Peter King: 10/1/18

[Prime Time]

To read the article click the link below. Only Rams mentions are posted to save you the time to look for them. Cause that's the kind of guy I am.
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https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/10/01/fmia-week-4-quarter-pole-nfl-peter-king/

The Rams rule. Since Sean McVay arrived last season, the Rams are 15-5 and average 30.9 points per game. They’re the best team in football, the only 4-0 team as October dawns, and except for the Chiefs, it’s not very close.

Offensive Players of the Week

Cooper Kupp, wide receiver, Los Angeles Rams. You know your receiving corps is in fine fettle when the number three guy, Kupp, is on pace to catch 86 balls for 1,392 yards, 16 touchdowns and a 14.5-yards-per-catch average.

Kupp beat linebacker Anthony Barr for one touchdown catch Thursday night and two corners for the other one in a nine-catch, 162-yard, two-TD night against Minnesota. Kupp’s a possession receiver and a field-stretcher.
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Coaches of the Week

Sean McVay, coach, Los Angeles Rams. When McVay got to southern California 20 months ago, job one was fixing quarterback Jared Goff, who had a lousy rookie year that left his confidence shaken. Since then, Goff has rebuilt his mechanics and footwork and confidence, and he has been one of the game’s most efficient, explosive quarterbacks.

The five-TD master-show by Goff in the win over the Vikings reinforced all the work McVay has done with him. Wrote Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times post-game: “[McVay] is the quintessential Goffensive coordinator, drawing up plays that allow his third-year quarterback to pick apart opponents with surgical precision.” True.
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Numbers Game

Comparing the Rams before and after Sean McVay is an exercise in why coaching matters. McVay is 20 games into his NFL head-coaching career after the Rams’ 38-31 win over the Vikings on Thursday night. So I charted his first 20 games versus the Rams’ previous 20.

Under McVay
Record: 15-5
Points Scored: 618
Points Differential: +222
Passer Rating: 104.1

Before McVay (Previous 20 Games)
Record: 7-13
Points Scored: 315
Points Differential: -152
Passer Rating: 72.7

Jared Goff’s passer rating before McVay arrived: 63.6.

Since McVay arrived: 106.4.
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Johnny Hekker threw that fake-punt pass against the Vikes 49 yards in the air, and it was a perfect spiral. Would have been the play of the week except for the little matter of the incompletion.
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I think there is little question what the game of the year is now. And no one would have picked it even a month ago. Clue? Week 11. Another clue? Not in the United States. It’s Chiefs-Rams on Monday, Nov. 19, in Mexico City. I’m not much of a gamblin’ man. But as my good friend Brent Musburger would say, Take the over.
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Three points to make about those possible flex dates:

• Re: Rams at Niners, Week 7—Not a lot of great potential flex options here. I’d bet on New Orleans at Baltimore as the best shot if each has a winning record a week from today—if the league flexes. Moving New England-Chicago from the early Sunday window would give the Patriots an unheard-of five straight prime-time games.

But if the Rams continue to be a juggernaut, the sexiness of McVay/Goff/Donald would make it tempting for the league to keep the game, even with C.J. Beathard the other quarterback. In the end, I think the league won’t want to flex this game unless the Niners looks like a lost cause a week from now. Deadline for flex: Oct. 9.

• Re: Niners at Seahawks, Week 13—Minnesota at New England, the current FOX doubleheader game in the late window that Sunday, could be interesting here. San Francisco at Seattle was compelling too because of Richard Sherman returning to Seattle for the first time, but if both teams are struggling and there’s a better game, this week will a better chance for a flex than Week 7.

• Just so you know, here are the prime-time rules: A team can be scheduled for as many as five prime-time games. A team can be flexed into a sixth prime-time game in any week from Week 5 through 16. And the league can choose any game in Week 17 to be the Sunday night game. Theoretically, then, a team scheduled for five prime-time games and then flexed into a sixth could still end up playing a seventh if it’s chosen for the final game of the season.

 

[Merlin]

McVay is a generational head coach. But honestly I feel like Jared would have come around (i.e. been a good or better starter) even with a poor OC; the only thing that could have kept him from developing, IMO, is a porous OL, which can be the death of any young signal caller at this level. Going back to his earnest promise after his rookie season, that he'd "get it fixed..." I already believed in his future at that juncture, but for me that was the moment that I knew the Rams had hit on that pick. And no matter what any of us think wrt Fisher, a young QB who is talented and determined to become great is capable of boosting an average or otherwise unimaginative OC. Coaching & talent benefit or detract from each other equally, I suppose, is the best way to say it.

Anyway. Not like it matters who gets cred. There will be enormous amounts of it heaped upon this team and it's coaches and players in the future and plenty to go around. But I just dislike storylines that overlook major things, like the way the media tries to rationalize Goff's success now by linking it with the HC. It's just a $#!tty thing the media does. It's one thing for fans to do it in their homerism and general ignorance in all the nuances of the game, but the media should be above that type of stuff with analysts that have a deep understanding of things and see past the sensationalist type BS.

I know, I have unrealistic expectations. It's not a big deal or anything, moreso just an annoyance.

 

[96GS#007]

Still have to pinch myself that after more than a decade of outright futility, we actually get to see amazing and entertaining football. I remember this in '99 as well....just kept waiting to wake up and realize it was a dream

 

[Karate61]

I can't recall Pete ever writing that much on the Rams in one report...

 

[Mackeyser]

McVay is a generational head coach. But honestly I feel like Jared would have come around (i.e. been a good or better starter) even with a poor OC; the only thing that could have kept him from developing, IMO, is a porous OL, which can be the death of any young signal caller at this level. Going back to his earnest promise after his rookie season, that he'd "get it fixed..." I already believed in his future at that juncture, but for me that was the moment that I knew the Rams had hit on that pick. And no matter what any of us think wrt Fisher, a young QB who is talented and determined to become great is capable of boosting an average or otherwise unimaginative OC. Coaching & talent benefit or detract from each other equally, I suppose, is the best way to say it.

Anyway. Not like it matters who gets cred. There will be enormous amounts of it heaped upon this team and it's coaches and players in the future and plenty to go around. But I just dislike storylines that overlook major things, like the way the media tries to rationalize Goff's success now by linking it with the HC. It's just a $#!tty thing the media does. It's one thing for fans to do it in their homerism and general ignorance in all the nuances of the game, but the media should be above that type of stuff with analysts that have a deep understanding of things and see past the sensationalist type BS.

I know, I have unrealistic expectations. It's not a big deal or anything, moreso just an annoyance.

For years, people said Brady was a system QB. And he is. He's just exceptional at executing that system.

Same with every great QB.

Goff is EXCEPTIONAL at running McVay's offense.

What I love about this young man is that he isn't phased by, but doesn't forget what it took to lose and then build into a winner.

He started out at Cal 1-10. He started out 0-7 with the Rams.

He knows what it takes to win because he's been a part of forging it...which means he takes ownership and I can't imagine either he or McVay will take a single moment for granted.

 

[Ram65]

Sean McVay, coach, Los Angeles Rams. When McVay got to southern California 20 months ago, job one was fixing quarterback Jared Goff, who had a lousy rookie year that left his confidence shaken. Since then, Goff has rebuilt his mechanics and footwork and confidence, and he has been one of the game’s most efficient, explosive quarterbacks.

I don't think so.

He never lacked confidence. He always had great footwork. He needed practice under center.

 

[Farr Be It]

I don't think so.

He never lacked confidence. He always had great footwork. He needed practice under center.

You succinctly dispensed with many false narratives. Well done, sir.

 

[Rambitious1]

To read the article click the link below. Only Rams mentions are posted to save you the time to look for them. Cause that's the kind of guy I am.
*****************************************************************
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/10/01/fmia-week-4-quarter-pole-nfl-peter-king/

The Rams rule. Since Sean McVay arrived last season, the Rams are 15-5 and average 30.9 points per game. They’re the best team in football, the only 4-0 team as October dawns, and except for the Chiefs, it’s not very close.

Offensive Players of the Week

Cooper Kupp, wide receiver, Los Angeles Rams. You know your receiving corps is in fine fettle when the number three guy, Kupp, is on pace to catch 86 balls for 1,392 yards, 16 touchdowns and a 14.5-yards-per-catch average.

Kupp beat linebacker Anthony Barr for one touchdown catch Thursday night and two corners for the other one in a nine-catch, 162-yard, two-TD night against Minnesota. Kupp’s a possession receiver and a field-stretcher.
------------------------------------------------
Coaches of the Week

Sean McVay, coach, Los Angeles Rams. When McVay got to southern California 20 months ago, job one was fixing quarterback Jared Goff, who had a lousy rookie year that left his confidence shaken. Since then, Goff has rebuilt his mechanics and footwork and confidence, and he has been one of the game’s most efficient, explosive quarterbacks.

The five-TD master-show by Goff in the win over the Vikings reinforced all the work McVay has done with him. Wrote Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times post-game: “[McVay] is the quintessential Goffensive coordinator, drawing up plays that allow his third-year quarterback to pick apart opponents with surgical precision.” True.
-------------------------------------
Numbers Game

Comparing the Rams before and after Sean McVay is an exercise in why coaching matters. McVay is 20 games into his NFL head-coaching career after the Rams’ 38-31 win over the Vikings on Thursday night. So I charted his first 20 games versus the Rams’ previous 20.

Under McVay
Record: 15-5
Points Scored: 618
Points Differential: +222
Passer Rating: 104.1

Before McVay (Previous 20 Games)
Record: 7-13
Points Scored: 315
Points Differential: -152
Passer Rating: 72.7

Jared Goff’s passer rating before McVay arrived: 63.6.

Since McVay arrived: 106.4.
-----------------------------------------------
Johnny Hekker threw that fake-punt pass against the Vikes 49 yards in the air, and it was a perfect spiral. Would have been the play of the week except for the little matter of the incompletion.
-------------------------------------
I think there is little question what the game of the year is now. And no one would have picked it even a month ago. Clue? Week 11. Another clue? Not in the United States. It’s Chiefs-Rams on Monday, Nov. 19, in Mexico City. I’m not much of a gamblin’ man. But as my good friend Brent Musburger would say, Take the over.
-----------------------------------
Three points to make about those possible flex dates:

• Re: Rams at Niners, Week 7—Not a lot of great potential flex options here. I’d bet on New Orleans at Baltimore as the best shot if each has a winning record a week from today—if the league flexes. Moving New England-Chicago from the early Sunday window would give the Patriots an unheard-of five straight prime-time games.

But if the Rams continue to be a juggernaut, the sexiness of McVay/Goff/Donald would make it tempting for the league to keep the game, even with C.J. Beathard the other quarterback. In the end, I think the league won’t want to flex this game unless the Niners looks like a lost cause a week from now. Deadline for flex: Oct. 9.

• Re: Niners at Seahawks, Week 13—Minnesota at New England, the current FOX doubleheader game in the late window that Sunday, could be interesting here. San Francisco at Seattle was compelling too because of Richard Sherman returning to Seattle for the first time, but if both teams are struggling and there’s a better game, this week will a better chance for a flex than Week 7.

• Just so you know, here are the prime-time rules: A team can be scheduled for as many as five prime-time games. A team can be flexed into a sixth prime-time game in any week from Week 5 through 16. And the league can choose any game in Week 17 to be the Sunday night game. Theoretically, then, a team scheduled for five prime-time games and then flexed into a sixth could still end up playing a seventh if it’s chosen for the final game of the season.

Chiefs versus the Rams on Monday night you better bring your abacus To that one.

 

[Ramlock]

McVay is a generational head coach. But honestly I feel like Jared would have come around (i.e. been a good or better starter) even with a poor OC; the only thing that could have kept him from developing, IMO, is a porous OL, which can be the death of any young signal caller at this level. Going back to his earnest promise after his rookie season, that he'd "get it fixed..." I already believed in his future at that juncture, but for me that was the moment that I knew the Rams had hit on that pick. And no matter what any of us

I always felt that way...he's gotten there faster with McVay...much faster.

Good post.

 

[VegasRam]

McVay is a generational head coach. But honestly I feel like Jared would have come around (i.e. been a good or better starter) even with a poor OC; the only thing that could have kept him from developing, IMO, is a porous OL, which can be the death of any young signal caller at this level. Going back to his earnest promise after his rookie season, that he'd "get it fixed..." I already believed in his future at that juncture, but for me that was the moment that I knew the Rams had hit on that pick. And no matter what any of us think wrt Fisher, a young QB who is talented and determined to become great is capable of boosting an average or otherwise unimaginative OC. Coaching & talent benefit or detract from each other equally, I suppose, is the best way to say it.

Anyway. Not like it matters who gets cred. There will be enormous amounts of it heaped upon this team and it's coaches and players in the future and plenty to go around. But I just dislike storylines that overlook major things, like the way the media tries to rationalize Goff's success now by linking it with the HC. It's just a $#!tty thing the media does. It's one thing for fans to do it in their homerism and general ignorance in all the nuances of the game, but the media should be above that type of stuff with analysts that have a deep understanding of things and see past the sensationalist type BS.

I know, I have unrealistic expectations. It's not a big deal or anything, moreso just an annoyance.

+1000

"Jared Goff, who had a lousy rookie year that left his confidence shaken. Since then, Goff has rebuilt his mechanics and footwork and confidence...." - PK

King is such an asshat. There was nothing wrong with his confidence, footwork or mechanics. Fisher was literally running (as TG famously noted), a middle school offense, we had no WRs, and teams were teeing of on JG who had zero time to read the field, which wouldn't have made any fucking difference anyway, because no one would have been open (see Gurley comment).

When I saw that pass to Austin, in that moment, I thought, "Houston we not only don't have a problem, we got us a fucking QUARTERBACK! :yess:

 

[VegasRam]

For years, people said Brady was a system QB. And he is. He's just exceptional at executing that system.

Same with every great QB.

Goff is EXCEPTIONAL at running McVay's offense.

What I love about this young man is that he isn't phased by, but doesn't forget what it took to lose and then build into a winner.

He started out at Cal 1-10. He started out 0-7 with the Rams.

He knows what it takes to win because he's been a part of forging it...which means he takes ownership and I can't imagine either he or McVay will take a single moment for granted.

I KNOW you know it's "fazed". :fighting:
Must have done it on your iphone.:cheers:

 

[kurtfaulk]

I don't think so.

He never lacked confidence. He always had great footwork. He needed practice under center.

it's like qbs aren't allowed to be rookies anymore. pocket passers aren't gonna come into the league and light it up. running qbs might but pocket passers won't. why can't the media understand this?

.

 

[ReekofRams]

Peter King said what about the Rams?! :shocked::death:

 

[Mackeyser]

I don't think so.

He never lacked confidence. He always had great footwork. He needed practice under center.

His footwork was always good, but inconsistent in his first year.

And his throwing mechanics weren't consistent, either. Aikman wasn't he only one who noticed his lack of a consistent spiral.

Goff of this minute wasn't the same Goff the day after he was drafted. He's improved mightily and he deserves tons of credit for that.

He didn't need a mechanical rebuild or rediscover like the article infers, but he has made striking improvements under McVay and the other offensive coaches.

 

[Ram65]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgqYO3VPueM


I think Goff's problems were more not understanding defenses and possible bad route running his rookie year. Remember the WRs? I think confusion lead to some bad throws/mechanics. Here is his rookie highlights. I know they are highlights. Let it run to 2017 highlights. You can see similar traits. He looks a little smoother in 2017 but, basically same footwork.

 

[VegasRam]

He didn’t make striking improvements under McVay because he was under McVay.

He made improvements because he had more time in the NFL.
Goff has been throwing a football since he was 8.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I recall reading about Goff working with the QB trainer in the off season. The same one that Brady was going to. He's consider an expert in mechanics and kinesiology or something like that.

 

[Mackeyser]

I recall reading about Goff working with the QB trainer in the off season. The same one that Brady was going to. He's consider an expert in mechanics and kinesiology or something like that.

That would be Tom House at USC. He's literally swimming in the best of the best from every throwing sport there is.

 

[Mackeyser]

I KNOW you know it's "fazed". :fighting:
Must have done it on your iphone.:cheers:

haha, nah, I just made a mistake.

Can't blame that one on the phone.

As an engineer, everything is a "phase"...LOL

 

[Classic Rams]

We've seen/known this for the last 2 offseasons, and aI almost forgot about it.

from SI:

In February (2017), Goff followed the lead of Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, Drew Brees and other elite NFL passers and enlisted help from quarterback trainers Tom House and Justin Dedeaux. During sessions in Newport Beach, they helped refine his mechanics.

Several factors point to Jared's improvement. Including working out with his WRs away from team practice. I seem to reacall reading that he wanted to do that in his rookie year, and no one took him up on it. (Britt, Austin, Quick.... I'm referring to you.)

I'm happy that he's so dedicated and driven to becoming the best. He really wants to be the franchise QB for this team and so far so good.