Tag: Taylor Rapp

Bills snap counts: Depth chart breakdown vs. Broncos

#Bills snap counts: Depth chart breakdown vs. #Broncos:

The Buffalo Bills got after it against the Denver Broncos and ended up losing 24-22 on Monday Night Football in Week 10.

But who exactly were the ones on the field for the Bills (5-5) doing all the dirty work against the Broncos (3-5)?

More often than not, taking a look in between the lines at snap count totals for Buffalo’s players can give us some insight as to what went down in between the lines on the gridiron. There is always plenty to discover when looking at these finer details.

With that, here’s how the Bills depth chart broke down via snap counts in their latest defeat against the Broncos:

Bills at Bengals: 5 things to watch for during Week 9’s matchup

#Bills at #Bengals: 5 things to watch for during Week 9’s matchup:

The Buffalo Bills (5-3) continue their regular season journey at on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals (4-3) in Week 9 on Sunday Night Football at Paycor Stadium.

All week, topics and storylines have been discussed ahead of these two familiar foes facing off. In the end, regardless of what is said by players, coaches, media outlets and fans, it always comes down to what unfolds on the field in the NFL.

And once the battle arrives, there will be a few particular things to keep in mind to look out for.

With that, are five things to watch for during Sunday’s Bills-Bengals matchup:

ESPN’s Ryan Clark breaks down Bills new defensive look vs. Bucs (video)

ESPN’s Ryan Clark breaks down #Bills new defensive look vs. #Bucs (video):

The Buffalo Bills defense have lost some key pieces in the last couple of weeks, with injuries to Tre’Davious White, Da’Quan Jones, and Matt Milano resulting in various second- and third-string players seeing their snap counts vary at their expected and alternate positions.

The tinkering on the defensive front happens throughout an NFL season, as injuries are always possible. To lose multiple key pieces across all levels of the defense is unlikely, but sometimes it happens.

Sean McDermott, who took over defensive coordinator duties this offseason, had looked at different ways to line up and include his extremely talented defenders on the field and players that can make big plays to disrupt the offensive timing for throws and tackle running backs behind the line of scrimmage.

In Week 8, the Buffalo defense lined up in a unique formation with three safeties on occasion. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky pointed out how the Bills lined up in this formation against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and how the formation allows for Buffalo’s talented safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde to both be on the field while having a third safety, Taylor Rapp, drop into the linebacker role during passing downs.

And the former NFL quarterback asked guest Ryan Clark for this thoughts on the new personnel during ESPN’s NFL Live program. Clark played 12 years as a safety in the NFL across various defensive schemes and formations, and definitely knows a thing or two about winning. The NFL veteran started as safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers for five years, including during the 2008 season when he won Super Bowl XLIII.

Clark also highlighted to Orlovsky that the defensive scheme seemed to be a game plan for the Buccaneers specifically, given their inability to run the football and reliance on quarterback Baker Mayfield to beat opponents through the air.

You can watch the full clip of Clark and Orlovsky analyzing the Bills’ defense here following a segment on the Bills’ offense by Orlovsky:

PFF: 5 worst-graded Bills players on defense in Week 8

Not their best day:

The Buffalo Bills defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-18, in their Week 8 matchup on Thursday Night Football.

The Bills (5-3) had a few players that stood out above the rest in this one. Particularly on defense, Buffalo had a sound game plan. However, the Bills were not perfect and in the end, the game was close.

The Bills will hope such consistency and wins will remain in their efforts throughout the rest of the 2023 season. But Buffalo will need these players to turn it around a bit.

With that, here are the five worst-graded Bills players on defense against the Buccaneers (3-4) from their Week 8 win according to Pro Football Focus‘ metrics:

Bills’ Taylor Rapp fined for hit on Raiders’ Davante Adams

Adams had a lot to say about Rapp, too:

Taylor Rapp is the latest Buffalo Bills player to be dinged by the NFL with a fine following the team’s Week 2 game.

Late during the Bills’ 38-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Rapp landed a hit on Raiders All-Pro receiver Davante Adams. It was of the helmet-to-helmet variety and it drew a flag.

Adams was evaluated for a concussion but did not end up in the NFL’s protocol. He practiced all week following the Buffalo-Las Vegas matchup.

For his actions, Rapp was fined by the NFL the league announced. The ding for Rapp’s paycheck amounted to $9,611.

Rapp earned a ripping from Adams, too.

Following the game last week, Adams told ESPN he was none too happy about the hit. Likely adding fuel to the fire is the fact that Adams’ teammate, Jakobi Meyers, has been dealing with concussion issues after sustaining one in Week 1.

“Was it unnecessary? Completely, obviously,” Adams said.

“But certain players play a certain way, too. Some people, out of control. They fly around. They don’t really have much true purpose out there,” Adams continued. “That’s the kind of stuff that contributes to you not being on the field. That’s why you’re in when you’re blowing us out by 25 at the end of the game. Maybe if that man learns how to play the game the right way, he’ll see the field. Until then, he’ll have to go and live off of plays like that, I guess.”

Rapp is likely to be back in the lineup for the Bills in the team’s upcoming Week 3 matchup against the Washington Commanders.

[lawrence-related id=122832,122830,122828]

PFF: 5 worst-graded Bills players on defense in Week 1

PFF: 5 worst-graded #Bills players on defense in Week 1:

The Buffalo Bills fell 22-16 in overtime to the New York Jets in Week 1.

Following the game that was, here are the five worst-graded Bills players on defense from the outing against the Jets according to Pro Football Focus:

WATCH: Buffalo Bills safety room describe each other

WATCH: #Bills safety room describe each other:

The Bills safety room sat down with the team’s video department and went through an interesting exercise which allowed fans to get to know the players a bit more. In it, each person does not answer questions about themselves, rather, the others around the room.

Featured in the clip is Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Damar Hamlin and more. See the attached YouTube clip for the feature.

[lawrence-related id=121135,121149,121140]

Taylor Rapp on signing with Bills: ‘They’re just building something great here’

Taylor Rapp on signing with #Bills: ‘They’re just building something great here’

Taylor Rapp was always a curious signing by the Buffalo Bills.

During free agency, the player and team agreed to a one-year deal. It was a surprise, because at that point, Jordan Poyer had already re-signed in Buffalo to start alongside Micah Hyde once again.

So how’d this marriage come to be? It was a two-way street.

Rapp, 25, was a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 2019. He has made 57 appearances over his career, which has included 48 starts. Rapp has not missed a game over the past two seasons. Plus he has a Super Bowl on his resume.

Despite all those successes early on, Rapp said he had always been aware of what was being built in Buffalo… and he liked what he saw.

“During free agency you’re always trying to find a good fit, not only for yourself as a player but as a team culture fit, too. I knew coach (Sean) McDermott, Brandon Beane, they’re just building something great here and I always had respect for how this team plays,” Rapp said. “They’ve got the right guys in the locker room.”

As far as the Bills were concerned, McDermott pulled out one of his trigger words: Versatility.

“He does a lot for us. Extremely smart football player. I was walking up and he was one of the first ones down here and it’s every day. His work ethic and his habits puts him in position to do more than one thing for us,” McDermott said via video conference.

“A lot” does describe what Rapp has been up to on Buffalo’s defense throughout this summer.

On paper, Rapp is the clear No. 3 safety in the defensive backfield behind Poyer and Hyde. But Rapp has seen time in the slot as a bigger nickel cornerback and as a box defender.

The multi-dimensional depth ability that Rapp provides could make him a perfect match with the Bills, even if the team avoids injury better than last season.

[lawrence-related id=120486,120469,120483]