Fisher finds offensive progress in Rams' loss

~ The coach saw individuals improve despite just seven points in Saturday's exhibition loss

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams' young offensive unit made some strides in a preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers.

The improvement just didn't translate into points on the scoreboard.

"When you start looking at individual performances, particularly as they relate to some younger guys improving from one week to the next, you become encouraged," Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Sunday. "There were some good things in there."

The Rams amassed 327 yards on 63 plays, an average of 5.2 yards per play, in their 19-7 loss Saturday. Yet they were unable to score until Austin Davis hit Nick Johnson on a 26-yard scoring toss with 58 seconds left in the game.

St. Louis moved the ball effectively at times but made too many mistakes late in drives. Quarterback Sam Bradford and the first team marched the ball into Green Bay territory on three of four possessions. The Rams were stopped on fourth down on one drive -- Bradford lost a fumble on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line -- and Greg Zuerlein missed a 50-yard field-goal attempt on other possession.

The Rams were 1 for 14 on third down and 0 for 3 on fourth down. They also committed three turnovers.

"We have to correct the mistakes and point out the good things that happened," Fisher said. "We have to continue to keep the pressure on this football team, especially this week, from a preparation standpoint and an improvement standpoint."

St. Louis put together several big plays on offense. Bradford connected with Chris Givens on a 57-yard pass on the first play of the second possession. Bradford also hit tight end Jared Cook for 37 yards.

"We were able to generate some explosive plays, which is always nice to see," Bradford said. "That's an area we've struggled with the past couple years."

The offense managed 169 yards on four possessions with Bradford at the helm. He played until the final minute of the first half and finished 8 of 12 for 156 yards.

First-round draft choice Tavon Austin, the No. 8 pick, caught four passes for 28 yards.

The Rams made a concerted effort to get the ball to the speedy Austin, who didn't make a catch and was targeted only once in a preseason-opening 27-19 loss at Cleveland on Aug. 8.

"It was nice to get him a few balls," Bradford said. "I thought he did a great job."

The Rams didn't stress the running game against Green Bay, rushing 22 times for 52 yards and one first down.

"We really didn't commit to the run," Fisher said. "It was hard because of what [the Packers] were doing. They kind of forced us out of it from a line-of-scrimmage standpoint. We'll get back to it this week."

Fisher indicated that backup quarterbacks Davis and Kellen Clemens remain close in the battle for the No. 2 spot. Clemens served as No. 2 on Saturday and completed 2 of 11 passes for 27 yards. Davis, who came on in the fourth quarter, hit on 7 of 15 for 114 yards and the lone score.

Fisher says Davis will be listed as the No. 2 quarterback in Saturday's game at Denver.

The St. Louis defense held Green Bay to just four field goals over the first three quarters, but Fisher said the unit made too many mistakes.

"We didn't tackle as well as we're capable of," he said. "We have to get better at it, and we will."

The Rams open the season at home against Arizona on Sept. 8.