The Los Angeles Rams surprised some when they took Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett in the NFL Draft. While he had a ton of success as a Bulldog many wondered whether he would be able to translate it to the NFL. His age also put him at a disadvantage as many teams like younger prospects rather than older ones. It seems the Rams are not having any buyer’s remorse as he is getting rave reviews out of OTAs.
Los Angeles Rams Stetson Bennett Impressing Early
Bennett will likely start the season as the backup quarterback as it seems unlikely he would usurp Matthew Stafford for the starting job. However, Stafford is no spring chicken and dealt with injury concerns last year. If nagging injuries pile up, Bennett could be called upon. Head coach Sean McVay is liking what he sees so far.
“I think he’s taking it a day at a time, but I’ve been really pleased with him,” McVay said of Bennett. “These settings, especially without the pads on, quarterbacks can’t get tackled, but I think you’ve seen steady progress. (QBs coach) Zac Robinson’s done a great job with him as well as Michael LaFleur. But the one thing that does stand out is when the ball is in Stetson’s hands, game makes sense to him. He’s got a good feel for being able to get through progressions quickly. He can feel space on the backend as it relates to just, hey, there’s a lot of different coverage contours that he’s seeing, but he feels open areas and he can get through things quickly. And you love the athleticism, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. But I like his demeanor. He just stays nice and steady, doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low, and he’s a fun guy to be around.”
This is some high praise from the Super Bowl winning coach. He seems to think that the Rams may have gotten a steal.
Stafford Gets In On The Compliments
It isn’t just the head coach. Stafford reportedly said that Bennet does a “great job” and that he does a lot of things well. For a rookie to already be trending as the No. 2 quarterback on the roster says something about Bennett’s abilities. Yes, he was surrounded by talent at Georgia but that doesn’t mean he is void of talent himself.
The Los Angeles Rams have to be happy with what they are seeing out of Stetson Bennett so far. Late-round quarterbacks are feast or famine and it the first impression indicates they may have a solid starter on their hands.