The draft stock on Ty Simpson continues to rise. Even though he has made self-critical remarks, criticizing his performance this past Saturday vs. Vanderbilt, his quarterback play has lifted the Tide to new levels. Simpson was not the issue in the loss to Florida State at the beginning of the season, and with Ryan Grubb calling plays, he seems to get better and better every week.
Simpson currently leads the SEC in passing yards with 1,478. He also has a touchdown/interception ratio of 13:1 so far this season. He is third in the SEC for passing yards per game with 294.5 and is near a 70% completion percentage this season.
These traits make Ty Simpson an NFL-ready QB
Pocket Presence
What makes him look like he is the most experienced quarterback when he steps on the field? His pocket presence and the ability to make plays out of the pocket. Twice against Vanderbilt, Simpson has shown the high-level ability to evade the pass rush, move the pocket, and keep his eyes downfield. Fans saw this with the touchdown to Ryan Williams against Vanderbilt, and later on, when he found Lotzeir Brooks for a huge gain.
Simpson can keep his eyes downfield, roll out of the pocket, and continue to use his legs to his advantage. Fans also saw this against a top-ranked Georgia team that has one of the best pass rushes in all of college football. Georgia recorded zero sacks on Simpson. Simpson was critical of taking sacks against Vanderbilt after the game, but overall, he kept plays alive and found open options downfield.
Ability to Read Coverage
What also makes Simpson stand out to me is his ability to read coverages at a quick rate. He went 17-of-17 against UL Monroe in just his second start. He was 24/38 for 276 yards and two touchdowns against a vaunted Georgia defense.
His coverage reading ability was on full display vs Vandy. On Germie Bernard's touchdown reception, Simpson lofted the ball with enough velocity to get it over the flat defender in the Cover 2 while keeping away from the safety on the left side of the field. It was an NFL-style throw against a statistically good Vanderbilt defense.
Ty Simpson has shown great patience with the football, maturity, and a high football IQ this season. He seems to read the field well and can make his progressions quickly. His high completion percentage speaks for that, as well as the TD/interception ratio. It will be exciting to see where Simpson goes from here and how he progresses through Alabama's remaining schedule.
*stats found on ESPN