Will LA Rams TE Tyler Higbee finally get his 1K yards under Stafford?

If someone tells you that the LA Rams do not have talent at the tight end position, don’t believe them.  The Rams have made excellent use of the tight end position, and tight end Tyler Higbee is indeed talented, very talented. In fact, it was Tyler Higbee who put up 522 yards and a touchdown in December 2019.  Over 500 yards in one month’s time certainly caught the attention of many NFL analysts. Some actually thought that Tyler Higbee was on track for a 1000 yard season in 2020.

Yes, I was one of those foolish folks. In fact, a few of us shared that same thought. But in the end, the entire 2020 season would come in with fewer receiving yards than the month of December 2019. As a consolation prize, Higbee did put up more touchdowns in 2020 than any other year of his career.  But still? A very disappointing season to be sure.

The outcome is difficult to understand. On an offense that discovered the ultimate weapon who could add yardage and blocking, how could the Rams offense move past him to go elsewhere with the ball?  I get it, there is only one football. And yes, the LA Rams had two tight ends and four wide receivers screaming to be targeted on any given play.

But still. A yard less the following season?

New tactics for LA Rams Tyler Higbee

Well, ignoring my own sleuth-like fixations on trying to explain the unexplained, let’s try a different tactic. Let’s focus on the factors lining up for the LA Rams for the 2021 NFL season, and the fact that the Rams will be down to two tight ends this year. The Rams targetted tight ends 126 times in 2020, and there is every reason to believe that number increases for 2021.

With the welcome of new quarterback Matthew Stafford, the team is also welcoming Stafford’s tendency to throw to the tight end.  As a matter of fact, Stafford loves to throw to big bodies wherever they are located on the football field.  Tyler Higbee stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 255-pounds. I suspect that qualifies as a big body.  With the offense featuring Higbee alone (well, no Everett), I am more confident than ever that Tyler Higbee can and will be a 1000 yard receiver in 2021.

Of course, the goal of the LA Rams offense is not to create yards for one player, but rather to create yards and score points as a team. And for the most part, the LA Rams tactics of spreading the wealth have been so-so successful. While it keeps the opposing defenses in the dark as to who they will focus upon defending, that same what-will-they-do enigma has plagued the Rams offense as well.

This year, the Rams want to become more explosive as a whole. Part of the solution is allowing one tight end to carry the load that two or three tight ends were asked to bear a year ago. Can Tyler Higbee get 1000 yards or more this season? I think so.  I believe that he is one of the best tight ends that Matthew Stafford has thrown to.

Now. they just need to go out there and not make a liar of me. Again.B