Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff may need to carry a heavier load in 2019
By Steve Rivera
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff may be asked to carry a bigger part of the offensive load in 2019.
The Los Angeles Rams have an interesting season coming up. No longer a nice story in LA, they are now an expected winner in the NFL. After a 2018 season where they may have exceeded expectations, a Super Bowl in 2019 is part of the team discussion.
It’s also a season where Rams quarterback Jared Goff will be a hot topic. Goff, entering his fourth season in Los Angeles, is in a season where a pay bump is expected. A significant one, no less. It’s also a year where the quarterback can expect to see and carry more of the weight for an offense with high expectations.
At the close of 2018, specifically the last few moments of the Super Bowl in Atlanta, the liabilities in the Rams grand plan were evident. They had been since December when prized running back Todd Gurley began to break down. More specifically, it showed that a running game lacking in what Gurley provided resulted in an offense out of balance.
As Los Angeles enters year three under head coach Sean McVay, the league is catching on to how best, when possible, to slow the Rams down. Also, as Gurley may be entering a stage where an arthritic knee is a known, Goff may be called upon to be more than a reliable game manager.
Yes, a game manager.
First of all, let’s stop making the label some sort of insult. When looking at even the best in today’s NFL, who isn’t working a micro-managed game plan when in the huddle. Goff, who has McVay in his ear constantly, does a good job executing the game plan in real time. This season, especially if the Rams are more closely watching Gurley, Goff may see himself relied upon more.
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With a full complement of receivers back in play, Goff could have his best season yet. Cooper Kupp, a reliable security blanket, gives Goff a reliable target he missed late in 2018. If the best group of pass catchers in the league can stay healthy, a less than ideal Gurley may be a less significant issue.