Perk doing his thing pic.twitter.com/BWrWZXsId0

— DOWNTOWN RAMS [DTR] (@DowntownRams) August 14, 2022

Studs and duds from the Rams' win over the Chargers on first watch. I'm sure I'll be able to glean more after rewatching this one more closely. https://t.co/Hil4tpliUu

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) August 14, 2022

Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers – Highlights | 2022 Preseason Week 1

Rams 10 takeaways: QB Bryce Perkins, UDFA Lance McCutcheon impress in preseason opener

By Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/3505088/2022/08/14/rams-preseason-bryce-perkins-lance-mccutcheon/?source=emp_shared_article

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The final score, for those who care about such things this time of year, was 29-22 Rams after they played visitors to the Chargers’ home field (the teams share SoFi Stadium, to which the Rams’ last trip was their Super Bowl victory in February).

More importantly, though, Saturday night’s first preseason game was an opportunity to learn more about the Rams’ roster. Head coach Sean McVay annually rests starters and key role players until real games begin, but the snaps several young players (and position rotations) get can reveal quite a lot.

My 10 key takeaways from Week 1 of the preseason:

• Quarterback Bryce Perkins played the entire game, which is also how he finished the 2021 preseason. Perkins was 10 for 17 with 133 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion, plus he rushed for 39 net yards and a touchdown. By the start of the third quarter, Perkins was the Rams’ leading rusher, at times keeping drives alive with his ability to operate out of structure. At one point, Perkins broke about five tackles (two from players who had penetrated into the backfield and at least one dodge of one of his own linemen, who had gotten blocked back into him).

“I just try to keep my legs trucking, even through contact,” Perkins said. “You never know … the play is never over. It makes it hard on defenses when you think you got (me) and (I) slip out of there, slips out of another one, slips out of another one and goes. That stuff like that, just comes from wanting it and my childhood playing running back … Whenever I’m out there, I just try to compete my tail off.”

Perkins didn’t always get a huge amount of help from his offensive line, either, which featured AJ Jackson (left tackle), Tremayne Anchrum (left guard), Jeremiah Kolone (center), Logan Bruss (right guard) and Bobby Evans (right tackle) to start the game. These players rotated some by the start of the second half, including Jackson kicking into guard. To me, the Rams are trying to figure out who another “swing man” can be on their active roster/game-day roster, meaning these depth players have a lot of versatility (like Coleman Shelton, who plays both guard spots and center). Jackson seems to be a top candidate among those who played Saturday night for the role.

But, back to Perkins. He runs the third-team offense during practices, and the Rams rostered three quarterbacks in 2021 in order to keep him (after hearing a couple other teams were sniffing around in hopes he hit the waiver wire). The Rams still seem quite set on John Wolford as their No. 2 quarterback, and in truth, he and Perkins run different offenses (with Wolford more similar to the first-team operation under Matthew Stafford). They love how Wolford runs their scout team and takes his practice reps. Still, the Rams know they have a player in Perkins who totally comes alive in game situations.

“Whew, it was exciting,” said McVay of watching Perkins play Saturday. “I’m like ‘Ohh-eeeoh-howintheheck-did he get out of a couple of those (tackles)?!’ But he’s a playmaker. I think being able to allow guys to play within their skill set when things do break down, that’s an elite trait that he has.”

• Receiver Lance McCutcheon had possibly the play of the game in the first half, with a 60-yard touchdown catch-and-run in which he secured Perkins’ pass, shook off with one arm the defender who draped over him and ran in for the score untouched. I mentioned McCutcheon’s coolness through spring OTAs despite being an undrafted free agent, and listed him as one of my players to watch in this preseason — with WR3 Van Jefferson recovering from knee surgery and Jacob Harris nursing a groin injury, this is a huge opportunity for McCutcheon (no relation to former Rams player Lawrence McCutcheon) to come up in the … Mc-Clutch-eon. Let’s not overlook the throw by Perkins, either, who stepped into a folding pocket to launch the ball downfield. McCutcheon also snagged a two-point conversion in the third quarter.

McCutcheon grabbed another extremely spatially-aware touchdown in the fourth quarter, in traffic in the corner of the end zone. He finished with five catches and 87 yards, with two touchdowns — by far the most productive receiver of the night.

“It was awesome,” said McCutcheon. “First NFL game, felt good to play the way I did.”

McCutcheon’s mom and aunt drove from Montana to watch him play Saturday night, and he said he kept checking for them in the stands.

Meanwhile, Cooper Kupp shouted out McCutcheon in the spring for his work in OTAs; McCutcheon stations his film study directly behind Kupp and Allen Robinson, calling the two “football geniuses”. Seems like that, combined with Saturday’s performance, should command a little more attention.

• The Rams’ rookie defensive backs got a lot of early minutes, as expected. Cornerbacks Derion Kendrick and Decobie Durant and safety Russ Yeast all started, as did second-year cornerback Robert Rochell. Kendrick made a nice break on a pass in the first quarter that was nearly an interception and set up a third-and-19, and Rochell also had a first-quarter pass breakup.

• Surprising, considering McVay’s comments throughout training camp: Second-year receiver Tutu Atwell did not play Saturday. That’s a great sign for Atwell (who had a strong training camp), albeit a pivot from McVay’s previous indication that the team needed to see Atwell in live reps.

“He’s done a great job throughout camp (and) he’s gonna have a role with this team,” McVay said. “We didn’t want to put him at harm’s risk. He’s gonna be a part of what we’re doing this year and that was because he’s done well.”

• Second-year defensive lineman Bobby Brown had a sack in the first quarter and played well through the rest of the game until a scary moment in the fourth quarter when he appeared to suffer a leg injury and lay flat on his back for a few moments while team doctors rushed to him. Brown had to limp off the field with support from the athletic training staff, and McVay didn’t have an update on his status postgame. Brown can participate in the preseason but will be suspended for the first six games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

• One of my favorite plays of the game: Tight end Brycen Hopkins, who is in good position for the No. 3 spot on the roster, completely leveled a defensive player while attempting to pave some space for Perkins downfield in the first half.

• Running back AJ Rose (who, with rookie Kyren Williams rehabbing from a broken foot, is competing with Raymond Calais for the fourth running back spot), punched in a nice first-half touchdown at the goal line with a second-effort push. Rose broke off a couple of nice fourth-quarter runs as well.

• Running back Jake Funk did a lot of everything Saturday night, especially in the first half. Funk got the leadoff carries in the offense, and played well on special teams in return and protection roles. Overall, the Rams didn’t run the ball well (minus Perkins’ own ability, every other back rushed for under 3.2 yards per carry in a frequent rotation) but what I was most watching for was the variety of roles Funk would hold, since he’ll need to contribute as a runner and on special teams if he wants to secure the RB3 spot.

• Bruss played the entire first half at right guard, and seemed to gain more confidence as the game continued — but the rookie will definitely want a couple of reps back, including and especially a third-down sack on Perkins in which Bruss was knocked backward in a one-on-one. Bruss didn’t play much through the third quarter but came back in the game in the fourth.

• The Rams largely rested starting specialists Matt Gay (their kicker) and Riley Dixon (who appears to be in a comfortable lead as their punter), which meant versatile leg Cameron Dicker got a ton of work on Saturday. Dicker took kickoffs, punts and FG/extra points.

I expect Dixon, the veteran player, to hold his place but the Rams can certainly use a player like Dicker, who can give them a huge variety of live-leg looks if they’re able to keep him on the practice squad. Dixon held on the field goal tries, which further indicates he’s sealed the spot (previous punter Johnny Hekker was the Rams’ holder).