With one action, Matthew Stafford’s impact on the Los Angeles Rams was obvious.
Moreover, the reigning most valuable player was not even the one to execute it, making the underlying theme even stronger.
During the Rams’ preseason blowout win over the New Orleans Saints, backup Stetson Bennett IV used one of Stafford’s signature moves–the no-look pass–successfully, drawing attention to himself and his mentor for the past three seasons (and fellow former Georgia Bulldog).
Stetson Bennett IV Channeled Matthew Stafford in Rams Win
GettyStetson Bennett IV did his best Matthew Stafford impersonation against the Saints.
On a fourth down, Bennett dropped back to pass. Amid pressure, Bennett, whom the Rams drafted in the fourth round in 2023, delivered a reasonable facsimile of the Stafford special.
“This throw from Stetson Bennett is crazy,” TNF Prime’s Sam Schwartzstein posted on X on August 23, including a clip of the pass from Bennett to wide receiver Tyler Scott and adding “Need the tv copy of [Sean] McVay reacting.”
The NFL posted the clip, too, saying, “Stetson Bennett layers it over the defense.”
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“This 4th down sidearm flick from Stetson Bennett is as good of a throw as I’ve seen this NFL preseason,” Dawgs Central’s Graham Coffey posted on X on August 23. “Not that many guys in the sport can make this pass under duress. It might not look that difficult to some of the people who watch this, but it is.”
The reactions to Bennett making the throw at all were accompanied by plenty of Stafford references.
“If you blurred out the number, you could easily convince me this was Matthew Stafford lmaooooo,” Underdog’s Sosa Kremenjas said in a post on X in reaction to the play, adding that it was an “insane throw.”
The influence was clear, even if Bennett’s eyes found his target sooner than Stafford’s do.
Rams Bros. posted, “This is what happens when you hangout with Matthew Stafford for 4 straight years.”
Stafford, who was joining the broadcast during the play, said, “Thanks T. Scott,” in jest for having to continue with his interview. Again, though, the Rams star’s impact on the team was evident, and even extends beyond his teammates.
Jared Goff’s Take on Matthew Stafford Bodes Well for Ty Simpson
GettyJared Goff offered telling words about Matthew Stafford.
Bennett can be seen looking off Scott in the play, something that all quarterbacks taught, but that he also almost certainly has been able to learn from seeing Stafford doing over the past several seasons.
Former Rams quarterback Jared Goff, whom LA traded to the Detroit Lions for Stafford in 2021, called his fellow Pro Bowler “the best” at manipulating defenses with his eyes.
He said it is something that he works on daily.
“I think about him. I think about [Tom] Brady, Peyton [Manning], these guys that [are] a little older, I guess, that don’t move. And you have to be able to create space, whether that’s moving slightly in the pocket or down the field. How do you create space for your receivers?” Goff told Robert Mays on “The Athletic Football Show” on August 20.
“I try to do it daily. I work on different things daily to try to see if I can move a defender with a certain look, a certain body position. Shoulders, eyes. It’s hard on Day 15 of camp to keep trying to get these guys to do different things, but it’s a fun challenge.”
Stafford being such an effective active and passive teacher is good news for the Rams and, more specifically, rookie first-round draft pick Ty Simpson.
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