The Los Angeles Rams select Jared Goff to finally solve the long-standing problems at quarterback.
Jared Goff is a smart and savvy quarterback who is more NFL-ready than most realize. He has shown the ability to go through progressions, make smart decisions and deliver an accurate football. These are the most important skills for a young quarterback and the building blocks for a long career.
The negative with Goff is that he’s coming out of a spread offense that makes the reads easier than what he’ll deal with in a pro-style scheme. However, he is a smart enough individual to quickly adjust to a new system and succeed.
Los Angeles has been searching for a franchise quarterback for a while and especially since Sam Bradford’s injury-plagued run. They felt so strongly about their need at the position that they packaged a ton of picks in order to get in position to grab someone like Goff.
The Rams have a solid roster base in place that could make things easier for a young quarterback. Todd Gurley is the most important piece to that puzzle as his ability to move the chains will take pressure off Goff. Gurley is capable keeping the offense out of third and long situations and thus making things more manageable for the quarterback.
Defensively, the Rams have playmakers that are able to create turnovers and provide extra opportunities for the quarterback. A strong defense also helps a team overcome mistakes made by a young signal caller. This defense will limit points off turnovers which will go a long way to helping Goff’s confidence.
Two concerns are the lack of a No. 1 wide receiver and issues along the offensive line. Goff is going to need to develop a relationship with inconsistent pass-catchers like Kenny Britt and Brian Quick. Both players have talent, but have never put together a full season of production.
Goff’s top target will be Tavon Austin who took a step forward in his development last season. He’s someone who can create in space and take a short pass to the house. His lack of size will always be an issue as he can get a little lost in tight coverage. However, Austin and Gurley are the two playmakers Goff will need to lean on.
The offensive line has young talent, but this group needs to stay healthy and be more consistent. Greg Robinson is the key as his development at left tackle as been slower than expected. He needs to step his game up and provide Goff with a clean pocket.
On a positive note, Goff does a great job navigating the pocket and is use to dealing with pressure. The key is that Goff doesn’t just look to escape the pressure, but he makes subtle movements like side stepping or stepping up in the pocket.