Rams, Cowboys a good early barometer for team

Finally, NFL Football returns to the Coliseum as the Los Angeles Rams get together with NFC East power Dallas, in what will be a good measuring stick game.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay makes his head coaching debut tonight in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It’s a familiar opponent for fans and McVay. For Rams fans, the Dallas Cowboys also opened the preseason last year, and for the coach, it’s a familiar opponent of his former employer, the Washington Redskins.

Related Story: 3 questions surrounding Rams trading for Watkins

As preseason games go, the Cowboys will be a good barometer of how training camp is shaking out in Los Angeles.

Don’t let anyone fool you or tell you otherwise, these games will mean something for the Rams. The youth, inexperience, and number of questions surrounding this team makes all four of these perhaps more critical than in any other NFL city.

How critical?

Los Angeles HAS to find out more about second year quarterback Jared Goff. As the absolute lynchpin to where this team goes or doesn’t go, every assessment of the Rams beginning tomorrow startss and ends with Goff.

Also, the effect of Aaron Donald NOT on the field or in the locker room. Everyone has an opinion on Donald as whether he should or shouldn’t get into camp, but this is the first game he’s not in a Rams uniform. It’ll show on some level and will be the second most talked about topic next to Goff.

Lastly, where is the statistically last place Rams in finding an offense? LA didn’t invest a draft pick for their offensive line, but did go ‘all-in’ on offensive targets for Goff. Additionally, how is Todd Gurley going to fit into McVay’s game plan? If anyone is needing a big bounce back, count Gurley as one of them. He has to re-emerge as a game changer. Anything short will be a failing in LA.

Los Angeles may as well be playing regular season games, as these four are that important. After the disaster that was 2016, tell me how a successful four game outing doesn’t help to shape this team in LA?

The exhibition season will set the table for the Rams. It’ll be a precursor to what will or won’t be 2017. Be cautious in discounting a bad outing here or there for the players that need a good showing as LA just doesn’t have that luxury.

Next: NFL Power Rankings: Rams preseason edition

The Los Angeles Rams have what is in effect a 20 game season.

The margin of error is that small, and the first of those games begins tonight.