Rams quarterback Jared Goff should have all the motivation he needs

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff should have all the motivation he needs for a big year, but history now shows having that “edge” may be elusive.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff is facing an interesting third year in his still young NFL career. While year two turned the heat down on the top pick having gone 0-7 in his rookie season, year three has him as part of a centerpiece needing to not just validate an 11-5 2017, but a monster haul during this past free agency.

Does Goff have an issue with motivation, or finding an edge?

According to a recent Q&A, the then rookie quarterback struggled to find an edge as the top overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Now, I’m not saying this to serve as a warning sign. As a matter of fact, if last season is any indication the smarter money is on Goff making that leap and getting better.

At Cal, Goff created an “edge” for himself because he wasn’t seen as a top tier type of prospect coming out of high school. Being No. 1 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft didn’t seem to produce the motivation he was looking for, whereas in his second season in LA, the Rams quarterback had every reason to want to bounce back from an 0-7 start to his career.

So, what will he look for this season?

Los Angeles is about as star-studded as any team you’d find not just in the NFL, but on any professional sports team. The defense alone is stacked with the kind of name recognition and accomplishment that would make any defensive coordinator sleep well at night.

Goff is also the benefactor of the 2017 NFL Coach of the Year in Sean McVay, and a running back who was the Offensive Player of the Year in Todd Gurley. His receivers are solid, and special teams is a lock to swing a game or two in his favor.

You can say that so long as Goff is a workmanlike compliment, the Rams should be better for that reason alone.

If the edge, as Goff would call it, was to be better than 0-7 in 2017, what’s that it factor in 2018?

The talent on the Los Angeles Rams roster could support him making an MVP run, but that might be ambitious.

Maybe it’s lasting deep into the playoffs, and a shot at taking his team to a Super Bowl.

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Or perhaps it’s as simple as him not taking a step back in a second year with McVay in his ear.

Bottom line, both McVay and Goff will look to validate what some may see as a fluke in 2017. After all winning big, as all those offseason moves say is what should happen, is the next logical step.

Meaning that motivation and “edge” for Goff isn’t that complicated after all.