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Case Keenum hasn't proven to be a very effective starter, but the Rams are adamant about sticking with him. So why isn't the team playing Jared Goff? Because he's not ready? Kind of. He's not ready because they refuse to adapt their obviously very successful offensive system to Goff's style of play, as noted in a report by Emily Kaplan of MMQB.
This is the same offense that's got a run-pass ratio of 58/42 percent, an offense that prefers Keenum over tailback Todd Gurley. It's the same offense that's turning Gurley into a plodding non-factor with a 3.0 yards per attempt on his carries. It's the 30th-ranked offense in the league, scoring an average of 17 points per game in a modern NFL where the rules have been completely rewritten for the fantasy football age.
And the Rams want their first-round pick, the guy they traded oodles of draft capital to acquire, to bend to THEIR system.
Meanwhile, quarterback play is better than it's ever been. One reason for that is the fact that teams are embracing the shotgun rather than forcing their signal callers into the old under center style. Surprise, it's working, as Bill Barwell points out in exposing that the decline of NFL quarterback play is myth.
But not the Rams. Jeff Fisher's commitment to "7-9 bullshit" as a way of life is unwavering.
THURSDAY NIGHT BEATDOWN: High-flying Falcons offense wins big against the Buccaneers. Atlanta strengthened its hold on the NFC South with a dominant division win. The Falcons are already running away with the NFC South. Don’t look now, but the Falcons may have a pass rush. An improving unit is clearly much better than the 2015 version.
THE MAN BEHIND THE FALCONS OFFENSE: The Falcons and Kyle Shanahan are growing together. Kyle Shanahan has always had a knack for the Xs and Os. With the Falcons, he’s mastering the other ingredients it takes to make a great team.
INJURED BUCS: Jameis Winston, Mike Evans were injured last night against Falcons. It doesn’t seem like those will keep them out for the next game, though.
THE NFL VS. THE SEAHAWKS: Richard Sherman thinks there’s an NFL-wide conspiracy against the Seahawks. The All-Pro cornerback also knows how he’d fix the league’s bad officiating and poor television ratings.
THE 2016 SEASON IN EMOJIS: 18 emojis that fully explain the first half of the NFL season. Ratings are down, but we still found plenty of highlights at the midseason point worthy of emoji awards.
ASTUTE BUSINESS: Pittsburgh Steelers WR Darrius Heyward-Bey has saved most of his career earnings thanks to his mother. Darrius Heyward-Bey has earned about $35 million during his NFL career. Thanks to his mother, a certified accountant, he's saved most of that total.