[PARAM]

I think there's a few talking heads that are zeroing in on what's happening. All doors are open to improve at QB spot. Trade is unlikely but if a unicorn situation happens, they'll do it. McVay seems to have tried a lot to work with Goff and I think calling him out in the most aggressive way is the last bullet in his gun. At this point, Goff isn't good enough so at the bare minimum you challenge him to put the work in by saying there's a competition.

Goff's issues aren't arm strength or even executing a game plan. They're consistency. Just about every experience in my life has told me that consistency comes down to preparation. I suspect that Goff isn't putting the prep work in. People have joked that he's got a hot GF and so he's distracted. I think the joke is a little closer to the truth. I suspect that Goff isn't grinding. I think we see this when he has a bad game and bounces back and has a good game. I think it's a clear sign of a guy who eases up when things go well. Just my two cents.

Trade unlikely but not impossible. Most likely we keep Goff and tell him he has a short leash. Keep Wolford, let him compete for job (I doubt he can) and most likely bring in a 3rd QB to compete too.

80% Goff is the opening day starter next year after being leaned on extremely hard during the off season and camp.

Of Note: There are things that can cover for Goff's consistency issues on the margin which are upgrading the oline and getting a deep threat. I hope they do this on some level.

Great take West Coast. Haven't seen you around here for a while.

[moklerman]

I doubt McV had an epiphany and suddenly doesn't like tall people or must have a running qb.

Many are focusing on Wolford's mobility but I thing that is secondary. It's a nice bonus but what McVay likes about Wolford is he sees the game the same way that McVay does and is doing things the way that McVay wants them done. Which, hypothetically, could be a long running issue between McVay and Goff since there's really no way to know. But McVay's attitude between Wolford and Goff recently suggests that to me.

Goff has won plenty of games even though his numbers are down lately. Its pretty obvious why. Get him some protection and that deep weapon and let him thrive.
If Goff doesn't thrive in an improved situation, I'd rather draft a starter ready hybrid rookie for cap reasons.

In today's NFL, if I were to be a GM, that is the approach I would build into my model. 6 years from your QB. 5 year rookie deal and then 1 year of franchise tag. To your other point, the Rams OL, WR and RB were all improved this year over '19 so my guess is '20 actually WAS Goff's "prove it" year. Now, here we are.

Now if Snead is able to pull a rabbit out of his hat and get a chance at a guy like Watson, do it.

Watson and Rodgers and Stafford are all nice fantasy ideas but the Rams simply don't have to shoot for the moon with a different QB. As I have many times pointed out, the lack of production from the QB position has been going on for almost 3 years worth of games at this point. Over the last 41 games, Goff has an 80.3 rating. Just take the names out of it. Objectively speaking, that just isn't going to be difficult to replace and improve on.

Now, the memory of Goff's magical run won't be easy to replace. The hope that he could return to that form is hard to swallow. The dream that the perfect set of circumstances to get him back to that level is just a G, C, LT, TE and speed WR away seems tantalizing. But, all else remaining equal, replacing the QB and expecting better than an 80.3 level of play, with the guys we've already got, is much more realistic.

[ramsman34]

Many are focusing on Wolford's mobility but I thing that is secondary. It's a nice bonus but what McVay likes about Wolford is he sees the game the same way that McVay does and is doing things the way that McVay wants them done. Which, hypothetically, could be a long running issue between McVay and Goff since there's really no way to know. But McVay's attitude between Wolford and Goff recently suggests that to me.

In today's NFL, if I were to be a GM, that is the approach I would build into my model. 6 years from your QB. 5 year rookie deal and then 1 year of franchise tag. To your other point, the Rams OL, WR and RB were all improved this year over '19 so my guess is '20 actually WAS Goff's "prove it" year. Now, here we are.

Watson and Rodgers and Stafford are all nice fantasy ideas but the Rams simply don't have to shoot for the moon with a different QB. As I have many times pointed out, the lack of production from the QB position has been going on for almost 3 years worth of games at this point. Over the last 41 games, Goff has an 80.3 rating. Just take the names out of it. Objectively speaking, that just isn't going to be difficult to replace and improve on.

Now, the memory of Goff's magical run won't be easy to replace. The hope that he could return to that form is hard to swallow. The dream that the perfect set of circumstances to get him back to that level is just a G, C, LT, TE and speed WR away seems tantalizing. But, all else remaining equal, replacing the QB and expecting better than an 80.3 level of play, with the guys we've already got, is much more realistic.

That’s a really solid premise. I would posit that NOT replacing the QB and with the guys we already have that we should still expect better than an 80.3 level. IE - Goff should be able to improve if all else fails, or even Wolford/Bortles should be able to hit that current benchmark.

Now, how much “better” than 80.3 are we talking about/expecting?

Frankly, I think the Rams are going to go nuts this off season and make a number of what we would call radical deals. We could lose some combination of Goff, Kupp, Woods, Higbee on O. The D has 2 untouchables, guys we will lose anyway, and then guys who are nice rotational pieces but not going anywhere. Then throw in the “futures” the Rams have no problem dealing away and we have a recipe for a making vet splash at QB then reloading with what we have left in picks and the development of Van Jeff, Brycen Hopkins, the young safeties and LBs.

Basically, nothing would surprise me and the more radical it seems, the more “Rams” it will be.

[PARAM]

If you look at Goff's numbers, he's had 4 different stretches where his performance has peaked and bottomed. I was trying to group his games played into reasonably even segments. He's played in 75 NFL games counting the postseason. The 7 games under Fisher are considered a waste but he had to learn something from them, if not just the difference between a legit NFL offense and a lousy one. But still, he didn't just take off like a rocket when McVay took over. In his first 7 games under McVay, he had a 59.1% completion percentage, 9 TDs and 4 Ints and a 90.3 rating. Then he took off. In the next 8 games (before sitting out the finale) he had a 63.9%, 19 TDs and just 3 picks, as well as a 109.4 rating.

So I arranged his 4 segments like this.

7 games under Fisher, 7 under McVay (14 games total)

20 games including the 2017 Wild Card game vs Atlanta, starting with game 8 in 2017 and ending with the Kansas City game in 2018, right before that point of demarcation many reference when McVay/Goff were figured out by the NFL.

He's played 41 games since that high water mark Kansas City game so I split it 21/20.

21 games including the 2018 postseason, starting with that Detroit game and ending with game 13 of last year.

20 games starting with game 14 last year through the 2020 postseason. Here's how his numbers shake out.

14 games
245 of 427 (57.4%) 2808 yards (6.58 yds/att) 14 TD 11 Int (3 Fum Lost) 77.5 QB rating (5-9 rec) 2 - 100.0+ games

20 games
445 of 681 (65.3%) 5891 yards (8.65 yds/att) 46 TD 9 Int (4 FL) 109.4 QB rating (16-4 rec) 12 - 100.0+ games

21 games
470 of 770 (61.0%) 5565 yards (7.23 yds/att) 22 TD 22 Int (8 FL) 80.7 QB rating (13-8 rec) 5 - 100.0+ games

20 games
489 of 740 (66.1%) 5207 yards (7.04 yds/att) 29 TD 15 Int (4 FL) 91.0 QB rating (11-9 rec) 8 - 100.0+ games

So does that say anything? Since the KC game, he's been asked to throw a lot of passes. The last 20 games the comp % is way up but the yards per attempt down. Shorter passes, covering for a mediocre OL? Bad reads? Not taking chances (as if that's not a confusing message.....protect the ball/take chances!!!)? Even though his QB rating and completion percentage are better the last 20 games, the win % isn't as good. Goff? The offense in general? It's pretty clear why he got a great contract if you look at that period when the light came on (vs NY Giants in 2017) through that Kansas City game. Teams would be willing to pay even more than he's getting for that guy. So where did he go?

Not working hard enough? Maybe
Not having the luxury of a competent OL? Maybe
McVay being "off" a bit...compensating for a suspect OL, worrying about turnovers, being out coached a few times? At least more than during that prime period?

A combination of all 3 and maybe more? Who knows.

[bremillard]

We all know Goff’s shortcomings. The $134M question is...what’s the alternative?

Sometimes, even if your lawn is flawed, the grass on the other side of the fence is not greener.

I agree. It is certainly no given that Jarod won't be back under center for the Rams next season but it looks like other options are being explored. To what end...remains to be seen.

[AvengerRam]

Here's another log for the fire...

[snackdaddy]

All this talk about whether or not Goff will be next season's starting quarterback is nice for the all the banter here. But lets look at it realistically. If they're gonna have someone else, who is it? Is Wolford the guy? He's certainly mobile enough. But he doesn't have the arm talent Goff has. And expecting him to read defenses like a seasoned pro is asking too much. Then there is his style of play. How long will he last? He last less than a quarter in the playoff game. If he goes down we're back a QB we've been maligning all offseason.

I hear people say "You never know" when it comes to a possible trade. But who realistically would take Goff and his contract at this point? Would Houston give up a mobile pro bowl quarterback in return for Goff? No they would not. Plenty of other QB needy teams have a lot more to offer than we do. Same thing with Stafford in Detroit. Detroit and Houston could get a lot more than what we can offer from someone else. And they wouldn't have to take on Goff and that contract.

Realistically, if they want to compete for a championship next season they will probably have to do it with Goff. And the only way to make it work is to build the line and maybe get him a deep threat. If he can't succeed with that then he has no excuses. It would be time to move on after that. But maybe he can if they can fix those other issues.

[max]

Here's another log for the fire...

Looks too good to be true, but every Rams fan would feel like we died and went to heaven if we got Watson.

I do believe the Rams want more than a good QB to open up the stadium this year when fans come back. Kroenke made an absurd investment into his franchise and stadium and having a boring product isn’t an acceptable outcome. Now he’s faced with the Chargers potentially being the hot ticket in SoFi because of Herbert and Staley, and no one in LA caring about the Rams.

[aeneas1]

watson is clearly a phenom and any team would rightfully give their left nut (nuts?) to land him, but it's so weird to me that the texans have never finished top 10 in offensive scoring in the 3.5 years he's been under center.. was o'brien just a complete stiff as hc? prior to the hou hc gig o'brien was with brady and the pats for 5 years, as qb coach and oc (the year mcdaniels was with the rams).

also, the texans ran a spread offense with watson while the rams run a west coast hybrid, and goff raked 3rd in play-action plays in 2020 while watson ranked 32nd - if the rams landed watson it would be interesting to see if mcvay changed the offense to better fit watson, or if mcvay would try to fit him into his west coats hybrid scheme.

Here's another log for the fire...

[ramsman34]

For Goff to be traded it’s almost certain that he would have to agree to a restructure and zi highly doubt he would unless HE wants out as badly as it SEEMS MCV wants him out. Then, the Rams have to be able to absorb Watson’s cap hits starting in 2021. Then, what draft capital/star player will the Rams also have to give up in this trade. As Les said, anything is “possible”. But, probability is an entirely different animal.