Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff thriving in explosive offense
Under new offensive direction, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff is showing why he was a No. 1 overall pick, and doing so in style.
It is safe to say by now that Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff is beginning to figure it out. After a subpar rookie season in 2016, one that included multiple injuries and him only appearing in seven games, the former No. 1 pick is taking the NFL by storm.
Entering Week 9, he had thrown nine touchdown and four interceptions, already greatly surpassing his 2016 numbers. In Sunday’s game against the New York Giants, he proved that he is working to become the top-tier quarterback many thought he could be.
In a 51-7 win over the Giants on Sunday, Goff went 14-of-22, throwing for 311 yards and four touchdowns. Additionally, he set season-highs in average yards per pass (14.14), quarterback rating (94.9) and passer rating (146.8). He threw four touchdowns to three different Ram receivers, including two to Robert Woods. The former USC product finished with four catches on five targets for 70 yards on the afternoon. A 52-yard catch was his longest of the day.
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Perhaps more than that, the bigger thing to take away from Sunday’s victory was that Goff looked very comfortable in the pocket. This is a trend that we have been beginning to see in the majority of games this season. He did not look like a deer in the headlights and picked apart the Giants defense in multiple ways. One of Woods’ touchdowns was off a dump pass that Goff threw. The latter simply found his man and let him do the work.
He did not force the issue, he just took what the defense gave him and let his receiver make the play. An eight-yard touchdown strike to Tyler Higbee was via a bullet pass that Goff managed to shred the defense with. He beat the Giants with his versatility and that versatility was something we would not have seen from him last year.
Perhaps the hiring of head coach Sean McVay has something to do with it. The former Washington Redskins offensive coordinator, McVay has taken this offense and unleashed its full potential. Last year, the Rams scored 224 points. This year through Sunday, they have scored 263 points. When you have guys like Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods that certainly helps too.
What the Rams did was understand that they needed to build around Goff, and not force him to fit into a playing style he was uncomfortable with. They gave him explosive weapons that have the ability to make plays. That is every quarterback’s dream.
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Simply put, he looks more comfortable. He seems much more relaxed in the pocket this year, and has done a nice job of progressing through his reads. He looks in control under center and for the Rams that is a very good thing. They have desperately longed for a franchise quarterback ever since Kurt Warner left, and now they may have one. If Goff continues this upward climb, he and the Rams will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
Football is officially back in Los Angeles.