Puff Piece Detetector: Randy McMichael
OTA and minicamp season, like Spring, is in full bloom. Like the sudden shedding of clothing in Central Park, NFL writers and players are all too happy to shed the disappointment of last season. There are excuses why last year sucked, and measures have been taken to correct it. Optimism rules.
From time to time, I'll take a look at a popular subject of the offseason puff piece and decide whether it has any merit. Let's start with Randy McMichael.
McMike was predictably lame after changing teams last season, especially when the St. Louis offense collapsed. But now McMichael is smiling all of a sudden and ready to rebound.
I've never been a fan of McMichael (way too many drops, not enough YAC), but I'm admittedly falling for the reasoning here. New coordinator Al Saunders is a wizard with tight ends. More importantly, Marc Bulger has no one to throw to. If Anthony Becht acts as the blocking tight end, McMike will essentially take the third receiver role Donnie Avery isn't ready for. And if Drew Bennett gets hurt, there could be a lot of targets available.
The ceiling is still limited, but it wouldn't be a shock to see McMichael get back to the 60-catch, 600-yard season he use to have with Miami. That's solid production for someone who will probably go undrafted in most leagues. I could see McMichaels as a fine TE2 pick, especially in deeper leagues.
Comments
Gregg, please give us a puff piece detector on Jerry Porter. What is his real potential in Jax?
Posted by: Titan Dawg | May 21, 2008 12:37 PM
great article.
If I cant land Gates or Witten in round 5 (most likely not even in round 4) I will wait for Greg Olson or R McMichael in the last round and load up elsewhere.
I thought Leonard Pope would be a household name in that Offense - Is this the year now that Bryant Johnson is gone?
Posted by: ron in vegas | May 21, 2008 01:03 PM
I gave him a flyer in one league last year as a last round TE pick. When he obviously sucked, I floated around the Chicago TEs, Owen Daniels, and other weekly waiver options until getting Chris Cooley from another manager as a throwaway in part of a blockbuster trade (TO and Anquan for Steven Jackson and Steve Smith).
Maybe if I decide to get a last round TE this year, he'll get another 1 week shot.
Posted by: Dennis | May 21, 2008 01:12 PM
Like the article, 60%, although the title definitely gives the piece a negative slant.
I'm on the same page as Ron - if I can't get a top-tier TE early on, I'm gonna hold out for McMichael or Daniels (considerably) later on.
I like McMike not only for the Al Saunders connection (coached a Pro Bowl TE how many years consecutively now?), but because of team circumstance. Not only has Saunders specifically said McMike would be running more downfield routes this season, but what downfield threats do the Rams really have? Bennett is a slow possession receiver. Holt's speed is far from what it was previously. I don't know squat about Donnie Avery (besides being called a big reach on draft day and sucking it up during practice), but unless he has ludicrous speed, I expect a lot of intermediate/deep routes from McMike, not just the dumpoffs in garbage time a la 2007.
Posted by: The Dox | May 22, 2008 01:40 AM
this guy is a bum. waste of time following him. too many excuses
Posted by: scott c | May 22, 2008 11:30 AM