LA Rams: Rams need just one reason to hide your new quarterback

By rough count, the LA Rams may face a bevy of NFL hopeful rookie quarterbacks this year. There is rookie quarterback Justin Fields who is raising eyebrows for the Chicago Bears. The San Francisco 49ers went all-in on rookie quarterback Trey Lance, who they seem to be quite happy with. The Jacksonville Jaguars are tripping over a chance to welcome rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence to the fold.

Then there are the transplanted quarterbacks. The Indianapolis Colts have veteran quarterback Carson Wentz. The Detroit Lions boast former Rams quarterback, Jared Goff. And the quarterback controversies at the Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, and Seattle Seahawks could mean that they will entrust the team to a new face under center.

In the now-longer-17-game season, it appears as though the LA Rams have been designated to the official welcome-to-the-NFL committee for a number of marquee class of 2021 rookie quarterbacks trying to make their name in the NFL. And also for a host of other teams who plan to try their luck at winning it all by reclaiming the somewhat tarnished reputations of veteran quarterbacks.

How will the LA Rams counter all of these new NFL faces? Simple enough, All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald.

By now you probably know the Aaron-Donald-effect, and how it has helped bolster the play of his teammates, particularly in the category of quarterback sacks. But now, let’s look at the Aaron Donald effect through a different lens. How do new quarterbacks far against him? In 2020, the Miami Dolphins started rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. While the Dolphins won that game, Tagovailoa was harassed all day.  He was 12 of 22 for just 93 yards, one touchdown pass and he was sacked once, by you guessed it, Aaron Donald.

Pitting a rookie quarterback to face an Aaron Donald-led defense might be considered a right-of-passage by some. Other might considered a sure-fire way to derail the career of a rookie. While that debate might take place on the back burner, the issue has come to the forefront of NFL talking points as former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka believes that the Bears should start rookie QB Justin Fields on day one. Of course, the Bears open their season by traveling to face the Rams in SoFi Stadium. Those contests always seem to bring out the best in McVay against that defense.

But a funny mention of this topic was proferred by CBSSports.com John Breech in his 2021 NFL Divisional Power Rankings:

"“Coach Matt Nagy has been insisting that Andy Dalton will be the team’s Week 1 starter, which actually might be for the best, because the Bears are playing the Rams. If the Bears start Justin Fields in the opener, he might take so many hits from Aaron Donald that it will scar him for life.”"

That actually sounds like sage advice. After all, why put up a newcomer against one of the most dominating NFL players of his era? To be honest, I’m certain that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson had games against the Rams that he hoped he had the chance to watch from the bench.

Yes, there may be many sound reasons to start a new quarterback. And you will no doubt encounter many of them before the start of the 2021 NFL season. But the Rams only need to give opponents one reason not to start their new quarterback: Aaron Donald. I am willing to bet that at least two rookies will be on the bench for that very reason when they face the LA Rams.