Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Jared Goff limiting interceptions better than he did at Cal

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Jared Goff relayed a stat while addressing reporters Wednesday: The Los Angeles Rams are 7-0 when they finish even or better in the turnover margin this season, 0-3 when they don't.

A few minutes earlier, Sean McVay referenced the exact same thing.

McVay has stressed the importance of taking care of the football since he became the Rams' head coach. "Other than points," he said, "it's the most important stat there is." And that mantra is rubbing off on his 23-year-old quarterback.

Through 10 games, Goff is throwing an interception on only 1.3 percent of his passing attempts. That's the fourth-best rate in the NFL and his best mark since at least high school. As a rookie last season, Goff threw an interception 3.4 percent of the time, ranked 29th among 33 quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts. In three seasons at Cal, Goff threw an interception no less than 1.4 percent of the time.

"It's a big part of the game," Goff said. "We talk about it every day: It's about the ball; just try to take care of the ball."

Goff credited his limited turnovers partly to learning how to use the check-down, a major weapon with a running back as dynamic as Todd Gurley. But growth as a second-year quarterback, innovation within a system and an increase in talent around him have also played a part. Goff has 16 touchdowns to four interceptions this season compared with five touchdowns to seven interceptions in 2016.

Seven times this season, Goff has finished a game with zero interceptions.

The Rams have won six of them.

"He's conscientious of it," McVay said, crediting offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur and quarterbacks coach Greg Olson for emphasizing "moving with two hands on the ball in the pocket" and "making good decisions."

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