[AvengerRam]

Offense is struggling.

Fans can:

Evaluate all facets of the offense including the vital, but non-statistical performance of the offensive line, with due consideration to play calling and strategic moves by opposing coordinators, and our adjustments and responses thereto...

Or...

Blame the QB.

I support Goff and have no regrets regarding the decision to lock him in long term.

Fix the OL. Evolve the offensive approach.

Goff’s stats will improve.

[Hacksaw]

That's not a flattering stat.

[Horny Mcbae]

Why is it when someone criticizes Goff some posters take it as “you think Goff is to blame for everything”.

No. Nobody thinks that. He’s not the reason we are losing. He’s one of the reasons. He could have been the reason for us winning but alas he doesn’t have that in him. That much is clear. He’s a QB who will get you there (most of the time) when he has the horses In front of him pulling the chariot. Just don’t ask him to pull it.

Saying that when we have a stud OL again and we have 2017 Sean Mcvay again Goff will light it up. Well ya. Of course. So will other QBs. The reality is that he just won’t win us a game on a day when we don’t have good OL play and rubbish Sean. Now, It’s up to everyone to judge for themselves how much value that brings to the table against his salary.

[SWAdude]

After a very manic journey though this team after Mondays game I have come to the conclusion that this is on coaching.

The Patriots win consistently because of two things. Brady, and coaching. I would bet the farm you put Goff in place of Brady and you would still have a winning team. They are the same type of NFL QB.

We have an enormous amount of talent on this team. We lost an aging kind of did not have it anymore center, Sullivan and an often injured left guard who is approaching the end of his career, Saffold. I just can't see that as epic talent losses.

What I suspect is this last year or two is we lost really good assistant coaches who were promoted not because of our success, but because of theirs. McVay failed to replace them adequately from my seat. His off-season coaching selections are falling flat.

And one more thing, we all know McVay is in Goff's head up to the 15 second cut off. That kind of micro-management I know in my field produces a poorer product. How can Goff think for himself if he has the "second"voice in his ear telling him how to play the game?

The solution is plain and simple. Our HC needs to surround himself with people who are good teachers. THAT is the Belichick way. He teaches his assistants how to teach. And why they win as much as they do for as long as they have. Doesn't hurt they are in a weak division but that is too short sighted in this conversation.

Having your voice in the ear constantly of your QB is not teaching, its dictating. Let Goff play with his instincts more. That is how he grew so fast at Cal. Teach Goff to be a game manager. I don't see that in him one bit right now.

I no longer believe we are stuck with Goff. It may be the other way around for him.

McVay is a bright guy. You can't make whole sale changes during the season. But if he believes what he says, he does need to do better at being a coach. Maybe this is the season we fix weaknesses for the long term.

[SolarRam]

Great post! Nail on the head. This I on McVay and his leadership. It's on Wade as well. Wade has failed as a head coach....he needs to guide McVay. The thing that frustrates the heck out of me though....why dont we see continual improvement from week to week? All signs point to a 32 year old that doesnt know what the fuck to do...and that is infecting the team.

[OCRams1]

1. Common sense will say no chance RAMS will bench Goff on their own, because that will be an admission of $100,000,000 mistake. When so much money is invested into something, or someone, that something or someone has the life of itself and as poster pointed out, one bad season is not enough to dump the investment.
2. What works for Goff is he has 100,000,000 reasons to train hard. He’s still healthy, came from a good college.
What funny is when you pointed out Goff’s mistakes, people label you ‘Goff hater no matter what’, you this, you that, but not understand that (critique of mistakes) is not personal (attacks to Goff), and it is more likely to happen to the highest paid employees in a company, and also the designated face of the company. Goff should take the bitter medicine and turn thing around as a competitor. People who blame mostly (I emphasize mostly) on others who get paid less than Goff, not having as big as a role and not a designated face of the company as he does is non sense. I believe Goff knows it, otherwise the media will remind him.

[/zn/]

Blaming mostly on the others who get paid less than him, not having as big as a role, not a designated face of the company as he does is non sense.

Goff of course has not "blamed" anyone. He takes the hit when things do not go well.

But. That's not analysis. As observers, we get to point out areas where the Rams fall short that are not directly on Goff. If anything a lot of the times his play is a symptom, not a cause, of major offensive issues. Making observations like that has nothing to do with whether or not Goff takes the hit and does not blame others.

One consistent thread starting with the 2018 bye is that when a defense can overwhelm the Rams OL, shut down the run, and apply consistent pressure, the entire offense (and not just Goff) will falter.

That to a large extent is an OL issue, and it has taken different forms. Last year Detroit, Chicago, and New England did it--they thwarted the Rams screen game, they shut down the run, and they applied consistent pressure. It looked like the combo of Sullivan Blythe and Hav were easily targetted and could not remain solid in the face of it--they were deliberately attacked as weaks spots by those defenses. This year the OTs started out iffy and had apparently regressed (though AW has gotten it more together since then). You can start 2 newcomers on the interior OL if your OTs hold up, but since they didn't, having newbies starting just compounded the problem. Now they're starting 3 inexperienced players including 2 rookies and a 2nd year guy who has been with the team for a month. Again, top defensive fronts could thwart the OL--Pitt and SF come to mind and Baltimore too (though a lot of that was also the Rams D putting the offense in a hole, plus the Ravens blitz was very effective against them). They did beat Chicago but then the Bears were without Hicks and so it wasn't the same D as 2018.

The good news is that the 2019 newbies include promising players who may struggle this year but promise a better future. They drafted 5 guys in 2 years and then tossed in the trade for Corbett. There are some players in that mix. IMO, to name one, Edwards is a find. Evans looks to be at least solid. I think there's a good chance NB comes through, and maybe Corbett too..

They can and will add to the OL in 2020 but it doesn't have to be high picks or big budget free agents. As the league shows every year, you can make a solid OL without high picks. Example: the Baltimore OL includes 1 first round pick and the rest are 3rd rounders and UDFAs etc.

For that matter when Hav comes back the Rams OL will include 3 2nd round picks (assuming Corbett stays at LOG in 2019). And yet as a unit it needs to be upgraded--having 3 high picks did not save them.

....,

[R4L]

Be sure and take cliff notes