Alright, a lot to cover here, but you have to let me rant for a minute.  As many of you know, I am a West Virginia Mountaineers fan.  I know this team wasn’t good enough to even make it to the Sweet Sixteen, I do.  But man, did they get screwed over by some of the most corrupt decisions in college sports history, as well as Indiana getting the short straw as well.  West Virginia was left out of March Madness, yet North Carolina, Xavier, and Texas somehow found their way in.  Baffling right?  Let’s take a look into the numbers for each of these schools and you tell me if Bubba Cunningham (Athletic Director of North Carolina/Chairman of the Committee) had anything to do with this-he did. He secured a $104,000 bonus for getting the Tarheels in the dance on top of it.  Maybe we should let Peebles High School Athletic Director be the chairman of OHSAA and get Peebles the easiest route in the dance every year, while giving him a bonus for doing so.  Works for Bubba, right?

West Virginia –  111/111 bracketologists had WVU in the dance, Wins over Gonzaga (Neutral court), Arizona (Neutral court), Kansas (at Kansas), and Iowa State, 6 Quad 1 wins, 0 Quad 3 or 4 losses, .500 in the Big 12, Defeated 4 ranked teams, 4 Big 12 road victories, 3 wins against AP Top 10 teams (most in the Big 12), 1 of only 30 teams to have 6 quad 1 victories.  And don’t give me the injury excuse.  Tucker DeVries hasn’t played since December 6^th before conference play.  Give me a break!

North Carolina – 27/111 bracketologists had them in the dance, 1-12 in Quad 1 games (Atrocious), Quad 3 loss, Beat UCLA (Only ranked team they beat), 13-7 in a very poor ACC, 13 losses…But hey, they almost beat Duke

Xavier – 30/111 bracketologists had them in the dance, 1-9 in Quad 1 games, ranked wins over Marquette and Uconn, 13-7 in the Big East. 

Texas – 50/111 bracketologists had them in the dance, 15 losses, 6-12 in conference play (WOOF), Wins over ranked opponent Mississippi State, Texas A&M, UK, Missouri.

Which resume would you want if you wanted to get in the tournament?  Do you think the Athletic Director of North Carolina should be a chair on the selection committee?  I didn’t think so.  Shame on the NCAA. 

Bags Secured for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins

At last, our beloved duo finally has reached an agreement with Chase and Higgins including: 4 year extension for Chase, $161 million, $112 million guaranteed (Highest paid non-QB in NFL history).  Higgins signed a four year extension for $115 million and becomes the highest WR2 in NFL history.  Never say the Bengals are cheap ever again, as they just forked up the cash and added tax!  However, this shows that they waited too long.  Nail the draft Cincinnati and start paying your stars early, while reaping the benefits later.  Prices don’t go down, Brown Family!  Be happy though Bengals fans, as this is huge.  Hendrickson, you’re next if at all possible.  Defense has some major holes that need filled and I expect the draft to be majorly focused on pass rush and secondary help. 

One Week until Reds Opening Day

With just a week and some change until Reds Opening Day, the excitement is building around Cincinnati.  This city is ready for some baseball and the city desperately needs a contender this year-and I think they will get just that.  However, there are some areas of concern as of late:

• Tyler Stephenson will miss some time with an oblique strain-Massive blow to the lineup
• Jose Trevino is day to day with a thumb injury, leaving us with Wynns should Trevino also miss time
• Spencer Steer will likely miss Opening Day, but Francona is giving him every chance to try and be ready come next week

Outside of this though, the Reds are relatively healthy and look to bounce back from these injuries fast.  Cincinnati is in a much better spot than last season regarding health.  Some notable players that will not be making the Opening Day roster this year include Noelvi Marte and Will Benson.  Both have struggled, although I can see Benson joining the team within a month or so of playing time in AAA, as I think he is a true Major League batter.  If Stephenson and Steer both miss time, I expect Blake Dunn to be given a chance to make an impact quick, with Hurtubise ready to get some major league time as well.  They both have been highly impressive this Spring. 

Reds baseball is nearly here and it is the most magical time of the year!  Well unless you ask my wife, as we visited Dollywood this weekend and she got to see Dolly Parton in the parade.  I guess I owed her for the years of dragging her to RedsFest, Reds Games, and Bengals games! Seeing her happy to see Dolly was worth it and I owed her for the amount of time she has spent in line with me to talk to players season after season!

The post NCAA committee’s controversial decisions: Rant from a WVU fan appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

At last, I can finally write about actual results and not just speculations or predictions, as Spring Training games have officially started.  As I do each season, it’s always a good reminder to ignore win-loss records during this time, focus on the “wins” for each player, and to keep in mind that this is a time for players to dial-in before the season begins in a month.  Younger players are competing for spots, pitchers are perfecting their craft, and batters are attempting to get their feel back at the plate.  Add in the new manager and the new additions, and you really have to take a step back and look at the positives individually. 

Impressive Beginning

• Elly De La Cruz hasn’t missed a step and is looking for a breakout season.  In his first two at-bats in the Cactus League, he smoked two home runs including one from each side.  If he stays healthy, we might just have an MVP on our favorite team in 2025.
• Santiago Espinal was highly impressive in his 5 at-bats, including a triple and a home run.  His depth should be talked about more. 
• Rece Hinds smoked a triple off the wall and I think we all know his ceiling.  If he could just be more consistent, he could certainly play a lot of major league ball this year.
• The new Red, Gavin Lux, had a great game, including 3 RBIs and a double. 
• 25-year-old catcher, Will Banfield smoked an impressive home run.  Banfield, Wynns, Trevino, and Stephenson will be fun to watch this season. 
• Chase Petty, Connor Phillips, Nick Martinez, and Graham Ashcraft all had impressive outings, including 2 scoreless innings from each of them.
• Cam Collier had a big double in his first at bat.  Collier and Stewart are some Reds on the Rise that are trying to get to the big league level. 

Quotes from the Weekend

• Terry Francona on Nick Martinez: “I know there’s some versatility there and he’s willing to do it, but bouncing guys around unless you have to is not what we’re shooting for.” Welcome to the rotation, Nick. 
• Bent Suter: “I want to see us having a parade in Fountain Square at the end of the year.”
• Terry Francona on the Pete Rose Patch: “I will wear that as proudly as you can.”
• Terry Francona on Elly: “Don’t quote me, but he’s got a pretty good chance of sticking on our club.” (LOL)
• Terry Francona on Elly: “I want you to be the best player in baseball on the best team in baseball.”
• Terry Francona on playing the Guardians: “It’s just not the right time to have a hug fest.  I want these guys to know how important they are.  I’m a (explicative) Red.”

Upcoming Schedule

• Dodgers 2/24
• Angels 2/26
• Diamondbacks 2/27
• Athletics 2/28
• Padres 3/1
• Cubs 3/2

The post Reds Spring Training: De La Cruz impresses with home runs appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

With the Major League season roughly 2 months away, do you believe the Reds have done enough to contend for the National League Central title?  Let’s dive in:

• The Reds finished in 4^th place last season in the Central with a record of 77-85.  They were without Marte for half the year, McLain all season, Friedl for many games, Luke Maile played in 53 games (yikes), Candelario played injured, Lodolo missed time, and Encarnacion-Strand nearly missed the entire year.  Without counting additions this season, health alone should improve this roster by 8+ games, right? 
• The division is up for grabs yet again, as nobody has really stood out as a clear favorite yet.  The Cubs and Brewers are the two teams above Cincinnati in NL Central odds right now according to many sites, but outside of Kyle Tucker being added to the Cubs, I’m not sure this is a good representation of rosters before the season.  I wouldn’t count out this Pirates roster either.   
• Young talent could be a big boost for Cincinnati in 2025.  Non-roster invitees to keep an eye on this Spring Training include Chase Burns, Zach Maxwell, Chase Petty, Edwin Arroyo, Cam Collier, Hector Rodriguez, and Sal Stewart. 
• The Reds record last season in 1-run ball games was absolutely atrocious. They lost nearly 30 1-run ball games.  Defensively, the addition of Trevino and Lux should help improve this record.  I would feel more comfortable though if the Reds added a power bat before it’s too late. 
• Looking at starting rotations, I believe the Reds have the upper hand over the Brewers, Cardinals, and Cubs.  I think the Pirates, however, have a very underrated rotation with Skenes (best in baseball), Keller, Falter, and company. 
• Terry Francona managing this team has to add a few games too, right?  Bell’s record of 409-456 with the organization will be remembered as a frustrating time in history of Reds fandom.  Francona has two World Series titles. 

So, can the Reds win the National League Central?  I think the answer is yes, but health, progression from young stars, and another addition would go a long way in making this happen.  I haven’t been this excited for a Reds season in…well a year.  I get this excited every single offseason, but with Francona aboard, along with Singer, Lux, and Trevino, this feels like the recipe for a real chance to win a mediocre division.  Go Reds!

The post Can the Cincinnati Reds win the National League Central? appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Matthew McAdow

Herald Contributor

The Future is Now

In a shocking move (or at least shocking to me), the Cincinnati Reds committed to the playoff push by calling up the final addition to the roster, Noelvi Marte.  I hate that Marte hasn’t been given the same hype that the rest of the young rookies were given, as Marte is on the same level of each of them.  Marte has the ability to get on base, has quite an arm, and quickly can fill a needed spot in the Reds lineup.  The questioning narrative from a small group on Twitter had many of us who keep up with this team quite confused, as there is more than enough room for Marte with injuries to India and Fraley.  Have you watched this offense as of late? They need a spark.  Aside from the injuries, T.J. Hopkins and Stuart Fairchild are still getting regular at-bats that Marte should be taking over.  Now that Fairchild is injured, there is even more reason for the call-up of the number 49 prospect in all of baseball. As I watched the game on Sunday, I was thrilled to see an infield consisting of all rookies in Marte, De La Cruz, McLain, and Encarnacion-Strand.  The future is now!

• 1B – Votto/Ces
• 2B – McLain/India when healthy
• 3B – Marte/De La Cruz
• SS – De La Cruz/McLain
• LF – Steer
• CF – Friedl
• RF – Benson
• Spot Starts Depending on Pitchers – Fraley, Fairchild, Newman
• DH – Votto/CES/India

Playoff Push

There are 162 games in a major league season, which leaves 37 games left for our beloved Redlegs. Cincinnati currently has a record of 64-61, which leaves them 4 games back in the National League Central.  In terms of the Wildcard, they are only 1 game back and in all honesty, this might be the more realistic route for them to get in the playoffs.  I still think they have the ability to win the Central, but they no longer have any games left against the Brewers to gain ground quick. 

Now that we are in the final stretch of baseball, this team has to start treating every game like a playoff game.  Every single game matters at this point.  Bullpen load aside, this is the time where we have to come together.  We have an upcoming series against a tough Angels team, followed by the Diamondbacks and Giants.  Good teams find ways to grind out victories in August and September.  It’s time for this young team to solidify that they are a good team and I think they are going to do just that. 

Trade Deadline Still Being Discussed

The trade deadline being called a disappointment has become quite the lazy narrative for me regarding the Cincinnati Reds.  I think people think we could have just acquired arms without giving anyone up.  If you really think this is the year that Cincinnati should go all in, would you have been willing to give up top players such as Steer, CES, or McLain?  I didn’t think so.  After Hunter Greene had a very disappointing return, people were blaming the front office for not making a move at the deadline.  Trust me when I say Greene would have made a start no matter who we acquired.  Remember when we traded Tyler Mahle at the deadline and ended up with Steer, CES, and Benson (through another trade).  Getting pitchers at the deadline result in giving up the farm.  I don’t know about you, but I want to see sustained success for a long time and a rotation of Greene, Abbott, Ashcraft, Lodolo, and Williamson is more than capable of getting the job done when they are healthy and firing at their ability. 

Q&A with Reds Pitching Coach Derek Johnson

Q: When you go out for a mound visit, what is your approach in communication with a struggling pitcher?

A: “I think the first thing you are looking for is an out.  Depending on the guy, there are plenty of places to go, but first and foremost, you are looking for an out.  Anyway you can get it is a good way, but it depends on your relationship with the pitcher.  There isn’t a magic formula or one size fits all.  A lot of times it is very simple to give the guy a break.  We might talk about a first pitch or sometimes it even is more simple than that.  It’s never anything mechanical, generally speaking.  It becomes almost mundane, if you will.  I spend a lot of time looking at their face or expressions to see what we need to do and really read body language.”

Q: What part of your job do you enjoy the most?

A: “I love being on the field with the players or even in the bullpen to figure out what the next steps are, whether that is about delivery or pitches.  It really is just about seeing young people and see them increase their skill.  They usually are full of ability, which is why they are in the big leagues.  They were blessed one way or the other, so for me it is kind of taking where that person is in their baseball life and get them 1 percent better.  I talk about 1 percent a lot and usually that is building better skill, whether it is a pitch or movement or even an understanding of themself.  It really is about building trust with the players to help them get a little better at a time.”

Q: What is the toughest part of your job?

A: “Honestly, the toughest part is failing with them.  When things aren’t going well for them on the field, it is affecting them personally too.  You are there the best you can, to help them through those stages and almost feeling that pain right along with them.  Because of that, you are wearing it on your sleeve and trying to figure out ways to help.  It’s the empathy that you feel for the guy.”

Q: When dealing with a new pitcher for the first time, what is the first few things that you are looking at?

A: “Well, the first thing is that we have a good bit of information on each of these guys.  That’s the good thing with baseball now, as there are plenty of things in which we know about their history and where the pitcher has been.  You sort of understand how the person is going about getting people out.  You take that information, try to get to know the pitcher, and really try to get them comfortable.  You are trying to find out who he really is.”

Q: What is the most memorable story from your career?

A: “Oh geez, that’s a good one.  There are so many, but I think when we were one step away from going to the World Series with the Brewers in 2018.  That whole year was a rollercoaster.  We were a good team, but we weren’t great until the end.  We celebrated and had really cool celebrations in a matter of days.  Watching the team grow in that short amount of time and I even felt that in 2020 with the Reds, even though it was a shortened season.  Being able to celebrate going to the playoffs in major league baseball is one of the most exhilarating moments that you can be a part of.  It’s the happiest that you have ever seen everyone.  To see that from Spring Training to the end of the season, it’s exhilarating.”

Q: If you had the ability to add any past pitcher who is no longer on any roster, who would you choose?

A: “It’s easy to say Bob Gibson or a great, but I would stick to the guys I know.  David Price comes to my mind right away, as he was the ultimate competitor.  Watching him grow up before my own eyes and see him with the career he had, he is the guy for me that personally knowing, he would be the guy I would want to stick my name to.”

Q: For a young player, even a young teen, what is your advice for them to develop as a pitcher?

A: “Young people are chasing velocity and I don’t blame them.  It is hard to pass by a guy with velocity and a good arm, but really the fundamental flaw is the idea of how to pitch.  It’s one thing to have a great arm, but it’s completely different to know how to use it.  The number one thing in the big leagues is throwing strikes.  The staffs at the top are the teams who throw strikes.  Knowing how to utilize your pitches in the strike zone ends up being the most important.”

The post Matt’s Take – The Future is Now, Playoff Push; Q&A with Reds Pitching Coach, Derek Johnson appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Matthew McAdow

Herald Contributor

I had a lot more confidence in saying the Reds would make the playoffs about 2 weeks ago, but I think we all need to take a deep breath.  What is that statement from Anger Management?…Goosfraba?  I think we all could say it a few times and calm down before writing this team off just yet.  As it stands, the Reds have a record of 62-58.  They are a 0.5 game back from being in the playoffs in a wildcard spot, along with being 3.5 games back of the Brewers in the National League Central.  While we all are scoreboard watching the Brewers and Cubs, we need to be keeping a close eye on the Phillies, Giants, Marlins, and Diamondbacks as well.  With many significant players returning this month, I expect to see things really turnaround in the next two weeks. 

It’s Time…

It’s time to have the tough conversation.  As much as I love Tyler Stephenson, I think the past week or so has solidified who our best option behind the plate really is…And unfortunately, it is not Tyler Stephenson.  In limited playing time, Luke Maile is batting .252 with 5 homeruns.  His ability to frame pitches and his arm was a big reason the Reds were able to come home with a series victory in Pittsburgh.  I hate to see Tyler Stephenson struggle like he has this year.  He only has 3 hits since July 30^th.  Tyler batted .319 last season, along with .286 in 2021, and .294 in 2020.  I believe he is just having a bad year and will soon be back to form, but now that we are in a playoff push, it’s time for a more even split between our two catchers. 

Matt’s Schedule Watch

• Reds Next 3 Opponents: Guardians, Blue Jays, Angels
• Cubs Next 3 Opponents: White Sox, Royals, Tigers (Easy schedule)
• Brewers Next 3 Opponents: Dodgers, Rangers, Twins (Yikes)
• Phillies Next 3 Opponents: Blue Jays, Nationals, Giants
• Giants Next 3 Opponents: Rays, Braves, Phillies (Yikes)
• Marlins Next 3 Opponents: Astros, Dodgers, Padres (Yikes)

Bengals Preseason Analysis

Football season is upon us at last!  I am more than looking forward to Sunday recliner time along with tuning into football games all day (other than the whole YouTube TV fiasco, I despise streaming).  While it was only preseason, it was great to finally watch a game, along with seeing some of our young players get some snaps.  While the score ended at 36-19 in favor of Green Bay, I never put much thought into the final score during August games.  We are now less than a full month away from our first game clash with the Browns on September 10^th, so it is only right to take a look at our weekly positives and negatives!

Positives

• Andrei Iosivas is going to be special.  The new wide receiver had 4 catches for 50 yards and has proven throughout camp that he was a “steal” for Cincinnati in the sixth round.  His ability to find the ball will land him a spot on the roster for this season.
• Chase Brown showed off his ability to catch the ball in the backfield, while racking up 3 receptions for 33 yards. 
• Tycen Anderson made his mark on the game with 2 interceptions including a pick-6.  Among all defenders in all first week preseason games, he had the highest defensive grade and coverage grade…Talk about making an impact!

Negatives

• If Joe Burrow would be out for a significant amount of time ever, I still don’t believe we have a backup that is capable of carrying this team to multiple wins if needed. 
• Myles Murphy will be great in a Bengals uniform, but he certainly struggled in his first bit of NFL action.  He didn’t make much of an impact and the Bengals really need him to be effective in the pass rush game.
• Penalties were a big issue, as Cincinnati had 10 penalties for 95 yards.  In a Lou Anarumo led defense, I believe this will quickly change.
• 3^rd Down efficiency was not great, as Cincinnati was just 4-15 on 3^rd down.

The post Matt’s Take – Relax, the Reds will Make the Playoffs; Bengals Pre-Season Analysis appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Matthew McAdow

Herald Contributor

If you look at Reds Twitter or Reds Facebook right now, you can see that many fans have started to hit the panic button and many have even given up on the team at this point.  Sure, it has been a brutal week of Cincinnati baseball, but we seem to forget that this happened just weeks ago and the team came together to start a winning streak quickly after.  Before slamming the panic button, let’s go over a few “relief measures” to make you a little more optimistic:

• The Reds are only back 1.5 games from first place in the National League Central.  If you would’ve told me we would be less than two games back in August before the season began, I would have called you a liar. 
• The Brewers are 3-7 in their last 10 just as Cincinnati is.  The Cubs are hot at the moment, but they have a brutal stretch of games coming up this month.
• Greene, Lodolo, Gutierrez, Antone, India, and Fraley are all close to returning to the team.
• The Cincinnati Reds are still currently in a Wildcard Spot.  While winning the Central is the goal, there is still another route to get into the Playoffs. 
• There are 48 games left.  That is a lot of baseball and a lot of time for Cincinnati to get back to normal.

So now after reading that, are you still wanting to slam the panic button and call the season a wash?  I don’t know how the season will end, but don’t slam the button just yet. 

David Bell

Anyone who watches baseball understands that a manager often has to take the blame, even when it isn’t their fault.  Sure, I don’t always agree with David and it would honestly be scary if someone always agreed with his decisions, much like political extremists who always tend to agree with their favorite politician no matter what they do or say (We all know a few of these people).  I don’t always agree with David, but I do know that he has got the buy-in from this young club and that he is consistent in his methods.  Before you start blaming David Bell for everything, let’s go over a list of things he cannot control:

• David Bell cannot control the health of Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo.  Losing your top two starters and losing “normal” Graham Ashcraft for a lot of the season is something simply out of his control.
• David Bell cannot swing the bat for the players.  He cannot help that the team is batting roughly .220 since mid-July.  He cannot help that our strikeout percentage is through the roof. 
• David Bell cannot go out and pitch.  Yes, he makes the calls to the bullpen, but in reality, it’s up to the players who are on the roster to produce.  He does his best job to put them in situations to perform well, but he cannot perform for them.

The next time you want to criticize Bell, at least ensure that it isn’t a lazy criticism without any reasoning.  The take of “Bell just can’t manage this team” without any facts gets quite old.  I know coaches take the heat when things go south, but be realistic. 

Let’s Do Some Math

While I may be finishing up my Master’s and work in the Nuclear Industry, Math is not a strong attribute of mine.  Maybe it is my Appalachian education, but I think I will blame it on my wandering mind during High School math courses and the “odd answers” in the back of the book during College Calculus.  Let’s see just what it is going to take for the Reds to win the National League Central:

• Let’s see how many wins it took to win the National League Central in the last few years, ignoring the Covid year.  -93, 95, 91, 96, 92.  The average of these numbers would be 93.4.  Cincinnati currently has 59 wins with 48 games left to play.  To hit this average number, they would need to roughly go 34-14 to end the season.  They still have the Marlins, Pirates, Guardians, Blue Jays, Angels, Diamondbacks, Giants, Cubs, Mariners, Cardinals, Tigers, Mets, Twins, Pirates, Guardians, and Cardinals again to end the season.  It is more than possible to hit this number if the Reds would get hot again to end the season.

Random Stats and Facts

• De La Cruz Last 15 Days- .250, 24 strikeouts
• McLain Last 15 Days – .301, 22 strikeouts
• Votto Last 15 Days – .232, 12 strikeouts, 4 Homeruns
• Steer Last 15 Days – .224, 15 strikeouts
• TJ Friedl is the first player with 10+ bunts and 10+ homeruns since 2019
• Post All-Star Break, the Reds have a 27% K rate, 6.6% BB rate, and only .64 SB/G

If the Reds are going to get back to winning baseball, I think they need to get back to being themselves, which includes base hits, stolen bases, and creating chaos with their speed.  I haven’t given up on this team yet and I don’t think you should either. 

The post Matt’s Take – Is it Time to Hit the Cincinnati Reds Panic Button? appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Matthew McAdow 

Herald Contributor

On Sunday in the fourth quarter, I looked over at my dog as he was looking startled and I could only think about how confused he must have been, as the last two Sundays he has sat and watched me yell profanity at the television for 3 hours. If I was 20 years younger, I would have been washing out my mouth with a bar of soap and grounded, but if anyone watched the past two weeks of Bengals football, they would certainly understand the profanity from the recliner.  

Cincinnati dropped another huge game and are now 0-2 to begin the year. By the time the game started, everyone else in the AFC North had lost and this was a huge opportunity for Cincinnati to take advantage of an injured Dallas Cowboys team. Outside of a quarter of play though, Cincinnati was dominated in nearly all aspects of the game. The streak continues, as Cincinnati hasn’t beaten the Cowboys since 2004 and haven’t pulled out a victory on the road against them since 1985. While there is still a ton of football left in the season, next week might just be a “must-win” game and panic might just set in for this organization.

Positives

• Despite how bad Cincinnati played yet again, they were still in a great position to win the game in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati had a great drive and completed another 2-point conversion when it mattered most.

• Evan McPherson continues to be the guy we count on, as he drilled three field goals with the new long snapper, Adomitis.  

Negatives (It’s sad when I only have 2 positives)

• The offensive line was atrocious yet again. Cowboys players were left untouched due to miscommunication on multiple occasions and Burrow was sacked a whopping six times. At the current rate we are going, our franchise quarterback is on pace to be sacked 111 times this year. Last season, he was sacked 51 times. So much for glass eaters, huh?  Frank Pollack might just be on the hot seat.

• Joe Burrow looks uncomfortable in the pocket. And who wouldn’t? He is getting pressured on nearly every snap, along with teams playing Cover 2 and forcing Cincinnati to prove they have an adequate run game.

• The last bullet point leads us to the run game…Mixon only averaged 3 yards per carry on 19 carries against Dallas, with his longest rush only being a 10 yard gain. We all know how talented Joe is, but when we are getting dominated at the line of scrimmage, what can you expect?

• Zac Taylor’s play calling has been bad for more than just the past two games, but it has truly been on display this year. I like Zac Taylor and think he is a great leader, but it might just be time to pass the torch of play calling upstairs. Every game feels like he is “in over his head” and he is simply getting out coached.  

• Yards per play is becoming a major concern. This year, the Bengals are being very predictable and the playbook seems to be missing at times. Last year, the Bengals only had three games where they averaged less than 5 yards per play. This year, we are already at two…

• The attitude in Cincinnati is beginning to become toxic. In a much-anticipated season, the Bengals players, fans, and coaches are all showing frustration. Burrow yelling at Zac, stating, “No empty sets,” our trio of wide receivers with their heads down on the sideline, and the amount of anger in the Queen City is quickly coming back.  

Moving on: Forgetting the past two weeks is a tough task, but there are plenty of games left. Starting 0-2 isn’t ideal, but luckily nobody in the AFC North is undefeated or playing impressive football. Cincinnati gets an easy matchup against an old division rival, Joe Flacco at MetLife Stadium. If we fall to another poor quarterback and begin the season 0-3, the panic button is engaged and the flashing red lights should be going off in the back of everyone’s mind, as we are in real trouble. The Bengals are the only team to not hold a lead at all in the first two weeks and we can’t have another cold start. If you want to remain optimistic and I am doing my best to do so, there have been three teams in history that have won the Super Bowl after starting the season 0-2 (1993 Cowboys, 2001 Patriots, and 2007 Giants). Looking ahead, Cincinnati has the Jets, Dolphins, Ravens, Saints and Falcons approaching on the schedule.  Winning now is very important, as we don’t want to rely on beating the Buccaneers, Bills, Titans, and Chiefs late in the season, while playing catch-up in the standings.  

I trust that Joe Burrow will turn things around, as winning is truly in his DNA. He has the “IT” factor and he is determined to turn this franchise around. Our offensive weapons, along with a top ten defense in my opinion, will still be in the playoffs this year and we can all sigh in relief. Eli Apple, La’el Collins, Jonah Williams, Cordell Volson, Alex Cappa, and many others will have to gain the trust back from the fan base, and I believe this may be a tough task for a few of them on the squad. Let’s hope they are diving into film as we speak, as miscommunication is at the root of many of their issues. Maybe it is just the optimism leftover from last season, but I believe this team will rebound in a big way against the Jets and win by 10+ points. The fan base is ready to say “Who Dey” already, and it’ll finally come to fruition on the 25^th of September.

The post Matt’s Take: Soap bars, positives and negatives, and moving on appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .