Rams coach Jeff Fisher upset with 1-3 start _ and isn't hiding anger

ST. LOUIS – Jeff Fisher is upset with the Rams' 1-3 start — and hasn't tried to hide his anger.

In his 18th season as an NFL head coach and second with St. Louis, Fisher answered only two questions before walking out of his postgame press conference Thursday night after a 35-11 loss to San Francisco.

He spoke for 1 minute, 32 seconds and has shed little light on one of his toughest losses with the Rams.

"We will get it fixed," has been his simple five-word mantra over the past few days as the Rams prepare to face Jacksonville (0-4) at home Sunday.

"Coach is competitive and he doesn't like losing," St. Louis defensive end Robert Quinn said. "Nobody does. He's been around for a numerous amount of years. He knows how to get the best out of players and he knows how to turn things around."

The Rams have been outscored 66-18 in the last two games, the second-worst two-game stretch in Fisher's career. While at Tennessee in 2009, the Titans lost 31-9 to Indianapolis and 59-0 to New England in Weeks 5 and 6 on the way to an 0-6 start. That team rebounded to finish 8-8. In 2006, Tennessee bounced back from a 0-5 start to end up 8-8.

So Fisher has experience in overcoming slow starts.

"He's doing everything he can" wide receiver Brian Quick said. "He believes in us and we have to start believing in ourselves. He's helping us and we know what we have to do to move forward."

The Rams' lack of a running game has played a key role in the rough start. St. Louis has rushed 73 times for 189 yards, an average of 47.3 yards per game, last in the NFL.

Daryl Richardson has struggled with just 114 yards in 42 carries. His longest run is 10 yards.

Fisher says the running attack must pick up in order for quarterback Sam Bradford to be effective. Bradford hit on 19 of 41 passes for 202 yards in the loss to San Francisco. His quarterback rating of 59.2 was his lowest in 17 games.

Richardson indicated on his twitter account that he will not be in the starting lineup on Sunday.

Isaiah Pead and Zac Stacy are the top candidates for the open spot although Fisher said he has not made a decision and that Richardson remains in the mix.

Pead, in his second year, has just carried seven times this season. Stacy, a rookie from Vanderbilt, has carried just once.

Bradford agrees that the offense has to become more balanced.

"The biggest thing is we've got to keep trying to rush the ball," he said. "Just getting those guys comfortable running the ball."

St. Louis cornerbacks Cortland Finnegan and Trumaine Johnson missed practice on Wednesday. Finnegan is still bothered by a thigh injury that forced him to leave the game against San Francisco. Johnson is slowed by an illness. Linebacker Will Witherspoon practiced on a limited basis Wednesday. He is also slowed by a thigh injury suffered against San Francisco.

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