John Wolford

[oldnotdead]

Wolford will be a ERFA next year meaning the Rams will have him through 2022 but stand a chance of losing him after that. They need to think about grooming the next backup as a contingency. Wolford is a good QB but I question his ultimate ceiling. He's the kind of QB that can stick around for a career as a solid backup and perhaps at some point get his shot as a starter. A good team can win with John, but I'm not sure he's good enough to carry a poor or mediocre team. If he's smart he will make a career as McVay's backup QB, make decent money and maybe pick up a ring or two. Six years from now the Rams might be looking for a new starting QB, and who knows. He knows the system, he's got a good arm with good accuracy and he's fairly mobile and he will be 33 yo. On the other hand if Jared falters (which I don't expect) he can market himself to Holmes.

Don't get me wrong I really like Wolford and feel very good with him as the Rams backup QB. But gauging his ceiling is difficult. If he was 4"-5" taller people could see franchise potential in him. That said he's an inch taller than Drew Brees. Accuracy is something that is really hard to teach. Usually, all coaches can do is improve the mechanics and hope for the best. John is very much like some of the better short QBs in that he's shown good accuracy in his off-platform throws. Now for the first time he is paired with a QB with the expertise to really mentor John. Having Stafford in that QB room is going to pay big dividends for Wolford. He can learn from one of the best at how to read a defense.

McVay already likes Wolford. If John sticks around long enough IMO he has a shot at being the next Ram starter after Stafford. That said, Stafford's influence on John might increase his value to other teams. If McVay really likes Wolford he should lock him up with at least a 4 year deal in 2023. I think with mentoring from Stafford, Wolford would be in position to make that step to the next level.

 

[Merlin]

I don't know that the Rams want to go crazy to keep Wolford around. He's got nice scrap to him, the guy's extremely competitive and has good command of the offense plus he can run around and move the chains. But I can't imagine him surviving more than a game or two the way he leads with his head and shit when he slides. He's just way too reckless with his own well being.

I think for this season he's cemented as the backup. But beyond that I'm not so sure they're worried about it. Perkins may develop. They may come across a kid they love in next year's draft mid rounds. Who knows.

Plus the backup going rate, well, it used to be around $5M guessing it's higher than that by now. Why pay that when you can have a developing QB behind your starter. Way I see it they have a couple years of control with Wolford that allows them to find another cost controlled option and maybe one with starter upside. I've always felt a guy like McVay should be showcasing depth QBs he's coached up in preseason and flipping them to stupid teams to supplement the drafts.

 

[So Ram]

Tonight will be interesting to me . Actually fell a sleep on 2nd day of Chargers camp of 3. They were on the far field so can’t recall backups well. No one stood out. There defense is very good & deep.Staley is a D” guy
so we’ll see.

Wolford,just go look at Higbee missing a block & Allen’s spear.
Whatever you want to think about
Wolford? I don’t know.What I know is in 2021 Mcvay TRuST WOLFORD.

What the future is ???
Tonight we’ll see what the backups do. D.Hodges took advantage of his opportunity in training camp.Saw him early in TC & he was throwing some INT’s & bad passes.
-What I saw & told (everyone )him to keep winging. When he gets into a groove he throws a real nice spiral.Yeah- you know(tight)w/rotation. I think he might be a solid Practice Squad QB.I liked his maturity with the rookies & friendships bonding.There is something to be said about that.

—Wolford is playing at a very high level right now though.

-Perkins ?? He gets his chance. His big shot in the preseason.We as Fans & him as a player we’re not able have a preseason in 2020.

 

[dieterbrock]

First, I dont think Stafford was brought in to play for 2 years, with 40 being the new 30, I'm thinking they plan on getting a good 4-5 years out of Stafford.
That said, with what McVay paid to replace a pro bowl QB, there's no way Wolford would fit the bill, he'll be fortunate if he remains the #2

 

[LouisvilleRam]

Not sure how many on here have ACC Network but they are showing the 2017 Belk Bowl from 5-8(eastern.) Not much defense was played in this one Wolford put up big numbers.

 

[OldSchool]

Wolford is a backup and a mediocre one at that imo.

 

[LouisvilleRam]

Wolford is a backup and a mediocre one at that imo.

TBD, IMO

 

[Merlin]

Best case scenario for this season is that Stafford leads us to locking up that #1 seed and Wolford starts the last game while McVay rests starters. If that happens or if Wolford gets more looks than that and takes advantage he is now a trade chip for the next offseason. Because he still comes with a year of team control (ERFA).

Things going down that way would allow for the Rams to slide Perkins right into that backup role and add a pick to the draft haul. I'd be fine with that.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

I'm not impressed by Wolford. I hope he never has to take another snap for this team. And his not being available in the preseason didn't help him either.

 

[PARAM]

—Wolford is playing at a very high level right now though.

What???? The guy played 1 game and 15 snaps for a total of 88. He put up 12 points with 0 TDs and 1 int (a rating of 64.5). "Playing at a high level"? To quote Eddie Harris, "compared to what?". Sure he ran 7 times for 58 yards but Perkins can do that.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

What???? The guy played 1 game and 15 snaps for a total of 88. He put up 12 points with 0 TDs and 1 int (a rating of 64.5). "Playing at a high level"? To quote Eddie Harris, "compared to what?". Sure he ran 7 times for 58 yards but Perkins can do that.

I didn't like him, but I wasn't aware he was that bad. I hope by next year, Perkins is our backup. At least he has potential.

 

[swmizzou83]

What???? The guy played 1 game and 15 snaps for a total of 88. He put up 12 points with 0 TDs and 1 int (a rating of 64.5). "Playing at a high level"? To quote Eddie Harris, "compared to what?". Sure he ran 7 times for 58 yards but Perkins can do that.

It was also the 1st start of his career and he got us the win. A lot of players have rough 1st starts

 

[BC Ramfan]

I wouldn't underestimate The Wolf.
I do like the look of Perkins but he was late on a lot of throws because he doesn't anticipate well enough. But that can be taught as he learns the system/routes/WRs better. I think a lot of that is confidence in your receivers, which was maybe justified in his preseason games.
He is definitely a magician in the pocket. That IMO is worth quite a bit in today's NFL.

BC

 

[OldSchool]

I wouldn't underestimate The Wolf.
I do like the look of Perkins but he was late on a lot of throws because he doesn't anticipate well enough. But that can be taught as he learns the system/routes/WRs better. I think a lot of that is confidence in your receivers, which was maybe justified in his preseason games.
He is definitely a magician in the pocket. That IMO is worth quite a bit in today's NFL.

BC

It's been a while since we have seen him in games but it seems a lot of people forget how Wolford threw the ball.

 

[oldnotdead]

Yes, Wolford throws a good ball with a strong arm. But I don't think I'm alone in viewing him as a career backup. That is not to belittle him as a player in any way. But NFL franchises will probably never see him as a franchise QB unless he comes in as a backup and plays most of a season in relief and in doing so gets a team not only into the playoffs but perhaps winning the first game.

Teams will remember that the Rams who know him best, with a HC that likes him, traded Goff for Stafford. The Rams had their chance to anoint Wolford their starting franchise QB this year as teams were calling the Rams about Jared. But the Rams chose to upgrade the position with Stafford. Right or wrong that will be the perception of Wolford that teams will always carry and personally I think it's a valid assessment.

I'm certainly not going to be sad for Wolford. He can have a very good and profitable career as an NFL backup QB. Teams without that good #2 have to be concerned because of COVID. It was the smart move to keep Perkins just for that reason alone. If Wolford accepts this reality he can sign a backup level multiyear contract in 2023 allowing Perkins to become trade bait if that is what the Rams decide to do.

Perkins gives the Rams that catastrophic contingency QB (i.e. plan B) should the unthinkable happen to Stafford. The NFL is a rough profession and having a backup QB who can be more than a bandaid is valuable.

 

[jjab360]

Best case scenario for Wolford is Case Keenum. He's talented and might be a spot starter for some team down the line but the chances of a GM as aggressive as Snead settling at QB are nil.

 

[So Ram]

What???? The guy played 1 game and 15 snaps for a total of 88. He put up 12 points with 0 TDs and 1 int (a rating of 64.5). "Playing at a high level"? To quote Eddie Harris, "compared to what?". Sure he ran 7 times for 58 yards but Perkins can do that.

Well sure. Ask Mcvay why he is keeping 3 QB’s. Perkins was not on the radar actually,so what you saw in the preseason was a player earning a roster spot.He took advantage of his opportunity.
I Wolford in training camp,so I can say imo he was running the offense with confidence.If he was healthy going into the preseason you might have seen his improvement as well.

 

[VegasRam]

QB is - we can all agree, I think - 50% above the neck, and Wolfie and Perkins seem to be OK there IMO.
I love what BP does with his legs, but that throw - he looks weirder than Rivers - don’t know if that’s coachable/correctable. He does go through his progressions well. And, regardless how it looks, still seems to get to here.

 

[So Ram]

Best case scenario for Wolford is Case Keenum. He's talented and might be a spot starter for some team down the line but the chances of a GM as aggressive as Snead settling at QB are nil.

That might be a far assessment,but The Rams have confidence in Wolford as a backup.
Perkins has the most potential of the 2 players.He had arm surgery that he talked about on J. B’s

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Wolford has a better arm, command of the offense and the staff and players believe in him. McVay was considering starting him before Goff got injured. That speaks volumes. Not many backups give the head coach that much confidence.

Wolford is a backup and a mediocre one at that imo.

I think as far as backups go he's a good one. Much better than most in the league.

I'm not impressed by Wolford. I hope he never has to take another snap for this team. And his not being available in the preseason didn't help him either.

He's safe. Perkins didn't do enough to unseat him. Little Johnny has a way better arm than Perkins does.

What???? The guy played 1 game and 15 snaps for a total of 88. He put up 12 points with 0 TDs and 1 int (a rating of 64.5). "Playing at a high level"? To quote Eddie Harris, "compared to what?". Sure he ran 7 times for 58 yards but Perkins can do that.

In his first start in a complex offense against a team fighting for a playoff spot. Do you want Mannion back? As far as backups go he was operating the offense better than most I've seen in the past. He was seeing and using the whole field. After the game Jourdan said that is what the Rams offense is supposed to look like.