Marvez: Jared Goff's absence becomes more embarrassing with each Rams loss
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 0 Replies
Sporting News
Alex Marvez
Not yet.
There’s still more miserable offensive football left for the 2016 Los Angeles Rams. Case Keenum isn’t gone as the starting quarterback, and rookie Jared Goff will remain mired on the bench.
So said Ramscoach Jeff Fisher in the aftermath of his team’s third straight loss,a 17-10 stinker against the New York Giants on Sunday at Twickenham Stadium.
NFL SCORES: Live Week 7 updates, stats
Fisher could always change his mind a la New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles, who initially backed Ryan Fitzpatrick before shelving him last week for Geno Smith. Fisher, though, didn’t sound like someone seriously considering a QB change during his postgame news conference.
Fisher proclaimed his support for Keenum despite a four-interception performance and the ongoing struggles in the Rams' passing game. Fisher placed the blame for Sunday’s problems more on self-inflicted mistakes elsewhere.
"We didn’t lose this game because of quarterback play today,"Fisher said. "We lost at some other positions."
That they did.
A Keenum pass that bounced off wide receiver Tavon Austin’s hands was intercepted by safety Landon Collins. Dusting off his skills as a high schoolrunning back to snake from the right side of the field all the way to the left,Collins’ wild return for a 44-yard touchdown tied the score at 10 and gave the Giants the momentum they were sorely lacking early.
The execution of the final offensive play was even more gross,with wide receiver Brian Quick not noticing Keenum’s audible signal at the line of scrimmage. Quick cut his route short as Keenum threw a lob, giving Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie an easy interception in the end zone to seal the win with 42 seconds left.
Along the way, Rodgers-Cromartie notched another interception on a tipped Keenum pass. The Rams again failed to get running back Todd Gurley on track. The 2015 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year gained a modest 57 yards on 15 carries, none of which spanned more than eight yards.
MORE: All-time most painful draft regrets
The offensive line foundered, as well. Left tackle Greg Robinson was especially hideous. He committed four penalties, two of which were declined.
"We’re not doing enough,” said Keenum, who was sacked three times in a 32-for-53, 291-yard passing performance. “Whatever it is, we need to go back, look at film, correct it and keep going."
As the second overall pick in 2014, Robinson is teetering perilously close to bust status. But the main focus remains on the draft’s No. 1 choice from this year and whether the same disappointment awaits.
Other rookies drafted later like Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz, Dallas’ Dak Prescott and Cleveland’s Cody Kessler are already starting whether because of injuries to first-stringers or earning the nod. Goff sits behind a journeyman passer who’s best suited to serve as a competent backup.
Fisher refuses to detail why he won’t play Goff. Whether that’s because the Rams goofed by picking Goff or the coaches deserve blame for failing to quickly developing him —or a combination of both —are questions that become more pertinent each week Keenum starts.
"Jared is going to play when we feel Jared is ready,"Fisher said. "Had we won this game, you wouldn’t be asking about Jared."
Yet the Rams did lose —again —as the likelihood rises of a 12th consecutive season without a playoff appearance.
MORE: Should rookie QBs start or sit?
Los Angeles now has a bye before a Nov. 6 home game against reeling Carolina (1-5). This is theoretically the ideal time to make a quarterback switch in hopes of providing an offensive spark and getting Goff some valuable experience that would suit him well in the future.
The fact Fisher isn’t ready to make that move after Sunday is even worse news for the Rams than losing to an average squad like the Giants.
[www.msn.com]
Thoughts!?!