The LA Rams aren’t looking to win preseason games. The goal is to come out of the season healthy and learn enough about the players battling for a spot on the roster to make informed, intelligent decisions. So far, the Rams have shown some resolve, some worrying trends, and some reasons for hope.

Keep in mind that unlike many other teams, the Rams aren’t just benching veteran starters for this game. Key rookies and reserve players aren’t in this game. That means the Rams are willing to sacrifice competitive talent that will emerge in this game to minimize risk. But are we seeing enough in this game to draw any conclusions? Even on standard offense and defense, there was plenty to explore in just one half of regulation time.

So let’s get straight to the point.

Although neither the Rams nor the Cowboys defense recorded any quarterback sacks in this game, the Rams defense came very close to attacking the quarterback. Defensive tackle Tyler Davis (1), outside linebacker Keir Thomas and outside linebacker Nick Hampton (2) all had solid quarterback hits that looked good.

We’ve seen the Rams show off a 4-1-6 formation, a 5-1-5 formation, and pretty much every other possible defensive lineup. While that seems to go against standard preseason defensive rules, the team has been trying out different lineups pretty quickly. Because they don’t stick to a single formation, future opponents can’t look at down and distance scenarios to determine defenses in the future. Oh, and early in the third quarter, the Rams’ defense had lost the ball on downs.

Despite catching five of eight passes, rookie WR Jordan Whittenton leads all receivers with 67 receiving yards this half. He’s clearly a popular target in this offense. But what I love about his performance is the undeniable physicality he brings to the offense once he catches the football. He breaks through tackles and makes the difficult catches. That’s what every NFL quarterback loves to see.

Despite being named no more than 1-1 to the 53-man roster, veteran wide receiver Xavier Smith caught all four passes and returned two kickoffs for 47 yards. He also had 22 receiving yards as a receiver. The Rams love the versatility of wide receiver Xavier Smith. His performance has improved his reputation and his chances of making the team.

As the Rams hope to gain some continuity for their young defensive front, rookie nose tackle Tyler Davis will certainly play a big role in this game. He is a force to be reckoned with as he made multiple tackles, had a tackle for loss, and even managed to get to the quarterback. Although he didn’t manage a sack, I can see his pass rush leading to multiple sacks this season.

Despite having only one tackle, Kamren Kinchens made his presence felt in this game with solid pass coverage. And despite having only one tackle, he made it count by delivering the kind of hit that makes receivers around him wary for the rest of the game. I have a soft spot for smart, hard-hitting defensive backs. The hit on San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel by former Rams DB Nick Scott was unforgettable. I could see Kamren Kinchens making plays like that in the regular season.

The Rams played a very competitive game. Stay tuned, there are a lot of bodies flying around.

Thanks for reading.