Goff at 6/14 Rams OTA…vid & transcript

Goff Takes First-Team Snaps

By Myles Simmons

http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Goff-Takes-First-Team-Snaps/d0017445-c369-4aa3-94a8-4859bc438b2a

At the start of Rams OTAs, head coach Jeff Fisher said rookie quarterback Jared Goff would likely get reps with the first-team offense before the club finished its nine sessions. That time has come, as Goff was in with the ‘ones’ during multiple 11-on-11 periods Tuesday afternoon.

Goff had previously worked with the first-team offense in Los Angeles’ three-on-four drill, and seven-on-seven drills. But June 14 marked the first day Goff worked with the entire offense against the entire defense. The session went well, with the No. 1 overall pick completing many of his passes, and looking poised in the face of pressure.

“I felt good out there,” Goff said following Tuesday’s practice. “It didn’t feel much different than the last few days. It’s just a different group of guys. It’s exciting. And I had a good time building that relationship with them.”

The quarterback noted it was a bit of an adjustment getting in the huddle with some different faces, but the bigger shift comes looking at the other side on the line of scrimmage.

“There’s the first-team defense out there, and they’re one of the best defenses in the league,” Goff said. “So it’s definitely a little bit different. But at the same time, I think it went well, and I got pretty comfortable with it.”

Gaining a sense of comfort has been a significant part of Goff’s progression throughout OTAs. One area in which he’s gained it is with the speed of the game. Like all rookies, Goff said it’s noticeably different going from college to the pros.

“I think there’s definitely a higher speed, especially when you’re with that group of ‘ones’ on defense, it’s definitely [a] difference in speed,” Goff said. “But I think, like I said a couple times now, as time went on in practice, through the last eight practices, I’ve started to slow down. At first it was fast, and then you get more comfortable when you see stuff more often, you see the looks a few more times. And it starts to slow down a little bit.”

One of the more difficult tasks of playing the Rams’ defense is deciphering the many different looks coordinator Gregg Williams will put on the field. Goff appears to have come a long way in a short time when it comes to recognizing what he’s seeing.

“It’s just, one play is never like the next with them,” Goff said. “I think as practices went on, I was definitely able to pick it up quicker. But at first, they’re giving me all those looks, I’m like, ‘What is this?’

“But as a few practices go through, you get more comfortable,” he continued. “You see it more often, you’re able to recognize it quicker.”

And Goff feels getting challenged now will pay dividends once the season hits.

“Oh yeah, I think tremendously,” he said. “When they’re that good over there, it makes it easier for us when we face other teams.”

With only one more OTA practice remaining, Goff said he’s feeling “100 times more comfortable and ready than I was at the beginning.”

“I think the first half of it was a lot of learning, a lot of thinking. And I think halfway through last week, it started to become more playing — more just feeling natural,” Goff said. “Now through eight practices, I feel fairly comfortable. And I’m pretty excited about continuing to make those steps and continue to feel more comfortable and all that.”

But with the end of OTAs comes some well earned time off. There’s about six weeks between the final Phase III practice and the start of training camp. Goff said he’ll likely use the beginning of that time to visit with family, but he and the other quarterbacks are looking to get together to throw and train at some point during the break. They’ll also get the receivers involved to help build more chemistry before the team hunkers down together in August.

“I think a lot of guys are going to be living down here permanently. And that’s another good thing about being in L.A. now, is that people want to stay here,” Goff said. “So we’ll have, I think, basically everyone down in this area — the L.A. area. So it’ll be nice to have all of them down here and be able to continue to get work.”

Rams QB Jared Goff – June 14, 2016

(On getting some reps with the 1s today)

“Good. It went well. I felt good out there. It didn’t feel much different than the last few days. It’s just a different group of guys. It’s exciting. I had a good time building that relationship with them. I thought it went well today.”

(On if it is a little different to see different faces to throw to)

“Yeah, a little bit. On defense, its more different looking at the defense than it would be just with different guys on offense. Like you said, there’s the first-team defense out there, and they’re one of the best defenses in the league, so that’s definitely a little bit different. But, at the same time, I think it went well. I felt pretty comfortable with it.”

(On if he thinks going against a defense like the Rams will help him progress)

“Yes. I think tremendously. I think any time you can play against elevated competition, and like I said, they’re one of the best in the league. When you go into a game and it’s not the same, it’s going to help a lot. They’ve been really helpful with everything. When they’re that good over there, it makes it easier on us when we face other teams.”

(On how beneficial it is for him to see so many different looks that the defense gives them during practice)

“Yes, similar thing I was just talking about. They do so much stuff over there and they do it well. It’s definitely different for us and me as a rookie, seeing so many looks right now. In the long run, I think it’s going to be very beneficial and something that I’m going look back on and be like, ‘Wow. I’m thankful I saw all of that early on and I’m able to recognize it now.’”

(On if he said anything to WR Michael Thomas after he dropped a ball in practice)

“No. I’m not worried about that. He’s a great player. It just happens sometimes, just like you know, we throw interceptions all that time – dropped balls, not a big deal. But yeah, just keep your head up. I didn’t really say much to him. I know he’s going to be fine. Nothing to say to him.”

(On how he would evaluate his experience so far)

“I think the first half of it, there was a lot of learning; a lot of thinking. About half way through last week, started to become more playing and more just feeling natural and feeling more comfortable every day, getting more comfortable. Now, through practices, I feel fairly more comfortable. I’m excited about continuing to make more steps and continuing to feel more comfortable and all of that. But I think overall, I feel 100 times more comfortable and ready than I was at the beginning.”

(On what his plans are for the break leading into training camp)

“I’ll definitely see my family and friends for a little bit of it early on, and then I’ll be down here for most of it. I talked with (QB) Case (Keenum) and some of the other guys, we’re going to have the receivers down here, throwing to them and we’ll just be doing that all summer working out.”

(On the most difficult adjustment he had to make going up against the 1s on defense)

“I think like I said, the different looks they have. They have so many different looks and they do it so well. One play is never like the next with them. Like I said, they do it well, so it’s tough for our offense even playing them every day in practice, to execute.”

(On if he’s finding himself recognizing the looks on defense more quickly)

“Yeah, I think as practice went on, I definitely (picked) it up quicker. But at first they were giving me all those looks and I was like, ‘What is this? What is this?’ But as a few practices go through, you get more comfortable, you see it more often and you’re able to recognize it quicker.”

(On if the defense was trying to taunt him on the field or distract him at all)

“No, the defense is just focused on their job. They like to talk a little bit, but nothing crazy.”

(On his thoughts on the speed of the game at the NFL level)

“You definitely can notice it. I think there’s definitely a higher speed, especially when you’re with that group of 1s on defense. It’s definitely a difference in speed. Like I’ve said a couple times now, as time went on through practices, through the last eight practices, it’s starting to slow down. At first it was fast and then you get more comfortable and you see stuff more often, you see the looks a few more times and it starts to slow down a little bit. I feel pretty good about it.”

(On if he feels like he needs to get a mental break away from football considering his pre-draft process and being the No. 1 overall pick)

“No, I don’t think so. Maybe, like I said, see my family and take a few days off or something. I’ll give myself a breather. But for the most part, I’ve got to be down here and be working out and try to get ready.”

(On if he his concerned about the Golden State Warriors losing last night)

“I think they’ll be alright with Draymond (Green) Thursday night. We’ll be alright. No worries. I don’t get too worried when they lose because they don’t lose two in a row very often.”

(On if some of the wide receivers and running backs will join the quarterbacks during the break before training camp for workouts)

“Yeah, absolutely. I think a lot of guys are going to be living down here permanently. That’s another good thing about being in LA now, people want to stay here during the summer. We’ll have basically everyone down in this area, down in the north LA area, so it’ll be nice to have all of them down here and be able to continue to get work.”