In The Trenches with Dave Lapham

We always enjoy having one of the all-time Cincinnati Bengals greats, Boomer Esiason, jump In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, to give his honest and raw thoughts on the world of the NFL and the Bengals. The 2023 Bengals Ring Of Honor inductee looks back on his draft process and sees similarities between it and his 1984 Draft Class and what the Bengals could do with ten draft picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. What position will the Bengals address in Round One? What quarterbacks impress the 1988 NFL Most Valuable Player and four-time Pro Bowl player? This and more in this exclusive One-on-One with one of the best to play the game.

Cincinnati Bengals director of college scouting Mike Potts joins us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham to discuss the 2024 NFL draft class and why he believes this is one of the best draft classes in recent memory.    Potts and Lap talk about the important positions the Bengals will address in the 2024 draft. The Bengals did a great job filling their biggest needs in free agency, adding very talented players at key positions like safety, tight end, defensive tackle, and offensive tackle. It puts the Bengals in a great spot where they can take their best available player in each round. The first-round pick will be very telling on the Bengals strategy for the whole draft, will they sit at 18 and draft in the Trenches? Or will they be aggressive and trade up to grab an offensive weapon? All questions will be answered Thursday night so make sure you tune in!    Also, be sure to tune in for First Star Logistics' 2nd Annual Bengals Draft Party this Friday with live coverage on the 2nd & 3rd rounds of the NFL Draft! The action starts at 7:30 and will run until 10:00 so make sure you tune in for great giveaways and all your Bengals coverage!    We want to thank Mike Potts for being a fantastic guest and for joining us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham brought to you by First Star Logistics. We also look forward to growing our new central channel, First Star Media Group, and having you fans follow us along the ride. A lot more content is coming soon so definitely hit that subscribe button so you never miss one of our uploads! As always Who Dey!   

Former Cincinnati Bengal and sports commenter Solomon Wilcots joins us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham to discuss who he thinks the Bengals will be targeting in the 2024 NFL draft.  The Bengals did a great job addressing their needs in free agency where they don't have a glary hole they need to fill going into the draft. The biggest position the Bengals addressed was safety, signing two starting quality players in Geno Stone and the former Bengals Vonn Bell.  Lap and Solly talk about the four positions they believe will be the biggest priorities for the Bengals in the upcoming draft; offensive tackle, defense tackle, cornerback, and wide receiver. They guarantee those four positions will be drafted it just depends on what round those picks will happen.  Let us know in the comments below who you would draft in the first round!?  We want to thank Solomon Wilcots for being a fantastic guest and for joining us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham brought to you by First Star Logistics. We also look forward to growing our new central channel, First Star Media Group, and having you fans follow us along the ride. A lot more content is coming soon so definitely hit that subscribe button so you never miss one of our uploads! As always Who Dey!     

While members of the Cincinnati Bengals have been doing some offseason work on their own, this week, the real work begins as players come together for some basic workouts as a team. For Bengals right guard Alex Cappa, the thrill of returning to Cincinnati and the prospect of working with new right tackle Trent Brown is invigorating. His commitment to his role in propelling the Bengals towards another Super Bowl, and his aspiration to secure a Super Bowl ring for all the Bengals offensive linemen, is truly inspiring. Cappa jumped In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, to discuss some of his new teammates, getting ready for another NFL season, and more.

Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell joins us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham to discuss his return to the Bengals after spending last season with the Carolina Panthers and how excited he is to be back playing under defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Vonn and Lap talk about his favorite memories from his time with the Bengals, including the incredible interception against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game and his legendary hit on Juju Smith Schuster. Bell also expresses his special connection to Lou Anarumo and why he was a huge part of his return to Cincinnati. He can't wait to rejoin his old teammates and build bonds with his new teammates. We want to thank Vonn Bell for being a fantastic guest and for joining us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham brought to you by First Star Logistics. We also look forward to growing our new central channel, First Star Media Group, and having you fans follow us along the ride. A lot more content is coming soon so definitely hit that subscribe button so you never miss one of our uploads! As always Who Dey!

We recently welcomed back for a thirteenth time one of our favorite guests on Dave Lapham In The Trenches, presented by First Star Logistics, Cincinnati Bengals center Ted Karras. This visit covered a lot, as Karras talked about how the Bengals know they didn't get the job done in 2023 and will return in 2024 hungry and angry, ready to regain a top spot in the AFC. Also discussed was the generosity of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who donated $25,000 so Karras would get a "Cincy" tattoo during Karras's huge St. Tatty's Day event. As for the new members of the Bengals this upcoming season, Karras has some firsthand knowledge about a couple of the newest members of the team and deep dives into each of them.

What can Brown do for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024? Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. will now have a bookend right tackle in Trent Brown, along with second-year running back Chase Brown, to help push what is sure to become the next big catchphrase in NFL circles. Brown returned to In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, to discuss how he's attacked the offense, the signing of multiple free agents he feels will be difference makers for the Bengals in 2024, and some of the next offensive linemen who caught his attention leading to the 2024 NFL Draft later this month.

Solomon Wilcots is one of the best NFL football analysts and a friend of Dave Lapham In The Trenches, presented by First Star Logistics. In a return visit, Solomon does a deep dive into the new free agents signed by the Cincinnati Bengals and breaks down the return of Vonn Bell and the signings of running back Zack Moss, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, right tackle Trent Brown, safety Geno Stone, and tight end Mike Gesicki. Is Wilcots high on all of the Bengals signings? Tune in and find out. Please give your thoughts on the newest members of the Bengals below.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo returns to Dave Lapham In The Trenches, presented by First Star Logistics, to discuss the loss of D.J. Reader and Chidobe Awuzie. While Anarumo is sad to see the two leave the Bengals for new teams, he's extremely excited about the return of Vonn Bell, the resigning of Akeem Davis-Gaither, and the free agent signings of safety Geno Stone and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. Lapham caught up with Coach Anarumo while he was on the West Coast to get his thoughts on each player and Dax Hill's future.

Cincinnati Bengals new running back Zack Moss joins us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham to discuss his football career and how excited he is to join the Cincinnati Bengals.  Zack had an amazing college career at Utah going for over 1,400 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns in his last season. Zack was a third-round pick in 2020 for the Buffalo Bills and was traded during the 2022 season to the Indianapolis Colts. Last season with the Colts Zack had a great season filling in for Jonathan Taylor after he went down with an injury totaling 794 yards and 5 rushing touchdowns.  With the departure of Joe Mixon, Zack will have big shoes to fill for the 2024 season but seems ready for the bigger workload. It will be interesting to see how Zac Taylor works out the running back workload with both Moss and Brown in 2024. Brown had a great end to his rookie season so it wouldn't be surprising to see both backs spilt carries especially early in the season.  We want to thank Zack Moss for being a fantastic guest and for joining us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham brought to you by First Star Logistics. We also look forward to growing our new central channel, First Star Media Group, and having you fans follow us along the ride. A lot more content is coming soon so definitely hit that subscribe button so you never miss one of our uploads! As always Who Dey!     

Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher jumped back In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, to discuss the newest additions to the Bengals' offensive attack and the return of other key members. Running back Zack Moss, tight end Mike Gesicki, and offensive tackle Trent Brown have been signed, joining returning Bengals Cody Ford, Trenton Irwin, Tanner Hudson, Jake Browning, Trayveon Williams, and Drew Sample. What did Coach Pitcher have to say about each of these players? Join Dave Lapham In The Trenches to discover why Coach Pitcher knows this is a fun time of the NFL year.

The 2024 NFL Draft is only a few weeks away, and the Cincinnati Bengals currently hold the No. 18 pick in the first round.  Could the Bengals look to draft a right tackle with their first pick? Will the Bengals look to fill other needs along the offensive line in the draft's early rounds? Bengals offensive line coach Frank Pollack returns to In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, to discuss what he's seen so far from the recent NFL Combine and on the film of some of the top offensive line prospects in the draft. The following players are discussed in this episode. Joe Alt - Notre Dame JC Latham - Alabama Taliese Fuaga - Oregon State Troy Fautanu - Washington Graham Barton - Duke Amarius Mims - Georgia Olumuyiwa Fashanu - Penn State Tyler Guyton - Oklahoma Cooper Beebe - Kansas State Jackson Powers-Johnson Jordan Morgan - Arizona Kingsley Suamataia - BYU Garret Greenfield - South Dakota State No Bengals fan or fan of the NFL Draft will want to miss this episode. This episode was recorded before the start of NFL Free Agency.

Former Cincinnati Bengal and sports commenter Solomon Wilcots joins us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham to discuss his time at the NFL combine and who impressed him the most when it comes to who the Bengals should target with their first-round pick.  Lap and Solomon discuss what a lot of Bengal fans are debating right now, should the Bengals take or trade up for TE prospect Brock Bowers or take their future right tackle with their first-round selection?  It's a win-win for the Bengals at pick #18 because anyway they decide to go they will be getting an immediate impact player. With the 2024 tackle class being one of the best in recent memory one or maybe two of those tackles will be there and would immediately start at right tackle. On the other hand, the Bengals haven't had a solid long-term tight end since they drafted Tyler Eifert in 2013. Brock Bowers is viewed by many to be a generational-type prospect and the idea of him, Jamaar Chase, Tee Higgins, and Joe Burrow all together is very exciting to think about. The Bengals did sign free agent Mike Gesicki, to a one-year deal but the Bengals need to address the position in the draft as they haven't drafted a tight end since Drew Sample in 2019.  Let us know in the comments below who you would draft in the first round! Brock Bowers or right tackle?  We want to thank Solomon Wilcots for being a fantastic guest and for joining us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham brought to you by First Star Logistics. We also look forward to growing our new central channel, First Star Media Group, and having you fans follow us along the ride. A lot more content is coming soon so definitely hit that subscribe button so you never miss one of our uploads! As always Who Dey!     

New Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Brad Kragthorpe is excited about his new role. Brian Callahan left to become the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, and Dan Pitcher moved into the Bengals offensive coordinator role, opening the door for Kragthorpe to move from the assistant quarterbacks coach to the main job. With Joe Burrow leading the Bengals' offense and Jake Browning proving he can lead the offensive attack if Burrow is unavailable, Kragthorpe knows he's stepped into one of the best jobs in the NFL. Coming from a football family with his father and grandfather as longtime coaches, Kragthorpe is another member of the Bengals coaching staff who spent their playing career as a quarterback. In this episode of Dave Lapham in The Trenches, presented by First Star Logistics, Coach Kragthorpe talks about his time at the recent NFL Combine, free agency, working towards the draft, and working with Burrow and Browning.

In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, recently caught up with Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers coach Troy Walters when he was at the NFL Combine. Walters, a standout wide receiver in his own right, who won the Fred Biletnikoff Award for his play at Stanford in 1999 before an eight-year NFL career, knows this is an exciting time of the year for NFL coaches as they get a chance to watch up close the future stars of the league at the NFL Combine as well as getting ready for free agency and the NFL Draft, is excited about who he's working with as Tee Higgins will be back after the Bengals placed the franchise tag on him. Charlie Jones and Andrei Iosivas will be expected to have big second seasons on the field. You don't want to miss this exclusive in-depth conversation with another of the Bengals' top coaches.

Cincinnati Bengals senior defensive assistant coach Mark Duffner joins us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham to analyze the 2024 NFL Combine.  Coach Duffner gets a special opportunity every NFL combine as he gets to workout the players on the field and run them through different individual drills. Coach Duffner gets a up close and personal look at all these prospects and he believes this is one of the most talented classes in recent memory especially the big guys up front on both sides of the ball.  With free agency beginning next week, it will be interesting to see what positions the Bengals address before the draft in late April. We want to thank Coach Duffner for being a fantastic guest and for joining us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham brought to you by First Star Logistics. We also look forward to growing our new central channel, First Star Media Group, and having you fans follow us along the ride. A lot more content is coming soon so definitely hit that subscribe button so you never miss one of our uploads! As always Who Dey! 

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has shown he's got a type when hiring new coaches on the offensive side of the ball. In new Pass Game Coordinator Justin Rascati, Taylor has hired another former quarterback who was successful on the field and has earned his way since becoming a coach. Rascati, a native of Gainesville, Florida, is no stranger to the Cincinnati area, having spent a couple seasons at the University of Louisville before transferring to James Madison University, where he helped the Dukes win the program's first FCS National Championship. After his playing career, Rascati started coaching at the high school level before taking jobs at Weber State, Tennessee-Martin, Tennessee Tech, and the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, where he was the program offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. A jump to the NFL led to work with the Denver Broncos for three seasons before moving on to the Minnesota Vikings for the past two seasons. No stranger to working with guys In The Trenches, Rascati joined Dave Lapham In The Trenches, presented by First Star Logistics, for this exclusive One-on-One interview about his football journey and excitement to come to Cincinnati and get to work with the Bengals coaching staff and players.

We continue our conversation with Phil Simms on In The Trenches with Dave Lapham, presented by First Star Logistics, as we dive into the importance of team chemistry, why Phil feels the Cincinnati Bengals must keep wide receiver Tee Higgins with Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase for the Bengals to reach their potential, a draft pick perfect for the Bengals offense and more. This is Part Two of our conversation with one of the best football analysts in the business, Super Bowl-winning quarterback Phil Simms.

One of our favorite guests on Dave Lapham In The Trenches, presented by First Star Logistics, Phil Simms, returns to discuss the recent Super Bowl LVIII win by the Kansas City Chiefs over the San Francisco 49ers and the performance of Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones. In Part One of Two, Phil and Lap will discuss the play of Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud, why Simms feels Stroud is a lot like Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, and how Phil sees Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Cincinnati Bengals new defensive safeties coach Jordan Kovacs joins us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham to discuss his football journey and how he believes he will elevate his young group of safeties.  Coach Kovacs has had an exciting young coaching career, starting at his alma mater at Michigan in 2017  just a year after his NFL career ended, and then joining the Bengals as a defensive assistant in 2019. Kovacs is extremely excited about the promotion and to handle his own position group for the first time. The "Young Studs" he calls them referring to Dax Hill and Jordan Battle who were the Bengal's starting safeties for the majority of the 2023 season. Both were high-regarded draft picks in the last two seasons and have plenty of room to grow and that's why Coach Kovacs thinks we haven't even sniffed the best to come from both young players. Of course, the room isn't set in stone yet with free agency and the NFL draft right around the corner, we will see if Duke Tobin and his group add any more depth to the safety position and give Coach Kovacs even more firepower to work with.  We want to thank Coach Kovacs for being a fantastic guest and for joining us today on In the Trenches with Dave Lapham brought to you by First Star Logistics. We also look forward to growing our new central channel, First Star Media Group, and having you fans follow us along the ride. A lot more content is coming soon so definitely hit that subscribe button so you never miss one of our uploads! As always Who Dey!