OXNARD, Calif. — The fights didn’t escalate, the injuries seemed minor and the energy was very high on the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive field as they practiced against the Dallas Cowboys’ offense Thursday.
Though the sides clashed on multiple occasions after some post-play extracurriculars (and plenty of trash talk, especially from rookie outside linebacker Jared Verse, and from an injured Derion Kendrick on the sideline to the point where defensive coordinator Chris Shula walked over to talk to him), nothing too intense happened and the joint session was extremely productive.
“It was good to be able to get the work,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “We got a lot of reps for our first group(s), ended up on both sides of the football and didn’t have any sorts of issues, and that was the goal.”
The only potentially concerning moment for the Rams came when rookie defensive tackle Braden Fiske, a projected starter who has had an outstanding camp, left the field with an athletic trainer. McVay said he was informed by vice president of communications Artis Twyman that Fiske got poked in the eye, and did not seem concerned. Fiske did not return to practice.
I stayed on the Rams’ defensive field for the entire practice (after spending last week’s joint practice with the offense). The Cowboys have more lenient rules for credentialed media in that the practice is fully open to film and therefore more details can be shared (where usually I would not be able to share specifics about play-by-play, position rotations, etc. during team periods). Also, it’s important to keep in mind that coaches agree upon camp rules in that players can’t tackle to the ground (significant on run plays) so there were a lot of first-contact “thud” plays without full wrapping from defenders.
No real fights, but some pushing and shoving a few times today pic.twitter.com/BBdV2tAcrX
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 8, 2024
Here were my notable takeaways and plays, mostly from the first-team Cowboys offense against the first-team Rams defense:
• Running back Rico Dowdle opened the first 11-on-11 period with a run around the left side, and quarterback Dak Prescott hit a quick pass to tight end Jake Ferguson on the next play. Prescott (who is missing No. 1 receiver CeeDee Lamb due to an ongoing holdout) connected with Ferguson on underneath concepts or passes in the flat several times. Verse ended the first series by breaking up a short pass to the left side — which was almost an interception.
• Cornerback Jerry Jacobs, who was signed in late July because starting cornerback Darious Williams is recovering from a hamstring strain, is already getting work in with the second team and even took a few snaps with the first team. Similarly, rookie safety Kamren Kinchens would often take the last snap or two in a first-team defensive series, then play the full second-team series.
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Kinchens had one of the best practices of any player. He had a deep pass breakup while with the first-team defense, and a physical stop near the goal line in the red zone 11-on-11 period (also with the first team). He tipped a pass in the same period, but with the second team, that inside linebacker Troy Reeder slid under for a takeaway.
“He’s a really conscientious player already,” McVay said, “you look at the amount of ball production he had at Miami, you look at what a tough player he is. He understands the game, he recognizes concepts.”
• Verse had an extremely active day. In the second “1s” period, he looped around to help the inside linebackers fit one run and then dug inside on another. Verse was also one of the more vocal players on the field.
“He talks, which I like,” Prescott said, smiling. “He can talk. But he was a great player, he was back there. To be able to talk, you better be getting back there and making plays — and he did that. A little exchange, (I) told him, ‘Good job, keep playing.’ Obviously, he’s a young player. Very talented — that jumps off the tape.”
Veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott found a hole in the left side for a longer run, and then Prescott hit veteran receiver Brandin Cooks on a midrange crosser. Prescott and Cooks connected several times Thursday.
• More on the safety rotation: John Johnson III and Kam Curl started deep in one of the Rams’ typical/base looks. Safety Quentin Lake manned the “star” position, where he’s taken real ownership through camp (but has shifted back deeper at times as well). Kinchens and Russ Yeast appear to be the first two substitutions at safety and star. Yeast had a pass breakup from the slot on the second team but gave up a catch to receiver Ryan Flournoy.
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• On the third “1s vs. 1s” series, the Rams’ defensive line stopped another Dowdle run at about 2 yards. Inside linebacker Ernest Jones made a savvy play on the next snap when he simulated a pressure, then dropped to where Prescott could see him in the middle of the field and moved laterally as Prescott moved his pocket to see if he could find a running lane (Jones’ positioning took this away). Prescott targeted Cooks again instead of scrambling, but the throw was incomplete.
• On the next play, tackle Chuma Edoga false-started and was pulled for a substitute, who was bulled by Fiske (the play was ultimately a run to the right side, away from Fiske). Prescott threw another incompletion after pressure flushed him right; his receivers were covered downfield.
• Johnson recovered a fumble by Elliott in the next series. Prescott connected with Cooks again as outside linebacker Byron Young got knocked down by a Dallas lineman. A few plays later, Rams defensive lineman Kobie Turner got into a light tussle with center Brock Hoffman. On the next snap, Prescott targeted receiver KaVontae Turpin down the right sideline with Lake in coverage, and the pass fell incomplete. Turner also batted a red zone pass.
Zeke fumble pic.twitter.com/Bmzq9eh9JV
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 8, 2024
• Prescott’s best throw of the day (to Cooks) was off a rollout to his left, and deep down the sideline with Cobie Durant in coverage. Durant also was very sticky in coverage against Cooks across the back of the end zone in a red zone period, but Prescott fitted the ball to Cooks for a touchdown. Jones got in the backfield on the next play but was flagged for a face mask foul on his run stop. Prescott hit receiver Jalen Tolbert on a quick underneath slant, then tried a deep shot to receiver David Durden that was a little long but might have been catchable had Curl not leaped high in the air with a hand outstretched to try to disrupt the ball. He didn’t touch it, but the movement blocked Durden’s vision on the ball. Elliott broke another run afterward.
• Overall, though it’s hard to completely tell without players being able to wrap completely on their tackles, the Rams had an up-and-down day against the run but were active and productive as a pass-rushing group as well as in their defensive backfield and didn’t allow many explosive pass plays. They are a better front with Fiske on the field and aligned next to Turner, but nose tackle Bobby Brown III has also had a really solid camp. Prescott also got the Rams’ defenders a couple of times on well-executed run fakes.
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• In other news and notes, McVay said he would prefer that backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo not play in the preseason unless Garoppolo told him otherwise. McVay never risks injuries for starters or key backup players in the preseason. Third-string quarterback Stetson Bennett will get the bulk of the snaps.
Outside linebacker Brennan Jackson, left tackle Alaric Jackson, left guard Jonah Jackson and Williams did not practice though were present for the session. Right tackle Rob Havenstein, who is also injured, was not in attendance.
Tight end Hunter Long appeared to bang up his hand on a special teams play so I will keep an eye out for him at Friday’s practice.
Cornerback Tre Tomlinson and running back Boston Scott had good reps as return specialists in the new kickoff format. The Rams are trying a few players there, including Scott and Tomlinson, receivers Tutu Atwell, Tyler Johnson and Xavier Smith and running back Kyren Williams. There is a long way to go for every NFL team in figuring out that phase.
(Photo of Cobie Durant, left, and Brandin Cooks: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
