Rams Report: The Resurgence Of Tevin Wofford

Los Angelas -- Coach Jim sits back going over game tape of the win against Chicago that moved the team to 5-7 on the year. The playoffs appear to be a long shot even if this Rams team wins out. However coach has been happy with a shift in this team that moving forward could lead to the teams first play off appearance. Earlier this season the free agent acquisition sturggled and it looked like both sides had made a mistake on the 3 year pact they agreed to in the offseason. Wofford benched mulitple times for former number 2 picks Marcus Mariota, and Mitch Trubisky. Coach Jim knows Mariota and Trubisky only provide short term relief to the teams Quarterback merry go round.

The Rams were lead by former number 1 overall pick Jared Goff for the first couple of years of Coach Jim's tenure, and John Wofford providing the back up duties. Goff never fit the system coach wanted to run and the only thing that kept him in town was an inability to move that contract and field a team that was going to be competitive against the tough NFC West. A couple of years later the Rams and Goff agree to part ways. That offseason coming off a red hot year and an appearance in the Superbowl Coach Jim went back to an old favorite in Cam Newton. Tyrod Taylor, and Robert Griffin III were also brought in to change the offense Coach Jim had hated running for his former franchise guy. Newton and crew were primarily used in a ball control offense that used gimmicks and running the football to be the base of the offesne. Cam used his legs as he always did and although the team wasn't overly successful it set the stage for situation we have here today. Taylor and RG3 retire the following year, Cam is back with Mitch Trubisky and Marcus Mariota backing him up this time. Cam struggles down the stertch and decides to retire after the season is over. That now bring us to the focus of the piece... Tevin Wofford.

Wofford from the Rams meeting room "My career has been up and down, I thought we were going to turn that thing around in Detroit by the end of my 2nd season I was already in coachces dog house and by the end of the 3rd I knew my future wasn't in Detroit". Wofford refrences his time in Detroit as the Lions starter. At the time of the draft Wofford was ranked up with contemporary Fernando Giraldo and behind eventual number 1 pick Kam Killings. We now know Dan Archer and D.J. Carter both superbowl winning Quarterbacks who were less hearlded who have won superbowls with their respective squads. Leading up to the draft Wofford was projected to be the 2nd quarterback off the board the question was when he would be selected. Coach Ricky Chapstick, who I hope is enjoying his sabbatical traded a boatload of 1st round picks to Coach Eikim and the Vikings. That secured Killings coming off the board first and the rest would wait. Player after player went until the next domino dropped, The New Orleans Saints getting ready for a rebuild selected Wofford's counterpart Fernando Giraldo with the 12th pick in the draft. Once Giraldo was off the board the slide began. It got to pick 15, then 20, and 24 with Wofford's name still having not been called. Then a rumor swirled, the Lions were on the phone trying to pick up the 25th pick. The team was getting ready to part ways with Matt Stafford and they pegged Wofford as the man to replace him by moving up to the 25th overall selection to draft him. So began life in Detroit....

With an unknown coach at the helm trying to find his feet in Coach R Fox these two young men would be tied together to try to make Detroit a historically bad franchise one that is on the map again. The two never meshed in Wofford's rookie year, or ever for that matter. Wofford threw for 3736 yards which still stands as a career high, but also had a career high 33 interceptions while being sacked 33 times. Often under duress Wofford was really made to stay in the pocket and operate as a tradtional pocket passer in the Lions system. Wofford had this to say "I feel like I was just as much an atlete as Kam Killings coming out of the draft... I just never understood why Coach Fox never used me more as a runner to open up the offense" In and out of the lineup in his 2nd and 3rd years just proved to Wofford he was not going to be the guy long term in the Motor City. Wofford said he had a talk with his family after his rookie year "I spoke with Mom and Dad, they knew how hard I was struggling... They told me to keep my head up after every offseason... After my 3rd year we had a talk with my agent we knew Detroit was not picking up my 5th year option and thought it might time to be ask for a trade" Coach RFox granted the request and like that Wofford was out of Detroit and heading the bright lights in NYC to play for the Giatns. Coach Beech had brought back Derrick Carr after and excellent marriage between the two the previous year started providing hope of a Giants bounce back. Wofford never fit the mold in NYC and once again was asked to stand in the pocket and deliver strikes instead of using his vaired skill set to provide the team a chance to win. Once again benched this time in favor of Carr, Wofford knew he would be on the move again.

Last offeason began with news that hurt coach Jim's heart, his starting QB and a favorite of his Cam Newton had decided to call it a career. Coach Jim sent him a special Rams romper in hopes that it would sway him but Cam said he was just hurting to much to continue playing at the level Coach Jim needs him to for the franchise to win games. So it left the Rams with quite the void at the position. It was no secret the Rams coveted QB Rob Reed in the draft and looked at him as a potential guy of the future. However Rams managment knew they needed a veteran backup option just incase that did not pan out. Wofford was the obvious choice for Rams GM and front office group. Wofford was an athelte the type of athlete that Coach Jim wants to play his QB position. The two sides quickly agreed to a 3 year 16 million dollar contract to bring Wofford in to the fold in LA. Famously the Saints drafted Rob Reed a pick before the Rams in the 2nd round of the past draft despite sending tons of picks for superstar Sam Darnold the year before. (GM of the year type stuff right there) So at that point the Rams pulled back and did not draft a QB. That made Wofford the guy this year and while it was rough at first here we are now...

Wofford struggled early on this season, a 7-18, 47 yard 3 pick sit performance had Rams fams flashing back to every other QB that happened play for Coach Jim in his 50 seasons in the Redzone. Often labled someone who needs a star quarterback to succeed Coach Jim is trying to shed that label. Wofford on the other hand is working with his coach to shed the bust label most analysts would put on his name at this point in his career. A bounce back performance against the Seahawks where Wofford threw his first two touchdowns as a Ram was quickly overshadowed by the worst performance of his young career against the Giants. 1 compeletion for 8 yards to his teammates, 3 completions to the defense. At this point this marriage is looking even rockier, it looks like business as usual for both the Rams and Wofford. A repeat performance against the 49ers and rumbling of Marcus Mariota becoming the starter intensify and Wofford again is on the defensive trying to save his job. Mariota was forced to sit the next 2 games due to a positive Covid test that placed him into the leagues Covid protocol. Another bounce back against the Seahawks was wasted when the entire team imploded around Wofford against the Saints and the Rams suffered an ugly loss. Coach Jim pulls Wofford from the Cardinals game the following week Marcus Mariota comes in to win the game for the Rams. A full blown Quarterback controversy in swing now, Rams fans are now either #TeamWofford or #TeamMariota at this point.

Marcus Mariota is a pro's pro says Coach Jim. Coach Jim met with his quarterbacks that week and was ready to name Marcus Mariota the starter. However being the pro he is Marcus convinced Coach to give his young QB another chance. Mariota had this to say "I have been in Tevin's shoes before, I would be nothing but a bridge to the future guy for this team... Why try to be that bridge when we potentially have that guy on our roster". Wofford would responxd big time.

Wofford's last 4 games he has led an offesne that shows promise for the future.

9	CAR @ LAR	24 - 31	19	24	79.2	272	11.3	43	3	21	1	1	136	5	16	3	10	0	2
11	TB @ LAR	20 - 16	21	31	67.7	212	6.8	23	0	4	3	2	60	4	14	4	11	0	1
12	LAR @ TEN	35 - 38	18	23	78.3	311	13.5	82	2	20	1	0	148	3	38	13	36	2	16
13	LAR @ CHI	27 - 10	23	36	63.9	262	7.3	25	1	12	2	1	83	9	53	6	25	1	11

The numbers speak for themselves. Have the Rams found their QB of the future? The jury is still out on that. However I will tell you one thing. The last 4 games have been... THE RESURGENCE OF TEVIN WOFFORD.

Thanks for reading.