It seems like forever since the Los Angeles Rams played an actual football game. But they're back in a normal practice week now, getting set to host Carolina on Sunday for what will be their first true home game in nearly a month. Late Tuesday afternoon, they will hold their first official practice in six days. Before that, I answered some of your lingering questions, touching on the three essential topics for this team: Jared Goff versus Case Keenum, Jeff Fisher's extension and Todd Gurley's production.

@Alden_Gonzalez any chance fisher is trying to hide that Goff will actually be the starter vs the panthers? — FreeGoff🎃 (@HoldenCantor) November 1, 2016

Sure, there is always that chance. But I wouldn't bet on it. Goff took first-team reps last week because of the bye, then said he feels "tremendously more comfortable than I've ever felt" and added that he is "confident that if my number's called, I'll be ready to go." But Fisher has repeatedly said he is sticking with Keenum, who has the NFL's lowest Total QBR and just threw four interceptions in the Rams' third straight loss on Oct. 23. There can really only be two reasons for this ...

There is something Goff simply isn't showing the Rams, and because it's so difficult to judge a quarterback based on limited scout-team reps, you'd have to think it largely stems from the classroom. One thing Keenum does have is a good feel for the way this offense operates. But Fisher recently stated that the Rams wouldn't simplify the offense to accommodate Goff, because Goff has "that good of a feel for what we're doing." So there's that. Fisher is hell-bent on sticking to his plan heading into the season, which seemingly called for Goff to use his entire rookie year to learn as a backup. Goff entered the NFL having not called a play from the huddle or taken a snap from under center. Also, he was 22 years and 18 days old as of Tuesday morning. Carson Wentz (23 years and 307 days old), Dak Prescott (23 years and 95 days) and Cody Kessler (23 years and 174 days) are all older.

If a change at quarterback is going to occur, this is the time to do it, because it's a bye week and because three of the Rams' next four opponents -- the Panthers, Jets and Saints -- rank within the bottom four in passing yards allowed per game. If Fisher doesn't change his mind this week, it probably means Goff won't start unless the Rams completely fall out of it in the final weeks.

@Alden_Gonzalez What's holding up Jeff Fisher's long rumored contract extension? — Steven Wise (@StevenWise89) November 1, 2016

Eight NFL weeks have passed, and still there has been no announcement on an extension for Fisher (or general manager Les Snead, for that matter). It's odd. Talks were reported dating back to February, parameters were reportedly in place as recently as late September. But now it's November, and Fisher still has lame-duck status. Timing and public perception appear to be a major reason for that. The Rams are in a new market, with a fan base that they have to win over, and announcing an extension for Fisher would not have gone over well following the season-opening 28-0 drubbing or the three straight losses that spilled into the bye week.

Fisher's extension might be on hold until the end of the season, and by that point, who knows which direction the Rams' brass will go. Fisher and Snead have earned respect from the higher-ups for the way they turned the franchise around following a five-year stretch in which it compiled 15 wins from 2007-11. Stan Kroenke is said to believe his team is headed in the right direction because of the work Fisher and Snead have done since arriving in 2012. But the Rams have not finished above .500 since 2003 and don't seem poised to do so this season, either. Their head coaching position would be a highly coveted one if they leave it open after the season.

@Alden_Gonzalez when/how will the rams make the corrections needed to unleash Gurley's potential — Andrew Edling (@AEDLING) November 1, 2016

I'm not sure how much more they can do. This is far more a case of opposing teams not respecting the Rams' passing attack and the offensive line not doing a good enough job up front. Perhaps some of the blame also lies with Gurley, who isn't necessarily the most patient of runners. From a play-calling standpoint, the Rams have run the Wildcat with Gurley twice -- already one more than all of last season -- and have lined him up on the outside as a receiver on several occasions. In seven games, Gurley has the same amount of receptions (21) that he had in 13 as a rookie last season.

Now, I would like to see the Rams set up more screen passes for Gurley, who has caught only four of those. And it would be nice to see him have more runs where he is bouncing it to the outside as opposed to fighting between the tackles. But it's hard to do that when you're averaging 1.34 yards before first contact, the lowest rate in the NFL. Gurley has rushed for only 403 yards (ranked 21st) despite getting 134 carries (eighth-most). He averaged a much-improved (but still pedestrian) 3.97 yards per carry over his past two games, but only compiled 29 attempts in that span.

For some reason, the Rams mostly went away from Gurley in the second half of those games, even though the score remained close.

They have to stay committed to the running game.