SB 53 Missed Opportunity

[AZRams]

View: https://twitter.com/JKBOGEN/status/1541787984952967170?s=20&t=GIO_wzQddY_zyLLdhnphTw

 

[OntarioRam]

Such a painful moment for Rams fans Super Bowl 53 is full of "what ifs" and "what could have been" in what to that point was a magical Rams' season and resurgence.

I agree that this drop was not primarily Cooks' fault. Goff had to spot him sooner. And throw a better ball when he did spot Cooks late. You still would like to see Cooks find a way to come down with it though, despite his small frame, as it did hit him in the hands. A bigger WR might well make that catch. I suspect Allen Robinson would have.

Cooks had a great game but some costly drops. I seem to recall he had another drop in the game at or near the end-zone, which unlike the linked video, actually was more so on him as a WR. Does anyone have a video of it? Or is my memory playing tricks on me?

EDIT - Lots of heat on Goff for that Super Bowl, including in that Good Morning Football clip. But he was 24 years old at the time, facing a Bill Belichick team that was playing at the top of its game, with star studded players on defence, many of them seasoned veterans, on the biggest stage, with a head coach that at the time was still going through some growing pains in terms of how to scheme and adjust when the defence has you figured out, particularly against aggressive front 7s. In fact, McVay could still stand to improve in that area. Look at how our games against Tennessee and San Francisco went in November. Goff didn't play good enough and missed some essential throws, but I am not sure how much better most other young QBs in the league that year would have done. Belichick murders young QBs. For whatever reason, I feel Goff gets piled on more than any other QB at or around his talent level...

 

[Merlin]

I don't recall many blaming Cooks for that. Goff was definitely late and he also could have thrown that with some fucking authority and gotten it there. One of the most aggravating moments of that season and one of the missed plays I never forgave Jared for.

If you can't make that one in a game where the defense had the Pats on lockdown then what is your value as a QB. The fact the Rams paid him after that should be a big lesson for them too. I get that they wanted to reward the season and all but I suspect McVay already knew at that point that he was in trouble at QB.

 

[BrooklynRam]

Iron Hands Beckham would have held this ball. The play is still 95% Goff's fault. Slow to react, should have thrown the ball several seconds sooner, Cooks would have easy TD at FRONT of End Zone.

Other Cooks play was PERFECT throw from Goff. Cooks interfered with and usual disgraceful Super Bowl "let em play" non-call. League better fix that shit.

 

[AZRams]

Did you all catch the cheap-shot from McCourty? After Brandt throws the ball, horribly we might add, McCourty chimes in about how it was still a better ball than the one thrown in the game...

 

[OntarioRam]

Iron Hands Beckham would have held this ball. The play is still 95% Goff's fault. Slow to react, should have thrown the ball several seconds sooner, Cooks would have easy TD at FRONT of End Zone.

Other Cooks play was PERFECT throw from Goff. Cooks interfered with and usual disgraceful Super Bowl "let em play" non-call. League better fix that shit.

This is the play I was thinking of. So I was mistaken in some respects. I remember Cooks dropping it, but now my memory has been jogged by your helpful post - it was actually egregious pass interference that caused the drop, with Cooks' arm being hooked by the New England defender. It's always the Patriots that get away with that stuff. So classic and infuriating.

 

[OntarioRam]

Did you all catch the cheap-shot from McCourty? After Brandt throws the ball, horribly we might add, McCourty chimes in about how it was still a better ball than the one thrown in the game...

Yup, Goff gets no respect.

 

[AZRams]

Yup, Goff gets no respect.

I remember there was a B/R blurb on game-day about one of the Pats defenders saying their pre game-day comments that they were gonna make Jared shit himself.

And I remember thinking just how that struck me as the Pats held him in utter contempt. Like they thought he was just a total moron who had no business being on the field.

Now, they did do a great job of confusing the entire offense that day. But come on, don't be a bunch of fucking assholes telling the world your opponents don't deserve to be on the field.

 

[AZRams]

WATCH: Patriots think Jared Goff will poop his pants in SB LIII

At least one unnamed New England Patriots defensive player thinks that Los Angeles Rams QB Jared Goff will poop his pants in the Super Bowl.

sportsnaut.com

So I wasn't hallucinating...I'd seen it at B/R that day....

 

[OntarioRam]

I remember there was a B/R blurb on game-day about one of the Pats defenders saying their pre game-day comments that they were gonna make Jared shit himself.

And I remember thinking just how that struck me as the Pats held him in utter contempt. Like they thought he was just a total moron who had no business being on the field.

Now, they did do a great job of confusing the entire offense that day. But come on, don't be a bunch of fucking assholes telling the world your opponents don't deserve to be on the field.

Brutal....

Goff has put up some nice numbers in this league. At a young age. He was the 1st overall pick for a reason - he has arm talent, among other great attributes. Many players are able to trick the football world into thinking they are at least decent for their entire career, based on draft pedigree alone. With Goff, he might as well have been Mr. Irrelevant. He can play. Sure, there are a fair number of QBs better than him. But he is not chopped liver. I would take Jared over many other QBs, as well. And in the right situation that insulates his weaknesses, I think he is among the category of 2nd tier QBs that could probably game manage their way to a championship. Heck, he almost did in Super Bowl 53. That's not what you ideally want from a QB, but it is the reality that many NFL teams face. Many teams actually have it worse. I always wonder if Jared reads his own press. I think he gets a raw deal.

Goff is actually the anti-Bradford, IMO. Both are talented former 1st overall picks. Both have some nice numbers, but ultimately, stats that can be cherry-picked and manipulated to pain whatever picture you want. But Goff, unlike Bradford, is durable, has actually progressed deep into the playoffs, and won some big games in this league (most impressive of which IMO being his win on the road over Drew Brees in the NFC Final on route to Super Bowl 53). But yet, it is Goff that consistently gets dumped on. Compare that to Sam Bradford who, despite never having won anything, and always being injured, was always highly regarded around the NFL and convinced several teams to give him huge contracts. And I really liked Sam Bradford. I think with better injury luck, and a better team around him coming into the league, he really could have flourished. But I always found it funny how the two were perceived so differently around the league.

 

[AZRams]

Brutal....

Goff has put up some nice numbers in this league. At a young age. He was the 1st overall pick for a reason - he has arm talent, among other great attributes. Many players are able to trick the football world into thinking they are at least decent for their entire career, based on draft pedigree alone. With Goff, he might as well have been Mr. Irrelevant. He can play. Sure, there are a fair number of QBs better than him. But he is not chopped liver. I would take Jared over many other QBs, as well. And in the right situation that insulates his weaknesses, I think he is among the category of 2nd tier QBs that could probably game manage their way to a championship. Heck, he almost did in Super Bowl 53. That's not what you ideally want from a QB, but it is the reality that many NFL teams face. Many teams actually have it worse. I always wonder if Jared reads his own press. I think he gets a raw deal.

Goff is actually the anti-Bradford, IMO. Both are talented former 1st overall picks. Both have some nice numbers, but ultimately, stats that can be cherry-picked and manipulated to pain whatever picture you want. But Goff, unlike Bradford, is durable, has actually progressed deep into the playoffs, and won some big games in this league (most impressive of which IMO being his win on the road over Drew Brees in the NFC Final on route to Super Bowl 53). But yet, it is Goff that consistently gets dumped on. Compare that to Sam Bradford who, despite never having won anything, and always being injured, was always highly regarded around the NFL and convinced several teams to give him huge contracts. And I really liked Sam Bradford. I think with better injury luck, and a better team around him coming into the league, he really could have flourished. But I always found it funny how the two were perceived so differently around the league.

Kind of making me hope Jared fucking goes off on the Brady-less Pats in October...that would be funny.

 

[brucebruce]

Cue the Goff apologists. Incoming!

 

[Flint]

I love that someone said, “great game,” at the beginning of this slurp fest. I’ve heard many times how terrible of a super bowl it was cuz of the lack of scoring. Which is all anyone cares about I guess, but this was an old school defensive slug fest, it’s a shame we were on the short end. Brady made the most of his one opportunity, Jared came up short on his 2. Damn you Gronk!

 

[Faceplant]

This is why we can't have nice things......why are we reliving a BRUTAL SB loss after winning a EUPHORIC SB a few months ago?

 

[Tano]

Since Cooks had so much time for the throw to come to him, I still feel he should have seen out of the corner of his eye, the CB coming over.

As a result, he should have taken one step to his left and turn his back to the CB and block the CB from knocking the ball out of his hands. The CB would have had to go over his back.

So I blame Cooks for about 20% of the drop. I have seen other receivers position themselves on similar pass plays so Cooks could have done the same. But yeah, Goff should have gotten his throw off a tad quicker and in better position for Cooks to catch it. So I still blame Goff for the majority of this throw.

 

[Tano]

Cue the Goff apologists. Incoming!

Just stop

 

[RamsSince1969]

The NFL Network had back to back Pats/Rams full games last night. I think that's what opened these old wounds for some of us here. 2001 SB was a soul crusher. In that game, I forgot how the Rams seemed to have the Pats right where they wanted, had lots of offense but no points. Fucking Martz even had Warner do a QB draw on a play. which was crazy risky and maybe where Warner got a fat lip even though he was fitted with a special helmet made to protect his vocal cords.
Still loving the recent SB 56 win for sure!

 

[AvengerRam]

This past year's playoff run really allowed me to finally put things like Super Bowl 53 behind me. If you look at our run, how many moments were there in which the proverbial "game of inches" could have resulted in our run ending before the big game? Same goes for the Super Bowl itself. There were some key plays that went our way - finally - and we won it all. Maybe the scales of Karma are not fully balanced, but its a lot closer now.

 

[Loyal]

This is why we can't have nice things......why are we reliving a BRUTAL SB loss after winning a EUPHORIC SB a few months ago?

The fact is, we never get Stafford with a Super Bowl 53 win. It is what it is.

 

[Corbin]

Lol Jake Ellenbooger

Anyways, still can’t believe how clutch Goff was in that NO game in stressful moments and completely laid an egg in the SB.

Im pretty sure the play people are on Cooks about Is a different end zone play.

Thinking if Kupp was around we probably win that, speaking of what if’s, ditto with a healthy Gurley.