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OXNARD, Calif .– Saturday marked the first time since 2019 that the Rams have been able to secure competitive preseason reps and shots against someone other than themselves through scripted joint training with the Cowboys.
As Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and Rams head coach Sean McVay reported on Friday, the majority of training consisted of team drills and primarily first team attack and defense. of each team against their respective counterparts.
Editor-in-chief Stu Jackson shares 10 observations from the session.
1) Special teams, then teamwork: As mentioned above, most of the segments were team exercises. Things started with special teams drills, which saw each team get back punt returns – Rams punters Johnny Hekker, Corey Bojorquez and Brandon Wright punted to the Cowboys punt return team, while the Rams punt return team – which included rookie wide receiver Tutu Atwell in his return rotation – fielded punters from the Cowboys. A variety of 7/7 and 11/11 jobs followed.
2) Quality representatives for the defense: While Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott (shoulder) and wide receiver Amari Cooper (active roster / physically unable to perform, offseason ankle surgery) did not participate in team drills, the Rams still did a good job with second-year wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, tight end Blake Jarwin, wide receiver Michael Gallup and running back Ezekiel Elliott all available and in the mix.
3) Jordan Fuller active: The sophomore safety had some nice pass breaks during the 11-on-11 job, including one on a short pass from Cowboys quarterback Garrett Gilbert to Lamb, as well as a deep pass from Gilbert down the middle. targeting Lamb.
4) Swimming movement: Defensive lineman Aaron Donald received his fair share of double teams from the Cowboys offensive line, as you might expect, but he also made an impressive play against the run where he beat his defenseman with a swimming movement to reach the ball carrier as the ball was being handed to him.
5) PB for DB: Aside from Fuller, Darious Williams and Davig Long Jr. each had a nice pass break in the end zone corner during the red zone team drills. In regular team drills, Kareem Orr had a broken pass and nearly made a diving interception. Dont’e Deayon also made an impressive pass break where he snatched the ball from Cowboys wide receiver Osirus Mitchell after Mitchell came down with a pass from quarterback Ben DiNucci.
6) Stafford to Jackson (again): In what has become a regular event, quarterback Matthew Stafford hooked up with wide receiver DeSean Jackson for another long touchdown. On Saturday he ran for 60 yards, with Jackson using his speed to finish the rest of the game after taking a few steps on two defensemen.
7) More explosiveness of Darrell Henderson Jr .: The third-year running back has had some explosive plays in 11-on-11 drills, including a long run down the sideline. While Rams head coach McVay said the running back’s position is the most difficult to assess in terms of what constitutes a broken tackle when the focus is on a “dull” tackle – as for make solid contact but keep the players on their feet – he praised the awareness Henderson showed on Saturday.
8) Second team offense led by Bryce Perkins and Devlin Hodges: As expected with substitute John Wolford (appendectomy) sidelined, the second team’s offensive reps were handled by Perkins and Hodges.
9) Kenny Young with the thud: The fourth-year linebacker landed a blow on a Cowboys running back that was audible enough to elicit a crowd reaction.
10) Lively atmosphere: A packed house of Rams and Cowboys fans were present at the Cowboys’ training ground at Oxnard, as well as its perimeter, with fans also perching atop the gates and fences surrounding the field and watching from the attached porches. to neighboring apartments.
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