Some notes from Jim Caldwell’s press chat over breakfast at the owners meetings in Orlando Tuesday.
CaldwellThe team’s offseason program will officially begin on April 12. (Post on AFC South offseason programs here.)
Midseason-form answer about Peyton Manning's health after recent neck surgery:
"He's in good shape. He'll be fine. He's coming along and we anticipate he'll be able to do the things required of him during the offseason (including being ready to throw at OTAs).”
On getting Bob Sanders and Anthony Gonzalez back:
"Both guys are progressing nicely. Anthony is doing a lot of things extremely well and the doctors are pleased with what he's able to accomplish at this point. Bob is the same way. He feels great. He's got that enthusiasm, that spark back in his eye. I do think sometimes there's some positives from an injury -- it gave him a chance to rest and heal other parts of his body besides the biceps that was repaired. If those can come back and perform at the same level we anticipate, they're going to be a big plus for us.”
He talked about using some four-wide formations and discussed the team’s status at receiver:
“We're in a situation we haven't been in since (2004) when we had three receivers over 1,000 yards, Brandon Stokley, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. That was a good group. This group is as talented. As much as we throw the ball, we'll find a place. If they're all healthy and ready to go, we'll find a place. I don't think Gonzalez is quite where he'd like to be, but by the time we get rolling he'll be there.''
On recovering from the Super Bowl loss:
“You're always going to look at a game you lose and have a lot of what-ifs. If we play the game the way we know how to play it, I think our chances are pretty good. But the fact of the matter is, that night, they were the better team. If I had to do it all over again, we'd come with the same approach. All we'd do is do it a little bit better.”
On the approach after the Super Bowl loss:
“I talked to someone who was in the same situation we were in that lost the Super Bowl. And he was talking about how tired his team was going into the following season, almost like they had played two seasons back to back. That's one of the reasons why fatigue is something we have to battle. Also mental fatigue as well. We have to get fresh mentally and once we get going we have to shake that off our back. In the Bible, they have an old saying, you shake the dust off your sandals and move forward. That's what we have to do.''
Caldwell said Clyde Chrisensen taking over as offensive coordinator would be a lot like his own step up to take over for Tony Dungy:
"Clyde's been there for eight, nine years, knows the system very well and really influences what we do.”