The Los Angeles Rams have undoubtedly been the biggest surprise team in the 2017 NFL season. Although their turnaround has largely been credited to rookie head coach Sean McVay, the Rams new influx of player personnel is what has fueled their 8-3 start.
As the league’s most surprising team, Los Angeles is bound to be filled with a few breakout players. According to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, the one player that has been most surprising to defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is three-time Pro Bowler Aaron Donald:
“Aaron Donald. Because he’s better than everybody, and I didn’t know he was better than everybody. I thought he was good, but I didn’t know he was better than everybody.
After a slow start to the season, the Rams defense has returned to their status as one of the most formidable defenses in the entire league. That said, it is a bit surprising to see Phillips pick a player like Donald, whose name has emerged as potentially being the best defensive player in the NFL over the last three years
Perhaps the veteran Phillips just had to see if the rumors were true with his own eyes. Needless to say, Donald has exceeded his expectations with yet another fantastic year. The two-time First-Team All-Pro has recorded 6.0 sacks and three forced fumbles this season, not to mention the countless hounding pressure he brings on quarterbacks on a weekly basis.
