Turf Show Times
When the Los Angeles Rams drafted quarterback Stetson Bennett out of Georgia, the idea was that he could be the long-term backup quarterback. In other words, he could be a ‘set it and forget it’ type of player at the position. To say that Bennett’s career with the Rams has been a rollercoaster would be an understatement. However, for the first time in three years, Bennett showed some upside and that he can execute the offense.
Prior to selecting Bennett, the Rams under Sean McVay hadn’t put a lot of thought into the backup quarterback position. A big reason for that was because they didn’t need to previously. Jared Goff hadn’t ever gotten hurt and when he did, John Wolford stepped in to win a must-win game against the Arizona Cardinals. However, when the Rams lost Matthew Stafford for half the season in 2022, they felt the direct effects of not having a suitable backup quarterback. Wolford kept the Rams somewhat competitive, but limited the offense. Bryce Perkins was a good athlete, but limited from the pocket. It wasn’t until the Rams lucked into Baker Mayfield that they were able to run their offense again.
Following the experience in 2022, the Rams made a long-term commitment at the backup quarterback position by drafting Bennett in the fourth round. This wasn’t a player with the tools to be a franchise quarterback, but he had the skillset to run the offense for a short period if needed. Since being drafted, Bennett has led the NFL in turnover-worthy plays in the preseason and took nearly a full year away from football. Heading into year three, there were some serious questions on whether or not he would make the roster.
All offseason Rams media and the coaching staff raved about Bennett’s growth and improvement. During OTAs, Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur noted seeing a ton of growth, particularly from two years ago. Said Adam Grosbard of the LA Daily News following training camp, “Bennett looks much more decisive in his third camp. He is working through his reads quickly and making his throws on time and in rhythm.”
Whatever you may think about Bennett’s time away, what tends to be forgotten is that last year was essentially Bennett’s rookie season 2.0. For the first time he was able to spend a full season with the team, sitting in the meeting rooms, taking snaps during practice, and being on the sidelines during games. His year away was like hitting the reset button. There was finally some continuity and being able to apply what he learned in 2024 to now.
The continuous timeline has resulted in a player who is clearly more comfortable and more confident in the offense. That was evident in the Rams’ preseason win over the Dallas Cowboys. Two of Bennett’s first three throws went downfield. His first pass went to Davis Allen for 13 yards before he found Xavier Smith settled between three Cowboys defensive backs for 15 yards.
Later in the...
