Rams Waived Kendall Blanton. WTF?

[RamBall]

My .02, since the Rams use WRs just like TEs, 1 of the young WRs is valued more than Blanton by the coaching staff. 1 less TE on the roster and 1 more WR.

 

[Flint]

I'm not sure the CAP should be bumped up, starting QB's and top tier players will just take it all imo. I would agree to CAP limitations based on the percentage of a particular unit in regards to total team CAP, although this would be tough to work out. jmo.

I get that owning a team must be expensive but these owners have been printing money for some time and they can’t put 2 more guys on the roster.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I get that owning a team must be expensive but these owners have been printing money for some time and they can’t put 2 more guys on the roster.

I was actually answering to a different question, ... should the league add two more players to the current 53, then yes, there should be a corresponding CAP increase.

 

[PhillyRam]

Hopkins was our #3 last year.

On that game winning drive in the SB he could have been up for MVP. That clutch block he made coming off the bench on 4 and 1 with Coopers jet sweep run I have watched many times over and over. Complicated play and Hopkins was a total pro doing his job very well.

I am a big fan of Hopkins on that drive alone.

Blanton wasn't bad, just not good enough for our depth right now. He will easily get picked up.

Blanton couldn't play special teams too slow, not athletic enough. Seems like Carter has a shot because it looks like he has a history of playing STs.

Or they feel Carter can make it to the PS and can be stashed there if injuries hit. Until then Skow and Harris will be used in a HB & WR roles.

 

[Allen2McVay]

The Rams mostly had just two game-day-active TEs last season.

To start 2021, Mundt backed-up Higbee, with Hopkins on the 53, and Blanton on the Practice Squad.

Only Higbee and Mundt were active for the first six games, until Mundt's season-ending-injury.

Then Blanton was brought-off the PS and he was active for the final eleven games. Hopkins was only active for five games total. All after Mundt's injury; and two were with Higbee inactive due to COVID.

So, the Rams had just two game-day-active-TEs in 14-of-17 Regular Season games. Believe that continued into the Post-Season.

That suggest they could carry just two TEs on the 53 (Higbee and Hopkins), with both being game-day active. A 3rd (even 4th TE) could be on the Practice Squad in case of injury. If Jacob Harris makes the 53 and is game-day-active, he could fill contribute is some play designs.

 

[LA_Rams_#29]

Pretty surprised at this. Kendall played well in some meaningful moments for us. He's improved as a blocker and he's been with us for some years now. I think the flexibility that Skrownek and Harris have on being able to play TE with the emergence of McCutcheon made this move possible...and Hopkins improvement of course..

I don't like the move though...

but we shall see

 

[So Ram]

Pretty surprised at this. Kendall played well in some meaningful moments for us. He's improved as a blocker and he's been with us for some years now. I think the flexibility that Skrownek and Harris have on being able to play TE with the emergence of McCutcheon made this move possible...and Hopkins improvement of course..

I don't like the move though...

but we shall see

I don’t know what we’ll see. I saw Blanton look like crap the last 2 games. Horrible blocking in both games. Drop passes & slow off the ball.
In training camp I didn’t notice him at all, except a short stint.
He never impressed.Then as all the posters are saying he doesn’t play special teams & not a practice squad player.
The Rams also value play makers & Blanton though made a couple of nice plays,never really progressed like he should have.
When I saw him play yesterday I yelled at the tv to cut him. Never thought it would be this soon,but no need to wait & see. The Rams already know what they have.

 

[Merlin]

I thought that happened because of a block in the back that didn’t get called.

No idea the game was sort of hazy for me. But if so I officially retract my statement.

 

[fanotodd]

The Rams mostly had just two game-day-active TEs last season.

To start 2021, Mundt backed-up Higbee, with Hopkins on the 53, and Blanton on the Practice Squad.

Only Higbee and Mundt were active for the first six games, until Mundt's season-ending-injury.

Then Blanton was brought-off the PS and he was active for the final eleven games. Hopkins was only active for five games total. All after Mundt's injury; and two were with Higbee inactive due to COVID.

So, the Rams had just two game-day-active-TEs in 14-of-17 Regular Season games. Believe that continued into the Post-Season.

That suggest they could carry just two TEs on the 53 (Higbee and Hopkins), with both being game-day active. A 3rd (even 4th TE) could be on the Practice Squad in case of injury. If Jacob Harris makes the 53 and is game-day-active, he could fill contribute is some play designs.

That puts the situation/decision in perspective.
1) only 2 game day actives.
2) a 3rd option MUST be on STs. Enter Carter.
3) I don’t know why there is so much “protective love” for Harris. It looks to me that his ST play is what will keep him around, regardless of how they designate him (WR or TE).
4) Harris vs Carter, based on ST play will make the 53. Neither will be a big part of the passing game. The Rams are too loaded.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Considering how often as McVay has the Rams in 11 personnel, second and third string tight ends are barely on the field anyway.

 

[OldSchool]

That puts the situation/decision in perspective.
1) only 2 game day actives.
2) a 3rd option MUST be on STs. Enter Carter.
3) I don’t know why there is so much “protective love” for Harris. It looks to me that his ST play is what will keep him around, regardless of how they designate him (WR or TE).
4) Harris vs Carter, based on ST play will make the 53. Neither will be a big part of the passing game. The Rams are too loaded.

She's hinted at this from behind the scenes talk that TE3 may be Skow/Harris listed as WR's doing "TE things"


View: https://twitter.com/JourdanRodrigue/status/1561069405924077568

 

[Kupped]

She's hinted at this from behind the scenes talk that TE3 may be Skow/Harris listed as WR's doing "TE things"


View: https://twitter.com/JourdanRodrigue/status/1561069405924077568

It makes sense if you think there's a big gap between Blanton and guys like McCutcheon, Skow and Harris.
While none of those guys are inline blockers.. as we saw with Harris.. they can still be physical as hell and make some blocks.

I'll be honest.. that Harris block impressed me.. just because of how physical Harris WANTED to be.. he delivered.

Harris was interesting. Still a little robotic.. but, you could see more of the potential.

 

[OldSchool]

It makes sense if you think there's a big gap between Blanton and guys like McCutcheon, Skow and Harris.
While none of those guys are inline blockers.. as we saw with Harris.. they can still be physical as hell and make some blocks.

I'll be honest.. that Harris block impressed me.. just because of how physical Harris WANTED to be.. he delivered.

Harris was interesting. Still a little robotic.. but, you could see more of the potential.

Yeah that play he planted dude on his ass I fully expect a Baldy Breakdown on that and the rest of the WR/TE blocking this week.

 

[BonifayRam]

Rams Coach Sean McVay Reveals Thoughts on Brycen Hopkins' Development

Hopkins played a big role in Los Angeles' win in Super Bowl LVI.

www.si.com

 

[PhillyRam]

I don’t know what we’ll see. I saw Blanton look like crap the last 2 games. Horrible blocking in both games. Drop passes & slow off the ball.
In training camp I didn’t notice him at all, except a short stint.
He never impressed.Then as all the posters are saying he doesn’t play special teams & not a practice squad player.
The Rams also value play makers & Blanton though made a couple of nice plays,never really progressed like he should have.
When I saw him play yesterday I yelled at the tv to cut him. Never thought it would be this soon,but no need to wait & see. The Rams already know what they have.

I think in this scheme a lot of average TEs would look very good. His issue was no flexibility to play special teams and your 3rd TE needs to be able to do that otherwise he may see only one or two plays a game.

 

[WestCoastRam]

There was a time where I thought Hopkins was a wasted pick but he really has seem to put it together in the last year or so to be a valuable backup. Certainly has made a difference.


View: https://twitter.com/Nate_Tice/status/1561376177851207680

 

[SWAdude]

Hopkins didn’t fully execute his block as planned. The play was heading to the edge and when the Bengals linebacker cut that off Kupp turned it up field. I don’t get why people make a big deal out of Hopkins blocking on that play.

"Kupp cleanly grabbed Stafford’s handoff, making a cut at the right moment, and successfully got the first down as he gained seven yards on the play.

“We were able to execute it,” Kupp said."

Cooper Kupp Revealed How Key Super Bowl Play Almost Didn't Happen

Cooper Kupp revealed that the Rams had trouble with the jet sweep they ran during Super Bowl LVI in practice.

heavy.com

They executed the play as designed.

 

[Merlin]

We might be moving towards a deal where WR and TE blur more than usual in this offense.

I would point at Skow last year down the stretch and into the playoffs functioning as a lead blocker out of motion as a prime example of this. McVay requires his WRs to block and all of them are effective in that role if they make the roster. Harris on that block I mean damn that was a highlight play. In a big game a block like that would make you some name and rightly so. So what we might see is McVay move away from traditional roles and plug and play his big passing game pieces for different situations.

If you need to have good blocking on the end of the line then you have an OL flex out and report in for eligibility. It's not as good as a TE who can play great run/pass because it's a bit of a run tell but then again nobody expects you to throw to that OL. One of those dudes on the depth chart must have some hands for the pop pass type usage.

And when you talk overall roster strength what is more valuable... A WR7 who has elite upside and is developing or a run of the mill TE who has zero threat in the pass game. Some of the depth TEs you see around the league you might as well just grab an OL and have him serve in that role.

Just something I've been thinking about here as I watch things unfold not just this year but last year too. Difference this year is guys like Harris slid down the depth chart. So the final round of cuts might be very interesting.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

"Kupp cleanly grabbed Stafford’s handoff, making a cut at the right moment, and successfully got the first down as he gained seven yards on the play.

“We were able to execute it,” Kupp said."

Cooper Kupp Revealed How Key Super Bowl Play Almost Didn't Happen

Cooper Kupp revealed that the Rams had trouble with the jet sweep they ran during Super Bowl LVI in practice.

heavy.com

They executed the play as designed.

Is he going to say that the play wasn’t blocked right but he took it upon himself to make it work by turning upfield? I doubt it.

 

[Kupped]

"Kupp cleanly grabbed Stafford’s handoff, making a cut at the right moment, and successfully got the first down as he gained seven yards on the play.

“We were able to execute it,” Kupp said."

Cooper Kupp Revealed How Key Super Bowl Play Almost Didn't Happen

Cooper Kupp revealed that the Rams had trouble with the jet sweep they ran during Super Bowl LVI in practice.

heavy.com

They executed the play as designed.

Not being snarky, but what is he going to say?

I think Hopkins got blown up.. BUT... kept the guy engaged enough to allow Kupp to cut upfield.