The 2019 NFL Season is officially in full swing. With the annual Hall Of Fame Game in the books, the first full week of football is upon us. For the Los Angeles Rams, their week in Napa wraps up with a game against the Oakland Raiders. Training camp for the Rams has gone as well as anyone could have hoped so far. With plenty of positives, Todd Gurley looking healthy, and excitement around the young guys, the Rams are ready to make even more noise this season. With the 2019 Los Angeles Rams preseason set to kick off for the entire NFL, here are some of the important notes to keep in mind when watching this weekend’s game between the Rams and the Raiders.
2019 Los Angeles Rams Preseason: Hopes and Sights Set on Repeat Super Bowl Appearance
Rookie Running Back Darrell Henderson
The biggest question for the Rams coming into the new season was the health of star running back, Todd Gurley. While many of those questions won’t have concrete answers until the regular season begins, one answer we do have is what will happen in the event Gurley does go down. Enter rookie running back, Darrell Henderson. Drafted by the Rams in the third round (70th overall), Henderson opened eyes from day one of camp. The former Memphis Tiger finished his junior year with over 1,900 yards rushing, 295 yards receiving and 25 total touchdowns.
Henderson finished second in the NCAA in rushing yards, first in yards per carry (8.9), and second in rushing touchdowns, with 22. While he may not have faced top defenses week in and week out, he did do well against top competition when given the chance. Most notably, he rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to AP ranked UCF, in the AAC Championship game. So far in training camp, Henderson has displayed the physicality he possesses that makes him so hard to tackle. While Gurley will likely see a few reps during Saturday’s game, the bulk will go to Henderson. Gurley may be the star in the backfield, but as last year proved, having a solid, physical backup, won’t hurt.
Offensive Line
John Sullivan and Rodger Saffold were the two biggest losses the Rams suffered during the off-season. Stalwarts on the offensive line, both played key roles in not only the success of Todd Gurley over the last several years, but also in providing a sense of security and cohesion along the front. Now, it will be up to second-year players Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen to seize their opportunity and keep Jared Goff upright. Luckily, Rams fans need not panic as both have been receiving high praise throughout the course of training camp.
Joseph Noteboom has been impressive in both joint practices this summer. Keeping the quick Chargers rush at bay, and picking up blitzes well against the Raiders. Most notably, Noteboom has been seen picking the brain of fellow lineman and NFL Veteran, four-time pro-bowler, Andrew Whitworth. The new center, Brian Allen, has continued to build chemistry with his quarterback and that has not gone unnoticed. While speaking to assembled media, head Coach, Sean McVay spotlighted the improvement from the young player.
“That rapport that exists between the quarterback and the center is so vital for the success of an offensive unit” said McVay. He went on, “I think those two have really showed a huge amount of growth together.”
Even though listed as starters, it’s likely both Noteboom and Allen will see significant reps in Saturday’s game, giving them time to impress the fans as much as they have the coaches.
Jared Goff
Quarterback Jared Goff has stolen the show early on in Rams camp. Entering his fourth year in the NFL, third as the starting quarterback, Goff still finds himself in a position of needing to prove himself to many. Even with two Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl appearance under his belt, many point to the struggles he had in said Super Bowl, as well as his abysmal rookie year, as causes for pause. However, he has begun to put those doubts to rest this summer. He really opened eyes during the Rams first joint practice against the Chargers. Making good decisions, great reads, and firing in pinpoint passes through tight windows. The buzz had begun.
It would continue this week as the Rams traveled north to Napa, California to practice with the Oakland Raiders. It has been more of the same with Goff finding receivers through tight windows, not forcing any throws, and limiting interceptions. Of course, this is training camp and the Raiders. It is easy to point to the Raiders porous pass defense or the fact nobody truly goes all out in training camp. However, this is great news for Rams fans who are ready to see Goff enter the upper echelon of quarterbacks. Admittedly, this may be harder to gauge in the first game of the preseason, with Goff likely to sit out a majority, but it shouldn’t take many passes to figure out if Goff really is ready for the season, or if it’s just more hype.
