Ex-Rams QB says Matthew Stafford inspired his no-look pass in UFL game
Ex-Rams QB says Matthew Stafford inspired his no-look pass in UFL game
For two years, Bryce Perkins watched Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford make no-look passes look easy. So when he got the chance to try one in a United Football Game, Perkins didn't pass on his opportunity.
Perkins, now with the Michigan Panthers in the UFL, threw a five-yard touchdown to wideout Malik Turner in a similar fashion in a 38-14 win over the visiting DC Defenders in Week 6.
After the game, Perkins credited Stafford for where he learned to throw passes like that.
"I was with Matthew Stafford for a while and his no look was something serious," he said. "I always said if I get a shot, I'm gonna try to do it in a game."
He finished the game with 188 yards and two passing touchdowns, no interceptions, 76 rushing yards and a rushing score.
Perkins, who went undrafted out of Virginia in 2020, played in five games for the Rams in 2022. He started once (a 26-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12) and threw for 161 total passing yards one score and two interceptions that season.
Stafford remains one of the no-look kings of the NFL. He had a sensational no-looker to Puka Nacua in the Rams' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in last year's Divisional Round.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
‘Rejuvenated' Davante Adams developing rapport with Matthew Stafford, Sean McVay
LOS ANGELES — After a head-turning day of practice on Tuesday, new Los Angeles Rams receiver Davante Adams took the podium and said he feels 'rejuventated.' 'It's been exactly what I needed,' said Adams, who the Rams signed this spring to a two-year, $46 million deal following a tumultuous 2024. Adams was traded from Las Vegas to the New York Jets last season, then released as the Jets overhauled their coaching staff and part of their roster. 'Really enjoying the time with the guys and getting to know them, getting on the same page with Matthew (Stafford) and just kind of jelling with the whole team right now.' Advertisement Adams, a three-time All Pro coming off a fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season despite transitions from Green Bay (where he played eight seasons) to Las Vegas to about half a season in New York, said he feels like he's been a part of the Rams for multiple seasons already because of 'how open and receptive' teammates and coaches have been. 'It's supposed to be a kids' game,' he said. '(Here) it kind of feels like Pop Warner, high school, college ball all over again. That's exactly what this team feels like in the best way possible. … 'I feel like this is what I needed just based off the vibe and the aura of the building. Everybody is in a good mood, it's not like a dark cloud over the building. I've experienced that quite a bit over the last few years. It's a glaring difference when you come into a building like this.' 'What I think is really cool to be able to witness, is the respect that you can feel they have for one another.' 🎙️ Coach McVay on the connection between Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams. — Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) June 10, 2025 The Rams will hold a minicamp with limited on-field work next week in Maui before breaking for the summer. Adams has used the organized team activities (OTAs) over the last few weeks to develop his chemistry with Stafford, head coach Sean McVay and his new Rams teammates. Tuesday, Adams impressed. For years, he has had the reputation of getting open quickly and creating space throughout the course of a route between himself and a defender in a variety of ways. Whether from the slot — Adams hit a defender with a hip flip in tight space in the middle of the field and Stafford threw him a pass right as he got open and pivoted the opposite direction — or the perimeter, Adams had a high-volume workload and showed a brief glimpse at the potential of his role in the offense this year. Advertisement Stafford has also long been known for his creative play, working different arm angles and capitalizing on defenders' mistakes regardless of the practice script. That has also been energizing for Adams. 'Based off a couple we had today, he don't care what that coverage says — if they're not playing that coverage right, you might get the ball still,' said Adams, laughing. Adams and Stafford talk frequently between plays about timing, placement and both players adjust where necessary. 'It makes it easy for a guy like me, because I'll run a route and expect that I'm supposed to run out of (it) a little bit quicker, maybe I had to dive to catch it or something like that, and he's saying 'that's on me, I've got to put it on you' versus telling me that I have to do it a different way,' Adams said. 'Which I'm completely OK with, too! I'm the new guy here. A lot of times that's how I look at it anyway. 'How can I make (things) better?' versus, 'put a better ball on me.' 'As long as he's throwing me the ball, I'll figure out a way to get it. (But) him being a man like that obviously helps this whole thing go a lot smoother and us get on the same page a lot faster.' In stretch lines before practice or in between drills, McVay spends extra time with Adams as the two actually get to know each other following McVay's heated pursuit of Adams in free agency in March. 'A lot of it is asking questions about things that maybe I've seen over the course of his career, or how do we apply it, or how is it maybe similar to the things I've seen him do,' McVay said. 'He loves football. There's a consistent passion, there's a real understanding of how it all kind of fits together (with) spacing, timing, rhythm. We talk about other stuff outside of football. The way his mind works, I've really enjoyed being able to learn from him as well.' Advertisement The two have even talked on the phone after Adams does some of his film study at night, whether to make adjustments or clarify different concepts. 'The way he sees the game is pretty impressive,' said McVay. 'I mean, he sees the game through a quarterback lens. He's got so many experiences and really understands it from an All-22 perspective.' The caveat on everything this time of year is just that: it's the spring. There are no pads, and everyone feels great. But Adams' energy on the field and in meetings during the voluntary workouts even in his 12th season — even as 'the new guy' — backs up his positive talk. 'It's just about ball (here), it's no other B.S.,' he said. 'Got a really good quarterback in here, a really good young team that shows a lot of promise. … Just knowing how hungry this team is and seeing the work that they're still putting in after having a year like last year, it just kind of confirms that I'm in the right place.'
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rams Head Coach Addresses Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams' Pairing
Rams Head Coach Addresses Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams' Pairing originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay had strong words when asked about the pairing of former New York Jets wideout Davante Adam and his Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Matthew Stafford. Advertisement The 37-year-old quarterback appeared in 16 games for the Rams during the 2024 season, throwing for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions while leading Los Angeles into the postseason. The former Georgia Bulldog is entering his fifth season under head coach Sean McVay and 16th of his NFL career since being selected No. 1 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. NFL veteran Davante Adams, 32, signed with the Rams in the offseason after he was released by the Jets. Adams finished last season with 85 receptions for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns despite playing with multiple starting quarterbacks. He has recorded 1,000-plus receiving yards six times throughout his NFL career and has totaled 103 touchdowns. McVay's respect for Adams was evident from the start, as he highlighted the All-Pro receiver's film in a team meeting shortly after his arrival. Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay looks Lew-Imagn Images Both veterans are proven stars — Stafford won Super Bowl LVI with McVay in February 2022, while Adams remains widely regarded as one of the NFL's premier route runners. Advertisement 'What I think is really cool to be able to witness is the respect that you can feel they have for one another,' McVay told reporters. "... Matthew's got such a great way of being able to connect and communicate. And it's the same thing with Davante. "Those guys have such a high level of understanding of what they want. ... It's been cool to watch." With both players entering the latter stages of their careers, McVay's focus remains on maximizing what they can do together — and looking to build on last year's playoff success. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Feeling rejuvenated': Davante Adams fitting in well with Rams
Davante Adams lined up on the right side, ran a short slant pattern to the middle of the field, and then caught a pass from Matthew Stafford and sprinted up the middle toward the end zone. A few players later, Adams crossed the field left to right and then extended his 6-foot-1 frame while leaping high to grab a pass over the middle for another significant gain. Advertisement It's only organized team activities, conducted without pads, but Adams demonstrated on Tuesday that he has quickly immersed himself in the Rams' offense and culture since the three-time All-Pro receiver signed a free-agent contract in March. 'It's been exactly what I needed,' said Adams, a 12th-year pro. 'Feeling rejuvenated. … It feels like I've been on the team for a couple years just based on how open and receptive the guys have been to me.' Adams, 32, is expected to provide Stafford and coach Sean McVay another weapon for a team that will open the season among teams regarded as Super Bowl contenders. Adams played eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers before playing two-and-a-half seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders and half a season with the New York Jets. Advertisement Read more: Rams' Jared Verse and Braden Fiske look to run it back again Adams said the Rams' 'college-type camaraderie' and the 'vibe and the aura' in and around Rams facility in Woodland Hills makes the game fun. 'Everybody's in a good mood,' he said. 'It's not like a dark cloud is over the building. And I've experienced that quite a bit over the last few years. 'So it's a glaring difference when you come into a building like this.' Adams has brightened the outlook for a team that was already confident after finishing with a 10-7 record and advancing to the NFC divisional round last season. After releasing longtime star receiver Cooper Kupp, the Rams added Adams to a receiver corps that includes young star Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington. Advertisement Adams, who has played in the NFL with passers such as Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo, sees the game 'through a quarterback lens,' McVay said. 'He's got so many experiences,' he said. Playing with Stafford will be a new one. Stafford and Adams were on opposite sides of the field for years when Stafford played for the Detroit Lions while Adams caught passes from Rodgers with the Packers. 'I've played against him a bunch, so I kind of know what he's about,' Stafford, 37, said at the start of organized team activities in May. 'Obviously, I've grown to have even more appreciation just being in the room with him and working with him. So, he's got a great career going and I'm just happy to be a part of it.' Advertisement Adams and Stafford said they are constantly communicating before, immediately after and sometimes into the night after a series of plays. 'Those are the best relationships I've had with the receivers and the most success that I've had is guys that want to talk to you on what they felt, what they were doing,' Stafford said. 'I can also say, 'Hey, this is what it looks like from my angle,' and go from there. 'But he definitely has that feeling, he has that understanding and that's a huge positive.' Said Adams: 'He makes it easy for a guy like me. … As long as he's throwing the ball, I will figure out a way to get it.' Advertisement Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said it was 'cool to watch,' Stafford and Adams, 'two vets north of 30' years old develop a connection on and off the field. 'Those two have got a lot of wisdom,' LaFleur said. 'They played a lot of good football, a lot of meaningful football, a lot of productive football. … I think it's been fun for both those guys.' Nacua and Atwell already have learned from Adams. 'From the moment he walked in,' Nacua said, 'he's been willing to offer information, to have new drills, to have a completely different mindset of somebody who's played in various offenses, very different schemes and stuff like that. Advertisement 'So it's been exciting to hear from him.' Kupp is gone, but Adams has stepped in as a veteran mentor, Atwell said. 'Just pretty much pick his brain,' Atwell said, before adding with a chuckle, 'seeing what I can steal and take and put in my bag that I can use.' The Rams will conclude organized team activities this week and then travel to Maui for a minicamp. With McVay, Stafford and a young nucleus of talented players, Adams is eager for the upcoming season. 'Just knowing how hungry this team is,' he said, 'and seeing the work that they're still putting in after having a year like last year, it just kind of confirms that I'm in the right place.' Etc. McVay was asked about the Rams' interest in signing two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander, who was released by the Packers. 'Nothing but respect for the player, but I don't know if that's a direction we would go,' McVay said. He said there was 'no news' regarding the Rams continued interest in possibly trading for Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey. … The Rams announced that they will celebrate former star defensive lineman Aaron Donald during their Nov. 23 game against Tampa Bay. The first 60,000 fans in attendance will receive a Donald bobblehead. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
