Overshadowed in Rams QB race, Sean Mannion still works to improveBy Jack Wang, Los Angeles Daily News
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www.dailynews.com]
IRVINE >> Unless something goes very wrong for the Rams this season, Sean Mannion is not going to start at quarterback.
This is a team that has mortgaged its future for Cal’s Jared Goff, trading away six premium draft picks in order to move up to the top of the 2016 NFL draft. It is a team that has been content to slow-play Goff’s development, giving Case Keenum — a quintessential journeyman — the bulk of the first-team reps in training camp.
It is not a team that is structured to give Mannion meaningful regular-season snaps, even if it saw fit to draft him in the third round a year ago. So, the former Oregon State star is stuck in an awkward situation: He needs more reps to improve, but isn’t likely to get more reps until he improves.
“To a certain degree, I think there’s some truth to that,” Mannion said. “But at the same time, every quarterback gets action in the preseason. That’s the beauty of the preseason.”
Last preseason, the Rams rotated four different quarterbacks who combined to throw 124 passes in four games. Mannion certainly got a fair shot, attempting 57. The results were mixed: 31 completions for 300 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
But when the games counted, Mannion rarely got off the bench. His lone appearance as a rookie came on the final drive of a 31-7 loss to the Bengals last November. He completed six of seven passes for 31 yards, a stat line that is mildly encouraging but also largely meaningless.
Heading into his second year, the hurdle to significant playing time looks even higher. Goff has already slide into the role of a star in waiting, usually speaking to the media on the same days as running back Todd Gurley. When Goff jogged into the Coliseum on Saturday afternoon, he drew loud cheers and chants. Mannion, who was only a few yards away, seemed almost anonymous by comparison.
Naturally, the 24-year-old insists none of this affects him. He is focused on improving every day, on making the most of his chances.
His teammates have noted signs of progress.
“Everything’s slower to him now,” said receiver Bradley Marquez, who caught two of Mannion’s six career completions. “He’s able to know the plays, so in the huddle, he commands that respect when he comes in there. He’s coming in with confidence, telling everybody what they’re gonna do.”
“From last year to right now,” said punter Johnny Hekker, “he’s leaps and bounds ahead of where he was.”
Hekker once lived with Mannion for a summer, back when both of them were at Oregon State. He remembers the quarterback being shy and quiet, but also brilliant, with a “steel trap” mind for sports trivia. And over the past several months, he’s watched Mannion become more comfortable with the Rams’ offense and its verbiage.
When that work might pay off on the field remains unclear. For fans and media, expectations for Mannion are not low as much as they are nonexistent. Mannion knows this. He also doesn’t seem to care.
“Frankly, if I need that to be motivated, or to have a chip on your shoulder, so to speak,” he said, “there’s something wrong with me.”
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/07/2016 08:08PM by RamBill.
