Potential Changes to Offense?

Monday Wrap-Up: Potential Changes to Offense?

By Myles Simmons

http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Monday-Wrap-Up-Potential-Changes-to-Offense/f9000f0c-d0ac-48be-bda8-b46beb5aa121

In each of their last four games, the Rams have scored only 10 points or fewer. They’ve won one of those gams — last week’s 9-6 victory over the Jets — but the lack of scoring has driven their season points per game average down to just 14.9.

And so while Los Angeles’ defense let up two touchdown drives at the end of the 14-10 loss to Miami, head coach Jeff Fisher said at his Monday press conference reviewing the contest the lack of scoring is another significant reason for the game’s outcome.

“We didn’t score enough points,” Fisher said. “That’s been a common theme here. And we need to get better at that.”

L.A. recorded only 227 total yards and 12 first downs on Sunday, going 2-of-13 in third-down efficiency. Despite the struggles, Fisher said he is not considering a change at offensive coordinator, going away from Rob Boras.

“No, not given it any consideration. I did that last year,” Fisher said. “I have confidence in Rob and the offense has confidence in Rob. And the offense right now knows they’re not doing what they should be doing.”

However, Fisher said there may be some changes when it comes to personnel, remarking, “There potentially may be some different guys playing this week.”

Asked specifically if there may be changes to the offensive line, Fisher said, “We’re looking at everything right now. We need production. We need to minimize mistakes, and we’ve got some repeat mistake-makers. So that’s still under discussion.”

One player we know will still be the same from Week 11 to Week 12 is the quarterback. Fisher again expressed how pleased he was with rookie Jared Goff’s debut, especially as it relates to the way the No. 1 overall pick was able to manage the game.

“I was impressed with what he did,” Fisher said. “No delay of games. He was in complete control. He was composed. He got us in and out of a lot of really good things.”

Fisher did say that in retrospect, the Rams likely should have attempted a few more downfield passes. But the head coach also credited Miami’s defense for what the unit took away.

“There was constant pressure and coverage didn’t allow it,” Fisher said. “They just kind of sat on things and took the run game away, and at the same time pressured us. So we’ve got to give Jared more opportunities to get play action and get the ball down the field.”

Regardless, Fisher acknowledged the Rams will likely need to open up the offense more with Goff as the club mores forward in the regular season.

“We’re going to have to score points so, yeah, we’ll have to do more things,” Fisher said. “As we move forward and continue to expand this offense with the goal of scoring points, he’s going to be a big part of it. And we’re going to have to push it down the field.”

ELIMINATING COSTLY PENALTIES

In his postgame press conference on Sunday, Fisher referred to three costly penalties that aided in Miami’s comeback effort. There was an illegal block in the back by left tackle Greg Robinson, a late hit penalty called on middle linebacker Alec Ogletree, and a roughing the passer foul called on defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

On Monday, Fisher called Robinson’s block in the back, “really unnecessary” and also addressed the defensive penalties.

“We had two drives defensively that we allowed to be finished particularly because, in my opinion, there were two penalties, both by our two defensive captains — one by Aaron and one by ‘Tree on the sideline. A 15-yard penalty in drives like that, obviously, were deciding factors in the game.”