FA TE preview

UFA TEs as of 2/21/08 (from kffl.com)

RamView's Top 5: 1 - Bo Scaife 2 - Ben Utecht 3 - Alge Crumpler 4 - Eric Johnson 5 - Marcus Pollard

Sleeper: Utecht

Gawd No: Jerramy Stevens

Rams analysis: There is absolutely no reason for Scott Linehan to juggle the roster as stupidly as he did last year when he kept four TEs and only two QBs, especially when none of the TEs were used effectively. Randy McMichael should be a very capable TE. He is a good receiver and a good blocker. Joe Klopfenstein had only two catches in '07 but was woefully miscast as a blocking specialist. Aaron Walker, an acceptable blocker, ended the season on IR, while the Rams continue to wait for Dominique Byrd's number of positive plays to pass his number of arrests. Considering their short-yardage woes, the biggest need here, besides a layoff or two, is a capable, dedicated run-blocker.

Viewing the field: This isn't an electrifying field. Good blocking TEs are in short supply. I had to look hard to find Ben Hartsock and Mark Bruener, who'll be 35 next season. Former Redskin/Falcon Brian Kozlowski will be 37. Scaife and Utecht are the young up-and-comers of the lot, though both have trouble staying healthy. Ordinarily, the #2 ranked TE shouldn't be called a sleeper, but nowhere I checked listed Utecht among their top FA TEs. I think they're sleeping on him. He had 31 catches playing behind Dallas Clark, is a good blocker and doesn't drop many passes. Main problem has been he's fumble-prone. The 30-year-old Crumpler, recently cut by the Falcons, appears to be entering the downhill side of his career.

RamView's move: McMichael should thrive in the Al Saunders offense. I still believe in Klopfenstein and feel that properly used, he'll return to at least his rookie-season form. So I'm not willing to spend significant money or draft picks on a player who'll amount to the 3rd TE. I'll stick with Walker if he's healthy, and dump Byrd.

What the Rams could do: Whether or not they believe in Klopfenstein, he was the second-round pick of Linehan's first draft. Linehan's got to save -some- face this offseason; Klop stays. I can see them adding an older player like Kozlowski as a stopgap if they don't keep Walker.

Prediction: They'll cut Byrd and replace Walker from within with the great Richard Owens.