Los Angeles Rams preseason week two: Stock up, stock down

Week two of the preseason resulted in a 14-10 loss for the Los Angeles Rams in favor of the Dallas Cowboys. With week three of the preseason on the horizon, let’s take a look at which players are improving their stock — and in turn improving their chances of making the 53-man roster — and which aren’t.

Here we go:

Stock Down

OL Jamil Demby

Demby simply had an awful game, no other way to describe it. He was called for multiple penalties (usually holding), had a handful of awful snaps at center which resulted in busted plays usually, and was a turnstile at left guard in pass pro. It was a rough contest for a guy looking to be a prominent member of the offensive line.

DL John Franklin-Myers

Franklin-Myers hasn’t played a ton through two games, though he’s one of the main beneficiaries from the departure of nose tackle Ndamukong Suh. Yet, JFM hasn’t done anything to stand out, particularly as a pass rushing presence. Much more will be needed from the versatile second-year man.

DL Sebastian Joseph-Day

Like Franklin-Myers, Joseph-Day will be one of the main beneficiaries from the departure of Suh, and he has not done a lot to impress either. Joseph-Day is expected to be the starter at nose tackle, specifically on run downs, though rookie Greg Gaines has been more impactful two games in.

Stock Up

EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo

Ogbo may only be credited on the stat sheet with one tackle, though he was generally unstoppable in the contest. Ogbo forced at least three holding calls as a pass rusher, as well as multiple pressures and quarterback hits. Finally being healthy and participating, Ogbo’s talent is showing in spades.

EDGE Natrez Patrick

Joining Ogbo as an impact defender, Patrick was wreaking havoc on the other side at the edge spot. Patrick got an early sack on Cowboys’ starting QB Dak Prescott which may or may not have been a sack-fumble. Patrick was violent, disposed of his blockers with ease, and made his impact felt as a contain player on the edge in run defense. Great showing from an undrafted free agent looking to make the roster.

ILB Dakota Allen

Not only did Dakota Allen have a fantastic performance, but starting inside linebacker Micah Kiser went down with a season-ending (?) injury, meaning Allen — and everyone else in the ILB group — moves up one spot on the depth chart. Bryce Hager will have the first shot at starting next to Cory Littleton, though Allen has performed fantastically and could get the coaching staff to reconsider their position before week one.

CB Donte’ Deayon

Deayon was an impact defender as he pulled himself down an interception down the left side of the field playing a short ball in the air. Not only that, but after just a few snaps, Deayon read a receiver screen perfectly by the Cowboys and absolutely destroyed the receiver for a loss on the play. The defensive back room is littered with gamers, and Deayon is one of the guys responsible for it.

S Taylor Rapp

This Rapp kid is pretty good, huh? Another game, another active contest for the second-round pick from Washington. Rapp is the perfect defender for today’s NFL, and he’s only beginning to prove it as he continues to stack one solid performance after the next. Rapp was credited for three tackles in the game, though he was pulled rather quickly.