Ty Simpson is taking perfect approach to Rams preseason debut

Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson is about to suit up for his first-ever 'game,' albeit a preseason one against the Chiefs this Saturday, and he's approaching it with the perfect blend of confidence, humility, and kid-on-Christmas excitement. 

"I'm super excited," he said Thursday. "It's the first time I get to play a game not only in a Rams uniform, but an NFL uniform. I'm ready to show who I am. I'm not going to do anything that I know I'm not capable of doing. I'm just going to stick to my rules, and stick to what I've been doing, throwing with conviction. Just having fun out there. It's just football, just on a whole different level. I'm excited."

Rams fans are super excited, too, after waiting to see their first-round QB in action, against an actual opponent, all summer. The score won't matter, but there will be a scoreboard nonetheless at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. 

For his part, Simpson sounds ready to go out and prove something. He won't get the start - Stetson Bennett will, said head coach Sean McVay - but he should have plenty of chances to put his talent and "conviction" on display.

Ty Simpson isn't in over his head entering Rams debut

Excited as he is, Simpson is also mature enough to recognize the importance of staying within himself. The Rams aren't asking him to do anything crazy, and McVay's playsheet will reflect it. It will be about executing the fundamentals, progressing through his reads, and making the right decision. 

That Simpson is well aware of his own inexperience and limitations, while also expressing confidence in his process, is a great sign. No, he's not ready to be the Rams' backup ahead of Bennett, but he continues to make steady progress and learn from the roster's more experienced signal-callers. It's pretty nice when Matthew Stafford is your rookie-year mentor. 

Rams fans probably won't see Simpson air it out much in what should be an extremely bland brand of offense. Still, it's easy to share his enthusiasm simply for having a chance to see something closer to real ball. While it's only a preseason game, he's right: compared to training camp or practice, facing defenders in a different jersey with a clock ticking is "a whole different level" of competition. 

Even as McVay keeps it simple, of course, mistakes will be made. Any rookie errors Simpson makes will be posted on social media as the general public keeps poking fun at LA for what was objectively a draft-day reach, if a strategic one, in taking the former Alabama QB at 13th overall. 

Simpson won't let that bother him, though, and barring outright disaster, Rams fans shouldn't be concerned, either. Simpson knows what he's out there to do, which is move the ball from point A to point B, and with Bennett starting, he'll have a chance to see how it's done in real time. 

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