Jared Goff, Case Keenum duel before Saturday’s Coliseum practice
Near the end of Friday’s practice at UC Irvine, Rams quarterback Jared Goff demonstrated short-yardage touch by threading a seam for one touchdown and lofting a ball to a receiver in the corner of the end zone for another.
The plays came shortly after Case Keenum completed an impressive touchdown pass to his left -- while running to his right.
The game of one-upmanship is expected to continue Saturday when the Rams practice Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Coliseum.
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It’s a free event for fans, who will have their first chance to check out the Rams in the stadium they will call home for the next three seasons.
All eyes will be on the quarterbacks and their competition to start the Sept. 12 season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on “Monday Night Football.”
The intrigue will play out over the next five weeks as the Rams attempt to determine whether Goff, the No. 1 pick in the draft, is ready to start the regular season from the outset, or if he needs time to ease into the role.
Coach Jeff Fisher said Friday that Keenum would start the Aug. 13 exhibition opener against the Dallas Cowboys at the Coliseum, which came as no surprise.
Fisher said Goff would “probably play a half” against the Cowboys.
Goff had two passes intercepted by the second-team defense Friday -- defensive backs Troy Hill and Jabriel Washington made the plays -- but he lofted touchdown passes to rookie tight end Tyler Higbee and receiver Brian Quick.
Goff, Higbee and receiver Pharoh Cooper are among rookies that have stood out.
Cooper returned to practice after sitting out two days because of a quadriceps issue. He continues to rotate in with the first-team offense.
“I’m not taking anything for granted,” he said. “Just because I go with the ones doesn’t mean it’s locked and set.
“I’m going to keep working. I plan on earning everything I get.”
Rules review
Rams players and coaches were scheduled to meet with NFL game officials on Friday night to review new rule changes and points of emphasis for the 2016 season.
Officials were on the field during Friday’s workout.
“Everybody’s going to have a rule they don’t like,” middle linebacker Alec Ogletree said. “But it’s definitely helpful to get a head start and a chance to work on it in training camp.”
Referee John Hussey and other game officials outlined the changes during a morning session with reporters.
Among the new rules are: a prohibition on all chop blocks; ejection of a player if he is penalized twice for certain personal foul penalties; and the ball being placed at the 25-yard line, rather than the 20, on touchbacks of free kicks.
Some of the points of emphasis are; avoiding forcible contact on a passer’s lower body while he is in the pocket; offering maximum protection for runners’ sliding feet first; prohibiting the use of the crown of the helmet; and regulating pre-snap movement of the ball by centers and long-snappers.
Said Fisher: “There’s not really anything significant…. other than the touchback. We’ll have to see where that goes during the year.”
Coaches corner
New Lakers Coach Luke Walton attended practice and spoke on the field with Fisher and General Manager Les Snead.
Fisher said Walton made contact about a week ago.
“I was really impressed that he wanted to come down and see what we do,” Fisher said. “We got to spend a lot of one-on-one time together…which was very, very impressive from my standpoint -- to have an opportunity to learn his world and he got an opportunity to learn our world.”
Notes
Cornerback E.J. Gaines sat out after suffering a hamstring strain Thursday, Fisher said…. Running backs Aaron Green, from TCU, and Terrence Magee, who played at Louisiana State, each had impressive runs and catches…. Receiver Bradley Marquez had another productive workout…. The Rams added defensive back Jordan Kovacs and tight end Jake Stoneburner to the roster. Kovacs, 26, played at Michigan. Stoneburner, 26, played at Ohio State…. The Rams announced that J.B. Long would handle play-by-play, Maurice Jones-Drew game analysis and D’Marco Farr would be the sideline reporter for radio broadcasts on ESPNLA 710…. Gates open Saturday at the Coliseum at 1 p.m. Parking is $20.
gary.klein@latimes.com
Twitter: @LATimesklein
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