Rams mailbag: Rams still have questions to answer before season kickoff

Who knew an exhibition victory could generate so much euphoria?

After a two-decade absence, the Rams got Los Angeles buzzing with their 28-24 come-from-behind victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

The ugly start to the game — what were the odds that the Cowboys would usher in the new era with a 101-yard kickoff return for a touchdown? — did not stop the majority of the near-capacity crowd from staying in their Coliseum seats until the very end.

The Rams still have questions to answer.

I do as well. You can send them my way at @latimesklein.

So here we go with the kickoff edition of the Rams’ mailbag.

Does Goff look like he’ll be ready to start in Week 1? #Rams

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Ah, that is the $28-million question after the Rams traded up to make Cal quarterback Jared Goff the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.

Coach Jeff Fisher and General Manager Les Snead have said they won’t rush the process and that they’ll be fine with Case Keenum as the starter until Goff — “our franchise quarterback” as Fisher describes him — is ready.

For most franchises, the exhibition season is simply a way for NFL owners to force season ticket holders to buy two more games, but the Goff-watch makes the Rams’ exhibition season compelling.

Goff got only two series with the second-team offense against the Cowboys, and his night ended when he came up sore after sustaining a hit that resulted in an interception. He also flashed the reason the Rams took him by drilling a pass down the middle to Pharoh Cooper, who dropped it.

So Saturday night’s exhibition against the Kansas City Chiefs will be huge for Goff.

If he plays well, he will engender confidence to play a lot in the third exhibition — against Denver — which usually is the last time starters play extended snaps before the season opener.

I have seen Goff that much but can he throw the deep ball?

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Goff has plenty of arm strength to throw long routes.

The other day in practice, he easily threw a 40-yard pass that hit receiver Bradley Marquez in stride.

The Rams’ offense does not appear to be geared for a lot of long shots down the field, but Goff seems prepared to deliver if he gets the chance.

Can Mannion challenge Keenum if he keeps playing well in preseason?

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Sean Mannion played well against the Cowboys, passing for three second-half touchdowns and leading the Rams to victory on the night NFL football returned to Los Angeles.

He impressed fans, the media and Rams coaches and front-office personnel with skills and confidence.

Remember, however, that the performance came against second- and third team players. That’s not a knock on Mannion: He made the most of the opportunity.

But Mannion, who completed six of seven passes in his only game appearance last season, is not considered a threat to take Keenum’s spot.

How’s Greg Zuerlein doing? Haven’t heard much from the kicking department.

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It’s tough to gauge how Zuerlein is doing because he has yet to attempt a field goal in a game.

And regardless of how a kicker performs in practice, it’s all about converting kicks with game pressure.

Zuerlein made 20 of 30 attempts last season, and Fisher said he would bring in another kicker to make it a competitive situation for Zuerlein. Taylor Bertolet from Texas A&M is in camp.

Zuerlein made his only extra-point attempt against the Cowboys. Bertolet was three-for-three.

What’s the Gary Klein depth chart of the rookie WR Corp?

Spruce was good. Pharaoh was ok. Thomas, The Duke and McR didn't show much.

RS

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The way it maps out, rookies are competing for one or perhaps two spots on the receivers depth chart if the Rams activate six for games.

Veterans Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt, Brian Quick and Bradley Marquez will have spots. Marquez has had a great camp as a receiver and is an important special teams player. You have to put Cooper in there because he’s a fourth-round pick and — despite his drop of Goff’s dart against the Cowboys — has impressed.

Before he suffered a knee sprain against the Cowboys, Spruce showed why he was the Pac-12’s all-time receptions leader. He was pushing for a roster spot even before he caught a team-best six passes, including a touchdown, against the Cowboys.

Williams came on early in camp but seems, as of late, to have slowed down. Thomas has been plagued by drops, including two against the Cowboys, but in recent days has made some tough catches and big plays.

How has practice attendance been since the first weekend? Still strong or struggling?

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The Rams estimated that 10,000 fans attended the first practice at UC Irvine, a figure that was inflated in my view.

But it was an overflow crowd in a facility the Rams outfitted for 6,000.

The crowds have not been as large as they were the opening weekend, but there is a representative and vocal turnout each day.

Hey Gary, when do you think Goff will be the starter? Thank you.

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My colleague Sam Farmer, who has covered the NFL for years, wrote that Goff should be the starter for the opener.

He makes a lot of sense on a lot of levels.

I go back to the first question in this mailbag: The exhibition against the Chiefs will go a long way toward determining where Goff stands, and whether the Rams’ brain trust is going to complete its draft-day gamble and go all-in from the outset.

Otherwise, I can see Keenum keeping the job, at least until the Rams begin to consistently falter.

Why is everyone so soft with Fisher? He took a bad team to ~ .500, but then didn’t improve.

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Not sure anyone is soft on Fisher.

There’s no question his win-loss record with the Rams — 27-36-1 in four seasons — is not very impressive.

He has yet to coach a regular-season game in L.A.

He’s got the NFL’s 2014 defensive rookie of the year (lineman Aaron Donald) and the 2015 offensive rookie of the year (running back Todd Gurley) and just traded up to the top of the draft for Goff.

Fisher and Snead are each in the final year of their contracts. They almost certainly will receive extensions by the season opener.

But the Rams need to improve before their move into a new stadium in 2019, or a different coach and GM might be leading them there.

I really like this kid Spruce. Do you think he needs another big game to make this team with injury still lingering? #rams

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Nelson Spruce was making a run for a roster spot during rookie orientation and organized-team activities.

His performance against the Cowboys put him on fans’ radar. He was already there with the coaches and front office.

Spruce no doubt would benefit from another good exhibition performance. But as long as he is physically sound by the opener, that might be enough to make the team.

What’s up w Stedman Bailey? Is he done? Tre Mason done? How’s D’haquille look so far? I’ll hang up and listen.

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The University of West Virginia announced in July that Stedman Bailey would join the football staff as a student assistant and work to complete his degree.

The receiver is nine months removed from suffering gunshot wounds to the head and has said his comeback attempt is not over.

Tre Mason is in limbo. He was arrested in March on drug and driving charges in Florida, reportedly has exhibited troubling behavior and is not at training camp. The Rams appear to be moving forward without him.

D’haquille “Duke” Williams was among the early stories of training camp. He stood out during a special teams practice and then had a series of very productive workouts, using his size and speed to make tough catches.

He had one catch for four yards against the Cowboys and is no doubt looking for more opportunities against the Chiefs.

How has our guy looked? Is Roberson in the running for a starting spot?

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Cornerback Marcus Roberson, a third-year pro from Florida, intercepted a pass by Goff this week.

But Roberson is mainly a special teams player at this point.

Trumaine Johnson will start at one cornerback spot. E.J. Gaines, Lamarcus Joyner and Coty Sensabaugh are competing for the other spot.

gary.klein@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATimesklein