When Jared Goff was taken with the #1 overall pick in this years draft by the Los Angeles Rams, it could have been assumed that he would be the starter come week 1 of the 2016-2017 season. What no one foresaw was the qb competition about to take place between Goff and ex-Houston Cougars qb Case Keenum.
Keenum began his career as an undrafted rookie free agent chasing an NFL dream, and when the Houston Texans came calling, he answered and signed and spent the entire 2012 season on the practice squad. In 2013 Keenum got his chance after an injury to starting quarterback Matt Schaub and had a solid year, despite having an 0-8 record as a starter.
Keenum was waived by the Texans in 2014 and was claimed off waivers by the Rams, only to be cut again later that season. Once again he signed with the Texans the following year after qb Ryan Fitzpatrick broke his leg in a game. Keenum was traded by the Texans to the Rams in 2015 and became their starting quarterback late in the season after head coach Jeff Fisher announced that he would bench qb Nick Foles. Keenum finished out the season strong and finished with 4 td’s and 1 int.
The Rams moved to Los Angeles and took Jared Goff, the presumed starter, #1 overall. Coach Fisher, however had other plans for the rookie and announced before training camp that Keenum would be the starting quarterback.
According to Fisher, Case is still clearly ahead of Jared and is moving on with him as the starter for the time being. Goff came at a high price after the Rams gave up 6 picks to move up in the draft. Though Goff comes with high expectations, Fisher is managing the qb situation in a win first approach letting his rookie sit and learn as much as he can. Jared Goff might one day be the guy the Rams have been looking for, but for now, Case Keenum is the man in LA.
