Higbee Higbee Higbee!

[dieterbrock]

He had a career high in receptions last year, as well as a career high in yards. West Coast showed his blocking is good. Where's this "decline"?

Yeah but he also had all that "top tier QB" play last year so of course his numbers were up

 

[dieterbrock]

Between 2021/2022, La Rams Tight Ends not named Tyler Higbee amassed a mere 15 total catches over those 2 seasons.
Meanwhile Higbee latched on to 133 receptions over that same time frame.
To think that the Rams could just move on and replace that production from within is mind boggling to me.
Hopkins hasnt been able to catch a cold in his 3 seasons, 7 rec in 3 years and Long is cut from the same cloth 1 rec in 2 years, so I'm not seeing it from them.

 

[Merlin]

TE is woefully under-utilized in McVay's offense. Only time that wasn't the case was the end-of-season stretch in 2019. And he excelled with the extra touches and looks.

Could always get more out of him if the offense would give him 3-5 more touches a game, IMO.

His offense in Washington featured a TE as a focal point for the offense. So it seems to me that he simply relies on his best options. He has had Kupp and Woody and Cooks etc at receiver and more mundane options at TE so to some extent it's been about player quality at those two position groups. 11 over 12 sets isn't something I think is philosophical with him, but rather driven by his options.

Rams have tried to hit on TE. They've just done a poor job of drafting the position under McVay. Which is ironic I think, given that he was a TE position coach before his OC run. I mean Hopkins couldn't even dress in some of the weeks where Higs wasn't available.

For this season to see things change on that front the TE position needs to play better. Hopkins should be well steeped in the offense so if he can't push for playing time you might as well cut his ass. Allen has potential but TE is a position that needs a redshirt in most cases. Long is much like Hopkins, guy who hasn't lived up to expectations. For 12 sets to become featured something needs to change on that front. Higs is a set piece for sure but who else lines up with him where you don't miss that WR you take off the field. Has to be someone with real pass game threat for that to happen.

I hate that I'm sitting here in year 4 of Hopkins' career and still hoping he's going to figure shit out. But who knows maybe that happens or maybe Long puts it together under this staff. My mind tells me, however, that we're gonna be waiting for Allen now, so we probably don't feel him until year two as is typical. Only the very best TEs show early on.

 

[Turducken]

Higbee is the best Rams TE I've seen (with 45 years of watching). It's an under-utilized position for us, so the bar wasn't very high. But he makes the all-time Rams team for production, blocking and durability.

I expect he balls out this season (great late round pickup in fantasy fb), signs elsewhere in 2024 and gifts us a 6th round comp pick in 2025.

 

[WestCoastRam]

TE is woefully under-utilized in McVay's offense. Only time that wasn't the case was the end-of-season stretch in 2019. And he excelled with the extra touches and looks.

Could always get more out of him if the offense would give him 3-5 more touches a game, IMO.

TE is only an underutilized position if you consider it a WR position. Sheesh!

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

He had some really good games when Mayfield was at QB. Stafford only throws to a single WR, however.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Despite my belief that he's replaceable via the talent on the roster, the idea of moving Higbee has everything to with the salary cap.

With the exception of restructuring Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp yet again OR finding a trade partner for Rob Havenstein, releasing, trading, or extending his contract looks like the best way to provide significant salary cap room. That is, unless he takes a pay cut like Brian Allen did.

Again, the Rams have yet to sign draft picks and come up with a cushion to make it through the season.

There are no other big contracts on the team that can provide significant salary cap relief.

Look for yourselves.

Los Angeles Rams Salary Cap | Over the Cap

Los Angeles Rams salary cap, contracts, bonus money, dead money, and cap savings for every player

overthecap.com

 

[Memphis Ram]

His offense in Washington featured a TE as a focal point for the offense. So it seems to me that he simply relies on his best options. He has had Kupp and Woody and Cooks etc at receiver and more mundane options at TE so to some extent it's been about player quality at those two position groups. 11 over 12 sets isn't something I think is philosophical with him, but rather driven by his options.

Rams have tried to hit on TE. They've just done a poor job of drafting the position under McVay. Which is ironic I think, given that he was a TE position coach before his OC run. I mean Hopkins couldn't even dress in some of the weeks where Higs wasn't available.

For this season to see things change on that front the TE position needs to play better. Hopkins should be well steeped in the offense so if he can't push for playing time you might as well cut his ass. Allen has potential but TE is a position that needs a redshirt in most cases. Long is much like Hopkins, guy who hasn't lived up to expectations. For 12 sets to become featured something needs to change on that front. Higs is a set piece for sure but who else lines up with him where you don't miss that WR you take off the field. Has to be someone with real pass game threat for that to happen.

I hate that I'm sitting here in year 4 of Hopkins' career and still hoping he's going to figure shit out. But who knows maybe that happens or maybe Long puts it together under this staff. My mind tells me, however, that we're gonna be waiting for Allen now, so we probably don't feel him until year two as is typical. Only the very best TEs show early on.

Quite frankly, I believe that Hopkins could be that receiving target if given the opportunity. He made some clutch catches in the Super Bowl. Then he screwed up and got suspended to start the season and was then back to obscurity.

 

[OldSchool]

Quite frankly, I believe that Hopkins could be that receiving target if given the opportunity. He made some clutch catches in the Super Bowl. Then he screwed up and got suspended to start the season and was then back to obscurity.

What exactly gives you such confidence in Hopkins? He played 14 games last year was targeted 11 times for 7 catches. In three years on the Rams roster he has 8 catches in the regular season and 4 in the post season. Personally he hasn't done anything to warrant such confidence but I'm curious what you see in his time with the Rams that makes you think he could be TE1. Anybody else that agrees too please share what inspires you about this guy. Looks like a wasted 4th round pick to me.

 

[WestCoastRam]

He had some really good games when Mayfield was at QB. Stafford only throws to a single WR, however.

That's cause the entire pass game had changed. We didn't have any WRs left. Hig's was not only out in patterns more but he was an earlier read in the progression.

 

[Loyal]

Despite my belief that he's replaceable via the talent on the roster, the idea of moving Higbee has everything to with the salary cap.

With the exception of restructuring Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp yet again OR finding a trade partner for Rob Havenstein, releasing, trading, or extending his contract looks like the best way to provide significant salary cap room. That is, unless he takes a pay cut like Brian Allen did.



Again, the Rams have yet to sign draft picks and come up with a cushion to make it through the season.

There are no other big contracts on the team that can provide significant salary cap relief.

Look for yourselves.

Los Angeles Rams Salary Cap | Over the Cap

Los Angeles Rams salary cap, contracts, bonus money, dead money, and cap savings for every player

overthecap.com

oldnotdead, is that you?

 

[Memphis Ram]

What exactly gives you such confidence in Hopkins? He played 14 games last year was targeted 11 times for 7 catches. In three years on the Rams roster he has 8 catches in the regular season and 4 in the post season. Personally he hasn't done anything to warrant such confidence but I'm curious what you see in his time with the Rams that makes you think he could be TE1. Anybody else that agrees too please share what inspires you about this guy. Looks like a wasted 4th round pick to me.

I wouldn't say I'm confident in Hopkins. But between Long, Allen, and himself, I'm sure the Rams could make up for a possible Higbee departure, if Stafford is able to work with them this offseason.

Back to Hopkins. He was a pretty good receiving TE in college and did well when given the opportunity in the Super Bowl. It's sad, but oftentimes it takes injuries for some players to get an opportunity and for team to find out they have capable starter at a position already on their roster.

Alaric Jackson comes to mind. I remember when Sebastian Joseph-Day got hurt and then we find out that Greg Gaines is a pretty good starter. While it was a horrible selection and not necessarily a starter, I even believe that TuTu Atwell should have received more playing time.

I guess what I'm saying is sometimes the issue isn't a lack of talent, it's just a lack of an opportunity for one reason or another. It happens, but that's one of my concerns is that the team gets so locked in on players they might be missing out of others who may be just as good or maybe even better.

 

[PARAM]

About Rams TE situation and potential strategy in ‘23…

Higbee is #1 and will play out his current contract but will not be extended.

McVay will force-feed Allen, Long, and Hopkins in vastly increased 12 sets AND in TE targeting by Stafford.
This will allow McVay to assess his TE pecking order AND improve his running game against all comers. This, in turn, will re-establish Rams O as a top 5 unit. One that is more unpredictable.

Also, increased 12 sets will mean that Kupp and Jefferson will be more than adequate as top 2 WR’s. Nacua, Allen, and Skow will find fewer snaps and targets, but overall passing will be improved as will running game.

This O, in no small part thanks to a studly OL, will once again be able to average close to 30 ppg.

I think the offseason acquisitions of Long and Allen at TE make this 12 personnel strategy fairly obvious.

I don't know if this is Higbee's last year or not. But that's a lot of faith in 2 TEs who have very limited experience and 1 rookie. Those 3 are going to change our game and help us produce 30 PPG? From your lips to god's ears! Regardless, what happens if 2 of those 3 don't work out (let's say Long and Hopkins)? Higbee still gone? We're gonna rely on a 2nd year guy (Allen) and a rookie? Or pay UFA money to some free agent, when we could just pay Higbee, who knows and excels in the system?

 

[OldSchool]

I wouldn't say I'm confident in Hopkins. But between Long, Allen, and himself, I'm sure the Rams could make up for a possible Higbee departure, if Stafford is able to work with them this offseason.

Back to Hopkins. He was a pretty good receiving TE in college and did well when given the opportunity in the Super Bowl. It's sad, but oftentimes it takes injuries for some players to get an opportunity and for team to find out they have capable starter at a position already on their roster.

Alaric Jackson comes to mind. I remember when Sebastian Joseph-Day got hurt and then we find out that Greg Gaines is a pretty good starter. While it was a horrible selection and not necessarily a starter, I even believe that TuTu Atwell should have received more playing time.

I guess what I'm saying is sometimes the issue isn't a lack of talent, it's just a lack of an opportunity for one reason or another. It happens, but that's one of my concerns is that the team gets so locked in on players they might be missing out of others who may be just as good or maybe even better.

Again he and the rest of the TE on the roster have done exactly nothing but you're hoping (is that the right word since you're not confident in it?) they can replace the best TE in franchise history coming off one of his two best seasons ever? Hopkins hasn't shown our HC/OC enough to get snaps let alone throws from our QB but we're going to gamble that he can suddenly do something worth a starting spot. Again this makes no sense. If you're just straight saying we have to cut Higs to save cap I'd get that. It's not smart football but I'd get it.

Also I loved the Allen pick but not sure he'll make a big impact. Best thing for him IMO is a year learning from Higbee but that's just me. I'm not a fan of cutting good players who aren't super expensive.

 

[8to12]

I don't think Rams management considered it at all. They had replacements for Woods.

Ramsey was about pay and they had youth behind him which they don't with Higbee.

Cut other "vital defenders"? Who Floyd? LOL vital? Overpaid for average production that's the only other defender cut.

People around here have way too much of a fascination with post June 1 btw especially when the Rams are doing their best to create cap for next year. Now at least one restructure will have to happen for cap this year but Higbee won't create enough of it so it'll be one of the big 3. If they do move on from Higbee there's nobody on the roster to replace him at all.

You make some good points. But, your original was post was about how anyone could possibly think cutting him was a good idea was beyond you. What I am saying is that based on managements moves, cutting Higbee is a reasonable expectation for the average fan.

 

[8to12]

Yes the Rams want to make the team better... but they also have a coach who wants to score points if he's going to stick around. Cutting Higbee would hurt their ability to score points and McVay doesn't want to coach a crappy offense.

I respect your opinion. But mine is differing. The offense will be proficient if the O-line is healthy and with some added girth in the middle with the addition of Avila and possibly McClendon. Along with a healthy Stafford , Akers, Kupp & Jefferson will be what returns the offense to top 25% production. This will happen with or without Higbee. HIs blocking can be replaced along with his pass catching. I am not advocating for cutting him. I am just saying it seems like a probable move to save some Cap space and give playing time to Long, Hopkins and Allen.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I respect your opinion. But mine is differing. The offense will be proficient if the O-line is healthy and with some added girth in the middle with the addition of Avila and possibly McClendon. Along with a healthy Stafford , Akers, Kupp & Jefferson will be what returns the offense to top 25% production. This will happen with or without Higbee. HIs blocking can be replaced along with his pass catching. I am not advocating for cutting him. I am just saying it seems like a probable move to save some Cap space and give playing time to Long, Hopkins and Allen.

I mean, I'm just parroting what Roudrique has reported. Sure, there's a chance that they do that and think they can have a good enough offense for McVay but I'd put it at 5 to 1 he gets cut. Anything can happen. Just not likely.

 

[OldSchool]

You make some good points. But, your original was post was about how anyone could possibly think cutting him was a good idea was beyond you. What I am saying is that based on managements moves, cutting Higbee is a reasonable expectation for the average fan.

There's no depth behind him and he doesn't make Ramsey or Floyd money though

 

[snackdaddy]

If they are thinking about cutting Higbee, there would be two reasons. They have no intention of competing this year. And they don't intend on re-signing him. If that is the case, then I can understand it.

If they really think they have a chance to compete he is a guy they will need. He's not a top tier receiver. But he's solid. And he's a good blocker. Basically a well balanced tight end. Someone who knows the system. Has a lot of NFL experience. And has a rapport with the quarterback.

I've been saying this is probably a throw away season. But I'm still hoping for the best. Getting rid of Higbee probably means my worst fears are confirmed.

 

[Tano]

If they do cut Higbee then I can see the Rams only winning 3 games because they have absolutely no one behind him that is ready