Aaron Donald got his homecoming.
asserted
Donald → get → homecoming
He got the roar of the Rams’ crowd.
asserted
He → get → crowd
The pregame introduction out of the tunnel that sent goosebumps down the arms of 78,000 screaming fans.
asserted
that → send → fans
He got the kind of reception that is reserved for franchise royalty.
asserted
that → get → royalty
Nearly three years after his last NFL snap, Donald was able to soak in the love from Rams’ fans who probably never imagined they would ever see No. 99 in a uniform again.
asserted
they → soak → uniform
“This is a blessing,” Donald said Thursday.
asserted
Donald → say → ?
“You never take nothing for granted.”
asserted
You → take → nothing
When Donald takes the field in Denver for the first time since 2018, it won’t be about nostalgia anymore.
asserted
it → take → nostalgia
Nobody inside Empower Field at Mile High is going to celebrate Donald’s comeback or care how good it felt to put the pads on again.
asserted
it → go → pads
Bo Nix certainly won’t care.
asserted
Nix → care → ?
Donald’s first game back proved he can still play NFL football.
asserted
he → prove → football
He played 32 snaps, had three tackles, one for loss, 18 pass rush snaps, one QB pressure and was double-teamed seven times.
asserted
He → play → loss
Those statistics should improve in his second game and by the end of 60 minutes in Denver, we should have a better idea of how much of the old Aaron Donald is still left in the tank.
asserted
much → improve → tank
And nobody appears more interested in finding out that answer than Donald himself.
asserted
nobody → appear → Donald
The future Hall of Famer admitted he watched the film of his Rams return against the New York Giants a whopping six times.
asserted
he → admit → Giants
Donald said he was studying his movements, dissecting his mistakes and comparing what he saw against film of himself from years ago.
asserted
he → say → himself
“Just breaking myself down, watching myself,” Donald said.
asserted
Donald → break → myself
“What I could have done better, things I did right, ways I can clean little things up, seeing where I’m at right now.”
uncertain
I → do → where
Defensive coordinator Chris Shula saw something different.
asserted
Shula → see → something
“He might tell you differently, but I thought he looked excellent,” Shula said.
uncertain
Shula → tell → you
He put a lot of pressure on the quarterback.”
asserted
He → put → quarterback
Therein lies the absurd standard Donald has created for himself.
asserted
Donald → lie → himself
The Rams see a 35-year-old defensive tackle returning after nearly three years away from the game and immediately disrupting an NFL offense.
asserted
tackle → see → offense
Donald sees mistakes, but is encouraged by what he saw of himself in his six viewings.
asserted
he → see → viewings
“I think I’m on the right pace,” Donald said.
asserted
Donald → think → pace
“Pretty confident where I’m at right now.”
asserted
I → ’m → where
Good, because the degree of difficulty is about to increase.
asserted
degree → increase → difficulty
Nix presents a different problem than veteran backup Jameis Winston did.
asserted
Winston → present → problem
Nix can escape the pocket, extend plays with his feet and punish a defensive front that gets reckless chasing him.
asserted
that → escape → him
Donald called him a “big quarterback” capable of making big throws, but it was Nix’s mobility that seemed to have caught his attention.
asserted
that → call → attention
“A lot of these quarterbacks now are mobile, can move around, make your job a lot harder as a rusher,” Donald said.
asserted
Donald → move → rusher
Shula was even more emphatic, calling Nix “the ultimate competitor” who will make plays off-schedule, attack downfield and “fight for every single yard.”
asserted
who → call → yard
The Rams revamped defense will face a tough test in the Broncos offense.
asserted
defense → revamp → offense
They will have to remain disciplined.
asserted
They → have → ?
The secondary has to keep speedy wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in front of them, because he’s capable of turning one busted coverage into six points.
asserted
he → have → points
Thankfully, the Rams have All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie now.
asserted
Rams → have → McDuffie
Donald admitted he usually doesn’t spend much time watching defensive backs when he watches film, but McDuffie stood out immediately.
asserted
McDuffie → admit → film
“He caught my eye,” Donald said.
asserted
Donald → catch → eye
“He’s something special, man.”
asserted
He → ’ → ?
If McDuffie spends significant time dealing with Waddle, Donald and the Rams’ pass rush can make his afternoon considerably easier by preventing Nix from extending plays.
asserted
afternoon → spend → plays
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
