Here’s Bret Stuter…
The replay ruling
The first completion was to WR Rashad Bateman at the sidelines, covered by Rams DB Darious Williams, good for 15 yards and a first down. The second completion was on the fourth play of the drive to WR Marquise Brown for 13 yards and another Ravens first down. You can check out the play-by-play for yourself at this link for the NFL Games Video site. Now let’s describe the play that led to the fracas.
The dispute between Jalen Ramsey and Taylor Rapp began on the very next play (at the 4:00 mark in the video at the above website if you are following along). The Rams defense was facing another first and 10 from their own 44-yard line, and the defense faced a Ravens offense that was heavy to their right, away from Rapp who was playing deep, all the way back to the LA Rams 32-yard line.
The configuration bothered Ramsey pre-snap at the 4:24 mark, who clearly asked Rapp why he was playing so deep on the play? Even inside linebacker Troy Reeder turned to Ramsey and then Rapp, and pointed to a spot that lie about eight yards in front of the spot Rapp had chosen, indicating that Rapp was playing too deep. Rapp’s depth forces Ramsey to slide over to cover the void where Rapp was intended to line up. It was a miss by Rapp.
The very next Baltimore Raven’s play was a run, and Rapp’s insistence on playing 15 yards off the line of scrimmage and forcing Ramsey to change his alignment to cover Rapp’s spot placed both defensive backs too far to provide any run support on the next play. When it was over, Rapp and Ramsey had further discussions about the misalignment.
As the camera panned off Rapp and Ramsey at the 4:38 mark, it was obvious that Ramsey was infuriated with Rapp’s excuse. It was after that running play where the officials stopped the clock and the telecast cited the fact that two Rams had to be broken up in the huddle at the 4:50 mark of the video.
That’s the way it went down.
After rewatching the play a dozen or so times, it was obvious that Rapp was playing to his own cadence and he redirected Ramsey to a spot that offered no defensive support for the rest of the team that had to go nine on 11 to stop a running play. During my rewind-play review of the action, I also grew a bit frustrated by Rapp on that play.
Perhaps that frustration was not unique to me? If that was the reason for Ramsey’s ire, then I for one feel that it was warranted. I have not been particularly impressed with Taylor Rapp’s coverage skills nor the frequency in which he runs himself out of the play and away from the receiver he should be covering. In fact, I am quite certain that I am not the only one to feel that way. Still, a slap or punch of a teammate in a huddle during a game is a rather extreme measure.
