Everett

“I think the game is slowing down for him.” Gerald Everett sets sights on becoming a ‘complete’ tight end in 2019

https://www.therams.com/news/gerald-everett-potentially-complete-tight-end

Quarterback Jared Goff and the Los Angeles offense relied on tight end Gerald Everett more heavily as pass catcher in 2018, in comparison to his rookie season when the South Alabama product lined up as a starter in two games.

If you include the postseason, Everett appeared in all 19 games as a sophomore and started in just one — the NFC Championship game in New Orleans. However, his targets were by 18 from year one, and the young tight end pulled in three touchdown receptions — the most memorable of which put the Rams ahead late in the win over the Chiefs during Week 11’s Monday Night Football instant classic.

Now, determined to become a more complete tight end in the Rams offense in 2019, Everett has been performing well throughout OTAs — just ask the head coach.

“I think the game’s slowing down for him,” head coach Sean McVay said this week. “I think with some of the routes that entail some of the decision making things are slowing down for him. He’s playing with some patience, he’s got great aggressive hands where he can step to the football. I think you’re just seeing a guy gain confidence, gain experience.”

Everett credits what’s gone right in the offseason program to special attention to his craft.

“Just being a pro — listening to all the details, just trying to be my best self everyday, look at myself in the mirror everyday and try to eclipse each practice,” Everett said, after humbly acknowledging McVay’s endorsement.

Everett said he’s focused on taking care of his body post-Super Bowl LIII, and detailed the importance of following a routine in the offseason’s down time. Just over one month until training camp, Everett has his sights set on becoming a well-rounded tight end. With the help of tight end Tyler Higbee, passing-game coordinator Shane Waldron, tight end coach Wes Phillips, and run-game coordinator/OL coach Aaron Kromer, Everett has put an emphasis on improving as a blocker ahead of year three.

“I feel like a better version of myself in reference to last year,” Everett said. “Just older, a little bit wiser on the field, just more of a complete pro. And I feel like I’m a way better blocker than I was last year, so just feeling like an actual tight end now more so than just a receiving tight end.”

#Rams TE Gerald Everett's 2.9% Drop Rate ranked 6th in the league last season in Drop Rates among TEs (min. 30 Targets)

He looks to continue his success next season, with increased usage on the horizon following his breakout sophomore season pic.twitter.com/k3IMXA4XBZ

— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) June 6, 2019

Waldron sees both Higbee, Everett potentially taking a step forward in 2019

Myles Simmons

https://www.therams.com/news/waldron-sees-both-higbee-everett-potentially-taking-a-step-forward-in-2019

One of the consistent storylines throughout the offseason program was how much progress tight end Gerald Everett appeared to be making heading into his third season as a pro. During OTAs, it seemed the South Alabama product made an impressive catch or two each day, demonstrating his value to an already productive offense.

But passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Shane Waldron — who coached Los Angeles’ tight ends in 2017 and 2018 — has noticed progress from Tyler Higbee, too.

And if both Higbee and Everett can take steps forward in 2019, that will give the Rams a significant offensive boost. Over the last two years, Los Angeles’ tight ends have accounted for an average of 53.5 receptions for 613.5 yards and four touchdowns as a whole — and that’s for a team that has finished within the top two in points scored in that same time span.

So increasing the production from Higbee and Everett could pay big dividends. And how did those two players look during the offseason program?

“I think Higbee since day one has had that steady improving of his game overall as a tight end that can do everything,” Waldron said during minicamp. “And then Gerald, like any young player, had his rookie year last year and had some times where he really shined once he overcame his early setback with an injury. Just like similar to Josh [Reynolds] and other guys that now we are talking about getting into year two, year three, some into year four, where they’ve really started to master the overall system and it’s great to have those tools at your disposal, so that whatever that matchup is that presents itself, you can maximize the individual skill set within those matchups.”

For Los Angeles, that could mean more targets to tight ends down in the red zone, where the club has finished middle of the pack over the last couple years. We’ll see how the targets and receptions are distributed during training camp, which could give a good indication of how things might go once the regular season hits.