Tag: Aaron Donald

Chicago at Los Angeles: Which Rams player would you want on the Bears?

The Rams have a ton of talent on their roster, from Aaron Donald to Matthew Stafford. So which player would you want on the Bears?

The Chicago Bears will kick off their 2021 NFL season in a prime-time showing against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football, where there are plenty of storylines to monitor.

Perhaps the biggest one — but not exactly surprising — is that Andy Dalton will be the Bears quarterback to start the season, despite a push from rookie Justin Fields, who you could argue made a strong case to be the starter from the get-go.

Chicago’s starting offense struggled to find any sort of momentum in the preseason. In eight possessions this preseason, they scored just six points, totaled 144 yards, had five punts, two turnovers and just four first downs.

The Bears are early 7.5-point road underdogs against the Rams, and it’s easy to see why with the concerns on offense and questions at cornerback on defense.

But there’s also plenty of talent on the Rams’ roster, which starts with reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron Donald, as well as one of the league’s best cornerbacks in Jalen Ramsey. Chicago will also face a couple of familiar faces in former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and former Bears edge rusher Leonard Floyd.

So, which Rams player would you want on the Bears?

VOTE!

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Damien Harris calls Aaron Donald the best defensive player of all time

Patriots RB Damien Harris on Aaron Donald: “I don’t even have the words to describe this guy.”

Aaron Donald is routinely considered the best defensive player in the NFL each season, winning Defensive Player of the Year three times. But with how dominant he’s been throughout his career, he’s in the conversation as being one of the best defender in league history.

He’s certainly a first-ballot Hall of Famer and if he wins Defensive Player of the Year again this season, he’ll be the first ever to win it four times. Patriots running back Damien Harris sees Donald as the best defender to ever play in the NFL, giving him some seriously high praise.

Here’s what Harris said after Donald was voted second on the NFL’s top 100 players list.

“I don’t even have the words to describe this guy,” Harris said. “Personally, to me, I think he’s the best to ever do what he’s done. “I think he’s the best defensive player this game has ever seen. His physical dominance, his technique, his power, his strength, his speed, his quickness — there are no flaws in his game.”

Harris wasn’t the only player to give Donald some big-time props. Devin White, Stefon Diggs and Miles Sanders all said Donald would be No. 1 on their top 100 lists. Marlon Humphrey said the same thing, acknowledging that he knows it’s repetitive to say how good he is over and over.

Donald was edged out by Patrick Mahomes for the No. 1 spot on the top 100, but there’s no doubt about him being the best defender in the game right now.

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Aaron Donald comes in at No. 2 on Top 100 Players in NFL list

Only one player was voted higher than Aaron Donald on this year’s top 100 list.

Aaron Donald is once again viewed as one of the best players in the NFL, according to his peers. Donald came in at No. 2 on the league’s Top 100 Players list for the 2021 season, the fourth time in a row he’s been voted in the top 10. It’s also the third straight year he’s landed in the top three.

The list, which is voted on by players, had Patrick Mahomes in the top spot, with Aaron Rodgers third, Derrick Henry fourth and Travis Kelce rounding out the top five.

Donald’s highest ranking came in 2019 when he claimed No. 1 after his historic 2018 season in which he had 20.5 sacks, the most ever by a defensive tackle.

Jalen Ramsey was the only other Rams player to make the list, coming in at No. 13.

One bettor wagered $500 on Aaron Donald to win MVP, which would pay out $100K

If Aaron Donald wins NFL MVP this season, one bettor is going to cash in with a huge payout.

Aaron Donald has won NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times. He’s a six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler, destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day. One honor he hasn’t received is NFL MVP – an award that’s almost reserved for quarterbacks and running backs.

Donald would love to win it this year, as would one bettor.

According to BetMGM, someone put $500 on Donald to win MVP this season. At +20000, that would pay out $100,000 if the Rams defensive tackle winds up bringing home the hardware. He would be the first defensive player to win it since Lawrence Taylor did in 1986.

Donald made a push to be named MVP in 2018 when he had 20.5 sacks, 25 tackles for a loss and 41 QB hits, absolutely dominating week in and week out. But even with that historic season, Patrick Mahomes won thanks to his 50 touchdown passes and 5,097 yards through the air.

It’s simply too hard for a defensive player to win MVP, especially when quarterbacks are throwing for 40 touchdowns and 5,000 yards almost every year.

Cashing a $100,000 slip would be nice, but the daring bettor shouldn’t hold his breath.

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Kyle Brandt debunks idea Bears can’t start Justin Fields vs. Rams in Week 1

GMFB’s Kyle Brandt is tackling his least favorite Justin Fields take: Can’t expose him to Rams’ Aaron Donald in Week 1.

Justin Fields’ performance in the preseason has generated plenty of conversation around who should be the Bears’ starting quarterback — Fields or Andy Dalton.

While Matt Nagy reiterated his stance that Dalton will be the starter come Week 1, it’s hard to deny that Fields looks like the better quarterback on the field and gives the Bears the best chance to win. More than that, Fields looks ready.

There are several reasons why Nagy might be hesitant to start Fields so soon, including the fact the Bears face the Rams on Sunday Night Football in Week 1.

Good Morning Football‘s Kyle Brandt — a noted Bears fan — isn’t a fan of the idea the Bears should wait to start Fields because he’d have to face arguably the league’s most ferocious defender in Aaron Donald.

I’ll let him explain:

“First, there’s no hiding from players in the NFL,” Brandt said. “Second of all, you don’t pluck this guy from Division III and he’s never seen an athlete before. He’s played the highest level of the sport at the amateur level. And (third) of all, you’re going to play the Browns in Week 3. Do you have to hide him from Myles Garrett, too? At what point does it end?

“If he’s ready — I don’t care if Aaron Donald is the best player in the universe — you get him out there. Stop with that nonsense, weak stuff. He’s the guy, and I hate that he’s not been given the opportunity to prove it.”

Brandt has a great point: there’s no ideal time to sub in a rookie quarterback. But if Fields is ready — as he’s looked to be during these first two preseason games — what’s the holdup?

The answer, of course, is Nagy, who is determined to follow his plan and rest Fields while Dalton starts. But you have to wonder how long Nagy’s willing to follow that plan if Dalton gets off to a rough start.

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Aaron Donald doesn’t feel he’s at his best yet heading into the season

Aaron Donald wants to get even better, despite being the best defensive player in the league.

Aaron Donald owns the title of being the best defender in the league right now, having won Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 – as well as 2017 and 2018, for that matter. He’s a dominant pass rusher who set the single-season sacks record for a defensive tackle in 2018 with 20.5, while also disrupting things constantly in the running game.

It’s hard to imagine him getting much better, but Donald still sees room for improvement. With the help of defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Donald wants to better understand offensive tendencies so that he can be better on Sundays.

“That comes from studying film and understanding what you’re seeing from an offensive standpoint – to play fast or work a certain technique to a look you’re getting,” he said Thursday. “So, you’re able to be more stout in your gap or be able to transition to a pass rush or whatever the case may be. You got to absorb knowledge. Somebody asked, ‘What else can I bring?’ I feel like I’m not at my best yet. There’s always room for improvement and that’s continuing to work on my craft, but at the same time, continue to understand the game, absorb the knowledge and different things that Coach Henny (Eric Henderson) and these different coaches has given me to help me continue to get better.”

Donald had 13.5 sacks and 28 QB hits last season to go along with 45 sacks. He battled through torn rib cartilage in the postseason game against the Packers, which just showed how different the Rams defense looks when he’s either A) not on the field or B) not 100% healthy.

He’s feeling good heading into this season – even if he does have some extra aches and pains from being 30 – and the Rams have to like their chances of once again finishing atop the league defensively.

Aaron Donald seeing ‘really good things’ from A’Shawn Robinson

A’Shawn Robinson is an important player for the Rams, replacing Michael Brockers along the defensive line.

The Rams’ decision to trade Michael Brockers this offseason was rooted in clearing cap space. They saved more than $6 million in doing so, which is more important than the 2022 seventh-round pick they got in return from the Lions.

They also traded him knowing they had a viable replacement on the roster in A’Shawn Robinson, one of their big free-agent signings last year. Robinson, who slimmed down this offseason, is a perfect fit at 5-technique with the Rams, playing the same role Brockers did.

He’s become more explosive, mobile and agile with the weight he’s lost, something even Aaron Donald has noticed. Donald spoke about Robinson’s growth after practice Thursday, saying he had his best day of practice yet against the Raiders.

“A’Shawn had a good day,” Donald said. “I watched A’Shawn today, he looked strong, he looked explosive today. He was stout on his double teams. He had some good rushes today. That’s a guy that has been improving a lot in this camp and in my opinion, from what I’ve seen, this is probably one of his best days he put on film. He did some real good things. That’s what you want in camp, that’s what you expect from guys. We just got to keep working.”

Donald didn’t practice, so he was able to watch what went down on the field, specifically on defense. So for him to say Robinson stood out and did well against double teams is a good sign for the Rams as they approach the regular season.

We know Donald and Sebastian Joseph-Day are going to be key starters, but if Robinson can step up next to them, the defensive line could actually improve over last season.

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Derek Carr has huge compliment for Aaron Donald after practicing vs. Rams

Derek Carr says Aaron Donald is “probably best three-technique to ever play this game.”

Just about everyone knows where Aaron Donald fits in with the current defensive tackles in the NFL. He’s unquestionably the best, sitting head and shoulders above the rest of the league at that position.

Where he ranks among the best defensive tackles in NFL history is another conversation and when discussing that topic, he’s often slotted among the top guys ever. With three Defensive Player of the Year awards, seven All-Pro selections and eight Pro Bowl appearances, it’s easy to see why he’s so revered as a future Hall of Famer.

After practicing against the Raiders on Wednesday, quarterback Derek Carr had some high praise for Donald.

“He’s probably the best three-technique to ever play this game,” Carr told reporters after practice. “And that’s saying a lot, but I think he’s earned that kind of respect and is starting to get in that conversation as we get older in our eighth year. And he deserves to be in that conversation, and he’s a good player.”

Donald is likely the last player any quarterback wants to face because of the way he can wreck a game plan and force an offense to completely change its approach. Wednesday was only practice, yet Carr got a firsthand look at the ability that Donald possesses.

“Obviously, AD, he can ruin practice if he wants. And there were a couple times he got back there and I had to move out of the pocket, hit the plays — scramble plays,” Carr said. “But he’s a guy that, he’s going to win.”

Carr won’t have to face Donald in the regular season this year and he’s probably secretly thankful for that, but the Raiders’ joint practices with the Rams will remind him and everyone on Las Vegas’ offense just how good the three-time Defensive Player of the Year is.

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Rams defense ranked No. 1 heading into 2021 season

Heading into this season, Adam Schein believes the Rams have the best defense in the NFL.

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No defense in the NFL was better than the Los Angeles Rams’ last season. Brandon Staley’s unit finished first against the pass, first in total yards allowed and gave up the fewest points in the league, putting together an absolutely dominant performance on that side of the ball.

The Rams suffered some losses on defense, headlined by the departures of John Johnson, Troy Hill, Morgan Fox and Staley himself, but the expectations are still high for this group. There are two primary reasons for that: Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. While they’re not the only players to know on defense, they are the cornerstones that make this a potentially elite defense.

Adam Schein of NFL.com fully understands the losses suffered by the Rams this offseason, but he’s confident this is still the best defense in football. He ranked Los Angeles first on his list of the top nine defenses, ahead of the second-ranked Buccaneers and third-best Colts.

After raving about Donald and his chances of making it onto the NFL’s defensive Mount Rushmore, Schein pointed to Ramsey, Darious Williams and Jordan Fuller as key players on defense.

This isn’t a one-man band, either. Jalen Ramsey could be the NFL’s best cornerback, while his running mate, Darious Williams, just posted PFF’s ninth-highest CB coverage grade last season. And safety Jordan Fuller, who’s wearing the “green dot” as the Rams’ defensive signal-caller in just his second NFL season, has already proven to be an absolute steal of a sixth-round pick.

The Rams have a lot of work to do if they’re to maintain their spot as the best defense in football, but there’s no reason to believe Raheem Morris can’t have this group atop the NFL once again in 2021.

With the combination of Donald and Leonard Floyd rushing the passer (along with Sebastian Joseph-Day) and Ramsey, Fuller and Williams patrolling the secondary, throwing the ball against the Rams will be a challenge for every opposing offense.

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2021 Sack leader odds, picks and prediction: Who challenges T.J. Watt for the sacks title?

Analyzing the odds to be the 2021 NFL sack leader, with picks, predictions and best bets.

The NFL has become a passing league offensively, which means that getting pressure on quarterbacks is a priority for defensive coordinators. Quarterback sacks are huge. Who will lead the NFL in sacks in 2021? Below, we look at the odds to be named the 2021 NFL sack leader, with NFL picks, predictions and best bets.

Last year’s sack leader was Pittsburgh Steelers LB T.J. Watt with 15. His 15 sacks were the lowest for the league leader since Kevin Greene’s 14.5 in 1996. Only 10 players had at least 10 sacks last season.

There has not been a repeat sack leader in the NFL since Reggie White accomplished the task in 1987 and 1988, so we can certainly expect someone other than Watt this season.

2021 NFL sack leader picks

Odds via Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 7:15 a.m. ET.

Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett (+750)

The Browns added talent on the back end of their defense, which will allow Garrett a little longer to get to the quarterback. He is one of the most-feared pass rushers.

Los Angeles Rams DT Aaron Donald (+750)

Donald is always a good bet as he has led the league before. He is as close as we have in this generation to Reggie White. He has surpassed 20 in a season and was 1.5 sacks off the lead last season.

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San Francisco 49ers DE Nick Bosa (+2000)

Bosa is coming off a torn ACL last season but was incredibly disruptive as a rookie in 2019. He is just the sort of player to come into his own in his third season.

Arizona Cardinals OLB Chandler Jones  (+1500)

Jones only had one sack in 2020 in five games before going down with a torn biceps. He led the league in sacks in 2017 and was a half-sack off the lead in 2019 with 19. While he is  31 years old, he is motivated, playing in a contract year and has additional help. The Cardinals signed J.J. Watt to rush from the other side, and offenses will either have to slide protection to one or the other. DE Jordan Phillips, who had 9.5 sacks in 2019, offers a big presence on the inside to push quarterbacks toward Jones when he is rushing.

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Washington Football Team DE Chase Young (+2000)

Young was the No. 2 pick in the draft last year and was a force as a rookie without an offseason or preseason to get some experience. He plays in a very physical defense and plays in the NFC East, where the three other teams he faces twice a season have had protection issues for their quarterbacks.

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