5 Key Things to Watch During Rams-Cowboys Joint Practice

The Los Angeles Rams are set to practice against the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday in Woodland Hills before they start preparing for the preseason. Head coach Sean McVay typically rests all of his starters and key depth during the preseason, opting for the more controlled environment of joint practices.

These reps during joint practices will be the only ones against a different defense for the Rams’ starters before Week 1. It’s a chance for the Rams to see if what they’ve been installing is working and if adjustments are needed. Here are five things to watch as the Rams get ready to practice against the Cowboys.

Rams Secondary Faces a Tough Test Against Cowboys WRs

The Rams put a lot of focus on improving their secondary this offseason. They signed Jaylen Watson and traded for Trent McDuffie. Against the Cowboys, the Rams’ secondary will get an immediate test as they go up against a good quarterback in Dak Prescott as well as one of the best wide receiver duos in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.

Watson and McDuffie go up against Puka Nacua and Davante Adams on a daily basis. However, it will be interesting to see how they do against another good wide receiver pairing. The Rams likely won’t show a ton, but we will get a first look at how the Rams deploy their secondary and how they envision McDuffie, Watson and Quentin Lake fitting together.

Cowboys Pass Rush Will Challenge Rams Offensive Line

While the Cowboys no longer have Micah Parsons, this is still a defense with a strong front. Quinnen Williams can be dominant and Kenny Clark is one of the better nose tackles in the NFL. Rashan Gary brings good speed off of the edge and presents some challenges. Donavan Ezeiruaku was ejected from a Cowboys practice last week and was seen throwing a punch. If the two sides get heated, he’s one to watch.

That group will be a good test for the Rams’ offensive line. Williams and Clark give the Cowboys a strong interior, which should present a challenge for Coleman Shelton, Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson. Gary’s speed will be a good test for Warren McClendon on the right side. In these settings, it’s always interesting to see how the offensive line performs.

CJ Daniels Looks to Build on Strong Training Camp

Throughout the entirety of training camp, CJ Daniels was someone who consistently impressed. The Rams may not have a true WR3, but if Daniels can continue performing at that level against another defense, the rookie could carve out a role in the offense.

It will be interesting to see how much work the second-team offense gets. If they do get some work, Daniels will likely be part of the rotation. The next couple of weeks will be important for Daniels as he looks to carry what he did during training camp into joint practices and the preseason.

Myles Garrett Gets His First Test Against Another Offensive Line

The biggest trade of the offseason was undoubtedly the Rams trading for Myles Garrett. While Garrett spent some of training camp dealing with lower-body soreness, the defense finished training camp on a high note. The Rams have had to focus on Garrett when going up against him in practice. Now the Rams will get to see how he impacts another team’s offensive operation.

Garrett has the ability to take over games, which is why the Rams traded for him. While this isn’t a game, they will still get to see him go up against an offensive line other than their own. Tyler Guyton has shown some positive moments, but Garrett could make things very difficult for the Cowboys on Tuesday.

What Will the Rams Get From Their Backup Quarterbacks?

When Sean McVay was asked how he would deploy the quarterbacks in the preseason, he wasn’t sure if Stetson Bennett would play, but said that Ty Simpson certainly would. If Bennett performs well during the joint practices, it wouldn’t be surprising for McVay to make the decision to rest him through the preseason. Bennett performed better than expected during training camp and the Rams seem to feel comfortable with him as the backup.

With Stafford practicing, it’s unlikely that Simpson gets too much of a look against the Cowboys’ defense. Most of the reps will be split between Matthew Stafford and Bennett. Still, it would be nice to see Simpson get a few reps against another defense, especially as the Rams prepare for the preseason.

Add us as a preferred source on Google