There were a few things Wolford showed me and this was a huge one. He's a competitor. It wasn't just the decision to take on 2 defenders and lower his shoulder knowing the game was on the line, but it was how he got up and celebrated after the play. He's got some swag to him thats for sure. Funny how this type of play happed just a few weeks after Goff decided to slide short of a 1st down instead of lower his shoulder to try and win a game.
Wolford's accuracy wasn't great and who knows if that will improve, but what I really liked was how he attacked down the field. The dink and dunk offense disappeared all of a sudden. He completed 3 balls 20+ yards in the air and missed another 3-4 by less than a foot. This is with no running game at all, no Whit, and no Kupp. First player in NFL history to throw for 200+ and run for 50+ in his first start. In weeks 11-16 Goff only completed one pass of 20+ yards in the air.
But above all else, what really stood out to me was Wolford in his post game interview when you listen to him. He was asked a question regarding a decision he made, and he talked about getting a 2-man look on one play, cover 4 on another, and how he was trying to manipulate defenders with his eyes. Telling the reporter what his thought process was on those plays, and what he saw in the defense. This is after the kids first start ever as a pro. I've listened to every single Goff interview for the past 5 years and I can't remember hearing him talk about things like that...How he was trying to manipulate coverage with his eyes, why he made a certain decision or throw based on the look he got. I'm not saying Goff doesn't do these things, but for Wolford it was an instant answer to the reporters question. To me it showed his mind and ability to process what the defense was doing. And watching the game it was easy to notice how often he went through 3-4 progressions and came across the field with his eyes. I didn't see locking onto a first read very often. To me it showed a great mental capacity for quarterbacking. Something I think a lot of us have questioned with Goff over the years.
Goff has clearly better arm talent and the experience advantage, but Wolford has the athleticism and might have a better mind for the NFL. People want to highlight the 9 points, but if Akers doesn't fumble on the 2, we don't get 2 consecutive false starts inside the 5, and if Everett catches the perfectly thrown fade we score another 14-21 easy.
