Jeff Fisher won't let success of other rookie QBs rush him into starting Jared Goff
A total of four rookie quarterbacks have started a game this season. Only one of them, Carson Wentz, was taken in the first round, with the others being Dak Prescott, Cody Kessler and Jacoby Brissett. Heck, even undrafted rookie Trevone Boykin has gotten into a game already.
There’s one name clearly missing from that list, and it’s No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff. He has yet to take an NFL snap and it doesn’t sound like the Rams have plans to play him any time soon. Jeff Fisher, the culprit behind keeping Goff on the bench, has remained unmoved on this issue despite all the success other rookies are having.
"No," Fisher said on whether there’s pressure to start Goff, via ESPN. "I spoke on that. I'm happy for young quarterbacks when they have success, but we have our own sense of timing here with him.”
Fisher makes a good point. Had it not been for injuries, none of the rookies would be starting. Prescott is in for Romo, Kessler is in for RG3, Jacoby Brissett replaced Jimmy Garoppolo, and Wentz is starting because of Teddy Bridgewater’s injury.
Does that defend the fact that Goff can’t beat out Case Keenum? Absolutely not.
“The quarterbacks are having success because of injuries,” he said. “As I mentioned last week, had we not had the injuries that we did in the league, probably all four of those quarterbacks either would be inactive or backups."
The Rams are 2-1, but not because of Keenum’s play. He’s thrown just two touchdown passes to three interceptions and has just 559 passing yards in three games. Perhaps Goff’s inability to get on the field is more about his struggles adjusting to the NFL than it is about Fisher’s stubbornness.