LA Rams Aaron Donald 80 sacks has him closer to team record

LA Rams DL Donald now 80 sacks has him closing in on All-time team record

LA Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald plays football unlike any other. He is a massive threat to any NFL quarterback, and he has an uncanny knack for elevating the play of his teammates too. After sharing a sack on Monday Night Football, Donald is now just 7.5 sacks away from All-Time team sacks leader Leonard Little who has 87.5 sacks.

Donald is more than just a player who gets sacks against the quarterback. His 123 tackles for a loss lead the team in that category by a wide margin. And his quarterback hits of 188 lead the team by nearly double that of second place.  And while his 334 career tackles are still far off the mark of 854 set by team leader middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, he is on pace to get close in his career.

The Donald effect

Playing alongside LA Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald has a positive impact on player statistics. Compare the performance of players who played with Aaron Donald, but have moved on to play elsewhere, like Dante Fowler Jr. or Cory Littleton.  Fowler plummeted from 11.5 sacks in 2019 to just one in seven games this year. Littleton had 134 tackles in 2019 and missed only 3.6 percent.  In six games in 2020, he has just 35 tackles and is missing a phenomenal 25.5 percent of tackles. Even his pass defense is suffering this year.

Then look at someone who recently joined the Rams defense like Leonard Floyd. His best season statistics happened on his rookie season when he sacked the quarterback seven times while piling up 33 tackles, six tackles for a loss, and nine quarterback hits. So far in seven games for the Rams, he has four quarterback sacks, 23 tackles, six tackles for a loss, and nine quarterback hits.

Here comes A’Shawn the Giant

It’s that effect that has the team eagerly anticipating the arrival of NT A’Shawn Robinson. Robinson has plenty of talent and versatility but has not had the opportunity to showcase his power and agility as of yet. In four NFL seasons, he has sacked the quarterback just five times and has accounted for 172 tackles.

In the Rams defense, Robinson could put up four sacks in the remaining nine games. But he is not the only one who gets the boost from Donald’s play. Donald attracts the attention of the entire offensive line, and his teammates benefit.  But the new defensive scheme has added a twist. Check out the play of Greg Gaines alongside Donald, and you will see Gaines aiming at offensive linemen to plow the way for Donald.   The LA Rams have unlocked Donald this season. Meanwhile, the LA Rams have nine more games to go.

Grab your popcorn, this will be one worth watching. Go Rams!