With three offensive line starters out due to injuries, the Los Angeles Rams faced the Dallas Cowboys in a joint practice on Thursday. Despite the tough situation, the Rams’ makeshift offensive line performed well, though Cowboys star pass-rusher Micah Parsons still made an impact.
“It was a good practice,” Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “It was a sharp day. Guys up front did a really nice job. Obviously, we were down a couple of guys, and those who stepped in really did a great job.”
After struggling with run and pass blocking during a previous workout with the Chargers, Rams coach Sean McVay was pleased to see improvement.
“There are some things we can clean up, but I liked the sense of urgency,” McVay said. “Their energy was better, and they played with more edge while still practicing within our guidelines. But there’s always room for improvement.”
The session with the Cowboys had a more flexible approach, which McVay thought contributed to the better performance.
Although there was no formal game planning or scheming, McVay’s play calling was closer to what would be used in the regular season or playoffs. This helped protect the line against Parsons.
“We’re probably going to run the ball more, use quick passes, and if we throw down the field, we’ll make sure to protect the edges and help out,” Stafford said. “So we called the practice to test our fundamentals, focusing on Parsons. I thought our guys executed pretty well.”
The Rams’ strategy included focusing on Parsons’ position.
“We told them to find him wherever he is and slide protection toward him,” McVay said. “I thought they did a good job, but it was a good test.”
While the Rams improved, they couldn’t completely neutralize Parsons. During a team period, Parsons burst through right guard Kevin Dotson and right tackle Warren McClendon Jr., disrupting Stafford’s drop back without actually touching the quarterback.
