Current:Home > NewsAfter years of going all-in, Rams now need young, unproven players to 'figure stuff out' -FinTechWorld
After years of going all-in, Rams now need young, unproven players to 'figure stuff out'
View
Date:2025-04-17 12:58:58
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Matthew Stafford didn’t have much of a relationship with Stetson Bennett before the Los Angeles Rams drafted the rookie quarterback in the fourth round. But Stafford and Bennett have two major things in common: They are former Georgia Bulldogs and each of them have won a championship at SoFi Stadium, albeit on different levels.
"He's like all the other young guys on this team, just trying to figure it out and trying to figure out what it's like to be an NFL player, where to be, what to do and continue to try to kind of carve his way, which is fun to see and fun to be a part of," Stafford said of Bennett. "He's a really talented kid, runs around, makes plays, throws it great, but he's like every other rookie. They're just doing the best they can to try and figure stuff out as quickly as possible."
Stafford's comments symbolize the current state of the Rams. Entering training camp, the Rams roster included 36 rookies. Fourteen of them were selected by the club in the 2023 draft.
Rookies and young, unproven players fill the Rams’ roster. They are trying to "figure stuff out" with the regular season less than a month away.
It’s beneficial that the Rams have two sets of joint practices, against the Las Vegas Raiders this week and the Denver Broncos next week, in addition to three preseason games.
'Going to get a little hot-headed':In NFL joint practices, teams challenged to keep cool
"I think what we can try to do is challenge them to use the tools, not be afraid to fail so that you can actually have some of that growth occur in a smart way," Rams coach Sean McVay said. "You want to be able to try out some of these fundamentals and techniques in a situation, in a setting like these practices. Go shoot your shot in some of these preseason games, but I think the more that we can create those situations and scenarios, whether it be on the practice field, these preseason games, and then ultimately accumulating experience in the games, the better equipped our guys are going to be."
Among the Rams’ newcomers, rookie second-round pick Steve Avila is expected to start at guard. Bennett is the leader in the clubhouse to be the team’s backup quarterback behind Stafford.
On defense, rookie third-round pick Byron Young is already listed atop the depth chart at outside linebacker and rookie sixth-round pick Tre Tomlinson is expected to play significant snaps at cornerback.
During Wednesday’s joint practice with the Raiders, Tomlinson covered Raiders star wide receiver Davante Adams on multiple occasions. Adams got the better of the rookie cornerback but the experience lining up against one of the top wideouts in the NFL was invaluable.
Then there are the unproven players, such as third-year outside linebacker Michael Hoecht and third-year receiver Tutu Atwell. Both are slated to be key contributors this year.
Atwell’s built a solid rapport with Stafford. His development has been evident as he made multiple plays against the Raiders defense during their joint session.
“He made a lot of plays and that's been consistent from the spring,” McVay said. “What I love about Tutu is the work that he's put in is paying off.”
The Rams are going to find out a lot about their young and unproven players on both sides of the ball this season as they build around franchise stars Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp and Stafford.
Eighteen months have passed since the Rams hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl 56. They went all in a couple seasons ago to do just that. This year, the Rams are starting anew, literally.
WANNA BET?How to bet on NFL games in 2023
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on Twitter @TheTylerDragon.
veryGood! (82115)
Related
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- In the Crossroads State of Illinois, Nearly 2 Million People Live Near Warehouses Shrouded by Truck Pollution
- Climate-Smart Cowboys Hope Regenerative Cattle Ranching Can Heal the Land and Sequester Carbon
- Q&A: Kate Beaton Describes the Toll Taken by Alberta’s Oil Sands on Wildlife and the Workers Who Mine the Viscous Crude
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Red States Stand to Benefit From a ‘Layer Cake’ of Tax Breaks From Inflation Reduction Act
- Kylie Jenner and Jordyn Woods Reunite 4 Years After Tristan Thompson Cheating Scandal
- This Texas Community Has Waited Decades for Running Water. Could Hydro-Panels Help?
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Score the Best Deals on Carry-Ons and Weekend Bags from Samsonite, American Tourister, TravelPro & More
Ranking
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Kylie Jenner and Jordyn Woods Reunite 4 Years After Tristan Thompson Cheating Scandal
- Texas Pipeline Operators Released or Flared Tons of Gas to Avert Explosions During Heatwave
- On Chicago’s South Side, Naomi Davis Planted the Seeds of Green Solutions to Help Black Communities
- Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
- Department of Agriculture Conservation Programs Are Giving Millions to Farms That Worsen Climate Change
- From the Frontlines of the Climate Movement, A Message of Hope
- Why Julie Bowen Is Praising Single Modern Family Co-Star Sofia Vergara After Joe Manganiello Split
Recommendation
Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
Cleveland’s Tree Canopy Is in Trouble
Preserving the Cowboy Way of Life
Noting a Mountain of Delays, California Lawmakers Advance Bills Designed to Speed Grid Connections
US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
Biden’s Top Climate Adviser Signals Support for Permitting Deal with Fossil Fuel Advocates
DeSantis Promised in 2018 That if Elected Governor, He Would Clean Up Florida’s Toxic Algae. The Algae Are Still Blooming
Q&A: Kate Beaton Describes the Toll Taken by Alberta’s Oil Sands on Wildlife and the Workers Who Mine the Viscous Crude
Like
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- The EPA’s New ‘Technical Assistance Centers’ Are a Big Deal for Environmental Justice. Here’s Why
- DeSantis Promised in 2018 That if Elected Governor, He Would Clean Up Florida’s Toxic Algae. The Algae Are Still Blooming