Jared Goff and Carson Wentz were almost buried alive by a legion of critics during their rookie campaigns. What a difference a year makes.
Goff and Wentz were selected first and second overall in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively, and were expected to change the trajectory of their franchises instantaneously. Both evoked bilious reactions from the football community as they transitioned to the professional game - a colossal adjustment for Wentz particularly, who starred at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State.
It is perhaps emblematic of the American obsession for the Next Big Thing that both players were written off entirely. Goff was a principle character in the Rams' soap opera of a season and was castigated after being thrown into an unimaginative offense authored by Jeff Fisher. Wentz starred during the first six weeks of the season, but graded out as the worst quarterback in football through Weeks 7 to 17, according to Pro Football Focus. Patience wasn't a virtue that was applied to either player, nor was circumstantial evidence. Goff and Wentz are making their critics look silly now.
2016 stats
| Player | Games Played | Completion Percentage | Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goff | 7 | 54.6 | 1089 | 5 | 7 |
| Wentz | 16 | 62.4 | 3782 | 16 | 14 |
2017 projections
| Player | Games Played | Completion Percentage | Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goff | 16 | 61.0 | 4352 | 22 | 10 |
| Wentz | 16 | 60.9 | 4224 | 35 | 8 |
Goff has been the immediate beneficiary of better coaching, with Sean McVay implementing a high-octane system that is tailored to the quarterback's strengths. The addition of standout left tackle Andrew Whitworth - arguably the NFL's best pass-blocker - has afford Goff more time to operate comfortably in the pocket, and the Rams are the league's second-highest scoring offense (30.4 points per game) as a result. The idea that Goff should be displaced after his first year was ludicrous and he's showing rapid improvement during his second season.
Jared Goff doesn't make this throw last season. pic.twitter.com/psWqzqrrrT
— Derrik Klassen (@QBKlass) October 9, 2017
Wentz is also immensely confident this year and is the primary reason why the Eagles sit atop the NFC East at 5-1. During his second season, Wentz is shattering the notion that he can't throw the deep ball, connecting on 19-, 37-, 38-, 58-, and 72-yard passes during his team's five victories, with a 53-yard bullet during the team's lone loss to the Chiefs. His ability to evade the oncoming pass rush has also improved significantly, and he's no longer the player that capitulates under the first inclination of pressure.
Amazing touchdown by #Eagles Nelson Agholor, deep down the field. Carson Wentz has 4 TDs today vs #Cardinals pic.twitter.com/M5hkvqWUqc
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 8, 2017
The Rams and Eagles are being rewarded handsomely for not giving into the vitriolic mob mentality formed on Twitter and radio stations across the country. Goff and Wentz are living up to the hype, and it should provide a lesson to fans everywhere.
