Before rookie Ty Simpson’s NFL debut for the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, his father texted him some sage advice.
“My dad just talked to me like I was four years old again,” Simpson said of the message from his father Jason “He told me to catch every snap, make the easy ones easy, go do what you love, and I love you.”
Simpson is a good son because he did exactly as instructed. He made his first pro game, against the Kansas City Chiefs no less, seem easy.
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Simpson completed 21-of-25 passes for 190 yards in three quarters of work after Stetson Bennett started and played the first quarter.
Simpson threw 2 touchdown passes without an interception and that kind of efficiency earned him a whopping 125.0 passer rating.
“It was a really good day for him,” Coach Sean McVay crowed. “I just felt like he was in good command and it was cool to see a good smile on his face.”
Those facts and reaction beg context. So, let’s examine …
The old adage among NFL scouts, coaches and smart scribes is that the preseason does not present the truth. It lies. The NFL’s August stars could be waiting tables in October.
And while that won’t fully apply to Simpson because he will be on the Rams‘ roster for a long time, it suggests a certain amount of temperance here is wise. So, here’s that necessary temperance:
Holy moly, Simpson looked like a stud!
Here’s some more temperance: The draft critics were wrong.
You remember those draft critics, right? Bucky Brooks at the NFL Network, the draft scouts at ESPN, practically everybody except Dan Orlovsky.
They said Simpson’s arm is not special. They said his deep ball accuracy is poor. They said he didn’t handle pressure very well, particularly during a late season regression at the University of Alabama.
All of that from the draft gurus made Simpson a polarizing figure on draft day.
And the Rams, taking all that into consideration, ignored it. They drafted Simpson in the first round with the expectation that some day when 38-year-old Matthew Stafford retires, Simpson could be the guy to take over.
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So far, the Rams look much smarter than the TV draft scouts and pundits not named Orlovsky.
That does not, of course, mean Simpson has arrived. It doesn’t mean he’s already pushing the defending NFL MVP Stafford out the door.
The kid has work to do.
“There was one situation that will be a great learning opportunity on third down where they played a man coverage and [Simpson] threw it to the flat [instead of downfield],” McVay said. “I have to see it, but I think the pocket might have allowed him to progress.”
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That’s important. But it is also important when the head coach goes into the locker room, gives his team his postgame thoughts, and then turns it over to a top player to break the team down.
McVay gave that honor to Simpson in the rookie’s first game.
That and this performance is going to put a spotlight on Simpson as he competes with Bennett for the backup job.
But no worries, the kid’s got those constant text messages from his father.
“He sends me a Bible verse every time, just a quote, to give the glory back to Him,” Simpson said. “And it was just really cool, you know? When I have family members texting me, it’s a comforting feeling.”
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