Bengals Booth Podcast: The Waiting

been doing to get ready for camp. Then it's Adam Rank, who has written a state of the Franchise article about every NFL team for NFL dot Com. In his words, the Bengals are going to be one of the most enjoyable teams to watch in twenty twenty one. We'll find out why. The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by bud Light.

Seltzer Refreshed the game, and here's a quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of this podcast delivered write to your phone, tablet, or computer by subscribing on iTunes, Stitch, your Google Play, Spotify, or pod Bean. It's the greatest thing since a family vacation. If you were experiencing Bengals Booth podcast withdrawal last week, I apologize for the lack of an episode, but I went on vacation with my

wife and son to the state of Washington. We started in Seattle, then went hiking in North Cascades National Park before spending a few days north of Seattle in the San Juan Islands. The trip was awesome. My batteries are recharged, and if you are ever in that area, go to Dad's Diner in Anacortis, Washington, about eighty miles north of Seattle, and get the brisket hash. It's the best breakfast I

have ever had. Now, let's get to football. Of the two hundred and fifty nine players selected in this year's NFL Draft, only one was a kicker, Evan McPherson, selected by the Bengals in the fifth round. In three years at the University of Florida, Evan made fifty one of sixty field goal attempts that's eighty five percent, and set a school record last year by drilling four from beyond fifty yards. His career along with the Gators was fifty five yards, but he drilled a sixty yard or in

high school. McPherson is from Alabama and that's where I caught up with him this week. Evan, you're a couple of weeks away from your first NFL training camp. Are you taking it easy at this point and saving your leg or are you hard at work? I'm hard at work definitely, because I know training cameras, you made a competition, and coach Simmons is gonna want his kicking. Not every day,

but you know, almost every day. So I'm just training my leg and it kind of ready to, you know, to kick whenever I need and to stay healthy, but you know, at the same time kicking a lot of balls. Is there a tricky balance there where you want to work hard and get better in the offseason, but you

don't want to overdo it. Yeah, I definitely think there is, um because you know, I probably would go out and kick every day if I could, but you know, my legs screaming at me telling me to take a break, and you know he can't overdo it, and you're just gonna know. You're gonna know your body and you know when to stop, and you know when to rest and recover, but yeah, there's definitely comes to a point where you know, I wish I could train more, but you know, I

just can't. You mentioned the training camp competition. When the Bengals drafted you this year, Darren Simmons said he expected you to win the job. He's not going to hand it to you, obviously, but he expects you to go out and win the job in camp. What would your reaction when he said that. It's the NFL um You know, everybody wants to play in the NFL and be a part of it, and just you know, just getting the opportunity to do to compete for those jobs as a blessing.

And I knew wherever I went, you know, I was gonna have to compete. And I think that's probably one of the best things. One of my best attributes is, you know, competing, being super competitive and you know, not wanting to kind of lose or take second to anyone. So now I'm really excited about competing with Austin. You know, he's a good guy, a good kicker, and I'm excited

to you guys Cincinnati and get things rolling. After you were drafted in the fifth round, you spoke to the Cincinnati Media and you said something along the lines of making the NFL was your goal since you started kicking. When did that start to become a realistic goal in your mind? Probably? I mean shoot, like I think later in high school, whenever you know, I was getting recruited by a college is a little bit, you know, I was like, all right, well, maybe I can really make

this thing a Yeah. I guess you'd say, kind of like a lifestyle or you know, make the NFL my goal because this is one this is what I want to do the rest of my life. And I'd say probably around like the end of high school, um, going into college. I guess when I really, you could say, put my head down and started grinding for a chance in the NFL. We're talking to rookie kicker Evan McPherson. I read that when you were in fifth grade you tied pipes to the soccer net in the backyard to

make a homemade goal post. Is that true and if so, how well did it work. Oh, it's definitely true. And it works so well that it's it's still in my backyard today. If I when I come home into my parents' house, that you know they still got it up. Um, you know, if it if it's been raining a lot, I don't want to go down to the field or you know, it just don't feel like drive and I'll just, you know,

go in the backyard and kick on those posts. So if you hit the post and it stay up, you know, honestly, I do remember hit the post sometimes but it would stay up. I strapped it with bungee cords, so you know, I tied it as time as I could, but uh, I might have to go fix it after I hit the post. But you know that that wasn't the gold hit the post, right, That's awesome. We're talking to Evan McPherson. The coal Quits are the first family of NFL punters.

I think four members of the coal Quit family have punted in the NFL. And it seems like there's something in the McPherson DNA because your older brother was a college punter, your younger brother is apparently the number one rated high school kicker in the country, and obviously you are on the verge of an NFL career. What is it with the McPherson family and kicking and punting, man, Yeah, I think it's just just a couple of super competitive brothers that that grew up playing uh, you know, all

sorts of sports. We grew up playing everything and um out in the front yard or backyard, and we always, uh just compete with each other, try to beat each other, and so um whenever our oldest brother kind of picked this whole kicking thing up and you know, started um doing it. You know, we all took interest and we saw you could go to college for free. I thought that was really cool, and then we just started to, uh, you know, try and get as good as we can.

But um no, I mean I think, you know, with the long family lines of you know NFL players or you know, good athletes, I just think it's kind of a make sure you got three competitive brothers that just love to beat each other and trying to get better than one another, and it kind of just turns out to h to benefit the whole family. It's been awesome, for sure. I suspect your parents probably love that go to college for free. In Yeah, for sure, that's what

they actually bribe us with. A see, if we get a scholarship and then I'll have to pay for college. Will buys a car for college, So pretty much just like a sports car, you know, something a little nicer than you normally get. That's good, that's good finances on their part, because a new car is a lot cheaper

than a college education these days. So on televised football coverage, we've seen the yellow first down line obviously, and then in recent years, networks have added the green line for field goal range, so that when a team reaches that line, it's supposedly within range for the field goal kicker. On at least one Florida game last year, the green line was at the forty five yard line, which would be a sixty two yard field goal under normal conditions. Is

that about right for you? Definitely? For that game, we had some wind in favor of the direction we were going, And before every game, coach one would kind of come up and just you know, ask me how I'm feeling, what's what's the wind doing? And you know how far back we think we can go? And um, yeah, I think, um, you know, with everything in favor, you know, wind and conditions and all that, I think that's definitely, uh, definitely doable.

And um yeah, I mean you may you may see um the field goal line, you know, on the forty five on a Sunday. You know, you never know, we'll definitely be paying attention this year. We're talking to Evan McPherson. Part of your job is handling stressful situations. Does that come naturally to you or have you, you know, studied breathing techniques or little tricks to deal with those stressful situations? Yeah? No,

I mean I think a lot goes into it. But I think, um, you know, part of it that you no one can just really learn, UM is you know, or learning from experience, UM, learn from failure and you know, uh, you know, succeeding in those moments as well, because um, you know they say that you know you you remember, um the miss kicks probably a lot more than the makes, and UM, you just never want that to happen again.

And so UM, you're kind of just finding that in your head, i'd say, in those stress of situations, but you know, you try to stay as calm and you know, collected as possible, and you know, I think it's just kind of a mixture of you know, I've been here before, you know I can do it. Um, so many reps in practice and all I got to do is hit this one field goal so you know, it's just really not overthinking it and just kind of going out there and and doing your job. What do you do when

the opposing coach tries to ice you? I mean, nothing different. Um, they asked me, we'll take it. We'll take a practice kick. I'll take that. See how I'm feeling on the field. UM, you know, we'll step up and we'll bring the one right after the time out. UM. That's kind of the mindset. And that's happened. It's happened at Texas A and M this past year. UM at Florida, and you know that's that just went out there, regrouped, and you know, hit it. One of your coaches at Florida was one of the

Bengals all time best kicker, Shane Graham. What has he told you about the franchise in the city. But you know he's told me a little bit about Cincinnati and you know his time there, he said, you know, he really enjoyed it the city. UM. You know, the fans are are great fans, loyal fans, and UM, you know there's gonna be there to support the team with whatever we do. And UM, obviously, UM, coach Graham was kicking

under um coach Simmons. And so he was telling me about coach Simmons and you know what he's to be like and just what to expect. I guess um up in Cincinnati gave me some food recommendations and and whatnot. So so you're coming to a franchise that has a snapper and a holder that have been working together for more than a decade, assuming those guys are are in those roles to begin the season, How helpful is that

for you? Yeah? No, I mean Kevin and Clark have been uh a lot of help to me, I know, even in this uh kind of mini camp phase and just you know, picking their brain about um, you know the NFL. How let's say I'll practice works or um, I mean to to recovery or you know, to save my money too. I mean, the they've helped me with with a lot, and you know, I think it's just a it's a real blessing to have them, um to

kind of guide me along. And um it's yeah, you say, teach me the ropes because you know, this is my first first year and so I'm gonna need to learn everything I can't and if they've done a great job teach me, and I'm excited to get to work with them for sure. So, as I said at the beginning, we're about two weeks away from the start of camp. This will be my eleventh as the Bengals announcer, and I'm fired up. It's like, you know, getting ready for

Christmas morning. I can only imagine what it's like for a rookie getting ready for his first NFL training camp. Can you articulate just how how eager you are to get here and get rolling? No, I mean I'm really fired up to get back in the Cincinnati. You know, I had a blast coming up there for about a month, you know, printicipating like the OTAs and everything, and you know,

I'd say I wasn't ready to leave. You know, I wanted to stay and I just keep kicking with the team and you know, hanging out with all the guys, and so yeah, I can't tell you X I am to get back ups there, and this time is for real. You know, there's no break when we get up there. We're we're competing for a spot for the job, and we're rolling into the season. You know, I'm super excited and and can't wait to go down to Tampa August fourteen. We are looking forward to us seeing you in action

this season. Enjoy the rest of your time with your family this offseason, and thanks for the time today. Really appreciate it. Yeah, for sure, thank you. Evan is the favorite to win the job, but we'll have to beat out Austin Sibert at training camp. Austin went six for eight on field goal tries for Cincinnati last year and made all eight of his extra points. The Bengals Booth podcast is presented by Bud Light Seltzer. It's light and

refreshing with a hint of fruit flavor. Since the start of June, NFL dot com has been posting state of the franchise stories about every NFL team. They're basically in depth season previews, and they were written by Adam Rank. I spoke to him this week about the state of the Bengals. Adam, I want to start with how you ended your Bengals preview. You write that you believe the Bengals are going to be one of the most enjoyable teams to watch in twenty twenty one. I obviously hope

you are right. What are you eager to see this season out of Cincinnati? Well, I think there's a lot of cool things going on with this team, and I think the accumulation of all this offensive talent is going to finally start showing itself. And I made the joke and I reference that, you know, even though Zach Taylor is an offensive minded coach, we really haven't seen the improvement,

which isn't completely fair because there's been some injuries. Obviously Joe Burrow last year, Joe Mixon went down with an injury, so it's tough to really judge him on what he's been able to do. But I think Jamar Chase and even though he comes in and he hasn't played football and in kind of a why, I still think this receiving cord is amazing. And I love Kei Higgins. Tyler Boyd is one of the most slept on players in the NFL. I don't know why more people don't love him,

but he's awesome. And so I really do believe that the Bengals are going to be this team that they are just gonna be super fun to watch and a team that, you know, fantasy implications aside, it's just gonna be one that I want to go out and I'm interested to see what they've got going on. I think that, you know, over the last couple of years, they've done a nice job of putting together a nice little team there, so I'm hoping to see finally start to pay off

this season. All right, I'm glad you mentioned Jamar Chase because there are a couple of big offseason storylines here in Cincinnati. And number one, should they have drafted the wide receiver or should they have drafted offensive lineman Piney Sewell? Number five? Overall, you think the Bengals got it right, correct? I really do. And if it wasn't Jamar Chase, if they were, if they were reaching for Kadarius Tony or

somebody like that, then yeah, let's have that conversation. And I just really believe that Chase is one of those generational talents that we've seen out of the wide receiver position over the last couple of years. I think that the chemistry that he has shown, you know, with your quarterback with Joe Burrow, they've got that kind of chemistry. I think I talk about forgive me if I get the reference run, but I think I made a DiCaprio brad Pit type of analogy. If not it was Han

Solo and whatever. It was something that's super on brand for me. But I really do believe that that was the right way to go. And you know, everybody acts like Sewell is some automatic prospect, but he didn't play last year either, and that's you know, none of these things are guaranteed in life. And I thought that, you know, you use the second round pick on a tackle. You addressed the position last year in the draft he signed

Riley Reeves, like they did a good job. They've done a good job over the last couple of years of upgrading the offensive line, and it's not like one rookie is going to come in and change that, whereas Chase can be somebody that's felt throughout the entire offense. You know, it's just going to open it up for t Higgins. Is this gonna, you know, open up the running game? Like there's a lot of different possibilities that having a guy like Jamar Chase on your football field does for you.

And I really do believe that it was the right pit for the record. You went with DiCaprio Pitt from the from the Quentin Tarantino movie I'm So Predictable, an excellent comparison. We're talking to Adam Reik from NFL dot Com and the NFL Network. The other big storyline for the Bengals in the offseason involved this question, did they do enough to improve the offensive line? You project the team MVP this year to be Riley Reef. I assume you're being a little bit facetious, but do you think

they did enough to protect Joe Burrow? Well? That is I mean, yeah, I mean I think that anytime you do these pieces, it's so easy to just fall back on the quarterbacks the most important player, because it really is. And I'm a bear span so I know how important the quarterback position can be. But I think, you know, I thought, again, this was a huge move for of the Bengals to bring him in, somebody who's been a solid NFL player for a long time. I do know

the reference I make here. I did talk. I'm positive that it was the reference about having a TV in the bathroom. It's a luxury, and you know what, like I never, I never understood that reference like I would. This happened to me one time when I was a younger man, when I was in my twenties, because I went into somebody's sounds. I'm like, why do you have a bathroom in your team? What do you have? What

do you have a TV in your bathroom? This makes no sense to me, Like are you that you that depraved? Like what's wrong? You can't go four minutes without seeing part of the game. And now as a parent of two small toddlers six and three, like, yell, yeah, the bathroom's the best place in the world because it's the only room in the house that's got a lock on it. Can we keep the keep the kids out? And said

they're watching a little brit almost at British Open. Watched the Open for a little bit unimpeded, like it is a huge luxury. But I do believe like the Bengals have been addressing it like they have. Like I said, you know, they drafted over the last two years, They've used high draft picks on the offensive line. You went out there and got a pretty reliable player who has proven that he can play on the NFL level. Whereas when you're drafting people you don't know, like you you

don't know. I would have liked this, you know, to be in on Moses more Inner or somebody like that. There was a couple other names floating out there, but I do believe that they did enough. Like, are they going to go out there and they're gonna have the best offensive line in the league. They are not, But at this point, what you want them to be is be decent, like being pretty good. Like I'm an Angels fan,

so I understand this all too well. Where it's like you need pitching and you don't need to have dominant starters. You just need to have somebody who's good enough to like, don't give up more than six runs a game because your offense is going to score. And they think the Bengals are in that that position, it's like, Okay, if Burrol gets hit once in a while, that's fine, but don't get him kill. Let him go out there and do his thing because you got the playmakers, you got

the team. Just go out there. Just just be adequate, and I think that's going to be enough. The first time I ever had a TV in a hotel bathroom, I felt like the richest man in the world. Oh, it's unbelievable like that. I remember, like when I was a kid, we were in whatever, we were traveling across the country. I remember when the phone in the bathroom was a thing. Oh my god, this is this is the greatest. Now you had a TV. You're like, I

might just live here. We're talking to Adam Rank. You can follow him on Twitter at Adam rank R. A n K so Riley Reef was the Bengals' biggest offensive addition in free agency, but they really spent big on defense. Trey Hendrickson, Larry Ogan, Joby hit obey A Wooja, Mike Hilton, and others. What did you think of the spending spree on d I thought that was pretty smart. I think that's a pretty good way to go about it. And you know, it's something that the Bengals have always been

pretty good at, is having a good defense. Like I know it's funny I'm preaching to the choir about this, but I'm telling you from like a national level, like it always kind of it tickles me a little bit because over the last couple of years things haven't been great obviously for Cincinnati, but it's like, do we not remember like the previous you know, outside of the Zach Taylor here, like there was a string where they were making the playoffs every year, Like this is this is

an organization that has shown stability. They really believe in their coaches. They kept Marvin Lewis around for a while, and so I trust them when they go out there and they make these moves. And I thought that going out and putting a little bit more into the defensive side of the football, you know, especially when you're in a division. It's got Cleveland, it's got a pretty excellent offensive line. They're doing well offensively with Kevin Stapanski, the Ravens.

Obviously with Lamar Jackson. I think that he's an excellent player. So yeah, it makes sense to go out there and really kind of root the strength of this team in defense, because what you want, and again it goes back to talking about the offensive liness is like just be adequate, you know, just just don't get your quarterback killed. And similarly, you can look at the defense and say, look, you don't have to be a shutdown defense. You don't have to win every game ten to nine. You've got players

out there who can help score points for you. So you just need to go out there and when you need to make a stop, when you need to make a crucial you know, like a crucial play here or there, you've got the players who can do that. So I think that the Bengals did very well. I thought they spent pretty wisely. I think that you know, to a lot of people, it's not going to be big time names. It's not bringing in JJ Watt or something like that, which goes of course like that generates a lot of buzz.

But what you did is brought in pretty good football players, which I think is the key to this team. Let's talk about the AFC North. Because you wrote state of the Franchise stories about every team in the NFL. The Bengals are in a division where the other three teams all won at least eleven games last year and went to the playoffs. How do the Ravens, Browns, and Steelers stack up in your opinion? Well, I believe that the Ravens and the Browns are probably the two better teams,

are the two best teams in that devision. I don't think I'm telling tales out of school. I know a lot of people are kind of expecting some regression from the Cleveland Browns, and I could see that, but they're so good on the lines that you know, the offensive line in Cleveland, according to Pro Football focus is the best in the NFL, and I find that hard to disagree with them, even you know, you know, they got rid of Kevin Zeitler a couple of years ago, to

bringing Odell Beckham junior. They've done a nice job of keeping that offensive line great. They brought into Davian Clowney to play alongside of Miles Miles Garrett, and so you're like, Okay, that's that's a pretty good team. I think that they're going to be very good. I think the Ravens are good. They're well coached. I think Lamar Jackson is a good player. I know everybody wants him to throw outside the numbers, but it's like, yeah, he's He's still been pretty good

no matter what whatever he's doing, it's still working. Like they're getting to the playoffs. They want a playoff game last year, like they're inching along. The team that I believe is beatable is the Pittsburgh Steelers, And even though they started off eleven and oh last year, there were some signs about maybe this isn't going as well as

people would like to believe. And of course, the Steelers are one of those teams who historically have done well of just rebuilding, and they don't really seem to miss people. You know, they let their receivers go all the time and it doesn't matter. They find four more who are just as capable. I'm serious, Like, whenever they draft a receiver, I'm like, well, that guy's going to be the best player in the NFL apparently because if Kevin and Kevin

Colbert finds him, that he's obviously good. But I look at this team, and I look at the offensive line and all all the changes that they made. Now, they didn't play well last year, so he could reason that, well, they got rid of the guys who weren't good, they're bringing in other players, maybe it'll be better. And that's true, but they still got Ben Roethlisberger, who is playing with

a couple of hurt knees last year. And to me, the fact that they're going into this offseason going into the season, I should say with Ben Roethlisberger backed up by Mason Rudolph, Like, why that doesn't concern anybody, like of all the quarterbacks where you're like, yeah, I don't know, Like he's like the quarterbacks he was drafted with they all retired. Now I believe that Chob was the final one. I think it's Rivers, Eli and then Shob have retired. Roethlisberger.

As tough as he is, I know it's been a lot Like he plays, he plays like that's the thing. He gets hurt, but he plays. It's like that's a big ask for me. And I know they're bringing in Nage Harris and he'll probably be excellent, but I'm like this, ste I don't know. There's just something about the Steelers that I think that that's a team that you can

go out there and get him. Of course, the Bengals beat them last year a Monday Night football, which was amazing, which is I listen, I've rooted for a team that's been bad for a while. When you get one of

those primetime wins over your arrival, that's the great. Like I still remember, and I know this is a Bengals podcast, so just forgive me as I talk about Jay Cutler beating the Packers on Thanksgiving of like the season sock, our team was terrible, but I remember just being like, you know what, Like we beat the Packers on a game when everybody's watching. That's enough for me and I but I do believe I will say this though, So last year that was cool, Like that's fun for the

Bengals last year. I think now is the time of like that was fun, Like it's it's cool to get moral victories. You got to start getting actual victories at this point, like you've you've done it. Okay, listen, this is Zach's third year. This is another you know, hopefully Joe is healthy and ready to go, Like, you gotta win some games this season. I don't want to be rude. I don't want to put two radio expectations on you, but you got to go out there and win some

games this season. And that's the perfect segue to my final question. Because I started our conversation with the end of the story that you wrote on NFL dot Com. I want to end it with the start because the headline reads is a turnaround led by Joe Burrow imminent. What's your answer to that question post in the headline? You know, I do believe it is. I love I love Joe Burrow. I know I put this in the piece too. Is the one thing about the Bengals that's

crazy to me? And I was thinking about it, like I again, not to go back to be rooting for the Bears. But the Bengals, you guys have never like there's been some David Klingler the years or whatever, Keilly Smith. You guys always have a good quarterback and you're always competitive. You can go back to Ken Anderson, you know, the leads to Boomera Assias and the Carson Palmer and a Dalton was a good player. Like I'm gonna I'll fight that battle. I think Andy Dalton was a fine NFL

quarterback or still is. And now you got Joe Burrow, which is amazing, and so I think that you have proven that you're going to be a competitive team like That's it always tickles me that the Bengals get roped into this thing about like one of the worst franchises in the league, and you're like why, Like they're in the playoff. Like I think of them more as a playoff team than anything else, Like they're always in the mix,

like going back to all those banks and everything. So I really do believe that what they have with Joe Burrow now they're going to be a very competitive team and they're going to start challenging for the AFC North. It as you mentioned, though, it is one of the toughest divisions in football. Three teams that won at least eleven games. Three teams, and I know that I'm probably more harsh on the Steelers than anybody else. Three teams that are expected to compete for playoff spots this year.

So there's a very real possibility that the Bengals could be one of those teams that's kind of a mid carter, you know, seven eight, nine wins, which doesn't get them in the playoffs. But I do believe, you know, if Zach Taylor is the coach that we think he can be, I want him to be. I like Zach. I know I made fun of them, but I like Zach Taylor. I liked him when he was with the Rams and everything, so it's like, I want him to succeed. I think that it is. It is feasible, and there is talent here.

A lot of it is the injuries. You know, they've got to be healthy. They got to be but that's every team, you know, honestly, So as long as they're healthy, I think they turn around is definitely imminent. I think this team has pointed in the right direction, and I think the Bengals it's not going to be long before they're back in the playoff mix. Adam, I really enjoyed your State of the Franchise stories. I recommend them to people that haven't read them yet on NFL dot Com.

You obviously put a lot of work into doing all of these season previews, and I really appreciate your time today. Thanks so much. Hey, thank you so much. Appreciate it for our annual visit. Let's do it again. Let's make it sooner next time. But thank you so much for having me by. Thanks to Adam and Evan, and that's going to do it for this episode of the Bengals Booth Podcast, brought to you by bud Light Seltzer, refreshed

the game. If you haven't done so already, please subscribe and if you have a minute, give it a rating or share a comment that helps more Bengals fans find this podcast. I'm Dan Horde, and thank you for listening to The Bengals Booth Podcast