Case Keenum Enters Rams Camp as No. 1 QB over Jared Goff, Says Jeff Fisher

Despite trading up to draft a quarterback first overall in the 2016 draft, the Los Angeles Rams will enter training camp with Case Keenum as the starting signal-caller, according to head coach Jeff Fisher.

Per Los Angeles Rams insider Myles Simmons, Fisher announced the news Thursday. 

Keenum started five games for the Rams last season, throwing for 828 yards, four touchdowns and one pick. However, the team felt it needed an upgrade at quarterback, so it traded its No. 15 pick, a pair of second-rounders, a third-rounder and first- and third-round picks in 2017 to move up and select California’s Jared Goff.

The Rams expect Goff to be the long-term answer, but Fisher told reporters Thursday they are not rushing him, according to Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper. 

“We’ll start [Goff] when he’s ready,” Fisher said. “I didn’t say that to imply he was going to start the opener. I said we have options. He could start anywhere from the opener to whenever. We haven’t changed our philosophy on that. We’re gonna coach him to be successful and not going to put him in with a chance to fail.”

Fisher did say that Goff and Sean Mannion will practice with the first-team offense during training camp, per Simmons:

The Rams offense will not be much different no matter who is behind center next season. Todd Gurley established himself as one of the league’s premier running backs last season, running for 1,106 yards and 10 scores in just 13 games. 

Behind a young, developing offensive line, whoever starts at quarterback will spend most his time handing off to Gurley rather than pushing the ball downfield. 

Still, Los Angeles ranked last in the NFL in total passing yards, so the team needs to become at least a moderate threat through the air to score points consistently next season.

Keenum has proved to be a stopgap option at best for the Rams, and he will not keep opposing defenses from selling out to stop the run. 

Los Angeles is smart not to force Goff into the starting role right away, but the Rams have the pieces in place to take considerable pressure off the young quarterback. He possesses more upside than any quarterback on the roster, so unless Keenum drastically improves from how he played last season, it will not be long until Goff takes over.

Statistics are courtesy of ESPN.com.  

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