Rams GM Les Snead gives his take on Terrance Ferguson's slow start: 'Not there yet'

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Rams GM Les Snead gives his take on Terrance Ferguson's slow start: 'Not there yet'​

Snead says Ferguson is 'not there yet' but his time is 'definitely coming'​

Cameron DaSilva
Rams Wire


One of the more puzzling storylines surrounding the Los Angeles Rams in the early part of this season has been Terrance Ferguson’s absence on offense. He’s played just four offensive snaps in four games, all of them coming in Week 2, and has been a healthy scratch in each of the last two weeks.

The Rams are deep at tight end with Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen, but Ferguson was their top pick at No. 46 overall and was viewed as one of the most talented tight ends in the class. Yet, he still doesn’t have a catch and hasn’t even been able to get on the field the last two weeks.


Sean McVay has remained optimistic about the rookie and expressed confidence in him, but how does general manager Les Snead feel about Ferguson’s slow start? He was asked by J.B. Long on the “Coach McVay Show” Monday about Ferguson not being involved in the game plan thus far and he said the rookie is “just not there yet,” but his time is “definitely coming.”

“We have a really good subset of offensive players, some of them with a lot of experience,” Snead said. “But not there yet – and not necessarily in what he can and can't do. He had a really, really good practice last week. Just think about this: He’s our first pick and he has to go to our practice field as a scout team and put on the jersey of Mr. (Tyler) Warren. I’m sure they respect each other, same draft class, but he really, really did a nice job of acting like him and that’s where you can see his skill set. So it’s definitely coming. I know Sean wants to insert him so you’re going to take some of the load off of Puka and Davante because we’re only four games through, we’re in Week 5 and we’ve got a lot more left and hopefully some bonus weeks after that. I think that’s where we’re at. I understand the frustration part. I can’t imagine what he’s going through sometimes, but I would say just not there yet. Getting there.”

The Rams have a long-term outlook for Ferguson, even if that means he won’t be involved much this season.


“Again, nothing he’s done, but he is probably more equipped today than yesterday to help the Rams because the more he goes out, continues to evolve in the nuances of what we’re trying to do. So as the weeks go on, he’ll only be more ready to play,” Snead added.

What’s especially frustrating about Ferguson’s lack of involvement is the minimal production the Rams are getting from their tight ends right now. Combined, Higbee, Parkinson and Allen have 14 catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns this season.


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They’re not making big plays as receivers and though they are helping as blockers, the Rams badly need someone else to step up and take some of the pressure off of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams as the top targets.

Ferguson was a top-tier receiving tight end at Oregon and is elusive after the catch, unlike the Rams’ other players at that position. Sooner or later, he should get on the field but if he’s only relegated to scout team duties right now, it might be a little while before he makes a noticeable impact.
 
I'm surprised. It could be the blocking schemes. His speed would be a big plus when he is ready.
 
I'm not surprised. I didn't expect to see much of him, if at all the first half of the season. He's an athletic tight end with explosive potential. But being a rookie there's nuances of playing in the NFL that the average fan doesn't see. The coaches do. And they don't think he's ready. He's got plenty of time to figure out what he needs to do to get on the field more.
 
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The Rams have a long-term outlook for Ferguson, even if that means he won’t be involved much this season.
I do think taking a long term view is wise but they have to get something out of their second round pick this year. Odd because McVay wanted him and he made his bones as a TE coach.
 
Davis "Pillow Hands" Allen has actually been our best TE this season, at least for catching passes. Higbee is still the main guy, but he's probably gone after this season.
I don't expect Ferguson to do much until next year.
 
TE generally are slow to develop and take a year to get going.

Bowers was an exception.
Maybe but ALL the TEs drafted around Ferguson are getting a decent amount of snaps.

From Mason Taylor, selected four picks ahead of Ferguson, to Arroyo, Fanin, Helm, Evans, Gadsen and Hawes (all drafted between the late-second and fifth rounds) ... everyone is seeing a fair amount of playing time. Some of those guys are on good teams.

It's very early; and Ferguson did miss valuable Camp time due to an injury ... Plus ... the Rams have three experienced TEs. Still, it would be nice to see Ferguson game-day active, with some role.
 
McVay was great either way TEs in Washington, right? Been meh with the Rams, what are they getting 5 targets a game?

As crappy as they’ve been in the red zone, you’d think Ferguson would get some action there. He doesn’t need to know every nuance to contribute, he needs packages.
 
McVay was great either way TEs in Washington, right? Been meh with the Rams, what are they getting 5 targets a game?

As crappy as they’ve been in the red zone, you’d think Ferguson would get some action there. He doesn’t need to know every nuance to contribute, he needs packages.
True. But Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis were much better than what he's had with the Rams.
 
As for other rookie TE getting more play I'd ask what was in the TE and WR rooms om those teams? Too much apples to oranges comparisons going on. Rams have a good TE1 and depth and 2 great WR1.

Not worried in the least about Ferguson, he'll get his.
 
Agreed on him being for the future.

There doesn't appear to have been a CB that could have been a game changer, at least thus far, and we will hopefully get Akhello back.

T could have made sense but there may just not have been one they liked, and even if there was they'd be a backup right now too.
 
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I'm not worried about it, McVay has always been a bit meticulous on players getting details right and he asks a lot of his TEs and WRs in all phases of the game. Also, as far as TEs not being used a lot so far I think that's partly due to Stafford. Stafford's never been a big thrower to TEs in his career as long as he's got WRs worth a crap. He'll feed... sometimes force feed... everything to WRs.
 
As for other rookie TE getting more play I'd ask what was in the TE and WR rooms om those teams? Too much apples to oranges …
couches, chairs, mini-fridge and, Yes … there are snacks, including fresh fruit.