There was great effort and big misses for the Rams in preseason victory over Cowboys

Cowboys returner Lucky Whitehead fielded the opening kickoff Saturday in a preseason game against the Rams. Then he dodged, weaved and sprinted 101 yards into the Rams’ end zone.

Rams Coach Jeff Fisher told reporters after practice Thursday that every player covering or returning a kick on special teams was trying to make the team. But apparently few players heard the message.

Chase Reynolds dove at Whitehead, but missed. Then Bradley Marquez tried to wrap him up, but grasped air instead. Several other would-be tacklers struggled to get off their blocks. And as Whitehead flew by, not one Rams player touched him.

“No one would’ve thought that our first play after coming home for over 20 years would end up in a kickoff return for a touchdown,” Fisher said after the game, which the Rams ended up winning, 28-24.

Perhaps there’s a few people in St. Louis who thought otherwise.

Later in the first quarter Johnny Hekker punted the ball 52 yards and Eugene Sims downed the ball on the one-yard line.

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Sam Farmer, Gary Klein and Lindsey Thiry break down the Rams’ 28-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in a preseason opener at the Coliseum. 

The special teams play was nearly perfect.

Reynolds, Marquez and Sims sprinted toward the west end zone as the ball bounced end over end near the goal line. Each batted the ball and kept it from crossing the goal line.

However, an official review let to the ruling that one of the players stepped on the goal line and the call was reversed.

Quick block

Receiver Brian Quick, who signed a one-year “prove it” contract during the off-season, began to show his worth on Saturday.

Running back Benny Cunningham rushed for 14 yards and a touchdown, which will be recorded as the first Rams touchdown in the team’s return to Los Angeles.

The play was made possible by Quick as he blocked defensive back Morris Claiborne and provided a narrow passage for Cunningham to slip into the end zone.

Quick also made an extra-effort play when Jared Goff was intercepted by Mark Nzeocha in the second quarter.

Quick escaped the reach of Deji Olatoye to tackle Nzeocha and strip him of the ball. The Cowboys recovered, but it was a heads-up play by Quick.

Backup competition

Todd Gurley is the starter at running back. Benny Cunningham is the backup.

Malcolm Brown, a second-year pro from Texas, made a compelling case Saturday for the third spot in the rotation.

Brown rushed for 66 yards in eight carries.

In the third quarter he carried the ball in three consecutive plays for a combined 50 yards.

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Rams players take the field for their preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys.  (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Rams Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson attends the preseasongame against the Dallas Cowboys at the Coliseum.  (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Rams playersgather on the sideline and salute the fans before their preseason game against the Cowboys.  (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Rams Coach Jeff Fisher, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Rams owner Stan Kroenke talk beforethe game.  (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Rams quarterback Case Keenum passes to Lance Kendricks in the first quarter during a preseason game on Saturday at the Coliseum.  (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Rams running back Benny Cunningham tries to find a lane in the first quarter of a preseason game against Dallas.  (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Cowboys receiver Dez Bryantcatches a touchdown pass againstRams defensive back Coty Sensabaughin the first quarter.  (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant celebratesafter making a touchdown catch in the first quarter.  (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Rams receiver Tavon Austin runs the ball on a reverse in the fst quarter.  (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Rams tight end Tyler Higbee runs for a first down after a reception in the second quarter.  (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)

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Rams receiver PharohCooper can’t hold onto a pass from Jared Goff in the secondquarter as he is hit by theCowboys’ J.J. Wilcox.  (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Two plays later, Reynolds caught a 14-yard pass for a touchdown from Sean Mannion.

Elusive quarterback

Defensive end Ian Seau attempted to sack Dallas backup quarterback Jameill Showers, and he nearly had him on the ground before Showers bounced out of his grasp — and right into the arms of defensive tackle Cam Thomas.

But Thomas, 6-feet-4 and 330 pounds, couldn’t hold onto the 6-1, 230-pound quarterback either.

The Rams misfortune on that play didn’t end there, as Showers completed a 47-yard pass down the sideline to Vince Mayle.

The third-down conversion moved the Cowboys to the Rams’ 33-yard line, but the drive resulted in a turnover on downs.

Slippery fingers

Some Rams receivers had difficulty catching the ball Saturday.

Tavon Austin, a fourth-year pro, let a pass slip through his hands. So did rookies Pharoh Cooper and Michael Thomas.

None of them finished with a reception.

Cooper, a fourth-round pick from South Carolina, couldn’t hold onto a deep throw over the middle from Jared Goff when he was hit by a defender.

“That’s a catch I have to make,” Cooper said. “I knew it was going to be a contact hit.”

Thomas, a sixth-round pick from Southern Mississippi, has made several plays during training camp, but drops have also become a trend through organized team activities and camp.

“The tempo was very fast,” Thomas said. “I just got to learn from this experience and get better by next week.”

lindsey.thiry@latimes.com

Follow Lindsey Thiry on Facebook and Twitter @LindseyThiry