04-15-2021, 12:44 PM
(04-14-2021, 06:51 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I get that, but how often do you see pass catchers become an upper-tier starter at the age of 28?
Most guys who get there do so by like 25.
You might think of someone like Gary Barnidge, who was 30 when he had a breakout year in CLE in 2015, but he only put up 612 yards and 2 TDs the following year and then never played again.
Jimmy Smith was 27 during his breakout year, but was still in only his 4th season when it happened. Uzomah is entering his 7th season.
He caught 43 balls in 2018 and caught 4 passes a year ago in game 2 before getting hurt so there's natural progression, imo, and a relationship that was developing with Burrow as a 1st year QB. You don't need to be rated a top tier TE to be a very good TE. Outside of 1-2 TE's it seems the past decade plus the Bengals just don't feature TE's in the passing game as much. Playing in the AFC North you better have TE's that can block well.
I could see 40-45 catches this year if he's healthy and can stay healthy.
