https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2018/12/17/nfl-rams-aaron-donald-defense-stats/
Is the Rams' defense too reliant on Aaron Donald?
By: Cameron DaSilva
Aaron Donald might be the best overall player in the NFL. Few players, let alone defenders, in today’s game demand the amount of attention that Donald does. When an opponent begins setting its game plan for attacking the Rams’ defense, the first conversation is likely, “How do we stop Aaron Donald.”
There isn’t an easy answer to that question, but teams are beginning to realize that doing anything possible to slow him down often comes with positive results – even if it means leaving offensive linemen or tight ends in one-on-one situations outside.
The Rams simply don’t have another player who can consistently win those battles to make opponents pay for focusing so much attention on Donald. It’s become a real problem for Los Angeles, too.
Nick Foles wasn’t sacked a single time on Sunday night and was hit just three times – twice by Ndamukong Suh and once by Donald. Dante Fowler Jr. made two total tackles, Samson Ebukam barely had his name called and Michael Brockers did very little in the way of rushing the passer.
When Donald doesn’t get sacks, the Rams have a hard time winning. Chew on this stat for a minute.
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Yep, you read that right. Since 2017, when Donald has a sack, the Rams are undefeated. When he puts up a bagel in that department, the Rams are just 5-7 – and 6-8 if you include games he didn’t play.
That’s no coincidence, either. Donald makes game-changing plays, often forcing fumbles or turnovers by either sacking the quarterback or pressuring them into poor throws. And when Donald doesn’t get a sack, other defenders hardly ever do, either.
In the six games that he’s been blanked in the sack column this season, the Rams have four total sacks. They don’t have a single game with multiple sacks when Donald doesn’t have one of his own. That just goes to show that the Rams have some serious trouble getting to the quarterback without the help of the Defensive Player of the Year.
Just looking at the season stats, that’s easy to see. Of the team’s 34 sacks, Donald has nearly half of them (16.5). The next-closest player is an off-ball linebacker in Cory Littleton (4.0), followed by Ndamukong Suh (3.5) and Samson Ebukam (3.0).
Until another Rams defender or two steps up and makes teams pay for leaving them on an island in order to double or triple Donald, this is how life is going to be for No. 99. And when he doesn’t get to the quarterback, the Rams’ chances of winning drop significantly.
