Welcome to our new message board system. We hope you enjoy the new features, and please post any issues or problems in the Help and Support forum. There are also several tutorial videos posted there to help you get familiar with some of the changes. Registration is required to post.https://ramsrule.com/herd/index.phpTue, 18 Aug 2026 15:10:50 -0400 Phorum 5.2.18 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249462,1249462#msg-1249462 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249462,1249462#msg-1249462
I realize that these aren't our starters, but is it a good sign when you 2nd and 3rd string guys look good against your opponent's 2nd and 3rd string guys?]]> RantoulRam RamsFootballFans.comTue, 18 Aug 2026 12:38:06 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249459,1249459#msg-1249459 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249459,1249459#msg-1249459
Anyway, here it is...



]]> Ramsdude RamsFootballFans.comTue, 18 Aug 2026 09:08:26 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249433,1249433#msg-1249433 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249433,1249433#msg-1249433



]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comMon, 17 Aug 2026 23:32:07 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1249419,1249419#msg-1249419 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1249419,1249419#msg-1249419
I love both, btw... Pub food and Beer. Also the atmosphere. How many of you have been to the Pubs in England, Ireland, Scotland? I cannot believe those type of Pubs have not caught on here. Just maybe the greatest contribution to mankind ever.

They do mimic them here... a little anyway. But not the same. Some are quite good, however.

A pint of frothy Guiness is heaven on earth. A pint of Frothy Guiness in a true Pub with the right atmosphere is heaven on the galaxy... earth is no limitation.

So anyway my daughter is a master at locating good Pubs. We have two away games this year where the towns have Pubs. One we've been to before - Brewbakers Brew Company in Visalia Calif. LONG time ago, however, can't remember how good it was. And The Stag Saloon in Exeter, Calif. 21Dog might know Exeter... I do not. Been there maybe 2 times in my life? I was surprised because I thought Exeter was VERY small but no.....there are 10,000 people there! 10,000 people is a mega-metropolis to me. :laughing

To point: Pubs and a football game after... does it get any better? - JamesJM]]> JamesJM Bucky's PubMon, 17 Aug 2026 20:14:05 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249415,1249415#msg-1249415 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249415,1249415#msg-124941511. Los Angeles Rams
LT: Alaric Jackson
LG: Steve Avila
C: Coleman Shelton
RG: Kevin Dotson
RT: Warren McClendon Jr.
Eleven guards earned PFF grades of 75.0 or better in 2025, and Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson were the only two teammates in that group. Avila has improved throughout his three seasons in the league and could make himself some serious money with another strong campaign in a contract year. There are still some lingering questions about whether Alaric Jackson will face a suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, and that would be a big blow to this group.]]> Shecky RamsFootballFans.comTue, 18 Aug 2026 09:06:05 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1249392,1249392#msg-1249392 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1249392,1249392#msg-1249392
As for famous names in baseball, he's in the top 3]]> ScRAM Bucky's PubMon, 17 Aug 2026 21:01:27 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249389,1249389#msg-1249389 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249389,1249389#msg-1249389
No surprise there.

If you want to get an idea of whether he'll make the team, I'd suggest you look at two things next week:

1. Is he contributing on special teams?

and

2. Is he demonstrating an ability to pick up the blitz?]]> AvengerRam RamsFootballFans.comMon, 17 Aug 2026 21:09:01 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249382,1249382#msg-1249382 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249382,1249382#msg-1249382
]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comMon, 17 Aug 2026 23:17:22 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249378,1249378#msg-1249378 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249378,1249378#msg-1249378
It seems from my armchair that it is perhaps not as tough as it needs to be if GMs will only stop being wowed by size and athletism and instead look at what the actual role is of a QB to help make a team successful.

We keep seeing the same mistakes. Trey Lance, Anthony Richardson, Ryan Leaf, Zach Wilson, DeShaun Watson, on and on it goes. What were the mistakes? Putting great athletism, great size, and canon arm ahead of great leadership, great and fast processing football mind, high character, good judgment and accuracy, passion for the game and the desire to learn. Oh sure, sometimes guys are outliers that succeed despite not having the traits typically needed.

But, I also think the HCs and GMs together can exacerbate the problem by playing rookie QBs too soon. In the older times, it was not often than a rookie QB started games. It has become more prevelant as time has passed as the media pressure (perhaps pressure from some of the owners) has multiplied and forced HCs into hurrying to get their newbie into the starting role.

I think we have a chance to see what is almost assuredly the winning formula to happen here with the Rams and Simpson. By no means did Simpson's good showing mean he's ready to start NFL games in the real season. But, the winning traits showed up as one might expect. Now, he needs a year or two of development and seasoning. I think McVay is determined to give it to him.

I feel for Mendoza if he too quickly leapfrogs Cousins. Perhaps Mendoza will turn out to be a Peyton Manning outlier. But, that's like thinking winning the Lottery is the best route for a good retirement plan.]]> RockRam RamsFootballFans.comMon, 17 Aug 2026 07:12:35 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249372,1249372#msg-1249372 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249372,1249372#msg-1249372
The 2026 blue pants have two dedicated strips...one white....one yellow, with the yellow stripe being twice as thick as the white.

The 2025 blue pants have one (wide) gradient stripe that starts white at the waist and hip area and changes to yellow as it approaches the knee.

Not that any of this is a big deal, but it's interesting nonetheless. Truthfully, I wish they would scrap the blue pants altogether!]]> NJRam715 RamsFootballFans.comTue, 18 Aug 2026 13:59:12 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249338,1249338#msg-1249338 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249338,1249338#msg-1249338(0:01 - 0:45) Introduction and setting the stage with Seth Payne.
(0:46 - 2:30) Initial thoughts on the quarterback performance and Sean McVay's play-calling.
(2:31 - 7:09) The Rams quarterback situation: Stetson Bennett vs. Ty Simpson.
(7:10 - 9:48) Discussion on the team's risk management and the goal of a Super Bowl appearance.
(9:49 - 11:23) Impressions of tight end Max Claire.
(11:24 - 13:14) Wide receiver depth and Ty Simpson's ability to push the ball downfield.
(13:15 - 15:45) Les Sneed, Sean McVay, and the team's unconventional management style.
(15:46 - 19:20) Balancing short-term goals with long-term roster development.
(19:21 - 22:19) Looking ahead to preseason game two and evaluating individual player growth.
(22:20 - 27:23) Speculation on Aaron Donald's potential return and the impact on the defensive line.
(27:24 - 28:32) Wrap-up and closing remarks.



]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comMon, 17 Aug 2026 09:37:49 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?23,1249332,1249332#msg-1249332 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?23,1249332,1249332#msg-1249332
[x.com]]]> IowaRam Rams ChroniclesSun, 16 Aug 2026 19:04:40 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249330,1249330#msg-1249330 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249330,1249330#msg-1249330He's an international signing so Rams roster stands at 91]]> CROMWELL21 RamsFootballFans.comSun, 16 Aug 2026 16:39:08 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249320,1249320#msg-1249320 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249320,1249320#msg-1249320
Please share.]]> mtramfan RamsFootballFans.comMon, 17 Aug 2026 21:37:46 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249311,1249311#msg-1249311 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249311,1249311#msg-1249311
-The Good Lord blessed us with an overcast sky and even a few raindrops. I brought enough water and Gatorade for traversing the Atacama, and it was still as humid as a Turkish bathhouse, but thankfully it was better than forecasted.
-Won a bet with my friend that we wouldn’t hit any traffic. Only thing that prevented us from driving right into the parking lot was my forgetting to download the parking pass to my Apple Wallet. Doh!
-Great tailgating scene for a preseason game. And tons of Rams fans; way more than I expected. Had a great conversation with a young lady and her father who drove from Colorado and Florida, respectively.
-Headed into the stadium around 2:15. Once again, a lot of Rams apparel, especially behind the Rams sideline. I’ll upload pictures later.
The Game:
-Jarquez Hunter I thought played well. Had a few good carries. Just that the other two had a bigger impact.
-Bennett played OK. The second (and his last, I think?) drive he did better, but they were running lots of bootlegs and stretch runs. Nothing fancy.
-I was impressed with the d-line, especially the pass rush. They were in the backfield most of the game. I thought Keenan played well.
-I kept telling my friends that #45 is all over the field. Didn’t catch his name from the announcer, but now I see it was Nick Anderson (who?). Had a couple TFL and played well in coverage. Solid tackler.
-Did anyone see why that interception by #41 (I think) got overturned? Sure looked like a catch on the replay to me. The ref never gave an explanation that I recall.
-Player of the game has to be Ty Simpson. Man, I feel even better about this pick after yesterday. Great gameplan for him too. Simplify his reads by cutting the field in half using bootlegs and misdirection to get him comfortable, then open it up with more traditional dropback passes. Let ‘er rip, tater chip. He’s got a quick release and good zip. Very mobile. Underrated athlete IMO.
-I don’t think Simpson made a single bad decision.
-Klare was his favorite target. That dude is like Seven Eleven. I see good things for him in this offense. He looks like an overgrown wideout. Good hands and adjusts to the ball really well.
-Dean Connors is a keeper. I see why some folks were calling him McCaffrey-lite. Good pass catcher and hard to bring down. Good speed, too.
-The other RB Waters has got some good wheels for a big dude.
-Also impressed with Brennan Presley. I’m biased because he went to my alma mater, but he’s slippery and has good hands. Hard worker.
-CJ Daniels only had one catch that I saw, but it was a good one. Decent coverage on a slant/crosser but great throw and strong hands. Looked like his college highlights.
-As for STs, I thought they were fine. Punt coverage I think still takes some bad angles, but there weren’t any huge returns. Evans was hitting some boomers. I didn’t keep track of hangtime, but I didn’t think he was out kicking the coverage.
-Mevis looked like Mevis from last year. No worries there. Felt strange that the Rams went with a Hail Mary instead of letting Mevis try to kick it. By my calculations, I think it would’ve been about a 60 yarder. I could be wrong though.
-Chiefs fan were filing out in droves after the second TD. I facetiously asked where everyone was going; we still had six more minutes of fun left!
-A lot of fan energy for preseason game one. Loved it! The parking attendant was giving me a hard time for not having our parking pass ready. “Oh, well that explains it! He’s a Rams fan!” I said I’d buy you a parking pass for SoFi in February, but the Chiefs will only be there in December. She pretended like she didn’t hear me, or maybe she didn’t get it. Oh well!
-For those that aren’t aware, Chiefs fans bang on the promotion signs hanging on the inside of the spiral ramps leading up to the seats while doing their “Tomahawk Chop” chant. They were doing it as we were leaving, so I altered it slightly by chanting “Whose House? Rams House!” to the same tune. Got a few laughs (and maybe a couple dirty looks).
-Thanks for sticking with me if you made it this far! It was a great time. I’ll post pics later.]]> Drew2839 RamsFootballFans.comMon, 17 Aug 2026 19:56:10 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?23,1249309,1249309#msg-1249309 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?23,1249309,1249309#msg-1249309@BaldyNFL
.
@RamsNFL @ty_simpson06 very efficient; very accurate...made it look easy. Strong debut. #BaldysBreakdowns

[x.com]]]> RamBill Rams ChroniclesSun, 16 Aug 2026 16:22:55 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249304,1249304#msg-1249304 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249304,1249304#msg-1249304
But there were several Ram players that truly impressed me, especially for a first preseason game.

Simpson. Duh! He had a helluva debut and I couldn’t be more impressed. Props to Snead for pulling the trigger (thanks, Atlanta) and to multiple assistant coaches that have been working hard to develop him. I think it’s just a matter of time until he is officially Rams #2 QB this season. So much for questioning his mere 15 games as starter at Alabama. Such a high floor and apparently a high ceiling, too. I guess Snead knows what he’s doing, after all.

Klare. What more could we ask of him? Our TE room is set both for this year and beyond, don’t you think?

Nick Anderson. He played like a man possessed.

Connor. Dang! I love this kids style and I think that RB3 position is up for grabs, tbh. What a signing as an udfa. It’s too early to make any final decisions but I do believe that Hunter is now looking over his shoulder, as he should be.

X-man, if given even decent blocking help can do some damage. I was really happy to see that. Presley got in some good work on returns, as well.

There will be dogfights at several depth positions, as well. Such as”

OL
WR
DL
ILB
CB
Safety

I was also pleased to see improvement on ST coverage units, too. They’re not perfect yet, but I definitely see that they’re now headed in the right direction (at last).

Altogether, a VERY satisfying first preseason game.

Hot Damn!]]> Rams_43 RamsFootballFans.comSun, 16 Aug 2026 21:16:00 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249302,1249302#msg-1249302 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249302,1249302#msg-1249302A QB in the making

The kid has an arm. 8th grader! Makes me sad, however... because If I were to try to heave a football today I'd be at Urgent Care a minutes later. - JamesJM]]> JamesJM RamsFootballFans.comSun, 16 Aug 2026 13:50:31 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249297,1249297#msg-1249297 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249297,1249297#msg-1249297

d050.gif

]]> ScRAM RamsFootballFans.comSun, 16 Aug 2026 15:25:03 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1249293,1249293#msg-1249293 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,1249293,1249293#msg-1249293
ScRAM, Scott, had me upload this for him.

video: [www.youtube.com]]]> JamesJM Bucky's PubTue, 18 Aug 2026 13:20:33 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249278,1249278#msg-1249278 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249278,1249278#msg-1249278
Eric Lambkins III

[sports.yahoo.com]

https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fthe_sporting_tribune_articles_423%2Fa9c66bbcda6dd2af2ce08820d753dd27.jpg

KANSAS CITY, Mo. –– The last time he positioned himself under a punt, chaos ensued. This time, as the punt hung in the Arrowhead air at the dawn of the fourth quarter, redemption was abounding.

72,451 voices hummed and swirled around it, a low thrum of red and gold that had swallowed lesser men.

Xavier Smith stood at his own 37, knees bent, eyes skyward, the ball descending against the blue backdrop of the sky.

He caught it. Cut left. Cut right.

40 yards later, he stood at the Kansas City 23, and the Rams sideline erupted, and suddenly the whole afternoon tilted Los Angeles' way.

This was the moment. The flip. The fulcrum.

Three plays later, Ty Simpson took the snap, flicked his wrist and watched Dean Connors catch the screen, read the block, cut inside the tackle, and plow towards the pylon. Touchdown. Rams. The scoreboard pushed toward 12-9 and the fourth quarter belonged to the visitors.

"I thought that was kind of the momentum flip of the game," Sean McVay said afterward, his voice carrying the particular satisfaction of a coach who watched his plan become poetry. "We got the defensive stop, have a big return by Xavier Smith, and then ultimately were able to hit Dean Connors on the screen."

But the touchdown doesn't begin this story; it starts with a rookie quarterback who refused to let a bad beginning become his ending.

Simpson had already completed eight consecutive passes by the time the fourth quarter arrived.

Eight. In his first NFL action.

Although this Kansas City defense played their 2s and 3s, they still don the jersey that Patrick Mahomes wears on Sundays.

The Alabama product finished 21 of 25 for 190 yards and two touchdowns, both to Connors, posting a 125.0 QBR that made him the only Rams quarterback in preseason history to achieve that benchmark en route to a 20-12 victory.

His 190 passing yards are the most for any quarterback in the 2026 preseason.

"I definitely felt more comfortable than I ever had coming into a game," Simpson said, "but I also didn't know what to expect. Once that first drive kind of got done with I was like, all right, like yeah, this is just like playing in the backyard in Martin."

The backyard in Martin, Tennessee.

Population small; dreams large.

His first drive ended in a punt. Three plays. Three-and-out.

The second drive was a different song.

Simpson completed four consecutive passes for 41 yards, moving the chains with the patience of a man who understands rhythm isn't given; it is earned.

Harrison Mevis, the "Thicker Kicker" who can split the wings off a fly, drilled a 40-yard field goal through the uprights.

Then another.

Mevis finished 2 for 2 on field goals and 2 for 2 on extra points, his left-footed stroke as steady as a metronome.

But precision is not always pretty. In the second quarter, a snap sailed high and hot, threatening to unravel a promising possession. Simpson did not panic. He caught the ball, stepped up, and threw it into the third row.

Incompletion. No turnover. No disaster.

"Last thing you want to do is try to do too much and turn the ball over," Simpson said. "Any drive that ends at a kick is a good drive."

Wisdom beyond his years. Or perhaps just good coaching. I

Dave Ragone has spent countless hours walking fields with this rookie, translating NFL defenses into a language Simpson can speak.

On Saturday, the translation became fluency.

Simpson read with his feet. He took what the defense gave him. He kept the ball in play.

"I thought he took what the defense gave him," McVay said. "I thought he read the plays out, read with his feet. I thought he did a really good job overall. He kept the ball in play. That's the biggest thing, keeping the ball in play."

He was not alone in the excellence.

Max Klare, the tight end out of Purdue, caught seven passes for 37 yards on a team-high eight targets, becoming one of only five Rams since 2017 to record seven or more receptions in a preseason game.

He was a security blanket and a safety valve, a pair of reliable hands in a sea of chaos.

"I try to get the best players the ball," Simpson said. "Max is a really good player. He does a really good job with his routes."

Jarquez Hunter did the dirty work early, rushing nine times for 35 yards in the first quarter alone, the most by a Rams running back in an opening preseason quarter since Todd Gurley in 2017.

He ran behind his pads; he fell forward. He set the tone while the starters watched from the sideline.

Stetson Bennett, getting the starting nod, authored his own redemption. His first drive died quickly, an incompletion to C.J. Daniels preceded by two runs that gained little.

But his second?

13 plays. 75 yards. Five first downs.

Bennett completed four of his next five passes, including a 21-yard strike to Brennan Presley and a connection with Mark Redman that moved the chains.

He finished 4 of 6 for 38 yards, an 84.0 QBR that does not tell the story of a man settling into his role.

Then the defense took its turn.

Nick Anderson, the safety with the nose for disruption, recorded five tackles and a tackle for loss in the first half, joining an exclusive club of Rams defenders who have dominated preseason openers since 2021. He finished with a game-high eight tackles.

Desjuan Johnson added a sack in the third quarter, his first in preseason action and the sixth of his career, a rip-and-under move that collapsed the pocket.

Tim Keenan III notched his first career sack on the same afternoon, a baptism of quarterback violence.

Monty Rice and Payton Zdroik joined the fray, stuffing runs and harassing passers.

Ethan Evans punted four times for 243 yards, a 60.8-yard average that included a 65-yard boot tied for the second-longest in the 2026 preseason.

The special teams were not special. They were spectacular.

And yet, the afternoon belonged to the rookie who stayed late at LMU, who annoyed Matthew Stafford with too many questions, who walked the field with Ragone after practice because reps were scarce and time was not.

Simpson's father finessed his schedule at UT Martin to make the game. His mother sat in the stands. His brother watched.

Before kickoff, Dad sent the usual Bible verse and a simple instruction: make the easy ones easy.

He made them look effortless.

Eight straight completions. Two touchdown passes. A 125.0 QBR. The highest passing total of any quarterback in the 2026 preseason.

Dean Connors, the undrafted running back out of Wisconsin who caught both scores, understood the moment's gravity.

"Felt great," Connors said. "Anytime you can help the team, it's a good feeling and dream come true for someone who wanted to play in the National Football League. Just got to keep stacking days."

Stack days; that is the mantra.

Simpson stacks them. Connors stacks them. The whole roster stacks them while McVay watches from the sideline, arms crossed, chewing gum, solving his Rubik's Cube.

The Chiefs, who have owned the AFC for most of a decade, were held to field goals and frustration.

The Rams came to Arrowhead with questions and left with answers.

Not all of them.

McVay was quick to note that nothing is set in stone, that the backup quarterback competition continues and that Stetson Bennett handled his parameters well despite limited opportunities.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay congratulates players against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the preseason at Arrowhead Stadium.

But numbers do not lie.

21 completions. 190 yards. Two touchdowns. Zero turnovers. In a stadium where dynasties are built, a rookie from Martin, Tennessee, announced that he belonged.

"I knew pretty quickly that I was going to go in," Simpson said. "I just was making sure that I was ready to go at all times."

Ready. That is the word.

Ready for the huddle. Ready for the high snap.

Ready for Arrowhead.

As the team boarded the bus back to Los Angeles, the Missouri evening settling over them like a blanket, one truth remained: the Rams did not just win a preseason game.

They found a quarterback who keeps the ball in play, a running back who catches touchdowns, a return man who flips field position and a defense that flies to the ball.

In other words, they found a team.

One stacked day at a time.
]]> Rams_43 RamsFootballFans.comSun, 16 Aug 2026 11:02:26 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249265,1249265#msg-1249265 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249265,1249265#msg-1249265
It's just the 1st of 3, it's possible game 2 is a step back, at the same time I don't expect that, not with this staff in charge. Simpsons' game will be hard to copy, and Bennett for sure needs to make sure he doesn't copy game 1.

Oh and Evans was very good, showed great power in his leg....]]> roman18 RamsFootballFans.comSun, 16 Aug 2026 11:42:44 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249258,1249258#msg-1249258 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249258,1249258#msg-1249258
Goff’s line:
* 4 completions / 9 attempts
* 38 passing yards
* 0 TD
* 1 INT
* 44.4% completion
* 17.1 passer rating
* 1 sack for 9 yards

Ty Simpson, Aug. 15, 2026
* 21/25 passing
* 190 yards
* 2 TD
* 0 INT
* 84.0% completion
* 114.6 passer rating

The biggest thing I take away from this is if Goff was a legitimate first round pick then Simpson should not be considered a reach in the first round.]]> max RamsFootballFans.comSun, 16 Aug 2026 23:09:18 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249254,1249254#msg-1249254 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249254,1249254#msg-1249254Conners has elusiveness, suddenness, and really good leg drive. He's good in a phone booth. He is very good as a receiver coming out of the backfield. Reminds me a bit of a rookie Kyren Williams. I don't think he'll make it to the PS. So it might come down to he or Rivers. Rivers probably WOULD make it to the PS. Hunter will probably be cut. He looks the same as last year. He's 1 speed. He has no elusiveness. He might be top-end fast, but he is a little slow to build up speed. Looks less than average as an NFL quality RB.

Simpson was carefully managed. Short passes. Quick reads. You could see they wanted to see him in various situations: roll left, roll right, quick drop, longer drop, shotgun, under center, etc. Clearly they were protecting him so that he had an opportunity to begin to build confidence. This was DEVELOPMENT, not debut. This is a work in progress and even though he did quite well, let's not start building the pedestal any more than declaring him a bust the moment he was drafted.

Bennett is what he is. He was not consistent. But, it's not like he was terrible. In fact, he was much better than several other vet and newbie QBs in other preseason games. If I was McVay, I'd play him for the 1st half of every preseason game and give him more reps.

By the way: the Rams were the far more disciplined team. KC was a penalty machine... especially their Oline. The Rams had few penalties, looked organized and prepared. I suspect Reid is going to rip some of his coaches for the slopiness that was on display.]]> RockRam RamsFootballFans.comTue, 18 Aug 2026 15:10:03 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249250,1249250#msg-1249250 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249250,1249250#msg-1249250
Nick Andersen, S — perhaps the biggest surprise on defense. This is stronger than I initially realized. One Rams analysis says the UDFA “stole the spotlight”: four tackles, multiple pass breakups, and most notably he recovered to prevent what looked like a 94-yard TD. The writer thinks he's now made a legitimate case for the 53, especially because he can play special teams. That's a player whose name I'd circle.
Brennan Presley, WR — very good. Four targets, four catches, 58 yards, including gains of 21 and 23. He was productive with both Bennett and Simpson, which I like. The Rams have an unsettled competition deeper in the WR room, and this was exactly the kind of game that moves a player upward. Multiple postgame “winners” pieces singled him out.
Mark Redman, TE — this one I understated before. He made two substantial catches from Simpson of 22 and 23 yards. Those weren't garbage five-yard TE dump-offs; he was creating chunk plays. Interestingly, Rams fans watching live also singled Redman out among their positives. With the depth of that TE room, he's still a long shot, but he definitely put something useful on tape.
Max Klare, TE — probably better than I conveyed. He caught 7 of 8 targets for 37 yards. The Rams' own Stu Jackson specifically described him as a trustworthy target. Seven catches in your first preseason game is meaningful for a rookie TE. The only counterpoint from one roster-analysis piece is that playing so deep into a preseason game indicates the Rams still regard him as developmental. Both can be true: good game, still developing.
Dean Connors, RB — stock way up. His rushing numbers weren't special, but two receiving TDs from Simpson were. Commentary likes the versatility/speed combination. This is important because there's a real fight for the last RB spots.
Jordan Waters, RB — quietly interesting. He broke a 26-yard run, enough that the Rams themselves pulled it out as an individual highlight. I wouldn't put him with Simpson/Andersen/Presley yet, but he gave the coaches a reason to look harder at his film.
Desjuan Johnson, DL — mixed but interesting. He had an excellent 13-yard sack and showed the penetration we've seen from him before. But there's an odd roster signal: one Rams analyst viewed his playing late into the game as a negative indicator about his place on the depth chart. So: performance up, roster-security signal less encouraging.

There's also a fascinating non-player winner: Shaun Dolac. He didn't play, and one Rams analysis actually lists that as a win because it suggests the coaching staff already regards him as sufficiently established that they didn't need preseason evaluation snaps. Same with Davis Allen. That's a meaningful signal for Dolac after all the attention we've been giving him.

On the negative side, Jarquez Hunter is the name appearing most consistently. He didn't have a disastrous game, but other backs generated more impressive moments, and one analysis explicitly has him losing ground in the RB competition. Stetson Bennett is also inevitably down because Simpson was so much better.

One correction to my earlier take: Xavier Smith is more complicated. The 40-yard punt return was excellent and directly set up a Rams score, so the Rams themselves highlighted it. But at least one winners/losers analysis put him among its losers overall. So I would not call his entire game a clean “stock up”; I'd call the punt-return play a major positive while reserving judgment on the overall performance.

My updated hierarchy

BIGGEST WINNERS:
1. Ty Simpson — clearly
2. Nick Andersen — biggest surprise
3. Brennan Presley — real WR roster movement
4. Max Klare — 7 catches; very encouraging
5. Dean Connors — two TDs
6. Mark Redman — sleeper TE performance

Also good: Jordan Waters, Desjuan Johnson, Harrison Mevis, and the reserve pass protection.

Hidden positive: Shaun Dolac didn't need to play.

Concern: Jarquez Hunter; Bennett mainly because Simpson just dramatically raised the bar.

And the Andersen story is the one I'd add most strongly to what I told you initially. An undrafted safety goes into his first NFL game and immediately starts making plays in coverage—including preventing a near-certain 94-yard touchdown. That's exactly how a nobody in August starts becoming somebody on a Sean McVay/Les Snead roster.]]> nantucketramfan RamsFootballFans.comMon, 17 Aug 2026 07:51:28 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249244,1249244#msg-1249244 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249244,1249244#msg-1249244
]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comSat, 15 Aug 2026 23:37:39 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249242,1249242#msg-1249242 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249242,1249242#msg-1249242
Gumman
Jodat
Bertelson
Josephson

Nothing great
But solid]]> Arkansas Ram RamsFootballFans.comSun, 16 Aug 2026 02:26:59 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249236,1249236#msg-1249236 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249236,1249236#msg-1249236

JMHO
We only go with two
(Knowing JG is there)

Go Rams]]> Arkansas Ram RamsFootballFans.comSat, 15 Aug 2026 22:26:54 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249214,1249214#msg-1249214 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249214,1249214#msg-1249214
Just generally I saw good second effort and high aggression from nearly all.

And BTW... the BLUE looked fabulous. - JamesJM]]> JamesJM RamsFootballFans.comSat, 15 Aug 2026 21:50:52 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249206,1249206#msg-1249206 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1249206,1249206#msg-1249206youtube.com]]]> IowaRam RamsFootballFans.comSat, 15 Aug 2026 20:10:23 -0400