With the 2017 NFL season finally underway, fans got to see where their teams stacked up against the rest of the league. The Los Angeles Rams, under new head coach Sean McVay, were pegged as one of the feel-good stories in the offseason and impressed in their Week 1 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, winning 46-9.
Jared Goff looked more comfortable operating behind his much-improved offensive line and was able to complete passes down the field to multiple receivers. However, the defense was simply dominant, terrorizing backup Colts quarterback Scott Tolzien all afternoon.
The defensive line will soon be getting a boost, as Aaron Donald officially ended his holdout and reported to the Rams. According to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN, McVay still holds Donald in high regard:
He’s all about the right things,” McVay said of Donald. “We’re trying to work to come to a solution. He’s a special player. In my interaction with Aaron, I have nothing but the utmost respect. Hopefully we can come to a conclusion where we can get him on the field with his teammates. We know that he’ll certainly help our defense.”
It is still unclear as to whether or not Donald will be able to suit up for the team’s Week 2 game against the Washington Redskins, but his impending return is still another positive turn for Los Angeles. When Donald finally hits the field he should single-handedly make opposing offenses sputter in certain situations.
With Goff starting to resemble the quarterback the Rams hope they drafted, expectations in Los Angeles are beginning to rise. The team’s defense under Wade Phillips looked impressive in their first outing and it will be interesting to see what it looks like with Donald in the fold.
