Los Angeles Rams Weekly!

The Draft is less than a week away from today. Who should the Rams pick first overall?

Ike and MJD at NFL Now Live discuss which quarterback the St. Louis Rams should take with the first overall pick in the draft. Click here to watch it!

Who will the LA Rams take with the number one pick in the 2016 NFL Draft? Carson Wentz or Jared Goff? The world is itching to know....

With the 2016 NFL Draft only a week away, the time is fast approaching on who the Rams will take with the first overall pick. So what better time to dive into the discussion full throttle. Who will the Rams take at number one overall. Will it be Jared Goff, or will it be Carson Wentz?

The Rams have gotten all of their first round picks right since the Jeff Fisher and Les Snead era began (save for Greg Robinson who's entering a make or break year). Which leaves a lot of room for good faith that they will get this pick right this time. Since their arrival, five of six first round picks made, has either been very productive or a All-Pro..

However, the Rams have not made the greatest decisions under this regime at the quarterback position. Which creates room for doubt that they will get this pick correct. One thing can be said with almost complete certainty, Jeff and Les has to hit this pick on the head. After years of the same mediocrity over and over being put on the field, and not yet eclipsing the .500 mark, and now trading away a plethora of picks, the Rams need to get the ball rolling and get over the hump.
Which brings us to who will be the better man for the job?

Before I dive into my pick, I reached out to two wise young gents that follow the scouting world relatively closely. In speaking with both, TST's very own, Tevin Broner and Eric Nagel, one thing is clear, the Rams have a tough decision to make.
For Goff, the tape is clear. He's a QB who has taken a weak Cal team - one with a porous offense line and a terrible defense - and turned them into something much better. He's as NFL ready as anyone in the draft, which is saying a lot for a QB. However last year the Rams ran an incredibly simple passing offense - one that didn't work. So if they try and stick with it, with simple deep routes and quick passes to Tavon Austin, his skills really don't fit because he's much more cerebral of a QB.
With Wentz, it's the opposite. I think he'll struggle coming into the league and I am not sure if he'll ever reach his full potential because many of his issues are deep seated. However, if the Rams continue to run their vanilla passing offense, then he's a great fit to come in immediately and take over the starting role. He has the arm and the running [ability] to run the Rams offense. If that's all the team is going to ask him to do, and nothing more, then the 'potential and ceiling' debate between the two prospects is moot.
--Eric Nagel
Nagel makes an interesting point in shedding light on Goff leading a not very good team in Cal for the last three seasons. This stands out because the Rams have been so up and down and inconsistent, that his ability to handle a situation like this stands out. Goff is amazing at standing tall in the pocket in the fave of danger and firing an accurate pass to the receiver due to his bad offensive line play in college. This has to be extremely attractive to the Rams, after watching Nick Foles curl up from shadows flashing past him last season.
I honestly think both QB's will be good.  Wentz has a higher upside due to his superior arm and speed. The issue is will he get there... Which is why the Rams will draft Goff. He gives Fisher and Snead their best chance of success. Goff has the pocket presence of a veteran, he has a good enough arm and he has experience going through progressions. He isn't Luck, but he will at least develop into a solid starting QB. He does the things that coaches hope that they can teach QB's extremely well, even if he doesn't have the best physical attributes. Goff can make every pass and he won't have to carry the team on his shoulders.
--Tevin Broner
Tev makes a great point in highlighting Goff's pocket awareness. He has some sweet, sweet, feet in the pocket. His smooth footwork and quick release make him an ideal pocket quarterback for any NFL team. Goff presents a lot of classic traits, which has to be awesome and extremely comforting for any coach.

Both guys make interesting cases for their choice, and it's hard to argue any points made about either player.

Here's my take...
I view both guys as being worthy of a top pick. I think both players are day one starters. Simply put, I don't think either guy is a bad pick. However, I do believe there is a right pick. It's no secret I have long been a supporter of picking Wentz. That still stands today.

When I look at Goff, I see a solid QB who will become a solid pro. I think he has all of the tangibles and intangibles you need to succeed at the position. I'm obsessed with his ball placement. Anyone that knows me and my scouting of QB's I often speak of ball placement when discussing accuracy. Ball placement is the definition of accuracy in this game. I love his toughness. It's enough to make you fall in love, and pull the trigger on the pick. His footwork and pocket presence is unbelievable for a 21 year old. Goff has shown the resiliency that you see in future champions. I believe with a solid receiving core -- and yes solid as in just three legit number two receivers will probably do it -- he can have a prosperous career. Give him a true number one, and a solid two, and he'll likely be a beast!

Then there's Wentz. I see him as the most NFL ready between the two. It's not his physical ability that brings me to this conclusion. From a cerebral stand point, he's ahead of the curve. Wentz comes from an NFL style offense. One that is eerily similar to the one the Rams run. He also was given 100% freedom at he line of scrimmage. He is so used to taking on a lot mentally, that a quick adjustment to an NFL playbook, and making reads should at this level come easier than most. Historically, college QB's who have been given these type of heavy loads in college, have had moderate to extreme success in the NFL. Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Andrew Luck, Eli Manning, Terry Bradshaw, Philip Rivers, and many more, are all on record saying that they not only ran a pro style simulation in college, but had free will at the LOS.

When I look at Goff, it was a spread offense, with some easy reads, and basic concepts. Not quite as basic as an Oregon offense, and there was some NFL concepts sprinkled in, but in all honesty, it reminds me of Sam Bradford's Oklahoma offense, just lacking the playmakers and explosion. The Rams had to really dumb down their offense his rookie season. It paid off as he was the NFL Rookie of The Year, but imagine the success your team can have when your not going in reverse.

Essentially that's what happens when you dumb down your offense for your QB. You have 10 other players on the field, who usually are a few years in on the system, and your basically stopping their growth for someone else to catch up. Add in his physical ability and what Fisher has repeatedly said he looks for -- a big tall QB with mobility, strong arm, smart, and tough -- and you have the ideal Fisher pick in Wentz, as he could be the closest thing to Steve McNair, if not better, since Steve McNair. And it's not like his mechanics are terrible or something. He's not far off from Goff. But make no mistake about it, Goff is further along in this area. I like Wentz because he is already the closest mentally to what the Rams need...


So for that reason they will probably pick Goff, but I have Wentz as my best pick for the Rams.

Tale of the QB Tape: Jared Goff vs. Carson Wentz

Is it Carson Wentz or Jared Goff? That is the question everyone is trying to figure out after the Rams traded for the No. 1 pick last week, linking both quarterbacks to the new L.A. franchise. While there is no way to know for sure, we can assume a quarterback will be the first pick of the draft.

Since this Goff vs. Wentz battle is beginning to have the same feel as a heavyweight fight, let's look at the "Tale of the Tape" between the two prospects.

Size
While Goff (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) has the type of height coaches want in their quarterbacks, he still possesses a relatively thin frame that could use another 10 pounds of muscle in order to hold up to NFL hits. Carson Wentz (6-5 1/4) is not only more than an inch taller than Goff, he's also 237 pounds and well-proportioned. He has the height to see over the offensive line and the bulk to handle the rigors of the position.

Advantage: Wentz

Accuracy
Wentz is a naturally accurate thrower. He showed that trait at both the combine and his pro day, throwing with very good ball placement on all three levels. In games, his accuracy was at times a little spotty due to issues with anticipating throwing windows and footwork. Goff's accuracy ran a little hot and cold at times due to consistent pressure allowed by his offensive line, but when he had time to throw, he was spot-on with intermediate shots and the deep ball. At this time, I would say Goff is slightly more accurate relative to the competition level, but as a projection of what they will be, I see this category as even.

Advantage: Push

Arm strength
This one is a tougher category than you might think. When watching the combine, it was obvious Wentz had the stronger arm. The ball came out of his hands with some heat on it and he showed very good velocity. However, in games, that same velocity wasn't always there. Goff showed more consistency with his velocity from 2014 to 2015, and uses proper mechanics in his lower body to drive the ball in game situations. While it's close, I'm going to lean toward the natural arm strength of Wentz.

Advantage: Wentz

Mobility
At Cal, Goff showed off some nifty pocket presence and an ability to slide around in the pocket while keeping his eyes upfield; he had nine carries for 10-plus yards in 2015. However, when it comes to pure mobility, Wentz has him beat easily. Wentz doesn't have the athleticism or speed of Andrew Luck, but he incorporates a similar rushing style, combining moderate elusiveness with a physical approach. It's worth noting that Wentz has 12 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons.

Advantage: Wentz

Production
Wentz had 45 career passing touchdowns in two years as a starting quarterback at the FCS level. Goff was a first-team All-Pac-12 quarterback in 2015, started every game the past three seasons, threw for 96 touchdowns and 12,195 yards, and holds 26 career passing records at Cal -- the same school that produced Aaron Rodgers.

Advantage: Goff

Decision-making
While there isn't much to pick at with Wentz's interception total, the tape shows a willingness to take chances that would have likely turned into interceptions against a higher level of competition. Wentz is a full-field reader and teams rave about his understanding of scheme and design, but his decision-making could use some fine-tuning. Goff has learned to alter his ball placement to give his receivers the best chances to catch the ball while shielding throws from defenders. Admittedly, Goff must do a better job of eliminating interceptions by underneath coverage, but his ability to make sound decisions under duress is still good.

Advantage: Goff

Poise
This one is very close and could be considered fairly even. Wentz remains extremely calm and confident in the pocket, and seems to have a decent feel for when to stand in and take the hit and when to bail and attack with his feet. Pocket poise was a little bit of an issue for Goff in 2014, but I was impressed with his improvement in that area this past season. Rather than dropping his head at the first sign of pressure, Goff will slide around the pocket and keep scanning for targets.

Advantage: Push

Mechanics
Goff has a very clean, quick release and does a nice job of coming to balance with proper footwork before delivering the ball. He does a nice job of maintaining his mechanics and footwork despite being forced to shuffle around inside and out of the pocket. Whether he's comfortable in the pocket or forced to expedite the throw, his mechanics remain solid. Wentz stands tall in the pocket and keeps the ball high and tight when scanning the field. He's got a relatively compact release that features a nice, high release point. The glaring difference between the two is that Wentz's footwork can go from good to very average quickly. While I do believe that his footwork is likely to get better, I'm not convinced it will.

Advantage: Goff

Fit for Rams
An argument can be made that the Rams might like the "local guy" in Goff. But with an extended honeymoon period likely with a brand-new fan base, Wentz would be able to sit and watch for a little bit as he becomes acclimated to the drastic change of speed from the FCS level to the pros. Wentz has the confidence and upside to be the face of the franchise for a highly scrutinized team like the Rams will be in Los Angeles.

Advantage: Wentz

Final verdict: Wentz
If this were still the St. Louis Rams, I would probably say Goff because they would need to win more immediately. However, in Los Angeles, the Rams should have a honeymoon period that allows them to bring Wentz along with more patience. At the end of the day, I believe Wentz has the potential to be a "face of the franchise" quarterback more than Goff.
Jan 9, 2016; Frisco, TX, USA; North Dakota State Bison quarterback Carson Wentz (11) throws a pass in the third quarter against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in the FCS Championship college football game at Toyota Stadium. North Dakota State won the championship 37-10. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
With the 1st pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, The Los Angeles Rams select…

With less than ten days away from the NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams are about to select hopefully their franchise quarterback. On the board, top quarterback prospects Jared Goff and Carson Wentz seem to be the front-runners for the first overall pick, but who will the Rams select?  Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead said his team is “97 percent sure” about who it will take with the top choice.

It’s probably true the Rams already know who they are going to select with the 1st pick, but it’s also very wise of them to keep it on the down low and let other teams panic trying to pick up a quarterback in the draft. With the Rams not telling their 1st pick selection, it leaves an opportunity for them to build suspense and more importantly give Los Angeles the spotlight. Who will be playing in the spotlight in 2016? Let’s take a look at Jared Goff vs Carson Wentz.
Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
Jared Goff  has started all 36 games since arriving on campus for the Golden Bears and has been the captain for the past two seasons. The Rams need a captain/leader on offense and Goff has the ability to do so. He’s completed at least 60 percent of his passes and thrown for more than 3,500 yards in all three years at Cal. Well what else can he do? The NFL Mocks Crew took a deeper look into the quarterback from Cal and pointed out some strengths and areas for improvement.

Strengths 
“Very good ability to diagnose defenses pre-snap and make adjustments accordingly. Handles snaps from shotgun well and promptly positions the ball for quick release. About forty-eight percent of his third down throws resulted in a first down, higher than other top QB prospects such as Paxton Lynch (48%), Connor Cook (46.5%) and Jacoby Brissett (42.8%). “ – NFL Mocks
Areas for improvement

“After taking the snap, Goff has a tendency to immediately lock in on his intended target and will stand in the pocket too long waiting for that receiver to create separation. Displays marginal touch on short and intermediate passes, firing almost exclusively fastballs.” – NFL Mocks
Jared Goff can be a Future NFL Star, as he mostly fits in a more west coast offense filled with short quick passes. Kind of sound likes the Rams offense, short quick passes to Tavon Austin with the occasional deep ball to Kenny Britt. The 6’4″ 210 pound quarterback from Cal could be the number one pick…..
Carson Wentz comes from North Dakota State University as he was not a top prospect in the beginning of last year, but has made a name for himself in the Senior Bowl and NFL Draft combine. Yes, he has not been playing at the big stage like Goff, but Wentz has proven he can win football games. A two-year starter, Wentz was on four FCS championship teams with the Bison and won the championship game MVP in back to back years. Well what else can he do? The NFL Mocks Crew took a deeper look into the quarterback from NDSU and pointed out some strengths and areas for improvement.

Strengths
“He displays great arm strength, an ability to command the pocket, and enough athleticism to become elusive in the running game if need be. His ball placement and the tight throws he consistently makes are also a plus. The ball placement especially has been a great improvement over his college career. You can’t forget his size either. He has the prototypical quarterback “look” with his height and weight.” – NFL Mocks 

Areas for improvement
“Deep ball accuracy is something Wentz can still improve on. He has the arm strength to get it down there but he needs to not lead his receivers too much. Ball placement is generally solid but can become inconsistent for Wentz. Finally, the competition level of the FCS is obviously a big footnote here. Guys like Joe Flacco have pulled off the jump, but can Wentz” – NFL Mocks
Wentz does have the quarterback size at 6’5″  233 pounds, and it was shown in the impressive wins at NDSU. Wentz may have the upper hand in size and arm strength and ability to command the pocket, but the big question is whether or not he can make the jump from FSU to NFL.

Both quarterbacks seem to be a good fit for the Los Angeles Rams, but only one will be packing their bags and heading to LA. Wentz does not have major-school pedigree like talented Jared Goff, but he played in a pro-style system and has the tools, temperament and upside worthy of the pick.
A satirical look at more than 75 years of Football's Rams history, combined with discussions of American Exceptionalism and almost 50 years of personal experience in the life of a Rams Fan. The history parallels and intertwines life to form a humorous, yet serious look at American HistoryWorld History, an American Footballteam, and Political Science.