The Los Angeles Rams changed up their quarterback approach in their second preseason game Saturday. Stetson Bennett, despite starting over Ty Simpson again, saw his playing time split much closer this week, which is a HUGE signal. After only two series against the Chiefs last week, Bennett commanded the entire first half against the Saints, handling five total possessions, and showed everyone what he’s truly capable of.
Stetson Bennett Unleashed His Legs (and Arm!)
Bennett’s stat line against the Saints was 19-for-31 for 181 yards, with zero touchdown passes and zero interceptions. But don’t let the lack of passing TDs fool you; the man ran for **two** touchdowns on two carries for nine yards. This is a massive shift from the opener where he was mostly just handing off or taking short checkdowns. Against the Saints, Bennett had so much more freedom. He was taking shots downfield, nearly connecting on a deep ball to Tyler Scott. That could’ve been a touchdown if Scott hadn’t slowed down a bit. Bennett’s throw was still on the money, though!
And then, right after that, he hit Scott again with what was arguably his best throw all day: a flat-footed sidearm dime on fourth down to move the chains. That ball was perfectly layered over the defender, and Scott had to lay out for it, but it could not have been placed better. Bennett’s mobility was also on full display. He’s always been mobile from his Georgia days, and he used his legs perfectly in the red zone, outrunning the defense to the pylon for both rushing touchdowns. While he’s not a burner, that running ability really opens things up when the play breaks down. He wasn’t perfect, completing 61% of his passes with a few throws sailing, but the aggressive play-calling paid off. PFF even clocked his average depth of target at 9.7 on Saturday, way up from just 3.2 a week ago. That’s undeniably a positive performance.
Ty Simpson’s Limited Looks
On the flip side, it was Ty Simpson whose opportunities felt really limited this week. He played an entire half, just like Bennett, but his actual snaps were minimal. That’s because the Saints offense had some long drives, and Rams safety Alex Cook snagged a 100-yard pick-six, eating up even more time. Plus, Simpson’s second drive started at his own 1-yard line. Talk about tough breaks!
He only attempted 12 passes, going 8-for-12 for 73 yards, with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also had three carries for 10 yards. His average depth of target was 7.3, still an increase from his 5.3 ADOT last week, but the volume just wasn’t there. For the most part, he seemed to take what the defense gave him and didn’t force things, especially with the Rams already holding a big lead.
What’s Next for the Rams’ QB2 Spot?
The QB2 battle behind Matthew Stafford is clearly still wide open. Bennett’s “productive half” certainly made a strong case for him to push for that spot. The Rams will likely keep three quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster, which makes these performances crucial. With Bennett showing off his deep ball and insane mobility, and Simpson getting such limited chances this week, the coaches have some tough decisions coming up. This isn’t over yet, not by a long shot.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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