5 Takeaways From the Rams' Preseason-Opening WinMyles Simmons
The Rams began their preseason with a win, defeating the Cowboys 13-10 at the Coliseum on Saturday night. But because it’s preseason, there’s plenty more involved than the final result. With that in mind, here are five takeaways from Los Angeles’ first exhibition matchup under head coach Sean McVay.
1) Capitalizing on the lucky bounces
The Rams started the game on offense and scored a touchdown within their first 10 plays — but it probably wasn’t the way they drew it up.
L.A. linebacker Josh Forrest recovered a muffed punt by Dallas wideout Lance Lenoir, giving the home team good field position at the visitors’ 33. Then a few plays later, wide receiver Robert Woods caught a slant in the red zone but fumbled the ball forward. Fortunately rookie wideout Cooper Kupp was there to recover the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown, giving the Rams a 7-0 lead.
“I think we have to have a better start,” Woods said at halftime. “We put the ball on the ground one time, we had a tackle for loss in the run game. But it was our first drive, first jitters out there and we just have to get ready for next week.”
2) Goff has an efficient start
Second-year quarterback Jared Goff and the Rams’ first-team offense played only the opening possession. But in that time, Goff completed three of his four passes for 34 yards, including a 19-yard pass to Kupp.
On 2nd-and-9 from Dallas’ 32, Goff faked a handoff to running back Todd Gurley then rolled to his left. Kupp was wide open on the left side on an apparent crossing route, and No. 16 hit him for a 19-yard gain.
Left tackle Andrew Whitworth, making his first appearance for the Rams, said at halftime he felt Goff looked, “Calm and poised and [made] good decisions.
“We unfortunately gave him a negative run there, in that first set of three, and that kind of puts you behind the eight ball. But you know what, we get a ball — a turnover — and go out and capitalize on it. And those are huge in football games.”
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