New-look Rams trying to figure it out with young, unproven players

admin August 17, 2023August 17, 2023

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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Matthew Stafford didn’t have a lot of a relationship with Stetson Bennett earlier than the Los Angeles Rams drafted the rookie quarterback within the fourth spherical. However Stafford and Bennett have two main issues in widespread: They’re former Georgia Bulldogs and every of them have received a championship at SoFi Stadium, albeit on totally different ranges.

“He is like all the opposite younger guys on this crew, simply attempting to determine it out and attempting to determine what it is prefer to be an NFL participant, the place to be, what to do and proceed to attempt to sort of carve his method, which is enjoyable to see and enjoyable to be part of,” Stafford stated of Bennett. “He is a extremely proficient child, runs round, makes performs, throws it nice, however he is like each different rookie. They’re simply doing one of the best they will to attempt to determine stuff out as shortly as doable.”

Stafford’s feedback symbolize the present state of the Rams. Coming into coaching camp, the Rams roster included 36 rookies. Fourteen of them had been chosen by the membership within the 2023 draft.

Rookies and younger, unproven gamers fill the Rams’ roster. They’re attempting to “determine stuff out” with the common season lower than a month away.

It’s helpful that the Rams have two units of joint practices, towards the Las Vegas Raiders this week and the Denver Broncos subsequent week, along with three preseason video games.

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“I feel what we are able to attempt to do is problem them to make use of the instruments, not be afraid to fail with the intention to even have a few of that progress happen in a sensible method,” Rams coach Sean McVay stated. “You need to have the ability to check out a few of these fundamentals and strategies in a scenario, in a setting like these practices. Go shoot your shot in a few of these preseason video games, however I feel the extra that we are able to create these conditions and situations, whether or not or not it’s on the apply discipline, these preseason video games, after which finally accumulating expertise within the video games, the higher geared up our guys are going to be.”

Among the many Rams’ newcomers, rookie second-round decide Steve Avila is anticipated to start out at guard. Bennett is the chief within the clubhouse to be the crew’s backup quarterback behind Stafford.

On protection, rookie third-round decide Byron Younger is already listed atop the depth chart at exterior linebacker and rookie sixth-round decide Tre Tomlinson is anticipated to play vital snaps at cornerback.

Throughout Wednesday’s joint apply with the Raiders, Tomlinson coated Raiders star huge receiver Davante Adams on a number of events. Adams bought the higher of the rookie cornerback however the expertise lining up towards one of many high wideouts within the NFL was invaluable.

Then there are the unproven gamers, equivalent to third-year exterior linebacker Michael Hoecht and third-year receiver Tutu Atwell. Each are slated to be key contributors this 12 months.

Atwell’s constructed a stable rapport with Stafford. His growth has been evident as he made a number of performs towards the Raiders protection throughout their joint session.

“He made numerous performs and that is been constant from the spring,” McVay stated. “What I like about Tutu is the work that he is put in is paying off.”

The Rams are going to search out out so much about their younger and unproven gamers on each side of the ball this season as they construct round franchise stars Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp and Stafford.

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