5 LA Rams players who need to show up vs. Raiders

There are always two sides to a debate. On one side is heads, on the other is tails, two sides of the same coin. In fact, much of what we know is made up of opposites, or binary thinking. To be or not to be, that is the question. And for all the good, there is the bad. For all of the highs, there are corresponding lows. It’s a tricky business being an NFL head coach. When the guys are feeling down and discouraged, it’s his job to motivate and ignite enthusiasm. When they are too confident, feeling too good about themselves, he is like a good soaking rain that extinguishes blazing fires and helps to water new growth.

Guess which version of head coach Seam McVay was after the LA Rams joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys? Well, he wasn’t doing any cheers, that’s for sure.

That was then, this is now. This week the LA Rams participated in two joint practice sessions with the Las Vegas Raiders. This week the LA Rams were a bit feisty, a bit more competitive. The offense was a bit more in synch, and the defense had some moments of flashpoints.  It was a good exchange of football competencies, and for all intents and purposes, it was more about getting starters into an NFL rhythm.

But now both teams are getting down to business. Today’s preseason game is not about tuning up starters or getting them into a rhythm. No, this evening’s contest is about more than a drum beat or football choreography. This one is about the future of many players’ NFL careers. 10 players will be waived three days after today’s contest. 27 players will be waived just one week after that. Still, even the players who can believe they’ve earned a roster spot need to play hard to cement that belief in reality. Here are some Rams players who need to play well versus the LA Rams.