Rams need best yet from Jared Goff to bounce back in 2020
Jared Goff wasn’t good enough in 2019. Not surprisingly, neither were the Los Angeles Rams.
Los Angeles was expected to make a strong bid for consecutive NFC championships after getting to the Super Bowl in 2018, only to score three points in a loss to the New England Patriots. What was supposed to be another tour de force quickly disintegrated into a lost season, with the Rams stumbling to an uninspiring 9-7 finish.
While blaming Goff for the disappointment is folly, it’s equally incorrect to move along without pointing to him as the biggest culprit. The Rams still have an offensive genius in head coach Sean McVay, who despite playing almost exclusively in 11 personnel can confuse defenses on a continuous basis.
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Los Angeles lost some of its might on the offensive line, with the release of veteran center John Sullivan and departure of guard Rodger Saffold in free agency. With two pillars gone and the talents of former All-Pro running back Todd Gurley dwindling, Goff needed to step up. He needed to be the engine block and not a part.
The result?
2018: 32 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 64.9 completion rate and 8.4 YPA
2019: 22 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, 62.9 completion rate and 7.4 YPA
The numbers were worse across the proverbial board for Goff. So was the ability to handle pressure in the pocket. While Goff will never remind anybody of Lamar Jackson in terms of mobility, he has the legs to get out of trouble. Unfortunately, those were rarely used in 2019, resulting in 40 rushing yards.
The good news? Goff has talent. He throws one of the prettiest deep balls in the NFL and at 25 years old, his best football is ahead of him.
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Of course, Jared Goff can’t do it all alone. Rams general manager Les Snead has endured a brutal time since the Super Bow loss, starting tie the decline of Gurley, the trades of corners Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters, the subsequent release of Gurley and the trade of receiver Brandin Cooks this offseason to the Houston Texans.
If the Rams are going to reach the postseason in 2020, it starts with Goff. He needs to be smarter under pressure, throw a few more receivers open and avoid the big mistake. All this was lacking compared to his two Pro Bowl seasons in the years prior.
However, if Los Angeles doesn’t improve around him, there won’t be any talk of a playoff voyage in Los Angeles. After all, Goff is the most important player, but he’s but one man.
