Taylor Rapp Signing with Bills

[wppete]

This is a very good signing.

 

 

[Motorin']

2 minutes ago, wppete said:

This is a very good signing.

 

 

 

Our new Mike! I heard we're switching to a base Dime formation. 

[BillsNutHawaii]

4 hours ago, Beck Water said:

 

And yet, the Rams won the 2021 superbowl with Rapp starting 17 games.

Go Figgur how such a stupid team with such bad personnel evaluation that the "average fan" can do better pulled that off.

 

Honestly, do you ever logically think through what you're posting here?

No, we don’t think here.  We just attack everyone and everything - regardless of circumstance.

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

Why would a kid with his age and draft status sign here?  To sit behind two veterans? Maybe he’s just not good at football?  I mean, we didn’t really know much about Poyer when we signed him and that worked out pretty well, so I guess we’ll see about the RappMan 

[1ManRaid]

5 hours ago, Einstein said:

 

this article from a Rams site says he's so bad they don't understand how he even see's the field

 

• Taylor Rapp gets his own bullet point here because he had his worst game in recent memory. I just don’t understand how he still sees the field as often as he does when any average fan with two working eyes can see how confused and out of place he seems to be every snap. Good riddance come next season.

 

https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2022/11/21/23471286/rams-takeaways-taylor-rapp-cut-offensive-line

 

 

 

If only we had a coach known for taking DBs who "failed" with other teams, and getting production out of them...

[BBFL]

5 minutes ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

Why would a kid with his age and draft status sign here?  To sit behind two veterans? Maybe he’s just not good at football?  I mean, we didn’t really know much about Poyer when we signed him and that worked out pretty well, so I guess we’ll see about the RappMan 

I wondered the same thing. Then I thought maybe he can learn stuff behind them, gain a year of rest and development then dip back into the FA pool afterward. Dude will only be 26 and still have time to sign a decent deal or a 1-year “prove it” starting gig. 
 

On the Bills part… great pick up. Kid is starter quality, not the best of course, and is better insurance if one Hyde/Poyer go out for a prolonged period again. 

Win win for both IMO. 

[Kmart128]

2 hours ago, Scott7975 said:

Weird use of resources considering the holes elsewhere on the team.

We had a huge depth issue at safety. Jaquon johnson signed elsewhere, damar hamlin plans to play but who knows when he is cleared, dean marlowe is a free agent. You dont think backup safety was a hole that needed to be filled?

[Billl]

2 hours ago, Scott7975 said:

Weird use of resources considering the holes elsewhere on the team.

Not a lot of resources were used, and there’s considerable upside.

[Pirate Angel]

Great signing, you know at some point Hyde or Poyer even both are going to go down. This guy can actually step in and play, not having a quality backup at safety hurt last year. 

[UB2SF]

Wow, I love this addition. I'm a west-coaster and watch a lot of Pac-12. He was a force to be reckoned with in college. Pac-12 defensive freshman of the year and then two-time first-team all Pac-12. Swiss Army Knife DB who tackles like an LB.

[CNYfan]

Good tackler they say

[3rdand12]

48 minutes ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

Why would a kid with his age and draft status sign here?  To sit behind two veterans? Maybe he’s just not good at football?  I mean, we didn’t really know much about Poyer when we signed him and that worked out pretty well, so I guess we’ll see about the RappMan 

as mentioned , he would get some fine mentoring. And be next up if either Hyde or Poyer need to heal something.

 I was going on about this kid quite awhile ago, before the Poyer re- up. Thinking of defensive tweakings to come !

 

Strong feelings he can be coached up and put in a position to succeed in Buffalo !

 Go Bills

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

4 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

It’s about personnel matching. Our defense was never very physical upfront with our LBs. Depends a lot on DB tackling. It works. Sometimes we do get run over but it’s rare that we lose because of it.

 

What personnel are you matching with 3 safeties, 3 corners and one tiny linebacker?? 
 

double zero, maybe 10? 

[BillsFanForever19]

Hey, we signed our first guy on ProFootballTalk's Top 100 Free Agents. And to be a Backup to boot. Solid.

[Your Brown Eye]

Hopefully, his signing comes with a Burn It Down-esqe video

[Pete]

I love this signing!  And we still get a comp pick.  I wanted the Bills to draft Rapp.  He’s  got good size and technique.  It’s a QB, TE, S NFL.  It’s so smart having two top safety’s with Micah and Poyer. You know what’s even smarter?  3 Safety’s.  Losing Edmunds, perhaps we see big Nickel often

[Maine-iac]

We have question marks as to the health of our top 3 safeties.  He's young and cheap and if he plays well we resign him and get younger at safety.  I would hope he can beat out Marlowe.

[nosejob]

1 hour ago, wppete said:

This is a very good signing.

 

 

Thanks!  I'm excited! I think McD is cooking up something good. I'm sure he was told that he was gonna see the field on a regular basis. May be

they are preparing for slim pickins early on at LB  and/or  if another position is BPA.

[RG Murdock]

1 hour ago, Pirate Angel said:

Great signing, you know at some point Hyde or Poyer even both are going to go down. This guy can actually step in and play, not having a quality backup at safety hurt last year. 

Stop, your making too much sense. Folks here tend to WAY over analyze every Bills move. Bills had no real quality backups to often injured lately P&H. This solves the issue. EZ -PZ ...... 3 paragraphs not needed.  

[BigAl2526]

Coming out of college, he was regarded as very smart and instinctive.  The thing that limits him is his speed.  He runs the 40 between 4.6 and 4.7 seconds.  That means he's got to keep the play in front of him.  Once a receiver gets by, he doesn't have the ability to catch him.  He's also got to be right about picking angles because he's got less margin for error than a faster DB.  I think his ceiling is probably a backup.  I think that JaQuan Johnson needs to be looking over his shoulder as he is likely the odd man out.  He's smaller than Rapp, and similarly slow.

Edited March 27, 2023 by BigAl2526

[QLBillsFan]

2 hours ago, 1ManRaid said:

 

If only we had a coach known for taking DBs who "failed" with other teams, and getting production out of them...

Wondering if anyone can find positive fan posts about this guy. From what I’ve read this is an excellent signing. 

[RyanC883]

good depth signing

[Mat68]

2 hours ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

Why would a kid with his age and draft status sign here?  To sit behind two veterans? Maybe he’s just not good at football?  I mean, we didn’t really know much about Poyer when we signed him and that worked out pretty well, so I guess we’ll see about the RappMan 

Both Safeties are in their 30’s. Poyer coming off multiple injuries and Hyde is coming back from a spinal injury.  He fits our style of play from the position.  I could see more 3 saftey and big nickel with Rapp on the roster. 

[Bigvinny]

Hyde, Poyer, Rapp has to be the best Safety group in the league. 

[LABILLBACKER]

7 hours ago, Logic said:

I'm not understanding why a 2nd round pick in his 5th year, just entering his prime, would sign with a team that's already set at its two starting safety positions.

It must mean he either didn't have better options elsewhere on the market, OR...perhaps this is sort of a one year "let's see if you're the future at this position" type signing. See how he does as the third safety on the field and how he picks up the system, and then maybe he replaces Hyde next season.

Huh. I'm happy to sign safety depth, but a little bit perplexed.

Edit: Or maybe he just stinks. That's definitely a possibility.

He would probably take over for Hyde after this season, unless Micah gets an extension? Rapp is a substantial upgrade over guys like Marlowe, Neal & Johnson.

[DrPJax]

49 minutes ago, QLBillsFan said:

Wondering if anyone can find positive fan posts about this guy. From what I’ve read this is an excellent signing. 

      Yes i commented on it very positively at the end of a post about josh running etc.  i stated i came away very excited after i watched ERIC TURNER of cover 1 just post his film breakdown on YouTube on RAPPS great plays from last year.  It’s definitely worth the ten minute breakdown by ERIC , who showed the great tackling ( bills were 31st in missed tackles last year missing over 13%, while RAPP MISSES ABOUT ONLY 6% which is great) , his ability to stop the run, his TEcoverage ability , and his PBU /INT abilities!    This was a great film breakdown , and this guy could easily be a starter and is great insurance if Poyer has injury issues again. He looks like a great tool for mcd to use and i think this is a proven , very good system fit , and up there with the McGovern value. He actually has very positive film, not just a few plays or potential like some wr signings.  Very good acquisition, and no benefit to me by recommending ERIC TURNERS cover 1 YouTube analysis just posted.   If you have questions about RAPP, take 10 min to watch that YouTube post and you will feel more informed and intelligent for having watched it!   

Edited March 28, 2023 by DrPJax

[Bills!Win!]

Is this the guy who proposed to his girlfriend after the Super Bowl victory? 

[TheyCallMeAndy]

Hell of an insurance policy, safe chance he plays some snaps. 

[QLBillsFan]

Just now, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Hell of an insurance policy, safe chance he plays some snaps. 

Yes for both Poyer and Hyde. If Damar comes back we now have 2 solid back ups. 

[JGMcD2]

 

[die hard bills fan]

PFF  comments on Rapp. (and other FA safeties). Like the tackling part.

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2023-free-agent-rankings-safety

 

Rapp was solid if unspectacular over his rookie contract after the Los Angeles Rams selected him in the second round in 2019, and he earned career-high grades against the run (82.3) and in coverage (72.9) in 2022. Los Angeles was comfortable lining him up all over, and he's one of those players who performs OK in various alignments but is not particularly great at any one thing. One thing that has been consistent: Rapp is a sure tackler, never missing more than 8.7% of potential tackles in a season. His 148 tackles over the past two seasons rank ninth among safeties.

[hondo in seattle]

I'm not sure he's a one-year rental.  I think it's more like a one-year tryout.

[Bigvinny]

 

[Pirate Angel]

1 hour ago, RG Murdock said:

Stop, your making too much sense. Folks here tend to WAY over analyze every Bills move. Bills had no real quality backups to often injured lately P&H. This solves the issue. EZ -PZ ...... 3 paragraphs not needed.  

Sorry... fire everybody! 

[JGMcD2]

5 minutes ago, Bigvinny said:

 

If you wait FA out there are some good deals to be had. 

[BillsFan130]

How did the Bills get him for so cheap?

 

Serious question 

[MrEpsYtown]

1 hour ago, Bills!Win! said:

Is this the guy who proposed to his girlfriend after the Super Bowl victory? 

Yep!

19 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

How did the Bills get him for so cheap?

 

Serious question 

Honestly the guy hasn’t really peaked yet…if all the offers were equal, McDermott is probably the one you want molding you into the best safety you could be…plus Butler and Danna as really good secondary coaches by all accounts. So its probably about the chance to win and to become the best version of himself. 

[TOboy]

20 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

How did the Bills get him for so cheap?

 

Serious question 

Super Bowl contenders, defensive coach who has had success with safeties…plus the safety market was saturated and he lost the game of musical chairs.
 

Pair that with some patience and perhaps good negotiation skills/good reputation and voila. 
 

Or maybe just Beane looks super cool in a pair of shades. 

[Brand J]

1 hour ago, BigAl2526 said:

Coming out of college, he was regarded as very smart and instinctive.  The thing that limits him is his speed.  He runs the 40 between 4.6 and 4.7 seconds.  That means he's got to keep the play in front of him.  Once a receiver gets by, he doesn't have the ability to catch him.  He's also got to be right about picking angles because he's got less margin for error than a faster DB.  I think his ceiling is probably a backup.  I think that JaQuan Johnson needs to be looking over his shoulder as he is likely the odd man out.  He's smaller than Rapp, and similarly slow.

He ran a 4.78 at the combine 

[DCofNC]

8 hours ago, Logic said:

I'm not understanding why a 2nd round pick in his 5th year, just entering his prime, would sign with a team that's already set at its two starting safety positions.

It must mean he either didn't have better options elsewhere on the market, OR...perhaps this is sort of a one year "let's see if you're the future at this position" type signing. See how he does as the third safety on the field and how he picks up the system, and then maybe he replaces Hyde next season.

Huh. I'm happy to sign safety depth, but a little bit perplexed.

Edit: Or maybe he just stinks. That's definitely a possibility.

He’s the default #3 with 2 old guys in front of him, both coming off beat up seasons, with a coaching staff that’s made stars out of nobody’s.  I’d take that gamble if I’m him. There’s a strong chance he plays A LOT this year and I feel better about that vs the mess we watched there last year.