In The Trenches with Dave Lapham

#bengals Cincinnati Bengals middle linebacker Logan Wilson joins Dave Lapham in the Trenches today brought to you by First Star Logistics. Logan is coming off two amazing seasons where he has excelled as a young player in the NFL. The 2023 season is a big season for Logan because it's the final year of his contract so he will try to play his best to earn the most money possible for his next contract. Logan and Bengals have already begun contract negotiations but will most likely be on hold until the Bengals figure out Joe Burrow's contract first. Wilson isn't focused on his contract though he is focused on being the leader of one of the best defenses in the NFL. With Jessie Bates leaving in free agency Wilson will have to step up and be the quarterback of this very strong defense. Lapham and Wilson talk about his defense back upbringing and how that has helped him be one of the best cover linebackers in the NFL. Wilson also shows high praise for defense coordinator Lou Anarumo who has made a name for himself the past two seasons and if the Bengals defense has another strong year in 2023 you figure it will be hard to keep teams away from Lou as their head coach in the years to come.

Jimmy Burrow is back on In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, to discuss his son Joe Burrow and how things are progressing as the Cincinnati Bengals continue OTAs with some new additions to the offense from the draft and free agency, especially what tight end Irv Smith Jr. brings to the Bengals offense. Also discussed is the work done by the Joe Burrow Foundation in Cincinnati and Louisiana and how fans of Joe's can help the foundation help more people during their latest Joe Burrow Foundation competition between the two areas with the "Let's Do Good" competition. The challenge runs through June 6, with fans being able to purchase apparel celebrating Burrow's career in both areas. Over 4,600 items were sold during last year's challenge, with Cincinnati fans winning bragging rights with more than 2,800 purchases.

Former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna proved during his football career to be a winner and a leader. After playing three sports at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington, Kitna walked on at Central Washington University (NAIA), earning the starting quarterback job as a true freshman. Kitna proved he was no fluke leading Central Washington to the NAIA Football National Championship his senior year. After earning a math education degree, Kitna was prepared to teach and coach at the high school level. But, instead, Dennis Erickson saw something in Kitna, signing him to the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1996. After being waived and signed to the Seahawks practice squad, Kitna was allocated to the World League of American Football and the Barcelona Dragons. It was here that Kitna showed he had the makings to play in the NFL and would play in the league with the Seahawks, Bengals, Detroit Lions, and Dallas Cowboys. However, after finishing his pro career, Kitna started the job he thought was his future all along, becoming a high school coach, the position he holds today as the new head coach at Liberty Township (Ohio) Lakota East High School, where he'll coach his youngest son, Jamison Kitna, a Class of 2025 quarterback prospect who already holds double-digit offers from the likes of Baylor, Duke, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and more. Kitna joined In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, to discuss his career, including what may surprise many as his most significant achievement in the game, and respect he has for former teammate Carson Palmer and what he's seen so far from current Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

Cincinnati Bengals new tight end Irv Smith Jr joins Dave Lapham in the Trenches today brought to you by First Star Logistics. Lap takes a deep dive into Irv's football foundation and how his father helped him into the player he is today. Smith tells us about his football upbringing and how excited he is for this new chapter in his career. Smith played college football for Alabama from 2016-2018 where he excelled in his pass-catching ability which lead to him getting drafted 50th overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 2019. The biggest issue for Smith's young career is staying healthy and staying on the field, like Hayden Hurst last season Smith is looking to prove he is an elite player at the tight end position. Irv couldn't be more excited to be joining Joe Burrow and this Bengals offense. With the Bengals not selecting a tight end in this year's NFL Draft Smith will be the TE1 to start the season. We can't wait to see the Burrow and Smith connection this upcoming season!

While the Cincinnati Bengals didn't draft a quarterback during the recent NFL Draft, there were changes in the quarterback room as backup Brandon Allen left the organization and veteran signal-caller Trevor Siemian took over as the backup for Joe Burrow. Bengals quarterback coach Dan Pitcher gets back In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, to discuss how the Bengals offseason work has been coming along, the addition of Siemian, and what he's seen from newcomers, tight end Irv Smith Jr. and newly drafted wide receiver Charlie Jones out of Purdue. Pitcher gives excellent insight into why Burrow has become one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL since being the first player in the 2020 NFL Draft and more in another great episode of In The Trenches from the First Star Logistics Studios.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver coach Troy Walters joins Dave Lapham in the trenches today to talk about the start of OTAs and how the rookie wide receivers are bonding with the veterans on the team. Charlie Jones has been catching a lot of people’s eyes early on in OTAs. Dave compares him to Cooper Kupp which is very high praise for such a young and raw player. Jones should make an immediate impact early in the season not only as the Bengals fourth receiver but as the Bengals punt returner as well. Coach Walters praises Jones and Iosivas for their commitment to their craft and their ability to learn and adapt to their brand-new playbook. Coach Walters as you can imagine is very excited for the upcoming season. Not only did he already have the best starting trio in the NFL but now he adds two very talented rookies. The potential for this group is through the roof and we can't wait to see what they do in 2023. You won't want to miss this awesome episode of In the Trenches with Dave Lapham brought to you by First Star Logistics. Who Dey!

Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow covered a lot of ground during his meeting with media members on Tuesday afternoon. Burrow covered everything from being healthy for an entire offseason and training camp, the signing of Orlando Brown Jr. and the forced move of Jonah Williams from left tackle to right tackle to make room for Brown and the addition of tight end Irv Smith Jr. when many felt the Bengals would look to add a player from the college ranks at the position during the recent NFL Draft. While a short segment covered the work Burrow and his family are doing with the Joe Burrow Foundation, when pressed about the status of a new contract, Burrow stressed he's made it well known to Bengals management what he's looking for in a new long-term deal and feels confident the two sides are on the road to create a new monster contract happen in the future.

The time has come to discuss the road the Cincinnati Bengals must take to reach Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. The NFL officially announced schedules for all teams, and Dave Lapham In The Trenches, presented by First Star Logistics, gives his early thoughts on what the Bengals will face as two-time defending AFC North Champions. Like last season, the Bengals will open against an AFC North rival; however, this season, it will be on the road against the Cleveland Browns, never an easy place for Joe Burrow and the Bengals to try and win a game. Fans will learn early about this edition of the Bengals led by head coach Zac Taylor as Week Two of the season will see another North rival, the Baltimore Ravens, come to Paycor Stadium. The success of Burrow and the Bengals over the past two seasons has many wanting to see the Bengals' explosive offense in action, and the NFL placed the Bengals in two Monday Night Football slots to go with Thursday night and Sunday night national games. The list of quarterbacks Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will have to scheme against is impressive, led by Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Add in the likes of Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville), Josh Allen (Buffalo), Lamar Jackson (Baltimore), Deshaun Watson (Cleveland), Matthew Stafford (LA Rams), and Kirk Cousins (Minnesota), and the possibility of facing rookie signal callers C.J. Stroud (Houston), Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis), and Will Levis (Tennessee) mean a lot of exciting games. So sit back and enjoy as Lapham takes a look at what should be another exciting season of Cincinnati Bengals football. THE 2023 CINCINNATI BENGALS SCHEDULE WEEK 1: @ CLEVELAND BROWNS WEEK 2: BALTIMORE RAVENS WEEK 3: LA RAMS (MNF) WEEK 4: @ TENNESSEE TITANS WEEK 5: @ ARIZONA CARDINALS WEEK 6: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS WEEK 7: BYE WEEK WEEK 8: @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS WEEK 9: BUFFALO BILLS WEEK 10: HOUSTON TEXANS WEEK 11: @ BALTIMORE RAVENS WEEK 12: PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 13: @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS WEEK 14: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS WEEK 15: MINNESOTA VIKINGS WEEK 16: @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS WEEK 17: @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS WEEK 18: CLEVELAND BROWNS

Bengals Senior Personal Executive Trey Brown takes us inside the Bengals draft room to analyze the new 2023 class. The Bengals addressed a lot of different positions and added a ton of valuable depth in the 2023 NFL draft. Trey Brown join Dave Lapham In the Trenches to discuss what the Bengals thought processes were with each selection. The Bengals selected three offensive players, four defensive players, and one punter in the NFL draft. Most of the selections should see early playing time for the already young Bengals roster that only includes a couple of players over the age of 30. The first three selections should have the biggest impact being they will at least get snaps to start the year with how much Lou loves to rotate players and keep guys fresh. Chase Brown also has a chance to make an immediate impact with the looming fate of RB Joe Mixon. With Perine leaving in free agency Brown should be the RB2 to start the season. Trey Brown gives the fans want they want in this episode of In the Trenches with Dave Lapham brought to you by First Star Logistics. With the draft being over fans now look forward to the 2023 schedule release on May 11th.

After going defense in the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals used their next three picks to fill needs for offensive coordinator Brian Callahan and quarterback Joe Burrow. In The fourth round, Purdue wide receiver Charlie Jones was selected, the nation's leading receiver with 110 catches. Not only can Jones look to fill a backup role at receiver, but he might also be the kick return the Bengals have needed the past several seasons. In the fifth round, Illinois running back Chase Brown got the call and looked ready to fill a void left by Samaje Perine. But, it was a big day for Brown and his family as the Eagles drafted his identical twin brother Sydney in the third round. The sixth round may have been the biggest surprise, with the Bengals taking Princeton wide receiver Andrei Iosivas who some feel could have used his track talent to become an Olympian as he's posted a 16-foot pole vault and set the NCAA Indoor record for the 60 meters in the heptathlon. Callahan also dives into the addition of Burrow's new backup Trevor Siemian and why the tight end position became less of a need during the draft. In The Trenches with Dave Lapham is presented by First Star Logistics.

Special Teams Coordinator Darrin Simmons joins In the Trenches with Dave Lapham to recap the Bengals 2023 draft. Coach Simmons gives his scouting routine and how he looks at these prospects in a different light compared to other coaches on the Bengals staff. The Bengals selected a specialist in Round 6 of the draft with Brad Robbins. Robbins punted at Michigan and was one of the best punters in college football last season. The Bengals had a need at punter and Robbins should be a major upgrade he's also a fantastic holder on field goals, never fumbling a snap during his time at Michigan. The Bengals 4th round selection, wide receiver Charlie Jones from Purdue is also a talented return man. During his time at Iowa before transferring his last year he returned punts and kickoffs and was very explosive at both. The Bengals really haven't had an explosive return man since Pac-Man Jones so Jones will not only be exciting to watch on offense but on special teams as well. You don't want to miss this special episode of In the Trenches with Dave Lapham brought to you by First Star Logistics. Enjoy!

Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo updates us on the Bengals first three selections in the 2023 NFL Draft. Excited is a good word to describe how Lou is feeling after this weekend after the Bengals select three defensive players with their first three picks. The headliner is of course the first-round pick Myles Murphy from Clemson. Murphy is an athletic freak and was a projected top-10 pick in mid-January. A former 5-star recruit Murphy dominated his freshman season but after losing his DC in college he regressed a bit in his last two seasons. The Bengals then selected cornerback DJ Turner from Michigan. Turner had a great season and career at Michigan being part of two Big Ten Championship teams. Turner also impressed the league when he ran the fastest recorded time in the 4o-yard dash. The Bengals third selection was a bit of a surprise but makes a ton of sense after the offseason departures. Safety Jordan Battle out of Alabama should be an amazing addition to this young safety room. Lou is always an amazing guest on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham brought to you by First Star Logistics and you fans won't want to miss it!

Cincinnati Bengals center Ted Karras joins Dave Lapham in today’s episode of In the Trenches. Ted is a great recurring guest for the show, and he never disappoints. Dave and Ted talk about the players being back in Cincinnati and how the team is getting along in these very early stages of the 2023 season. Ted also talks about meeting Orlando Brown Jr and Cody Ford for the first time, and let’s just say he is through the roof about playing next to one of the biggest offensive linemen in the NFL. With the draft coming up this week Bengal fandom is heating up! Who will the Bengals pick on Thursday night? All you fans will definitely enjoy Lapham's interview with Ted Karras on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham brought to you by First Star Logistics Make sure you fans tune into the Inaugural First Star Logistics Bengals Draft Party LIVE from Great American Ballpark, Friday April 28th starting at 7:00. We can't wait to see you all there! WHO DEY

Bengals stud defense tackle DJ Reader joins Dave Lapham In the Trenches on today’s episode! DJ is the true definition of In the Trenches as he has made a living of dominating some of the biggest bodies in the NFL and shutting down the best running backs in the game. DJ is very motivated for the 2023 season after being snubbed for the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams the last two seasons. But at the end of the day, the Bengals success is what’s most important for him and the defense. One of eleven is a common theme when Dave interviews defensive players and the defensive staff. When you watch this defense on Sundays you can tell that all eleven players on the field trust the player next to them to do their job. Bengal fans will definitely enjoy this special episode of In the Trenches with Dave Lapham presented by First Star Logistics.

Bengals Director of Scouting Tom Potts joins Dave Lapham in the Trenches on today’s special episode. The 2023 NFL Draft is only two weeks away and all Bengal fans have one thing on their mind, who will the Bengals draft and bring in to help this Super Bowl-caliber team? Mike Potts might not be a well-known Bengals contributor but that doesn’t mean he isn’t extremely valuable to the organization. Potts takes us through the recent free agent signings and previews the upcoming NFL draft. What positions will the Bengals be targeting in the draft and who will the Bengals bring in on official visits? Bengal fans you will defiantly like this episode of In the Trenches with Dave Lapham brought to you by First Star Logistics make sure to stay tuned for more draft content as we inch closer to the 2023 NFL draft.

In Part One of our conversation with former Bengals cornerback Eric Thomas, In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, dived into the team's success the past two seasons, success in free agency despite losing a couple key players, and the effect quarterback Joe Burrow has brought to Cincinnati and the Bengals, In Part Two, Thoams and Lapham look at who the Bengals should draft in this month's annual NFL Draft, as the Bengals are scheduled to pick in the No. 28 spot in the first round. Thomas also stresses to Bengals fans the franchise has never had a quarterback like Burrow despite the success of former Bengals signal callers Ken Anderson, Boomer Esiason, Carson Palmer, and Andy Dalton.

Former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eric Thomas jumps back In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, in Part One of Two, looking at the success the Bengals have been enjoying the past two seasons. Thomas, drafted in Round 2 of the 1987 NFL Draft by the Bengals out of Tulane, enjoyed six seasons in Cincinnati and still calls the Queen City home while coaching football and track. As part of the Bengals' famous S.W.A.T. Team that played a significant role in reaching Super Bowl XXIII while earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, Thomas left a lasting legacy and still follows the team's success. In Part One, Lapham and Thomas discuss what everyone talks about when looking at the Bengals, quarterback Joe Burrow and how he revitalized the franchise into one of the top destinations players across the league want to become part of. Also, who better to discuss the revamped Bengals secondary after the free agency loss of Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates, than Thoams? Lou Anarumo will have new free agent signings safety Nick Scott and cornerback Sidney Jones joining second-year players Dax Hill and Cam Taylor-Britt as the Bengals also welcomed on the offensive side of the ball left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and tight end Irv Smith Jr. to one of the top offensive units in the NFL.

Bengals Offensive Coordinator Brian Callahan joins In the Trenches with Dave Lapham on today’s episode brought to you by First Star Logistics. Coach Callahan talks about the Bengals recent free agents signings and how they will put this Bengals offense over the top in 2023. Orlando Brown Jr is obviously the biggest addition to this Bengals offense literally and figuratively. The 4x pro bowler should bolster this offensive line to heights in 2023, finally getting Joe Burrow his elite blindside pass-blocker. Now the only question on the offensive line is the right tackle position which Lapham and Coach Callahan address in their interview today. Another important piece to this offense is the tight end position. Last year Hayden Hurst was a huge surprise and quickly made a major impact in the passing game last season for the Bengals. Hurst played so well that he banked in on a 3-year deal in Carolina so Bengals reloaded again on a free-agent tight end in Irv Smith Jr. Smith was a high draft pick for the Vikings but never really found his footing in Minnesota and dealt with multiple injuries. He has a lot of the same upside Hurst did last season so the Bengals will look to replicate that same production and add to it by looking for a tight end in the NFL Draft.

In Part Two, with Solomon Wilcots, Dave Lapham and Wilcots waste little time with a continued look at the Bengals' free agent signings and the upcoming NFL Draft. However, In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, digs deeper with Wilcots about the top storyline this offseason, Joe Burrow being signed to a contract extension. When will Burrow sign a new deal? How much money will the Bengals give Burrow in his new contract? All this and much more.

This is Part One of Two with former Cincinnati Bengals standout safety Solomon Wilcots, who again jumps In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, to talk about the Bengals. The dynamic duo discusses why Bengals fans should be excited as it's a "New Day In Bengals History," according to Wilcots. The team again went out and signed top-level talent to fill positions of need after losing a couple of free agents. Learn more about new left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., safety Nick Scott, cornerback Sidney Jones, and tight end Irv Smith Jr. as each will look to help the Bengals and Joe Burrow return to another Super Bowl. Be sure to return for Part Two of our conversation with one of the sharpest football minds in the media, Solomon Wilcots.