BENGALS NEWS NOW: Like our Facebook page to join the conversation
Uzomah, who lined up more like a receiver at Auburn, spent last season learning the ropes as Cincinnati’s third option at tight end behind Tyler Eifert and Tyler Kroft. However, with Eifert and Kroft out because of injuries, Uzomah is making the most of increased reps as one of just two players working out at the tight end spot in recent practices.
“I’m comfortable,” Uzomah said. “I got to do it all last year for however many months and practice before that. I got slight exposure in college, not too much, but I’m comfortable. I feel like I’m a tight end true and true. There are little intricacies I just need to fine-tune, little things that are coming along, but it’s good.”
The 6-foot-6, 265-pound tight end especially impressed Saturday in the team’s mock game at Paul Brown Stadium, most notably catching a 12-yard touchdown pass from Andy Dalton on a seam route against the cover-2 defense on the second drive for the first-team offense. He also had a wide open 30-yard grab up the middle two plays before that to jump-start the 98-yard scoring drive.
His play was reminiscent of the many acrobatic catches Eifert made last year, and quarterback Andy Dalton said there are similarities.
“C.J. has done a good job,” Dalton said. “He’s a guy that has a great feel for the game and understands what we’re trying to do. Catching a touchdown is right up his alley, something he can do — ball over the middle, big body that can go make a play. That’s exactly what you need, and we’re going to need it with Tyler (Eifert) being down and the other Tyler (Kroft). Both of them not being in there right now, he’s getting a ton of reps, but he’s making the most of them.
“… C.J. is an athletic guy, so we feel very fortunate to have three really good tight ends we can put in there. It’s just going to be new. He’s only in his second year, and not a lot of people know what he can do.”
After finishing his college career with 29 catches for 435 yards and seven touchdowns, Uzomah wasn’t even projected to be drafted last year, but the Bengals saw his potential beyond the limited snaps at tight end in Auburn’s offense.
Strong but quick for his size, his 4.63-second 40-yard dash time at Auburn’s Pro Day would have ranked second among tight ends at the NFL combine, from which he was excluded.
Uzomah appeared in five games as a rookie, earning playing time in December and January and finishing with one catch for four yards. He will likely factor in much more as preseason games get underway next week.
“He’s another guy who just continues to grow,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “He’s done a good job. He’s everything we expected through last fall having him and when he got his opportunities he made good on them, and now he’s cashing in on this one.”
Tight ends coach Jonathan Hayes is optimistic Uzomah can make a big jump in Year 2 and “really allow his athleticism to come out and show the player he can become.”
Uzomah said the biggest difference for him this year is how much easier things are coming to him. Blocking was his weakness but even that is coming along.
RELATED: Bengals, Zampese still feeling out new wide receivers
“The pace slows down,” he said. “You aren’t wondering, ‘Oh, man. Am I going to mess this up?’ ‘What’s my assignment?’ There’s no doubt that goes through your mind. You see the play. There’s no gray area. This is what I have. Me and the tackle work together, I’m by myself, I’m running this route, I’m at this spot, I expect the ball here. That’s the mindset. The mindset completely changes and the game slows down between Year 1 and Year 2.”
Hayes can see the growth just in how less often he has to bark out orders to Uzomah — something he said he has to do when a player doesn’t understand his responsibilities.
Now, he just wants to see more progress in game situations.
“At this point it’s good and we’ll see how it goes from there,” Hayes said. “I’m optimistic. I know he’s smart enough. He has the athleticism to be a really good football player in this league. You’ve got to have passion and you’ve got to love to do it on a consistent basis.”
About the Author