LA Rams: Camp Showdown II – Taylor Rapp vs. Terrell Burgess

Rapping up the starting role

In Taylor Rapp, the LA Rams benefit from a young man who truly knows no fear. He is a hard-hitting opportunistic defensive back who has struggled with his consistency. If he blows the coverage or fails to communicate, the opposing offense can gash the Rams pass defense for a huge gain. But if he can tighten up on his mistakes, communicate with his teammates, and fulfill his defensive role to the best of his ability, great things happen.

Taylor Rapp has a lot of pride and a fully stocked storeroom with confidence. That is very important because learning the starting role in any defensive secondary requires an abundance of both. Even the best of the best defensive backs can only hope to win 50 percent of the passes thrown their way. Imagine being considered elite if you only succeeded half the time?

It takes a lot of inspiration to play in the NFL. Thankfully, rookie Taylor Rapp was mentored by another Asian-American football great, former Pittsburgh Steelers great wide receiver Hines Ward. He told Rapp to feed off the energy of nay-sayers. To grow to become that which they said could never be, to emerge from the you-can’t comments into the I-did reality.

That’s a lot to unpack, particularly in a short piece comparing two defensive backs in the LA Rams training camp competition. But to understand the stakes in this one, it’s important to understand the seriousness involved to each player. Rapp is a perfectionist. He focuses on the mechanics of the game and adheres to the role he is given. When his head is in the game, and he flows with the coverages, he can make tremendous plays in the secondary. He can tackle, deflect the pass, force a fumble, and even come down with the interception.

But he is not so aware that he can call coverages, adapt to a play outside of his role, or improvise to any degree of excellence. He is a very good player, and he has every bit the opportunity to take over for the absence of John Johnson III for the second time in his career.