Keenum … going into week 1

Keenum Ready for 1st Opening-Day Start

Myles Simmons

http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Practice-Report-98-Keenum-Ready-for-1st-Opening-Day-Start/453e9430-31ca-4222-8d48-5034f331be18

When the 2015 season ended, quarterback Case Keenum had helped stabilize the Rams’ offense by coming in and winning three of the last four games at signal-caller. The Houston product’s performances in those four games earned him Los Angeles’ starting role to at least begin the offseason program.

But since then, Keenum has clearly seized the opportunity in front of him. Yes, quarterback Jared Goff was taken No. 1 overall and will ascend to QB-1 in due time. But until he does, Keenum has displayed he can effectively command the offense. Because of that, he’s earned the first opening-day start of his career.

“It’s exciting,” Keenum said. “It’s Monday Night Football. It’s a divisional opponent.

“It’s my first my time for it to be ‘my show’ starting out, and not just taking over — like, “Oh [no], send out Case now,’” Keenum continued, laughing.

Keenum dons a funny-guy persona when at the podium, but the reality of Keenum’s journey to Rams opening-day starter has a bit more depth.

“We traded for Case — people forget that. But we wanted to get him because of his ability,” head coach Jeff Fisher said. “He’s done a great job this offseason, in the preseason games. … He’s ready to go.”

Keenum has a laid-back personality, which the media gets to see with his demeanor in press conferences. According to wide receiver Tavon Austin, that’s the way he is all the time — and it makes a difference in building relationships. Keenum was voted a captain for the first time in his career.

“Case has done a good job whenever he stepped in, from last year to now,” Austin said. “We’re not just teammates with Case — we’re definitely real brothers. And he fights for us just like we’re going to fight for him.”

Still, being “the guy” at quarterback for an entire offseason and training camp has certainly been different for Keenum.

“When I go talk to receivers now, it’s like, ‘Hey, this is how we should do this. This is how I want it, how do you want it?’ Instead of, ‘Hey, let me go ask somebody else and we’ll see how they want it,’” Keenum said.

Those are the kinds of minor factors that can make a major difference during games. But Keenum’s feel for the Rams’ offense has undoubtedly helped him take steps in his progression this year.

“Every week, you’re seeing more and more command of the offense, which is comforting,” Fisher said. “He’s going to get up there and make the right decisions. The position itself is hard to play, but he’s going to give us a chance with checking in and out of run stuff, changing protections, getting the ball down the field, making plays, [and] extending plays with his legs.”

“He’s one of those guys who you know what you’re getting day-in and day-out, but I think he’s progressed — gotten more comfortable with us, just like we’ve gotten more comfortable with him,” center Tim Barnes said.

There may be no more important connection than the one between center and quarterback on the field. Barnes said he’s particularly noticed how the communication between he and Keenum has improved with the Houston product taking the vast majority of first-team reps.

“That’s a big thing, is we’ve been able to do that the whole time,” Barnes said. “For the most part, we’ve been able to be there with each other and know what we’re thinking.”

Of course, Keenum’s final start of 2015 came against the same team at the same venue where the Rams will begin this season. The major difference being now, the 49ers are coached by Chip Kelly.

The Rams have been watching all kinds of film at their disposal in order to prepare, such as Cleveland’s defense from last year. Niners defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil held the same position with the Browns in 2015.

“It’s a different team than the two games we played against them last year. A lot of the same players, but different schemes,” Keenum said. “It does make it a little bit of a challenge to go back and watch and maybe different coordinator’s defense and see — you don’t look at personnel, but you maybe look at schemes and what they’re trying to do defensively.

“But it’s like any first game,” Keenum added. “They can throw anything at you.”

Given the magnitude of the game — the Rams’ first contest representing Los Angeles in two decades, and Keenum’s first opening-day start — it’s fair to expect Keenum to be juiced for it. As much as quarterbacks usually like to be even-keel, Keenum knows himself and the parts of his own personality he’ll have to embrace.

“I’m going to get excited no matter what,” Keenum said. “That’s who I am.”

If this game goes how the rest of 2016 has so far for the QB, Keenum should be able to efficiently lead the Rams’ offense to success against their division rival.

“I’m just coming out and doing my job, and my job is to be the quarterback of this team, to get the ball in the right people’s hands, convert on third downs, and score points,” Keenum said. “So that’s my job and I’m going to come in every day and work on doing that.”