Is anything up with Tyler Higbee?

[CGI_Ram]

That’s sort of a “trick question” in the sense he’s just 9 catches away from his second best year. I was surprised by that.

Receiving yards… he is on track for his 3rd best year.

Maybe my perception (of a down season) has been thrown off by the untimely drops? But, he’s pretty much on par with what he has been. At least statistically.

One thing that does jump out is his catch to target ratio is low.

I believe Higbee is solid in his assignments such as blocking etc. He plays the role McVay needs well. But, I can’t help but wonder what our offense would look like with a Kelsey or Kittle. A true receiving threat.

Is that a Higbee thing, or McVay use of the TE in the passing game thing?

 

[I like Rams]

He was limping around during the Bucs game, never came out and hasn't missed a game since. My guess is he is playing injured.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

That’s sort of a “trick question” in the sense he’s just 9 catches away from his second best year. I was surprised by that.

Receiving yards… he is on track for his 3rd best year.

Maybe my perception (of a down season) has been thrown off by the untimely drops? But, he’s pretty much on par with what he has been. At least statistically.

One thing that does jump out is his catch to target ratio is low.

I believe Higbee is solid in his assignments such as blocking etc. He plays the role McVay needs well. But, I can’t help but wonder what our offense would look like with a Kelsey or Kittle. A true receiving threat.

Is that a Higbee thing, or McVay use of the TE in the passing game thing?

View attachment 57856

Remember when McVay came to the Rams and many were excited about the way he used the Tight End in his offense in Washington?

Whatever happened there? Last year was a great TE class in the draft. Higbee seems to be breaking down. Why just be satisfied with Hopkins? Kittle has been great in basically the same offense.

 

[dang]

I forget which year but we are spoiled by that 6-7 game stretch where he was playing like the best TE in the NFL. He may be injured but most players are at this point in the season. It’s his drops and his “stone feet” that are troubling. He just doesn’t seem very fluid on the field this year. While the Rams have many needs I believe a change at TE would help the offense.

 

[fearsomefour]

He's been injured up most of the season.
His blocking has been solid with good effort on the blocks. He is gutting it out playing.
I respect him.

 

[Allen2McVay]

As CGI pointed out, his numbers are ok; and, and as fearsome mentioned, maybe he’s been banged up. However, I don’t think Higbee has had a good season.

A post-June designated release would open-up $6.25M of cap space, with $2.375M of Dead $. Problem is the Rams have little at TE.

Not sure they can be big players in Free Agency, and I don’t think that’s the best way to build a roster. However, there’s one player that interests me; and it’s a TE. Mike Gesicki.

 

[MadGoat]

His ADOT (Average depth of target) has absolutely plummeted from close to 7.0 average in his career down to 3.4. His role as a downfield receiver has completely disappeared.

 

[AZRams]

His ADOT (Average depth of target) has absolutely plummeted from close to 7.0 average in his career down to 3.4. His role as a downfield receiver has completely disappeared.

Makes sense...go back to his first two years under McVay and he was good nearly every week for at least 1-2 catches 10-15 yds down-field that would ultimately go for 25 yards or more. Used to shake my head and wonder why he was only targeted on those a couple times a week.

Then there was his run in 2019 where he got lots of targets and performed.

I don't get it either...

 

[nighttrain]

His ADOT (Average depth of target) has absolutely plummeted from close to 7.0 average in his career down to 3.4. His role as a downfield receiver has completely disappeared.

just maybe its the 1.2 seconds our OL can hold their blocks,
train

 

[oldnotdead]

His ADOT (Average depth of target) has absolutely plummeted from close to 7.0 average in his career down to 3.4. His role as a downfield receiver has completely disappeared.

Have you looked at the OL? Look at how many games they have played with backup QBs. Those two factors are logically the most obvious reason for his apparent decline. Now he's with a new QB so it's a learning curve for both.

At least from that one game sample it does appear that Mayfield has developed in positive ways in his craft as a QB. How good he is at it has yet TBD. But he certainly looked good against the Raiders. It's strange to anticipate a coming game not concerned about win or lose but to watch Mayfield and other players to evaluate their potential, i.e. keep or release next year. In Mayfield's case his fit in McVay's scheme. If Baker and the team play well that's all that concerns me. Win or lose is really a matter of great if they win but "oh well" if they lose.

 

[Allen2McVay]

His ADOT (Average depth of target) has absolutely plummeted from close to 7.0 average in his career down to 3.4. His role as a downfield receiver has completely disappeared.

Isn't that a reflection of a decimated O-Line that has been mostly very ineffective in pass-blocking?

 

[Allen2McVay]

just maybe its the 1.2 seconds our OL can hold their blocks,
train

THIS

 

[OregonRamsFan]

I was also perplexed a bit. I think Higs will rebound a bit vs GB. Just a hunch.

 

[Flatlyner]

As CGI pointed out, his numbers are ok; and, and as fearsome mentioned, maybe he’s been banged up. However, I don’t think Higbee has had a good season.

A post-June designated release would open-up $6.25M of cap space, with $2.375M of Dead $. Problem is the Rams have little at TE.

Not sure they can be big players in Free Agency, and I don’t think that’s the best way to build a roster. However, there’s one player that interests me; and it’s a TE. Mike Gesicki.

The good thing about Gesicki, he was pushing to get a WR contract with the Dolphins this year, but was tagged as a TE. He has been completely under utilized since they acquired Hill and his asking price has decreased a lot IMO. Dude hasn't had a catch in 3 games and only has a whopping 24 on the season. He isn't getting a huge contract and we might be able to afford him. I can't imagine he's fallen off skill wise from him 73 catch season last year.

 

[dieterbrock]

Remember when McVay came to the Rams and many were excited about the way he used the Tight End in his offense in Washington?

Whatever happened there? Last year was a great TE class in the draft. Higbee seems to be breaking down. Why just be satisfied with Hopkins? Kittle has been great in basically the same offense.

This
100X this
Heck, McVay was using 3 TE sets in Washington, comes to LA and goes in a different direction
People point to San Fran and say, I wish we had a Kittle. I say the heck with that, give me a Charlie Woerner to go with my #1 TE and/or a Kyle Juszczyk
Higbee to me has been stuck in no mans land, not an in line blocking TE and not a volume reception threat. I believe he has the ability to be one or the other but the lack of development of a 1a or #2 TE has really taken its toll on him.
I agree they should have gone TE last draft however the guy I wanted, Jeremy Ruckert, has been out all year with plantar fascitis

 

[dieterbrock]

The good thing about Gesicki, he was pushing to get a WR contract with the Dolphins this year, but was tagged as a TE. He has been completely under utilized since they acquired Hill and his asking price has decreased a lot IMO. Dude hasn't had a catch in 3 games and only has a whopping 24 on the season. He isn't getting a huge contract and we might be able to afford him. I can't imagine he's fallen off skill wise from him 73 catch season last year.

I'd love either Gesicki or Durham Smythe from the Phins. I think they'll re-sign Gesicki long term, although you're right he'll suffer from a down year in his contract year.
@Elmgrovegnome I assume Gesicki was a good blocker back at PSU since Saquon was such a beast but I cant say I watched enough of their games to notice. What are your thoughts?

 

[Oregonram]

That’s sort of a “trick question” in the sense he’s just 9 catches away from his second best year. I was surprised by that.

Receiving yards… he is on track for his 3rd best year.

Maybe my perception (of a down season) has been thrown off by the untimely drops? But, he’s pretty much on par with what he has been. At least statistically.

One thing that does jump out is his catch to target ratio is low.

I believe Higbee is solid in his assignments such as blocking etc. He plays the role McVay needs well. But, I can’t help but wonder what our offense would look like with a Kelsey or Kittle. A true receiving threat.

Is that a Higbee thing, or McVay use of the TE in the passing game thing?

View attachment 57856

Zero Touchdowns is what jumps out to me

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I'd love either Gesicki or Durham Smythe from the Phins. I think they'll re-sign Gesicki long term, although you're right he'll suffer from a down year in his contract year.
@Elmgrovegnome I assume Gesicki was a good blocker back at PSU since Saquon was such a beast but I cant say I watched enough of their games to notice. What are your thoughts?

Not really that I recall. He was more of a wide receiver type. I’d still take him.

 

[Merlin]

Honestly he has mostly played like his head is up his rear end this season. Not sure what his deal is, and I sort of hope it's that he's been dealing with a nagging injury he's been playing through, but I am really tired of our poor TE room.

I think posters have made great points about how TE improvement could help our run game a ton. That alone would make this offense a lot better. So in FA this year instead of going after a guy who gives McVay a woody in the pass game how about they go get a meat and potatoes type who can run block or help out on the edge when Boom or whoever is at LT is getting punked.

It's probably about as crazy to McVay as the Rams going after a physical RB so i.e. unlikely but I can dream.

 

[Merlin]

Remember when McVay came to the Rams and many were excited about the way he used the Tight End in his offense in Washington?

Whatever happened there? Last year was a great TE class in the draft.

It's crazy tbh. By all accounts when we hired him he was so well steeped in coaching up the TE position that I was sure we'd have great production from that position. Then the first draft he goes and gets Everett who projected to be a clone in the usage to the guy who had made him so successful in Washington.

And then we end up being an 11 offense with McVay being a rockstar and all that but the TEs sucking ass still. It's like a curse for this team man.

I am of the mind that we have had a talent issue at the position. But either way the Brown experiment did not work well so it's going to be interesting to see what McVay does next. He had a fine TE coach that he let walk out the door in Wade's kid. Of course Wes probably pushed them to draft Harris who's a flop at both TE and WR and can't stay healthy, so idk.

I'd really like to see McVay go outside the org and find a TE coach. Bring in some fresh blood. I think if he sticks around he's going to need to shake up this staff but we'll see.