3 glaring concerns over LA Rams first unofficial depth chart

Trouble spot I: Rams starting Nick Scott (love it). But Jordan Fuller and Taylor Rapp are competing for the other starting role?

After seeing Nick Scott blow up opposing receivers throughout the NFL playoffs, I was certain that he would not sit this year. And the LA Rams coaching staff appear to share that opinion, at least in how the team has constructed the first Rams depth chart.

But I have to admit being surprised to see the other safety spot as a dead heat between Jordan Fuller and Taylor Rapp as being very confusing. Based on their skill sets and style of play, I see Taylor Rapp more in competition with Nick Scott than Jordan Fuller. For that matter, I see Terrell Burgess as a backup to Fuller, not to Scott.

But, having seen how the LA Rams’ unofficial first depth chart portrays the back half of the secondary, it appears as though I have it all wrong. Or they do.

But let’s think this one through. When the LA Rams competed in the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl LVI, the team’s two starting safeties were Nick Scott end now-retired Eric Weddle. They started because the team was unable to play injured Fuller or Rapp.

In fact, the team originally started Terrell Burgess and Nick Scott, with Eric Weddle subbing in for Burgess on obvious passing downs. Eventually, Weddle would remain as a full-time starter. So Lewis backed up whoever Eric Weddle replaced. And Nick Scott played the opposite safety role.  In both 2021 and 2020, Burgess was Jordan Fuller’s backup. Scott, who is a hard-hitting defensive back, played behind Rapp in the past.

Somehow, the roles reversed this year. So what? Why is that a concern? Well, I really do not have much faith in a secondary where the LA Rams line up Taylor Rapp next to Nick Scott. Personal bias? Perhaps. But from what I’ve seen Jordan Fuller has better coverage skills for the LA Rams than Rapp, and the Rams will need their best cover guys on the field.