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Last week, I was unable to present my preview of our Los Angeles Rams opening the preseason against the Oakland Raiders. I was too busy practicing my yellow handkerchief throwing. In fact, I practiced so hard, I injured my throwing arm making it virtually impossible to write anything.

Having waited six months for the NFC Champions to take the field, I was wrought with excitement an overwhelming need to see my Rams play football again. What I watched is evidence of the continued decline of the value of preseason games.

The Rams played few potential starters, a Sean McVay trait since he’s been head coach of the Rams. The younger and inexperienced players so excited to see action made mistakes. Plenty of them.

Twenty-three penalties!

Every season brings new insight. Every season is different. But in my 60+ years of watching football, I’ve never seen a penalty flag thrown with 28 seconds left in the first half on a kneel down play. Making it worse, it was against the Rams.

There was no flow to the game. Each time our Rams did something good, it was called back for a penalty. Each time the our Rams did something bad, it was made worse by penalty making second-and-long, into third-and-a-mile.

It was horrible to watch, and I don’t think things are going to get much better this week.

What to watch for

Since few of the starters are going to play again, what fans should look for is how these backups perform in game-type situations. The bench players will never know when opportunity will knock, and the coaching staff must have confidence in the bench players’ abilities. The only reference points are practice, control scrimmages and most importantly preseason games as there’s no substitute for in game situational play.

I was impressed with rookie RB Darrell Henderson. He’s very fast, hits the hole quickly and will be a good complement to starter RB Todd Gurley with the need to cut down the number of plays Gurley plays during the regular season due to his knee issues. The line will need to give Henderson more room to operate, though.

I was also glad to see WR KhaDarel Hodge looks like an improving product. Besides the starting wide receivers in Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods, the Rams can count on Josh Reynolds and Hodge. Double the pleasure, double the fun.

On the defensive side of the ball. rookie S Taylor Rapp is a can’t miss. He’s got all the skills I look for in a safety: fast and lights out hitting.

I was also impressed with CB Kevin Peterson and ILB Micah Kiser.

Unimpressive and concerning was the lack of depth on the defensive line especially the edge rushers. The drop-off between the starters (Michael Brockers, Aaron Donald and Dante Fowler, Jr.) was clearly noticeable as Oakland’s offensive line dominated giving Raiders backup QBs Mike Glennon and Nathan Peterman too much time to throw.

This has to improve and that’s what I’ll be looking for this week against the Cowboys.

As for the offensive line, I’m sure that there were some “pancake” blocks, but given the number of penalties, as a unit, the backups were mediocre at best.

I’ll also be looking for improvement in this area.