PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Knox Criticizes Offensive Line

After reviewing the work of his offensive linemen in Saturday night’s 28-10 loss to the New England Patriots, Ram Coach Chuck Knox panned their performance.

“They did not grade out very well,” Knox said Sunday. “There were penalties and individual breakdowns in pass protection. In the first half alone we had 99 yards in offense called back because of penalties.”

Rookie Wayne Gandy, projected to start at left tackle, drew four penalties for lining up illegally.

Did someone on the coaching staff happen to mention to Gandy that he was making the same mistake over and over again?

“He was told. They were all told,” Knox said. “I don’t know whether he was getting the message, but obviously he was not doing what he needs to do.”

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The Rams felt pretty good about their off-season efforts to improve their roster, but to date there has been no impact on the field. The Rams are 0-2 in exhibition games, and with the exception of quarterback Chris Miller and running back Johnny Bailey, there hasn’t been a lot to get excited about.

“We’ve got to score more than one touchdown in two games,” Knox said. “It certainly is a wake-up call.”

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Defensive coordinator George Dyer said the decision to start linebacker Joe Kelly in place of Henry Rolling was made to give Kelly an opportunity to play with the first unit.