Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff proving team right

After a forgettable rookie year, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff is playing like a No. 1 pick — although, maybe it shouldn’t be that surprising.

Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams endured a subpar season in 2016. That may be putting it lightly, as Goff was one of the NFL’s least-efficient quarterbacks. He didn’t look worthy of his high draft pedigree, and some were even ready to label him a bust. Through three games, though, Goff is looking every bit like a high draft pick. An argument could be made for Goff being the most-improved player thus far.

A big reason for Goff’s resurgent season is because the team around him improved, too. Los Angeles effectively set Goff up to fail last year by thrusting him into the starting lineup for seven games. Todd Gurley was in the midst of a sophomore slump of a year, and the Rams lacked a legitimate No. 1 receiver. Even worse, Jeff Fisher, an enormous creativity and development killer, was the head coach. The Rams offense was so inept, Gurley actually likened it to a middle-school offense.

Los Angeles made a concerted effort to double-down on their faith in Goff, and opted to build around him. It’s a simple strategy, and one that countless NFL teams have done with their young quarterback. However, it’s an approach that seemed foreign to Fisher.

The team signed veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth in free agency, providing Goff with an anchor to protect his blindside. The deal was lucrative, but it showed the type of investment the team is comfortable making in Goff. L.A. also brought in Robert Woods, and later traded for Sammy Watkins.

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But the true catalyst for Goff’s development is new head coach Sean McVay. The 31-year old head coach has an offensive mindset that made him the perfect fit for the Rams. Basically, the Rams were presenting Goff with the tools to succeed. Three games into the season, Goff is doing that and more.

Goff is operating like a pro quarterback. He looks comfortable in the pocket, going through his reads and making good throws. The timid, nervous player from last year who looked lost is gone. In his place is a confident, competent quarterback, which is something the Rams have lacked since Marc Bulger. The ex-Cal standout is proving everyone who wrote him off prematurely wrong.

Against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3, Goff was incredibly efficient. Goff completed 22 of his 28 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns. He posted a 145.8 passer rating, two weeks after posting a 117.9 rating against the Indianapolis Colts.

Goff’s stats aren’t inflated because of big plays or anything like that. He’s just being an accurate distributor of the ball. Goff’s completion percentage currently sits at 70.4, which is leaps and bounds ahead of anything he did last year. In three games, Goff has already produced as many touchdowns (five) as he did in seven last year.

Perhaps we shouldn’t be that shocked. Goff possessed talent last year, but was mired in an enormously unfavorable situation.

There will be some who will disregard Goff’s trio of impressive performances. After all, they came against the inept Colts, troubled Redskins and rebuilding 49ers. But Goff’s play as of late shouldn’t be ignored. The aforementioned McVay did wonders for Kirk Cousins in Washington. Under McVay’s tutelage, Cousins was one of the NFL’s most accurate quarterbacks. Cousins also never threw more than 12 interceptions.

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Whatever recipe McVay is using on his quarterbacks is working, because Goff is reaping the rewards. If you want to find a game that will likely be a true indication of where Goff is, circle Oct. 8. That’s when the Rams host the Seattle Seahawks. Despite showing signs of regression, Seattle’s defense is still elite.

Goff can lead the Rams into the playoffs if he can continue to play the way he has been. That’s a far cry from anything that was said about Goff a year ago.

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