2016-Present

Offseason 2017: L.A. Rams quarterbacks remain a concern

Case Keenum and Sean Mannion look on as Jared Goff prepares a pass in Rams practice. (Mark J. Terrill,AP)

The 2016 season for the Los Angeles Rams at the quarterback was nothing short of disastrous. Whether it was Case Keenum’s inability to put the ball in the end zone, or Jared Goff looking like a deer in the headlights, the lack of production by at the quarterback position cost the Rams many games. What changes can we expect to be made between this trio?

With a new coach now in place for the Rams, will Jared Goff have selective amnesia and put behind 2016?

The general consensus is that with the Sean McVay coming in as head coach, Jared Goff will show major development under his tutelage. As the Washington Redskins’ offensive coordinator, McVay’s coaching talents transformed Kirk Cousins, an unheralded fourth-round draft pick a few years ago, into a top-10 NFL QB last season. Developing Goff into a reliable NFL starting quarterback will be the biggest challenge of this new coaching staff. The Fisher regime did everything to derail Goff’s career from the start, and by the time the Rams played their final game against Arizona, the rookie looked like a boy playing in a man’s world.

We all understand that Goff will not be Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady right away (if ever), but many experts believe he can still be a solid quarterback in the right system. Of course having a competent offensive line, receivers that will not drop the football, and coaches that can play to his strengths will be a tremendous help to Goff’s development.

Has Case Keenum played his final game with the L.A. Rams?

Case Keenum re-signed with the Rams last offseason on a one-year deal worth $3.6 million. The fifth-year pro out of Houston was the Rams’ starting quarterback at the beginning of the season, but fell to third on the depth chart by the end of the campaign. Keenum has probably played his last game for the Rams.

In spite of or because of him, Keenum led the Rams to a 3-1 start in 2016. After suffering a series of defeats mainly in part to the team’s poor offensive showing overall, head coach Jeff Fisher benched Keenum and turned to rookie Jared Goff in week 11. While some fans speculate that Sean Mannion may be on his way out of Los Angeles instead of Keenum, the more likely scenario is that Keenum will sign with a team elsewhere for 2017.

Is Sean Mannion ready to assume his role as the backup to Jared Goff in 2017?

All signs point to Sean Mannion being the team’s backup quarterback before they reconvene for training camp in July. It is hard to tell what Mannion can bring to the table given how little he’s been on the field, but he did look comfortable in the 2016 preseason, completing 39 of 60 passes for 389 yards 4 touchdowns and an interception. With $1.5 million owed to him over the next two seasons, the Rams front office is putting its faith in Mannion that he could be a good backup should something happen to Goff.

Sources: The Rams Wire; USAtoday.com, Alden Gonzalez, ESPN.com, Gary Klein, LA Times, rotoworld.com, overthecap.com

Martin Cruz is a staff writer for Rams Talk. You can find him on Twitter with the username @MCruz1988.

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