always going to execute it at a high level as we've seen over the years. Not to take shots at Drew Sample here. No, we're not. But but like yeah, is Grandy better? Like he might be better. I don't know. It's not like we're talking about the

George Kittle. Like you know, he's a gronk, like Prime Gronk was a delete blocker if you need to be able to, you know, it's not that. Any other, any other stock up stock down? Drew Sample is not Gronk, clearly. That's what do you hot take James? Yeah, man.

Unreal. Unreal way to end the show. We'll, we'll tell you some stock up, stock down maybe in our next episode. We'll have a couple of practices. So we'll get to see how the Bengals maybe adjust them with the rotations in practice and see whether, you know, McKinley, Jackson gets in there with the twos a little bit more. See what happens with wide receiver where having a great camp, but not a great game

was 18. Why am I blanking? Isaiah Williams? Isaiah Williams. I didn't have a great game. I mean, he just, I didn't really notice him much. He had that, he had that ball go off his, his helmet. Yeah.

Bit of a high throw. Charlie Jones getting in ahead of Germain Burton. By the way, real quick. I didn't give a I don't really need to see Jermaine Burton pop tonight. Wouldn't change my opinion on Jermaine at all. I've seen him doing the preseason. I just need to make sure this guy's doing the right things off the field. I know he's not competing with Andre.

I've seen that like this week. That's not a thing. Like don't trust anyone that says that because people that say that have no idea. Jermaine Burton is not competing with Andre Eosovash for the third wide receiver spot. That's not even a debate, a conversation. I didn't know that other thing either. Charlie Jones was the first wide receiver off the bench. And that's a reminder that Charlie has the trust and produced.

I thought he was pretty good. Yeah, Charlie made some plays. Was he their second leading receiver? No, Tanner Hudson was. And then Joie Mae's had the big play. Three catches, 41 yards for Charlie Jones. There's also some of you out there that have some thoughts about the backup battle, the backup quarterback battle.

There's not a battle there right now. But the third stringers did try. Desmond Ritter, let a touchdown drive, a couple nice throws on that drive, finished seven for 16 for 5.7 yards per attempt, which is a better stat line that Jake Browning had, to be fair, but not great. And we had a fun pick six that wasn't for Joe Giles Harris, right? Joe Giles Harris, yeah, he was touched down, but that would have been a very comical, very preseason pick six, had it counted.

I was chuckling. And Money Mac is back, baby, 51. Yeah, but no one differentiating themselves as far as my very, very uneducated I can tell in the long-stapper battle. Yeah, you study that? You study that? I said uneducated. That's going to do it for this episode of the Locktime Bengals podcast. We've got a couple of practices this weekend before we're back with you on Sunday.

that'll probably be in the afternoon. Until then, thanks for listening to this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Hoodey and have a good. Get Trey done.