Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints: Five Rams to watch revisited

The rematch between The Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints was victorious for Sean McVay & Co. with the home squad pouring on late on the visiting Saints, 27-9.

The game itself was a helluva defensive battle. New Orleans stymied Jared Goff, Todd Gurley & Co. in the first half as the offense only mustered six points on two Greg Zuerlein kicks. The turning point was Aaron Donald’s pressure that injured Saints QB Drew Brees.

After New Orleans’ K Will Lutz’s 6-6 tying field goal in the third, the Rams went off on a twenty-one-to-three run. That’s where the guttin’ started happenin’.

Lets get into looking back at the five Rams to watch in Week 2:

S Taylor Rapp

Rapp’s first game as a pro was outstanding. We kinda knew this kid would be good, but we did not know he would be THIS GOOD!

Rapp is key in the sub-packages, filling the Nickel/Dime LB role superbly. Against the Saints — and with weapons like TE Jared Cook and RB Alvin Kamara — Rapp will have to be sound.

Theoretically, Taylor is the right man for the job. He can lay the boom and he can cover TEs. Lets hope it goes our way.

Taylor’s Week 2 performance was incredible. He ended the contest with six total tackles. He held NO’s Jared Cook in line breaking up a few passes intended Cook’s way and helped to limit Saints RB Alvin Kamara to 45 yards.

I reaaalllyyy likes this kid.

Grade: B+

RB Malcolm Brown

Big Malc did his thang in the first game of 2019. He was crucial in the redzone — tacking on two scores. All in all, Brown tallied 53 yards on 11 carries — a 4.8 per carry clip.

If this first game is any indication of the Todd Gurley maintenance plan, then Malcolm will get his fair share of opportunities to EAT. His meals will continue into the home opener.

Malcolm’s Week 2 performance was not as productive as last week’s, but still had a very good 6.2 average on six carries for 37 yards

Gurley punched in his first TD of the season which is, yanno, fan-fucking-tastic. But at a 3.9 clip (16 carries, 63 yards), TG definitely did not have his best night. Credit to the Saints’ defense.

Grade: C-

S Marqui Christian

When S Eric Weddle went down after sustaining that nasty gash on his head (and subsequent inclusion in the concussion protocol), “Q” stepped in and performed adequately.

If Weddle cannot go this week, Christian will be the one to fill in again. And it is a huge assignment, given New Orleans’ potent offensive assault.

Weddle returned from the concussion protocol in time for the Saints game, so ‘Q’ was used sparingly. So, Let’s turn this into a Weddle appraisal.

He’s legit, y’all. The dude finished the game with seven tackles. He laid the boom on the S John Johnson III interception. Made plays left and right.

Rams have a guuuuuud safety trio in JJ, Weddle, & T-Rapp.

Grade: A

EDGE Dante Fowler, Jr.

The storyline has always gone something like this: line up any scrub next to Aaron Donald and they will reap the rewards of all the attention AD demands. Well, reality does not work that way. We have seen it countless times.

In Dante’s case, and to his credit, he reaped the rewards of playing on Donald’s side last Sunday. Fowler first sack (two total) came on a stunt he pulled off with Aaron Donald. Donald ate up both defenders and Dante made his way to the QB unscathed — a thing of beauty, actually.

Fowler should continue racking up sacks on opportunities like this. It will prove he is worth his money ($12M, per Spotrac), and it will line him up for an even richer payday after the season.

Dante remained active in Week two, picking up five tackles. But the Rams are paying him beaucoup money to get the the QB, not remain busy in the stat sheet.

Let me dial this slander up some, though. Besides two sacks from Clay Matthew and Michael Brockers, the Rams pass rush hardly generated anything. The blame lies upon all of them.

Grade: C

CB Marcus Peters/Aqib Talib

The secondary played lights out in Week 1. This week brings forth an entirely whole different breed of monster. WR Michael Thomas is easily the one of the best pass catchers in the game. Playa can do it all. This is where Peters/Talib enter the scene. Whenever one is match up with Thomas, they will have to attempt to limit his windows/limit the damage Michael can cause.

The Rams’ combo of Peters and Talib held Saints WR Michael Thomas in check for the majority of the game.

No disrespect, Thomas still ate – he had 10 catches for 89 yards. But that is not Michael Thomas-good, ya feel me?

In fact, credit to the whole secondary. Y’all are goals, fr fr.

Grade: A+