Rams are in serious trouble and ditching Jared Goff may be the only way out

[tklongball]

Goff has proven to be a long ways away from a Brees/Brady/Rodgers like ability to still perform well behind a poorly performing OL.

While I agree in general with what you are saying, I disagree with this. Goff is playing exactly like Brees and Brady when they face this kind of pressure.

 

[Ram65]

I found it to be an interesting article. The Rams could right the ship by buikding up the offensive line but, they do have limited cap space and no first round pick plus for two years.

He can start by dealing some of the team’s more redundant players. TE Tyler Higbee has lost snaps after signing an extension and trading him away could save the team $6 million. Trading safety John Johnson won’t save the team money, but he’s a good, young player with a team-friendly contract. He could bring back a Day 2 pick and second-round rookie Taylor Rapp has played well in his absence. The team could also restructure reliable vets like Robert Woods and Aaron Donald to save about $15 million total. And extending Ramsey should allow the team to bring his 2020 cap hit down a few million dollars.

Rams have to look at this to gain some cap space,

Those moves would be a good start, but if the Rams really want to open up avenues to improve the roster, putting Goff on the trade block would be the best way to go about it. His contract will be hard to move, and the Rams would have to eat $20 million in dead money but they’d also save $16 million against the cap in the process. If they can get a first-round pick or multiple Day 2 picks, that would be hard to turn down. That would recoup some of the draft capital they gave back in their naive trade for Jalen Ramsey and give them about $65 million in cap space this offseason.

Getting a first-rounder for Goff (and his contract) may sound like a pipe dream at this point, but don’t forget: John Elway still runs a QB-needy franchise and Goff is tall. But seriously, Goff is a former first-overall pick and only a year removed from a productive season. This is a league that was willing to trade a first-round pick for Sam Bradford … in 2016. Some team will take the bait.(Any team that did trade for Goff would be getting him at $130.5 million over five years, but it would essentially be the same deal that Kirk Cousins got in Minnesota. The first three years, which would cost $84 million, would be fully guaranteed. The last two years would be relatively cheap, especially with the cap to take several big jumps between now and 2023.)

The problem with trading Goff is the players they name later in the article to replace him aren't good and would make the Rams a worse team. Now, if the Rams had a young QB in mind they could draft and be decent right away then just maybe. I doubt they would do it.

I don't mind reading at all these articles. Rams do seem to need a new plan as things aren't working out this year. They have key players to resign and need cap space, as well as draft picks for other holes on the roster.

 

[Zodi]

So he suggests we make cap room so we can trade Goff and eat a shit ton of dead cap?

Goff is fine. He has shown he can play at an elite level in this league. We need to focus entirely on offensive line and imo, a better offensive staff to surround McVay.

 

[Ellard80]

Yeah..... not really a good plan.

Whatever anyone thinks about Goff we aren't finding any more viable QB anytime soon

Especially since we have no 1st round draft picks

 

[Riverumbbq]

I don't mind reading at all these articles. Rams do seem to need a new plan as things aren't working out this year. They have key players to resign and need cap space, as well as draft picks for other holes on the roster.

Which 'key' players do you have in mind that need to be re-signed for 2020 ? I'm willing to bet there is a good debate involving any one of them being prioritized as must-have. jmo.

 

[Ram65]

Which 'key' players do you have in mind that need to be re-signed for 2020 ? I'm willing to bet there is a good debate involving any one of them being prioritized as must-have. jmo.

Cory Littleton is the big one. Zeurlein is another. I'm inclined to let Fowler go as he will cost more than his production. M Christain would be a cheaper keeper as would Morgan Fox. Of course a new deal for Ramsey and a decision on JJ. I don't think waiting a year for these two is a good move. Maybe, they don't resign JJ. Then there is Kupp who would be in his final year. If the Rams want to keep him they can't wait till he becomes a free agent in 2021.

 

[thirteen28]

While I agree in general with what you are saying, I disagree with this. Goff is playing exactly like Brees and Brady when they face this kind of pressure.

Brees, as a matter of fact, was sacked six times and hit numerous others Sunday against the Falcons. They mustered a total of 9 points.

 

[T-REX]

View: https://giphy.com/gifs/spotify-podcast-joe-budden-5h47LKoyTw0yHtrDMe

 

[Riverumbbq]

Cory Littleton is the big one. Zeurlein is another. I'm inclined to let Fowler go as he will cost more than his production. M Christain would be a cheaper keeper as would Morgan Fox. Of course a new deal for Ramsey and a decision on JJ. I don't think waiting a year for these two is a good move. Maybe, they don't resign JJ. Then there is Kupp who would be in his final year. If the Rams want to keep him they can't wait till he becomes a free agent in 2021.

I've asked this question of the forum before without reply, but would you sacrifice Littleton should someone like Scherff become available in free agency ? The Rams have been stockpiling young ILB's, so i'm guessing there may be some reluctance to handing out a huge payday for Littleton at a position where Wade Phillips has traditionally not been inclined to do so.

Zuerlein has been hurting himself recently with missed field goal attempts, it has to affect that next contract he's hoping to sign.

Morgan Fox is an RFA, so his return is pretty much guaranteed, Christian is replaceable.

Ramsey, Kupp, Everett & JJ3 won't become free agents until after the 2020 season, and while their extensions are likely to be done in 2020, they won't take effect until 2021 when our overall CAP situation is improved. jmo.

 

[simonblaze]

Funny how they forget Goff threw 32 TDs and took his team to the superbowl last year and "now he just sucks just cuz"...Has he regressed? Yes...the whole team has...

The only conclusion I think anyone can come to right now is Goff needs better protection and a running game, which i know, is an earth shattering revelation...

 

[kurtfaulk]

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i didn't read it but this guy's logic sounds like half the people on this board.

.

 

[RamsCardsJazz]

I really cannot argue with him about getting rid of Goff, but when he brings up having Winston replace him, his credibility was thrown right out the window.

 

[thirteen28]

I've asked this question of the forum before without reply, but would you sacrifice Littleton should someone like Scherff become available in free agency ? The Rams have been stockpiling young ILB's, so i'm guessing there may be some reluctance to handing out a huge payday for Littleton at a position where Wade Phillips has traditionally not been inclined to do so.

I would hate to lose Littleton ... but ... that might be a scenario where you would let him go. A known interior bulldozer like that is something we definitely need.

Either way, I would look at a lot of veteran FA OL in the offseason, mid-level guys that you could use to build a good, cohesive unit.

 

[sjm1582002]

Brees, as a matter of fact, was sacked six times and hit numerous others Sunday against the Falcons. They mustered a total of 9 points.

In that game Brees went 32 for 45 for 287 yards with no int's, or fumbles despite a running game that was abandoned (52 yards on 11 carries.)

If the Rams offense had managed to score a measly 9 points last Sunday we would be talking about a victory.

 

[thirteen28]

In that game Brees went 32 for 45 for 287 yards with no int's, or fumbles despite a running game that was abandoned (52 yards on 11 carries.)

If the Rams offense had managed to score a measly 9 points last Sunday we would be talking about a victory.

Yes, but let's compare the two defenses Goff and Brees were up against. The Falcons had been shit this year and even our OL played well against them. Meanwhile, Goff was playing against a D with a very solid secondary and some good front seven guys like TJ Watt.

And to add, Brees was also playing in the comfy confines of the SuperDome, his home field, while Goff was on the road.

 

[oldnotdead]

I personally watched Brees as a Charger behind their horrendous o-line. He got benched for his poor play and they trotted out old man Doug Flutie to replace him. He was a starter for 4 years in SD and only had one good year. It wasn't until he got to the Saints behind a decent o-line that he became the HOF QB that he is.

Philip Rivers has had a HOF type career but he has played behind horrendous o-lines his entire career. He's struggled at times because of it. To now blame Goff because of horrendous o-line play is simply wrong thinking. Watch the freaking games dudes. When you give him time he's very good. He's the perfect QB for this system.

BTW that last game was lost because of two blown officiating calls. The so called fumble for a TD and the non PI call on Goff's last pass. Without the PI that's the winning TD. Get the call and the ball is on the one yard line and they probably get the TD.

Add in a missed FG that would have won the Seattle game and there are two games that should have been won. To blame Goff for this mess makes no sense. He gave them the chance to win two of those 4 losses, what more can you ask? Bad officiating and a miss FG and this team would be 7-2 and these hysterical reactions wouldn't be happening.

Even now they can still make the playoffs. Once they get there even as a wildcard they can roll. Dudes the only issue with this team is the o-line. They can fix it with the right mix. The main thing is to stop playing Blythe and Havenstein who aren't starter quality players. They simply need to play next year's o-line now.

 

[sjm1582002]

Yes, but let's compare the two defenses Goff and Brees were up against. The Falcons had been shit this year and even our OL played well against them. Meanwhile, Goff was playing against a D with a very solid secondary and some good front seven guys like TJ Watt.

And to add, Brees was also playing in the comfy confines of the SuperDome, his home field, while Goff was on the road.

The Steeler defense is mid pack, at best.

NE scored 33 points on them earlier this year.

Brady went 24/36 for 341 yards with 3 Td's and no int's or fumbles in that game.

 

[Ram65]

I've asked this question of the forum before without reply, but would you sacrifice Littleton should someone like Scherff become available in free agency ? The Rams have been stockpiling young ILB's, so i'm guessing there may be some reluctance to handing out a huge payday for Littleton at a position where Wade Phillips has traditionally not been inclined to do so.

Zuerlein has been hurting himself recently with missed field goal attempts, it has to affect that next contract he's hoping to sign.

Morgan Fox is an RFA, so his return is pretty much guaranteed, Christian is replaceable.

Ramsey, Kupp, Everett & JJ3 won't become free agents until after the 2020 season, and while their extensions are likely to be done in 2020, they won't take effect until 2021 when our overall CAP situation is improved. jmo.

I don't see the Rams sacrificing resigning Littleton. IIRC he was/is in the top three pass defending LBers in the entire NFL. The narrative that Wade doesn't spend on ILBers seems to be based on getting great production out of mid-round picks in Denver. It doesn't mean he does not value Littleton. I looked up Scherff's free agent estimated value between 12 and 13 Million a year.
The Rams are top-heavy on the offensive contracts. Adding Scherff will add to that. Despite the Rams holding Pittsburg 's scoring down they did let up a lot of yards. I think need to keep Littleton while finding a replacement for Brockers.

Brandon Scherff

Brandon Scherff contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations.

www.spotrac.com

I know Zuerlein has some missed but, replacing him could lead to bigger problems.

Pushing all the cap hits to 2021 may or not be a good idea. I'm not sure but, you are right they don't have to effect 2020.

 

[WarnerToBruce]

The Steeler defense is mid pack, at best.

NE scored 33 points on them earlier this year.

Brady went 24/36 for 341 yards with 3 Td's and no int's or fumbles in that game.

But that was with Belicheat as the coach. "Adjustment" is his middle name. Along with "Dickwad".

 

[Ramrocket]

The Steeler defense is mid pack, at best.

NE scored 33 points on them earlier this year.

Brady went 24/36 for 341 yards with 3 Td's and no int's or fumbles in that game.

Remind me again what sort of O line and running game NE have? alm: