Rams QB Jared Goff Media Availability – December 10, 2020
Rams QB Jared Goff Media Availability – December 10, 2020
(On how the offense handled the Patriots defense after their strong performance last week)
“Yeah, it’s a good team. It’s a really good defense. Like you mentioned, on a short week it is tough to feel like you’re cramming everything in getting ready for it, especially with all the stuff that they can do. But we did a great job preparing. I thought he coaches did a hell of a job getting us ready and then we went out there and executed. Up front we played as well as we’ve played all year. I think (RB) Cam Akers obviously had his best game of the year and got to show what he could really do. It was exciting.”
(On if the 9 minute and 42 second drive and if it was a statement for the offense)
“Yeah it was one of those drives where it was 4th and short and we knew we were going to go for it, you’re feeling that momentum, (Head Coach) Sean (McVay) feels it as well. It felt good. I think it was 17 plays and we were able to finish with a touchdown. We had a couple fourth down conversions there. As a quarterback, you may think that’s not fun, those are the best, those are the best. When we’re just pounding it and able to make those plays and then I think I had a QB sneak on that drive as well. Yeah, those are the best.”
(On what it was like watching Akers pick up chunk yards throughout the game and his thoughts on his performance overall)
“Yeah absolutely we knew that was in him. He’s shown sparks of that all year. I think you go all the way back to the Washington game. He broke one off late in the game for about 40 yards and ever since then just trying to bottle that up and I thought tonight it was on full display for everyone to see what he can do. He’s a special talent, a special player. Humble kid, does a great job, works hard and deserves all of this.”
(On the first QB sneak on the goal line for a touchdown)
“The sneak, they were in tight. They had two guys in the A gap, two guys in the B gap. For whatever reason, just felt that they were going to go low and sure enough they did. I felt (OL Austin) Blythe and (OL Austin) Corbett collapse their guys and was able to get up over the top. There was no linebacker there for me to have to negotiate so I was able to just jump over the top and get in there. I’m getting pretty good at those on the goal line. I was proud of myself for that one.”
(On his performance overall)
“Overall, I think outside of the interception, if I get the ball outside, was it a pick? Was it not? I don’t know. If I get the ball outside and throw it accurately it doesn’t matter. That was the one I wish I had back tonight. But other than that, I thought I did a good job handling the game.”
(On his thoughts about the expectations for the team coming into the season and getting to 9 wins at this point in the season)
“It feels great. It’s our ninth win. We’re right where we want to be. Everything in front of us, three big games coming up. I don’t know if I actually said that, but I don’t think we’re very concerned with what people are thinking or saying or doing. I know I’m not. I’m just trying to go out there and win games and do our best.”
(On using a lot of Tight End sets and how that helped Cam Akers performance)
“To answer you second question first, the O-line did a great job just being physical. We were more physical than them upfront today and did a great job of that. It was exciting to see. They have a really good defense and a really good defensive line, and we were able to move them around pretty good upfront. And the two tight end sets, we’ve liked our matchups with that recently and today was no different. We had a good plan for it and activated it accordingly.”
(On drives stalling in the fourth quarter and if he needs to work on finishing games)
“Yeah, we’d like to score on every drive. We were running the ball there at the end and trying to run out some clock. I’m not sure what drive you’re referring to because I don’t know if we scored on any of the fourth quarter drives. I think that was part of what we were doing, running the ball and moving some clock. At the end there, I think with what they were doing defensively, we had to throw the ball and were able to make some plays down the field a little bit which was good. But yeah, of course we’d like to finish with a touchdown there and make it 31 points and have no discussion about it but that’s just the way the game went.”