Ram It Home
After struggling with Wilson, Eagles face a different test in Goff
COSTA MESA, CALIF. » The Eagles won’t have to look for the other quarterback this week, as opposed to last Sunday night when they struggled to find Russell Wilson.
For the most part, Jared Goff prefers the sanctity of the pocket. At least when he’s not getting the ball to Todd Gurley, one of the premier three-down backs in the NFL.
Humbled by Wilson, who led the Seahawks to a 24-10 victory over the Eagles, snapping a nine-game streak, the Eagles need to take their frustration out on someone.
“Russell Wilson, he made some plays,” said Brandon Graham, who leads the Eagles with 8 ½ sacks. “They won the game. But we just want to make sure that we get to the quarterback this time. And I think Jared Goff is the one that’s in the way. And that’s what we’re going to do.”
Goff (6-4, 223) isn’t the easiest guy to put on the ground despite his lack of Wilson-mobility. He’s been sacked 22 times.
The Rams (9-3) are closing in on their first playoff berth since 2004 largely because Goff has done a solid job with his role. The second-year passer has thrown 20 touchdowns and just six interceptions, with a 98.4 quarterback
rating.
“They’re using him a lot the same way that Washington uses Kirk Cousins,” defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. “A lot of the same kind of plays, a lot of deep balls down the field. He’s got confidence in throwing the deep ball. He’s got some scramble ability — nothing like we faced last week — but he’s moved around a little bit. Run some boots and play-action stuff. He’s had a good command of the offense.”
Goff was the first player selected in the 2016 draft. With the second pick, the Eagles scouted him, although it’s unlikely they were as thorough as with Wentz.
In addition to scheme, Rams head coach Sean McVay uses a type of check-with-me offensive system that includes relaying in audibles — yes, audibles — before the radio helmet shuts off with 15 seconds left on the play clock. To expedite the process, the Rams get to the line quickly.
Schwartz declined to get into specifics about how to defend it. After saying that a lot of teams do it, he pumped the breaks on himself.
“I don’t know a lot of teams but it’s not uncommon,” Schwartz said. “There are a lot of guys that get up to the line early to get a presnap read and get more information from their coaches on the sideline.”
While the Eagles (10-2) work the bugs out of their routine this week on the West Coast — they did a dry run loading the busses for practices Tuesday — they’d better pay special attention to the presnap audibles.
McVay’s terminology has made the audibles Goff favorites, if you will.
At some point Sunday, Eagles fans attending the game or watching on TV will hear Goff bark Wilson Hoosier, Elvis, Tupac, Obama, Dusty Rhodes and Rick Flair. Rick Flair set up Goff’s 94-yard scoring pass to Robert Woods, who may be as fast as Sammy Watkins, the team leader with six TD catches.
The Eagles are going to have to disguise how they line up — as much as they can — before the helmet radio shuts off.
“We’re going to have to hold our (position) a little bit because we know how they’re calling the game,” Graham said. “We’ve got to do a good job in practice learning how to really hold it.”
While Goff has managed the offense well, the offense starts with the Rams with Gurley. The 6-1, 227-pounder is second in the league in rushing, ranks among the league leaders with 11 TDs and has 1,502 yards from scrimmage.
“He’s a big back,” Graham said. “He can give you everything. He’s a guy that can catch out of the backfield, a downhill runner. And he’s shifty, too. He’s the complete package at running back. We’ve got our hands full. We’ve got to make sure we attack them and don’t let them get started.
“Gurley is a big part of that offense. Everybody sees that. We’ve just got to make sure we stop him, and we’ll get our chances.”
Gurley needs 61 yards for his second 1,000-yard season in three years. He also has 48 receptions worth 563 yards (11.7 average) and three TDs.
“He has some Le’Veon Bell when it comes to picking his way through,” Schwartz said. “And he’s been very productive in the passing game. I think that’s something that went unnoticed from me until we really started diving into the film. He’s averaging double digits in average per reception. For a running back, that’s pretty impressive.”