LA Rams: 3 reasons why DB Taylor Rapp earns starting role in 2021

Reason II

Taylor Rapp is coming back for his third NFL season. In his rookie season, he put up 100 tackles and hauled in two interceptions. It was all possible because he saw action in 823 defensive snaps. His second season was a bit of a decline, in that he put up 44 tackles and just one interception. However, he only saw action in 365 defensive snaps.

Los Angeles Rams

On a relative basis, Rapp played just as well in 2020 as he had in 2019. However, the fit of Jordan Fuller with teammate John Johnson III was more in sync (we’ll get to that in the next slide), so Rapp saw action when Fuller nursed his sore shoulder. That made it difficult for Rapp to fit in instantly with these defensive back teammates at times, as he was noticeably a step behind or a misread at times in coverages.

But he battled back, and the Rams did end up with three wins two losses in games where Rapp started. Unfortunately, one of those losses came at the hands of the Miami Dolphins and was more attributable to the atrocious play of the Rams offense than a lapse in the defense.

Rapp struggled mightily in 2020 because he suffered a leg injury during the first days of training camp and literally was unable to practice any of the new defensive schemes with any of his teammates leading up to the season. Now, keep in mind that the 2020 season offered no preseason games, and pretty much set the amount of direct contact between players and coaches to the bare minimum. Since Rapp was unable to suit up and take the field, he created the opportunity for Jordan Fuller. Meanwhile, Rapp played catch-up the entire season.