LA Rams tight ends will be huge part of 2021 offense

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. So don’t expect the LA Rams to attempt any major changes to veteran players who have been added this offseason. After all, that same principle can apply to newly arrived quarterback Matthew Stafford, who looks for a big body when the pressure arrives. In 2009, rookie Matthew Stafford tossed the ball to tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and Will Heller for a combined 65 of 88 for 655 yards and five touchdowns.

A year later, he found just Pettigrew for 71 of 111 for 722 yards and four touchdowns. Of course, Heller and a third tight end Tony Scheffler combined for another 415 yards and two touchdowns. Even with WR Calvin Johnson a.k.a. ‘Megatron’, Stafford sought out and connected with his tight ends. That was during the era of Megatron, and afterward.

While the LA Rams could not have anticipated Stafford’s arrival a year ago, they most certainly set up a fully furnished offensive roster for him to operate with. Complete to the tight ends who most certainly can catch the ball. And that is something to keep an eye on.

You see, even with the likes of wide receivers Danny Amendola and Kenny Golladay running routes, Stafford’s second most dangerous target was Detroit Lions’ 6-foot-5 250-pound tight end T.J. Hockenson. Not only that, but he can hit connect with Hockenson deep downfield.

Now imagine the likes of veteran tight end Tyler Higbee getting a steady diet of looks from Stafford. His 521 yards and five touchdowns would be closer to 850 yards and nine touchdowns, or better. Higbee has a better completion rate and yards per catch than Hockenson.

Of course, TE Brycen Hopkins will be looking for some love from his new quarterback as well. And with his collegiate production, it’s no stretch of the imagination for him to be expected to put in about 400 yards of offense as well.

I was suckered in by the Rams chatter a year ago. After Tyler Higbee put up 500 yards in the month of December 2019, I felt confident that the Rams would not fall back into their old 2019 ways of running the offense. Well, I was clearly duped and wrong. No LA Rams tight end put up 1000 yards receiving. In fact, no receiver put up 1000 yards receiving.

Will the Rams feature a tight end more prevalently in 2021? No. But Matthew Stafford certainly will. After all, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. So I expect the Rams’ new quarterback to do what he’s done so well in the past. He’ll look for a big body to throw to when the pressure comes. And Tyler Higbee and Brycen Hopkins will be there, waiting.