3 key storylines as the Rams head towards season opener

Quarterback Jared Goff has 16 games to get it right. He doesn’t need to be Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, or the second coming of Joe Montana.

Being perfect need not apply.

But Goff needs to be Goff, and odds are Sean McVay has a pretty good idea what that looks like. Fans and NFL watchers got a taste with his steady performance against the Oakland Raiders in Week 2 of the preseason.

Unfortunately, an uneven outing this past Saturday night against their new cross town rival Chargers may have left fans a bit queasy.

But that’s what the exhibition season is all about.

Bet that Goff is better in 2017; significantly so. With better weapons from Watkins to rookie Cooper Kupp, the second year quarterback has options he did not last season. If his offensive line can hold, and he can get 2015 production from running back Todd Gurley, he’ll take a quantum leap forward.

Do not misunderstand, the Rams have done everything to make the Goff selection a success. He’ll get this year to validate his pick and the picks from this springs’ draft. It’s his team, and he has his best opportunity to turn it around from his rookie year.

But……
If it goes south, especially early on, the leash will become short. Should he not be able to galvanize some momentum to keep the Rams moving forward, expect options to be explored sooner rather than later.

It’s Goff’s team now. But if he doesn’t perform, don’t expect it to be come seasons end.