Stetson Bennett handled seven drives in his NFL debut

With Matthew Stafford now the second oldest quarterback in the NFL, the Rams need to think about the future. The future prospect could be Stetson Bennett.

The freshman from Georgia, who turns 26 in October, handled seven home runs Saturday night, in the Rams’ season opener against the Chargers.

“I know it’s a prep game, but it’s the first NFL game you’re in,” Bennett told reporters. , but after that [we] We got into a groove, we started calling plays and it started to settle in once you get the first strike, honestly, it’s just like everything I’ve been taught, almost.”

His first drive (after Brett Ripien handled three of them) took 16 plays, covered 75 yards and ended in a touchdown, On an 11-yard throw to fellow rookie Boca Nakoa.

On the night, Bennett completed 17 of 29 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown. He had no objections. He could get two, but the defenders couldn’t catch him.

“I thought there were some bone-headed plays that I’d done,” Bennett said. “I thought there were some good plays you made. I thought we bounced a few times on some lost yardage plays. I thought we did really well on third downs, we didn’t turn the ball over, even though I tried a few times, so I had to clean that up a little bit, But I thought it was OK. It’s hard to say without watching the tape.”

He doesn’t need to see the tape to know he almost has a pair of shots. What does he think after those plays happen?

“I just don’t think about it,” Bennett said. “Thank you for not understanding that,” and we’re on to the next one now. “

He credited the offensive line for giving him time to look down the field.

“I remember especially on the touchdown lane, it was like everything was open and I could see Boca so well I thought I had time all night,” said Bennett. “Most of the time I get in trouble it’s been on fake plays. They had wide D-ends coming and not really respecting the race, which hit them a few times there, but overall, I thought we played well up front.”

It is encouraging that the Rams are beginning to develop a player who can eventually become a starter. Whether he does depends on many things, including whether he takes full advantage of opportunities for growth and improvement in the pre-season.