Yep you have described it well my friend. The messaging is off. Big time. Something has shifted.
I don't agree on the lack of extra work statement. Unless I missed something that appears made up. I don't think there is any question of Goff's work ethic.
But you are correct something is going down and it is most likely they are dealing Goff or going to try hard.
Here is my guess how it went down. I think the blame Goff was getting from Mcvay and Oconnell in his ear after somewhere around the Seattle game ghost interception intensified. This is the same week he broke his thumb. My guess is Jared got tired of being the scape goat for the shitty Oline and play calls that were clearly getting predictable.
I honestly believe Jared got tired of the BS blame game and bowed up to Mcvay. When Mcvay told Jared that Wolford would be starting we know for a fact via Jareds statement at the press conference that he disagreed with Mcvay and wanted to start. There was probably a huge loss of trust in Mcvay for not backing Jared and I am sure Jared let him know. I would. I would say I disagree with starting Wolford but you are the coach and I accept whatever you say and wont complain to the media. But I bet at this exact time Jared finally let Mcvay know how much BS it was to blame him for the terrible decision not to upgrade the Oline and the play calls that were getting snuffed out due to Mcvay not innovating.
I am be wrong but it looks to me like the Goff Mcvay marriage died that day.
Mcvay then went to Snead and said we are moving on. They kept it private but are on the same page with their messaging to the media.
Mcvay was too stubborn to admit he was part of the problem with the play calls and Oline decisions.
Goff was tired of the blame and let Mcvay know the reality.
So here we are.
Reminds me of a Pearl Jam song....
Once divided -- nothing left to subtract
Some words when spoken -- can't be taken back
Walks on his own -- with thoughts he can't help thinking
Future's above -- but in the past he's slow and sinking
Caught a bolt 'a lightnin' cursed the day he let it go
Nothingman -- isn't it something.
One day one of these two may curse the day they let the marriage go.
I think that's a LOT of projection. I dunno how Goff is in private, but that seems like too much.
WE don't know if they had words at all, let alone which words they'd have beyond "I can play, Sean" and "we're gonna go with Wolford, you'll suit up as his backup just for this game, but you're thumb needs to heal." That's about as far as any projection makes sense insofar as we can discern that's what was said based on any number of reports including how both of them talked about it.
We have no idea if any trust was broken or how Goff or McVay felt at that time or even before and it would be irresponsible to project our feelings and/or what little we can discern from reports about their relationship into conversations that were pivotal in their relationship. Especially, we have no idea if Jared took issue with the OL, if it were so bad an issue that it was raised with McVay, or if McVay blamed anything on Goff. Blame is a very strong word.
All we know is that McVay has been dissatisfied with the results and that SOMETHING moved McVay from "get better every day" to "he's our QB right now"
None of us know and none of us WILL know because it's unlikely McVay says anything bad about Goff... presuming they move on without him which seems more certain, but who knows in this league anymore?
I also think that the deep game has been an issue for McVay. Where Goff maybe didn't know what to do with Blythe being in his lap most of the time, Wolford had the mobility to move and still throw the deep ball. What's upsetting is that a) Goff DID move and make those throws in 2017/18, so why does he NOT move now? b) Goff seems much more focused on the rush now than he was when he was younger. c) McVay looks to have specific desires for his offense and how the QB plays in that offense and Goff even in making plays isn't getting it done.
Rest assured if Goff were simply maintaining his 2018 level of play with zero improvement, we're not having this conversation. Not remotely close.
McVay absolutely has owned up to his share in the blame and has continually taken responsibility for it. The big change was in sharing the blame which was a first for him.
Just think of how badly McVay had to be pissed to even START to not take full blame... He's NEVER done that before.
Lemme be clear. I don't think any of this is about drama.
I think McVay is an animal... a cunning perfectionist who can have patience with a lot of things, but not about how the offense is run. Even in doing well, he's very hard on himself for not doing better. Anyone remember how we all implored him to have some balance in his life because we were worried he'd do a Vermeil?
So, I don't take all of this as a matter of drama or how they've communicated. I think McVay has been CRYSTAL clear what he wants. Goff may disagree or see things differently, but THAT can be the only thing that could even possibly have gotten us to this point.
TL;dr McVay wants the offense run in a specific way and this is the second year in a row that Goff isn't doing that. Even if 2019 is written off due to the OL issues and Gurley being at 50% at best, this year? The offense was almost unrecognizable and even in victory, McVay seemed constantly pissed.
Honestly, I think if given the choice of being kicked in the nuts of have his offense not run the way he wants it, even if it leads to 10 wins? Yeah, McVay would take the kick in the nuts. THAT'S how much he hates his offense not running efficiently.
We'll see how it all plays out, but the one thing I feel confident about is that there wasn't any drama. Frustration from unmet expectations? You bet...from both sides, but no drama.
