Lost: Goff ’s season. Found: Webb
There must be times when Jared Goff wishes he’d played out that senior year at Cal. It’s not the most practical notion, given that he was the overall No. 1 draft pick and is well into his first professional season, but “at least I’d be playing,” he thinks to himself.
This has been quite a year for rookie quarterbacks not named Goff. The Eagles’ Carson Wentz, the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, the Browns’ Cody Kessler and the Patriots’ Jacoby Brissett have all made large impressions in the early going. Meanwhile, Rams coach Jeff Fisher got a bit testy with beat writers this week when the questions persisted about Goff, still glued to the sideline.
“When he’s under center, you’ll know, OK?” said Fisher, noting that injuries led to all of the above-mentioned quarterbacks getting a look. “So keep asking every week. Fine. Ask again if you want.”
As Fisher sticks with Case Keenum, ESPN’s Jon Gruden wonders whether it’s a lost season for Goff. “I think he might be best served not playing at all this year,” Gruden told the Los Angeles Times. “How’s he getting better if he’s not getting enough (practice) reps? He’s just been sitting there.”
It’s pretty remarkable that Cal could come up with a Gofflike quarterback, routinely throwing for 400-plus yards and dazzling the scouts with an NFL-caliber arm. Davis Webb has made some big mistakes under pressure, but he’s one of the best in the country when it comes to deep balls hitting receivers in stride. By season’s end, Webb-to-Chad Hansen (50 catches, 656 yards and six touchdowns in four games) is likely to go down with the alltime combinations in Cal history.
Does anyone forecast Cal in the Rose Bowl under coach Sonny Dykes? Not in this or any other season, with zero progress being made defensively, at least on the scoreboard. Still, what a show. Most Cal alums I know, their expectations lowered years ago, are more than satisfied with the Bears’ thrilling games — and they’ve got a big one at home Saturday against Utah, in daylight (3 p.m.), no less.
Just to confirm: The entire third inning of Vin Scully’s final game Sunday will be simulcast on the Giants’ television (CSN Bay Area) and radio (KNBR) broadcasts. And don’t miss the postgame shows with Mike Krukow, Jon Miller, Duane Kuiper and Dave Flemming offering some final thoughts on the man ... For its national broadcast, TBS chose to skip Giants-Dodgers and air the final regular-season game for Boston’s David Ortiz, against Toronto, with cut-ins to other ballparks. All 15 games on the Sunday schedule start at noon Pacific time ... Three candidates stand out for National League Manager of the Year — the Nats’ Dusty Baker, the Cubs’ Joe Maddon, the Dodgers’ Dave Roberts — and it’s impossible to choose. They’re all totally deserving ... Such a disappointment to see Baker’s team shackled by injuries for the upcoming Division Series against the Dodgers. Stephen Strasburg (elbow) might miss the entire postseason, Bryce Harper has significant neck and thumb ailments, Daniel Murphy (.347) might not be at full strength after a prolonged leg issue, and perhaps worst of all, invaluable catcher Wilson Ramos is undergoing knee surgery — a recovery process so extensive, he says he’ll consider the American League (as a DH) when he hits the freeagent market this winter ... The Cardinals’ suspect rotation would have led the team straight to elimination without rookie Alex Reyes, who has a 1.57 ERA in 12 appearances (some in relief ). Fortunately for the Giants, he won’t get a start this weekend, having pitched six strong innings against the Reds on Thursday night.
Barry Bonds will be home for the postseason, but what an unforgettable year he’s had as the Miami hitting coach. Watching Giancarlo Stanton (when healthy) strike the mightiest blows of them all. Helping Don Mattingly boost his credibility as a manager. Being around the incomparable Ichiro, who cleared 3,000 hits. Guiding Christian Yelich, one of the fine young hitters in the game. And establishing a deep, exuberant friendship with Jose Fernandez, whose death continues to have a jarring impact around the game ... Suggested by many, and a great idea: Create a Jose Fernandez Award for the player who exemplifies a passionate celebration of the game. “I see such a little boy, the way he played,” Mattingly said. “When you watch kids play Little League, that’s the joy Fernandez played with.” ... And somewhere in a mythical land, when Cuba fields its all-time team, Fernandez will be in the rotation with Luis Tiant, Camilo Pascual, Mike Cuellar and Orlando (El Duque) Hernandez —or Dolf Luque, the great Cincinnati pitcher of the 1920s, if you prefer ... Can’t recall a more poignant moment, in any season, than Dee Gordon stepping to the plate as Miami’s first hitter after the tragedy. He dug into the box right-handed, wearing Fernandez’s helmet, and took a pitch in tribute. Then he switched to the left side, took another pitch, and homered to deep right field — his first of the season, and what he called the longest ball he ever hit. Tears streamed down his face as he rounded the bases, an image for that entire evening and the months ahead. A more devastating baseball loss could not be imagined.