5 feel-good stories emerging after LA Rams' 1st preseason game

I: Stetson Bennett owns LA Rams QB2 role

If there was any doubt about it whatsoever before the first preseason game, it was clear that the LA Rams had found their backup quarterback in Stetson Bennett. Now the question becomes, how good can he be in this LA Rams offense?

Well, he did not have the benefit of throwing to WR Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, or Tutu Atwell. He did not have the luxury of targeting TE Tyler Higbee or Hunter Long. He did not even have the benefit of handing off to RB Cam Akers or Kyren Williams. So in terms of upside, we have not begun to scratch the surface.

What we do know is that Stetson Bennett connected on 17 of 29 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown, to no interceptions. It should be pointed out that he did throw the football into the arms of three LA Chargers defensive backs before settling down and leading the Rams offense on two long scoring drives.

Bennett bulldogs in his NFL debut

While he completed just under 59 percent of his passes, he certainly looked the part of an NFL quarterback. He connected with eight different Rams receivers, and he sat in the pocket looking to make plays with his arms, rather than scrambling at the first sign of pressure. And he was sacked three times as a result.

If you pull out the Rams allowing a touchdown on a punt return and two long touchdown runs, the Rams had a competitive game plan for this one. But we know that the Rams have to expect to be in shooting matches this season, and the offense will need to consistently put up 27+ points per game. Can the Rams do that with QB Stetson Bennett under center?

Well, not on his own, no.

But if you give him all of the starting offensive weapons who sat out the game, and give him the protection of RT Rob Havenstein, Brian Allen and/or Coleman Shelton as the starting center, I think that he could be incredibly productive for the Rams this season.