Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › more reporters/analysts on Goff starting
- This topic has 19 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 8 years ago by
InvaderRam.
-
AuthorPosts
-
November 15, 2016 at 9:45 pm #58490
znModeratorRams’ switch to Jared Goff was entirely Jeff Fisher’s call – and it’s the right one
VINCENT BONSIGNORE
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/rams-735500-goff-fisher.html
If your thing is reading between the lines, you probably saw the Rams’ decision to finally give Jared Goff the keys to the kingdom coming a couple weeks ago.
The Rams made that decision official Tuesday, according to multiple sources, by informing the first overall pick in last April’s draft he’s taking over for Case Keenum at quarterback beginning Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
This was 100 percent a Jeff Fisher call, the sources insist, without any pressure from upper management.
That’s an important distinction to make, as it’s well-known Fisher is in the final year of his original five-year contract. And while there is a presumption of an extension in place to keep him in L.A. beyond 2016, nothing is official and his future could depend on how the Rams finish the regular season.
With that hanging over his head, it’s understandable a decision as big as starting a rookie quarterback could be affected by factors that reach outside the playing field. Or be the result of interests beyond the office of a potentially lame-duck head coach.
That doesn’t seem to be the case.
This is Fisher’s decision.
And it’s the right thing to do, as the Rams offense was going nowhere under Keenum, a marvelous person and fierce competitor who was simply miscast as a long-range NFL starter.
Some would suggest it’s long overdue considering the Rams’ maddening inability to consistently score points, a weakness made even more frustrating with the Rams defense as sturdy and playoff caliber as its been. Even just playing average NFL offense would have meant a few more wins for the Rams, and Keenum couldn’t deliver that.
Maybe Goff would have made the difference.
We’ll never know, I suppose.
Certainly he’ll have a say in how the Rams proceed, which makes the timing of starting him so intriguing.
Despite the Rams’ 4-5 record they are still very much involved in the NFC playoff picture. It’s a fringe spot to be sure as they stand within arm’s reach of a wild-card berth. But it’s a spot nonetheless.
But there’s one big problem: The offense has been an utter disaster all season and specifically the last four weeks while scoring just two touchdowns in three games. No surprise they’ve gone 1-4 over their last five games.
The Rams needed to make a move to vault deeper into the race, and it wasn’t going to happen if they kept going into games with one arm tied behind their back as they have essentially all season.
The hope is Goff can create the spark that Keenum simply hasn’t been able to provide.
But even if Goff can’t save an offense that needs help at offensive line and wide receiver, at the very least he’ll get some much-needed experience over the last seven games to better situate himself for 2017 and beyond.
So ends a nine-week melodrama in which the football world wondered when Goff would finally get the keys to the kingdom – and pondered various reasons the first pick overall wasn’t able to get on the field.
Was he a bust?
Did the Rams blow the call after investing six picks to move up from 15th in the draft to first overall?
Was Fisher out of his mind?
Meanwhile, Fisher stuck to the plan he laid out almost from the moment the Rams made the call to Goff informing him he was their guy seven months ago.
Fisher maintained over and over and over that Goff would not see the field as the Rams’ starter until Fisher and his staff were convinced Goff was fit to succeed and not just hold down the position.
It was a frustrating wait given the struggles of the Rams offense, but Fisher never wavered despite mounting outside pressure to make a change.
He stuck to his guns. And with the backing of management, he wasn’t going to rush a decision he knows will have long-range implications for the Rams and a young quarterback he was trying to protect just as much as groom and develop.
Which brings us back to reading between the lines.
NFL coaches are notorious message-senders. Sometimes bluntly, sometimes sublimely. Point being they rarely just blurt things out without careful consideration. Or some meaning behind them.
So when Fisher recently began referencing Goff’s debut as in “maybe next week or the week after” you knew he was bracing everyone for a change.
It was a narrative Fisher and offensive coordinator Rob Boras pushed by praising the strides Goff was making in the classroom and on the practice field. That growth was exemplified two weeks ago during a practice in which Goff got the majority of reps with the first-team offense and by all accounts dominated the afternoon.
Two weeks later, he’s the Rams’ starting quarterback.
And maybe just in the nick of time.
November 15, 2016 at 9:59 pm #58494znModeratorIn need of an offensive spark, Rams begin the Jared Goff era
Alden Gonzalez
LOS ANGELES — At long last, amid deafening demands and escalating anticipation, the Jared Goff era is set to begin in this city.
It’s time.
Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher made up his mind Tuesday morning and informed Case Keenum that Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, would be his starting quarterback for Sunday’s home game against streaking Miami, a development that was first reported by ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. And anyone who has watched this team realizes why this needed to happen.
The Rams’ offense has been lifeless of late, in desperate need of a spark. The Rams are dead last in the NFL in points per game, with a quarterback who has shouldered the game’s lowest Total QBR for pretty much the entire season. Lately, their defense has been dominant and their special teams play has been a major positive. But the offense has held them back. They stopped their four-game losing streak by beating the Jets on Sunday, but it came by a 9-6 score because their offense couldn’t capitalize on three separate drives into the red zone.
Now the Rams will be at home, in front of the same Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum crowd that began a “We Want Goff!” chant nine days earlier, and Goff will not carry the burden of a long losing streak.
This was never really about Keenum, who handled a difficult situation admirably and at times actually played well. It wasn’t about Goff’s ability, because that can be difficult to decipher from a handful of scout-team reps. This was about Fisher having the confidence to pull the trigger; about growing comfortable with the unknown of a rookie quarterback who is only one month removed from his 22nd birthday.
Jared Goff’s only action this season has been in pregame warm-ups. Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire
Five rookie quarterbacks have started at least one game in the NFL this season, but all of them — Carson Wentz with the Eagles, Dak Prescott with the Cowboys, Jacoby Brissett with the Patriots, Cody Kessler with the Browns and Paxton Lynch with the Broncos — were thrust into the role because of unforeseen circumstances. Goff comes out of a Cal system that ran an air raid offense in which he never had to communicate plays from the huddle, take a snap from under center or make so much as a third progression.He struggled in the preseason, going 22-of-49 for 232 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions and three fumbles, hardly looking comfortable with the speed of the game. He began the regular season as an inactive third-stringer and was promoted to backup for Week 2. But as the regular season began, Rams coaches began to praise Goff’s development.
About mid-October, offensive coordinator Rob Boras said Goff was “not asking rookie questions anymore,” a clear indication he was finally grasping the offense. And after Goff got all the first-team reps during the Rams’ bye week, Boras praised the way he translated it onto the field — the quickness with which he got in and out of the huddle, the confidence he displayed as he approached the line of scrimmage, the accuracy with which he delivered passes.
Said Boras: “We were all really pleased to see what he was able to do in those couple of practices.”
You could sense the momentum turning in Goff’s favor last week, when Fisher was asked once again why Goff would not be his starting quarterback. He pointed only to the upcoming matchup, saying the Jets defense they were about to face was too intricate for a rookie to debut against them. On Goff, he said: “With each passing week, he’s getting better and better. He’s better understanding, he’s recognizing things, he’s prepared, he understands the challenges week-to-week.”
Keep in mind: This season is not lost for the Rams.
They are 4-5, but because of the NFL’s widespread mediocrity, they are only 1 1/2 games removed from a wild-card spot. He might have waited longer than many would have hoped, but this was Fisher trusting Goff at a critical juncture of the Rams’ season (heck, a critical juncture with his own job situation).
Goff alone will not fix this offense. The running game has been a disaster, with Todd Gurley ranking 41st among 43 qualified running backs in rushing yards per attempt behind an offensive line that is allowing way too much penetration. And Goff’s road will not be easy. He’ll face a Dolphins team that has won four straight, features menacing defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, and is coming off forcing San Diego’s Philip Rivers into four interceptions. Then Goff will have an early game on the road against New Orleans, travel to face New England, go up against Atlanta, and then, four days later, travel to face Seattle.
But Goff is the spark this offense — this city — needs right now. They need his poise in the pocket. They need his arm strength. Heading into the season, former Rams quarterback Jim Everett talked about how Goff “can visualize the deep ball better than anyone on that roster.” Maybe Goff will have better chemistry with Tavon Austin, who has had a hard time connecting with Keenum. Maybe he will get defenses to stop stacking the box against Gurley. Maybe he will push this offense a step forward.
Regardless, it’s time for the Rams to find out.
November 15, 2016 at 10:09 pm #58495znModeratorJared Goff will be the 19th quarterback to start for the Rams in last 17 seasons
Business Insider
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/cleveland-browns-used-absurd-number-194532268.html
The Los Angeles Rams will reportedly reverse course and will now start No. 1 pick Jared Goff in their Week 11 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. When Goff takes the field, he will become the 19th quarterback to start a game for the Rams in the last 17 seasons.
Since the start of the 2000 season, the Rams have continually looked for a franchise quarterback, and outside of Sam Bradford’s brief reign, each one has failed so far. Amazingly, Goff is just the third quarterback to be drafted by the Rams in the first five rounds of the draft during that period, joining Bradford (No. 1 overall in 2010) and current Rams backup Sean Mannion (third round in 2015).
November 16, 2016 at 12:08 am #58511znModeratorSilver & Wyche and others on why the time was now
SILVER
http://www.nfl.com/videos/los-angeles-rams/0ap3000000740206/Why-did-Rams-choose-to-start-Goff-now
SILVER
SILVER
WYCHE
WYCHE & SILVER
http://www.nfl.com/videos/los-angeles-rams/0ap3000000740322/Is-Jared-Goff-ready-to-start
November 16, 2016 at 3:54 am #58533znModeratorhttp://www.ocregister.com/articles/quinn-735574-defensive-rams.html
GUARDING GOFF
For those hoping for a soft landing spot for Jared Goff, a date with Ndamukong Suh and the Dolphins’ upstart defense isn’t exactly ideal for the rookie quarterback’s first start.
Miami is on a four-game win streak, thanks in large part to a renewed effort from their defensive front. Led by Suh and Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Wake, the Dolphins’ defense has 12 sacks in that four-game span, after tallying just 10 in its first five games.
The Rams’ offensive line has allowed 23 sacks this season, but with a rookie now under center, the pressure to keep him upright in the weeks to come will no doubt be elevated.
Offensive tackle Rob Havenstein suggested that pressure to play better up front was there before Tuesday’s quarterback change.
“We want to perform better offensively,” Havenstein said, “and a lot of that comes down to how we play as an offensive line.”
Though, the lion’s share of pressure, literally and figuratively, will be on Goff to stay composed against such a fierce Miami front.
“Goff is going to have to be able to sit in there with pressure and throw a good ball,” offensive guard Rodger Saffold said. “It’s never going to be perfect, but once again, that doesn’t change the job. (For us), the job is the same. Keep him away from as much pressure as we possibly can.”
November 16, 2016 at 8:40 am #58546
AgamemnonParticipant
AgamemnonNovember 16, 2016 at 1:33 pm #58596
nittany ramModeratorMeanwhile, Fisher stuck to the plan he laid out almost from the moment the Rams made the call to Goff informing him he was their guy seven months ago.
Fisher maintained over and over and over that Goff would not see the field as the Rams’ starter until Fisher and his staff were convinced Goff was fit to succeed and not just hold down the position.
Yeah I’m seeing conspiracy theories on why Goff is finally starting all over the internet.
Everything from this was Stan’s call to Fisher needs to start Goff if he hopes to get an extension, etc etc…
The reality is this was the plan all along. Goff would start when he was ready. It’s as simple as that. There’s no need to come with baseless theories to explain it.
November 16, 2016 at 3:21 pm #58604znModeratorRams say Jared Goff looks confident, comfortable as new starting quarterback
Rams teammates cite the relationship between Jared Goff and Case Keenum with helping the rookie quarterback grow
JACK WANG
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/goff-735576-season-rams.html
THOUSAND OAKS – Jared Goff has thrown passes for the Rams in Oxnard, Irvine and Thousand Oaks. Sunday, he’ll finally do so in a regular-season game at the Coliseum – ending the longest wait by a top-drafted quarterback in nearly a decade.
After watching from the sideline through nine games – most of them losses – the former Cal star has finally seized the starting job. The last No. 1 overall pick at quarterback who sat for that much time was JaMarcus Russell, who threw his first pass in the 12th game of the Raiders’ 2007 season, and didn’t start until the season finale.
Now, the real question: After replacing Case Keenum, how ready will Goff look against the Dolphins on Sunday?
“I remember watching him in training camp and OTAs,” rookie receiver Pharoh Cooper said. “He couldn’t even name the play in the huddle. Now, he’s out there, calling it out there fast. He’s learning his checks and reads. Just looking a lot more confident.”
Added tight end Lance Kendricks: “He’s more comfortable now. He’s had time to kind of digest it and learn it. Able to read out the coverages and read out the progressions for receivers.”
Confident and comfortable were the most commonly used terms when other Rams were asked about Goff in the locker room Tuesday. Tight end Tyler Higbee, who roomed with Goff during training camp and still does so on trips, noted the quarterback’s steady preparation habits. Right tackle Rob Havenstein said Goff’s behind-the-scenes work with the playbook was starting to show up on the field.
Coach Jeff Fisher said the Rams are committed to starting the rookie through the rest of the season, which means Keenum will finish his first-string stint with a passer rating of 76.8, the third-worst mark among current NFL starters.
Although Goff had a bumpy preseason, it is difficult to imagine him being significantly worse than someone who threw nine touchdowns against 11 interceptions. Fisher even suggested that some elements of the offense might expand due to Goff’s arm talent.
But teammates also stressed that Goff’s relationship with Keenum – who will remain a team captain – has helped the rookie grow.
“I think Case does a great job preparing, kind of understanding how we think,” Havenstein said. “Us knowing how he thinks. I think Jared’s picked up on a whole bunch of stuff from him.”
Offensive guard Rodger Saffold noted that Goff has steadily improved his throws and limited mistakes: “He’s been really watching Case and trying to understand how to be a leader, how to adjust to certain looks. He’s taken a step forward.”
It will also be up to the rest of the offense to ease Goff’s transition.
“Right now, the biggest thing for him is to be calm and just take it one step at a time,” Saffold said. “There’s going to be growing pains. There’s going to be things that happen. But we can make it easier for him, give him some better looks.”
November 16, 2016 at 4:27 pm #58610znModeratorPractice Report 11/15: Goff’s First Session as QB-1
By Myles Simmons
The decision has been made — No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff will make his debut as the Rams’ starting quarterback against the Dolphins on Sunday at the Coliseum
“I felt in my heart — I was getting closer and closer over the last couple of weeks. I felt like this was the best time to go ahead and turn the keys over to Jared,” head coach Jeff Fisher said after Goff’s first practice as the starter. “We’re excited for him. He had a good day today. He’s into the plan, he’s really excited.”
“It’s been a long time, it feels like, since I’ve gotten out there and played,” Goff said. “I’m excited to get back out there and play.”
Fisher informed both Goff and Case Keenum of the change Tuesday morning. And both Fisher and Goff were complimentary of Keenum’s contributions to the team after the session.
“He sat me and Case down and just told us, just straight up,” Goff said. “Again, I was excited. I’ll say it now, I can’t stress enough how awesome Case has been before this, in training camp, in OTAs, now this has happened after. On and off the field, I can’t stress enough how good of a teammate and how awesome he’s been with it.”
“Case was voted a captain when the preseason was over, and he’s still a captain,” Fisher said. “His leadership, and his enthusiasm, and his commitment, and everything – you can’t ask for anything more out of somebody. It’s the same thing that I shared with the team today, as far as Case’s job and what’s he’s done, the difficulties we’ve had offensively, which were not necessarily his fault, but it’s time. It’s time to move on.”
Fisher said he got to that point by seeing the weekly progress Goff has made, particularly as it relates to him being the backup quarterback. It’s all part of the patience the head coach has been stressing since draft night.
“When he got the reps over the last three or four weeks, they were right, they were good — they were good decisions,” Fisher said. “So it was time.”
Serving as the backup since Week 2 against the Seahawks, Goff said he was able to glean plenty from observing.
“I learned a lot about how the league works, how Sundays work, how the practice week works, how you work in the classroom and everything in between,” Goff said. “I’m thankful for that experience and thankful for everything that I’ve gathered over the last, however many weeks it’s been. But at the same time, I think it’s time and I think I’m ready, ready to move forward and play.”
“He’s had an opportunity to observe things and that experience is extremely valuable,” Fisher said. “It’s hard for me to describe to all of you how that experience is, but it is valuable.”
With Goff taking reps with the offense in practice, teammates have had an opportunity to see how he’s grown each week.
“Jared throws a good ball,” tight end Lance Kendricks said. “He’s very poised in the huddle, and he knows — he’s confident in the playcalling now. He’s had time to kind of sit back and learn, and learn his progressions, and learn his hots and all that stuff.”
“He’s been really watching Case and just trying to understand how to be a leader, how to be able to adjust to certain looks,” offensive lineman Rodger Saffold said. “And he’s taken that step forward. And, obviously, the coaches feel comfortable with putting him in right now.”
There will be some adjustments to Goff as he gets integrated within the offense. For one, receivers will have to refine their timing with the rookie signal-caller. But the offensive line will also have to develop chemistry with the new quarterback, in order to best protect him.
“With a new guy back there, obviously it’s a different personality, different way someone might talk, might think about things a little differently. So, there’s going to be some — I don’t want to say ‘feeling out,’ [because] it’s not going to take that long,” right tackle Rob Havensteinsaid.
“We’ve been playing with Jared. Jared’s been playing with us. We’ve seen him, he’s seen us,” Havenstein continued. “So it’s all the same stuff. But in terms of, I guess, overall chemistry, theoretically it’ll take some time to go ahead and get that officially kind of locked in.”
But making sure Goff is protected well is one of the biggest ways his teammates can help ease the transition for him into being a starting quarterback.
“Our biggest job is to make him feel comfortable back there, as well as help him out when he does need to see different things here and there,” Saffold said.
“We just have to make sure we are very in sync with what we’re doing as far as playcalling and protection, and make sure we keep him clean,” Kendricks said.
When it comes to the playbook, Fisher said Los Angeles will not have to reduce anything for the rookie. In fact, it might be the opposite.
“There are some things that we will expand because of the arm talent, you know, the stuff down the field,” Fisher said. “We have to block better up front and that includes in the run game and protection. We have to make plays down the field, we have to get the ball in the end zone when we have opportunities to help him, and defense has to play better.”
Any time a quarterback plays his first game, it’s a significant challenge. But that may be even more true on Sunday, as Miami comes in having won their last four games in a row — including a 31-24 victory over the Chargers last week.
“They’ve won four in a row now, have a great defense, a great front seven, obviously, with the guys they have there, but their back half is good, too,” Goff said. “They’re going to be a good challenge for us and we’re excited.”
And the Rams should be. As Fisher said Tuesday, this is not a one-week decision, but one where L.A. will be committed to Goff going forward this season and likely beyond.
“We didn’t do what we did this offseason and trade for Jared, to come in and just spot-play him over the next five or six weeks,” Fisher said. “We’re doing this for two reasons, one, I feel like this is the best decision. And two, he has a chance to help us win football games.
“Offensively our numbers are where they are. We’re hoping that he’s going to help us improve,” Fisher continued. “I will caution everybody to evaluate him on this game. It’s unfair to evaluate a quarterback just on one games performance. But I will guarantee you this, he’s going to prepare and be ready to play.”
QUINN UPDATE
Defensive end Robert Quinn attended Tuesday’s practice, though he watched it from the sidelines in street clothes.
“He’s doing well, we got good results back,” Fisher said. “It’ll be a day-to-day thing with Rob, as far as getting back on the field.”
As you’d expect, Quinn’s teammates were glad to see him well.
“It was good to see him stroll in this morning and be chipper and up beat,” defensive tackle Michael Brockerssaid. “So it felt good to see him and see his face this morning.”
November 16, 2016 at 4:31 pm #58612znModerator* But teammates also stressed that Goff’s relationship with Keenum – who will remain a team captain – has helped the rookie grow.
“I think Case does a great job preparing, kind of understanding how we think,” Havenstein said. “Us knowing how he thinks. I think Jared’s picked up on a whole bunch of stuff from him.”
Offensive guard Rodger Saffold noted that Goff has steadily improved his throws and limited mistakes: “He’s been really watching Case and trying to understand how to be a leader, how to adjust to certain looks. He’s taken a step forward.”
* Jared throws a good ball,” tight end Lance Kendricks said. “He’s very poised in the huddle, and he knows — he’s confident in the playcalling now. He’s had time to kind of sit back and learn, and learn his progressions, and learn his hots and all that stuff.”
Right now the only qb in the pros who adapted to a pro offense from a college Air Raid spread is Case Keenum (in the last 3 years, the 2 teams that started CK, Houston and St.Louis/LA, went a combined 9-7 with Keenum).
Plus there’s just some things about Keenum, his want-to and extra work ethic, that make him a great #2.
Goff–who of course also played in a version of the Air Raid spread–could not have learned behind a better guy. It’s a great situation IMO.
November 16, 2016 at 8:10 pm #58649
InvaderRamModerator“There are some things that we will expand because of the arm talent, you know, the stuff down the field,” Fisher said. “We have to block better up front and that includes in the run game and protection. We have to make plays down the field, we have to get the ball in the end zone when we have opportunities to help him, and defense has to play better.”
i wonder if this could possibly open things up in the running game if true. and assuming that goff can actually play.
November 16, 2016 at 10:33 pm #58677znModeratorRams: Jared Goff ready to take over at quarterback
Rich Hammond
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20161115/rams-jared-goff-ready-to-take-over-at-quarterback
THOUSAND OAKS >> This is it. No more flirting, winking and whispering. Jared Goff and the Rams are walking forward, hand in hand, into whatever the rest of this NFL season might hold.
Vows officially were exchanged Tuesday in a Cal Lutheran meeting room. Coach Jeff Fisher committed to Goff for the final seven games of this season and Goff pledged to validate the Rams’ confidence in him.
After seven months of what seemed to be cold feet, Fisher has handed the Rams’ offense over to Goff, who will make his first NFL start (and appearance) Sunday against Miami at the Coliseum. Goff, the No. 1 pick in April’s draft, finally has nudged aside Case Keenum and become the face of the franchise.
“I don’t want to say it’s a new era, that it’s a new start, but in a lot of ways, it is,” Fisher said.
Goff and Fisher are excited. They said so, a combined total of 17 times in 16 minutes when they spoke to reporters after Tuesday’s practice, and not because Britney Spears and Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson attended practice.
Certainly, there is anticipation. Goff’s arm strength and overall skill level has the potential to elevate the Rams’ offense, which statistically is one of the worst in the NFL.
Implicit, though, is some fear. For better or worse, everyone is about to discover whether Goff is worth the pile of picks that the Rams handed to Tennessee in April for the right to move up in the draft.
What if things go wrong? What if Keenum actually was the better option all along? Fisher, rightfully, cautioned against judging Goff based on one game, but there’s nothing like a first impression.
“Very excited,” Goff said when asked to describe his emotions after meeting with Fisher. “It’s been a long time, feels like, since I’ve gone out there and played, and I’m excited to get back out there and play.”
If nothing else, nobody can say Goff was rushed. Fisher, who alone held the decision about which quarterback to play, remained adamant for months that Goff wouldn’t play until he showed he was ready. Fisher remained steadfast, even as the Rams lost four consecutive games and the offense slumbered.
Fisher seemed ambiguous, at best, when asked what had changed, what motivated him to move from Goff when he had indicated, as recently as Monday, that Goff would remain his backup quarterback.
“He was yesterday. He’s not today,” said Fisher, who added that the decision had been a progression.
The carefully parsed words now can stop. Goff is the present and the future. On Monday, Fisher had described his young quarterback as being “anxious and confident.” Goff agreed with half of that.
“The anxiety is over,” Goff said. “I’m good now. I’m excited. I’m confident and ready to go and ready to play. I’m ready to get back to playing football and getting back to doing what I love, my job, and hopefully start what will be a long career.”
That’s the expectation. The Rams, at 4-5, remain only 1 1/2 games out of an NFC playoff spot. They’ve won twice this season without scoring a touchdown, so even though Goff remains an unknown quantity, the thought is that if he can improve the offense, even marginally, the Rams could thrive.
Fisher said the Rams won’t have to reduce their playbook with Goff under center, and could actually expand it because of Goff’s attributes, which including a stronger arm than Keenum.
“I saw a lot of stuff from the sidelines, as much as you can see,” Goff said. “I learned a lot from the things Case did, both good and bad. It’s been a long process, trying to pick up everything and get ready for it, and I think I have. I think I’ve been ready for a little while. I feel good and feel excited.”
The change had been inevitable for months, even when Goff struggled in the preseason and was inactive for the Rams’ season opener against San Francisco.
Even as he continued to go back to Keenum, Fisher praised Goff’s development, in the film room and in the huddle. Goff, who turned 22 last month, left Cal after his junior season and seemed to have some catching up to do. In college, he never took snaps under center or called plays on the field.
A learning curve is to be expected, particularly given that Goff is accompanied by an inconsistent offensive line and a running game that has been nonexistent for much of this season. But there’s no turning back for Fisher, who declared that Goff would remain the starter for the rest of this season.
“Oh yeah, we’re committed to this,” Fisher said. “We didn’t do what we did this offseason, and trade for Jared, to come in and just spot-play him over the next five or six weeks.”
It’s a tough situation for Keenum, the 28-year-old veteran who essentially did what was expected, no more and no less. Keenum, a former practice-squad player who took over as the Rams’ starter late last season, has completed 61 percent of his passes this season, with nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Fisher said Keenum would be Goff’s backup and would continue as a team captain.
“Case is a pro,” Fisher said. “He understands. He doesn’t like it, but understands and appreciates his opportunity and is going to do everything he can to help make Jared successful. He’s a class act.”
November 17, 2016 at 3:13 am #58715znModeratorHere’s why now was the time for Jared Goff to become Rams’ No. 1 QB
Charles Robinson
Quarterback Jared Goff has progressed past the rudimentary stages of learning and is ready for the next step in his offensive development. That’s why he will finally start Sunday for the Los Angeles Rams, a league source told Yahoo Sports.
It’s not because head coach Jeff Fisher feels the need for a spark. And it’s not because general manager Les Snead is feeling pressure to get the No. 1 overall pick onto the field. The source said the timing is a matter of Goff having illustrated to the staff that he’s ready to graduate inside a fairly patient plan. That’s what has kept Goff off the field up to this point – his absorption of the scheme and ability to make quick assessments and correct decisions during his reps.In the end, it was never really veteran Case Keenum who stood in the way. Instead, it was always Goff who controlled the winds of change with his progress. And until about two weeks ago, that advancement was steady but incremental.
The Rams staff has known this day was advancing quickly since watching Goff take reps with the first-team offense during the Week 8 bye, the source said. Goff had a chance to illustrate that he was processing information more rapidly and accurately, translating classroom work onto the field without having to ask questions. Once the staff saw his processing pick up with regularity, the decision to elevate him to the starting spot became a matter of picking the right time.
This week against the Miami Dolphins was most suitable because it gives Goff an opportunity to open at home, a window that wouldn’t be available again until Dec. 11. And with no guarantee of postseason games, waiting that long might not leave enough time in the regular season (only four games) for Goff to make adjustments or rebound from any struggles.
The final seven games represent a mini-season of sorts, with plenty of time to absorb an array of scenarios. This week also gives Goff an opportunity to break the seal on his regular season one week before a four-game slate that will challenge the offense considerably. After the Dolphins, the Rams (4-5) face the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots in back-to-back road games that will require a scoring clip far higher than the 15.4 points Los Angeles has been averaging. Then comes another potential shootout with the Atlanta Falcons, before a Dec. 15 (Thursday night) game on the road against the Seattle Seahawks, who are suddenly looking like an NFC elite again.
Nobody on the Rams staff is kidding themselves about that stretch. It will be a trial by fire for Goff and the players around him who are tasked with finding quick continuity under trying circumstances. It’s also coming at a time when the fan base has grown restless – displayed most obviously when the home crowd was chanting for a Goff insertion during the 13-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 6.
But fans shouldn’t expect the offense to suddenly catch lightning in a bottle. The scheme isn’t suddenly changing, nor are the skill position players surrounding the quarterback likely to flip a switch and play at an All-Pro level. That’s not what this change is about. Plain and simple, it’s about Goff’s next step in his education – getting a glimpse at where he’s headed and what work needs to be done over the next seven weeks and into the offseason. It’s also about figuring out what parts of the scheme suit him best, where tweaks can be made and what personnel needs are most pressing as it pertains to building around Goff.
Until all of that information can be culled, the most positive aspect of this move is this: The Rams are finally getting some traction in fully integrating Goff into a pro-style system. From his first few months after the draft, the staff knew their biggest hurdle: implementing its pro-style scheme and pushing Goff beyond the fairly simple no-huddle spread offense he ran for three seasons in college. The Rams are finally starting to feel comfortable in that effort.
It doesn’t mean Goff will be a revelation. It doesn’t even mean he’ll be good during this seven-game stretch. It means that he becomes only the second rookie quarterback this season who is being elevated at the choosing of his staff. While a lot has been made about five other rookie quarterbacks already having started this season, the reality is only one of them – the Philadelphia Eagles’ Carson Wentz – got his first start strictly out of a staff assessment that he was the best quarterback to start. All the others (even the Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott) got opportunities that were advanced because of injuries.
Goff didn’t get that. Instead, he had another luxury: A coaching staff and front office that refused to put him onto the field before they felt it was the proper step. Whether they were right in their assessment remains to be seen. But there’s no denying the Rams took their time with this move.
Now it’s on Goff to show two things: That the Rams took all the right steps leading to this moment, and that he’s ready to return the patience with his biggest stride yet.November 17, 2016 at 3:18 am #58716znModeratorHere’s why now was the time for Jared Goff to become Rams’ No. 1 QB
Charles Robinson
That’s the best article on this topic yet.
IMO.
.
November 17, 2016 at 12:18 pm #58737
ZooeyModeratorWhat the hell? Suddenly, people are starting to make sense on this issue. Out of nowhere. Nine weeks of armchair analysis filtered through beer goggles, and now people are saying sensible things. What is the world coming to?
Loved Robinson’s article.
I like Myles Simmons. We have a good one there. I have seen only a few videos that he does with the former cheerleader whose name I’ve forgotten, but I like both of them. They know what they are talking about. Refreshing.
November 17, 2016 at 7:23 pm #58767
NERamParticipantHere’s why now was the time for Jared Goff to become Rams’ No. 1 QB
Charles Robinson
That’s the best article on this topic yet.
IMO.
.
Yeah, that was a really good article. Thanks for posting it.
November 18, 2016 at 1:12 pm #58854znModeratoroff the net from Grits
Listened to ESPN 710 Am LA this morning and Ronnie Lott was on and he reminisced about watching Goff play against Oregon a year ago and said Goff made a throw that Lott had only seen one QB able to throw and that was Elway. A pattern where the receiver took the defensive back over the middle on a post and then cut it back to the corner. He said only Elway had the arm strength to make that throw and Goff showed that he does too.
Lott feels Goff is very talented and if he can manage the game he’s going to be like a great point guard for this offense and feed the players the ball and make them better.
November 18, 2016 at 3:28 pm #58893znModeratorCal coach Sonny Dykes: Rams ‘very wise’ to wait with Jared Goff
Alden Gonzalez
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Cal coach Sonny Dykes learned everything he ever really needed to know about Jared Goff during Goff’s freshman season as a teenage quarterback for a program that won only once in 12 tries.
“He never blinked,” Dykes said in a phone interview this week, days before Goff makes his long-awaited debut for the Los Angeles Rams. “I think we played Ohio State in Game 3 that year, and we weren’t very good, and we were playing with a ton of young players. Bunch of freshmen. Bunch of O-linemen that weren’t ready to be playing, I can promise you that. He got hit a bunch, and I learned that he was incredibly tough physically, incredibly tough mentally. He never complained one time. He just got up, dusted himself off, went back to the sideline and went back to work. And that’s the best thing about Jared Goff.”
This won’t be easy for Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL draft.
His own coaches have cautioned as much. Jeff Fisher, who warned against judging Goff solely on the merits of his first game Sunday at home against the Miami Dolphins, said Goff is “going to have some moments, like all young quarterbacks do.” Or offensive coordinator Rob Boras, who acknowledged that taking practice snaps is “different than actually playing.” And quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke, who talked about how the Rams “have to accept that there’s going to be some bumps in the road.”
Goff will be tested from Day 1 against a Dolphins team with a devastating front four and standing behind an offensive line that has not performed well this season.
One thing that should help him, Dykes believes, is his footwork in the pocket and his willingness to absorb hits, a trait teammates have already picked up on.
“When they sat down and looked at all the quarterbacks, I think that’s what made him stand out, made him unique and made him the first pick,” Dykes said. “It was his toughness, ability to stand in there and throw the ball with somebody in his face. Also, his ability to shuffle around and create space is pretty unique. The NFL game is different than the college game. Everything has to happen much faster than it does in college, but I’m sure he’s made that adjustment. I think he’ll do a great job.”
The Rams waited to start Goff largely because he came from an offense in which he did not take a snap from under center and did not call plays from the huddle. Besides getting acclimated to NFL speed, those have been his two biggest adjustments. The system Goff ran at Cal was the pass-happy Air Raid offense that lends itself to gaudy collegiate statistics but traditionally has not produced successful NFL quarterbacks.
Goff ran a lot of run-pass options that mostly required two simple reads, but Dykes doesn’t believe his progressions were much different from what he will now face.
“We asked him to full-field read all the drop-back passes, so he’s gone through a progression-reading system where he reads pre-snap one read, starts on one side of the field and progresses to the other side,” Dykes explained. “Every one of our five-step passes he had a full-field read on. So he’s done a lot of that. I don’t know that the passing game stuff is going to be that much different. Maybe a little bit more play-action.”
Dykes has his own season to think about, so he hasn’t watched any of the Rams’ games and he doesn’t know a whole lot about their overall situation. But he and Goff constantly exchanged text messages throughout the year, even though the two teams work on opposite schedules. Dykes figured the Rams would be patient with Goff. Heading into the year, he guessed that Goff would debut by Week 10.
“This is Week 11,” Dykes said, “so I wasn’t too far off.”
Dykes says Rams fans are getting a quarterback who is “going to be prepared” and “put the time in” and “be very competitive” and “make all the throws.” But he also believes it is going to take time and that a lot of it will hinge on Goff’s supporting cast. Dykes is glad the Rams took their time, even though Goff has felt ready for a few weeks.
“Jared just turned 22,” Dykes said. “He’s a young guy. When you are the first pick in the NFL draft, there’s a certain amount of pressure that goes with that. When you’re the face of the franchise that just moved from one city to the other, there’s a certain amount of pressure that goes along with that. And I think they were certainly aware of all that, and I think they wanted to make sure, before they threw him in the fire, that he was ready. And I think they were very wise to do that.”
November 19, 2016 at 4:17 am #58977znModeratorWhat to Expect in Jared Goff’s Debut
A quick look at how the Rams will shape their offense for No. 1 overall pick’s long-awaited debut, and what the Dolphins defense has in store for the rookieAndy Benoit
No one knows what to expect from Jared Goff. But we can surmise what to expect from the elements around him. The offense Goff takes over: It can’t run the ball (the O-line gets no movement) and it lacks wide receivers who can create on their own. That’s a bad combination, and it might have contributed to why Goff rode the bench so long.
So what are the Rams to do? For starters, expect them to continue trying to run the ball—not so much because it’s the tough, spirited approach, but because if you’re weak at wide receiver, then more of your passing game must take place on running downs and out of running formations when the defense is most predictable and playing extra linebackers instead of corners. But those running downs and running formations only help the pass if you’re actually doing what those formations suggest: running from time to time.
The Dolphins are a pure zone defense, which makes them that much more predictable on first down. The most common zone coverage you see here is Cover 3—zone with a single-high safety. Rams offensive coordinator Rob Boras has done smart work calling plays that specifically exploit Cover 3. Often these have involved play-action rollouts. You’ll see those Sunday because, besides attacking the predicted coverage, rollouts also slice the field in half for the quarterback.
Almost always, the quarterback has to read only the side he’s rolling to. The beauty of moving the pocket like this is it also negates Los Angeles’s disadvantage along the offensive line. As long as the widest edge defender is controlled, either via block or play fake, the pass rush is unlikely to get home.
Early down play-action out of running formations—that’s been the name of the game for Los Angeles, and it is more than ever this week. When Goff isn’t doing these, expect to see Tavon Austin on quick strikes—Boras’s other favorite first down tactic.
Swing passes, screens, slants—these all give the QB only one read (simple as it gets) and force the ball out of his hand, which is how rhythm is established. We’ll see how the No. 1 overall pick does with these aids against a rising Dolphins defense.
* * *
Miami at Los Angeles
Dolphins: The rich got richer: Just when defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and especially Jordan Phillips have started playing really well, unheralded veteran stud Earl Mitchell has returned from a calf injury suffered in Week 1. Mitchell played 31 snaps against the Chargers last week and jumped off the screen a number of times.
Rams: Jared Goff is ready… we hope. His first game comes against a Dolphins defense that has often just lined up and played straight zone coverages, aiming to out-execute (as oppose to outsmart) opponents. But three weeks ago, when the Dolphins faced an undeveloped field-reader in Tyrod Taylor, we saw selective use of different fronts and pressure concepts, which were very successful. The Rams must have Goff prepared for this.
November 19, 2016 at 9:33 am #58982InvaderRamModeratorpretty excited for tomorrow i gotta say.
i thought he shoulda started 2 weeks ago. but hey. it doesn’t matter anymore. 7 games should plenty of reps in his first season. and maybe erring on the side of caution is better when your realize how piss poor the running game has been.
i want him to be better than sam was his rookie year. i want them to hit on this pick like they did with donald and not like they did with robinson.
mostly this season i just want to see him push through the growing pains and stay confident. stay aggressive.
hopefully this is the start of a beautiful backfield partnership. if that can happen, it might not matter too much who’s at receiver.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
