What Kind of Impact Will Rookie Tight End Jacob Harris Have For The Rams?

What Kind Of Impact Will Rookie Tight End Jacob Harris Have For The Rams? - LAFB Network

The 2021 draft was an interesting play for Snead and the Rams, who brought in a WR in the second round and tight end Jacob Harris in the 4th.

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What Kind of Impact Will Rookie Tight End Jacob Harris Have For The Rams?​

The 2021 draft was an interesting play for Les Snead and the Rams, who brought in a receiver in the second round and tight end out of UCF Jacob Harris in the fourth.

With Tyler Higbee now leading the tight end position for the Los Angeles Rams, rookie Jacob Harris walks in with impressive speed to add versatility to the position after losing a key component in the offseason.

Harris’ likelihood as an X-factor for this offense in just his rookie year is a long shot. McVay and the coaching staff are more likely to lean into rookie Tutu Atwell’s inclusion in the offense. With a shell of DeSean Jackson left and 29-year-old Robert Woods on his slight decline, Atwell will be primed to be a primary target for Stafford and the Rams going forward. With sophomore receiver Van Jefferson also a concurrent development at receiver to add in this arsenal.

Jacob Harris walks in at a VERY light frame for an NFL tight end, weighing 218 pounds which puts him in the Julio Jones, Davante Adams spectrum of bulk. For reference, Everett and Higbee are both in the 240s.

While Harris’ weight leaves some qualities to be desired, the tight end has amassed a reputation for displaying freakish athletic talent. Some fans wonder if the tight end physical attributes would allow him to split off as a receiver after flashing a 4.39 40-time and 40.5-inch vertical.

The team previously utilized a tandem of Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee to make for one of the best duos in football. After losing Everett to the Seattle Seahawks, Higbee will take on the bulk of receiving for McVay’s 12 personnel, two-tight end packages.

In the two last two seasons with the Rams, Higbee has amassed 1,255 yards and eight touchdowns. According to PFF, Higbee was the 18th best player for the position. With Stafford’s addition to the offense after two lukewarm years from Goff, Higbee’s potential as a low end-TE1 is only getting higher.

What Harris presents in terms of potential for the Rams offense is a prospect. Or project, as many analysts dub players with a surplus in either physical or mental attributes, an uneven teetering rather than balance. Harris presents upside due to his physical abilities, but his limitations with dropping catches and no potential for blocking leave him as a darkhorse for the Rams’ offense should he see time on the field over Johnny Mundt or Brycen Hopkins.

The good news remains that the locker room will welcome a physical beast of a player, with a good determination to start winning now — pretty on point with the Rams’ mission this upcoming season.

 

[CoachAllred]

He beat D Will deep today
Edit: Nevermind, that’s his old number. Who’s 31?

Guess UCF is saying " That ain't nothin new ! "



View: https://twitter.com/UCF_Football/status/1400231138803728386?s=20

 

[Merlin]

Aside from Rams need for ST contributors
I'm guessing that the decision to take both Jacob Harris and Ben Skowronek is an
indication of them not being impressed with Brycen Hopkins, thus far.

Yeah it's looking that way now. There were signs like him not being up on gameday. Then the drafting of at least one maybe two TEs. And now no real mention of Hopkins while the rook is showing up.

But there's time. Maybe Harris showing him up will get Hopkins going who knows. I do agree he looks like a bubble guy right now.

 

[CoachAllred]

Maybe Harris showing him up

Dude, just imagine if we have hit on this dude. It's gonna make our 12 personnel fricking insane!!
Or just the fricking amount of options McVay would have. Not that we aren't already loaded
on offense. But This would be a over the top type addition. I think I need to go somewhere and relax .lol

 

[CoachAllred]

Rochell is 6-0 and he looks like Donte Deayon LOL

That 6.5 body will do that to a 6.0 guy .lol

He has 33.5-inch arms, an 81.25-inch wingspan and did the three-cone drill in 6.51 seconds. His 40.5-inch vertical and 11-foot-1 broad jump are equally impressive, showing off his explosiveness.
his 40-yard dash at 4.39 seconds during the University of Central Florida’s pro day. Good luck finding a player at his size with those numbers.

 

[CoachAllred]

Interesting Pre draft article. Rams among others were hot after this guy.

Rams showing interest in athletic UCF WR/TE Jacob Harris​

Cameron DaSilva 4/8/2021

If you were to read the tea leaves of the Rams’ pre-draft meetings, you’d think they were desperate for wide receiver help. That’s obviously not the case with Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson and DeSean Jackson on the roster, but Los Angeles is still in the market for a playmaker at wideout.

According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the Rams have met with UCF wide receiver/tight end Jacob Harris, who’s a fast riser leading up to the draft after putting together an outstanding showing at his pro day.
The 6-foot-5 weapon is viewed as a wide receiver by some and a tight end by others, but he has the potential to be a matchup nightmare wherever he lines up.


View: https://twitter.com/JustinM_NFL/status/1380258671960203269?s=20

Harris ran the 40-yard dash in 4.40 seconds at 6-5 and 219 pounds. He has 33.5-inch arms, an 81.25-inch wingspan and did the three-cone drill in 6.51 seconds. His 40.5-inch vertical and 11-foot-1 broad jump are equally impressive, showing off his explosiveness.

He has just two years of production, however. He caught 49 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns at UCF in 2019 and 2020, which marked the first time he caught a pass in college. Harris obviously needs time to develop, being as inexperienced as he is, but his ceiling is high.

The Rams could use a jump-ball receiver on offense and with Harris’ size and leaping ability, he could be just what the doctor ordered.

 

[nighttrain]

Harris should make a great red zone target, immediately
train

 

[CoachAllred]

Harris should make a great red zone target, immediately
train

This years 4th round picks are full of potential, with Bobby Brown III , Robert Rochell
and Harris. I know it's early , but we may look back at this round as some of Les's
best work.

 

[Merlin]

Yeah man this was the best round 4 I've ever seen on draft day. They might not all pan out but I really like what they did.

And I also really like Garrett (think he will stick and maybe help us down the road) as well as Funk. Figure his knees won't hold up but what if they do.

Can't wait for preseason man. It's gonna be fun.

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

@CoachAllred dreaming about the possibilities for jacob harris.

.

 

[CoachAllred]

.

@CoachAllred dreaming about the possibilities for jacob harris.

.

Isn't there like a 4 hour limit before you call 911 ? IT WON'T GO DOWN !! Great I'm gonna die by my own wood!!

 

[Memento]

I’m a huge fan of what the Rams did in the fourth round. Harris could be an elite tight end, if he bulks up without losing too much speed.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Isn't there like a 4 hour limit before you call 911 ? IT WON'T GO DOWN !! Great I'm gonna die by my own wood!!

just stay off those blue pills man.

.

 

[dang]

I don’t like Kittle personally but cannot deny his effectiveness on the field. If Rams want to make Harris a TE he is taller and faster than Kittle. He would need to add 10-15 pounds which shouldn’t affect his speed much. It will be interesting to see if they keep him
as a mismatch WR in red zone and for high pointing the ball or if they develop him into a TE. I don’t expect much out of the gate but by end of season we should know what we have with Harris.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

I don’t like Kittle personally but cannot deny his effectiveness on the field. If Rams want to make Harris a TE he is taller and faster than Kittle. He would need to add 10-15 pounds which shouldn’t affect his speed much. It will be interesting to see if they keep him
as a mismatch WR in red zone and for high pointing the ball or if they develop him into a TE. I don’t expect much out of the gate but by end of season we should know what we have with Harris.

What makes Kittle great is his physically and blocking. It would be great if Harris does that too, of course, but he could do things differently and be effective. Harris could be molded into a pass catching threat like Darren Waller.

 

[Merlin]

What makes Kittle great is his physically and blocking. It would be great if Harris does that too, of course, but he could do things differently and be effective. Harris could be molded into a pass catching threat like Darren Waller.

Agreed. Harris won't be breaking tackles and all that but he can be a major speed threat if he learns the offense and works hard.

I think the brilliance of this pick is they took a guy who isn't the greatest route runner as a wideout but as a TE his athleticism will help make up for it. And what enables the conversion is he is hopefully willing to do dirty work around the LOS.

He is a fascinating pick and hope he lives up to our already-high expectations.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

Agreed. Harris won't be breaking tackles and all that but he can be a major speed threat if he learns the offense and works hard.

I think the brilliance of this pick is they took a guy who isn't the greatest route runner as a wideout but as a TE his athleticism will help make up for it. And what enables the conversion is he is hopefully willing to do dirty work around the LOS.

He is a fascinating pick and hope he lives up to our already-high expectations.

McVay requires all WRs and TEs to get in there and crack down on LBs and DEs. I don't think Harris will get a pass so he needs to tighten that chin strap.