word on Goff, week SIX

Colin Cowherd thinks the Cowboys, Eagles and Rams have all found long term solutions at the quarterback position.

http://www.foxsports.com/watch/the-herd-with-colin-cowherd/video/1066387011865

– And here’s the three names I kept thinking about and how good it is for the NFC, how good it is for the NFL, Dak, Wentz, and Goff. Yeah, I know Aaron Rodgers was great. Aaron Rodgers is always great. But Dak Prescott was 25 of 36, 70% completion rate, seven yards attempt. First downs, advantage Dak. Passing first downs, Dak. Third down efficiency– better than Aaron– Dak. Fourth down efficiency– three for three– Dak. Yards per pass, Dak. Possession, Dak.

I know Aaron Rodgers is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Dak Prescott, no more doubters. His best wide receiver is Cole Beasley. His tight end is old-and-rickety, 35-year-old Jason Witten. Dez Bryant can’t separate. Terrance Williams can’t catch. And here’s Dak Prescott.

A lot of doubters out there. I was one of them initially. And I’m thinking to myself, do you know how lucky you are in Dallas? Look around the NFL. Over the– how long has it taken Miami to replace Marino, and Denver to replace Elway, and the Jets to replace Namath?

Between Terry Bradshaw and Big Ben, it was 20 years of Bubby Brister. Chicago, Sid Luckman, and 67 years of waiting. Detroit, two quarterbacks, franchise history, that can play, Bobby Layne and Matt Stafford. Cleveland, 60 years after Otto Graham, still crying in their beer. Cowboys, you’ve got a quarterback for the next 15 years. You’ll wake up on every NFL Sunday morning, know we’ve got a shot.

By the way, let’s turn our attention to Jared Goff. How good was he? Seattle’s defense is relentless. It’s the best defense in year two that Jared Goff has ever faced. He was outstanding, for the most part. His completion percentage wasn’t great, but his offensive line protection was so-so. He’s nimble in the pocket. You’re not going to complete 65%, 70% against the Seahawks’ pass rush and secondary.

But down the stretch, three pinpoint, brilliant passes. And if the third one was caught by rookie Cooper Kupp– and it was a catchable ball– then Jared Goff would have stunned the Seahawks, and they’d be in first place.

As far as Carson Wentz, what is there left to say? Of all the young quarterbacks, Wentz has been the one, to me, that looks the most like Andrew Luck. He’s got great feet. He’s got great size. He’s nimble. Now he’s in year two with Doug Pederson.

Listen, I’m looking around right now. Wentz, Prescott, Goff. Philadelphia, Dallas, Los Angeles, you can wake up for the next decade or more– Cleveland can’t. Chicago is still searching. Detroit’s had two that can play. They went 20 years between Bradshaw and Big Ben.

When you get the guy– and Goff, Dak, and Wentz are the guy– it is an amazing thing, because now your GM and your scouts and your coaches can just worry about filling holes, getting a left tackle, getting a slot receiver, getting a Mike linebacker. The most important position, by a mile, in this sport is easily quarterback. And in Dallas, Philly, and LA, my takeaway yesterday, all three of you have your guy.

from THE TOP 10: WEEK 6

Matt Waldman‘s weekly film notebook includes Doug Martin’s return, check-ins with DeShaun Watson and Jared Goff, the McCaffrey Effect, and the Jags out-steeling the Steelers.

http://subscribers.footballguys.com/apps/article.php?article=waldmantop10wk6

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Forget the box score, Jared Goff shined

Goff was 22-of-47 for 288 yards with an interception and a lost fumble. Forget the box score, the average depth of completed pass, and any report that says Goff isn’t heading in the right direction. Goff passed the test and earns no less than a B+ from me; his team failed him.

Barely.

Todd Gurley fumbled a touchdown away at the pylon. It was the difference in the game’s outcome. The film is showing that Goff is making confident, accurate throws on difficult targets and often with pressure bearing down.

Goff may not be a future stud, but he’s still causing those with biased processes to formulate reasons why he’s not good. This is a ballsy throw that not only shows accuracy but also trust in his receiver to make the play in a tight high-low window with bad consequences if missed.

Response to adversity with ice water in veins: Goff 35 yards over two DBs

A post shared by Matt Waldman (@mattwaldmanrsp) on Oct 8, 2017 at 10:29pm PDT

Detractors will say that it was a foolish throw, but they’re often the same people that blow sunshine up the hind parts of players who the consensus has already proclaimed “good.” This was a necessary throw and a good one.

Goff’s vertical accuracy and footwork are superior to Carson Wentz, Jameis Winston, DeShaun Watson and maybe even Dak Prescott and Marcus Mariota.

Goff has footwork and vertical accuracy many a young QB would envy

A post shared by Matt Waldman (@mattwaldmanrsp) on Oct 8, 2017 at 9:43pm PDT

Goff is more old-school from the pocket than Wentz, Mariota, and Watson, but it’s also the reason why the Rams are using an offense with him under center. His feel in the pocket is decisive and poised.

While many analysts are short-sighted and bemoaning the interception and fumble as a “failed test,” I’d rather examine how Goff responded to the strip sack in the previous series—a terrific play from Frank Clark against veteran tackle Andrew Whitworth that was no fault of Goff.

These two plays, the sack and subsequent offensive series for Goff tell me that the young quarterback has the goods to become a long-term starter in the NFL.

This kind of play despite a Gurley TD-turned-touchback and failures of Goff’s line is a failed test for Goff against the Seahawks defense? Try again. Try harder.

Goff had the knockout blow served up to the Seahawks with this target of Cooper Kupp. White a difficult catch, it was a makeable catch and one Kupp has routinely made at Eastern Washington—and several of greater difficulty.

Goff brought the Seahawks to the brink the way Russell Wilson brought the Cardinals to the brink in his rookie opener. The way several long-term starters came back from adversity during rookie starts to put their teams in position to win the game.

If you’re the same people who attacked Jeff Fisher’s offense then you must acknowledge that this year is still Goff’s rookie season. He hasn’t started 16 games in the NFL. One thing that’s certain, there’s a marked difference with the way defenses are respecting Goff and the passing game this season compared to last.

T Austin TD: Product of newfound respect for Rams passing gm

A post shared by Matt Waldman (@mattwaldmanrsp) on Oct 8, 2017 at 9:09pm PDT

This touchdown run for Tavon Austin against a dime defense bent on stopping Goff is a great example. Last year, opponents dared Goff to beat them. They now know he will.

The more year-to-year continuity that Goff, his line, and coach Sean McVay can have together, the more layers we’ll see with this offense that will make the Rams a dangerous unit.

Goff has the technical, conceptual, and emotional acumen to be a starter for a long time in this league. Last year was a perfect storm working against him.

Andy Benoit‏ @Andy_Benoit
#Rams Film: Goff working through his progressions maturely. You can see he’s honoring the process.