Intracortical microelectrode arrays, especially the Utah array, remain the most common choice for obtaining high dimensional recordings of spiking neural activity with nonpareil spatiotemporal resolution.  Recording quality is important for optimal decoding of neural activity for brain computer interface uses, such as enabling brain controlled movement of prosthetics for paralyzed individuals.  Despite widespread use and established design, mechanical, material and biological challenges persist that contribute to a steady decline in recording performance (as evidenced by diminished both signal amplitude and recorded cell population over time) or outright array failure.  Device implantation injury causes acute cell death and activation of inflammatory microglia and astrocytes that, due to continued mechanical mismatch, leads to a chronic insulating sheath of inflammatory glia along the electrode shanks and fibrous tissue growth above the pia along the bed of the array within the meninges.  This multifaceted deleterious cascade can result in substantial variability in performance even under the same experimental conditions. We track both impedance signatures and electrophysiological performance of 4X4 floating microelectrode Utah arrays implanted in the primary monocular visual cortex (V1m) of Long-Evans rats over a 12 week period.  We employ a repeatable visual stimulation method to compare signal-to-noise ratios as well as single- and multi-unit yield from weekly recordings. In an effort to explain signal variability with biological response, we compare arrays categorized as either Type I, partial fibrous encapsulation, or Type II, complete fibrous encapsulation and demonstrate performance unique to encapsulation type. We additionally assess recording benefits of a biomolecule coating intended to minimize distance to recordable units and observe a temporary coating benefit on multi-unit yield.