Scouting the Rams: Preseason Edition

The wait is over for Chargers football.

The Bolts open the preseason slate Saturday night against the Rams at SoFi Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. (PT).

We chatted with Jourdan Rodrigue, who covers the Rams for The Athletic, to get a preview of the preseason opener.

Are you fired up for some preseason football?! What’s the general vibe around the Rams six months after their Super Bowl win?

JR: “Fired-up” is an understatement – this is the best time of year. Every team is good! Every season holds so much promise! Each year, we’re all brimming with energy and somehow we all (players and coaches included) forget what it feels like to be in the November-December grind or the fragility of January. To be clear, even at that time it’s still a blessing to be a part of the sport — but I always hope fans remember what it really takes for a team to make it through a single football season.

That said, what the hell? What summer? Six months…? Lies. It’s been about a minute since the 2021 regular-season, according to my math. It all went by so fast. By “all”, I mean “the offseason.” But frankly, even though we’ve seen the videos and pictures of this Rams team celebrating their championship, I’ll be honest: For many of them, I don’t think it ever sank in that they actually won the whole thing. That might actually be helpful when the season begins, because they’re in their window and doing everything they can to stay contenders. Feeling like they haven’t accomplished anything (even though they have) might help them approach this season like a competitive blank slate and stave off complacency.

How is Sean McVay approaching this game in terms of playing time? Will the big-name guys play? Or is it a chance for younger players to shine?

JR: Sean made headlines back in 2017 when he mandated that his starters and key role-players do not play in the preseason, no matter what. That hasn’t changed. But the Rams always like to ask their young players to do more earlier on in their careers, so…