Jeff Curry - Getty Images
8 months ago: ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 25: Lance Kendricks #88 of the St. Louis Rams drops a pass as Cary Williams #29 of the Baltimore Ravens defends at the Edward Jones Dome on September 25, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images)
Going into the 2011 season, the St. Louis Rams were hoping to get a lot out of their tight ends, mainly Lance Kendricks and Michael Hoomanawanui. The Rams envisioned something close to the offense that the Patriots or the Ravens run. Soon it became apparent that this wouldn't be the case. Why didn't things work out the way they were planned?
The Rams didn't have tight ends that would help them consistently in the passing game. All the tight ends on the roster can block - that wasn't the problem. The Rams realized only one of them was a big passing option, and on a team without good wide receivers, the tight end position was really forgotten most of the season in the passing game.
Lance Kendricks, is one of the players that disappointed me the most this season. He is a rookie, and I always say expect the worse from a rookie their first year in the league. However, after his amazing off-season workouts and pretty good pre-season, the expectations were high.
The thing that bothered me the most about Kendricks was the fact that he kept dropping passes the first half of the season. He was so bad, that he was benched for awhile.
Kendricks did show flashes of what he could possibly do for the Rams in the future, so it wasn't a horrible year for him.
Receptions 28, Receiving Yards 352
Grade D
Michael Hoomanawanui - also know as Big Mike or Illinois Mike
It was surprising to see how much Big Mike wasn't used in the passing game. He was a good blocker in 2011, like he was in the 2010 season. In fact, I'm sure it was the Rams plan to have Kendricks go out on routes and Big Mike to stay at home and block more.
However, just like last season, Big Mike ended this season on injury reserve. He's only played in 16 games in two years. He may get another year or two to prove that he can stay healthy, because the Rams need someone like him, though it's going to be hard to count on that.
Receptions 7, Receiving Yards 83
Grade F
Billy was primary here to block and he got the job done in the trenches. He was never supposed to be an offensive weapon and this year wasn't different than what should be expected from him.
Bajema does a boring job, but he's hardly ever injured, so at least the Rams have someone who can do his job. It would be better if he could have been more involved in the passing game.
Receptions 9, Receiving Yards 71
C-
Receptions
Yes, I know he was on the roster, and no, I don't remember any of his catches. I could lie, but I'm going to be honest, I don't remember this guy, but I do know the Rams brought him in to help block.
Receptions 2, Receiving Yards 2
Grade N/A
Looking towards the future.
The Rams have to add another tight end to this roster. I can't stress it enough how important that is. A tight end is a quarterbacks best friend and with how this offense performed, Sam needs a lot more best friends.
Right now, I can only see Lance Kendricks and Big Mike coming back this season, Bajema contract is up, and I'm sure the Rams have better options than Spach.
I would like the Rams to kick the tires on a good veteran tight end. Most likely one over 30 and who is a balance tight end.
I'm not giving up hope on Kendricks, but no one knows if he can make that jump in 2012. A veteran could help push Kendricks, and the Rams just might be able to throw the ball to two good tight ends.
0 recs | 16 comments
Uh....Bajema getting it done in the trenches??
What games were you watching?? He was consistently being run over and beat!! Couldn’t block anyone!
Brick Top - January 13, 2012
+1
G unit Rams - January 13, 2012
+1000
RWRAMS28 - January 13, 2012
realy billy
sucked so much blocking this year. in fact kendircks is the only one who did a decent job in blocking. F for everyone c for Kendricks because he is a rookie and just because some fans believe the BS that the FO was telling the fans and got their hopes wayy too high and also becuase our dumb FO drafted him too early, neither is his fault he should bounce back
G unit Rams - January 13, 2012
We had tight ends?
I thought those guys were just ground surveyors.
Tampa_Ram - January 13, 2012
Tevin great post
on a dissapointing position.. this was a tough one to grade, so props to you.
I will agree that Kendricks was a better blocker than Bajema and to be honest, I really donno what direction the Rams will take on this position.
I think a lot will depend on who will be coaching and what philosophy we have. If we get Fisher, I would guess Kendricks is pretty safe because of his blocking ability.
I honestly think Bajema has better hands than Fisher tho.
VTramsFan - January 13, 2012
Bajema Worst Blocker in NFL!!
Sorry friend, you must have been sniffing something when you were watching Billy Bajema. Pro Football Focus ranks Bajema as the 63rd best run blocker among NFL tight ends. How many tight ends are there? 63!
Bajema ranks 57 of 63 on pass blocking. He was 55th last year which goes to show you why the last Rams coaching staff needs to be working Pop Warner League where the most popular kids get to play.
RamsFanSince51 - January 13, 2012
THIS
Brick Top - January 13, 2012
And As For Kendricks
For the record, PFF ranks Kendricks as the 5th best of 63 tight ends in run blocking. Not bad for a rookie. Hoomanawanui ranked 15th.
RamsFanSince51 - January 13, 2012
Stephen Spach
I remember one of his catches (there were only two). His first catch of the season was against the Seahawks for -1 yard, and he immediately got up and acted like a moron and was called for a 15 yard personal foul. A loss of 16 yards on one catch is impressive even by the Rams standards. Give him an F.
ebo - January 13, 2012
I must have watched the wrong games on Bajema
Ha, I knew I remembered something like that on Spach, but I couldn’t piece togetger everything that happened.
T.Ram - January 13, 2012
I agree.
The kid from Louisiana—LaFayette was awesome in his low level bowl. He really showed good hands and understanding of the simple zones he had to find to be effective. He’s a larger tight end, but runs very well after the catch too. Llike Hendricks, it will take him a while to get up to NFL speed. He’s a later round projection, but I think they could be a nice combo for a while. As for Hendricks, it’s not his fault we took him 1 round too early. Sure would have been nice to get a 2nd round outside receiver or nice DT and still get Hendricks where we were supposed to draft him instead of taking the same player in round 3 and 4.
JD70-79 - January 13, 2012
Kendricks
Needed one year to get it up to speed plus it was a lockout if everyone forgot so that had a big deal in there to. I think once kendricks get ready for the offseason the right way. He will become a very good tight end for us. I think it was a great move to draft kendricks.
J-RAD2 - January 13, 2012 via mobile
Lets face it, this group was a large factor in Spags and Devaney getting canned.
No other position factored prominently in the Rams hopes for a division championship, not even the WRs or Steven Jackson. We all thought Kendricks and Illini Mike were going to be Bradford’s version of Gradkowski and Hernandez.. When they underperformed expectations, the offense folded with them. We all knew what we had with Jackson and the weak receiving core, but the TE’s were supposed to be the team’s saving grace. I say the deserve ’F’s across the board. Kendricks wasn’t drafted that high just to be a blocker.
Da Rams! - January 13, 2012
Correction... I meant Gronkowski, not Gradkowski.
Da Rams! - January 13, 2012
Great post on an underrated position.
We could really use a vet TE on the roster. I’m sure the new coach will help out there.
RamsFan1979 - January 13, 2012
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