3 Rams camp battles fans need to watch as Cowboys scrimmage kicks off

Everyone who has been a fan of the Los Angeles Rams is curious about one thing: Where are the Rams in comparison to other NFL teams? Is this team ready to go toe to toe on a football field? Or is this team still in need of course corrections before fans can count on a playoff push? This is the moment of the NFL season where projections begin to fade, and the whispers of real football begin to be heard.

Rams visit the Dallas Cowboys in Oxnard, California, for what has become an annual joint practice and scrimmage game. The Micah Parsons-Cowboys drama aside, football is back. It's the most work that Rams' starters will see before the regular season. For Rams fans, this is when the team truly emerges from its training camp shell and exposes itself to fans, come what may.

The latest information available suggests the Rams and Cowboys' scrimmage will begin at 3:00 pm PT on August 5, 2025. Prior to that scripted scrimmage, the two teams will conduct numerous joint practice sessions.

So far, we've been fed a steady diet of snippets, still images, or momentary video footage of highlights. It's been the best of the best so far from training camp. But for the first time, we will experience both the highs and the lows. To determine where the Rams need to course-correct in time for the 2025 NFL season, we simply need to check out what The Landry Hat has to say about their achievements.

But what about the Rams? Where should fans be looking for clues of how good this team will be in 2025? And which players will step into the spotlight?

3 positional battles glowing red hot as Rams battle Cowboys

(3) - Who will the Rams count on in the red zone?

The Rams lost two of their top three scorers from 2024 in WRs Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson. That means that the team must discover new ways to score this season, and through new players. Who might step up this season?

Keep your eyes trained on the most obvious players in TE Tyler Higbee, WR Davante Adams, and even WR Puka Nacua. But if you are looking for a new face, rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson could debut as the Rams' secret weapon in the red zone.

(2) - Who makes the best case to join Rams secondary?

We've heard plenty of noise about Rams' secondary stars, like Jaylen McCollough and even defensive back Emmanuel Forbes. But if the team had to set the depth chart today, which of the cornerbacks starts? Would it be Darious Williams, Emmanuel Forbes, Cobie Durant, Ahkello Witherspoon, or even Derion Kendrick? Of the safeties, who takes the field with the 1s? Is it Quentin Lake, Kam Curl, Kam Kinchens, or Jaylen McCollough?

And of the players competing for playing time and a roster spot not named above, what must they do in the scrimmage game today to join that group? And can they show up against a rather respectable Cowboys group of receivers?

(1) - Can QBs compete until Stafford returns?

We already know that Matthew Stafford is sitting this one out. That has the impact of promoting backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo to a starting role, and his backup quarterback, Stetson Bennett, to a true backup role throughout practice and scrimmage today.

On paper, the two have played well in training camp. But this was all against teammates who took it easy on the hurlers. The Cowboys have no such incentive to allow either quarterback to get cozy in the pocket.

Related: Stetson Bennett is making it impossible for Rams to ignore what comes next

Have the Rams quarterbacks played well so far? Or has it all been a mirage? And can the team rally behind Jimmy G and Bennett as it would around Stafford? Without Stafford under center, will the Rams running backs become a more vital component to the offensive strategy?

Ah, yes. The first whiffs of football are back. And we're here for all of it. Grab your popcorn and join us, won't you? And as always, thanks for reading.

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