7 LA Rams players happy to help Donald carry the load

LA Rams DL Aaron Donald faces the Divisional Round against the Packers with torn rib cartilage. These seven teammates are happy to help ease his burden

The LA Rams have a true NFL superstar in defensive lineman Aaron Donald. He rushes the passer, forces fumbles, tackles the ball carrier for a loss, and disrupts the offensive line of any team he faces. He is a one-man wrecking ball, a player whose talent level surpasses the ability of football simulation games to reflect it in their talent scale.

Donald is a perennial Pro Bowler, All-Pro defensive lineman, Madden 99 club member. He is the one player who is always located by the opposing offensive linemen. And he is regularly subject to double and triple-teaming, and sometimes he faces as many as four blockers. Yet he keeps a smile on his face, his hand in the dirt, and pressuring quarterbacks, forcing fumbles, tackling ball carriers for losses, and disrupting offensive lines.

No ribbing Donald before this game

Like all elite football players, in big games, he shows up bigger. Under bright spotlights, he shines brighter.  On the biggest stages, his performance is the easiest to pick out of the 22 football players on the field. But there is a bit of a complicating matter. You see, he suffered torn rib cartilage in the Wild Card Round against the Seattle Seahawks.

and yet, in typical Donald fashion, he will muscle through it. But if he can’t, who can he turn to?

In one of the more painful type of injuries, one that can hurt any time you breath,  Donald has been steadfast in his insistence that he will show up this Saturday for the game at Green Bay. And it could very well be that his ‘no pain-no gain’ intensity of off-season training regiment has him truly in such great shape that he does not feel much more that a minor ache.

But these are the playoffs, where the best from the Packers will push the LA Rams to need to play their best. What is the maximum output of Aaron Donald in this game? Will he be 75 percent? 80 percent? It’s not off-base to factor in that Donald may not be 100 percent. So who will make up the difference for the Rams in a crucial game? Well, seven of Donald’s teammates will be happy to help carry the load against the Packers. Who are they?

Defender 7: OLB Lewis

The LA Rams need for a rookie edge rusher like Alabama’s outside linebacker Terrell Lewis was huge heading into the 2020 NFL Draft. But the chance of his falling to the Rams in the latter half of round two seemed remote indeed. When the Rams used their two second round picks on offensive players, the hope to draft Lewis become a fading dream.

But the 6-foot-5 252-pound defensive end/outside linebacker from the University of Alabama did indeed fall to the LA Rams, albeit not to the huge debut that many had expected. He has seen only light usage in the Rams defense this season, primarily due to a bothersome knee that has limited him to action in just eight regular season games, and just 124 defensive snaps.

Fresh enough to carry a larger burden

Light usage has limited Lewis’ impact for the Rams’ defense thus far. And the fact that he has missed a span of four games twice this season has limited his feel for the game, interrupting his development. Two weeks after after recording his first NFL sack against the Seattle Seahawks, he was off the field for another four weeks. And yet, he flashed such brilliant potential in just 28 defensive snaps against the Seahawks in the first game.

Lewis is fresh and ready to contribute. Even in light usage, Pro Football Focus graded Terrell Lewis an impressive 70.4 for his rookie season. Lewis would like nothing better than to step up for his team and teammates in a huge game, and he could do exactly that if needed. The Rams drafted Lewis to be a future defensive star for this defense. If Aaron Donald takes fewer defensive snaps, you can look for Lewis to be happy to grab them.

Defender 6: NT Gaines

The LA Rams nose tackle Greg Gaines has been one of the players for the Rams who inevitably will force you to proclaim ‘wow’ during the game. Yes, jersey number 91 has been a pleasant surprise for this Rams defense. The 6-foot-1 312-pound nose tackle from the University of Washington was a fourth-round selection for the Rams in the 2019 NFL Draft.  For his rookie year, he was infrequently included in their defensive rotation.

He had so much potential as a run stopper for the Rams from his Washington Huskies playing days. But it was clear in the off-season that the team needed more depth and better production from the defensive line, already one of the top in the NFL. The Rams needed a stronger and deeper crop of defensive linemen for the 3-4 version defense that defensive coordinator Brandon Staley envisioned.

Gaines is gaining ground

Gaines is only in his second season with the Rams. While he has not seen much of a bump in his playing time, he is making much better use of the opportunities he gets on the football field. Unlike the fire plug personna he exhibited at nose tackle a year ago, the 2020 version of Gaines gets after the running back and quarterback. He recorded 1.5 quarterback sacks and 18 tackles for the season. Those are both very respectable numbers for an NFL nose tackle, and Gaines is only on the field 20 percent of the time.

Would he produce more if he saw more playing time? From what he’s shown in the second half of the season, yes. In the latest three games, he has seen his playing time increase, and he is showing up all over the field making plays. He is a strong run-stopping blocker-gobbling defensive lineman who would love nothing better than to share a few more defensive snaps from his teammate.

Defender 5: DE Fox

When the LA Rams re-signed defensive end Morgan Fox for the 2020 NFL season, the team most assuredly was looking to add some depth to the roster who could make the opposing quarterback uncomfortable. What the team got in his place is a ferocious pass rusher who has a never-ending pursuit of the opposing quarterback.

Fox is a mini-wrecking ball. While he is not in Aaron Donald’s league, he has made a significant jump from rotational pass rusher to significant threat off the end. He’s tripled his quarterback sack production in 2020, while only having a modest increase in playing time. That is due to a stronger physique, better disciplined, and tighter corners and angles to get to the pocket more quickly.

Worth watching in the playoffs

Fox added a quarterback sack and two tackles against the Seattle Seahawks in the round one matchup. That was critical, because Donald was injured in that game, and Fox was one player who saw an uptick in defensive snaps as a result. In fact, Fox has been playing so well this season that he was featured in a recent unsung heroes article.

Fox has plenty of capacity to add more playing time to afford Donald the chance to limit his defensive snaps against the Packers. And that swap should not have a devastating impact for the dozen or less additional snaps Donald may need to spend on the sidelines. Fox is slated to be an unrestricted free agent in 2021, so any showcasing of his talents would only add to his next NFL contract, and could trigger a compensatory pick for the Rams in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Defender 5: DL Joseph-day

The LA Rams promoted defeensive lineman Sebastian Joseph Day in 2019 to join teammates Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers as a starter on the defensive line.  That was an NFL top-three defensive line in 2019, and it only got better in 2020.  For ‘Seabass’, the curious thing for his 2020 play is less-is-more.  What do we mean?

Thanks to a deeper defensive line, the Rams were able to play SJD fewer defensive snaps, but actually found him to have better production. In 69 fewer defensive snaps, he actually recorded 11 more tackles, while only recording one fewer quarterback sack. Before the season started, numerous reports indicated that SJD had arrived to training camp with more muscle mass, and a far more impressive physique. And whenever a Rams player shows signs of additional muscular definition, there is an automatic inferance of how does he measure up to Aaron Donald.

Versatile enough to play a multi-role function

While the LA Rams 6-foot-4 310-pound nose tackle has benefited greatly by playing just one primary position on the defensive line, he remains agile and strong enough to take on any role on the defensive line. For the season, his Pro Football Focus grade of 80.6 has been an outstanding accomplishment for the third year veteran drafted in round six of the 2018 NFL Draft with the 195th pick.

Does he have enough potential to pick up any slack from teammate Aaron Donald? You can bet he would love to do so. After all, this is merely his second NFL season of actual defensive snaps, and he has shown plenty of promise of being one of the NFL’s leading defensive linemen in the future.  He merely needs to improve on that pass rush. But he is a staunch run defender who plays his position with great discipline.

Defender 3:  NT Robinson

When the LA Rams signed free agent defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson, the hope was that Robinson could be an instant impact, perhaps fitting into a role much like Ndamukong Suh filled for the team. After seeing just how well Donald played with a second larger-than-life defensive lineman, the Rams hoped to duplicate that same experience with a less expensive version.

That didn’t exactly pan out, as Robinson missed the first eight games of the season due to a non-football related injury. Even after he was cleared to play, the Rams have been reluctant to play him more than 20 defensive snaps in a game. While that could be his need to play catchup with his teammates in grasping the defense, he may simply be on a limited snap count.

The time is now

While Robinson has been a modest part of the defensive rotation,he was one of the players that the Rams used in Donald’s absence. Robinson responded well. He recorded four tackles, the most he’s had in one game for the Rams all season. And he was a roadblock for the Seahawks, even when launching double-teams at him. Robinson held his ground, forcing the Seahawks to choose another route when running toward the line of scrimmage.

Robinson is a key factor in the Rams game this weekend. He has played a game at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers in three of the past four seasons.  He’s recorded 12 tackles in those three games, but he shined in 2019, where his seven tackles were just one tackle shy of his career high. He would be one of the logical choices for an increased role against the Packers. Not only is he well-versed in defending against that offense, but he is a huge asset in run defense.

Defender 2: DL Brockers

The bond between Aaron Donald and teammate defensive lineman Michael Brockers cannot be overstated. They are good friends and teammates. So good, in fact, that Donald lobbied hard for the Rams to re-sign Brockers to the team. Brockers was a key veteran for the Rams defense since Donald arrived, so there were plenty of valid reasons why the Rams had interest in bringing him back.

It was Brockers himself who has been quoted about the team’s mindset: “We don’t play for ourselves – we play for one another.” That is exactly why Brockers would be honored to take on the added weight and responsibility for this friend and teammate. Brockers has been with the Rams since he was drafted in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-5 305-pound defensive lineman is huge in the run game, but has an uncanny knack of quietly piling up a healthy number of quarterback sacks in any given season. He is a perfect compliment to Aaron’s chaos at the line of scrimmage.

Brockers bring passion and a veteran presence

So what incentives do the Rams have for having Brockers pick up additional snaps shed by Donald? Brockers, like many players on the Rams defensive line, is playing at or nearly at his career best. Most noticeably, he has become a more active factor in the Rams pass rush, chalking up five quarterback sacks this season.

Brockers has seen less wear and tear this season as the Rams have significantly reduced his snap count from the pace he was playing in the three previous seasons. In doing so, the Rams have banked a little bit in Brockers’ reserve tank, and may need to draw upon that reserve if his friend and teammate Aaron Donald needs to limit his playing time to ensure he recovers quickly.

Defender 1: DL Floyd

Of course, in the pass rush department, the LA Rams have been pleasantly surprised with the performance of outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. Floyd arrived as a free agent after being cut by the Chicago Bears as a salary cap move. Before arriving at the Rams, he had a career-best quarterback sack count of seven sacks, and a career-best tackles count of 47 tackles.

This year, he has accounted for 10.5 sacks and 55 tackles, both are career highs. But he didn’t stop there. Against the Seattle Seahawks, he put up another two sacks on the afternoon. For all intents and purposes, it’s quite clear that he is anything but done yet.  In fact, he seems to be getting stronger and more productive as the season progresses.  In the last three games he’s played, he has gotten five quarterback sacks, six quarterback hits, and eight tackles.

Lambeau experience

Much like A’Shawn Robinson, Floyd comes from a team that played against the Green Bay Packers once a year. How did he do? In 2016, he recorded two sacks, three tackles, and forced a fumble that he scooped up and returned for a touchdown.  In 2017, he recorded a sack and three tackles. In 2018, he recorded two tackles. Finally, in 2019, he registered one tackle.

Floyd is a custom fit in the Rams defense. while he does not play on the defensive line, he can certainly compensate for any less-than-usual play from Aaron Donald by elevating his own game. Floyd is the best tactician on the field in the Rams defense. Where Donald disrupts with his physicality, Floyd is one step ahead of the offense for almost the entire game.

Of course, the pre-game reports so far are consistent in their belief that Donald will play the role that the Rams have come to expect. Even if medical professionals recommended otherwise, it would be difficult to envision his willngness to remain on the sidelines in such an important game. But should the need arise, the Rams will have no shortage of players to tap to help take up the work load. We named the top seven on the roster, but all 52 other players for the Rams would do anything they could to ensure a win.