Aaron Donald saw a ton of success under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips with the Los Angeles Rams. However, Donald will have to get accustomed to playing for new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley as he enters his seventh season with the Rams. Even though he'll be playing a different scheme in 2020, Donald spoke about the importance of putting his own swag into Los Angeles' defense.
“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,” Donald said in a Wednesday video conference.
While Donald wasn't able to get on-field work with Staley this offseason, he was working out vigorously. Now, the All-Pro interior defender has a chance to work face-to-face with his new defensive coordinator.
“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. 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.”
After missing the playoffs in 2019, Donald is as motivated as ever entering the 2020 season. And even though Staley is calling the defense, it's going to be hard for him to tell the two-time Defensive Player of the Year what to do on each play. He just has to trust in Aaron Donald's swag.
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