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BENGALS
No. 2 pick eager to show he can be a No. 3 receiver
Jerome Simpson led the team in catches, yards and yards-per-catch average in the preseason; can he do it when it counts?
Friday, September 05, 2008
CINCINNATI — Jerome Simpson won't be changing his name to "Ocho Nueve" anytime soon.
The rookie second-round draft pick from Coastal Carolina just goes about his business in that No. 89 uniform, and the job at hand is winning the No. 3 wide receiver role for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Simpson led the club in receptions (11), yards (157) and yards-per-catch average (14.3) in the preseason. But he hopes the best comes later when critics — who called him a draft "reach" — eat crow.
"There are still a lot of people who don't believe in me, who don't believe I was worth a second-round pick," Simpson said. "I've just got to keep showing 'em that I'm worth it. It's driving me.
"It's a confidence thing, getting in there and showing the coaches I can make plays to help put this team in a position to win games. I just want to get better every week."
Coach Marvin Lewis sees progress every day from the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder with the blazing speed, leaping ability and massive hands.
Yes, Simpson needs to become a more disciplined route runner. Sure, he must show more physicality at the line of scrimmage.
"Jerome has been performing very well, and he continues to impress us." Lewis said. "I've been very pleased with him, and he continues to grow every day. All the athleticism is there; it's just learning what to do in certain situations.
"You keep seeing the progress, and the bright light of him playing faster. Every time we turn on the lights, he plays better. He has responded very well in the games. It hasn't gotten too big for him."
Simpson said his perennial Pro Bowl teammate, Chad Ocho Cinco, has helped him immensely.
"He tells me little things I need to know when I ask him questions about routes and technique, and just how to beat certain coverages, and beat certain people," Simpson said.
Sunday's kickoff is 1 p.m. To Simpson, it's like 8 p.m.
"The crowd and the fans just turn me on," he said. "That light switch flips on every time I step on that field."
Season opener
Who: Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
When: 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7
TV: WHIO-TV (CBS, Channel 7)
Radio: WTUE-FM (104.7)
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.
