Why Brycen Hopkins can’t be overlooked

[RamFan503]

I didn't watch Hopkins in college except for some highlight videos after we drafted him.

What I do know is that my former boss that coached in NFL Europe said the kid was NFL ready. Was he right? Apparently no for 2020. But he thought he was the steal of the Rams draft.

I suppose what this means is that sometimes you swing and miss. Sometimes a player just needs some more time than others.

I think many of you are potentially right but it strikes me as odd that so many are so adamant in their views that you would go to battle over a 4th round pick.
We know there are limited resources to sign everyone we'd like (apparently anyone but a few of us liking the DJ signing). But keep in mind, we all want what's best for the team and really have no idea what the coaches or organization see as priority needs. They've had their ups and downs bit most of what I see are ups. I'm going to go with the idea that they are going to continue with more of the ups within the constraints they have in front of them, self inflicted or not.

Maybe not get so invested in an opinion that it pits you against each other on this board. It's all supposed to be fun like shooting the shit over a couple beers - yeah?

 

[OldSchool]

again...letting Everett leave for the price we left tells you the confidence we have in Hopkins.

Sorry it doesn't tell me that. It tells me they could like Blanton, Mundt who they resigned or a draft pick as much as Hopkins. He took 2 snaps on offense in the 5 games he was actually active. Assume whatever you want but we know nothing other than he couldn't get on the field in 2020. As with all Rams players I hope he blows up, but nothing about 2020 should give any Rams fans the opinion that 2021 will be different we have to wait for training camp to see something from him.

 

[8to12]

Yeah, they had a plan for him, but he couldn't beat out Mundt, couldn't beat out an injured Higbee, couldn't beat out an ineffectual Everett.

I have zero hope for Hopkins to turn things around, seeing what I saw in college, and his lack of total snaps (how many times was he healthy scratched this year? Eleven times, not counting the postseason?) gives me enough pause to think that he's simply not - and never will be - the answer.

I think some perspective is due here. In 2016, as a rookie, Higbee only started 8 games, caught 11 passes... a 2nd round pick. in 2017, as a rookie, Everett started only 2 games.... another 2nd round pick. Everett couldn't beat out Derek Carrier for playing time.
I think the point is that higher draft picks (1st & 2nd, maybe 3rd) will get playing time, and that TE's take time to develop. When Hopkins was drafted, there were already 3 TE's on the roster with a minimum of 3 years experience in the system.
I personally thought he needed a year of NFL strength and conditioning, and learning proper technique for blocking. I think we both agree he was not asked to block at Purdue. Will he supplant Everett and produce more? I don't know. But, we haven't seen him play yet to determine that he can't.

 

[Memento]

I think some perspective is due here. In 2016, as a rookie, Higbee only started 8 games, caught 11 passes... a 2nd round pick. in 2017, as a rookie, Everett started only 2 games.... another 2nd round pick. Everett couldn't beat out Derek Carrier for playing time.
I think the point is that higher draft picks (1st & 2nd, maybe 3rd) will get playing time, and that TE's take time to develop. When Hopkins was drafted, there were already 3 TE's on the roster with a minimum of 3 years experience in the system.
I personally thought he needed a year of NFL strength and conditioning, and learning proper technique for blocking. I think we both agree he was not asked to block at Purdue. Will he supplant Everett and produce more? I don't know. But, we haven't seen him play yet to determine that he can't.

Everett and Higbee, though, weren't healthy scratched for all but five games like Hopkins was. They at least had catches; Hopkins did not.

I realize that this is a deeper team than it was when Higbee and Everett played, but there's no excuse for only two offensive snaps when everyone else was hurt or ineffective.

Believe me, if Hopkins makes me eat crow, I'll be happy to have it served Kentucky fried with a honey drizzle on top. I don't see it, though.

 

[shovelpass]

I think some perspective is due here. In 2016, as a rookie, Higbee only started 8 games, caught 11 passes... a 2nd round pick. in 2017, as a rookie, Everett started only 2 games.... another 2nd round pick. Everett couldn't beat out Derek Carrier for playing time.

Higs, a 4th round pick, only started 7 games, but played in all 16 and played in 40.14% of the snaps. Everett also played in all 16 game and played 28.75% while Carrier only played 17.91%. "Starting" is a tricky stat because it only tracks the 1st play of the game.

 

[8to12]

Higs only started 7 games, but played in all 16 and played in40.14% of the snaps. Everett also played in all 16 game and played 28.75% while Carrier only played 17.91%. "Starting" is a tricky stat because it only tracks the 1st play of the game.

Thanks for the correction. I was trying to pull info quickly of Pro Football reference site. I should have looked deeper.

 

[dieterbrock]

I think some perspective is due here. In 2016, as a rookie, Higbee only started 8 games, caught 11 passes... a 2nd round pick. in 2017, as a rookie, Everett started only 2 games.... another 2nd round pick. Everett couldn't beat out Derek Carrier for playing time.
I think the point is that higher draft picks (1st & 2nd, maybe 3rd) will get playing time, and that TE's take time to develop. When Hopkins was drafted, there were already 3 TE's on the roster with a minimum of 3 years experience in the system.
I personally thought he needed a year of NFL strength and conditioning, and learning proper technique for blocking. I think we both agree he was not asked to block at Purdue. Will he supplant Everett and produce more? I don't know. But, we haven't seen him play yet to determine that he can't.

Again, no matter how much one wants to minimize the stats of Higbee and Everett, compared to zero, their numbers are HOF caliber

 

[dieterbrock]

couldn't disagree more. It would have been stone crazy to put Hopkins over Mundt with no training cap.

The fact that we let Everett leave for 1 year 6 mil elsewhere tells you we have confidence in Hopkins......and Blanton too by the way.

Losing teams draft guys and put them in just because of where they were drafted. The picks that got on the field before Hopkins were in situations that warranted them an earlier opportunity.

Stone crazy? Johnny Mundt? Thats just absurd. And again, the lack of pre-season contact and games would have worked in Hopkins favor, not against it. He was drafted for his receiving skills, not his blocking. Letting Everett leave doesnt mean they're confident in Hopkins, it means he wasnt worth bringing back. Lastly, as the 4th string TE, you know who he was routinely working out with? The backup QB. And despite being active, he didnt even get an offensive snap in the last game. You'd think Wolford would have been able to have had him in there, a player he would have had familiarity with. But nope.....

 

[FrantikRam]

Everett and Higbee, though, weren't healthy scratched for all but five games like Hopkins was. They at least had catches; Hopkins did not.

I realize that this is a deeper team than it was when Higbee and Everett played, but there's no excuse for only two offensive snaps when everyone else was hurt or ineffective.

Believe me, if Hopkins makes me eat crow, I'll be happy to have it served Kentucky fried with a honey drizzle on top. I don't see it, though.

I think you nailed it with how deep of a team we are. I think it's incredibly odd for people to want to give up on a guy having no idea what he might turn into. Personally doesn't bother me one bit that he didn't see the field, especially because he needed to learn to block.

An unproven but skilled/athletic player counted on to be the TE2, possibly the 37th most important spot on the team? Sign me up.

 

[dieterbrock]

An unproven but skilled/athletic player counted on to be the TE2, possibly the 37th most important spot on the team? Sign me up.

I just dont see how a guy who wasnt able to beat out a JAG for the #3 TE role can now be confidently moved in to the "37th most important spot on the team" despite having no playing experience

 

[FrantikRam]

I just dont see how a guy who wasnt able to beat out a JAG for the #3 TE role can now be confidently moved in to the "37th most important spot on the team" despite having no playing experience

Mundt is a blocking TE, so them playing different roles would be why he wouldn't beat Mundt out.

But okay let's talk about it - what would it take - what would Hopkins have to do - for you to say "okay I was wrong"? He's a TE2, so 300-400 yards is probably the high end for what he will do.

Lower drop percentage? Yards? Improved blocking?

If he gets the TE2 spot, what would he have to do to prove you wrong?

For me it's 300 yards receiving and a lower drop percentage than Everett. That likely gets us improved TE2 play over last year. If he doesn't achieve that I will have been wrong.

 

[den-the-coach]

I just dont see how a guy who wasnt able to beat out a JAG for the #3 TE role can now be confidently moved in to the "37th most important spot on the team" despite having no playing experience

IMO, Mundt is more then a JAG, knows the offense very good on special teams and might be the best blocking TE the Rams have. Hopkins will have to improve his blocking, but IMO, he's a receiver first and I believe will have an impact in 2021.

 

[dieterbrock]

IMO, Mundt is more then a JAG, knows the offense very good on special teams and might be the best blocking TE the Rams have. Hopkins will have to improve his blocking, but IMO, he's a receiver first and I believe will have an impact in 2021.

He is the definition of a JAG, he didnt even receive a tender offer as an RFA and signed for close to league minimum. a 4th TE/special teamer is the exact definition.

 

[dieterbrock]

Mundt is a blocking TE, so them playing different roles would be why he wouldn't beat Mundt out.

But okay let's talk about it - what would it take - what would Hopkins have to do - for you to say "okay I was wrong"? He's a TE2, so 300-400 yards is probably the high end for what he will do.

Lower drop percentage? Yards? Improved blocking?

If he gets the TE2 spot, what would he have to do to prove you wrong?

For me it's 300 yards receiving and a lower drop percentage than Everett. That likely gets us improved TE2 play over last year. If he doesn't achieve that I will have been wrong.

Proved wrong? Nothing will prove my opinion wrong. It is a red flag that he did not participate at all during the 2020 season. If he comes out and plays like gangbusters in 2021, that doesnt prove "wrong", that leads to, "where was that last season?". The skill set they drafted him for, and the intentions for using him were not realized in 2020. And those exact skill sets were also missing from the team arsenal, per the Head Coach.
He wasnt drafted for pass blocking, that was a known liability, similar to Darrell Henderson. But despite having 3 other guys in front of him, 2 exceptional pass blockers, and nagging injury issues, he played plenty despite his flaws. One thing about McVay is that he plays his offensive rookies right away, all of them. Until this guy....
Now keep in mind, I'm not saying he's a bust, that he cant play and that his future is in doubt. All I'm trying to say is that his absence from showing his abilities isnt a good thing, or no big deal.

 

[OregonRamsFan]

So to recap...Hopkins can’t catch and he can’t really block. Hmmm....

 

[FrantikRam]

Proved wrong? Nothing will prove my opinion wrong. It is a red flag that he did not participate at all during the 2020 season. If he comes out and plays like gangbusters in 2021, that doesnt prove "wrong", that leads to, "where was that last season?". The skill set they drafted him for, and the intentions for using him were not realized in 2020. And those exact skill sets were also missing from the team arsenal, per the Head Coach.
He wasnt drafted for pass blocking, that was a known liability, similar to Darrell Henderson. But despite having 3 other guys in front of him, 2 exceptional pass blockers, and nagging injury issues, he played plenty despite his flaws. One thing about McVay is that he plays his offensive rookies right away, all of them. Until this guy....
Now keep in mind, I'm not saying he's a bust, that he cant play and that his future is in doubt. All I'm trying to say is that his absence from showing his abilities isnt a good thing, or no big deal.

Let me word it a different way: I think the Rams should ignore the TE position.

I think - although I could be wrong - that you want the Rams to address it?

If they don't address it, what would Hopkins have to do to make you say "oh I'm glad they didn't address it". Not a relevant question if you agree that it's a position we should ignore.

I'm guessing you might come back with "it doesn't matter", but I'm curious.

Also, Henderson was a net negative his rookie year. Aside from being ineffective on the ground, his dropped pitch against the Niners was a huge reason why we lost that game. This begs the question:

Would you rather a rookie play like Henderson and be a net negative, or a rookie like Hopkins who they red shirt? Henderson was good this season - so that shows how much a player can grow - but just curious which scenario you would choose?

 

[So Ram]

You realize the draft also happened during the pandemic? If anything, being a pandemic with limited training camp and no pre-season would have helped his cause, not hurt it. They had mostly non contact so his lack of blocking acumen wouldnt have been on blast, but his alleged route running and separation skills would have.
He had ZERO catches.
Only active in 5 games.
Only 2 offensive snaps.
This isnt weak production, this is a total void of production. For a guy who they drafted with the intention of getting involved.

You really believe that ?? Move ahead and think if he was coming out in 2021. I think The Rams got good value with Hopkins. The Rams knew they could not keep Gerald Everett. He was stashed on the roster with 2021 in mind.
Mundt resigned,so I don’t know what The Rams think about drafting another TE in 2021 ? Blanton is a guy The Rams might like as well ? We can all make assumptions though. I think Phillips has a good idea about his upside.

 

[FarNorth]

Not at all, Hopkins couldn’t get on the field and people say it’s because of no preseason yet other rookies did. Just find it inconsistent to excuse a rookie for not pushing forward on the depth chart when others did in the same environment.

My presumption absent actual facts is that Hopkins needs to bulk up and work on his blocking. That was his obvious weakness coming into the league. Don't see how they can play him at tight end until he is ready and able to block. But having two pass catching TEs and one blocking TE ahead of him on the depth chart must have been an obstacle too.

But he's going to have to step up and play this year unless we pick up another TE.

 

[So Ram]

This thread had me back and forth.

I am in the camp that if Hopkins was about to break out, he would have received more looks.

At the same time, he wasn’t a practice squad stash. So the Rams saw a reason to do that.

If he steps up, that would be huge. I’d like the Rams to be excellent at TE.... go get studs here, Snead.

LA Rams have big plans for tight end Brycen Hopkins in 2021

After red-shirting him for his rookie season, the LA Rams have big plans for tight end Brycen Hopkins in 2021. Just in time to become Stafford's go-to guy.

ramblinfan.com

 

[ReddingRam]

I can only add to this my thought...if SM didn't have plans this season for BH, Zach Ertz would be a Ram right now. Or they would have found another TE in FA. This draft is not very strong at the TE spot. So I think they must feel they are better off with what they have than making a push to upgrade. Was reported "interest" in Ertz, but it wasn't something that looked like they were looking hard at him.

So they are showing me, by their actions, what they are thinking. Them's my thoughts. And Hi peeps! Long time!