It’s almost surreal to think about the Los Angeles Rams being compared to the current controversy surrounding the Chicago Bears and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Reports have surfaced that Williams was left to study game film on his own without coaching support, and the lack of guidance has clearly shown in his early performance.
Seth Wickersham’s new book has gone viral for its revelations that Williams has mostly been watching film solo. The backlash has sparked a wave of commentary from former NFL quarterbacks, like Chase Daniel, who are now sharing how film study should be done at the pro level.
But this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Back in 2017, when the Rams brought in Sean McVay as the NFL’s youngest head coach, he quickly identified a similar issue—then-franchise quarterback Jared Goff had no idea how to properly break down film.
McVay Had to Reinvent Goff’s Film Study Habits
Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, went winless as a rookie, finishing 0-7. But in 2017, his second year, he turned things around dramatically, leading the Rams to an 11-5 record and a highly efficient offense.
But that leap didn’t happen on talent alone. As it turns out, former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky played a crucial behind-the-scenes role in Goff’s development that year. Orlovsky has now revealed that McVay brought him in specifically to teach Goff how to study tape—how to actually process defenses and gather key information from video.
In a recent interview with Doug Farrar, Orlovsky shared the story of how he became Goff’s personal film tutor. It’s a surprising and telling account, one that highlights just how much credit is due to McVay, Goff, and Orlovsky for that 2017 breakout season.
Now, Goff is thriving in Detroit and is known for his mastery of the Lions’ offense. But it’s important to remember he didn’t start out that way. His ability to read defenses and command an NFL offense had to be taught—and it was McVay who recognized that gap and acted on it.
This context also sheds light on why McVay may have grown frustrated with Goff by the end of the 2020 season. If McVay had to bring in outside help just to get Goff up to speed in 2017, it’s easier to understand why continued struggles with reading defenses might have worn thin over time.
Ultimately, stories like these remind us that NFL players, despite the glamor and expectations, are still learning and growing—and that the league isn’t always as polished and process-perfect as fans might believe.
