Jared Goff Named Rams Starting QB over Case Keenum vs. Dolphins in Week 11

Jared Goff will make his regular-season debut for the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins. The Rams announced the move Tuesday.

Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com and Michael Silver of NFL.com initially reported the news.

"He's ready, he's preparing and doing well," head coach Jeff Fisher said in the Rams' announcement. "He's anxious and confident."

Fisher later confirmed Goff will remain the team's starter for the rest of the season, per Ryan Kartje of the Orange County Register.

"I don't want to say it's a new era, but in a lot of ways, it is," Fisher said, per Kartje.

Going into the 2016 NFL draft, Goff was generally thought to be more NFL-ready than Carson Wentz, who went second overall to the Philadelphia Eagles. In three years with the California Golden Bears, Goff threw for 12,195 yards, 96 touchdowns and 30 interceptions.

During training camp, though, Goff struggled, according to NFL Media's Bucky Brooks, and he didn't look great in four preseason games, going 22-of-49 for 232 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

On Oct. 25, Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported that the Rams coaching staff questioned Goff's ability to read defenses before the snap, so it didn't feel comfortable giving him the starting job:

Mike Tanier of B/R thought Goff's lack of development wasn't his own fault:

CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora spoke to an NFL executive who argued that the longer Fisher kept Goff on the bench, the more difficult it'd be to eventually elevate the rookie QB:

"

The problem for Fisher now is...he's taking this thing out so long, that he's sort of damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. If [Jared] Goff comes in and doesn't [urinate] down his leg, then everyone will say, 'Why didn't you play him a month ago?' And if he does come in and [urinate] down his leg, well, then, 'Why did you trade up to [first overall] for him?

"

For many fans, naming Goff the starter is long overdue, yet it presents a couple of different questions.

For one, the Rams seemingly have big issues beyond just the quarterback position. Keeping Goff off the field may be a preferable alternative to putting him in a position to fail. Following Los Angeles' opening-week defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, Cole highlighted the Rams' leaky offensive line:

According to Football Outsiders, the Rams ranked 24th in pass protection through Week 9.

In addition to that, Todd Gurley, who looked like one of the best young running backs in the league in 2015, hasn't lived up to expectations this season. Through nine games, he has run for 515 yards and three touchdowns, and his yards-per-carry average is down from 4.8 a year ago to 3.1.

If Goff struggles and begins losing confidence, it could be a significant setback in his long-term development.

The other question is how long Fisher plans to stick with Goff should he fail to hit the ground running. During HBO's Hard Knocks (via ESPN.com), the Rams coach said he's "not f--king going 7-9 or 8-8 or 9-7."

Fisher has gained a reputation for being more conservative with his play-calling, and he's in the final year of his contract. He could prioritize the short term over the long and reinsert Keenum as the starting QB if he thinks it'll help the Rams' playoff chances.

It's far too early to make any judgments about whether Goff is the franchise QB Los Angeles needs, but the next few games could allay the fears of any fans who have grown worried with his slow introduction to the starting lineup.