Recapping the development of Rams TE Tyler Higbee...

Note the date of this article, Feb 5, 2020.

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Recapping the development of Los Angeles Rams TE Tyler Higbee
How did Higbee suddenly flip the switch? Let’s take a look.
By Sosa Kremenjas@QBsMVP Feb 5, 2020, 9:00 am


The four-year $29m contract extension General Manager Les Snead handed to Los Angeles Rams TE Tyler Higbee was one of the more random and shocking extensions handed out over the course of the current regime.
Higbee — who had a very minimal impact through three seasons — was rewarded on the eve of the 2019 NFL Season, proving the Rams knew they had something in the former fourth-round pick that not many were aware of.
The tight end position is notoriously known to be one of the positions that requires a longer transition period from the college game to the professional level. Typically, tight ends are expected to breakout and reach their potential in their third or fourth season, as opposed to other positions that may reap their rewards at a much quicker pace.
Higbee’s 2019 season was his fourth season in the NFL and his age-26 season, meaning it was put-up or shut-up time. And, well, Higbee took his game from merely being on the field to being one of the most productive tight ends in football.
Let’s recap his season (stats from Pro Football Reference):
Weeks 1-11:
9 games, 27 targets, 21 receptions, 192 yards, 1 touchdown, 77.8% catch percentage, 7.11 yards-per-target

Weeks 12-17:
6 games, 62 targets, 48 receptions, 542 yards, 2 touchdowns, 77.4% catch percentage, 8.74 yards-per-target
Let’s take a look at some in-depth statistics (per Player Profiler):
Snap share:
66.6% (6.4% slot)

Targets:
89 (7th in league)
Target share:
15.9% (12th in league)
Completed air yards:
366 (12th in league)
Yards after catch:
368 (4th in league)
Red zone receptions:
14 (1st in league)
Yards per pass route:
2.80 (4th in league)
True catch rate (Total receptions divided by total catchable targets):
94.5% (3rd in league)
QB rating when targeted:
107.6 (18th in league)
As you can see from the boatload of stats I presented, Higbee managed to turn the page somewhere in the middle of the season, going from another middling/disappointing season, to becoming one of the best tight ends in the league. Not only was he featured and productive in his raw numbers, but he was incredibly efficient with his touches, he was productive at gaining extra yards post-catch, and he was an incredibly dependable security blanket for QB Jared Goff.

Why did it happen?

We can’t pinpoint the exact reason, but one thing to note is that Higbee — and the tight end position as a whole — hasn’t been featured in L.A. under Head Coach Sean McVay.
Here are the combined TE targets compared to passing attempts by year under McVay since joining the Rams:

2017: 518 pass attempts, 88 TE targets, 17.0% of attempts targeted to TE’s
2018: 561 pass attempts, 85 TE targets, 15.2% of attempts targeted to TE’s
2019: 632 pass attempts, 156 TE targets, 24.7% of attempts targeted to TE’s

As you can see, a major reason for the lackluster production from the tight end position stemmed from a lack of usage. Often times as viewers of the game, we fail to understand that opportunity is half the battle to producing. The usage of the tight ends nearly doubled in 2019 from the two prior seasons.

Why? Who knows.
There are a handful of potential reasons. From the running game struggling to produce, to the lack of time in the pocket for Goff to find wide receivers working the deeper parts of the field, the injury to WR Brandin Cooks opening some targets, and even the possibility of McVay simply feeling the need to expand his horizons and utilize more of the available weapons on his roster (similar to his work in Washington).
Projecting the usage among positional groups — and even players within those positions — is nearly impossible. The Rams are evidently loaded at every offensive skill position. The team has three receivers capable of 1,000-yard seasons, multiple talented running backs, and two tight ends that have been the source of big plays (particularly in 2019).
The conclusion is to not strictly judge players by basic statistics such as receptions, yards, and touchdowns. The more effective way to use statistics is to look at the efficiency of said players, and to compare how they perform within their role (be it large or small) to other players. It’s even feasible to attempt to extrapolate what a player might be in a larger role, though projection is a whole different animal.
When the Rams handed Higbee the questionable extension, many (including myself) fans and media members were confused and believed the decision would ultimately result in a regretful mistake. Yet, through one season, Higbee and the Rams have proven to be one step ahead of the game with Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper reaching the open market this free agency period, and talented youngsters like O.J. Howard, Evan Engram, and George Kittle slated for free agency in 2021.
So far, so good.