How Rams Aaron Donald 'Filled' Puka Nacua with 'Fear'
Each week, when a team is getting ready to face the Los Angeles Rams, star defensive tackle Aaron Donald is always one of the first players opponents have to gameplan to stop... or at least slow down.
As much as 6-foot-1, 280-pound, is scary for the opposing team's offensive line and quarterbacks, he can even strike fear into his teammates.
Now star receiver Puka Nacua learned that fact the hard way when he was starting out his NFL career with the Rams in last offseason's OTAs. Nacua told his story about how scary Donald can be during a recent interview he did on the Green Light Podcast with Chris Long.
“We had 40 rookies during OTAs and stuff. I see AD over there; he’s got the lifting coach with him, Coach Lovett; he’s just working out by himself, ..." Nacua said. "We had the conditioning test, then we had to come do the rookie test, but he’s been lifting this whole time. ... I don’t see him, I have my back (turned), I’m doing the massage gun on my shoulder, about to get ready for the workout.
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (left) and receiver Puka Nacua (right).
USA Today Network
"And all I hear is, ‘Move.’ And I’m like, I drop the Theragun, jump, and I turn around and it’s AD. I move, but I guess I don’t move out the way enough because ... he said, ‘Move again.’ All right. I ran out of the weight room. I ran out the weight room, I acted like I had to use the bathroom. I was filled with so much fear.”
As a fifth-round rookie out of BYU, you can't blame Nacua for being somewhat afraid of Donald. Donald is one of the top players and leaders on the team and definitely not someone a rookie like Nacua would want to upset so early into his career, especially considering he was trying to make the 53-man roster.
Obviously, as we all know now, not only would the former BYU Cougar make the Rams' roster, but it would turn out to be a diamond in the rough relative to his fifth-round draft selection.
Nacua made history this past season, totaling 105 receptions for 1,486 receiving yards, both record numbers for a rookie, to go along with six touchdowns, as he was elected to the Pro Bowl and was named as a second-team All-Pro.
Nacua's breakout was a big reason behind the resurgence of the Rams' offense, as he led them in receiving and even turned into the unlikeliest of first options for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.
