Rams fans got a taste of what their defense could look like for the next half-decade last season when Jalen Ramsey arrived mid-season via trade. He joined Aaron Donald as the two leaders of the defense, though they were unable to get the Rams to the postseason.
Donald and Ramsey are two of the best players in the league at their respective positions, and with a full season together in 2020, they should play at an even higher level than they did last year.
Donald, for one, has high expectations for himself and Ramsey, specifically saying the three-time Pro Bowl cornerback is in for a big year.
“A big season, a huge season,” Donald said on a conference call of what Ramsey is in for in 2020. “We are on the same team, so I hope it’s a real big season. Knowing what type of player he is, I am pretty sure he prepared himself and got himself ready to be at this point right now. Him having a full season with the team and getting a feel for the guys, being around all the guys and him being a leader. I am definitely expecting huge things from him this year. I am excited that we are on the same team.”
A pass rusher’s best friend is good coverage on the back end, and having an elite cornerback like Ramsey is sure to help Donald get to the quarterback more often. If Ramsey can lock up opposing receivers, it’ll give Donald more time to rush the passer.
By the same token, Donald getting to the quarterback quicker will allow Ramsey to take chances in coverage because passes will be rushed, and therefore less accurate.
Their exact roles are still to be determined – Ramsey could play all over the secondary – but Donald is excited about what Brandon Staley has in store for him.
“Before we even got here, he called me multiple times and talked to me about certain things he wants to do to try to put me in good positions. I got excited about it,” Donald said. “Just being here, being able to walk-thru the defense and actually be on the grass, getting a little feel for how it’s going be and how I can play in it and put my own swag and own style to it, so I can be successful in the defense.”
The Rams are just starting to get on the field this week with walk-thrus and early parts of game planning, and they won’t go through a normal, full-contact practice until Aug. 17.
Without OTAs and minicamp, things are expectedly rough around the edges in the beginning, but Donald expects that to improve as time goes on.
“The first day, you’re out there, there’s different things that are kind of rocky, the next day you feel a lot more clean, a little bit more of an understanding of how I have to play things,” he said. “Like I said, the same way, I can put my own little twist to it, but not do it to the point where I’m messing up the defense. Each day is going to keep getting better. We’ve got good things going in that’s not just going to help me, but help a lot of guys around us. I’m definitely excited about it.”