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Los Angeles Rams: Case Keenum Not the Answer at Quarterback

By Dan Schmelzer

Dec 13, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Case Keenum (17) looks on as his team plays the Detroit Lions during the second half at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams defeated the Lions 21-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Case Keenum (17) looks on as his team plays the Detroit Lions during the second half at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams defeated the Lions 21-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Make no mistake, the Los Angeles Rams need to address the quarterback position this off season. Case Keenum was solid down the stretch last season, but he simply is not the long-term answer.

With a fantastic defense and an offensive centered around reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley, the Los Angeles Rams have some legitimate pieces to compete going forward. This is a team that is set up for success in both short-term and long-term situations. That is, if they can figure out their quarterback situations.

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After years of waiting on former first overall pick Sam Bradford to figure it out, the Rams finally decided to go in a different direction last season. Nick Foles was brought in to be the starter, and he proved early on that he was not the answer. However, 28-year-old Case Keenum took over for the Rams down the stretch and played pretty well.

Dec 6, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles (5) passes against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at the Edward Jones Dome. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 27-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles (5) passes against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at the Edward Jones Dome. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 27-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

Keenum started five games for the Rams (a 16-13 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11 and the last four games of the season), completing 60.8 percent of his passes for 828 total yards, four touchdown passes and only one interception. The numbers look nice for Keenum and he undoubtedly played well, but the Rams protected him in those games.

The games that Keenum started featured a huge emphasis on the running game. In the last four games that Keenum started, the Rams ran the ball on 56 percent of offensive downs, a huge number in today’s passing league. However, with such a talented back to carry the load, I can certainly understand why the Rams protected Keenum like that.

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Also, the game plan clearly worked. Putting their faith in Gurley and the defense, the Rams went 3-1 down the stretch with Keenum under center. A case could certainly be made that the Rams should simply move forward with Keenum as their primary signal caller. That being said, if this team really wants to make a championship run anytime soon, they still need to address the quarterback position.

Keenum played well for the Rams, there is no denying that. But the former undrafted free agent has had opportunities to perform in the past, and has never taken full advantage of them. Keenum is an aggressive passer who gets himself into trouble trying to make throws that he cannot complete. His accuracy is spotty at best, and his decision-making in the pocket has proven to be an issue as well.

Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Case Keenum (17) calls a play against the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter at Levi
Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Case Keenum (17) calls a play against the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter at Levi /

I am sure the Rams would love to simply hand the reigns over to Keenum and he game-manages them to success, but it is only a matter of time before he makes too many mistakes for that to happen. The Rams tried to do the same thing with Foles early in the 2015 season, and he was basically awful from the start. Foles had much more success than Keenum as an NFL quarterback before this season started.

I am not saying that the Rams just need to cut bait with Keenum and replace him with anybody they can get their hands on, but to move forward with him as your primary quarterback right now and in the future would be crazy.

The Rams need to look to add to the position in free agency or in the draft. If they decide they want to give Keenum a chance to prove himself over a more extended period of time, I can completely understand that. But they need to make sure they have a quality back-up option ready to come in and compete at a moment’s notice, or at worst have a true quarterback talent developing on the sidelines for 2017 and beyond.

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Finding a true franchise quarterback is difficult, and I would hate to see the Rams pass up an opportunity to grab one just because they think a journeyman like Keenum is the answer. He could work out if they can continue to ask him to do nothing, but how much longer can that work? If the Rams screw around with Keenum as their primary quarterback for too long, they are going to waste the impressive young talent on this roster.

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