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Practice Report 12/2: Goff Ready for Next Challenge
Myles Simmons
From his first start to the next, there was a clear improvement in the performance and production of rookie quarterback Jared Goff.
Last Sunday against New Orleans, Goff finished 20-of-32 passing for 214 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. It was only the second time this season the Rams have passed for three touchdowns in a game.
Goff's first-half performance stood out, especially in the two-minute drill leading up to halftime. In that stretch, the young signal-caller showed his strong pocket presence, moving to evade the rush and find an open passing lane. It’s part of how he was able to find tight end Lance Kendricks for a 24-yard pass to extend the drive and the 15-yard touchdown to cap it.
“We’ve been saying it for so long with all the questions about how he’s growing in the classroom, and then we’ve seen the flashes of it, and it was good. You saw it leading up during the course of the week — just his comfort being in the huddle, the tempo that we had to practice with Friday, the way he handled everything,” offensive coordinator Rob Boras said of Goff. “You saw it coming, and you prayed that it was going to happen. You just didn’t know if it was going to come to fruition, and it did.
“It just proved it wasn’t too big for him,” Boras continued. “You saw the way he moved in the pocket. He made some big-time throws. It was a really good first half for him.”
“I don’t think it’s anything in particular,” Goff said of his progress. “I think it’s just everything’s improved and the game is starting to slow down. It’s starting to feel more comfortable every day out here and every week on Sundays.”
As there is with any young quarterback, Goff had his missteps against the Saints as well. There was the lost fumble deep in Los Angeles’ own territory that led to a New Orleans touchdown. And there was the third-quarter interception, where Goff looked like he tried to force a pass between a pair of defenders to Kendricks.
But as Boras put it, one of Goff’s best attributes is how he can put negative plays behind him quickly.
“Jared has a very short memory, and he’s a very confident young man,” Boras said. “The fumble — he forgets it. He comes back, and he’ll play — the next play. Same thing with the interception. He doesn’t carry that, and that’s hard.
“We always talk about play the next play, and a lot of times it can just be lip service, but I think he’s got a short memory,” Boras continued. “He’s confident in himself, and his ability. I think seeing something go bad and how he responded, I think that was a really positive sign, how he battled through those couple plays of adversity.”
Goff said he’s always tried to move on well from one play to the next — whether the result is positive or negative.
“Throw a touchdown, it’s over immediately. Have a bad play, it’s over immediately,” Goff said. “I think that’s kind of the best way to go about it as a quarterback — not get too high, not get too low. Obviously there are times that you’re going to be excited and there’s going to be times where you’re not very happy, but forget about as soon as you can because the next play is the most important one.”
Just as the next game is the most important one. And this one in particular will be a challenge for Goff going up against one of the best in Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and his staff. Goff is trying to become the first rookie quarterback to beat New England at Gillette Stadium since it opened in 2002. And overall, Belichick is 16-5 against rookie quarterbacks since 2001.
So what is it about a Belichick defense that makes it so tough on young QBs?
“I think it’s just the variety that they have. They change stuff pretty consistently and do what they do really well for a long time — it’s proven results,” Goff said. “You don’t really know what to expect going in, you have an idea on film, but you know they’re going to bring something new every week. You have to be ready to adjust.”
“I think he’ll handle it,” Boras said. “He’s going to see different looks. We know they’re going to try to create confusion. It’s not just Jared that they’re confusing. Because of that, all the other guys need to step up and apply the rules, and trust what they’re seeing as well. It’s not just the quarterback, it’s, obviously, the other 10 guys on the field as well have to recognize and get on the same page with Jared, and all those different fronts and coverages that we’re going to see.”
Still, according to Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, Goff had a strong week of practice and is ready for the challenge.
“He was great — especially today,” Fisher said. “He had the wind behind him, but he knew exactly where to go with the football. So I thought he had a great week. And, hopefully, it carries over into his production and performance.”
INJURY REPORT
The Rams have five players listed on their Friday injury report, none of whom were declared out for the game against New England.
Wide receiver Tavon Austin
(chest) did not practice all week and is listed as doubtful. Center Tim Barnes(foot), offensive lineman Andrew Donnal (hip), offensive lineman Rodger Saffold (hand), and defensive end Robert Quinn (concussion) are listed as questionable.
In the concussion protocol, Quinn has not been ruled out for Sunday.
[www.therams.com]
Myles Simmons
From his first start to the next, there was a clear improvement in the performance and production of rookie quarterback Jared Goff.
Last Sunday against New Orleans, Goff finished 20-of-32 passing for 214 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. It was only the second time this season the Rams have passed for three touchdowns in a game.
Goff's first-half performance stood out, especially in the two-minute drill leading up to halftime. In that stretch, the young signal-caller showed his strong pocket presence, moving to evade the rush and find an open passing lane. It’s part of how he was able to find tight end Lance Kendricks for a 24-yard pass to extend the drive and the 15-yard touchdown to cap it.
“We’ve been saying it for so long with all the questions about how he’s growing in the classroom, and then we’ve seen the flashes of it, and it was good. You saw it leading up during the course of the week — just his comfort being in the huddle, the tempo that we had to practice with Friday, the way he handled everything,” offensive coordinator Rob Boras said of Goff. “You saw it coming, and you prayed that it was going to happen. You just didn’t know if it was going to come to fruition, and it did.
“It just proved it wasn’t too big for him,” Boras continued. “You saw the way he moved in the pocket. He made some big-time throws. It was a really good first half for him.”
“I don’t think it’s anything in particular,” Goff said of his progress. “I think it’s just everything’s improved and the game is starting to slow down. It’s starting to feel more comfortable every day out here and every week on Sundays.”
As there is with any young quarterback, Goff had his missteps against the Saints as well. There was the lost fumble deep in Los Angeles’ own territory that led to a New Orleans touchdown. And there was the third-quarter interception, where Goff looked like he tried to force a pass between a pair of defenders to Kendricks.
But as Boras put it, one of Goff’s best attributes is how he can put negative plays behind him quickly.
“Jared has a very short memory, and he’s a very confident young man,” Boras said. “The fumble — he forgets it. He comes back, and he’ll play — the next play. Same thing with the interception. He doesn’t carry that, and that’s hard.
“We always talk about play the next play, and a lot of times it can just be lip service, but I think he’s got a short memory,” Boras continued. “He’s confident in himself, and his ability. I think seeing something go bad and how he responded, I think that was a really positive sign, how he battled through those couple plays of adversity.”
Goff said he’s always tried to move on well from one play to the next — whether the result is positive or negative.
“Throw a touchdown, it’s over immediately. Have a bad play, it’s over immediately,” Goff said. “I think that’s kind of the best way to go about it as a quarterback — not get too high, not get too low. Obviously there are times that you’re going to be excited and there’s going to be times where you’re not very happy, but forget about as soon as you can because the next play is the most important one.”
Just as the next game is the most important one. And this one in particular will be a challenge for Goff going up against one of the best in Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and his staff. Goff is trying to become the first rookie quarterback to beat New England at Gillette Stadium since it opened in 2002. And overall, Belichick is 16-5 against rookie quarterbacks since 2001.
So what is it about a Belichick defense that makes it so tough on young QBs?
“I think it’s just the variety that they have. They change stuff pretty consistently and do what they do really well for a long time — it’s proven results,” Goff said. “You don’t really know what to expect going in, you have an idea on film, but you know they’re going to bring something new every week. You have to be ready to adjust.”
“I think he’ll handle it,” Boras said. “He’s going to see different looks. We know they’re going to try to create confusion. It’s not just Jared that they’re confusing. Because of that, all the other guys need to step up and apply the rules, and trust what they’re seeing as well. It’s not just the quarterback, it’s, obviously, the other 10 guys on the field as well have to recognize and get on the same page with Jared, and all those different fronts and coverages that we’re going to see.”
Still, according to Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, Goff had a strong week of practice and is ready for the challenge.
“He was great — especially today,” Fisher said. “He had the wind behind him, but he knew exactly where to go with the football. So I thought he had a great week. And, hopefully, it carries over into his production and performance.”
INJURY REPORT
The Rams have five players listed on their Friday injury report, none of whom were declared out for the game against New England.
Wide receiver Tavon Austin
(chest) did not practice all week and is listed as doubtful. Center Tim Barnes(foot), offensive lineman Andrew Donnal (hip), offensive lineman Rodger Saffold (hand), and defensive end Robert Quinn (concussion) are listed as questionable.In the concussion protocol, Quinn has not been ruled out for Sunday.
[www.therams.com]
