Rams OC Kevin O'Connell wants to give QB Jared Goff some ownership of offense

[ROD-BOT]

Rams OC Kevin O'Connell wants to give QB Jared Goff "some ownership" of offense

Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell explains his vision for quarterback Jared Goff as Goff approaches his fifth season and their first working together.

www.therams.com

Rams OC Kevin O'Connell wants to give QB Jared Goff some ownership of offense

When it comes to helping Rams quarterback Jared Goff improve on his 2019 performance, offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell sees a couple layers to the process.

It could be as simple as reviewing the fundamentals of playing the position, such as the first step on a drop-back from under center, the base at the top of a drop, or where Goff's eyes are going off a play-action fake. Another possibility: Allowing Goff to have more control of the unit.

"There's a layer going into his fifth year, his fourth year in the offense, of ownership, where you feel strongly about presenting him with a plan where he could truly have some ownership, while also understanding at the end of the day, it's just about being great with the details of doing his job," O'Connell said during a video conference last month.

This concept isn't a completely new approach. After Goff signed a lucrative four-year contract extension with the club in early September, Rams head coach Sean McVay said the time he and Goff had spent together so far offered Goff that ability.

While McVay and Goff likely didn't envision him proceeding to throw 22 touchdowns against 16 interceptions, Goff doesn't bear the responsibility of those stats alone, given he was playing behind a retooled offensive line that was going to need time to develop stability and chemistry. And when given a clean pocket and the chance to work with a dedicated offensive coordinator, Goff has shown why McVay and O'Connell have the confidence to give him that level of responsibility.

In the month of December alone, Goff threw 11 touchdowns and 4 interceptions while completing 66.2 percent of his pass attempts. This coincided with the Rams' reconfigured offensive line finishing the regular season allowing a league-low 22 sacks.

Across the 2017 and 2018 seasons, Goff threw a combined 60 touchdowns and 19 interceptions while playing behind offensive lines that ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in fewest sacks allowed each of those years.

The 2017 season was the last time the former Cal standout had the chance to work with a full-time offensive coordinator on the Rams' coaching staff, and he threw 28 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions under the tutelage of Matt LaFleur, now the Packers head coach.

Earlier this month, Goff explained the importance of that collaboration between him, a dedicated offensive coordinator and McVay.

"I think that's the biggest thing that will be great this year, myself, Sean and Kevin being able to have that fluid conversation throughout the year," Goff said during a June 10 video conference. "What we see, what we like, what we don't like, and just continue to work on it."

What exactly that ownership looks like won't become clear until games are played. However, greater collaboration and a more experienced offensive line suggests there's reason to trust Goff with it.

"I think he's got a chance to have a great season, and I'm really excited for him," O'Connell said.

 

[Merlin]

I'd like to hear someone ask McVay about the OL protections. To what extent was Jared involved in that early on in 2019? And did his involvement in that (if he was) show progression through the season.

I have a theory about Jared that he tends to struggle the first time he sees something. He struggled his first season with the Bears in college, but worked hard and bounced back the very next season. He struggled in his rook season with us, then worked hard and bounced back the next season. He struggled in his first playoff game, then bounced back the next season and got us in the Super Bowl. And he struggled in his first Super Bowl.

Last season the "something new" was poor OL play. Now maybe it wasn't new because he had a bad line in his rookie NFL season. But it was new in that it was his first bad OL after he knew wtf he was doing. So my theory is that ten years from now he'll look back on the 2019 season as a key development experience.

But again I'd love to hear someone try to nail McVay down on the protections and who had what responsibilities. Because I suspect the Rams put more of that on Jared Goff in 2019 due to Sullivan retiring. And it was just a bit too much for him, and/or he responded by struggling with it. Of course I know why McVay is so elusive with that kind of information, what with guys like Chris Simms circling like sharks ready to turn anything he says into clickbait anti-Goff articles. But still it would be nice to hear that.

 

[PressureD41]

Fuck Chris Simms

 

[Memento]

Fuck Chris Simms

I'd rather not.

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

by this stage goff should know what's coming from the defense. i'd be disappointed if he wasn't making the right line calls this season.

.

 

[Flint]

About what I expected from Simms. One of the other dudes on nbc had what I thought was a more reasonable rating of Goff at 16.
Goff did slip from previous years but he wasn’t horrible. I don’t think Goff is ever going to get any acknowledgement from Simms. “Sure you can win with him, he got to the SB”, that’s about all you’re gonna get from Simms and I think it’s because he didn’t think Goff should go #1 and now the contract.
The problem with Simms analysis is that a lot is subjective. He had a freeze frame of JG’s ball position which looked off, but it wasn’t video so is this part of his regular motion or one instant where the ball was in that position. It seems Simms is a victim of the Mahomesification of the league. He says Goff’s not good off platform, actually I don’t think he’s bad just not Mahomes.
Simms says Goff needs to improve with pocket awareness which I agree with but I watched his analysis of Watson who was 4 and he said Watson leaves the pocket too quickly which I think is concerning in itself, especially when you had one of the best WRs in the league. Was he running the offense or just looking for Hopkins then taking off. That’s my issue with Simms, is Watson an elite passer or do you like him cuz he’s a great athlete. I think he rates guys he likes higher and then finds reasons to justify his decisions.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Jared Goff gets paid, but can he lead the Rams without Todd Gurley?

There's no more debate -- Jared Goff is the leader of the Rams' offense. That said, can he step up after an uneven 2019 season?

www.espn.com

Can Jared Goff lead the Rams without Todd Gurley?

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff's bank account grew exponentially this offseason. In March, he collected a cool $21 million and more than half of his $134 million, four-year extension became fully guaranteed.

Now, as the Rams prepare for the 2020 season without star running back Todd Gurley II, questions remain on whether Goff's production will grow exponentially, too.

For his past three-plus seasons as starter, Goff has had the All-Pro Gurley to rely on -- whether it be as a dominant ball carrier or as decoy for defenses to focus on.

In 2017 and 2018, Gurley powered the offense to two NFC West titles and a trip to Super Bowl LIII. Last season, even as Gurley's production declined, opponents were forced to account for him in the backfield.

Following the Rams' decision to cut Gurley in March, Goff becomes the focal point of the offensive scheme, though Goff said it's a role that has always aligned with his position.

"There's no label to put on anything, whose team it is or whose it on more or not more," said Goff, who turns 26 in October. "It's always been on me, it's always been on the quarterback."

Rams coach Sean McVay said the onus to excel without Gurley falls on the entire offense.

"Anytime that you lose a great player, the guys are asked to step up," McVay said. "I think it's about our offense producing as a whole; our quarterback position is vital to our success, he's got 10 other teammates around him that we'll expect to be able to do their task at a high level."

The Rams return nine of 11 starters from last season's offense, which performed below expectations after it was among the NFL's highest-scoring units in 2017 and 2018. Along with releasing Gurley, the Rams also traded speedy receiver Brandin Cooks, whom McVay often lauded for stretching a defense.

But, as the Rams completed a seven-week, virtual offseason program, Goff pointed to the unit's continuity to help them rebound from a 9-7 finish and their first playoffs miss under McVay.

"We do have an advantage offensively with the same system, the same players and everything," said Goff, who passed for 22 touchdowns but threw a career-high 16 interceptions last season.

The Rams return their entire starting offensive line, a group that underwent growing pains in 2019. They also return starting receivers Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp and tight end Tyler Higbee, who emerged late last season as a go-to target.

In an effort to replace Gurley and Cooks, the Rams selected Florida State running back Cam Akers and Florida receiver Van Jefferson in the second round of the NFL draft.

But perhaps the biggest addition to the offense will be offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell, whom McVay hired from the Washington Redskins.

"Kevin O'Connell is going to be huge for [Goff's] growth in terms of their relationship and their rapport," said McVay, who went the past two seasons without a full-time offensive coordinator after Matt LaFleur departed following the 2017 season.

O'Connell and Goff were unable to complete any on-field work this offseason because of the coronavirus pandemic, but Goff -- whose 48.5 total QBR last season ranked 23rd among qualified quarterbacks -- expressed optimism about O'Connell's potential impact.

"I can already see through this point that he's going to be really good for us and really good for our whole team," said Goff, who will be working with his fifth quarterbacks coach in five NFL seasons, as O'Connell assumes that role, too. "For me, specifically, him being a guy who played quarterback and has coached quarterbacks at a high level, it's exciting for me."

Fundamentals and ownership of the offense will be key for Goff, according to O'Connell, a former third-round draft pick who served as a backup quarterback for four seasons on various teams.

"You feel strongly about presenting him with a plan where he can truly have some ownership while also understanding at the end of the day it's just about being great with the details of doing his job," O’Connell said. "He's got a chance to have a great season."

As Goff enters Year 5, McVay is emphasizing improved consistency in all facets of Goff's game.

"How consistent can [he] be when the pocket allows, playing within the timing and rhythm," McVay said, "When things go off schedule ... delivering the ball with your base, balance and body position ... make great decisions ...

"I could go on and on about all this, but it would be the same answer, ultimately."

Last season, consistency was difficult to come by, as Goff and the offense struggled to develop an identity with less Gurley, more Goff and indecision about whether they were a run- or pass-first offense. Their play-action -- Goff's bread-and-butter in his first two seasons under McVay -- suffered, as teams failed to bite on the Rams' run game, which appeared to evaporate at different points in the season.

In a Week 4 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Goff attempted a career-high 68 passes, completing 45. In a Week 11 win over the Chicago Bears, he completed 11 of 18 pass attempts.

By the end of the season, the Rams discovered more success in 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends, two receivers) than they had been experiencing in McVay's often-used 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, three receivers).

Goff agrees with McVay: Consistency will be key as they attempt to rebound from a lackluster season. But Goff also said he's freer to disagree with McVay than ever before.

"I feel like I'm able to have even more of an opinion than I've ever had, and it will continue to grow," Goff said, "but at this point, me and Sean have been through so much together, we've seen so much together, where he can say something and I can disagree confidently, and likewise with him."

 

[Legatron4]

Go on YouTube and watch any Rams game highlights. Out of 16 games you’ll find maybe 8 games that feature Gurley in the clips more then once. Maybe a 2 yard TD run. Once and a while it was a 20 yard run. That used to be the norm when watching Rams games. We had virtually no run game last year and nobody seems to attribute that to Goff’s struggles.

Goff lead the Rams last year without Gurley. He was completely average last season and actually Akers is an upgrade at this point. I guarantee Goff will be fine.

 

[BonifayRam]

I think Goff will lead just fine with true seasoned offensive stars like Robert Woods/ Cooper Kupp/ Tyler Higbee standing by his side.

You would have to look long & hard to find a better offensive player to assist a QB like Goff than WR Robert Woods he will sacrifice himself & usually does for his team & fellow players.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

Goff lead the Rams last year without Gurley. He was completely average last season and actually Akers is an upgrade at this point. I guarantee Goff will be fine.

*without run blocking