Is anything up with Tyler Higbee?

[Stl2La]

Higbeast always seems to be falling down. Even when he does keep his balance for a decent gain he doesn’t make it look pretty lol

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

he's old and slow.

looks like he's pulling a 3 tonne load behind him.

.

 

[XXXIVwin]

Yeah, I don't quite understand the perception that Higbee is having a down year... he seems to me the same as usual, and the stats back that up. Higbee started out pretty strong and then tapered off a bit.

Yeah, he's had a couple of ill-timed drops. But stats wise, by the end of the year, this could be one of Higbee's best seasons.

 

[Classic Rams]

SEASON	TM	GP	REC	TRG	REC/G	YDS	AVG	YPG	TD	LNG
2016	LA	16	11	29	0.7	85	7.7	5.3	1	31
2017	LAR	16	25	45	1.6	295	11.8	18.4	1	38
2018	LAR	16	24	34	1.5	292	12.2	18.3	2	36
2019	LAR	15	69	89	4.6	734	10.6	48.9	3	33
2020	LAR	15	44	60	2.9	521	11.8	34.7	5	44
2021	LAR	15	61	85	4.1	560	9.2	37.3	5	37
2022	LAR	13	52	81	4.0	455	8.8	35.0	0	26

He's had a few more drops than usual. No he hasn't dropped nearly 30, maybe about 7 catchable ones.
Hasn't gotten into the end zone.
Longest pass catch is only 26. Partly because of time to throw.
His blocking seems about the same, but as a whole the run blocking has mostly stunk and he's a part.
Yeah he's gotten older. Like others have mentioned before the Rams need to consider his replacement soon and I don't think that guy is on the team yet. Bring in a vet, FA, draft pic soon before his time expires.

 

[Faceplant]

Watch Higs on the Akers "first down" on 4th and 1 at the goal line last Thursday. That play was a microcosm of his season to me. He was just out there kinda flailing on that play, then started walking back to the bench looking dejected because he didn't think Cam made the sticks..... Something just seems off about him this season. At least in my eyes.

Edit: Just watched the play again, and it's not as bad as I thought, but I stand by the overall sentiment that he seems off this season.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

It's crazy tbh. By all accounts when we hired him he was so well steeped in coaching up the TE position that I was sure we'd have great production from that position. Then the first draft he goes and gets Everett who projected to be a clone in the usage to the guy who had made him so successful in Washington.

And then we end up being an 11 offense with McVay being a rockstar and all that but the TEs sucking ass still. It's like a curse for this team man.

I am of the mind that we have had a talent issue at the position. But either way the Brown experiment did not work well so it's going to be interesting to see what McVay does next. He had a fine TE coach that he let walk out the door in Wade's kid. Of course Wes probably pushed them to draft Harris who's a flop at both TE and WR and can't stay healthy, so idk.

I'd really like to see McVay go outside the org and find a TE coach. Bring in some fresh blood. I think if he sticks around he's going to need to shake up this staff but we'll see.

Yep. It has been a big disappointment for me. Higbee has been okay, but I think they could do better, especially now.

We see teams get pretty good TEs in mid rounds often. A guy like Dalton Shultz was a fourth round pick. Kittle was too I believe. Bryce Hopkins was a fourth too, ouch.

I think the TE McVay used so successfully in Washington was Jordan Reed. He also used Vernon Davis in that offense.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Yeah, I don't quite understand the perception that Higbee is having a down year... he seems to me the same as usual, and the stats back that up. Higbee started out pretty strong and then tapered off a bit.

Yeah, he's had a couple of ill-timed drops. But stats wise, by the end of the year, this could be one of Higbee's best seasons.

It may just be a bias but his drops are untimely. Not that a drop is ever good but third down drive killers suck and he usually was more clutch with those. His ability to break tackles doesn’t seem to be as good either.

I also think that he looks a bit stiffer, less fluid. Maybe it’s injury, maybe it’s age. I do think it’s time to start looking for a replacement. I don’t want an older free agent though. I’d rather they draft one.

 

[BonifayRam]

Since McVay was hired in 2017 he has drafted 2 TE.

One was a top draft selection in 2017. Gerald Everett was used very little in his 4 seasons under contract.

Bryce Hopkins was drafted in the 4th rd. 3 yrs ago just like Everett, Hopkins has been underutilized IMO.

Proof/ evidence indicates to me, McVay just does not desire to utilize more than one TE in his offense thus no reason to draft any either. Just another waste of Ram team assets.

 

[Allen2McVay]

I think the TE McVay used so successfully in Washington was Jordan Reed. He also used Vernon Davis in that offense.

Yes ... in Washington, McVay's primary offensive alignment was 2 WRs, 2 TEs (Reed and Davis who were both quality pass-catchers) and 1 RB.

McVay had Higbee when he got here, then used his first ever Rams' draft choice on Gerald Everett. The expectation us was a lot of two-TE sets. That made sense ... the 2016 Rams' WR-corps was perhaps the worst in the NFL.

However, they signed Woods, drafted Kupp and traded for Watkins. Then Everett was a little banged-up and raw. McVay went mostly with a three-WR-set, and the Rams led the NFL in scoring.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Since McVay was hired in 2017 he has drafted 2 TE.

One was a top draft selection in 2017. Gerald Everett was used very little in his 4 seasons under contract.

Bryce Hopkins was drafted in the 4th rd. 3 yrs ago just like Everett, Hopkins has been underutilized IMO.

Proof/ evidence indicates to me, McVay just does not desire to utilize more than one TE in his offense thus no reason to draft any either. Just another waste of Ram team assets.

I agree; and I hate to be a Rams' fan / forum-poster who criticizes a head coach that has won a Super Bowl.

I love that Sean McVay is the Rams' coach; and I am grateful we have him. However, no one is perfect. McVay has been reluctant to use two-TE-sets the past few years. He has primarily gone with the three-WRs. When he had Everett, there was some two-TEs but that has pretty-much stopped.

When two of those three WRs were Woods and Kupp, I felt like they were two of the five-best run-blocking WRs in the NFL. However, most wide receivers suck at blocking. Half don't try; and those that do try, are not very effective at it.

 

[BonifayRam]

Yes ... in Washington, McVay's primary offensive alignment was 2 WRs, 2 TEs (Reed and Davis who were both quality pass-catchers) and 1 RB.

McVay had Higbee when he got here, then used his first ever Rams' draft choice on Gerald Everett. The expectation us was a lot of two-TE sets. That made sense ... the 2016 Rams' WR-corps was perhaps the worst in the NFL.

However, they signed Woods, drafted Kupp and traded for Watkins. Then Everett was a little banged-up and raw. McVay went mostly with a three-WR-set, and the Rams led the NFL in scoring.

How dare you ...... forget some positive McVay stuff along with the Cherry on top of your last paragraph.....?? oh by the way I am pleased overall with having McVay as my HC.

....Signed two UFA's veteran former all-pro OL'ers Andrew Whitworth & John Sullivan to line up with Saffold/ Havenstein & Blythe

Now for the Cherry....hired current GB Packers HC Matt LaFleur as his new OC.

 

[Allen2McVay]

How dare you ...... forget some positive McVay stuff along with the Cherry on top of your last paragraph.....?? oh by the way I am pleased overall with having McVay as my HC.

....Signed two UFA's veteran former all-pro OL'ers Andrew Whitworth & John Sullivan to line up with Saffold/ Havenstein & Blythe

Now for the Cherry....hired current GB Packers HC Matt LaFleur as his new OC.

I love McVay too. Very grateful that he is the Rams' Head Coach.

Whitworth was a great signing; and many NFL "Experts" thought he was done and just cashing-in from a desperate franchise. Sullivan was a low-cost gamble that worked-out great. Restricted free agent Ryan Groy signed an offer sheet that Buffalo matched, so the Rams signed Sullivan for close to the veteran-minimum. Sullivan was a back-up in Washington with McVay but had played little in recent years due to a back(?) injury. His toughness, experience and leadership were tremendous assets in 2017 and 2018.

I worked with John Sullivan's father (Rick) for a few years when John was in high school and at Notre Dame. His father was a great guy and very proud but also very low-key about his son.

One correction though. I don't think Blythe started until 2018. Jamon Brown was at RG in 2017.

 

[BonifayRam]

I love McVay too. Very grateful that he is the Rams' Head Coach.

Whitworth was a great signing; and many NFL "Experts" thought he was done and just cashing-in from a desperate franchise. Sullivan was a low-cost gamble that worked-out great. Restricted free agent Ryan Groy signed an offer sheet that Buffalo matched, so the Rams signed Sullivan for close to the veteran-minimum. Sullivan was a back-up in Washington with McVay but had played little in recent years due to a back(?) injury. His toughness, experience and leadership were tremendous assets in 2017 and 2018.

I worked with John Sullivan's father (Rick) for a few years when John was in high school and at Notre Dame. His father was a great guy and very proud but also very low-key about his son.

One correction though. I don't think Blythe started until 2018. Jamon Brown was at RG in 2017.

You are correct! Very sharp on Ram player history ...great mind there Allen2McVay I am so happy you decided to join in 2020 our Ram family here @ ROD.

It was the 2018 season that Brown was suspended early Blythe took over & Brown never started again.

 

[Mojo Ram]

I feel like he’s just beat up all the time. He’s been in the league awhile now. 8 years?

 

[So Ram]

Since McVay was hired in 2017 he has drafted 2 TE.

One was a top draft selection in 2017. Gerald Everett was used very little in his 4 seasons under contract.

Bryce Hopkins was drafted in the 4th rd. 3 yrs ago just like Everett, Hopkins has been underutilized IMO.

Proof/ evidence indicates to me, McVay just does not desire to utilize more than one TE in his offense thus no reason to draft any either. Just another waste of Ram team assets.

I yelled at Demoff & Snead years ago about this. Yelled to cut Hopkins as well last season.

Tyler Higbee is Higbee.He has been one of the Better TE’s in Rams history.
—Truth is he is a leader & a solid player with certain limitations.
Asked to do to much due to injury.

 

[So Ram]

The 9ers game he had a TD if he holds onto. Football passed by Stafford could have changed the season ?

 

[So Ram]

BTW - WTF - The Rams have how many TE’s on the roster.

Carter needed to hit Mcvay upside his head. Thanks Demoff & Snead,Kevin Demoff needs to smell the coffee

 

[oldnotdead]

ADOT is one of the more ridiculous stats there is and like all stats when taken in isolation it says zip. It's why stat driven analysis like PFF are absolute jokes. As I pointed out previously, if the defensive call is for Gaines to simply cover the A gaps, to take away the run he's graded down by PFF because he wasn't rushing the passer. The PFF analyst isn't versed well enough on the NFL to understand what he's seeing, so how can you trust the analysis?

In other words, don't trust stats taken out of context.

 

[blackbart]

Higbee just looks like he is broken. Barely can run any more, can’t catch the ball and stay on his feet and goes to the ground immediately on any contact. There is no way he is the best they can do, even now.

 

[dang]

Higbee just looks like he is broken. Barely can run any more, can’t catch the ball and stay on his feet and goes to the ground immediately on any contact. There is no way he is the best they can do, even now.

Yeah feet of stone. Slow and unbalanced which I think puts him in awkward position to make catchable balls resulting in drops/incompletes. Not sure if it’s a fixable injury holding him back but if not he’s done as a weapon IMO.