Revenge of the Birds
The Arizona Cardinals have a new offensive system. If you are a fan of the team, you know this; you just haven’t seen how it will actually work with live players. Team OTAs and minicamps have been the only glimpse so far.
Everyone wants to see this new scheme in motion. Because the new head coach, Mike LaFleur, is the former OC with the Los Angeles Rams, perhaps watching some 2023, 2024, and 2025 Rams games to see what to expect.
RELATED: MCBRIDE VOTED SECOND-BEST TIGHT END
Thanks to modern technology, full Rams games are available as easily as bringing up YouTube.
The Rams, as well as the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers, have basically the same offense with a twist here and there. Might as well throw in the Houston Texans as well. Notice anything regarding all of these teams? They are all playoff clubs. And their offense is the same one that Cardinals fans will welcome this year.
Every NFL season, an average of four teams make the postseason that sat home watching the playoffs from their own homes the previous year. The four-win New England Patriots went 13-4-0 last season, so it happens. Why not Arizona?
One thing that will be very apparent this upcoming season: This offense will use a ton of tight ends. 11 and 12 personnel will become the standard, with a third tight end on the field in 13 personnel for certain packages. Continuously.
Right now, Arizona has a top tight end in Trey McBride. That box is checked. But what’s behind him? Remember, at least two tight ends are needed for almost the entire game. Then, a third one will trot out on certain plays. Who?
Currently, there are seven tight ends on the training camp roster. Most likely, the coaching staff will retain four after the final cut at the conclusion of camp. From there, TE2 will become a good battle in camp with Tip Reiman and Elijah Higgins (6’-3”, 245 pounds).
Reiman (6’-5”, 270 pounds) is just a skinny offensive lineman. This dude is a big boy who can catch, along with his superpower, his ability to block. He is also very smart, having majored in kinesiology at the University of Illinois. Which makes a lot of sense since his goal after his NFL career is to become a strength and conditioning coach.
Editor’s note: We had to look up what kinesiology is. We just look smart.
What the Cardinals have in Reiman is a very physical tight end who is an exceptional run blocker. He has functional strength with obvious elite size. If he ate Girl Scout cookies, peanut butter sandwiches, and drank whole milk every night, he could easily play offensive tackle.
What is an oddity regarding Reiman is that he was clocked at 4.64 in the 40.
In his rookie year, he was listed as the third tight end on the depth chart behind McBride and Higgins and was assigned to special teams’ duties. But...
