NFL PLAYER NEWS

Veteran QB Keenum has edge over Goff for Rams

The Sports Xchange

August 22, 2016 at 8:12 pm.

Aug 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Case Keenum (17) throws the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first inning at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Photo Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Case Keenum (17) throws the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first inning at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Photo Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Rams haven’t officially declared who their starting quarterback will be for the season opener on Sept. 12 against the San Francisco 49ers.

But, with de facto starter Case Keenum playing well so far in camp and through two preseason games and first-round draft pick Jared Goff looking very much like a work in progress, it appears likely Keenum will hold onto his job.

Reading between the lines, it certainly appears the Rams share that sentiment.

“What I’ve been saying since day one is we’re going to be patient with (Goff),” said Rams head coach Jeff Fisher. “Case is our starter. He’s progressing, he’s getting better. … (Goff is) learning from his mistakes, he doesn’t dwell on them. The fumble in the backfield yesterday was — he switched sides, he had an opportunity to convert the first down, he didn’t, he stayed to the left and then got tripped up. He’ll learn from it.

“Case is our starter right now and, again, patience is the word — you can put it in quotes — but we’re going to be patient with him.”

It makes sense on various levels.

The front part of the Rams’ schedule features division games against the 49ers and Seattle Seahawks followed by a cross-country trip to Tampa Bay. It seems dubious the Rams would jeopardize their chances at the start of the season just to force-feed the first overall pick in the draft into immediate action.

Keenum, not Goff, appears the right choice to begin the season and his gives the Rams the best chance to be competitive in three games to kick off the season.

And, clearly, Keenum is preparing as if he will get the call against the 49ers, although he is content with letting his play do any politicizing for him.

“I love playing football whether it’s preseason and it counts or doesn’t,” he said. “But that’s not my decision. There are a lot of things out of my control, that I can’t control, and I can control when I’m in there. That’s what is important to me.

“At a quarterback position, I’ve been on a lot of teams where you play different guys throughout the year, so we all have to be on the same page when it comes to a lot of different things,” Keenum added.

Keenum has been efficient in his two preseason games, completing 10 of 12 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. His quarterback rating is 133.0 and in three trips into the red zone, he’s helped the Rams convert three touchdowns.

“I think we are doing a good job staying on the same page,” Keenum said. “I think operation between plays is good, communication is within that, making sure that we are in the right play, we are lined up right, we are getting snapped on time. I think the guys are making plays.”

Goff has completed 12 of 21 passes for 120 yards with an interception and touchdown. His quarterback rating is 69.5 and he’s had two turnovers. He did finish on a strong note Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs while leading the Rams on the game-winning touchdown drive, delivering an 11-yard scoring pass to Malcolm Brown to clinch the 21-20 win late in the fourth quarter.

“Started to settle in there after a few drives,” Goff said. “I felt much better as the game went on, felt a lot more comfortable. It’s the same story as it’s been the last few weeks; every day gets a little bit better. Every game gets a little bit better, every drive, every play. So, I think I’ve made some good strides.”

It was a positive finish to two otherwise uneven performances for Goff.

But at this point, it doesn’t appear it’s enough to nudge ahead of Keenum for the starting job.

PLAYER NOTES

–WR Tavon Austin and the offense have converted seven touchdowns in their only seven trips to the red zone. For a team that’s struggled for years to score points, the red zone success could bode well if it carries over to the regular season.

The Rams are 2-0, and one gets the sense they are enjoying the success, even if it is the preseason.

“Definitely happy with how we played tonight,” Austin said after Saturday’s win over Kansas City. “That comes with the game. Just to knock out one last week — the big thing about it is we got one more win and that’s all that matters

–LB Alec Ogletree is settling in in his new role at middle linebacker and the new voice he has in calling and setting up the defense. Ogletree was not happy with the performance of the defense in the opener against the Dallas Cowboys — who converted two long touchdown drives – and put the blame largely on his shoulders.

Ogletree was much more satisfied after Saturday’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs, especially the three and out the Rams forced on the Chiefs second drive.

“Definitely. Once you settle down and play, everything just kind of flows and you get in a groove of things. I definitely felt better about the next series after we did the first series,” Ogletree said.

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