Los Angeles Rams QB Stetson Bennett wasted no time making a great NFL first impression during his preseason debut Saturday night against the Los Angeles Chargers. Bennett showed excellent pocket awareness and got the ball out of his hand, completing 17 of 29 for 191 yards. Many NFL analysts weighed in following Bennett’s debut performance, with Pat McAfee causing a stir with his reaction.
What Did Pat McAfee Say About Stetson Bennett’s Debut?
Bennett’s performance on Saturday blew away McAfee and the rest of his companions on the Pat McAfee Show. “He was doing this sh*t at Georgia,” McAfee would explain.
McAfee praised Bennett’s performance, remarking on his timing, accuracy, and playing in rhythm. He was not surprised and stated the reasons why NFL teams were not interested in Bennett had nothing to do with his performance on the collegiate gridiron.
McAfee explained that Bennett wasn’t for some teams due to his age and some off-the-field concerns. “Remember, he’s too old and partied his face off.”
Is Stetson Bennett the Next Brock Purdy?
Bennett’s situation with Los Angeles isn’t dissimilar to what Brock Purdy inherited last season in San Francisco. Both players were playing behind veterans with an injury history.
Bennett is a similar player to Purdy in several ways. Neither player impressed during the workout Olympics. They’re not 6’5″, 240 pounds, with a rocket launcher attached to their right shoulder. They won’t leap off the page from an athleticism standpoint. Nevertheless, both of them sure know how to play the game of football.
Bennett and Purdy share a high football IQ and use their knowledge to process a defensive scheme and go through their progressions rapidly. Both players are the types that NFL head coaches love because it’s like having an offensive coordinator under center, and that they’ll limit mistakes.
Meanwhile, the Rams’ starting QB Matthew Stafford has stated that he is entering the 2023 season as healthy as he’s been in several seasons. Great news in August, but once the hits pile up, will Stafford and his ailing back sustain the 2023 season?
The Rams hope so as Stafford provides Los Angeles the best opportunity to currently succeed. However, if Stafford does go down due to injury, L.A. believes they have a reliable backup in the wings in Bennett.
What Type Of Player Should We Expect If Bennett Starts in 2023?
Bennett led the Georgia Bulldogs to back-to-back college football national championships, going from forgotten walk-on to Athens legend. The Rams liked Bennett enough to select him with the 128th overall selection in Round 4 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
During Sean McVay’s tenure as the Rams’ head coach, the team had never selected a QB in the NFL Draft. It’s apparent that the coaching staff loved what they saw out of Bennett during his time at Georgia.
Los Angeles runs a pro-style offense that asks a lot from their quarterback. Luckily for Bennett, his former OC, Todd Monken, placed plenty of responsibility on his shoulders during his Georgia career, so Bennett should handle the transition smoothly.
One thing Bennett doesn’t get enough credit for is his ability to create outside of structure. He’s much quicker than you think and excels when forced to adlib.
What many NFL analysts considered a negative — Bennett’s playing age of 26 — is benefiting him currently. He seems unfazed by the transition from the college game to the NFL and is ready to play.
If Stafford remains healthy in 2023, this is much ado about nothing. However, if the veteran goes down, we could have one of the biggest storylines of the NFL season with Bennett at the helm.