Ram Digest

Grading Stetson Bennett on 3 Throws: 'Comfortable' vs. Chargers

Los Angeles Rams fourth-round rookie quarterback Stetson Bennett completed several pass attempts that mirrored a typical seasoned veteran.

Hunter De Siver

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Los Angeles Rams fourth-round rookie quarterback Stetson Bennett looked cool, calm and collected throughout his NFL debut against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The two-time national champion from Georgia completed 17-of-29 attempts for 191 yards and a touchdown.

The 25-year-old faced a decent number of pressures, yet - relatively speaking - he looked like a seasoned veteran when handling them.

"I got more comfortable as the game went on," Bennett said during the postgame press conference. "They started to bring a little bit more stuff than I thought maybe they would after we were throwing it better. I thought the O-line and backs picked it up well. There are some things to fix, but also things we can be proud of too."

Bennett had a lot of completions that stood out, but these three are a good summary of his performance on Saturday night.

Throw No. 1: Quick Release

With 4:56 remaining in the second quarter on third-and-short in the red zone, Bennett received a low snap from Mike McAllister and left tackle Warren McLendon Jr. got beat off the edge. Sensing pressure and not displaying any panic signs, Bennett found receiver Ben Skowronek cutting on a two-yard dig route toward the left sideline for a first down.

We clocked Bennett's time to release the ball (starting from the low snap) at roughly 1.3 seconds, significantly quicker than the NFL's average release time of 2.77 seconds. Granted, Bennett was under pressure so he had to get the ball out quickly, but even when the offensive line protected him better, he still got rid of it in a fast and efficient manner throughout the game.

Throw No. 2: Touchdown

Bennett's first career touchdown pass was certainly one to remember. It might look like a simple throw and catch to rookie receiver Puka Nacua, but there were a couple of obstacles that Bennett countered.

Right tackle Logan Bruss got beaten off the edge, but did a good job of moving the pass-rusher around the back to stall a few more milliseconds. Sensing that a hit was likely on the way, Bennett simply stepped up a couple of feet in the pocket. This brought him even more time to throw, as he lasered it to Nacua in a tight, but risky window.

Bennett's quick-release expertise showed again, as we clocked the eventful play at 2.41 seconds.

Throw No. 3: Patience Under Pressure

Lined up in shotgun with 3:19 left in the fourth quarter, Bennett dropped back an additional four yards after the snap. McClendon got beat off the right side and instead of dumping it off to running back Royce Freeman, Bennett sensed he had a bit more time before the edge rusher hit him to make a decision. 

He launched the ball about 22 yards in the air and over numerous defenders to receiver Lance McCutcheon for the first down. Even the commentators said "what a throw" in the middle of its journey.

Bennett's patience to find an open receiver further downfield while facing pressure mirrored a typically seasoned veteran.

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Hunter De Siver
HUNTER DE SIVER

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