With the Los Angeles Rams preseason, sometimes the best players to watch are the ones on the sidelines. If they aren’t injured it means they have already solidified a role for themselves on the team.
But the Rams still have plenty of hard decisions to make across the roster ahead of the NFL’s 53-man cutdown day on August 27th. The remaining Rams preseason games are important opportunities for coaches to make the right decisions.
Top Players To Watch In The Rams Preseason Week 2 Matchup
Jordan Whittington, WR
Jordan Whittington’s six catches for 74 yards may have been all the Rams needed to see from the former sixth-round rookie, but it also means he is the hottest ticket in town.
While Stetson Bennett didn’t have a stellar first half, he was much better when Whittington was in the game.
PFF’s Editorial Team wrote this about Whittington:
“Whittington’s ability to make contested catches (two-for-two on contested catches) and create positive gains after the catch (36 yards after the catch and one forced missed tackle) had to impress Sean McVay and the Rams coaching staff. Whittington has drawn rave reviews throughout Rams camp, and Sunday’s performance just showed why.”
Stetson Bennett, QB
Stetson Bennett may be the most searched third-string quarterback in the NFL. There is a quality about him that causes us to root for him. The Rams announced Thursday that he would once again get the start in the Rams preseason Week 2 matchup.
But will he play every down for the team, as he did in Week 1? After missing out on his first season, the Rams need to find out what exactly they have in Bennett. Keeping him playing the whole game is the only way to make that assessment.
Here is what Chirs Simms of PFT wants to see from Bennett;
“You got to see a cleaner game and have some confidence that he can execute the offense without making major blunders and mistakes. I think that’s the big thing you got to see there. And if he plays like he did last week then, they’re going to have to do something and figure something out for the first two games because again you can’t win the Super Bowl the first two or three weeks but you can lose it.”
Nick Hampton, OLB
Nick Hampton planted his flag last week with five pressures on 21 snaps. Now the national media has their eyes on him. Here is what Mason Cameron wrote about him for PFF;
“Hampton, the second-year edge rusher, will have a bona fide shot of fitting into the Rams’ pass-rush rotation if he keeps putting on a show like he did last week, when he generated a 42.9% pass-rush win rate and an 87.4 PFF pass-rushing grade.”
Hampton has a leg up in a now-crowded edge rusher room. He will have to replicate his performance against the Chargers, who started 4 of 5 offensive line starters last week.
Sean McVay in the Booth
People went nutty last week when Rams head coach Sean McVay went on with the commentary booth during the Rams preseason game last week. His combination of gentle ribbing, playful banter, and top notch football acumen has left the public wanting more.
Now this week, he hands off head coaching duties to defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasent and will spend the game in the broadcaster’s booth.