Rams Turn Opportunity Into Evidence in 34-0 Shutout of Saints

Stetson Bennett showed why Sean McVay calls him a gamer, while Wesley Bailey, Jordan Waters and Alex Cook made their presence felt on an afternoon built for evaluation.

Jason Burrell | South Bay Black Journal

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Sean McVay told everyone what to look for before Stetson Bennett ever stepped onto the field Saturday afternoon.

Some parts of a quarterback’s game are difficult to recreate on a practice field. The pocket has to collapse. The first read has to disappear. Defenders have to chase him. The structure of the play has to break down and force the quarterback to create.

Two days before the Los Angeles Rams faced the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium, McVay suggested those were the moments when Bennett could be at his best.

“I think some of the things that his game can really come to life might not necessarily be felt in these practice settings,” McVay said Thursday. “If one or two aren’t there, pocket collapses, you’ve got great athleticism.”

Then Bennett went out and showed him.

Stetson Bennett completed 19 of 31 passes for 181 yards without an interception in Rams preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Aug. 22. (Jackson Burrell/Photo)

Bennett completed 19 of 31 passes for 181 yards without an interception and rushed for two touchdowns as the Rams defeated the Saints 34-0 in their second preseason game.

But the final score only tells part of what happened.

Matthew Stafford did not play. Neither did Davante Adams. For many of the Rams who did, Saturday was not simply another preseason game.

It was an opportunity to provide evidence.

And several made themselves difficult to ignore.

Bennett looks like a gamer

Bennett’s afternoon was not perfect.

There were throws he wanted back, including a potential deep connection with Tyler Scott. But Bennett kept the offense moving and showed the improvisational ability McVay said is difficult to evaluate during controlled practice periods.

On fourth down, Bennett escaped trouble and connected with Scott for a 16-yard gain that extended the drive.

Sean McVay lauds “incredible throw and catch,” in Rams preseason game at SoFi Stadium of a pass from Stetson Bennett on Aug. 22.

McVay called it an “incredible throw and catch.”

Then Bennett began hurting New Orleans with his legs.

He scored on runs of one and eight yards as Los Angeles built a 20-0 halftime lead.

The rushing touchdowns were not accidents.

Bennett said Rams coaches have repeatedly reminded him that once he has worked through his progressions, particularly in the red zone, he should trust his athletic ability rather than force the football.

“If it’s not there, take off,” Bennett said of the message from his coaches.

After watching it happen against New Orleans, McVay returned to the point he made Thursday.

“You just feel kind of his game really comes to life in game-day settings,” McVay said. “He’s just got a good feel and it’s not too big and he loves competing.”

McVay called him a “gamer.”

Bennett feels the growth himself.

“I definitely felt more comfortable out there than years prior,” Bennett said.

Perhaps just as important as the plays Bennett created were the mistakes he avoided.

He did not throw an interception. He worked through progressions, used his legs and resisted forcing throws when opportunities disappeared.

“I don’t think I put the ball in harm’s way today,” Bennett said.

The Rams also gave him something every quarterback appreciates: a clean pocket.

“I don’t think I got touched,” Bennett said, outside of one play. “So I’d say pretty awesome.”

Running like 225 pounds

The offensive line also created room for a rushing attack that became increasingly physical.

Los Angeles finished with 151 rushing yards on 30 carries, averaging five yards per attempt.

Jarquez Hunter rushed for 68 yards on 12 carries and capped the scoring with a 12-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Jordan Waters added 54 yards on 10 carries.

But Waters’ numbers did not fully explain his afternoon.

There was a physicality to his runs. He finished through contact and repeatedly moved the offense forward.

The running style was taught to him long before Saturday.

Waters recalled former college coach Mike Elko reminding the 225-pound running back that if he was going to carry that kind of size, he needed to run like it.

The message stuck.

Waters began training differently.

Then he began running differently.

Saturday, the difference was visible.

“Just trying to take advantage of every opportunity I get,” Waters said.

McVay noticed.

“I thought Waters made his presence felt,” he said.

That phrase, “made his presence felt”, would come up again.

This time on defense.

Bailey makes himself felt

New Orleans moved the football at times Saturday.

Finishing drives was another matter.

The Saints repeatedly approached scoring territory and repeatedly left without points.

Al’zillion Hamilton intercepted Spencer Rattler.

Wesley Bailey forced a fumble near the red zone that Payton Zdroik recovered.

And Alex Cook delivered the play that turned a potential Saints touchdown into seven points for Los Angeles.

Bailey was around the football throughout the afternoon.

He finished with five tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss and four quarterback hits while forcing the fumble.

Those numbers confirmed what could be seen from the press box.

Bailey was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

“There’s certain guys you just kind of feel on defense where you just know they’re making their presence felt,” McVay said. “That was how I felt about Wes Bailey all day today.”

McVay said Bailey has benefited from extensive work throughout training camp, including opportunities with the Rams’ first-team defense because of injuries and other absences.

Saturday represented another step.

“I thought his body of work today compared to last week was really improvement,” McVay said.

The Rams’ secondary supplied its own evidence.

Hamilton and Cook combined for two interceptions, while the Saints failed to produce a touchdown pass.

Rattler and Zach Wilson combined to complete 20 of 35 passes for 196 yards with two interceptions.

The Saints turned the football over three times.

They scored zero points.

One hundred yards, then reset

Cook authored the afternoon’s defining defensive play.

New Orleans was threatening to score early in the third quarter when Cook recognized the route, intercepted Rattler near the goal line and started running.

He did not stop until he reached the other end zone.

One hundred yards.

Touchdown.

Instead of New Orleans finally breaking through, Los Angeles suddenly led 27-0.

But what Cook said afterward revealed something the box score could not.

After running 100 yards, celebrating with his teammates and returning to the sideline, Cook was asked what was going through his mind.

“I need some more,” he said.

Cook laughed, but the message behind it was serious.

Whether he had just made the worst play of his NFL career or the best, he said the responsibility remained the same.

Reset.

Move to the next play.

For a player fighting to establish himself in the NFL, there was little time to admire what he had just accomplished.

There was another snap coming.

The evidence remains

Ty Simpson took over at quarterback in the second half after an impressive preseason debut against Kansas City.

His opportunities were more limited Saturday, but Simpson completed eight of 12 passes for 73 yards without an interception.

C.J. Daniels led Los Angeles with eight receptions for 68 yards. Alex Bachman caught all four of his targets for 48 yards, and Harrison Mevis converted both of his field-goal attempts and all four extra points.

The contributions came from throughout the roster.

That is what made Saturday meaningful.

The Rams already know what Stafford can do.

They know what Adams can do.

Preseason football is largely about answering different questions.

Who can be trusted when the established players aren’t playing?

Who improves from one week to another?

Who turns practice repetitions into game production?

And who makes the coaching staff notice when an opportunity finally arrives?

McVay and his staff now have another game of evidence.

Evidence that Bennett is becoming increasingly comfortable commanding the offense.

Evidence that Waters can bring physicality to the running game.

Evidence that Bailey can create disruption.

Evidence that Cook can turn recognition into six points.

The 34-0 score will eventually become an August footnote. Preseason records disappear when September arrives.

The evaluations do not.

Neither do the opportunities that change careers.

Cook understood that better than most.

After racing 100 yards and being surrounded by teammates in celebration, he described what the moment felt like.

“I felt like I was part of the family already,” Cook said.

Some players enter August with roster spots.

Others enter with résumés.

Some enter with little more than an opportunity.

And when that opportunity comes, the job is to make somebody remember you.

Saturday at SoFi Stadium, several Rams did exactly that.