I agree, however there are three more games left to make a decision.The edge? That's understating it. Not only did Bayer look really good, Cunningham looked pretty bad.
I agree, however there are three more games left to make a decision.
Don't get me wrong I feel Cunningham has a ton of make up work to do. I was highly impressed with Bayer. Very good hands and athleticism. I think Bayer is on very solid ground, but there is a lot of time left. That's why I said he has the edge over having it all sown up.True - but sometimes you have the kind of performance that makes the coaching staff start to wind down the evaluation process and move towards getting the 4 keeper tight ends ready for the season. Wouldn't surprise me if Cunningham started getting fewer reps - which makes it all the harder to get back in the battle.
But it is just the first preseason game.
Fair point, but you have two pretty good blockers in Kendricks and Harkey. Having another receiving type TE wouldn't hurt.The Rams declared their identity to be a smash-mouth run based offense so I think the primary concern for a 4th TE is blocking. Bayer had some nice catches but neither he nor Cunningham blocked well enough last night to be a positive addition to the active roster in the blocking department.
I understand the short comings of Bayer @ this point but Rams kept McNeil less talent than Bayer on the roster all season in 2013. Bayer seems to have the ability to find an open area, super soft hands & can run too. His Blocking was not poor just not close to Harkey but this can be developed. Lance & Cory are very close in abilities...Lance 's past issues in drops is well known...so is the drops of Jared...Cory is for all purposes our FB/H-Back seldom use in line.....Bayer would seem to have the best hands already of the bunch! You do not release that for a small version OT like Justice Cunningham or throw back FB Kadeem Jones because we are a run first offense...question could Lance or Cory fill the shoes of what Jared Cook does? no but Bayer could fill some of that & may even surprise IMO. Bayer will be plucked early off the PS where players like Cunningham will be there all season so will Jones.
I see a lot of latent potential in Bayer & might be more useful to Sam Bradford than a 6th WR like of Givens or a Pettis.
Fair point, but you have two pretty good blockers in Kendricks and Harkey. Having another receiving type TE wouldn't hurt.