INGLEWOOD — Here are six takeaways from the Rams’ 31-21 win over the Dallas Cowboys in their preseason opener:
Nice and steady
If there was one play that summed up Stetson Bennett IV’s afternoon, it came on the opening drive of the game.
The third-year quarterback stayed calm in a clean pocket, waiting. Receiver Xavier Smith gave a little hesitation move, then broke as if he were releasing on a go route. But the plan was for Smith to turn back around on a hook.
There was a lot of traffic around Smith, but Bennett didn’t panic. He threw the ball on time, before Smith had completed the route. The receiver turned around and made the catch, and the Rams advanced on a first down.
That was the kind of day Bennett had, completing 16 of 24 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Smith was his favorite target as the pair connected three times for 55 yards, including a 39-yard go-route down the let sideline.
“The overall command, I thought he got through some progressions really well today,” McVay said. “He was totally present and love what I saw from him.”
Rookie statement
Third-round pick Josaiah Stewart had an unremarkable first three weeks of training camp. But he made a statement in the first game of the preseason with his first career sack.
The Rams drafted Stewart to be a speed option off the edge, but the outside linebacker showed off his power on the play with a bull rush to get into the pocket. He was even held by the right tackle on the play, but Stewart broke through for the sack.
Linebacker Chris Paul Jr. had himself a good day, too, especially after missing the first two weeks of camp with a hamstring injury. Paul assumed “green dot” duties, responsible for relaying the play call to the rest of the defense. In addition to handling that mental load, he showed his range, making plays in the middle and on the sidelines while making five tackles.
Paul said he spent his missed practices beside veterans like Nate Landman, Troy Reeder and Omar Speights, picking their brains on play recognition and NFL technicalities.
“It helped a lot, getting knowledge from guys with NFL experience,” Paul said. “I took those coaching points out there and feel like I had a pretty successful game.”
Heating up
If the Rams’ coaching staff hoped to have some clarity on the last one or two cornerback roster spots following Saturday, instead, they saw a large pack of players competing for the jobs who both flashed their potential and made mistakes.
The Rams opened the game with A.J. Green and Shaun Jolly at outside corner, with Derion Kendrick at star and Josh Wallace at safety. Green had a good break up on third down on the opening drive, while Jolly made a strong open-field tackle for a loss in the second.
During the second quarter, Charles Woods came in at star while Cam Lampkin began to rotate in at outside corner. Jolly was beaten deep on third-and-27 and had to commit a pass interference to avoid a bigger play. After that mistake, Wallace came in with a big hit on a pass at the line of scrimmage, only to be flagged for taunting.
The secondary went through those ups and downs for the rest of the game. Lampkin missed a tackle on the sidelines, then made an interception in the end zone in the third quarter. Woods jumped a route to break up a pass in the flat. Jolly lost outside leverage on a hook that resulted in a first down.
Cross training
The offensive line was as much of a shuffle on Saturday as you would expect, as the Rams try to nail down who will be their eighth and ninth linemen on the roster. With space at a premium, versatility could become the deciding factor, and the Rams moved guys around from spot to spot accordingly.
Second-year players Beaux Limmer and Justin Dedich opened at center and right guard, respectively, before swapping spots entering the second quarter. Undrafted free agent Wyatt Bowles started at left guard with A.J. Arcuri beside him at tackle, before Arcuri flipped to the right side and K.T. Leveston – drafted a year ago as an interior lineman – played left tackle.
“In college, our o-line coach would always preach to be versatile,” Leveston said. “So coming out, I knew that was something that was really going to help me, to show that ability to move from guard to tackle, or either side left to right.”
Injury report
RB Ronnie Rivers’ day ended early with a rib injury.
WR Konata Mumpfield did not return after suffering an ankle injury in the second half.
Excused
A couple of second-year players, notably in street clothes on Saturday: WR Jordan Whittington and DT Tyler Davis. Their absence is a good indication of the plan the Rams have for them this coming season, with both expected to play a bigger role after strong performances at training camp.