Analytics

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff made his fourth NFL start against the Falcons last season and looked like a deer staring in highlights.

This season, Goff ranked in the top 10 starting quarterbacks in the NFL, according to analytics website Football Outsiders. The site evaluates quarterbacks according to a defense-ad

justed yards-above-replacement (DYAR) measure, and Goff had a 1.127 rating, which ranked sixth in the league. The site also ranks quarterbacks according to the defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA), and Goff had a 24 percent rating, which ranked sixth.

But last season against the Falcons, he telegraphed his passes, fumbled the ball and looked like he was generally unworthy of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft.

In the 42-14 loss, Goff completed 24 of 41 passes for 235 yards and two interceptions.

But with a new coach and a revamped offensive line, Goff threw 28 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions while leading the Rams (11-5) to the NFC West title this season.

“It starts with the quarterback,” Falcons defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel said. “When you look at him, he’s done a tremendous job getting ready for the season. The pieces that they’ve added from tight ends all the way to (Robert Woods) outside and Sammy (Watkins), they move the ball around. They even throw (Cooper) Kupp the ball a lot. They move the ball around. It’s collectively a unit.”

GARY CORONADO / LOS ANGELES TIMES Rams quarterback Jared Goff’s play has taken a big jump during his second season.