PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Starting Slowly Has Proved Costly

The Rams continue to be one of the league’s slowest-starting teams. They have been outscored, 94-21, in the first quarter and 197-91 in the first half.

“It’s been true most of the year and I don’t know the reason,” Coach Chuck Knox said. “I would like to have a more consistent offense all the way around, I think everybody would, but it’s just something that you have to grow into.

“It’s not like a spigot you can turn on and off when you want to. You have to come out there ready to play.”

Knox pointed to Sunday’s opening series against the New Orleans Saints, when Cleveland Gary fumbled, as an example.

“We get the ball and we throw a pass for four or five yards, but we have a motion penalty and now it’s first and 15,” Knox said. “Then we run the ball and we fumble.

“That makes it look like everybody’s playing bad, when in fact some people are playing very, very well. And it looks like nobody was ready to play when in fact one guy fumbled and another was in motion.”

Well, there’s always the second half. The Rams have outscored opponents, 171-131, after halftime.