If it indeed takes time to learn a new position, it’s a wonder Joe Klopfenstein had one moment for himself in high school.
Klopfenstein bounced around like a ping-pong ball. He played linebacker. He played guard. He played defensive end. He played split end.
He finally landed at tight end, which pleases both he and the St. Louis Rams. Klopfenstein contributed mightily as a rookie in 2006, catching 20 passes for 226 yards and one touchdown for the pass-happy Rams. In 2007, Klopfenstein’s blocking talents were utilized more on the offensive line. He played in all 16 games, snaring two receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown.
The journey to that current spot was long. It began during his junior season at Grandview High School in Aurora, Colo.
“I never actually played tight end in high school,” he explains. “I moved from one position to the next, which wasn’t bad because it gave me an opportunity to do different things. I played linebacker and guard my junior year. I played defensive end and split end my senior year.
“I thought my future was going to be on defense. I didn’t think I had a future at guard. I started to learn how to catch the ball, but I was about 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds my senior year. Playing tight end was a natural progression for me. Having experience at guard and at split end, it really didn’t take me long to learn.”
The switches from position to position ended immediately at the University of Colorado, where he caught 86 passes for 1,071 yards and 13 touchdowns as a three-year starter. The Rams then selected Klopfenstein in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft.
He could have looked at his opportunity in St. Louis upon arrival negatively or positively. Defenses at the time paid so much attention to explosive wideouts Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce and versatile All-Pro running back Stephen Jackson that the tight end inevitably enjoys freedom to catch passes in the open field. On the other hand, having such targets available might limit opportunities for the tight end.
Klopfenstein preferred to take a positive mindset, which helped him land a starting spot. In fact, he started all 16 games for the Rams as a rookie.
“The situation definitely opens the game up for the tight end,” he says. “When you have Torry and Isaac on the field, the safety is definitely going to play over top of them. On the same page, even in double coverage, defenses have to account for Stephen.
“In college and when I first got here, I worked both on my blocking and my pass catching. But after a year or so, I worked more on my pass catching because I had bulked up to 250 pounds and I could use my weight in blocking. But I still had to learn to run precise routes.”
Klopfenstein added that he still feels it necessary to work on his techniques in all aspects of the professional game. When he competed in high school and college, his strength and athleticism often overwhelmed those on the other side of the ball. But the talent level in the NFL precludes simply showing up and throwing defenders around.
“I knew from the start that I would have to keep getting better,” he says. “In college, I was big enough to use my strength to block guys. But these guys up here are so much bigger and stronger that I have to keep working on my technique when it comes to blocking and running my routes. I have to keep working on my footwork on breaks and making them sharper.
Klopfenstein has become a fan of the martial arts. It began merely as a viewer, but has extended to participation. He doesn’t believe, however, that it will ever translate into improving his performance on the football field.
He was intrigued, however, that the New York Jets brought NCAA heavyweight wrestling champions Tommy Rowlands (Ohio State) and Cole Konrad (Minnesota) into their training camp in recent years.
“They (had not) played football at all,” he admits, “but they (could) help because wrestling requires such explosiveness, power and balance.”
Klopfenstein should know. He’s played just about every position on the field.
Story courtesy of Red Line Editorial, Inc.