reporters set up PS game 3

Zooey wrote:

Well…then who the hell HAS been filling that role the first two weeks?

Guys like Hager, Kiser, Scales, and Ramik Wilson

zn wrote:

The starters debut against Houston. That includes not just Littleton but Peters, Talib, and Suh too.

Well as we just heard…not all of them.

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Gurley Will Not Play, Goff May Not Play vs. Texans on Saturday

Myles Simmons

https://www.therams.com/news/gurley-will-not-play-goff-may-not-play-vs-texans-on-saturday

Head coach Sean McVay had already said earlier in the week that left tackle Andrew Whitworth and center John Sullivan were unlikely to play against the Texans for the third preseason game.
On Thursday, McVay confirmed those two veteran offensive lineman will be out on Saturday. But he also added one name to the list of players who definitely will not play: running back Todd Gurley. And based on the availability of the Rams’ offensive line, quarterback Jared Goff’s playing status is also up in the air.

With Gurley, the 2017 AP Offensive Player of the Year, McVay said the Rams had not quite ramped up his workload like they would on a normal game week. And given that Gurley recorded a league-leading 2,093 yards from scrimmage and 19 total touchdowns in 2017, his usage rate is likely to remain high as the focal point of Los Angeles’ offense in 2018.
That’s a significant reason why McVay is electing to keep him on the shelf for Saturday — and the remainder of the preseason, since in all likelihood there won’t be any starter playing in New Orleans a week from Thursday. It’s a way of keeping Gurley as fresh as possible for down the road.
“I think that’s one of the things last year that enabled him to sustain and really get stronger as the season progressed, was what a good job he did taking care of himself, being mindful of just kind of his maintenance program throughout the course of the year — especially with all of his touches,” McVay said. “We feel like this is going to put him on that track and that was more important to us. You try to get him as much good work as you can. There’s nothing like truly playing football. I totally agree and understand that, but that was kind of what we felt like — all things being considered — was going to be the best approach with him.”
“Obviously it’s going to save me. The [less] you do, it’s definitely going to save me just a little bit,” Gurley said. “We do such a great job — coach makes sure he does a great job of just getting us a lot of reps. It’s about that time where we’re starting to get the majority of the reps, starting to go through a regular-season schedule. So, like I said, everybody — we make sure we do our job of just maintaining the work on the field, and they do a great job of taking care of us when the time is right.”

Without any preseason snaps, Gurley will head into the 2018 not having taken a live rep since January. And Gurley and McVay both seem OK with that, with the running back saying he feels like he’s gotten enough work in practice to be ready for Sept. 10 in Oakland.
“That is everyone’s dream to not play in the preseason, what are you talking about?” Gurley joked with reporters. “Some guys, it’s different. At the end of the day, it’s always going to be different between playing in the preseason and playing in the regular season. But I’m kind of happy not to be playing in it. But it’s definitely good for some guys as well, too. Some guys just like being out there, just to get a feel for it, and see. But not this guy.”
“You try as much as you can to mimic and emulate those things in practice, but there’s certainly nothing like getting truly tackled. I think you’ve got to weigh those decisions,” McVay said. “You definitely don’t want to take away from the value of the preseason, so I don’t want that to be misunderstood by any stretch. But, [there is] that risk-reward and then also kind of being mindful of getting Todd as fresh as possible.”
The Goff situation, however, appears a bit more complicated. McVay seemed set on playing Goff against the Texans earlier in the week. But then right tackle Rob Havenstien tweaked his ankle in practice, which affected the team’s plans.

How Much Will Los Angeles’ Starters Play vs. Houston on Saturday?

Myles Simmons

https://www.therams.com/news/how-much-will-los-angeles-starters-play-vs-houston-on-saturday

The third preseason game is traditionally known as the “dress rehearsal” game around the NFL, where starters get their last bit of preseason work before the games count.
After head coach Sean McVay elected to rest all but two starters for the first couple of exhibition matchups, most starters appear slated to play in the game against the Texans.
However, McVay did say on Thursday that running back Todd Gurley, left tackle Andrew Whitworth, and center John Sullivan will not be a part of Saturday’s action. And depending on the availability of right tackle Rob Havenstein — who tweaked an ankle during practice this week — quarterback Jared Goff also may not play.

Defensively, however, the starters all seem good to go — with the exception of Mark Barron, who McVay has said will not see game action until Week 1. This will be the first chance to see defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, cornerback Aqib Talib, and cornerback Marcus Peters in a Rams uniform at the Coliseum. It will also be Cory Littleton’s first test as Los Angeles’ defensive signal-caller.
“[W]e try to do everything like game situations all the time,” Littleton said this week. “So wholeheartedly, I feel like I should be ready.”
With Suh, the veteran defensive lineman said one reason he’s looking forward to playing is because he’ll be able to actually tackle to the ground.
“I think it’s good. And kind of going back to having the opportunity to go against other teams like Baltimore, like we did two weeks ago,” Suh said. “And, obviously, getting real, live game action — because in those practices, we can’t hit the quarterback. But in these games, we can. So it’s always good to get a couple bumps, hits, and get to the real thing in Week 1.”

Peters kept it fairly simple when describing what he’s looking to accomplish in Saturday’s contest, saying he’d like to see the defense record three-and-outs and get off the field.
“We go out there execute the play calls, and go out there and we have fun — first time being back there on the field. And enjoy our work that we get for the day,” Peters said.
Talib and Peters have formed a partnership on and off the field through the offseason program and training camp, but now will need to translate that to game action. Talib said this week that’s one task he’s look to accomplish on Saturday.

“I think the feel is there. But this game will be good for us, too, getting those full-speed reps with the safeties, with all of us together, Cory [Littleton] — just everybody that has to communicate in that backend, all of us getting full-speed reps,” Talib said. “I’m sure they’ll hit us with some tempo, so we have to communicate fast. We’ll have our crowd, so it’ll be loud, a lot of signaling. So it’ll be good for all of us.”
It’s probably reasonable to expect the starters to play a few series on Saturday — not too much, but enough to establish a bit of a rhythm. And in that time, McVay said he’d like for the units to “play crisp, play sound, fundamental football.”
“Looking to see these guys just execute at a high level – know what their assignment is, play fast, play confident and really play together,” McVay continued. “But, you want to see good fundamentally-sound football. Just good execution on both sides and really, that third phase as well with special teams. That’s what we’re looking for.”

Rams will test outside linebackers, pass rushers and backups on offensive line against Texans on Saturday

GARY KLEIN

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-texans-20180824-story.html

Rams rookie offensive lineman Joseph Noteboom talks with coach Aaron Kromer during practice at Cal Lutheran University on June 4. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Preseason NFL games are not high-stakes affairs, unless you are a rookie offensive lineman charged with protecting the franchise’s most valuable asset.

That’s the assignment the Rams’ Joseph Noteboom initially drew for Saturday’s game against the Houston Texans at the Coliseum.

Veteran Andrew Whitworth is sitting out preseason games, so Noteboom will start at left tackle in what was supposed to be quarterback Jared Goff’s first and only preseason action.

“You definitely don’t want him getting pressure or touched,” Noteboom said.

Noteboom’s job will remain the same, but he probably will once again be protecting the blind side for backup quarterback Sean Mannion.

Coach Sean McVay indicated Thursday that Goff is on track to sit out the entire preseason, which ends next week at New Orleans. Whitworth and veteran center John Sullivan are not playing against the Texans and, of more immediate concern, right tackle Rob Havenstein is nursing an ankle injury.

The risk Goff would face taking snaps behind rookies and backups — with Texans lineman J.J. Watt and edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney on the other side of the line of scrimmage — is too great.

On a day when McVay said that running back Todd Gurley definitely would not play, he did not make the same definitive proclamation regarding Goff. Havenstein’s availability Saturday, McVay said, “will definitely have an impact on what we do.”

But with the Rams investing heavily in players for a possible run to the Super Bowl, McVay is expected to play it safe to ensure that Goff and all starters are physically sound for the Sept. 10 opener against the Oakland Raiders on “Monday Night Football.”

Receivers Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp will be catching passes from Mannion, who rebounded from a poor performance against the Baltimore Ravens and played more efficiently against the Oakland Raiders.

All but two starters — offensive guard Jamon Brown and linebacker Samson Ebukam — were held out of the 33-7 loss to the Ravens and a 19-15 victory over the Raiders.

Many are looking forward to acclimating to game conditions, if only for a few series.

Linebacker Cory Littleton will call defensive signals for the first time.

Defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh noted this week that joint practices with the Ravens were valuable, but did not include hitting the quarterback.

“But in these games we can,” he said. “It’s always good to get a couple bumps, hits and get to the real thing in Week 1.”

Preseason action enables players to gauge their conditioning and more, cornerback Aqib Talib said.

“Get some full-speed reps, that first initial tackling somebody all the way to the ground, get that out your system before the first game of the season,” he said.

Cornerback Marcus Peters’ goals?

“Get a three-and-out every time,” he said, “and then we done.”

Nearly every starting position is accounted for except outside linebacker.

Ebukam, a second-year pro, started the first two games to continue gaining experience. He appears on his way to starting as an edge-rusher.

But the other outside spot is not settled.

Matt Longacre is coming off back surgery and was slowed through training camp and the first two weeks of the preseason because of a biceps injury. Second-year pro Ejuan Price started against the Raiders.

The Rams considered signing veteran free agent Junior Galette, bringing him in for a physical, but dismissed the possibility without putting him through a workout.

Dominique Easley played defensive tackle in college and during his first three NFL seasons. He sat out last season after suffering his third major knee injury, but began practicing this week at outside linebacker.

Rookie Justin Lawler has played well behind Ebukam. Rookie linebacker Trevon Young and, possibly, lineman John Franklin-Myers also could get opportunities to rush the passer from an outside spot against the Texans.

Stopping pass rushers will be on Noteboom’s mind as he plays alongside veteran left guard Rodger Saffold.

“I just want to try to reassure him,” Saffold said, “To help where need be and tell him just to play his game.”

Against the Raiders, Noteboom started at left tackle but also played right tackle and right guard.

He is among the players the Rams are considering as a temporary replacement for Brown, who is suspended for the first two games of the season for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.

Playing tackle requires heightened athleticism, playing guard more power, Noteboom said. Switching positions is not a problem.

“It’s just flipping your mind-set,” he said.