In this series of articles, our resident tape wizard Greg Cosell will take an in-depth look at some of the more interesting fantasy players for the 2020 NFL season. It’s a peek behind the curtain of the film room, as these are Greg’s raw, unfiltered notes he takes as he watches a player.
It’s not just fantasy players — it’s entirely possible the Rams didn’t know what they had in TE Tyler Higbee, at least as a receiver, until his massive breakout in the final five games of the 2019 NFL season. Remember, Gerald Everett had been playing more snaps than him for most of the season up until that point.
That said, Higbee’s overall contributions were already rewarded before his breakout, as the Rams signed him to a four-year, $31.5 million extension in September. Is that contract already a bargain? Let’s see what the film from those final five games — and all of Higbee’s targets over that span — tells us.
General Observations
Higbee stats over the final five games: 43/522/2 (56 targets, 12.1 YPR)
Higbee was featured on corner routes in the Rams passing game, predominantly (but not always) off flood concepts.
Higbee was effectively used on conventional screens when aligned tight to the formation, showcasing excellent run-after-catch ability.
Higbee showcases his athleticism on run-after-catch opportunities. He showed good burst and speed with some lateral quickness.
It was obvious with the number of screens the Rams ran with Higbee that they wanted to take advantage of his ability after the catch.
12 of Higbee’s 56 targets in the last live games came out of 12 personnel (21%).
20 of Higbee’s 56 targets in the last five games came out of empty sets (36%).
Week 13 Targets vs. Cardinals
- Higbee stats: 7/107/1 (8 targets)
Note: for all the following bullet points, the first number (eg. 11) describes the personnel the Rams were in. The next lines describe the formation and where Higbee aligned (eg. #2 means he was the slot receiver). “To the field” means to the wide side, “to the boundary” means to the short side. After the dash, I describe Higbee’s route and how many yards were gained if the ball was caught.
- 11 personnel empty #2 twins to the field [high red zone] – speed out (3 yards)
- 11 2x2 flexed to the boundary – Corner route, Flood concept (21 yards)
- 11 3x1 #3 tight bunch to the boundary – pivot route off QB Jared Goff outside zone boot action (26 yards), Higbee shows run-after-catch.
- 11 empty #2 twins to the boundary [tight red zone] – speed out (incomplete)
- 11 3x1 #3 tight bunch to the field [tight red zone] – flat route off run block action, Goff play action boot left (2-yard TD)
- 11 empty #1 twins to the boundary – shallow cross (25 yards)
- 11 3x1 #3 tight bunch to the boundary – delayed check down off Goff outside zone boot action (21 yards).
- 11 empty #2 flexed to the field – sit route (9 yards)
- Jet sweep action was featured – this is a significant part of the Rams’ offense.
Week 14 Targets vs. Seahawks
- Higbee stats: 7/116 (11 targets)
- 11 3x1 #1 to trips to the field –go route off WR Cooper Kupp screen look (33 yards)
- 12 1x3 LOS TE to closed boundary – crosser off Goff outside zone boot action, three-level concept (11 yards))
- 11 empty #2 twins to the boundary [high red zone] – Sit route (7 yards)
- 11 empty #2 twins – Slot fade (inc.)
- 11 3x1 #2 tight bunch to the field – crosser, flood concept (22 yards)
- 11 empty wing twins to the boundary [high red zone] – Sit route (inc.)
- 11 empty flexed twins to the boundary [high red zone] – Out cut (6 yards)
- 12 3x1 off motion #3 LOS TE – Crosser with adjustment (inc)
- 11 empty #2 twins to the boundary – Speed out (5 yards)
- 11 1x3 LOS TE to closed boundary – Seam route off flea-flicker (inc.)
- 12 3x1 3 (LOS) tight bunch to the field – delayed check down off Goff outside zone boot action (32 yards)
- Higbee’s explosive receptions predominantly came off schemed concepts.
- Higbee was used as the intermediate receiver in multiple flood concepts.
- When Higbee was #2 in twins in empty sets, he was almost always tight to the formation.
Week 15 Targets vs. Cowboys
- Higbee stats: 12/111 (14 targets)
- 11 2x2 wing to the field – Flat route crossing the formation off Goff outside zone boot action (9 yards)
- 11 2x2 shift to LOS TE to the field – Conventional screen (12 yards)
- 11 2x2 shift to wing to the field – delayed check down off Goff outside zone boot action (26 yards)
- 11 2x2 #2 to the field – Out cut (7 yards)
- 11 2x2 flexed to the boundary – Seam route (inc.)
- 11 empty #3 wing to the field – Flat route in three-level concept (6 yards)
- 11 3x1 point in trips bunch – “Hank” route (5 yards)
- 11 2x2 #2 to the boundary – Sit route (5 yards)
- 11 2x2 #2 LOS TE to the boundary – Speed out (10 yards)
- 11 2x2 LOS TE to the boundary – Flat route (8 yards)
- 11 2x2 flexed – Sit route (7 yards)
- 11 empty LOS TE to the boundary – Speed out (4 yards)
- 11 empty flexed to the field – Sit route (inc.)
- 11 2x2 LOS TE to the field – Flat route (12 yards)
- It was evident from Higbee’s route concepts that Rams were taking advantage of his run-after-catch ability.
- Eight of Higbee’s targets versus Cowboys came in the fourth quarter, when the game was not competitive.
- Higbee, from tight #2 alignment (LOS, flexed, wing), was often featured on quick out routes. Sometimes they looked like speed outs, and sometimes they looked like delayed flat routes.
Week 16 Targets vs. 49ers
- Higbee stats: 9/104 (11 targets)
- 12 3x1 #3 wing to the field – Corner route on a flood concept (20 yards)
- 11 2x2 wing to the boundary – Flat route crossing the formation off Goff outside zone boot action, also jet sweep action away from boot (3 yards)
- 12 3x1 wing to the boundary - Flat route crossing the formation off Goff outside zone boot action (11 yards)
- 11 2x2 LOS TE to the boundary – Conventional screen, jet sweep action to screen side (12 yards)
- 11 empty #2 twins to the boundary [10-yard line] – Angle route (9 yards)
- 11 2x2 LOS TE to the field – Conventional screen, jet sweep action to screen side (16 yards)
- 11 empty #1 twins to the boundary – Crosser with adjustment based on coverage (9 yards)
- 12 3x1 #3 LOS TE to the field – Pivot route off Goff outside zone boot action (5 yards)
- 12 3x1 #3 tight trips to the field – Back side wheel route off outside zone run action, #2 through zone concept (incomplete)
- 11 empty #1 twins to the boundary – Shallow cross (inc.)
- 12 3x1 #3 wing to the field – Corner route, Flood concept (19 yards)
- Play action and play action boot are foundational parts of the Rams passing game. Jet sweep action is also a foundational part of the Rams passing game.
- The Rams featured empty sets, almost always out of 11 personnel.
- Flood concepts are a foundational route concept in Rams passing game, they get to it with multiple personnel and formations.
Week 17 Targets vs. Cardinals
- Higbee stats: 8/84/1 (12 targets)
- 11 empty #1 twins to the boundary – Shallow cross (inc.)
- 12 2x2 LOS TE to the boundary – Corner route (19 yards)
- 11 2x2 off-the-ball TE to the boundary – Conventional screen, jet sweep action to screen side (14 yards)
- 12 1x3 LOS TE to closed boundary [tight red zone] – Crosser (inc.)
- 11 empty #2 twins to the boundary [high red zone] – Sit route (7 yards)
- 11 3x1 #3 tight bunch to the field – Conventional screen, jet sweep action away from screen side (8 yards)
- 12 1x3 LOS TE to closed boundary – Corner route off hard inside stem (22 yards)
- 11 2x2 LOS TE to the field – Conventional screen (inc.)
- 12 2x2 LOS TE to closed boundary – Crosser (inc.)
- 11 empty #2 twins to the boundary – Out cut (6 yards)
- 11 empty #2 twins to the boundary [high red zone] – Angle route (5 yards)
- 12 empty #2 twins – Angle route (4-yard TD)
