NFL Network’s Brooks: Rams QB Jared Goff “Isn't Anywhere Close” To Being An Starting-Caliber QB

Goff isn't anywhere close to being ready to play as a starting quarterback at this stage of training camp. Now, this isn't a direct knock on him or his future potential. It can be a process...

Watching Goff over a full workout, I sensed that -- despite widely reported improvement since the end of OTAs and minicamps -- the Cal product still has a long way to go before he reaches the standard needed to wrestle the starting job from [Case] Keenum.

That’s NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks on the Rams’ rookie franchise QB.

It’s one analysts opinion. And Brooks has never been an NFL coach. So if you want a grain (or a truckload) of salt, it’s there to be taken.

The worrisome part is the pushing back of the goalposts yet again for Los Angeles Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher:

For the past several months, I thought the prospect of Keenum taking the field with the starting unit was simply coachspeak. But after spending time at Rams camp, I believe the team should play the veteran quarterback until the youngster proves that he is ready to handle the job. This is the blueprint Fisher successfully used with a young Steve McNair. Despite entering the NFL as the third overall pick in the 1995 draft, McNair didn't become a full-time starter until 1997. He went on to make three Pro Bowls and earn NFL MVP honors in 2003. Fisher should keep this in mind, to help Goff eventually reach his full potential as the Rams' franchise quarterback.

Yes, eventually. Always on the horizon. Always #wellfixit.

This comes of the heels of Wednesday’s practice at which NFL Network’s Rand Getlin reported:

There’s been no real decision on which quarterback is going to start the season just yet.

The whole process lines up quite nicely with the fake drama the Rams consented to at the NFL’s behest ahead of the 2016 NFL Draft not to identify who they were going to take with the #1 overall pick. NFL Media and willing acolyte media were able to help create the false narrative that the Rams were still deciding between Cal QB Jared Goff and North Dakota St. QB Carson Wentz up until the Rams were on the clock.

It could be the case that the Rams are legitimately deciding between their #1 overall QB that they traded so much draft capital for and the quarterback they cut two years ago and then traded back to get a year ago who threw for less than 170 yards on average in his five starts last season. If we’re to believe Jeff Fisher that this is a legitimate QB battle, that would be a pretty telling indicator of how unprepared Goff is for the NFL especially given the current era in which the last five #1 overall NFL Draft picks started in Week 1 of the rookie seasons.

Of course, we know the Rams don’t user the preseason under Jeff Fisher to really approach Week 1 to being the regular season...which is perhaps why the Rams have started every season under Jeff Fisher going 1-2.

Then again...

It could all be a Fisherian ruse, if you’re the conspiracy-loving type.

Suffice to say that with just 24 hours to the Rams’ scrimmage at the Coliseum which leaves just one week to the 2016 Los Angeles Rams’ first preseason game, the Rams’ #1 overall QB isn’t even their #1 overall QB yet.