Rams rookie QB Jared Goff may have to overcome his own O-line

Rams rookie QB Jared Goff may have to overcome his own O-line

Alden Gonzalez
ESPN Staff Writer

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback Jared Goff will have to battle a lot more than nerves in his long-awaited debut.

He'll have to fight off Ndamukong Suh.

Goff, 2016's No. 1 overall pick, will make his first NFL start at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, a 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff. He'll face a Miami Dolphins team with a devastating defensive line, one that has notched the NFL's fourth-most sacks per passing attempt over the course of a four-game winning streak. Staring right at him will be Suh, arguably the best defensive tackle not named Aaron Donald. Close by will be Cameron Wake, a four-time Pro Bowler with 77 career sacks.

And trying to protect Goff will be an offensive line that, well, hasn't been great.

"Ndamukong Suh just has great power, good quickness," said Rodger Saffold, the veteran left guard who will frequently try to block him. "He does a lot of things really well, a lot of the fundamental things really well, and he's extremely strong. So, we have to be firm regardless. As far as Goff -- Goff is going to have to be able to sit in there with pressure and throw the ball. It's not going to always be perfect, but that doesn't change the job. The job is still the same -- give him as little pressure as we possibly can."

The Rams' former starter, Case Keenum, was just above the middle of the pack in pressure rate, ranked 13th among 33 qualified quarterbacks. But he also averaged only 2.28 seconds before passes, trailing only the Jets' Ryan Fitzpatrick (2.28) for the fastest in the NFL.

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