ARENA

A Mad scientist with weird science

Had to take another look at all the Ram's moves upon to the draft and during to get some idea what is cooking in the feverous minds of McVay and FO.

I had the 2019 draft as deep as 17 worthy of first round picks (and no there was too much hype with this class of QBs so add 3 to the depth) and having second to the last first round really in my mind was little better then a second round player whoever they got had they kept the pick. No it was a gambit trade with the Falcons. Here it has to be stated FO and McVay must have absolute confidence in the scouting department because it was a risky move with a very high payoff with high risk if it proved to be a dud decision.

*The rewards:
Salary cap friendly--just don't have to pay lower round picks as much as you have too for a first
Past success in finding gold in the later rounds--hoping lightning strikes twice in the same spot
Picks, picks, picks; not as many as some teams but it keeps alive the "youth movement" inside the Rams team

*Risks:
What didn't the Rams get with their first round pick; the great what if question of 2019 Ram's draft
Return on investment; will the additional picks return on the investment
If the gambit fails, then actually it puts the Rams 2 years behind the curve but with the NFC-W and having 2 re-building teams maybe doable

Going into 2018 we all had questions about the LB core--well least I did. Throughout 2018, yah it looked like a problem--they only seemed to show up in the payoffs while having spent much of the season napping...guess when you got to show up and ball, better late then never in the playoffs

Only the Squawks seem worth studying at the moment and I didn't think on first glance they filled in what they needed--am still looking, but my gut says they will be making still a lot of moves before OTA. And that leaves the Rams also looking to harden the soft spots... Center is a concern now and am wondering how that Saga will paly itself out

Rams pick safety Taylor Rapp in second round of NFL draft after trading down twice

Rams pick safety Taylor Rapp in second round of NFL draft after trading down twice
By GARY KLEIN
APR 26, 2019 | 10:05 PM

The Rams were in no hurry to make their first pick in the NFL draft.

They entered Friday already having traded their first-round pick the day before, and then traded down twice in the second round to the 61st pick before choosing their first player.

That�s where they selected Washington safety Taylor Rapp, before adding Memphis running back Darrell Henderson, Michigan cornerback David Long and Oklahoma offensive lineman Bobby Evans in the third round.

In all, the Rams traded back three times and forward twice in the first two days of a draft that concludes Saturday with Rounds 3 through 7. The Rams have four more picks, though that number could grow or shrink if general manager Les Snead continues dealing.

�Slightly fun day,� Snead said Friday night, adding that Rams� intent was to �get as many shots at the basket as possible in the top 100� picks.

�We felt like it would benefit the Rams not only in the short term but in the long term as well,� he said.

The Rams were thought to be searching for defensive linemen that could help replace Ndamukong Suh and offensive linemen that could add depth.

But their first three picks deviated from those areas.

Rapp, 6-feet and 200 pounds, joins a safety corps that includes six-time Pro Bowl player Eric Weddle and ascending safety John Johnson.

�A lot of the things that you love so much about Eric and J.J., we feel like Taylor has a lot of those similar traits and characteristics,� coach Sean McVay said.

Rapp said he was eager to learn from Weddle and Johnson.

�It�s an incredible opportunity and I think it�s the perfect scenario for me,� Rapp said during a teleconference. �I couldn�t ask for anything better.�

Rapp played three seasons at Washington and intercepted seven passes. Last season, he intercepted two passes and helped the Huskies reach the Rose Bowl. He suffered a hip injury in the final regular-season game, however, and sat out the Rose Bowl game.

He might have slid in the draft because of questions about his hip, especially after he clocked a time of 4.77 seconds at Washington�s Pro day workout.

�Got it checked out by the Rams� doctors and physical stuff there, so it�s completely healthy,� he said. �I�m ready to play ball now. I�m ready to get to work.�

The selection of Henderson in the third round with the 70th pick naturally raised questions about star running back Todd Gurley�s left knee. Gurley, who signed a $60-million extension before last season, sat out the last two games because of a knee issue and struggled during much of the postseason.

Since the Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots, Snead and McVay have said the Rams would work to manage...

2019 Draft: With 61st pick, Rams select TAYLOR RAPP, S, WASHINGTON

Taylor Rapp, 5-11/208

Safety

Washington

Taylor Rapp Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:
Good instincts
Excellent blitzer
Very good around the line of scrimmage
Tough defender coming downhill
Physical
Good run defender
Quality tackler
Quickness
Comes up with some splash plays
Reads quarterbacks' eyes
Functional in zone coverage
Intelligent
Disciplined
Starting strong safety for the NFL
Operates well in short zone
Should be able to play quickly
Experienced and successful against good college talent
Should be able to start quickly
Good character
Hard worker
Leader
Durable

Weaknesses:
Not a free safety
Has limitations in pass coverage
Can't play deep consistently
Does not have the range to play deep consistently
Has some tightness in lower leg
Not a safety to play man coverage

Summary: Florida and LSU fight over which school is known as "DBU," but another school that should factor into the equation is Washington. The Huskies have produced a lot of good NFL talent in recent years, and the 2019 NFL Draft could have multiple Huskies defensive backs go in the early rounds. Among them is junior safety Taylor Rapp, who was a 3-year starter. Rapp has received good preparation and coaching from Jimmy Lake, his defensive coordinator, who was a good defensive backs coach in the NFL. Given the weak class of safeties in the 2019 NFL Draft, Rapp could be one of the first safeties off the board in April.

With Budda Baker starting as the free safety, Rapp had a strong debut as a freshman starter. He totaled 53 tackles with two passes broken up, one forced fumble and four interceptions that season. In his sophomore year, Rapp recorded 59 tackles with two sacks and one interception. He then recorded 59 tackles with five sacks, four passes broken up and two interceptions in 2018 while playing well for Washington.

Rapp would fit best as a strong safety in the NFL and looks like he could be a starting strong safety early in his pro career. While he is not a thumper, Rapp has good instincts that turn him into a solid defender. His best attribute could be his blitzing, as he is very good at chasing down the quarterback. He is a quality tackler and run defender who plays well near the line of scrimmage. As a pro, Rapp should be a solid run defender and eighth man in the box.

Sources say that Rapp has some limitations in pass coverage. While he is not a throwaway in coverage, he does not have good range downfield and should not play deep consistently. He could function for a play or two, but he could be a liability downfield in deep coverage due to his range limitations if he is asked to play there a lot. He has some tightness in the lower...

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A Mad scientist with weird science

Rams pick safety Taylor Rapp in second round of NFL draft after trading down twice

2019 Draft: With 61st pick, Rams select TAYLOR RAPP, S, WASHINGTON

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