With the Los Angeles Rams heading into their bye week losing three straight and a 3-4 record, will the team make the move in starting Jared Goff?
It’s been a common trend these past few weeks for Los Angeles Rams fans as every time the game is on the line, starting quarterback Case Keenum manages to mess it up. Unfortunately, that was the case once again on Sunday when the Rams fell to the New York Giants
Trailing 17-10 late in the fourth quarter, the Rams had a chance to tie the game, and potentially send it into overtime, that is until Keenum happened.
With about 40 seconds to go in the game on the Giants 15, Keenum threw a deep pass towards the corner of the end zone. However, no Los Angeles receiver was in sight to make a play, allowing the ball to be intercepted.
A communication issue between Keenum and wide receiver Brian Quick would result in the Rams losing their third-straight game. Not to mention, Keenum threw yet another pick-six while finishing the afternoon with four interceptions.
On the season, Keenum has thrown 10 interceptions to just eight touchdowns while having a passer rating of 77.5.
However, let’s take a second to defend Keenum as the team’s quarterback.
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Keenum has performed well in some games this season including the games against the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which he set career numbers. And I believe the Rams are utilizing him incredibly wrong.
Rams head coach Jeff Fisher has made it clear to just about everyone that the team a run first, play tough defense kind of squad. Unfortunately, they haven’t been sticking to that game plan over the last couple of weeks, and it’s been hurting them. .
For example, Keenum threw a career high 53 pass attempts when they played the Giants in Week 7, which is absolutely ridiculous to think about. Why let a backup quarterback in Keenum pass the ball that much knowing star running back, Todd Gurley is hungry for a breakout game of his own?
Another example took place last Sunday when the Rams played the Lions as Gurley got off to a hot start, breaking off multiple 10-yard runs in the first half. But for some reason, Los Angeles stopped handing the ball to Gurley and instead, went into a shootout with Detroit through the air before going on to lose the game.
Keenum was a backup quarterback for a reason as the talent is simply not there naturally for him. So the Rams should rely on feeding Gurley and playing good defense right?
Wrong.
Gurley has only received more than 20 carries just twice this season, and he’s yet to eclipse a 100-yard game. For some reason, the Rams would rather have Keenum pass the ball over 30 times a game, risking the possibility of turnovers, which has happened on numerous occasions.
But that’s enough of defending Keenum.
The Rams are 3-4 heading into their bye week, and with the way Keeneum is playing, Week 9 seems like the perfect time to start Jared Goff
Multiple sources have already reported that Goff has been seen taking more snaps with the first teams in practice, and with the way the offense has been playing as of late, it can’t get any worse right now.
The Seattle Seahawks or Arizona Cardinals will most likely win the NFC West, leaving the Rams competing for a Wild Cart position. Sitting at 3-4, that will be hard to do.
Also, the Rams invested heavily in Goff giving up multiple draft picks to draft their franchise quarterback. If a team gives up as many picks as they did, he deserves to be playing regardless because of the talent he already has.
Fisher claimed Los Angeles would not go 7-9 again, but that looks like a real possibility as their schedule will only get tougher with remaining games against the New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, and Seahawks.
If the Rams are going to go 7-9 with Keenum and have another losing season, why not have a 7-9 season with Goff instead? The starting experience would only do wonders for Los Angeles as they unfortunately look like anything but a playoff team.
Lastly, others claim that sitting Goff and allowing him to hold a clipboard would help him, as that seemed to work out just fine with Aaron Rodgers. However, the Packers had a hall of fame quarterback in Brett Farve which allowed the Packers to take their time, while the Rams on the other hand have Keenum.
Therefore, that example does not apply here.
Keenum has performed very inconsistently for the Rams this season and some of the blame has to be placed on the coaching staff setting him up to fail. Given that the Rams are 3-4 going into their bye week, should they finally give Goff a chance to start?