RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The Los Angeles Rams shut out the New Orleans Saints , 34-0, in a preseason win at SoFi Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The defense shut out the Saints and scored a 100-yard touchdown of its own, while the offense moved the ball well throughout the game.
Here are five takeaways from the win.
Jarquez Hunter checked every box
Coming into the contest, Hunter was in a bad spot. Ronnie Rivers didn't play in Kansas City, while Dean Connors had a massive day in the passing game. If Hunter is to play this season, he would have to prove that he adds a unique element to the offense, while being able to execute as a blocker and pass catcher.
Hunter was great against the Saints. As a runner, he was zooming and booming, bouncing between defenders, while they simultaneously bounced off him. He also caught a pass that was technically ruled a run since it went backwards, taking the ball several yards behind the line of scrimmage and muscling his way for a first down on third-and-3. Hunter has proven his usefulness, and the hope is the Rams' coaching staff turns their creativity towards the second-year back.
The defense is the strength of the team
We'll have to wait until the regular season to confirm, but Saturday's contest showed the defense is the strength of the Rams. They have the firepower and depth, and they lack the concerning questions of the offense and special teams. Players like Wesley Bailey and Cam Lampkin stood out as they fight for the team's final roster spots, while Al'zillion Hamilton and Elias Neal should be practice squad players, at the very least.
The scheme was perfect, the production was excellent, and finishing out with a shutout was the cherry on top. The Rams have yet to allow a touchdown this preseason
Stetson Bennett is likely the QB2
Ty Simpson did nothing wrong. He took each play as it came and delivered another efficient performance. Bennett understands the playbook more and he has the arm to activate different areas of the field. In the event of Matthew Stafford being the starter for all 17 games, Bennett would likely back him up due to those skills.
However, if Stafford had to miss time, that's when we could see Simpson eclipse Bennett. Bennett's good for short fixes, but Simpson was a first-round pick for a reason. His ceiling long-term is higher.
Brennan Presley will not last on the practice squad
Brennan Presley had another strong showing with four receptions for 35 yards. He's an active roster-caliber player whose speed and agility are traits the NFL values. With as many McVay-style playcallers as there are in the NFL, Presley will find a home on someone's 53-man roster if he's cut.
All I'm going to say is the 49ers are one injury away from bringing Presley up north, and they're not the only team looking to pluck talent. Remember Willie Lampkin? He's having a good time in Philadelphia right now.
The team knows its 53-man roster
At this point, there really aren't any position battles left to decide. The majority of the roster spots were filled before preseason, and the defensive performances sealed any lingering questions. Especially since those players will contribute on special teams.
Expect the preseason finale to decide practice squad spots, because the Rams are ready to roll.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 5 takeaways from the Rams' win over the Saints
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