Rams Roster: Fast 40+ LA Rams roster roundup QB Stetson Bennett (#4)

When the LA Rams completed a very grueling 2022 NFL season, it was not a season without some value. Sometimes lessons can be costly, but but all the more valuable. Such was the case when the LA Rams lost the play of veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford for the final eight games of the season.

It was a difficult time for both the team and the fans. It would have been absolutely nightmarish if not for the arrival of free-agent quarterback Baker Mayfield. Despite the fact that the Rams season was all but over, Mayfield under center added a lot of fun back into the LA Rams offense. First, there was the game affectionately known as the Mayfield Miracle, an instant comeback classic that featured the Rams offense coming alive in the fourth quarter to shock the Las Vegas Raiders with a win.

The Rams repeated their unlikely late-season rally by stomping a mudhole in the Denver Broncos, and in doing so, set the wheels in motion for the Broncos to eventually hire new head coach Sean Payton. But along the way, the Rams learned that a backup quarterback is not a luxury, but a necessary investment into a team that hopes to weather adversity.

Rams Mayfield became 2023 template for backup QB

Mayfield would seek a starting role in the NFL via free agency, but the lesson learned by the Rams organization would be a more permanent lesson.

In rifling through the Rams depth chart to find a player who could give the LA Rams battered and bruised team a chance of success, the Rams coaching staff and front office gained valuable experience in something this team had never had to face before: Losing.

The Rams learned that the right backup quarterback is like a parachute pack in an airplane. You pray that you never need it. But when you do, it's the only thing that saves you from a terrifying free fall. And so, the Rams reset their strategy, determined to prioritize their backup quarterback position, and pivoted to the 2023 NFL Draft to shop for a rookie passer.

A quick summary

There are some players whose measurables stand out as someone destined for NFL greatness. Perhaps you can name them off the top of your head. LA Rams Matthew Stafford stands out as a 6-foot-3 220-pound starting quarterback with a cannon for an arm. On the other hand, until you've seen All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald play, you may never know just how dominating a 6-foot-1 280-pound defensive tackle can be on the line of scrimmage.

While there have not been glowing draft profiles written about former Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett, you don't need to know how the engine works to see that he led his team to two consecutive NCAA Football Championships. While victories are not a quarterback statistic, it's certainly a good barometer of just how well a college quarterback handles the pressure.

Stetson Bennett seeks out the spotlight, and bathes there like bathing suit clad teenagers bathe in the sunlight at a summer beach. The hotter the action on the football field, and the more pressure on the moment, the better Stetson Bennett shines.

What I don't like about this signing

At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, rookie quarterback Stetson Bennett will need to move the pocket to stay upright. While he had enough body mass and muscular armor to fend off injuries in college football, he will need to evade the pass rush to have a lengthy career in the NFL.

But that was to be expected when the LA Rams drafted the young man.

A concerning area that I fear may become problematic is the willingness to work through adversity. While first impressions could be completely wrong, it has been pointed out to me that Stetson Bennett gives off Johnny Manziel vibes. Now that it's been pointed out, I admittedly cannot unsee that quality about him.

As long as he is in his learning curve and needing to be coached through rookie mistakes, I believe that everything will be fine. But as soon as the Rams rookie tastes any level of success, that is when my concerns will be put to the test. Will he remain a humble student of the game? Or will a few victories go to his head, and transform him into an insufferable teammate? Only time will tell, I suppose.

What I like about this signing

One of the most vital traits for any player who serves in the role of backup is possessing the confidence and courage to step into a starting role at a moment's notice. That is even more important for a backup quarterback who is thrust from a bench warmer into the cockpit of the offense and expected to fly the team to victory.

There is no doubt that given the training camp rules of no contact with quarterbacks, Bennett can and should shine. Still, there is enough defiance and competitive fire in Bennetts to keep him competing long after a normal person might wave the white flag.

Bennett throws catchable passes

Still, there is that 'it' factor about Stetson Bennett that continues to keep him an intriguing player on this Rams roster. He has the focus and skill set that seems to escalate based on the level of competition. If you want to get a big time player in big time games, then Stetson Bennett is the guy for you.

One of the traits that I truly like about Stetson Bennett is his ability to throw a catchable ball. One of the nightmarish qualities of quarterbacks that is incredibly frustrating is the willingness to wing the football without regard to the chances of the receiver to haul it in.

A minor point? Sure. But it can add up pretty quickly in games that are decided by one score. Passing yardage is especially vital for the LA Rams, a team that relies heavily on yards after the catch. Now throw a quarterback who tosses catchable passes, and that upgrade the YAC for receivers as well.

What I love about this signing

One of the challenges with the LA Rams backup quarterbacks was the uncertainty of what the position might deliver. Of course, when the team added quarterback Baker Mayfield to the Rams roster last season, he made it clear instantly that he would give the Rams a chance of victory.

Of course we do not know what rookie Stetson Bennett will deliver for the LA Rams offense this season. But I can say that I am eager to see him suit up and play in preseason games. Bennett has been training against some of the NFL's best defenders and competing with some of the NFL's best offensive weapons.

And he has been running Rams HC Sean McVay's offense all training camp:

You cannot expect an off-road driver to run a race car. And not many 18-wheel drivers can master the Formula One high-performance engines. Driving a race car requires a race car driver. So too does the LA Rams offense need a quarterback who is not caught like a deer in the headlights trying to track all of the reads and routes of each Rams play. The Rams offense is set to give a quarterback a fighting chance of getting the football to the right guy.

And quarterback Stetson Bennett is that type of quarterback.

Better yet, until now the Rams have flirted with a dual-threat quarterback. But in the process of doing so, the team's offense sacrificed much of the vitality of the passing game and simply transferred that capability to the running threat of the quarterback.

Even though Stetson Bennett can take off and scramble for a first down, I am not necessarily convinced that comes at the expense of passing yards. Quite the contrary. Because Bennett can move and evade a pass rush in the pocket, he becomes a very dangerous weapon for the Rams.

What are his chances of making the roster?

He's in like Flynn. He will not only make the Rams 53-man roster, but if he puts on the performance that I believe he is capable of in preseason games, I would not be surprised to see some fans calling for his chance to play this season.