Coming into training camp, Sean Mannion was the forgotten man among the Los Angeles Rams’ QB depth chart. Top overall pick Jared Goff was to battle veteran Case Keenum for the starting job and no one thought too much about Mannion being a factor.
Fast-forward to today and Goff has struggled throughout the preseason. In last night’s finale against the Vikings he went only 6-16, throwing for a TD, but also committing two turnovers. Mannion meanwhile, completed 15 of his 23 passes and threw for a touchdown as well.
It is obvious that Goff isn’t ready to make an impact just yet and Case Keenum will be the starter in the season opener, but according to Vincent Bonsignore of the LA Daily News, it looks like Mannion could be ahead of Goff on the depth chart as well:
#Rams Jeff Fisher pretty much just said Sean Mannion is the backup QB to Kennum at the moment
— Vincent Bonsignore (@DailyNewsVinny) September 2, 2016
Fisher’s exact words were that if the season began now, Mannion would be the backup. Of course the season doesn’t officially begin for the Rams until September 12, but it would be odd to think Goff could suddenly do enough to surpass Mannion in a weeks time.
Goff completed just under 45 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and two interception. Mannion meanwhile, a 3rd-round pick of the Rams last year, completed 65 percent of his passes, throwing four touchdowns to only one interception.
Beginning the season third on the depth chart will certainly not give fans a lot of hope about the future of Goff, but he is still a rookie and has plenty of room for growth. Fisher has praised him for the progress he has made so far.
Not every quarterback can come out and succeed immediately. Some need time to develop and Goff is one of those players. For Mannion, this shows how much he has improved as well, as he earned his spot.
