The Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers had a shootout on Thursday Night Football, with the Rams winning 41-39 in a close game. The teams traded touchdowns and turnovers all night before Aaron Donald sacked Brian Hoyer to seal the game for Los Angeles.
The biggest question mark for the Rams heading into the 2017 NFL season was whether or not Jared Goff could develop into the quarterback the team envisioned when they took him first overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. Against San Francisco, Goff flashed the talent he exhibited in college, throwing quick and decisively to his entire receiving corps.
It is clear the young quarterback is turning a corner and according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN, Andrew Whitworth is just one of the multitude of players who have taken notice:
Every week, I see confidence,” veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth said of Goff. “Really, his feeling in the huddle is just that he’s getting comfortable, and that he feels safe, and that he feels like, ‘Hey, you know what, I can succeed in this environment, in this scenario.’ You can just feel that confidence coming out of him.”
Signed in the offseason, Whitworth has proven to be worth every penny as he has done an excellent job protecting Goff’s blindside. As a result, the sophomore quarterback was able to throw for 292 yards and three touchdowns in what was his best game as a pro.
Head coach Sean McVay has done wonders for a Rams offense that has struggled to score and Goff has been one of their beneficiaries. While Los Angeles may not make the postseason this year, they are laying the foundation for a successful future.
