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What to make of Rams' early offensive struggles
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/20690/what-to-make-of-rams-early-offensive-struggles
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- To the surprise of no one, St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher says he isn't concerned with his offense's early preseason struggles.
"No, not concerned at all," Fisher said. "You would like to see them put 40 up on the board, but we will get it sorted out. You see us doing different things on the practice field than we do in the games."
Taking it a step further, Fisher pointed out that the preseason questions about a first-team offense which has managed just three points, 113 yards and five first downs on six possessions, is par for the course.
“If you go back a year from now, or two years from now, or three years from now, you guys all asked me the same questions, 'What’s up with your offense?'" Fisher said. "We keep it basic. Our philosophy is to just play and work on fundamentals during the preseason."
What's unsaid here is that, though Fisher doesn't sound concerned about the offense and is used to the questions, it's not like his offense has a track record of ironing out the kinks in the preseason only to catch fire when the real games start. The outside concerns about his offense have often carried over to the regular season, particularly in the early part of the schedule.
In three seasons under Fisher, the Rams rank 28th in the NFL in yards per game, 24th in yards per play and 26th in offensive points scored per game. So though the Rams are undoubtedly keeping things basic in terms of the game plan, they also haven't exactly earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the offense.
That's especially true this season with a new coordinator in Frank Cignetti Jr., new quarterback in Nick Foles, three new starters on the offensive line and, eventually, a new starting running back. In preseason contests against Oakland and Tennessee -- teams that drafted in the top four this year -- the first-team offense has struggled mightily.
After a dynamic start in which Foles hit tight end Lance Kendricks for a gain of 26 yards and then receiver Tavon Austin for 35 yards on the first two plays against the Raiders, it's been tough sledding for the starting unit. On the 25 ensuing plays, that top offense has gained just 52 yards and, including the interception returned for a touchdown Foles threw Sunday night, it's allowed more points than it has scored.
"I’ll never panic as a quarterback just because you’ve got to keep working," Foles said. "If you panic, then you’ve given up. I would never give up as long as I play the game. We have great guys in this locker room, and I keep saying that we’ll continue to put more things into the offense. We’re really just trying to work on our stuff right now."
There's little doubt that the Rams have had a basic approach to the preseason and aren't exactly pulling out all the play-calling stops. Going back to what Fisher said, if there is to be a concern, it should be with those fundamentals. When keeping it simple, things like blocking, running the correct routes and making good decisions with the ball should all qualify as the basics.
And the Rams aren't doing those particularly well, either. With the starters on the field, the Rams have 40 yards on 14 carries, good for just 2.9 yards per attempt. Foles is six-of-12 for 87 yards for a passer rating of 39.2 with the interception and no touchdowns.
"Our offense is coming," Fisher said. "It’s coming. We saw a lot of good things out of our offense against the Cowboys (in practice last week)."
Yes, it's only the preseason and there's still time for the Rams to get those things straightened out. But it's also fair to wonder whether an offense with so many moving parts will be able to do it in time to keep the Rams from digging themselves into yet another early season hole.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/20690/what-to-make-of-rams-early-offensive-struggles
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- To the surprise of no one, St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher says he isn't concerned with his offense's early preseason struggles.
"No, not concerned at all," Fisher said. "You would like to see them put 40 up on the board, but we will get it sorted out. You see us doing different things on the practice field than we do in the games."
Taking it a step further, Fisher pointed out that the preseason questions about a first-team offense which has managed just three points, 113 yards and five first downs on six possessions, is par for the course.
“If you go back a year from now, or two years from now, or three years from now, you guys all asked me the same questions, 'What’s up with your offense?'" Fisher said. "We keep it basic. Our philosophy is to just play and work on fundamentals during the preseason."
What's unsaid here is that, though Fisher doesn't sound concerned about the offense and is used to the questions, it's not like his offense has a track record of ironing out the kinks in the preseason only to catch fire when the real games start. The outside concerns about his offense have often carried over to the regular season, particularly in the early part of the schedule.
In three seasons under Fisher, the Rams rank 28th in the NFL in yards per game, 24th in yards per play and 26th in offensive points scored per game. So though the Rams are undoubtedly keeping things basic in terms of the game plan, they also haven't exactly earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the offense.
That's especially true this season with a new coordinator in Frank Cignetti Jr., new quarterback in Nick Foles, three new starters on the offensive line and, eventually, a new starting running back. In preseason contests against Oakland and Tennessee -- teams that drafted in the top four this year -- the first-team offense has struggled mightily.
After a dynamic start in which Foles hit tight end Lance Kendricks for a gain of 26 yards and then receiver Tavon Austin for 35 yards on the first two plays against the Raiders, it's been tough sledding for the starting unit. On the 25 ensuing plays, that top offense has gained just 52 yards and, including the interception returned for a touchdown Foles threw Sunday night, it's allowed more points than it has scored.
"I’ll never panic as a quarterback just because you’ve got to keep working," Foles said. "If you panic, then you’ve given up. I would never give up as long as I play the game. We have great guys in this locker room, and I keep saying that we’ll continue to put more things into the offense. We’re really just trying to work on our stuff right now."
There's little doubt that the Rams have had a basic approach to the preseason and aren't exactly pulling out all the play-calling stops. Going back to what Fisher said, if there is to be a concern, it should be with those fundamentals. When keeping it simple, things like blocking, running the correct routes and making good decisions with the ball should all qualify as the basics.
And the Rams aren't doing those particularly well, either. With the starters on the field, the Rams have 40 yards on 14 carries, good for just 2.9 yards per attempt. Foles is six-of-12 for 87 yards for a passer rating of 39.2 with the interception and no touchdowns.
"Our offense is coming," Fisher said. "It’s coming. We saw a lot of good things out of our offense against the Cowboys (in practice last week)."
Yes, it's only the preseason and there's still time for the Rams to get those things straightened out. But it's also fair to wonder whether an offense with so many moving parts will be able to do it in time to keep the Rams from digging themselves into yet another early season hole.
