Goff simply doesn’t have the required skill set to take a team like yours all the way. I don’t need to be from Detroit to figure that out.
Goff is more of a system guy or game manager & less so a QB who can extend plays, make off-platform throws or flatten the trajectory of deeper passes. But from what I've read he's definitely further along in reading defenses. You'll recall back during the week of the SB a lot was being made of the Rams tendency of rushing to the LOS so that McVay could get a better look at the defense before his mic cut out. When New England disguised their pre-snap looks it forced Goff into making post-snap reads or so the story goes. Less than a year later McVay had lost all confidence in Goff & starts a John Wolford ahead of him.
Then the off-season, enter Campbell & for whatever reason, Stafford wanted out. The deal the teams made is now presented like they traded QBs. I don't recall it that way, it was Stafford for all that boot & Detroit had to take Goff & his contract... Accordingly his cap hit is $32M next year, that's below market value? I understand why they want him back but I don't get the undervalued part. Paying a system guy like he's a difference maker due to the circumstance they find themselves in is bad management. I think Ben Johnson deserves more credit here. Win or lose, let's say the season ends & they have a very good QB with a favorable contract. I mean, I'm shipping this guy to Atlanta or someplace asap! Is there a difference-maker in this year's draft? if so & trading Goff for a top-10 pick is possible, that's a move I'd make.
Plays to me, that gave pause:
1.) The offense is rolling & off run action is a bootleg to the right. Goff's initial read isn't there & he side steps Donald momentarily, Jones is there too. Using both hands Goff sort of shot-puts the ball backwards toward the TE. People, that's a live ball bouncing around.
2.) Later, Michael Hoecht gets around the LT, extends fully, managing to get just a hand onto Goff's underarm as he's throwing. Goff loses his grip on the ball just a tick before he would've otherwise released it.
3.) Then, the TD to the back of the EZ, he's looking down the barrel of that thing the whole way, pats the ball, not once but twice, telegraphing his intent.
4.) Early 2nd qtr (?) Goff's throw to Reynolds is caught if Reynolds sees it sooner, but it isn't well placed. In shotgun formation we know when the ball's about to be snapped because both hands are extended out in front of him.
5.) The sack Goff took, he has Reynolds on the crosser & a lane to pass through. To me he goes down kinda easy. On their next possession he trips over the foot of an OL but has enough balance to attempt to get away but stumbles & falls down.
6.) Here, they're in a position to drain the clock & close this game out. A 3rd & 4 with 7:30 remaining. Goff looks down the middle of the field, then pivots right to throw to Reynolds. The placement is poor, overthrown.
Goff, off effective run action, time to throw, open rec'rs, he made some throws. The energy in that stadium was electric! It's going to be the same this week vs Tampa. Beating Detroit starts with forcing him to make big-time plays.
