Rams shouldn’t force Jared Goff into leadership role

The Los Angeles Rams need Jared Goff to be less a team leader, and more an NFL quarterback.

The Los Angeles Rams will make a lot of decisions this offseason. In fact, it’s hard to pick a city where OTA’s may be more important than in LA, as another wave of youth engulfs the organization. One topic that keeps popping on the radar of Rams’ fans is Jared Goff. The second year quarterback certainly has a lot on his plate, but leadership needn’t be one of them.

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For me, the only thing I’m interested in is Goff making tangible progress as an NFL quarterback. I want to see him make quicker and smarter reads, manage a long drive, and execute a late game, two-minute drive for a winning touchdown. THAT’S what the Rams need from their would be franchise guy.

That, and wins.

That doesn’t mean he can’t develop into a “team leader” later down the road or even later this season. But for a guy who performed as poorly as he did last year, I’d like to see him walk before running, being a starting quarterback before a locker room figurehead.

In 2017, Goff need only be tasked with one thing: being better. Leave the leadership search to osmosis, or a voice emerging from within. The NFL media always, ALWAYS designates the starting quarterback as the face of a franchise, the wanted and needed quote post-game or pre-game. He can grow into that.

But later.

If Goff is to have a long and illustrious career as a franchise type QB, let it begin with a season check-marked by wins, and an offensive production that leads the Rams out of the NFL statistical cellar.

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Once he crosses 16 game starter with some wins under his belt off the list, he can move on to other things.

Like leading the Rams to the playoffs.