Tag: Eric Weddle

Eric Weddle says Taylor Rapp is ‘lightyears ahead of most rookies’

Eric Weddle says Taylor Rapp has become one of the best safeties in the NFL – not just one of the best rookies.

Taylor Rapp was viewed as a first-round prospect by a lot of draft analysts and it wouldn’t have been the least bit surprising to see him go in the late 20s or early 30s back in April. The Rams got a steal by selecting him 51st overall after trading back three times, and while they already had two starting safeties, he was a long-term addition with a very high ceiling.

He turned into an almost-immediate contributor after John Johnson was placed on IR, thrusting Rapp into the starting lineup. Eric Weddle has taken him under his wing and helped him develop into one of the best safeties in the league, regardless of experience.

In the locker room Thursday, Weddle discussed how well Rapp has been playing and shared his excitement for the rookie pulling down his first career interception.

“He was lightyears ahead of most rookies. It’s tough to come in this league and he’s always put his head down, he’s always trying to learn, he’s always trying to get better and work hard and work on maybe his deficiencies in pass games or practice,” Weddle said. “Just seeing his growth, his confidence and us working well together. We sit by each other, we talk ball, we’re talking concepts, we’re just talking about what I see, what I can help him with and he’s just on the ball.”

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Weddle is like a coach on the field and playing the same position as Rapp, the two are in constant communication throughout the game. Weddle is impressed with Rapp’s ability to digest what he’s saying and use it to get better.

“Anytime I say something to him or relay something to him, even in the middle of the game, he’s on top of it the next series,” Weddle added. “He’s been not only one of the best rookies, but over the last 10 games, one of the best safeties out there. His tackling ability, he’s covering, his playmaking. Couldve had three or four picks if he could catch, but those times will come. The sky’s the limit for him, I’m just happy that I can share the field with him and help him as much as I can.”

Rapp has quickly become a top safety in the NFL, ranking fifth at his position on Pro Football Focus’ grading system since Week 7 – the week he took over as a starter. He’s arguably been the better of the two between himself and Weddle, which is saying a lot considering their gap in experience.

Needless to say, he’s been a valuable addition to the roster, and more importantly, the starting lineup this year.

Watch: Eric Weddle was mic’d up Sunday night vs. Seahawks

Eric Weddle was wired for sound in Week 14 and he calls everyone “babe.”

Eric Weddle has only been with the Rams for one season but he’s already become a leader on defense. He’s as vocal as anyone on the field, getting his teammates aligned properly and diagnosing plays before the snap.

If you’ve ever wondered what it sounds like to be on the field with Weddle, the Rams gave fans a glimpse with a mic’d up video on Tuesday. He was wearing a mic for Sunday’s game against the Seahawks and as you’d expect, Weddle was in constant communication with players and coaches on the sideline and between the white lines.

His relationship with Sean McVay is evident. He and the coach shared a hug on the sideline before kickoff, and Weddle told him, “Be you today. Be you” before giving McVay a friendly push.

Weddle has made a big difference in the secondary this season, and is a big reason the Rams rank 8th in total defense and 10th against the pass.

Eric Weddle among 8 finalists for Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

Eric Weddle is a finalist fo rthe second straight year.

Eric Weddle came to Los Angeles to win a Lombardi Trophy, and while the chances of that happening look bleak, he could win a different award. On Thursday, the NFL announced eight finalists for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award and Eric Weddle was listed among them.

Each team nominated one player this season for exemplifying sportsmanship on the field. The list of 32 nominees was trimmed to eight, and with Weddle making the cut, this is the second straight year he’s has been a finalist.

The finalists were selected by a panel of four former players: Warrick Dunn, Curtis Martin, Karl Mecklenburg and Leonard Wheeler. From here, current NFL players will vote on a winner, which will be announced at the NFL Honors show the night before the Super Bowl.

The winner will receive $25,000 to donate to the charity of his choice, as well as a trophy.

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Eric Weddle ‘never thought in a million years’ Rams would get destroyed

Eric Weddle was at a loss for words after the Ravens blew out the Rams.

One of the biggest storylines leading up to Monday night’s Rams-Ravens matchup was Eric Weddle’s reluctance to share intel on Baltimore with his current team. He did it out of respect for his former teammates and coaches, which angered many Rams fans.

After seeing how dominant the Ravens looked against the Rams at the Coliseum, Weddle could’ve told his teammates every play that was coming before the snap and it wouldn’t have mattered. Baltimore still would’ve won this game – easily.

After the 45-6 loss, Weddle struggled to find the words to explain what had just happened to his team.

“I’m at a loss for words,” Weddle said, via the Los Angeles Times. “I never thought in a million years we’d get completely destroyed. It’s tough to put into words. Defense played awful. Couldn’t get off the field. Couldn’t help our offense.”

The Rams did almost nothing well against Baltimore. The offense finished with 221 yards but 114 of them came in the fourth quarter during garbage time. The defense allowed the Ravens to rush for 285 yards, which is more than the team allowed in its last four games combined.

Wade Phillips had no answer for anyone on Baltimore’s offense, and the combination of that and poor discipline by the defense created a lopsided score. Weddle credited the Ravens for how well they played, explaining the difficulty of defending them.

“What they’re doing on offense, a lot of times I wouldn’t know for a few seconds after they snapped it, if he handed it or he still had it,” Weddle said. “Imagine the whole defense. You’re trying to play your rules and play the guy, and these guys are just coming downhill and doubling and getting extra gaps, and you’re trying to figure out what’s going on.”

The Rams will need to regroup after their worst home loss in franchise history, traveling to Arizona for a matchup with Kyler Murray and the Cardinals on Sunday. Murray isn’t the consistent runner that Jackson is, but his quickness and speed are impossible to ignore.

3 Rams defenders the Ravens will have to beat to win in Week 12

The Baltimore Ravens’ top-ranked rushing offense will have their hands full against the Los Angeles Rams defense.

The Baltimore Ravens will be looking to keep the offensive fireworks going on Monday night. They’ll have to do so against one of the most feared defensive units in the NFL in the Los Angeles Rams.

Baltimore has already run away from some of the league’s best in their remarkable 8-2 start. They’ve rightfully claimed the top spot in many of the power rankings around the web and quarterback Lamar Jackson is the frontrunner to win the MVP award. Waiting for Jackson and company tonight is the two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year, defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and a Rams team entering desperation mode.

The Rams were an elite offense in 2018 that masked some of their defensive struggles. And while their offense currently ranks 10th in points scored while their defense is 11th in points allowed, Los Angeles just doesn’t have the same mojo as last season, entering Week 12 at 6-4 and mired in a tight NFC playoff picture.

Let’s take a look at three players on the Rams defense the Ravens will have to focus on in order to keep Jackson’s MVP numbers and their winning streak rolling.

DT, Aaron Donald

Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images

We’ll start with the most obvious as the four-time All-Pro is a nightmare for any offensive line. Thanks to having some other players around him to ease the burden and double teams, Donald is on pace to win his third consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award.

Linebackers Clay Matthews and Dante Fowler have combined for 13.5 sacks this season, in addition to Donald’s team-leading eight sacks. Michael Brockers has not put up big numbers in 2019 but is a force up front as well. The Ravens offensive line is in for a test.

But it all starts with limiting Donald’s impact on the game. The Ravens’ top rushing offense is going to have their hands full containing who many feel is the best all-around player in the NFL. Baltimore will double team him all night, chip him with running backs whenever possible and do whatever it takes to steer clear of his presence on the field.

It is easier said than done as the Rams line Donald all over the line-of-scrimmage, but offensive coordinator Greg Roman has the personnel to try to slow him own. You’re not going to keep him from making an impact throughout, but limiting him to a few plays and keeping his hands off Jackson as much as possible will get that potent ground game churning.

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Eric Weddle could tell Rams ‘a lot of stuff’ about Ravens, but won’t

Eric Weddle knows a lot about the Ravens, but he’s not going to tell the Rams anything.

Eric Weddle is one of the smartest players in the NFL. He’s also one of the most well-respected across the league, specifically with his former and current teammates. He earned that reputation with his play on the field and displaying loyalty off it.

His loyalty seems to have gone too far for some Rams fans, though, with Los Angeles playing Weddle’s former team on Monday night. The safety said back in August that he won’t share any of the Ravens’ secrets with the Rams, which angered fans in L.A.

There was some hope that he’d change his mind with this being such a monumental game for the Rams, but that’s not the case. He doubled-down on keeping his knowledge of the Rams’ scheme to himself Wednesday, saying he won’t give the Rams anything.

“There’s nothing that needs to be said, outside of, I could tell them a lot of stuff, but that’s just not who I am,” Weddle said, via the team’s website. “We’re going to play it on the field and the best team’s going to win, but they all know what I’m about.”

It all comes down to respect for Weddle. He built a strong relationship with players and coaches in Baltimore during his three years there, and he’s not going to turn his back on them – despite the fact that the team cut him this offseason.

It might seem a bit extreme to some fans, but the connection with Baltimore goes deep for Weddle.

“I said it whenever I did that last interview, I have a lot of respect for that place,” Weddle said. “Not only how it helped my career and rejuvenated my career, and how they treated myself and my family, but it’s a very tight-knit group. What kind of man would I be if I just turned my back on all of them?”

Sean McVay was asked about Weddle’s decision during Wednesday’s press conference, and it’s no surprise that he respects his decision. McVay said “it’s a small demonstration of why he’s a special guy,” understanding why he wouldn’t want to share intel on his former teammates.

“I think what you respect about Eric is he’s one of those guys that you pick his brain just because you want to talk some football. But in terms of some of the intricacies, I think he’s got a lot of loyalty to those guys even if he’s not there anymore,” he said. “And I think those are things that I think he would probably say, ‘I like talking ball with you,’ but I don’t want to do something that takes away from his ability to try to unfairly give information with the Ravens and I know that’s something that he’s communicated. So I haven’t talked to him about it.”

Kickoff between the Rams and Ravens will be on Monday night at 8:15 p.m. ET, with the Rams trying to get their seventh win of the season.

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Sean McVay weighs in on Eric Weddle’s decision to keep Ravens’ secrets

Eric Weddle won’t give away anything on his former team, and Sean McVay respects that.

When Eric Weddle signed with the Rams, one of the first games he probably circled on the schedule was a matchup with his former team, the Ravens. It was always going to be an intriguing matchup, but with Baltimore 8-2 and looking like one of the best teams in the NFL thanks to Lamar Jackson, the implications of this game have been heightened – especially for the 6-4 Rams.

Weddle knows the Ravens better than anyone outside their locker room, but Sean McVay and Wade Phillips shouldn’t expect any inside information from their starting safety. He said back in August that he won’t share any of his former team’s secrets – a startling revelation to Rams fans everywhere.

“I can’t give all the secrets away. Those are my guys. I can never turn my back on my guys over there,” Weddle told Andy Benoit in a film breakdown video. “Coach McVay knows what he’s doing. He doesn’t need much.”

Weddle respects his former teammates too much to give away secrets about their scheme.

“What kind of man would I be if I rat out my guys that I played three years with?” Weddle asked. “I cherish every relationship I made on that defense, on that team. The minute I say, ‘Here are all of their calls’ or ‘here are the checks to this,’ then what am I at the end of the day? I lose everything that I gained from there. And that means more to me than anything.”

McVay was asked by reporters on Wednesday if he’ll pick Weddle’s brain this week in advance of their Week 12 matchup with the Ravens. McVay knows Weddle said in the past that he won’t share any inside details about Baltimore’s scheme, and the coach respects that.

“I think what you respect about Eric is he’s one of those guys that you pick his brain just because you want to talk some football. But in terms of some of the intricacies, I think he’s got a lot of loyalty to those guys even if he’s not there anymore,” he said. “And I think those are things that I think he would probably say, ‘I like talking ball with you,’ but I don’t want to do something that takes away from his ability to try to unfairly give information with the Ravens and I know that’s something that he’s communicated. So I haven’t talked to him about it.”

McVay was then asked whether that would be regarded as unfair.

“I think this, it’s totally at each person’s individual approach. I think with his reasoning, I think it’s a small demonstration of why he’s a special guy. But we’ll talk some ball, we’ve talked before. Maybe I already asked those questions in the free-agent visit, he just didn’t realize it,” McVay said, smiling.

Schemes change every year and there are certainly differences between what the Ravens did last year when Weddle was there and what they’re doing now. In reality, there probably isn’t much of an advantage Weddle can give the Rams, because players still have to go out and execute the plays called.

Monday night will mostly come down to stopping Jackson, and if the Rams can’t do that, they’re going to be in for a long night – regardless of what Weddle might (or might not) tell them.

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Eric Weddle nominated by Rams for Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

Eric Weddle is the Rams’ nominee for the prestigious award.

Eric Weddle is one of the most well-respected players in the NFL and it was evident right away after he signed with the Rams. He was quickly voted a captain and called a “genius” by his teammates, emerging as a leader right out of the gates.

On Thursday, he was honored by the Rams as their nominee for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. The award recognizes players who best exemplify sportsmanship on the field, which Weddle certainly does.

Last year, the Rams nominated Todd Gurley, though Drew Brees went on to win the award.

The winner will be announced before the Super Bowl at the NFL Honors show and will be determined by a vote from current players. Eight finalists will be selected in December.