The Rollercoaster Ride of Stetson Bennett: Analyzing His Preseason Performance with the Rams

When Stetson Bennett, the celebrated two-time national champion quarterback from Georgia, joined the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round, there was naturally a buzz. Fans, you know, they always hope for that hidden gem, especially at quarterback. His preseason stint, though, painted a rather complex picture – a bit of a rollercoaster, really – according to the folks at Pro Football Focus.

Right out of the gate, in Week 1 of the preseason against the Dallas Cowboys, Bennett seemed to be hitting his stride. He posted an impressive 79.6 PFF grade, which, if you're keeping score, was one of the highest among Rams offensive players and placed him 12th overall among quarterbacks that week. It was a really strong showing, with him completing 16 of 24 passes for 188 yards, tossing two touchdowns, and even making a gutsy 39-yard pass on fourth-and-6 to Xavier Smith. Coach Sean McVay even chimed in, praising his command and quick decision-making – always a good sign when the coach is happy, right?

But then, football, as it often does, throws you a curveball. The very next week, facing the Chargers at SoFi Stadium, things took a noticeable dip. Bennett's PFF grade plummeted to a 44.4. It was an inconsistent outing, marked by one 'big-time throw' – so, there were still flashes, mind you – but also three 'turnover-worthy plays.' And, unfortunately, losing a fumble contributed to a rather painful 27.5 grade specifically for that play. It just goes to show, the NFL preseason can be a real humbling experience.

Zooming out a bit, his full preseason stats tell a more balanced story. Across seven preseason games, including six starts, he actually tied for the most passing touchdowns in the NFL with five! He also stacked up an impressive 512 passing yards, placing him second, and was third in completions with 44. His 68.8% completion rate and 105.7 passer rating were pretty respectable too. It's almost like you saw two different players at times. PFF also pointed out an interesting stat from his college days: he achieved an elite 90.9 passing grade at Georgia when kept clean from pressure. The challenge, of course, is that the NFL isn't always so accommodating, and keeping a quarterback 'clean' is easier said than done.

Now, Bennett wasn't the only one under the PFF microscope against the Chargers. Other Rams players had their moments, both good and, well, less good. Tight end Nikola Kalinic actually shone brightly with a fantastic 91.0 grade, while Davis Allen also put up a solid 75.0. Center Beaux Limmer, despite an early exit with a thumb injury that wasn't considered too serious, still managed a 75.0. So, it wasn't a uniformly dismal performance across the board for the team.

Looking ahead to 2025, the conversation around Bennett gets even more interesting, if not a little bit nerve-wracking for Rams fans. With Matthew Stafford's lingering back issues, Bennett's role as a potentially serviceable backup could become far more critical than initially imagined. He's heading into his third year, and yet, he still hasn't taken a regular season snap in the NFL. That's a huge question mark, isn't it? Ultimately, his preseason proved he has the arm talent and the mental fortitude to rebound, but also highlighted the steep learning curve. The hope is that those 'big-time throws' become more consistent, and those 'turnover-worthy plays' become a distant memory as he continues to develop.