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Caldwell ready for shot in slot
After a couple of rocky seasons where he has been up and down on the pecking order of the Bengals receivers, Andre Caldwell has a home again as the team's slot receiver.
"People always put me on the back burner but I keep fighting and going," Caldwell said. "I've got my chance and now I have to make the most of it."
Caldwell is back in the regular lineup after Jordan Shipley tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the second half of last Sunday's loss to Denver. He was placed on injured reserve on Monday and will miss the rest of the season.
"I hate the situation because Jordan is a great guy, but it opens an opportunity for me. I'm definitely ready to make some plays for this team," Caldwell said on Wednesday while preparing for Sunday's home opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
Caldwell was the team's slot receiver two years ago. He had a good start in the first half of the season, catching game-winning touchdown passes against Pittsburgh and Baltimore. He finished second on the team in receptions (51) and third in yards (432) but his production slipped during the second half when Chris Henry was no longer serving as a deep threat.
Last year, Caldwell had a great minicamp and was cited by coach Marvin Lewis as being one of the more improved players during the offseason.
But when the team drafted Shipley and signed Terrell Owens, Caldwell dropped to the fourth receiver and was used sparingly.
After Owens' knee injury in Week 15 against Cleveland, Caldwell resurfaced with the best three-game run of his career: 15 catches for 270 yards and starts in the final two games.
Moving around the depth chart, Caldwell has managed to keep the same approach.
"I think that everybody knows how Andre leads by the example that he sets and his preparation to be able to go in and play all four receiver spots for us," Lewis said. "That's an example right there of his preparation."
Working with new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden and receivers coach James Urban, Caldwell has remained confident, playing all three receiver positions in a versatile attack.
While he doesn't possess the speed of rookie A.J. Green or Jerome Simpson, Caldwell is one of the more technically sound receivers on the roster.
"He's done everything right in training camp," Gruden said. "He does a lot of the little things and has a great feel for the game. He still can run very well and he's very smart."
Caldwell thinks he can have more success in the slot this time due to Gruden's system and the personnel around him. With the ability of Green and Simpson to stretch the field, and with the tight end Jermaine Gresham as a threat underneath, Caldwell should draw less double-team coverage.
When Henry was hurt in '09, Caldwell drew double teams with Chad Ochocinco as Laveranues Coles and the rotating fourth receiver struggled.
"They can't just sit on me and predict my route," said Caldwell of the difference between then and now.
"Back then it was simple. We had a little group route we ran all the time and now it's a little bit open. I think it gets the ball in the playmaker's hands. I'm good running after the catch and can stretch the field."
Caldwell is also hoping the last couple years of resiliency pays off with success this season as he enters the final year of his contract.
After emerging as a leader in the locker room among the receivers, many are hoping the results show on the field.
"It's been up and down. I can only worry about what I can control," Caldwell said
