Wildflecken’s Positional Analysis: Tight Ends...

I really like the way this guy thinks and thought it worth sharing.

Here’s Wildflecken...

1.) With the draft now complete and all anxiously awaiting the start of training camp, it is time to dig deeper into the Rams roster and discuss what each unit could bring to the 2018 Rams. Some will find it odd the Tight End position is the first positional unit I chose to discuss for the upcoming season, however I chose this group because it appears many Rams fans feel this roster still lacks the talent needed at the position. In fact some proposed the signing of Tyler Eifert, prior to him resigning with the Bengals in March.

2.) It is a widely known fact TE's take longer to develop than any other positional unit. This is directly tied to the abundance of individual skillsets a TE must develop and possess to be effective at the NFL level.

A TE is evaluated on their route running, hands and YAC the same individual skillsets of a wide receiver.

In addition they are evaluated on their blocking skills and unless they were added to serve as a roving Y only, the blocking skillsets they must develop are a combination of skills performed by the offensive lineman and those of fullback from the 1970's era of football. Tight Ends have to balance developing these individual skills while simultaneously mastering their scheme based assignments within an offenses multiple formations and alignments.

3.) The Rams have taken the correct path in addressing the TE position. TE's should be added to your roster via the draft and UDFA program. Imperative teams add scheme fit talent at the position. One look no further than the Seahawks addition of Jimmy Graham to see this statement is fact. Graham was merely pedestrian at the position when he joined an offense who required him to align at multiple spots, including inline often, versus being a dedicated Y.

The one exception to this philosophy, adding a blocking specialist. You can add blocking specialists in FA and if your roster does not have one, it is a must, not a luxury. Elite blocking specialists are rare in today's NFL and why the Rams lost Carrier to the Raiders this offseason.

4.) In stark contrast to many, it is my belief the Rams have an impressive mixture of talent at the position. An impressive mixture that received the needed snaps in 2017 for their individual progression to reach the next level for 2018.

After a disappointing rookie campaign, Tyler Higbee showed last season he belongs in this league. While he only caught 25 passes on the season, Higbee showed he is an above average blocker who made Carrier expendable. At 6'6", 257 lbs with impressive athleticism Higbee is on course to develop into one of the best inline TE's in the entire game. Many cannot appreciate just how difficult a task it is to find elite inline TE's in this era given the changes in the college game, nor the importance of having one in your lineup on game day. Most focused on his 25 receptions, but his most valuable work was done on plays he never touched the ball.

In 2018, Higbee will not only continue to provide the blocking needed from the inline TE position, he will improve upon his 2017 blocking skills, benefitting from the veteran savvy that is associated with increased snaps. In the passing attack, Higbee's targets and receptions will increase. A 40 plus catch season would not shock me. Why? His versatility to align as and fill the Y or move TE role. I had Tyler Higbee second to only Hunter Henry in the 2016 draft. I think 2018 is the year Higbee has a truly breakout campaign.

5.) If Gerald Everett makes equal strides in his second campaign as Higbee did, the Rams will have a deadly dual threat TE package in 2018.

I saw nothing in Everett's rookie season that led me to believe he is a bust as many suggested on this forum during last season. Everett was as every bit as athletically impressive as Evan Engram in the 2016 draft, but he was raw, very raw and those inside knew that time, snaps and McVay's we work to improve daily would be key in developing Everett into a talent able to reach his full potential.

Aside from the injury derailing part of his season, Everett did not benefit as Engram did by playing on a 3-13 squad whose wr corp was injured. No the Rams played in meaningful games all season long, not games in which Everett's development was more important than the days outcome as the playoff were no longer in site. Evan Engram is an impressive move TE, Everett will prove in 2018 he will be one as well.

6.) We don't yet know what the Rams have in Hemingway but we do know is that Sean McVay was highly impressed with what he saw of him prior to his season ending injury. Since Sean McVay was once maybe the best TE coach in the entire league prior to his rise to offensive coordinator and now H/C, well what could I write about Hemingway's potential that McVay has not already stated?

7.) Between Hemingway and Krieger-Coble, the Rams need to find a talent to replace the blocking Carrier provided in 2017. We all saw the drop in Gurley's production in the three games Carrier missed due to injury in 2017. Carrier is one of the best blocking TE's in the entire league, but I fully understand the Rams could not offer what the Raiders gave him in FA.

But the role is important and Rams must find a solution. Coble was the recipient of the coaching of Kirk Ferentz, the Head Coach at Iowa who annually has one of his offensive lineman drafted in the first round. Hemingway may be the better all around TE, but Coble could be the solution to replacing the role created by the loss of Carrier.

8.) My apologies to Johnny Mundt, but this thread has already exceeded its intended length. But I cannot end this post without discussing the Rams addition of Cody McElroy to the 2018 roster. The addition of McElroy is living proof Les Snead and his staff are using every avenue available to find scheme fit athletes who perform the tasks required on game day exceptionally.

McElroy making the roster in 2018 would shock me. But my gut on his addition tells me he does develop into a starting TE in this league. And possibly a future pro bowl TE and an exceptional red zone addition.