Los Angeles Rams: Tyler Higbee could be crucial to passing attack
The Los Angeles Rams passing attack is lacking for receiving threats, opening the door for Tyler Higbee
The Los Angeles Rams passing game has not received outstanding reviews during training camp. And that has nothing to do with quarterback Jared Goff. It has everything to do with giving tight end Tyler Higbee a shot to become their primary pass-catching threat.
By most accounts, Goff is showing more confidence and a better grasp of the offense under first-year coach Sean McVay. Tavon Austin’s hamstring injury has prevented him from fully embracing the team’s No. 1 wide receiver role. That’s coming off an offseason in which a wrist injury sidelined him.
The Rams scrimmaged against the Los Angeles Chargers earlier in the week. And according to Turf Show Times, a big weakness in the Rams passing attack from 2016 still is present.
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"The biggest problem isn’t Goff’s mechanics, reads or accuracy. It’s his weapons.Throughout the scrimmage with the Chargers, Goff made good passes only to have his wideouts look exactly like last year by dropping the ball."
Part of what made McVay’s offense so explosive as coordinator with the Washington Redskins last season was their tight ends. Jordan Reed was exceptional in 2015 (87 receptions, 952 yards, 11 touchdowns), and Vernon Davis pitched in when Reed played last year with injuries.
If the Rams can stretch the field with their wideouts, they’re going to have to Higbee’s ability to mimic the New England Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski. PlayerProfiler.com lists Higbee’s 40-yard dash time at 4.80 seconds.
However, an NFL.com Combine analysis last year said:
"Higbee has exciting athleticism and speed in the open field with the ability to separate from safeties on intermediate routes and threaten the deep middle."
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How Los Angeles would love for that to come to fruition in 2017. If Higbee can transform into a deep threat, if not a primary target, he’ll give the Rams passing attack exactly what it needs to evolve into a legitimate strength for the team.