Rams TE Randy McMichael

A healthy Rams TE Randy Mcmichael figures to be a key component in the West Coast-style offense that new coordinator Pat Shurmur is installing, 1st-year coach Steve Spagnuolo pointed out. "The defense has to be concerned about the TE, or else there are so many other things you can do to take away the wideouts," the former Giants DC said. "So, having a tight end that can stretch the field vertically, I think it's huge." McMichael recalled a conversation he had a few years ago with Tony Gonzalez, then the Chiefs' TE. "He said, 'The West Coast offense is probably the best offense a tight end can be in,'" McMichael said. "I didn't really realize that until I got here and saw what Coach Shurmur is putting in. "There are so many throws underneath. Everybody knows the West Coast offense is, get the ball out of (the quarterback's) hands fast and get the ball to your playmakers and let them do what they do. I'm just really excited to be a part of it." After the releases of Torry Holt and Drew Bennett, the Rams' corps of WRs is young and largely inexperienced. That means that McMichael could be an even more frequent target for QB Marc Bulger.