B/R’s Miller: “Goff Will Have Better Year Than Wentz”

  • To unlock all of features of Rams On Demand please take a brief moment to register. Registering is not only quick and easy, it also allows you access to additional features such as live chat, private messaging, and a host of other apps exclusive to Rams On Demand.

tomas

Pro Bowler
Joined
Apr 10, 2016
Messages
1,834
Name
tomas
B/R’s Miller: “Goff Will Have Better Year Than Wentz”
https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2017/...than-carson-wentz-bleacher-report-matt-miller by 3k Jun 26, 2017, 1:59pm PDT
Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller is making a pretty bold prediction for the 2017 season.
Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller has been making some news as of late.

A week ago, it was the suggestion that former Los Angeles Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher could be an appropriate candidate for the Chicago Bears’ gig if John Fox is fired by season’s end.

Today, it’s Miller’s opinion on the franchise QB that Fisher and Les Snead traded up for the #1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft to be able to select:

Jared Goff will have a better year than Carson Wentz.

Define "better year" however you want as long as we're not talking about wins and losses (team stat), Goff will take the next step this season with an improved offensive line and a competent coaching staff around him. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Cooper Kupp lead the team's receivers in catches.

I like Wentz a lot, but his slow release and trigger need to be improved before I'm ready to call out his sophomore season as an improved year. If that can be fixed, Wentz has a chance to become a top-10 quarterback this season. I'm betting on seeing more of the same from Wentz with Goff playing like the former No. 1 overall pick that he is.

A couple of things.

I think we’re all in agreement that it’s pretty much impossible for the Rams’ offense to get worse. That would almost certainly include Goff who threw for 155 yards per game at a 0.71:1 TD-INT ratio. The problem is that by comparison, Wentz threw for 236 yards per game with a 1:0.875 TD-INT ratio. That’s a pretty significant separation. Even if Wentz puts up mirrored numbers, that’s asking a TON of Goff to improve upon without the benefit of a star first-round prospect coming into the roster.

#yikes

But if we’re alluding to the coaching staff and surrounding talent as being part of the reason why, that would certainly invalidate Miller’s call to ignore wins as a “team stat.” I’m not disagreeing with him there, but nearly all traditional statistics measure a group output more than an individual one.

That being said, his suggestion of an “improved offensive line” is one of the biggest assumptions about the 2017 Rams that I’m eager to see play out early on in the season. I’ve said before that the biggest addition to the line compared to 2016 is the subtraction of Greg Robinson whom the Rams traded two weeks ago. While I’m hopeful LT Andrew Whitworth can come anywhere close to matching his play in Cincinnati in years of late, I think it’s worth remembering that he’s 35-years old. I’m nowhere near sold on the rest of the offensive line as a unit, so if we’re pinning all of our hopes and all of the sincerity of the idea that the Rams will boast an “improved offensive line” in a 35-year old left tackle? That’s risky as hell.

As for rookie WR Cooper Kupp leading the team in receptions? I think there’s some credibility to that idea, though I’d note the concern with a third-round rookie leading your team in receptions especially after signing WR Robert Woods to a pretty big deal while WR Tavon Austin is enjoying a much bigger contract in the meanwhile. Only five players caught more than 16 receptions last year. WR Kenny Britt led the team with 68 receptions. He’s now on the Cleveland Browns. Austin was second with 58 receptions out of 106 targets, a target rate I don’t know he gets half of in 2017. TE Lance Kendricks has taken his 50 receptions in 2016 to the Green Bay Packers. RB Todd Gurley had 43 catches out of the backfield. WR Brian Quick joined the Washington Football Statistic Creators on a one-year deal after 41 catches. So for Kupp to lead the Rams in catches, it might not require all that much in the first place, especially if Goff spreads the ball around with a huge number of potential wide receivers and tight ends on the forthcoming 2017 53-man roster.

Overall, it’s asking a ton for Goff to catch up to Carson Wentz in the course of a single offseason when he’s starting so far behind. Were it to happen, both Goff and certainly new Head Coach Sean McVay would be in for MAJOR commendation. But in the offseason where everything’s positive and every signing is perfect and every player is getting better? Yeah, this is where something like this fits.
 

den-the-coach

Fifty-four Forty or Fight
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Jan 16, 2013
Messages
22,425
Name
Dennis
McVay, LaFleur, Olson & Kromer will make Goff better and the Golden Bear himself will be better too. Not concerned if he'll be better than Wentz, but feel strongly year 2 will be a major improvement.
 

A.J. Hicks

Hall of Fame
Joined
Aug 12, 2014
Messages
2,563
Name
zoomy
Exactly what I was thinking Den. I think we'll see a very nice improvement from year 1 to 2. The new coaching staff is really going to help.

I am also not concerned with how he'll compare to Wentz this year. But I guess that'll probably be a career long comparison
 

OldSchool

Rams On Demand Sponsor
Rams On Demand Sponsor
ROD Credit | 2022 TOP Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2013
Messages
38,386
That's because he's better than Wentz and is finally getting some quality coaching.
 

Ramlock

Here we f’n go, baby!
Joined
Sep 7, 2014
Messages
5,046
Name
Ramlock
Hope and expect the kid to be better than his 2016 self
 

Angry Ram

Captain RAmerica Original Rammer
Joined
Jul 1, 2010
Messages
17,845
Carson played in more games. Wasn't even supposed to until Teddy Bridgewater got hurt and Sam got traded from Philly.

Of COURSE he's gonna have more TDs. And Carson isn't significantly better this year, either. Everyone had a boner for him for like, 2 weeks and then crickets. He had 3, 300+ yard games and two of them were losing efforts. Playing catch up, much?

#hashtagsdontworkonfanblogs

#sayingyikesisntfunny

#shutup
 

Dxmissile

Rams On Demand Sponsor
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Jul 25, 2014
Messages
4,526
Carson played in more games. Wasn't even supposed to until Teddy Bridgewater got hurt and Sam got traded from Philly.

Of COURSE he's gonna have more TDs. And Carson isn't significantly better this year, either. Everyone had a boner for him for like, 2 weeks and then crickets. He had 3, 300+ yard games and two of them were losing efforts. Playing catch up, much?

#hashtagsdontworkonfanblogs

#sayingyikesisntfunny

#shutup

Lol any way you wanna put it Wentz was better.. Goff didn't even win a game
 

dieterbrock

Rams On Demand Sponsor
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Jan 3, 2013
Messages
22,893
I'd feel a lot more confident in Goff if he was the one who now gets to throw to Alshon Jeffrey.....
 

DaveFan'51

Old-Timer
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Apr 18, 2014
Messages
18,666
Name
Dave
After Goff gets off to a 4-0 start this season and Wentz is 2-2 (at Best) there will be no more comparison Talk!(y):D
 

Merlin

Enjoying the ride
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
37,034
I agree with Miller. That said it's irritating to see a positive article on him; I prefer the media continues to dump on him right up until he shuts them the F up with a season that cannot be denied.

Cannot wait to hear guys like Meshawn spin themselves back into Goff support once he shows what he can do. Dude is a maroon, shouldn't even be on the air.
 

DaveFan'51

Old-Timer
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Apr 18, 2014
Messages
18,666
Name
Dave
I agree with Miller. That said it's irritating to see a positive article on him; I prefer the media continues to dump on him right up until he shuts them the F up with a season that cannot be denied.

Cannot wait to hear guys like Meshawn spin themselves back into Goff support once he shows what he can do. Dude is a maroon, shouldn't even be on the air.
Absolutely right on all counts Bro!!!!!(y)(y)
 

Ram65

Legend
Joined
Apr 30, 2015
Messages
9,597
I would have liked some solid reasons why Goff better than Wentz this year. The main reasoning seemed to be

I like Wentz a lot, but his slow release and trigger need to be improved before I'm ready to call out his sophomore season as an improved year.

Wentz has some flaws in his delivery. So far it sounds encouraging that Goff has a better understanding of the offensive play calling, reading defenses and audibles. The thing that I feel strongly about is that Goff will show a big improvement this year because he was given a solid learning foundation by McVay and staff that wasn't given last year.
 

DCH

Madman with a box.
Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Messages
3,354
Name
Dewey
PFF has Philly's O-line ranked #1 going into 2017, and the Eagles have Alshon Jeffrey, Torrey Smith, Jordan Matthews and Zach Ertz as their primary pass catchers. Goff doesn't have anything approaching the surrounding talent Wentz has, so I'd be shocked if he has a better season.

Edit to add: offensive HC Pederson is entering year 2, so he's had more time to install his system, pick his players and develop his QB.
 

Ramrasta

(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
Joined
Sep 7, 2010
Messages
3,116
Name
Tyler
This will be the comparison for their entire careers. Goff vs Wentz. Thankfully their careers are not defined by their rookie seasons.
 

Merlin

Enjoying the ride
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
37,034
PFF has Philly's O-line ranked #1 going into 2017, and the Eagles have Alshon Jeffrey, Torrey Smith, Jordan Matthews and Zach Ertz as their primary pass catchers. Goff doesn't have anything approaching the surrounding talent Wentz has, so I'd be shocked if he has a better season.

Edit to add: offensive HC Pederson is entering year 2, so he's had more time to install his system, pick his players and develop his QB.

Yep, so WHEN Goff has a better season what's that gonna mean? Can't wait man, really hope things turn out that way because a lot of dudes in the media need to eat some damn crow.
 

DCH

Madman with a box.
Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Messages
3,354
Name
Dewey
Yep, so WHEN Goff has a better season what's that gonna mean? Can't wait man, really hope things turn out that way because a lot of dudes in the media need to eat some damn crow.
If he has a better season, then he deserves a Pro Bowl berth and McVay deserves Coach of the Year. Not saying it can't or won't happen, just saying the deck is stacked against Goff right now.