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http://www.ocregister.com/articles/britt-736526-rams-time.html
THOUSAND OAKS – For the 10th time in his eight-year career, Kenny Britt is playing with a new starting quarterback.
This past Sunday, the Rams finally started No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, giving fans reason to keep watching what has become an increasingly frustrating season. In a rainy debut at the Coliseum, he completed 17 of 31 passes for 134 yards — a performance that neither lifted nor doomed his team in a 14-10 loss to the Dolphins.
“He did OK,” Britt said. “He handled himself well for his first NFL game. He hasn’t been on the field for a couple of months now.”
It’s difficult to accurately assess Goff based on one game. In an offense that looked as constrained as ever last weekend, the former Cal star threw just five passes that traveled more than 10 yards through the air. Moving forward, the Rams’ hopes for an unlikely playoff push will depend largely on Goff’s ability to stretch the field more than Case Keenum, who threw nine touchdowns against 11 interceptions and was clearly miscast as a full-time starter.
But as flawed as he was, Keenum did have a connection with the Rams’ leading receiver. Dating back to last season, Britt had played 14 games with Keenum under center, more than anyone else in his career except former Titans quarterback Jake Locker. He remains on pace to become the Rams’ first 1,000-yard receiver since Terry Holt in 2007.
“Physically, he’s feeling better than he’s ever felt,” said Rams coach Jeff Fisher, who coached the Titans when they drafted Britt 30th overall in 2009.
Last month, Britt said that he and Keenum had gotten so comfortable with each other that they could communicate with a single look. Getting that familiar with Goff, who did not get a full offseason’s worth of first-team reps, won’t be accomplished overnight.
“It’s going to take that extra time in the classroom, that extra time on the field,” Britt said this week. “To tell you the truth, in camp, he was putting in the work, the extra time on our routes. He tries to get in after practice. That’s something you don’t see a lot of rooks do.”
Britt’s seven targets against Miami still tied for the team lead, though his 43 yards resulted in a season-low 8.6 yards per reception. Given time and reps, he still figures to be Goff’s most dependable weapon.
More concerning is the continued disappearance of Tavon Austin, whom the Rams just inked to a four-year, $42 million extension. The breakout that Fisher kept insisting was coming has yet to materialize: the former first-round pick is averaging just 43.7 scrimmage yards per game, down almost 13 yards from last season; his catch rate of 53.3 percent is a career low; he has only scored twice.
After a three-game stretch that saw him receive 29 targets, Austin has only seen 11 passes come his way this month. He has pulled in only one pass from Goff, gaining most of the 21 yards after the catch.
“He’s got to create separation,” offensive coordinator Rob Boras said. “We’ve got to find a way to get it to him in space and let him use his ability for it – and at the same time not get it to him when everybody is expecting us to get it to him.”
“The way they’re playing me on defense, they’re taking me away,” Austin added. “It doesn’t really bother me. I can do other stuff on the field to try to get us to win.
“Just try to stay patient. Don’t get too mad about it.”
THOUSAND OAKS – For the 10th time in his eight-year career, Kenny Britt is playing with a new starting quarterback.
This past Sunday, the Rams finally started No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, giving fans reason to keep watching what has become an increasingly frustrating season. In a rainy debut at the Coliseum, he completed 17 of 31 passes for 134 yards — a performance that neither lifted nor doomed his team in a 14-10 loss to the Dolphins.
“He did OK,” Britt said. “He handled himself well for his first NFL game. He hasn’t been on the field for a couple of months now.”
It’s difficult to accurately assess Goff based on one game. In an offense that looked as constrained as ever last weekend, the former Cal star threw just five passes that traveled more than 10 yards through the air. Moving forward, the Rams’ hopes for an unlikely playoff push will depend largely on Goff’s ability to stretch the field more than Case Keenum, who threw nine touchdowns against 11 interceptions and was clearly miscast as a full-time starter.
But as flawed as he was, Keenum did have a connection with the Rams’ leading receiver. Dating back to last season, Britt had played 14 games with Keenum under center, more than anyone else in his career except former Titans quarterback Jake Locker. He remains on pace to become the Rams’ first 1,000-yard receiver since Terry Holt in 2007.
“Physically, he’s feeling better than he’s ever felt,” said Rams coach Jeff Fisher, who coached the Titans when they drafted Britt 30th overall in 2009.
Last month, Britt said that he and Keenum had gotten so comfortable with each other that they could communicate with a single look. Getting that familiar with Goff, who did not get a full offseason’s worth of first-team reps, won’t be accomplished overnight.
“It’s going to take that extra time in the classroom, that extra time on the field,” Britt said this week. “To tell you the truth, in camp, he was putting in the work, the extra time on our routes. He tries to get in after practice. That’s something you don’t see a lot of rooks do.”
Britt’s seven targets against Miami still tied for the team lead, though his 43 yards resulted in a season-low 8.6 yards per reception. Given time and reps, he still figures to be Goff’s most dependable weapon.
More concerning is the continued disappearance of Tavon Austin, whom the Rams just inked to a four-year, $42 million extension. The breakout that Fisher kept insisting was coming has yet to materialize: the former first-round pick is averaging just 43.7 scrimmage yards per game, down almost 13 yards from last season; his catch rate of 53.3 percent is a career low; he has only scored twice.
After a three-game stretch that saw him receive 29 targets, Austin has only seen 11 passes come his way this month. He has pulled in only one pass from Goff, gaining most of the 21 yards after the catch.
“He’s got to create separation,” offensive coordinator Rob Boras said. “We’ve got to find a way to get it to him in space and let him use his ability for it – and at the same time not get it to him when everybody is expecting us to get it to him.”
“The way they’re playing me on defense, they’re taking me away,” Austin added. “It doesn’t really bother me. I can do other stuff on the field to try to get us to win.
“Just try to stay patient. Don’t get too mad about it.”
