The Rams' secondary mostly won the day against the Cowboys in their joint practice on Tuesday, with Nate Atkins of The Athletic praising their performance against a Dallas offense loaded with talent.
The Rams' defense, particularly Byron Young, had a significant impact on the practice, with Atkins describing Young as repeatedly winning against Cowboys right tackle Terence Steele with both speed and power. Young's pressure against Steele was particularly notable, with the Rams' official website also highlighting his impact against the run.
The Rams were forced to get creative in their coverage, with Atkins pointing to Dallas moving CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens into the slot to hunt for favorable matchups. The Rams responded by moving Trent McDuffie inside and using Quentin Lake and Kamren Curl in increasingly versatile roles.
Dak Prescott's mobility still gave the Rams problems, with Atkins repeatedly pointing to his ability to extend plays as a source of success. Dallas created some yards-after-catch opportunities with checkdowns and play-action leaks, and Prescott's legs were also a factor in the red zone.
The Rams' secondary was able to limit the Cowboys' explosive passing plays, but Prescott's dual-threat abilities made it difficult for them to get a stop in the red zone. Atkins notes that Prescott's ability to extend plays made it hard for the Rams to get a stop when he could find Ferguson in the back of the end zone.
Despite the Cowboys' defense dominating the headlines, the Rams' defense also had a strong showing, with the fourth-year outside linebacker making it a long morning for Cowboys right tackle Terence Steele. There was one two-play sequence where he led the pass rush generating pressure that collapsed the pocket so fast, it forced Prescott to scramble out of bounds.
The Rams' defensive line, led by Young, was able to generate consistent pressure on Prescott, limiting the Cowboys' ability to throw long passes. The Rams' official website notes that Young's pressure against Steele was particularly notable, with Young winning with both speed and power.
The practice was a good test for the Rams' secondary, which was able to adapt to the Cowboys' personnel and alignment. The Rams' ability to get creative in their coverage and adjust to the Cowboys' moves will be an important factor in their upcoming games.
The Rams' next step will be to fine-tune their defense and prepare for their upcoming games. With the regular season just around the corner, the Rams will be looking to build on their strong showing in the joint practice with the Cowboys.
Source: Yahoo Sports