The befuddling belief in LA Rams newest tight end Jacob Harris

Rams’ red zone O can really shine with Harris

Hey, he’s inexperienced. He’s raw. And he’s young. All of that combined comes to one conclusion. He will get better. How much better is up to each of us to decide. Then, it will be up to him and the LA Rams to deliver. How quickly depends on a number of factors.

One element that is certainly necessary and is very present is opportunity. With the departure of Gerald Everett to free agency, and the disappointing production of Brycen Hopkins so far, the LA Rams need someone to rise through the ranks at the tight end position. And with Jacob Harris, the coaching staff finds itself with a lump of NFL quality clay that they can shape and mold however they see fit. Reports from McVay suggest that Harris is incredibly adept and quick at absorbing and learning the Rams role for him.

Eventually, he will need to demonstrate all of that acquired knowledge, and the LA Rams already have the spot reserved for him. The coaches want to add some oomph to the red zone offense, and with running back Cam Akers going down, it will likely need to come from the passing game. Due to the lack of maneuverability, the offense will need to place taller targets into the mix, as well as players who can win contested catches. Harris will do nicely in both categories when he fully develops.

And there’s the rub. The if’s and buts. Jacob Harris is not fully developed. From what we’ve seen in the past, the cards are stacked against Harris to get many snaps in this offense this year. He’s a rookie. He’s very raw. And he is learning a brand new position.  But then there is the flip side.

He can be deadly effective as a target in the red zone. Even if he is not a primary target, his presence on the football field will force coverage his way. Besides, will the Matthew-Stafford-Effect buoy his production?  Well, wait a darned minute. We said we wouldn’t consider Matthew Stafford in judging Harris’ potential in the Rams’ offense this year. But it’s nearly impossible not to. They have the potential to become a high-scoring tandem this season. So until they prove that they aren’t, why not just go with it for now?