LA Rams veteran QB Matthew Stafford knows WR chemistry is key

Chemistry with Tyler Higbee/Brycen Hopkins

We know that Matthew Stafford is very proficient at including tight ends in the passing game, and that could be a huge plus for the LA Rams offense that boasts significant tight end talent. In fact, it could be the principal reason why the Rams offense rebounds dramatically in 2021.

As long as Jared Goff and Sean McVay were driving the LA Rams offense, it’s been impossible to discern where the struggles occurred that saw the scoring of the Rams offense plummet over the past two seasons to end up at the bottom third of the NFL. The Rams still can move the ball, they simply cannot get the ball across the goal line.

Of course, just throwing to the tight ends won’t change that automatically. But it’s true that the tight ends are proficient scorers when they are involved in the passing game. And the presence of Stafford in the pocket could translate into tight ends becoming more active in the passing game.  Higbee is a towering 6-foot-6 255-pound target, while Hopkins is 6-foot-4 and 245-pounds. Bot are proficient pass catchers, with Higbee getting the nod because he is a proven target.

The Rams have more tight ends to get involved as well, but the true chemistry between Stafford with Higbee and Hopkins is critical for the offense to ignite this year. Will it happen? In his career, Stafford has had great success throwing to his tight ends, and that will likely continue this season as well.  Is this the season that Higbee finally puts up 1000 yards? If Hopkins doesn’t catch fire, absolutely.  Even if Hopkins puts up 300 yards, Higbee could break the 1k milestone. Stafford’s style has been such that he will involve all of his weapons. That elevated distribution will certainly benefit the LA Rams tight ends, who were often the forgotten targets with Goff under center.