LA Rams may see JG 2.0 as an upgrade over the original JG 1.0, and here's why

Ah yes, the LA Rams are back in the hunt. That's right, a 1-4 team finished the season with another post-BYE rally for the second consecutive NFL season. This time, the team finished the season with a 9-3 run that included pitting the junior varsity backups against the second-place Seattle Seahawks (10-7) to finish out the 2024 NFL season. Curiously, the backups nearly won the game, losing to a touchdown in the final minutes by a score of 30-25.

The offense, a bunch of lesser-used players led by veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, scored an impressive 25 points. When compared to the scores of previous games this season, the output was the sixth-most points scored by the team all season.

That's right. The junior varsity offense scored the sixth-most points of the season. And Jimmy Garoppolo, the guy who the team has kept on the bench all season until Week 18, threw for 334 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. That is the most passing yards thrown by an LA Rams quarterback all season. Just to place this into perspective, he was throwing to almost an entire group of receivers who had seen little action this year.

That is not something to overlook.

Rams willingly traded away JG 1.0

The Rams front office has to know that at some point, the will need a firm succession plan for the quarterback position. Unlike teams that fall to the bottom rung of the NFL to give them the top draft pick to find their next franchise quarterback, the Rams have to believe that no first overall pick is in the cards for the foreseeable future.

This team did use the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft to select QB Jared Goff. While Goff did carry the team to three playoffs in his first five seasons, and to Super Bowl LIII, it was clear that HC Sean McVay did not view JG 1.0 as an ideal fit for this offense. It was Coach McVay that engineered and lobbied team owner Stan Kroenke to authorize the trade package that pried veteran QB Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions.

That package included QB Jared Goff, a 2021 Round 3 pick, a 2022 Round 1 pick, and a 2023 Round 1 pick. At the time, some NFL experts, including then-Las Vegas Raiders HC Jon Gruden, thought the trade was just a player-for-player swap. The outcome of the trade was one of the rare occasions that resulted in a winning scenario for both teams. The Rams won Super Bowl LVI. Meanwhile, few NFL fans can deny the unbridled success Goff is enjoying with the Detroit Lions.

If the Detroit Lions put Jared Goff on the trading block (they won't), I'm not convinced that the Rams would have any interest. Yes, Goff is very successful in the Lions offense. But many attribute his success and the Detroit Lions offensive efficiency to OC Ben Johnson. And Johnson's offense is not the same offense that the Rams run.

Jimmy G is JG 2.0

While it's never correct to base a landmark decision on one data point, that is all the data that Rams fans have when it comes to assessing the body of work of veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo. And that lone data point certainly was impressive. So why am I making such a fuss over one game that resulted in a loss? Well, the third time is the charm.

In 2022, the Rams signed tarnished veteran QB Baker Mayfield when he was released. After rediscovering his passion for football, he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and earned the starting role there. In 2023, the team signed tarnished veteran QB Carson Wentz. He parlayed a part-year rental into a backup role with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now the Rams have formerly tarnished veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo. And in one game, he appeared to be a refurbished and reenergized quarterback once more.

JG 2.0 may be better suited than JG 1.0 for this offense

In one game, Garoppolo drove the Rams offense unlike any other game this season. The team was able to score 25 points despite a running game of only 21 carries and 84 rushing yards. The offense scored points in every quarter. While HC Sean McVay was not calling the plays, he had to be very impressed with the fact that Garoppolo threw 47 passes, completed 27 of those throws, and put up 334 passing yards, two touchdowns, and just one interception.

The Rams offense, run by backups, appeared to be vintage Rams. At least as far as HC Sean McVay is concerned. Garoppolo completed a 50-yard bomb to rookie wide receiver Jordan Whittington, putting explosives back into the playbook.

Known as a quarterback who loves to throw over the middle of the field, Garoppolo seemed to be reborn, slinging the football to the left and right as well as over the middle. Best of all, he was throwing to seldom-seen players like RB Cody Schrader, WRs Xavier Smith, Tyler Johnson, and Jordan Whittington, and even to TEs Colby Parkinson and Tyler Higbee.

This was not a square peg in a round hole, much to the delight of Rams fans. Garoppolo stood tall in the pocket and gave the team a chance to win in a game in which the team was clearly outmanned and outgunned. Best of all, he looked like he loved playing football again.

In the past, a loss by Goff seemed to weigh heavily on him.

The Rams have some tough choices to make during the offseason. Hopefully, the team and Jimmy Garoppolo come to terms on an extension. I had some reservations about JG 2.0 playing for the Rams in the past, but that is no longer the case. From start to finish, Garoppolo seemed to have command of the offense. He also seemed to have surprising ease at running plays and this offense.

Hopefully, his agent and the Rams front office hammer out an extension. I think JG 2.0 may be the upgrade over JG 1.0 that the Rams have been seeking.

As always, thanks for reading.

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