Bills resigning Rapp

[eball]

Rapp has been a very pleasant surprise. I was worried he was a reckless headhunter but he has thus far proven me wrong. 
 

 

[PoundingDog]

46 minutes ago, Buffalo ill said:

If he runs a 3.39

There is no if. He did at the combine.

[GunnerBill]

4 hours ago, DJB said:

 

 

Just curious your thoughts on your own take earlier in the season. 
 

Hard to argue against Rapp he’s been terrific this year 

 

He has played better than I expected but I think there is a bit of over the top analysis going on right now. He has been very good against the run. In coverage has kind of been who he always is... a reactor rather than an anticipator and a step late in most places as a result. He has given us serviceable starting strong safety play though and I was worried in the summer we wouldn't even get that and for his cap hit - $2.8m - he has been extremely good value. Given he remains under contract two more years my focus in the offseason would be upgrading at free safety rather than messing with Rapp. The slight issue is they drafted a guy in round two who is also a strong safety and while we know there is some interchangeability in safety spots in this defense I don't know if either Rapp or Bishop have the coverage skills for that center fielder spot.

[Simon]

28 minutes ago, PoundingDog said:

There is no if. He did at the combine.

 

Ummmmm, you might want to doublecheck for typos 🤐

[MiracleAtRich1393]

1 hour ago, PoundingDog said:

Bishop runs 4.45 and Elam runs 3.39.

 

Benford. Douglas, Rapp all run in 4.6+ 40 yard time. Even for Poyer/Hyde, they were in 4.56+ range. 

 

Speed isn't everything but I bet you they surely like to add some speed in the secondary so they have more options, like playing more man, be more aggresive. We'll see how it goes.

Check out their 10 yard splits tho

[billsfan89]

9 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

He has played better than I expected but I think there is a bit of over the top analysis going on right now. He has been very good against the run. In coverage has kind of been who he always is... a reactor rather than an anticipator and a step late in most places as a result. He has given us serviceable starting strong safety play though and I was worried in the summer we wouldn't even get that and for his cap hit - $2.8m - he has been extremely good value. Given he remains under contract two more years my focus in the offseason would be upgrading at free safety rather than messing with Rapp. The slight issue is they drafted a guy in round two who is also a strong safety and while we know there is some interchangeability in safety spots in this defense I don't know if either Rapp or Bishop have the coverage skills for that center fielder spot.

 

Rapp gives the Bills a credible starting caliber option the next two years. Hamlin may get a bigger contract so having the other safety spot locked in with a quality option if you let Hamlin walk is a positive. If you keep Hamin/Rapp as the starters next season it gives Bishop another year to learn the system and take over for Rapp down the line or Rapp is just too good to bench and Bishop is just elite depth, you need depth to win in the NFL so while that's a very high pick to spend on depth at least depth provides value. 

[GunnerBill]

2 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

 

Rapp gives the Bills a credible starting caliber option the next two years. Hamlin may get a bigger contract so having the other safety spot locked in with a quality option if you let Hamlin walk is a positive. If you keep Hamin/Rapp as the starters next season it gives Bishop another year to learn the system and take over for Rapp down the line or Rapp is just too good to bench and Bishop is just elite depth, you need depth to win in the NFL so while that's a very high pick to spend on depth at least depth provides value. 

 

Yea I suppose my frustration is that given the relatively low premium on the safety position the Bills have spent a 2nd round pick, and got better than anticipated play out of a lower end free agent and yet because their skillsets are so similar I kind of feel like they still need to commit more resources to the group there in 2025.

[Richard Noggin]

On 3/8/2024 at 2:39 PM, Trogdor said:

I don't think Rapp is anywhere near Poyer in terms of play. Poyer is controlled aggression and Rapp is wild. I think he has one good series but I don't have high hopes. 

 

Back in March I agreed with the emphasized critique: Rapp WAS wild. (see next quote)

 

4 hours ago, Mango said:

Rapp had really settled down as the season has gone on/he came back from protocol. He’s been a great player for us. Arguably as important a contributor as Bernard is. 

 

Since he's donned the Guardian Cap, he seems to have turned an unpredictable weakness -- being an irresponsible, head-down friendly fire scud missile -- into a relative strength, with more controlled and impactful physicality. (see next quote) Dude was a wildcard, but did flash a bit as 2023 went along. Now he's kind of awesome, and I don't think a comparison to a younger Poyer is at all off base. And remember, Poyer had Hyde out there with him for years. 

 

4 hours ago, Charles Romes said:

Separating Garrett Wilson from the ball in the end zone started the epic win streak. 

 

Love to see it. Difficult play to pull off these days, to be honest. Props to Rapp for harnessing his violence.

 

4 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said:

The development of Rapp as a Bills' safety is on a very similar curve to Hyde and Poyer.  He isn't at the level they achieved at their peaks, but his improvement year over year has been something to watch.

 

Remember Buffalo wasn't Hyde or Poyer first stop.  Rapp started 48 of 57 games for the Rams before coming to Buffalo.  Despite starting all those games including 33 of 33 his final two years, the Rams let him walk and sign with the Bills for 1 year at 1.77.  The Bills then extended him this off-season. 

 

Hyde came to Buffalo after 4 years in GB and Poyer after 4 years in Cleve, but neither had Rapp's starting experience when they joined the Bills.  Rapp is just more evidence that Beane/McD know what they are looking for and see things in players, especially DBs, that other teams miss.  Douglas is also a better player here than he was in GB.

 

 

 

Reminds me a lot of Poyer with respect to style and strengths. More of a strong safety for sure. 

 

[DJB]

6 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

He has played better than I expected but I think there is a bit of over the top analysis going on right now. He has been very good against the run. In coverage has kind of been who he always is... a reactor rather than an anticipator and a step late in most places as a result. He has given us serviceable starting strong safety play though and I was worried in the summer we wouldn't even get that and for his cap hit - $2.8m - he has been extremely good value. Given he remains under contract two more years my focus in the offseason would be upgrading at free safety rather than messing with Rapp. The slight issue is they drafted a guy in round two who is also a strong safety and while we know there is some interchangeability in safety spots in this defense I don't know if either Rapp or Bishop have the coverage skills for that center fielder spot.

Thanks I appreciate the response 

[GunnerBill]

14 minutes ago, DJB said:

Thanks I appreciate the response 

 

It's also worth saying he has looked more comfortable in the scheme the more experience he has had in it, even from week 1 to now. And that is big in this defense. Do your 1/11th etc. 

[T master]

Bene could have done a hole lot worse ! I think he will work out fine ...

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

10 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yea I suppose my frustration is that given the relatively low premium on the safety position the Bills have spent a 2nd round pick, and got better than anticipated play out of a lower end free agent and yet because their skillsets are so similar I kind of feel like they still need to commit more resources to the group there in 2025.

I’d have to go back through the draft board, was there someone with a more FS skillset available at bishop’s spot? Looks like Bullock was the next safety picked and the Texans have him playing SS also.  I don’t know that there was any safety drafted that is starting at FS right now maybe the transition to the nfl  is tough at that position. 
 

im sure we view bishop as someone who had more of SS skills out of the gate but has the skill/versatility to play both spots 

Edited 10 hours ago by Generic_Bills_Fan

[Captain Hindsight]

11 hours ago, eball said:

Rapp has been a very pleasant surprise. I was worried he was a reckless headhunter but he has thus far proven me wrong. 
 

 

Any DB McDermott thinks he can work with is always good in my book.

 

Was watching Levi Wallace get torched the other night. McDermott made him a low end starter for years here. Reminds of Belicheat and how he could pick random dudes up and make them good players 

[GunnerBill]

13 minutes ago, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

I’d have to go back through the draft board, was there someone with a more FS skillset available at bishop’s spot? Looks like Bullock was the next safety picked and the Texans have him playing SS also.  I don’t know that there was any safety drafted that is starting at FS right now maybe the transition to the nfl  is tough at that position. 
 

im sure we view bishop as someone who had more of SS skills out of the gate but has the skill/versatility to play both spots 

 

The only one that springs to mind is Evan Williams in Green Bay. Can't remember where he went though? Early day 3?

[Taro Nimbus]

I love how everyone was so down on the bills signing him again.  😂

[Mark Long Beach]

15 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yea I suppose my frustration is that given the relatively low premium on the safety position the Bills have spent a 2nd round pick, and got better than anticipated play out of a lower end free agent and yet because their skillsets are so similar I kind of feel like they still need to commit more resources to the group there in 2025.

 

It was definitely a position of need.  Like Elam at DB, it means we overpay by a few rounds to get someone with a likely high floor, high ceiling to fill a need.  Even if they don't pan out right away, like Bishop & Elam, you still have a good depth player.   We also threw a lot of vet spaghetti at the wall to see if any stuck.  (we did this with WR too)   I think Elam can play well if we need him too.  Bishop... probably too young this year for Superbowl aspirations.   But like Rapp and Hamlin it can take a year or two in this system.

 

I'm of the opinion that I don't mind having a handful of these stabs with overpaying.   We need quality depth, we need solid starters, we need playmakers.  We've gotten all of these.   We're 10-2 and have a SOLID backup at every position except QB.  

 

 

[ColoradoBills]

19 hours ago, Nephilim17 said:

Per Marino:

Rapp is just missing 3 percent of tackles. 
In coverage, targeted 17 times, gave up 9 passes for 114 yards, 2 INTs, and a 34.6 passer rating.

 

That's pretty, pretty good.

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

19 hours ago, eball said:

Rapp has been a very pleasant surprise. I was worried he was a reckless headhunter but he has thus far proven me wrong. 
 

 

I think he's had at least four score saving plays this year, which honestly is four more than I was expecting. I'd still like the Bills to draft a more center fielder but Bishop looks like he's going to need time and Rapp has performed admirably.

 

I guess I gave him a bad Rapp

[Danger Mouse]

He’s tackled like Milano used to this season. Insane improvement. Nobody would like playing against him.

[Mikie2times]

19 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

Back in March I agreed with the emphasized critique: Rapp WAS wild. (see next quote)

 

 

Since he's donned the Guardian Cap, he seems to have turned an unpredictable weakness -- being an irresponsible, head-down friendly fire scud missile -- into a relative strength, with more controlled and impactful physicality. (see next quote) Dude was a wildcard, but did flash a bit as 2023 went along. Now he's kind of awesome, and I don't think a comparison to a younger Poyer is at all off base. And remember, Poyer had Hyde out there with him for years. 

 

 

Love to see it. Difficult play to pull off these days, to be honest. Props to Rapp for harnessing his violence.

 

 

Reminds me a lot of Poyer with respect to style and strengths. More of a strong safety for sure. 

 

I noticed the Guardian Cap timing as well. He seems to be playing like he might play again tomorrow, which is good to see.