Everett thinks Goff 'will inject some energy'

Ex-Rams QB Jim Everett thinks Jared Goff ‘will inject some energy’

Alden Gonzalez

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/31788/ex-rams-qb-jim-everett-thinks-jared-goff-will-inject-some-energy

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Count former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jim Everett among those who believe the mere act of starting No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff can provide a much-needed spark for a vapid offense.

“I totally believe that this will inject some energy, because the other part that we haven’t really talked about is the veterans around,” Everett said in a phone conversation. “The veterans around don’t have Case Keenum to lean on now — to tell them what to do, where to go.”

The Rams, who face the Miami Dolphins at home on Sunday, will do everything possible to make life easy on Goff during his debut. And that will require a heightened attention to detail that will make the group better, Everett believes. From the receivers. From the offensive line. From Todd Gurley.

“The rookie’s already overloaded,” Everett said. “Each one of the veterans now has to take it upon themselves to step their game up even more, because they have to take care of the kid. The guys that are on the field — that were the kids — are the adults and have to take care of the kid. Your dynamics change.”

Goff struggled throughout the preseason, going 22-of-49 for 232 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, three fumbles. He looked uncomfortable under center, indecisive with his reads. But the Rams have gone through 10 weeks of regular-season football since then, and Goff has had a lot of time to learn as Keenum’s backup. The question — the one that will define the Rams’ season — is how much Goff has learned.

“I figured two months, he would at least be able to digest the system, the plays, the concepts — that’s a pretty good time,” Everett said. “You look at any of the scholars around the world — you give someone a couple months in calculus, and they start getting pretty decent.”

The Rams are last in the NFL in points per game, with a running back, Gurley, who gains the third-fewest yards per carry. The receivers are suspect, the offensive line is shaky and at the center of all that, Keenum spent the vast majority of the season with the NFL’s lowest Total QBR. In short, the Rams offense isn’t merely a quarterback away from getting right.

But Everett, who played for the Rams from 1986-93 and now does the pregame show for CBS 2 LA, believes Goff can bring an important element. “From what I’ve seen, Jared Goff has the ability to throw the ball downfield,” Everett said. “That’s what the Rams need, and he’s got that ability.”