Rams still waiting for No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff to blossom

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/rams-737990-goff-snead.html

Rams still waiting for No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff to blossom
By JACK WANG
2016-12-09 17:47:50

THOUSAND OAKS – Seven months ago, Jeff Fisher raved about the future of the Rams.

“I am so excited,” said Fisher, who often appears dour regardless of his actual mood. “You should have seen us in the room there. Did you see it? I’m happy, are you kidding me? We just drafted a franchise quarterback with the first pick in the draft.”

He was referring to Jared Goff, the Cal product whom the franchise moved heaven and Earth to acquire. Originally slotted behind 14 other teams in the 2016 NFL draft, the Rams gave the Titans six selections – including their 2017 first-round pick – to move up to No. 1 overall.

A high price, perhaps, for a rookie quarterback who has started only three games.

Goff might have a fine career ahead of him. Although he holds a pedestrian passer rating of 70.0, he is still just 22 years old and has shown impressive flashes even as he searches for his first NFL victory.

But regardless of Goff’s future development, the fact remains that the Rams gave up significant draft capital to get him. After falling to 4-8, the first-round pick they gave to Tennessee could end up being a top-10 or top-five selection – one that could go a long way toward plugging other roster holes.

Asked on Friday whether that was a higher price than he’d originally expected, Rams general manager Les Snead insisted that the decision to trade up was a sound one.

“With the QB thing, I’ll always say this: Go get the one you want when you can get him,” Snead said. “Because there’s times you’re going to want one and can’t get him. And do it sooner rather than later.”

The Rams had significant hopes in drafting Goff: that he would prove ready to start immediately, that he would turn around a perennially anemic offense, that he would inject excitement into a fan base that had been without the NFL for two decades.

With the team having lost seven of its last eight games as it heads into Sunday’s home game against the Falcons (7-5), Snead stressed that the development of a franchise quarterback doesn’t happen overnight.

“It does take time to get that,” he said. “You probably weren’t one first-round, young kid away. You need that kid to become a veteran. That was an important piece, and I think for all teams it is.

“The nice thing about Jared is, to date, we’ve seen some of the things that we’ve seen in college that we thought were going to be his go-tos, his assets in the league. They’ve shown up. He’s just not there yet. We’ve got to get him there.”

Snead also noted that the Rams had endured a long stretch of playing with a “No.2 QB” – specifically naming Kellen Clemens, Shaun Hill, Austin Davis and Nick Foles. Add in Case Keenum, who started nine games this year, and that accounts for 50 contests in a streak of five non-winning seasons.

“I give credit to all of them and they all have a special place in my heart because we beat some good teams with those guys,” Snead said. “But I do think that did stunt the passing game and what you can do, and what the coaches can do with it.”

The trouble is, switching to Goff does not appear to have significantly altered the offense, rarely stretching the field even with his superior arm strength. In nine games with Keenum, the Rams averaged 15.4 points and 308 yards per game. In their first three games with Goff, they averaged 13.7 points and 212 yards.

The team has not been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but in all likelihood, Goff has only four games left in his rookie season. With each passing week, cries for the franchise to move on from either Fisher or Snead – or both – have grown louder. And if Goff doesn’t show more signs of a potential Pro Bowl future? Those cries might be answered.

“In the real world, you’ve got to raise that guy,” Snead said. “How long it takes is to be determined.”
INJURY REPORT

The Rams will likely be without backup running back Benny Cunningham when they return to the Coliseum on Sunday, but have a chance to roll out an otherwise intact roster.

Cunningham, who did not practice this week because of a neck injury, is listed as doubtful to play against the Falcons. Defensive end Robert Quinn (concussion) and cornerback E.J. Gaines (thigh) are listed as questionable, although the latter was also held out of practice this week. Quinn participated fully on Friday.

Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold, who sat out last week’s loss to the Patriots following recent hand surgery, appears on track to return to the starting lineup.

The Falcons ruled out receiver Mohamed Sanu (groin) and defensive end Adrian Clayborn (knee). Julio Jones, who leads the NFL in receiving yards, was listed as questionable after missing this week’s practices with turf toe.

I think the title should be “So Far, So Good.”