3 keys for LA Rams QB Jared Goff’s dominating the NFL in 2020

3 keys to LA Rams QB Jared Goff  dominating NFL in 2020

The LA Rams quarterback Jared Goff has put up some incredible numbers in his short NFL career. In just 54 NFL games, the 6-foot-4 222-pound hurler has amassed 1,869 attempts for 1,166 completions resulting in 14,219 yards, 87 touchdowns,  42 interceptions, 713 first-downs, a 12.2 yards-per-completion average, and a 91.9 quarterback rating.  He is also the one and only quarterback drafted in 2016 or more recently to actively play in a Super Bowl game.

That in itself should be enough to bestow a belief that Goff is capable of righting his own ship, diagnosing the defense real-time, manufacturing yards from plays that disintegrated at the line of scrimmage. But the stigma that remains clinging to the young quarterback is that of a system player, a purely scripted quarterback who plays in an offense that is so great that he merely needs to stick to the script. Is that a fair assessment?

Overshadowed by his head coach

Goff is not a spotlight kind of guy. He plays for a head coach Sean McVay whose forte’ is the offense. And much like the symbiosis between New Orleans head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees, or New England head coach Bill Belichick and former quarterback Tom Brady, success is difficult to distinguish between the two.  Did the coach make the quarterback’s career, or did the quarterback make the coach’s career? Or was it a bit of both?

Somehow, that debate has never occurred for Jared Goff as of yet. Is it his aversion to the spotlight? Is it the lack of camera presence at his press conferences? Whatever it is, in 2019 it seemed to bleed onto the field of play.  Goff seemed to regress. Indecision, interceptions, ineffective suddenly became words associated with his play.  And that regression seemed to trigger the need for offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell.  So what is the game plan for 2020 to get Goff going?

Key 3: Gain early confidence

One of the most critical elements for any quarterback is confidence. The belief that no matter what the defense throws at you, you will have enough time and talent around you to make the play.  But confidence in anyone is difficult to acquire.  Each game has a five-seven minute window where the brain overcompensates, overthinks, and tries to anticipate the outcome of the game and each play before it happens.

Those first moments in a game are critical for a quarterback, particularly one who is on the upside of his NFL career. While Jared Goff is a very accomplished NFL quarterback, he has not enjoyed a robust coaching staff supporting his role.  In fact, he has had a turnstile of coaches, including Zac Taylor, Zac Robinson, and now Kevin O’Connell/Shane Waldron. Robinson is now the LA Rams wide receiver coach, and you can see an example of his analysis of the Rams passing game here.

Reformulate play sequence

Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell knows how to make a quarterback comfortable in the pocket. In fact, it was his performance against the Philadelphia Eagles late in the season with rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins which placed him as a priority hire for the LA Rams, the Philadelphia Eagles, and other NFL teams this offseason. O’Connell flexes the offense to maximize the talent on the field and gives the quarterback the best chance for success.

It worked to calm-down shell-shocked rookie quarterback Haskins. Imagine the success of veteran quarterback Goff in the same strategy?   The LA Rams offensive line may still be getting their bearings, but quick slants, screens, blast runs, and a host of other offensive plays designed for high success and pressuring the defense’s weak links will be just what the doctor ordered.  Goff needs to feel like himself in the pocket.  Once the Rams establish that on offense, it’s off to the second key.

Key 2: Take what the defense gives you

The LA Rams offense was a bit of an enigma in 2019. The easy yards suddenly became more difficult to get. Defenses became stingier. The offensive blitzkrieg suddenly found itself mired against defenses that were just as fast, just as deceptive, and just as competent. Until that point, the Rams offense was virtually on autopilot. But much like action films, stormy weather soon overwhelmed the Rams’ ability to adjust on the fly.

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So the team found itself unable to impose their will upon defenses. That forced the offense to rethink the formula for success.  The Rams could no longer dominate games just by showing up. Rather, coaches learned that it had become a bit of outflanking defenses in the second half of 2019. That lesson carries over today.

Reformulate play design

By the time the Rams had fallen too far behind in the NFC playoff hunt, the lightbulb lit. Rather than send four receivers on routes play after play, the key was to reformulate the offense to feature two tight ends. Now, with an extra blocker, and an unaccounted for receiver, Rams’ tight-end Tyler Higbee had an amazing December 2019.

The Rams learned to take what defenses would give up. Rather than swing for the fences, the team, and QB Goff, learned that games are won by adapting to defenses in much the same way as defenses adapt to the offense.  That will be vital for Goff’s success in 2020. Defenses conclude what quarterbacks are capable of, and play to that level. Goff does not threaten defenses with an ability to scramble, so he must find quick accurate passes to keep them on their heels. A May 2019 article by WolfSports.com ranked Goff as the eighth quickest release in the NFL, but I suspect he’s faster still now.

Key 1: Go for the jugular

Almost diametrically opposed to the previous key is the ability to go for the jugular. While the LA Rams have that type of quick-score offense, the passion of a game-ending scoring drive was lost in 2019.  In two separate games, the LA Rams failed to win a game with a last-minute field goal attempt but fell to an opponent’s last-second game-winning field goal. Two games within the grasp, but both fell the wrong way for the team. The Rams fate was sealed by those two games, by those two endings.

In the context of a game, momentum changes hands, some plays succeed and some do not. But in the course of the game, there comes a point where the quarterback has an opportunity to change the course of a game. Whether that is to throw the ball for a touchdown pass, or simply to avoid throwing a momentum-halting interception. And that dedication to sustain positive momentum was sorely lacking in 2019.

Turnover free play

The LA Rams passing game had similar yardage between 2018 and 2019. Passing touchdowns fell from 32 to 22. Interceptions increased from 12 to 16. And attempts rose from 561 to 626.  Far more effort resulting in less production. Before you read this as an indictment against Goff, it’s not. It is the result of a team that failed to adapt, failed to take what defenses gave them, failed to place the offense into better situations, and failed to improve in key areas.  The Rams failed to establish an effective running game in 2019. That placed the burden of the offense upon Goff.

He carried the team to a 9-7 season, placed two wide receivers in the 1000 yard club, nearly placed a tight end over 1000 yards receiving, and avoided injury.  Goff certainly did not benefit from an NFL best offensive line (ranked 31st). He didn’t even benefit from an NFL best running game (ranked 26th). The fact that the Rams ended with a winning record was outstanding. Now the Rams have a chance to unleash Goff’s full potential. How good can that be?  I expect many will be pleasantly surprised.