Ed "Pi Double i" HendersonWorldWide Rams 
Jared Goff, the starting quarterback of the Los Angeles Rams named Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday after his excellent play against Minnesota Vikings last Thursday night. One day later, fans in Los Angeles woke up to the news that Goff named as the Offensive Player of the Month.
However, let's take a step back into the past for a short moment. Just two seasons ago, the Rams sold the house move up in the draft to select Goff as the number one overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. They were very confident that they've found their franchise quarterback of the future. However, after a horrific pre-season, the criticism begin from several analysts who would label Goff as a bust, and that the Rams made the absolute wrong choice in selecting Goff number one. The second game of the season, the Rams added fuel to the fire for the critics by announcing that Goff would be inactive in week one. It just so happens, that it was a Monday Night Football game against his hometown San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers destroyed the Rams in that nationally televised game as starting quarterback Case Keenum was annihilated throughout the game. The Rams started the season 0-2 but would win three straight games from there, but then the wheels fell off the losing six of the next seven games. Head coach Jeff Fisher, despite knowing Goff wasn't ready, went against his wishes and named Goff as the starter against the New Orleans Saints, considering it to be damage control. The next several weeks didn't fair positive for Goff and after a 42-14 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Fisher would be fired that week. In Goff's first start, he threw for three touchdowns and one interception in that game, but it appeared he was on the way to success. However, the Rams would lose the remainder of their five games making Jared Goff 0-6 in his career starts. The critics would come out in numbers against stating the fact, Goff was not the right choice. NFL analyst Chris Carter with Colin Herd, speaking on his show "The Herd" would publicly disparage the Rams about Goff play. Here is what Carter had to say: Chris Carter Remarks On Jared Goff
You tell me, where is Case Keenum the answer to anything — besides his family members? Hey that’s my brother, that’s my son, that’s it,” Carter said on The Herd. What is he the answer to? When you have Case Keenum on your roster, that means I have a second or third backup who’s got some experience. But I’m going to draft a kid from Cal with the No. 1 pick, I’m moving this franchise and he’s not going to play? Like they made a colossal mess-up. Just admit it. We all makes mistakes. I’ve stepped in more piles of doo-doo than most people. Then I clean my shoes off, change my shoes and get to steppin’. Try to avoid those." “The guys know he can’t play … they messed this pick up.”
Goff knew that his play was not up to the potential that he knew that he could play and aimed to get better. After the Rams allowed the 49ers to rally back in the fourth quarter to beat them was sickening for all. It was the Rams final home game, as 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick would run in the end zone converting a two-point conversion to beat the Rams 22-21.
In a press conference following the loss to the 49ers, Goff was very sympathetic to the Rams organization and the Ram fans. He was frank and had this say: “To all the fans, and everybody who came out today — we’re appreciative and understand where we are,” said Goff, who went 11 of 24 for 90 yards. “And we know they understand where we are. It’s just hard. It’s hard for all of them; it’s hard for all of us. But, I promise you guys it will get fixed. Everything in my heart and soul to get it all fixed.”
Moving forward to 2017, in his 15 starts, Goff bettered his starting record to 11-4 and help lead the Rams to the 2017 NFC West Divisional Title. Goff named as an alternate would eventually be selected to the NFC after Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz was not able to play with a season-ending knee injury.
The Rams ended up the season with an 11-5 record, playing and hosting their first playoff game since 2006. The Rams lost that playoff game to the Atlanta Falcons 26-13, but everyone saw how much better the team had become under Sean McVay's coaching. Now in 2018, Jared Goff's promises he made in 2016 has taken another turn for the great. He merely has played better then many would expect. He has led his team to a 4-0 perfect record, but that's not the significant part to his success. The statistics are off the chart right now; he's completed 97 of 134 passes, completing 72.4%. He's thrown for 1,406 yards, 11 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 127.3 quarterback rating. If Goff continues on this pace with these types of numbers, he will be in consideration as the 2018 NFL Player of the Year, an award many felt his teammate Todd Gurley snubbed from winning last season. So what are the so-called naysayers are saying about Goff now? Chris Carter had this to say on First Things First: The reason why they can do that and have that variance of who going to get the ball is because of Goff; he's the difference maker. It's not any of the free agent pickups; it's not Todd Gurley, it's not any of the wide receivers, because all of that would be good and we have other teams that have some of those things. But, if you don't have the trigger guy which they have in Jared Goff--- and I don't think people understand how bad he as a rookie.
At the start of the 2018 season, analysts were saying that Goff was nothing but a system quarterback after the Rams increased their record to 3-0. After beating the Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, San Diego Chargers, and the Vikings, McVay stated that that's not bad for a system quarterback. However, Carter had more to add to that in that same segment on First Thing First:
"His overall development as a quarterback people came in this season saying, man, this guy is a game manager. He is everything but a game manager! His ability to be able to throw the ball in tight seams build a very, the velocity on his throws and his accuracy where guys can catch the ball on the run, that is what I seen the difference in the game last night. Jared Goff is a big-time player last night on one of the biggest stages Thursday night football we're launching here on Fox. He was amazing! I think he had four touchdowns passes his rookie season and how many he had last night?"
To answer Carter's question, Goff threw five touchdowns that game with no interceptions. It's great to continue to see Goff silence his critics and them gravitating to his success. Goff was under a coaching administration that had no clue on how to utilize his talent.
Goff is on a pace to potentially rewrite many of the Rams passing records if he continues on that path. He's on pace throw over 5,600 yards and 40 plus touchdowns. Right now the Rams are looking like they are having fun in a sandlot football game, and the offensive line is providing much time for him to make third and fourth reads. Many are speaking the Rams to go perfect this season with the way are playing, but with no healthy Goff, where will they be without him. However, not putting the cart before the horse, the Rams should focus on winning one game at a time and not listen to the likes of others. This team has the talent to go all the way as long as Goff is under the helm. Congratulations to Goff on winning both awards this week, and we hope his success continues to grow.  RSS Feed
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