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<\/figure>Bengals Analysis<\/strong><\/p> In the second preseason game of the year, Cincinnati got outscored 27-3 by the Chicago Bears in the Windy City. How much emphasis do I put into this loss? Nearly none. In the Zac Taylor preseason era, the Bengals are 3-11-1. In this era, the Bengals have proven to be pretty good. There were certainly some concerns in this game, but there were also many positives. Ignore the score against Bears and let\u2019s just look into a few quick observations:<\/p> \u2022 Maema Njongmeta deserves a spot on this roster. He led the team in total tackles, has 17 total tackles through 2 games, and is tied for the lead in tackles in the NFL. He is an undrafted rookie who is showing out as a linebacker that I want to see on this roster.<\/p> \u2022 I am begging Cincinnati to stop having Jermaine Burton return kicks during the preseason. His speed on the outside would tremendously help this offense and the last thing I want to see is him get hurt before the year begins. It appears he is rather low on the depth chart currently and I can\u2019t understand why. I expect him to be WR3, but it appears they are going the \u201cprove-it\u201d route currently. <\/p> \u2022 The run-game in this one was a little better than last week, as Cincinnati managed to have 25 carries for 82 yards. For Cincinnati to be successful this season, they have to find a way to have a run threat.<\/p> \u2022 Matt Lee, the 237th overall pick has been really showing out this preseason. He has allowed 0 pressures and was given an 84.7 pass block grade for this game. He is going to make this roster. Go look at the tape on him the last two weeks, unreal. What a draft pick from Cincinnati.<\/p> \u2022 If Kris Jenkins can continuously provide pash rush for this team, it will drastically improve our defense alongside Hubbard, Murphy, Hendrickson, and Ossai. <\/p> \u2022 Those that are upset with Ja\u2019Marr Chase must not understand professional sports. He wants extended, is on a rookie deal, and wants to remain with Cincinnati. He doesn\u2019t want to be franchised like Higgins in the following years and I can\u2019t blame him. It is vastly different than someone signing and then seeing the market change a year later and sitting out. Leverage has to be placed. Welcome to professional sports and working with an agent. <\/p> \u2022 Week One all orange uniforms might be the best uniforms in all of football. I can\u2019t wait to watch the team debut the new pants. <\/p> \u2022 Evan McPherson is now a Bengal through the 27\u2019 season and he certainly can fulfill the name \u201cMoney-Mac\u201d now, as he received a 16.5 million dollar extension. Good for you, Evan!<\/p> \u2022 With the injury to Amarius Mims and Trent Brown just now easing into individual drills, I\u2019d be lying if I stated I didn\u2019t have some concerns for our right tackle position. I simply can\u2019t watch Jackson Carman block for Joe Burrow this year. <\/p> Cincinnati Reds \u2013 Same ole\u2019 Same ole\u2019<\/strong><\/p> Just when Cincinnati sweeps the Cardinals and approach .500, they do exactly what they have done all season and come out flat as can be against a good Royals club. They were outscored 28-3 in the series and forced me to turn the channel rather than breaking the t.v. (teasing of course). I simply have to stop getting excited every time they approach .500, as this happens time and time again. I have to face it, this team just isn\u2019t consistent enough to be good. I hate to do a vent session, but here we go:<\/p> \u2022 Cincinnati claimed a .300 batter in Amed Rosario and this should immediately result in Marte or Benson being sent down. Neither of them deserve at-bats currently at the big league level if this team is serious about winning now. Santiago Espinal is batting .482 since July 8th, yet takes a backseat to Marte each week. I think Noelvi is our future, but I am growing impatient. Whoever puts your team in the best spot to win now should be on the field. <\/p> \u2022 The Hunter Greene injury is just icing on the cake and a dagger for the end of this season. One good thing that might come out of this is Rhett Lowder getting called up and I hope that is the move, as it is the correct one to make. <\/p> \u2022 What on Earth happened to Nick Lodolo? Someone call the \u201cMon-Stars\u201d from Space Jam, as his talent has been missing for weeks. I love Nick Lodolo, but over the last 5 games, he has an ERA over 7, given up nearly 30 hits, and doesn\u2019t even appear to want to be on the mound. Maybe the innings are getting to him, but ever since his blister, he has looked really bad. <\/p> \u2022 Our major signing for this season was Jeimer Candelario. We spent a lot of money on him to produce in Great American Ball Park, yet he is hitting just .227. As a veteran on this team, he has to be better. <\/p> \u2022 After the most disappointing series of the season, Cincinnati still has a chance to redeem themselves, but honestly, I am tired of repeating that. Until proven otherwise, this team just isn\u2019t going to make the push that I have hoped for. Abbott continues to struggle, Friedl isn\u2019t 100%, I miss McLain, Greene is out for quite some time, Maile isn\u2019t batting well, Elly continues to get called out on strikes off the plate, I mean what else could go wrong? This season went downhill from the Marte suspension and it hasn\u2019t stopped since. <\/p> \u2022 The culture in Cincinnati has to change. While it isn\u2019t David Bell\u2019s fault, it is time for a change in demeanor in the clubhouse. After 800+ games managed, I am not sure of any other team who would still employ him as the manager. He has a vast amount of baseball knowledge, but he simply isn\u2019t getting the best out of the talent in Cincinnati. Others are also to blame, but unfortunately, managers take the fall. It\u2019s time and if I am being honest, I would like someone with zero Cincinnati ties to manage this team. <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Over the past week, I was kindly joined once again by Jim Burrow, father of Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback, Joe Burrow. Jim Burrow was a former defensive back in the Canadian Football League and the National Football League. He previously coached at Washington State, Iowa State, Nebraska, North Dakota State, and Ohio University. As we all […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":36798,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","nota_seo_page_title":"Burrow family's insights on Bengals' off-season and Reds' struggles","nota_seo_page_description":"Jim Burrow, father of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, discusses Joe's off-season and the Bengals' roster.","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[763,764,1722,1824,3196,4029,15195,4365,5453,5751,6078,7693,7695,9133],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[9768],"class_list":["post-37037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-baseball","tag-baseball-commentary","tag-cincinnati","tag-cincinnati-reds","tag-football-commentary","tag-interview","tag-jim-burrow","tag-joe-burrow","tag-matthew-mcadow","tag-mlb","tag-nfl","tag-sports","tag-sports-commentary","tag-zac-taylor","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n