Rams at Texans Preseason 4

[CGI_Ram]

Scouting Report: Rams at Texans

Everything you need to know for the preseason week 4 matchup against the Houston Texans.

www.therams.com

Scouting Report: Rams at Texans
The Los Angeles Rams (1-2) travel to Houston face the Texans (1-2) on Thursday in the fourth and final week of the preseason. Kickoff from NRG Stadium is set for 5 p.m. PT.

What to Watch For…

On Offense for the Rams

With starter Jared Goff and backup Blake Bortles expected to rest, all eyes will be on reserves Brandon Allen and John Wolford.

Allen has completed 32 of 52 pass attempts for 311 yards through L.A.’s first three preseason games, while Wolford is 17 of 29 for 144 yards and one touchdown. Both have made strong cases for the Rams’ QB3 job, especially with how they fared last week against the Broncos.

Pay close attention to the offensive line too. McVay said earlier this week that position is one they’re still evaluating and seeking clarity on when it comes to the group’s depth.

On Offense for the Texans

Houston has produced one of the most consistent rushing attacks of the preseason, spearheaded by rookies Karan Higdon and Damarea Crockett.

Higdon has carried the ball a team-high 28 times for 78 yards, while Crockett has collected 17 carries for 83 yards. The Texans as a team have rushed for 130.3 yards per game through the first three games, good for the fifth-highest average.

The Texans’ offense also claims one of the top passers of the preseason in Joe Webb III. His 534 total passing yards are second among all preseason signal-callers. The former 2010 sixth-round pick also has two touchdowns and five interceptions to his stat line and could be on his way to carving out a role as the backup to starter Deshaun Watson.

On Defense for the Rams

Much like the offensive line, the defensive line will also be under close evaluation.

Projected starting nose tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day is not expected to play because he has already established himself as someone the defense will be counting on according to Rams coach Sean McVay. As a result, it’s likely rookie DT Greg Gaines will see lots of snaps unless McVay also feels the same way about him.

McVay and the coaching staff are also still seeking clarity on the inside linebacker position for depth and special teams purposes, which means players like Dakota Allen and Troy Reeder should get opportunities as well.

On Defense for the Texans

The entire unit. How will it respond after giving up 34 points in a shutout loss to Dallas last week?

From an individual standpoint, veteran DB Johnson Bademosi has been active for the Rams with a team-high 13 tackles.

Connections

Los Angeles has several players on its 90-man roster originally from the Houston area.

• DL Michael Brockers is a native of Houston and attended Chavez High School.
• Rookie TE Romello Brooker is a Houston native and went on to play collegiately at the University of Houston.
• TE Keenen Brown is a Houston native and attended Alief Taylor High School where he caught nine touchdowns as a senior.
• OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is a Houston native who also attended Alief Taylor High School.
• LB Dakota Allen is a native of Humble, Texas, a suburb of Houston.
• S Marqui Christian is a native of Spring, Texas, a suburb of Houston.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Key Houston storylines with Texans team insider Drew Dougherty

TheRams.com spoke with Texans team insider Drew Dougherty for Houston's perspective on this week's matchup and explains what it means for the Rams on Thursday.

www.therams.com

Key Houston storylines with Texans team insider Drew Dougherty

The Los Angeles Rams travel to Houston to face the Texans on Thursday to finish off the 2019 preseason, with kickoff scheduled for 5 p.m. PT on KCBS.
For more on L.A.’s final 2019 preseason opponent, theRams.com caught up with Texans team insider Drew Dougherty for Houston’s perspective on this matchup and explains how it impacts the Rams.

TheRams.com: Generally speaking, how are the Texans approaching this preseason when it comes to starters’ involvement?

Drew Dougherty: “STAY. HEALTHY. Like the rest of the NFL, you won’t see any starters or major contributors in this game, other than the specialists. Last Saturday in Arlington, the Texans lost Pro Bowl running back Lamar Miller to a knee injury on the second offensive play of the game. In addition to being an important part of the offense, Miller’s a beloved teammate. He’s done for the season, and the Texans want to avoid anything like that happening again.”

TheRams.com: What are some notable position battles taking place, if any? Has training camp plus the first three preseason games provided any clarity on that competition?

DD: “Running back is one. With Miller out, Duke Johnson is now atop the depth chart. Behind him, veterans Taiwan Jones, Buddy Howell and Josh Ferguson have competed with undrafted rookies Damarea Crockett and Karan Higdon. All have flashed at times throughout the preseason, but Howell impressed the most when he carried 15 times for 84 yards and a score. Howell was one of the special teams tackles leaders last season, and didn’t get a carry in 2018. That might change in 2019.

“It’s a crowded room for the tight ends. Jordan Akins and Jordan Thomas were drafted a year ago, Kahale Warring was taken in the third round in April, and the team signed veteran Darren Fells this offseason. The Jordans are locks to make the roster and I’m not sure you’ll see much of them against the Rams.

Fells is labeled a “blocking tight end”, and he’s jokingly referred to himself as a “left, left tackle”. While he is certainly the most capable blocker, he’s also caught a combined 10 touchdowns the last four seasons. The Texans haven’t had that sort of scoring production from a tight end since Owen Daniels was here. Warring’s only practiced a few times this preseason because of a couple different injuries, but he turned heads during OTAs. On top of that quartet, veteran Jerrell Adams has been nasty when he catches the ball. He has a touchdown catch this preseason, turned in a nasty stiff arm after a catch against the Lions, and has been an incredibly impressive performer.”

TheRams.com: Along those same lines, who are some key Texans players to watch – offense, defense and/or special teams – on Thursday?

DD: “Special teams is easy: kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn led the NFL in scoring last year. Hopefully that changes in 2019, as the Texans want to score more touchdowns than field goals.

“On offense, some of the younger wide receivers like Vyncint Smith, USC-ex Steven Mitchell and undrafted rookie Tyron Johnson. They all have speed and an electric ability to get open deep. Mitchell, though, has mainly lined up in the slot this preseason.

“Defensively, safety A.J. Moore is a fun one to keep an eye on. He led the Texans in special teams tackles, and this time 365 days ago, was fighting for a spot in New England. The Pats cut him, the Texans claimed him off waivers, and he was one of the lynchpins in a special teams revival for Houston. For the previous decade, the Texans had been near the bottom of the League in kickoff and punt coverage, and he was a big reason why they flipped the script and were a top 5 team in those categories last year. He’s been around the ball quite a bit this preseason at safety, and making plays on defense the way he did last regular season on special teams.”

TheRams.com: The Texans recently signed OT Christian DiLauro. How likely is it that he plays Thursday?

DD: “He’ll likely get quite a bit of time in the second half. Improving pass protection on the whole has been one of the main thrusts for the Texans leading up to the regular season, so they’re turning over every proverbial leaf to try and get better there.”

TheRams.com: Finally, based on what you observed from the Texans’ first three preseason games, what will you be watching for against the Rams?

DD: “In the same way Howell did against the Lions, and Adams has done for the last month, I’d like to see some of the young receivers and young players in the secondary have a standout game. This Texans roster has some stars at the top like Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins and J.J. Watt. Seeing what the back end of the roster looks like might be aided by some younger guys having big games on Thursday evening.”

What it all means for the Rams

Several new faces and position battles on the offensive side of the ball will make for a busy day for Los Angeles’ defense. The talent of the Texans’ young running backs should also pose a test as they look to prove themselves worthy of a big role following Miller’s injury. With young wide receivers looking to carve out roles for themselves as well, Rams defensive backs will have plenty to watch for. Overall, though, the Rams’ front seven will probably be the most preoccupied Thursday.

 

[CGI_Ram]

How to watch: Rams travel to Houston to face Texans in preseason finale

Here's how you can watch the Rams take on the Denver Broncos in the fourth and final preseason game of 2019.

www.therams.com

How to watch: Rams travel to Houston to face Texans in preseason finale

The Rams (1-2) will take on the Texans (1-2) on Thursday, Aug. 29 at NRG Stadium in Houston. The game will be broadcast on KCBS2, with a kickoff time set for 5 p.m. PT. Check below for all the information you need to know whether you’re watching from the stands or from your own television or device!
BROADCAST INFO…

• TELEVISION: Thursday's game will be broadcasted live on KCBS2. Play-by-play commentator Andrew Siciliano will be joined by color-commentators Nate Burleson and Mina Kimes. Jaime Maggio will be reporting from the sidelines.
• RADIO: Thursday's contest will be broadcast on ESPNLA 710 AM. The English broadcast will feature Voice of the Rams J.B. Long on play-by-play, with Maurice Jones-Drew as color analyst, and D’Marco Farr on the sidelines. Plus, tune into 1330 AM for ESPN Deportes' live Spanish broadcast of the game with Troy Santiago and Ricardo Lopez on the call.
• SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow the Rams on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat for live updates and behind-the-scenes content before, during, and after the game.
• RAMS MOBILE APP AND WEBSITE: You can also watch live local games if you are within market on the Rams Mobile App and on the team’s website at www.therams.com on all phones and tablets, regardless of your mobile provider.

IF YOU’RE HEADED TO THE GAME…

• Be sure to check out this comprehensive Gameday Guide on the Houston Texans' website for all parking, tailgating, and entry policies if you’re headed to NRG Stadium on Thursday.
• Fans are encouraged to arrive early to ensure efficient entry. Stadium gates open 90 minutesbefore kickoff.
• The Texans require mobile or physical hard stock tickets for entry. Print-at-home or PDF tickets are not accepted at games due to NFL policies.
• Clear Bag: The NFL’s Clear Bag Policy is in effect and any bags brought to the game must be compliant. Visit NFL.com/allclear for more information.

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE REPLAY…
Domestic fans can watch games after they air with NFL Game Pass. Click here to sign up for your FREE 7-day trial and start getting unprecedented access to every game, all year long.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Pre-game show starts at 4:30 PM PST, ... 5:00 PM PST game start on CBS in Los Angeles metro area.

 

[Ram65]

Funny how the last preseason game gets so little interest. So it doesn't matter how many they have the last one will always be a very limited fan interest game. The first three games had some interesting positions and depth competition. I don't want to see an 18 game season. Just like in FF losing teams will just be mailing it in sooner. That's not fun football to watch.

 

[JonRam99]

I wouldn't mind having Daniel Fells back.

 

[Ram65]

Got to see who is playing tonight. Hard to figure out.

The offensive line should be close to what its been. That seems like the most interesting spot to look at. DBs would be next with Gervase, Scott, Parker getting reps at Safety. I would like to see Gaines get some reps early. Who is playing at WR could give an indication of who is on the bubble. I'm not sure how much if any Thomas and Hodge play.

 

[Angry Ram]

Gauren-damn-tee to see it on tv for me.

 

[ReekofRams]

Pretend you’re there in the game trying to make the team. Every muscle, every joint, every inch of your body hurts, but it’s shut up and go time. You will sweat, bleed, and hurt like hell, but you won’t complain, because being an NFL player is your dream.

So tonight it will be left out on the field, your hopes, dreams, aspirations, and goals in life. Tonight this is where it all is. Your agony and pain, or your joy and elation.

Tonight may mean little to us but not to the ones who play the game.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Seeing Gaines live, ... man, that guy is a fireplug on steroids ... minus the steroids of course.

 

[Angry Ram]

Pretend you’re there in the game trying to make the team. Every muscle, every joint, every inch of your body hurts, but it’s shut up and go time. You will sweat, bleed, and hurt like hell, but you won’t complain, because being an NFL player is your dream.

So tonight it will be left out on the field, your hopes, dreams, aspirations, and goals in life. Tonight this is where it all is. Your agony and pain, or your joy and elation.

Tonight may mean little to us but not to the ones who play the game.

NFL greeeeeed tho

 

[RamBall]

Link for anyone looking,

NFL Streams | Reddit NFL Streams | Buffstream NFL

NFL football streams live online at buffstream, follow football,nfl events and more on buff stream.

bfst.to

 

[yrba1]

lol game just started and ref already officiating like dog shit

 

[Legatron4]

Any Rams broadcast streams?

 

[theduke]

Wow. Our backup D has been really susceptible to the QB run in man coverage. Hopefully, our first team D is better at going after the running QB.

 

[hotanez]

have we had any returns without a flag this preseason?

 

[theduke]

have we had any returns without a flag this preseason?

No

 

[RamBall]

Not a good start on either side of the ball. I would like to see more from our depth guys.

 

[yrba1]

I've seen enough of Allen, his accuracy makes JaMarcus Russell's look like Chad Pennington

 

[Farr Be It]

Following online - wow fellas. Least impressive start of a game ever?