After a sloppy first preseason game against San Francisco, the Dallas Cowboys hope to show discernible improvement against the defending NFC champion Los Angeles Rams on Saturday.

The Sean McVay-led Rams crushed the Cowboys' Super Bowl aspirations last season, and even though they can't exact revenge in a game that doesn't count, you can bet there will be some added motivation for the Cowboys to play well in front of the Hawaii crowd.

As was the case against the 49ers, don't expect the Cowboys' stars and main contributors to play a lot against Los Angeles, as the main goal in the game is to return to Texas as healthy as possible. Dallas is already dealing with a plethora of injuries, so it will be important to not compound those issues this weekend.

Although the game is nothing more than a tune-up for most of the starters, it is an extremely important showcase for bubble players who are fighting for spots on the 53-man roster or practice squad.

With that in mind, let's take a look at a few players to watch for when the Cowboys and Rams meet in Honolulu.

Mike White, QB

Let's not sugarcoat it: Mike White was awful against San Francisco. He finished 9 of 20 for 87 yards while showing below-average anticipation, accuracy and poise in the pocket.

With Cooper Rush putting on a solid performance that same night, the gap between him and White in the competition to be the backup quarterback was widened. If the backup quarterback competition is a race, Rush is getting ready to lap White.

Jourdan Lewis diving interception in team drills pic.twitter.com/7ScHJ4T3lL — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 14, 2019

Furthermore, White has done nothing in the practices since that first preseason game to dissuade his biggest detractors, having made multiple questionable decisions and displaying the same issues that plagued him against the 49ers.

Of all the players on the Cowboys' roster, the game against the Rams undoubtedly holds the most importance for White because another poor showing will likely eliminate any chance he has to vie for the backup job or a spot on the 53-man roster, while even bringing into question whether he's worthy of the practice squad.

While things look bleak for the Western Kentucky product right now, a stellar performance against the Rams could put White right back in the thick of the race for the backup job.

It is important to note that after posting two subpar performances in the first two preseason games in 2018 -- failing to break a 60% completion mark in either -- White did look much improved in the final two preseason showcases, posting a notable 77.3 completion percentage and preseason-high 7.1 yards per attempt in the third game, which isn't great but was much better than the previous contests.

White likely cannot afford to wait that long this year, as Rush's performance against San Francisco and throughout camp has put a lot of pressure on him to up his play.

White needs to show improvement quickly, which is why he's the No. 1 player to watch.

Devin Smith, WR

While White failed to take advantage of his opportunities against San Francisco, Devin Smith certainly made the most of his.

Devin Smith wide open in the back of the end zone. White doesn't see it and opens to check it down to the RB who was blanketed by the LB. pic.twitter.com/XThwFljo86 — John Owning (@JohnOwning) August 11, 2019

Finishing with three catches and a team-high 54 yards receiving, Smith would have likely been even more productive if White didn't play so poorly. After a slow start to camp, Smith has really begun to stand out recently with the myriad of injuries hitting the receiving corps.

Devin Smith TD. A beautiful throw by Cooper Rush. Smith has been turning it up as of late. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/CVautWNCEL — John Owning (@JohnOwning) August 14, 2019

Smith has always been known for his deep speed and ability to stretch the field, but he has displayed considerable improvement in his route running on short-to-intermediate patterns, a good sign that he's taken to receivers coach Sanjay Lal's detailed teachings.

Smith is gaining separation from man coverage while also using his speed to run through and find open space in-between zones.

With Amari Cooper (heel) and bubble receiver Cedrick Wilson (most likely out with a concussion) dealing with injuries, Smith has made the most of his extra opportunities, closing the gap in the back for one of the last receiver spots on the 53-man roster.

If Smith can stack another impressive performance together against Los Angeles, he may move from the dark horse in the competition to the front-runner, especially if Wilson continues to miss time and Jon'Vea Johnson continues to have trouble with drops.

Smith has yet to prove that he holds much value on special teams, so he's going to need to outplay the receivers who do if he wants to make the roster, which is why Saturday's game is so important for him.

Joe Jackson, DE

One of the stars of the first preseason game, Joe Jackson has a ton of momentum on his side entering Saturday night.

The Miami product registered four tackles and a QB hit against San Francisco, making a notable impact against the run and pass. Jackson is an interesting player because he's not exceedingly athletic (tested into the second percentile among NFL edge defenders, according to Three Sigma Athlete, which is incredibly low) but still finds a way to win on the outside edge track as a pass rusher. He does this because of veteran-like nuances in his rushes, using powerful hands and subtle footwork to move offensive linemen out of position.

Great rush here from #Cowboys DE Joe Jackson. Sells the inside move to influence the LT inside, opening the outside track for the pressure. pic.twitter.com/raTyBf2qiS — John Owning (@JohnOwning) August 11, 2019

Jackson's best pass-rush move centers around his powerful rip move, which he uses to shorten the corner and defeat an offensive lineman's hands. Against San Francisco, he paired that powerful rip move with a strong club (the clip above), which enabled him to beat the left tackle's hands, shorten the corner and accelerate to the quarterback.

Against the run, Jackson's motor, size (6-foot-4, 285 pounds), length (34 1/4-inch arms) and power enable him to hold his ground at the point of attack or chase down ball carriers.

The biggest negative for Jackson right now is his stamina, as he appears to get winded rather quickly, causing his pad level to swell and hindering his ability to penetrate against the run or apply pressure as a pass rusher. To his credit, Jackson still plays exceedingly hard when winded, evidenced by him chasing down a tunnel screen in the fourth quarter against San Francisco (the clip above).

Coming into camp, there was no guarantee Jackson would make the 53-man roster on account of Dallas' considerable depth at the position. Now -- even if Robert Quinn hadn't been suspended -- Jackson is in a favorable position to make the roster.

If he continues to play at a high level, Jackson may just earn himself a spot on the active roster and in the defensive end rotation on Sundays, which is why he's worth watching this weekend.

Honorable mentions

-- Defensive tackle Ricky Walker played well against the 49ers, catching defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli's eye. The 53-man roster may be a long shot, but he can definitely play himself onto the practice squad if he continues to impress.

-- Cornerback Donovan Olumba has been steady throughout camp, outplaying rookie fifth-round pick Mike Jackson Sr. With Jackson out, Olumba has a chance to really stand out. And if he can play well on special teams, he could make special teams star C.J. Goodwin dispensable.

-- Safety Donovan Wilson had an interception against San Francisco and remains on the roster bubble. He needs to continue to play well to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.

-- Linebacker Chris Covington has a good opportunity to earn a spot on the 53-man roster while Luke Gifford is out with an ankle injury.

Enjoy this post? More film studies:

-- Film room: The 5 players who have impressed the most at Cowboys camp

-- Film room: Why rookie WR Jon'Vea Johnson looks like the Cowboys' latest undrafted gem

-- Film room: 5 newcomers who will make the biggest impact for Cowboys, including a rookie who looks like a steal

Twitter: @JohnOwning