The Packers would be fools not to draft Aaron Donald

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While there was initial uncertainty over Justin Fields’ status against the Packers ahead of the bye week, Matt LaFleur was pretty honest in saying that Green Bay will be ready for him to start. The Packers will now take the same approach again this week with Aaron Donald up in the air with an ankle injury.

Donald suffered an ankle injury against Kansas City that kept him out of the Rams’ most recent game in Las Vegas. Donald was unable to participate in practice on Thursday.

“Maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t (play),” LaFleur said Thursday via Packers.com. “We would be fools not to prepare for such a man. He is someone who absolutely 100% affects the game.

Donald’s mere presence can change a game plan with his ability to affect both the running and passing games while not only controlling but dominating the line of scrimmage. He currently ranks ninth in pressures among all interior defensive linemen this season with 40 — though he’s only played 11 games — and ranks first in pass rush win rate per PFF, and he’s also tied for third in run stops.

Despite the general issues the Rams have faced this season, led by Donald, their run defense is still very solid. Los Angeles is allowing just 4.0 yards per carry, which currently ranks fourth, and they are fifth in DVOA against the run as well.

“(He’s a) generational player, first ballot Hall of Famer, one of the best to ever play the game,” LaFleur added. “You always have a plan for him. How much he plays, or if he doesn’t play, you have to have a contingency plan if he’s not there. Certainly, the challenge facing him over the last few years is he’s definitely going to take some plays that you want to make in the game plan and kill them because you can’t protect or at the point of attack on some of the runs, he has a huge problem. He is a monster to prepare for.”

The Green Bay Packers offense has been finding its groove in the past month, scoring at least 28 points in three of their last four games. No doubt, the play of Christian Watson is a big reason why, but as offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich told reporters recently, success on offense starts with the run game.

In those three games against Dallas, Philadelphia, and Chicago, in which Green Bay averaged 30.6 points per game, Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon combined for over 400 rushing yards while averaging over 5.0 yards per carry. Not coincidentally, the Packers offensive line is also playing its best this season and is relatively healthy.

The combination of the Packers’ run game, along with Watson’s big play ability, really stressed opposing defenses. Teams can’t eliminate the big passing play and the run at the same time.

However, while the passing game has been a key element of late for Green Bay, and it should get another big boost with the return of Romeo Doubs, at various points throughout the season the Packers have had to lean good at moving the ball. through the air and became one-dimensional, they really struggled. The most recent example of this came against Tennessee, which was able to keep the Green Bay run game under control. Needing to move the ball through the air in the final quarter, the Packers were unable to do so with any regularity.

So if Donald can play, and the Packers struggle to pick up consistent yards through the run game like many of the Rams’ opponents do, is the passing game’s improvement over the past month enough to lean on they do it well?

While Los Angeles’ run defense is very good, this defense is susceptible against the pass. It’s a Rams secondary that ranks 23rd in pass DVOA and is allowing 6.9 yards per attempt this season, and ranks 22nd.

Without Donald against the Raiders, Las Vegas rushed for 165 yards on 5.2 yards per carry. It goes without saying, but Donald’s status for Monday Night’s game will have a big impact either way.

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