What we learned in the Rams’ 14-10 defeat by the Miami Dolphins
Jared Goff is ready for the next step
In his first regular-season game, Goff was not asked to do much.
He got the Rams in and out of the huddle, did not have any delay-of-game penalties and, perhaps most importantly, did not fumble or have a pass intercepted.
He completed 17 of 31 passes for 134 yards.
Had the Rams not given up two touchdowns in the final minutes, we might be saying Goff managed the game well enough to win.
But they lost. And they did so without Goff getting the opportunity to throw the ball downfield more than once.
When the Rams play this week at New Orleans – and the week after at New England and the week after that at home against Atlanta – they need to score.
And Rams coaches need to let Goff take some chances.
The Rams’ aggressiveness sometimes works against them
The defense set the tone early with big hits and stops from cornerback Lamarcus Joyner and safeties T.J. McDonald and Maurice Alexander.
Middle linebacker Alec Ogletree also initiated noteworthy collisions.
But Ogletree and defensive lineman Aaron Donald also were penalized for overly aggressive plays in the final minutes and those infractions played huge roles in the Dolphins’ touchdown drives.
The Dolphins boast a big following in Southern California
Fans in Dolphins jerseys were prevalent at tailgates, in the concourse around the stadium and in the stands.
In the fourth quarter, there was a loud cheer, one of the loudest of the day.
It came from Dolphins fans inciting their team’s defense to stop the Rams.
It worked.
Todd Gurley can break off a long run
Gurley actually showed that capability last week against the New York Jets, but the play was nullified by a holding penalty.
On Sunday, Gurley burst off tackle and beat the Dolphins to the pylon for a 24-yard touchdown.
It was Gurley’s longest run of the season.
It’s a start anyway.
Rob Boras still can’t seem to get Tavon Austin consistently involved
Austin was targeted only twice and caught one pass for a 21-yard gain.
He carried the ball twice, gaining only eight yards.
That’s three touches on offense for a player the Rams signed to a four-year, $42-million extension.
Austin has 40 catches for 356 yards and two touchdowns.
Bradley Marquez is a special teams standout
Marquez, a second-year pro, is a big reason why two-time Pro Bowl punter Johnny Hekker is enjoying another successful season.
Marquez once again covered a kick effectively, making a tackle inside the 15-yard line after a 61-yard kick by Hekker.
Marquez also was closing in on other punts that were called for fair catches.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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