Rams Beat Cowboys, Stetson Bennett Throws Four Interceptions, Rams Found Another WR Gem in Draft!

ston Bennett throws four interceptions but leads the Rams to victory in their first preseason game we got big takeaways that's coming up next un 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 [Music] day what is up RAM and welcome to another episode to locked on Rams your daily podcast covering your Los Angeles Rams free and available wherever 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 and subscribe to lockon Rams YouTube channel trying to get to 14K before opening kickoff also let us know down below what are your big takeaways from the Rams preseason win over the Cowboys my name is Doug McCain you can follow me on exit Instagram at dmac La I've been covering LA Sports for over a decade SI 247 Sports Dodgers Nation the Rams for locked on and as always I'm joined by the Rams prea and postgame show host for the Rams flagship radio station ESPN 710 La he just began his nth season covering your Los Angeles Rams The Peoples Champ Mr Travis Rogers you can follow him on X Travis Rogers and on today's episode big takeaways from the Rams first pre-season game STS and benett struggles and makes the big game-winning touchdown throw at the end we're going to break it all down but first today's episode of Locked on Rams is brought to you by LinkedIn jobs LinkedIn jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to faster post your job for free at linkedin.com lockon NFL that's linkedin.com lockon NFL to post your job for free terms and conditions apply okay Travis so we are derell Henderson days away from opening kickoff getting closer and closer yesterday a major step the first pre-season game and the entire conversation about the Rams this morning surrounds Stetson Bennett now it was his first time with live game action over year played in the preseason last season but missed the entire season was not with the team for unrelated issues and yesterday there were some good he was 24 for 38 goes for 224 yards had the game-winning touchdown at the end where he's rolling to his left throws back across his body hits Miller fourar with four seconds Joshua cardi Boots the extra point and to give the Rams the win but man some bad throws four interceptions definitely a concern when you consider the fact that he'll be right now the R's backup quarterback for the first two games with Jimmy Garoppolo suspended yeah I think that's the big takeaway right Mack I think the the biggest takeaway of game one of the preseason against the Dallas Cowboys is wrap Matthew Stafford in bubble wrap for sure do not let him get anywhere near a dangerous situation and cross your fingers toes and everything else you got that the first two weeks of the Season he stays uh on his feet obviously you want him to go through all 17 games healthy that would be ideal but in particular in those first two games because Jimmy garoppo uh is unavailable for games one and two serving his peed suspension ston Bennett had a nice play at the end that's the list of things he did well that the the rest of it was really rough and and it did not look of NFL quality for a variety of different reasons um I'm glad that he is back I'm glad that he's working his way back to a a role whether it's with this team or another team or somewhere else I guess if we're creating a little bit of Grace for him uh which we all deserve is that it has been 351 days since he had played in a football game prior so that's a long time that's a lot of rust to knock off but uh it does feel like if he were required to enter a game in those first two weeks of the season and by the way and we can talk about this as we move through it I'm not so sure he's even gonna get the opportunity to do that but we we we'll talk about that coming up in in a little bit but I don't think you can put him in an NFL game seeing what you saw yesterday that's really what it comes down to is the bottom line he has to be better than he was yesterday to get any consideration to be the backup quarterback and I see people out there why are we talking about a third string quarterback he's a third string quarterback yes he's a third string quarterback that's going to be the second string quarterback for the first couple weeks of the season with Matthew Stafford a quarterback that's has gotten banged up in the past and look I understand the fact that look this team lose Matthew Stafford their season's over no matter what but still you can't have a quarterback like Stetson Bennett having those interceptions the way he had them poor reads the vision down the field the fourth interception not seeing the underneath man in that situation the happy feed I think the understanding of sha mcvey's offense wasn't clear and I think what really struck me was just the lack of field Vision throughout the day the Happy Feet in the pocket I think he's most comfortable when he is bouncing out the play that he did make to win the game but when he's in the pocket occasionally you'll see him make a nice throw a couple to Jordan Winnington here and there but for the most part yeah he did struggle throughout the day and like you said you got to give him some Grace there's no doubt about it when you definitely point out that yes he did Miss significant time but let's not forget too he did lead all quarterbacks last preseason in turnover worthy plays so turnovers are an issue and that's just not what you want to see from a backup quarterback a guy that's throwing interception you want to have someone go out there and just kind of manage the offense not hurt the team when you go out there and throw four picks you're hurting the team yeah look like you said dmac that once you get to week three against San Francisco this isn't an issue anymore because we're not going to talk about the third string quarterback you know the if you're down to qb3 then we all know what that means and you know whatever at that point I guess but he's not qb3 he's qb2 for at least the first two weeks of the Season potentially uh I I like what you said I think he's one of those guys that is better served creating than trying to do what has been called the problem is in the NFL that's the backwards order right it's nice if you can make things happen off schedule but you have to make things happen on schedule and I think that was the most alarming part for those four interceptions which by the way could have been five had one not been called back for a penalty and that is he was not under duress he had relatively clean Pockets Mina kimes mentioned this uh on the broadcast yesterday that it wasn't just that he was throwing interceptions is that he was throwing interceptions without having a ton of pressure these were these were interceptions for one of two reasons basically one a bad throw or two a bad read or maybe a combination of the two um that's a problem you know like like you said this is something that I guess could be cleaned up a little bit there is basically about a month like you said at the top before they play that first game of the season so you'd expect it to get a little better I'm curious as to what it's going to look like against the Chargers uh here on Saturday afternoon but um did you know you're talking about turnovers in the Red Zone which absolutely can happen and that felt a lot like what we saw with Brett ripping a year ago in Green Bay where you're just looking at saying yeah this this doesn't work this you you got to think about what you're going to do other than this uh I I I think he'll get another chance against the the Chargers but I wouldn't be surprised if qb2 or at least for the first two weeks is not on this team right now he's he's working out with another Squad yeah and we'll touch on that for sure in the next segment here what will the Rams do with STS and Bennett because he's going to get his opportunities and that's the good thing if you're him is you can chalk it up to the fact that yeah it was rough I also LED you to the game-winning dry with just under three minutes of play in the game and I did show some awareness there but for the most part as you point out the fact that he did have protection he did have time to make plays but he was throwing into heavy coverage he was forcing things he was trying to make completions when there just wasn't anything available throwing into three and four defensive backs that's just not what you wanted to see and look maybe he just wanted to make a statement early on but I've never seen a player that has that much confidence despite the fact that he's going out there and throwing interceptions and also the beautiful thing is how about this you throw four interceptions could have thrown six as you mentioned one was brought back to a holding py and you still outd Trey Lance so and the cowo so good for how about that how about that right but we're going to continue to break this one down we're talk about what the Rams could do if they need to look for another backup quarterback a potential third string quarterback as well that's coming up next I'll lock on Rams when you're hiring for your small business you want to find quality professionals that are right for the role right it's not just filling the role it's finding the right person for that role think about what we just talked about that's why you have to check out LinkedIn jobs LinkedIn jobs has the tools to help you find the right Professionals for your team faster and for free honestly it's kind of what we were just talking about it's not just that there is a vacancy but is it the right person to fill said vacancy to take your team to the next level to back stop some things that you have and that's why LinkedIn is so important because it's not just a job board LinkedIn helps you hire the professionals you can't find 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about your Los Angeles Rams all right so we're going to pick up on the STS and Bennett conversation in segment two Travis and I think really what it comes down to is based on what you saw in the first preseason game where he just struggled to make his way through progressions and just make the right throws and just avoid big turnovers do you think that there's enough ground he can make up in the next two games where you feel comfortable with him as your backup quarterback for Matthew Stafford with Jimmy Garoppolo set to miss those first two games I think for me it's a tough ask I think you definitely give him another opportunity to see if you can clean up some of those mistakes but right now I think the Rams absolutely had to be having those tough conversations in that building really breaking down this tape and seeing that hey can a guy who yes he pulled out the win definitely was a great moment there but do you trust him in that situation moving forward in the regular season yeah I think there's a couple of things going on here number one the preseason for the Rams which is typically just a slog to get to the regular season because they don't play anybody uh that that you're all that excited to see there you know there's a few exceptions here and there it just got a little more interesting because of the quarterback situation that there really is something to to keep an eye on and to evaluate moving forward I I think that's number one number two is and I think what you said Doug is is really imp important I should say is because there was a big play at the end of the game that allowed them to win and it was exciting and it really was a very very nice throw and a nice play you know like you said rolling left throwing right kind of sidearm sliding catch that was a nice way to end an otherwise Dreadful day but I think the first part of that is what's most important it was a dreadful day that four interceptions against vanilla defenses against guys on the cowboys that are probably not going to play a ton of NFL football they weren't playing very many of their guys either a four interception day is really hard to say ah it's just one of those things it's not there's more Runway to to check this out we'll see what it looks like I do like that he played the entire game I would expect him to play a good chunk of the game against the Chargers on Saturday afternoon but uh I I I just don't want that touchdown pass at the end to overshadow what had happened previously you know I much like the opposite would be true if he went out there and threw four touchdown passes in the game and then just threw a really bad pass at the end for an interception to lose it you wouldn't be like oh what a disaster it would be no no look look at the four touchdowns he threw that's really good this is true too the four interceptions are far more meaningful than anything else you saw I I and again Matthew Stafford is the backbone of this team he is the team so if he's down for any period of time you're in deep deep trouble we're talking about a two- week window where you need somebody to be there to back stop him you you are more than likely going to be okay in the situation but in the event you're not I don't think he's the answer yeah and Travis that's a big question for me like you said is how do they frame this thing do they frame it as the exclamation point at the end where he led you to a game-winning Drive where he had to complete eight passes on that drive that's impressive is it the exclamation point at the end or the question marks before that and if you look at the nine drives he had two they made field goals two ended in punts four ended in interceptions and you look at that ratio you look at those numbers that definitely doesn't inspire a ton of confidence but yeah to say he was Rusty earlier in this game was an understatement but for me it's a combination of there's some mechanic issues like when we look at the mechanics of the Happy Feet the inability kind of read defenses in those possessions in the pocket and then the force throws he's going to have to make a dramatic Improvement to earn that job for me then if you're the Rams and you look at where they're sitting at salary cap wise $1.8 million under the cap teams based going to need 10 to 15 million for an entire season as far as practice players and everything you need to make inseason moves to really feel comfortable there so the Rams aren't going to love the idea of bringing someone else and you kind of set to see what happens at other camps to see who comes available but right now it's either they're kind of stuck with him or really not too many options yeah there they look we're we're talking about a third string quarterback at the end of the day so there's not a ton of flexibility it's not like all of a sudden you're going to a quarterback that you would love to have on your team is going to shake loose at the end of Camp that's not what we're talking about the question is is there somebody you know you you ready for this you know who might be an option in this situation as terrifying as it might be Brett rippen like Brett rippen knows what you're doing he knows the system he could come Brett rippen was better than that BR I hear I peace out I get it I get it Brett rippen while bad against the Packers he didn't throw four pits you know as bad as that game was they had a chance to win that game into the second half you're not going to do it with four interceptions uh again hopefully this is never something we talk about once we get to the start of the of the Season against the Lions but somebody that just a zero that you give nothing but take nothing is far better than what you got yesterday yeah and at that point I mean I just rather he dresser win and if dresser win starts any of these games it might be a key indication that STS and Bennett is done but I think the fact that there wasn't a lot of pressure and he did make some impressive throws out there I definitely want to point that out it's just that he made a lot of bad throws because of bad decision so he is capable of making better throws than Wolford or Bryce Perkins at times or Brett ripen I think that his best throws are better than all three of those guys it's just the decision making is so bad it almost felt like a guy that was really saying okay you have one game to show us what you got and what you Miss and he was kind of forcing things and forcing the issue when he really didn't need to yesterday so maybe if you can kind of settle him down look at the tape look at the Happy Feet look at some of the decision making give him another opportunity you can say okay this is a third string quarterback I think it's important to emphasize that and that hey is is someone you trade up for you got in the fourth round so they definitely believed in him and there a little bit of a sunk cost fallacy with STS and P no wants to take the L on him if it doesn't work out but I still think they're going to give him a couple more opportunities and the biggest thing for him was coming they in the end having something to build on yeah is yeah is look the the preseason NFL is the only time where the result of the game doesn't matter right it just it just simply doesn't matter they had they won the game you know by four touchdowns or they won the game like they did it really doesn't matter it what does it look like and I would rather a guy give me a bunch of D's looking at you Brett rippen then a guy that gives me 12 fs and then turns in an a at the last day of the class right just give me the D I know what I'm getting I know what I'm dealing with with a bunch of D's but a bunch of fs and one a doesn't really it scares me more than anything else because you keep expecting the a to come back it's not coming back it's just hopefully this isn't an issue hopefully we never have to talk about this person whoever the qb3 is coming into a game that we actually care and need to win I agree with you that the scoreboard doesn't matter but I do think the play matter because why you went and drafted ston benett because he has that dog that Gamers mentality and you saw that on display during that last play Rolling to your left throwing across your body to Miller forall and here's the thing to say it didn't matter would be like okay if he throws a pick there an interception there then I don't think there's any positives that you can truly draw from yesterday other than kind of some of those thr at Jordan winning I mean you would have to had to change his last name to STS and benett the fourth to STS and benett the fifth in the v stands for five picks right so you couldn't have had that if you're him so I do think that's how the organization in sha McVey because McVey wants to spin a positive with this they don't want they're focused on the big picture man they're focused on Braden Fisk and Jared verse and all these defensive issues and everything the offensive line getting healthy and now they're really the conversation about a third string quarterback so I don't think that they want to make this the main area Focus but I definitely agree with you that the overall results don't matter but I think at least you had something to build on and you could kind of chalk the first part of as rust and the need for improvement my favorite tweet of the afternoon was the one that said ston Bennett has thrown four interceptions only four was in Roman numerals that was my that was my favorite tweet of the day that I saw yesterday so we'll just we'll leave it at that kill me man but hey we'll definitely see some more STS in Bennett in the ram second preseason game but a positive T takeaway about yesterday Jordan Winnington certainly looks like he's going to be a dude for your Los Angeles Rams that's coming up next on lock on Rams passion drive and patience that's the formula for winning championships it's also what keeps your ride or die alive 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day all right so a major positive yesterday was the performance of Jordan Winnington the former Texas Longhorn receiver the Rams picked in the sixth round caught six passes for 74 yards in the win all coming in the first half been high on Jordan Winnington I don't think he's going to be the star that puka neua is I don't think he's going to be a future star or future Superstar but I think he's going to be a future star tur I think that is the potential for him love the dog love the physicality what do you think of Jord Winnington Travis I thought he was great I I mean full stop I I thought he was terrific you know I'll I'll flip the coin and you know and I said that what STS and Bennett put out there was not of NFL quality Jordan wington was of NFL quality that looked like an NFL player that looked like somebody you could put in an NFL game tomorrow and feel pretty good about it that that's a huge win for what they did uh my partner Kirk Morrison who I've done the pre and the post with for all nine Seasons that we've been doing this I thought brought up a really good point yesterday when we were talking about uh Winnington which is because he was at Texas and Texas was was loaded with so many weapons and keep in mind Texas went to the final four last year they were a really good football team that he kind of got lost in the shuffle a little bit that he wasn't the number one option that he had been at some other places maybe he would have gotten more balls maybe he would have gotten more opportunities more looks put up bigger numbers and been drafted a lot higher than ultimately where he ended up being drafted that I think the Rams have really found themselves a nice player we know how important depth is at the wide receiver position over the course of an NFL season and uh everything I saw yesterday from Jordan wion makes you feel really good that the Rams found a to your point DM maybe it's not an all pro like they found with with pukan neua last year or an all pro like they drafted Cooper cup several years ago but it does look like they found themselves an NFL player in the sixth round which is a huge win yeah absolutely you mentioned his time in Texas he was a five star when he headed to Austin and sarkeesian spoke extremely highly of him and they were definitely stacked as far as their wide receiver room he did make some big plays against Washington there in the cfp so definitely he did perform on the biggest stage and he definitely has that in him and I just love the toughness and the hands and his ability to get open I think the play that really stood out to me was there in the second quarter he makes that catch and Thomas for the Cowboys just absolutely lit him up essentially was a blind side hit and he catches it no difficulty at all just completely makes the play and was unfaced by gets up in the ram sideline they're celebrating they're Juiced they're going crazy about it so definitely he kind of brings that ju juice on the field and can make big and tough plays and look the truth of the matter is doesn't matter where you picked him up in the late rounds bottom line he was a six round pick and anytime you're a six round pick you're not a guarantee to make that 53 man roster after yesterday after what sha McVey was saying after the game there's no doubt about it he is going to make this 53 man roster and he's not on the bubble or anything like that well think about this I I I think you're going to know right away he's not gonna play next week right and that that'll tell you all you need to know about the fact that uh he's he's going to be a part of what they have moving forward and he he just he absolutely checks every box in the LA Ram wide receiver checklist right think about it played a lot of football he's a five-year guy out of Texas the Rams love to draft guys that have been in and around football for a long time they don't go young they tend to skew a little older when they tick guys this is a big opportunity for Jordan we he fits the mode of big physical wide receiver maybe he's not a burner like a lot guys but tell me he doesn't remind you a little of Puka a little bit of Cooper cup think about all the great Ram rde receivers whether they've been drafted or acquired they're all tough Robert Woods was tough Brandon Cooks was tough Cooper cup puka AA these guys are tough tough football players and Whittington certainly falls into that mode too absolutely he pursues contact and that's definitely is something that is kind of a badge of honor for these Rams Receivers throughout the years and even though he doesn't have that blazing blazing speed can make catches in open spaces can find those little nooks and find a way to just get those routes in where he can go and get you big first down so yeah I was extremely excited to see him perform like he did yesterday and definitely a bright spot for the Rams in their first preseason game but we got more big takeaways tomorrow we're going to break down the Rams preseason game and who stood out because on the defensive side we had some guys definitely make a statement but the Rams they beat the Cowboys in their first preseason game one and0 on the preseason STS and Bennett had the struggles but lots to talk about here guys feels like football season is finally here on lockdown Ram so be sure to tune in my name is Doug McCain you can follow me on exit Instagram at dmac corla and you can follow the Peoples Champ Mr Travis Rogers Travis Rogers until next time whose house it's locked on Rams house