Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams reflects on the good times with Jared Goff

THOUSAND OAKS, California – Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay wanted to reflect on the good times with Jared Goff on Thursday, instead of talking about what went wrong with his former franchise quarterback, who was negotiated with Detroit Lions.

“What I think is important to make sure that I at least want to mention is the amount of good things and a really excellent leadership that he has provided since I came here as head coach,” said McVay, listing the three playoff matches, two divisions titles, NFC championship and participation in the Super Bowl under Goff for the past four seasons. “So I prefer to focus on the things that I think he did a great job of establishing in this league, the way he has behaved consistently day after day and all I can do is just thank him and that is what I would say about Jared. “

Last month, the Rams negotiated Goff, as well as a 2021 third-round pick and 2022 and 2023 first-round picks for Lions by quarterback Matthew Stafford.

The exchange will become official at the beginning of the new league year on March 17 and until then NFL rules prohibit Rams or Lions from speaking directly about the exchange. But McVay acknowledged in his first videoconference with reporters since the agreement that the potential to acquire a veteran offensive player was “exciting”.

When asked what has changed in his mind and in the organization about Goff since he signed a four-year, $ 110 million guaranteed extension before the 2019 season, McVay said, “I don’t know if much has really changed.

“I mean, there are so many things that have happened since,” said McVay. “I think what I would say I have learned in recent years is that things change every day and you probably want to be careful when making general statements when you cannot predict the future.”

Before Goff signed the record overtime, McVay said he hoped to stay with the defender for a long time.

However, in the days after the exchange, Goff told the Los Angeles Times that it “became increasingly clear” that he was no longer wanted in Los Angeles, and said he couldn’t find out when that happened.

McVay said he has since spoken to Goff and described his conversations as “healthy”.

“Jared and I had a lot of conversations,” said McVay. “We had one that I wanted to keep between me and Jared, but then again, I don’t want to go into the details of that kind of thing … I think we were both able to communicate openly and honestly with each other, but those details I I prefer to keep it between us. “

Now entering his fifth season as a coach, McVay acknowledged that he could have been a better coach for Goff, who passed 3,952 yards and 20 touchdowns with 13 interceptions in the Rams’ 10-6 2020 season, which ended with a playoff divisional defeat for the Green Bay Packers.

“I think it’s just consistent and continuous communication,” said McVay. “You are proud of that kind of thing and I think it could have been much better about these real-time communications and I will not make excuses about it, but there are a lot of things, even some of the decisions – making games. You are putting it consistently in the right positions to succeed and then, as a coach, as a leader, your job is to try to make the situations and people you’re close to better and there were certainly some moments that I know I could have done better, really for our team and Jared in particular. “