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‘My pocket presence was not where it needed to be,' Rams quarterback Case Keenum said of Sunday's loss to Carolina. ‘I could have prevented a few sacks and a few batted balls by just trusting my protection and stepping up.' (AP Photo/Ryan Kang)
Rams' Case Keenum, Rob Boras feeling the heat to get offense on track
By RICH HAMMOND / STAFF WRITER
THOUSAND OAKS – The temperature reached 90 degrees at Cal Lutheran on Wednesday afternoon, so one can only imagine the feeling under the collars of Case Keenum and Rob Boras.
Keenum, the Rams’ quarterback, and Boras, the offensive coordinator, have received increasing heat this season, as the losing streak has reached four games and the offense has sputtered. Keenum’s starting job has come into question, as has Boras’ pass-happy play-calling and the Rams’ lack of a run game.
Forecasts call for a chilly afternoon in New York on Sunday when the Rams play the Jets, so Boras and Keenum won’t have to sweat and won’t have to worry about the boos from the Coliseum crowd, like they heard during last Sunday’s loss to Carolina.
“Fortunately, I’ve got a headset on, so I don’t hear it,” Boras joked. “My wife and kids will tell me. No, of course it’s frustrating. I get it. We get it. I know it’s not something to make light of. It’s our job to score points, and it’s frustrating for all of us. We believe in what we’re doing and we believe in one another.”
The Rams, and in particular Coach Jeff Fisher, apparently still believe in Keenum, who will remain the starter this week even as fans continue to call for rookie Jared Goff to take over.
Keenum has led the Rams’ offense to only 10 points in each of the past two games, and he has totaled two touchdowns and five interceptions in those two games. Another subpar performance could lead to a Goff sighting, but Keenum said he’s not encumbered by recent shortcomings.
“I’m over it,” Keenum said. “Obviously there’s still a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth, but winning cures that. Winning cures a lot of things. So we expect to go out and win this week.”
That will require greater balance on offense. Running back Todd Gurley, the NFL’s third-leading rusher last season, has totaled only 41 carries in his last three games and increasingly has been invisible in the fourth quarter of tight games.
NFL coaches rarely like to tip their hand, but Fisher has been upfront this week in saying that Gurley’s carry total must rise, even against a Jets defense that has been solid against the run this season. Boras, who calls the offensive plays, said he has “seen the numbers” and knows the need for a more-prolific run game.
“The more carries (Gurley and Benny Cunningham) get, the more they’re going to settle in,” Boras said, “not only as the runner but the blockers, the O-line, the tight ends, the fullback. Part of that is staying on the field and sustaining drives and eliminating three-and-outs.”
Gurley missed Wednesday’s practice with an apparent thigh injury, but that’s likely just midweek maintenance, given how Fisher and Boras talked about Gurley’s importance this week.
Keenum, by all accounts, is at full health, and talked about his need for improvement. Fisher said Keenum is “good” from a mental standpoint, and isn’t putting excessive pressure on himself. Keenum talked about subtle ways in which he could improve his game and make his teammates – and the Rams’ offense in general – look better.
“I think my pocket presence was not where it needed to be,” Keenum said. “I could have prevented a few sacks and a few batted balls by just trusting my protection and stepping up. Sometimes I make it tough on my tackles, so I worked on that this week.”
INJURY REPORT
On Tuesday, Fisher said he “hadn’t ruled anybody out” of Wednesday’s practice because of injuries, but five players ended up on the “did not participate list.” Gurley, defensive tackle Michael Brockers (groin), cornerback Trumaine Johnson (ankle), cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (back) and receiver Nelson Spruce (calf) all missed practice.
Some of that is normal. Brockers and Johnson are playing through injuries, Spruce has been hurt for several weeks and the Rams regularly have players miss mid-week practices but still play.
SERVICE DAY
Several Rams players will volunteer time on their day off Thursday to help local schoolchildren create holiday cards for military members overseas. Events will be held at elementary schools in Thousand Oaks and Inglewood.
Also, Fisher has been selected as the Rams’ nominee for this year’s NFL “Salute to Service award,” given to someone “who demonstrates an exemplary commitment to honoring and supporting the military community.” The winner will be announced in February.
[www.ocregister.com]
