The Los Angeles Rams will look to protect their lead in the NFC West on Monday night, and their defense will need to play exceptionally well to get a win on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. Playing in Levi’s Stadium has proven to be their kryptonite in recent seasons, but Aaron Donald and the defense are looking to turn their team’s fortunes around in front of a national audience in Week 4.
Speaking to the media after the Rams’ Friday practice, the All-Pro defensive lineman emphasized the need to pressure 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. He did not mince words in telling reporters what the signal-caller’s strategy against Los Angeles has been historically and said that he was confident in his secondary’s ability to lock down opposing receivers to give him time to get into the backfield.
“We got to just get after him,” Donald explained. “Typically, he gets the ball out quick when he plays against us, so not getting frustrated at times, try to get our hands up and affect the play if you can. I know the guys on the back end are going to do their job and try to help us to make him have to hold a little longer and our job is just to find a way to get him down or affect him, make him uncomfortable, and try to make him have a bad day. That’s why we’re out there. We don’t want him happy. We don’t want him to be able to step up in the pocket. We want him to be antsy, uncomfortable, and if we do that, we can have a good day.”
Garoppolo has been an above-average starter for San Francisco, despite their decision to bench him this season in favor of Trey Lance. Against the younger Lance, the Rams’ pass rush might have an easier time getting to the quarterback, but the savvy veteran will likely prove to provide more of a challenge.
Donald and his crew will have their work cut out for them, and if his analysis of the 49ers’ gameplan is any indication, they are plenty motivated to change the course of recent history to keep Los Angeles in their division’s top spot.
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