3 keys for LA Rams Saturday’s joint practice with Dallas Cowboys

Will the LA Rams use many 12 personnel formations on offense?

With the loss of running back Cam Akers, the offense would most certainly be justified to consider adding a bit of extra blocking to get the entire rushing attack going early in the season. Of course, that means that both Tyler Higbee and Johnny Mundt will take the field simultaneously.  That is what everyone expects, and what will likely happen.

But the team has seen a resurgence of tight end Kendall Blanton in training camp this year. Will he be involved in the Rams offense against the Cowboys?  For that matter, second-year tight end Brycen Hopkins has been eerily quiet in training camp this year. Will he see any action today?  And what about the red zone wunderkind, Jacob Harris. If the Rams are in the red zone, do they try to see how well Harris handles NFL-level traffic?

Yes, today will be all about Higbee and Mundt. Well, for 40-45 plays, that is. But at some point, the Rams will want to see how their red-zone offenses react to a motivated defense. At some point, the Rams will want to go with three tight ends. Who will that third tight end be? Will the Rams run or pass out of the 12-package?

Of course, with short-yardage situations, you would expect that the Rams will go with two tight ends. If and when that happens, who runs the ball? Will it be Xavier Jones, Jake Funk, or will Darrell Henderson do that too? Since this is the tune-up for starters, it will be a golden opportunity to learn who the Rams believe are the starters on the roster. Tight ends, like the inside linebackers, have a number of closely bunched players. Perhaps today will help distinguish who is pulling away from the rest of the pack?