In the midst of his breakout season in 2017, Jared Goff was dubbed a system quarterback. He struggled immensely under Jeff Fisher’s guidance as a rookie, but when Sean McVay arrived, everything changed – thus spurring the “system QB” talk.
He silenced his doubters a bit in 2018 with another Pro Bowl season and by leading the Rams to the Super Bowl, but he couldn’t maintain that level of play this past season. He regressed to concerning levels, throwing just 22 touchdown passes to 16 interceptions behind a shaky offensive line.
So which Jared Goff is the real Jared Goff? The one that played well in 2017 and 2018? Or the one who’s looked like a below-average quarterback in unideal circumstances around him?
Aqib Talib, who spent the last season and a half with the Rams, was asked whether Goff is a quarterback who can succeed no matter what or if he needs a lot of help around him. His answer is telling, indicating that Goff succeeds in part because of the Rams’ system.
“I’m not sure. I think the circumstances play a part, but I think the circumstances play a part with everybody,” Talib said on The Dave Dameshek Football Program this week. “But I mean, like you said, there’s some guys where it doesn’t matter where you put those guys, they’re going to excel. I think Jared, him and the system that they’re running, I think it’s successful. As long as he stays where he is, I think he’s in a great system that fits his talents. So as long as he stays where he is, I think he’ll be pretty good. I don’t think the Rams’ downfall, it was not just Jared Goff. It was the entire team, starting at the top. It was everybody. It was a Super Bowl hangover. You get complacent.”
The Rams offensive line allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL and Goff had two wide receivers who eclipsed 1,000 yards. On the surface, it may seem like he had plenty of help around him. However, the Rams were 26th in rushing, Goff was hit 48 times (10th-most) and he was forced to attempt the most passes in the NFL.
There’s no denying Goff’s talent when given a clean pocket and time to survey the field. He can make every throw in the book, even those outside the pocket on the run. However, it’s when the pocket gets muddied and he has to work off-schedule that things go awry.
The Rams have to hope that improves if they want to get back to the Super Bowl.
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