https://theathletic.com/705234/2018...erbacks-playoff-jared-goff-mitchell-trubisky/
Michael Lombardi
(Despite his poor play on Sunday night, the Bears
didn’t lose to the Rams, and it was because as bad as Trubisky played, Jared Goff played worse. Credit the Bears defense, but the Rams quarterback looked like he had zero interest in being in the cold. Goff never engaged with his teammates, and when the defense was on the field, Goff was bundled up with a ski cap on his head sitting near the heaters. Rams head coach Sean McVay can deflect all the blame and take responsibility for Goff playing poorly, but the cold weather bothers Goff. Going into the game, Goff, a California kid, was involved in just four games below 40 degrees, and his statistics were awful. 51% completion percentage, 6.49 YPA, 5 TDS, 3 INT, sacked 14 times and a 75.2 quarterback rating. It’s a good thing the Rams won’t have to play in the cold during the playoffs.
The more significant issue for the Rams to ponder and eventually answer: Is Goff a franchise quarterback worthy of a massive $30 million a year contract? I’m sold on McVay, but not Goff. Overall with McVay, Goff is 22-7 as a starter, counting the playoffs for the Rams, and has thrown 56 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions. However, the more I watch Goff when he has to deal with pressure inside, or when he has to play fast with bodies all around him, or without Todd Gurley running the ball, the more I fall in love with McVay’s ability to design an offense and provide easy wide open throws for Goff to execute. Each time I watch the Rams I say that I bet McVay can get anyone to make these throws. Last week I was talking to a former NFL quarterback who is still in great shape and said, “You could have a 300-yard game passing right now if McVay were your coach. He laughed and said, “You’re right.”
Last year in the playoffs, Goff ranked as the worst quarterback according to ESPN’s QBR rating with his play against the Falcons. After that game, McVay once again took the heat, deflecting the blame away from Goff, believing he did not have a great plan. Plan or no plan, Goff did not play well in the Falcons game or in Sunday night’s loss.
McVay might be right when he says he did not have a good plan against the Bears. His offense is not about Goff, its all about Todd Gurley and when Gurley is not going, the Rams usually don’t go. During McVay’s tenure with the Rams, his team is undefeated when Gurley touches the ball 17 times or more. When he touches the ball fewer than 17 times, they are 5-7. Last night he only carried the ball 11 times (a loss), against the Chiefs 12 (a dramatic win) and the Saints 13 (a loss). With the one major exception being that Rams-Chiefs barnburner, Gurley has been the straw that stirs the drink in the Rams’ offense. When McVay puts the ball in Goff’s hand more than Gurley, he usually at least runs the risk of losing.
It’s been a wildly successful season for the Rams, particularly on offense, and they still only have two losses. It’s very easy to believe that Goff needs to be well-paid as a result, but as an executive, you must be honest and objective. Goff’s last two performances are reason for at least a bit of hesitation moving forward. The upcoming playoffs will offer a much better indication of whether Goff is a superstar on his own or if McVay has made Goff better than we all believe. The Rams coach is a difference maker and definitely deserves a new and massive contract, but I will wait until the playoff run is over before I declare Goff worthy of being the highest paid quarterback in the NFL. For all the great games Goff has played in September and October, the games in December and January against great defenses will be the real measuring stick when it comes time to be compensated.)
But we try to be respectful to those who do. Like I said, not a big deal - but we have the filter there as an option for a reason. Thanks man.
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