Jared Goff will serve as Rams backup vs Seahawks
By Maher Ayoub
The Los Angeles Rams officially announced No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff as backup QB against the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday.
The season did not start according to plan for Jared Goff. After being selected first overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, Goff was expected to take over as the Rams starting quarterback sooner than later. The table was set for Goff after the Rams moved operations to Los Angeles after last season, and selected the local product first overall.
After an up and down preseason and training camp, many were surprised to see that Goff was listed as the team’s third-string quarterback to start the season. Sitting behind now starting quarterback Case Keenum and Rams third round pick in the 2015 draft Sean Mannion, Goff was in street clothes for his teams first game of the season.
The drama built up even further leading into the teams first game last Monday night against the 49ers after the offense looked despicable. Case Keenum was not able to generate any real progress, and the 49ers stacked the box to stop sophomore phenom, Todd Gurley. The team punted the ball ten times in a total of fourteen drives on their way to a 28-0 loss.
On Friday, Rams coach Jeff Fisher announced that Goff would go into the game as the team’s second-string quarterback. Although Fisher did not say that there were plans of current starting quarterback Keenum being demoted, the writing is on the wall. Goff will not only dress for this game but will certainly be available to replace Keenum if he replicates his performance last Monday night.
Goff is a huge investment for the team and is ideally the quarterback of the future. On a team with one of the leagues best running backs, and most improved defenses over the last few years, Goff could flourish.
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The Rams are going to play the first professional football game in Los Angeles since 1994 on Sunday. They will face a staunch and aggressive Seattle defense that preys on inefficient quarterbacks. Seattle will look to use the same game plan as the 49ers and force Keenum to throw the ball in order to win. If he isn’t able to capitalize, we could see Goff make his NFL debut mid-game on Sunday in Los Angeles.