Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Trent Richardson Interviews Fellow Brown Brandon Weeden

Randy McMichael and the Rams passing game

The ugly play of last year's rookie sensation WR Donnie Avery has dominated more than one water cooler conversation among St. Louis Rams fans today (that is where there are enough fans willing to talk publically about their team). Without a doubt, Avery deserves the flack he's getting for an ugly, two-game sophomore slump. Avery's gaffs kneecapped the offense and the entire passing passing game suffered without Avery emerging as the reliable threat he was last year. However, there's another play that hurt the passing game and the offense as a whole: TE Randy McMichael.

McMichael had a rotten day yesterday. The dropped passes were only the most obvious problems in the veteran tight end's game. After catching the first two balls thrown at him, he failed to be much of a threat on the short passes to the middle and in the flats, taking away a key part of the Rams offensive game plan.

After catching the first two passes throw to him, each for 7 yards, the next three passes thrown to McMichael ended up incomplete. The week before his hands were a little better and he caught 4 of 6 passes thrown his way, averaging 11 yards per catch; however, two of those 4 grabs came on 3rd downs with the Rams needing more than 20 yards to convert, i.e. defenders had no need to worry about a short pass to an open McMichael in the middle.

McMichael has never been an elite TE in this league. His catch percentage topped 60% just twice in the past seven seasons. The Rams and fans, myself included, have oversold McMichael's ability as a contributor based on some nice yardage numbers with the Dolphins. He can catch passes short, i.e. as a dump off option, albeit one with a low catch percentage, but doesn't have the homerun threat that a speedier TE would bring on seam routes and other plays.

His skills would be a nice complement with better receivers around him, and that's probably part of the thinking that brought him here initially, when the Rams still had Holt and Bruce headlining the offense. He had Chris Chambers and Marty Booker in the lineup with him during his Miami heyday. Open fields with more room in the middle suit McMichael nicely, and the Rams are not getting that with their current group of receivers.

The Rams can still get some use out of McMichael during his last year under contract with the team, as long as he can cut down on the dropped balls. Pat Shurmur might be best served using Fells more, but he's still something of an unknown.

Ultimately, you can add tight end to the list of Rams needs in the near future.

Comment 8 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

McMichael's window is closing

His age is creeping up on him, big time. I’d like to see Fells, and to be honest, Billy Bajema used much more than McMichael. He can be a contributor, but only on a rotational basis so we can keep him fresh.

According to ProFootballFocus, Bajema only made it onto the field for 2 of the Rams’ 65 plays in game 1. Not sure what the count is in Game 2, but I sure didn’t hear his name called much. Fells ran out there 17 times, McMichael 58. The Rams are playing him as though he’s a clear-cut #1, but he just isn’t performing like one, and hasn’t since he arrived.

RamsHerd.com - Graphic Rams Discussion

by taiko on Sep 21, 2009 2:42 PM CDT reply actions  

Honestly i like Burton better then Avery he is bigger and holds the ball

as far as McMichael i dont know what the hype is about him but to me from the day he came to the rams he is just average not prime time for a TightEnd ,we had better Tightends in 2000 when we won the superbowl, Avery i would never use for returns or end around plays he cant hold the ball for shit

by james535 on Sep 21, 2009 3:58 PM CDT reply actions  

i dont know what you all waiting for McMichael to do for you

get it thru your heads McMichael is not a big time player,for his possition he is average at best,he now has been on the rams for 3 years ,What has he done for us?? i have to say Nothing

by james535 on Sep 21, 2009 4:02 PM CDT reply actions  

NOOOOOOOOO

        We can’t afford to draft a te for awhile

by dbcouver on Sep 21, 2009 6:27 PM CDT reply actions  

I didn’t get to watch the game being in So Cal, but here i thought the team did much better by going into washington and actually scoring and only losing by 2,but i guess not

by peteyweestro on Sep 21, 2009 7:13 PM CDT reply actions  

Can Bajema Catch A Ball

Why aren’t we using Billy Bajema, for either blocking or receiving. I’m not sure of his receiving but I thought his blocking skills were good?

by moy on Sep 21, 2009 7:16 PM CDT reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about St. Louis Rams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Cletus-the-slack-jawed-yokel-7_small
Attention All Dome Lemmings: Shut Up!
Img_20120429_144716_small
Quick Thoughts: CVC Proposal vs Rams Proposal
Small
New York Giant And Medal Of Honor Winner: 1st Lt Andrew Jackson Lummus
Small
St. Louis Rams:Tough Call - Who Stays And Who Goes In 2013?
Marshall-faulk-1999_small
St. Louis Rams Coaching- The Offensive Line

Recent FanPosts

L50i99-l50i4n0704ohiostaterams_small
Does Mike Karney Deserve A Second Shot?
Small
How many games will the Rams win this coming year??
Small
My Early 53 Man Roster Predictions
Stewie_small
Time To Step Up Bradford
Images_small
Mocking the 53
Small
Rams Land a Litter in Ground-Breaking Trade
Small
40 Years of Ram Football

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Cover the web with Turf


Managers

71523_170793669601439_100000124211145_596632_5713708_n_small Ryan Van Bibber

Baby_drinking_becks_small 3k

Editors

Jackson_medium_small Eric Nagel

Peter_small VTramsFan

Bugs_bunny_pose_small Douglas M

Authors

Marshall-faulk-1999_small papapegasus

Lggn0229jules-and-vincent-cartoon-pulp-fiction-poster_small Rick Siegel

Images-3_small DCRamFan

Bradford_draft_small Josh Wehrle

Tst_small Tevin Broner

Images_small Brick Top

Plaid_small EddieP

Profile_pic1_small Mike Dietrich

Sp-studio1_small Joe Mazzi

Moderators

Dsc03827_small CoachConnors