Chris Shula compares Jared Verse's work ethic to Aaron Donald's
Defensive coordinator Chris Shula had the privilege of witnessing Rams legend and future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald up close for seven seasons in various assistant coaching roles with the Los Angeles Rams.
Just before getting the opportunity to fully coach Donald a year ago, after being named DC, the Rams' defensive great announced his retirement. And just like that, the team began life without No. 99 and knew right then and there that they had an irreplaceable hole on the defensive front.
While finding a player like the former three-time defensive player of the year is no easy task, the team managed to come away with OLB Jared Verse in last year's draft, who would go on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year while providing the defense with a future foundation in the post-Donald era.
Just now entering his second season, Shula is beginning to see shades of the all-time great in his young edge rusher.
"They work hard, they love to be coached hard, and they love football, Shula said. 'It's really easy to coach guys like that. Aaron Donald was the same way. He was the hardest worker on the team, led the defense, and held everyone accountable for playing hard. Jared Verse is clearly taking steps in that direction, and that's exactly where he's at right now."
Verse finished his rookie season recording 66 tackles, 11 for loss, 4.5 sacks, and 33 pressures in 16 starts. The former 2024 first-round pick will look to build off his promising rookie campaign and grow more into a leader for the defense that Donald led for 10 seasons, which included a Super Bowl victory in 2021; Donald and the defense came to the team's rescue in the final minute of that win.
As we all know, to emulate the best, one must surround oneself with greatness. Verse did just that recently, as he recounted a story about his intense and amusing workout with the defensive stalwart.
"We go to the weight room. It's all arms, that's why he's big as hell," Verse said. "We go to the weight room. It's eight different circuits. All arms, four sets each. I'm there for an hour and a half. His wife came in laughing at me. I told her to call the police. I'm dead serious. I'm not even joking. I'm dead serious. I told him to call the police. She wouldn't do it. I tried to lie and say my mom was at my house and I had to go let her in. He told me to give my keys to his management or assistant and that they would go let my mom in. So I wasn't leaving. Finished the workout. I'm dead tired, I'm exhausted. I had a plan to go jump in the sauna afterwards, didn't happen. I had plans to watch film, didn't happen. Went home and I didn't work out for another day and a half because I couldn't move my body.'
Safe to say Verse may rethink his decision to work out with Donald.
All jokes aside, the Rams are hoping to see continued growth in the 24-year-old and certainly hope to have found another Donald-like player to help lead the defense for years to come. After his award-winning rookie season, it's clear Verse is on the right track.
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