5 LA Rams who tried to lose a roster spot in the preseason opener

It was a perfect way to open the 2024 preseason. The LA Rams hosting the Dallas Cowboys for Game 1 is a great way for the team to test its progress against one of the powerhouse teams from the NFC East. But even perfect opportunities can end up with less-than-ideal outcomes.

This was never going to be about the final score. The objective in this game was about getting good looks from key backups. At many positions, the Rams did get some solid production on the football field. We will be talking about the resilient offensive line who had a solid performance. And the Rams' defensive front was remarkably solid when it mattered, holding the Cowboys to just four field goals, despite 4 giveaways by the offense.

But this was a time to show maturity, good intelligence, and discipline. Sometimes the best performers are not the players who make big plays, but the ones who do not make mental mistakes. Well, here are five players who need to show a bit more mental discipline in the future:

(5) - Backup offensive lineman Mike McAlister

The LA Rams are not going to keep a dozen or more offensive linemen on the initial roster. So the team sending backup center Beux Limmer to the medical tent after getting shaken up in this game provided a golden opportunity for IOL Mike McAlister to make his move up the depth chart. Rather, he committed a holding penalty at a bad moment in the game. And when the Cowboys sent multiple players up the A-Gap, McAlister did not react, forcing RB Zach Evans to attempt blocking two defenders. The play resulted in a quarterback sack. And in a two-minute drill, as time was running out, McAlister committed a false start.

(4) - Valkenburg struggles with containment

DE/OLB Zach Valkenburg lost containment in the first quarter. allowing Dallas Cowboys QB Trey Lance to scramble for a huge running play. While he did show up later in the game with some quarterback pressure and one tackle, the competition at the position is simply too fierce to let mistakes in a pass rush go unnoticed. But he did recover to get a sack on a fourth down play, returning the football to the Rams offense. Is that enough to overcome a lack of containment early in the game? Perhaps, perhaps not. But he needs to show up with an undeniable portfolio, and that simply did not happen in this one. He ended up the game with three tackles, one quarterback sack, with one tackle for a loss. and a quarterback hit.

(3) - TE Nicola Kalinic makes 2 huge offensive penalties.

After a huge completion by QB Stetson Bennett to rookie WR Jordan Whittington for 18 yards to open their first offensive drive in the third quarter with a first down, tight end Nicola Kalinic was flagged for a 15-yard facemask penalty. The Rams are unlikely to carry more than three tight ends on the active roster, and Nicola Kalinic is buried deep on the roster. On a day that ended without any offensive production from Kalinic, a penalty due to a mental mistake is a one-way ticket off the team's roster. And on a kickoff return, a huge one by RB Boston Scott, and a penalty on the Cowboys, the Rams suffered an offensive holding penalty by Kalinic.

(2) - Tre Tomlinson continues making mental mistakes

While he made a tackle, second year defensive back Tre Tomlinson was flagged for unnecessary roughness after getting the receiver out of bounds. The play in question occurred on a first down and 10 from the Dallas Cowboys 20-yard line, and was an eight-yard run by running back Snoop Conner. But Conner continued to stiff-arm Tre Tomlinson after running out of bounds. Perturbed by the stiff arm, Tomlinson knocked Conners's arm to get rid of the stiff arm but did so right in front of an official.

That looked far too similar to his facemask tackle in 2023, a tackle that was flagged. The hope was that Tomlinson would harness his firey temper this season. But the work on that continues.

(1) - Stetson Bennett tosses too many interceptions

The last outing for Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett in the 2023 preseason was a forgettable one. He threw just four of nine completions for 49 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. That was the last time Stetson Bennett would play for the Rams in 2023 before he returned to compete in 2024. But in this one, despite opening the season well, the young quarterback threw four interceptions from a clean pocket, and with Rams receivers getting separation.

The Rams needed to get at least a good game management game from Bennett. That never happened in this one. Well until the team had the football with less than two minutes to go.

After struggling all game, Stetson Bennett roared to life, completing seven of eight passes, ending the drive with a touchdowns strike to backup TE Miller Forristall. He ended the game by completing 24 of 38 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions.

Final Score

Sometimes victory comes by having superior talent. Sometimes victory comes with good luck. But the combination of great talent often means fortune soon follows behind . The Rams had some struggling players, but a victory anyways.

Thanks for reading.