Rams will use 2 TE’s more, feature Hopkins in more ‘exotic personnel packages’...
| April 29, 2020 06:08AM |
Rams will use 2 TEs more, feature Brycen Hopkins in 'exotic personnel packages'
[theramswire.usatoday.com]
Cameron DaSilva
Despite having glaring needs on the offensive line and at inside linebacker, the Los Angeles Rams decided to trade away from some talented players at those spots when they went on the clock at No. 126 overall. They moved back 10 spots and selected tight end Brycen Hopkins, which seemed like a luxury pick for a team with Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee already on the roster.
That’s exactly what it was, with even GM Les Snead admitting it on SiriusXM NFL Radio this week.
“We got to the fourth round and one of the reasons we made the trade back is because this guy was one of the higher players on our board but with our tight end situation now, it was more of a luxury pick so we traded back so we could get maybe an extra seventh or two so we could draft that kicker,” he said.
Part of the reason the Rams wanted to add a tight end is because of Sean McVay’s desire to deploy different personnel packages. In the last three years, no team has used 11 personnel (3 WRs, 1 TE, 1 R
more than the Rams.
Last season, it seemed like teams caught on a bit, which caused McVay to switch things up and utilize more two-tight end sets with Higbee and Johnny Mundt. That trend will continue in 2020 with Snead saying the Rams will get two tight ends on the field more often.
“Just like anything, defenses start trying to catch up to what we were doing in 11 (personnel) and Sean even said he wanted to go back to where he could do similar stuff but out of more diversified personnel packages and so we’re going to get two tight ends on the field more,” he said.
The Rams have time to work out a plan for Hopkins, who’s a dynamic receiver and athletic weapon at tight end. But as of now, they expect to use him in what Snead called “exotic personnel packages” – something we haven’t seen much from McVay in L.A.
“But last year, Tyler, Gerald and even Johnny Mundt did a nice job for us at the end of the last year, so we traded back and Brycen was still there and we didn’t feel like we could pass up on him and definitely plan on implementing him in some of those exotic personnel packages,” he said.
Whether that means 13 personnel (1 RB, 3 TEs, or 22 personnel (2 RBs, 2 TEs) isn’t yet clear, but those are two groupings the Rams have hardly used under McVay. And with the talent they have at each skill position, the Rams certainly have the ability to deploy some “exotic” packages, as Snead said.
[theramswire.usatoday.com]
Cameron DaSilva
Despite having glaring needs on the offensive line and at inside linebacker, the Los Angeles Rams decided to trade away from some talented players at those spots when they went on the clock at No. 126 overall. They moved back 10 spots and selected tight end Brycen Hopkins, which seemed like a luxury pick for a team with Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee already on the roster.
That’s exactly what it was, with even GM Les Snead admitting it on SiriusXM NFL Radio this week.
“We got to the fourth round and one of the reasons we made the trade back is because this guy was one of the higher players on our board but with our tight end situation now, it was more of a luxury pick so we traded back so we could get maybe an extra seventh or two so we could draft that kicker,” he said.
Part of the reason the Rams wanted to add a tight end is because of Sean McVay’s desire to deploy different personnel packages. In the last three years, no team has used 11 personnel (3 WRs, 1 TE, 1 R
more than the Rams.Last season, it seemed like teams caught on a bit, which caused McVay to switch things up and utilize more two-tight end sets with Higbee and Johnny Mundt. That trend will continue in 2020 with Snead saying the Rams will get two tight ends on the field more often.
“Just like anything, defenses start trying to catch up to what we were doing in 11 (personnel) and Sean even said he wanted to go back to where he could do similar stuff but out of more diversified personnel packages and so we’re going to get two tight ends on the field more,” he said.
The Rams have time to work out a plan for Hopkins, who’s a dynamic receiver and athletic weapon at tight end. But as of now, they expect to use him in what Snead called “exotic personnel packages” – something we haven’t seen much from McVay in L.A.
“But last year, Tyler, Gerald and even Johnny Mundt did a nice job for us at the end of the last year, so we traded back and Brycen was still there and we didn’t feel like we could pass up on him and definitely plan on implementing him in some of those exotic personnel packages,” he said.
Whether that means 13 personnel (1 RB, 3 TEs, or 22 personnel (2 RBs, 2 TEs) isn’t yet clear, but those are two groupings the Rams have hardly used under McVay. And with the talent they have at each skill position, the Rams certainly have the ability to deploy some “exotic” packages, as Snead said.
