Ty Simpson eager to learn from Matthew Stafford, Sean McVay after Rams' shocking draft selection
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Ty Simpson said he had never even met Sean McVay before the Los Angeles Rams shocked the NFL by drafting him with the 13th overall pick . But after he landed on the West Coast and got his first face time with his new head coach, the quarterback couldn't contain his excitement about the future.
“He’s got the juice,” Simpson said of McVay at the Rams' temporary draft headquarters near SoFi Stadium. “That dude is a guy who’s a fireball. He loves ball.
” When he pulled on a Rams hat and spoke with reporters on Friday afternoon, Simpson still hadn't met Matthew Stafford, the Rams' starting quarterback for the upcoming season and quite possibly longer — although he got a warm welcoming message from Kelly Stafford, the MVP's wife. Simpson had nothing but praise and admiration for the 38-year-old quarterback whose film he watched intently at Alabama, making it clear he's planning to learn — not to threaten Stafford's job. McVay and the Rams clearly agree, with McVay pointedly declaring the Rams are "Matthew's team” right after picking Simpson.
“Matthew Stafford throws the ball with conviction and doesn’t care what happens,” Simpson said. "He might throw a pick the drive before, and he’s coming back and throwing the same type of ball. That dude is an assassin.
As a quarterback, that’s the type of mentality you have to have. Being able to learn from him and learn how he’s doing those things on a daily basis, I can’t wait to soak it all up. ” The Rams made the most stunning selection of the first round Thursday when they took the 23-year-old Crimson Tide product who started just 15 collegiate games — the fourth-fewest by a first-round pick in the past quarter-century.