Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff is in his 5th NFL season.
Goff is a California boy so he did not stray far to head to the University of California Berkeley (Cal) to play college ball.
The Rams selected Goff with the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Like other young quarterbacks, Goff has had career highs and lows.
The most frustrating part of Jared Goff is that he flashes the ability to do the things he sucks at sometimes (climbing the pocket) and it makes you buy in, only for him to miserably fail at it the next handful of times.
This was great! IDC if it was incomplete. pic.twitter.com/YBtnJvUWHE
— Sosa K (@QBsMVP) December 21, 2020
With that being said, it makes us wonder if Goff is overrated?
The short answer is he is neither.
Here’s why.
Short Window
Unlike previous generations, quarterbacks did not traditionally start immediately after being drafted.
There used to be a mentality that a young quarterback learned in a backup role with a more senior mentor as the starter.
Goff’s apprenticeship lasted a half season while Case Keenum was the Rams’ starting quarterback.
But by the middle of the 2016 season, Goff took the reins.
He struggled, throwing 5 TDs and 7 INTs.
In 2017, he led the Rams to an 11-5 record while throwing 28 TDs to 7 INTs.
In 2018, Goff’s team went all the way to the Super Bowl.
He played well as evidenced by his 32 TD passes and 12 INTs.
In 2 years time, Goff went from backup to Super Bowl QB.
By all measures of his first 3 seasons, Goff was a success.
Super Bowl
The Rams Super Bowl appearance against the New England Patriots was the lowest scoring Super Bowl in history.
It was a defensive matchup.
Goff’s Rams were held to 260 yards of offense, and he made a costly error leading to a Stephon Gilmore interception.
The final score was 13-3.
Goff and the Rams were a young team who looked like fish out of water compared to the seasoned veterans on the New England Patriots sideline.
At that time, the Rams were viewed as a franchise on the rise but needed time for the young players to gain experience.
2019 and 2020 seasons
Goff and the Rams did not flourish the past 2 seasons.
After going 13-3 in the Super Bowl season, the Rams managed a 9-7 record in 2019.
Thus far in 2020, the Rams are 9-5.
Loss To Jets Week 15 of 2020 Season
Symbolic of the Rams and Goff’s struggles of the past 2 seasons is the team’s loss to the previously winless New York Jets.
The Jets edged the Rams by a score of 23-20.
Losing to a winless team is devastating, and ripple effects are felt throughout the Rams organization.
A terrible loss. An embarrassment. #JaredGoff #SeanMcVay and #LesSnead should be ashamed of themselves. #LARAMS #RAMS lose to the Jets? 🤬
— L.A. RAMS News (@LARamsNews) December 21, 2020
Where Does Goff Stand Now?
He is not overrated or underrated.
Goff is a good quarterback that has not always benefitted from a supporting cast of players and coaches to help him succeed.
In addition to the jury being out on Goff, it is also out on his young head coach Sean McVay.
More Time Is Needed
Jared Goff needs more time to develop.
He may never get to another Super Bowl again; that is the peril of getting so close to the pinnacle of success at a young age.
Dolphins legend Dan Marino got to only one Super Bowl, in his second season.
He lost and never made his way back.
I’m not suggesting Goff’s career will be similar or as successful as Marino’s.
In a few years, the discussion on Jared Goff can be revisited and probably have a more conclusive answer as to whether he is overrated or underrated.
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