Rams Come Up Short Again : NFL: Knox sees some encouraging things despite losing to Browns, 21-10, to fall to 0-3 in preseason.

Word from the locker room: The Rams said they were encouraged with Saturday night’s performance against the Browns.

Upon initial review that would be like someone saying the water wasn’t as cold as they expected when leaping from the Titanic.

After all, the Rams exercised their first offensive unit for three quarters against the Browns, but lost, 21-10, and fell to 0-3 in exhibition play.

Encouraging or discouraging? The Rams’ No. 1 offensive unit, which has been guided by quarterback Jim Everett, has had 17 possessions in the first three games and has produced one touchdown and two field goals.

“The thing that was different about tonight than the first two games was we must have had about 350 yards of offense,” Ram Coach Chuck Knox said. “We moved the football offensively. We had a good mix, we got some things done and we’re missing (some players).

” . . . There were some encouraging things. We had a good week’s work here and I think we’re headed in the right direction.”

The search for the end zone, however, continues. The Rams outgained the Browns, 347-250, in total offense but wandered short of the end zone until Mike Pagel threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Lynn James in the fourth quarter.

“We played a lot better,” Pagel said. “The first two games we didn’t play really very well at all as an offense, but this week we moved the ball. It was a good experience for us.”

The Rams lost, however. They turned the ball over three times. They were successful on third down on only four of 14 attempts. Everett has yet to throw a touchdown pass.

Starting guard Tom Newberry left the game with a back injury, starting guard Leo Goeas was helped off with a neck injury, starting tackle Jackie Slater will have his sore foot X-rayed today, and rookie defensive lineman Maa Tanuvasa was on crutches after spraining his knee.

Wide receiver Henry Ellard didn’t play because of an ankle sprain, and the Rams remain desperate for an additional wide receiver with speed and experience. Russell White gained 61 yards in 18 carries, but the running back corps has been sacked hard by injuries.

Encouraging or discouraging?

“We moved the ball, which is encouraging,” said Ernie Zampese, Ram offensive coordinator. “But we didn’t make plays when we had to. That’s it in a nutshell; you have to make a play.”

The Rams controlled the ball for more than seven minutes on a 16-play opening drive, but then couldn’t find the right play to get the ball into the end zone.

Tony Zendejas, called on to save the moment with a 34-yard field-goal, instead hit the left upright.

The Rams’ defense, which has proved stubborn in the early going so far, gave the offense another opportunity to score in the second quarter. Linebacker Shane Conlan forced running back Eric Metcalf to fumble and tackle Sean Gilbert recovered at the Browns’ 29.

The Rams’ offense advanced to the five, retreated a yard after Tim Lester was tackled for a loss and then turned to Everett. On second and goal from the six, wide receiver Todd Kinchen turned left, Everett threw right and the ball fell incomplete. On the return walk to the huddle, it appeared Everett had some words for Kinchen, who was making his first exhibition performance after recovering from knee surgery.

“What I say with Todd and I is going to stay with Todd and I,” Everett said. “We just have to get on the same page because that was going to be a touchdown.”

On third and goal, Everett failed to find a receiver and took off running only to be stopped for no gain. A holding call on Goeas was declined, and the Rams had Zendejas kick a 23-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

With less than two minutes to go in the half, former UCLA defensive back Eric Turner recovered wide receiver Sean LaChapelle’s fumble at the Rams’ 27.

“I take full responsibility,” LaChapelle said. “I thought I was down, but I wasn’t down, I guess.”

After the Browns took possession, quarterback Vinny Testaverde, in relief of Bernie Kosar, hit wide receiver Michael Jackson for 15 yards, running back Tommy Vardell for 11 yards and defensive tackle--yes, that’s defensive tackle--James Jones for a one-yard touchdown.

“Just a routine catch,” said Jones, who was wide open and juggled the ball several times before pulling it in for the score.

The Browns expanded their 7-3 halftime advantage to 14-3 after marching 42 yards in eight plays on their first possession in the third quarter. Running back Randy Baldwin ran left through the Rams’ first-string defensive unit for a five-yard touchdown.

The Rams tried to respond immediately by marching to the Browns’ 17-yard line, but on third and five Everett tried to rifle the ball to a well-covered Flipper Anderson. It was intercepted by Cleveland’s Del Speer.

“I’m just trying to win a ballgame,” said Everett, who completed 11 of 27 passes for 149 yards with two interceptions. “We were in a position where I thought we were very close in the game, and I got a little greedy trying to force a ball in there.”

The Rams trailed, 14-10, in the fourth quarter with 8:34 remaining after Pagel found an uncovered James.

It took the Browns 18 seconds, however, to reassert their command of the game. Baldwin took the ensuing kickoff from Zendejas and returned it 100 yards to secure Cleveland’s victory.

“I want to get a win, I want to get a preseason win on the board,” Everett said. “0-3 is not where we want to be. I think we made some steps forward . . . but I hated ending it the way we did tonight. We’ll just have to take it out on the Raiders (Saturday).”