Rams are hoping rookie TE provides instant impact

Finding the Fits: Rams are hoping rookie TE provides instant impact

Rob Rang

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/finding-the-fits-rams-are-hoping-a-rookie-tight-end-provides-instant-impact/

(This is part of a series — Finding the Fits — in which NFLDraftScout.com will review the more intriguing picks made during the 2016 NFL Draft. The goal is to identify one relatively unheralded player per team who appears to be a good schematic fit and, therefore, more likely to be a surprise contributor early in his pro career.)

By boldly trading up to the No. 1 overall pick to secure the services of California quarterback Jared Goff, the Rams made perhaps the splashiest move of the 2016 NFL Draft. While some quibbled with the price general manager Les Snead paid to make the move, the club was eager to attract the notoriously fickle fans in the “new” Los Angeles market, which would have been difficult after finishing dead last in the NFL in passing (175.3 yards per game) in 2015.

While the addition of Goff has largely been celebrated, the “other” talent general manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher brought to LA has generated significantly less interest. Of course, given that the Rams waited 109 picks and approximately 36 hours before making their next pick after Goff could have something to do with it.

That next pick — Higbee — could play a significant role on the Rams’ offense as a rookie, as well. That is, of course, if Higbee is cleared to play at all. He pleaded not guilty on May 5 in his initial arraignment following a pre-draft arrest outside of a Bowling Green (Ky.) bar on charges of second degree assault, evading arrest and public intoxication.

Higbee’s availability is somewhat in question. His talent is not.
In a weak year for tight ends, the 6-foot-6, 249-pound Higbee had generated a great deal of interest from scouts. Some viewed him as the second-best prospect in the class behind only Hunter Henry, the reigning Mackey Award winner who was selected 35th overall by San Diego.

Higbee began his career with the Hilltoppers at wide receiver and didn’t emerge as a standout tight end until his senior season. Despite missing five games (as well as the Senior Bowl and combine) due to a knee injury, Higbee hauled in eight touchdowns on a career-high 38 receptions for 563 yards last year. When healthy, he showed off the agility, acceleration and soft hands to project as a featured target down the seam, where the Rams were looking to replace departed free agent Jared Cook.

Higbee possesses the natural receiving skills to make an immediate impact in the Rams’ passing game but he is also surprisingly tough as a blocker. That kind of grit is expected on any team led by Fisher, who rightly will prioritize super-sophomore running back Todd Gurley as the main component of the Rams’ offense.

“Tyler missed some games due to injury over the last couple years, but we watched him play and he just has that sense of urgency and that competitive drive,” Fisher said. “He’s a very physical player, dominant at times, at that level. We felt like he was going to create some matchup problems down the line.”

Other thoughts on the Rams’ 2016 draft class:
With Gurley the obvious headliner on offense and one of the league’s most fearsome fronts leading the defense, Goff is theoretically heading into an ideal situation for a young quarterback. Further, his acclimation to the NFL should be aided with the Rams likely to incorporate even more of the quick passes to the perimeter and down the seam which Goff excelled at in college. While at California, Goff showed franchise quarterback caliber toughness, smarts, pocket mobility and most importantly, accuracy.

There are legitimate questions about his velocity, however, which is why the extended drops and deep sideline throws which had been a staple of previous offenses under Fisher are likely to be minimized. Instead, expect a healthy dose of Gurley running the ball with the passing game emphasis placed on bubble screens, quick slants and posts down the seam.

Some were caught off guard with Fisher’s bold claim during OTAs that dynamic slot receiver Tavon Austin might catch 100 passes in 2016. While critics will quickly point out that expectations have been sky high for Austin since Snead and Fisher made him the eighth overall pick in 2013, this is the first time he’s had an offense which fits his unique skill-set and a quarterback with the anticipation and accuracy (not to mention durability) to feature him. Complementing Austin will be Higbee and sixth-round tight end Temmarick Hemmingway, as well as rookie slot receiver Pharoh Cooper, who like Austin is essentially a moveable chess piece capable of making big plays as a runner or receiver.

Los Angeles’ 2016 draft class:
1st Round, No. 1 overall: QB Jared Goff, California
4th Round, No. 110 overall: TE Tyler Higbee, Western Kentucky
4th Round, No. 117 overall: WR Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
4th Round, No. 177 overall: TE Temmarick Hemmingway, South Carolina State
5thRound, No. 190 overall: LB Josh Forrest, Kentucky
6th Round, No. 206 overall: WR Mike Thomas, Southern Mississippi

Key Undrafted Free Agents Signed:
RB Aaron Green, TCU
CB Mike Jordan, Missouri Western
OLB Cory Littleton, Washington
DE Ian Seau, Nevada
WR Nelson Spruce, Colorado