Written by Gary Klein at LATimes.com
The Rams, the only NFL team without a touchdown, are trying to keep it light.
Coach Jeff Fisher gathered the offense in the end zone before practice this week at Cal Lutheran and instructed all the players to touch a ball, ostensibly to give them the feeling of what it’s like to finish a drive there.
Fisher also told the team that while searching the halls of the team’s facility he found a box.
“I showed it to them,” he said Wednesday. “It was full of touchdowns. So we watched some touchdowns.”
Fisher was referring to last season’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Rams’ opponent on Sunday at Tampa, Fla.
Quarterback Case Keenum connected with receivers Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt for touchdowns and Austin and running back Todd Gurley rushed for touchdowns in a 31-23 victory.
Rams players and coaches would welcome similar offensive production this week.
Actually, one touchdown would be an achievement for an offense that has reached the 20-yard line only once in two games.
After being shut out by San Francisco, 28-0, the Rams defeated the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, 9-3, with three field goals by Greg Zuerlein.
“It’s concerning,” offensive coordinator Rob Boras said when asked about the lack of touchdowns, “that’s our job.”
Keenum is at the helm of an offense that is averaging 234 yards and 4.5 points a game, which ranks last in the NFL in both categories.
But the Rams are 1-1 and in a four-way tie for first in the NFC West.
Asked if he felt that he bore the burden for the Rams’ lack of touchdowns, Keenum said “the burden for me” was winning.
“If you were to tell me right now that we’re not going to score another touchdown but we’ll win every game, I’d be OK with that,” Keenum said. “I like throwing touchdowns. I like touchdowns. I love winning.”
Keenum, however, acknowledged that “we’ve got to score touchdowns to win in this league.”
Fisher concurred.
“It’s very easily put that … he team from the standpoint of the defense is going to need the offense at some point,” Fisher said. “They’re going to need the offense to score points.”
Against the Seahawks, the Rams at least put together a few drives that enabled the defense to rest.
Tackle Aaron Donald said defensive players were not frustrated by the offense’s inability to reach the end zone.
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