Gift of Goff:
Rams, rookie find positives in No. 1 pick’s play
His initial numbers might not show it, but Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback Jared Goff has already flashed his tantalizing potential.
Jared Goff didn’t throw a touchdown pass in his NFL regular-season debut.
Despite a 10-point lead with about four minutes to play, he somehow didn’t become the first quarterback picked No. 1 overall in the NFL draft to win his first career start since 2002.
The Los Angeles Rams’ season didn’t immediately change course, bound for the playoffs, after the former University of California star took the helm to quiet the restless fans chanting for him at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
But the Rams rookie showed enough during the 14-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday for Rams fans to believe there are better days ahead for the NFL’s most unwatchable offense.
“He was in complete control in the huddle,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “He did a nice job on the line of scrimmage.
“I was disappointed in the outcome of the game, but you can see the light. There’s light there for him.”
And a light at the end of a dark tunnel for the Los Angeles offense, which is dead last in the league in scoring after finishing at the bottom in passing and total offense a year ago.
“This is our quarterback, and we’re going to rally behind him,” defensive tackle Michael Brockers said.
Statistically, Goff’s opener didn’t provide the Rams with much more than what previous starter Case Keenum produced over the first nine games of the season.
Goff completed 17 of 31 passes for 134 yards. Offensive coordinator Rob Boras reacted to rare rainy conditions in Southern California and a hazardous Dolphins defensive line with a conservative game plan.
But Goff didn’t turn the ball over — a significant issue for the Rams over the first half of the season — and led the team to its first double-digit lead of the season at home.
“Jared showed some great flashes,” defensive end Robert Quinn said. “He had the crowd excited and definitely had me excited.”
Los Angeles led for nearly the entire game, including that 10-0 stranglehold before a disastrous final few minutes.
“It’s hard to praise any one of your players in a loss like this, but, when all eyes are on our quarterback, I thought he handled this game pretty well,” Fisher said. “I’m looking forward to him having another real week of preparation.”
Goff’s effect on the offense was subtle, but nearly immediate.
He was announced to rousing cheers along with the rest of the Rams offense. The only player introduced after him, running back Todd Gurley, directly benefited on the seventh offensive snap.
One play after Goff beat a blitz for a 19-yard slant to Kenny Britt, Gurley ripped through the meat of the Dolphins defense for a 24-yard touchdown run.
That play ended Gurley’s interminable nine-game wait for his first 20-yard run of the season. He was second in the NFL in such highlight-reel runs last year as a rookie.
“Early on, we were running it well,” Goff said.
Goff, who is 6-4, also surprised his teammates with his feet, spinning away from pressure on the goal line to convert a third-down pass to tight end Lance Kendricks.
“To me he had a lot of pocket presence,” Quinn said. “He moved around and stepped out of possible sacks to give his receivers a chance to make a play. I am excited about him.”
But Goff was robbed of the highlight of his NFL debut. Scrambling to his left early in the fourth quarter, Goff dived for the down marker for an 11-yard gain on third-and-10.
But the play was nullified by offensive tackle Greg Robinson’s block in the back behind the play.
“He’s able to move pretty good,” Kendricks said.
Goff’s first completion was a 3-yard pass to Tyler Higbee, a fellow rookie and Goff’s training camp roommate, on his third attempt.
“It took me a couple drives to settle in,” Goff said. “That was expected. Similar to my first start in college, in high school, in my whole life, your first game in there you’ve got to settle in.
“It took a couple drives, probably, but I felt good. I did settle in well throughout the game.”
Overall, the 22-year-old gave his debut mixed reviews.
“I think getting in and out of the huddle in time, getting the ball snapped and not having any delay of games was a positive,” Goff said. “Something I would like to do better is to just be a little cleaner on my reads. I missed a couple, and some I want back.”
Goff took a few shots. He was sacked once and hit four times, including on the third snap of the game by defensive end Jason Jones, which prompted Fisher to periodically check on him.
“You get a thumbs-up, and he’s OK,” Fisher said. “He’s ready to go for the next play. He was really into it. I was really proud of him.”
It might not have been the type of introduction that fellow rookie quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz have enjoyed this year with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively.
But it was, as Fisher said last week when he announced the change, a new start.
The second chapter in Goff’s on-field education arrives this weekend in New Orleans.
“What greater challenge can you imagine than being in his shoes and going down and competing against the likes of Drew Brees?” Fisher said. “That’s a huge challenge for him.”