For years, Aaron Donald has been the focal point for all blocking against the Los Angeles Rams defense. Donald earned that respect, racking up eight All-Pro nods and three AP Defensive Player of the Year honors in his 10 seasons.
Donald is now retired, and the Rams defense will look markedly different without him in the middle. Los Angeles has smartly chosen not to try and directly replace the surefire Hall of Famer with just one player. That will make a very new challenge for the Detroit Lions offensive line in Week 1.
The Rams hit on two rookie pass rushers a year ago. OLB Byron Young and DL Kobie Turner, both taken in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, combined for 17 sacks and over 100 QB pressures. Turner actually had more sacks than Donald did (9 to 8) in 2023.
To that solid duo, the Rams added their top two picks of the 2024 NFL Draft. First-round EDGE Jared Verse and second-round DT Braden Fiske were both very accomplished pass rushers at Florida State a year ago. They’ll mix in with the impressive rookie tandem from last year to provide a very different look than the Lions saw in Detroit’s playoff win in January.
The Lions, of course, have the best all-around offensive line in the league. Detroit does have changes at guard, with Graham Glasgow moving to the left side to accommodate veteran Pro Bowl RG Kevin Zeitler. They are surrounded by perhaps the best tackle tandem in the league, with All-Pro center Frank Ragnow ensconced between them.
It should make for a great battle. It’s also a battle of the unknown; the Lions didn’t play any starters a single snap in the preseason. None of those four Rams defenders played in the preseason either; the Rams starters on both sides of the ball also sat the entire preseason.
That means the Lions don’t get the benefit of having film to watch of the new-look Rams defense. And it’s a very new defenseit’s a very new defense; the Rams have 10 rookies among their 25 defensive players on their initial 53-man roster, with five of them undrafted rookies.
All that inexperience on the Rams defense is also a great opportunity for Detroit’s fine-tuned, creative offense. The Rams haven’t seen anything like Jared agoff throwing to Sam LaPorta, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams et al. It won’t be easy for the Lions line, but they’ve proven to be up for the challenge before.