Matt’s Take: Reds fatigue; Bengals pre-season is here

By Matthew McAdow
HCP columnist

Reds Fatigue, a real diagnosis in my book, it is something all of us “162” viewers are feeling right about now and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tired of writing about them.  

Right when they get back in the race, they get swept by the Nationals and all hope leaves the city once again. It was silly for me to have hope anyway, but now with Hunter Greene out and possibly out even next season, let’s call it what it is: Reds Fatigue.  

The Reds just aren’t a good baseball team. They have good pieces, but they are far from being a complete team.  I don’t need to go another rant, though. Let’s talk some football.  

Cincinnati Bengals football is back

WHO DEY! Can you feel the optimism in the air? With a revamped defense, healthy Joe Burrow, healthy core, and a fresh beginning, this season has to be Super Bowl or bust, right?  

No more excuses, no more injuries to key players, this year has to be the year that Cincinnati makes it over the hump and wins the division and competes like a veteran-esque team. 

Let’s take a look at what the roster is shaping up to be:

QB – Burrow, Flacco, Johnson, Clifford
RB – Brown, Perine, Brooks, Milton, Brightwell
WR – Chase, Higgins, Tinsley, Iosivas, Jones, Pryor, Williams, Johnson
TE – Sample, Gesicki, All Jr., Hudson, Grandy
ROT – Mims, Coker
LOT – Brown Jr., Ford
LG – Fairchild, Parker III
RG – Risner, Rivers
C – Karras, Lew.

LDE – Murphy, Stewart, Johnson
NT – Lawrence, Slaton Jr, Jackson
DT – Allen, Hill, Jenkins Jr
RDE – Mafe, Howell, 
LB – Knight Jr, Carter, Giles-Harris, Burks
CB – Davis, Ivey, Hill, Davis’, Newton, Hill
S – Cook, Battle
K – McPherson
P – Rehkow.

Concerns

Health of Joe Burrow.
Depth at Linebacker.
Slow Starts.
This defense meshing.
Lack of pressure from Hendrickson leaving the team.
Improvements.

Lawrence and Cook being added to this defense are the two biggest upgrades in my opinion
Howell might be the biggest X-Factor on this defense. He is making a name for himself quickly in training camp, as he has been referred to as a “monster” thus far.
 
Having Flacco back in case another Burrow injury is huge to begin the season. I am ready for some 70-degree weather, chili, football on the television, and some cold beverages in the garage. Thanks to the Reds for at least getting us to this point. That’s becoming a phrase said far too often.