The Los Angeles Rams are coming off of a decisive victory in Week 10. With the offense unable to get a touchdown, the defense once again had to play perfect in order to preserve the victory. With their Week 11 matchup at home against the Miami Dolphins, head coach Jeff Fisher has made the highly anticipated change in the depth chart.
Quarterback Jared Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, has taken the reigns as the starting quarterback on the depth chart. After Case Keenum was able to post consistent results, Fisher stated he felt in his heart it was time to unveil the rookie.
Overall, the decision to hold off on the matchup against the New York Jets was the right decision. The pass rush and admirable rush defense of the Jets would have resulted in disaster for Goff. Fisher now has had ample time to prepare for the matchup against the Dolphins, with Goff making his debut at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Rams’ fan base will be loud on Sunday, as the long awaited debut is finally about to happen. Fisher truly now must display a winning team, as the last card up his sleeve is now on the table.
Entering the game, the Dolphins’ defense ranks 20th in the league at 364.3 yards per game, while the Rams rank seventh at 327 yards per game. On the offensive side of the ball, the Rams are ranked 31st in the NFL (308 YPG), while the Dolphins rank 22nd (339.8 YPG).
The Rams’ passing offense (25th-225.4 YPG) should surely get a boost from the entrance of Goff, who is insistent of putting points on the board.
A key factor to Goff’s success on Sunday will be the emergence of running back Todd Gurley. In a disastrous sophomore slump, Gurley hasn’t been able to find any consistent production yet this season. The offensive line hasn’t been able to create consistent holes, making his job a lot more difficult.
If Gurley can begin on a strong note, the Dolphins’ defense will concentrate on the box and create holes in the secondary for the receivers to exploit.
