The Rams defeated the Dallas Cowboys 31-21 in their preseason opener on Saturday at SoFi Stadium.
Here are some takeaways from the game:
Blake Corum shows what he can do
Rams running back Blake Corum carries the ball in the first half against the Cowboys on Saturday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
With Kyren Williams carrying the ball 316 times last season, Corum got only limited opportunity as a rookie.
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The former Michigan star could help shoulder more of the load if the Rams want to keep Williams — their newly minted $23-million investment — fresh for the long haul.
While it was something of a surprise when coach Sean McVay said Corum would play in the preseason opener, Corum responded by rushing for 32 yards and two touchdowns in nine carries.
“He’s a stud,” quarterback Stetson Bennett said. “He runs hard, and we like to get good football players the ball and let them go work.”
Rookie Jarquez Hunter rushed for 41 yards in 11 carries, including an 11-yard gain on a third-and-five play in the third quarter.
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Cody Schrader rushed for 59 yards in five carries, including one for a 25-yard gain, and caught a touchdown pass.
Stetson Bennett leads four touchdown drives
Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett launches a pass to wide receiver Britain Covey during the first quarter Saturday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Bennett went into the game after playing with extreme confidence during training camp and a joint practice with the Cowboys.
It showed at times Saturday — he delivered a perfectly placed fourth-down pass to Xavier Smith along the left sideline in the first quarter, and also scrambled for a first down — and avoided momentum-changing miscues.
“He was awesome,” McVay said, “and he was totally present, and love what I saw.”
Bennett completed 16 of 24 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns, including a nine-yard pass to Schrader and a five-yard touchdown pass to receiver Brennan Presley. Bennett’s long pass attempt to rookie receiver Konata Mumpfield in the third quarter was picked off by safety Israel Mukuamu.
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“I thought I played pretty well,” Bennett said.
Bennett, who rushed for 11 yards in three carries, will start next Saturday against the Chargers.
Josaiah Stewart takes step toward edge-rusher rotation
Rams coach Sean McVay claps during the team’s preseason opener Saturday against the Cowboys at SoFi Stadium. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Early in the second quarter, Stewart came off the left edge and sacked quarterback Joe Milton for an eight-yard loss.
“I wanted to get the ball out,” he said. “But you can’t have everything.”
Starters Jared Verse and Byron Young, watching from the sideline, were no doubt elated.
Stewart, a third-round draft pick from Michigan, adds another element to an ascending pass rush.
Linebacker Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul showed leadership capability
Paul, a fifth-round draft pick from Mississippi, started and called defensive signals.
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Paul made five tackles.
“You felt his presence, you felt his range out there,” McVay said, adding, “He’s got a good game-day demeanor.”
Paul credited veterans Troy Reeder and Nate Landman and second-year pro Omar Speights for helping him prepare.
Read more: Kyren Williams agrees to a three-year contract extension with the Rams
“It helped a lot, getting knowledge from guys who’ve got NFL experience and what to expect on certain plays, certain downs, certain areas of the field,” Paul said, adding, “I took those coaching points with me out there.”
Shaun Dolac, an undrafted free agent from Buffalo, also started at linebacker and made six tackles.
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Cornerback Cam Lampkin made the catch of the day in the third quarter when he intercepted a long pass in the end zone.
Kicker Joshua Karty and punter Ethan Evans look ready
Karty, a second-year pro, kicked a 37-yard field goal and made four extra-point attempts.
Evans punted twice, one kick traveling 81 yards.
Read more: Matthew Stafford ‘looks good’ in workout; Rams hopeful he returns from injury soon
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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