The Rams have just lost their defensive coordinator to the Chargers, and more major changes may be underway. Los Angeles just ended what was, for all intents and purposes, a successful season, winning a playoff game and advancing to the division round after failing to reach the postseason the previous year. But if they want to go back to the old heights of the Super Bowl 2018, they will need much better production in the passing game. 
Sean McVay seems to understand this, and now he raised a lot of eyebrows at his last two press conferences by refusing to commit to Jared Goff. At his post-game press conference, immediately after the Rams lost to the Packers, McVay was asked if Goff is his quarterback and he replied “yes he is the quarterback now. ”As we have seen many times,” now “can be a kind of kiss of death in the language of coach.
In his availability of holiday media on Sunday, McVay further muddied the waters. “I’m evaluating everything we do, and that includes QB’s position,”McVay said, adding“I am not ready to make any kind of statement regarding ANY initial position, ”By Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic (Twitter Link)
Los Angeles had the best total defense in the league this season, the weapons are good enough, the offensive line is solid and the training is excellent. As such, it is fair to assume that the only way to increase his cap is for Goff to improve, as it will be difficult for the defense to play better in 2021. The previous first general choice has regressed this season, ranking towards the top of the league in interceptions, despite being at the bottom of the target’s average depth.
It seems that McVay is far from happy with his current depth chart, but his options are limited. Goff is under contract until the 2024 season thanks to the large extension he signed in September 2019, which is only starting to take effect now. There is no realistic way to cut it before the next season with the implications of the dead limit.
No team is likely to take on a contract in exchange, which seems to indicate that the only way McVay could replace him would be to add a little competition to the list. It would be very difficult to close another big contract close to Goff’s, which would mean that the competition would probably have to come in the form of a cheaper veteran or a player on a rookie contract.
It will be a very interesting off-season in Los Angeles. Maybe GM Les Snead, known for his aggressiveness in recent years, he has another trick up his sleeve.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.