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So much can change in a season of NFL football.
Just last preseason, we were wondering if Los Angeles Rams QB Jared Goff was going to be a bust, which would have proved that the fateful trade before the 2016 NFL Draft was indeed a disaster. However, the Rams enjoyed a bounceback season in which Goff was able to lead the young Rams into the playoffs with 28 touchdown passes and only 7 interceptions while also becoming a Pro Bowl alternate for the first time in his short career.
Goff’s 2017 season was a relief proving that the kid has what it takes to be a star for the LA Rams.
Now the question is one of how good Goff can and is going to be. He’s currently listed as a Tier 3 QB by some. Is his ceiling that of Washington QB Alex Smith or Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco? Can he rise to the ranks of someone like Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan or New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees? Or could Goff, dare I even write this, surpass every quarterback playing in the league?
A lot of attention was paid last season to the idea that Head Coach Sean McVay was behind Goff’s resurgence so much that McVay deserved the majority of the credit for Goff’s improvement. McVay’s habit of changing the call as the play clock ran down was an inspired bit of coaching that allowed Goff to play like a seasoned pro without the, ahem, experience and mastery of NFL defenses. Another year with McVay will definitely have a positive effect on Goff and hopefully he won’t need so much hand holding. But if he does, last year proved that it won’t be that much of a problem.
Some NFL experts predict that Goff will regress this season citing that he still has a lot to prove and that last season could very well be a fluke. But as you know, anyone that seriously believes that has horrible taste in everything and even their mother thinks they’re a jerk.
Roster Battle
You mean, who is going to be holding the clipboard on the sidelines — Brandon Allen (roster preview), Sean Mannion (roster preview), or longshot Luis Perez (roster preview)?
The Mighty Goff will be the starting QB.
Expectations
Goff has a chance to take more chances on the field hopefully showing a killer instinct that can take him to the next level. Rather than relying too much on his first reads, Goff should be able to take the game into his own hands and trust his accuracy by making plays out of nothing. I’m expecting him to have great chemistry with WR Brandin Cooks (roster preview) and WR Cooper Kupp (roster preview) while further adding to the encouraging relationship he has on the field with WR Robert Woods (roster preview). Even without departed Offensive Coordinator Matt LaFleur, Goff still has a great support system that will allow him to let it fly. This is a long way of saying that if Goff improves upon his output by roughly 15%, fans should be very happy.
Chances of Making Roster (10/10)
Let’s hope that Jared Goff has a healthy, productive training camp because all signs are indicating that the upcoming 2018 season is going to be very fruitful for our young franchise QB.