Keenum has respect of teammates

Rams quarterback Case Keenum on demotion: ‘Honestly, I wasn’t happy. I want to play’

RICH HAMMOND

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/keenum-735721-goff-rams.html

THOUSAND OAKS – The transition might have been inevitable, but it didn’t sting Case Keenum any less.

On April 14, the Rams traded up for the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, and Keenum, a reasonable, intelligent man, knew the future. The Rams would draft a quarterback. That rookie eventually would take his job, almost certainly before the end of the season. Still, Tuesday’s news, the loss of his starting job, stung.

“Obviously surprised,” Keenum said of his reaction. “Honestly, I wasn’t happy. I want to play.”

It’s not going to happen, barring an injury. Jared Goff is the Rams’ quarterback for the rest of this season and Keenum, who battled up from the practice squad to win the starting job, is the backup.

Goff, Coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Rob Boras have been effusive with their praise of Keenum’s play and attitude. Boras went so far as to say he loves Keenum dearly. They talked about how he would remain a captain and help Goff, and how his attitude would help the Rams win games.

Keenum? He said all the correct things after Wednesday’s practice, but not surprisingly, he was not in a light, joking mood, one that suggested he had reached a level of peace with the job changed.

Asked if it surprised him to lose his job after a victory, Keenum said, “Yeah. Yeah it did.” Asked if he could share the explanation he got for the change, Keenum said, “No. That’s Coach Fisher. Ask him.”

It’s fairly obvious, though. Jeff Fisher said consistently, since April, that Goff would play when he showed himself ready. Not necessarily when Keenum struggled, not at any predetermined point. The competition, such as it was, was always Goff vs. Goff, not Goff vs. Keenum.

Now, at least in Fisher’s eyes, Goff is ready. Fisher informed his coaches of the impending change Monday night, so they could factor it into the game plan, which is handed over to players on Tuesday.

Not much will change, offensive coordinator Rob Boras said. The Rams will continue to script their first 16 plays, and Boras and Goff will discuss which plays Goff feels most comfortable running. With his greater arm strength, Goff might allow the Rams to expand their play-calling and throw deep often.

“We’re going to find out,” Boras said. “He’s tall. It’s a big man’s game at a lot of positions. He’s tall. He can see. Everything we talked about. His delivery. How quick he is. He’s decisive. We saw how tough he was at Cal. We hope he doesn’t have to be that tough and take hits, but we saw his toughness. His ability to escape and make plays. His intelligence. We’re excited about seeing him take off on Sunday.”

Goff wasn’t made available to reporters Wednesday, and won’t be until after Sunday’s game against Miami. Boras praised Goff’s practice, even though there’s a worrisome spot.

Starting center Tim Barnes missed practice with a foot injury he sustained late in Sunday’s victory over the New York Jets. Backup Demetrius Rhaney would take over for Barnes, who has made 25 consecutive starts, and the Rams would have a rookie quarterback and a new center, a scary proposition.

Still, the Rams have expressed optimism that Goff can improve the Rams’ often moribund offense.

“He’s excited, as he should be,” Fisher said. “It’s a challenge. This game is not going to define his career. It’s a good defense but he’s excited about the opportunity. He’s working hard. He’s great in the huddle. The offensive group just moved on and they’re excited about it.”

Perhaps, but teammates also seemed to be sad for Keenum. Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold said he was a little surprised that the move was made after a victory but that the line would do everything possible to support Goff.

Asked what he would tell Rams fans, who chanted for Goff two weeks ago during a home loss to Carolina, Saffold said, “You got what you wanted, so be out there in full force.”

Many got what they wanted. Not Keenum, who went 7-7 as a starter. That’s not bad, since expectations were low for Keenum, who went undrafted then briefly held a starting job with the Houston Texans.

Keenum said he has accepted his role and would continue to do everything possible – on the field, in the film room and in the locker room – to help Goff, but Keenum retained something of a defiant streak.

Asked about the things he brought to the team (during his starting stint), Keenum interrupted with, “What I still bring to the team.” Keenum said that even though he was aware of Goff’s presence and what it meant, he didn’t look over his shoulder this season and “took ownership” of the Rams’ offense.

“There’s always stuff I could have done better,” Keenum said, “but I thought I put my team in a chance to win. Obviously we didn’t win, and there’s a lot of games that we’d like back and feel like we should have won, but that happens across the league. And we’re still in the hunt. We’re still in the playoff hunt.”