Rams Jared Goff Saying All The Right Things In April

Los Angeles Rams starting quarterback Jared Goff is saying all the right things about the state of his team. A good move for a player who needs to evolve as a signal caller and a leader.

Los Angeles Rams starting quarterback Jared Goff demonstrated exactly what you want to see from a guy who is likely to emerge as a team leader. The second year signal caller is smart to say all the right things and focus on a future that seems wide open. And why not? After a season like 2016, Goff is right to talk about being close to “contending.”

Hyperbole? A little.

It’s also April. And while a convenient roll of the eyes would want to remind him of that, nothing better speaks to boundless optimism like an NFL team talking about “contending” in early spring.

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But what this long time cynic would say to the young quarterback is that I like the optimistic forecast. I like that he thinks they are close to winning. I like that he thinks he know better than the self appointed “experts.” I like that he is telling not just the NFL pundits but teammates and Rams fans alike that this team is tracking in the right direction.

One additional thing I’d add about his comments on the state of the Rams: the comments didn’t come from the mouth of Jeff Fisher.

While I love that the Rams no longer front Fisher as the face of NFL football in Los Angeles, what I absolutely am joyous of is that it’s Sean McVay and Goff selling the message of optimism.

That in and of itself is something to get fired up about in pre-draft April.

As for how accurate Goff may prove to be come late in December remains to be seen. I remember the feeling that the Rams had turned the corner after their win against the Cardinals in Glendale, and how “sky seemed the limit” with the team sporting a 3-1 record in early October.

I know, that’s like a lifetime ago, and in NFL years, it likely is.

That 3-1 would eventually yield a season record of 4-12, and doing the math quickly reminds you how a season can turn. But let’s not lose sight of the messenger and the message. In Los Angeles, that’s an important distinction.

To date, the Rams have done a solid job of correcting the original sin of keeping Fisher one season to long. They paid the price and paid dearly. The CEO approach deployed last season is long gone. In its place is the optimism of a young NFL head coach and his not so younger second year quarterback selling a message that they’re better than advertised, and certainly better than they’ve shown.

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That may prove yet to be.

Yes, the cynic in me is quick to remind that it’s only April, because it is.

But I love that the guy selling me the future, IS the future of Rams football in Los Angeles. And that is a much better message and messenger.