Rams Preseason Takeaways! Did Stetson Bennett Improve Enough, Stafford Injury Update, Hidden Gems

ston Bennett had a better performance in his second preseason game but was it enough we got a Matthew Stafford injury update will he practice this week and the Rams have found more hidden gems in the draft that could have an impact this season that's coming up next on locked on [Music] Rams you are locked on Rams your daily Los Angeles Rams podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your Team every day what is up Ramy and welcome to another episode of lockon rams your daily podcast from your Los Angeles Rams free and available rev get your podcast locked on Rams part of locked on podcast Network your team every day we're also available over on YouTube so if you haven't yet do us a huge favor join the party hit the Subscribe button hit the notification Bell hit the like button also give us your biggest takeaway from the Rams preseason win over the Chargers my name is Doug McCain friends call me de Ma you can follow me on X and Instagram at dmac corla I've been covering LA Sports for over a decade bleach report Dodgers Nation 24/7 Sports SI the Rams four locked on and as always I'm joined by the Rams preh half and postgame show host for the Rams flagship radio station ESPN 710 he just began his ninth season covering your Los Angeles Rams the people's champ Mr Travis Rogers you can follow him on X Travis Rogers and on today's episode we are breaking down the ram second pre preseason game how did STS and Bennett Fair did he get a lot better still some issues there is he ready to be the Rams backup for the first two weeks of the Season other big takeaways for the Rams preseason win we got an update on Matthew Stafford while he practiced this week but first this episode of lockdown Rams is brought to you by FanDuel now through September 22nd all FanDuel customers can bet $5 and get a 3-we free trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV visit fanduel.com locked on to get started all right Travis so we are Lamarcus Joiner Jaylen Ramy before the number switch Eric wed days before opening kickoff against the Lions on Sunday Night Football and hey guess what the Rams are two and0 for the first time in the preseason since 2019 when's the parade right we have to start with STS and Ben he has been the big storyline for the first couple weeks of the preseason because with Jimmy Rolo set to miss the first two games of the season with suspension Stetson Bennett right now would be the Rams backup quarterback and he goes 17 for 31 213 yards a touchdown an interception a fumble did have the big 47 yard bomb to JJ Lop that was the gamewinner did see some improvements the reads are a little better but at times some of the decision making the fumble in the back field an interception before the half there were some good there were some bad there were some ugly yeah yeah I I think that if they the goal coming into the game was to get a clear definitive answer on yes or no yes he's going to be the backup for week one and two or no he is not going to be the backup for week one and two we still don't have it I I really don't think we've seen Shawn McVey be complimentary of him to a point say that he's proud of him we've seen those things but what he has not said is it's his job and we need to move on from there so I I think to try to figure out what they're going to do is a little bit difficult because I don't think they know what they're going to do at this point uh watching him play on Saturday against the Chargers I thought that there was a couple of good things but I thought there were a couple of really bad things as well and I don't think that whatever level of anxiety that Shawn McVey might have had or any level of anxiety that Rams Fans might have had with STS and Bening your quarterback I don't think they've been alleviated you saw the interception I'm willing to little bit of Grace on because it was fourth down you got to try to get it in there it's it wasn't that big of a deal to try to do that it it honestly uh was not the end of the world but again it was another interception the fumble I think was a far bigger mistake it just kind of demonstrated his lack of ball security his lack of understanding of what's going on around him and then there were just some flat out some really missed throws there were some throws that could have been intercepted there were some throws that sailed on him I still don't know if I I see enough of zip on the ball especially on some of those outs that make you feel really really good about it uh I I you know one more to go against Houston and and hopefully we get a little bit more information but as unsatisfying as it might be here we are two preseason games in with STS and Bennett and I still have no idea whether or not he could serviceably play in the NFL uh I I do know that I'm going to be hitting my knees crossing my fingers toes and everything else I got that Matthew Stafford stays healthy yeah I agree I mean right now he doesn't look like he's ready to be a backup quarterback in the National Football League and then it's also you're seeing the effects of missing an essentially an entire rookie season and not being able to develop and I think you're right on the interception wasn't back breaking I mean he needs to get the ball out quicker in that situation not the best play call in my opinion there Xavier Reed was open but really is like the third option on that the third read there so not terribly concerned about that one but there were some other plays I mean he did have three turnover plays according to PFF had some almost interceptions there the fumble I agree got to protect the football and I think when you look at just the name STS and Bennett and it's very polarizing player as far as amongst Rams Fans or not but let's just say it's not STS and Bennett let's just say it's a backup quarterback and the first week of preseason he throws four interceptions then the second week of preseason he throws an interception as a fumble in that situation the sirens would be going off right yeah with STS and Bennett I mean just because of where he was drafted and kind of the story behind it the fact that he does pull out these wins in the end I think that there's this a there's just kind of this want to just give him this opportunity and sha McVey he the most important part of all this he did say Stetson did a nice job against the Chargers and I was pleased with the progress that's what we want to be able to continue to see for us to feel good about that but it's trending in the right direction so is the bar low to the point where yesterday a couple days ago felt like a success it feels like it yeah I think it is and Sean McVey you know obviously is is positive but he's stopping himself and he's only positive to a point you know he we're trending in the right direction I'm Pro of stats and benett you know we've made some improvements in some areas but what he has not said is the job is his right and I think that's the most important thing the most important thing is what has not been said and that is he's going to be the second quarterback when we get to Detroit he's going to be the second quarterback uh when you take on the Arizona Cardinals in week two he has not said that I think he probably will be but I don't think that he's completely closed the door on that because he would say so I I I really do believe that if it were for for everybody's sake for his confidence for the team's understanding of what's going on but that really has not happened I if I had to place a bet I think it's probably going to be him and they'll roll the dice that Matthew Stafford stays healthy but uh I I I can tell you right now if there was a situ situation where Bennett had to come in and play in a regular season game I would not be feeling great about it he just does not fill me with a great deal of confidence yeah I think you're right I don't think they're going to ditch this and go to dresser win in the third game or go out there and sign a Ryan tanel Hill or something that could be available because they realize that no Stafford no playoffs no Super Bowl anyway and if you get to Jimmy Garoppolo week three I mean it just changes the whole trajectory of the season and I think it's important to note that you didn't draft STS and Bennett to a future starter you didn't develop him to develop you didn't draft him to be a developmental quarterback with high upside you drafted him specifically to be a backup quarterback that was supposed to be his role on this team and yes he did look more comfortable than he didn't did week one yes he did have some Rush he missed significant time last season but still just some of the misplays the misreads are still definitely a concern and I think for him he needs that third game like you said to truly evaluate this in his totality yeah I I think so too and and I've said this before the everyday probably know where I'm going with this I don't need you to come in and throw a bunch of touchdown passes I don't need you to come in and rally the team from two touchdowns behind and go and and and have this miraculous comeback win and all of a sudden we're talking about oh my gosh they got their quter what I need from the backup quarterback especially in the Bennett situation because what we're really talking about is quarterback number three quarterback number two for a couple of weeks but just don't give the ball to the other team literally just don't do that we've seen Josh cardi has become you know a useful kicker to you know a reasonable distance so maybe you try to get into a defense and field goals game maybe you can throw the one touchdown pass like we saw but you can't give the other team opportunities we've seen the Rams defense early I know we're going to talk about that look pretty darn good but if you just keep giving away that football over and over and over again ultimately it's going to come back and be a huge problem he's turned it over six times in two games that's just simply way way way too many times uh I don't need touchdown passes I don't need game-winning heroics I need no turnovers and so far he hasn't been able to do that yeah it's a great point six turnovers against not starting caliber defenses not Advanced schemes coming from these defenses with very little pressure with a run game as well so really everything's in his favor to go out there make some plays I will say it's kind of watching the receivers they were doing a fantastic job getting separated throughout the game but those are all things to strongly consider but I think the bottom line is we both are in agreement that they're probably just going to roll with him and just pray that Stafford's going to be okay but we've got an update on Matthew Stafford from Sha McVey and we have some more big takeaways from the Rams pre-season win 2 and 0 in the preseason can't wait to get my t-shirt man my my hat man this is undefeated the preseason man it's awesome but that next 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lockon Rams your first listen free and available over get your podcast lockon Rams part of lock on podcast Network your team every day also a special shout out to those everyday listeners out there watching and listening to every single episode of lockon rams and if you haven't yet join that five days five times a week listeners Club too so so you won't miss a thing about your Rams you can watch on YouTube you listen to the Pod and definitely drop your comments down below so we can start reading them on the show but Travis here in our second segment by the way I want to say too if you go three and0 in the preseason I still consider that a bigger accomplishment than the Lakers in season tournament I'm thr out there I'm throwing it out there I I I will say that they are equally worthless I I I don't know if either one is better than be hang a banner either I'll say that I'll get give the Lakers a little bit of credit because at least those games actually matter with real players but uh yeah I think as far as titles go I they're they're equally worthless it's like the Steve Spagnola special just going undefeated in the preseason right I mean that's what he does then was like 10 and 38 as a head coach I don't know but exactly exactly here in our second segment though Big Horns up to Jordan Whittington they' done it again a late round draft pick that I think is going to be a key contributor maybe in Year One maybe he takes over for wr3 for Demarcus Robinson at some point but for sure next season when he leaves and with pugan AO with Cooper cup getting banged up at times I think that Jordan Winnington he's definitely have some opportunities to make impacts this season I think you're gonna see him I I think you're G to see him be a part of this team I think he's going to get some opportunities uh I I don't know if 2 two Atwell is going to be able to hold on to that wr4 spot for a super long time I know that he is a very specific type of player with the speed that he has and the threat that he can bring to your offense but like you said that W Whittington just fits into what the Rams do he just looks like a Rams wide receiver he's physical he's able to do a lot of different things he you know he can kind of move him all over the field so yeah I I'm with you this could be another one of those guys that we're talking about in the middle of the Season like you just said dmac that the the Rams have done it again they found a late round wide receiver that's making an impact and again and look he's done it so far in the preseason without Matthew Stafford but what does that guy look like if he gets an opportunity with one of the great quarterbacks in the league at the moment and all of a sudden he's got another weapon that he can use I I I really do think that we're going to be talking about him all season long and he'll be getting a bigger and bigger role the deeper we get into the season absolutely and he just continues to produce five catches for 52 yards during his two pre season games 11 catches for 126 yards on 18 targets and I think the big question is like you said how high can he go on this depth chart because Demarcus Robinson they brought him back for reason to be that X that wide receiver three that had built chemistry with massu Stafford last season and all he could do is catch touchdowns for the last few games of the season but I think with Jordan Whittington you get that physicality you get that yak yard that ability to make yards after the catch and I think for him if you can produce early on the season you can also help keep Demarcus Rob Robson who's a veteran at this point fresh right and guys's going to get banged up throughout the season and we know that that that Shawn McVey loves to use rookies especially when it comes to receivers so if he's got it early on I think it's going be very difficult to keep him off the field even if that means getting some wr3 love well like you said I you know you're going to need more than three guys this is this is the NFL right you you're going to play three at once you know a lot with the Rams doing the 11 personnel as frequently as they do you're going to three wide receivers out there guys get bumps and bruises guys need to catch their breath guys need to take a play or off here or there he's going to get opportunities and and like you just said as well Shawn McVey is very comfortable putting guys out there assuming that they continue to do what they're supposed to do you know be where you're supposed to be catch the balls that you're supposed to catch don't leave somebody hanging don't put the team in Jeopardy and if wington can do those sorts of things he'll Contin to play uh you know again Marcus Demarcus Robinson obviously a little bit of an older player so maybe there's some opportunities there but I think the real opportunity is is is that fourth guy maybe make some plays here and there on special teams I know that tutu is kind of locked into that role right now again we'll see how it goes but I'm excited to see Whittington play with Matthew Stafford with the rest of the starters and just kind of be the the last option because I think that's a pretty darn good last option to have for sure and I think that what he brings is that closer type of receiver second half when teams are starting to wear down you get his strength and physicality just to go out there and punish secondaries and I think two his ability to block and we know that the emphasis is on the running game this season so definitely a perfect fit for this Rams team and look it's not going to be a bad thing to have a fresher Demarcus Robinson potentially if Winnington gets some snaps in here and I just he just feels like this guy that I mean he's only playing in this second preseason game because of how their wide receiver death look at at this point and thankfully for ston Bennett he had Whittington as an option to help his case more too so big wit guy we had a comment I was trying to find it who had a really good nickname because we were talking about moderately sized wit midwit so I'll find his nickname but it's just not as big as Andrew Whitworth wit but still love wit out of Texas and then talked a little about it just a couple minutes ago Omar Spates Omar Spates is certainly making a very very strong case to make this 53 man roster I think what really stood out to me was the play on special teams just blew a guy up second week in a row you had a guy that go out there and blow the play up with his hard- hitting ability his tackling ability and let's be honest the Rams don't have a ton of guys that can do that they can punish guys especially in the Special Teams especially if you saw look last year I mean had 20% return rate on the kickoff returns it's already at over 80% you need guys like Omar space to have an impact and if you throw them on of that practice squad guarantee you their teams right now around the League that are already probably going to look to poach him so I think you almost have to keep on that 53 man roster or he's going to get poached he did the thing that I think every guy that's kind of on that cusp of making the team maybe not making the team needs to do he made everybody go hey who is that or oh wow like just those those plays that look it's the preseason I think everybody knows how I feel about the preseason I think everybody knows how Shawn McVey feels about the preseason that there are very few times where you're looking at some and say hey who is that well who made that play who made that big hit and Spates did it two weeks in a row where he's made you turn your head and say okay who is the guy that hit that shot that's really good news for him I think that he's really close I think you're right about maybe somebody grabbing him in the event that he was placed on the practice squad but uh anybody that can bring it like that is a guy that you want and especially in the preseason like you're talking about there's going to be returns I I think I I I'm still a little curious we saw a little bit more return action this weekend but I still don't know if we won't see guys just say you know what I'm going to kick the ball off through the back of the end zone we'll start at the 30 we'll see I I think once we see a a play or two that's busted for a big one guys are going to take that off the board and just kick it out of the back but in the event that there are some kickoff returns early Spates on the coverage team is a very good thing for sure and absolutely agree with you we have to wait to see it in the regular season but it does pass the I'm going to the kitchen to refill the nachos test right cuz you're not doing that you want to see how it unfolds and the bottom line is if you're active on special teams which Omar Spates is you definitely increase your chances I think the big question is hey he's a udfa I mean he get him out of LSU he was Oregon State transferred to LSU and you asked me a couple weeks ago if the Rams are going to take four or five linebackers I'm probably going to say no but if you like I said if you throw them on that practice squad I think that it's a big risk and I think they have found someone in Spades with that physicality they can absolutely help this team and then Xavier Smith so Xavier Smith talk about another guy can have an impact on special teams that I think is where he's going to hang his hat with his ability to make this roster and almost looks like too he may have passed Tyler Johnson on that wide receiver dep chart yeah I think it's down to those two right I think it comes down to which of those I don't think you can keep both I think it's one or the other and we saw you know Smith make some plays we saw him have that kind of what we just talked about with Spates a second ago like wait wa who was that what was that play how did that go um that's kind of what you're looking at I I think that these are the last couple of roster spots that are available uh are are the two guys that we've just talked about though were maybe the three guys throw Tyler Johnson in there as well this is a team that you know we could have probably told you who's going to make the team a month ago and gotten 49 or 50 of the 53 guys that are going to ultimately make that team and this is where we are these are the last few spots and this is what's so much fun about the NFL this isn't college football if you make the team you play nobody doesn't play right everybody plays just about every single week so if you make that team you're going to get some action for sure and I think when you saw his performance you had that really really nice grab along the sideline but also two pun returns for 50 yards so even if he's not a part of this wide receiver rotation mix he's not getting opportunities which most likely he won't baring injury the fact that you can use him on special teams that only incre es his odds and not a ton of burners on this team sub four4 speed and I was almost looking at this game like man is this what they want out of a two two Atwell with Xavier Smith what he has the potential to bring maybe he could be that guy potentially so that definitely would make up for but coming up next we got some more big takeaways and then Travis's favorite we're g to talk the kicking game special teams Joshua cardi misses one isn't a concern that's coming up next on lock on Rams all right you've heard us talk a lot about FanDuel right that's America's number one sports book you knew that already but we have a little something different for you right now because right now through September 22nd all FanDuel customers can bet five bucks and you're G to get a three week free T trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV the yeah you you heard me right right four or excuse me three weeks of free NFL Sunday Ticket uh if you place a $5 bet with a YouTube TV Bas plan you'll be able to watch every regular season Sunday afternoon out of Market game which is if you've never had the opportunity it's awesome you get to see everything that you need to see all you need is a Google account and a current form of payment and you can cancel the course at any time so just visit fanduel.com lockon to download America's number one sports book and go take a look at those NL West odds right where they are getting Tighter and Tighter and Tighter and of course you can pick up 3- week free trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV and welcome back to locked on Rams thank you for making locked on Rams your first listen every single weekday free and available rev get your podcast locked on Rams part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day all right travo here in our third segment talk a little Joshua cardi and Joshua cardi has been really really good throughout the The Joint practices making most of his kicks he did miss a 52 Y and look we haven't asked for a guy to make 50 plus yard kicks but he got gone a for 15 for 50 plus at Stanford we just made want him to make those routine kicks the under 50 ones but still what do you think of his outing exactly what you just said I've been saying this going all the way back to last season with Maher and havers let's make everything under 50 and we're good and and and if you're going to make a few outside of 50 but you're going to miss I I I can live with it I I don't have to have a guy that's necessarily you know Greg the leg from a few years ago who you know inside a 60 you feel pretty pretty good about it inside 50 make your kicks he had two kicks inside a 50 he made them both he had a pat he made it we're good I absolutely no red flags to me does he have the world's biggest leg no does he need to absolutely Ely not and even the Miss and it was you know it wasn't it was a Miss clearly um it was hit correctly it had the sound it just wasn't online and and I think that's what we're talking about when it comes to Joshua cardi is the operation is is working smoothly the snap is good the hold is good the kick the sound the thump all those things that you're looking for they were all good he still hasn't missed one inside of 50 yards he still hasn't missed a pat still very very high on him even if he did miss a 52 y I don't I'm not going to change my tune now you'd like him to make a 52 y but make the stuff under 50 I feel really good about it yeah until he starts shanking 42 yard field goals that's when I'm going to be concerned but right now I feel good you mentioned Greg zerline 74.3% that's was his field goal make rate his rookie season so rookies it's a little bit of a learning curve but I still like what I've seen from cardi he was the best kicker in the draft they picked him they're going to develop him a little bit but I think they feel really good about him but but real quickly before we head out of here on Stafford sha McVey said that he's not concerned about the hamstring he said he can throw and do some of those things as far as just some of the movement he's feeling good we haven't decided that yet on him practicing this week said the arrow is pointing up and he's feeling good as it relates to the hamstring tightness last week so still going to get couple of weeks to prepare for Detroit even if he does miss this week but McVey is not concerned I'm always concerned about everything but where are you at I think tomorrow un locked on Rams we're going to have a really interesting conversation because if he doesn't practice today if he doesn't practice this week as we get deeper in the week Sean McVey can tell me he's not concerned that everything's fine that he's a you know a veteran quarterback and he knows the offense and that's all true this will be basically going into a full week of him not taking live reps that's got to mean something if everything were fine he would be you know this goes back to a couple years ago and they're saying that you know he uh he didn't throw during the preseason he didn't everything's fine everything's fine everything's fine well everything wasn't fine you know I I I need to see him play I need not play in an exhibition game but play with his teammates you know work out with his teammates practice with his teammates go ones against ones and see what that looks like uh they got some joint work with the Texans coming up this week so I think that's pretty interesting uh if he doesn't practice is it a 10 out of 10 no but is it a zero out of 10 absolutely not either absolutely I mean he is our season bottom line full stop like you always say and I'm not driving this car with the check engine light on at all I'm taking it right to the shop want to get it checked out make sure everything under the hood is just fine and sha McVey talked about taking the safer side well yeah take the safer side with Matthew Stafford because hamstrings especially for older dudes even if they feel like nothing all of a sudden they can become something and you just want to avoid that at all costs and they linger and they don't you know that that's that's the other part with the hamstrings is like you said until they're 100% you never nearly know exactly what it is that you're going to get and when they do get hurt they tend to linger and like you mentioned with older players linger l l the older you get the longer things linger what might have hurt for a day or two in your 20s hurts for you know a week or two in your 30 so we'll we'll see until until it's not an issue it's something to watch and right now it's definitely something to watch watch 100% but uh let's hope he's good and then if he practices that lets us know that he's 100% good because I know they're not going to risk anything with Matthew Stafford that's going to do it for this episode of lockon rams my name is Doug McCain you can follow me on xit Instagram at dmac La and you get follow people's champ Mr Travis Rogers at Travis Rogers until next time whose house it's locked on Ram's house