3 things NOT to look for in LA Rams first preseason game

Focusing on who starts

The first place that will draw everyone’s attention is who takes the field first. After all, this is about earning a job on the roster, so whoever is on the field earliest must be higher ranked than those who step onto the field in the second half, right?  Hmm… maybe not.

Los Angeles Rams

Preseason games are somewhat scripted, in that the LA Rams coaches want to measure and assess players from a common data set. But what about working five receiver sets? Four receivers and a running back? Three tight end sets? The truth of the matter is not who shows up onto the football field first, second or third, but how well they perform when they are on the field.

While the Rams coaches will script specific plays to run during the game, the down and distance are not scripted. That means that the Rams may have specific packages and personnel to assess during the preseason game, but must await the right scenario to test those plays and players. If the Rams wish to trial rookie tight end Jacob Harris and his ability to grasp and perform in the red zone offense, the team must get to the red zone to test how well he performs in those situations.

While Harris may not appear in the game until the fourth quarter, he could be one of the key players for the Rams red zone offense strategy. Now, Jacob Harris is just one such example, but the same concept applies to many players trying to fit a niche role. When and how often they see action is dependant upon the game situation. In the end, weaving performances and appearances from several games is a better approach.