Game overview:
The big Dresser Winn v. Case Keenum/Tim Boyle battle... so, you know neither team took this very seriously/it was a showcase for the bottom of the 53-man roster and to-be-cut guys. It was sloppy and the game result didn’t matter.
The Rams don’t play anyone that matters all preseason, so we have no clues about their 1st-team prowess. Somehow, led by heavy Stetson Bennett, the Rams went (2-1) in the preseason.
The Texans showed some 1st-team in the preseason and overall (as a total roster) they looked good/solid all preseason and went (3-1).
We got a couple of tidbits to focus on from this game...
Scouting Notes from the game:
-- The most interesting thing from this game might have been Cam Akers (7-53-0, 3-19-0/4). He started here and looked very quick...which was interesting/important for two reasons...
1) Akers is coming off an achilles tear in November and is already back and looking legit.
2) Dameon Pierce has been falling out of favor in Houston, so a window is open for Akers to be the #2 RB/handcuff. He’s listed as the #3 RB right now, but I think he might actually be the #2...if you own Mixon. I don’t think either Pierce or Akers are very desirous.
It’s amazing how fast these guys are coming back from injury now. Achilles was almost a death sentence...now, Akers is back and looks fine in less than a year.
-- All the backup WRs worked for Houston, and just a quick observation...
Xavier Hutchinson (4-34-0/7) seems like the top backup/the #4 WR.
John Metchie (2-21-0/3) just doesn’t look like he’ll ever really matter.
-- Rams rookie PK Josh Karty (1/1 FG, 0/1 XP) has been mostly good this preseason, but moments of concern here-and-there (as many starting kicker’s have had this summer). Karty missed an XP in this game. He’s missed at least one FG this preseason. I’m very hopeful for him/his future for FF, but he’s just been ‘OK’/not without issues this preseason.
The ball explodes off his foot most kicks but had some early accuracy issues in the preseason...not serve, just not totally steady yet...as you’d think it to be for most rookie kickers.
*Side note...keep an eye on that rookie from Indy that’s likely to have to start for injured Matt Gay. Indy sunk a TON of money into Gay, so they’re ‘stuck’ if the rookie UDFA Spencer Shrader is awesome right away...and he looked the best of any rookie kicker I saw this preseason. Some teams will crave to get Shrader if Indy has to make a Gay/Shrader decision, which they would choose Gay for multiple reasons.
-- Last, but not least...
I shared some video analysis of Rams punter Ethan Evans a few days ago (in RC Notes). I hope you watched it and logged into your deep dark recesses, because it’s ‘a thing’...
Evans had 7 punts in this game and forced returners to muff two of them (and shakily caught 1-2 others)...and one of the muffs was on the very first punt, setting up LAR in the red one. Evans unique ability may force 5-10 turnover potentials/muffs this season...another edge for the Rams.
It’s the first time in a while that I watched every single punt of a preseason game.
Here's that RC Note from a week+ ago:
Here is something on the Rams punter that you have to see...who would think a punter video would be interesting, but it is...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEd5t6MAURc
Did you know Rams punter Ethan Evans can deadlift 800+ pounds and has a 40” vertical?
