T-Ferg and the 12s

[Pupped]

We've all been waiting/wondering when/if McVay would start using 12 personnel at a much higher rate... and I think we're finally here!!

4 legit tight ends on the roster.. it's a big jump from the start of last season!!!

As has been told on here and other places.. the Oregon offense incorporated quite a few Rams concepts and that should help get him opportunities to thrive earlier than typical for a rookie TE.

I'm not expecting a Bowers/Laporta type rookie season.. but maybe something between Dalton Kincade and Tucker Kraft. I'm thinking 40-50 catches is absolutely possible. His YAC potential is really, really high.. can easily see them using TE screens.. chip block/release actions to get him into those YAC situations. I was waiting to see him on the field before getting too excited.. but seeing him track that ball from Winn.. and then his movement on the second catch with the ball... Yeah, the kid's got a ton of talent. He may not be ready to be an every down in-line blocker.. but as a second TE in movement??? That's gonna be fun in the run game.

Higbee is very solid.. Parkinson wasn't great.. but is a functional NFL TE and a big mofo in the run game... Davis Allen as a 4th is a really solid player. It's just a heck of a group, imo.

The Rams power game could go to the next level... and T-Ferg could be a legitimate weapon in 12 personnel by end of season.

This will finally be the year we see the Rams really embrace that 12 grouping, imo.

 

[Merlin]

We'll see how long it takes the kid to learn the offense. Might take a while to get up to speed, but as long as Higs is healthy I'd say increased 12 is a certainty.

 

[Pupped]

We'll see how long it takes the kid to learn the offense. Might take a while to get up to speed, but as long as Higs is healthy I'd say increased 12 is a certainty.

TE is notoriously a difficult transition to the NFL. My hopes are built on the fact that there are quite a few concepts the Rams use he is already familiar with.. and that I don't think he'll be asked to do much in-line stuff as a rookie, perhaps reducing the amount he needs to learn/process in his first year, allowing him to focus on building on the things he already knows.

It may not happen, but that's what I'm building my hopes on, in addition to his RIDICULOUS physical gifts. Just a WOW athlete for the position.. and not just his raw numbers, the young man is sooooo fluid. Most talented TE I've ever seen in a Rams jersey.

 

[snackdaddy]

I can see why McVay wanted him. He just needs to learn the nuances of blocking at this level. From what I read about him pre draft was blocking inside was not something they asked him to do a lot of. His blocking was more like what receivers do on the outside.

 

[Merlin]

TE is notoriously a difficult transition to the NFL. My hopes are built on the fact that there are quite a few concepts the Rams use he is already familiar with.. and that I don't think he'll be asked to do much in-line stuff as a rookie, perhaps reducing the amount he needs to learn/process in his first year, allowing him to focus on building on the things he already knows.

It may not happen, but that's what I'm building my hopes on, in addition to his RIDICULOUS physical gifts. Just a WOW athlete for the position.. and not just his raw numbers, the young man is sooooo fluid. Most talented TE I've ever seen in a Rams jersey.

Most of the difficulties lie with playing off the line in the classic role and taking on Edges, who are some of the worst matchups in the defensive fronts around the league. This is why I say if Higs is healthy his transition for playing time this season should be smooth. All he has to do is learn the routes and adjustments for the playbook, as his role will be a lot of the standard slot routes in McVay's offense. And if there is one position that McVay really knows how to maximize a player, it's in that slot usage. It is one of his super powers, that ability to scheme dudes up for advantage, especially if they trust him on option routes. Which, done wrong, can make the QB look like dogshit and result in six the other way.