Rams 53-man roster prediction: Tight ends

[JKBOGEN]

Rams 53-man roster prediction: Tight ends

http://theramswire.usatoday.com/2016/07/25/rams-53-man-roster-prediction-tight-ends/

By: Jake Ellenbogen | 4 hours ago

In this series we will be predicting and breaking down each position, while getting down to the full 53-man roster. Here is our early pre-training camp roster, and we are going to delve into the tight end position.

Related:

2016 Rams training camp battles: Lance Kendricks vs. Tyler Higbee
Total tight ends (6): Lance Kendricks, Tyler Higbee, Cory Harkey, Temarrick Hemingway, Justice Cunningham and Benson Browne

Tight ends who will make the cut (4): Lance Kendricks, Tyler Higbee, Cory Harkey and Temarrick Hemingway
Positions only become more difficult to predict as the season comes upon us. On one hand you have two rookie tight ends that were just drafted and on the other you have veteran Cory Harkey who is an avid-blocking tight end and is one the best overall teammates on the roster.

I fully expect Kendricks to start out as the main starting tight end. However, as you saw in full force last season, the Rams do use dual tight end sets. I imagine Higbee and Kendricks would be the dual tight ends and maybe even Hemingway. Speaking of Hemingway, many around the Rams universe seem to believe he could be the odd man out.

I find it too hard to believe the Rams would cut a guy that has the abilities Hemingway does. Even though I personally believe he could have been a wide receiver talent, but Hemingway will thrive in some capacity. The Rams have built themselves a nice line of tight ends.

Tight ends cut (2): Justice Cunningham and Benson Browne
Cunningham has seen the Rams active roster before. While Cunningham is a solid contributor as a blocker he just doesn’t bring enough all-around talent that the rest of the guys bring to the table. Cunningham could very well be in line for another stint on the practice squad.

The Rams basically yanked Browne onto the offseason roster. Unfortunately for Brown, he is probably going to get yanked off the same roster. He could also be in line for a practice squad stint. Since it’s highly unlikely the Rams put two tight ends on the practice squad. Watch out for a mini battle between Browne and Cunningham.

Most pivotal training camp battle at the position: Tyler Higbee vs Temarrick Hemingway
Yes I know I just wrote about the battle between Higbee and Kendricks but the bottom line is this. Higbee needs to get past Hemingway first. Kendricks will likely be off the team in a couple of years so it really will be between these two for the starting gig.

Higbee seems like the odds on favorite based off his refined skill set, bigger body and his draft position. That doesn’t mean you can just write off the other tight end. Hemingway as I previously wrote compares eerily similar to the Carolina Panthers young star WR Kelvin Benjamin. If Hemingway shines in camp the Rams might think twice about benching Hemingway and Higbee could be forced to take the back seat.

Related:

2016 Rams training camp battles: Lance Kendricks vs. Tyler Higbee

 

[bubbaramfan]

I see the Rams keeping 4 TE's: Kendricks, Harkey, Higbee and Cunningham. Hemmingway gets the PS.

 

[Memento]

I see the Rams keeping 4 TE's: Kendricks, Harkey, Higbee and Cunningham. Hemmingway gets the PS.

Have to disagree about Hemingway. He'd get poached off our practice squad as soon as we put him on. He has rare abilities, and while I disagree about Kelvin Benjamin as a comparison, I think a ceiling like Ladarius Green isn't too hard to imagine.

Cunningham is a great blocking H-back, but we already have Harkey and - to a lesser extent - Kendricks for that role.

 

[JKBOGEN]

Have to disagree about Hemingway. He'd get poached off our practice squad as soon as we put him on. He has rare abilities, and while I disagree about Kelvin Benjamin as a comparison, I think a ceiling like Ladarius Green isn't too hard to imagine.

Cunningham is a great blocking H-back, but we already have Harkey and - to a lesser extent - Kendricks for that role.

Hemingway compares eerily similar on paper to Carolina Panthers No. 1 wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. If you really have no idea how close these two are, here it is per their combine results:

Measurement Benjamin Hemingway
Height 6-5 6-5
Weight 245 244
Arm length 34 7/8 inches 34 inches
Hand size 10 1/4 10 inches
40-yard-dash 4.61 4.71
Bench 13 reps 18 reps
Vertical jump 32.5 inches 30.5 inches
Broad jump 119 inches 115 inches
3-cone 7.33 seconds 6.88
20-yard shuttle 4.39 seconds 4.31 seconds
60-yard shuttle 12.08 seconds 11.50 seconds

 

[LACHAMP46]

I'm still wondering why we didn't draft the TE outta So. Carolina...Jerrel Adams? He was there when we grabbed Hemingway...but I like Hemingway too...Higbee looks like a beast, ready to play tonight...Harkey and Kendricks will hold the starter reigns for a while...Hemingway can play every ST's....Higbee better get in his playbook, cause I see 40 targets coming his way from Goff.

View: http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Countdown-to-Camp-2016---Tight-Ends-/8a760aed-e206-4ea9-9491-e36fa02a8175


Myles take:

TIGHT ENDS

Newcomers: Tyler Higbee, Temarrick Hemingway, Benson Browne

There have been some key changes to the Rams’ tight ends room for 2016, starting with the coach. With Rob Boras’ promotion to offensive coordinator, Los Angeles hired John Lilly to lead the position group. Lilly has spent nearly the last two decades in the college ranks, coaching tight ends at Florida State from 1998-2007 before moving over to coach TEs at Georgia from 2008 to 2015.

Lilly said during OTAs his goal is to continue to build on the foundation Boras had laid the last four years under head coach Jeff Fisher. And he’ll do that with a group that has an equal mix of rookies and veterans.

Lance Kendricks has the potential to emerge as a significant target this season, an opportunity he’s embracing. He’s been an important cog in the Rams’ offense in the past, particularly in the red zone. The Wisconsin product leads the team in touchdown receptions over the last three years. As is well known, a good receiving tight end can be a kind of security blanket for a young quarterback. The Rams will likely need Kendricks to fill that role this year.

Many of Cory Harkey’s contributions don’t show up in the box score, but he’s one of the heart and soul members of the team. He often serves as the lead blocker out of the backfield for running back Todd Gurley, and is also on many of the club’s special teams units. Fisher has said the Rams’ offense will be based around Gurley, which means Harkey will likely be integral to its success.

Of course, Los Angeles drafted two tight ends in this year’s draft, both of whom could turn into solid options at the position. According to Fisher, Higbee could even emerge early on in the season. The tight end checked in at the NFL Combine at 6-foot-6, 249 pounds. He caught 38 passes for 563 yards and eight touchdowns in his final year at Western Kentucky.

Hemingway is a bit more raw offensively, but Fisher said he could be one of the most productive special teams players the Rams have in 2016. The tight end said he played on every STs unit but kickoff at South Carolina State.

Also at tight end, the Justice Cunningham returns after bouncing between the Rams’ active roster and practice squad over the past few years. And the club signed Benson Browne (North Carolina State) as an undrafted free agent.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

@MylesASimmons TEs always seem to be popular targets with young QBs. Does that change at all when the TEs are rookies too?

23 Jul 2016
Well, I think the first thing to remember here is that even if Jared Goff ends up as the Rams’ starting QB, he won’t only be throwing to rookies. While Higbee has the potential to play sooner than later, Kendricks will likely remain the primary option. The Rams have employed plenty of two tight end sets over the past few years, anyway.

But thinking about young QBs and young TEs, I tried to think of a few good, recent comparisons from around the league. The first that came to mind was Andrew Luck, Dwayne Allen, and Coby Fleener, who were all rookies with the Colts in 2012. Fleener had played with Luck at Stanford, but Allen was the primary TE target that year. He caught 45 passes on 66 targets for 521 yards and three touchdowns. Fleener received 48 targets, making 26 receptions for 281 yards and two TDs.

Now, the Rams’ offense is not going to run as the Colts’ offense did in 2012 for a variety of reasons — the most significant has the name “Gurley.” But there are some other recent rookie QBs who’ve played with young TEs — Derek Carr and Mychal Rivera, or Jameis Winston and Austin Seferian-Jenkins for instance — and have been able to garner decent success.

Still, I think it’s important to remember that every player and every system is different. I do think the Rams’ tight ends will be significant reasons for the offense’s success. But we’re not going to have a real idea of how that’s exactly going to look until we get a few weeks into the season.

 

[Amitar]

Trade Kendricks and save some cap space, he is easily replaced.

 

[JKBOGEN]

Trade Kendricks and save some cap space, he is easily replaced.

Can't say that when the rookies have yet to play a regular season snap let alone even play a preseason snap