The Los Angeles Rams are preparing for their second preseason game, which will be against the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, so here are a few things to look for when the game kicks off this weekend.
The Los Angeles Rams are coming off a great first week of the preseason as they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 20-12 and saw a great performance from rookie quarterback Ty Simpson as well as other solid performances across the rest of the roster.
This week, the Rams will have a joint practice against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday, which will lead to the showdown on Saturday.
Heading into the game, here are a few things to look out for as the Rams hope to pick up their second win of the preseason.
1. Snap Count for Stetson Bennett IV and Ty Simpson
One of the biggest things to watch in this second preseason game has to be how many snaps Stetson Bennett IV and Ty Simpson play. Last week, Bennett played just two drives and looked decent, while Simpson played the rest of the game and had an excellent performance.
With that in mind, it will be interesting to see what head coach Sean McVay ultimately decides to do at the quarterback position. On that note, McVay did mention that his decision will have a lot to do with what happens on Thursday in the joint practice with the Saints.
Regardless of what McVay decides, this decision is something that could give an indication as to whether or not Simpson's performance last week has narrowed the gap for the backup quarterback job, or if Bennett is still in command of the competition.
2. Clarity at WR3
Also on the offensive side of the ball, this game against the Saints could provide more clarity on who is in a good position to win the WR3 battle. In the first preseason game, Xavier Smith had a good outing as he tallied four receptions for 26 yards, and rookie CJ Daniels was solid as well, as he recorded two receptions for 18 yards.
The interesting part about last week is the fact that Konata Mumpfield and Jordan Whittington did not play, and as a result, that may suggest that one of those two could be in line to be the WR3.
With that said, it will be worth watching to see if McVay chooses to play Smith and Daniels again, or if Mumpfield and Whittington get snaps. Depending on what McVay chooses to do, there should be some sort of clarity as to how the WR3 battle is progressing.
3. Nick Andersen's Rise at Safety
On defense, undrafted free agent Nick Andersen had a great performance last week as he made plays all over the field and constantly disrupted the Chiefs' offense. In the game, Andersen recorded nine total tackles, two tackles for loss, and two pass breakups.
At this point, Anderson is in a tough spot, as on the Rams' unofficial depth chart, he is listed as the fourth-string safety behind starter Kam Curl, backup Jaylen McCollough, and third-string safety Nate Valcarcel.
So, heading into Saturday's game against the Saints, if Andersen can have another great performance, he could have an opportunity to climb the depth chart slightly and continue to make his case to be on the 53-man roster for the start of the regular season.
4. Cam Lampkin Making an Impact
In the secondary, cornerback Cam Lampkin will definitely be a player to watch as he aims to climb the depth chart and become a key part of the Rams' cornerback rotation. Last week against the Chiefs, Lampkin totaled three total tackles and was solid in coverage, but he was unable to make any major plays, which is something he will be looking to change this week.
Like several other players on this roster, Lampkin has some work to do to secure a spot and climb the depth chart. Currently on the unofficial depth chart, Lampkin is third, as he is behind star cornerback Trent McDuffie and backup cornerback Josh Wallace. If Lampkin wants to elevate himself on the depth chart, his performance on Saturday will be critical.
