5 feel-good stories emerging after LA Rams' 1st preseason game

The LA Rams ended their 2023 training camp on a positive note, and the mood of the coaches and players are both upbeat and realistic. Nobody is pushing this Rams roster to win 17 games. Rather than tout what the Rams plan to accomplish on the football field, the Rams' messaging seems to be measured this season to the controllable areas.

Work hard, focus on drills and practice, clean up mistakes and sloppy play, improve at a constant pace, develop as rapidly as possible. And yet, the Rams' first preseason game ended just hours ago, a loss to the LA Chargers, and we may be fighting off the doldrums and a late preseason loss hangover. But from what I saw from the LA Rams team, there is plenty to celebrate.

Now keep in mind, there is plenty to fix, and we only touched on the tip of the iceberg in our immediate post-game wrapup. But preseason is less about final scores and more about a process, discipline, and the ability to execute. And I saw plenty of upside for the LA Rams in Game 1 as well.

Silver lining playbook

Perhaps I'm looking for mountains where there are only molehills, but the mood and demeanor of LA Rams head coach Sean McVay truly feels different this season. Where he had a scowl on his face throughout 2022, he is smiling. When he seemed tense and upset last season, he seems far more relaxed and casual.

The LA Rams are the youngest team in the NFL. This is a team that has 40 rookies on the roster. And right now, the Rams coaching staff is giving all rookies who have not locked in a starting role solid looks in preseason games. So even as some fans belabor the challenges of the Rams competing against the backups to other teams, keep in mind that if they are competing in preseason games, the Rams roster has more than certainly has not pencilled them in as starters.

And so, we have some positive outlooks to share. From what I've been reading, there are some fans moods that need reinflating today. Let's see what you think about this: