Matthew Stafford signature pick six puts LA Rams at early disadvantage

The LA Rams traded a bundle to land veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. Two first-round picks, a fourth-round pick, and a young quarterback in Jared Goff who only missed competing in the NFL Playoffs in two of his first five NFL seasons.

In return, the LA Rams intended on adding the missing piece to a Super Bowl competitive roster. They may have done so, but that remains to be seen. For now, the Rams front office and coaching staff must accept the fact that adding a throw-first type of quarterback.

Matthew Stafford is a quarterback who throws picks. He throws pick-sixes.  And for the LA Rams, when they traded for Stafford, they willingly embraced the good, the bad, and the ugly. Right now, the LA Rams are getting an ugly version of Matthew Stafford.

Stafford has always been a gun-slinger

While quarterback Matthew Stafford has always been a gun-slinger, his performance in the second half of the 2021 NFL season has been alarming.  If the LA Rams place the ball in Stafford’s hands, the football ultimately ends up in a defensive back’s hands. And on four occasions this season, he has even gifted the defense a pick-six. That puts the Rams defense on their heels without ever giving up a score.

And for the crowd who screams ‘Fire Raheem Morris’, it’s just more fuel for the fire. So what that the Rams defense has not surrendered a score.

The LA Rams bought a good NFL quarterback. But Matthew Stafford has spent an entire career working on the feast or famine principle.  Even as he threw his second interception of the game to Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver Van Jefferson was wide open for a 25-30 yards reception.

Sure, Matthew Stafford can win games for the LA Rams. But until he becomes more patient and trusts his teammates, he will continue to dig holes for the team.  From what we’ve seen so far this season, the Rams are not very good at digging out of those holes.