Rookie Jared Goff getting first start resonates with former Rams quarterbacks

One practiced as a receiver and tight end the week before his first start at quarterback for the Rams.

Two waited more than two years for starting opportunities that only came about because of injuries. And another cemented his role as a starter with an impressive relief appearance in his first game.

So Roman Gabriel, Ron Jaworski, Vince Ferragamo and Jim Everett will be looking on with heightened interest Sunday when quarterback Jared Goff plays in his first regular-season game for the Rams.

The No. 1 pick in the NFL draft will start against the Miami Dolphins at the Coliseum.

Coach Jeff Fisher’s decision to pull Case Keenum and play Goff stirred memories for the former Rams quarterbacks.

“That first series or two he might be a little jacked up,” said Everett, who began his career in 1986. “Once he starts concentrating on each play individually, he’ll be fine.”

Ferragamo, who helped lead the Rams to a Super Bowl during the 1979 season, said “everybody has been waiting” for the chance to see Goff.

“Hopefully,” Ferragamo said, “it will give a little flair and a little bit of hope and pizzazz to the fans.”

Gabriel, the Rams’ top pick in 1962, expects Goff will settle in quickly.

“You’re always nervous until you take the first hit,” Gabriel said, ‘You’re thinking to yourself, ‘Boy if I don’t play well, I’m not going to play the rest of the year.’”

That should not be an issue for Goff.

The Rams traded six picks for the chance to move up to the top of the draft to select him. He is the future of the franchise. And that future begins Sunday.

Gabriel, Jaworski, Ferragamo and Everett recalled this week their first starts and how it shaped their futures as NFL quarterbacks.

ROMAN GABRIEL

First start: Nov. 25, 1962 at Minnesota.

Summary: Gabriel completes 15 of 24 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-24 tie that improves Rams’ record to 1-9-1.

“All through that rookie year, up until the last four games, I was a backup quarterback and also a backup receiver and tight end. I learned a lot about pass routes before I got to play because I was running them. [An assistant coach] came to me and said, ‘Look, Coach [Harland] Svare is not really happy with what’s going on. We’re going to scrimmage Monday and I want you to play. We might play you Sunday.’ After the scrimmage he came up and said, ‘Look, you might start next week as a receiver.’ I didn’t know until the Friday before that I was going to start the Viking game at quarterback. I hit [receiver] Red Phillips early on a crossing route. From then on, everything slowed down and I said, ‘I can play in this league.’ I had a relatively good game. I believed I proved myself. I don’t think we won more than a game that year. The tie was one of the only good things that happened.”

RON JAWORSKI

First start: Dec. 20, 1975 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers at the Coliseum.

Summary: Jaworski completes six of 13 passes for 79 yards, with an interception in a 10-3 victory. In the fourth quarter, he rushes for the game-winning five-yard touchdown on a quarterback draw.

“I lit it up [laughing]. It was year three of my career. My first year I didn’t play a down and, quite honestly, I wasn’t ready. The second year I got to play some. I felt I was ready by the third year and I got that start after James Harris got injured. But it was the Pittsburgh Steelers, a great football team with one of the greatest defenses of all time. If someone tells you they’re not nervous starting their first NFL game, someone is lying to you. I was nervous until I played in my last game 17 years later. I remember we got the ball back and during a timeout I was standing in the huddle and looked at that defense, Jack Lambert, Mel Blount, all those guys and thinking, ‘Oh my goodness. This is my first start.’ But I do remember going in with great confidence. We were a defensive team and it was going to be low scoring. I knew I couldn’t make dumb mistakes and turn it over. It was really my job to go out there and not screw it up. That quarterback draw was a designed play, straight up the middle to the peristyle end zone. You always want to get the first one under your belt, particularly if you win. Until it actually happens, you really don’t know if you belong.”

VINCE FERRAGAMO

First start: Nov. 19, 1979 vs. Atlanta Falcons at Coliseum.

Summary: Ferragamo, starting in place of injured Pat Haden, completes nine of 22 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception, in a 20-14 victory.

“The situation was similar to what the Rams are facing. We were 5-6 and still had a shot at the playoffs if we caught fire. We just needed a spark. Sometimes changing the quarterback does that. I had two years of being an understudy that helped me. We were on ‘Monday Night Football.’ That was a big deal. I always really liked the stage and being under the bright lights. The timing was right. I was getting practice time so the receivers were ready for me. Game speed is entirely different but if you prepare you’re ready to go. We practiced full speed and went full tilt. That helped me. [Atlanta] was a blitzing team and everybody on offense was looking for the ball. They didn’t know who was going to get it. I was able to capitalize on the opportunity and I think it was finally, ‘Hey, this guy may add up to something.’ They were anticipating something from me and everyone was waiting. It was little bit overdue. When it finally hit, it was a big splash. Hopefully, Jared will get the same reaction.”

JIM EVERETT

Debut: Nov. 6, 1986 vs. New England Patriots at Anaheim Stadium

Summary: Everett replaced Steve Dils in the second quarter with the Rams trailing, 13-0. Everett completed 12 of 19 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns in a 30-28 defeat that ended with a Patriots touchdown pass on the final play.

“The week before I got in we lost, 6-0, at New Orleans. I’m like, ‘Please, please put me in.’ I’m begging. I’m telling the equipment guy, anybody, ‘Please, anybody.’ I could barely watch. [Against New England], I had a sense I was going in. The whole crowd was chanting, ‘Everett’ and [Coach] John Robinson could not hear himself think. My first completed pass was a touchdown to Henry Ellard. I ended up throwing a couple more touchdowns and handed it off a lot to Eric Dickerson. They weren’t going to let me screw it up. I faked to Eric and scrambled back and hit Henry in the back of the end zone. Another one went to [fullback] Barry Redden, who I don’t think caught a ball [for a touchdown] in a decade. That was a surprise to everyone.”

gary.klein@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATimesklein