Big props to Blanton

[Tano]

Looks like Higbee has an MCL sprain.

Usually takes longer than two weeks to heal.

I think we are going to have to go with Blanton and Hopkins (ugh)

 

[madrid311]

Pick your sport, and you always need those that aren’t the superstars to step up and have their moments in the postseason. Today it was Blanton. Super impressed.

With that said, we’re talking super bowl here- hope Higbee is a go two weeks! You want your TE1 ready to roll!

We are seeing a true team effort. Kudos to mcvay and his culture. Go rams

 

[dieterbrock]

Mundt has always been a JAG, was only TE2 because Everett half busted and Hopkins is a total waste. Mundt has bounced around the Rams org for 5 seasons and has amassed 10 receptions and no TD. Blanton has 11 rec and a TD in about 10 games this year alone.
His ball protection makes me nervous but he's def given us everything we could ask for out of a #2, no reason to think that isnt his spot going forward

 

[Kupped]

Mundt has always been a JAG, was only TE2 because Everett half busted and Hopkins is a total waste. Mundt has bounced around the Rams org for 5 seasons and has amassed 10 receptions and no TD. Blanton has 11 rec and a TD in about 10 games this year alone.
His ball protection makes me nervous but he's def given us everything we could ask for out of a #2, no reason to think that isnt his spot going forward

Mundt's value has always been his blocking and he'll continue to be valuable on that front.

Blanton very much blew by Hopkins this year and I wonder how much more time the Rams will invest in him, versus bringing someone else in or re-signing Mundt.

I hope Blanton can figure out how to utilize his size around the end zone.

 

[dieterbrock]

Blanton very much blew by Hopkins this year and I wonder how much more time the Rams will invest in him, versus bringing someone else in or re-signing Mundt.

When someone is going backwards, you only have to stand still to blow past them...
They should have let Hopkins go after year 1

 

[Kupped]

When someone is going backwards, you only have to stand still to blow past them...
They should have let Hopkins go after year 1

I don't think you give up on a guy after 1 year. The Rams patience has shown to be a virtue.

But.. yeah... Hopkins ain't showing it.

 

[dieterbrock]

I don't think you give up on a guy after 1 year. The Rams patience has shown to be a virtue.

But.. yeah... Hopkins ain't showing it.

It's 2 years now.
McVay plays his rooks right away, Hops absence year 1 told the story of where this was going

 

[Riverumbbq]

Mundt has always been a JAG, was only TE2 because Everett half busted and Hopkins is a total waste. Mundt has bounced around the Rams org for 5 seasons and has amassed 10 receptions and no TD. Blanton has 11 rec and a TD in about 10 games this year alone.
His ball protection makes me nervous but he's def given us everything we could ask for out of a #2, no reason to think that isnt his spot going forward

He'll be our #3 after we acquire Njoku as a free agent.

 

[dieterbrock]

He'll be our #3 after we acquire Njoku as a free agent.

Hey, he was my guy first. Haha

 

[TXRams86]

As someone else posted... I'm a little concerned about his ball security.
But that can be worked on.

The guy, very obviously, knew his assignments and executed. He's TE2 right now, going into next season, no doubt.

Why does this keep getting brought up? He went down almost every time he had the ball with two hands on the ball, tucked close to the chest.

 

[Kupped]

Why does this keep getting brought up? He went down almost every time he had the ball with two hands on the ball, tucked close to the chest.

He carries it a little loose, imo.
I may be misremembering, but I feel like he put it on the ground in preseason? Maybe not.

 

[TXRams86]

He carries it a little loose, imo.
I may be misremembering, but I feel like he put it on the ground in preseason? Maybe not.

Preseason!? Don't talk about preseason, ya kiddin' me?! PRESEASON?

 

[Riverumbbq]

Hey, he was my guy first. Haha

Are you sure about that ?

Sparq Inspired Draft Mock ...

2) TE - Davis Njoku, Mi. (4) 3) DE - Tanoh Kpassagnon, Vil. (1) 4a) WR - Kenny Golladay, N.I. (10) 4b) OLB - Vince Biegel, Wis. (5) 5) NT/DT - Eddie Vanderdoos, UCLA (4) 6a) C - Chase Roullier, WY. (2) 6b) CB - Brendan Langley, Lamar, Tx. (9) 7) WR - Robert Davis, G.St. (1) The parenthesis at...

ramsondemand.com

 

[PhillyRam]

He carries it a little loose, imo.
I may be misremembering, but I feel like he put it on the ground in preseason? Maybe not.

My son and I kept yelling "don't fumble!" Every btine he started running with it.
I would have flashbacks to Ernie Conwell, who seemed to get tackled from behind and cough it up at least once a yr like that. TE's and ball security always make me nervous.

Jared Cook scared the hell out of me!

 

[Memento]

He carries it a little loose, imo.
I may be misremembering, but I feel like he put it on the ground in preseason? Maybe not.

It was Harris who put it on the ground in preseason. If you don't believe me, look up Jacob Harris preseason highlights.

I still love Harris and hope he makes a major impact.

 

[oldnotdead]

I liked him as a rookie but knew he needed time to develop. He redshirted last year as an UDFA on the PS. He is what Hopkins isn't. It's clear Hopkins probably will be gone at the end of the season. With the probable acquisition of OBJ, it could push Harris back to TE.

Kendall ran poorly at the combine which probably dropped him out of the draft. He plays faster than his timed speed. Analytics shows his timed speed to be in the 4.6 - 4.7 range while he timed in the upper 4.9 range. He showed that he clearly plays faster than his timed speed. He came in needing a lot of work. He's far from a finished product but his development has been outstanding. He was a poor route runner and is still not being asked to do much in that regard. His hands were inconsistent but it appears his time on the jug machine has cured that. What he did come in with was a good work ethic which is why I liked him.

Kendall will clearly take the #2 TE spot on the roster and unlike Hopkins, he's earned it. He still needs work on his blocking and route running but he should be just fine going forward.

Blanton could be the poster child for why Snead's win now approach can be sustained. He is perfectly able to fill out the roster with guys like Benny Skow, Jones, Rochell and Harris. Next season we will see how well B. Brown and perhaps Garrett pan out. I see Brown taking SJB's spot and Garrett taking Okoronkwo's spot.

 

[Merlin]

I think the Rams will look at TEs this year in the draft. Hopefully they go after hands and catch radius too. Just keep adding big targets that have sure hands and surround 9 with guys who can come through on those (sometimes maddening) contested balls he puts up.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I think the Rams will look at TEs this year in the draft. Hopefully they go after hands and catch radius too. Just keep adding big targets that have sure hands and surround 9 with guys who can come through on those (sometimes maddening) contested balls he puts up.

The problem I have with late round drafted TE's is how long they often take to develop. While Blanton has looked good, he's still relatively unproven based on his lack of active use. For 2022, I'd sacrifice Woods to re-sign OBj, and seek an immediate starter as #2 TE, giving McVay his strongest use in 12 personnel. I also let Corbett walk if it means getting someone of Njoku's caliber signed.
jmo.

 

[Memento]

I liked him as a rookie but knew he needed time to develop. He redshirted last year as an UDFA on the PS. He is what Hopkins isn't. It's clear Hopkins probably will be gone at the end of the season. With the probable acquisition of OBJ, it could push Harris back to TE.

Kendall ran poorly at the combine which probably dropped him out of the draft. He plays faster than his timed speed. Analytics shows his timed speed to be in the 4.6 - 4.7 range while he timed in the upper 4.9 range. He showed that he clearly plays faster than his timed speed. He came in needing a lot of work. He's far from a finished product but his development has been outstanding. He was a poor route runner and is still not being asked to do much in that regard. His hands were inconsistent but it appears his time on the jug machine has cured that. What he did come in with was a good work ethic which is why I liked him.

Kendall will clearly take the #2 TE spot on the roster and unlike Hopkins, he's earned it. He still needs work on his blocking and route running but he should be just fine going forward.

Blanton could be the poster child for why Snead's win now approach can be sustained. He is perfectly able to fill out the roster with guys like Benny Skow, Jones, Rochell and Harris. Next season we will see how well B. Brown and perhaps Garrett pan out. I see Brown taking SJB's spot and Garrett taking Okoronkwo's spot.

As a Mizzou fan, Kendall has an outstanding work ethic and is a total team player. He could've transferred out of Mizzou after Albert Okwuegbunam - an outstanding receiving tight end - put up his numbers and relegated Blanton to the number two blocking tight end (Blanton, mind you, was our number one receiving tight end before Albert-O came here). He could've whined and sat on the bench.

What did he do? He made it a living to be able to block - and block well. He was never going to be the burner that Okwuegbunam was. He was never going to be the jump ball, redzone threat Albert-O was (and is, the Broncos should use him more often). Instead, he carved out his own role and made damn sure that he was going to be the best at it. And not only that, but he was extremely supportive of Okwuegbunam getting the job, teaching him the finer points of how to play tight end and be an all-around player.

That's why I loved Blanton from the start. Not just because he was a Mizzou player repping my college, but because of how good he was as a player and better as a person.

 

[Kupped]

Preseason!? Don't talk about preseason, ya kiddin' me?! PRESEASON?View attachment 51728

Lol… totally fair and I already underestimated Blanton.

You may be right!!