More confident Stetson Bennett, Blake Corum finds endzone twice, Pooh Paul Jr. commanding the defense and more

1) Bennett looks poised and confident. He hit wide receiver Xavier Smith for a 39-yard completion on the opening drive that set up a 2-yard touchdown run by running back Blake Corum at the end of the series. The only blemish was getting picked off on a deep pass intended for rookie wide receiver Konata Mumpfield in what became a 50/50 ball between Mumpfield and Cowboys cornerback Israel Mukuamu, but overall it was a positive performance overall for the third-year pro. And, Bennett bounced back from the pick to lead Los Angeles on a third scoring drive, ending with a 37-yard field goal by kicker Josh Karty. Bennett finished 16 of 24 for 188 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in the Rams’ preseason-opening win.

2) Corum looks elusive in first live game action since December, scores two touchdowns. Corum reached the endzone on carries of 2 and 4 yards at the end of Los Angeles’ first two offensive drives. It was a promising look at the second-year pro who was using sparingly as a rookie other than the Week 18 finale against the Seahawks, in which he suffered a season-ending fractured forearm. Corum’s playing time came entirely in the first half before the Rams turned the backfield over to rookie Jarquez Hunter in the second half.

3) Cornerback Cam Lampkin snags an interception. Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton launched a deep ball intended for wide receiver Ryan Flournoy, and Lampkin made sure he came down with it in the endzone instead. Lampkin was mobbed by teammates in celebration as he returned to the sideline.

4) Inside linebacker Pooh Paul Jr. wears the green dot. The rookie being put in that role likely was partially due to inside linebackers coach Greg Williams, who called plays for the defense Saturday, says a lot about the coach’s trust in Paul. Paul manned the middle of the defense alongside Shaun Dolac, an undrafted free agent signee out of Buffalo, in the first half before Tony Fields II and and Elias Neal handled the majority of the second half snaps. The Cowboys had just 97 total yards of offense in the first half.

5) Running back Ronnie Rivers (rib) and wide receiver Konata Mumpfield (ankle)’s nights end early due to injury. Rivers was ruled out with a rib injury after recording two carries for nine yards; Mumpfield was questionable to return with an ankle injury.


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